Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies coming out this week!

Hannah Montana: The Movie - As Hannah Montana's popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart (Miley Ray Cyrus), urged on by her father (Billy Ray Cyrus) takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what matters in life the most.

Observe and Report - Bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper's paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can't apprehend the culprit, a surly police detective (Liotta), is recruited to close the case, bringing out the worst in Ronnie's temperamental personality.

Dragonball Evolution - Upon discovering he was sent to Earth to carrying out a sinister plan, a humanoid alien named Goku (Chatwin) looks to fulfill his dying grandfather's wish: Prevent the evil Piccolo (Marsters) and his alien forces from collecting seven mystical artifacts which would allow him to take over our planet. In order to fend off the attackers, Goku must find Master Roshi (Chow), who is the one person who can set him on the right path.

Movies coming out on DVD and Blu-ray!
Doubt
The Tale of Despereaux
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Yes Man
Not So Easily Broken

Box Office results for the weekend!

1 Fast & Furious$72.5 M

2 Monsters vs. Aliens $33.5 M

3The Haunting In Conneticut $9.5 M

4 Knowing $8.1 M

5I Love You, Man $7.8 M

6 Adventureland $6.0 M

7 Duplicity $4.3 M

8Race to Witch Mountain $3.3 M

912 Rounds $2.3 M

10 Sunshine Cleaning $1.8 M

Holy Box Office madness! "Fast and Furious" has had the biggest opener for 2009 yet, beating out both "Watchmen" and the previous contender from last week, "Monsters vs. Aliens." "Fast and Furious" is also the biggest April opener EVER! Previous contender was 2003's "Anger Management" with $42 million.
"Fast & Furious" also had the franchise's best opening weekend (2001's "The Fast And The Furious" $40.1M, 2003's "2 Fast 2 Furious" $50.5M, 2006's "Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift" $24M). It was also the best debut for a car-themed movie (passing "Cars" $60.1M).
Big money for Universal on this movie.
"Adventureland" didn't have the best opening and that might be because of the R rating. Not many fangirls could go see Kristin Stewart not be Bella.
Other films are petering out while "Monsters vs. Aliens" will probably entertain families until the start of summer. Then we hit May and the summer blockbusters come out!
Next week..."Hannah Montana." If it makes No. 1 I think that is one of the signs of the apocalypse.

Yes Man

"Yes Man" lets Jim Carrey return to his funny routes and gives off laughs, but is questionable on its rating and same premise as "Liar, Liar."

The film is about Carl Allen, a man who says no to everything since his divorce so he doesn't get hurt. But he doesn't enjoy life and winds up at a seminar where people learn to say 'Yes!'

The premise is almost the same as one of Carrey's earlier films, "Liar, Liar," but instead of not being able to lie, he is not able to say no. And the film does this actually well, but the philosophy that if you say yes to everything good things will happen to you is kind of cheesy (especially in some of the situations that happen).



If someone were to say yes to everything, I do not believe you will find a girlfriend or save someones life, but this film goes with that flow and it works. The unbelievability of it is what makes thing funny. But some jokes are skimming on the borders of the film's PG-13 rating. The use of the f word and a almost graphic 'fellatio' scene make this film not very family friendly (but neither was "Liar, Liar" with it sex scene).

Other characters, such as Carl's friends Rooney Danny Masterson (Hyde from "That 70's Show") and Bradley Cooper (the jerk fiance from "Wedding Crashers"), and the romantic interest, Zooey Deschanel (Trillian from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"), don't really add much depth to the story. They are just there to bring more silly 'yes' antics from Allen. Besides, the love story takes the movie from a pure comedy to a romantic comedy, and changing genres mid-movie doesn't work well often.



What I believe is one of the major downfalls of the movie is the relationship between Carl and his boss Norman. There are many scenes between these two and I found none of them really funny (not even the "Harry Potter" or "300" costume parties).

The film still is worth lots of laughs, but it fails to be memorable. I can still quote "Liar, Liar" to this day ("The pen is rrrrrrrrroyal blue!"), but "Yes Man" is one of those films that you watch and then immediately forget the next day.

