Box Office Report - Harry Potter blows up the box office

There was a little-known movie that came out this week. Something about a guy named Harry Potter...

The movie blew away all other Harry Potter opening weekends with $125 million, easily beating out Goblet of Fire, which had about $102 million. Megamind came in a very distant second, but still good enough for second place with $16.2 million.

So, what did you see this weekend?

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I - $125.1 million ($125.1 million total)
2. Megamind - $16.2 million ($109.5 million total)
3. Unstoppable - $13.1 million ($42.0 million total)
4. Due Date - $9.2 million ($72.7 million total)
5. The Next Three Days - $6.8 million ($6.8 million total)
6. Morning Glory - $5.2 million ($19.9 million total)
7. Skyline - $3.4 million ($17.7 million total)
8. Red - $2.5 million ($83.6 million total)
9. For Colored Girls - $2.4 million ($34.5 million total)
10. Fair Game - $1.5 million ($3.8 million total)

Doctor Who Christmas special - Trailer

I got into Doctor Who a year or so ago, and have since caught up with the new incarnation of Doctor Who, starting back in 2005. I know, as a sci-fi geek, I should go back further, because, well, most of that stuff is the father of modern science fiction, but it's not easy to tackle. With that said, the most recent season of Who is possibly the greatest season of TV I've ever seen. Matt Smith is incredible as the Doctor, and it's left me anxious for more.

So, check out the trailer for the Christmas episode. When he says "I'm the ghost of Christmas past" well, my inner geek does cart-wheels.

Red Riding Hood trailer - starring Amanda Seyfried

Check out the new trailer for the Catherine Hardwicke directed Red Riding Hood. According to the Yahoo! article Leonardo DiCaprio thought of the idea, as opposed to the Twilight director. I like the idea, and of course, Amanda Seyfriend is extremely hot, and it's got the staple of any good movie; Gary Oldman, but is this too sparkley for you? Let me know your thoughts.

100 things I like about Cinema

As I was browsing through some blogs today, I came across a really great post on a blog called thedroidyourelookingfor (seriously, the name alone is worth clicking on). The post, instead of talking about how bad the movie season was, or the most hated character in all cinema, or how he hated Harry Potter, he listed 100 things he loved about movies. It was refreshing to say the least, and it was really well done.

Now, I am in no way trying to copy his list, but, I would like to think I’m more inspired by the list to make my own. Now, it’s not done yet, not by a long shot. It turns out, coming up with 100 things in one sitting isn’t the easiest thing to do; not because there aren’t 100 things, just that my brain doesn’t have quite enough RAM for the job.

So, here’s what I’ve got so far. What would you add?

1) Quan-Su means like free beer or something
2) Calvin Klein is written all over his underwear
3) He’s a scruffy-looking Nerf Herder
4) He can’t see us if we don’t move
5) How cool it was when Max turned into a silver Nerf Ball
6) That McCrowski picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue
7) The two suns on Tattoine
8) I wasn’t even supposed to be here today
9) Here’s lookin at you kid
10) The scene where the guys are singing in the boat and the barrel pops up
11) How the sun is in your eyes before Mal moves and says “I aim to misbehave”
12) When the explosion in the fake town blows up the horse and the guy
13) Any Schwartz joke
14) When George Clooney says the words “Jedi Warrior” and Ewan McGregor looks puzzled
15) The Dude
16) When Gwenyth Paltrow realizes she left the lens cap on the whole time.
17) The Jungles of Pandora
18) The flying monkeys and that crazy music!
19) The train battle in Spiderman 2
20) The way Christopher Walken says “Ping-Pong”
21) The fact dogs can look up
22) When the beautiful Enterprise rises up through the red fog stuff
23) Every time Indy uses a whip
24) When Indy pulls out a gun and shoots the sword wielding fiend
25) When Simon Pegg drop-kicks that old lady in the name of the “greater good”
26) The car chase in Bad Boys 2, where they wreck a boat

Sometimes, paper can make you happy

I've said multiple times that whether a review or story of mine is in the paper or not, it's aways about what will get more exposure, and often times, being on the website is just as good, if not better. Having said that, there is something gratifying about seeing a review of yours in print...

