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I haven't said that I don't grasp that. What I am basically saying is that everything is relative. Are you new to these forums?? :-)
Unless I am mistaken, people here frequently categorize a movie as a bomb, or at least a disappointment, if it for instance fails to meet it's budget, or it grosses less than its predecessor (if it's part of a franchise). So you have people, many, iirc, saying things to the effect that Iron Man 2 was a box office disappointment, or Spiderman no this and that, or Pirates 4 or whatever.. you get the point.
Still, these movies make more than The Help will end up at. So, it's all relative. I am merely stating that "not that impressive" can't be debated out of context.
Looking at all posts here today as a whole, people have marvelled at its prospects of spending three consecutive weeks at no 1. If so, it's not out of order to point out that it surely wouldn't have been, had it been released in periods of the year where competition is tougher. Surely, you can grasp that.. ?? ;)
Seems that many people here, unwittingly, use the exchanges expectations (aggregate) as benchmark for what is impressive and what isn't. So if some movies is priced at 330 before halt, and then adjusts to 298, it's a disappointment. And opposite, if a security halts at 43, and adjusts to 70, and then even goes on to have a delist multplier way above 2.7, many forumers may say that's impressive. Am I successfully making the point now, about how all is relative? 
I also feel it's necessary to add that I have seen the movie, and from that experience I would conclude that one has to see it, to know what kind of a beast this is - because I wouldn't really have known *before* I saw it. It sounded dull to me, from the description. But when I saw it in the theater, I realized that it was a masterpiece of slick storytelling in the tear-jerker vein. It wasn't just some random, politically correct movie. It's like the "E.T." of politically correct, emotionally manipulative, sartorially designed to please certain audience demos kind of monster. It's a job really well done, by the producers (and a few of the actors and actresses as well). It's glib. It's been polished to the max. It's like it couldn't possibly fail. And still, it exceeded expectations. (We know why, as it was mentioned here: Very few movies that cater to the older adults, have been released wide, this year - Water for Elephants and Midnight in Paris were the two previous ones.) Also, and this is relevant here, it was released agains mild competition. (Getting to no. 1 or not, is just another one of those psychological goalposts, or "benchmarks".) I am trying to make the point that it's all about perspective, and that it's perfectly sensible to say that it's "not that impressive". In my opinion, Harry Warden is the more reflected poster, in this little debacle. Some others seem to unwittingly employ benchmarks that are obvious to the more astute observer, and also seem to behave predictably and exposing their "buttons" in the process - i.e. the things they are touchy about. It's human and all that, but really, I don't personally see the big deal about pointing out that The Help's performance is not *that* impressive, when someone have just talked about it in a way that makes it sound like the next coming of Jesus, or the new Avatar.. (I'm exaggerating a little, for effect :))
Now, all that being said, I will also return to something I've been trying to say all along: The producers have done a marvellous job with this movie! They've excelled at what is their expected role - producing superiour and profitable product. And it's not unlikely that they'll be able to step up to the stage at the Academy Awards, and receive their accolades, and also their personal copies of the Oscar (for Best Film, that is). We'll see.
@giteshpandya FRI BO: #Help $3.63M, #Apollo18 $2.84M, #SharkNight $2.8M, Debt $2.61M, Colombiana $2M, Apes $1.85M. Sep 03, 09:01
THELP isn't that impressive. Its holds are good but in a different time of year, it wouldn't have a shot at number 1 Sep 03, 09:11
It couldn't compete with most films released during the heart of summer. {nm} Sep 03, 09:45
funny - it just did. and since when is a multiplier of over 4 - 4.5 (depending on how you calculate) not impressive? Sep 03, 09:54
Oh poor you. Can't handle people that don't agree with you. {nm} Sep 03, 09:57
And August is hardly the heart of summer. More like the end. {nm} Sep 03, 09:58
yeah - wah me. Sep 03, 10:08
Why can't you handle negativity? Have you watched the news lately? There's more of that than positivity, to be sure. {nm} Sep 03, 10:10
oh ok. Sep 03, 10:20
Oh poor you. You can't see that THELP has been impressive and thoroughly whupped your beloved horror movies. {nm} Sep 03, 10:01
Stick to chick flicks then. Leave the fun movies R-rated movies for those that can enjoy them. {nm} Sep 03, 10:03
Hooray for ad hominem attacks! I bow to you and your wisdom. {nm} Sep 03, 10:09
I have no problem with your opinion and feelings on the movie. Heck, if I were to watch it, I might feel the same way. Sep 03, 10:24
Believe it or not, movies are made by people intending to make a living i.e. a profit. By the very Sep 03, 10:24
If anything, fringe movies are more likely to make a profit because they're a lot cheaper than mainstream films. Sep 03, 10:29
Most of the films on this list of the 10 most profitable movies of all time are "fringe" Sep 03, 10:50
And this one Sep 03, 10:52
And their names are..............? {nm} Sep 03, 10:52
More than half your list is definitely fringe. Horror films are always fringe. They define fringe entertainment. {nm} Sep 03, 11:03
and as far as" the heart of summer", August 6th was exactly the middle of summer. THELP was released on the 10th. As Sep 03, 10:32
Sure. I am saying that movies are entertainment. You seem to be claiming there is some objective definition of great art. Sep 03, 11:23
"slick and cunning"=those that make movies that don't appeal to you. "cutting edge & creative"=movies that do Sep 03, 11:06
Why is it "appaling" that some people want to be emotionally moved by their entertainment? {nm} Sep 03, 11:07
Incidentally, more than half of 20= 11 or more. 11 or more of that list, even by your new definition, are not fringe. {nm} Sep 03, 11:17
Alctually you stated "fringe movies" were far more likely to make a profit than mainstream, so what Sep 03, 11:29
Facto {nm} Sep 03, 13:42
whoops..Facto: I do NOT distinguish between entertainment and art, unless you mean something like the Sep 03, 13:46
Facto: so you are saying professors and students of art determine what is art and what is entertainment? Sep 03, 16:07
No TV in your house???!?! {nm} Sep 03, 14:35
Harry: We have a TV, but it serves only as a monitor for DVDs or video games, no broadcast TV, cable, satellite etc. Sep 03, 15:59
Re: Facto Sep 03, 13:49
And there will always be fringe horror movies just like there will always be middlebrow crowdpleasers. {nm} Sep 03, 14:12
Fine, but I still don't see what makes The Help so "detrimental". {nm} Sep 03, 15:04
Facto: movies are NOT real life. None of them. Even if they were, they would only be of the real life of Sep 03, 18:06
Sure, or I mean, could be, but it would've never beaten Pirates, or Thor, or TF3, or any other huge blockbuster. {nm} Sep 03, 17:55
I would like someone to explain the rationale that totally ignores older intellegent adults from the multiplex for 3 months? Sep 03, 10:46
"Harry Warden" {nm} Sep 03, 10:51
This is truly absurd. {nm} Sep 03, 12:05
ditto. {nm} Sep 03, 12:11
What is absurd? {nm} Sep 03, 12:53
Calling The Help's performance "not that impressive." {nm} Sep 03, 17:13
What does whether it's #1 or not have to do with whether the movie is a success? Sep 03, 18:31
I haven't said that I don't grasp that. What I am basically saying is that everything is relative. Are you new to these forums?? :-) Sep 03, 19:08
D'oh... *paragraph* !! ;-p {nm} Sep 03, 19:17
Facto: Re your debate with forlorne: Sep 04, 05:38
Don't worry about the typos etc. I'm not picky, and I could still understand you. {nm} Sep 04, 07:06