Re: [MOPO] KONG re Bucks

[JR]

Obviously there are still too many people who weren't able to get out to see KONG this weekend, so I'm going to stick to holding off on a detailed review until this coming Monday (it's killing me keeping my mouth shut about this, tho...) I will say this... I found Jackson's KING KONG style A one-sheet to be less than wonderful. Not bad, but pretty uninspired considering the potential -- and not even a terribly accurate rendition of Ann Darrow-as-portrayed-by-Naomi Watts.  Whereas the style A one-sheet for NARNIA is really fine, one of the nicest pieces of poster artwork I've seen in recent years.   Also, the box-office returns are interesting:   CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, THE LION, THE WITCH and THE WARDROBE did $65.6 million at the U.S. box-office during its opening weekend. The movie also earned an estimated $42 million in 14 overseas markets.   Jackson's KING KONG did $66.2 million at the U.S. box-office during its opening weekend. The movie also earned an estimated $63.4 million in 55 overseas markets.   So, KONG only narrowly nudged out NARNIA, which is a children's film that got extra hype because of the alleged "Christian allegory" tie-in. That tie-in will give NARNIA some legs (it stayed number 2 at the box-office this weekend, bringing in another $31.2 million) -- and, of course, KONG will have legs of its own. But still, what we have here is either a very unexpectedly strong showing for NARNIA or a bit of a weak opening for KONG. Not sure which.   But, least we become jaded by modern day box-office statistics, let's not forget that that both openings are still impressive -- they now represent the 2nd and 3rd biggest weekend openings ever in December, topped only by the $72.6 million debut of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2003.   It's safe to say the they will make their money back on KONG (and Jackson will get back the $34 million of his own money which they made him pony up at the last minute to clinch the distribution deal). But if KONG has the legs to become a $600 million-plus true blockbuster remains to be seen.