FilmCrunch 062: Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, The Good German
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Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Period, Romance, Sequels, Thrillers, DVD Reviews, Full Episodes, Theatrical Reviews, Videocasts,
Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, and the DVD release of The Good German. Plus, Neil goes into detail of his celebrity run-in while working at a high-end Seattle restaurant.
Now we want to hear from you - hit the forums and let us know what you think, what you want us to watch next, and any other recommendations you have for the show.
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Box Office Breakdown: Competition Schooled By Hogwarts
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
![Harry Potter](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/harrypotter.jpg)
Apparently Daniel Radcliffe can bring in the audiences without having to strip…unless that’s what the female theatergoers were secretly hoping for.
Whatever the reason, a record number of voyeurs helped the Hogwarts clan whip up the biggest 5-day total for a non-holiday release. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’s $140 million beat out Shrek 2’s record set in 2004 ($128 million). The film is now on track to be the largest Potter installment to date.
As for why the producers of Captivity chose to open amongst all the recent family-fare is beyond me. And yes, I know that’s why they call it counter-programming. Ironically, while I would have loved to watch Elisha Cuthbert’s character from 24 (the oh-so annoying Kim) be subjected to torture-porn, I really no desire to see her do anything these days. Apparently I’m not alone….which is why the only other film widely-released this week opened in 12th place. Now that’s torture.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Competition Schooled By Hogwarts
Box Office Breakdown: Optimus Is In His Prime
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Political, Religious, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
![Transformers](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/transformers2.jpg)
We knew that a Michael Bay/ Steven Spielberg venture would be a hit—so what really is there left to say? Well, did you know that this is Bay’s biggest opening since 2001’s awful Pearl Harbor ($59.1 million)?? Did you know that Shia LeBeouf is the first leading man (he just turned 21, so is a leading man) to have two movies reach the top spot this year?
Moving on…how about that awful showing for License to Wed? Not that I predicted much for the film—but ouch. Question is: which Office actor fared worse in this summer’s box office? Steve Carell who starred in an obscenely expensive Evan Almighty—a movie that at least managed #1 berth? Or John Krasinski whose movie clearly looked like a bomb from the get-go but came with low expectations? That may be something for Dwight Schrute to sort out…
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Optimus Is In His Prime
Box Office Breakdown: Yippee-Kay-Yay Ratatouille!
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Horror, Mystery, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
![Ratatouille](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/ratatouille.jpg)
Bruce Willis and Co. may have managed to steer clear of gigantic robots—but they somehow overlooked a group of pesky rats. Live Free and Die Hard was conveniently positioned one week ahead of this summer’s most anticipated blockbuster…yet squarely in the path of a rodent’s bite. Nevertheless, the aging John McClane still proved that he can get the job done and earn his keep.
Meanwhile, Ratatouille chewed up the competition with a $47 million dollar debut, although it surprisingly foraged less than most of its Pixar elders (only A Bug’s Life and Toy Story started off lower). What it did manage to do was help boot Surf’s Up out of the Top 10 leaving room for another Shia LeBeouf feature to transform the landscape in just a matter of days…
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Yippee-Kay-Yay Ratatouille!
Box Office Breakdown: Almighty Only Does Alrighty
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Political, Religious, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
![Evan Almighty](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/evanalmighty.jpg)
Question: When is being the #1 movie just not enough? (Hint: You have three chances to answer this question correctly).
Answer(s):
- When the critics don’t really have anything good to say about you
- When you made less than 1/2 of what your predecessor did on opening weekend
- When it cost over $175 million just to create you
Apparently having God on your side doesn’t guarantee you heavenly box office numbers. Evan Almighty, the follow-up to 2003’s Bruce Almighty, failed to bring in a large congregation this past weekend. Although it did better than the rest of the flock, it’s $32 million take paled in comparison to Bruce’s $68 million opening. And then there’s that glaring $175 million bill…
Of course, we shouldn’t feel so badly about Steve Carell’s career. I have a feeling that God is providing for him in other ways.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Almighty Only Does Alrighty
Box Office Breakdown: Silver Surfer Scores the Gold
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:
![Silver Surfer](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/silversurfer.jpg)
Like Ocean’s Thirteen, critics rated Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer better than its predecessor. And like Ocean’s, Fantastic found its way on top of the ever-revolving box office heap. With help from a more family-friendly rating (down from PG-13 to a PG), the superhero clan raked in $2 million more in its opening weekend than its 2005 turnout.
But it takes more than just a PG to win viewers over—it apparently takes Jessica Alba in a skin-tight outfit…and the prim and proper Nancy Drew had to learn that the hard way. The latest incarnation of the beloved character only placed 7th despite the numerous times Julia Roberts’ name had been dropped these past few weeks. BTW—I feel incredibly bad that daddy Eric Roberts has been continuously trumped by his more famous sister. Emma is HIS daughter after all.
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Silver Surfer Scores the Gold
Box Office Breakdown: Lucky Number 13
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Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Independant Films, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
![Oceans 13](http://assets.gearlive.com/filmcrunch/blogimages/oceans13.jpg)
Having exhausted all their sequel choices, theater patrons quickly moved on to the latest offering: Ocean’s Thirteen. Despite general indifference for the series’ second movie, Steven Soderbergh and friends faced down the unlucky number and rolled the dice again. Their gamble paid off well this weekend when they took down Captain Jack Sparrow and his mates
Of course, viewers who crave the comfort of familiarity can still manage to have discerning taste. Eli Roth’s Hostel: Part II only rounded enough voyeurs to rank a mediocre 6th place. Here’s to hoping that the era of grisly horror movies is once again over…
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Lucky Number 13
Ocean Causing Box Office Tidal Wave
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Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Warner Bros, Sequels, Box Office, New Releases,
With star power like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Al Pacino, there was no way Ocean’s Thirteen wasn’t going to be a hit. The stars began filming in July 2006, in the cities of Las Vegas and Los Angeles, beginning a tidal wave that’s flooding the box office right now.
The star-studded cast is filled with names that include blonde sexpot Ellen Barkin, funnyman Bernie Mac, and Ocean’s alum Andy Garcia. The summer blockbuster is a second-time sequel, much likes its box office counterpart Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. The Disney flick was supposed to be the biggest of the summer, featuring not just Johnny Depp but more CGI than you can shake a stick at. But the very bankable power of a Clooney/Pitt/Damon combo just can’t be denied, and now it’s Ocean’s Thirteen that’s shaping up to be the summer’s biggest hit. The flick is, at least, this weekend’s biggest hit.
Click to continue reading Ocean Causing Box Office Tidal Wave
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