I can't say this is my first time seeing "Prince of Thieves". In fact, I think I might have seen it in the theater. Unfortunately, I can't recall if I enjoyed it, but that fact might be a clear indication. To be honest, there was one scene I remembered vividly; it was Kevin Costner, shooting an arrow wrapped in flames.
It's a wonderful shot and they were very smart to promote it. Actually, they might have filmed it with that purpose. There are a lot of movies vying for our attention and they all can't be spectacular, so they have to stand out. It's nice if there is good word-of-mouth and critical acclaim, but failing that, all a movie needs is the right marketing campaign.
Classic Movie Trailers - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
People are split on this one. The Rotten Tomato meter sits at exactly fifty percent. If you ask me, I think it's unremarkable. That might seem harsh at first glance, but it isn't a condemnation. In order for films to be good or bad, there has to be a baseline.
Let's consider film as a whole, and view the entire art form. If there is a "middle-of-the-road", I'm sure it's very wide. The sidelines have all the ones that we remember, and they'll stay with us for a much longer time. Love and hate are polar opposites, but both of guys tend to stick around.
Indifference is intangible and when we do recognize it, there's only so much time before we're engaged with something else. When the experience is fresh, we won't come to the same conclusions. I can shrug off something I find forgettable, but that might not be the case if I'm in a sour mood. Then again, if I paid to sit and watch the film, I might feel the need to defend the purchase.
Whatever your opinion of the picture in question, the studio behind it is wholly unconcerned. If you spent your money the mission was accomplished, and the bottom line's the same either way. So movie trailers are of the utmost importance. A single and simple addition to one can make or break a business.
The link below, leads to an ad that didn't break anything; boxofficemojo.com reports a nine-digit profit. Hundreds of millions of dollars is really nothing to sneeze at. That's celebration money with a truckload of champagne. Whatever you think of this film, it isn't "Gone with the Wind", so the reasons for its success are really easy to understand.
There were no interesting twists, to tease a potential audience. Christian Slater's big revelation changed very little. Everyone acted predictably and Robin Hood isn't multifaceted. The Sheriff of Nottingham was also pretty plain, with no redeeming qualities
Still, all you really need is a good announcer, with a good voice that says vague comments over dramatic music. Show off plenty of fight scenes and note a budding romance. Add a bit of minority appeal, and then display your best visuals. As long as the movie is decent, you have a recipe for success.
The middle of the road is a good place to be. There isn't as much hype, but there isn't an outcry either. The reactions will vary but at the end of the day, there won't be a stink to keep people away. One true arrow from a fan-favorite archer, can light a flame of fortune denied to better films.
Trailer Here.
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See "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" on Amazon Instant Video / YouTube
Next Week: The start of a Shaolin-Style Double Feature, with "Return to the 36th Chamber", followed by "Martial Arts of Shaolin".
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