Getting Deep With ‘The Water Horse’
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Columbia Pictures, Family, Foreign, Period, Comedy, New Releases,
Sure, I’ll admit it. I saw the trailers for The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep and turned my nose straight up into the air. Like I really have the time to watch an entire movie with people acting to the air, as the star of the flick is nothing more than CGI and legend. Promoted far less than other big holiday blockbusters (I’m surprised I even caught the trailers, in-between scenes of a desperate Will Smith running around in his Legend flick), The Water Horse offers a fantastical alternative to family-friendly movies that deal exclusively in holiday laughs.
The low-key British flick is actually a period piece - set primarily during the WWII era - and told in flashback. Here’s how it goes: young boy wandering around the beach finds a strange egg and quite naturally takes it right home with him. (Every time I’ve ever found an odd, unidentified object which will no doubt hatch an unfamiliar creature, I’m itching to take it to my place of residence.) Anyway, the egg hatches to reveal, of course, The Water Horse.
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Hollywood Reporter
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British Film About John Lennon Comes to U.S.
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: IFC Films, Documentary, Drama, Music, New Releases,
IFC Entertainment is planning to distribute three movies in the U.S., new to States viewers but already old hat to British audiences. Two are comedies, but one is a thought-provoking documentary-style flick that focuses on one of the terrible events in American (and British) history.
The Killing of John Lennon focuses on Mark David Chapman’s actions in 1980 which robbed the world of a beautiful musical genius. Even two decades after his death, John Lennon is still rich fodder for movie makers of all kinds.
The flick is set to be released stateside January 8, exactly twenty-seven years and one month after the former Beatles member was assassinated.
Yahoo! News
Box Office Breakdown: The Brave One Reaches #1
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Independent, Period, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
The Brave One took in nearly $15 million in its debut, making it the #1 film of this past weekend. Although some may consider the gross disappointing for a Jodie Foster film, I choose to think of it as a feat for women.
I decided to do a little research today and came away with some very unsettling news. Since FilmCrunch started reporting Box Office numbers in mid-January, no female-led movie has reached the top of the pack. That’s unless you count Knocked Up with Katherine Heigl, and I don’t. Even then, that was almost 3 months ago.
Kyra Sedgwick, Glenn Close and Mary-Louise Parker made a stand for strong female roles during Sunday’s Emmys—and maybe it’s time that someone finally spoke up for women in film. Until then, I’ll be counting the days until Cate Blanchett makes her royal return in Elizabeth: The Golden Years (out October 12th).
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Box Office Breakdown: Yuma Ropes Up The Win
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: FOCUS, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Audiences went old-school this weekend helping 3:10 to Yuma corral the box office crown. The well-received film, starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, marked the second week in a row a classic movie remake landed at #1. (Previous winner, Halloween slid down a notch this week).
Question now is: Will the success of Yuma spur an onslaught of Westerns? Given the lack of any real competition this weekend, it still may be too soon to say. But any speculation will probably be confirmed when Brad Pitt‘s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford opens on September 21.
A trend that probably won’t be coming back anytime soon? Brothers-desperately-trying-to-make-a-baby-to-make-their-father-happy-before-he-dies films. The Brothers Solomon delivered a pathetic $525,000 in its debut weekend. Granted, it didn’t show in many theaters (only 700)—but I’m guessing there was a reason for that.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Yuma Ropes Up The Win
Box Office Breakdown: Holiday Comes Early For Halloween
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Weinstein Company, Action, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Satire, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Rob Zombie’s remake of the classic film, Halloween, scared up over $30 million this weekend smashing Transporter 2‘s 2005 achievement ($20 million). Additionally, the horror film’s record gross capped off a successful summer for films overall. With fifteen movies over the $100 million mark, the movie industry soared past $4 billion domestically.
Unfortunately, Jason Statham’s War did very little to contribute to this landmark achievement. While he may have been a record-setter two years ago, his latest outing is slowly dropping off the charts. Meanwhile, the weekend’s other two major openings—Balls of Fury and Death Sentence—fared decently enough to at least make a showing.
