Posted by Tishel Aromatic at la01-54.proaxis.net on June 29, 2000 at 16:29:55:
In Reply to: It's all about the buzz, (& the benjamins, natch) posted by Darth Dobbin on June 29, 2000 at 16:23:34:
Hell, man, I couldn't name six people who were ALIVE when the original "Shaft" came out :) "Shaft"'s a different story, though. What I find funny is that everyone knows the song, but very few people have ever actually heard it. They all know the "He's a bad mother..." "Shut yo mouth" bit because ya hear it on all the sitcoms :) Shaft is a more dynamic character than Fletch; his reputation preceded Samuel L. Jackson. Sam was just a bonus. EVERYONE knows "Shaft." "Shaft" is universal (yet he was owned by Paramount. Isn't that ironic? hahahahaa) Who under 25 knows "Fletch"? And who under 25 would've known "Fletch" had Kevin Smith's name not been attached to the project?
They're hoping for "Shaft"-like numbers. I doubt they'll get them. You're right about the ad campaign, though. They gotta be brutal to sell it. I have all the faith in the world in Kevin Smith, but in studios and audiences, none.
Leaping from a window now :)