Why is Pacific Rim doing so badly in America? Transformer buyers, where are you guys and gals?

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Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobAug-23-2013 12:17 PM
Before I start off, I have seen Pacific Rim 5 times so far... I would have seen the film more times but I was in hospital from mid July through early August. My God this is the greatest movie of its genre ! What is unfortunate is that many of us who want a live action Robotech, Gundam, Tetsujin, Voltron movie are NOT supporting this film?! Why complain when most of you wont get off your rear ends and see this film? Transformers 1 made over $320 mil U.S. , Transformers II made $425mil, and Transformers III over $300 mil. So where are the SAME people who spent $$$ on giant talking robots at today? Pacific Rim makes every Gojira (Godzilla) movie now look comical. This film has raised the bar light years above what we are used to in Giant Robot / Giant Dino movies. So I am getting off early today to see the film for the 6th time! I have the NECA action figures, I have the 5 x 10 foot theater vinyl banners, I have the 18 inch Gypsy Danger Robot... yes I am totally for Pacific Rim... too bad you so called sci-fi/Anime phoneys are not! Shame on most of you so called fans! Shame on you for being phoney! There could be another reason for the films' poor performance... People are either phoney and/or the economy is worse than the news (CNN, MSNBC...) are reporting. 1 out of 4 teens have a job. 7 out of 8 new jobs since the recovery are [PART-TIME] jobs. So either people don't have the disposable income to visit the theater, or they complain and don't support films that try to address their desires in entertainment. People, [TRUE] SCI-FI/Anime types, should be supporting this film RELIGIOUSLY! Lynx Foxtrot out
16 Replies

Striker Eureka

MemberNoobAug-23-2013 6:25 PM
I only saw Pacific Rim twice. I wish I saw it more, I can't wait to keep watching Pacific Rim on DVD/Blu-Ray. About merchandise I plan to buy the NECA Striker Eureka and Knifehead figures, and some T-shirts from websites that sell them. I enjoy watching Sci-Fi and although I don't watch a lot of anime, I'm a robot person which is the reason why I loved Pacific Rim.

Leingod

MemberNoobAug-24-2013 12:14 AM
I believe PR had it a little hard because it's a new IP, not a sequel or based on any old cartoons. But eventually it should catch up, at least in DVD-BR sales.

TheDude

MemberNoobAug-24-2013 3:54 PM
Many also blame Main retarded Stream USA for not getting it. Not just because it's new,but because unless it's those who grew up on robot anime or kaiju films (Godzilla, Ultraman, Gamera) people won't get it because they're too dumb.

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobAug-27-2013 11:00 AM
Pacific Rim is over $450 million; $100 million U.S., $350.00 million world wide. Maybe the American public school system is producing dummies en mass :( Lynx Foxtrot out

TheDude

MemberNoobAug-27-2013 11:50 AM
Foxtrot is partly right. A friend told me the kids at the school he works at can't read an analog clock. WTF is that? Our president even said similar things of kids looking up to bimbos than scientists. The Kardashians, Lohans, etc of the world are more idols than Neil Armstrong or Stephen Hawking to kids today. Those of us of the older generation are much smarter and have more common sense.

Cyanidenailbomb

MemberNoobAug-27-2013 6:41 PM
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=pacificrim.htm The movie hasn't hit $450 million, Lynx. Not quite to $400 million yet.

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobAug-29-2013 9:56 AM
TheDude, Do you really think its public school system, or the lack of disposable income (I think teens/young 20's don't have the cash to just drop on films, CDs, entertainment and this is partly why Kick_A** 2 is doing so poorly). Yes today our standards are in the toilet no argument there. I don't know if its the culture that caused only $99 million in ticket sales. Have any of you seen a Pacific Rim TV commercial? I haven't, so no wonder people don't really know anything about this film. I'm in my late 40's, 47 this year. Gen-Xer who grew up watching Godzilla, Gamera, reruns of Astro Boy and Gigantor (Tetsu Jin), Johnny Socco and his Giant Robo[t], and all the rest, so maybe our generation and only our generation has an appreciation for this genre of entertainment. Howsoever, I wonder because Transformers grossed over $1 billion spread across the 3 films, and this masterpiece, a better movie [opinion], can't bring in an even $100 million. 1 tenth of the box office ... something just doesn't add up. I wonder if things in the economy are worse than what the talking heads on T.V. are telling us? Lynx Foxtrot out

