Why did it so bad at the Box Office?!
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KeithFerguson — 21 years ago(January 26, 2005 07:00 PM)
No, no, no. I'm not comparing 'Long Kiss Goodnight' to true masterpieces of film, or even just really good, entertaining movies like 'Bourne Identity.' I am judging it as it is - which, as you say, is a mindless action flick. I won't judge it as a Die Hard clone because once you're that, well, you're that and it's you're own fault. But, sure, I don't mind it being a mindless action flick. Wait, is 'Die Hard' a mindless action flick? Because if it is, I'm all for it. I love 'Die Hard.'
I am saying, no way. Not even for your run of the mill action movie is this a good script and 'yes, higher than average dialogues.' What are we talking about here that is above average? Did you guys see the director's cut or something? Just as a favor, could someone just quote a piece of dialogue that is above average? And I'll try to be fair. I'll think of it as 'above average for an action movie' above average. I will not compare it to any better movie. Just give me an example so I don't think you all are smoking the whacky weed while you're watching crappy movies like this one.
Here, it boils down to one point. Action movies have their place and I respect that place. I like a good action movie now and again. I don't see why action movies have to live up to their stereotype of cheesy and dumb all the time, but I'm willing to overlook most of their flaws just because I like the action. For instance, I really like 'Face/Off' in spite of the terrible dialogue and acting just because of that one shot when they fly off the boat in slow motion. I love that, and I overlook a lot of other things. But not only is 'Long Kiss Goonight' way more uninspired and way more cliched and way more cornball than 'Face/Off,' it also didn't give me as a viewer anything that I couldn't have gotten from another mindless action movie. What would I have missed if I hadn't seen 'Long Kiss Goodnight'? Besides these delightful conversations, of course.
And one more thing. If action movies are 'relatively' worse than every other kind of movie, why do you watch them? -
jps2 — 21 years ago(January 27, 2005 05:17 AM)
And one more thing. If action movies are 'relatively' worse than every other kind of movie, why do you watch them?
For instanse I came from night shift this morning, got a few hours of sleep and watched the movie. When you're wery tired you don't want to look at some long drama, you want something easy and entertaining. That's were action movies come to picture and Long kiss goodnight is to my opinion above average in that area.
I don't watch that much action but compared to few of the last I've seen this one was great. So what are the last ones? Van Helsing, Underworld and Strange days from which the last is the best but not even close to this one.
From Harlin I also liked Cliffhanger and Die Hard 2. -
Roy72 — 21 years ago(February 25, 2005 02:59 AM)
I watch this film now thinking of it more as a comedy/spoof rather than a straight action flick.
I think Jackson is hilarious in this though I think Gena Davis should have played it less seriously. e.g. when she steals the ciggarette from the boy she was funny and the director should have put more comic bits in for her. Instead you just keep waiting for Jackson to show up. -
KeithFerguson — 21 years ago(February 26, 2005 08:06 AM)
Yes, it could have been a parody if it didn't take itself so seriously. And you've got to communicate to me that it's a parody. Like 'Last Action Hero' did that well. Maybe a bit over-the-top, but at least I knew it wasn't serious.
And as for Jackson, I'll just watch 'Pulp Fiction' again. -
k_a_m50 — 20 years ago(May 08, 2005 07:04 PM)
You know fergI must be one of those lunatics you were referring to..I found this film entertaining enough to buy the dvd and do enjoy it as often as I see itI feel that these type of films are pure escapist fare and no more,,and as such, held up admirably and, I dare say, quite funny,,one more thing, the quote is frank in new york and ernest in chicago
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KeithFerguson — 20 years ago(May 09, 2005 04:20 PM)
Well, hey, I am not against escapism. If I want to escape, I always like going to Will Smith - Independence Day, Men in Black, Bad Boys. I just watched Desperado again a couple of days ago. I even like Predator, if you believe it! And I just watched it this year! But all these movies have something that Long Kiss Goodnight lacks - fun. I mean, you might have fun watching it (this is all subjective, right?), but if this is fun for you, then there are hundreds of movies that are much more original and entertaining and less annoying and predictable than this movie. That's all I'm saying. The question was: 'Why did it so bad at the Box Office?!' The answer is: 'There are many movies that deliver everything this movie does, better.' How much was the DVD, by the way? Five bucks or something?
