411 Fact or Fiction Movies: Week 58
Posted by Matthew Craggs on 12.15.2006
JT and Scott Rutherford talk AFI's Movies of the Year, Apocalypto box office, a Bollywood George Clooney, On Demand services and the new Charlotte's Web in Week 58 of Movie Fact or Fiction.
Greetings, and welcome to Week 58 of Movie Fact or Fiction.
This week we have The JT. He is the Samoa Joe of Movie Fact or Fiction. He kills bitches... with his words.
His opponent is The Scott Rutherford. He is the Kurt Angle of Movie Fact or Fiction. He needed to take 3 Vicodins to finish these six questions.
1. For the most part, AFIs Movies of the Year list is right. The list can be found through this link.
JT:FACT. Look, the people at AFI don't have their jobs because they lucked out. They have their jobs because they know the industry and see 93,000 movies a year. Not only that, one of the biggest purposes of the AFI is to train people with the knowledge the have. The point is, they know what they're doing. To me, you cannot fault their list. All of the films in question were not necessarily the biggest blockbusters, but for the most part universally received. Some on the other hand, actually were huge blockbusters. I haven't heard a bad word about Happy Feet. Borat? Obvious. Then you have a great example like The Devil Wears Prada. This film was supposed to be a chick flick that did decent at the Box Office. It ended up going head to head with Superman Returns and Pirates of the Caribbean 2, and stayed about water the whole time; not only making well over 100 million dollars, but being regarded as a great film by ALL audiences. United 93 – despite controversy – also was received fairly well and did okay at the B.O. AFI is known for this. They pick some of the obvious choices, and throw in a few of the lesser known films that are really good. What else would go on this list? Snakes on a Plane? Bond? I'll give you that Thank You for Smoking is a great flick, but I'm happy enough with the list they do have to overlook that little oversight.
Scott Rutherford:FACT. Yo, JT…you could have just said "yes". Did you really need to go to those lengths to explain a one word answer? It's not hard to make a best of list these days because for the most part today's flicks are just shitty and the good ones stick out like dogs balls. See JT, not that hard to keep it short and not bore the 411 readership.
Score:1 for 1
2. Apocalypto's $14 million opening weekend box office is a surprise.
JT:FICTION. To be honest, I'm surprised it didn't make more. Look, talk to me all day about how Mel Gibson has screwed himself, but the fact is that A. It's still Mel Gibson (we are a forgiving group), B. This was supposed to be a semi-huge blockbuster, C. Note to America: Historians like historical movies, and D. The whole "Rated R for intense graphic violence and disturbing images." That peaks curiosity all by itself. Considering all four points mentioned, I'm honestly shocked it didn't do more, but not as shocked as I would usually be. After all, Happy Feet (see my earlier comments) and Bond are still in the Top 5. There is still more interest in those than a time-piece like this one.
Rutherford:FICTION. I couldn't give a shit about Mel Gibson or this movie to tell you the truth. This movie being made is proof that too many assholes have too much access to money. Mel Gibson is about the biggest asshole with the most cash in Hollywood and he got direct access to the "church" crowd after all that Passion bullshit which would help his box office. Look in a few weeks and we'll see if it's still making money.
Score:2 for 2
3. George Clooney has said that he is open to the idea of doing a Bollywood movie. You'd pay to see him in a Bollywood movie.
JT:FACT. And the question would be, why wouldn't I? The entire planet (in doses) is going to see these movies, and that's when they don't involve a name as famous and well-know as Clooney. I've seen a couple of these flicks, and they have some good things going on there. I hate to use the term "take risks", but they do things you just don't see in American film. While they may only be a part of the entire Indian film thing, they help contribute to one of the largest distribution and ticket sale numbers in the entire world. These films (Bollywood specifically) are growing in number, growing in revenues, growing in audiences, and growing in seeming popularity. It's certainly not a household name, but there are plenty of people who are aware of this particular culture of films. Add George Clooney's name to that, and you've just continued to broaden your horizon and recognition level.
Scott Rutherford:FICTION. I actually would like to see George in Bollywood rocking the sun-continent but I am going to say FICTION because I cannot in good conscious agree with JT three fucking times in a row. He doesn't deserve my approval.
Score:2 for 3
Switch!
4. Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Connery.
Scott Rutherford:FACT. Just too go one step further I would say Daniel Craig is a better bond than Connery. Anyone who thinks different is a lying sack of shit that doesn't know anything about Bond or movies.
JT:FACT. I mean, who else is it going to be? Brosnan? He went 1 for 4 so most certainly not. I'm not ready to crown Craig just yet because he's only made one, but he really grabbed the bull by the horns and pulled Bond into the 21st century. He definitely has the potential to surpass Connery (although I may never admit it when it happens due to my markdom for Sean). The fact he flat out refused to cave and dye his hair brown for this movie reeks of having the right kind of attitude to play this new kind of Bond.
Score:3 for 4
5. Within five years all television networks will adopt the On Demand system.
Scott Rutherford:FACT. I will again take this even further and say all movie studio's will do the same thing as well. People want to watch what they want whenever they want to in surrounds that they are most comfortable with. The sooner the studio system starts to realize they are fighting a losing battle trying to keep movie theatres and box office taking alive the sooner they will actually give people what they want. Plus when you're watching a movie at home you can do ya woman doggy style and watch TV at the same time. Best of both worlds!
JT:FACT. Again, I won't join Rutherford on his quest to bring the entire world of cinema to his house so he can smack that ass whilst catching the newest Brian Singer blockbuster, but he's spot on about TV. Hell, there are already more networks than I can name or even know of which incorporate this system. The networks will eventually start spinning it that they're "giving the customer what they want, when they want", and let me remind everyone of one minor detail that will seal this deal: it costs money. More money for the cable companies, more money for the networks, more money for the customers (to pay). Ahhhh, the price we pay to catch the new episode of Scrubs at 3:47 a.m. hammered out of our skulls.
Score:4 for 5
6. Charlotte's Web looks like it will be the best kids movie of 2006.
Scott Rutherford:FICTION. That's a fucking lie! Craggs you smelly bastard, how dare you even write such a question. The new version of Charlotte's Web is just shit and not even a shadow of the original. That brave spider GIVING HER FUCKING ALL TO HELP A PIG! All her little children floating away at the end but three little brave souls stay behind to be the keeper of the pig…it brings a tear and no new version could even hope to top it.
JT:FICTION. FO' RILLA. Allow me to pick up right where Rutherford left off. FUCK that. This is complete and utter bullshit, and he's right Craggsy, even to suggest such a thing is worthy of a man-sized ass beating! Charlotte busted her ass to save Wilbur's life, and Scott already touched on the heart-warmingest of heart-warming moments at the end. This is one of the most classic kid's stories of the last forty years, and they're about to pull down their pants, and take a big, fat, smelly, live-action shit all over it. There is a list of movies that you just do NOT touch, and somebody forgot to fucking check it. Won't see it, won't rent it, won't read it about. Fuck this film. Oh, and Steve Buscemi, you sir… are ON NOTICE!!!
Final Score:5 for 6
Thank you JT, thank you Rutherford, and thank you audience. Make sure to join us next week for Week 59 of Fact or Fiction.
