Weekend B.O.: ‘Pelham’ Soft, Eddie Flops
by John Nolte
Exclusive Steve Mason Early 3-Day Estimates
1. The Hangover (Warner Bros) – $32M 3-day – $103.97M cume
2. Pixar’s UP (Disney) – $28.5M 3-day -$185.16M cume
3. The Taking of Pelham 123 (Sony) – $26M 3-day – $26M cume
4. Night at the Museum 2 (Fox) – $9.2M 3-day – $143M cume
5. Land of the Lost (Universal) – $8.8M 3-day – $34.62M cume
*Imagine That (Paramount) – $6M 3-day – $6M cume
*Star Trek (Paramount) – $5.1M 3-day – $231.52M cume
Knowing most people would not have seen the original before buying a ticket for the ”retelling,” I deliberately chose not to screen the 1974 “Pelham” before writing my review. This proved wise. Had I, as my screening of the original last night proved, the review would’ve been much harsher. My love for Denzel aside, they’re not even in the same ballpark. There’s more texture, personality and narrative scope in the first ten minutes of Joseph Sargent’s urban classic than in all 106 minutes of this weekend’s offering.
That doesn’t mean the new “Pelham” doesn’t deserve an audience. It’s a fine summer diversion … just in that nothing memorable sort of way. A $26 million opener isn’t bad, but whether it’s a hit is now on the bubble.
“Up,” “Star Trek,”and ”The Hangover” are making a gajillion dollars without the benefit of A-list stars, and ”Imagine That” and “Land of the Lost” weren’t helped by A-list stars. Interesting.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
40 Comments
"“Up,” “Star Trek,”and ”The Hangover” are making a gajillion dollars without the benefit of A-list stars, and ”Imagine That” and “Land of the Lost” weren’t helped by A-list stars. Interesting."
Is Eddie Murphy still considered an A-list star? I can't remember him being in a good movie past the 1980s.
Then you clearly don't remember Bowfinger. Brilliance on a stick.
I can't believe people are still going to see Star Trek. God that movie was horrible.
Saw Hangover this weekend. Was great, and wasn't nearly as raunchy as some of the reviews I read. I wouldn't take my kids to it, but took my wife (begged her) and she loved it.
And Eddie Murphy will always have a special place in my heart with Beverly Hills Cop, 48 hours, Trading Places and Coming to America. I avoid his movies now, so I don't spoil that memory.
Eddie Murphy had a new movie out?
I was literally about the post that very thought. I had no idea.
Some might disagree with me but I think Eddie Murphy has one more great movie in him. Maybe I'm wrong. He obviously needs new management.
Wow! I saw the original 'Pelham' 2 weeks ago (thank you, Netflix) and it was awesome. Great pacing, snappy dialogue, incredible feel for New York, etc. Just incredible film. Then I saw the trailer for this one and – it did not even come close. It was generic. I know that's a soft word – but it fits. No brains, no surprises, you're moving your mouth to say the words before the actor even speaks them, then 'okay, now it's time for a boom', da di da di da, etc. Yup, generic. I can't take it in my medicine – I'm not going to take it in my movies.
John – I think your review essentially remains consistent: e.g. inferior product to the original, but not without merit. The trouble is, in a bad economy, should folks be shelling out eight bucks for something that non-memorable?
So what seems to be the final verdict on Drag Me To Hell? Flop or merely underachiever? Or is it, in fact, a modest hit?
Eddie Murphy needs to do some kind of solid, heartfelt, patriotic, unabashed Frank Capra kind of film — his It's A Wonderful Life — something that makes you laugh, cry and feel good to be an American. I'm not sure they can pull that off anymore, but I bet he'd be terrific if he'd give himself over to something like that.
Not sure how to categorize the box office of Drag, but I have to say, I was disappointed. I laughed more than anything else. It's fine if that type of movie has some laughs, but it also needs to suspense, chills, horror, surprise…something. It had none. The seance scene near the end…I really was woindering if it was a scary movie-type spoof.
[...] this link: Weekend B.O.: ‘Pelham’ Soft, Eddie Flops This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
I haven't seen the Pelham remake simply because I know its not going to compare to the original. After looking at this week (and next weeks) box office releases, I have to wonder why Sony Classics chose to only release Moon in limited theaters in New York/LA? Oh well, at least I will be able to see in in July when the art house cinema Ragtag Theatre in Columbia, MO shows it (and its only 150 miles away from me…)
I kind of figure that any movie that's billed as exciting is so because it has nothing else going for it. I really don't care about seeing this movie – I'm waiting for Harry Potter!
you're right, Mister. Murphy stopped being funny the day he heard how many people thought he was hilarious. He has had some moments, but his last funny flick was Coming to America.
Funny. I've only seen the trailers, but I've lived in both Los Angeles and New York City. The trailers gave me the feeling I was seeing New York City the way an Angeleno imagines it to be. And you're right–the original got the real feel of New York and the subways.
