Slashdot Mirror
Snakes on The Net Fail to Put Butts in the Seats
Lev13than writes "An article in The Globe & Mail discusses the disappointing performance of Snakes on a Plane. Despite extensive Internet hype and unprecedented audience involvement in the movie's development, it barely slithered into first place with a meager $13.8M weekend box office. 'The Internet stuff was just fun that people were having with it, but I don't think that necessarily meant that those people wanted to see the movie... those who had made that decision based their decision more on the traditional marketing than on all this Internet buzz.' Was all of the hype about blogger power just that — hype?"
There is one major possibility that everybody is forgetting.
That is, that this movie could have quite possibly ended dead last without the Internet hype. I think the only reason they made anything at all was because of the hype.
Years ago there was the viral marketing about The Blair Witch Project. I wondered what all the buzz was about and saw it. To me it was money down the drain. I didn't care for it and became a bit cynical about film pushed this way. Now if someone I knew who had similar tastes and saw a film and liked it, which I used to do, I'd give it a try.
Years ago I used to read the Detroit Free Press, which had a little grid in the back, which summarised what various critics thought of films. I learned which leaned most often my way and followed their advice. Most often we were in sync. Now I just chance it, mostly on trailers, of indie fliks. Hollywood stuff you usually get all the good bits and the whole plot in trailers.
Upon Scott Kurtz' endorsement I saw Little Miss Sunshine, which is quite the little gem.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Half of the Slashdot crowd will just download the flick and wonder why the producers are so disappointed in the film's performance at the box office.
Then they will post about the virtues of free software... knowing full well that they really mean beer.
I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
What, they thought we were serious? *blink*
all of those bloggers making SoaP jokes? They were laughing at, not with the marketroids and hollywood in general. It was derision, nothing else.
I know that I don't generally shell out cash for things I'm derisive of, that's for sure.
It was the highest grossing movie this weekend, right? First place? What were they hoping for? Zeroth place? I mean really. The 'buzz' was that it was basically a stupid movie with no plot. And it still made it to the top. And they complain? Man, talk about a sore winner.
While I'm interested in seeing the film, my wife and I just can't swallow the wretched ticket prices when, for cost of two admissions, we can OWN THE DVD. Not rent, own. And that's not even factoring in gas or babysitting costs.
Add to that the cost of consessions and the sheer rudeness of humanity (talking to your neighbor, talking on your cellphone, text messaging, kicking the back of my chair) I'm just not interested in going to see a film on the big screen.
So, am I going to shell out big bucks to watch commercials, listen to other people's conversations, and then sit through a B-grade flick? Hell no.
Don't just game, Dungeoneer
when you saw a dancing baby, did you want a baby?
when some turkish dude said "i kiss you!" did you want to kiss him?
did watching the hamster dance make you want to buy a hamster?
when cats said all our base are belong to him, did you want to play zerowing?
when star wars kid valiantly fought with canadian air, did you want to buy a light sabre?
did watching jibjab's "this land is our land" change your vote?
no, to all of that
so why would laughing at snakes on a plane make you want to go to the movies?
dumb internet fads are, guess what, nothing but dumb internet fads
they don't translate into anything, excep time wasted at work and school
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
apparently there are snake in the Mother F***in Theater as well
We geeks tend to forget that we are in the TINY MINORITY of the population. Joe Sixpack doesn't hang out on /. and internet fan boards.
-Eric
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
>This movie debut - 10 years ago = Complete and utter bust.
Naww. There was considerable non-blog based hype. The wacky trailers, word of mouth, etc. I think this movie would have done just as well without the so called internet hype. There's a great deal of over-estimation of the number and influence levels of 'internet people.' Seriously. If all the net-based hype refelected reality then:
Bill Gates would be serving his fourth year in prison.
John Kerry would be president.
Richard Stallman would be on television.
Churches would fold up because of lack of interest.
Anime would be everywhere.
Star Trek would have its own cable channel. Or two.
etc. The net isn't reality. Now Hollywood knows this.
Horses and dogs would trust humans a LOT less
That's Slashdot, not the internet.
I make websites and stuff. Buy one.
Bill Gates would be serving his fourth year in prison.
The legal sysetm tried hard but garbage trucks full of money trump the internet
John Kerry would be president.
Many geeks hate all politicians equally.
Richard Stallman would be on television.
Give it time. It will happen.
Churches would fold up because of lack of interest.
My Level 41 Paladin disagrees with you.
Anime would be everywhere.
Give it time. There's a heck of a lot more of it then there was.
Star Trek would have its own cable channel. Or two.
And leave out SG-1 and Farscape? It's more likely we'll get a Sci-Fi channel. OH WAIT WE HAVE THAT!
We are ten years past the time when "Internet Person" could be defined by the interests and obsessions of the Geek.