Tuesday
Jan202009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 5:36AM This Week on Home Video: 'Saw,' 'Max Payne,' and a Bunch of Flops
It's a curious week of DVD releases. There are sure plenty of choices, but with two exceptions, I'm not sure
any of these movies even made money despite the fact that this list isn't cluttered with a lot of unfamiliar
names. Maybe this is just Also-Ran Tuesday and nobody sent me that memo.
Saw V
I had a little bit of hope for the most successful current horror franchise after the fourth installment. It
wasn't great but I felt that at least it was still moving forward. Or some direction. It definitely wasn't
stuck in a creative rut, which limits so many series in this genre.
The fifth one, however, is the worst movie they've made. I think some of the reason for that is now everyone
involved with the glory days of the films is on to other things. Wan and Whanel pick up checks but they
aren't making these movies now, and Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed the past three movies, has bounced.
Only the writers Dunstan and Melton remain, and they only came aboard at Saw IV. If the sixth movie
doesn't move the needle, it's probably time to hang it up.
(Here's our review)
Max Payne
This video game could have made an interesting movie, but somewhere along the way, Max Payne got
tired of trying and decided it was best just to shoot the hell out of everything. Obviously, a first person
shooter game is going to have some of those theatrics, but Max Payne is thematically very dark as a
game, and for 20 minutes or so, the movie is, too.
This has the markings of a movie that changed a lot after the fact. It seems like test audiences dictated
what the movie should be like. Of course, the problem with that is you lose consistency and clarity trying
to please everyone. And those are two things this movie definitely lacks.
(Our review of Max Payne)
City of Ember
Now that we've gotten the two profitable movies out of the way, let's run down the list of movies still very
much in the red. A good place to start is with one of 2008's biggest flops, the above average City of
Ember.
Perhaps audiences are no longer into young adult novel adaptations in general, but they sure weren't
into this one at all. A $55 million movie that made $16 million worldwide, Ember deserves to be
discovered on DVD, and it could sure use the extra cash. Give it a chance if you haven't; it's pretty
worthwhile.
(This is where our review is)
The Express
For the life of me, I can't figure out why The Express bombed so miserably. Is it appreciably better
or worse than any of the other inspiration sports movies in recent years? No, not really. But it was the
biggest bomb among them, which I guess is attributable to being a lesser known sports story.
Former Syracuse University running back Ernie "The Express" Davis was the first black Heisman Trophy winner,
and while that's a great story - one that gets deeper and broader the more we get into it - but it's a 40-
year-old story that may not register anymore since college football is so much more integrated. There's a
very good performance by Dennis Quaid here, too, by the way.
(Our review)
Igor
This one's a curiosity. I think I'm one of a handful of critics that actually enjoyed it. Perhaps that's
because we're spoonfed so many animated movies that are so similar and friendly that once in a while, it's
nice to see something that offers us something a little different and darker. It's got a good cast of voice talent and its sense of the macabre was well-placed.
Next month's Coraline might prove to be that perfect antidote, but in a Fractured Fairy Tales
sort of way, I liked the chances Igor took.
(RVWED)
Henry Poole is Here
It takes a Herculean effort for a movie released in 500 theaters or more to stop at under $2 million. That's what Henry Poole did this past summer, and one of the major reasons why was the marketing. This is one of those movies that was hurt by the marketing when it so desperately needed to be helped by it. The trailer doesn't really explain what the movie's about and leaves you guessing about whether or not it's even a comedy. It's not a good sales tool, and as a result, people weren't curious enough about the Luke Wilson movie to give it a shot.
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Because of a funky release schedule that was more a road show than anything else, people who wanted to
see Repo! didn't get the chance. I missed at least a couple of chances just because of when
the screenings were held. But it kind of seems like the November release of the film was only to generate top-of-mind awareness for
the DVD, which arrives roughly 60 days later. The strategy might pay off or it might not. But I think the
big mistake might have been limiting the road show. Why will people in cities where the film received no
previous publicity even know to put this one on their list? We'll review it later today and let you know.
Saw V
I had a little bit of hope for the most successful current horror franchise after the fourth installment. It
wasn't great but I felt that at least it was still moving forward. Or some direction. It definitely wasn't
stuck in a creative rut, which limits so many series in this genre.
The fifth one, however, is the worst movie they've made. I think some of the reason for that is now everyone
involved with the glory days of the films is on to other things. Wan and Whanel pick up checks but they
aren't making these movies now, and Darren Lynn Bousman, who directed the past three movies, has bounced.
Only the writers Dunstan and Melton remain, and they only came aboard at Saw IV. If the sixth movie
doesn't move the needle, it's probably time to hang it up.
(Here's our review)
Max Payne
This video game could have made an interesting movie, but somewhere along the way, Max Payne got
tired of trying and decided it was best just to shoot the hell out of everything. Obviously, a first person
shooter game is going to have some of those theatrics, but Max Payne is thematically very dark as a
game, and for 20 minutes or so, the movie is, too.
This has the markings of a movie that changed a lot after the fact. It seems like test audiences dictated
what the movie should be like. Of course, the problem with that is you lose consistency and clarity trying
to please everyone. And those are two things this movie definitely lacks.
(Our review of Max Payne)
City of Ember
Now that we've gotten the two profitable movies out of the way, let's run down the list of movies still very
much in the red. A good place to start is with one of 2008's biggest flops, the above average City of
Ember.
Perhaps audiences are no longer into young adult novel adaptations in general, but they sure weren't
into this one at all. A $55 million movie that made $16 million worldwide, Ember deserves to be
discovered on DVD, and it could sure use the extra cash. Give it a chance if you haven't; it's pretty
worthwhile.
(This is where our review is)
The Express
For the life of me, I can't figure out why The Express bombed so miserably. Is it appreciably better
or worse than any of the other inspiration sports movies in recent years? No, not really. But it was the
biggest bomb among them, which I guess is attributable to being a lesser known sports story.
Former Syracuse University running back Ernie "The Express" Davis was the first black Heisman Trophy winner,
and while that's a great story - one that gets deeper and broader the more we get into it - but it's a 40-
year-old story that may not register anymore since college football is so much more integrated. There's a
very good performance by Dennis Quaid here, too, by the way.
(Our review)
Igor
This one's a curiosity. I think I'm one of a handful of critics that actually enjoyed it. Perhaps that's
because we're spoonfed so many animated movies that are so similar and friendly that once in a while, it's
nice to see something that offers us something a little different and darker. It's got a good cast of voice talent and its sense of the macabre was well-placed.
Next month's Coraline might prove to be that perfect antidote, but in a Fractured Fairy Tales
sort of way, I liked the chances Igor took.
(RVWED)
Henry Poole is Here
It takes a Herculean effort for a movie released in 500 theaters or more to stop at under $2 million. That's what Henry Poole did this past summer, and one of the major reasons why was the marketing. This is one of those movies that was hurt by the marketing when it so desperately needed to be helped by it. The trailer doesn't really explain what the movie's about and leaves you guessing about whether or not it's even a comedy. It's not a good sales tool, and as a result, people weren't curious enough about the Luke Wilson movie to give it a shot.
Repo! The Genetic Opera
Because of a funky release schedule that was more a road show than anything else, people who wanted to
see Repo! didn't get the chance. I missed at least a couple of chances just because of when
the screenings were held. But it kind of seems like the November release of the film was only to generate top-of-mind awareness for
the DVD, which arrives roughly 60 days later. The strategy might pay off or it might not. But I think the
big mistake might have been limiting the road show. Why will people in cities where the film received no
previous publicity even know to put this one on their list? We'll review it later today and let you know.
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