It is still entertaining to watch and is a good way to spend an evening.
6.5/10

Box Office Results and Weekly Movies News

Movies coming out this week!

My Bloody Valentine 3-D - Tom (Ackles) returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. And when another horrific event occurs soon after Tom's appearance, he finds himself suspected of the deadly acts.

Notorious - A chronicle of Christopher Wallace's (Woolard) rise from the streets of Brooklyn to become Notorious B.I.G., one of biggest and best rappers of the 1990s, under the tutelage of mentor/producer Sean Combs (Luke)

Defiance (wide release) - In 1941, a group of Jewish brothers organize the largest armed rescue of Jews during the Holocaust.

Hotel for Dogs - Orphaned teens Andi (Roberts) and Bruce (Austin) are sent to live with their aunt, which is just fine with the kids until they meet a stray dog who needs their help. Since their aunt is allergic to dogs, the siblings decide to turn a nearby abandoned house into a canine hostel. But can they kept their secret under wraps as more and more four-legged guests arrive?

Paul Blart: Mall Cop - When a shopping mall is overtaken by a gang of organized crooks, it's up to the a mild-mannered security guard (James) to save the day.

Movies coming out on DVD this week!

Appaloosa
My Best Friend's Girl
Swing Vote
Mirrors
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence

Box Office results for the weekend!

1 Gran Torino$29.0 M

2 Bride Wars$21.5 M

3 The Unborn$20.1 M

4 Marley and Me$11.3 M

5 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button$9.4 M

6 Bedtime Stories$8.5 M

7 Valkyrie$6.6 M

8 Yes Man $6.1 M

9 Not Easily Broken$5.6 M

10 Seven Pounds $3.9 M

Clint Eastwood makes it to #1, showing that movie audiences prefer the old-school action heroes to the new ones. Ol' Clint has a lot of great movies under his belt.
Other movies just round out the bunch really. "Unborn" and "Bride Wars" had a decent opening weekend, but that is really all they will have. They will drop fast just like "Benjamin Button," "Bedtime Stories" and "Seven Pounds" are.
This week has some more movies coming out, but none that I am really looking forward to.

Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies opening this week!

Bride Wars - Two best friends (Hudson and Hathaway) become rivals when a clerical error results in their respective weddings being held at the same place ... on the same day.

The Unborn - Haunted by strange dreams and recurring ghostly visions, Casey Beldon (Yustman) turns to a spiritual advisor (Oldman) for help. Together, they learn that Casey had a twin brother who never made it to term, and that her intended sibling is tied to a curse that requires Casey's death in order to manifest itself in our world.

Not So Easily Broken - A car accident threatens to sever the already fragile bond between Clarice Johnson (Henson) and her husband, Dave (Chestnut) -- especially when they both begin to develop feelings for other people.

Movies coming out on DVD this week!

Righteous Kill
Bangkok Dangerous
Babylon A.D.
Pineapple Express

Box Office Results for the weekend!

1 Marley & Me$24.0 M

2 Bedtime Stories$20.0 M

3 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button$18.4 M

4 Valkryie $14.0 M

5 Yes Man $13.8 M

6 Seven Pounds $10.0 M

7 The Tale of Despereaux $7.0 M

8 Doubt $5.0 M

9 The Day the Earth Stood Still$4.8 M

10 Slumdog Millionaire$4.7 M

Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies coming out this Friday! Nothing! Just one limited release!

Defiance - In 1941, a group of Jewish brothers organize the largest armed rescue of Jews during the Holocaust.

Movies on DVD and Blu-ray!
An American Carol
Surfer, Dude
Movies on Blu-ray!
Serenity
Wedding Crashers


Box Office Results for the weekend (3 day and 4 day)!

