Friday, May 15, 2009

In Theaters This Week 15th May

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Angels & Demons
Copyright © 2009 Sony Pictures

The team behind the global phenomenon "The Da Vinci Code" returns for the highly anticipated "Angels & Demons," based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals. Ron Howard again directs the film, which is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and John Calley. The screenplay is by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman.
May 15th, 2009
Ron Howard
Akiva Goldsman
Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Columbia Pictures
Thriller
angelsanddemons.com
PG-13 sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material
2 hours 30 minutes

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Blu-ray Chart 9th May

Top Blu-ray Sales 9th May 2009
**All previous top sales will be announce on every Thursday
Please visit http://astore.amazon.com/screamvideobl-20


The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Blu-ray]

RANKTITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR, SRP)
1 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (PAR, $39.99)
2 BRIDE WARS (FOX, $39.99)
3 QUANTUM OF SOLACE (MGM/FOX, $39.99)
4 THE DARK KNIGHT (WB, $35.99)
5 MARLEY & ME (FOX, $39.99)
6 THE SPIRIT (LG, $39.99)
7 TRANSFORMERS (PAR, $39.99)
8 TWILIGHT (SUMMIT, $34.99)
9 X-MEN TRILOGY (FOX, $79.98)
10 GREASE (PAR, $29.99)

DVD Chart 9th May

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Single-Disc Edition)
THIS WEEK


TITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR)



RATING

BOX OFFICE*
1

CURIOUS ... BENJAMIN BUTTON (PAR)

PG-13127.5
2

HOTEL FOR DOGS (PAR)

PG72.8
3

BRIDE WARS (FOX)

PG58.7
4

LAST CHANCE HARVEY (ANCHOR BAY/STARZ)

PG-1314.9
5

TWILIGHT (SUMMIT)

PG-13191.4
6

BOLT (DIS)

PG114.1
7

MARLEY & ME (FOX)

PG143.1
8

BEDTIME STORIES (DIS)

PG110.1
9

THE UNINVITED (PAR)

PG-1328.6
10

SEVEN POUNDS (SONY)

PG-1370.0
11

NOTORIOUS (FOX)

R36.8
12

MAMMA MIA! (UNI)

PG-13144.1
13

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA (DIS)

PG94.5
14

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008, FOX)

PG-1379.4
15

THE SPIRIT (LG)

PG-1319.8
16

THE READER (WEINSTEIN/GENIUS)

R34.1
17

YES MAN (WB)

PG-1397.7
18

THE WRESTLER (FOX)

R26.2
19

QUANTUM OF SOLACE (MGM/FOX)

PG-13168.4
20

NOT EASILY BROKEN (SONY)

PG-1310.6

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Watchmen -BD Preorder

Warner Home Video has announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Watchmen: Director's Cut', which is due to hit store shelves on July 21, day-and-date with the DVD release. Video will be presented in 1080p VC-1 accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack.

The only version of the movie on this Blu-ray edition will be the director's cut, which is 3 hours and 10 minutes long, according to statements by director Zack Snyder. However, a standard-definition digital copy of the theatrical cut will also be included.

Extras are as follows:
  • Maximum Movie Mode (BD exclusive)
  • Watchmen: Focus Points
  • The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics
  • Real Super Heroes, Real Vigilantes (BD exclusive)
  • Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World (BD exclusive)
  • Music Video: Desolation Row (My Chemical Romance)
  • Digital Copy (theatrical version)
  • BD-Live

The Maximum Movie Mode will allow split-screen viewing of "Watchmen" to focus on elements in director Zack Snyder's on-camera commentary.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Blu-ray 12th May Release

Taken [Blu-ray]

Fox Home Entertainment / 2009 / 93 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: May 12, 2009







Genres: Action, thriller

Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace
Director: Luc Besson

Plot Synopsis: A former government operative comes out of retirement and uses his extensive training to rescue his daughter from a slave trade operation.

Disc Features:
• Audio commentary with Director Pierre Morel, Writer Robert Mark Kamen, and Cinematographers Michel Abramowicz and Michel Julienne
• "Inside Action": Side by Side Comparisons of six scenes
• Digital Copy

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans [Blu-ray]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2009 / 92 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: May 12, 2009


Overall Grade 3.5 out of 5




Genres: Action, thriller

Starring: Rhona Mitra, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy
Director: Patrick Tatopoulus

