Box Office: 'Atlas Shrugged' collapses

[emazur]

I'm not a big movie-goer to begin with, but the idea of a cinematic morality play on objectivism leaves me cold.

The movie wasn't about objectivism (actually the objectivist message was almost completely left out IMO), but it stayed faithful to the events that took place in the book.

 

[Matt Collins]

Wait until it is on DVD. They'll recoup and probably turn a profit just like the film Office Space did.

 

[doodle]

From what I heard, it was not made very well as a flick.
This may have a played a part too for some, movie should have distanced itself from executive producer:

LINK

 

[Lothario]

Its failure had nothing to do with advertising or a theatrical release or the fact that it's in parts. It was doomed the moment an exercise equipment entrepreneur bought the film rights and thought he knew how to make a movie. This guy had no experience and no business producing this movie. I'm disgusted that he's spoiled the rights and the potential so badly - how long now until we can get the film rights in the hands of someone who knows what the ef they are doing?

 

[Anti Federalist]

Its failure had nothing to do with advertising or a theatrical release or the fact that it's in parts. It was doomed the moment an exercise equipment entrepreneur bought the film rights and thought he knew how to make a movie. This guy had no experience and no business producing this movie. I'm disgusted that he's spoiled the rights and the potential so badly - how long now until we can get the film rights in the hands of someone who knows what the ef they are doing?

That's kind of what I was thinking, I mean look at the viral success of Freedom to Fascism or the success the Wachoviski brothers have had with "liberty themed" movies.

I had read honest reviews from people sympathetic to the novel and movie's theme and had nothing good to say about it.

 

[Brian Defferding]

I'm not a big movie-goer to begin with, but the idea of a cinematic morality play on objectivism leaves me cold.

Good politics can make bad theater. When people get too preachy, the entertainment value can drop off really quick.

With that being said, I think Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is better atheist libertarian literature than any Ayn Rand book, but that's just me.

 

[Agorism]

bombed out.

No part 2. YAY!

 

[QueenB4Liberty]

I still want to see this movie.

 

[lester1/2jr]

It looks boring.

 

[TheeJoeGlass]

And the fact that it is a movie about politics and business and a philosophy that most people don't care about at all.

This. What did he expect from the Hollywood audience? They've spent the better part of the last century trying to combat the ideas of Rand, not support them.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

They were trying to viral market it through talk radio and through the Tea parties. That worked for the "Left Behind" movies, but not this. And it's not surprising. I don't think your average talk radio head/teacon is a big Ayn Rand fan. In fact I'm not a big Ayn Rand fan.

Sean Hannity and Mark Levin both mentioned it quite a bit...

 

[libertybrewcity]

i wonder why it failed...probably because it was only at 30 theaters in the middle of no where.

 

[Anti Federalist]

i wonder why it failed...probably because it was only at 30 theaters in the middle of no where.

I saw reviews from "freedom friendly" sources that said it just stunk, poor acting, poor timing, poor delivery of lines, poorly paced.

In general, a "bad movie", regardless of the topic of the film.

It happens.

Google "Ishtar" or what was that awful Guy Ritchie/Madonna film a few years ago? P-U...stink bombs.

What the shame is, as already has been noted, is that now the source material is tainted, possibly for decades.

Imagine what the Coen brothers, for example, could have done with this film.

 

[jmdrake]

Sean Hannity and Mark Levin both mentioned it quite a bit...

Yeah. I said talk radio head, but I meant talk radio listener. Here's the problem. Doodle mentioned that the producer was pro Iraq war and is pro Iran war. (Very stupid if he actually supports limited government). Anyway such a nutty foreign policy isn't a problem for the Hannity's and Levin's of the world. But the fact that Ayn Rand tried to badger Murray Rothbard into getting a divorce because his wife was Christian probably wouldn't sit with the average teocon, most of whom are Christians. What I'm saying is there is a disconnect between Ayn Rand the person and the target audience. Sure Hannity and Levin probably just didn't mention anything about Ayn and her religious affiliation (or lack thereof) but that just means they had less to talk to their audience about. It was just "Go see this great movie". That and the trailer didn't look all that exciting.

 

[jmdrake]

Imagine what the Coen brothers, for example, could have done with this film.

That sounds like a good idea for a YouTube mashup.

 

[jmdrake]

Good politics can make bad theater. When people get too preachy, the entertainment value can drop off really quick.

With that being said, I think Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is better atheist libertarian literature than any Ayn Rand book, but that's just me.

Yeah. Just how big is the "atheist libertarian" market?

 

[cindy25]

it had every advantage, so much free publicity. but movies are not meant to be in parts. a tv mini series would have worked

 

[goldencane]

To be honest, I never went to see it. It just did not look very entertaining, which is why I go to the movies.