Entertainment Today and Beyond

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THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL opens, DARK KNIGHT Rolls on DVD and the film itself gets SNUBBED by the foreign press

day-the-earth-stood-2With just 24% positive reviews on Rotten tomatoes for THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, Fox has to be mighty nervous about its box-office prospects. Not only is the film mighty expensive but the studio has sunk a boatload of coin into marketing. Could this film be critic-proof? My gut feeling is NO.  It will be interesting to see how it opens, but its unlikely that the numbers will be anywhere near last year’s I AM LEGEND, which went on to become a big hit worldwide. 

darkknight-dvdNo surprise, THE DARK KNIGHT DVD is breaking sales records. According to Nikki Finke, the disc sold 600,000 in the Blue ray format alone and over 3 million standard DVD copies in its first day. The previous Blue-ray record holder was Iron Man which sold 400,000 units in one week. The Dark Knight is expected to sell over 7 million units altogether in its first week. That’s close to $200 million in revenue. I watched the film last night in standard DVD and it looked great on my flat screen LCD. One has to wonder if Blue-ray will remain niche or become the dominate player in the next year or two. While it’s good to see players come down in price, the cost of the disc themselves must follow. At an average price of $35.00 retail, it’s unlikely the format will grow unless that’s cut in half, especially in this economy.

Surprisingly, The Dark Knight didn’t get nominated for best picture by the Hollywood foreign press when the Golden Globes were announced yesterday. Its lone nomination was for Hedger Ledger as best supporting actor. My gut feeling is the film will fair much better with the Academy come Oscar time. I would be surprised if it doesn’t get nominated for best film and in numerous other categories. While the Golden Globes are always a bit off compared to the Oscars, the telecast itself is ALWAYS the fastest moving and most entertaining of all award shows. Here’s a LINK to all the Golden Globe nominees.

December 14, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | , , | 1 Comment

TERMINATOR SALVATION TRAILER and MY thoughts on the franchise

terminator-salvation-posterAs a fan of the Terminator franchise I’m looking forward to seeing what a Terminator film will be like without Arnold Schwarzenegger. Since the franchise has three films under its belt and a high quality TV series currently airing on Fox, there a lot of expectations for this new film. Considering the series original creator, James Cameron, is no longer involved you never know what you will get as they don’t come any better than him. It’s amazing what kind of film Cameron delivered in 1984 working on a budget of just $6,400,000. The concept and effects were brilliantly executed and it made a star out of former bodybuilder, Schwarzenegger. The ideas involving time travel and technology were Sci-fi at their very best. Cameron returned in 1994 to helm Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Working with a whopping budget of $102,000,000 (at the time the most expensive film ever made), the director broke new ground with effects moviegoers had never experienced and the movie was a huge world wide hit, grossing $519,000,000. Besides the effects, Cameron never forgot what this genre is all about; the ability to tell a thought provoking story that keeps the audience thinking. He hit a home run on both counts. Both critics and fans alike gave the film very high marks. At this point the director felt the story had been told and decided against any involvement in future installments.  

Mario Kasser hired director, Jonathan Mostow (U-571), for the third entry, titled Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines which was released in 2004. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was then 56 but still in great shape, returned as a Terminator from the future sent back in time to once again protect John Conner (played in the film be Nick Stahl). The highly expensive, independently produced, film cost a reported $200,000,000, and received a split response from critics and fans alike. I found the film very enjoyable and a solid entry in the Terminator cannon. It certainly left me wanting more of its ongoing and fascinating story. With a worldwide box-office take of $433,000,000, producers were hungry for another entry. Terminator Salvation, which began filming in May of this year is directed by McG (Charlies Angels, We are Marshall) and hits theaters May 22, 2009. Christian Bale, who hit big with Chris Nolan’s Batman franchise, plays the now grown up John Conner in a film that feels decidedly different from the first three entries. The story, set in 2018, focuses on the war between humanity and the machines employed by Skynet, abandoning the time travel formula of the first 3 films. Here’s a LOOK at the new TRAILER

December 11, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | | Leave a Comment

Will JAY LENO in PRIMETIME Fly?

jay-lenoIn what has to be the most unusual move by a major network in my memory, NBC will move a new variation of Jay Leno’s late night talk show to the 10 PM primetime slot Monday-Friday starting this fall. In a cost savings measure, NBC believes they will save a ton of money by having five less hours of scripted programming during the week. Considering Leno’s Tonight Show pulls in 4.8 million eyeballs a night (minuscule by prime time standards), this is certainly a perplexing move, a decision clearly based on margins, not ratings. At least that’s the spin the network will try and sell.