Page 52 of this weeks Creative Loafing:

photo courtesy of Jasandra

Jon Favreau's Cowboys vs. Aliens teaser trailer

There has been talk about this movie for some time, and frankly, the title alone is worth checking out, until you see the cast that includes Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde, among others, and you see it's directed by Hollywood's next big thing, Mr. Jon Favreau, then it's required viewing. And, finally, you see the trailer, and you wonder, is it everything you hoped for? The answer: Oh yeah!

Zombie outbreak? What would you do?

So, my girlfriend did a post on her blog, YouthinkitIspeakit.tumbler.com where she talked about what she would do in a zombie Apocalypse, and yesterday, I was on Gizmodo.com, where we talked about if an aircraft carrier was a good idea or not during a zombie apocalypse. So, with all this talk of zombies, I thought I should get my ideas down on paper.

Alright, so, ideas of being on an aircraft carrier are good, and so is a bunker, but I think those are only good for limited times. My idea comes from the original Swiss Family Robinson, where they defended their island from pirates by holding out on an acropolis on the top of a hill. It got me thinking that's not that bad of a strategy. You need something you can escape from easily, so, that seems to be a good shot. I really want some coconut bombs, though, just sayin'.

I think the other idea that could work comes from Jaws, in a floating island. Wrap some boats together, and you can move the island anywhere you need. I mean, I like the water, but the bad part is you can go anywhere in an emergency, can you?

Alright, so, just make sure you have weapons, and not guns, guns are only good for crazy humans, no, make sure you have some blades, explosives, and be sneaky, remember zombies are dumb, and you aren't!

What would you do?

The full video to the Biff Tannen Museum

Alright, some may say that I'm obsessed with Back to the Future. Well, you know what I say? That I'm obsessed with Back to the Future. So, with that in mind, here is the full video to the entrance to the Biff Tannen museum seen in the alternate 1985 of Back to the Future II. We only get a glimpse or two in the movie, so it's good to see the whole thing. Only real movie geeks will find this interesting, I guess, but that's what I am, so I loved it.

Box Office Report - Megamind still dominates

Megamind dropped a mere 35% to rake in an additional $30 million to take the top spot. The film had a budget of $130 million, so it looks like the Will Farrell movie will be a success. Unstoppable had a respectable opening of $23.5 million, althought, it could be tough to make up the $100 million budget, while Skyline already surpassed it's $10 million budget with $11.7 million.

So, what did you see this weekend?

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Megamind - $30.1 million ($89.8 million total)
2. Unstoppable - $23.5 million ($23.5 million total)
3. Due Date - $15.5 million ($59.0 million total)
4. Skyline - $11.7 million ($11.7 million total)
5. Morning Glory - $9.7 million ($12.2 million total)
6. For Colored Girls - $6.8 million ($30.9 million total)
7. Red - $5.1 million ($79.8 million total)
8. Paranormal Activity 2 - $3.1 million ($82.0 million total)
9. Saw 3D - $2.8 million ($43.5 million total)
10. Jackass 3D - $2.3 million ($114.7 million total)

Psych Season 5.5 Trailer

USA Networks has a direct line to my heart. It seems everything they do, from Burn Notice, to Monk, to White Collar, to Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, and especially Psych are some of my favorite shows on TV. My favorite of all of them, Psych involves an observant slacker who has convinced the police department he's psychic, and solves cases for them. There is tons of witty lines, and some genuinely smart writing. This season has been the strongest by far, and this trailer for the remainder of the season looks amazing.

And yes, that is Ralph Crane-Kick Macchio.

TV Review - Glory Daze - Ep. 1.1 Pilot

I’m sure by now, everyone has seen the movie Animal House, or the hundreds of movies it spawned, like American Pie. Well, have you ever thought ‘gee, that would make a sweet show, but they should do it in the ‘80s, when everything was cooler?’ Well, if you did, then you should check out Glory Daze on TBS, starting Tuesday, the 17th, at 8 pm.

The show starts off introducing a few freshman to the campus, which fit the archetypes perfectly. We have the Asian, the jock, the geek and the guy trying to get laid. After a really funny scene with Brad Garrett as a parent, we get a scene to establish we are still in school with a hilarious professor played by Tim Meadows (SNL, Ladies Man). Finally, we get to the freshman trying to find a fraternity to pledge. They come upon what might as well be called the Delta house from Animal House, which includes a giant beer bong, people smoking pot, hot women and all around Tom Foolery.

