Comic Con 2012, and why I no longer care

Though I really hope people haven't come to expect this of me, you may be wondering why I haven't been periodically snapping in with conversations regarding the happenings at this year's San Diego Comic Con. Quite often the source of a great deal of buzz regarding major films on the horizon, the convention has in the past been something to aspire towards visiting. The con has over the past two years been receiving a certain downgrading, not only in hype. Much more enthusiasm is being spent on a film that's not likely to crack my top 10 at the end of the year, though will likely still be rather exceptional. But there's quite obviously an outside factor in why I'm no longer as interested in the famed con.

I don't watch trailers anymore. I've made a case of avoiding trailers for films I am rather highly anticipating or have heard good things about. Why? Because, for all intents and purposes, I already have enough reason to believe that the films will be good. Marketing is meant to spark audience interest in a film, and it's only for films that I have major doubts on that I make exceptions with. So since I have set a taboo against a pointless form of media corruption, what is the point of going to a convention that specializes in pushing marketing for films that are, for the most part, not even close to release? The closest thing that comes to mind is hot chicks in cosplay, but even that isn't enticing enough.

Box Office Update: Validation of a Fact

If the box office charts are a scale of the population's state of mind, then this year has been as singularly depressing as I've repeatedly said it is. This weekend seemed to be in the bag for "New Year's Eve" and "The Sitter", but the fact of the matter is that at this time of the year, people are more interested in seeing something that's actually good. The obvious brand of pandering comedies have done poorly in this month for the past several years. At this point, people are genuinely interested in seeing the films that are going to be Academy players in a couple of weeks.

Case in point? There's more interest to be found in the independent releases of this week. "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" took in $300,000 this weekend out of four theaters. "Young Adult" brought in $320,000 from eight theaters, which isn't as strong a per theater average as its competitor, but the buzz has been decidedly laid back on this one. This isn't another Oscar play from Jason Reitman, and he's opted out of the circus altogether. And in the meantime, "A Dangerous Method", "The Artist", "My Week with Marilyn", and especially "Shame" have been surging strong in the wings. This weekend proved to be the lowest box office weekend for the entire year, but we're headed towards a more fruitful slate for the endgame of this year.

Box Office Update: "Dawn" & "Muppets" rules dull weekend

The box office saw its first down weekend in a while, which is honestly surprising given the strength of the films in play. I'm not about to call "Twilight" anything special, but it keeps the box office on a steady level. "Breaking Dawn" is irrevocably failing to keep interest even in its own market. "The Muppets" too is having some down times. That debut may have been a bit too frontloaded, with a nearly 60% dip not painting a fortunate future. All the same, the film has the opportunity for a wide berth of repeat viewings in the coming weeks towards the holiday season. And in its defense, this weekend is a busy time for most people, hence why no films came in wide release. It's a bad frame for it. The rest aren't quite worth mentioning.

1. "Breaking Dawn" (Third Weekend; $16.9 million)

2. "The Muppets" (Second Weekend; $11.2 million)

3. "Hugo" (Second Weekend; $7.6 million)

4. "Arthur Christmas" (Second Weekend; $7.4 million)

5. "Happy Feet Two" (Third Weekend; $6 million)

6. "Jack and Jill" (Fourth Weekend; $5.5 million)

7. "The Descendants" (Third Weekend; $5.2 million)

8. "Immortals" (Fourth Weekend; $4.4 million)

9. "Tower Heist" (Fifth Weekend; $4.1 million)

10. "Puss in Boots" (Sixth Weekend; $3 million)

Box Office Update: "Dawn" Breaks B.O. Sanity

I think that if there's anything that is embellished by this weekend, or rather the year as a tedious whole, is that where "Harry Potter" may have some kind of staying power on its side, "Twilight" is an extremely frontloaded vehicle. True, both gain most of their earnings from the opening weekends alone, and they're very similar in that respect. They're also similar in that people outside the franchise don't care too much. "Potter" is done for, and after visiting it again recently, I hate it even more. I know. I clearly have no soul. "Twilight" is also on its way out. Slowly. Very needlessly slowly at that. The first part of their "Breaking Dawn" finale collected just $3 million below the opening "New Moon" mustered. Still a success for such an abysmal franchise.

Talking of abysmal, "Happy Feet Two" managed to fail in a much more obvious manner. Sure, $22 million is somewhat honest for a film opening opposite a vehicle like "Twilight". It's weak compared the grosses the last film mustered, mostly from kids, but also from penguin obsessed girls. Obsession is the main device that fuels the box office season, no matter the demographic. All other candidates this week fell greatly due to the opposition. Still, the weekend was an advance upon last year's pre-Thanksgiving frame.

