This film is the exact, polar opposite of Transformers: Super-low budget, ultra-high quality, top-tier acting, intelligent story and not a single explosion.
There are so many things to say about this film, but since I’ve decided to torture myself with a one-minute (kind of) format, and since I didn’t write down any NOTES about what I wanted to include, I couldn’t really fit much into it. Also, there’s only so much I can discuss it without going into specifics about the plot. I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t like Moon, and in Edinburgh, it has grown immensely popular despite being a small film with a non-existent marketing budget compared to films like Transformers.
Directed by Duncan Jones
Written by Jones & Nathan Parker
Starring: Sam Rockwell
The Director’s Site
Moon on IMDB
Ratings Explained:
Orgasmic Joy = Amazing
Two eyebrows = Great
One eyebrow = Good
Blank Stare = Nothing special
Frown = Bad
AUGH, My Eyes! = Crime against humanity
{ 3 } Comments
You forgot one major thing: Marketing.
Moon has none of it. Which is probably why the thing isn’t popular at all.
In fact, it’s so non-popular that there aren’t even any downloads for it available on the intertubes, which does not make us folks in the countries where the thing isn’t released any happy at all.
So, yeah, 5 million for a good movie? Possible.
5 million for a good movie that actually does well? Maybe not.
“not a single explosion”
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
That said, I saw a trailer for this some months back, and thought it looked rather interesting. It’s only been given a limited release in North America though, and since I don’t often see films at the theatre, I probably won’t be seeing it right away.
Apparently, they used models rather than CGI for most of the special effects, which likely helped keep costs down. The budget is fairly impressive though, especially when compared against some of the mediocre $200 million ’summer blockbusters’ that have come out this year. Of course this has little chance of being anywhere near as profitable as something like GI Joe or Transformers 2, despite receiving far better reviews. The Transformers sequel has already raked in over $800 million, despite mostly terrible reviews, while Moon has barely managed to recoup its $5 million production costs so far. I suppose that’s mostly due to marketing and working off of recognizable franchises though.
It probably also helps to have a trailer with lots of explosions. The creators of Moon should keep this in mind for their sequel, Moon II: Moonpocalypse Resurrection. It would also help if they swapped out this “Sam Rockwell” guy for someone like Megan Fox. They might also consider moving the setting to Southern California, since the moon is boring.
Actually, where it HAS been released, it seems to be doing really well. The cinema I went to see it in was filled every day I went. It’s a film that I have a strong feeling will do well on DVD and Blu-Ray and over time. Even though it is still just kind of being rolled out by Sony. Also: He just won the fight to be allowed to make merchandise based on it, too. I feel very positive about the film’s (and Duncan’s) future.
I think you’re right. Sam just doesn’t have breasts, and his character just isn’t enough of a genious chick who’s also humble and kicks arse. Also, he doesn’t have a suntan, like, at ALL! I think Mr Jones has cottoned on to that fact, though, because in the sequels he’s (actually!) planning Sam will only have a cameo or two… Kind of like John Torturro in Transformers! There we go! Perfect film! ^_^
Films like Transformers make a lot of big bucks in the cinema because people go to see the spectacle with all the huge explosions there. Films like Moon make a lot of money in home video because people can snuggle up in the sofa and just enjoy, and buy it for their friends, etc. I know that’s what I’ll do.
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