Why Did Stardust Tank?

Embarassed to admit it, but, yes. AFAIK, you are the only person who saw it.

I suspect it'll do well on DVD, though.

Nah. I saw it. The theater I saw it in was relatively full. Not packed, but more people than I've seen in the theater lately.

I think the biggest problem was marketing. It wasn't quite as schizophrenic as the marketing for Princess Bride, but at the same time, it's obvious the ad folks had no idea how to show off the film.

I'm hoping it will do well on DVD. It deserves to do well on DVD. I know I've been trying to get everyone I know to go see it.

Ah well.

I have friends who saw it and liked it.

I saw it and loved it.

As for why it isn't doing so well. Well, when the writer of the book feels compelled to tell the readers of his blog, 'it is nothing like the trailer makes it out to be.' Then it is safe to assume that there are going to be problems.

Also, has anything that Gaiman has done, been embraced right out of the gate? How long did it take for people to start realizing that may be Sandman wasn't like other comics?

And while the Princess Bride is omnipresent in geek circles, is it really that big of a film in the mundane world? I'd be willing to say that in America alone, there are more people who don't remember it at all then there are people who love it.

Finally, the film came out at the end of one of the most geek saturated summers we've ever seen. The Transformer's film, a new Harry Potter film, the last Harry Potter book, a new season of Dr Who and Eureka, the end of Stargate, etc. etc. It isn't a stretch to think may be people are getting a little warn down tracking all of this and happened to miss a single movie. Esspecially a movie who's marketing team were obviously a little clueless on how to handle said movie.

I saw it and loved it which came as a bit of a shock to me. My girlfriend was gung ho about seeing it although she has never read a Gaiman book or in this case Graphic Novel.

Robert Deniro was FANTASTIC and that character was hilarious in this movie. I would agree to a certain extent that there's just too many movies coming out this summer that are decent and I have probably plunked down 200 dollars at the movies this summer.

I saw it four times. Because I kept finding friends who hadn't seen it and just had to take them.

I thought it was fantastic and as a fan of the book, I thought they did a great job adapting it. I'm a little sad that it isn't as big of a hit as I'd hoped.

I want to see it...but having a baby kinda makes movie-going rare...

Theater ticket vs. DVD?
Perhaps it's getting hard for nerds to justify spending the money on the ticket unless you're certain that the "theater experience" will bring an added value. Say what want about the latest incarnation of the Transformers, but you can be pretty certain they'll be at their best on the big screen and with full digital surround. Likewise for "Live Free or Die Hard" and any of the "comic book" films.

(Mr. Bean has the cachet of being inoffensive and unchallenging "family-fun")

I saw it, and thought it was fantastic. Very much in the spirit of Princess Bride. I think the trailer failed to tell the story, it was just a montage of Claire Daines, Robert Deniro, and Michelle Pfieffer. Go see this movie because it has stars! The main leading guy (Charlie Cox) did well enough, but who the hell knew him?

If the movie would have focused more on the central character and his interactions with the three big shots, it might have had a better chance of attracting the mainstream.

Oh, and Claire Daines pulls off a lousy British accent.

Dis-jointed, bumbling, rambling and too long. It was quite simply just a BAD MOVIE. The movie acted like the main guy; stumbling and lost. I was looking forward SO MUCH to seeing it and I was let way down. Love Gaiman but that movie sucked big time...

I saw it with my friends and we all enjoyed it. Probably the best summer blockbuster I saw. In fact, it is probably the best film I saw of this year.

As good as The Princess Bride? Inconceivable!

I saw and loved it! The theater was pretty full and at the end everyone was clapping. I was very surprised at how good the movie turned out. But then again, I love anything that has to do with Neil Gaiman.

I've seen it four times, and I plan to see it a few more times while it's still in the theater. I absolutely loved it.

And to be honest, I originally had no intention of watching it. The marketing campaign sucked. The movie looked horrible, based on the few previews I saw. I went to see it as a date night movie, and I ended up falling in love with the movie!

I sincerely hope the movie producers don't get the false impression that the movie wasn't good. It was great, and it will go on my all-time top list.

Best Movie of the Year

I don't understand why the movie tanked it was a awesome movie I saw it when it first came out with my Eighteen year old. It was good from beginning to the end and I can wait to see it tonight with my Six and Three year old it was a great movie