Box Office Breakdown: Rambo Outgunned by Spartans
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Horror, Satire, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Although Sylvester Stallone was hoping to end the Rambo series on an up note, it appears the actor/writer/director will just have to settle for second place. Many had expected the fourth installment would come away with the weekend’s spoils, unfortunately the aging action hero was overpowered by a group of toga-clad warriors.
It should be said though that Meet the Spartans had an extremely narrow victory. The spoof of 2007’s 300 edged out the action flick by just $300,000. But a win is still a win, right? The satire also had the best per screen average of any movie in the Top Ten ($7104).
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Rambo Outgunned by Spartans
Variety
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Heath Ledger’s Last Project May Continue
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adventure, Independent, Filmmaking, Obituaries, Upcoming Releases,
Heath Ledger’s death left many questions unanswered. Although we may know the answer to one of those in just a matter of days, other matters - like the status of his last film project - are still up in the air. While the execs behind The Dark Knight work furiously to redesign their marketing campaign - how can they create hype about a movie that’s largely about the The Joker? - the creators behind The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus are simply trying to keep their movie alive.
Production on Parnasssus - a film about a traveling theater troupe and its magical mirror - had been shut down since news broke last week. (Ledger had been working on that film just days prior to his death.) Even though the $30 million pic may have to be scrapped altogether, co-star Christopher Plummer says there is hope the movie will still carry on. According to Plummer, director Terry Gilliam is doing everything he can to work around Ledger’s absence. The actor told People that “because the film deals with magic, there is a way, perhaps, of turning Heath into other people and then, using stills and I think they call it CGI…”
Click to continue reading Heath Ledger’s Last Project May Continue
People
For coverage of the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, please click here for the list of winners on TV Envy.
More Deals Struck With Writers Guild
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Weinstein Company,
Although a deal with a major studio has yet to be reached, the Writers Guild has been striking gold in other areas. Late this week, the union was able to boast signed agreements with three other companies: RKO, Marvel Entertainment and Lionsgate. These interim pacts are similar to the ones already reached with The Weinstein Company and United Artists.
In the meantime, informal talks between the WGA and studio reps began last Tuesday and continued through the week.
Variety
New ‘Bond’ Title Announced
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: MGM, Sony, Action, Sequels, Casting, Upcoming Releases,
Up until now, the 22nd installment in the Bond franchise had simply been known as Bond 22. Now the latest Daniel Craig outing officially has a name: Quantum of Solace.
Solace, which is scheduled for a Nov. 7th release, will pick up where Casino Royale left off. British actress Gemma Arterton joins Craig on this latest mission as Agent Fields while Mathieu Amalric (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) will assume the role of the nemesis. Meanwhile, Olga Kurylenko has the honor of replacing Eva Green as the latest Bond girl.
Now’s your time to vote. Which 2008 sequel currently has the worst title: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or Quantum of Solace?
Variety
‘Toy Story’ Goes 3-D
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Animation, Family, Technology, Upcoming Releases,
Not wanting to be outdone by some real-life green ogre, the Pixar characters of Toy Story will soon be stepping up their game. Musicals, schmusicals. They’re going 3-D.
Fourteen years after they were first introduced, a reinvigorated Woody and Buzz Lightyear will return for fans old and new. A revamped version of their Oscar-nominated gem will hit theaters Oct. 2009 followed by a retooled Toy Story 2 a few months later. (This will allow those who were 10 years old back in 1995 to now bring their own children with them.)
These releases will not only create buzz for the June 2010 premiere of Toy Story 3, it will give Disney a jump-start on another 3-D film set for that same year: Shrek Goes Fourth.
Variety
Lindsay Lohan to Tell Her Story?
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors,
Rumor has it that Razzie-nominated actress Lindsay Lohan may be making ready to write her memoirs. Gossip suggests Lohan is motivated by a single need: money. Varied reports have Lohan borrowing money from friends and quickly running out of funds, though how this is possible I simply can’t say.
The book, reportedly, will talk about Lohan’s troubles with substance abuse (and subsequent trips to rehab) and what it’s like to be a big star in a small world. I’m less interested in what the book’s about and more interested in another compelling question: is she writing it herself, or using a ghostwriter? There’s a good chance the readers will never know.
E! Online
Daniel Day-Lewis Emotional Over Ledger’s Passing
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Obituaries,
In today’s episode of Oprah, the talk show host marked her ‘Countdown to Oscar’ with a list of celebrity interviews. She spoke to several Academy Award nominees via satellite (Casey Affleck, Laura Linney) while some were done in person (Amy Ryan, Ruby Dee).
Although many of the shows are pre-taped, this particular Oprah was very current…as was evidenced in Winfrey’s chat with Daniel Day-Lewis. The star who rarely does interviews was cheerful and upbeat for most of the conversation. That is, until talk unexpectedly turned from his movie (There Will Be Blood) to a more somber matter: Heath Ledger.
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‘Shrek’ Comes to the Stage
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Animation, Family,
Watch out Oprah, someone else is ready to take on the world.
Despite three big screen installments, a television holiday special and two more sequels to come - Dreamworks just hasn’t had enough. Hoping to milk its green cash cow for all its worth, the film company will be branching out with its ogre. Late this summer, Shrek the Musical will make its debut.
The stage production, eventually bound for Broadway, will first make its run in Seattle before coming to the Big Apple. This will not be the first musical to premiere in the Emerald City. Tony-award winning Hairspray previewed in WA back in 2002; Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein did the same in August ‘07.
The show at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater is scheduled to run Aug.14-Sept. 21.
Seattle Times
In Theaters This Weekend (1/25)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Action, Adventure, Documentary, Independent, Music, Political, Romance, Satire, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,
Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:
- Meet the Spartans (PG-13): starring Sean Maguire, Carmen Electra, Ken Davitian (directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer)
- Rambo (R): starring Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden (directed by Sylvester Stallone)
- Untraceable (R): starring Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Billy Burke (directed by Gregory Hoblit)
Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend (1/25)
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