Comments on: Where is your messiah now, Internets? http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:16:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Burbanked » That thing you’re smelling is more Transformers movie cheese. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-8609 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 06:15:57 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-8609 [...] First stop on the Transformers Cheese Tour today is the ongoing contest hosted by the movie’s official Web site to cast votes for a line of dialogue to be intoned by the movie’s star Autobot Optimus Prime. Forgetting for the moment that this “viral” tactic was last used by an Internet Sensation Movie Event That Wasn’t, we can also choose to head over to the official Transformers The Movie DVD soundboard, (from the animated 1986 movie) where we are treated to delightful little audio bon-bons of classic lines spoken by our favorite war-waging robots in disguise. [...] […] First stop on the Transformers Cheese Tour today is the ongoing contest hosted by the movie’s official Web site to cast votes for a line of dialogue to be intoned by the movie’s star Autobot Optimus Prime. Forgetting for the moment that this “viral” tactic was last used by an Internet Sensation Movie Event That Wasn’t, we can also choose to head over to the official Transformers The Movie DVD soundboard, (from the animated 1986 movie) where we are treated to delightful little audio bon-bons of classic lines spoken by our favorite war-waging robots in disguise. […]

]]> by: Reba Mac http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-3266 Sun, 03 Sep 2006 01:38:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-3266 Yeah, that Olive Garden story is about ME. And there are things that need to be clarified. I DID not write that story, a reporter who based an entire article on a few things I told him wrote it. How long do you think I'd have a job if that's what was really going on. I simply spoke about the movie to a few of my more enjoyable tables and to people who seemed to be interested. Secondly, as much as you say the internet didn't help this movie..... are you serious? YES, this is a B movie. YES, it was ridiculous and YES there was a lot of talk on the internet. But HELLO! IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RIDICULOUS! I don't know about everyone else, but that is one of the reasons I latched on to this film, because of the fact that very few people understood it. THIS FILM IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. This whole movie was a big fucking joke. The internet buzz DID help this movie, without it, this film would have been nothing. That's another thing that makes this film so special.... the FANS made this movie. Can you think of another movie that has EVER had that effect? NO you can't. And I'm not talking about sequels or prequels. I'm talking about a brand new very low budget movie that had been highly anticipated for MONTHS prior to it's release. This movie is definitly a milestone in American cinema history. Maybe it didn't set the box office on fire, but WHO cares?! Everyone associated with the movie is happy. There were thousands of fans WORLD wide that enjoyed being a part of this film's history. Just because you don't understand that it was a JOKE, doesn't mean you need to take the fans down. Yeah, that Olive Garden story is about ME. And there are things that need to be clarified. I DID not write that story, a reporter who based an entire article on a few things I told him wrote it. How long do you think I’d have a job if that’s what was really going on. I simply spoke about the movie to a few of my more enjoyable tables and to people who seemed to be interested. Secondly, as much as you say the internet didn’t help this movie….. are you serious? YES, this is a B movie. YES, it was ridiculous and YES there was a lot of talk on the internet. But HELLO! IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RIDICULOUS! I don’t know about everyone else, but that is one of the reasons I latched on to this film, because of the fact that very few people understood it. THIS FILM IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. This whole movie was a big fucking joke. The internet buzz DID help this movie, without it, this film would have been nothing. That’s another thing that makes this film so special…. the FANS made this movie. Can you think of another movie that has EVER had that effect? NO you can’t. And I’m not talking about sequels or prequels. I’m talking about a brand new very low budget movie that had been highly anticipated for MONTHS prior to it’s release. This movie is definitly a milestone in American cinema history. Maybe it didn’t set the box office on fire, but WHO cares?! Everyone associated with the movie is happy.

There were thousands of fans WORLD wide that enjoyed being a part of this film’s history. Just because you don’t understand that it was a JOKE, doesn’t mean you need to take the fans down.

