Category Archives: Jack_Poessiger
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘The Avengers’ a Feast for Geeks And Everyone!
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If you’re going to kick-off what’s predicted to become the biggest movie summer EVER, you’d best do it in a mighty big way…
And Disney does just that with MARVELS-THE AVENGERS.
Walt would’ve been proud.
What we’ve got here is Hollywood’s ultimate superhuman good guy team set against an epic scope of production wizardry that would’ve been impossible to achieve just a handful of years ago.
I should mention that I’m not a comic book geek.
New Jack City: Unraveling Sin City Cinema’s Great Movie Week
I’ve just returned from CinemaCon-Las Vegas, the world’s largest annual movie convention and I’m still trying to sort out an objective view of the Industry…
An industry which incidentally is up almost 20% in ticket sales over the first quarter of 2011, I might add. And one that beginning Friday with MARVELS-THE AVENGERS, will be hit-bound almost weekly through Labor Day weekend.
There are so many convention highlights to touch on—which I will in future columns—but here are just a few.
Hearne: Beyond Boffo! Summer Movie Season Biggest Ever
Hail, Caesar!
Or maybe I should say, Great Caesar’s ghost!
That’s pretty much the tone of Jack Poessiger‘s early take on this year’s CinemaCon movie convention live from Caesar’s Palace in Las Veas. Three days in, two to go and Poessiger could barely contain himself.
"This summer looks huge," Poessiger says. "I’ve never seen this many hit movies crammed into this short of a period. I think this is going to be thje biggest summer movie season ever. Beginning with The Avengers next week – I mean, it just doesn’t stop – there’s like two movies a week."
OK, hold it…
New Jack City: The Day I Kidnapped Dick Clark
The year was 1968…
The occasion was the release of one of several movies Dick Clark co-starred in and produced through his Dick Clark Productions.
I was the Marketing Director of Commonwealth Theatres, Inc. and Dick flew into Kansas City to promote his hillbilly moonshine exploitation film, "KILLERS THREE" which he co-starred with Robert Walker, Jr. and Merle Haggard. The movie was released by American-International Pictures.
My job was to take Clark around town to appear on several radio stations and plug the film. Naturally Top 40 stations were the target audience, which meant WHB (710 AM) and KUDL (AM) at that time.
Matter of fact it was home of a young, somewhat skinny DJ named Jeff Christie who we later got to know as Rush Limbaugh.
Jack Goes Confidential: Cinematic Soapster Puts Forth Efron As ‘THE LUCKY ONE’
Mention Nicholas Sparks‘ name and visions of popular romantic dramas come to mind…
Like MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, DEAR JOHN, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE and, of course, THE NOTEBOOK.
Contrary to popular belief THE VOW wasn’t one of them.
So when I mentioned to friends that I would be going to a preview of Sparks’ latest best seller to screen adaptation THE LUCKY ONE earlier this week, they were giving me that "I feel your pain" look—as in I’m glad it’s you instead of me.
But these judges were guys. And THE LUCKY ONE is totally, 100% pure chick flick.
New Jack City: ‘Twi Hards’ Reshoot Update
There’s no denying it…
The TWILIGHT saga has been hugely successful with its fan base.
How successful?
The first Twilight back in 2008 had nearly $192,800,000 in domestic ticket sales.
One year later NEW MOON shattered the original’s take with a boxoffice total of $296,600,000 plus. Then
ECLIPSE during the summer of 2010 broke the $300 million mark.
And then came last year’s BREAKING DAWN-PART 1. Not only did it garner some of the worst reviews from the critics, but its boxoffice take fell to $281,287,000.
BREAKING DAWN 1 was directed by Bill Condon who’s also doing the franchise’s final chapter—BREAKING DAWN-PART 2—set for release on November 16th.
Read whatever you want into what follows.
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘The Three Stooges’—A Knuckleheaded Misadventure That Works—for GUYS
Let’s be completely upfront…
There are chick flicks that lend themselves well to Girls Night Out movies, like next week’s THE LUCKY ONE with Zac Efron from the pen of The Notebook’s Nicholas Sparks.
