solaris

In the UK and Ireland (and I'm sure in other Northern European countries), +30C sunny weather is enough of a rarity to make it feel like a national holiday... Packed pubs and parks = empty cinemas.

Alien 3 is a special film for me. I think I was 11 when I first saw it (managed to surreptitiously tape it when it premiered on UK TV) and I was obsessed. It was my gateway film - led me to discover the Alien franchise, which then led to me discovering sci-fi in general. I'll always have a soft spot for Alien 3 though - I rewatched it recently and for me it holds up surprisingly well. You can see the genesis of some of Fincher's Fincherisms. It's beautifully shot and scored. And I think it might just be Sigourney Weaver's best performance, period. Seriously - Ripley is so broken from the very beginning, and yet she has to muster up a fight that she no longer has the energy for. It does devolve into a mess not long after Brian Glover's character (the prison governor) is killed. And there are several too many repetitive chase scenes of bald British prisoners shouting incomprehensibly down industrial corridors. But still... I love it. Even more fascinating is the film it could have been - it's well worth reading about the many, many aborted scripts and stories that this could have been.

Same here, virtually everyone I know in London seems to have it. I was at a birthday party for a friend's 30th on Saturday - we all lateral flowed every day so we could show up for him. Most of the people who were there are now testing positive. Miraculously, I'm not positive yet. Hoping it stays that way as I was hoping to see Matrix this afternoon!

Even the negative reviews seem to have an admiration for how much of a wild swing it appears to be.

Disney / Lucasfilm SW movies ranked: TFA TLJ RO Solo ..... .... TROS I will happily re-watch each and any of the first four. I would rather have hot oil poured into my eyes than endure TROS again.

The optimist in me would like to think that the UK govt will take a rational look at the situation before plunging us into another lockdown. Looks like hospitalisations are creeping up in London already - probably a sign of things to come for the rest of the country. On the other hand, of the many, many people I know who have Omicron right now - all of them have said it's super mild. I'm hopeful that if this is really the case (and given the relatively high level of boosters given already), another full lockdown is unnecessary. Instead, surely capacity limits/vaccine passports/work from home guidance would be the less drastic approach? I've never given myself over to conspiracy theories much, but this all feels like a massive distraction in the face of a political crisis for Johnson (Xmas party sleaze and terrible by-election results). Back on topic, I'll be seeing this at the Curzon Aldgate tomorrow at 11.40am. Its a great venue as it rarely sells out, even for tentpoles. Currently about 30% sold out. Today's showings are all about 90% sold through.

I'll be adding £15 to Sundays numbers. Back from traveling today so Sunday will be the earliest I can see it after two days in isolation. A couple of friends who saw it yesterday want to join. As for these numbers... I'm wondering how big it can go now - assuming something like a £33m 5 day, I can't see it missing £75m with the reception it's getting. Should crack top 10 all time (and double it's predecessor) 😱

The Queen is still hugely popular here in the UK - even amongst the more republican she's still admired for her near-constant work. The only other royal with a level of popularity approaching that is William. I'm fairly indifferent, but can appreciate that the Royal Family represents a pretty big part of our nation's identity on the global stage (and is responsible for a lot of tourism). In related box-office talk, I'll be intrigued to see how Spencer is performing. I went to a packed screening at the Barbican earlier this week. It's an odd film - I'd normally expect anything royal family related to clean up, but Diana's story is told in a VERY non-traditional way here. That being said, The Favourite made +$20m here so perhaps UK audiences are more experimental than I give them credit for.

There's nothing left to say about Bond's performance by this point. That it's on track to land number 3 all time is insane. I do wonder if it would have made much more with or without pandemic - bizarrely enough, being the first truly massive film post pandemic might have given it an all round boost with more casual audiences. Dune should get to £20m with a 3x multi off this weekend. I wonder if it can get to £22m to dethrone Shang-Chi for number two of 2021 spot? In any case, Spiderman will easily out-do it come December. Still unsure on Eternals - personally, the middling reviews have put me off quite a bit...

I think there's also room for growth for Part 2 in Europe too (and it's been a success here in any case!). There have been some restrictions (occupancy caps and vaccine pass requirements) in varying levels across quite a few territories. Even in the UK (where there are zero restrictions right now) Dune has arrived at the tail end of a lot of cannibalisation (including NTTD likely entering the top 5 all time!) so might have a bit more room to breathe for part 2.

So... Maybe another 60-70m from international markets (depending on Australia), and around 90-100m from the US. 330-350m total

Oh god yes. There was a scene between Chalamet and Ferguson where I had literally no idea what either of them was saying.