After one of the freshman, Eli gets stoned on pot, he steals a painting of the Delta house’s patriarch, and puts the painting in the hall of fame, only to get him and his friends arrested, which is finally what gets them into the house, by pulling a great prank.

Now, if it sounds clichéd, that’s because it is. This show has nearly every scene from Animal House in the pilot, from the fraternity, to the hint they are on academic probation, to the wise cracking, wise guy at the head of the house. It’s all here, littered with some great ‘80s music and a good performance by Mike Reno, played by Callard Harris.

It was a fun pilot with a young, talented cast, but I have no idea where they will go from here. They’ve used most of the Animal House gags up, and now, I have no idea what is next for the freshman pledges, or the house, but it’s worth another episode or two to see what they come up with.

EDITORS NOTE: This post appeared on Creative Loafing's pages HERE, and SpoilerTV's pages HERE. Check out these two awesome communities and what they have to say.

Movie Review - Unstoppable

Back in 1994, there was an action movie about a bus held hostage, and was unable to stop without explosion. The movie I’m talking about is Speed, and not since then have I been on the edge of my seat for so long and so tired after my movie going experience. Unstoppable will grab you from the very beginning and won’t let go to the very end.

Unstoppable is a movie based on true events that stars Denzel Washinton (Training Day) and Chris Pine (Star Trek) as two train workers who, along with train boss Rosario Dawson must stop a runaway train that is unmanned, and heading right for a residential neighborhood before is over turns, killing hundreds.

The movie is an excellent action movie because it increases the tension at a steady rate throughout the movie, building on the basic premise of a runaway train, until the stakes are incredibly high, and the characters are at their peak, working to stop a train before it’s too late. By the time you get to the ending, the tension will leave you gripping your seat, or your girlfriend, and not letting go to the credits. Some of the events seemed over the top, not that they jumped a bus over a freeway or anything, but the events I scoffed at were ones that actually happened, and by the end it had you believing peril could come to anyone.

I really enjoyed the characters in the movie because of the authenticity presented. These characters didn’t seem like 2D characters, with one being a hero and the other being a young guy wanting to be a hero. Washinton’s Frank is an experienced train driver who is tough, but a nice guy, despite having some family issues. While Denzel is Denzel in this movie, it doesn’t come across as the over-bearing hero, more like a genuine railroad worker. Chris Pine, who became famous for his role as Captain Kirk is the even more flawed individual who has family issues, and is reluctant to be a hero. He screws up, and starts off as kind of a jerk, but is a truly genuine character just trying to put his life back together.

I also found the interpretation of the events interesting. The company in charge of the trains was portrayed as greedy and simply interested in what would be of the most profit to them without considering peoples lives. The most interesting interpretation, however, was the media and their flair for drama. At several points throughout the movie, we see news feeds of events depicted in the movie and the events are incredibly dramatized, and presented in an almost silly manner, adding a near comedic tone to the film.

The cinematography is very Tony Scott, with frantic camera movements nicely paced to increase the action when needed, and some of the shots were incredible as the two trains met in an attempt to stop the runaway train. The trains looked incredible and any train enthusiast will have a great time just with the scenery.

Even though I was hesitant when the movie started with the words “based on true events,” the genuine characters, the insane amount of tension, and the great action made this movie a must see film that kept me on the edge of my seat through the credits, and left me exhausted by the end. I recommend this to anyone.

EDITORS NOTE: This also appeared on Creative Loafing's site HERE

November 12, 1955 - A day we will never forget

It was the day of the famous Hill Valley Lightning storm, remember? Yeah, it struck the old clock tower and the thing hasn't run since. Donations to the Hill Valley Historical Preservation Society have been space so far (some cheapskate gave a measly quarter), so we're asking for everyone to dig down deep and find some money in your wallets so we may once again know the time in Hill Valley.

By the way, if you've made it this far without knowing what I'm talking about, I congratulate you on your patience, but I'm disappointed in your lack of Back to the Future knowledge. Today was the year the climax of the movie, the famed clock tower lightning strike happened.

We will never forget...