1. "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" (First Weekend; $139.5 million)

2. "Happy Feet Two" (First Weekend; $22 million)

3. "Immortals" (Second Weekend; $12.2 million)

4. "Jack and Jill" (Second Weekend; $12 million)

5. "Puss in Boots" (Fourth Weekend; $10.7 million)

6. "Tower Heist" (Third Weekend; $7 million)

7. "J. Edgar" (Second Weekend; $5.9 million)

8. "Harold and Kumar" (Third Weekend; $2.9 million)

9. "In Time" (Fourth Weekend; $1.7 million)

10. "The Descendants" (First Weekend; $1.2 million)

For Your Anticipation: Dramatic Back Turn

What could I possibly say against "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1" at this point, beyond that unnecessarily extended title? Quite a lot actually, but I'm not about to repeat my anger at it for nonsensical reasons, like the fact that it's stupid. More of my anger is at how horrible it is, most specifically its message. It's easily disillusioned thousands of teen girls into believing that all they need to be happy is to find a handsome man, which is the worst role model I could imagine for the new generation. This is what we're breeding currently, and it's not great.

Films to See in 2011: November

I'm really down to the wire on this one, but I've been behind on a lot of things. I've been struggling to fit all of the things I want to do, or else need to do, into a schedule that's tight enough for me not to be staring at the ceiling in cynicism. I must admit that this month is hardly as exciting as I would have hoped for it to be. In the first week, all we get is the Brett Ratner comedic venture "Tower Heist" and "A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas", neither of which I feel any temptation to see. I can't say that the following week is much of an improvement either, only providing "Jack and Jill" (Yes, it's an actual film, and not just an abysmal trailer.), and "Immortals", which I am so dismally surprised to see that people are actually looking forward to it.

Not to say there isn't some good with the bad. "Melancholia" comes into limited release on the 11th, so I'd recommend you check that out if you can. There's also "J. Edgar", which opens wide that weekend, and it will likely get favorable Academy attention. I still maintain myself as unmoved, but I'll see it nonetheless. And also worthy of note is "Into the Abyss", Werner Herzog's upcoming documentary which was a sizable hit at Telluride this year. It almost made my list of most anticipated, but just missed out.The following week brings two films I'm not likely to support in any way, but one which I'm likely to see anyway, sadly.

I don't have the same enthusiasm for "Happy Feet Two" that I did for its predecessor, which was overrated at best. This one is simply to make bank, and looks as typical as you could've possibly hoped for. Then there's "Breaking Dawn: Part 1", which I'll only see out of desperation for something to make fun of. "The Descendants" is also going limited that weekend, but I still don't have much interest in that one. Then the following weekend brings Martin Scorsese's "Hugo", animated film "Arthur Christmas", typical British drama "My Week with Marilyn", and the odd bastard of my Telluride by the Sea viewings, "A Dangerous Method". There are three other films coming that weekend, but you'll have to follow after the jump to find them out.

First Look: Twilight: Breaking Dawn

You're starting to look rather pale Mr. Bond. Is that because you are dead?

Anybody who is familiar with this site knows that I absolutely hate Twilight. It's the only film series that I deliberately broke my taboo on vile language for. I keep going to see them, for two main reasons. The first is that you expect reviews, and I absolutely love bashing bad films to pieces. The second is that I maintain a deep hope that this series will not suck some day (no pun intended). It's completely illogical, because I know that it will never happen. You'll never see me going out on a limb to promote a Twilight film for Best Picture, and for good reason. There's only so far I will let my imagination take me. A few images from the set of Breaking Dawn have made their way online via Comingsoon.net, and I have picked only one, because it's the only one I could come up with a joke for. Beyond that, take a look at the Simpsons sketch parodying the films.

The Minor Ensemble of "Twilight: Breaking Dawn"

Start your engines, because you're about the get a massive upload of cast members playing minor roles in Twilight: Breaking Dawn. Good luck finding them all on IMDB. The vampire covens and nomads will consist of: Tracey Heggins, Judi Shekoni, Omar Metwally, Andrea Gabriel, Rami Malek, Angela Sarafyan, Marlane Barnes, Lisa Howard, Patrick Brennan, Noel Fisher, Guri Weinberg, Lee Pace, Toni Trucks, Bill Tangradi, Erik Odom, Valorie Curry, and Joe Anderson. Some of them are legitimately good actors, but I'm not wasting my time telling you who they are. They're all dead to me anyway, since they've decided to appear in this disaster.

Final "Twilight" Dawning in November 2012!

After one and a half years of intense pain and suffering, the end date for the prolonged crime against nature known as Twilight has been set. We have a nice 16 month break before the series returns in Breaking Dawn: Part 1, but the date for Part 2 isn't quite what we've hoped for. Instead of coming out six months later in the summer of 2012, Part 2 is set for release a whole year after the release of Part 1, on November 16, 2012. It seems a peculiar spot, seeing as the film would be more lucrative at a spot during June or July.

So what angle must Summit Entertainment be going for. Put simply, and try to stay with me on this, Oscar potential. I know that it's the last two words that'd come to mind when thinking of The Twilight Saga, but think of what we know of the film. It's being directed by Bill Condon, who has been nominated for the Academy Awards before. Summit is obviously trying to appeal to awards voters, in order to get some sort of credibility before their main source of income is finished. However, even with 10 nominations, I doubt you'll see a Twilight film landing in the Best Picture race any time soon.