To tell the truth, I don't think so.
Despite all the criticism from foreigners, I loved D-WAR. Although the extras were disasterous in their performances, I enjoyed the movie enough to see it three times in theaters. I admit, we Koreans are a bit obsessed with nationalism, which plays a big role in D-WAR's box-office success in Korea. But in my opinion, it's not the CG or the weak storyline or the crappy acting(a lot of foreigners say)but the name value of the actors. Jason Behr, who plays the lead role Ethan Kendricks, is a fine actor, but is barely known in the international world. None of my friends knew who Jason Behr was before D-War came out. And sure, Robert Forster is still appearing in a lot of Hollywood films, and he's one of my favorite actors but there is no doubt that now he's a sort of 'has-been'. Nowadays his roles are barely discernible in movies that you don't know it's him if you're not paying attention. I've never even heard of Amanda Brooks or Craig Robinson. I did see Chris Mulkey and Elizabeth Pena in other Hollywood movies before D-War came out, but I didn't know their names back then.
The only true international name in 'D-War'is Steve Jablonsky, who composed the score. Director Shim Hyoung Rae once said in an interview that Hans Zimmer was approached first. According to Shim, Zimmer was busy at the time and recommended Jablonsky, but I'm guessing that either Zimmer didn't like the movie or thought the paycheck was too small. Jablonsky is an international music composer,sure, but his success was mostly on Michael Bay films, whereas Hans Zimmer did a more wide range of films such as 'The Lion King'and 'The DaVinci Code'.
30million dollars is small by Hollywood standards, I know, but I still think that if they tried harder,they could've gotten bigger names. I mean,if a little Korean film called 'Clementine'could get Steven Segal in their film(although Segal only had a small role and was paid 1million dollars out of the 4million dollar budget to act in the film),couldn't D-War do better? I mean,say,if a A-list star like Tom Cruise joined the cast, wouldn't it definetely suceed in the US box office? |
 by aiolia (Fri Aug 10 2007 00:36:28) |
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 UPDATED Fri Aug 10 2007 00:36:51 |
I don't know how much money Tom Cruise makes nowadays for one film, but I doubt he'd have accepted a role in D-war even if he was offered $20 mil. |
| by joseph1 (Fri Aug 10 2007 18:11:52) |
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"I don't know how much money Tom Cruise makes nowdays for one film,but I doubt he'd have accepted a role in D-War even if he was offered $20million". Why not,after all money speaks in U.S.,and I'm highly doublt-ful anyone gotta even offers $10 million let alone $20 million to some use-up hollywood star to be in their movie when there so many good looking fresh young faces only eager to take his place. |
| by fctiger 5 days ago (Sun Aug 12 2007 13:01:29) |
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Wow, pretty harsh on Cruise lol. No, he wouldn't do it. Despite peoples bias on the man, he seems to work with well known proven directors and producers: last 4, Spielberg, Michael Mann, J.J. Abrahms and now Bryan Singer and his movies do well all around the world (not a Cruise lover, just stating facts). You don't get where he is by choosing crap like D war with one of the crappiest directors on the planet lol.
And no, this movie won't do well, not even close. If it manages to make $20 million, I will be surprised.
I'm right, you're wrong. Deal with it! |
| by aiolia 5 days ago (Sun Aug 12 2007 18:04:03) |
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TC's market value has decreased dramatically over the last two years, but he's not ready to star in D-War. Not just yet. |
| by fctiger 5 days ago (Mon Aug 13 2007 00:35:56) |
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Decreased, yes, but people seem to forget the man is now RUNNING MGM and can get any film in the world greenlit by saying, 'I want to do this.' Maybe DWAR might have had a decent script and a chance of hell in suceeding if the guy made a 2 minute cameo 
I'm right, you're wrong. Deal with it! |
Don't think so,
it won't last a week. |
I don't think this movie will be a commercial success just simply because the studio releasing this film is pretty small. I really doubt they'll strike 3 to 4 thousand prints of D-War.
"El pollo loco to you too." |
| by jacky56 5 days ago (Sun Aug 12 2007 14:20:11) |
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Cruise was paid 100 million for MI3....course, he produced it as well, which is why he got paid tht amount...
but still...you get the picture
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| by jimbo_1984 4 days ago (Mon Aug 13 2007 18:37:32) |
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Okay, back on topic here. Does it really matter who is in a movie as long as they can perform their role perfectly? Al Pacino, a rather new actor at the time, was almost denied the part of Michael Corleone in "The Godfather." If they gave it to Dustin Hoffman, like how the studio heads wanted, it would have been totally different. It doesn't matter on what big name actor plays a part as long as they match with the part. Who the hell was Marlon Brando when "Streetcar Named Desire" was filmed?