Saw "UP" with my 2 little girls and my mom this weekend and enjoyed it immensely. There was no "agenda" going on. It was a sweet story and I loved the old man and that kid – both were funny without being cloying or annoying.
And that whole talking dog thing just cracked me up to no end. "Squirrel!"
And Ellie's character was wonderful, especially as a kid. She reminded me of me and a dozen other people I knew as kids – a little weird; a little quirky, but always a ton of fun.
Oh, and that short before the film started had be absolutely in stitches! When the shark shape came up, I was shouting and laughing at the same time, like "Oh my God, no!"
Anyway, it was a wonderful family film, which is so rare nowadays. Kudos to Pixar for another classic.
I, too, am waiting for Harry Potter, but not with any great expectations. I haven't been happy with a Harry Potter film since Prisoner of Azkabahn – the one true "film adaptation" that managed to keep to the general outline of the story, but also feel like a film. Maybe it was becuase I hadn't read any of the books yet when that movie came out, but I was more than disappointed with Goblet of Fire (total travesty except for a couple of things) and Order of the Phoenix was okay, but they took the soul out of that one too.
I'm afraid they are going to do the same with this one and the last one (two – since it's being split).
Was that the STEVE MARTIN and HEATHER GRAHAM flick? Murphy may or may not have been the impetus for that movies success.. remember Pluto Nash came out around the same time and it reallllllly sucked.
not to fans, apparently
What happened to Moon?
I thought he lost it when he changed his comedy to apeal to a wider audience. He tried to make family movies, but to do so he changed too much and lost what it was that made him so good to begin with.
I still plan to see Pelham, expectations kept firmly low. I don't require every film I see to be a timeless classic, so I'm sure it'll be fine. (The original will air on the CW Sunday night at 8pm, btw). "Moon's" around–it's just a much smaller release than any of the other new stuff this week. I know it's supposed to be good, it just looks a bit too much like "Solaris" (the remake) to me. Loved "Trek" & "Up," but I have no urge to see "Transformers," "Terminator" or "Harry Potter"…I kinda want to see "Bruno," though. There's a lot of good little docs bubbling around if you can find them–recently saw "Pressure Cooker" about inner city Philly culinary students and their kick-butt teacher. Sort of "Mad Hot Ballroom" with cooking.
Didn't I tell you, John?
Yay for "Star Trek"!!!!
Raimi has…a unique take on horror. The original Evil Dead stuff was termed "splatstick," and "Drag" was definitely a movie in that vein. To Raimi, horror should make you squirm, cringe, and occasionally laugh to break the tension.
I hate hate HATE the word "cume." Why can't people just say "total"?
I also hate all the adds that pop up and scroll down with you that you have to close in order to see anything.
I love this site, but that's starting to bug me.
I'm a huge Trekkie, and I didn't care for the new ST movie either.
I didn't know either.
There is no giant foot trying to squash me.
I just saw the original "Pelham" last night and I wondered if there was ever a time that Hector Elizondo had hair.
Remake? Don't care.
I loved all the Mindhead scenes in Bowfinger. I wonder if Steve Martin got any flack from that.
Thank you! I love the original Star Trek and I felt sucker punched by this movie. I was starting to think I was the only one.
Telepathos is right, those popups suck. I get it, you need revenue. Put the ad at the top or side and I'll click if I'm interested. Pop it up in my face and block my reading and I'll move on…
While the original 'Pelham' had a bad guy who was methodical, smooth and cool under pressure and even a little droll (the marvelous Robert Shaw), you had a foul-mouthed, trigger happy creep (the over-used and over the top John Travolta). In the original, you could imagine that the hijackers had thought everything out and could even get away with it. In this one, the only thing you could count on was a typical bloodbath.
It's the ultimate triumph of style over substance. Of course it's popular – most of the people who like it have never seen Star Trek. And I realize to some marketing asshat that's 'genius' and a good thing, but of course it isn't: if people like something, and they never liked it before, that means you changed something fundamental. That fundamental change usually destroys the essence.
I could go on and on about this awful movie – the gaping plot holes, the idiotic and nonsensical sci-fi – but I'll never convince anybody who liked it that it was a bad movie, anymore than you'll convince me it was a good one. But I'm willing to wager nobody will remember it in a year.
They pretty much gutted Goblet, but I think they had to do that because of the length. I actually like Goblet bc of the Yule Ball.
I like your description of Order – that's exactly it. I still liked it all right, but I was disappointed.
I think they may get some things right this time, as it appears they realize they need to KEEP IMPORTANT DETAILS if they want the last two/three to make sense!
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
abradel…
I really like your writing style, fantastic info , regards for putting up : D.. Hey very nice blog!! pleasing outstanding….
mudjacking Kansas City…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]�…
You must be logged in to post a comment.