The thrilling reality many moviegoers enjoy remains incomprehensible and inaccessible to some critics, and they’re having a heck of a time explaining it to themselves. Stephanie Zacharek is still puzzled. She’s tired of reviewing movies she doesn’t like, so today she takes time out to psychoanalyze the audiences that she doesn’t understand.
But the movies of summer 2008 seemed to become bigger, noisier, more ambitious and more expensive with each passing week. By the time “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” limped into theaters on Aug. 1, trailing lots of sand and dead skin behind it, audiences could be forgiven for feeling fatigued. The movie had a respectable opening weekend, taking in more than $40 million, but clearly “The Dark Knight,” still drawing audiences after two weeks in theaters, had siphoned off some of its business.
Zacharek’s professional diagnosis: We’re fatigued. And yet, strangely exhilarated by a couple of movies — enough to make one of them the second biggest blockbuster in Hollywood history! Perhaps this sporadic ennui only afflicts audiences in the presence of mediocrity?
So let’s get this straight. The fact that not every movie succeeds on the same level as The Dark Knight is a sure indication of audience fatigue. But hey, what about the eager audiences who have held The Dark Knight aloft at #1 for 4 weeks? Are they not fatigued too? Hey, Steph, here’s a thought. Maybe not all summer movies are alike, and maybe we’re only bored with the bad ones.
Not for Zacharek the easy explanation that people have only been buying tickets in a morbid compulsion to see Heath Ledger in his last role. Instead she’s discovered something much more insightful about the movie business, something that never occurred to anybody before, and it’s the only reason she can come up with to explain away TDK’s success:
…there’s still one good reason that a movie like “The Dark Knight” can make more than $400 million domestically in just three weeks: That’s the purpose of the summer blockbuster: To movie studios, they’re commerce; to us, they’re a chance to escape for a few hours into another, bigger world, or at least just into air conditioning.
ok, I finally get where Zacharek has been coming from all year: she writing to us from 1926, when movie palaces promised a retreat from the sweltering heat. (And here I thought the only reason to go see The Dark Knight was so we could sit in the back row and make out.)
Yeah, I know, Stephanie’s little quip is tongue in cheek; and I guess that’s a prettier use for that tongue than blowing raspberries for the past 3 months. But it’s not a lot deeper or more analytically useful, is it?
Do I suffer from blockbuster fatigue? Nope. This summer I’m suffering from Zacharek fatigue.
william no mainstream movies aren’t satan/put they are the root of all evil ! 😉
i wish was i was more embrace all. but following my heart and other cliches guess it’s looking like less and less. and that seems like the best for me…
and with the tone on a.d. mostly being embrace all (in theory anyway) but currently being slanted towards ultra blockbusters and more oscar bait fare. know what ???
i think there’s room here for the ‘niche’/gimme ‘indie’/’arthouse’ kids too.
yep embrace all would be a great tone for the front page to have/but it should open to both ‘generalist’ and ‘specialist’. 🙂
hmm whomever that made the decision to release hellboy a week before the dark knight hopefully haven’t shot themselves…. 😉
and don’t worry i’m a pretty horrible speller. so it’s not for me to think badly because of misspelled word.
but more importantly sir it ws great meeting you.and i look forward to your future words in a.d. land !!!! 🙂
p.s. i’m likely gonna see ‘tropic thunder’ next week ! 🙂
It’s 2:35 in the morning, just got back from Tropic Thunder midnight screening and I’ve read glimmer’s post 5 times, and I feel I can finally respond, the brain works funny in the wee hours of the morning.
To start with a quote:
I don’t get political points for being an idealist.
-Lt. Gordon
You’re right about the whole tell the mainstream crowd thing, they would laugh in my face and they do, when I have friends over and they go through my movies, it’s few and far between of what they have even heard of. But people here are MOVIE people, I wouldn’t consider people who take movies on the surface or “mainstream” people movie people, and I’m not pointing fingers at anyone here either. It just seems silly that most of the posts I read, read like the end of your post:
“the only summer blockbuster i saw was iron man.and i’m wasn’t a fan.sorry…”
There is nothing wrong with that and I could care less that you didn’t like it, I don’t want to change your opinion, I’m just glad you saw it. I just think and I stress the I part of that, more people should leave the art houses, at some point indie flicks start to repeat themselves to a certain degree and as much as I hate a completely shitty summer sequel, I hate an overly clever, OH LOOK AT ME, indie flick.
