The Union Jack
2011 is looking like a year rife with movie mistakes. It’s only May, not even a half year and already there are many mistakes from which to make a Thursday’s Top Ten list.
- The Green Hornet – Reid and Kato are fighting by the pool and when they land in the water, the beach ball falls off the chair and lands beside the pool. In the next shot, it’s back in the chair.
- Scream 4 – At the end of the movie, when Jill is supposed to be dead, her head moves slightly.
- The Dilemma – Passaflora incarnata does not cause the symptoms described in the movie. There was one symptom, nausea which occurred but that can only happen if it is ingested and that’s not what happened in the film.
- Rango – When Rango is in the mayor’s office, the mayor grabs a jug of water and opens it. In the next shot, the jug is sealed again.
- Rio – When Blu and Jewel are playing dead, Blu is on the right and Jewel on the left, but when the sheet is removed, their positions have switched.
- Pirates of the Carribean– On Stranger Tides – Captain Barbossa‘s ship is flying a modern Union Jack. The Cross of St. Patrick is included in the flag’s field. However, the film is set between 1727-1760 and Ireland did not become part of the United Kingdom until 1801.
- Water For Elephants – The invitation from August to Jacob uses the name Rosenbluth and not Rosenblum.
- Source Code – Colter is looking at Derek Foster‘s license and it reads his hometown as Northfield, ILL. The three letter state abbreviation is out-dated. Later when Goodwin and Rutledge are showing the passenger’s ID’s on the computer screen, Frost’s license appears as Chicago, IL. Different city, different abbreviation.
- Bridesmaids – Anne goes up a second time to toast Lillian and in the close-up shot, you see her holding the microphone in her left hand and the champagne flute in her right. The camera shows the audience and then returns to Anne who is now holding the glass in her left hand and the microphone in her right.
- Midnight in Paris – When Gil is walking along the river bank, watch the left side of the bridge ahead and you will see a crowd watching the filming.
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
TOP 10 Great Movies BUT BOX OFFICE FLOPS!!!
Posted in From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books, Thursday's Top Ten, tagged box office failures, Elizabeth Taylor, flops, great movies, Jimmy Stewart, Johnny Depp, Judy Garland, Kevin Costner, Martin Scorcese, movies, Orson Welles, Robert DeNiro, Tim Robins, Toto on November 7, 2014| 3 Comments »
It’s so true…many movies we’ve come to love and make classic were really box office flops in their day! You’re going to be shocked by some of these, I’m sure.
Orson Welles in Citizen Kane
1. CITIZEN KANE: Most often listed as the Number 1 top movie on many lists and the must-see handbook for aspiring film-makers and actors, this movie didn’t do much for Orson Welles career at the time. Initial reviews were favorable but much of the American public was shielded from them because Randolph Hearst, the newspaper mogul, blocked any mention of the movie, believing the character was based on him.
2. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: There wouldn’t be a holiday season if there weren’t a broadcast of this now-loved classic Christmas story. It’s hard to imagine a film watched so often by so many could have failed miserably in the theaters, but it did. The movie cost $3.18M to make and only grossed $3.3M.
3. BLADE RUNNER: With an opening weekend revenue of only $6M, things looked dim for this movie that cost $28M to make. It received mixed reviews, while viewers were awed by the imagery, they were alienated by the narrative. It probably would have been better if the studio had left Ridley Scott alone and kept his original vision instead of meddling with the final cut. The film resurfaced with a Director’s Cut in 1992 prompting critical reevaluation and huge home video sales.
4. RAGING BULL: A favorite of mine as I am in still in awe of Robert DeNiro who totally transformed his body to play the thuggish Jake LaMotta. It was nominated for 8 Oscars but tanked at the box office. It lacked the feel-good factor of ROCKY and alienated the viewers first by being shot in black and white which was exactly how it should have been done artistically and then there was the prevalent violence for 2 hours – most people go to the movies to relax and enjoy some form of escapism.
5. THE WIZARD OF OZ: Can you believe this movie actually lost money? It cost $2.7M to make and garnered $3M in its opening run. Viewers did not flock to see Judy Garland, a cute dog and a tornado in technicolor. However, over the years and many re-releases, the viewing of The Wizard of Oz has become an annual event in many of America’s households.
Shawshank Redemption
6. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: Tell the truth now, do you switch the channel when you see Shawshank Redemption playing? The film finally found its audience on TV. In 1994 when it was released, it was overwhelmed by PULP FICTION AND FORREST GUMP. It cost $25M to make and grossed $28M.
7. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW:$ Budget-$1.4M. This one requires some explanation. Despite making next to nothing ($22,000) its opening weekend, the late night flick is actually the longest running movie in continuous theatrical release, attracting a cult of folks who dress up and shout along to the campy comedy with kick-ass songs. With ticket sales, and home movie availability, it has reportedly made over $365 million! Just like the movie itself, it’s financial success is in a category of its own.
8.THE FIGHT CLUB: Budgeted at $63M it grossed $37M. Maybe the first rule of Fight Club shouldn’t have been “Don’t talk about Fight Club.” David Fincher’s adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel was the victim of a botched marketing campaign (or at least that’s what the studios are saying). It lived on through home video sales.
9. THE BIG LEBOWSKI: Happy to admit I’m part of the cult club that will watch The Big Lebowski whenever it is on TV. Not many box office bombs can claim such a cult following, an annual fan festival and religion! Released in 1998 during the immensely successful box office run of “Titanic,” the film starring Jeff Bridges, which cost $15 million to make, debuted to $5.5 million opening weekend. The film recieved mixed reviews with Variety calling it “hollow and without resonance” while others like Roger Ebert found it “weirdly engaging” like the Dude himself. The film eventually pulled in $17 million at theaters, but it wasn’t until years later fans used the internet and social media to re-evaluate the film and turn it into a cult sensation.
10. I’m leaving number 10 blank and giving you all some suggestions. What do you think was a great film but one didn’t make any money? Here are a few; The Fountain, Water World, Assination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, Ed Wood, Cleopatra, Heathers, Vertigo, Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, The Postman, The Hudsucker Proxy, Tron-The Legacy, Donny Darko, Once Upon A Time In America
OK guys it’s your hands, let’ s vote for number 10 – one of the above or one of your own.
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