Thursday, February 24, 2011

Blu-ray 22nd & 25th February Releases

Megamind (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

DreamWorks / 2010 / 96 Minutes / Rated PG
Street Date: February 25, 2011





Genres: Animation, superhero, family, fantasy, sci-fi
Starring: Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt
Director: Tom McGrath

Plot Synopsis: “A smart, funny and original treat,” Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post, Megamind puts a whole new hilarious twist on the superhero movie. Packed with high-flying action and non-stop laughs, the smash hit starring Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, David Cross and Tina Fey will debut in DreamWorks Animation’s Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack which includes the all-new comedy-adventure MEGAMIND: THE BUTTON OF DOOM, plus hours of bonus features and exclusive interactive Blu-ray features including picture-in-picture storyboards, behind the scenes footage, interviews, music videos, the lost scene, a comic book creator, an insider tour of Megamind’s Lair, interactive games, and so much more.

Disc Features:

DISC 1 – Blu-ray Movie + More
• Megamind: The Button of Doom: Megamind and Minion return to battle an even bigger foe in this all-new Mega comedy adventure!
• Enhance the Movie-Viewing Experience with the Animator’s Corner featuring Picture-in-Picture Storyboards, Behind the Scenes Footage and Interviews
• Uncover More Megamind Facts with the Trivia Track
• Put your own hilarious twist on scenes from the film with the Interactive Comic Creator
• Meet the All-Star Cast
• Discover the Lost Scene
• Visit Megamind’s Lair
• Experience AnimatorMan
• Learn to Draw Megamind
• Unleash The Reign of Megamind Video Comic Book
• Fun High-Flying Games and More!

DISC 2 – DVD Movie + More
• Filmmakers’ Commentary
• Meet the All-Star Cast
• Discover the Lost Scene
All-Star Superman (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Warner Brothers / 2011 / 75 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: February 22, 2011





Genres: Animation, superhero
Starring: James Denton, Anthony LaPaglia, Christina Hendricks and Ed Asner
Director: Sam Liu


Plot Synopsis: Fueled by hatred and jealousy, Lex Luthor masterminds an elaborate plot to kill the Man of Steel – and it works. Poisoned by solar radiation, Superman is dying. With weeks to live, he fulfills his life’s dreams – especially revealing his true identity to Lois Lane – until Luthor proclaims his ultimate plan to control the world with no alien hero to stop him. Powers fading, Superman engages in a spectacular deadly battle with Luthor that could truly trigger the end of Earth’s Greatest Protector. This startling and gripping DC Universe Animated Original Movie stars the voice talents of James Denton, Anthony LaPaglia, Christina Hendricks and Ed Asner.

Disc Features:

Sneak Peek at "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights"
Featurette: “Superman Now” – In a moment of inspiration, Grant Morrison was provided an opportunity to revamp the Man of Steel into something modern, something more relevant for today’s audience. This is the story of All-Star Superman – where it all started, and what it came to be
Two bonus episodes from "Superman: The Animated Series" handpicked by Bruce Timm
Featurette: “Incubating the Idea” – A conversation with Grant Morrison
Audio Commentary: Bruce Timm and Grant Morrison
All-Star Superman Virtual Comic Book


Due Date (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Warner Brothers / 2010 / 100 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: February 22, 2011

Overall Grade 3.5 out of 5 Entertaining



Genres: Comedy, drama, adventure
Starring: Robert Jr. Downey, Zach Galifianakis, and Jamie Foxx
Director: Todd Philips


Plot Synopsis: From The Hangover director Todd Phillips, Due Date throws two unlikely companions together on a road trip that turns out to be as life-changing as it is outrageous. Expectant first-time father Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) looks forward to his new child’s due date five days away. As Peter hurries to catch a flight home from Atlanta to be at his wife’s side for the birth, his best intentions go completely awry when an encounter with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) forces Peter to hitch a ride with Ethan on a cross-country trip that will ultimately destroy several cars, many friendships and Peter’s last nerve.