You gave Tom Cruise as an example. People watched "War of the Worlds" not because of Tom Cruise, but because of the long history of that story. "War of the Worlds" came out during a time when everybody was pretty much annoyed with Tom Cruise for his couch-jumping, Scientology preaching, Matt Lauer-bashing ways.
I'm Korean and I totally know where you're coming from. In Korea, celebrities, especially American ones, are like gods. Its not based on their skill, but rather the popularity level. In America, there seems to be a shift with both actors and audiences. Today, it seems like more and more people, including actors, are more interested in the art rather than the money and popularity. Today, many popular actors are starring more and more in indie films because of the sheer pleasure of acting to a great story. |
| by fctiger 4 days ago (Tue Aug 14 2007 03:19:58) |
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<<Okay, back on topic here.>>
LOL, not a big deal jimbo, but the original topic is about if DWAR will do well in the U.S. or not. Talking about celebrity actors and draws in movies is still quite off topic  .
I'm right, you're wrong. Deal with it! |
| by ara21c 3 days ago (Wed Aug 15 2007 00:08:04) |
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| UPDATED Wed Aug 15 2007 00:27:36 |
That's the point. Whoever you put in the film like Yonggari, it never happens. I haven't seen the D-War yet so I won't talk about it. Reason for saying is when I watched middle part of the Yonggari, I just shut down (In my case, whatever movie goes, I must watch the ending.) because actor or actress they don't look like any real person.. It was horribly awkward scene whenever they play the role. At the time, I decided that I will not watch his movie again.
You have to understand why I decided it. I have been learn English for one or two years only when I watched it but I knew how badly they play their role.
And funny thing is that people talk about the Independence Day with this movie. I think I should ask how Will Smith play the role in that movie?
I am not that big fan of hollywood star but they can play their role extremely well.
So it still require small storyline for playing their role.
If you would like to know, you should have to watch worst story line with best performance in the movie. For example, Amos & Andrew(Nicolas Cage and Samuel L. Jackson). I personally think that other good example is Mystic River but it's in the imdb top 250 so it can't be good example.
I will ask very simple question for your answer. If Park Chan Wook ask to Brad Pitt or famous hollywood star to play the Oldboy, will he play?
You think it is too hypothetical question because it is number 117 in the imdb top 250 so I will change to the Gwoemul. Will he play?
Logic is the foundation of the certainty of all the knowledge we acquire. -Leonhard Euler |
| by GameraNY 3 days ago (Wed Aug 15 2007 01:24:05) |
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I'm an American and I am more excited for this movie than just about anything else coming out in the next few months. I love big effects movies... and this one looks very inspired. Plus, it's not a sequel, a remake, or based on a book or comic book or any kind of pre-existing property. You would think that should be motivation enough for people to check it out. Plus, from what I've seen in the clips, the action looks more coherently staged than TRANSFORMERS.
I think they could have cut a better trailer than the American one they are showing now though. And the poster they are using is not nearly as eye catching as the simple one of the snake wrapped around the building screaming. That poster should be up in every theater right this second!
Unfortunately, I haven't seen the posters or that trailer in a single theater yet. They best get a move on. Regardless if the film is good, they have a product that could open big with proper marketing. They just best get to work on getting that awareness going or this thing will crash. And that would be a shame because this could be a real surprise event. Kind of like when STARGATE came out of nowhere.
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| by ara21c 3 days ago (Wed Aug 15 2007 09:53:06) |
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"Today, it seems like more and more people, including actors, are more interested in the art rather than the money and popularity. Today, many popular actors are starring more and more in indie films because of the sheer pleasure of acting to a great story."
I totally agree with you. I don't really impressed Nicol Kidman's acting on the Moulin Rouge, but I was very impressed on the Birthday Girl and The Others, too. (I didn't know that 3 movies were released on same year in 2001.)
Nowadays I would like to see famous star playing small budget movie because sometimes they play extremely well like Nicole Kidman playing in the Birthday Girl.
And I already mentioned about the Amos & Andrew. It is 1993 so maybe Samuel L. Jackson and Nicolas Cage are not famous yet but it still counts. I gave high rate for their performance. I probably right because later or bit earlier they have famous movies.
