Lucky Baru

Captain America Civil War Box Office through 5/25/16 = Worldwide: $1,071,699,099

BvS Box Office through 5/25/16 = Worldwide: $871,049,975

The Jungle Book Box Office through 5/25/16 = Worldwide: $862,301,886

The Jungle Book was released 3 weeks after BvS. In the next 2 weeks Jungle Book will pass BvS in box office revenue. Who would have thought that was possible?

The 1:50 Steve Epting Variant of CAPTAIN AMERICA STEVE ROGERS #1 seems to be moving.

1) What JayBuck said.

 

BvS being outdone by Civil War, let alone (domestically) by Deadpool is like me playing pick-up basketball against Kobe Bryant and only losing to him by two points.

 

2) For me, the core piece of the Forbes article is the last sentence. Yes -- BvS expectations were $1 bn. or more worldwide, and it didn't hit that. And we live in a world where that is both fair & will become more the norm. If either Rogue One or the next PoTC similarly fail to hit $1 bn. they will be seen as similar failures. Why? Because the last few films in those franchises hit that mark (as did the last two Batman films.)

 

3) From that list, I think we'll see Through the Looking Glass, Rogue One and Finding Dory hit $1 bn. easily - I'm less sold on Independence Day. If it is critically maligned, it could top out at just $800-$850 mill.

The Jungle Book is going to catch BvS and pass it at the box office. It isn't that far behind at the moment.

It will be fine to right the ship midstream for DC with JL. Shooting just started so they can change things as needed.

 

FWIW, can Marvel right the ship? We finally saw Civil War tonight with the kids and the theatre was one quarter full on a Friday night with rain.

 

My wife and kids felt it was an okay movie, but not great. I agree. The action scenes were sped up so much it was horrible, and the story was very weak. My son said he was likely the first one in his grade 5 class to see the film. I asked how he knew and he said that nobody was talking about it at school. I asked him if they normally do and he said yes, everyone was talking about AoU last summer and BvS earlier this year (and a couple of kids that saw Deadpool bragged about it ), but there was nothing regarding Civil War.

Yet, BvS hasn't grossed anywhere near the take of Civil War. Who is seeing it?

Thank the gods....finally some common sense at WB/DC:

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-v-superman-fallout-warner-895174

 

 

I always thought Geoff Johns should have been involved from the start. This is good news to me!

 

Completely agree. This is the reckoning I had been waiting for. Looks like Snyder's future creative leadership on the DCEU films is being quietly neutered.

Thank goodness.

What would be really cool is if CGC offered a signature authentication service, with say a different colored label .... maybe something in Red? Hint hint.

 

I prefer my sigs authentic instead of the "yeah, if I squint that could be possibly be that guy who is now dead"-guarantee.

That's the way autograph collectors have been doing it for decades. It is all opinion. That means it is subjective. Oh, just like comic grading.

Though I hate to see Craig go, if anyone has been watching The Night Manager, Tom Hiddleston could easily make a great 007. I hope the bookmakers in the UK have reliable sources and the role is offered to him.

 

I'm loving his portrayal in The Night Manager (can't wait for the finale this week in the U.S.), but I don't see him as James Bond. He's a good enough actor to put a decent spin on the role, but, I think others would be a better fit for what I'd like Bond to be. I'd probably prefer him over Tom Hardy (who I think would be even more Bourne-like than Craig) or Damian Lewis, though.

Tom Hardy would be a horrible choice for Bond. If you needed a trigger puller/knuckle dragger with zero intelligence he's your guy. Bond is much more than that.

Best Bond movie - On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Had dinner in the 1980's with Sean Connery in Japan. He was doing an ad there for one of my dad's companies. Really a nice guy. Very at ease with who he is, and how the public sees him. I respected how protective of his wife he was during the dinner and drinks.

Like I said, Richard Armitage is my pick for the next Bond, but, if they decide that they need one of these bigger names being floated around, I'd go with Michael Fassbender. He's got the right build and the acting chops for it. He'd have to work on that accent, though

 

Two solid recommendations.

 

I'd like to see Damien Lewis in the role. He can play a character that is understanding, badass, and mean. He was fantastic as Red.

