Comments on: Friday movie roundup – July 30

By: Spud

Spud — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:15:55 +0000

Eric I definitely agree that it is a pretty bland title. However I don’t really see that as being an issue at all. First of all, how many people go to a movie solely because of the title? Not many. Secondly, the title being so boring could actually work in their favor. I’m thinking in the context of a group of friends reading the movie listings trying to decide what to go see: “Our choices are Shrek 7, Transformers 4, The Town, Tooth Fairy, Dear John. . .” The Town does kind of stick out because of its simplicity and might lead to someone asking “The Town? What is that about?” Yes, granted it could also lead to them just ignoring it as the list of movies flies by.

By: Eric D. Snider

Eric D. Snider — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:49:27 +0000

My point about the title — which I guess I didn’t make very clearly — is that by itself, without any context, it is a boring and generic title. “The Town.” It tells you nothing. It is not intriguing or memorable. No one will hear “The Town” and think, “Ooh, that sounds like an interesting movie!” They’ll hear “The Town” and think, “Which movie is that again?” The trailer mentions Charlestown, and so one can infer that that’s where “the town” comes from. Maybe the movie addresses the subject in more depth. All I was saying is that the title itself — as a name, as a marketing tool — is dull and ineffective.

By: Spud

Spud — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:38:24 +0000

@Jettboy: “Its called �The Town� for a reason. Good to know. Now how was anyone supposed to know that who isn�t from Boston, unless that is the only expected audience?”

I think they were supposed to, you know, watch the movie. I suspect this information will be revealed at some point.

By: Eric D. Snider

Eric D. Snider — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:02:35 +0000

I’m glad Russ came back to mention again that people who like “Inception” — or, apparently, who even *see* it — are dumb and gullible.

By: Russ

Russ — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:42:55 +0000

The Town looks terrible. I can’t agree with the premise, it sounds impossible, unlikely, and contrived.

Though I guess the same people that have seen this trailer are watching Inception, so naturally they wouldn’t notice or have the ability to realize how absurd The Town will be.

Yea, 300 bank robberies a year? Everyone lives in the same place? The tough bad guy falls in love with the pretty girl that he kidnapped? A 12 year old could come up something less cliche than that.

By: Jettboy

Jettboy — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:16:06 +0000

here is my comment that may or may not have shown up on the “The Town” comments, depending on if I did it right::

Its called “The Town” for a reason. Good to know. Now how was anyone supposed to know that who isn’t from Boston, unless that is the only expected audience? As for the idea that you can’t knock a movie you haven’t seen, again that is a silly argument. The whole idea of a trailer is to bring you in (as it has done for some who have commented), and if they don’t do it correctly then people won’t watch. The fact people are all excited for this means that, well, the movie has been judged by people who haven’t seen it yet. Your a hypocrite unless you watch every movie regardless of your thoughts on the trailer.

Besides, most here are way too critical of the critic. He is known as somewhat of a comedian. Part of his “act” is to find the humor in movies. My guess is he is laughing (as he does) at the deadpan seriousness of the trailer’s defenders. Not that you would know this, but do your homework.

By: sue-bob

sue-bob — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:58:14 +0000

I’d like to nominate US Marshals (1998) for Eric’s bad movies. It’s the sort-of-sequel to great action movie The Fugitive (1992) and it has Tommy Lee Jones reprising his Oscar winning role, but it’s depressing (and kind-of pointless).

There are definitely dumber movies out there, but few I wish I could somehow un-watch.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:27:28 +0000

I never thought I’d disagree with you one one of your Bad Movies, but I do…to an extent, at least. Sure, “Sgt. Pepper’s” is one gigantic clustershmozz of a mess of a film. It’s very weird, and most of the ideas don’t pan out very well. But I never found it boring, or dull. There was enough insanity going on to at least keep you watching, if not totally entertained. And I actualy liked the music, so much so that I tracked down the soundtrack (Steve Martin doing “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is probably my all-time favorite Beatles cover). The whole movie’s a train wreck, sure…but it was never a boring train wreck, at least not to me.