(there's clearly audible the sound of running water in the background from someone washing their hands, though it was likely supposed to be overshadowed by sentimental playing of strings in the best of hollywood schmaltzy fashion.)
Let's just get this straight: the film press is part of the "analysts"(or more fittingly, doomsayers) as well, and they saw their prey in JOHN CARTER to give them another story to make headlines. You're not just reporting a less than stellar JC-earning prophecy from the outside analyst society; this is at least partially a self-fullfilling prophecy come true, of which the film press is just as much, if not more, part of. In fact, let's go all the way: the analysts ARE the film press. Above quote only shows how it's now a matter of an attempt into saving face.