Three day weekend (Dec. 26-28)

1 Marley & Me$37.0 M

2 Bedtime Stories$28.0 M

3 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button$27.0 M

4 Valkryie $21.5 M

5 Yes Man $16.5 M

6 Seven Pounds $13.4 M

7 The Tale of Despereaux $9.4 M

8 The Day the Earth Stood Still $7.9 M

9 The Spirit$6.5 M

10 Doubt $5.7 M

Four day weekend (Dec. 25-28)

1. Marley and Me $51.6 M

2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button $39.0 M

3. Bedtime Stories $38.5 M

4. Valkyrie $30.0 M

5. Yes Man $22.3 M

6. Seven Pounds $18.2 M

7. The Tale of Despereaux $11.4 M

8. The Day the Earth Stood Still $10.6 M

9. The Spirit $10.3 M

10. Four Christmases $7.2 M

Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies coming out this week!


Bedtime Stories - Somehow, someway, the lavish bedtime stories that a hotel handyman (Sandler) tells his niece and nephew start to magically come true.

The Spirit - A rookie cop (Macht) returns from the dead to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His main opposition is a former lab technician who has reinvented himself as The Octopus (Jackson), an elusive criminal mastermind who knows the secrets behind his nemesis.

Valkyrie - Near the end of WWII, Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) leads to group of fellow German army colonels in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler; the event would later be called the July 20 Plot of 1944.

Marley and Me - An impossibly cute, but impossible-to-live-with yellow Labrador retriever named Marley teaches his newlywed owners a thing or two about patience and parenthood.

Movies coming out on DVD!

Death Race
The Duchess
Eagle Eye
Ghost Town
Saving Grace

Box Office results for the weekend!
1 Yes Man$18.2 M

2 Seven Pounds$16.0 M

3 The Tale of Despereaux$10.5 M

4 The Day the Earth Stood Still $10.2 M

5 Four Christmases $7.7 M

6 Twilight $5.2 M

7 Bolt $4.3 M

8 Slumdog Millionaire $3.2 M

9 Australia $2.3 M

10 Quantum of Solace $2.2 M

"Yes Man," "Seven Pounds" and "Tale of Despereaux" take the top three spots as the newest movies for the weekend while other films stay alive even with a really dull turnout to the theaters. Next weekend has many anticipated movies coming out and shall definitely fare better than this past weekend.

Box Office Results and Weekly Movie News

Movies coming out this Friday!

Seven Pounds - A professional man (Smith) who is close to suicide for his role in an auto accident that claimed the lives of seven people finds a reason to live, and to atone, when he falls for a woman (Dawson) who wants to help him deal with his grief.

The Tale of Despereaux - Banished from his home for being more man than mouse, Despereaux (Broderick) is befriended by Princess Pea (Watson) who teaches him the value of reading books (instead of eating them) as well as a fellow outcast, Roscuro the Rat (Hoffman), who is interested in hearing the stories Despereaux has learned. When Roscuro is shunned by the princess, however, he plots her kidnapping, putting Desperaux's human-sized bravery to the test.

Yes Man - What happens when you agree with everyone and say "yes" to everything? Carl (Carrey) is about to find out when he chooses to become overly agreeable for an entire year.

Movie coming out on DVD!

Mamma Mia!
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Box Office Results for the Weekend!

1 The Day the Earth Stood Still $31.0 M

2 Four Christmases $13.3 M

3 Twilight $8.0 M

4 Bolt $7.5 M

5 Australia $4.3 M

6 Quantum of Solace $3.8 M

7 Nothing Like the Holidays $3.5 M

8 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa $3.3 M

9 Milk$2.6 M

10 Transporter 3 $2.6 M

Nothing really spectacular about this past weekend. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" headed to the #1 spot due to it being the only big movie coming out this weekend, and the rest of the films are all hanging in there from the past couple of weekends. Nothing special...and now there are two holiday films up there. Still saddened by the "Punisher: War Zone" bombing...

December 2008

After a dull Fall line of movies, Winter comes along to pick things up.
This month has Quantum of Solace and Twilight out there, which are sure to bring their desired audiences. My eyes are already looking at December which is sure to look like a good month.
Here are some choices!

Punisher: War Zone 12/5/08



The Day the Earth Stood Still 12/12/08



Gran Torino 12/17/08(limited), 1/16/09(everywhere)



Yes Man 12/19/08



The Spirit 12/25/08



Valkrie 12/26/08



The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 12/25/08