Ruthie

Careful, it's highly likely that Dr. Strange will be one of the ways the MCU will link the Avengers' world to the GOTG world.

It's the difference between an athlete who wins the gold after no one expected him to be in the top 10, versus an athlete who wins silver after everyone expected him to win gold.

I'm sure those who have little to no understanding of business in general or have over-inflated expectations are getting nervous, everyone is is either satisfied or relieved. If CA:CW makes under 250, you might start to hear rumblings that genuinely indicate nervousness.

JW2 will flop with a very disappointing 480/1.5b.

A-M is a Phase 1 movie in a Phase 2 world. All things considered, it's OW is on par with what expectations should have been.

Marvel should never listen to the "analysts". Those folks wouldn't know how to connect with the audience if you put the plug in their hand and pointed to the socket.

ROTFL & LOL. You need help, Chaz.

Exactly. I don't know where the notion comes from that a director is given $100m+ dollars to do with whatever he wants, but it's not the way it is. Hollywood learned its lesson in the most ultimate of fashions with Heaven's Gate and has been leery of freeing the directorial reigns ever since. Marvel's reigns may be tighter than most, but they are also a relatively fledgling studio that is built on a rather narrow business focus. I'm sure Marvel will breathe some sigh of relief when the target is removed from their backs and fixed to DC's.

After the bigger-than-life settings of TDW, TWS, GOTG and AoU, the down-to-earth canvas of Ant-Man seems a bit jarring, to the point that if there were no mention of the Avengers and no cameo by Falcon, I doubt that the audience would have connected this to the MCU at all. And that may be this film's biggest weakness, it's different in a manner that seems to distant it from the other movies. Taken on it's own; however, Ant-Man is a warm and funny movie that benefits from its own cleverness. In an era of cut-and-paste plot points, this movie brilliantly, and thankfully, does nifty bait and switches with each of the tired tropes it used to move the story along, so the film never seemed like a been-there-done-that origin story. As with all Marvel films, the chemistry among the actors is enviable and is what really holds this film together. Exchange any one of those actors for one that affected the connection among the whole, and some of the movie's weak points would have been glaring road bumps. All of the comedy worked, with the "expositions", especially the final one, sealing the deal. The action scenes were fantastic and, oddly, don't seem to be getting the oohs and aahs that they deserve for their difficulty and uniqueness. And that's a shame. Overall, Ant-Man isn't the disaster many suspected it would be, or even hoped it would be, but continues Marvel's streak of presenting a product that the GA will enjoy on some level. B

I'm not surprised. The movie is really weak and I could see some parents being rather uncomfortable with their kids watching some of the scenes.

LOL. All right, all right.

If you're pressed for time, skip AoS.

LOL! No. If AoU and A-M tanked, then you still wouldn't be correct. In no one's world does "underperforming" = complete overhaul. It = "that's the way it goes sometimes". I'm telling you, both the Marvelites and Marvel-haters need to have a snack of juice and cookies and go take a nap. The drama overload is really affecting you guys.

I can understand Ant-Man sharing an audience with JW, but not Minions and IO. There is nothing "kiddie" about A-M. Nothing. And I wouldn't take anyone under 10 to see it.

I don't think it will make a killing overseas, but I always thought that Ant-man would performed on par with CA:TFA.

IT'S MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURDER, HE SAYS!!

Minions is positively awful! I wouldn't be surprised if it fell 60-70% in its second weekend. IO, on the other hand, is a pure delight. Glad that it held well this week.

They're messing with the wrong guy!

Into Darkness is a very good movie. I think it's better than Star Trek. Too many people get tripped up on the Khan thing. Shame that.

Did you say bacon?

Is that even possible for a December opening.

AoU is the better movie.

You know, I just can't keep up with BOTers. On one hand there's a cry for movies filled with substance, good characters, practical fx and plots that aren't run of the mill. On the other hand there's so much love for this movie. I officially and proudly accept my Out-of-Touch award.

I'm happy for Pratt, he's part of two very big movies. Most actors are lucky to get to be a part of one.

And studios will be tempering their cinematic universe plans in favor of amusement park themed fare.