]]> by: Bill Reed http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2296 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 01:43:18 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2296 Snakes on a Plane is the new Evil Dead. Truth. Snakes on a Plane is the new Evil Dead. Truth.

]]> by: Tommy Raiko http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2284 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 21:52:23 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2284 > How is it that a movie that only cost $30 million to make, and that debuted at > the top of the box office, is being called a flop? No way this movie doesn’t > make the other $15 million back, and the Internet marketing was cheap, so > they will easily be in profit by the time it goes to DVD. > >No, it didn’t set the box office on fire, and expectations were unrealistically >high. But a flop? That’s overstating things. I agree that declaring SoaP a flop is probably an overstatement right now. And it's true that there are so many revenue streams for movies--DVD sales/rentals; cable & network broadcast; overseas box office & broadcast; airplane versions (well, strike that for SoaP ;-0)--that it's easy to think that this movie will be in the black eventually. But still, it's worth remembering that a movie studio doesn't get every dollar that's spent on ticket sales--the movie theatres get their cut too, of course!--so it's not quite right to think that since the movie cost the studio $30 million to make and it brought in $15 million in ticket sales that the studio only has to make another $15 million in ticket sales. It'll take a little more than that. As for the internet marketing being cheap, that's true. But the thing is that the internet buzz caused New Line to spend more--their display at Comic-Con San Diego musta cost a pretty penny; that customized-voice-mail-from-Samuel-L.-Jackson website feature wasn't cheap, I'm sure; etc.--than they would have otherwise. So, really, the lesson they'll likely learn is that internet buzz doesn't necessarily warrant extra spending to chase mainstream audiences. And that's what makes this whole thing an...interesting...case study. Me, though, I enjoyed the dickens out of this movie... > How is it that a movie that only cost $30 million to make, and that debuted at
> the top of the box office, is being called a flop? No way this movie doesn’t
> make the other $15 million back, and the Internet marketing was cheap, so
> they will easily be in profit by the time it goes to DVD.
>
>No, it didn’t set the box office on fire, and expectations were unrealistically
>high. But a flop? That’s overstating things.

I agree that declaring SoaP a flop is probably an overstatement right now.

And it’s true that there are so many revenue streams for movies–DVD sales/rentals; cable & network broadcast; overseas box office & broadcast; airplane versions (well, strike that for SoaP ;-0)–that it’s easy to think that this movie will be in the black eventually. But still, it’s worth remembering that a movie studio doesn’t get every dollar that’s spent on ticket sales–the movie theatres get their cut too, of course!–so it’s not quite right to think that since the movie cost the studio $30 million to make and it brought in $15 million in ticket sales that the studio only has to make another $15 million in ticket sales. It’ll take a little more than that.

As for the internet marketing being cheap, that’s true. But the thing is that the internet buzz caused New Line to spend more–their display at Comic-Con San Diego musta cost a pretty penny; that customized-voice-mail-from-Samuel-L.-Jackson website feature wasn’t cheap, I’m sure; etc.–than they would have otherwise. So, really, the lesson they’ll likely learn is that internet buzz doesn’t necessarily warrant extra spending to chase mainstream audiences. And that’s what makes this whole thing an…interesting…case study.

Me, though, I enjoyed the dickens out of this movie…

]]> by: Rivkah http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2202 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:44:38 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2202 I liked "Snakes on a Plane." ^_^; I think, as long as you go in knowing it was supposed to be a b-rated horror/comedy, it went fine. It neither went above nor below my expectations. It made me jump, but it was also so cheesy at parts, it made me laugh. A fun movie to watch with an audience. Not a movie I'd watch by myself at home. I liked “Snakes on a Plane.” ^_^; I think, as long as you go in knowing it was supposed to be a b-rated horror/comedy, it went fine. It neither went above nor below my expectations. It made me jump, but it was also so cheesy at parts, it made me laugh.

A fun movie to watch with an audience.

Not a movie I’d watch by myself at home.