Oh, and refresh my memory of that quote. I assume you're referring to my challenge to come up with a good quote from the movie? Yes, indeed, I have only seen this movie the one time, and any familiarity I seem to have with it comes from the fact I had recently watched it when I started posting on this board. So maybe a little context, please. It sounds okay though 'Frank in New York and Ernest in Chicago.' Can't place it. I get the double meaning. -
jstorch-1 — 19 years ago(January 26, 2007 10:30 PM)
samuel jackson said in the car "we just jumped out of a building" with wild eyed kid like amazementa wink to the audience and acknowledging humor and silly action movie conventionsi love this movie, and it may have flopped because the public didnt buy geena as action hero or presidentpredator and independance day are both better, but the veggie chopping scene to establish her past was charming, and showed a thoughtful approach to writing outside the boxanyway a pretty good action flick and fergie is a pretty good reviewer.enjoy.
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roell29 — 19 years ago(March 27, 2007 12:50 AM)
Don't you people get it? It "flopped" because the plot is subversive. The CIA staging acts of domestic terrorism? Look up Project Northwoods (not to mention 911). Ferguson is a disinfo creep just like all those mindless creeps in the movie who are given a gun and told to kill, and they do it just to feel powerful and above everyone else - devoid of conscience. Ferguson certainly seems to take a great interest in a movie he allegedly thinks is worthless. He knows damn well it's a great movie - he just doesn't like the message because it hits too close to home. And now he will ridicule this post like the good little disinfo agent he is.
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krasnegar — 19 years ago(June 03, 2006 07:06 PM)
Yes, it could have been a parody if it didn't take itself so seriously. And you've got to communicate to me that it's a parody. Like
Last Action Hero
did that well. Maybe a bit over-the-top, but at least I knew it wasn't serious.
Last Action Hero
a
little
over the top?
Okay, i understand why you don't like this film there's not much oxygen in the air on your planet.
And would you mind explaining in just what way this film "take
itself so seriously"?
And if you require a "This is Parody" notice upfront, you'd better stick to getting your praody from
Mad
magazine. (But stay away from issues from before about 1980, 'cos they actually expected you to be able to recognise parody and satire [and tell the difference, by gum] all by yourself.) -
KeithFerguson — 19 years ago(June 05, 2006 09:17 AM)
So you do consider this a parody?
Last Action Hero made it a clear point to take action cliches, point them out, and make fun of them. They started this early on and kept it up for the duration of the film. The problem with The Long Kiss Goodnight is that there are so many movies that are just like it, and certainly not all of them are parodies, that it's impossible for me to ascertain whether it's a parody or if it's something to be parodied. The Long Kiss Goodnight doesn't do anything, from what I remember, to indicate that it's a parodyother than be completely ridiculous. But just ten minutes with a Sci-Fi Channel original movie is enough to tell you that not all ridiculous movies are parodies. Being a bad action movie is not enough to constitue being a parody. You've got to let the audience in on the joke at some point. I think.
Now, as far as how this movie takes itself seriously. All the characters accepted every ridiculous situation and every ridiculous character with complete sincerity. There was never a point where the bad guys were like, 'She's on ICE SKATES???' In a film that doesn't take itself seriously, there are points where it pokes fun at itself, either at some of the over-the-top characters or the over-the-top situations. So if they had that, like Samuel L. Jackson commenting on how they out-ran a grenade explosion, the movie would have been a bit more bearable.
But even if it is a parody, it's not really funny enough. In fact, it's less funny if the creators were really trying to parody action movies, because at least now I can sort of laugh at their ineptitude. But mostly I just sat around waiting for it to end.
This movie just reminded me of the ideas for movies my friend would have in the seventh grade. There are many movies like that, and I really don't care for any of them. I would recommend this movie to a seventh grader, because this seems to be what they enjoy. I'll waste my time with a higher grade of entertainment, myself. Like True Lies! Bad Boys II! Really, anything with Arnold or Will.
Parody, at least what I recall from copyright law, is using a work and altering it to the point of absurtity. Satire's function traditionally is one that punishes vice through sarcasm and irony and rewards virtue, usually embodied in a satirical norm, character that represents the way the author thinks people should act. At least what I recall from British Literature in college.
45! 22! Fight for freedom 'til we're free!
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moon_xean — 19 years ago(October 20, 2006 02:08 PM)
Bad Boys II?
