New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Thor Swings His Hammer; Star Wars Gets a High-Def Overhaul
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/13/11 at 05:32 PM CT
While the brand new offerings are a little slim this week, new Blu-Ray releases of old favorites more than make up for the lackluster lineup.
1) Leading the way is Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins and Tom Hiddleston giving Norse mythology a comic-book twist in Thor. While I didn't find Thor to be anything too special in the grande scheme of The Avengers lineup, it is …
Weekend Box Office: Contagion Coughs Up a Win, Warrior Packs Little Punch
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/12/11 at 01:10 AM CT
In one of the slowest weekends of the year, Contagion managed to finally break The Helps three week reign over the box office.
With an estimated $23.1 million, Contagion took the top spot. While the numbers were solid, they weren't spectacular numbers. The $60 million film will probably earn back its money, but considering the level of talent involved both in front of and behind the camera, …
Do You Dare Rank Your Top Movies by Language?
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/10/11 at 02:10 PM CT
I admit, my own top movie list looks a bit bland when it comes to languages. Out of my top 20 films, only three are not in English, and two of those are anime films.
Yet I think I have a pretty broad range when it comes to foreign films - at least compared to the typical American. Thanks to anime and horror - not to mention my respect of Akira Kurosawa, I have a healthy selection of Japanese …
New Movies to Crave: Can Contagion Bring Down The Help?
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/09/11 at 09:15 AM CT
After three weeks of box office doldrums, I'm finally going to say the The Help will not be the #1 film for the weekend.
1) One of Steven Soderbergh's final films, Contagion looks to get under your skin by presenting a pandemic of global proportions and following different people and how they react: from a grieving father to CDC and WHO officials to a vindictive blogger - it doesn't look like …
A Selection from My Collection: The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/08/11 at 09:07 AM CT
Amidst the Cold War John Frankenheimer crafted on of the most chilling political thrillers of its day and, despite the passage of time, it remains as powerful today as when it first premiered.
**The Queen of Diamonds compels me to tell you there may be spoilers ahead.**
The idea that a foreign power could “plant” an agent isn’t a novel concept. Many films have used the same idea to …
New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Go to the Head of the First Class or Set Hanna in Your Sights
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/06/11 at 10:46 AM CT
After a few rather bland weeks in my opinion, there are finally some new releases that have me excited. I was always more of an action fan, myself anyway.
1) While it may not have been the most popular super hero film of the year, I think it was one of the better executed: X-Men: First Class shows us how Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr met up and ultimately broke apart due to ideological …
Holiday Weekend Box Office: The Help Manages Top Spot for Third Straight Weekend
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/05/11 at 02:31 PM CT
You have to go back a full year to find another film that has accomplished the same feat as The Help. Inception was the last film before The Help to take 1st place three weeks in a row.
Emma Stone and co. must be very pleased with themselves right about now. The drama took in $19 million over the holiday weekend and its total gross now stands at $123.4 million. Plus, the film had staying …
New Movies to Crave: Apollo 18 Lands, Sharks Attack (in 3D!) and The Debt is Owed
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/02/11 at 10:39 AM CT
You could say Labor Day weekend is truly summer's last gasp - one final weekend to have fun. Unfortunately for Hollywood, this doesn't usually involve sitting in a theater but rather one last day at the beach or camping or other activity. After two soft weeks, I don't think this weekend will see much of an improvement.
1) Apollo 18 continues the trend of "found footage" by taking us on the …
New DVD and Blu-Ray Releases to Crave: Coen Brothers Overshadow Big Happy Family, Prom
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/30/11 at 09:15 AM CT
Once again I have to say the slew of new releases this week isn't quite up my alley in terms of what I usually watch. But everything is made up by the excellent Coen Brothers box set, which as far as I'm concerned puts every other new release to shame.
1) Before we get to that, Tyler Perry once again brings his brand of comedy out with Madea's Big Happy Family. It seems every year we get …
Weekend Box Office: Third Time's a Charmed Week for The Help
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/29/11 at 01:17 AM CT
It was another winning week for The Help as, in a repeat from last week, all new films failed to find much of an audience.
With the week's best holdover rate, falling just 28.4%, The Help took in another $14.3 million in its third time out and now has a $96.6 million total, rocketing past Julie & Julia's total gross. It should have no problem breaking $100 in the next few days.
Being the …
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