It shouldn't have bombed, it was a great movie, lots of action, funny lines and it even had a good plot.
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tlgeller — 18 years ago(June 30, 2007 08:54 AM)
First off, I want to thank everyone for posting on this movie; it has helped me a great deal as I am writing a dissertation chapter on it. Of course, this means I'd like to put my 2 cents in the mix. As to the question of box office sales, although it may have faired poorly at its original release, the NY Times and other sources that have been tracking the DVD market have suggested more than once that Sam Jackson films (along with Steve Buscemi?!) rank among the highest if not the highest in DVD sales. Therefore, the film's post-theatrical release 'box office' needs to be taken into account, and possibly stand as a corrective to box office sales. Yet, the truth of the matter is that gender most likely did play a part in its reception. However, I want to argue with the earlier poster who said women don't like action movies?! How films are marketed, and yes action-spectacle films are primarily marketed to young men, is a distinct topic from what 'women' supposedly like or dislike. And, in fact, by the middle of the nineties, producers such as Joel Silver and large production companies started actively marketing action films to both men and women (see: True Lies), finding that not romantic subplots but comedy encouraged women to attend these films; so you can thank the girls for the witty repartee in most of these movies.
I am really responding, though, to the IMDB review that says if you think about this movie it is actually "stupid". I'd like to call that for what it is: denial (disavowal). As the comments here clearly address, the film brings up a great deal about the constructed nature of gender. I think the woman who pointed out Keith Ferguson's discomfort w/ Samantha's butchness hit it on the head. Interestingly, her "Samantha" character, the feminine, domesticated role he was more comfortable with than Charly. I would direct you to check out the photos on the IMDB page, particularly the one where Charly rides up the Xmas lights to kill the father of her child. In this scene, she sets on fire the banner of the happy white nuclear family behind her. Remember, Davis was bringing with her the fame and controversy of Thelma and Louise when starring in this film. That she becomes Charly after fending off the unwanted sexual advances of the man from the party is no coincidence. I apologize for pontificating (I have already published an article on the role of women action heros in this film and The Matrix elsewhere) but I wanted to throw it out there that maybe the film generates such debates for reasons beyond 'good' and 'bad', which are essentially subjective, but rather creates such responses because of the kind of themes and characterizations that this film represents. Just by casting a woman as the action hero, the re-masculinizing that typically occurs in action films such as Rambo and Die Hard are turned upside down. As much as Sam is masculinized over the course of the film, so is John McClane and Rambo (the latter as a personification of post-Vietnam America and the former as the American husband now unnecessary to the corporate-climbing post-feminist woman). Finally, because it offers an action-packed and witty critique of gender roles, racial politics and right-wing corruption of U.S. democracy (remember, this was during Clinton's administration) this film ROCKS, or at the very least, deserves a thoughtful reconsideration by its detractors (Mr. Ferguson, I'd be happy to send you my full chapter to further enlighten you to the cultural and aesthetic riches afforded by Long Kiss Goodnight). -
thecaptaineast — 18 years ago(August 12, 2007 09:35 PM)
Geller-I'm looking forward to reading your dissertation.
In answer to the original question:
Because movie studios are into instant gratification these days.They want the movie to make $100 million the first week and if it doesn't,that's it.Dustin Hoffman talked about how the movie business has changed since the 70's and he said All The President's Men was not a runaway hit.Through word of mouth it gradually made money and now studios are not willing to wait for that.
Interestingly,there was a young lady ahead of me (who was black) and you would think she was there to see Samuel L.Jackson.Nope.She was seeing the movie for Geena Davis."I just like to see girls kick ass," she told me.We have a right now society and one of the things it does great damage to is the movie industry-the studios because they're really losing money long term and the fans because those of us who don't get to the theater the first weekend find the movie gone because Universal didn't get their candy right away.The question is,will it ever change? -
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dangus — 18 years ago(October 02, 2007 08:04 PM)
I dunno about the box office, but it was a popular movie in the early years of DVD, up there with Jurassic Park and Contact as a home theater demo movie. I rented it more than once on laserdisc to give my subwoofers a workout.
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sosgemini — 18 years ago(October 28, 2007 07:47 PM)
wowfascinating thread.
my two cents? i love the film. sure its over the top but which action films aren't?
and why was it a failure? well, the film was marketed as a female lead male action and thats a tough sale even today. so no duh the film was a flopbut it was a good attempt by davis and harlin. -
tawniemarie — 18 years ago(December 01, 2007 06:02 PM)
This is a movie I can watch over and over again, especially around the Christmas season. I was in high school and working in a theater when this came out, and loved it so much I went a couple of times. But, to be fair, it was freeand I just bought the DVD this year because it was 2.96 at walmart. There are probably a million reasons why this didn't do go at the box office, but there are also a ton a reasons I love this movie. Oh well, to each their own!
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chaosHD — 18 years ago(February 02, 2008 05:29 PM)
My guess as to why the movie failed is that the year before, Geena Davis and Renny Harlin had done the huge bomb Cutthroat Island. After that movie Geena Davis movies and Renny Harlin movies became pretty much box office poison. So everyone was expecting Long Kiss to be mediocre at best, no one had any reason to expect otherwise. If the movie came out today there would be no difference. It would still make no money in the theaters, but would be huge on video.
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camruud — 17 years ago(April 21, 2008 04:23 PM)
Did this one really do it bad at the box office? I remember when I was 12, and this one hit the theatres in Norway, this movie was on every actionfans lips. Unfortunately, it was rated 18 in Norway so I had to wait for the video. But I remember this one being amongst the cream de la cream of actionfilms at that time Still love it.
As for Harlin, he have'nt made anything good since this one and Cutthroat, but his older flicks like Cliffhanger, Die hard 2, Prison and ANOES4: The Dream Master are good quality-time substitutes -
byteblock2000 — 17 years ago(July 06, 2008 10:00 AM)
Wow. I'm surprised
I thought this film was a huge success. I remember renting it many times back in '96-'97 (when it was released on video here in Norway). It's one of those films I remember clearly as if I saw it yesterday. I think it's been a decade since I last saw it. -
jajjjc — 17 years ago(October 05, 2008 12:03 PM)
Well the film made a decent amount of money overseas for it became somewhat profitable, plus it has a cult audience at the Home Video section.
Anway, this and "Jingle All The Way" are the two films I always watch around Christmas time. Cliche and cheesy as hell, but man its a lot of fun to watch.
Shane Black is one of my fave. screenwriters too, and he's top notch here. -
caffeinelake1 — 17 years ago(March 12, 2009 12:17 AM)
It tanked because it's too real and because it reads like a PNAC manual. Paul Wolfowitz probably consulted on it to provide the intimate details on the references to simulated waterboarding.
I Get My News From Deek Jackson -
scribe_ninja — 17 years ago(March 17, 2009 04:16 AM)
It was good but the most annoying scene for me was when she miraculously put on her ice skates under seconds
I hated that scene! So unrealistic.
I mean the entire premise is unrealistic but there are some things that just down right hokey.