Plot Synopsis: This prequel to Len Wiseman’s Underworld and Underworld: Evolution is distinctively different, especially minus the nimble vampire warrior star, Selene (Kate Beckinsale). Underworld: Rise of the Lycans takes its cues from the vampire/werewolf battles that occur in the other films, but director Patrick Tatopoulos focuses here on the young werewolf Lucian's (Michael Sheen) rise to leadership. Rise of the Lycans is set mostly within the walls of vampire lord Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) castle, so the film’s silver, black, and blue palette reflects a world happening under moonlight. From the outset, when Viktor brings Lucian, the first werewolf, into the world, this villainous bloodsucker’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), is smitten with Lucian’s hairy appearance and instinctual intelligence. As years pass, Lucian grows tired of watching his race suffer slavery and imprisonment, and recruits a human named Raze (Kevin Grevioux) to assist rebellion. This archetypal plot is not so riveting, and what carries Underworld: Rise of the Lycans are the battle scenes between vampires and werewolves, which are excitingly fast-paced and brutal. The whole film adopts a medieval battlefield aesthetic that carries an otherwise clichéd story about illicit love and freedom fighting. Some characters, like the traitor vampire Tannis (Steven Mackintosh), also intrigues throughout, as one guesses who he will ally with. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans may not be the finest film in the werewolf and vampire archives independently, but its mixed monstrosity makes it unique and entertaining, especially on a big screen.

Disc Features:
  • Audio Commentary with director Patrick Tatopoulos, writer/producer Len Wiseman, executive producer James McQuaide, and producers Richard Wright and Gary Lucchesi

  • Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – From Script to Screen (HD, 9:18)

  • Origin of the Feud (HD, 19:58)

  • Recreating the Dark Ages – The Look of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (HD, 13:01)

  • William Controll's 'Deathclub' Music Video (HD, 4)

Passengers [Blu-ray]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2008 / 93 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: May 12, 2009







Genres: Thriller

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, David Morse
Director: Rodrigo Garcia

Plot Synopsis: While helping a handful of plane crash survivors cope with their grief, young psychologist Claire Summers (2008 Best Actress, Oscar® nominee Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married) begins to uncover conflicting accounts of the accident. At first, Claire believes that trauma is behind her patients' wildly different stories - until the survivors mysteriously begin disappearing one by one. Now Eric (Patrick Wilson, Lakeview Terrace), a surviving passenger she has grown dangerously close to, may hold the key to unlocking the truth about the tragic incident in this shocking psychological thriller.

Disc Features:
  • Audio Commentary with director Rodrigo Garcia and actor Patrick Wilson

  • Featurette: "In the Night Sky: The Making and Manifest of 'Passengers'" (HD, 23 minutes)

  • Featurette: "Analysis of the Plane Crash" (HD, 16 minutes) – An in-depth, cohesive look at the complex elements needed to stage a dramatic, believable aviation disaster, this featurette focuses on special effects, set construction, CGI, and creative intent.

  • Deleted Scenes (SD, 7 minutes)

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [Blu-ray]

MGM Home Entertainment / 1966 / 161 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: May 12, 2009







Genres: Action, Western

Starring: Eli Wallace, Clint Eastwood
Director: Sergio Leone

Plot Synopsis: Clint Eastwood returns as the invincible "Man With No Name," this time teaming with two gunslingers (Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach) to pursue a fortune in stolen gold. But teamwork doesn't come naturally to such strong-willed outlaws, and they soon discover that their greatest challenge may be to stay focused - and stay alive - in a country ravaged by war. Forging a vibrant and yet detached style of action that had not been seen before, and has never been matched since, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly shatters the western mold in true Clint Eastwood style!

Back Catalogue Blu-ray:





Monday, May 11, 2009

"Star Trek" beams up $72.5 million in first weekend

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LAST WEEKEND A classic franchise was reborn as North American moviegoers came out in strong numbers for the new Star Trek which grossed an estimated $76.5M over its extended three-and-a-half-day debut. The impressive figure consists of roughly $4M from early showtimes that began at 7pm on Thursday evening and $72.5M across the standard Friday-to-Sunday period.

The $125M Paramount production was a gamble that paid off as the franchise was left for dead after the last installment, 2002's Star Trek: Nemesis, grossed a dismal $43.1M striking out with fans worldwide. The new Trek averaged a solid $18,836 over the three-day period from 3,849 theaters including 138 Imax venues. The $72.5M figure represented the biggest opening ever in franchise history more than doubling the $30.7M of 1996's First Contact, the previous best in the eleven-pic series. But comparisons are not fair since previous films were made for the die-hard fans and enjoyed much lower ticket prices. The new Trek was a reboot with a new younger cast that played to fans and to general action audiences too.

Breaking down the 3.5-day opening weekend, Star Trek launched on Friday with $30.8M including about $4M from Thursday previews. Saturday fell 11% to $27.4M, and Sunday is estimated to slide by 33% to $18.3M. The three-day tally also ranked as the second biggest debut of 2009 trailing only last weekend's X-Men Origins: Wolverine which launched with $85.1M.

Reviews were fantastic for Star Trek which were key in allowing the J.J. Abrams-directed hit to reach a broader audience. If strong word-of-mouth kicks in, the U.S.S. Enterprise and its crew could go on to lofty heights.

