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American Morning
Interview With Jill Bernstein, Leah Rozen, B.J. Sigesmund
Aired May 27, 2003 - 09:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we've got three movie mavens with us this morning to talk about what's going to be hot and what is not this summer. Leah Rozen, chief movie critic for "People" magazine. B.J. Sigesmund, entertainment reporter for "Newsweek" and Jill Bernstein, senior editor for "Premiere." Good to see all of you in the flesh. All right.
Jill, I am going to start with you, since your magazine was the one that said that the sequel to the "Matrix" was going to be the big one for the year, was going to make millions -- what, 300 million bucks or so, and already it is down to No. 2?
JILL BERNSTEIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "PREMIERE": Yes, I'm in the hot seat here right now. We said $350 million. What we do every March, way in advance of summer, is we predict our top 10 by box office. We're always wrong on some things. We do it for fun, and we like to see American viewers surprise us. So, I don't know what happened with "Matrix." It fell off 60 percent this weekend. Still did OK, but "Bruce Almighty" just creamed it.
HARRIS: But with all the hype that the "Matrix II" got...
LEAH ROZEN, CHIEF MOVIE CRITIC, "PEOPLE": Well, that is it. Too much hype, mixed reviews. Did everyone who wanted to see it go see it that first weekend? If they are going to see it a second time, are they waiting until it comes out in IMAX on June 6.
HARRIS: You think that is going to make a big difference, big splash?
ROZEN: Well, it is your chance to see "Matrix: Reloaded" really, really big.
B.J. SIGESMUND, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER, "NEWSWEEK": I just have to say, it wasn't -- it didn't have any of the specialness of the first one. The first one was so unique, it was a small story, this one felt to me like "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," cast of thousands, all this fighting, fighting, not enough thinking. I was disappointed.
ROZEN: But another major factor here is that "Matrix: Reloaded" is rated R, and that means that all those 14-year-old boys whose lives were changed by seeing the first film have to sneak in to see this one.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: They always get in.
HARRIS: ... were a couple of 40-year-old men...
BERNSTEIN: The R rating made it not a family film. This was Memorial Day weekend. For most of the country, there was terrible weather, so it was not -- they didn't take the kids.
HARRIS: All right. So let's talk about the sequels, the other ones. What do you think is going to be the best of the bunch?
BERNSTEIN: Well, "X-Men" has already done very well. That was a squeal that will be a big hitter financially.
SIGESMUND: I am hoping that "Terminator 3" is going to be -- if it's even half as smart as the first one or the second one, I think it is going to be a big success.
ROZEN: But who really cares? It is more than a decade. How old...
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: It's been a long time.
ROZEN: How old is Arnold now?
SIGESMUND: It doesn't matter. Those were very cool movies, and they have a huge fan base.
ROZEN: But the question is, has that audience moved on now? Have movies like "Matrix"...
SIGESMUND: I haven't.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNSTEIN: ... Cameron directing. He was the director, he was the vision behind that movie, and Arnold is back and a couple producers are back, but other than that...
HARRIS: I'm curious to see how many people would actually get pulled in to see Arnold. As you said, it's been a long time.
BERNSTEIN: And "Collateral Damage" didn't do all that well.
SIGESMUND: He is not as big a box office draw, of course, but I feel like those movies have such life on video and DVD that people can't help but go see it. People are really going to want to see it that very first weekend, at least.
ROZEN: Well, I think you have also got a shot with "Charlie's Angels II," in that the first one was just a lot fun, and if they can replicate that sort of shois de vie (ph)...
SIGESMUND: And two words about that: Demi Moore. You have already got that great chemistry with those three women, but having Demi Moore in there...
HARRIS: I want to say it was the chemistry that caught my attention.
SIGESMUND: This is a comeback that people have been forward to for -- especially the last year as you have seen Demi Moore's image trickle into the media, people are really revved to see her again.
HARRIS: All right. Let me ask you one other that is coming out, that hasn't come out yet. It is not a sequel. I'm kind of revved up to see "The Hulk." What do you guys think about this one, with what you have seen and heard so far?
BERNSTEIN: It's iffy. It is very iffy.
ROZEN: Well, what is fascinating (ph) is you have got Eric Bana, an Australian actor nobody knows in the lead. Ang Lee directed it...
HARRIS: Well, that didn't hold back Hugh Jackman the first time around.
(CROSSTALK)
ROZEN: They put out a trail that looked sort of iffy with the special effect, which turned people off.
BERNSTEIN: The Hulk is computer generated almost entirely, almost looks like -- you see him bobbing around like a video game character. He almost looks like Shrek or something.
SIGESMUND: "Spider-Man" -- "Spider-Man," it was all special effects, and it made $400 million...
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: But they did a good job (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the live action in with some of that CG stuff in "Spider-Man," though.
ROZEN: It is a film critics are really looking forward to...
(CROSSTALK)
BERNSTEIN: Ang Lee, right.
ROZEN: Ang Lee is directing. This is the man who did "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
BERNSTEIN: "Sense and Sensibility."
ROZEN: "Sense and Sensibility." What is he going to do with a comic book superhero?
SIGESMUND: If it weren't for Ang Lee, though, critics like you would be sharpening your knives, getting ready for this one.
ROZEN: But you love "Spider-Man," so you are always hopeful. BERNSTEIN: There is a big cult following. These comic book movies do very well. "Daredevil" had a big opening weekend.
HARRIS: So far.
BERNSTEIN: People who read comic books are very interested, so it may open big.
HARRIS: Well, we'll have to see. Thank you folks for coming in. Leah, B.J...
BERNSTEIN: Jill.
