comment #1

D.Z. says ...

I can't imagine Happy Feet being number 1 this weekend. It might be shorter and have a friendlier rating, but there's been no hype for it.(Bad Warner marketing again...)

comment #2

thatmovieguy says ...

HAPPY FEET will open big and fade out by the time CHARLOTTE'S WEB comes along. The audience at the screening last week enjoyed the dancing penguin material at first, but seemed to lose interest as the movie jumped into its second, heavier plot. Not many laughs after the first half-hour or so. The selling point of the movie is its exquisite animation, but even that might not be enough to sustain it at the box office. At the end, the clapping was hesitant and brief. By the way, it was longer than 98 minutes -- with three or four trailers attached, it ran perilously close to two hours, far too long for the younger audience members.

comment #3

Dixon Steele says ...

"I can't imagine Happy Feet being Number 1 this weekend"

That's because you lack a strong imagination.

"It might be shorter and have a friendlier rating..."

An animated penquin movie have a friendlier rating than a Bond film? Really?

"But there's been no hype for it"

No hype except constant TV spots, interviews and media coverage with the star voices, and a $30 million marketing budget.

Sorry, DZ, couldn't resist...

comment #4

jeffmcm says ...

The animation doesn't look especially exquisite from the TV spots.

comment #5

EDouglas says ...

I really don't think Happy Feet will be ahead by that much, Jeffrey. Tracking is notoriously bad for judging kids' films but kids' films also don't always do their most business over opening weekend, especially with the extended Thanksgiving weekend less than a week away. Tracking data, which shows awareness (which is higher for Casino) and interest, isn't able to judge how much of that interest is for opening weekend vs. overall.

In other words, you and Nikki can enjoy the private tracking info you receive, but keep the analysis to the experts who've spent many hours over the years doing so. :)

comment #6

EDouglas says ...

"Not many laughs after the first half-hour or so."

Robin Williams doesn't even show up until a half hour in... Oh.

comment #7

D.Z. says ...

Dixon: "An animated penquin movie have a friendlier rating than a Bond film? Really?"

Well it's not Meet the Feebles, after all...

"No hype except constant TV spots, interviews and media coverage with the star voices, and a $30 million marketing budget."

Isn't that what they said about Ant Bully?

comment #8

Hallick says ...

I'm sorry if the answer is pretty obvious, but whether a Bond film or an animated penquin movie come in at #1 and #2, or #2 and #1...that pretty much means sweet FA, no?

comment #9

EDouglas says ...

"I'm sorry if the answer is pretty obvious, but whether a Bond film or an animated penquin movie come in at #1 and #2, or #2 and #1...that pretty much means sweet FA, no?"

It's the difference between eating the cost of those "#1 Movie in the Country!" TV and newspaper ads that both Sony and WB have waiting in the wings.

comment #10

Ian Sinclair says ...

Man, that tracking is way off. Everyone I know is seeing Bond this weekend and I know a hell of a lot of people. Plus its reviews are out of this world - 91 reviews in at www.rottentomatoes and its still at 96%! Holy cats! Wjat movie this years has had better reviews excepet for THE QUEEN? No wonder it's been added to the Gurus of Gold's Oscar prediction list by Petwr Howell of the Toronto star - what actor this year has had beeter reviews than Craig is getting? Not O'Toole or Whittaker for a start. This could get interesting...

comment #11

Ian Sinclair says ...

Man, that tracking is way off. Everyone I know is seeing Bond this weekend and I know a hell of a lot of people. Plus its reviews are out of this world - 91 reviews in at www.rottentomatoes and its still at 96%! Holy cats! What movie this years has had better reviews? THE QUEEN? No wonder it's been added to the Gurus of Gold's Oscar prediction list (by Peter Howell of the Toronto star) - what actor this year has had better reviews than Craig is getting? Certainly not the "favorites" O'Toole or Whittaker. Things could get interesting...

comment #12

actionman says ...

cant wait to see both of these movies...casino royale looks like a ton of fun and the animation in happy feet looks unfuckingbelieveable

comment #13

christian says ...

gee, does tracking indicate that people might go see both fucking movies?

why do you keep quoting this stat nonsense, jeff? especially when you decry formulaic films? you buy right into the system's failure.

comment #14

Edward Havens says ...

Without previews, Happy Feet is 108 minutes. Depending on which chain you see the film at, you're looking at a complete program time of two hours to two hours and fifteen minutes.

comment #15

D.Z. says ...

So I don't really get Jeff. He complained about the law few Bonds being "too Hollywood", and yet Casino Royale rips off scenes from Speed, Titanic, AND The Day After Tomorrow.