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Box Office Breakdown: Geeks Fight Off Statham, Jet Li
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Horror, Music, Musicals, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
No, you are correct. Superbad is one of the few movies that has managed to stay at #1 for more than one week this summer. The movie that only cost $20 million to make now shares the Two-Timers title with Spider-Man 3 and Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End. (And I’m guessing those movies cost a bit more to produce).
Not only did the high-schoolers hold back the action-packed War (starring Jason Statham and Jet Li), but so did the aging Bourne Ultimatum and British goof Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean’s Holiday).
Unfortunately, the Top 5 was so testosterone-laden that it didn’t leave any room for the film adaptation of The Nanny Diaries. I’m wondering if more women were eager to see that hunky Statham than be reminded of their bratty kids waiting at home…
1. Superbad, Sony, $18,044,369
2. The Bourne Ultimatum, Universal, $12,472,215
3. Rush Hour 3, New Line, $11,706,643
4. Mr. Bean’s Holiday, Universal, $9,889,780
5. War, Lionsgate, $9,820,089
6. The Nanny Diaries, Weinstein Co., $7,480,927
7. The Simpsons Movie, Fox, $4,317,689
8. Stardust, Paramount, $3,872,560
9. Hairspray, New Line, $3,265,384
10. The Invasion, Warner Bros, $3,093,428
New Bond Novel, Devil May Care, To Debut in 2008
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Books, Upcoming Releases,
Devil May Care, a new James Bond novel set to come out in 2008, will celebrate Bond author Ian Fleming’s birthday. Written by British author Sebastian Faulks, the new Bond novel has been authorized by the estate of the late Mr. Fleming. The book is set during the Cold War and will move through several scenic locations, true to Bond literature. Fleming wrote Goldfinger, Dr. No, and From Russia With Love, among other Bond adventures, and passed away in 1964 (before he could see his dreams destroyed by one Mr. Pierce Brosnan – and let’s not even get into what a bad casting call that was). Kingsley Amis and John Gardner have also written Bond adventures through the years. Devil May Care will come out both to continue the Bond saga and to celebrate the 100th would-be birthday of Ian Fleming. Film rights to the movie have not yet been sold – which, thankfully, means it hasn’t been miscast either. It’s a shame there can only be one Sean Connery.
Read More | AOL News
The Queen DVD Review
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Miramax, Drama, Foreign, Independent, Political, Home Entertainment, DVD Reviews,
When Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in a tragic car accident in Paris, the Royal Family is forced to decide between tradition and moral obligation in this quiet, conversational drama. Recently elected Tony Blair is insistent upon public statements from Queen Elizabeth II, as well as a public funeral for the beloved princess, but royal custom mixed with feelings of distaste and apprehension only drag the issue into weeks of stagnation. As the British people begin to react to the Royal Family’s seeming indifference, The Queen struggles internally with how to handle the situation, while being forced to retain a strong, unaffected composure.
The Queen is written by Peter Morgan, directed by Stephen Frears, and stars Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, and James Cromwell. Rated PG–13. The film received a slew of nominations and awards – most notably an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for Helen Mirren’s eerily perfect performance. Be sure to check out FilmCrunch’s The Queen Video Review.
The features on the DVD tend to follow the film into quiet and conversational territory:
- English and Spanish Subtitles
- English and Spanish Audio Tracks
- Commentary by Writer Peter Morgan and Director Stephen Frears
- Commentary by British Historian and Royal Expert Robert Lacey
- The Making of The Queen
- Trailers
Although the in-depth commentary from Robert Lacey is an unique tack-on – the like of which you aren’t going to see on any other DVD – the features are a bit disappointing considering the buzz surrounding this film. Even the making-of segment is basic, consisting mostly of interviews without much behind-the-scenes footage. This isn’t to say that hearing the actors discuss their methods and inspiration is boring in any way – least of all the modest ramblings of a disheveled Stephen Frears – but even an contemplative movie like The Queen can give the home audience a little more. Let’s hope for a special edition sometime in the near future.
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