# Now You See Me/After Earth (flops?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631 "2013-05-29T15:33:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/21 "2013-05-29T18:57:42Z")
> [@TheBoltEater](#): > > I like to think I follow the industry fairly closely, and yet this is the first time that I have heard that After Earth was directed by Shyamalan. In fact, I had to go look it up on IMDB to be sure, which is where I was given the option to look up After Earth… or After Earth 2. Yep, already listed on IMDB (though there’s no info there, so someone at least wants to wait for opening weekend before giving it the green light). “Someone” would be Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and to some degree Caleeb Smith (Jada’s younger brother). They are the producers of the film and they own the production company which made the film. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/22 "2013-05-29T19:01:09Z")
What is our source that these have not been screened for critics? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/23 "2013-05-29T19:05:42Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > I did see a review of _After Earth_ which stressed that the film wouldn’t even exist if Will wasn’t trying to buy his little boy a film credit. May be a real stinker. Replace “boy” with “girl”, and that’s the story I heard about the **Annie** remake…until Willow (choose one: was considered “too old for the part”; decided (possibly in light of problems she was having on the Justin Bieber tour) to take a break from show business) and was replaced by Quvenzhane Wallis. > [@zamboniracer](#): > > Having said that, “The Karate Kid” wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t as good as the original, of course, but it had an original spin being based in in Japan (or was it China?). China - and that was part of the problem; “karate” is a Japanese martial art form. What they were doing in the remake is more “wushu” (a version of kung fu, if I understand correctly), but they kept the old name as “The Kung Fu Kid” might have been confusing. Note that both wushu and karate are on the short list to (possibly) replace wrestling as an Olympic sport starting in 2020; I think the vote is later this year, when they decide the 2020 site as well. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/24 "2013-05-29T19:06:35Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > What is our source that these have not been screened for critics? First sentence of OP : > [@Hampshire](#): > > Two big summer releases in two days and not a single review in yet on Rotten Tomatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/25 "2013-05-29T19:09:38Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > What is our source that these have not been screened for critics? > [@Yorikke](#): > > First sentence of OP : Not the same thing. I saw some other message board posts that said After Earth wasn’t being screened for critics, but I think it was just one post that got repeated. [This suggests otherwise.](http://rogersmovienation.com/2013/05/28/todays-screening-after-earth/) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/26 "2013-05-29T19:24:54Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If a movie’s release date is a Friday, isn’t the screening for the critics that Thursday? In other words, isn’t it too early for the screenings for these films? It’s usually much earlier in the week - our local indie paper puts out reviews for upcoming new releases on Wednesday, and they go to print on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/27 "2013-05-29T19:30:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If a movie’s release date is a Friday, isn’t the screening for the critics that Thursday? In other words, isn’t it too early for the screenings for these films? No, it isn’t. For one that wouldn’t provide enough time to write and publish reviews for most critics and if there was more than one movie opening you’d be making the top critics choose what they wanted to see and the studio doesn’t want to get the second string. Timing will vary somewhat but in New York and Los Angeles there will generally be at least a couple press only screenings with some at least as early as the Tuesday before a Friday opening. (There are exceptions, for example, when Shyamalan’s The Village opened they screened it for most everybody the Thursday night before but that is the only time that has ever happened to me). For me, being in the San Francisco area, most screening for press are also publicity screenings (those showings promoted by radio stations, in the back of altnerative newspapers, etc.) and the number of them will vary wildly from movie to movie but almost always one of them will be the Monday or Tuesday before a Friday opening. Kids movies will often have a Saturday morning screening as well. Studios also do earlier much more limited screenings for the trades and long-lead press. After all, if you’re a movie critic for a monthly, or even weekly, magazine you’ll need to see the movies way before they open. So, if a movie is going to screen for critics it will usually have done so by Tuesday evening before a Friday opening. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/28 "2013-05-29T19:38:00Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > What is our source that these have not been screened for critics? Film reviews usually are under a review embargo until opening day, which means that if a review comes out early, it is probably in violation of the embargo (which could put the reviewer in bad standing for future screenings with the studio). There are exceptions for critics who work for weeklies or monthlies, but for dailies (which would include blogs), it generally applies. That doesn’t mean something doesn’t get leaked early sometimes, but it’s generally looked down upon (and bloggers/reviewers _love_ their industry access). So if there are a lot of reviews of the film on (usually) Friday, then you know it was prescreened for critics. If you have to wait til Saturday to see most of the reviews, then you know the film wasn’t prescreened for critics and they went themselves opening day (on their own dime) so as to get a review ready for the next day’s publication deadline. I have my reservations about both films, but certainly not because of anything the OP suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/29 "2013-05-29T19:51:48Z")
