Sweet Super Christmas

[thebitterguy]

Superman Returns is now budgeted at $250 million.

Wow. Just... Wow. I don't know what inflation's been like in Hollywood for the past 20 years, but remember when Batman cost a lot at $35 million? Superman Returns is gonna cost what BurtonMan pulled in domestic. Sheesh. Wagering on a blockbuster here, WB?

No wonder it's a hundred bucks to take a night at the movies. Damn.

Comments

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

$100 for a night at the movies? More like $30 (2 people, movie, popcorn, soda and candy.)

[thebitterguy]

I was being hyperbolic.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

No shit, sherlock. And I was being literal.

[thebitterguy]

You damn literals! You're ruining America!

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

*shakes fist* Damn literals!

Oh, wait... d'oh!

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

For $250mil they could have come up with a lead that doesn't look like Superdork.

[thebitterguy]

Well, Reeve wasn't super-macho either. We'll see what it looks like on screen.

I'm just un-nerved by Kevin Spacey as Luthor. At least they didn't get some gay vampire actor to play Braniac.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

I dunno; I think I'll wait to see if Spacey can pull it off. I think he can, he's an accomplished actor with a helluva range.

Besides, before Burton's Batman everyone (myself included) scoffed at the idea of "Mr. Mom as Batman?", and he did a decent job at bat (yes, pun intended.)

[thebitterguy]

I was hoping that we'd see a different Luthor, not Hackman redux (although that was a good version of the character). I've no doubt Spacey will do a good job.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

They're not going for the cheap laughs, are they? I mean...Hackman's Luthor wasn't exactly the most serious of characters (at least not in the first one, but then the first one kinda sucked, IMO. Supes II was the only decent one.)

I haven't been paying much attention, I'll admit, but I thought (or maybe I just assumed?) they were going to do the Evil Businessman Luthor from the comics?

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I'm going by the production shots I've seen.

I like Kevin Spacey, though I'm afraid they'll make him play it too Gene Hackman.

[thebitterguy]

The great weakness of Hackman's Luthor was Ned Beatty's character. Even his theme music was undignified.

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

For $250mil they could have come up with a lead that doesn't look like Superdork.

A valid point here.

[thebitterguy]

I'm gonna wait for a trailer or the film before passing that judgement. I've only seen one production photo so far, and it didn't look THAT bad.

Unless we've come to demand sculpted latex muscles on superhero suits.

[cinn48.livejournal.com]

Oh what I could do with $250 million!!!! What a complete waste of money. I mean, I enjoy a good movie as much as the next guy, but that could cover a third world country's debt!

[bnddbl07.livejournal.com]

Damn!

That is a serious leap of faith that it is going to make at least $300 million! (to cover the marketing costs as well!")

By telling people that it cost that much, you are guaranteed to get a few more people to see it, (just to see if it was worth that much!!)... mission accomplished!

I fully agree with redeem147, Supe is supposed to man-ly!

Oh well.... I'll still see it!

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

I question their choice as well, but he may pull it off. It's a tough suit to work in.

[kinra.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure the $250 million was from fucking up like eighteen times before they even started what would turn out to be the final version of the movie.

[thebitterguy]

The fucking up I had not heard about. What happened?

[kinra.livejournal.com]

Singer was like the eighth director attached to the project -- ideas started like in '97 or something, absolutely endless tide of misfires including a Kevin Smith script, a J.J. Abrams rewrite, Nicolas Cage attached to star, directors like Brett Ratner and "McG", and finally the last minute handing over to Singer. Tens of millions had already been spent by that point. People thought the movie might still never be made, but Singer is a madman, and as he did with "X-Men", made something out of nothing, and hopefully, as with "X2", it will verily rock.

[thebitterguy]

Are all the other abortive developments (including the Cage mistake) being included in this budget? That would explain a lot.

I'm enthused that it'll be a sequel to Superman II, as that was a good movie, for the period.

[bcwalker.livejournal.com]

This movie is a Spruce Goose. Nuke it from orbit, just to be sure, and come back to it no sooner than 2025.

[thebitterguy]

Perhaps a bit pessimistic. I'll wait 'til next summer to start writing a eulogy.