Why Boycotts Will Help Tropic Thunder
By Sean Leviashvili | MainStreet.com

Criticisms are raining in on Tropic Thunder. But will it mean a washout at the box office? Signs point to: ‘Probably Not.’

Organizations including the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities began protesting Tropic Thunder, a spoof of the movie industry starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. on claims that the dialogue features an excess use of disparaging terms for those who are intellectually challenged or disabled.

But will a call for a boycott deter moviegoers? “Generally, boycotts help the box office rather than hurt it,” says Gitesh Pandya, editor and founder of BoxOfficeGuru.com. “Any kind of controversy helps attract attention.”

Like ours! Take a look at some of the films that have been boycotted recently and how they fared at the box office.

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (2004)

Controversy: The Anti-Defamation League and American Jewish Committee feared Gibson’s depiction of Jews would ignite a wave of anti-Semitism. “I believe that the Jews—and every decent person who hates bigotry—should go the whole nine yards and delete the entire movie by boycotting it, for the whole message is odious and offensive,” Rabbi Shmuley Boteach wrote in the Jerusalem Post in Feb. 2004. “Is there really a more serious charge against a people than that they killed God?”

Result: Gibson denied the accusations and his film grossed $83,848,082 during its first week, according to www.boxofficeguru.com. Passion went on to gross $370,274,604 USD, making it the number 12 highest grossing U.S. film ever. “I had no interest in seeing the film, at least at first,” says Pandya. “But when everyone began complaining and debating on it, I gained interest.”

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)

Controversy: Adopted from the 1997 New Yorker story by Annie Proulx the film, which starred Jake Gyllenhall and the late Heath Ledger, tells the story of two 19-year-old ranchers who become romantically involved. Brokeback Mountain immediately sparked a slew of boycotts, including in theatres in Utah and Washington State and also some organized by the American Family Association.

Result: The film brought in a total of $5,726,662 its opening weekend, and went on to gross $83,043,761, according to www.boxofficeguru.com. It also won three Oscars, including Best Director for Ang Lee.

THE DA VINCI CODE (2006)

Controversy: Based on Dan Brown’s bestseller, director Ron Howard’s film adaptation, angered Catholic groups and led a Vatican official, Monsignor Angelo Amato, to call for a boycott. According to the Associated Press, the film’s content, such as the idea that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children, was offensive to many Catholics.

Result: While The Da Vinci Code stayed in theatres for less than three months, it grossed a total of $217,536,138 in the U.S.; $77,073,388 in its opening weekend. A sequel is in the works.

THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007)

Controversy: The Golden Compass, is based on Philip Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials. Pullman identifies as an atheist and many say it is transparent in his writing. Example: “The trouble is that all too often in human history, churches and priesthoods have set themselves up to rule people’s lives in the name of some invisible god (and they’re all invisible, because they don’t exist),” Pullman writes on his official website, www.phillip-pullman.com, “and done terrible damage.” The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, led by Bill Donohue, and The American Family Association called for a boycott, claiming the movie embedded anti-religious teachings. “While the movie was less offensive than the books, it was still bait for [promoting] the book trilogy, which was very much anti-Catholic,” Donohue says. “Our goal was to discourage moviegoers from seeing the film, and make the movie [fail] at the box office.”

Result: Mission accomplished, although the critics may have helped. The tepidly reviewed film, which cost an estimated $180 million, grossed just $70 million in the U.S. (And planned sequels have yet to materialize.) “We knew we met our goal when ‘Alvin & the Chipmunks’ brought in more money than ‘The Golden Compass’ did,” says Donohue.

THE LOVE GURU (2008)

Controversy: Myers plays Guru Maurice Pitka, a mystic who helps a star hockey player deal with stress caused by his wife. Hindu leaders asked Mike Myers to personally apologize for his portrayal of a fictional spiritual leader saying that he was “lampooning Hinduism.” The boycott was largely led by Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed.
Result: The film grossed a total of $30 million U.S. and cost $62 million to make. “The boycott may have been part of the reason it failed but it also got terrible reviews, so it wasn’t in a good position to begin with,” says Pandya.