See now I’m all ranting and raving for no reason. I guess to get to the bare facts, I don’t see how someone can like movies as much as all of us here do, and not go see more mainstream movies, they are not satan.
If there was one summer movie more people should have seen, it was Hellboy II, quite excellent, sad it didn’t break the 100 million mark.
But we are all movie lovers and I love everyone on the board, I mean no offense in my comments, I merely feel that I can rant toward you faceless writers and some will connect because in the end we are all the same type of people, the people who love the art of film.
P.S. I’m stupid and can’t spell embrace, excuse that from my previous post.
I am fatigued BECAUSE of Th Dark Knight. It was so good that everything that comes out after it doesn’t seem as good.
cjk… nah not much for stuck. but as with much i’ve seen recently and i’m sure you’re sick of me saying this (well if you remember.ha ha) it’s in my mental neither category not horrible/not essential/’good’ either….
to borrow from your iron man bit felt this movie should have been more adventurous. and whatever it substituted wasn’t enough for me. really this should have been weirder or funnier/something.
to considering the ‘weird’/ what the movie about slant this movie brought to table…i think alot wasn’t brought to the table.just seemed like a chance was lost ala teeth… so nope to stuck….
hey i think that’s pretty much what i said on your page. yeah, i’m awesome tonight. 😉
so what does the front page ultra geek/loser like aside from the immortal ‘jellyfish’ this summer
well ‘the babysitters’. yes a.d nation it’s ok to crucify me for liking this.because i really did !!! 🙂
this movie had more on the edge of my seat literally in a i must find out what’s gonna happen next/i can’t stand to find out what happens next.the suspense is killing me factor that iron man wasn’t anywhere close to for me. no i have no movie cred/and even better i don’t care…sorry..
and *yes* i’m fat/ugly/going bald/have a small penis/and live in my parents basement. why do you ask ??? 😉
and ‘priceless’ wowed me too ! 🙂
let the geek killing begin…. 😉
Yeah, I get that I’m a spaz for loving Speed (and I’m not a stoner). It’s a little embarrassing actually, but what’s a boy to do? I gotta call ’em like I see ’em. Iron Man was fine, it just wasn’t very adventurous. As for Tropic, I’m seeing it tonight at midnight and I hope it’s better than Pineapple Express.
Also, you rule for calling me by the name my mother gave me.
William: BRAVO, sir! Well done, well done!
Barney: I apologize if I contributed to your preception of us condemning Zacharek for her dissent. That is the LAST thing I’d ever do (I’ve been on the lonely side in other battles of greater consequence than this). That said, her highly questionable choices in praising/criticizing films does bring up a question: is she dissenting just for the sake of attention? A legitimate claim if you look at her track record. If her record were more varied, there would be less of a problem, but there is an undeniable trend here. Lastly, I’m sorry, but anyone who refers to MEET DAVE as “refreshing” has inhaled too many noxious fumes.
Craig: I feel slightly similar, only I’d substitute Iron Man for Speed Racer (never understood the appeal except for stoners). Once Tropic Thunder comes out, I’ll be ready for the fall releases. That doesn’t mean I might not still sneak another viewing of my summer favorites, only that I’m eager for something new and more mature.
She didn’t like Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford either if memory serves…but whatever. To each his/her own. Why do you want everyone to like all the same stuff?
