SEPTEMBER, 6


METROID: PRIME

Action Sci-Fi
Cast: Charlize Theron, Joaquin Phoenix, Laurence Fishburne. Voice only: Carla Gugino
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenwriter: Dawson Edwards


Box Office: 311 mill.
Net Gains: 598 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
Ladies and Gentlemen, here we have the new alltimes top 1 highest net gains ever made by a CMP movie! And also the alltimes top 3 box office! When some Seasons ago ‘Justice League 2’ made 588 millions of net gains, I thought that amazing record would stay unbeatable forever. I was wrong. ‘Metroid: Prime’ has broken that unbelievable record generating 10 millions more than ‘Justice League 2’. Specially amazing considering that the third alltimes highest net gains – ‘Silver Sable and the Wild Pack’ – ‘only’ made 420 millions of net gains… With these numbers and the ones made by the first ‘Metroid’, we are facing here what already is the most profitable CMP’s franchise ever… with only two installments!

THE LONELY POLYGAMIST

Drama / Comedy
Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Connelly, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anna Paquin, Max Records, Kate Mara, James Woods
Director: David Fincher
Screenwriter: Chad Taylor

Box Office: 79 mill.
Net Gains: 65 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
This was one of those risky releases that can go one way or another. It has finally gone the right way. And that means that we have not had yet any box office’s flop this Season! More than satisfactory.

DOG DAYS

Action
Cast: Jason Statham, Billy Bob Thornton, Alfred Molina, Jet Li, Leslie Kim, Randall Duk Kim
Director: Simon West
Screenwriter: Steve Connors


Box Office: 113 mill.
Net Gains: 81 mill.

Stark’s Reaction:
If we forget for a second the extraordinary numbers made by ‘Metroid: Prime’ (I can’t!), this is a more than decent release for this less ambitious action film. It completes a memorable week for the Studio!



METROID: PRIME

‘The mega-success of this movie may take some people by surprise. Looking at it, there is no specific reason that justifies why not only this but also the previous installment of this saga have become record-breakers releases. Just like ‘Metroid’, ‘Metroid: Prime’ has a very basic and simple plot. In fact, there’s not a real plotline but just a weak excuse to show a succession of action sequences, futuristic scenarios and sophisticated digital creatures. Characters’ personalities and relationships are only superficially shown. There is no real intrigue or suspense in the story. But, surprisingly, it works in an amazing way. ‘Metroid: Prime’ is the quintessence of what we all know as a ‘popcorn movie’. And let’s face it: there are millions of moviegoers worldwide that only want to go to a movie theatre to have their soda and popcorn and be impressed by an empty but spectacular visual show. And that’s what ‘Metroid: Prime’ is. Nothing more and nothing less. And yes, it works in an amazing way.’
-Roy Winslow

‘The ‘Metroid’ saga is a luxurious one-woman-show put up to make Charlize Theron shine in an splendorous way. And this time she shines doubly, playing not only Samus Aran but also her evil version. Theron’s character in the film is a mix between Lara Croft and Ellen Ripley (specially in ‘Aliens’) and she takes the best of both characters: the sexy sophistication of Croft and the macho toughness of Ripley. The result is a powerful heroine that fulfills the screen not needing any other characters around to carry the weight of the show with her. No doubt, Theron’s creation of Samus Aran deserves a prominent seat at the Hall of Fame of female heroes in Movie History. And I’ll add a curiosity: most of the CMP’s movies at the alltimes top box offices’ list of the Studio are starred by a female hero: ‘Silver Sable and the Wild Pack’, ‘The Ice Princess’ and the two ‘Metroid’ movies. Guys should learn from these girls…’
-Amy Ratched

‘Zack Snyder has taken to extremes with ‘Metroid: Prime’ his very peculiar directional style. He has created an outstanding visual show. And he has proven again that he does not need a real screenplay to build up a big show. Dawson Edwards’ screenplay is a bit more elaborated than Josh Collins’ screenplay for the first ‘Metroid’. But only a bit. Edwards tries to provide Theron’s character with a past, a personality and relationships. But, at the end, it all becomes irrelevant and diluted. ‘Metroid: Prime’ is an extraordinary orgy of CGI, digital generated creatures and unrealistic action. And Snyder feels so comfortable managing all that. Again, Snyder shows that he follows Michael Bay’s conception of what moviemaking is taking Bay’s style to an extreme exaggeration. And looking at the box offices he makes, I am afraid he will give us more of that in the future.’
-Tim Reeve

THE LONELY POLYGAMIST

‘I always have the impulse to praise without further considerations any CMP’s movie that looks for new kind of stories . With this avalanche of superheroes and comic books adaptations coming from in and out of CMP, it is refreshing watching a movie that dares to tell such a different and peculiar story like ‘The Lonely Polygamist’. Chad Taylor has become lately a more and more daring author looking for new material. Looking only at his releases of this Season, films like ‘Man Of Sea’, ‘Frontier’ and this one are highly creative bets trying to explore new narrative territories. And, as I said, that deserves my support beyond any further consideration. Once said so, in ‘The Loyal Polygamist’ I liked more the premise than the development of it. I had the feeling that Taylor has not fully exploited the potential of the story. Some situations, both dramatic and comedic ones, have not been developed as much as they could have been. And that keeps the film at a ‘light’ level in terms of intensity that ends up weakening the appealing originality of the story.’
-Charlie Kiggs

