Crazy rule for predicting bad movies: BILLBOARD-O-METER SAYS ALICE IN WONDERLAND IS A BOMB!

[FormerDittoHead]

This can't be a universal, but AROUND WHERE I LIVE, in the Southern New Jersey (more Philly than Sopranos) WHENEVER a movie is advertised on BILLBOARDS (again, around HERE), I've learned that IT'S ALWAYS A BOMB.

I've had this theory for a while, and it's kind of been a funny rule for me - BUT IT HAS NEVER FAILED.

I REALLY didn't believe it worked because the last time, "Sherlock Holmes" was on the billboards.

I figured, there goes the billboard rule. How could they screw up Robert Downey Jr. and Sherlock Holmes? Well, Guy "Madonna" Richie found a way!

NEXT UP: ALICE IN WONDERLAND!! Billboards up and down I-295 and I-95!

How could the invincible Burton-Depp duo screw it? LET'S SEE!

I don't think it's supernatural - I think it's something in some movie distribution marketing dept. Some "red-alert" button gets pressed when they know it's a bomb and the billboards get ordered.

Here's to nonsense! Sometimes it works!

[Faygo Kid]

1. Has "bomb" written all over it. Oh, it will make money.

But in five years Johnny Depp will disavow it as one of his worst.

Anybody remember the "Batman" TV series? That looks like what Burton was trying to achieve here.

[DoctorMyEyes]

2. That's an interesting system

I hope it's wrong this time. One of my favorite stories, one (or two) of my favorite actors, one of my favorite directors. What could go wrong? It's a perfect storm for real "suckery" isn't it?

Maybe the billboards and front page advertisements mean they're trying to make money on opening weekend? Fast cash cause once word gets out ticket sales will be in the toilet?

I've waited a year for this movie. Please, please I hope your system is wrong. Just this once.

BTW - I'm originally from South Jersey too.

[bbernardini]

3. Currently only 54% on the Tomatometer.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009599-alice_in_wonderland/

[Atman]

4. Words of wisdom from an Indi video store worker...

...back when there was still such a thing as an independent mom & pop video store: I was poring over the wall of video titles, trying to find something, anything, that wasn't a big summer Hollywood "blockbuster." This movie-goth chick came up to me and asked if there was anything particular I was looking for. When I explained that I was just looking for something different, indi, not a big box office star-fest, she offered this advice, which generally holds true to this day: The quality of a movie is inversely proportionate to the number of copies on the wall.

Seek out the movies you've never heard of, the Sundance titles with only one copy in the store. The movies with a sleeve covered in film fest awards instead of corporate media "thumbs-up" recs. They're the gems.

All that said...it's unfortunate that seeing the "Disney" name above the title makes me less inclined to see this movie. I like -- love -- a lot of Burton's work. I'll still be seeing AIW, I can't resist. I hope the New Jersey Turnpike theory isn't as accurate as the "Copies on the Wall" theory!

.

[PurpleChez]

6. It's also sad that

the name "Disney" above a movie title used to mean the highest quality. I am in awe of much of what that studio did back in the day. Now, you see that above a title and you think "Gawd, I wonder how bad they butchered this one...."

[Walk away]

5. I usually check the NYT review. Not so crazy but usually pretty accurate.

Most of the really good (and many not so good) foreign and independent films are shown somewhere in NYC and the Times reviews everything interesting eventually.

[2Design]

7. I don't plan on seeing it - I like depp in Don Juan and Pirates but

the willy wonka - he couldn't improve on previous guy - and alice - it is all technicals - not much for me

[mackerel]

8. I rather liked it. Very empowering for little girls.

[YOY]

9. It was not all that.

Really not the worst I've seen but sure as hell not a great movie. Avatar? That was a good flick. This? Subpar most likely due to Disney sacharine input...the ending rewriting Victorian values is proof of that.