Maybe you liked Prometheus even after a preview that looked so amazing. That's fair. No matter where you stand, here's SJF's most disappointing releases – because we love to rub Hollywood's screw ups in their faces.
Just so we're clear, the word 'disappointing' refers to: Films that were highly anticipated, either for their casting/director or because the previews suggested a much better film than we actually got, either in terms of product or lack of delivery at the box office.
Prometheus (Budget: $130 million; Box Office $129 million) -
Prometheus Movie Review
As if the forces of nature were conspiring against it, Prometheus came in with such high expectations, especially after a series of compelling trailers that fired up the enthusiasm of fans still stinging from Alien vs. Predator. Filled with an excellent cast, but missing a true lead at its center, Prometheus pondered many questions but delivered few answers. Director Ridley Scott showed us he still has the eye for creating great shots, and Michael Fassbender was creepy cool; but poorly-used Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, and Guy Pearce seemed out of place from the start. Noomi Rapace might need to be recast if this franchise is to recapture the intensity which Signorney Weaver brought. Here's hoping Prometheus 2 is more compelling.
The Bourne Legacy (Budget: $125 million; Box Office: $113 million) -
THE BOURNE LEGACY Review
For a franchise that's done...well absolutely everything...to action films (see James Bond, Jack Reacher, blah blah blah),and sporting the writer of the first three as its director, and starring Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz, it seemed like The Bourne Legacy was in good hands. Not so much. After a beginning that put many to sleep with its dull Outcome plot line, Legacy delivered only a minimum amount of the goods, with few memorable action set pieces and several stiff performances. I still think this franchise has value, but they'll have to go farther with the whole 'government wants all its agents to die' plots if they hope to resurrect this once-great series. I can't believe I'm saying this, but is Bourne a goner?
The Amazing Spider-man (Budget: $230 million; Box Office: $262 million) -
The Amazing Spider-Man Review
In a year that saw the greatest superhero film of all time (no, it's not The Dark Knight Rises), The Amazing Spider-man felt long, poorly planned, and even unnecessary. Granted, director Mark Webb returned Peter Parker to many of his comic roots, but the end result didn't impress. Perhaps the best part is the stunning Emma Stone, who stole most scenes as the booted Gwen Stacy. That's where the film's positives ended. I never felt Spider-man was portrayed as an effective hero next to the gravitas of Rhys Ifans as The Lizard. And the end credits scene felt like it was conceived on the spot, almost as an after-thought. Even though the film made a profit, the Sony team will have to get its act together to prove they have the brains to keep this franchise. Better yet, just give it back to Marvel and call it a day...
The Dark Knight Rises (Budget: $250 million; Box Office: $448 million) -
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Review
See the whole list after the Jump...
Now before you find me at the local Mongolian BBQ and put a chopstick through my eye, I must warn you I wear glasses. After the brilliant Dark Knight, this installment felt was entirely too long, with a lead baddie in Bane that wasn't even close to canon. It also didn't help that I couldn't hear Tom Hardy without assistive hearing devices. While director Christopher Nolan should be given credit for trying to tie up loose ends, his action scenes were stolid and undynamic, failing to keep our eye with too many fast edits and shots above the waist. Speaking of below the waist, Anne Hathaway will probably ascend to the Oscar stage for Les Miserables, but I hope few forget her terrific portrayal as Catwoman. Those boots be rockin'...too bad the rest of the movie wasn't. INSERT PAGE BREAK
Brave (Budget: $185 million; Box Office: $237 million) -
BRAVE Review
Nowhere near as good as its exceptional previews suggested, Brave isn't even my third or fourth favorite animated film of 2012. The only redeeming part of this bore-fest was the mother/independent daughter angle, which I'm sure appealed to the female part of the audience. This is certainly not a Disney classic, although its box office performance might suggest otherwise - still, Disney did break new ground with an animation style that could set the stage for the next round of classics. This franchise has the potential - the question is whether Disney still has a good story to tell.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Budget: N/A; Box Office: $179 million at the time of this article) -
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Review
Was Peter Jackson smoking Middle-Earth peyote when he conjured a follow-up to the hugely successful Lord of the Rings trilogy? There was good buzz surrounding the script as well as all the returning actors who had signed on. But then came word that Jackson was extending his film to a longer runtime; soon, we heard of a second film, which was then quickly upgraded to a trilogy. Add to that the changes made to Thorin's character, and the appearance of the goon albino Orc Azog, and The Hobbit is the exact definition of a disappointment - too much expectation (and with good reason) heaped upon this project, that no 48fps release or bloated script could satisfy. And even with so much against it, The Hobbit wasn't terrible. It just failed to match up in most ways to its predecessors, which an entire generation of young people will query as to why Jackson pulled a George Lucas in the first place. Get the white board out for that one.
Do you have a 'most disappointing' list to share with us? Post it below.
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