Glimmer, I still haven’t caught Jellyfish. What else did you like this summer? You didn’t like Stuck much, did you?
william and hello… 🙂
yeah it would be cool if everyone embraced all. but that’s as likley to happen as world peace tomorrow…
and be sure to tell those mainstream only kids to embrace all too. and then write on a.d. how much of weirdo they thought you were… 😉
it’s funny you put your post here since a.d. front page is pretty much embrace all.but it needs more nicheness though… 🙂
to uh, everyone noticing how movie goers rejected certain summer films/and flocked to other.
hmm how is different from any other summer ??? in which whatever number of supposed blockbusters fail and general vibe was that they were bad ???(were they just more ‘on target’ this year ???)
and did summer 2008 have any potential summer blockbusters you feel were good/that was rejected by movie mavens ????
ok i know cjk has chimed in with speed racer…
the only summer blockbuster i saw was iron man.and i’m wasn’t a fan.sorry…
I don’t care that she doesn’t like it. but look at the woman’s track record, she doesn’t like TDK, Wall-E, she didn’t like No Country or There Will Be Blood, just to name a few. But she found Meet Dave refreshing? Just explain to me how that makes sense? And I’m not trying to make enemies here and I get your point Barney, but to compare not liking a movie, to whether or not gay is right is a bit of a stretch.
I just wish people would just get over the fact that people genuinely like the movie and just move on. If anything critics should be excited that three blockbusters this summer did not flat out suck. Good grief, I never thought I’d have to constantly explain why I went to watch a film-usually I’m just explaining why I like or hate them.
You know, as much as I disagree with Stephanie about The Dark Knight and kind of think this has been a great summer for Hollywood movies, I don’t like how every time a critic goes against the grain they are accused of making up their reviews to get attention. Are we so stuck in our own ways that we can’t engage with an adverse opinion? It’s like the message of The Dark Knight (and the last eight years of the Bush administration’s assault on dissenters) has been lost on us all. It also reminds me of all the religious freaks who have told me (and I assume many of you all) that your gayness was a choice because they can’t conceive (as being part of the mainstream) of a lifestyle (in this case an opinion) that was so different from theres.
I’m having fatigue from all these holy movie goers that flock to the obsure and refuse the expensive. Why not have a broad taste and not just watch niche titles that your friends have never heard of. Does it make you cool on the internet? Because if that’s what you’re shooting for that’s sad. Embrass all!
I think you are all very rude.
I disagree with Zacharek on TDK, but I agree with her on summer fatigue. I’m sick of the hype and the box office masturbation with a new event movie every weekend. Bring on the fall movies.
Luckily A) there were plenty of small character-driven movies to see to take a rest: Tell No One, Elegy, Man on Wire etc. and B) many of the event movies were pretty damn good: TDK, Wall-E and Speed Racer (Yes Granda, this was a terrific throwback to my childhood even if audiences ‘rejected’ it)
Despite the overall quality and the opportunities for avoiding the typical summer stuff, I’m glad it’s almost over. Put the kiddies back in school and let’s get started with the real movie season.
Listen, times like these call for a blunt and honest remark: She’s an attention whore and a dimwit. That’s all.
And Milk has the chance to be great, but Van Zant isn’t that great. 3 good filmsdoesn’t make you a can’t miss director. And Elephant is terrible.
I admit it is somewhat perversely fun to read Steph blather like this, sort of like the way you let someone you know speak in public even though they’re making complete fools of themselves.
Let me echo granda’s statement by expressing my elation with moviegoers’ tastes this summer. To my utter surprise and gratitude, they whole-heartedly embraced Iron Man, despite its unfamiliarity and the personal life of its star. Despite its use of silent cinema and anti-corporate message, they saw (and continue to see) WALL-E, one of the best animated films ever. Dispelling the silly idea that people wouldn’t embrace a dark, serious superhero film, they’ve made The Dark Knight the second highest-grossing film ever in the US.
At the same time, they dealt heavy rejections to some truly horrifying and atrocious “movies”. Despite the insistance of some early prognosticators, I knew that Speed Racer would be horrible and that, if people had any sense, it would flop. And it did, magnificently so ;-). While I like Mike Myers, the Love Guru was not his best idea (his worst maybe?), and its trailer was the one blemish on my Iron Man viewing experience.
BTW, Ryan, I should have warned you that reading too much Zacharek is hazardous for your health.
