Welcome to Thunderdome

Not going to open as big as they were hoping.

I'm excited to see this film, but not "run out for opening weekend" excited.

Are we at a point where Hollywood needs to start rethinking box office numbers because there are so many more options other than going to a theater? (Truthfully, they already have. For example: Kevin Smith's recent films all were profitable BEFORE hitting theaters. Keep your budget low and distribution will make your profits.)

I'm not excited for the movie, because the book was NOT GOOD. It was a nostalgia fest, which was awesome, but the story was dumb.

That's quite interesting because I am excited for the movie having NOT read the book.

You have lessened my excitement.

Leisher wrote: That's quite interesting because I am excited for the movie having NOT read the book.

You have lessened my excitement.

Well, good, lowered expectations are easier to meet or beat

You know what? Add this to the tiny list of movies better than the books. In the hands of a competent story teller, this movie was better than the book. Obviously some of the nostalgia-fest had to be abandoned, and the ending could have been a little tighter (although, it kinda felt like Goonies to me in a way), but it was good. The movie was scored well, lots of recognizable pop culture stuff, and a bit less of Deux Ex Machina style moving the plot forward. The challenges are re-imagined to be more cinematic, for obvious reasons.

It's still not a great movie, but I was entertained.

TheCatt wrote: It's still not a great movie, but I was entertained.

Ditto.

TheCatt wrote: and the ending could have been a little tighter (although, it kinda felt like Goonies to me in a way)

Ditto again.

It was fine. As Catt said, the story is pretty silly and by the numbers. Evil corporation vs oppressed populace led by diverse group of kids.

My favorite part was looking for pop culture references. Some are part of the story, some are hidden and must be noticed.

It was entertaining. I disagree that it was better than the book. To me it was the nostalgia that made the book so entertaining. Not sure how old Catt is, but I remember playing Adventure and finding the Easter egg in that game. Also, studying the old TSR D&D modules. That being said, I don't know if I'd go as far as to say the book was better than the movie, either. They were just different.

One of the things I noticed was the feminization of the story. Years back I read about how the writing of television dramas had shifted from the 70s and 80s to today. Whereas you used to have shows like The Rockford Files, Columbo and Magnum PI where the supporting cast drove the story for the main character, as women became a more important demographic group the story structure began to change. The dramas became more of a team or family type structure. Think all the CSI's and NCIS, etc. I noticed they did that with the team. Artemis wasn't introduced IRL until almost the end of the book. And I forget why Wade infiltrated the corporation in the book, but that was his line and was intentional. He was much more of a hacker type in the book. And the Asian pair were never met IRL in the book.

I regret they weren't able to get the epic giant robot fight in at the end.

Vince wrote: Not sure how old Catt is, but I remember playing Adventure and finding the Easter egg in that game.

Old enough that all of the clues in the book were super easy to me

Vince wrote: To me it was the nostalgia that made the book so entertaining.

It did, absolutely. But I felt that was about all the book had going for it. So my emotional reaction to the book was stronger than the movie, but only because of nostalgia. Outside of that, I thought the story telling/development/dialogue/etc were pretty mediocre.

TheCatt wrote: It did, absolutely. But I felt that was about all the book had going for it. So my emotional reaction to the book was stronger than the movie, but only because of nostalgia. Outside of that, I thought the story telling/development/dialogue/etc were pretty mediocre.

I agree. I think that's my issue with the movie. It was visually entertaining as a mindless action flick. That was what it had going for it. They removed the biggest selling point of the book.

Also, did anyone else recognize the spell being repeated to bring down the magical barrier at the end of the movie?

refresh my memory

It was the charm of making from Excalibur.

Vince wrote: It was the charm of making from Excalibur.

I would not have remembered that. I haven't seen the movie in over a year and didn't remember the spell.

Excalibur is in the conversation for most underrated movie ever.

Leisher wrote: Excalibur is in the conversation for most underrated movie ever.

Absolutely. Every so often a new King Arthur / Camelot movie is released and they never compare in my mind. For me, because Le Morte d' Arthur is THE definitive King Arthur book. I had it on VHS and now on DVD and try to watch it once a year.