Disc Features:

Deleted Scenes
Action Mashup
Too Many Questions Mashup
Gag Reel
"Two and a Half Men" Sequence featuring Ethan Tremblay

Other releases/ Back catalog releases:







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Liam Neeson's 'Unknown' Captured Audience To Be The No. Movie


          Last weekend, Liam Neeson's latest European-set single-word-titled action thriller Unknown debuted at number one over the long four-day Presidents' Day frame while the hit 3D toon Gnomeo & Juliet gave the Oscar-nominated star a run for his money thanks to terrific staying power that allowed it to follow close behind in second. The sci-fi alien flick I Am Number Four debuted in third place while fellow newcomer Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son launched in fifth with each averaging roughly $7,000. Overall ticket sales fell behind the same holiday frames from the last two years. It was the first Presidents' Day weekend in five years with no films breaking $30M.
          Debuting to $25.5M over the Friday-to-Monday holiday span, according to final studio figures, Neeson's Unknown took the top spot and averaged a solid $8,364 over four days from 3,043 sites. The PG-13 film about an American in Berlin whose identity has been taken after a car accident leaves him in a coma played to a mature adult crowd and performed much like his 2009 sleeper hit Taken which opened on top over Super Bowl weekend to $24.7M over three days ahead of a $145M run. With Oscar-nominated dramas being the only other films playing to the over-30 set in recent weeks, Unknown arrived as an exciting-looking alternative with a well-liked star. Reviews were mixed but on the same level as those for Taken.
Jumping up one spot to number two was the animated hit Gnomeo & Juliet which collected $25.4M over four days exactly matching its three-day opening figure. With strong word-of-mouth, more kids available because of the school holiday, and no competition from any other kidpics, Gnomeo held up incredibly well pushing its 11-day total to $56.4M and now seems likely to break the $100M mark. Gnomeo easily beat Unknown on Monday with one-day sales of $6.3M vs. $3.6M.
          The sci-fi actioner I Am Number Four, Disney's first release of a DreamWorks production, opened in third place with $22.8M playing to teens and young adults. Averaging a decent $7,215 from 3,154 locations, the PG-13 adaptation of the popular novel featured no major stars and relied on fans of the book and on teens interested in a high school tale. Reviews were not too kind. It was expected by many to open at number one.
          Dropping from first to fourth in its second weekend was the Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston comedy Just Go With It which grossed $21.6M. Sony's latest pic from the bankable funnyman upped its sum to $64.1M in ten days and has a good shot of hitting $100M. That would allow Sandler to claim nine-digit hits in nine of the last ten years.
          Martin Lawrence's return to the fat suit brought him a fifth place debut for the Fox comedy sequel Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son which grossed $18.7M over four days. Averaging $6,641 from 2,821 locations, the PG-13 film fell well short of the three-day $25.7M opening of Big Momma's House from June 2000 as well as the $27.7M of its followup in January 2006. The new Momma, which features second-generation cross-dressing, was not screened for critics by their deadlines, but once reviews started appearing they were among the worst for any film in months.
         Justin Bieber: Never Say Never fell 56% to $16.4M in its sophomore frame which was not too bad given that it is a 3D concert biopic meant to draw hysterical fans upfront. Paramount kept the publicity attacks going past the opening weekend allowing the 11-day total to climb to $51.2M. Produced for just $13M, the G-rated pic looks set to finish its run with $70M or so.
Oscar favorite The King's Speech crossed the $100M mark this weekend and enjoyed another remarkable hold dipping to $8.1M. That pushed the cume for The Weinstein Co. to a stellar $104.8M with $125M or more possible by the end of the run. Sony's college thriller The Roommate followed with $4.5M for a $33.1M total.
         Audiences fled from Channing Tatum as his historical action epic The Eagle tumbled to $4.3M for a weak tally of $15.8M after 11 days for Focus. Natalie Portman rounded out the top ten with her comedy No Strings Attached which took in $3.6M for $66.5M to date. Her Oscar contender Black Swan broke the $100M barrier right before the start of the weekend.

# Title Feb 18 - 21


Weeks
Cumulative Distributor










1 Unknown $ 25,453,015


1
$ 25,453,015 Warner Bros.
2 Gnomeo & Juliet 25,415,717


2
56,436,249 Disney
3 I Am Number Four 22,755,854


1
22,755,854 Disney
4 Just Go With It 21,581,024


2
64,136,988 Sony
5 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son 18,735,026


1
18,735,026 Fox
6 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 16,364,188


2
51,236,937 Paramount
7 The King's Speech 8,063,897


13
104,775,873 Weinstein Co.
8 The Roommate 4,468,309


3
33,061,873 Sony
9 The Eagle 4,333,044


2
15,840,242 Focus
10 No Strings Attached 3,576,797


5
66,490,084 Paramount










11 True Grit 2,885,736


9
164,603,239 Paramount
12 Sanctum 1,968,990


3
22,277,775 Universal
13 The Green Hornet 1,938,216


6
95,600,502 Sony
14 The Fighter 1,910,835


11
88,322,333 Paramount
15 Black Swan 1,608,916


12
101,817,991 Fox Searchlight
16 The Rite 1,312,299


4
31,574,684 Warner Bros.
17 The Mechanic 1,194,515


4
28,077,208 CBS Films
18 Cedar Rapids 1,089,297


2
1,490,775 Fox Searchlight
19 Tangled 743,090


13
194,306,677 Disney
20 Biutiful 633,053


4
3,133,104 Roadside Attr.
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Blu-ray 15th February Releases