Rege-Jean Page feels like a great choice. Young, well-known-but-not-A-list, looks effing fantastic in a tux, and seems effortlessly suave and charming based on his interviews. We don't know if he has the chops for action yet but the guy looks pretty fit... I'm sure it won't be an issue. And different enough from Daniel Craig to feel like a fresh start (not just in looks but would imagine his to be a suaver, smoother Bond). And yes, his being mixed race might rankle a few fans but would likely attract many more younger filmgoers (and the naysayers will come round if the film is good enough anyway - see Casino Royale)

Perhaps... I'd imagine WB are waiting for the US release before making a final decision. At the very least I think they'd want to see how this one fares theatrically v HBO Max before committing. I live in hope!

100% this. WB will have factored in an HBO Max impact, and will have knowingly sacrificed a % of BO in return for potential subscriptions. I think it's still to early to call as so many key territories are yet to open, but these first three weekends have been encouraging for the prospects of a sequel. I think $360-$380 feels like a likely WW finish - respectable given the circumstances and sets the scene for a solid increase for part 2 (fingers crossed)

Not my favourite... Casino Royale, Skyfall and Spectre were all more memorable/striking. Although having rewatched OHMSS yesterday I appreciate some of the callbacks these titles make (Britannia in particular)

I have no idea what NTTD will do in the US but $54m feels low. That would equivalent to Casino Royale OW numbers adjusted. $70-75 perhaps?

So £19m FSS / £24m 4 day looking likely?

Skyfall was lightning in a bottle in the UK. Bond 50th anniversary, London 2012 Olympics, Adele at the peak of her popularity, glowing reviews and a general sense that this was a return to form for the franchise after QoS. I'm not sure if we'll ever see anything quite like that in the UK again.

My spoiler free reaction - Probably my favourite pre-credits sequence in a modern Bond movie. - On the other hand, the credits (and Billie's song) are generic as hell - Can we have more Ana de Armas in everything please? Her sequence with Bond is another early high point. - When it flies, it really flies - when it gets bogged down in exposition it feels like the boring bits from TDKR. - Daniel Craig has never been better - this is a great swan song for him. He'll forever be my James Bond. - I was skeptical about Lashana Lynch / girl boss 007 but it works very well, nowhere near as clunky as it could have been. - Rami Malek is indeed fairly forgettable - not that he's to blame... The film can't decide who the main villain should be and never makes anyone's intentions particularly clear. Overall, a massive step up from Spectre. With a more tightly focused plot it *might* have unseated Skyfall for number 2 in the Craig era ranking, but as it stands it's a slightly saggy but ambitious number 3 (CR will be my forever number 1). 4 QoS and 5 Spectre.

Hoping Dune can leg it out to $120m from current markets. In terms of others (I'm spitballing here): S Korea + Japan - maybe $20m between them? China - no idea, going with $35m for now UK - it's a stretch but $30m feels possible. We love literary fantasy here, and it feels like Bond has kickstarted the BO back to life here Australia - again no idea what the situation will be in Dec but going with $10m Other markets - $30m US - thinking $50m OW / $120m - HBO max will cut into any legs $245 OS / $120 US - $365m WW... hopefully enough for part 2

You're not alone. I was beginning to think it's just me. For me it was just too much hard work to try and comprehend what was happening. I don't mind being pleasantly perplexed by a film if I have confidence it's all going to come together... But it never did. I honestly felt bored a lot of the time - in spite of all the incredible visuals and craft on display. The score is legitimately amazing though, I'll give it that.

I so wanted to love this... But it fell flat for me. The good: - sound and score are incredible. Dialogue mix wasn't an issue for me. - Debicki is great. This deserves to propel her to the A List. - ATJ looks nice with a big beard. - some absolutely incredible visuals and staging (duh). The bad: - plot is literally too clever for its own good. A good 80% of the time I was struggling to understand what was going on. Nolan isn't known to hold his audiences hand, but this was ridiculous. - JDW and Pattinson are.... Ok. Didn't feel that invested in either for some reason. - Branagh's performance seems beamed in from another film. A film that I'd probably enjoy more. It just doesn't fit. By the end I was just letting the impressive visuals wash over me. I had zero investment in the plot (Debicki aside). A major disappointment and a strong case for Nolan to look for a smaller project (and a producer who isn't his wife) next. EDIT - I may feel differently after a second viewing

THIS

Just posted this in the Joker OS thread - FWIW my showing in Dublin was 100% full. A 6pm showing on a Tuesday in an arthouse cinema (Light House). Can't see this missing £50m. Maybe even £60m if it keeps holding. My partner (who hates anything even remotely sci-fi/fantasy/comic book related) wants to see this. Feels like a.proper crossover event here