deadpickle
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 9:53 AMSince its edging closer to the premier I am starting to worry that there are no reviews out for the movie yet. It worries me because movies that are not sent to critics before they open tend to get terrible ratings and in turn sometimes turn out to be terrible movies. Maybe I'm being to superstitious but when do you think they will send godzilla off to be reviewed?
G. H. (Gman)
AdminGodzillaApr-24-2014 10:06 AMYes, movies aren't typically screened for critics a week or two before the movie's release and even then there's a critic embargo that Legendary /WB keeps. If critics break that embargo they aren't invited to future screenings. Chances are we won't see official reviews until a week before release. Why get worried about this now?
Kage432
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 10:15 AMI remember there was something like that with the toyline wasn't there?
ratedrex
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 2:28 PMUsually if a studio thinks they have a good movie they will allow critics to review the movie weeks before its opening in order to initiate positive buzz (the Amazing Spiderman 2 and Neighbors have had reviews out for the last 3 weeks and they don't open until May 2). If a studios is nervous about the quality of the movie, they will hold off on screenings because they don't want bad word of mouth to poison the air before the movie comes out (Tyler Perry movies, for example, are notorious for holding on to their screenings until the very last moment because they know that the critics are going to roast them). If there are no Godzilla reviews by late next week, then that's a red flag. Frankly, I expected reviews by this week. With all the excitement going around, it would be even more exciting if a few rave reviews were released. I'm beginning to get nervous. The Wondercon leaked video may have been a marketing ploy. Every movie can come up with a great five minute segmen. Why would they do that unless they aren't confident enough to show the entire film to critics.
G. H. (Gman)
AdminGodzillaApr-24-2014 2:35 PMThe Amazing Spider-Man 2's review embargo didn't lift until last week. Just because other reviews leaked over the last couple or so (it wasn't three weeks) doesn't mean jack one way or antoher for the movie's quality. Same can be said for Godzilla. The fact of the matter is plenty of good movies get reviews held out until the week before. If Godzilla reviews haven't started officially appearing the Monday before the movie is released THEN you have cause to be worried. Until then some of you are freaking yourselves out for not good reason at all.
It's like when people were worried it wasn't getting enough marketing all over again... Fans are goofy.
deadpickle
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 2:50 PMMarketing is the sauce but reviews are the meat... I would agree with everything ratedrex said and was the initial idea for the question. Its 3 weeks till showtime so If I dont see reviews in two week the dive alarms will be sounding. This wont effect my want to go see it at all though... just hoping for a excellent movie. But if an entertaining movie is the minimum in my book I'm sure godzilla will deliver.
TarrellZilla
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 3:48 PMI have to agree with GMan, the whole critic review timing thing isn't very close to fact. The Dark Knight Rises had reviews come out only a week before it's release and over 90% of the critics reviews were overwhelmingly positive.
As for Spider-Man 2 you have to remember the american release is May 2, but the film has been out in the UK since April 16th, and all the early critic reviews came out April 8th.
I think it's safe to say reviews will come out a week before the release.
ratedrex
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 4:25 PMI worked marketing for 20 years for a major movie studio. The studios routinely allowed Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Time , Newsweek and Time Out (in England) to review movies and print the reviews weeks before its premier. Noah, Captain America, Spiderman and Neighbors rate high on the rottentomatoe meter, coincidently their reviews surfaced long before the movie opened. Transendence, A Haunted House 2, God's not Dead and Single Moms Club rate very low on the rottentomato meter, and sure enough all those movies weren't screened until a couple of days before the opening. Word of mouth can make or break a movie. The Lone Ranger was torched by the critics, it bombed at the box-office. American Hustle got rave reviews (even though the movie sucked), which allowed it to do much better at the box-office than projected. Lastly, a week after Godzilla opens, XMen opens. So Godzilla has to do well right out of the gate in order to generate positive buzz. The best way to start well is to have positive word of mouth weeks before the movie opens. We still have about 10 days. If reviews aren't out by May 6th......
joaomlo2
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 4:31 PMThere is an early screening taking place in London on April 11, so I am expecting the first reviews a day or two from then.
deadpickle
MemberMothra LarvaeApr-24-2014 5:04 PM@joaomlo2 guessing you mean May 11. Godzilla is going against some heavy hitters, Spiderman 2 and X-Men... They have the hype given the current comic craze (thankfully its not going agains Gaurdians of the Galaxy) so I would think Legendary wants to get reviews out after Spiderman 2 to undercut those dragging to see it and convince them to hold off a bit longer and before X-men to get those holding on to their allowance to wait another week to see X-men. Im hoping for rotten to get reviews in two weeks before the movie but a week before I'll get itchy.
Daimajin
MemberMothra LarvaeMay-01-2014 12:48 PMI work in the film industry (3D animation) & I have attended quite a few screenings & several premiers.
I have found The strategy varies-it all depends on the director & the marketing department
if a film is terrible, they will often wait till almost the release date & even not have pre-screenings for critics.
If a film is good, but not really big, they will often let people/reporters to see the screenings early to accomoate thier schedules- they will release reviews early.
On some big films they think are really big, they often have embargo's till after the premeir- my guess is to have a "big Splash"
if you don't start getting reviews slightlly before the opening week or the monday of the opening, then start to worry. Otherwise I would there is nothing to reallt conclude.
AND- most importantly- a lot of reviewers like their swag they get from the studios. So, they tend to do "favors" for the studios that are friendly to them & studios know that. They will invite in studio friendly reviewers to see the screeners first- I suspect this is happening with Spiderman.
I think a lot of revievewers will go in to Godzilla with a negative opinion first with the 98 still leaving a bad taste & it is not "high art" a lot of the reviewers like- so WB's job is to convince them- which is why they are probably waiting till the premier- critics have big egos & are lemmings- they want to fit in & look "cool" & have what they think is the "right opinion" Good leaked wor of mouth will help with this
So far I have seen 2 reviews- both said it is amazing (slash & a screener's). I think they are legit