A Pull Quote?

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MCN's David Poland's has not only called Wolverine "a low-rent masterpiece," but says it makes you "ready to sit through the next Origins." But will Fox marketers feel too skittish about hyping "low rent," which obviously suggests a cheesy quality?

Here's the portion of Poland's review that it came from: "Is Wolverine the comic book equivalent of Hal Ashby and Waldo Salt's Coming Home with mutant powers? No. But versus last year's second tier parade of high grossing action - Indy 4, Hulk Incredible, Mummy 3 and Jules Verne's Center of the 3D - it looks like a low-rent masterpiece.

"It's a B movie with 1000 effects shots, pure and simple. Gavin Hood made some good acting choices, moved the pieces around the board effectively, Don McAlpine lit the shit out of it, Harry Gregson-Williams hype scored it (not memorably, but loudly, as this material demands), and after 107 minutes, you are ready to sit through the next Origins, not expecting the world, but not unhappy to be there for the ride.

"What else, exactly, were you expecting?"

Big Hollywood's Steve Mason, by the way, is predicting that Wolverine will pull down $92 million by Sunday night.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 30, 2009 at 10:05 AM

comment #1

Nilco says ...

Who doesn't like low rent?

Fox should pull the quote as is. They seem to embrace the working class with their television line-up. That is, until a sitcom gets all uppity and develops a cult following. Then they bury it.

Posted by Nilco at April 30, 2009 10:24 AM

comment #2

Krillian says ...

"Better than X-Men 3" is what I'm expecting. "Better than all three" is what I'm hoping for.

Posted by Krillian at April 30, 2009 10:34 AM

comment #3

Krazy Eyes says ...

Why use "a low-rent masterpiece" as the pull quote when marketers would have no shame is using just "a . . . masterpiece"?

Posted by Krazy Eyes at April 30, 2009 10:36 AM

comment #4

George Prager says ...

It's the cinematic equivalent of Pruno.

Posted by George Prager at April 30, 2009 10:38 AM

comment #5

Edward says ...

Really enjoyed X-Men 1 & 2. Found 3 mindless fun, but have little interest in this.

Posted by Edward at April 30, 2009 10:38 AM

comment #6

shermy says ...

I'm not sure what everyone was expecting from this film. A B masterpiece sounds like a great fit for the character.

Posted by shermy at April 30, 2009 10:45 AM

comment #7

actionman says ...

Wolverine looks VERY hit-and-miss. I'll see it, but I'm in no rush. And it will definitely do at least $80 million this weekend.

Bring on Star Trek; that film looks pretty awesome.

And I can't believe I'm saying this, as I think McG is an ULTRA-HACK, but why does Terminator: Salvation look completely bad-ass? I am a bit turned off by the PG-13'ing of the franchise, but the film looks huge in scale and Bale looks commanding as ever.

Still, in terms of the big summer movies, nothing matters until June 24th...

Posted by actionman at April 30, 2009 10:47 AM

comment #8

Mark says ...

"Is Wolverine the comic book equivalent of Hal Ashby and Waldo Salt's Coming Home with mutant powers?"

Delete "Is Wolverine" and the "?" and you have your pull quote to publish in the NY Times.

Posted by Mark at April 30, 2009 10:49 AM

comment #9

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

actionman - you really think The Hurt Locker is going to be a big summer movie? Bold call, sir.

Looks like Paramount is again going to have back to back $300M releases. Would be amusing if just like Iron Man last year, Star Trek becomes their top release over the presumed champ with the talking cars...

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at April 30, 2009 11:30 AM

comment #10

actionman says ...

No, Deathtongue. I am expecting The Hurt Locker, based on all of the orgasmic reviews, to be one of the BEST movies of the summer. However, its chances for box office success are slim to none. No big stars and the Iraq-war stigma won't help it.

The movie that drops on 6/24 that I expect to be the BIGGEST movie of the summer is Michael Bay's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Posted by actionman at April 30, 2009 11:34 AM

comment #11

Mark says ...

I don't think McG has directed enough movies to be considered an ULTRA HACK, with all cap + hyphen. 3 movies, only one of which had a script. he's got a couple more projects to prove that he's in Rob Cohen's league of hackdom.

Posted by Mark at April 30, 2009 11:59 AM

comment #12

actionman says ...

Fine, Mark. The dude is a "simple hack." I'll remove the "ultra" and the caps-lock for the time being and use that for when I'm discussing Ratner.

I just think that the Charlie's Angels movies were beyond horrendous, and We Are Marshall was extremely stale. The guy tried cribbing off of Bay in the Angels movies, and then tried to go all soft with his football flick. He's a tool.

I hope I am singing a different tune about ole McG after I walk out of T4.

Posted by actionman at April 30, 2009 12:07 PM

comment #13

Rich S. says ...