Nicolas Cage - Leaving Las Vegas (1995), The Rock (1996), Con Air (1997)
Samuel L. Jackson - Jurassic Park (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995)
Anyway, if you know this kind of movie, could you please let me know? That is the reason I wrote quite long story.
I personally does not feel any good performance from the Tom Cruise's action movie but it doesn't mean bad. Because I realized that I have too high expectation like better performance than his best performance movie like Cocktail and Jerry Mcguire.
Logic is the foundation of the certainty of all the knowledge we acquire. -Leonhard Euler |
I'm an American and I saw one really cool poster that caught my eye- "Whoa, what the hell is this?!" and then I am about to watch the trailer right now. If it gets a wide enough release it may be do alright at box office. I mean dragons in a war? Fckin' a! Pretty cool concept... |
| by Sumpatheo 2 days ago (Wed Aug 15 2007 21:29:39) |
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If Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, and Robert DeNiro all took part in this movie, it would be the end of their careers. The movie would still suck and they would be exiled into making movies in Korea. Their agents would be out of jobs.
The fact that this movie sucked, to put it politely, has nothing to do with the quality or the popularity of the actors. This is a B-movie that wasted a lot of money. 'Nuff said. |
| by rosenwolf 1 day ago (Thu Aug 16 2007 16:58:48) |
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| UPDATED Thu Aug 16 2007 16:59:54 |
What is nationalism?
This word "nationalism", I think, has been so misused especially when critiszing this movie.
Being nationalistic and Being proud of your country are different
like Having Self-Esteem is different from being Self-Obssesed.
Korean people are proud of the director of this movie becuase they know he bounced back from his hardship and created some movie no Korean movie makers have tried before.
also they are proud because this movie will be the first Korean movie which will be released across the US.
I think it's just a natural thing which can be found in any countries.
I totally disagree with your point "we Koreans are a bit obsessed with nationalism" and I am worried people get the wrong idea about Korean people and culture.
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| by ara21c 1 day ago (Thu Aug 16 2007 21:33:43) |
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I was confused. Korean movie never released in US before?
I heard that a lot of movie are released in US. I read newspaper report that The Host has most number of cinemas about 120 screens ( http://news.nate.com/Service/natenews/ShellView.asp?ArticleID=2007030211250159191&LinkID=66&Title=%B8%B6%C0%CC%B5%A5%C0%CF%B8%AE).
If there has been showing the movie in US before, I think you don't have to emphasize about the being proud.
I think you should proud of Oldboy which is number 117 in the imdb.com top 250.
And you should proud about Korean made Geoemul because it is good movie.
Logic is the foundation of the certainty of all the knowledge we acquire. -Leonhard Euler |
| by rosenwolf 1 day ago (Fri Aug 17 2007 01:56:30) |
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I know there were Korean movies released in the US.
But this time is wide or at least close to wide.
It is (reportedly though) going to be on more than 1500 screens across the US.
1500 screens compared to 120 is a groundbreaking outcome in the Korean movie history.
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| by ara21c 1 day ago (Fri Aug 17 2007 03:15:30) |
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I can see your point.
However, most of actors and actresses are not Korean so you should have to think about that.
A lot of Hong Kong directors went to Hollywood and their movie probably open more than 5,000 screens in US.
So I think situation is very different.
I will be proud, if this movie make a lot and a lot and a lot of money for pay off to all the actors and actresses from US cinemas (not from Korea) and if terribly big money go to Korea.
You should have to be careful, you know. If this movie does not make any money from the US, all the Korean pay off to the foreign actor and actresses so how you gonna say you will be proud of it?
So let's see what will happen. And then whether I can be proud of it or not. I will see and then talk about it...
Logic is the foundation of the certainty of all the knowledge we acquire. -Leonhard Euler |
| by rosenwolf 1 day ago (Fri Aug 17 2007 03:29:23) |
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But there is a difference.
I know some Hong Kong directors are doing well in Hollywood.
But they work for the American movie companies such as the Waner Bros and the 20centruy fox.
The movies that they directed are actully American films directed by Hong Kong directors.
The D-War is not only directed by a Korean director, It was written, produced, and funded by the Korean movie makers.
So it is a Korean film starring American actors.
and it will be good if this film succeed in the US but even it fails I will be still proud of him for his effort to to make his dream come true. |
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