This morning, actually just about 30 Minutes ago, I was watching Ebert and Roeper at the movies as I always do every Sunday morning and the films being Reviewed today were supposed to be "CURSED" and "MAN OF THE HOUSE" with Tommy Lee Jones and Cedric The Entertainer.. At the opening of the show, Ebert comes on to say that the 2 movies he and his partner were supposed to review will NOT be Reviewed because the studio decided not to have screenings of their respective films.. Roger Ebert than looked at the camera and gave advice to the movie studios out there and Quote: " You know, it has been said in the Past that anytime a Studio doesn't screen their movie, it generally means that they don't have confidence in their movie and feel it's Bad".. "How about a suggestion in that you actually allow US, The Critics, to have screenings to these movies, movies like ALIEN VS PREDATOR, The EXORCIST IV or even the latest from Wes Craven "CURSED" and let US decide if the movies are good or not??? How are we supposed to know if the film is bad or not if you don't justify at least giving the film a chance at screening it?? He then said that maybe him and his partner wanted to see these movies and give them a fair chance, but couldn't cause the studios withheld them.. He then went on to say that an Executive for New Line told him that it doesn't matter to them whether there are screenings or not cause chances are, a teen will look at a movie like "CURSED" and automatically be drawn to the subject matter and see the movie anyway whether there are screenings or not.. So in the end, I say that no matter how bad the movie could possibly be, they can't be THAT bad to not warrant at least giving the films a chance..

I'm not used to seeing you here doing normal hours.

I can see Ebert's point and I agree, but from the studio point of view if the reviews don't matter then why bother screening them?

Man of the House is tareted towards the teen market, though Tommy Lee Jones and Cedric the Enteritaner may draw in some older folk..I know because of them I will likely rent the movie down the line. But I doubt my female cousins care what Ebert has to say, they just like to see movies with cheerleaders in them.

Yeah, I'm not used to being on here in normal hours either.. It's back to work tonight, so I'll be on in the wee hours after the weekend.. On the weekend, I jump on pretty much anytime.. I do agree with Roger Ebert though in that the studios should allow screenings of their films no matter what they think of them, let us be the judge if they suck or not..

But who's to say they wouldn't give either film a marginal thumbs up. I've seen crazier things happen on that show.

I would roll the dice if I was Dimension. If they give it a bad review, big deal, teens don't care. But in the outside chance it gets a thumbs up or at least a good sound bite for ads, I think it's worth it.

I think in the case of say Man of hte House, good reviews might concinve the older crowd to see it. if it had good reviews I might have gone to see it in the theater.

You still owe me a phone call :wink:

I know Baby.. As long as your up somewhat late on the weekends, I'll surprise call you, provided your significant other doesn't mind??? Not that I'm concerned about him really, I just don't want to show him up.. \:D/

*chuckles*

He's not losing any sleep.

Unless you count 10pm as late, I rarely am :wink:

I think Ebert is right. The studios lose nothing by doing screenings and have a chance to get additional revenue if their estimation of the film is wrong, and you know the execs are not the best judge of movies.

As was said in above posts, the reviews don't matter for the target audience of teens that the studio is going after. But reviews do matter for many adults, not all but enough.

If they allowed screenings of these movies that they don't have faith in, they are risking nothing because as the studio executive said himself a bad review won't hurt it with their target audience. But they would be making it at least possible to expand their audience beyond the target audience, since some reviewers will like it, and a chance of many reviewers liking it.

It goes beyond a film like Cursed getting a good review.

All it takes is a critic to give it a bad review, yet make one comment that's positive and now you have a great quote or soundbite for Cursed. Something along the lines of "A really bad horror film though there are a few moments where you'll jump out your seat."

Anyone who used to watch Ebert and Roeper, or still do for the past few years, can you remember when Roeper gave a thumbs up to Jackass: The Movie? Anything can happen. Have some balls, and allow the people to see the movies in advance!

Hey, me too!

I like to see my cheerleader movie sin the privacy of my living room..I saw Bring It On in the theater, very awkward (but boy do I love that film).

I saw that episode of Ebert & Roeper. Why didn't they review Diary of A Mad Black Woman??