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Have you seen the movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? If not, you should! It’s a comedy about two guys who make a list of things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.” It is actually quite funny and takes a light hearted look at death.

In an article on MainStreet.com, The Bucket List is described in the following way:

In the film, the two seniors—the independently wealthy Nicholson and the not-so-wealthy mechanic Freeman—embark on Nicholson’s private jet and travel around the world, making pit stops in India, China, Tanzania, and other far-flung destinations. They stroll around the Taj Mahal, ride across the Great Wall on motorcycles, go on safari in the Serengeti and ultimately rack up a bill of $105,730 according to an estimate by the Los Angeles Times.

However, not all of us have that much money to spend, but we should all have our own personal bucket list for what we want to accomplish before we die.

Mine would include something like the following:
• Go skydiving in Hawaii
• Travel to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji
• Backpack through Europe
• Work on Habitat for Humanity
• The list goes on and on…

However, although these are more light-hearted topics and fun, there are some more serious issues that people also need to consider before they die.

As my parents get older, different topics arise in the house that had never been discussed before. It is scary to think of my parents getting older, but the truth is that it is still comforting to know that they want to be prepared.

There are obviously many things that need to be dealt with as you get older and further more before you die. Nobody wants to think about death, but when it happens, it is definitely better for everyone close to you that you were well prepared. It makes the decisions that they have to make much easier.

Some documents and things that you should do before it is too late…
Or in other words, a more serious bucket list:

• Last Will and Testament – This one is a MUST HAVE. You do not want to die without a will. In your will you state where you want all of your assets (money, home, etc.) to go. In the case that you have children, it also provides them with a legal guardian so that you do not have to worry about who they will be with when you are gone. Check out this other Geezeo article about the Importance of Your Will.

• Advanced Health Care Directive – This document states what you want to happen if you have a terminal illness. It is hard for your loved ones to make the decisions for you, so in this document you state what you want to happen if this is the case. Such as if you want to be on medication, life support, or a feeding tube to prolong your life.

• General Power of Attorney – This document gives someone power to handle all of your financial affairs if you are unable to. You want to make sure your debt is paid off and everything is handled in case you are unable to do so.

There are many other documents that could be added to this list, it is your choice which you think you need. Make sure that after these documents are signed and dealt with that you put them in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box in case anything unexpected happens.

Also, make sure to include some fun things in your own bucket list as well! Not all of it has to be documents and legal things to cover; try traveling the world, flying a plane, or bungee jumping out for size!!

Photo: Scott Liddell

Related Topics:
Retiree Health Coverage on the Decline
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Who would think getting out of the house would actually save you money? This article explains. Added environmental benefit: use existing air conditioning rather than pumping out your own.
—
Save on Air Conditioning — Get Out of the House
By Jeffrey Strain | MainStreet.com

Escaping the heat of the midafternoon by going out can end up paying for itself in the energy you save on air conditioning.

While there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the cost of staying cool at home, the best method is to not run your air conditioner at all.

If the economy has bitten into your budget so that you can’t afford to give yourself a little splurge every once in awhile, you can even indulge in some of them and save money at the same time.

It costs approximately $6 to $10 a day (12 hours) to run your air conditioner, depending on the model and the cost of energy in your area. That can add up to $180 to $300 a month for the air conditioner alone and means if you can escape your house during the hot daylight hours, you can spend a little and still come out ahead.

There are also plenty of places you can go where you don’t have to spend any money, but can remain cool during the summer heat without increasing your own energy bill.

Here are a few suggestions:

Coffee Shop

If one of the things you gave up to help your finances was that premium cup of coffee, you can have a cup while still saving money. Take your newspaper, laptop or a good book and head down to your local coffee shop.

For the price of a cup of joe, you can spend the afternoon reading the latest news, working or catching up on your reading, and it will still be less than if you cranked the air conditioning all day at home.

Movies

Movie tickets can be expensive so you might think it would be less expensive to stay at home watching a DVD even with the air conditioning on, but discounted matinee pricing is often available at the hottest time of the day.