‘Here is a dramedy mostly based on the star power of the cast. It is the wonderful cast of the movie what upgrades this bizarre story from a rarity to a mainstream Hollywood’s production. Roberts, Connelly, Gyllenhaal and Paquin are a wonderful quartet of female talents and the differences and contrast between the four of them is the most appealing element of the film. Great acting works. On the other side, I have always thought that Mark Ruffalo has never reached the needed screen presence to be a top Hollywood star. He is a nice and efficient actor but he does not have that mysterious thing that turns a good actor into a ‘star’. And I keep thinking the same after watching this movie. He is always ok but he is never great. And I have to at least mention Max Records. After ‘Board Breaker’ and this I have no doubt that he has what it takes to become an important young talent in CMP’s world.’
-Jackie O’Callaghan

‘David Fincher keeps trying to find his own place in CMP. Avoiding to be stereotyped as a director specialized in any specific genre, he has made peculiar choices in CMP (‘Saving Samantha Moss’, ‘Chrysalis: Pennies From Hell’, ‘L.A. Wolf’…) that have not worked at the same level. And that has kept him away from being one of the moviemakers working regularly for the Studio. ‘The Lonely Polygamist’ shows the more author-esque side of Fincher, connecting with some of his works out of CMP like ‘The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button’ or ‘The Social Network’. In these movies, Fincher shows how well he manages with hard to tell stories. You have to be a talented director to be able to make an entertaining and solid film with such complex material. Now, we will see if, besides quality, Fincher knows too how to make a blockbuster with that superhero movie it’s been announced he will be making for CMP…’
-Chris Burgess

DOG DAYS

‘Some times I wonder if it’s worth to write a movie review of a film like ‘Dog Days’. What I am sure is that it is a difficult task. Movies like ‘Dog Days’ cannot be judged in terms of cinematic quality, directional virtuosity or talented acting works. It simply does not make sense. ‘Dog Days’ only looks for non-stop action. Chases, gunfights, killing, blood… It’s all there. The film might perfectly be a spin-off of ‘The Mercenaries’, the most entertaining self-parodic action flick in recent years. The only thing you can ask a movie like this is to be entertaining enough. And ‘Dog Days’ is. Looking for anything more than that is just a waste of time.’
-Vic Carter

‘Many CMP’s Seasons ago, Jason Statham tried to become a main action hero in CMP with Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Ace Banner: Return To Fury’. The movie was such a box office’s disaster that Statham’s career as lead star in the Studio instantly died. But, since then, Statham has made intelligent moves to gain his own stardom in CMP playing supporting roles in main sagas of the Studio like ‘Magic-The Gathering’, ‘Dragonlance’ or ‘Star Wars’. Now, he tries again to become a lead star doing what he does best with this new action production. And this time he has hit the target. ‘Dog Days’ is a perfect vehicle for Statham to shine as an action star. Together with Billy Bob Thornton, always efficient playing eccentric and a bit psycho characters, they put up a buddies couple of small time criminals and the chemistry between them works. The action sequences keep a good pace during the whole length of the movie. The popcorns are tasty. And the box office’s numbers confirm the safety of this routine bet.’
-Andrew Stampton

‘Steve Connors has left aside his adaptations of more sophisticated console games to adapt this time a shoot’em up game to make a shoot’em up movie. Using many elements seen before in CMP’s ‘Dauthers Of The Dragon 2’ – the urban beauty of Shanghai, the very cliché Asian villains, some karate and a lot of gunfighting -, Connors and West have built up an efficient action flick as entertaining as forgettable. I prefer Steve Connors when he works on original material - like ‘Invasion’ and its sequel ‘Freedom City’ - or at least when he adapts more demanding games, like past Season’s ‘Heavy Rain’. But it seems like sometimes he just relaxes and feels comfortable making a more routine adaptation work like this. I guess that the Studio is pleased enough as long as it makes a box office as nice as this one has made.’
-Mark Anderson

MIDSEASON’S TOP 5

Season 18 could not be going better. 15 movies released and not a single flop. ‘Metroid: Prime’ becomes a new alltimes top 1 at the highest net gains list. Another three movies have generated more than 200 millions of net gains. 6 movies have made more than 100 million at box office. In conclusion, we are going through a wonderful Season that couldn’t have CMP’s Executive Board happier.

TOP BOX OFFICE

1.METROID: PRIME – 311
2.UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES – 249
3.FIRST FLIGHT – 189
4.GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE – 180
5.THE GOONIES II – 117
TOP NET GAINS

1.METROID: PRIME – 598
2.THE GOONIES II – 222
3.UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES – 215
4.GREEN ARROW: YEAR ONE – 209
5.FIRST FLIGHT – 189