]]> by: Julio Diaz http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2197 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:09:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2197 How is it that a movie that only cost $30 million to make, and that debuted at the top of the box office, is being called a flop? No way this movie doesn't make the other $15 million back, and the Internet marketing was cheap, so they will easily be in profit by the time it goes to DVD. No, it didn't set the box office on fire, and expectations were unrealistically high. But a flop? That's overstating things. How is it that a movie that only cost $30 million to make, and that debuted at the top of the box office, is being called a flop? No way this movie doesn’t make the other $15 million back, and the Internet marketing was cheap, so they will easily be in profit by the time it goes to DVD.

No, it didn’t set the box office on fire, and expectations were unrealistically high. But a flop? That’s overstating things.

]]> by: Darren J. Gendron http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2181 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:07:37 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2181 Not a movie blog? Darling, it's your fourth most-used category, and with convetion and San Diego news finally cooling off, it's only going to move up on the Gerald train. Not a movie blog? Darling, it’s your fourth most-used category, and with convetion and San Diego news finally cooling off, it’s only going to move up on the Gerald train.

]]> by: J.D. Lombardi http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2159 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:59:21 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2159 People....especially the people sitting in on the internet, will never truly grasp that they're still just a minority of people. Just because many are loud mouths, it doesn't mean the web is a force to be reckoned with in terms of financial mainstream gains on chatroom/forum/blog hot topics. People….especially the people sitting in on the internet, will never truly grasp that they’re still just a minority of people. Just because many are loud mouths, it doesn’t mean the web is a force to be reckoned with in terms of financial mainstream gains on chatroom/forum/blog hot topics.

]]> by: Edward Liu http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2154 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:46:59 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2154 I think if anything, the relative flop of SoaP is another indicator of the "echo chamber" effect you get when the Internet starts overrating its own sense of self-importance. Add that to the echo chamber that is Hollywood and I think both of 'em got exactly what they deserved. The Olive Garden story also shows what happens when Internet marketing goes wrong. I was sick to hell of SoaP months ago because of all the ludicrous amounts of hype for what was self-admittedly a B-movie. Having a server at a chain restaurant try to plug it to me would have made me even less likely to see it, not more. I think if anything, the relative flop of SoaP is another indicator of the “echo chamber” effect you get when the Internet starts overrating its own sense of self-importance. Add that to the echo chamber that is Hollywood and I think both of ‘em got exactly what they deserved.

The Olive Garden story also shows what happens when Internet marketing goes wrong. I was sick to hell of SoaP months ago because of all the ludicrous amounts of hype for what was self-admittedly a B-movie. Having a server at a chain restaurant try to plug it to me would have made me even less likely to see it, not more.

]]> by: Thomas Gerhardt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2153 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:46:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2153 I think the Entertainment Weekly reviewer summed it up best when he stated that this is the kind of concept Don Simspon would write down on the remains of his blow on a glass table, thinking it's a good idea. I think the Entertainment Weekly reviewer summed it up best when he stated that this is the kind of concept Don Simspon would write down on the remains of his blow on a glass table, thinking it’s a good idea.

]]> by: Ben McCool http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2150 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:30:53 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2150 You've hit the nail right on the head there, Heidi. SoaP seems to have most non-Internet-induced movie-goers feeling about as enthusiastic as Mel Gibson attending a Bar Mitzvah. Although it at least features just as much colourful language. You’ve hit the nail right on the head there, Heidi.

SoaP seems to have most non-Internet-induced movie-goers feeling about as enthusiastic as Mel Gibson attending a Bar Mitzvah.

Although it at least features just as much colourful language.

]]> by: David Cutler http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2149 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:17:35 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/08/22/snakes-on-a-plane-the-internets-have-failed/#comment-2149 That Olive Garden story may in fact be the saddest thing I've ever read. That Olive Garden story may in fact be the saddest thing I’ve ever read.

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