I would love it Bond went retro, and brought back the Sean Connery 60's feel to the series. For me the recent movies have suffered from the original becoming the imitator. We have so many action spry movies out the last few years it has become very hard for any to distinguish themselves. So they need to do something with a twist, or at least set it apart.

The issue would be the way in which Bond treats women in the 1960's movies. Viewed in the lens of how women are thought of today, the Goldfinger scene in the barn with Ms. Galore is disturbing. Ms. Galore advises Bond she isn't interested twice and then he grabs her and forces her back into the barn, fights her, and forces himself on her.

Great read. Thanks for sharing.

That's Rocky Bleier. A true American hero!

What's the over under we will still be talking about this movie in X amount of days

 

 

My post was about the movie in the thread not Jungle book.

Looked like you were replying to me. Couldn't tell that you were referring to something else.

Don't know. What's the over under on it passing B vs S in total gross when all is said and done? Disney keeps hitting home runs and Civil War is about the start. Rebel One hits theaters in Dec. One studio (Disney) makes movies that print money. The other tries to keep up.

The Jungle Book just cleared $ 700 million in three weeks (not open in two countries yet). How long did it take B vs S to do that?

Led Zeppelin IV cover

If there was ever a more stick to his principals creator in the industry I've yet to come across them.

Not "technically" the same industry....but the only one I can think of would be Bill Watterson....another artist that sticks to his principles and that I have a tremendous amount of respect for.

 

You can add Miller to the list. Miller has stood up and stuck to his principals. His work over the years with CBLDF has shown that.

Just got it yesterday. Toys R Us put it on clearance. Our son will have the ultimate Mega Bloks Call of Duty set once he gets to be 7 or 8. I've been buying them for years waiting for the day we get to crack them open.

2795 pieces on this one.

The Hoovercraft

Ditko seems to live up to what Thomas Jefferson said:

...in maters of principle, stand like a rock.

Good for him. That's hard to find in today's world.

I understand your views on eBay. eBay is moving more and more towards the same set of policies that Amazon has in place as they have to in order to remain profitable. The buyer holds the cards on the platform.

I hope that you are successful in all your eBay sales.

rego49mario

 

As noted in this thread over here:

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=9319797&gonew=1#UNREAD

 

...buyer has been buying items on eBay, promising to pay for weeks, then backing out, using....literally....the same exact words to other sellers:

 

"Here. You been waiting along time for me to pay you, but yesterday I got laid off. Work here in Alberta slowed right down. Major economic times. I am just having the worst luck of my life. Have to move in with my parents to make ends meet. So please understand comics are not a priority for me right now. I feel really awful. But if I can get more work later, I have your store saved for future purchases. You been so good to me. So please cancel, and I shall accept. I am sure another great person will have it, just not me! I feel like *spoon*.

3rd time here in Alberta for me in 35 years. I really wanted your book, but I got to eat. No way of paying visa, even if it comes. I am sure you will sell it soon. Thank you. I just don't have a way of paying you. Thank you for waiting. I was optimistic, but lesson learned in many ways with these banks, PayPal, etc. "

 

Did not reply to 3 of these types of messages, just opened an NPB claim.

 

Got this

 

Opened a case against me? You can cancel it. I can't pay it. I have no job now.

I will come back later when I can find another job. Even the 100,000 Americans we have here working are losing their jobs again. They came here after recession a few years ago in America. Crime is up 30%. Things are bad. I just had bad luck all around honestly. Promise I will be back to your store later. Right now I wish I could buy that teen titans. But I can't. Things are sour.

 

Mario

 

My response:

 

I'm sorry to hear about your circumstances, but after a couple of weeks of promises, you didn't pay for the book. I understand that things happen, but no one forced you to make the offer in the first place. While I've been very patiently waiting for you to pay, amid your promises to pay, this book could have been listed and sold to someone else. If you didn't have the money to pay for the book, you shouldn't have sent the offer.

 

Speaking this way to you may offend you, but I hope it does not. It's nothing personal, but now it will cost me an additional listing fee, and time that I can't get back. I appreciate that you say you will "buy more later", but if you can't fulfill your obligations now, what makes me interested in taking another chance with you in the future? Words don't have any meaning; only actions do.