This allows you to watch a movie at a fraction of the price of an evening showing, all while staying nice and cool.

If you need to entertain the kids, there are a number of summer movie programs that offer cheap (and even free) tickets:

AMC Summer MovieCamp offers $1 movies from June 25 to Aug. 6 on Wednesdays starting at 10 a.m. Groups can reserve tickets one week in advance at the box office at participating theatres.

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse offers 10 weeks of movies, with a different movie each week on weekday mornings. A punch-card ticket for all 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5, or tickets can be purchased individually at the box office for $1 each.

ClearView Cinema’s Kid’s Club offers an eight-week series of great family films with free admission every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. beginning June 26.

Regal Free Family Film Festival offers a nine-week series of select G and PG movies for free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. There is limited seating and it is first come, first served. United Artists and Edwards theaters also participate in the Regal Free Family Film Festival.

Classic Cinemas offer a nine-week series of G and PG movies from June 11 to Aug. 6 on Wednesdays with doors opening at 9 a.m. and the movie starting at 10 a.m. for $1.

Volunteer

If you are looking to save money and make a difference at the same time, consider volunteering at a local charity. Your volunteer work will be greatly appreciated, you can give some good back to the community and you save on your energy costs at the same time.

Especially now with the economy struggling, charities are looking for all the help that they can get.

Mall

If you enjoy window-shopping and you can keep your wallet in your pocket, the mall can be a great place to stay cool on those hot summer days. In addition to staying cool, you can get a bit of light exercise as you walk around.

Even if you don’t enjoy walking, you can grab a bench and people-watch. Some malls even provide various types of entertainment for you to enjoy.

Library

If you have work that needs to get done or just need a quiet place to relax to do some reading, the library is a great place to hang out on a hot afternoon.

Not only will it be nice and cool, it will be relatively quiet, so you can concentrate. If you have kids, you can bring them along.

Museums

If you’re looking for something different to do, quite a few museums offer midweek discounts and some even offer free days. Take an afternoon to enjoy the latest exhibits while escaping the summer heat.

Local Activities

Check your local newspaper or library to find out the local events that are taking place in your area. Many of these will be free or low cost and can be a fun way to spend the afternoon. These may include such events as art and craft shows, fairs, exhibitions, plays and local conventions.

Your local community center should also have a long list of summertime activities that they sponsor. Check to see if any of these are of interest to you and your family and sign up for activities that will take you out of the house during the hot afternoon hours.

You don’t have to stay at home to beat the summer heat and by getting out, you not only save yourself some money, you can do it while enjoying activities you thought your budget might not be able to support.

Related
* Ultra-Safe Places to Stash Your Cash
* What to Do When A Heat Wave Strikes

Batman Then and Now: The Cost of Being Bruce Wayne
By Mellissa Seecharan | MainStreet.com

The Dark Knight (TWX) is poised to make major bank, and has some even pegging Heath Ledger to win a posthumous Oscar.

We’ve all heard the debate about who is the best Batman – there are five to choose from – or which movie grossed the most – the caped crusader’s adventures have grossed $ 1.6 billion total worldwide – but ever wonder what it’s like to be the man behind the mask?

Bruce Wayne, the philanthropist playboy, is unlike most superheroes because his alter ego does not posses any special powers. That’s where the big bucks come in.

Turning to wealth, intellect, technology, science, physical strength and more wealth, Wayne keeps Batman up-to-date with the latest crime fighting gadgets and vehicles. Not to mention indulging himself in the finest suits, five-star restaurants and beautiful women. With a net worth of $7 billion, according to Forbes’ Fictional 15 of 2007, Wayne is a regular on Gotham City’s social scene.

In honor of The Dark Knight’s release, MainStreet takes a look at the cost of being Bruce Wayne, then and now.

Continue reading at MainStreet.com…

The movie “The Big Lebowski” celebrates it’s ten year anniversary this year, dude. We thought it would be fun to imagine The Dude’s take on personal finance. Here are some clues:

SCENE: Walter informs the The Dude that the money’s gone.