Following its muscular top spot bow last weekend kicking off the summer movie season, X-Men Origins: Wolverine took a freefall in its second weekend plunging 68% to an estimated $27M for second place. The sharp drop was even bigger than the ones suffered by other effects-driven action films opening on the first weekend of May like 2007's Spider-Man 3 (62%), 2004's Van Helsing (60%), and 2003's X2: X-Men United (53%). Star Trek, and its appeal to much of the same audience, took its toll on the mutant prequel as did mixed reactions from fans. Wolverine played out more like March's super hero saga Watchmen which also tumbled 68% in its second weekend.

After ten days, the Hugh Jackman starrer has banked $129.6M. Spider-Man 3 and Watchmen collected 70-80% of their domestic totals in the first ten days and Wolverine shows no sign of being different. Budgeted at $130M, Origins should finish in the vicinity of $170M.

The romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past held up well in its second weekend declining by 32% to an estimated $10.5M. After ten days, the Matthew McConaughey pic has taken in a respectable $30.2M and could be headed for a $50-60M finish. The Warner Bros. release will try to continue to counter May's testosterone action flicks and cater to underserved female audiences.

Beyonce Knowles fell to fourth place with her hit thriller Obsessed which grossed an estimated $6.6M, off 45%, for a solid cume of $56.2M for Sony. Teen king Zac Efron followed with his high school comedy 17 Again which dipped 31% to an estimated $4.4M giving Warner Bros. $54.2M to date. An amazing 22 new releases in 2009 have crossed the $50M mark compared to 14 from the same period last year.

Summit stumbled into sixth place with its new comedy Next Day Air which debuted with an estimated $4M. Starring Donald Faison, Mike Epps, and Mos Def, the R-rated pic averaged a mild $3,515 from 1,138 theaters.

Paramount's disappointing drama The Soloist followed with an estimated $3.6M, down 36%, for a $23.5M total. Holding up well in its seventh frame with an estimated $3.4M was the Paramount/DreamWorks toon Monsters vs. Aliens which eased by only 42% boosting the domestic total to a sturdy $186.9M.

# Title May 8 - 10


Weeks
Cumulative Distributor










1 Star Trek $ 72,500,000


1
$ 76,500,000 Paramount
2 X-Men Origins: Wolverine 27,000,000


2
129,624,000 Fox
3 Ghosts of Girlfriends Past 10,450,000


2
30,246,000 Warner Bros.
4 Obsessed 6,600,000


3
56,247,000 Sony
5 17 Again 4,405,000


4
54,167,000 Warner Bros.
6 Next Day Air 4,000,000


1
4,000,000 Summit
7 The Soloist 3,605,000


3
23,501,000 Paramount
8 Monsters vs. Aliens 3,379,000


7
186,892,000 Paramount
9 Earth 2,488,000


3
26,086,000 Buena Vista
10 Hannah Montana The Movie 2,414,000


5
74,083,000 Buena Vista

Thursday, May 7, 2009

In Theaters This Week 8th May

Star Trek
Copyright © 2009 Paramount Pictures

The greatest adventure of all time begins with "Star Trek," the incredible story of a young crew's maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.




MovieWeb - Movie Photos, Videos & More

May 8th, 2009
J.J. Abrams
Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, Marlene Forte, Jimmy Bennett
Paramount Pictures
Sci-Fi
StarTrekMovie.com, facebook.com/StarTrek, myspace.com/startrek, trekyourself.com, startrekmovie.com/modelgallery
PG-13 sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content
2 hours 06 minutes




Next Day Air
Copyright © 2009 Summit Entertainment

Life isn’t going smoothly for Leo Jackson. He still lives at home, he just broke up with his girlfriend and he’s had so many complaints about his sloppy work habits that his own mother is threatening to fire him. But Leo isn’t one to let a few bad breaks ruins his day—as long as he’s got plenty of weed to take his mind off his troubles. But when the wacked-out courier accidentally delivers a box containing 10 kilos of high quality cocaine to the wrong apartment, it sets in motion a hilarious and harrowing chain of events that could cost him his life.

May 8th, 2009
Benny Boom
Blair Cobb
Donald Faison, Mike Epps, Wood Harris, Omari Hardwick, Emilio Rivera, Darius McCrary, Cisco Reyes, Mos Def
Summit Entertainment
Action, Comedy, Crime
nextdayair-movie.com
R pervasive language, drug content, some violence and brief sexuality
1 hour 24 minutes

Blu-ray Chart 2nd May

Bride Wars [Blu-ray]

RANKTITLE (LABEL/DISTRIBUTOR, SRP)
1 BRIDE WARS (FOX, $39.99)
2 QUANTUM OF SOLACE (MGM/FOX, $39.99)
3 THE WRESTLER (FOX, $39.99)
4 THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008, FOX, $29.99)
5 HOTEL FOR DOGS (PAR, $39.99)
6 THE UNINVITED (PAR, $39.99)
7 X-MEN TRILOGY (FOX, $79.98)
8 THE DARK KNIGHT (WB, $35.99)
9 SIN CITY (DIS, $35.99)
10 THE SPIRIT (LG, $39.99)