Unstoppable [Blu-ray]

20th Century Fox / 2010 / 98 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: February 15, 2011

Overall Grade 3.5 out of 5 Recommended




Genres: Action, thriller, suspense
Starring: Chris Pine and Denzel Washington
Director: Tony Scott


Plot Synopsis: Hang on for the ride of your life as Oscar® Winner Denzel Washington and Chris Pine (Star Trek) team up for the year’s most electrifying action-thriller. A runaway train, transporting deadly, toxic chemicals, is barreling down on Scranton, Pennsylvania, and only two men can stop it: a veteran engineer (Washington) and a young conductor (Pine). Thousands of lives hang in the balance as these ordinary heroes attempt to chase down one million tons of hurtling steel and prevent an epic disaster. Helmed by visionary director Tony Scott (Man on Fire), this story inspired by true events delivers excitement and suspense that are — unstoppable!


Disc Features:

  • Audio Commentary with Director Tony Scott

  • The Fastest Track: Unleashing Unstoppable

  • Derailed: Anatomy of a Scene

  • Hanging Off the Train: Stunt Work

  • On the Rails with the Director and Cast

  • Tracking the Story: Unstoppable Script Development

  • Digital Copy


    • Other releases/ Back catalog releases:









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    Friday, February 18, 2011

    Adam Sandler Beats Justin Bieber At The Box Office

     




              Last weekend the Adam Sandler comedy "Just Go With It" held off "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" at weekend box offices to maintain its grip on the No. 1 spot on movie charts when final sales were released on Monday.
             "Just Go With It," co-starring Jennifer Aniston in a romantic comedy about a man (Sandler) who pretends he's married in order to get the girl of his dreams, earned $30.5 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices.
              That figure is down from an estimate of $31 million on Sunday, but still enough to beat the final, $29.5 million worth of tickets sold to "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," a blend of concert footage and behind-the-scene videos of the 16 year-old singer's life.
              "Never Say Never" final ticket sales were also adjusted downward on Monday from a Sunday estimate of $30.3 million.
              Hollywood's major movie studios release estimated sales totals for the weekend on Sunday and final figures on Monday. The Bieber and Sandler films were locked in a close battle for the No. 1 position on Sunday, so industry watchers were closely following Monday's final results..
    Rounding out the top five movies at U.S. and Canadian box offices this past weekend were Disney animated film "Gnomeo and Juliet" in the No. 3 spot with $25.3 million, followed by action-packed "The Eagle" at No. 4 with $8.7 million and thriller "The Roommate" at No. 5 with $8.1 million. [Source from: reuters.com]


    # Title Feb 11 - 13


    		Weeks
    		Cumulative Distributor










    1 Just Go With It $ 30,514,732


    		1
    		$ 30,514,732 Sony
    2 Justin Bieber: Never Say Never 29,514,054


    		1
    		30,256,601 Paramount
    3 Gnomeo & Juliet 25,356,909


    		1
    		25,356,909 Disney
    4 The Eagle 8,684,464


    		1
    		8,684,464 Focus
    5 The Roommate 8,126,025


    		2
    		25,778,926 Sony
    6 The King's Speech 7,230,790


    		12
    		93,675,761 Weinstein Co.
    7 No Strings Attached 5,810,291


    		4
    		60,031,078 Paramount
    8 Sanctum 5,661,705


    		2
    		18,035,075 Universal
    9 True Grit 3,785,344


    		8
    		160,355,029 Paramount
    10 The Green Hornet 3,673,909


    		5
    		92,405,961 Sony










    11 The Rite 3,252,360


    		3
    		28,858,297 Warner Bros.
    12 The Mechanic 3,202,921


    		3
    		25,418,653 CBS Films
    13 The Fighter 2,165,480


    		10
    		85,632,024 Paramount
    14 Black Swan 2,122,555


    		11
    		99,337,220 Fox Searchlight
    15 The Dilemma 1,031,015


    		5
    		47,635,695 Universal
    16 Tangled 813,849


    		12
    		193,304,696 Disney
    17 Yogi Bear 770,038


    		9
    		96,618,279 Warner Bros.
    18 Blue Valentine 585,508


    		7
    		8,211,610 Weinstein Co.
    19 Biutiful 580,245


    		3
    		2,263,341 Roadside Attr.
    20 127 Hours 559,094


    		15
    		16,845,896 Fox Searchlight
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    Monday, February 7, 2011