I'm sure that Transformers will be a huge hit, but that new trailer they linked to on AICN, with Shia doing the "it's not you, it's me" breakup speech with Bumblebee? Holy mackerel that's awful.

Posted by Rich S. at April 30, 2009 12:11 PM

comment #14

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Uh, well.... irony and sarcasm fail I guess.

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at April 30, 2009 12:12 PM

comment #15

Circumvrent says ...

I do not get the fanboy hate for McG; the Charlie's Angels movies are goofy fun, and even if you're not down with them, how can you hate on a $100 million summer movie with Crispin Glover and Justin Theoreoux? I think T4 will surprise people.

Posted by Circumvrent at April 30, 2009 12:20 PM

comment #16

actionman says ...

I agree with you, Rich. It's beyond silly.

But that scene, and the few others that will be just like it, aren't the reasons why I will see TF2 in the theaters. I am thinking more about the ridiculously large action sequences that will be on display in a manner that only a visual master like Bay could ever create. He sucks with his actors, but not with his toys. And that's what the TF films are: massive toy movies.

Posted by actionman at April 30, 2009 12:20 PM

comment #17

Mark says ...

Deathtongue - you should have went with My Sister's Keeper, since this site has been circle jerking over Hurt Locker since before the war started.

Can't be too dramatic w/ sarcasm. John McCain learned this when he suggested that the Middle Class ended at $5million in income. This sarcastic number wasn't too high, it was too low. He should have suggested $30 million.

Posted by Mark at April 30, 2009 12:20 PM

comment #18

Circumvrent says ...

That said, I need to see Wolverine like I need a third nut.

Posted by Circumvrent at April 30, 2009 12:20 PM

comment #19

actionman says ...

And Circumvent, fine, I will concede that the casting of Glover and Theroux earns McG some points.

Posted by actionman at April 30, 2009 12:22 PM

comment #20

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

Mark - that is exactly why I went with it. The obvious joke seemed to be My Sister's Keeper. I should have known subtly would be lost on anyone creaming their pants over the giant robots thing....

Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie at April 30, 2009 1:09 PM

comment #21

Gordon27 says ...

Wow, so it's better than 'Indy 4'? High praise indeed.

Posted by Gordon27 at April 30, 2009 2:31 PM

comment #22

Nick says ...

Anyone who compliments the acting in Wolverine has something wrong with them.

A low rent masterpiece would be Transformers. Wolverine is utter garbage. Poorly acted, terrible script, completely unfaithful to the source material...

I could go on.

Posted by Nick at April 30, 2009 3:25 PM

comment #23

berkguru says ...

actionman this is a level right?

Posted by berkguru at April 30, 2009 3:26 PM

comment #24

berkguru says ...

I mean you are putting us on right? You are excited about Transformers 2?

Posted by berkguru at April 30, 2009 4:07 PM

comment #25

BurmaShave says ...

I don't even think Poland meant his review to be as positive as it was. It's amazing how little control he has as a writer.

Posted by BurmaShave at April 30, 2009 4:32 PM

comment #26

Daniel Zelter says ...

"only a visual master[bator] like Bay"

Posted by Daniel Zelter at April 30, 2009 7:04 PM

comment #27

Scott Mendelson says ...

Wolverine is inexcusably boring and lifeless, one of the most rote and assembly-line tent pole pictures in a long long time.

http://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.com/2009/04/review-wolverine-2009.html

Scott Mendelson

Posted by Scott Mendelson at April 30, 2009 7:45 PM

comment #28

Gordon27 says ...

You know, I believe in being fair, so I have to say, DZ just played you, actionman. Well played, DZ.

Posted by Gordon27 at April 30, 2009 10:22 PM

comment #29

Gordon27 says ...

(I mean, on the sliding scale that must be applied to DZ, that was quite witty.)

Posted by Gordon27 at April 30, 2009 10:22 PM

comment #30

Markj74 says ...

@actionman - Michael Bay is NOT a visual master. I understand you like his movies but come on.

Posted by Markj74 at May 1, 2009 4:14 AM

comment #31

Markj74 says ...

As for David Poland, i'm pretty sure that the opening title sequence of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is better than all of Wolverine.

Posted by Markj74 at May 1, 2009 4:15 AM

comment #32

Jack says ...

After all is said and done you still need proper sound proofing in order to film any type of indoor movie. And nothing beats Green Glue for the low frequency sounds especially when you seal the walls with a proper acoustic caulk. The other issue is to control the sound in the room with acoustical panels so that the noise does not vibrate and gets recorded properly.

Posted by Jack at December 28, 2009 9:35 AM

comment #33

acaiberry says ...

I just think that the Charlie's Angels movies were beyond horrendous, and We Are Marshall was extremely stale.
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Posted by acaiberry at February 4, 2010 5:55 AM

comment #34

shahriar khan says ...

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comment #35

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comment #36