I was trying to edit my post but the stupid thing wouldn’t let me…oh well…anway, my final point is that since the reviewer confuses her opinons with the audience, she assumes the problem is with substance, not style, and therefore is unable to give a universal reason (as opposed to a personal one) as to why the summer is fatiguing. The summer has quality, don’t deny that, because true quality can’t be denied. Style is subjective, sure, but in terms of studying art, quality is objective.
Well, first of all, just because this particular reviewer is fatigued doesn’t mean that we are all fatigued. I have not remembered such a good summer in recent years, and that’s partly because of such films as Wall-E and The Dark Knight.
Secondly, she never poses the question of quality in her article. This seems to me a gigantic oversight, as quality does attract people. Her idea of how films attract us because of its “escapism” doesn’t hold any weight because there are so many summer films that come out with equally, visually inspiring worlds where we can lose ourselves, and yet, none of them have made the Dark Knight’s box office. The Dark Knight has quality, lots of it, and that’s what attracts people and attracts them to come back later.
Oh yeah, that air conditioner comment was beyond stupid.
Thank you, Mr. Adams.
You’re right, elessar. Wrong of me to prejudge in such crude and silly terms. Milk is a film I’m really looking forward too, as well, and I’m predisposed to admire it for a multitude of reasons. Hugely optimistic that I’ll really like it.
But I really liked I’m Not There and Into to the Wild too, and there were only 5 openings available on the roster Best Picture nominees. 🙁 I had to grit my teeth and see movies I didn’t much admire claim a couple of more mainstream slots.
That comment of mine (in another topic) was only meant to name the five movies I think are most likely to be nominated. And give a nod to some titles I think might be less likely. No reflection on the highly anticipated value of the other movies themselves, but simply meant to list the other major contenders that I worry will have a slimmer chance.
(A run down of titles was no excuse for a drive-by hit-and-run, though. Sorry ’bout that.)
The Soloist actually seems like the kind of movie the Oscars love. I hope it’ll be as excellent as its pedigree. No point trying to pretend that I can’t already see 6 or 7 movies that might be more my style, so The Soloist could be this year’s Michael Clayton for me — the movie I grudgingly admit is top quality, but one that I still resent a little because it’s more audience-friendly than other movies I think are more deserving.
Way too early to be having these feelings, I know. I can’t stop the misgivings, but I can try to start writing about the doubts with more restraint, tact, and finesse.
In the future I’ll show those films more of the respect I fear they’ll fail receive from the Academy, ok? Thanks for the reminder for me to rein in my language as the season begins to get more serious.
I’m having a TDK fatigue. And I only saw the movie once and I think was over all okay. August only has a week or so before school begins and the blockbuster season is nearly over. And fatigue is just a normal reaction to a long summer of blockbuster that has brought some laughs and excitement; none of the movies were exceptionally bad. Speed Racer was underrated.
Also, I can’t wait to see SOTTP2. That’s the magical pants. I was the lone campaigner for America Ferrara’s Oscar nod a couple years ago. And I cannot wait what she does this time. From what I hear, she gets to have more fun in this movie rather than having an Oscar bait of a role. I’m sure it’s going to be after-school special of a movie, but I just miss watching WB late 90s, early 2000s. This time it’s like 2 hours worth. In an air conditioned movie house, no less!
I was happy to see moviegoers flat reject some movies this summer (Speed Racer, X-files, Love Guru, Swing Vote) and embracing some very good blockbusters (Iron Man, WALL-E and TDK). Much better than blinding going to whatever new movie comes out that week no matter how much it sucks. Sorry Ms. Zacarek but movie audiences are evolving.
JUK and Frederic: It has EVERYTHING to do with cinema. Sure, Ledger’s passing added a tragic edge, but that would not have been sustainable if the film wasn’t as good as it was.
Ryan: why the dislike for The Soloist and Milk? Those are two of my most anticipated fall releases. Can’t we wait until a film is released before executing it? The Soloist is out in book form now, I suggest you get it and see what you think first. Plus, with Joe Wright and Robert Downey Jr, it should at least be worthwhile. As for Milk, what’s the turnoff? Sean Penn? Gus Van Sant? What?!
