HOLLYWOOD - TOP MOVIE EARNERS
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WHAT MAKES A GOOD MOVIE ?
The best movies are those that entertain is with what might be possible if we dare. Or, a different way of looking at things that we'd never dare. A good movie mixes up the human emotions with a hero, a worthy protagonist, a great supporting cast of characters, and a potential romance in the background on simmer. An even better hero is where the leading character is a whale and their support is a clever vehicle that binds the cast in a struggle against nature and against all the odds. Life finds a way assisted by the environmentally friendly robot boat, the Elizabeth Swan.
But that is not all. Even the very best stories need a bit more help from the experts. Actually, a lot of help. The best movies need a great script writer to inspire the producers and director. Yes, we need an inspired director. That in turn will inspire the casting director to invite only the very best talent into helping to make the movie a classic. It does not happen all that often. Casting is so important. A good actor can breathe life into a part that others cannot see and also bring with them a loyal following. We tend to rate films based on the actors. Who is in it? If we like the cast, then we look at the subject matter again and then the director. The Sound of Music and Titanic were perfectly cast. These are two great examples of what it takes to produce a masterpiece.
Typically, from each year, only one movie makes a mark in the record books of all time greats. We should not hope for too much. We can but strive to do our best and ask all of those involved in making a particular production to reach for the sky and help to pull off one of their very best performances. That is what the Academy Awards are all about, a rating system in recognition of movie making excellence.
These are the movies that we all love, the ones that help to shape our lives and tickle our imaginations. These are also the movies that make money for the studios and all the other movies that get to be made as part of the entertainment journey that enriches our lives and helps to us to make a difference.
MONEY TALKS
Yes it does. Good art costs money. The box office returns on a movie tell a studio what kind of entertainment the public are looking for and if they got it right. The gross at theatres spells out what films the public want to see and are prepared to pay for. We vote with our wallets. Again and again with a good series of well timed sequels we vote again. Much of life is a gamble, but chance favours the prepared mind - otherwise known as cheating. Franchises are where the top earners are. Find or establish a franchise and you are onto a winner. The 'John Storm' series could be a franchise in the making if the first film sets a cracking pace. What the leads needs is a Harrison Ford discovery. Harrison was good in Star Wars, but brilliant in Indiana Jones.
Check out the statistics. We have included only the cream of the cream, with earners in excess of $200M. Buena Vista leads the pack with comic book heroes, an animation and the latest Star Wars episode, where SW sequels are getting a little tired.
Universal Studios comes in next with two respectable and long awaited sequels of Jurassic Park. Chris Pratt makes these, coupled with some excellent CGI, though essentially the story is the same, we have a more macho protagonist. The Meg from Warner Brothers only managed $143,005,856 in October 2018, entertaining though it was and loved the subs and Jason Statham. Jason has a lot of potential, but if you are going to remake Jaws, try to keep the science believable. Even with Lady Gaga, a Star is Born failed to top the $200M mark. Paramount and Lionsgate failed to get much over the $50m mark with any movie offering.
BUENA VISTA TOP 5
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TOP 20
SONY/COLUMBIA
WALT DISNEY - ABC NEWS 16 DECEMBER 2018
One of the defining elements of the year in Hollywood blockbusters, from Avengers to Black Panther, has been Marvel. Often, you could trace success at the box office in 2018 to a comic book series released decades ago.
Key points:
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It's been another blockbuster year for Disney
This week, the family friendly entertainment company's dominance in Hollywood was reaffirmed with news it made $US7 billion in global box office sales in the year to December 9, more than any other movie studio and close to its 2016 record of $US7.6 billion.
A DECADE PLUS OF GOOD DEALS
When the company founded by animater and entrepreneur Walt Disney paid $US7.4 billion for Pixar in 2006, people scoffed. The creators of Monsters Inc, Toy Story and Finding Nemo had achieved success, but that was a lot of money.
2019 could be another stellar year for the company
The studio may well continue its dominance next year, with big films and new ventures planned.
KULO LUNA - Is the story of a giant humpback whale and her young friend Kana who is killed by pirate whalers in the south pacific ocean. Enraged by the death of Kana, Kulo attacks the pirate ship, finally sinking it, but getting herself wounded in the process.
On hearing of the sinking of one of their suppliers, a Japanese cartel put a $multi-million dollar bounty on her head, when another whaling ship gives chase. Before not too long the media hear of the hunt and betting begins all around the world. At this point our hero, John Storm, abandons a solar boat race to try and help the whale where his boat, the Elizabeth Swan, is not far away from the last sighting.
John rescues Kulo from being eaten by sharks, but that is just the beginning of their adventure, as the pirates whalers close in for the kill........ Copyright book cover design © Jameson Hunter Ltd. All rights reserved. The Kulo Luna story is the subject of an exclusive license to the Foundation, expressly for the purposes of raising ocean awareness and helping to fund research into ways of beating ocean waste.
MARINE LIFE - This humpback whale is one example of a magnificent animal that is at the mercy of human activity. Humans are for the most part unaware of the harm their fast-lane lifestyles are causing. We aim to change that by doing all we can to promote ocean literacy. The Kulo Luna story is one of our initiatives to promote ocean issues.
KULO LUNA - Grace and beauty, these giant fins propel the whale at considerable speed over thousands of miles from feeding to breeding grounds. Whales are just as much at risk from toxic plastic waste in our oceans as humans from eating marine produce. The only difference is that the whales did not put it there. It is not their fault. It is our fault and the fault of our governments for allowing it to be dumped at sea. Most governments are doing nothing about removing it from the sea. They are content to limit plastic production on land - as per the Agreement of the G20 at Hamburg in 2017.
If you think that our heads of state should be doing more, please support us in any way that you can to make Kulo Luna a lasting message for those elected to represent us, to actually carry out the wished of the people.
This website is provided on a free basis as a public information service. Copyright © Cleaner Oceans Foundation Ltd (COFL) (Company No: 4674774) 2019. Solar Studios, BN271RF, United Kingdom. COFL is a charity without share capital.
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