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Eric is Trapped

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    Weekend #s STB 59.6M, Pets 29.3M, GB and LO 21.6M, IA5 21M

    in Numbers and Data

    Posted

    1 minute ago, grim22 said:

    Deadline's article title is the weirdest instance of spin ever

     

    ‘Star Trek Beyond’ Launches To $59.6M, Third Best Debut In The Series 

     

    This is right up there with this gem from Allegiant 's OW

     

    It posted the third highest preview number in the series. 

     

    Both these series have 3 movies in them.

    Well you can argue for Trek that there's also the TOS movies and the TNG movies.

    • Like 1

    CoolEric's Cool 25: My Most Meaningful Films

    in Archived Lists and Countdowns

    Posted · Edited by CoolEric258

    #7

    Forrest Gump

    Directed by Robert Zemeckis

    "Life is like a box of chocolates. You don't know what you're going to get."

    forrest-gump-poster1.jpg

    Box Office: $330.3M Domestic Lifetime, $677.9M WW

    IMDB Summary: Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him.

    Why it's so Meaningful to Me: If there's one thing that I strongly believe in, it's the idea of the "ripple effect". The idea that one's actions impacts another person's actions or an event, and those said actions or that said event impacts another person's actions or another event, and so on and so forth. And one of the key cogs to that thinking of mine comes from Robert Zemeckis' fantastic film, Forrest Gump. The film looks at one man, a simple man, and his life story, and it's learned that what he does changes the face of America and many key elements of history.

     

    Forrest teaches Elvis some dance moves, becomes a college football superstar, takes part in one of the deadliest wars, helps with the end of Sino-American tensions, reveals the crookedness of president Richard Nixon, and creates icons of pop culture that was famous in the 60s and today. It all was done by him, as he influences a good chunk of history, specifically at a time when ideals, ideas, and opinions were radically changing, due to the counterculture movement and the age of rebellion. And that's excluding what he does to the people around him. There's his friendship with Bubba, whose legacy and advice has led to his family as well as Forrest as multimillionaires. There's his friendship with Lt. Dan, who begins to now appreciate the importance of a long life and humility thanks to Forrest saving his life. And of course, there's his friendship with Jenny. While Forrest lived with a supportive and strong-willed mother, Jenny lived with an abusive and alcoholic disgrace of a father. The movie follows the eyes of not just Forrest, but Jenny, and how their lives intertwine in one of the most unique time periods in American history; a time when authority was questioned, and the standard way of living was fought against by the new generation. It leads to scenes of tragedy and depression as she goes through this self-destructive lifestyle, on the brink of falling apart. And yet one thing glues her together and keeps her strong: Forrest. Their paths cross multiple times over the years, and while they may argue and leave in awkward situations, the two always have each other on their minds, and it's what keeps them living. Their kindness towards one another ever since they were young is what drives them and keeps them strong, showing how important individual actions can be to a person, no matter what background they have.

     

    Now one may ask why I would put Forrest Gump up here for these reasons and not It's A Wonderful Life. Well the best way to put it is that it's because of the setting and the characterizations. The film being a period piece that focuses on the 60s and the 70s, a time of counterculture and anti-authority symbolizes how actions create a ripple effect that can be as strong as changing history as we know it, while the characters themselves all come from their own unique backgrounds, yet they all connect and have incredible strengths. Forrest is mentally handicapped, but still has an endearing and loyal personality. Jenny is self-destructive and suffers from feelings of depression, but still pushes through just for Forrest. Lt. Dan lost his chance at "destiny", as well as his legs, but discovers about the joys of life and to experience and love what each day offers. They are flawed and strange, yet are also powerful and touching. Robert Zemeckis knows about how powerful the ripple effect can be, and he expresses that in a fantastic film with great characters, writing, and theming, and it's a film I can always come back to and love no matter how many times I see it.

    • Like 5

    Weekend #s STB 59.6M, Pets 29.3M, GB and LO 21.6M, IA5 21M

    in Numbers and Data

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, James said:

    Oh yeah, I forgot about that. What are people expecting for Pete? Opening in the weekend after SS seems stupid to me. I imagine kids will force their parents to take them to SS and parents will rather choose that than stay through Pete imo. Maybe 30m OW? I really haven't followed it. 

    Probably around $35M OW, and it legs its way to around $125M or so. I don't think SS will have a lot of kid appeal, or at least not as much as something like a Marvel movie.

