Pale Horse said:
I am in this camp as well. But, the trailers aren't helping this at this point.
No, I certainly agree. I certainly understand roundshort and Paden's misgivings (I share them to an extent after
Brave), but I understand what Disney is doing. They're on the hook for a reported $250-million production budget, but once the other remaining above-the-line costs are factored in those up front expenses could hover around $600-million (depending on how certain deals are structured). If those numbers hold to be true, then it
needs to break $1-billion in gross receipts to even begin to be profitable. It can't be an
Appaloosa or
3:10 to Yuma because of the money.
So, by linking it to the wildly successful
Pirates films, you get people thinking.
Well, I liked those movies, so maybe this will be good. And by emphasizing the camp, it looks like a safe movie to bring the family (excluding small children) to. We won't mention the massacre of the Tonto's tribe, or the slaughter of seven Rangers too prominently. That'll kill the box office, and even one person is too many given the amount of money involved.
One should be emboldened, though. Disney is allowing the legend of the Lone Ranger to sell the picture. Johnny Depp's face has been caked in makeup and warpaint in every trailer, and John Reid has been maskless for less than thirty seconds. They're still chuffed about the film's potential, and haven't hyped Depp's participation... yet.
From Sunday's premiere at Disney's California Adventure...
Nearly twenty minutes of B-Roll footage unseen by me. As in I didn't watch it, so tread carefully if you're looking to avoid any potential spoilers.
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