X-Men 3 comes out on May 26 of next year. That’s 163 days away — yes, I just added it to the countdown thingy at left. :) Anyway, the teaser trailer is out. (Hat tip: Derek Walden.) Apparently, the trailer is showing on the big screen with King Kong this weekend. (Source. … More on Kong below.)
UPDATE AFTER WATCHING TRAILER: The Golden Gate Bridge scene looks totally bitchin’. :)
But, um, is Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart’s character) going to die??? It looks like they’re at a funeral for somebody, and he’s conspicuously absent — and while that’s happening, his voiceover is saying, “Great sacrifice will be required.” Also, I understand Jean (a.k.a. Phoenix) coming back from the dead, but what’s she doing with Magneto? (It should be noted that I don’t read the comics, so these may be dumb questions.)
Also newly added to my countdown thingy: Eragon, the movie adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s novel, which I just found out is due out December 15, 2006 — one year from tomorrow. Here’s a cast list, including John Malkovich as the evil King Galbatorix. (Official site, fan site.)
Speaking of movies, King Kong is out today. Some are expecting a $110 million opening weekend. (Wednesday-Sunday being an entirely natural “weekend,” of course.) More here:
With the media and the industry hyping King Kong as the eighth wonder of the box office, Universal Pictures will release the movie at around 7,500 screens across 3,568 locations on Wednesday. …Universal wanted to temper rocketing expectations by holding [Peter] Jackson’s first Lord of the Rings picture, The Fellowship of the Ring, as the benchmark for King Kong. Released on a Wednesday in mid-December 2001, Fellowship grossed $75.1 million in its first five days at 3,359 locations.
“I think it’s fair to compare King Kong to The Fellowship of the Ring,” explained [Universal’s head of distribution, Nicci] Rocco. “This is not the typical sequel. It’s the same time of year, the same director, and the movie has many of the same characteristics.”
With King Kong’s gargantuan hype and in light of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’s better-than-expected $65.6 million opening weekend, expectations outside of Universal have risen to over $100 million for the first five days.
“That is a hefty number,” said Rocco. “There’ve been only the last two Lord of the Rings to do that in December. That’s putting King Kong at a high plateau. That would be fantastic.”
In their first five days, The Return of the King pulled in $124.1 million at 3,703 venues (7,205 screens), and The Two Towers took in $102 million at 3,622 venues (6,633 screens). Like King Kong, all Lord of the Rings pictures had running times of about three hours or more.
This year alone, three movies have earned more than $100 million in their first five days: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith at $172.8 million, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at $119.7 million and War of the Worlds at $100.6 million.
Alas, I wasn’t able to go to a midnight showing for this one, but Becky and I might go see it later today. If not, we’ll probably have to wait till we’re in Phoenix.
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Categories: Uncategorized
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December 14th, 2005 at 7:45:19 am
There’s actually a lot of concern amongst fanboys about X3. There are supposed to be two deaths that “shouldn’t happen” and one depowered mutant. Also a disturbing sex scene, apparently.
Meanwhile, if Jean Grey is on Magneto’s side, it would only be because the Phoenix Force inside her is basically Destruction Incaranate. If you’re not a very good writer, you’ll decide that since Magneto’s bad and Phoenix is bad, they must be on the same side.
December 14th, 2005 at 8:31:17 am
Well, the big concern is with Bryan Singer no longer at the helm, the franchise will rocket to the toilet.
But I was VERY interested in the teaser. I wouldn’t jump to fears quickly except for maybe Kelsey Grammer as Beast.
I dunno. I’ll give them benefit of the doubt.
December 14th, 2005 at 8:57:12 am
Also a disturbing sex scene, apparently.
Wolverine and Jean? Finally? :) Right before she goes over to the Dark Side, as it were?
Personally, I’m just upset about the idea that they’re (apparently, based on my interpretation of the trailer) going to kill off Charles Xavier. I really think the acting talents of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are a huge part of what make the series thus far so compelling, even to people like me who aren’t comic book fans. You’ll note that I don’t have the Superman or Spiderman movies in my countdown box; although I will undoubtedly go see them, they don’t achieve the LOTR/Harry Potter/King Kong-like status of a movie that I’m counting the days to, weeks or months in advance. But X3 gets that status because I think the first two were just so well done… but without Gandalf and Picard, I’m not sure I would care nearly as much.
December 14th, 2005 at 8:57:43 am
P.S. In case anyone is unclear, the above comment about Wolverine and Jean is pure idle speculation on my part — not a spoiler.
December 14th, 2005 at 8:58:42 am
P.P.S. Lojo, I was going to make fun of the phrase “rocket to the toilet” … but then I had a mental image of Moaning Myrtle diving into the toilet in Chamber on Secrets, and I though, yeah, “rocket to the toilet” describes that pretty well. :)
December 14th, 2005 at 10:08:14 am
Why is it in the movies the bad guys always pick landmarks to destroy (Golden Gate Bridge - X-Men, Brooklyn Bridge - Godzilla, Empire State Building - Independence Day). Why can’t the villains in San Francisco destroy the San Mateo Bridge? It would probably be a lot easier to destroy. Stupid villains.
December 14th, 2005 at 10:14:12 am
King Kong is out of his mind trying to fall in love with a beautiful blond. That is as fantastic a story as it can get; the modern version of Romeo & Juliet. I’m not going to see the Kong.
December 14th, 2005 at 10:19:28 am
Sure, Kong has power and a big unit, but a hot blond needs more…money.
December 14th, 2005 at 10:33:36 am
LOL A&A!!!!!!!!! Maybe it picked the wrong blond.
December 14th, 2005 at 10:46:21 am
I am unconvinced on the Death of Xavier bit. It would just be too much of a deviation from the accepted storylines to be allowed. I’m thinking more like a dream sequence. For example, remember Wolverine walking through the ruins in his normal clothes, smoking away without a concern. He looked the same at the funeral.
It could be that Xavier is showing him visions or something.
December 14th, 2005 at 12:39:30 pm
The current X-Men director’s resume includes:
The “pilot” episode of Prison Break.
Red Dragon (sucked)
Rush Hour 2 (didn’t bother seeing it)
The Family Man (Like Frank Capra, if Frank Capra hated humanity)
The best movie under his belt is the first Rush Hour. We shall see…
December 14th, 2005 at 1:22:51 pm
I hope you’re right, Lojo.
December 14th, 2005 at 2:10:05 pm
Man I hate how they throw around how much this movie made or that movie made. Shocking that a movie made in the 90’s made more than Gone With the Wind, shocking I tell you.
I once came across a site that showed movie takes adjusted for inflation. I’d also like to see movie takes adjusted for average ticket price at the time. Those would be useful numbers, and would give us a true “this is the most succesful movie” record holder.
December 14th, 2005 at 2:17:04 pm
Found it!
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
December 14th, 2005 at 3:38:34 pm
Thanks for the shout out.
Personaly, I think the film looks to uphold the standard set by the previous films. I can’t speak for the director’s experience (or lack thereof).
December 14th, 2005 at 9:24:16 pm
Also Mission Impossible 3 and The DaVinci Code released trailers this week. I’ve posted links on my page.
MI3 may be another let-down, but Davinci should be quite good.
December 14th, 2005 at 9:27:14 pm
Yeah. Just saw ‘em both at King Kong. Also Poseidon. May 2006 is going to be NUTS.
December 15th, 2005 at 9:53:50 am
Brendan-
How was King Kong?
December 15th, 2005 at 2:17:27 pm
See here, A&A.