Photocopy Romance - filmed at 325 copies a minute

Check out this really cool video from Never Hide Films called Photocopy Romance. As a filmmaker, you are always thinking about the best equipment to use to film your next masterpiece, but as these guys prove, you can use anything, even a photocopier. Yes, you read that last part right, they actually used a photocopier at 325 copies a minutes (it's roughly 583 copies) to make this movie. How creative, right?

a Movie Geeks humility

Every now and then, us movie geeks like to think we know it all. Sure, we seen thousands of movies, and know how many times the F-word was used in The Usual Suspects, or the fact they were going to use a refrigerator instead of a Delorean in Back to the Future, but sometimes it escapes us that there are still millions of movies to see, and trivia to learn. Sometimes, us movie geeks need to find our humility.

Fortunately, David Thompson is here to ensure the Lord doesn't smite us for our lack of humility by offering up a simple challenge: answer these 50 movie trivia questions, and win a prize. Sure, there's the almighty Google, but that would be silly, I mean, we're movie geeks, we know shit. So, here's the questions. Upon first glance, I only knew four off the top of my head. Humility indeed. How did you do?

1. Who said, “I know things about people, Lily?”, and in what film?

2. Who played Louis Mazzini, Jeeves and Lord Byron?

3. Which actor made at least one film with Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, Rene Clair and John Ford?

4. She was born in Assam, India and he was born in Hampstead. What did they do together, and who are they?

5. What film did Upton Sinclair pay for?

6. Name a director who has filmed material from Ed McBain, Dostoyevsky and Shakespeare.

7. Who is the link in Stavisky, Reds and Beat the Devil?

8. Who won the Sarah Siddons prize?

9. Find the thread: James Jones, Michael Ondaatje, Colette?

10. Who had an Uncle Jack and an Aunt Fanny?

11. What’s the common element in M, Caught, Body and Soul?

12. What’s the link: L’Atalante, On the Waterfront, Long Day’s Journey Into Night?

13. What’s the bond between The Third Man and Johnny Guitar?

14. Of what movie was it said, “Gable’s back and Garson’s got him!”?

15. In the Cut and Panic Room – who’s the missing link?

16. Ulverston, Lancashire and Harlem, Georgia – how are they joined?

17. Who taught Alec to ride?

18. Who said, “I’d like to kiss you, but I just washed my hair”?

19. Who stayed a little too long to watch a pretty girl dance?

20. He made only five films and all were nominated for Best Picture. Who is he?

21. What’s the link: The Small Back Room, Out of Africa, The Age of Innocence?

22. On whose map might you find Santa Rosa, Bodega Bay and San Juan de Batista?

23. He worked with Cecil B. DeMille, Orson Welles and Jean-Luc Godard?

24. St Petersburg, Pompeii, the Jungle – who could have been in all those places?

25. How might you link Shirley Temple and Truffaut’s Day for Night?

26. Who played the second Pharisee, Captain von Rauffenstein and Max von Mayerling – and in what films?

27. In what film do we meet Jimmy Gator, Earl Partridge and Frank Mackey?

28. He played a judge, a lawyer and a man in prison. Who is he and what are the films?

29. How do you link Charles Boyer and Anton Walbrook?

30. Who is famous for 26.6 seconds of film?

31. What would you find about 15 miles south of Fairvale?

32. Who had just a drunk, a cripple and a kid to do the job?

33. Who said, “Movies bore me, especially my own”?

34. What role links Melville Cooper, Alan Rickman, William Lowery and Peter Finch?

35. Who wanted his $93,000?

36. What is the link between Robert Morley and Jim Broadbent?

37. Who were Victoria Page, Vicki Lester and Victor Laszlo?

38. Who was Roger O. Thornhill, C.K. Dexter Haven and Jerry Warriner?

39. What links Sunrise and A Place in the Sun?

40. The following contended for this part: Vivien Leigh, Loretta Young, Joan Fontaine, Margaret Sullavan. What was the name of the part?

41. What links Max Ophuls, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Stanley Donen and Jacques Demy?

42. Who played President Andrew Johnson, Joe Starrett and Webb Garwood?

43. Who played Sid Vicious and Joe Orton?

44. Who said, “Nobody’s perfect!”?

45. Three producers had these middle initials – F, B, O – who are they?

46. What’s the link for Chuck Barris, Chris Kelvin and Ryan Bingham?

47. When did two people tie for an Oscar and who were they?

48. In what film was Charles Palantine running for election?

49. Who had the key to Walter’s sharp practice?

50. Who remembered a girl on the ferry over to Jersey in 1896?