Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part II

Saw it last night. In general, I'm another of the ones who prefers the books over the movies. But not this time. It's as though WB wiped their asses with some portions of the book and did their own thing with the conclusion of the film. The majority of the gripes and nitpicks I had about JK Rowling's bullshit ending in the novel has been rectified here. Nothing's perfect in life but the movie ending is a damn sight than the series of pure luck and technicalities that comprised the novel's ending.

Overall, I really dug the movie. Felt like a pretty worthy conclusion to the saga and is worth seeing in theaters.

As an aside, I saw the midnight premiere. It was fucking INSANE. I've been to a LOT of midnight premieres in my day and NONE of them were ANYthing even remotely close to this. Wall to wall people, tons of costumes, the whole burrito. Infuckingsane...

Haven't seen the film myself yet. Probably will tomorrow. Been busy with work and other things this week. So wasn't able to see midnight screening. I never read any of the books but have enjoyed watching the films.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=harrypotter72.htm

Domestic: $92,100,000
Foreign: $157,500,000
Worldwide: $249,600,000
Budget: Unknown

Fuckin shit! Will you look at that domestic figure? Guys, it only came out on FRIDAY, 07.15.2011! There's a sense in which it almost doesn't matter what the budget is, this sucker's gonna make a fucking fortune!

I read elsewhere at my 'Road Runner' homepage that the film may even surpass the opening record set by THE DARK KNIGHT! What I find interesting there though is that films sometimes come close to breaking that initial record set by TDK but in the end, they can't take it down for its' overall international figure.

It has had good figures so far will probably break a few records.

There seems to be some concern as to what this will mean for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Will this affect Cap's box office? Will it end up with GREEN LANTERN numbers?!

What do you guys think?

i do hope cap can score some good figures. But ya its going to be tough for it coming now after harry potter. but who knows things can flip easily.

non_amos wrote:There seems to be some concern as to what this will mean for CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER. Will this affect Cap's box office? Will it end up with GREEN LANTERN numbers?!

What do you guys think?

I somewhat subscribe to the belief that movies tend to get the success they're due. Go back and look at the summer of 2008 some time. A lot of movies did crazy business even though they were released relatively close to one another. (A) That puts paid to the long-debunked Apologist canard that Pirates 2 sank Singerman (the verdict was in long ago; Singerman sank itself, period, end of story) and (B) the public is absolutely capable of seeing a movie every week or two.

What does this mean for Cap? Honestly, it's hard to believe this would affect Cap's numbers any substantial amount. If Cap is any good, people will go see it. Hell, you could even argue that Potter may give Cap longer legs as people will see it later than they otherwise might have.

How's Potter doing right now? Back to Box Office Mojo...

Domestic: $168,550,000
Foreign: $307,000,000
Worldwide: $475,550,000
Budget: unknown (to Box Office Mojo anyway)

For fun and games, let's say that the budget was $250 mill. And, as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows_%E2%80%93_Part_2, let's say that the $250 mill budget was shared with 7.1.

For ease of accounting, that puts the production budget basically at $125 mill for 7.2.

In short, it's already beyond the break even point in America and the movie only just came out. It's got, what, another two or three solid weeks to pick up even more?

Plus, it's already in profit internationally (as if that was ever in question... which I doubt).

How does all this stack up with HP7.1?

Domestic: $295,001,070
Foreign: $660,000,000
Worldwide: $955,001,070
Budget: $125 mill (as per Wiki above)

I think this could lead to a trend of movie studios making two movies in one shot and then splitting them up for separate releases. Isn't some Twilight movie doing the same thing? I don't follow that franchise but I thought I heard something about that. Anyway. This method effectively cuts the per-movie budget in half, thereby making it easier for each to turn a profit on its own merits. I mean, shit, the Potter 7 numbers are clear on that account.

Somewhere, I think Alexander Salkind is smiling in approval...

thecolorsblend wrote:I somewhat subscribe to the belief that movies tend to get the success they're due. Go back and look at the summer of 2008 some time. A lot of movies did crazy business even though they were released relatively close to one another. (A) That puts paid to the long-debunked Apologist canard that Pirates 2 sank Singerman (the verdict was in long ago; Singerman sank itself, period, end of story) and (B) the public is absolutely capable of seeing a movie every week or two.

Actually, I want to come back with this. You can track all kinds of wiggley Apologist arguments if you ever get really bored enough to do so. But from memory, their arguments went a little something like this:

Mid-July 2006- Pirates 2 hogged all the attention. If the releases had been further apart, [Singerman] would've done MUCH better (COLORS NOTE- This sort of ignores that Pirates 2 kicked Singerman's ass even in territories where Singerman came out second). NO OTHER MOVIES did great business compared to Pirates!

Post-August 2006 (ie, after the bell finally tolled for The Devil Wears Prada and Clerks 2)- Um, actually, the REAL issue is that the public is tired of superhero movies...

Summer 2007- ... except for Spider-Man, it seems...

Summer 2008 (ie, after Iron Man, Hancock and TDK)- It's like Singer always said, the REAL problem was the MARKETING. The WB marketing division just didn't know what to do with a film like [Singerman]. Singer is a brilliant filmmaker and deserves another chance!

Later 2008 (ie, after Valkyrie fizzled)- It was all Singer's fault. [Singerman] was NEVER a very good movie anyway. In fact, it really sucks if you think about it. But [Blandon] is a brilliant actor. Singer just couldn't direct someone as talented as [BJ]!

Early 2009 (ie, after Zack & Miri)- Neither could Kevin Smith!

Early 2010- Neither could the various directors of Chuck!

August 2010- Neither could Edgar Wright!

April 2011- Neither could Kevin Munroe!

Apparently BJ's "talent" is simply too epic for any film to safely contain if his present inactivity is anything to judge by.

I'm positive none of this is news to you guys but it helps to throw out the facts every once in a while.

You know, I'm not one who has EVER been into fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, World of Warcraft or anything of the sort, and I understand that these books are extremely popular with young people. Why it is, I couldn't tell you. I moved beyond books similar to 'Harry Potter' when I was about 11. People eat them up though, and obviously the movies too. But, I WAS introduced to a fantasy book series back when I was 16 that I STILL re-read to this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Thomas_Covenant,_the_Unbeliever

The first book was called 'Lord Foul's Bane', and it knocked my socks off. This was no 'Lord of the Rings' type fantasy, even though they BOTH deal with an omnipotent weapon in the form of a ring. Nope, this series dealt with adult themes, as the 2nd chapter of the first book slaps you in the face with. It deals with free will, choices, and the consequences of those choices. Things the main character does in the FIRST BOOK resonates through the next two, and even the following SIX so far. I have read each of the first two series of books at least 7 times each. And that AIN'T no hyperbole.

If you are ready to put away your boy magician books, and want to tackle a series that will make you hate, respect, and eventually root for the main character, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is for you.

If not, enjoy the bountiful 'Harry Potter' fan-fic that permeates the interwebs. Leave TCTC for the big people.

A perfect ending to a legendary series. Loved it completely.

Watching you?! Suspect?!

An update from Box Office Mojo

Domestic: $214,887,891
Foreign: $390,000,000
Worldwide: $604,887,891

As far as the domestic total goes, basically, it took Harry Potter less than a week what Singerman "managed" in, what, three or four months? As for the international figure, forget it, there's no comparison to be made.

Shit, I guess this is how things go with popular film properties that give audiences what they want rather than boy'ish women and pleather-clad metrosexuals. Not naming names or anything, just saying...