Except that Variety and the Hollywood Reporter always post their reviews at least a week and a half before the release date. Always. They seem to have a special exemption from embargos. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/30 "2013-05-29T19:59:56Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > China - and that was part of the problem; “karate” is a Japanese martial art form. What they were doing in the remake is more “wushu” (a version of kung fu, if I understand correctly), but they kept the old name as “The Kung Fu Kid” might have been confusing. Note that both wushu and karate are on the short list to (possibly) replace wrestling as an Olympic sport starting in 2020; I think the vote is later this year, when they decide the 2020 site as well. And just as I say that (and the editing window closes), the IOC announce that neither wushu nor karate are on the “final three” list of sports that can be chosen (wrestling, squash, and baseball & softball). ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/31 "2013-05-29T20:53:11Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > Film reviews usually are under a review embargo until opening day, which means that if a review comes out early, it is probably in violation of the embargo (which could put the reviewer in bad standing for future screenings with the studio). There are exceptions for critics who work for weeklies or monthlies, but for dailies (which would include blogs), it generally applies. I’ll admit that most reviews are posted on opening day but I’d say 90% of movies not released yet (posted as opening soon on RT) have at least 6-10 reviews earlier in the week. The two listed here have a grand total of -zero- between the two of them. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/32 "2013-05-29T20:53:39Z")
Lou Loumenick has tweeted that After Earth isn’t screening for NYC critics until Wednesday night (tonight). And if it isn’t screening there until then it isn’t screening anywhere before then. If the studio didn’t want to screen because they know it sucks then they’d just not screen it. This isn’t nearly so rare as it used to be. Since Shyamalan pulled this trick before for The Village I suspect that there is some twist in the movie that they don’t want getting out with lots of lead time. Or a combination of the two. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/33 "2013-05-29T20:56:54Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > If the studio didn’t want to screen because they know it sucks then they’d just not screen it. It’s also worth pointing out that they’re releasing the movie at the start of blockbuster season, not dumping it in late January. They may not think it’ll get great reviews but they do expect it to do some business. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/34 "2013-05-30T01:48:07Z")
Definitely. Huge gap between “reviews can only possibly hurt us” and “we’re going to go broke on this it is so awful we can’t sell it.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/35 "2013-05-30T12:35:54Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Having said that, “The Karate Kid” wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t as good as the original, of course, but it had an original spin being based in in Japan (or was it China?) . Anyway, my girlfriend and I enjoyed it. “The Karate Kid” was pretty good, but only because of Jackie Chan. Jaden Smith was pretty annoying throughout. In the first few scenes where the bigger kids are beating the holy hell out of him, you have to think a minute to decide who to root for. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > “Someone” would be Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and to some degree Caleeb Smith (Jada’s younger brother). > > They are the producers of the film and they own the production company which made the film. Jada’s brother is Caleeb Pinkett, not Caleeb Smith. Unless something REALLY strange is going on in that family. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/36 "2013-05-30T13:01:56Z")
After Earth will be a huge hit regardless of the reviews. Will Smith’s worldwide box office appeal should not be underestimated. I think it will do ok here but make tons of money overseas. I get the impression from the trailer that Jaden gets a lot more screen time than his dad. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/37 "2013-05-30T13:03:50Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Now You See Me looks like it could be a good caper film - previews look good to me. > > However, After Earth has Jada Smith, that arrogant, little spoiled prick son of co-star daddy, Will Smith - that kid puts the “rat” in “brat”. I blame the parents of course, but it doesn’t mean that kid still can’t annoy the hell out of me. I hope this film bombs big time, so we no longer have to see daddy and mommy foisting their brat spawn upon us in any future projects. Sorry but where are you getting Jaden Smith being arrogant, spoiled, a prick, etc from? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/38 "2013-05-30T13:07:30Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > After Earth will be a huge hit regardless of the reviews. Will Smith’s worldwide box office appeal should not be underestimated. I think it will do ok here but make tons of money overseas. > > I get the impression from the trailer that Jaden gets a lot more screen time than his dad. The movie trailers lead one to believe there will be many opportunities for Will’s trademark “Oh HELL no!” In fact, I’ll bet a dollar that there’s a scene in the movie crafted for the sole purpose of having Jaden say “Oh HELL no!” to thunderous laughter and applause in the theater. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/39 "2013-05-30T13:07:33Z")
In case anyone was wondering, After Earth was screened for critics and reviews started appearing online this morning. Supposedly pretty middle-of-the-road, but not a stinker (and unlikely to “flop”). ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631/40 "2013-05-30T13:07:35Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I heard Morgan Freeman doesn’t even want to talk about it. I’ll say. He literally fell asleep during a press interview for the movie. It’s f\*\*king hilarious. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qARe8q0rR0E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qARe8q0rR0E) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-you-see-me-after-earth-flops/659631.md?page=3)