 

So, no, I'm not just going to cancel the transaction. Does that sound fair to you, if you were the seller? You don't have to pay, and in a few days, the case will close, I'll get my Final Value Fees back, and that will be that.

 

Best of luck to you in the future, really.

 

And, of course, when confronted, out come the claws, the truth...as always:

 

You have no clue. I bought that book and it went through. Than shortly after I had a bad situation with bank etc. Now I lost my job. Everybody only cares about one thing, and you know what that is. I purchased it. Than most 1/3 of items came back unpaid. You make it sound like its my fault. Remember how you are treating your buyer right now after what I told you. Heartless. You know, don't worry if I ever get working in Engineering here again, I won't be back to your store. No worries.

 

My response:

 

Also, Mario, I see that you've said the exact same thing to other sellers recently, and over longer spans of time. Let's get honest, now, if not with me, at least with yourself. Why are you really "buying" all these items, then telling everyone how horrible your life is, but then "buying" other items?

 

If you go here:

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=9321529#Post9321529

 

You can see the discussion from others.

 

It's a clean link, to the CGC board. Are you a member?

\

 

Response:

 

I been a buyer with eBay for years and first time for everything. I had a stroke of bad luck. I bought the book and went through. Not my fault the bank had issues. It costed me $840 for all the attempts made by PayPal to get paid. You have no right exchanging information about me. That is breaking the law. Grounds for a major law suit. But you know what, I got enough going in my life. I will let this childish behaviour go. For one $450 deal. My gosh. Don't worry, won't be in your store again when I get back on my feet.

 

My response:

 

Oh, I think I have SOME clue. You won't believe this, but it IS your fault. No one held a gun to your head, Mario, to "purchase" these things....and then you send the exact same excuse to others? You "lose your job", but you don't have enough saved to honor your commitments? You string sellers along for weeks, and then finally tell them you're not going to pay?

 

Come on, Mario, we're both adults here. There are other sellers to pull the wool over on.

 

As for not coming back: you didn't come in the first place, Mario. You didn't honor your commitment. You didn't pay for something you committed to pay for. Why on EARTH would I want to risk that again? I treat my BUYERS with the utmost courtesy and respect. You are NOT a buyer. You didn't BUY anything. You are a window-shopper.

 

Seriously, good luck in your future endeavors.

 

Response:

 

Wow! This I got to call to eBay. The harassment now? Really. Records of all your conversations. Wool over your head, window shopper? Wow, wow, wow.

 

and

 

You know I wanted that book. Everyone else is sympathetic. Canceled, done. Those I will deal with again. Good bye. I have called eBay to handle these. I am a great client. Bought books for tens of thousands before. You really think I asked for this? Really.

 

My response:

 

When and if you get around to actually paying for the book, I would be happy to ship it to you, and then I will consider that what you've said is true. Until then, words are meaningless chatter.

 

And

 

By all means, Mario, feel free to do whatever you feel is necessary. But please do move on. Good luck.

 

Response:

 

I ain't done with you. You inconsiderate human being.

 

My response:

 

Harassment? Who is harassing whom? I happily stand by everything I've said, and everything you've said is being posted at the CGC board.

 

Feel free to take it up there, see if anyone will sympathize with you.

 

Final response (for now)

 

Let me get a job again in future, which are hard to come by right now and I will buy that book. Guarantee it will still be here in 6 months. Ok. End of this childish he said who said bull. Leave me alone.

 

Yes, I know, I KNOW, I probably shouldn't be getting into these back and forths with these people on eBay....but if no one EVER stands up to people doing these things, and gives some pushback, what happens....? The same thing, over and over again, to countless sellers, doing harm to both those sellers AND Mario.

 

And he DOES look like he has great feedback....he's even done business with Pastaroni...but he's playing a game, at some level, regardless of how true the things he's claiming are or not.

 

Still...if should make for an interesting read on a Sunday morning.

 

 

Question: If he pays for the book and leaves negative feedback for lets say "poor customer service" which is an opinion are you going to be mad? I'm not saying you provided poor customer service in any form. I'm just asking as he can hammer your reputation by leaving a negative and it is an opinion on your customer service so eBay isn't going to remove it.

