I just got back from seeing An American Carol. It was great. It was really funny in some parts, and it was refreshing to see jihad spoken about so openly. But the thing that really lifted my spirits was the place was packed! I've never been in a theater that was so jam-packed. There was actually someone sitting on the floor because there were no seats left. And I live in a liberal city.And at the end of the movie, everyone clapped.
It was definitely worth seeing, and I encourage all of you to go see it this weekend. It would make a huge difference if more movies like this were made in Hollywood. And if movies like this make money, someone will make them.
16 comments:
I am heartened to hear that the theater was packed.
Thanks for posting on this.
Woo hoo!
Yes! It was so encouraging to see that place fill up to overflowing.
I encourage all of us to convince our friends to see it without pumping the movie up too much. It can make a movie less funny if you raise expectations up too high.
Citizen Warrior,
I'm glad you liked it, I knew you would. Its sounds like its doing good. That alone is a good sign.
Damien, it's strange to feel so strongly about a movie (especially a slapstick, goofy comedy), but I really think it could be a crack in the wall. If this movie does well, two things will happen: It will be a lot easier to talk about the Islamic encroachment with people, and two, it will make other filmmakers realize there is money to be made — there is a market for pro-strength, pro-freedom movies.
It could change the industry, and the industry is influential. Maybe I'm being too optimistic. But maybe not.
Citizen Warrior,
Lets hope you are not being too optimistic, but I doubt that Hollywood will do a one eighty overnight. We should try to make sure our exceptions are realistic, people who expect too much are always disappointed. Some people die miserable simply because they expected everything to be perfect, but it never is.
If An American Carol is a mega success, it maybe a turning point, but we need to be realistic. Don't expect Hollywood to change too quickly. At first they may just see it as aberration, and even if they don't, at least some producers are committed to a pacifist anti-war belief system. There have been a lot of anti-war movies lately, and most of them do poorly, but they keep making them, anyway. I personally doubt that this movie will convince a significant number of people to change their minds about the War on Terror, or Jihad or Sharia. After all it is a work of fiction and if nothing in the real world will change their minds, why should we expect a screw ball comedy to do it? In fact it would bea mistake to argue something like foreign policy based on a movie. But you are right about one thing, it may make it easier for us to talk about things like Jihad and Sharia.
«Don´t expect Hollywood to change too quickly. At first they may just see it as aberration, and even if they don´t, at least some producers are committed to a pacifist anti-war belief system.»
Hollywood expects to make $$$$$$$!
CW,
Hollywood already has plenty of evidence that they consistently take the wrong path. They must have produced 8-10 virulently anti-Bush/Iraq War movies thus far, and every single one of them has failed miserably.
Meanwhile, 300, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and every other movie which delves dares to actually consider the ideas behid war and violence do well.
Additionally, Hollywood is pretty anti-Christian.
But The Passion of the Christ, a movie I did not think was that good, became one of the biggest selling movies of all time.
And, though it was one of the biggest selling movies of all time, I bet if you looked on a List of money-making movies, you will not even find The Passion of the Christ mentioned.
Additionally, in the past couple of years, there have been two pro-life movies produced and each did well, despite being a big silly; The Notebook and Just Like Heaven both consider the human being in their totality and conclude that their is something inherently important about a person which deserves life even when they are "not themselves" anymore. The Notebook is about an Alzheimer's patient and Just Like Heaven is about a woman in a coma.
I could go on. Consider the fact that children's movies, especially well-made ones which deal positively and thoughtfully with family issues (The Incredibles) do better than almost anything else. But, they are never mentioned either.
The Passion of the Christ did over $600 Billion in business foreign and domestic:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm
The Dark Knight has done $525 million foreign and domestic:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm
And, here's the list of top-grossing films of all time:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/
I was wrong, they do list the Passion of the Christ. It turns out it was not nearly as high on the list as I had thought. It was the 40th highest-grossing movie of all time. And, in fact, the Da Vinci Code out-grossed the Passion.
The Passion of the Christ did over $600 Billion in business foreign and domestic:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm
The Dark Knight has done $525 million foreign and domestic:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm
And, here's the list of top-grossing films of all time:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/
I was wrong, they do list the Passion of the Christ. It turns out it was not nearly as high on the list as I had thought. It was the 40th highest-grossing movie of all time. And, in fact, the Da Vinci Code out-grossed the Passion.
CW,
Your post has convinced me not to wait for the DVD!
Pastorius,
You are correct, Its unlikely that this will ever lead to Hollywood doing a complete one eighty. Its unlikely they will ever change completely. In the near future through, we may have some anti-war movies alone with some patriotic movies supporting our troops, as well as a few that are openly anti-Jihad and Sharia. But it won't be like it was during world war 2 where all the movies were either openly for the war or neutral on the subject. As for anti-war movies, I think there may always be a place for them. Even when necessary, war is never a good thing, it would be foolish for us to forget that.
Also don't forget that many in Hollywood love to demonize America.
I don't expect Hollywood to do a complete 180. Not even a 30. But I would expect, if this movie does well, more overtly anti-jihadi or pro-freedom movies will be made. The people who write those screenplays will find a more available funding and the larger movie companies will be more willing to put well-known actors in the movies, and all of this is good.
Hollywood will always have plenty of bleeding-heart liberals. Those kind of people like that kind of business. But investors follow the money, regardless of ideology.
CW,
I agree. It will help.
Hey guys,
It looks like An American Carol did pretty good for its first day, according to BOX OFFICE MOJO it Ranked ninth place at the box office
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