The Dark Knight has only pulled in $8.7 million after being in theaters for three weeks in Japan!
Why do you think The Dark Knight is not doing so well in Japan?
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Why do you think The Dark Knight is not doing so well in Japan?
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:: jaw drops ::...And he said this is just from his Japanese-language Amazon account. (for the...The first column is page views (I would guess) so that's from 661 thousand page...There was a similar case two years ago when a police sergeant drove to work drunk,...Takes one to know one....I don't know what they're called, but you put them in your boots to make them stand...And here's that follow-up post:
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Well, speaking for myself, I haven't seen much advertising for it and I don't really know what it's about. I thought it was a sequel to Batman Begins, but it's not. So why reinvent Batman so soon after Batman Begins? And, yeah it does look really dark and I haven't a clue who's in it. I bet most Japanese don't even know it's a Batman film.
Is there a reason why it *should* be doing well in Japan?
It is a sequel to BATMAN BEGINS, but THE DARK KNIGHT is so exponentially better than that movie, and any other movie of recent history, it may seem like its own movie.
THE DARK KNIGHT was the best movie I've seen in 10 years. The experience I had in the movie theater was very intense. The whole audience was enthralled. (I went to the sneak preview a week before its opening at a late showing at Roppongi Hills Virgin Cinema screen #7)
The Japanese people I know that have seen it have loved it.
I cannot recommend THE DARK KNIGHT enough. It is many things: possibly the most badass movie ever, the best comic book movie ever, the best action movie ever, the best movie about chaos in modern times ever.
I wrote a full review of THE DARK KNIGHT here:
http://jasoncollin.org/2008/08/03/the-dark-knight-2008-review/
Friends I saw the movie with commented on that review, including a few Japanese.
You're a lot more convincing than the commercial, Jason. You've actually made me want to see it.
Out of curiosity, what was the movie you saw 10 years ago that still betters the Dark Knight?
I guess I was just thinking more of intense (non-Star Wars) theater experience, and wow factor, which was seeing THE MATRIX kind of come out of nowhere and create the most influential special effects of the decade proceeding it.
It's not strictly a sequel to Batman Begins but it is definitely the same series.
There is no reason it "should" do well here but a reason it won't - the cast. They are unknown here for anything but controversial reasons. Noone seemed impressed when they were here and you really need someone popular here to make it worthwhile putting any money into promo here - I assume that's why the producers didn't bother.
The Dark Knight is awesome.
See it!!!
I read an article somewhere giving opinions why it is not successful in Japan, if I find it, I will soc it.
Big stars. I agree. Needs Dicaprio. Big hit. Also, not cute enough. No squeaky anime voices? And, Batman? In Japan- who's he?
I agree ti was a good film, not sure it beats Batman Begins but it's definitely the best Batman out there (don't even talk to me about the Burton films - sheesh they stank)but I'm afraid Maggie Gyllenhaal sucked a lot of my enjoyment out - otherwise I loved it!
HELL YEAH! This was a great movie, but I know about it due to the advertising on the net and in U.S. media. It's a dark movie, it's based off of an American comic book, it's more fun if you know the story already, so I don't see how it could appeal to Japan without tons of advertising.
Now Hancock... that movie was a P.O.S.!!! The movie trailer is all the best parts, the rest of the movie is junk.
Anyway, The Dark Knight, I'm not critic and I'm there for the entertainment value only so it was a great movie and had spectacular acting in my opinion. It cost about 9000 Yen for the three of us (OMG!) but you gotta have the snacks. Seriously. Lots of them. Why were we the only ones with snacks in that half packed theater anyway? Why did everybody sit together even though they don't know each other? Why does a movie ticket cost $18, er, 1800 yen? Why are hotdogs not more popular in Japan? What about vegetarian tofu dogs, there's lots of tofu going on around here. The world may never know.
The Dark Night -> SEE IT!
Answers to your Knight DarkBat questions: Why were we the only ones with snacks in that half packed theater anyway?
A) The other people ate their snacks while you were getting your tickets, then buying your snacks. You waited for the movie to begin before starting to munch.
Why did everybody sit together even though they don't know each other?
A) The same reason they are spaced evenly apart when relaxing along any riverside, or in a park. The ability to spontaneously "group" or "ungroup" is uniquely Japanese. The "group" function is also commonly present on sidewalks and in the street, especially when you are nearby and in a hurry.
Why does a movie ticket cost $18, er, 1800 yen?
A) Due to a lack of competition, and the self-imposed limitations to "blockbuster" movie offerings, theaters can charge anything they desire.
Why are hotdogs not more popular in Japan?
A) Have you ever put shō-yu on a hot dog?
What about vegetarian tofu dogs, there's lots of tofu going on around here.
A) I know of the Shiba-ken, and Akita , but have never see a Tofu dog.
Thanks for helping me out there! The group function is amazing.
I have always wondered why they feel the need to group together for any reason if they do not know each other.