Like a Freight Train, Farenhiet 9/11 Smashes Box Office

[JoseCuervo]

Ferrell's comedy about a '70s TV news star, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, opened Friday during the second weekend of release for the box office record-smasher, Spider-Man 2, and still managed to take in an estimated $28 million for second place.

After last year's hits Old School and Elf

, "his star is on the rise," says Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com. "People are really liking his brand of comedy."

Spider-Man 2 held the top spot its second weekend in theaters, down 60% compared with last week's four-day holiday weekend but 48% compared with the first three days of last weekend. Latest records broken:

Spider-Man 2 is the fastest movie to reach $200 million; it did it in eight days.

It has reached $250 million in 12 days.

Sony says the movie has taken in $115 million abroad, and it has yet to open in such major markets as the United Kingdom and France.

But a king and his queen failed to take the box office crown for King Arthur. The$110 million movie starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley fell on its sword and brought in just $15.2 million over the weekend.

Pandya blames a lack of star power for the film's poor performance. Arthur opened the same weekend as last year's surprise smash, Pirates of the Caribbean, which starred Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp, another film from producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

"King Arthur continues the curse of the medieval knight movies," says Brandon Gray of boxofficemojo.com box office trackers. Citing such recent bombs as Black Knight and Timeline, Gray says: "Battle pictures really only find an audience if they are about ancient wars or American wars."

In another war-themed film, this one a documentary about U.S. involvement in Iraq, Fahrenheit 9/11 expanded to 2,011 screens, and fell 50% from the holiday weekend, for an estimated weekend take of$11 million. It has taken in $80.1 million and is expected to reach $100 million, a first for a documentary.

Pandya says he expects Fahrenheit 9/11 to get a bounce from the Democratic National Convention July 26-29 and the Republican convention Aug. 30-Sept. 2

 

[Calif. Hunter]

"It has taken in $80.1 million and is expected to reach $100 million, a first for a documentary."


Why do they keep calling it a documentary? It's propaganda!

And a guy in tights beats it at the box office by a wide margin.

 

[Nemont]

EG,
Afraid I will have to agree that it is not a documentary. Even Michael Moore has stopped using the term documentary to discuss it.

I see he has link himself arm in arm with that other great American Howard Stern. I believe in free speech and free press but if those are the guys the liberals are going to align themselves with the I think the middle ground will be turned off.

Michael Moore does have people stirred up and talking but it doesn't seem to have changed many minds. At least according to the polls I have read.

The economy is improving, the daily bad news from Iraq is slowing down and the Presidents job approval is back in the high 40's. It has to drive the dems. nuts.

After watching the two Johns on 60 minutes I think they aren't a real team yet. When Edwards interrupted Kerry to finish a point it seemed to piss Kerry off. The other thing is Kerry is not nearly as likeable as Edwards. Edward's wife seems to be extremely bright and articulate as well. I wonder if JFK and Theresa's ego's can co-exist with people more likeable then themselves?

Nemont

 

[Tom]

A friend told me its pretty clear in the presentation that it is opininon that is being presented, not that it is factual, but that it is the opinion as Michael Moore presented it. He even edited out opinion that he didn't like of some of the people, as I understand it. Its some of the opinion of the people in it, but its all Michael Moore opinion as I understand it.

He edited it to be that way.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Cali,

What is a "propoganda"? How do you "know" that Moore's film, which you haven't seen, is propoganda or documentary?

Nemont,
Howard Stern WAS a Dubya supporter, until his "Moral Authority" tried to silence his Freedom of Speech. One more attack on the Constitutution by Dubya/Ashcroft/Powell.

 

[Nemont]

Nemont,
Howard Stern WAS a Dubya supporter, until his "Moral Authority" tried to silence his Freedom of Speech. One more attack on the Constitutution by Dubya/Ashcroft/Powell.

I didn't say anything about whether Howard Stern has a right to be on the airwaves but that he is so rude, crude and disgusting that the middle may not appreciate it. I think the "average" voter doesn't really care if Howard get fined and Clear Channel yanks his shows. I used to be a Howard Stern fan until he got too gross for me. I am not saying he doesn't have a right to be on the air.

Nemont

P.S. How did Colin Powell infringe upon Howard's rights?

 

[Calif. Hunter]

prop·a·gan·da ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prp-gnd)
n.
The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.
Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.
Propaganda Roman Catholic Church. A division of the Roman Curia that has authority in the matter of preaching the gospel, of establishing the Church in non-Christian countries, and of administering Church missions in territories where there is no properly organized hierarchy.


Propaganda is obviously not a documentary - an unbiased examination of facts. But I'm sure you knew that.

 

[cjcj]

Hey Nemont i saw that 60 min. piece, and it looked like Edwards was running for President, and Kerry was his Bitch!

 

[JoseCuervo]

Originally posted by Nemont:

P.S. How did Colin Powell infringe upon Howard's rights?