Halfway through I turned it off because of the horrific swearing and endless car chases and shoot outs. TLKG wasn't a masterpiece, but I found it good enough to watch the ending. Too much clich, I agree, but Bad Boys II is on my list of 10 worst movies. -
KeithFerguson — 19 years ago(October 20, 2006 07:08 PM)
Well, as I've said, tastes are different. For me, when I watch an action movie, I want to see action, and a lot of it. Bad Boys II delivered, and I like Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. I'm not sure what else to expect from action movies
But, even though I don't care for Long Kiss Goodnight, I believe the ten reasons it did poorly in box office still stand even if I did. The reasons aren't so much of a critique as aspects of the movie that the movie-going audience generally does not care for, especially because at this point in history, they were being overwhelmed by movies of this nature. (Plus it's a rated R movie, which never make moneyit's got to be Godfather if you want to see it pull down $80 million dollars in box office.)
I watched Lethal Weapon recently, the movie that started it all. I didn't really care for that one either. I don't like action movies that aspire to be dramas. Just give me action and leave the drama to people who can actually write it. I mean no offense, that's just how I like my movies.
45! 22! Fight for freedom 'til we're free!
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Zanchief — 19 years ago(October 23, 2006 07:30 AM)
Your 10 reasons might stand for why it did poorly at the box office if it wasn't for the fact that no one contemplating going to see this movie would ever know any of those miniscule plot details.
This was a victim of an under marketed movie because Geena Davis wasn't a big enough draw at the box-office.
It's a clever script. Sammy Jackson, Geena Davis and Craig Bierko are all good, plus it has some good smaller roles from David Morse and Brian Cox.
I'll give you a free piece of advice Fergy, the reason you haven't hacked it as a Hollywood screenwriter is the same reason you can't tell this script apart from Bad Boys II. -
KeithFerguson — 19 years ago(October 23, 2006 10:08 AM)
Kids can be so cruel
There's a phenomenon called 'word of mouth' and a marketing device called 'trailers' that have a lot to do with how people decide to watch movies. When a movie is good 'word of mouth' draws people into the theater faster than marketing can. 'Trailers' also give people a good indication if the movie is one they want to watch. If I had just seen a trailer to this movie, I still could have told you about all ten reasons.
Anyway, regardless of how it performed in box office, the number we should be concentrating on are the video and overseas revenues. That's really what the industry cares about. Domestic box office revenue is fairly insignificant.
45! 22! Fight for freedom 'til we're free!
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Zanchief — 19 years ago(October 23, 2006 10:23 AM)
You admit yourself you never saw a trailer and don't remember this movie ever being out. The discussion ends there. That's why it didn't perform at the box office. Video sales are irrelevant since that isn't what the poster was talking about.
Word of mouth at the time was actually pretty good. The critics generally liked the movie. The studio just didn't want to spend any money marketing it after Cutthroat Island bombed.
You asked for clever lines of dialogue from the movie, well you don't have to go any further than the memorable quotes section of IMDB.
Mitch: The last time I got blown, candy bars cost a nickel.
Mitch: So, you cold?
Charlie: Yeah. Freezing.
Mitch: Turn on the heat. It doesn't work, but it makes a very annoying noise - distracts from the cold.
Mitch Henessey: What I'm saying is, back when we first met, you were all like "Oh phooey, I burned the darn muffins." Now, you go into a bar, ten minutes later, sailors come runnin' out. What up with that?
Alley Agent: Good evening, pretty lady. How 'bout some company?
Charlie: No thanks. I'm saving myself 'til I get raped.
Nathan: Alice, please. Your dog, Alice. It and my appetite are mutually exclusive.
Alice: Well, what's wrong with the dog?
Nathan: Simple. He's been licking his beep for the last three straight hours. I submit to you that there is nothing there worth more than an hour's attention. I should think that whatever he is attempting to dislodge is either gone for good, or there to stay. Wouldn't you agree?
Charlie: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Mitch Henessey: I hope not, 'cause I'm thinking how much my balls hurt.
Mitch: Oh, beep Ah, that hurt like beep
Samantha: I know. That's why I distracted you first. Same principle as deflowering virgins.
Mitch: Huh? What? Virgin - ? What?
Samantha: Read it in this Harold Robbins book. Guy bites her on the ear. Distracts from the pain. Ever try that?
Mitch: No, no, I sock 'em in the jaw and yell, "Pop goes the weasel."
And they don't even have the great ham on rye line.
A masterpiece this aint, but if you can't separate this from your everyday Renny Harlin action movie, you have no business being anywhere near Hollywoodscratch that, you'll fit right in. -
ladiorange — 19 years ago(February 07, 2007 02:52 AM)
Alley Agent: Good evening, pretty lady. How 'bout some company?
Charlie: No thanks. I'm saving myself 'til I get raped.
I laughed so hard when I heard that!
What would Mr Belvedere tell Wesley at a time like this?
http://myspace.com/ladiorange