Walter Sobchak: I’m saying, I see what you’re getting at, Dude, he kept the money. My point is, here we are, it’s shabbas, the sabbath, which I’m allowed to break only if it’s a matter of life or death…

PERSONAL FINANCE LESSON: Save some money. Keep it for later, like early retirement, dude.

SCENE: The Dude, Walter, and Donny walk out of the bowling alley, to find the three Nihilists waiting in front of the Dude’s car, which has been torched.

The Dude: Well, they finally did it. They killed my f**king car.
Nihilist: Ve vant ze money, Lebowski.

PERSONAL FINANCE LESSON: Don’t let Nihilists or anyone else force you to pay too much for car insurance or car repair. Make sure you’re properly insured. And consider all the costs before buying a car, dude.

SCENE: The Dude gets instructions to see the man in charge.

Brandt: Mr. Lebowski is prepared to make a generous offer to you to act as courier, once we get instructions for the money.
The Dude: Why me, man?
Brandt: He believes the culprits might be the very people who, uh, soiled your rug, and you are in a unique position to confirm or disconfirm that suspicion.
(this scene continues)
The Dude: Hey, cool it Walter. Look, pal, there never was any money. The big Lebowski gave me an empty briefcase, so take it up with him, man.
Walter Sobchak: And, I would like my undies back.

THE PERSONAL FINANCE LESSONS: Couriers aren’t well-paid. It will be your fault if you don’t have any money when it’s really needed, so save a cushion. Also, it never hurts to have homeowner’s insurance if something happens to your rug.

SCENE: The Dude is making the payoff.

The Dude: Uh. Yeah, uh. Me and, uh, the driver. I’m not handling the money, driving the car and talking on the phone all at the same time.

PERSONAL FINANCE LESSON: Don’t drive dangerously, like counting your money and talking on the phone at the same time. Particularly if you don’t have health insurance.

SCENE: The Big Lebowski returns from the payoff.

The Dude: I dropped off the money exactly as per… look, man, I’ve got certain information, all right? Certain things have come to light. And, you know, has it ever occurred to you, that, instead of, uh, you know, running around, uh, uh, blaming me, you know, given the nature of all this new shit, you know, I-I-I-I… this could be a-a-a-a lot more, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, complex, I mean, it’s not just, it might not be just such a simple… uh, you know?

PERSONAL FINANCE LESSON: Personal finance isn’t always as complex as it appears. Find the information you need and assistance from others in any one of Geezeo’s Groups or Goals.

The 2008 election primaries are in full swing… which means time is running out to register so you can cast a ballot in November. Don’t let the older generations push us aside — we have a voice and it’s important to raise it! Click here make sure you are already registered!

We all need to vote on several big issues like the Iraq War and environmental policy. But what about the wallet?

Here’s a brief list of just some of the critical financial issues our (younger) generation faces at the voting booth:

Healthcare — can you afford coverage? [see yesterday's interview with author Carmen Wong Ulrich]
Social Security — you’re paying into it… will it be there for you?
Working Wages — can you live on minimum wage? Can anyone else?
Debt & Lending — are you current debt and lending practices hurting you? [see: Americans for Fair Lending / Maxed Out movie]
Student Loan Reform — have you been treated fairly? Want to speak out? [see: StudentLoanJustice.org]

Got more to add to the list? Sure you do. No matter where you stand politically you owe it to all of us to vote.

Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? Head over to this link and make sure.

P.S. Special shout out to Virginia 21! They prevented a proposed $1,000 tuition hike for every student in the state. Great example of youth creating political change: Way to go!

P.P.S. Mixing money and politics? Check out these Geezeo Groups: Politics and Money and Iraq Contractors.

Ok…just did a link to a bunch of songs about money on Wikipedia and it got us thinking about movies about money. All of us here at Geezeo are huge movie fans so we thought we would start to put together a list of some of the movies we like that base the plot around money. Once we have a good list we’ll do another post. One of my favorites is Trading Places. We’d love to hear about some of your favorites.