    Blu-ray 8th February Releases

    Paranormal Activity 2 (Unrated Director's Cut) (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

    Paramount / 2010 / 91 Minutes / Unrated
    Street Date: February 08, 2011





    Genres: Thriller, Horror

    Director: Tod Williams

    Plot Synopsis: Undoubtedly, the first and most relevant question to ask about Paranormal Activity 2 is: how scary is it in regard to its predecessor? For horror fans and the legion of viewers terrified by Oren Peli's POV supernatural chiller, the answer is, to echo the quote on the sequel's poster, that your sleepless nights are about to return. Part of the reason for its success is that PA2 hews to the old principle that if it's not broken, don't fix it, so the action here also unfolds via hours of camera footage, stitched together to resemble a documentary. It's also a prequel to the first film, taking place several months before PA1, and focusing on Kristi (Sprague Grayden), the sister of PA1's ill-fated heroine, Katie (Katie Featherston), who also returns here. Seems that the demonic force that pursued Katie also had designs on Kristi, and its relentless assault on her, husband Daniel (Brian Boland), and, most unnervingly, their new son Hunter unfolds in a barrage of quiet-quiet-jump! moments that should have most audience members clutching their seats or movie mates throughout the running time. As a pure scare machine, Paranormal Activity 2 is as well-oiled as the first picture, with director Tod Williams (Door in the Floor) innately grasping the inherent chills of strange things happening in static camera images; if there's any complaint to be had, it's over the family maid, who hews too closely to the stereotype of superstitious ethnic servant. That quibble aside, one can expect to get a serious workout for the nerves from Paranormal Activity.

    I Spit on Your Grave [Blu-ray]

    Starz/Anchor Bay / 2010 / 108 Minutes / Unrated
    Street Date: February 08, 2011






    Genres: Horror, Thriller

    Starring: Sarah Butler, Chad Lindberg
    Director: Steven R. Monroe

    Plot Synopsis: UNFORGIVING. UNCOMPROMISING. UNMERCIFUL. UNRATED.
    The original version was reviled, condemned, and banned around the world for its on-screen depictions of depravity and violence. Now experience the acclaimed remake that dares to go even further: Jennifer Hills (a fearless performance by Sarah Butler) is a big-city novelist who rents an isolated country cabin to write her new book. But when she is brutally raped by a group of sadistic rednecks, Jennifer has plans for more than mere revenge. One-by-one she will find them. She will inflict horrific acts of agonizing torment upon them. And no jury in America would ever convict her. Jeff Branson (“ALL MY CHILDREN”), Daniel Franzese (BULLY), Rodney Eastman (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3 & 4), Chad Lindberg (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS) and Tracey Walter (THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) co-star in this graphic, shocking and undeniably disturbing new take on one of the most controversial films of all time.


    Life as We Know It (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

    Warner Brothers / 2010 / 114 Minutes / Rated PG-13
    Street Date: February 08, 2011





    Genres: Comedy, romance, family

    Starring:     Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel
    Director: Grec Berlanti

    Plot Synopsis:     After a disastrous first date for caterer Holly (Katherine Heigl) and network sports director Messer (Josh Duhamel), all they have is common is a dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must set their differences aside. Juggling careers and social calendars, they’ll have to find common ground while living under the same roof. Josh Lucas, Christina Hendricks, Hayes MacArthur and Jean Smart co-star in this tart and tender romantic comedy directed by Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters, Everwood).

    Other releases/ Back catalog releases:











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    Roommate Debut At No.1, Sanctum Sinks Badly