THE THREE STOOGES doesn’t fall into that catagory.
Matter of fact, I would suggest a Boy’s Night Out with a couple drinks and a cigar before meeting up with Larry, Moe & Curly at the megaplex.
It’s a guy thing.
New Jack City: Hot Summer Box Office—The Race Is On!
When it comes to insecurity, Hollywood usually takes the cake…
Huge production and marketing costs have the studios relying ever more on so-called "tracking services" that forecast what films might open to in terms of ticket sales on specific debut weekends, as well as attempting to predict their "all in" boxoffice take.
With millions of dollars at stake and ongoing ad-pub repositioning right up to the film’s release date, Hollywood has spawned a sizeable sideline industry that delivers sophisticated statistical advance information that once was the domain of fortune tellers.
The 18 week long summer movie period beginning nowadays with the first weekend of May and running through Labor Day can easily make or break a studio’s fortunes.
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘American Reunion, ‘Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda But Didn’t
AMERICAN REUNION– Scene # 1: Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan are now married with child and their union has turned stale…
He’s sitting on the bed rubbing one off into a tube sock while watching porn on his laptop.
Ooops, the young son walks in on him.
Scene # 2: Mom is taking a bath and giving her vag a workout with the handheld showerhead. You guessed it, the kid walks in on her as well.
So begins the 8th slice of American Pie which, at best, has become a bit stale since since its debut in 1999.
But credit AMERICAN PIE with jump starting the modern shock-humor romps which have flourished since with the likes of THE HANGOVER, BRIDESMAIDS and SUPERBAD.
New Jack City: Razzies a New Career Low for Adam Sandler
Sunday’s annual Razzie Awards honoring the previous year’s worst on film brought forth a new cinematic low…
Normally held on the night prior to the Oscars, the Golden Raspberry Foundation this year moved the event to a more befitting date, April Fool’s Day.
And what a distinction Sunday night was for Adam Sandler who swept the Santa Monica, California based event in all 10 catagories!
Sandler’s gawdawful cross-dressing comedy JACK & JILL is the first motion picture in the 32 year history of the Raspberry Awards to sweep EVERY award.
The movie was named worst picture and its entire cast, especially Sandler and Al Pacino, were singled out for their acting in the film. Making matters worse, another of Sandler’s 2011 turkeys called JUST GO WITH IT shares two awards—namely worst actor (Sandler) and worst director Dennis Dugan, who also directed JACK & JILL.
Here then are the official winners—or losers—in the 32nd annual RAZZIE AWARDS:
New Jack City: Holy Choked Chicken, 007 Dumps Shaken Martinis For Cold Suds
Is nothing sacred in Hollywood?
Apparently not.
James Bond is giving up his traditional shaken martinis for beer. And not just any beer, mind you. And thank God it’s not going to be for one of those sissy, light beers.
According to Advertising Age, Daniel Craig will be downing Heinekens in the next 007 action-adventure – SKYFALL – scheduled to open on November 9th. The film is directed by Sam Mendes and co-stars Javier Bardem.
In other words, brewed, not stirred.
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN’ Makes for Strange Catch
What a goofy title…
But if you’re seeking truth in advertising that’s what SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN is really about.
This British offering is an unusual entry from the director of CHOCOLAT and THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, Lasse Hallstrom and Oscar-winning SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and FULL MONTY writer Simon Beaufoy.
The film is based on the popular book by Paul Torday.
But if you think that this is your typical fishing story—a weekend in the Ozarks perhaps—think again.
New Jack City: Boulevard Drive In Debuts Stunning New Sight & Sounds, Free Double Feature
Everything’s up to date in Kansas City—especially when it comes to Drive-In movies…
The Boulevard Drive In made its debut in 1950 and remains as the oldest, continously operating movie theater in the greater Kansas City area.
In 1999 the outdoor venue’s owner and operator Wes Neal installed DTS Digital Sound, a first for Drive In’s anywhere.
And for the 2012 season, Neal and grandson Brian Neal are really stepping it up with another FIRST.
