This kinda goes to you, Arnold. It's strange really while writing up that piece about END OF DAYS, I began thinking about you. And how much you are paid. Then I thought... how much is enough? Ya know, you've been pulling down $20 million plus a film for a while now, how about this. How about you, the big man, give back to the fans for a while. Instead of sticking it to the studios, how about you actually sign on the dotted line for quality products, where you actually allow the money to be spent on the film, instead of your latest HumVee? Ya know, it's real easy to throw stones at the rich, being broke. There is the concept that you earned the right to demand the money you do when your films performed, but now the best projects pass you by. I AM LEGEND was killed because they needed to trim $20 million. Hey Arnie, don't you get paid $20 million? Now what we see below is a fan... a fan that wants to see you make great films, but is tired of watching the projects you belong in pass you by. Not only that, but you tie the projects up so they can't get made without you. This sucks. (sorry no other way to say it.) I would like to see everyone in the $20 million dollar club decide to get paid on a percentage. Ya know, if ya say star in a TITANIC, and sacrifice all the up front money, and just play the backend, and your film performs... well, you'll get a whole hell of a lot more. If the film sucks, well.... do ya really deserve to be paid $20 million for a sucky movie? (See BATMAN & ROBIN) Robogeek says, "The counterpoint to that arguement is, 'It isn't my fault it sucked.'." OH GET REAL. YOU SUCKED BAD IN THAT FILM. You also sucked in THE RUNNING MAN and you sucked in THE LAST ACTION HERO. However, ya did rock the house in TRUE LIES, and hell, I even enjoyed ya in ERASER... and guess what? Those films performed, and you would of been taken care of. Sure, it's a risk, but then that's how this dang advertising banner at the top of the page works. Sure, they tell me I'll get paid, but really it counts on how many people load the page and click on that dang banner. It's about what I deliver. Not in advance, but after I DELIVER.
Ultimately it comes down to this. Are you about making the best films you can? Are you Arnold? Or are you just about the money? I really want to see CRUSADE, WITH WINGS AS EAGLES, I AM LEGEND and S.W.A.T. Hell, I even want to see END OF DAYS. And I know the fans want to see these films. Stop thinking with your wallet, and read the damn scripts. Make the good movies. To quote you, "DO IT.... DO IT NOW!!!" Immortal words surely. Now listen to what your fan, code named HUCKLEBERRY HOUND has to say. He's the reason I wrote, he's who you should listen to...
So I've loved Arnold from the beginning. Thought Predator was the coolest platoon/brigade film I ever saw. I survived growing up in 80's summers renting all of his old stuff like Terminator, Commando and Raw Deal. Total Recall was a gargantuan film with such a cool ass plot that even a staid guy like my dead really got into. T2. T2 was an experience. I will never forget that movie ever. ever. True Lies(second best action film of the 90's) cemented Arnold and Jim as the best action movie makers of all time. Without a doubt.
But in the last 6 years, cool ass project after cool ass project has been killed cause of cost. Due in no small part to Arnold's escalating salary. You went through them yourself
- Crusade. My GOD what this could have been
- With Wings As Eagles. This could've gotten Arnold an Oscar
- SWAT. If this isn't screaming for Woo/Fuqua/Bay/West, I don't know what is...
- I Am Legend. Isnt it time for someone to make a big budget blockbuster fantasy film. I mean c'mon in the 20 years there's willow, highlander, ladyhawke, thats it
Now we have End of Days. Similar themes to other Arnold films that haven't come about like Fallen and The Disciple(disney).
Harry, am I supposed to believe that this film has any more chance than any of the others ? Lets wake up. With Arnold pulling $25 mil + gross, everyone else wants a piece of the pie. So you're talking $60 million before a cell of film is even shot.
Something's just not right