HARRIS: Jill. Sorry about that (ph). Good to see you folks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 27, 2003 - 09:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we've got three movie mavens with us this morning to talk about what's going to be hot and what is not this summer. Leah Rozen, chief movie critic for "People" magazine. B.J. Sigesmund, entertainment reporter for "Newsweek" and Jill Bernstein, senior editor for "Premiere." Good to see all of you in the flesh. All right.
Jill, I am going to start with you, since your magazine was the one that said that the sequel to the "Matrix" was going to be the big one for the year, was going to make millions -- what, 300 million bucks or so, and already it is down to No. 2?
JILL BERNSTEIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "PREMIERE": Yes, I'm in the hot seat here right now. We said $350 million. What we do every March, way in advance of summer, is we predict our top 10 by box office. We're always wrong on some things. We do it for fun, and we like to see American viewers surprise us. So, I don't know what happened with "Matrix." It fell off 60 percent this weekend. Still did OK, but "Bruce Almighty" just creamed it.
HARRIS: But with all the hype that the "Matrix II" got...
LEAH ROZEN, CHIEF MOVIE CRITIC, "PEOPLE": Well, that is it. Too much hype, mixed reviews. Did everyone who wanted to see it go see it that first weekend? If they are going to see it a second time, are they waiting until it comes out in IMAX on June 6.
HARRIS: You think that is going to make a big difference, big splash?
ROZEN: Well, it is your chance to see "Matrix: Reloaded" really, really big.
B.J. SIGESMUND, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER, "NEWSWEEK": I just have to say, it wasn't -- it didn't have any of the specialness of the first one. The first one was so unique, it was a small story, this one felt to me like "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace," cast of thousands, all this fighting, fighting, not enough thinking. I was disappointed.
ROZEN: But another major factor here is that "Matrix: Reloaded" is rated R, and that means that all those 14-year-old boys whose lives were changed by seeing the first film have to sneak in to see this one.
(CROSSTALK)
SIGESMUND: They always get in.
HARRIS: ... were a couple of 40-year-old men...
BERNSTEIN: The R rating made it not a family film. This was Memorial Day weekend. For most of the country, there was terrible weather, so it was not -- they didn't take the kids.
HARRIS: All right. So let's talk about the sequels, the other ones. What do you think is going to be the best of the bunch?
BERNSTEIN: Well, "X-Men" has already done very well. That was a squeal that will be a big hitter financially.
SIGESMUND: I am hoping that "Terminator 3" is going to be -- if it's even half as smart as the first one or the second one, I think it is going to be a big success.
ROZEN: But who really cares? It is more than a decade. How old...
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: It's been a long time.
ROZEN: How old is Arnold now?
SIGESMUND: It doesn't matter. Those were very cool movies, and they have a huge fan base.
ROZEN: But the question is, has that audience moved on now? Have movies like "Matrix"...
SIGESMUND: I haven't.
(CROSSTALK)
BERNSTEIN: ... Cameron directing. He was the director, he was the vision behind that movie, and Arnold is back and a couple producers are back, but other than that...
HARRIS: I'm curious to see how many people would actually get pulled in to see Arnold. As you said, it's been a long time.
BERNSTEIN: And "Collateral Damage" didn't do all that well.
SIGESMUND: He is not as big a box office draw, of course, but I feel like those movies have such life on video and DVD that people can't help but go see it. People are really going to want to see it that very first weekend, at least.
ROZEN: Well, I think you have also got a shot with "Charlie's Angels II," in that the first one was just a lot fun, and if they can replicate that sort of shois de vie (ph)...
SIGESMUND: And two words about that: Demi Moore. You have already got that great chemistry with those three women, but having Demi Moore in there...
HARRIS: I want to say it was the chemistry that caught my attention.
SIGESMUND: This is a comeback that people have been forward to for -- especially the last year as you have seen Demi Moore's image trickle into the media, people are really revved to see her again.
HARRIS: All right. Let me ask you one other that is coming out, that hasn't come out yet. It is not a sequel. I'm kind of revved up to see "The Hulk." What do you guys think about this one, with what you have seen and heard so far?
BERNSTEIN: It's iffy. It is very iffy.
ROZEN: Well, what is fascinating (ph) is you have got Eric Bana, an Australian actor nobody knows in the lead. Ang Lee directed it...
HARRIS: Well, that didn't hold back Hugh Jackman the first time around.
(CROSSTALK)
ROZEN: They put out a trail that looked sort of iffy with the special effect, which turned people off.
BERNSTEIN: The Hulk is computer generated almost entirely, almost looks like -- you see him bobbing around like a video game character. He almost looks like Shrek or something.
SIGESMUND: "Spider-Man" -- "Spider-Man," it was all special effects, and it made $400 million...
(CROSSTALK)
HARRIS: But they did a good job (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the live action in with some of that CG stuff in "Spider-Man," though.
ROZEN: It is a film critics are really looking forward to...
(CROSSTALK)
BERNSTEIN: Ang Lee, right.
ROZEN: Ang Lee is directing. This is the man who did "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
BERNSTEIN: "Sense and Sensibility."
ROZEN: "Sense and Sensibility." What is he going to do with a comic book superhero?
SIGESMUND: If it weren't for Ang Lee, though, critics like you would be sharpening your knives, getting ready for this one.
ROZEN: But you love "Spider-Man," so you are always hopeful. BERNSTEIN: There is a big cult following. These comic book movies do very well. "Daredevil" had a big opening weekend.
HARRIS: So far.
BERNSTEIN: People who read comic books are very interested, so it may open big.
HARRIS: Well, we'll have to see. Thank you folks for coming in. Leah, B.J...
BERNSTEIN: Jill.
HARRIS: Jill. Sorry about that (ph). Good to see you folks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
