Seriously, guys

[Senor JabbaJohnL]

There are a few possible reasons for its failure, I think.

It seems like they were marketing it as a family film by the makers of The Matrix, which doesn't really give off a family film vibe. And then in the previews, though, SR doesn't seem to have that vibe either, it seems more dark and "adult" from the tone and whatnot. To me, anyway. So from the small amount of marketing, it's confusing as to whom they're targeting this movie.

Second, does anyone (aside from anarky and mabudon) actually give a shit about the old show anymore? It's not really part of the mainstream of popular culture these days, apart maybe from a spoof or reference in a commercial here or there, but not even in the past few years. In my younger days, I saw the Dexter's Lab episode "Mock 5" multiple times and had no idea until much later that it was a spoof of Speed Racer. In other words, I had no idea what the fuck Speed Racer was, and I'm betting today's kids are the same. So the kids didn't see it, I bet, or ask their family to go.

I think the movie was mainly for the scattered few (in my opinion) fans of the old show. Reading things about the trailer, those of you who got excited for it did so mainly because it seemed like it was being true to the show in a lot of ways. Seeing it from an "outsider's perspective," so to speak, it just looks like some weird-ass racing movie; the Spritle and Chim Chim reference doesn't do anything for me, for instance.

As Double G said, a lot of people didn't care about Iron Man, either. But the advertising shows what it needs to: a badass guy in a badass iron suit, kicking ass. So I saw this movie and not Speed Racer (but I wasn't paying, so whatever). Iron Man simply looked more like a movie I would want to see as opposed to Speed Racer.

[Ran]

It seems like they were marketing it as a family film by the makers of The Matrix, which doesn't really give off a family film vibe. And then in the previews, though, SR doesn't seem to have that vibe either, it seems more dark and "adult" from the tone and whatnot. To me, anyway. So from the small amount of marketing, it's confusing as to whom they're targeting this movie.

I saw some ads but not nearly as many as Iron Man. There was a 5 minute "special" that was featured on DirecTV/Tivo. The trailers were interesting, but I just don't go to the theater anymore. If I were to see a movie, this probably would have been the one.

They didn't advertise the Speed Racer game at all, either. I didn't know about it until I happened to see it in Best Buy. There were plenty of ads for the Iron Man game.

Second, does anyone (aside from anarky and mabudon) actually give a shit about the old show anymore?

Anymore? I never watched it in the first place.

[Double_G]

They didn't advertise the Speed Racer game at all, either. I didn't know about it until I happened to see it in Best Buy. There were plenty of ads for the Iron Man game.

That reminds me. I think every copy of the "Iron Man" game should be destroyed. The game sucks ass. I am really glad I only rented it instead of buying it. I'm just dumbfounded how such a shitty game could come from such a kick-ass movie.

And on the "Speed Racer" game, I might have been interested in playing it. I dig racing games. However, they didn't make it for Xbox 360. Another sleight against its marketing.

[anarky]

It's only on the Wii (and a toned-down version on the DS). Which is, for me, a refreshing change, since there are so many games I'd be interested in that they make for every system but the Wii. It looks like a good racing game, and it actually uses the Wii Wheel that only came out a week or two earlier!

JJL, you're pretty dead on. There aren't a lot of fans left, and most of those who are are the same stupid fanboys who live in their parents' basements. That doesn't mean it can't appeal to a wider base if people are properly informed. I imagine that The Spirit is going to kick some fucking ass in terms of box office come December, yet the bulk of it's from the 1940s, a new story hasn't been published in like thirty years, and I'll bet there are only four of us here (myself included) on this site of geeks who might have ever read a Spirit story (and, then, probably only the ones reprinted in Graphics and Sequential Art). Same thing with Dick Tracy. A lot of people who never cared one bit about the comic strip saw that movie and loved it. Hell, I bet most kids probably didn't know who the hell Iron Man was until the marketing blitz hit a few months ago; he's never been a kids' favorite.

[vynsane]

I imagine that The Spirit is going to kick some fucking ass in terms of box office come December, yet the bulk of it's from the 1940s, a new story hasn't been published in like thirty years

false.

[Diabolical]

The new Spirit series by Darwin Cooke was one of the most highly praised series of last year.
I bought the first issue and wasn't impressed. Felt like a poor Batman:TAS story.

[anarky]

I stand corrected. I figured anything by Eisner was pretty sacrosanct, and no one would touch it. Except maybe Miller, who's stylistically light-years away from Eisner, but the two seemed to have a great deal of mutual respect, and, IIRC, Eisner was aware Miller wanted to direct The Spirit.

In any case, if I hadn't heard of it, I can guarantee you Johnny Doesn't-Ever-Go-In-A-Comic-Store won't be aware of it.

Aragones and Evanier. Huh. I might have to check that out. They are the shiznit.

[Double_G]

I don't think "The Spirit" will fail. Want to know why? They're going to advertise it "From Frank Miller, the creator of 300"

They're going to rely on 300's success to advertise it, which could work, since people went ape-shit over that movie.

[Diabolical]

"From Frank Miller, the creator of 300 and SIN CITY"

[Double_G]

Yeah, they'll say that too. But "Sin City" wasn't as big a hit as "300" was.

[anarky]

True, but this was by the creators of The Matrix and V for Vendetta. (Probably not a good idea to mention the Matrix sequels, so I hear.)

[Double_G]

True, but this was by the creators of The Matrix and V for Vendetta. (Probably not a good idea to mention the Matrix sequels, so I hear.)

Alan Moore created "V for Vendetta". The Wachowski's just gave us a watered down version.

[anarky]

As a pretty big Alan Moore fan, I've got no qualms about the movie having a better story (and this isn't something I decided in the past week). It was much tighter and self-contained. Moore himself has admitted that he had no idea where the hell the story was going or how long it would last, so I'm not sure why he got his panties in a bunch over the adaptation not being a word-for-word translation of the comic. (There are a lot of subplots that don't go anywhere.)

Does this diminish my love for the comic? No. But, in two hours, the movie works better.

[mabudon]

Anarky- you watch that dvd yet?? I gotta know how excited to get

[anarky]

Not yet. I figured Mrs A would want to see it, too, and she got into "I wanna watch all these fucking reruns on Soap Network, and can't accept that nothing happens on soap operas" mode. If she doesn't watch them this afternoon or tonight, I'm watching it by my lonesome.

Also, I hope JJ doesn't mind, but here's quotes of a PM he sent me and his latest post elsewhere:

You were right..... you were right.... tell your sister.... you were.... riiiiiiiight.

About Speed Racer.

JR

I can only concur with El Chuxter, this was an OUTSTANDING movie.

Let me clarify: I have NO previous Speed Racer experience. I never watched the cartoon, I have no previous knowledge of the show and hence had NO expectations of anything... until I read Chuxter's review.

I saw this movie with my wife, who knew less about Speed et al than even myself. We BOTH agreed that it was excellent, and have already made up our minds to buy it on Blu-Ray as soon as we can.

In all honesty, there have been VERY few fantasy movies that thrilled me as much as Speed Racer in my adult life - in fact I can think of only one other one off the top of my head: The Matrix.

I give Speed Racer my highest possible recommendation.