Red vs Jackass 3D - Another Geeks vs. Mainstream Movie Weekend?

After this past summer's geek debacle of Scott Pilgrim vs. the Expendables, the autumn now has a similar match-up: the action-packed comic book-based Red is being released the same weekend as Jackass 3D.

For those who haven't been following Red's adaptation from the graphic novelette by fan-favorite Warren Ellis, the movie version stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich as "retired, extremely dangerous" CIA assassins who basically get the band back together. Except in this case, the band comprises some of cinema's most respected actors, the instruments are ridiculous amounts of automatic weapons, and the musical set pieces are shoot-outs with dozens of black ops spooks and paramilitary troops.

Jackass 3D, on the other hand, simply promises further foolhardy stunts and foolish pranks from Johnny Knoxville (whose acting career seems to have stalled) and his devil-may-care cohorts. Basically, it's More of the Same, except in 3D.

Unfortunately, there are more than a few parallels between Red and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Both enjoyed warm receptions at Comic Con, the prominent lead actor in both cases is coming off a couple of duds, and both could get ploughed under by the mainstream audience thanks to bad timing. And just as Scott Pilgrim was buried in its second weekend by Piranha 3D, the 2D Red's ticket price is at a disadvantage against the Jackass sequel's.

Will Red succeed - at least modestly - where other comic book-movies have lately failed, or will Hollywood get the message that adapting comics is a mug's game and that crowd-pleasing formulas are the way to go?

Meh. I honestly thought Red was another vampire movie until I finally saw footage. The movie looks amusing, but not "pay money to see it" amusing.

And while Jackass is good for the occasional chuckle, I'm never paying money to see it.

good luck D.B.B.

I have absolutely no interest in Jackass 3D while I might make a rare trip to the theater to see Red. I think Red looks like a fun movie and I'm hoping it will have more box office appeal than a movie about a bunch of idiots doing idiotic things. And I'm hoping the public has a much higher opinion of Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren than they do of Michael Cera.

Not only am I seeing RED, I have a whole lot of family going to see RED.

The previews look great, and look at the cast Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman...ect...ect!

Now the movie just has to live up to the previews!

I'll probably catch Red as a matinee at least this weekend. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Jackass movie; certainly not one where I have to pay more for 3-D glasses.

Being the first movie I've wanted to catch in theaters since I got my new job at the start of September, I'll probably go see Red on Saturday night with the wife.

You guys are crazy. Jackass is one of the greatest pieces of film ever.

Not sure I'd call either of those movie geek movies. All actors in Red are as mainstream as it gets. The subject matter is mainstream, as old actors kicking butt. Jackass 3D just mindless stupidity. Im not sure what incentive to see it in theather there is since it will probably just as silly watching it on the small screen without the higher price tag.

Well Jackass 3D is R so that limits the market a bit for it while Red is PG-13.

Also I hardly call Jackass 3D mainstream unless mouth-breathing idiots are now considered mainstream.

Due to it's PG-13 rating, cast and gratuitous gun play mixed with comedy, I consider Red to be more mainstream, regardless of it's comic origins.

I want to see the Jackass movie, but on cable, where all the real naughty bits will be edited out.

The first two Jackass movies are great to watch on TV late at night for some cheap laughs before bed.

Think demographics. Red gets the usual action movie demographic, but it also gets older viewers who want to see 60somethings kicking butt. The "retired" aspect of it is being hyped for a reason. Old people have money and don't feel like there's much out there that appeals to them, so there's a good chance Red will get them out into the theaters.

Jackass 3D, on the other hand, appeals to... ? I'm not sure. I will say this, if it's at all successful then people who cry about file sharing destroying pop entertainment media can kiss off. If there's ever been a movie that catered to the piracy crowd it's Jackass 3D. I expect it'll still do reasonably respectably, but if it bombs I don't want to hear one more BS post about "My favorite movie/comic/album/whatever was killed by piracy!" ever again.

I saw Red last night at a free screening. I liked it!!
WHats-his-face that played McCoy in Star Trek and the one dude from Lord of the Rings was awesome in it. So awesome I can't even remember his name... ha.

Karl Urban?

One other significant way in which Red differs from SPVTW is that Red's reviews range mainly from moderately positive to tepid - the worst ones level such criticisms as "It is possible to have a good time at RED, but it is not a very good movie." (NYT) and "Red simultaneously tries too hard and not hard enough." (Slate) - while SPVTW's were much more sharply divided.

We'll see how this weekend goes. If Red tanks, then you may be assured that there will be a vocal portion of the media-critic peanut gallery will claim that the movie failed because comic book-based movies can never appeal to the mainstream.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father Xmas Also I hardly call Jackass 3D mainstream unless mouth-breathing idiots are now considered mainstream.

You said it, not me.

Red doesn't look like a Comic-Book Geek movie. It looks like it caters to fans of:
Explosions and gunfights. (any action movie)
Old guys coming back to kick butt (the later Rambo movies, some of Eastwood's later movies, etc.)

Not having read the comic, if I hadn't read these forums, I wouldn't know it was a comic book movie.

Jackass looks like Jackass. I'll DVR it when it hits cable.

Jackass is retarded. Only in america would people pay to see that crap. The jackass guy is more stupid than jeff foxworthy.

Even the Romans were entertained by the stupidity of animals attacking other people.