rashad30 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Hollywood blockbusters trigger reflections on heroism in China English.news.cn 2012-08-27 19:02:23 BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Moviegoers lined up on Monday for the premieres of the new Spiderman and Batman movies in China, where many said the two fictional heroes have prompted reflections on heroes and heroism in real life. "The Amazing Spiderman" and "Batman 3: The Dark Knight Rises" proved huge successes immediately after their midnight debuts in major Chinese cities, reportedly taking the top slots in most cinemas across the country. Die-hard fans have been rearranging their schedules or even skipping work to see the two Hollywood blockbusters. Although the first-day box offices of the films were not immediately available, the two films are expected to rake in 500 million yuan (78 million U.S. dollars), respectively, media reports on Monday quoted insiders as saying. Many moviegoers said they wanted to see the movies not only for their stunning visual effects and strong casts, but also for their heroes and displays of heroism. "Yes, I also came for the heroes in the movie," said a high school student surnamed Jiang, who was standing in line to see "The Amazing Spiderman" at the Capital Cinema in downtown Beijing. "I admire these superheroes, both Batman and Spiderman," added Jiang, who said her definition of a hero is "anyone who benefits mankind and anyone who is selfless." "A hero is the one who upholds justice," said another moviegoer, a college student who only gave her name as Lu. "A hero, like Spiderman, would speak out whenever something evil or unjust happens," she said. "But now there are few heroes in our society, where a lot of people choose to remain silent and indifferent," Lu added. "We do need more heroes in China now." Experts have echoed Lu's reflections on heroes, saying one reason the two films are popular may be due to the reflections on heroism and heroes they have triggered in an age where too many people opt not to be heroes, turning a blind eye to those in need of help. "An array of incidents, such as Xiao Yueyue's death last year, are reminding people that our society is running out of heroes," said Prof. Wang Mingmei, head of the Association of Sociology in Jiangxi Province. "That should be one reason why the two films, both featuring heroes and heroism, a universal thing, are becoming popular." "To some extent, they cater to our society's urgent need for heroes," Wang said. A public soul-searching has been urged since last October, when a 2-year-old girl, identified as Xiao Yueyue, was run over by two vehicles but left to die in the street, ignored by nearly 20 bystanders in south China's Guangdong Province. The ensuing moral debate intensified amid a spate of incidents across the country in which people refrained from assisting fallen senior citizens over concerns of later being blackmailed. Media have been urging people to be "heroes in their daily lives" since these incidents. "The Chinese people have a long tradition of honoring heroes," said Wang. "But now we need more of them at a time when it's more difficult to make a hero." Chinese moviegoers who are obsessed with heroes like Batman and Spiderman have their own opinions. "Although there aren't many, heroes do exist in China," said Wang Linli, 21, a Beijing college student majoring in mass media said after watching "The Amazing Spiderman." "There are no perfect heroes, as the film showed," she said. "As long as you are true to your heart and do what you can when the unjust is present, you are a hero." http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/entertainment/2012-08/27/c_131810844.htm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPink Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Are Monday releases unusual in China? Just wondering if that's part of the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olive Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Few movies released on Monday, blockbusters always open on Thursdays or Fridays.And bad weather may play a part in weakening their OD numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPink Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Few movies released on Monday, blockbusters always open on Thursdays or Fridays.And bad weather may play a part in weakening their OD numbers.I see. Well hopefully both do better as the week goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fake Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Decent start for both. Let's see how it goes from here.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Marvel Fanboy Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Same here.. We want numbers... Now....Okay, here is the more accurate estimates:TASM 31M yuan $4.9MTDKR 28M yuan $4.44MVery close to actual numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Marvel Fanboy Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 80 M for both? That is huge.Not that huge. Just average numbers for blockbusters on this scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Marvel Fanboy Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Decent start for both. Let's see how it goes from here....I wont call it decent, but mediocre or disappointing. Most people were expecting much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Seng Wah Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 For a movie opens on Monday, how would the box office look like for Tuesday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Yun Xia Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Tuesday is the discount day, so I'm expecting a slight increase from Monday w/o midnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmpro Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Okay, here is the more accurate estimates:TASM 31M yuan $4.9MTDKR 28M yuan $4.44MVery close to actual numbers.Thanks fd...I hope for 5,5-6 mill tomorrow for TASM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmpro Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I wont call it decent, but mediocre or disappointing. Most people were expecting much more.Any other monday openers to compare with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayumanggi Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Not that huge. Just average numbers for blockbusters on this scale.That is huge for two films released on the same day. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmpro Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 That is huge for two films released on the same day.Imagine the same happend in the US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayumanggi Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Imagine the same happend in the USI don't like. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmpro Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I don't like. lolSame here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Alfred Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 That's good for TDKR, it's OW will be higher and will overtake TASM around Thu/Fri due to better WoM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Marvel Fanboy Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 Any other monday openers to compare with?Well, Avatar ... which did around 35M yuan on Jan. 4 2010, a Monday.So no comparisons basically. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Marvel Fanboy Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 That is huge for two films released on the same day.Not really. Last December 16th, two local movies (金陵十三衩 and 龙门飞甲)opened together, also one 3D and one 2D, but both didd higher OD than TDKR and TASM. That two both managed to around/90M+ at the end without much late competitions.But for TDKR/TASM, PROM/TE2 is coming just a few days later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Marvel Fanboy Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 So when TDKR/TASM fail to out do 金陵十三衩/龙门飞甲, it is seen as a failure/disappointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...