Nemont,
You gotta remember in Dubya's world, Nepotism is everything. That is how he got to where he was, by using his daddy's influence and connections. If you look into seeing who is the head of the FCC, you will find, surprise, surpise, it is Colin Powell's son!!!

Who's your Daddy????

 

[JoseCuervo]

Originally posted by Calif. Hunter:
prop·a·gan·da ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prp-gnd)
n.
The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.
Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.

Propaganda is obviously not a documentary - an unbiased examination of facts. But I'm sure you knew that.

Documentary n. doc·u·men·ta·ry
A work, such as a film or television program, presenting political, social, or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner and often consisting of actual news films or interviews accompanied by narration.

propaganda
n : information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause

It looks like a documentary could be propoganda, and one would have to ask what is wrong with that? Is all propoganda bad in Cali's opinion? What about all the feel-good stories the Pentagon is putting out? What about the "letters to the editor" that the Pentagon sent on all the kid's signatures, that the kid's never saw??? Is that propoganda???

 

[Hangar18]

Documentary n. doc·u·men·ta·ry
A work, such as a film or television program, presenting political, social, or historical subject matter in a factual and informative manner and often consisting of actual news films or interviews accompanied by narration.

fac´tu`al Pronunciation: făk`tũ´al
1. of or pertaining to facts; as, factual inaccuracies.
2. containing only facts (as contrasted with opinions or speculations); as, a factual report.

I think I will take David Kopel and Christopher Hitchens' opinions on whether Moore's crock-o-shit-umentary is factual.

No, I don't need to see it. Already explained why.

 

[JoseCuervo]

The attacks on the facts have been pretty weak, to date...

 

[FAIRCHASEBEN]

Elk
It's bad enough that you attempt to defend a waste of skin like Michael Moron , but to now support that pillar of moral integrity Howard Stern ????

Is there no depth you're willing to sink to ?

Defending two of the most disgusting , offensive , nauseating pieces of human debris on this planet , you must be very proud .

 

[Oak]

I didn't think he ever agreed with either guy...just agreed that they have a right to say what they want. Did I miss something?

Oak

 

[JoseCuervo]

Hey Oak,

You gotta remember that most right-wing nuts don't have the ability to understand what they support.

Religion is ok, as long as it is how they worship.
A family is great, as long as it looks like their family.
Free speech is wonderful, as long as it is what they want to hear.
Assembly is great, as long as the like the people assebling.

Dubya, Ashcroft, Powell etc.. have done more to weaken the Constitution and our rights than any other Administration, and the great defenders of our Rights are being hoodwinked.

 

[Hangar18]

Originally posted by ElkGunner:
The attacks on the facts have been pretty weak, to date...

OK, answer this then. At some point in the movie, Moore asks a congressman if he will be encouraging his son or daughter to join the military. Why didn't Moore put the section of the interview in his movie where the congressman answered that his nephew was already in Iraq?

I or anyone can piece together a bunch of 'facts' so that others only see my point of view. Moore's point of view, based on interviews and his performance at the Oscars a couple of years ago lead me to believe that he and I don't share the same point of view. Of course he has a right to free speech, just as I do. I am not challenging that. I also believe others are not challenging that, but are instead simply saying that this is not necessarily the whole truth. And it is too bad anyone feels they need to say that because it assumes that either a. people in high positions believe the masses are too stupid to figure it out; or b. the masses are too stupid to figure it out. Oh yeah, Titantic was the highest grossing movie of all time. I rest my case.

And I am still waiting to hear about someone whose mind has been changed by this film. Seems to me it is only reinforcing people's pre-existing beliefs one way or the other. $80 million - congratulations. That tells me the democrats secretly agree with republican tax policies.

 

[Oak]

Yeah gunner, that's kinda what I was thinking. It's surprising, though, that more people here wouldn't stand up for everybody's rights. How many times have we heard on here that hunters and gun owners should be standing behind every type of hunting and gun ownership, even if they personally don't agree with it? You know, the old debate about hunting with hounds, baiting, hunting predators, owning .50BMG's, etc, etc. Remember, the anti's are just trying to divide and conquer! But when it comes to issues like those you mentioned, it's "my way or the highway."

Oak

 

[Oak]

Moore asks a congressman if he will be encouraging his son or daughter to join the military. Why didn't Moore put the section of the interview in his movie where the congressman answered that his nephew was already in Iraq?

Hmm, that seems easy. He didn't ask if the congressman had a nephew in Iraq. He didn't even ask if he had a son or daughter in the military. He asked if the congressman would encourage his son or daughter to join the military (according to you).

Oak

 

[Hangar18]

That's pretty funny Oak. Maybe Gunner can clear it up, since he has seen it. He may have asked about family. I saw an interview with the congressman or whatever he was and the omission appeared deceptive. Did the guy even answer the question?

 

[BuzzH]

Oak,

You're making too much sense...I bet Hanger is really scratching his head.