    CoolEric's Cool 25: My Most Meaningful Films

    in Archived Lists and Countdowns

    Posted

    #8

    The Wizard of Oz

    Directed by Victor Fleming

    "There's no place like home."

    the-wizard-of-oz.12679.jpg

    Box Office: $22.3M Domestic, $23.3M WW

    IMDB Summary: Dorothy Gale is swept away to a magical land in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home.

    Why it's so Meaningful to Me: Some people have a gold standard of a film. A film that is so perfectly constructed in its writing, presentation, and acting, that all other films must take influence upon it. And while The Wizard of Oz isn't my first choice for that title (we'll get to that masterpiece soon), it's still a very worthy second.

     

    What really makes this movie so incredible is the simple fact that there's no feeling of datedness. When I watch a movie like Casablanca or The Graduate, while I admire and appreciate them, I do feel a sense of datedness. And by that I mean that some elements, such as pacing or acting, feels very much like a product of its time. But The Wizard of Oz? It still holds up perfectly. The film is still impressive and beautiful to look at, with its visual effects and costume design still wonderfully crafted. The acting is still strong, as the actors are able to give so much life and personality to their characters. The characters alone are all memorable, with each one being lovable and endearing. Its story hits us to our core of us, and is able to tug our emotional heartstrings in just the right spots. And its important message of staying true to who you are and where you are from is a fantastic moral that rings true to many of the people that watch it, whether they be eight or 80.

     

    Many people like to say, "they just don't make movies like they used to", and while that argument is suspect, I definitely feel that the magic, artistry, and creativity of The Wizard of Oz has yet to be captured by any other filmmaker, and I don't think any filmmaker, even 100 years from now, will be able to capture it. While other films will be forgotten about within a few months, The Wizard of Oz will still be there, enchanting new viewers, inspiring creative artists, and being placed on the DVD shelves or iTunes libraries for millions of people. It is like a painting of Van Gogh. Just taking one look at it, and you know that it is flawless. Nothing needed to be added, and nothing needed to be erased. It's film magic at its finest, and since film is a big part of my life, that's all I really need to put it this high on my list.

    • Like 2

    CoolEric's Cool 25: My Most Meaningful Films

    in Archived Lists and Countdowns

    Posted

    #9

    Cinderella

    Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, and Wilfred Jackson

    "No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true."

    Cinderella-disney-poster.jpg

    Box Office: $93.1M Domestic Lifetime

    IMDB Summary: When Cinderella's cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets some unexpected help from the lovable mice Gus and Jaq, and from her Fairy Godmother.

    Why it's so Meaningful to Me: Every day, there seems to be some sort of article complaining about the Disney Princesses, with Cinderella in particular. The arguments people have are that she does nothing but sit around and wait for a man, she believes that its okay to marry someone you just met, and she's a terrible influence for little girls everywhere. And to me, that's kinda sad, not only due to this being one of my favorite Disney movies, as well as possibly one of my favorite films of all time, but because people clearly have no idea what makes the story of Cinderella so wonderful and timeless, as well as one of the greatest fictional role models that ever existed.

     

    At the end of the day, the idea of Cinderella is something that is found all over our culture. It's the story of an underdog, who nobody pays any attention or gives any love to fighting the odds and gaining her dream. It's a story that's found all over the news, from sports stars to business tycoons, and is a story that could arguably found in all of us.

     

    We're all Cinderella at some point. We're stuck in the lowest of situations, and we're forced to do actions and tasks against our will. We have little support, there are doubters and obstacles fighting us and pushing us down, and at some point there's rock bottom, where everything we tried to work for seems like it was all for naught, and that we should just give up. This parallels with the story of Cinderella: she's all alone, is treated shabbily by her cruel family, and when opportunity comes when she is allowed to experience something new and magical, even if for just one night, all of the work and effort seems to be for naught, as her oppressors destroy her hopes for something grand.

     

    And yet, magic comes to our heroine, much like magic comes to us. We are rewarded by our own fairy godmother, whether it be a person or some event, rewarding us for our hard work and kindness, and giving us a chance to experience and enjoy what we love, even if for just a while. It's that glorious feeling when what you tried to achieve has managed to actually get some sort of recognition and has advanced you further in life. What makes it even better is the ability to finally vanquish the things that were holding you back, much like the glass slipper finally being put on Cinderella's foot, as her once brief moment of happiness is now an eternal flame that will burn for the rest of her life, enjoying a new life away her original and decrepit state. It's very much like when we say goodbye to the things that were holding us back or keeping us from what we truly wanted, whether it be a lack of money, a dead-end job, or people giving doubts about your dreams.