Ok, block this nutball asap:

 

2012captainjack

 

Won a Hot Toys Black Widow figure from me last week.

 

Didn't pay, so after 4 days, the automatic Unpaid Item Assistant opened.

 

After a couple of days of no payment or response, he messages me and says that his "PO took my phone" (what does that mean? Parole Officer?) so he hadn't been able to pay, and was it ok to pay now. I replied that it was fine, and if he went ahead and sent the Paypal payment, the unpaid case would automatically close, and I would ship the item, no big deal.

 

So, no payment comes, and then the night before the case is set to close, he messages and asks if he can "still send Paypal payment". Again, I say sure, but to do it soon because eBay was about to close the case.

 

So, of course, no payment arrives, and eBay closes the case and refunds my FVF. I add him to my blocked bidder list and go about my life.

 

Later that same day, he sends a message saying that he hadn't been able to send payment because his mother had been admitted to the hospital. (If you check feedback he's left for others, this comes up often.) He said he'd sent me a money order. (Even though we hadn't discussed it previously, and I never offered that as an option).

 

So, I reply that eBay has already closed the case, so he shouldn't be sending a money order. I ask him where he sent the payment.

 

He replies that he sent it to me (doesn't say when or where).

 

So, I tell him again that the case was closed, and that although I didn't really think he'd sent a payment, if he DID send it,I would return it to him.

 

His reply to this was "Sent the money order to you...rip-off artist. You shall be penalized".

 

Anyway, I don't know how he thinks he'll penalize me, since the case is resolved and closed I don't believe he can leave neg feedback for me. So as far as I know, I'm done with the guy, but I wanted to give you all a heads up. Again, review his feedback and you can see something isn't right.

 

Thanks!

 

I want to bump this guy, 2012captainjack. I wish I saw this posting. Won a low $$ WD slab from me.

 

He receives the book and initiates a return as item not as advertised and damaged plus he states he didn't receive it in time for his "gift giving party". OK, whatever, I accept the return and even pay for the return shipping. FTR I had received a bunch of new slabs from CGC and pack very securely but I aim to please so accept the return no questions asked.

 

Over a month goes by with no book, contact ebay to let them know about the unreturned item case still open. Next day I get a Neg from him stating no communication & no feedback. All communication was sent through the return he initiated! Sent him a note stating the situation so he proceeds to tell me that the neg was for no communication, no respect and no feedback.

 

I tell him I'd leave him the FB if and when I get the book back. Fortunately I don't make my living selling comics and if he comes back with some other BS to remove the neg I will give him a nicely worded FU. No way I'll be blackmailed.

 

I'm hating ebay more and more these days.

 

 

 

Follow the link for "Report Buyer" on this page:

 

 

 

http://www.pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/seller-protection/report-a-buyer.html

 

 

Do not respond to any other message he may send you, outside of the directions given in the Report Buyer process.

 

State everything you said here in the report.

 

I would also PM the other boardie and ask him to follow through with the "report Buyer" process.

 

Two reports of this sort of behavior on the buyer's part will show up in his ebay history page, this will help the eBay rep wise up that the buyer is scamming multiple sellers.It is more than likely that a lot of sellers have been scammed by him, you just need to bring this to eBay's attention.

 

The best thing to do is probably to open the Report Buyer case and then call ebay.Tell the rep you want your money back, you do not believe he will return the slab...and state that if he does return a box, it may be stuffed with 2 pounds of newspaper.

 

I think any reasonable ebay rep will see what's going on and they will then escalate the case for you.

eBay is moving their model towards Amazon's model. That means the buyer has all the power on the platform. My prediction is that within 24 months or less returns will be a requirment for sellers to accept on eBay. They won't be able to require that the seller pay for the return postage but I'd bet to get the 20% discount that top sellers get they will have to eat the return postage.

That really isn't that far a difference than what is currently required by eBay. Also, I see eBay moving to warehouse products like Amazon does for itself and vendors in the future.

The best one season of TV ever performed by an actor!

 

Both of them were very good in that.