All Together Now: "Well, DUH."

I'm sure that you are not wondering which movie claimed victory at the box office this weekend, are you?  Since you must have access to the Internet in order to be reading this post in the first place, that rules out any chance that you've been living under a rock or in deep in a jungle, and therefore you've already heard that Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has earned more than $201 million since its debut on Wednesday. Its Friday through Sunday ticket sales of $112 million beat out its closest competitor (The Proposal, with about $18.5 million over the weekend) by an absolutely huge margin. 

If you read my review then you know how displeased I was with this sequel, but it's not like I doubted that it would be an enormous money-maker.  And as Locke pointed out, we really should've figured that Michael Bay would go ridiculously over the top in every way, shape and form this time around -- what else was he supposed to do when given a $200 million budget to play with?  What I wasn't prepared for, however, was to learn that Transformers: ROTF's five-day take was the second largest of all time, behind only The Dark Knight.  You know, The Dark Knight, the Academy Award®-winning movie that audiences and critics alike agreed was actually great?  In a fair and just and rational world, Transformers 2 and The Dark Knight would never be mentioned in the same breath let alone be vying with each other for any sort of box office record, so allow me to take a few moments and weep.

[I weep.]

I'm not going to be able to stop the flow of tears this morning I'm afraid, because there's another Transformers on the horizon and of course The Powers That Be want it in the can as soon as possible.  They're talking summer 2011, and I don't know about you, but I'm not sure I'll be recovered by then.

So let's change the subject and check on the status of other movies playing in theaters this weekend, shall we?  The Hangover lingers; now in its fourth week, it earned another $17.2 million.  Up swapped places with Star Trek to reclaim the Highest Grossing Film of 2009 title, its $13 million haul over the last three days helped it to pass the $250 million mark in total ticket sales.  Alas, Transformers 2 will be eclipsing that amount very shortly... d'ah!!!  I can't take it!!  Up is so much better!!!  Breathe, Erika, breathe...

The only other new title to arrive at cineplexes this weekend was My Sister's Keeper, which came in fifth place with $12 million. 

I am pretty sure that the big bad transforming alien robots will continue to dominate the theatrical landscape until Harry Potter shows up in two and a half weeks and pushes them out of the way with a flick of his wand.  Poor Harry now has to not only save the wizarding world from He Who Must Not Be Named, but he also has to save us mere Muggles from the likes of Skids and Mudflap.   July 15 can't arrive soon enough.

Comments

[Katt]

Aw Come on! It wasn't that bad! Although I must agree Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen is nothing comparable to Dark Night and it should not be expected to win any honor recognitions with the Academy.

What else can you really expect about giant alien robots that transform into cars, bikes, planes and household electronic devices? Nothing deep there, I'm afraid.

[Locke Peterseim]

Katt, it's not the lack of depth we're all complaining about--it's the lack of QUALITY. The shoddy plot and characters, the way even the idea of FUN is relentlessly beaten out of the film and out of us film goers. For all the money and all the cool effects, it's a terribly made film. For adults OR kids.

[Keith Lindberg]

Ericka and Locke,
Did you really write "But the point most of us are trying to make is that we like big, loud, fun summer escapism, but not poorly made summer escapism--great effects, but sloppy, lazy storytelling and characters. And just because it looks cool and gives you a momentary rush, doesn't mean it's good for you or your mind or your artistic taste buds."?
Are you really presuming to speak on behalf of "most of us?"
If you do have some sort of credentials to speak on behalf of all mankind I would more than a little interested to know what they are. I suggest you contain your personal comments in blogs as just that, your personal opinions, and leave the rest of us to blog our own opinions and feelings.
BTW not every movie should be trying to tell you the true meaning of life, they are actually just a way of escaping the everyday hum drum of life, I think.
I wish you well on your quest of demanding that all movies should be "good for you or your mind or your artistic taste buds."?

Lindy

[Locke Peterseim]

No, Lindy -- I meant most of the CRITICS who have hated or at least disliked Transformers 2. Not "all mankind."

Sure I was generalizing on the behalf of the critics, but the majority of the reviews seem to get at the idea that it's not big, silly, fun summer movies they dislike, just very badly made ones."

And frankly, yeah, I'm getting pretty sick of the whole lazy "not every movie should be trying to tell you the true meaning of life, they are actually just a way of escaping the everyday hum drum of life" excuse. Die Hard? Raiders of the Lost Ark? Jaws? These films are purely for entertainment purposes, NO deep meaning involved. Except they were GOOD, well-made entertainments.

(If you want more recent examples, I'll throw in Kill Bill Vol. 1, Casino Royale, Hellboy, Cloverfield, Iron Man, and even Wanted from last year. Heck, even last year's Speed Racer was a better-made, more interesting and entertaining film than TF:ROTF)

I love junk food and junk food movies--I don't believe they have to be good for you or artistically enriching. They just have to be the best entertainment they can be. In my opinion, Transformers 2 was NOT.

[Jason]

Okay Locke, you've crossed a line. Speed Racer? REALLY???