     

    So in short, Cinderella gives one of the most valuable lessons any child should know: that hard work, determination, wit, and kindness leads to great things, and that even in the worst of times, there's a silver lining that'll emerge that will take you to a place of bliss and happiness. It's a wonderful moral and a huge picker-upper for people young and old. It's the archetype for the rags to riches story, and I'm glad such an archetype is able to give such an important and valuable life lesson and belief to hold on to.

    • Like 1

    CoolEric's Cool 25: My Most Meaningful Films

    in Archived Lists and Countdowns

    Posted

    #10

    Les Miserables

    Directed by Tom Hooper

    "Now life has killed the dream I dreamed."

    Les-miserables-movie-poster1.jpg

    Box Office: $148.8M Domestic, $441.8M WW

    IMDB Summary: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker's daughter. The decision changes their lives forever.

    Why it's so Meaningful to Me: To talk about this movie, it's best to know about some background. For the most part, I didn't know much about Les Miserables. I knew what it was, and the basic premise of "a guy goes to prison for stealing bread". But the reason why I wanted to see this movie, and why I waited with bated breath, was this one teaser:

    This still gives me goosebumps! This had wonderful actors, a glorious production design, and a bone-chilling performance of Anne Hathaway singing one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It was a perfectly edited trailer, and news about the film's groundbreaking achievement of having all of the actors actually sing their lines on set instead of a pre-recorded track made it seem like this movie was going to be a modern masterpiece.

     

    I can't say that it's a modern masterpiece nowadays, as there are moments in the direction and some of the acting that doesn't really hold up, but when I saw it at the ripe age of 15, it was still quite the life-changing experience. Right from the opening sequence, I was hooked. The camera zooming across the oceans and shipwrecks, and ending with the prisoners forced to pull the mighty freights, as the wicked Javert stares down upon them, with the opening song roaring triumphantly was an amazing attention-grabber, and a wonderful way to start the film.

     

    From then on, I saw true, raw emotion. The innocence of Jean Valjean was immediately endearing, and the coldness of Javert was immediately despicable, and the cat and mouse game they play was truly engrossing. It brought up the ideas of how far people will go for justice, and whether who is truly corrupt: the criminal who wished to help his family, or the police inspector who refuses to look at the big picture.

     

    So many wonderful scenes are in this movie that really punched me in the gut. The time when Javert and Cosette meet the first time is so sweet and joyful, that it's hard not to love it. The confrontation against Javert and Jean after Fantine's death, as the two fight against one another with swords and their words was extremely well-done and action-packed, minus a few awkward shots where the camera didn't let you see anything. The death of Gavroche, which ignited the true form of the revolution, and even made the heartless Javert honor him for his bravery, is so perfectly done and such a beautiful symbol for the loss of innocence and the fight amongst the Rebellion to create a better future for the youth. And "Can you Hear the People Sing?" Oh, "Can you Hear the People Sing?" Both the original and the reprise are just perfect. Each shot given is perfectly chosen, it's emotionally powerful, and it leaves you full of energy, ready to fight the corruption of your own government, and fight for truth and justice. The ending alone is just amazing, as we see all of the people who gave their lives for a better tomorrow for the country they love all together celebrating that what they have done has lead to a wonderful future. How can you not tear up at that?

     

    But speaking of tearing up, what stole the entire movie was "I Dreamed a Dream". There's no flash, no intercutting, and no magnificent singing. We just see Anne Hathaway as Fantine, sitting and reflecting on her decisions, as raw emotion comes out, her choking up and attempting to hold back the tears to no avail. It's done in one take, and it is a wonderful performance that pretty much earned Anne Hathaway the Oscar. It's one of the very, very few moments in movies that I genuinely cried in, and it's pretty hard for me to do that.

     

    After I left the theater, it made me realize the power of what film could do. It grabbed me, hooked me, touched me, and left me out as a different person, and on that day, I knew I wanted to be in the film industry. The only problem was that I didn't know where to go or what to do. It wasn't until next year that I knew what I really wanted to do. And...well, I'll talk about it later. ;)

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