             Last weekend with the Packers and Steelers squaring off in the Super Bowl, moviegoers avoided the multiplexes as the North American box office slumped to the third worst frame of the past two years. Of the two new releases that dared to compete against football, the collegiate thriller The Roommate fared well opening at number one by targeting young females but the older-skewing 3D action film Sanctum debuted poorly in second. The NFL championship game always commands the attention of the entire nation but this weekend's Top 20 plunged to just $84.2M falling well below recent Super Bowl sessions from the past three years.
              Teenage girls and young women, the demographic least affected by football, turned out in solid numbers for the college-set thriller The Roommate which debuted at number one with an estimated $15.6M. The PG-13 film about a freshman gal with a creepy obsession with her new living partner averaged a good $6,156 from 2,534 theaters and marked Sony's eighth film over the past eleven years to bow on top over Super Bowl weekend. Most were suspense thrillers from the studio's Screen Gems unit like Roommate which play to this dependable audience.
              Produced for just $16M, The Roommate drew in its target audience with a relatable storyline and starpower from TV stars Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights). Studio research showed that 65% of the crowd was female and 61% was under 21. A targeted marketing campaign made sure that too much wasn't spent on other demographic groups that would never come out anyway. Moviegoers polled by CinemaScore gave the pic a weak B- average grade.
              The underwater survival actioner Sanctum sank in its opening weekend grossing just $9.2M, according to estimates, despite playing very wide in 2,787 locations including over 2,000 3D screens and 178 IMAX venues. Averaging a weak $3,310, the R-rated film failed to spark much interest with ticket buyers despite being heavily promoted as a project from James Cameron who was one of the executive producers. In fact, Sanctum opened just below the $9.3M debut of the Oscar-winning director's 1989 underwater adventure The Abyss which had significantly lower ticket prices, no 3D surcharges, and 1,200 fewer theaters.
              Universal and Relativity Media paid only $12M to acquire distribution rights (and paid for marketing) so the $30M-budgeted Sanctum should not turn into too problematic of a title financially. IMAX screens accounted for 17% of the gross, but overall moviegoers showed that paying a premium for this particular film was not worth it. The aquatic actioner suffered one of the worst openings for a live-action 3D film during the format's current era and was about even with the two-day $6.3M bow of Gulliver's Travels this past Christmas. According to studio research, females made up 53% of the audience and 65% was 30 and over so the film skewed much older than other titles. A poor C+ CinemaScore grade indicates a quick fade in the weeks to come. Reviews were mostly lackluster. Overseas, Sanctum debuted in second place in Australia with $1.6M and in fifth place in the U.K. with $1.5M.
              With only one new release generating good results and most holdovers fading away, the Top 20 suffered troubling declines compared to recent Super Bowl weekends - 23% vs. 2010, 29% vs 2009, and 30% vs. 2008. The aftermath of last week's massive blizzard also played a role as people in many top markets in the Midwest and Northeast were still digging themselves out of the latest round of winter snow.
    The Natalie Portman-Ashton Kutcher romantic comedy No Strings Attached remained a popular item with audiences sliding only 37% in its third session to an estimated $8.4M. Paramount's sex comedy has laughed up an impressive $51.8M in 17 days and is playing as effective counter-programming for women against all the football hoopla.
              Stepping closer to the $100M mark, Oscar front-runner The King's Speech ranked fourth with an estimated $8.3M enjoying the smallest drop in the top ten with its 25% dip. The Weinstein Co. has reached $84.1M and will join the century club before the February 27 awards.
              The Green Hornet fell 46% to an estimated $6.1M placing fifth for the weekend giving Sony $87.2M to date for 2011's top-grossing new release. Last week's top performer The Rite suffered the worst drop of any film plunging 62% to an estimated $5.6M in its sophomore scare. Bad buzz and competition from a new fright flick contributed to the steep tumble. Warner Bros. has grossed $23.7M for its Anthony Hopkins supernatural thriller and should end up with $30-35M.
             Jason Statham's latest action platform The Mechanic plunged 53% to an estimated $5.4M in its second weekend. The CBS Films release has grossed $20.1M in ten days and should end with about $30M. Jumping the $150M mark this past week was Oscar contender True Grit which took in an estimated $4.8M, down 37%, for a cume to date of $155M for Paramount. Along with TRON: Legacy, Jeff Bridges has raked in a stellar $324M this winter from his pair of blockbuster hits.
    Dropping 39% to ninth place was Vince Vaughn's comedy The Dilemma with an estimated $3.4M bumping the total to $45.7M for Universal. Best Actress front-runner Natalie Portman rounded out the top ten with Fox Searchlight's Black Swan which collected an estimated $3.4M, off 34%, for a $95.9M. Look for the ballerina thriller to cross the $100M mark by Valentine's Day.

    # Title Feb 4 - 6


    		Weeks
    		Cumulative Distributor










    1 The Roommate $ 15,600,000


    		1
    		$ 15,600,000 Sony
    2 Sanctum 9,225,000


    		1
    		9,225,000 Universal
    3 No Strings Attached 8,400,000


    		3
    		51,788,000 Paramount
    4 The King's Speech 8,310,000


    		11
    		84,125,000 Weinstein Co.
    5 The Green Hornet 6,100,000


    		4
    		87,200,000 Sony
    6 The Rite 5,565,000


    		2
    		23,677,000 Warner Bros.
    7 The Mechanic 5,370,000


    		2
    		20,080,266 CBS Films
    8 True Grit 4,750,000


    		7
    		155,012,000 Paramount
    9 The Dilemma 3,448,000


    		4
    		45,740,000 Universal
    10 Black Swan 3,400,000


    		10
    		95,888,000 Fox Searchlight
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