New Jack City: HUNGER GAMES Takes Giant Bite Out Of The Boxoffice
There’s an old saying in the movie biz that proved itself again this past weekend…
"There’s nothing wrong with the industry that a good movie won’t cure."
THE HUNGER GAMES did just that. This first of three films in the new franchise has instantly become the third biggest movie debut of ALL TIME!
And biggest of all film outside of the summer movie season.
THE HUNGER GAMES has sold an estimated $155 Million worth of tickets. Approximately $20 Million of that amount came from the film’s Friday morning 12:01 a.m. midnight showings in North America alone.
Worldwide The Hunger Games generated approximately $214 Million in ticket sales this weekend.
How does that stack up against the other two blockbusters
Jack Goes Confidential: Tense ‘HUNGER GAMES’ a Post-Apocalyptic Love Story
Let me say it right upfront..
When millions of fans invade movie theaters this weekend to experience THE HUNGER GAMES, they won’t be disappointed! The screen adaptation takes the storyline beyond just Katniss Everdeen‘s viewpoint by putting digital warfare emphasis in the game’s master control room.
And that’s a good thing.
New Jack City: Lame, Annoying Phrases We All Could Live Without
I’m German and have been putting up with your curious American customs for some time…
Like the annoying, meaningless pleasantry, HOW ARE YOU? Meaningless because chances are you probably really don’t care how I am.
Am I wrong?
Even the stock answer, "Fine" is annoying because it makes me wonder about the person being questioned’s ability to express themself.
Okay, maybe I’m reaching, but if every second caller on talk radio skipped the How Are You? schtick, they could maybe squeeze in two or more lame callers every hour.
You know, more is less.
KMBZ afternoon drive chatterbox Scott Parks has evelavated the meaninglessness of this question to new heights. Or is it depths?
New Jack City: Jack Wrestles With The Selling of The Great American Hard On
Next to long-form obituary ads, one of the fastest growing profit centers for local newspapers are the display ads heralding treatments for erectile dysfunction…
Yeap, E.D.
What does that tell you about the age demographic and physical condition of newspaper readers?
Check out the sports section. It’s chock full of full color ads with ridiculous statements like, "I don’t want to talk about erectile dysfunction."
When that’s exactly what they are talking about!
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Friends with Kids’ Plays as Bridesmaids-Lite
Remember the sitcom FRIENDS on NBC?
Assuming you do, and you liked it, consider you’re a candidate for FRIENDS WITH KIDS.
Think of it as, FRIENDS: THE NEXT DAY. Or maybe, FRIENDS: MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.
Either way, what you’ve got is an ensemble comedy about a group of friends with the last two singles in the pack deciding to have a kid together sans the potential trap of a tragic marriage like the ones they find their best buds in.
New Jack City: The Michigan Goober Wars
When it comes to ridiculous lawsuits I thought I’d seen everything…
That is until this week when a Michigan man filed a class action lawsuit against his local AMC theater, alleging the cinema grossly overcharges for concession items.
He’s seeking a refund for AMC customers.
Joshua Thompson filed the suit because, "He got tired of being taken advantage of," his lawyer Kerry Morgan told the Detroit Free Press. "It’s hard to justify prices that are three or four times higher than anywhere else."
Mr. Thompson used to sneak his own goodies into the theater until AMC apparently banned the practice.
New Jack City: Continental or United at KCI–Who’s On First?
Sometimes the ease of KCI’s three separate terminals can be an expensive and operational nightmare…
We saw it after 9/11 when, unlike other airports, KCI had to deal with multiple security check stations. Not only by the terminals but by the gates. These staffed multi-location security checks have since then been combined by the airlines.
But not so fast!
Things could get confusing starting this weekend for UNITED AIRLINES customers as that carrier fully intigrates its system and operations with CONTINENTAL AIRLINES—except here in Kansas City where the two carriers operate out of separate terminals and will continue to do so for the time being. UNITED out of Terminal A and the now ex-CONTINENTAL out of its old Terminal C gates.
Will there be problems?