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobAug-29-2013 9:58 AM
Cyan, Thank you for the correction. Lynx Foxtrot out

southernmisfit

MemberNoobAug-29-2013 2:22 PM
I think there are several reasons: *Last year the movie Battleship. Aliens coming from the ocean , humans fighting them, we have already had exactly that scenario a year ago and it had been an atrociously bad movie. *Unlike the Transformer movies (of which I quite liked part one, hated the other two) and most other big US made Scifi movies these days it has no positive or otherwise important US military involvement, it's downright anti-militaristic in the sense that the organisation fighting the Kaiju is multi national, UN based and distinctively not military (which only makes sense because nobody in that universe can want a world were countries/armies had Jaegers instead of tanks). Now we all know that most people in the US love their military and all the good things it does to this world (sorry, I'm European, I'm a lot less fond of of those activites than the average US American) *The location, it plays is not the USA but off the coast of China, a country that most Americans I think find rather shady and unpleasant apart from the fact that a lot of their cheap electronic gadgets and clothes come from there.. *It's multi national, the hero is an American but the other main characters come from all over the world. Not appealing to the common US hillbilly. Probably many couldn't even really tell where Australia or Japan, or the city of Manila that was destroyed can be found on the globe. *Most of the Scifi movies lately are purely serious drama/action. This one has a lot of comedy in it. I don't think the genre mix works so well with the target audience, as it's not a "cool" movie. I mean, it may be geek/nerd cool, bot not cool cool, like Man of Steel (which I saw and found in some parts good, in some parts rather boring at times) or the latest Star Trek (which I absolutely adored).

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobAug-30-2013 3:50 PM
Southern, Let me respond in the body of your letter, a lot of good points to comment on! *Last year the movie Battleship. Aliens coming from the ocean , humans fighting them, we have already had exactly that scenario a year ago and it had been an atrociously bad movie. ============== I never saw that Battleship movie... didn't that star the woman that Bobby Brown beat up or vise versa? As soon as you include a R&B star in a sci-fi movie, I have no interest. Just put Lady Gaga in the next Star Wars film and see how quick I turn my back on the film! Fresh Prince in Independence Day was a surprise ... he did very well and was believable. I think that is the exception though. *Unlike the Transformer movies (of which I quite liked part one, hated the other two) and most other big US made Scifi movies these days it has no positive or otherwise important US military involvement, it's downright anti-militaristic in the sense that the organisation fighting the Kaiju is multi national, UN based and distinctively not military (which only makes sense because nobody in that universe can want a world were countries/armies had Jaegers instead of tanks). Now we all know that most people in the US love their military and all the good things it does to this world (sorry, I'm European, I'm a lot less fond of of those activites than the average US American) ==================== I think American movies, fictional or non-fiction need to include MORE military as our culture has just about forgotten about the men and women and the sacrifices they made to get us here. In England, the Kinks have a song, 'Living on a thin line' - There's no England now... America is headed in that SAME direction. I think that leftists in America didn't like Pacific Rim because there was no homosexuality, no sexuality, no steamy love grind, no 'Its our fault because of global warming' farce, no 'lets try to make peace with the lords of the Antiverse' crap. Pacific Rim dealt with 'in your face' threats and we rose up and countered the Kaiju. Men and women spent time worrying about survival and not about who was in heat, coupled with how many damsels the Ranger pilots could bed before the apocalypse time clock ran out. *The location, it plays is not the USA but off the coast of China, a country that most Americans I think find rather shady and unpleasant apart from the fact that a lot of their cheap electronic gadgets and clothes come from there.. ======================== If it were not for China, I and 299,999,999 other American wouldn't have running lights, garbage collection, and a military that most countries fear. China now finances America through the purchasing of our debt. Thank God, there is a China for America. Chinese culture and people are OK in my book. Now I am American-Black so that might not be the way other Americans think; its just the way I think. *It's multi national, the hero is an American but the other main characters come from all over the world. Not appealing to the common US hillbilly. Probably many couldn't even really tell where Australia or Japan, or the city of Manila that was destroyed can be found on the globe. ============================ I disagree in that Bruce Lee is a LEGEND here in the U.S.! He is Chinese, yet his films are considered the best of the martial arts genre. Most of our leading men of the 50's, 60's, and 70's were in fact Jewish, either American born or immigrants from other countries. I think we handle it well when our leading men are not from Norway or other Scandinavian nations. *Most of the Scifi movies lately are purely serious drama/action. This one has a lot of comedy in it. I don't think the genre mix works so well with the target audience, as it's not a "cool" movie. I mean, it may be geek/nerd cool, bot not cool cool, like Man of Steel (which I saw and found in some parts good, in some parts rather boring at times) or the latest Star Trek (which I absolutely adored). =========================== Its all about your target audience. I personally believe that Pacific Rim was designed for that young teen - Gen-Xer. Some Gen-Xers have disposable income for entertainment and leisure. As you go down the age scale, it gets worse and worse; 20's are moving back in with parents because they can't find work. Only 1 out of every 3/4 teens has a job. We are not recovered; the employment participation is at depression levels, only 47% of working Americans pay taxes. In effect, America is on the verge of going through its Soviet Union style collapse and only the lies and illusions of the Federal government and U.S. Treasury have we gone this long ... not much longer I am afraid. Lynx Foxtrot out

