Today Sony announced that The Green Hornet, Seth Rogen’s leap into superhero movies, was going to be retrofitted for 3D. That’s not particularly surprising, really, since it seems like every goddamned movie is traipsing down this same awful path in post-production. But there’s a secondary part of this that gives pause – they’ve delayed the film until January 14th. That’s the second release date delay on a movie that’s already been delayed a number of times before starting production, including when original director and co-star Stephen Chow dropped off the project.
The official story is that there won’t be enough 3D screens for the movie’s original December release, since Tron Legacy is going to be squatting on pretty much every single one. But January? And the 14th? That’s the date that MGM moved the now-3D Cabin in the Woods. And Priest is opening that weekend too… 3D as well. Now, it’s possible that Cabin in the Woods could fall off that date (or off the calendar altogether with MGM’s current state), and they’re both smaller films, but that’s not a weekend that’s free and clear.
Oh yeah, and it’s a shitty weekend. January is a dumping ground; your smaller, genre films can make some money, but nobody opens their big budget tentpoles there. Maybe Sony’s going to look like geniuses after Green Hornet gives the release calendar a make-over, but the more likely reality is that the studio is more or less dumping the picture. If they wanted it 3D and didn’t have the screens in December, why not wait until March, a more respectable (but still fringe) month?
It really looks like Sony doesn’t like what they have. Or at least really, really doesn’t understand what they have. Drew McWeeny from HitFix got kind of irritated with the internet tonight when everyone took these bad signs as… well, bad signs, and I think he’s right about one thing – this doesn’t mean the movie’s bad, just that Sony doesn’t like it/doesn’t get it.
Talking to Drew tonight he reminded me that Warner Bros really hated Where the Wild Things Are, which is a valid point. Except that Where the Wild Things Are was an art film smuggled into the system. I haven’t been on the set of Green Hornet, but my understanding is that this isn’t an art film, and so I’d hope that the studio would see something marketable in there.
Nobody knows because nobody outside of Sony has seen more than a few clips. There are already a lot of wild stories floating – Jeff Wells is claiming that there will be massive reshoots on the film – but few confirmed facts and even fewer educated opinions. So what it comes down to is this: the date seems to be a strong sign of no faith from Sony, but that doesn’t have any bearing on the film as a movie. And you have to decide for yourself – are you the sort of film fan who worries about opening weekend grosses (ie, not a real film fan) or the kind who cares about getting good movies?
21 comments
But if they only spent a few months on the 3D, it'd turn out like CLASH OF THE TITANS.
Sometimes the studios are right. Sometimes.
This movie has BOMB written all over it. But then again, I believed the same thing about Avatar. What do you know?
But Devin, would Sony be putting more money into the film to convert it to 3D if they thought it was going to tank?
Unless they thought that people will go see any old rubbish as long as its in 3D? Oh wait….
Lost all interest once Stephen Chow dropped from the picture.
we should trust Gondry more than those scumbags at Sony…
Michel Gondry was the wrong choice for this movie. He has never really made a good movie, and if you want to bring up Eternal Sunshine, well…. it's time you moved out of your parents basement or got a place were you are not living with a roommate. The guy is a great fit for music videos, but his style is just not suited for mainstream cinema.
@7, not really getting the relationship of liking Eternal Sunshine and living with folks/roommates. Doesn't make a bit of sense. Care to elaborated?
Hey Dev, is it that Sony doesn't 'get it', or is it because you and Seth Rogan are PBFFL (Pretend Best Friends For Life). Anything by Rogan and his crew usually gets a free pass from you.
I can tell ya right now that there's not a teen in this day and age that's going to give a shit about a movie called The Green Hornet, Seth Rogen or not.. It just doesn't sound appealing.. I know I can't be the only one who feels this way.. I'll bet this movie TANKS and then what?? Drew Mcweeney will pen an editorial saying the "fanboys didn't get it"???
But Devin, you always compare grosses to quality. You just did it recently in your article stating that the majority of the world doesn't like Joss Whedon, because of the grosses of his films. Right?
@7-You're wrong. It's good to have directors that don't fit into mainstream cinema.
This movie's going to suck and flop. Everyone knew that the moment Rogen got involved and no amount of spinning his "action" scenes from Pineapple Express would get anyone to believe otherwise. Plus, no one has cared about the Green Hornet for 40 years.
Priest is being moved to March 4th, according to Hollywood Reporter, and isn't Jan. 14th Martin Luther King day weekend? Three day weekends usually make for decent openings.
I think you're jumping to some strange conclusions.
I actually think Sony is hoping for another Paul Blart by moving this to a weak slot. They are hoping to have all the viewers to themselves. And the 3 day weekend too.
And I like Green Hornet radio shows, and TV show (mostly because of Bruce Lee)
oooh prestige period, could be an oscar grab!
#7 – is there something wrong with having a roommate, a right of passage for every young male and kind of a necessity in today's economy? what's that? oh… you're a prick. nevermind.
"Talking to Drew tonight he reminded me that Warner Bros really hated Where the Wild Things Are."
That's because it was a fucking terrible movie.
Studio executives may be retarded, but they didn't write Cigarette Burns, and that forever puts them one step ahead of McWeeny.
Shocking…THE GREEN HORNET starring SETH ROGAN and some no-name asian Kato is gonna dumped! Whoda thunk it!!!
#7 you started with a strong, subjective opinion: "Michel Gondry was the wrong choice for this movie. He has never really made a good movie…".
Then you tried to support it with an ignorant, stereotyping, old hat insult: "it's time you moved out of your parents basement". Then you completely sank yourself by qualifying your remarks with something even more ignorant, but worse…irrelevant to your own point: "his style is just not suited for mainstream cinema.". Next time just cut all the b.s. and say the last sentence alone, because that was your only valid (if subjective) point. What does the mainstream or commercial appeal of a filmmaker's style have to do with their films' quality? There are plenty of filmmakers who typify the gold standard in production value of mainstream films that appeal to the broadest audience possible and they have no shortage of detractors waiting to call their movies shit. Michael Bay being the most obvious example, though it's still subjective to (bad) taste. Do everyone else on the internet a favor and let the "move out of your parents' basement" comment go the way of parachute pants and slap bracelets. They're equally dated and stupid.
This sounded decidedly "bloggy" and not so "sitey" to me. And #7… sorry, just kidding.
Curse you Captcha!
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