We chose to see the Dark Knight instead of the Mummy 3 because we’re fatigued. It couldn’t possibly be because The Dark Knight is one of the greatest films ever made, whereas the Mummy 3 sucked. No way. Audiences are just tired of blockbusters. Right?
Miss Zacharek, consider a new profession. You’re clearly not good at this movie discussion thing. And you’re not doin’ so hot at life, either.
well stephanie is fatigued and that’s what counts… 😉
and would she feel as fatigued if she didn’t have to catch every wave of hype and watch every blockbuster ??
ryan i was reading things as not only her being ‘bored’/fatigued’ by not only bad movies but all the whatever the comes with the blockbuster season…
yeah i think you noticed that…
and by jan/feb 2009 will some of the a.d. nation not have some days of award fatigue ???? likely and i’m gonna set my calendar by it… 😉
and has cjk mentioned in the comment section of the pineapple express review at livingincinema…
‘ Isn’t it amazing how a couple of crappy movies can take the wind out of your sails?’
so if things are hitting stephanie hard a couple of gems in the waves and waves of mediocrity isn’t gonna be enough to get a smile everyday…
and really can’t hate on her article too much because i think thoughts like the following are pretty darn valid. hell i’m cheering…
Just how much excitement can movie advertising realistically whip up? Is there a limit to how much movie hype we can take in before we say, “So what?” And when it comes to the movies themselves, how big is too big, and how much is too much — in terms of money spent on special effects and marketing at the expense of the basics, like having a decent script and a director who knows how to tell a story visually? At what point does blockbuster movie culture become draining rather than exhilarating?
well i’m glad someone is asking this question/the question remains the same the industry and we are to blame ???? (actually questions like these would be right at home in a.d. land…)
sorry i didn’t hate this article and i’m not familiar enough with stephanie to know of her supposed hack factor.
thanks for posting it ryan/ and i’m sure both you and stephanie both have talented tongues… 😉
y’know, this whole thing about hating the blockbusters ‘cuz they’re big and popular just pisses me off… especially this year, when two of them are, in my view, absolute masterpieces (WALL-E and, of course, the freaky dude who dresses like bats and fights clowns) and most of them have been decent, if not pretty good: Iron Man and Kung-fu Panda were lots of fun, Hulk was alright, even the Narnia film was okay! granted, my brother said the new Mummy was among the worst films he’d ever seen (and he’ll watch ANYTHING), but this year, the “incredibly bad blockbuster” is clearly a minority.
as an aside, just this morning I was reading an interview with this brazilian (that’s where I’m writing from btw) director/actor who’s been making awful films for 30 years (yeah, you read me right, he’s been making THE SAME SHITTY FILM FOR 30 YEARS, only he changes the clothing from film to film – this year it was ninjas, next year it’s ali baba from what I heard) and how terribly hard it is for poor little him to compete with big bad Hollywood. snap out of it! want people to see your movies? step up and make some good ones, asshole!
ok, that was off topic, but I needed to vent. sorry.
Great piece Ryan, good job dude.
Speaking of which, I unfortunately saw TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR this weekend and wow……Rob Cohen has done it again, yet another SUCKY movie! His what, third lousy movie for Universal now in the last 15 years with DRAGON in the title?
Pathetic. Actually, you know what’s even worse?
There are two types of plot holes: Those that defy logic and physics, but you excuse in some bullshit cinema logic sort of way……and the other plot hole is one that happens when the filmmakers just don’t give a flying fuck.
I mean, you have a ninja chick attacking people at a tomb, and she flees when someone shoots a gun at her….later she’s revealed to be immortal, and she knows it.
So, WHY did you run in the first place?
Sorry, but to quote NATURAL BORN KILLERS, you’re just “a stupid bitch.”
guess i can’t have blockbuster fatigue. since i never cared for them. 🙂
Ryan, you hit the point, her comments were totally superflous and don’t add anything to the fantastic history that TDK is….
hey I’m with you, she’s a hack, only giving bad reviews to make a name for herself