New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of January 1-7
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/31/12 at 03:28 PM CT
As a fan of director David Cronenberg, I've been hard pressed to like his last two outings -- 2011's "A Dangerous Method" and his latest, "Cosmopolis," based on Don DeLillo's 2003 novel of the same name. Whereas Cronenberg's early films -- such as "They Came from Within" (1975), "Rabid" (1977), "Scanners" (1981), "Videodrome" (1983) and "The Fly" (1986) -- explored the interrelationship of the …
Weekend Box Office: Hobbit Wins Weekend; Django, Les Miserables Open Strong
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/31/12 at 12:26 AM CT
Strictly speaking, it was a third straight winning weekend for the first entry in the new Middle Earth saga, but considering the Christmas holiday, it was really a winning week for two big films attracting two very different audiences, and it should stay that way in the coming weeks as well.
1) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
Holding steady, dropping just 11%, The Hobbit managed to hold …
2012 Movies:The Year in Review According to FilmCrave
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/29/12 at 01:59 AM CT
Well, it's nearly time to roll over into 2013, but before we do, let's reflect on the year. For one, the world didn't decide to up and end on the 21st, so we've got that going for us. I have to say that I think 2012 was one of the strong years for movies overall - certainly better than last year anyway. Usually this is where I would gladly give my own opinion on the top 10 movies of the year, …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 25-31
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/24/12 at 07:43 PM CT
I'm a sucker for sci-fi tales -- especially mind-game-playing yarns as epitomized by the intellectually challenging works of Philip K. Dick, Algis Budrys, J.G. Ballard, Brian W. Aldiss, Frederik Pohl, Isaac Asimov and Clifford D. Simak. And ever since I read Robert A. Heinlein's time traveling epic "The Door Into Summer," which dealt with people traveling back and forth in time and the …
Weekend Box Office: Hobbit Holds Off Jack Reacher, This is 40 for First Place
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/24/12 at 01:46 AM CT
It was a big battle at the box office this weekend. Despite some heavy competition, no new release could claim the top spot. I'm guessing it will be a different story next week, but as for now, Middle Earth is still the top draw for audiences.
1) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
It was another win for Peter Jackson - though the numbers have to be somewhat of a disappointment. Dropping a …
Who Else Celebrates the Season by Watching Movies?
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/22/12 at 05:05 PM CT
Nothing says "Merry Christmas" to me like sitting back with the family, enjoying some great food, good company, gift giving and... A Christmas Story. That's right - every Christmas Eve the family gets together and does all the usual, but we always fire up the 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story (thank you TBS!) and watch it at least once all the way through. Despite pretty much knowing every …
New in Theaters December 21 and 25: Jack Reacher, This is 40, Guilt Trip, Django Unchained, Les Mis
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/20/12 at 06:20 PM CT
Welcome to an extra special weekend box office. As Christmas falls on a Tuesday, we not only have the regular Friday releases, but a few heavy hitters dropping on the 25th. It's going to be a very busy box office - The Hobbit will probably win the weekend, but come Christmas Day (and the ensuing week) I have a feeling it's going to be a bloody western or sweeping musical epic that will unseat a …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 18-24
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/17/12 at 07:22 PM CT
With Christmas and New Year's day both arriving on Tuesdays (the traditional day of the week for new releases), the studios have compacted their year-end release schedule into this week, with the majority of new DVDs coming out tomorrow, some on Friday, and one next Monday (there's one new release coming out Dec. 31, "Looper," which we'll tackle next week). So have yourself a very merry …
Weekend Box Office: The Hobbit Sets New December Record in Top Spot
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/16/12 at 11:14 PM CT
As predicted, The Hobbit has no problem completely obliterating the competition in what has thus far been a slow number of weeks. However, there was also good news for other films - especially those nominated for Golden Globes, as awards season provided a decent bump for a handful of films.
1) THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
Peter Jackson's return to Middle Earth was a welcome return …
Golden Globe 2013 Nominations: Suprises, Snubs and My Own Opinion
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/16/12 at 11:53 AM CT
With various critics associations weighing in, movie awards season is off and running. However, many view the Golden Globes as the real precursor to the Academy Awards. This year is no exception when it comes to both surprise nominations that seem completely out of the blue and bizarre exclusions that seem mind-boggling. Here is the full list - look for the live forum when the Golden Globes air …
New in Theaters Dec. 14: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/13/12 at 02:41 PM CT
It has been a couple of slow weeks at the box office. Though overall returns have still been up, it has been very stagnant, with popular films sticking around while new films have floundered. But I guarantee you that this week will see a new #1 film at the box office. In fact, I think the top film at the box office will make just as much as the next nine films combined. Audiences have been …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 11
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/10/12 at 10:07 PM CT
What do you get when you combine hunk star Mark Wahlberg, TV cartoonist Seth MacFarlane (of "Family Guy" and "American Dad" fame), a talking stuffed bear, and a hot TV actress-turned-movie star (Mila Kunis)? Well, "Ted," of course, a wacky comedy about a perpetually young-minded middle-aged guy who would rather hang out with his talking teddy bear than commit to his sexy longtime girlfriend. …
Weekend Box Office: Skyfall Once Again in First, Playing for Keeps Bombs
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/09/12 at 08:28 PM CT
Although the movies may have switched a few places - the top five once again looked oh so familiar to those who have seen the box office over the past four weeks. While the winners keep on winning - the only new wide-release film couldn't attract an audience and couldn't even manage a top five debut.
1) SKYFALL
Skyfall becomes the first film since 2010's How to Train Your Dragon to take …
Iconic Role vs. Iconic Role: Let the Epic Movie Character Smackdown Begin!
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/08/12 at 04:18 PM CT
I love stumbling upon random bits of news that gets my gears grinding in my head. Take this nice little tidbit: when Ian McKellen was on The Colbert Report (Stephen Colbert apparently being a huge fan of Middle Earth himself) and was asked by the host who would win in a fight: Gandalf the Grey or the mutant Magneto. The actor was pretty set on Gandalf:
""Gandalf is more powerful than …
New in Theaters December 07: Playing for Keeps, Hyde Park on the Hudson
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/06/12 at 10:28 AM CT
In what's sure to be good news for the top five (or so) films from the last two weekends, it's looking like the one new wide-releases won't pose much of a threat to the box office. Not that I have anything against romantic comedies, but considering the time of year, I don't think there's going to be that big of an audience - those who prefer this kind of movie should seek out The Silver Linings …
New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of December 4
Harley Lond - wrote on 12/03/12 at 09:51 PM CT
"The Dark Knight Rises":
It's mea culpa time. When "The Dark Knight" first hit movie screens, I was so inundated with buzz as to how hot the film was -- and what a great turn Heath Ledger did as The Joker -- that somewhere in my anti-establishment mind set I prejudiced myself against Christopher Nolan's film. I was disappointed and underwhelmed by the story line -- though knocked out by the …
Weekend Box Office: Twilight, Skyfall, Lincoln - 1,2,3 for Third Straight Weekend
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/02/12 at 09:16 PM CT
As I so rightfully predicted (though it wouldn't take a mind reader to do so) the top three films at the box office were the same as last week (and the week before that). In fact, the top six movies were the same as last weekend. Yet despite the familiar faces at the top of the box office, the overall top 12 movies still ran an impressive 46% ahead of the same weekend last year.
1) THE …
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