Rob Fahrni » Movies

2011 Box Office Down

Rob Fahrni — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:47:16 +0000

New York Times: “LOS ANGELES — With five days left in 2011, ticket sales in North America are running about $500 million behind last year — despite higher prices — prompting a round of soul searching by studios trying to determine what went wrong and how best to proceed.”

The article goes on to say higher 3D ticket sales propped up the box office, but I definitely don’t agree. I prefer 2D to 3D any day of the week. 3D is a gimmick, nothing more. It doesn’t do anything to enhance the experience unless you’re interested in seeing something hurled at you. It doesn’t make the story better and the film is darker. Who wants to see a film with poor lighting? I certainly don’t.

I hope movie studios focus their effort on better stories in 2012. I don’t need “Sharks 3D.” I’m looking forward to The Hobbit, Batman, and Prometheus. I really hope all of them give us a 2D option. Heck, I’m more interested in seeing a film shot at 48fps than ever seeing another 3D movie.

3D Must Die

Rob Fahrni — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:19:39 +0000

Forbes: “Innovation will happen with or without 3D film, and in some pretty important ways I think that 3D is actually an impediment to true innovation in film and film technology, crowding out true experimentation in favor of a one-trick-pony.”

3D really needs to die. It is nothing more than a gadget aimed at raising prices.

Look, I’d pay more for a great 2D film than a crummy 3D film any day. It’s not like “Sharks 3D” is worth seeing, right?

Netflix by Mail now Qwikster

Rob Fahrni — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:55:16 +0000

Netflix Blog: “So we realized that streaming and DVD by mail are becoming two quite different businesses, with very different cost structures, different benefits that need to be marketed differently, and we need to let each grow and operate independently. It’s hard for me to write this after over 10 years of mailing DVDs with pride, but we think it is necessary and best: In a few weeks, we will rename our DVD by mail service to “Qwikster”.”

Qwikster? All of the good names must have been taken?

About Dwarves

Rob Fahrni — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:05:25 +0000

Time: “But TIME is the first to bring you this image of two characters from the film, dwarves named Balin and Dwalin.”

My brother should enjoy reading this. He was a Dwarf in a former life and carried a huge battle axe.

John Lasseter, Cars 2

Rob Fahrni — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:04:00 +0000

Los Angeles Times: ‘EMERYVILLE, Calif.—
“Honnnnnk! Honnnnnk!” John Lasseter had explicit instructions about how the Galloping Goose, an antique steam train character in “Cars 2,” should look and sound, and he was delivering them with brio. It was January and the animation czar was making the hourlong commute from his home in Sonoma County to his Pixar office here on the outskirts of Oakland in the passenger seat of a town car. On his lap, he balanced an iPad loaded with shots to review while he recorded voice memos for the movie’s crew: “Like a diesel horn. I wanna have air horns on his roof,” he told them, voicing the nasal sound he wanted. “He is just unbelievably cute, you guys.”‘

Great story, it’ll make you want to work for Pixar.

2D Pirates Conquer 3D Pirates

Rob Fahrni — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:24:08 +0000

Movie City News: “Figuring a very rough average ticket of $9 for non-3D and $12 for a 3D ticket, they sold 3.6 million 3D tickets and 5.2 million non-3D tickets. This flips how the distribution was set up regarding 3D… 59% of sales were non-3D and just 41% were 3D”

We chose to see 2D Pirates because 3D blows, there’s no better way to say it. I hope the movie studios are listening.

Don’t do 3D because you can, just tell a great story.

I want this

Rob Fahrni — Fri, 06 May 2011 15:04:03 +0000

Holy Kaw!: “That’s right. The red-brick Georgian beauty that housed so many of Macaulay Culkin’s shenanigans is hitting the housing market on Thursday, and will be selling for $2.4 million.”

If I had a huge pocket full of cash I’d buy this place. I know my lovely wife wouldn’t mind.

Actually, there’s another one I think I’d prefer. The home from Father of the Bride. It’s perfect.

The home used in the film is in Pasadena, California.

More 48fps Hobbit Talk

Rob Fahrni — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:22:29 +0000

Peter Jackson: “However, we’re going the other way, shooting at 48 fps with a 270 degree shutter angle. This gives the 48 fps a lovely silky look, and creates a very pleasing look at 24 fps as well. In fact, our DP, Andrew Lesnie, and I prefer the look of 24 fps when it comes from a 48 fps master. “

This film will be best viewed at 48 frames per second, in 2D. I hope, beyond hope, he does a “standard” 2D version of the film.

THE HOBBIT at 48fps? It’s true.

Rob Fahrni — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:13:24 +0000

Peter Jackson: “It looks much more lifelike, and it is much easier to watch, especially in 3-D. We’ve been watching HOBBIT tests and dailies at 48 fps now for several months, and we often sit through two hours worth of footage without getting any eye strain from the 3-D. It looks great, and we’ve actually become used to it now, to the point that other film experiences look a little primitive. I saw a new movie in the cinema on Sunday and I kept getting distracted by the juddery panning and blurring. We’re getting spoilt!”

I’ve been looking forward to The Hobbit and I hope Mr. Jackson can recapture all the magic of The Lord of the Rings, but I see something very troubling in his post. Can you spot it? Yep, it says 3D. Sigh. When will the ugly trend stop?

Rob’s 2011 Summer Blockbuster Must See List

Rob Fahrni — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:11:18 +0000

I love blockbuster season, here’s the list of movies I’d like to see.

Armadillo	April 15th	Trailer
The Robber	April 29th	Trailer
Dylan Dog	April 29th	Trailer
Thor	May 6th	Trailer
Hobo with a Shotgun	May 6th	Trailer
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides	May 20th	Trailer
Kung Fu Panda 2	May 26th	Trailer
The Hangover Part 2	May 26th	Trailer
X-Men: First Class	June 3rd	Trailer
Super 8	June 10th	Trailer
Troll Hunter	June 10th	Trailer
Green Lantern	June 17th	Trailer
Cars 2	June 24th	Trailer
General Orders No. 9	June 24th	Trailer
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2	July 15th	Trailer
Captain America: The First Avenger	July 22nd	Trailer
Cowboys and Aliens	July 29th	Trailer
Fright Night	August 19th	Trailer
Conan the Barbarian	August 19th	Trailer

Just for grins, here’s my 2010 list and my 2009 list.

Of the films on this list the movies I’d most like to see are Super 8, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Captain America, and Cowboys and Aliens. If I could see only one film this summer I think it would be Super 8. It takes me back to my childhood, back to Star Wars and E.T.

Bill, tag, you’re it.

UPDATED: June 1, 2011