I only recently became aware of the concept of a “mockbuster.” I was perusing my favorite video streaming service for something new, and I came across a title that was suspiciously similar to a major blockbuster film. I presumed it couldn’t possibly be the film, but with similar subject matter, I thought maybe I could have found a hidden gem. I was wrong.
This is not an actual image from “Age of the Hobbits.”
A company known as The Asylum is the reigning sovereign in the realm of “mockbusters.” (In their defense, the movie I watched wasn’t one of theirs.) The Los Angeles Times reported that the film company will be shooting a knock-off of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, titled “Age of the Hobbits,” in Cambodia this year.
Their business model is to provide straight-to-DVD films around the time of the cinema release of their Hollywood counterparts. These become available in Redbox kiosks, on video streaming websites, and even on television, enticing customers with kindred titles and promotional materials.
Many people feel duped when they don’t get what they expected. This results in a large number of poor ratings. However, David Rimawi of The Asylum said, “The business is as healthy as ever,” claiming that they have never lost money on one of their movies.
Who knows? You might love some of their adaptations. I always try to remind myself that a movie that I dislike is a favorite movie of someone somewhere. Just beware and maybe don’t get your hopes up when you see “Age of the Hobbits” floating around this December. Peter Jackson’s Hobbit won’t be released to DVD and Blu-ray until Mid-2013.
Let’s play a little game. See if you can match the Asylum title to the better known title that was released around the same time.
Did you get 10 out of 10? Better yet, have you seen one of these movies? I would love to read your reactions.
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