Entertainment Today and Beyond

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 opens big!

Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 opened to a very impressive 42 million in ticket sales, giving it the biggest opening ever for a musical, surpassing this year’s Mamma Mia, which grossed 27.8 million in its first weekend out. This is a somewhat unusual story, as the first two entries in the series were produced as TV movies that aired and gained tremendous popularity on the Disney channel. I would expect Disney to put a fourth entry into production as quickly as possible as the cast isn’t getting any younger. 

SAW V continued that franchise’s tradition for big openings in the month of October. The latest critic-proof entry did 30.5 million in ticket-sales, placing second. By Tuesday morning the Saw series will be the highest grossing franchise in the history of horror movies, surpassing the FRIDAY THE 13th series which produced eleven films and grossed 318 million overall! 

One other story of mention at the box-office; Warner Bros cop drama, PRIDE and GLORY, garnered little interest with the film pulling in a very weak 6.3 million in its opening frame, placing fifth. It’s also further proof that good actors like Edward Norton and Colin Farrell can’t open a film. Here’s a look at the weekend’s Top Ten.

October 26, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , , | 1 Comment

The Trades review QUANTUM OF SOLACE!

Here’s a look at a couple of early reviews for the new 007 film from the two big trades, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. It appears to me that from the last James Bond outing, CASINO ROYALE, and now reading about this latest installment, the creators have clearly created a Bond that appeals to the under 35 crowd much more than to the fans who grew up on Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Bronson of the 60’s through early 2000’s. Whether the decision to take out the character’s sense of humor and turn him into a soulless killing machine, void of much feeling, will continue to be a winning formula is yet to be seen, but my gut feeling is that older demographic will lose patience with this approach sooner than later, while the younger crowd who identifies with the Bourne Identity franchise will continue to eat this up. Personally I like the older school Bond better but still look forward to this new film!

October 26, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | | Leave a Comment

   

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