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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Film Hobbit Defeats Evil Twin Hobbit

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Dec 11, 2012 at 1:25 PM

Three Hollywood studios have won a restraining order against the newest release by mockbuster movie studio Asylum Global. Asylum has become notorious for making knockoffs of Hollywood movies you used to rent when you were drunk at the video store—Transmorphers, Almighty Thor, Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies, and my personal favorite, Titanic II—but it seems that their newest movie, Age of the Hobbits, could be a step too far. Deadline reports:

“There is substantial likelihood that consumers will be confused by Age Of Hobbits and mistakenly purchase the film intending to purchase The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey“, said federal judge Philip Gutierrez today. “Indeed, Plaintiffs have presented evidence that Asylum’s other films have caused confusion among consumers, who mistakenly purchase Asylum films intending to purchase a different film”.

Earlier this year, Global Asylum was sued by Universal over the resemblance of their American Battleship to the studio’s big-budget Battleship. Commonly in these cases, the mockbuster producers cite fair use and artistic license to plead their point of view. But usually after all the legal filings and bluster, these cases end up being settled. Not this time.

I find it hard to believe that Warner Brothers is losing a significant source of Hobbit income to this:

But I admit that I am biased in favor of the mockbusters. I think pop culture knock offs (Go-Bots! Captain Marvel! Star Crash!) are an important part of the world of entertainment. Most of the time, they're unwatchable, sometimes they're so bad they're good, and every once in a while, there's genuine talent hidden somewhere inside. (Consider that Jack Nicholson and Robert DeNiro were Roger Corman finds, for instance.) These mockbusters are a genuine part of the ecosystem; someone's gotta be the bottom feeders.

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Still waiting for Abraham Lincoln vs the Mer-People.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on December 11, 2012 at 1:35 PM

Starring Teal'c (the big alien guy from the stargate TV show), that super hot CRAZY chinese lady that aways gets nekkid (!) and a bunch of central american little people. WHY ARE YOU STOPPING ME FROM SEEING THIS, PETER JACKSON?

Posted by wisepunk on December 11, 2012 at 1:52 PM

@1 LOL!

Posted by Former Lurker on December 11, 2012 at 1:59 PM

The problem is that these companies make these movies (if you can even call them that) with the sole purpose of confusing people into buying their product. The trailer is one thing, but ever see one of these on the shelf? It looks as close to the real thing as possible without being identical. Grandma's and people with limited english skills are the most common victims.

Posted by SPG on December 11, 2012 at 2:01 PM

The Tolkien estate has been really rabid for years on protecting its IP. They've been preventing anyone else from using the word "hobbit" for decades (hence D&D using the word "halfling" after its initial publication). So I'm going to guess the movie guys weren't necessarily the driving force behind this. If they were so interested in shutting this sort of thing down why is the one time they followed through.

Also judging by the ethnicity of those midgets, and the general stone age setting it looks like Age of The Hobbits might have been based on these guys:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_floren…

Posted by Ryuthrowsstuff on December 11, 2012 at 2:05 PM

Network Awesome did a whole weekend devoted to knockoffs. Here's the second day's installment (and you can find the first in the archives) http://networkawesome.com/2012-11-18/bat…

Posted by Jason Josephes

on December 11, 2012 at 2:30 PM

These guys, and even (God help me) the Sci-Fi* Channel fill a void left by the end of double-features that needed a B- or Z-picture, and of the drive-in. Where else are eventually-good actors and directors (and sets, makeup, warddrobe, p.a.'s, editors,...) going to (quite possibly) stink, shielded by obscurity and very low profit expectations?

*Okay, it's now called 'Syfylis'.

Posted by Gerald Fnord on December 11, 2012 at 2:54 PM

GO BOTS WERE FIRST.

Posted by it is true on December 11, 2012 at 2:55 PM

Why is the music near the end the Ukrainian "Hark How the Bells" music?

Posted by GlennFleishman

on December 11, 2012 at 2:59 PM

Is that Bai Ling?

Posted by MLM on December 11, 2012 at 2:59 PM

No one should have to be the bottom feeders. The government should force talented directors to contribute a certain amount of time each year to helping shitty studios touch up their films.

Posted by DisorganizedReligion on December 11, 2012 at 2:59 PM

The video is private. Oh well.

Posted by Sargon Bighorn on December 11, 2012 at 3:29 PM

"confusion among customers"

You mean idiot customers who can't tell the difference.

Posted by Simone on December 11, 2012 at 3:43 PM

You guys are probably already familiar with this, but it's well worth your time if not.

http://www.onthemedia.org/2012/nov/23/pr…

On The Media did a segment (sure it's podcastable somewhere) on knockoff books sold via Amazon that's the literary equivalent of this. They say the books are often more like pamphlets printed in gigantic fonts. And sell pretty well (relatively speaking, of course) unfortunately.

Posted by mikethehammer on December 11, 2012 at 4:05 PM

Though I'm guessing you'll assert that anyone purchasing "35 Shades of Grey" gets what they deserve, regardless of whether or not it's what they were seeking.

Posted by mikethehammer on December 11, 2012 at 4:07 PM

Wait a minute ...

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" WASN'T a mockbuster of "Lincoln" ?!?

Posted by Robby on December 11, 2012 at 4:58 PM

You left out Megashark vs. Giant Octopus! That was a spectacular film. Also Megapiranha.

Posted by well_now on December 11, 2012 at 6:15 PM

Are they the ones who made "Battle of Los Angeles" that came out around the time of the big-budget "Battle: Los Angeles"? I admit to falling for that one. It was totally unwatchable, but I'm sure they get some good cash from those they fool (like me). Hard to imagine how they sleep at night, working within this business model. Ick.

(Incidentally, when I eventually saw "Battle: Los Angeles", I felt equally icky)

Posted by Michael of the Green on December 11, 2012 at 7:12 PM

it has bai ling in it...so obviously its a stinker.

Posted by Bemusedchicken on December 11, 2012 at 8:52 PM

Why don't they just make them parodies? The box is what they are selling and then they would be clear legally.

Posted by Spike1382 on December 11, 2012 at 10:32 PM

I wish Redbox would stop carrying the "mockbusters". Leave them to syfy or whatever.

Posted by fletc3her on December 11, 2012 at 11:36 PM

I can't believe you tossed Corman in with this lot. He made paradies for sure but not copycat knockoffs.

Posted by LiberatusQuirkus on December 12, 2012 at 9:46 AM

Well I managed to see the video by bypassing the private settings by using MacTubes. It looks like it has nothing to do with the Hobbit story line at all.

Posted by Simone on December 12, 2012 at 12:59 PM