TheZeroSystem

MemberNoobOct-07-2013 3:15 PM
I think Pacific Rim's biggest problem was that giant robots/mecha are simply not accepted in the mainstream in the West. Anything featuring that concept is considered goofy or juvenile, regardless of how it is handled. There is just not a strong tradition for this concept in the West. And I think that Pacific Rim had enough solid plot and character drama to hold an audience (more so than many Summer releases in 2013), so I'm not going to blame that. I think it's largely a perception issue. In the West, Transformers has cornered the market for giant robots, and has taken the "humanity" out of the perception of the genre in the mainstream West. Pacific Rim's back-and-forth performance raises questions if the in-limbo Robotech movie will ever get made. It will be interesting to see how Pacific Rim does on DVD/BD.
[u]2013 Top Sci-Fi of Note[/u]: [b][i]Oblivion[/i][/b] [Movie], [b]The Road to Betrayal (Universal War: ARM X)[/b][i][/i] [Kindle Novel], [b]Pacific Rim[/b][i][/i] [Movie]...

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobOct-09-2013 11:48 AM
Zero, I doubt we will ever see a Robotech live action movie done in the west. And the Japanese won't do it because they lack the large well funded ($100's millions) studios to do it. I would have expected the Transformer crowd to support Pacific Rim but after a few months of thinking about it I now realize that the Transformer crowd really isn't a 'Mecha' fan base, its a Transformers fan base that draws its energy from the Transformers cartoons and toys and not 'Mecha' in general. I would say that for most Transformers fans, if you asked them about GunDam: Bubble Crisis, Tetsu Jin, Rick Hunter, Evangelion, UFO Diapolon, they would stare back at you with blank faces. Now if you said, Voltron, or Thundercats, you would have a blockbuster potential on your hands! It boils down to what people are familiar with and what they grew up with. Take my situation: I grew up in Carson CA, right next door to Compton CA. Yes, I was born a poor black child. I had above average intelligence (actually tested IQ in the 160s), and I found the crop of Bugs Bunny, and Kroft Superstars shows boring on Saturday mornings. Howsoever today, I fondly look back on them and appreciate what they were for their time. I would watch the international station; back then there weren't 20 Spanish speaking stations like we have today on cable. The station had different languages being broadcast at different times. I loved the time when they would air the Japanese language shows with sub-titles (this also was my impetus for studying Nihongo in high school and college). Shows would air like: Robicon Gundei, Lion Maru (Lion of the Sea), Go Rangers (Five Rangers (number of Rangers 5, and in Japanese go = 5) later adapted in America as the Power Rangers some years later), UFO Diapolon and his Mecha Machine, Star Blazers (in Japanese with sub-titles), and others. I found the subject matter most stimulating! I wold follow Japanese shows when I could and when Macross Saga (Robotech) hit the airwaves I was hooked! But see I grew up with this stuff. I also grew up with Transformers and G.I. Joe, but I have always been a purist when it comes to movie adaptations and therefore none of the Transformer or G.I. Joe movies have ever lived up to my expectations relating to the original shows. And while people where playing with their Transformers, I was playing with my Veritech Robotech toys. This is why Americans can rally around Optimus Prime and not Gypsy Danger. Americans have an 'American Mecha' perspective that has cars, trucks and airplanes transforming into robots; not skyscraper sized robots just existing. What I am afraid of is that we probably won't see a Pacific Rim 2. Not because it can't be done well or made entertaining, but because it has no teeth to grab hold of the American movie going public. And PLEASE stop with all these Super Hero movies in America ... every other block buster is Iron Man, Thor, X-men, back to Iron Man, then Hulk, now back to Thor, then Spider Man, then Spider Man, then Bat Man, then Bat Man, then Bat Man, back to Iron Man ... its getting sickening in my opinion! No Pacific Rim isn't American enough to get the numbers. I am glad it was made, just like back in the early 90's we were entertained with Robot Jox.... TERRIBLE movie but that was all we had then, so it was FANTASTIC! 20 some years later, Pacific Rim. So we may have to wait another 15 - 20 years for the next big release in anything robot that isn't based on an American Saturday morning kids show... Lynx Foxtrot out

