Arnold Schwarzenegger’s full fledged return to the big screen in this weekend’s The Last Stand isn’t triumphant by any measure, but it is a pretty fun action film which is all the more impressive considering the star is 65 years of age. Raking in an estimated and meager $6.3 million three-day total, the film was handily out-grossed by Mama, Zero Dark Thirty, Silver Linings Playbook, Gangster Squad, A HAUNTED HOUSE, Django Unchained, The Hobbit, and man the list just keeps on going.
I mean, seriously, did you see that A Haunted House, a movie that likely shouldn’t have even gotten a theatrical release, beat out The Last Stand at the movies? That’s disgraceful. I’m glad to see the success of Mama and many of the other films are Awards Season hold-overs, but this weekend should have been one for Arnold to win.
If you’re an action film, I’m here to tell you: you’ve got to see action films in theaters or we’re screwed.
It’s always a shame when a decent movie goes unwatched in the theaters. That’s where movies are meant to be viewed. Home video is great, I love my Blu-rays, but to really experience a movie, you have to see it in theaters. Seeing the film in theaters is also the best way to interest Hollywood in spending big bucks to make more movies in that genre.
Action films will always be made – they’re a home video staple, but those flicks star guys like Steven Seagal and Steve Austin and are watched streaming on Netflix Instant late at night. Not a lot of money, or thought, generally goes into them, so it’s not wonder they’re not great.
Movies that head to theaters though, they have a legitimate chance at being great. The studio is willing to put some money and time behind those – want more? Want bigger and better? Give Hollywood a reason to make them! Show them the money!
Jack Reacher is a very well received flick that both audiences and critics are enjoying – but no one is going to see it. Well, not nearly enough people, in the eyes of the studio system, that isn’t interested in pursuing a sequel/franchise unless the flick can pull in a whole lot more dough.
There was also the surprise blood bath Dredd, which won over a decent amount of critics and tons of audience members. That film has done very well on DVD, but it didn’t make much of a ripple in the theatrical word – meaning the odds of a decent budget sequel coming are pretty low. And that’s our fault for not supporting it.
If you’re an action fan, you’ve got to go see these movies on the big screen, with the huge picture and the bombastic explosions. You’ve got to support Dredd, Jack Reacher, and The Last Stand so that Hollywood knows we want movies like this. We want guns and knives and blood and fire and chaos. Give it to us!
Well, they won’t. They won’t give it to us. They’ll make it and sell it to us as long as we’re willing to buy it – but we must buy it.
None of these were bad movies – in fact, they’re all pretty good. They’re worth seeing and worth seeing in theaters – especially if you want to see these guys make more action films in the future. Schwarzenegger will make more Terminators and Conans if the market is there – and they test for that market by releasing a movie like this one. Karl Urban is a great actor who portrays some awesome characters – want to see more of him? See his movies.
I’m a huge action junkie and want to see these action films succeed so we get more action flicks in the future. Not some watered down PG-13 action movie. Not a Channing Tatum action movie. A real, balls out, R-Rated blood bath of a film. That’s what I want – and if you want it too, you’ve got to want it. You’ve got to go see it.
It’s not too late to catch Jack Reacher or The Last Stand, you should do your part to save the action film. And later this year check out Live Free or Die Hard, RED2, and in just a couple of weeks, Bullet to the Head starring action icon Sylvester Stallone looking insanely shredded.
So come on, guys, don’t let the market turn into shitty weak willed action flicks. Bring back the blood and bad asses, see an action film in theaters and don’t push me past my boiling point.