Movies in General

I watched the trailer for Sky Hunter again and what struck me is that the cuts in the trailer seem to be about the same length as the cuts in the actual film.

For a trailer, such rapid cutting works: it presents a lot of stuff in a short space and builds to a sharp crescendo over a couple minutes. For a film, I don't think the same technique works. I haven't seen many Chinese films, but I know this is a trend in American cinema (see: 'Bayhem') and I don't like it there either. In Sky Hunter it robs the viewer of the opportunity to appreciate the grace and power of the aircraft.

Compare the aerial bits from the Sky Hunter trailer (which, again, is fairly representative of the actual film) with these aerial bits from Les Chevaliers du Ciel. It's a completely different experience.

Sky Hunter doesn't seem to be doing too great at the Chinese box office either. This ain't no Wolf Warrior.

Blade Runner 2049 seems to have met and exceeded stratospheric expectations. I can't wait to see it!

Anyone who hasn't seen the original 1982 film should really check it out. It's a landmark piece of cinema. The 'Final Cut' is the version you're looking for.

Also, trailer for Pacific Rim Uprising. Fingers crossed this one lives up to the original also:

Bladerunner 2049 is proving the studios wrong on how Rotten Tomatoes is ruining Hollywood's profits. Great reviews but the box office is going the opposite direction. Only $31 million opening weekend. That's going to be about maybe $100 million when it finishes its run in the theaters. The movie cost $155 million to make not including marketing costs which usual is times two to get the total. They're probably hoping on international meaning China because everyone else totaled together will not make up the difference. I haven't seen it yet but I saw a clip that looks to take place soon after Ford and Gosling's characters meet and they're in room up high in a high-rise looking out the window where Ford spots that Gosling has been followed. In front of the window are a row of miniature statues of terracotta warriors. I hope they don't think that will draw Chinese to watch it.

(I haven't seen it)

One element of the first film's dystopia was the presence and even dominance of Asian and specifically Japanese elements and symbols, reflecting the anxiety in America at the time regarding Japan's dynamism. I would expect the theme to be carried on in the sequel, but with a stronger emphasis on Chinese rather than Japanese symbols (not that many would be able to tell the difference).

I did not see very much direct Chinese symbolism which might entice a greater Chinese audience.
However I saw a Atari sign which I thought rather strange. I think there was a Pan Am logo as well.
Basically the movie was very slow with a lot of dialogue which required a bit of thought.
On the whole the movie did not li e up to my expectations.

AssassinsMace said:

Bladerunner 2049 is proving the studios wrong on how Rotten Tomatoes is ruining Hollywood's profits. Great reviews but the box office is going the opposite direction. Only $31 million opening weekend. That's going to be about maybe $100 million when it finishes its run in the theaters. The movie cost $155 million to make not including marketing costs which usual is times two to get the total. They're probably hoping on international meaning China because everyone else totaled together will not make up the difference. I haven't seen it yet but I saw a clip that looks to take place soon after Ford and Gosling's characters meet and they're in room up high in a high-rise looking out the window where Ford spots that Gosling has been followed. In front of the window are a row of miniature statues of terracotta warriors. I hope they don't think that will draw Chinese to watch it.

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My guess is that the $31million BO might be what the company was expecting. This is because they decided to release the movie in early October, which is in the middle of nowhere in terms of Hollywood movie season. If they had a higher expectation, they would have released it in the summer or waited until the holiday season, especially when the movie has two big names attached to it.

vesicles said:

My guess is that the $31million BO might be what the company was expecting. This is because they decided to release the movie in early October, which is in the middle of nowhere in terms of Hollywood movie season. If they had a higher expectation, they would have released it in the summer or waited until the holiday season, especially when the movie has two big names attached to it.

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Well that would've been figured out when they planned the budget. If the movie cost $155 million plus, they were expecting more money opening weekend. How they figure it is opening three-day weekend numbers times by three and that's where the total usual lands around. So they were expecting at least $52 million opening weekend. The summer is tricky because movies have to compete with other blockbusters for the younger audiences that don't remember the movie. From what I heard of the pacing of Bladerunner 2049 it would've probably have done worse in the summer. I'm probably seeing it this afternoon. I hope I don't fall asleep.

So I saw Blade Runner 2049. I agree with the general consensus: that it is a visually remarkable film that extends and deepens the world established by the first film. It honours the first film's legacy and themes without being a slavish rehash. Overall, it is a worthy successor to the original film -- and that in itself is quite remarkable.

By modern standards it is a very slow film, almost a tone poem. Every beautiful frame lingers on the screen to be savoured. There is action in the film, but anyone who goes in expecting an 'action film' is sure to be disappointed.

My favourite aspect of the film was K's AI girlfriend, Joi, and the film's ambiguity regarding her status. Is her 'love' for K merely an illusion, the result of her programming? Or has she grown beyond her programming? Does it even matter? If the mimic is good enough, what distinguishes it from the genuine article? These questions are all connected to the deeper questions that have dominated both films: what is it about humanity that makes us worthy of moral consideration, and what do we do when these qualities start showing up in our creations? These themes will be familiar to those steeped in science fiction literature or anime, but to be attached to a high budget cinematic production, realised in a world of impeccable production values, is something else.

A short scene from the film:

Lethe said:

I watched the trailer for Sky Hunter again and what struck me is that the cuts in the trailer seem to be about the same length as the cuts in the actual film.

For a trailer, such rapid cutting works: it presents a lot of stuff in a short space and builds to a sharp crescendo over a couple minutes. For a film, I don't think the same technique works. I haven't seen many Chinese films, but I know this is a trend in American cinema (see: 'Bayhem') and I don't like it there either. In Sky Hunter it robs the viewer of the opportunity to appreciate the grace and power of the aircraft.

Compare the aerial bits from the Sky Hunter trailer (which, again, is fairly representative of the actual film) with these aerial bits from Les Chevaliers du Ciel. It's a completely different experience.

Click to expand...

Impressive! Where can I watch this movie?