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobOct-09-2013 12:04 PM
For you youngsters out there who didn't see Robot Jox back in the 90's, here is a snippet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUxDmKFCD2o As you can see, Robot Jox was a poor man's version of Pacific Rim, but it precedes Pacific Rim by 20 some years! Lynx Foxtrot out

TheZeroSystem

MemberNoobOct-09-2013 3:06 PM
Lynx, I hear you, and you've got it right about why Transformers can work in the West and things like Pacific Rim are met with such skepticism. I'm happy Pacific Rim was made, though, and I think outside of a few things like Kaiju/Jaeger hybrid enemies (which have since been spoken about for a potential sequel) that the movie did about all it could given its format and run time. There could have been a little less comedy and the other Jaegers could have gotten a bit more time to shine, but by and large, I think Pacific Rim works well as a stand-alone film, and that its explosive ending sort of makes a sequel seem a little forced. That [i]Robot Jox[/i] clip was a revelation. Thanks for sharing. I am well-versed in mecha history, yet I had never seen that. I vaguely recall the name, but I know I've never seen the actual movie. That was very ambitious for its day. I wonder if that influenced [i]Mobile Fighter: G-Gundam,[/i] and based on some of the pilot movements, I think Pacific Rim may have wanted to give it a nod. One wonders how the [i]Patlabor[/i] movie currently in production will go about presenting its machines in motion. Getting back to [i]Pacific Rim[/i], another question comes to mind: Was it a Mecha/Robot Film, or a Monster Movie Film? I think that may have confused some viewers and split some of the niche fans, perhaps. Anyway, since you are familiar with so much of the classic mecha stuff, you may very well be interested in a new novel series coming out on Kindle that I ran across not so long ago. It blends a lot of the classic series' concepts, but frames it closer to our own times and innovates in its own way. You can read about it here: [url=http://www.ARMXOfficial.com]The Road to Betrayal (Universal War: ARM X)[/url] Other than that, we'll just have to wait and see what happens with [i]Pacific Rim[/i] going forward.
[u]2013 Top Sci-Fi of Note[/u]: [b][i]Oblivion[/i][/b] [Movie], [b]The Road to Betrayal (Universal War: ARM X)[/b][i][/i] [Kindle Novel], [b]Pacific Rim[/b][i][/i] [Movie]...

Lynx Foxtrot

MemberNoobOct-10-2013 1:00 PM
Zero, I posted a link to the full Robot Jox movie in a new thread. Enjoy the film! Lynx

Judge Baggins

MemberNoobOct-11-2013 10:48 AM
I agree that it is largely a perception issue. People over here in the western countries, Europe, Latin America, and Canada included, tend to perceive the Mecha/Kaiju genres as throw-away garbage and not serious storytelling. It is really sad considering the fact that these two genres are some of the most imaginative genres from Eastern cinema. Hopefully, the new [i]Godzilla[/i] film and the Mecha anime can change that perception.
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