It’s estimated Leno’s new deal will cost NBC two million a week compared to an average of three million per scripted program. It’s somewhat surreal that fifteen years ago ER was pulling in 30 million viewers at 10 pm on Thursday night and will now be replaced by the 58 year old talk show host who is currently averaging less than 5 million viewers in his 11:30 PM timeslot. So may I ask, “is NBC throwing up the red flag and finally admitting that the television landscape will never be what it was?” I say YES! There is so much quality competition from cable (both basic and pay) that the days of programming reaching fifteen million a show is OVER! While there’s a handful of these network programs left like CSI, Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars and American Idol, the majority are struggling to pull in 9 million viewers with many even lower. It will be interesting how NBC affiliates embrace this move and how they’ll react if Leno in primetime doesn’t fly with viewers. How this will affect Conan O’Brien, who takes over the Tonight Show in June of 2009, is a story for another day, but make no mistake, the way networks think going forward has been changed dramatically with this very BOLD move! I can understand why NBC got cold feet and didn’t want to lose Jay to ABC but the decision to move him to primetime five nights a week is a stunner! It will be interesting to see this play out.

December 10, 2008 Posted by | And Beyond - Trailers & News | | Leave a Comment

Weekend BOX-OFFICE and other MOVIE news by Chuck Curry

four-chrThe holiday comedy FOUR CHRISTMASES held the top spot at the nations box-office for the second straight weekend, pulling in $16.7 million for a two week total of $69.4 mill. The films co-star, Reese Witherspoon, pocketed a cool $14 million to do the movie which should make her Christmas pretty joyful.
TWILIGHT placed second, grossing $13 mill in ticket sales for a three week total of $138.4. In an interesting footnote, Summit Entertainment and Catherine Hardwicke jointly announced on Sunday night that she would not be coming back to direct the films sequel, FULL MOON. Despite the huge success with their collaboration, it appears bad blood developed between the two parties.

punisher-3Other box-office items of interest: PUNISHER: WAR ZONE bombed pulling in a paltry $4.3 mill on a budget of $35. Forget the fact that most critics weren’t kind, Lionsgate did a horrible job of marketing the film as trailers never revealed any story arc, only showing gunfire aplenty. Still I’m surprised it had such an anemic turnout. Here’s a LOOK at the weekends Top ten

With only a handful of days before its release there’s not a single review posted on Rotten Tomatoes for THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. My gut feeling – NOT a great sign. With its current trailers less than spectacular, one has to wonder if 20th Century Fox’s holiday tent pole film is set to lay a massive box-office egg.

jurassicthree1According to an interview with comingsoon.com, Producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy said plans have fallen through on JURASSIC PARK 4. While I have mixed feelings about this news it’s most likely for the best. There’s not really much more that can be done with the concept that hasn’t already been explored, and the element of pure wonder pretty much dissipated after Spielberg’s amazing original. Still, with the enormous fan base this franchise has, I wouldn’t say another Jurassic Park film won’t materialize sometime down the road.

December 8, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , | Leave a Comment

TOP TEN FAVORITE TELEVISON SHOWS by CHUCK CURRY

10. 24- While last season was somewhat of a creative disappointment, mostly in the later episodes, I still love the Jack Bauer character. The first five seasons were top notch entertainment with the producers having the guts to take the subject of terrorism head on. An interesting fact in a post 9-11 world. Kiefer Sutherland revived his career as Bauer and he’s never been better. With the entourage_titlerecent Two Hour TV movie 24: Redemption getting things back on track, I’m thoroughly looking forward to season seven in January.

9. TERMINATOR: SARAH CONNER CHRONICLES- When they first announced the production of this series, which takes place in the time period between Terminator 2 and 3, I never thought it would be very good. Boy was I wrong! This is a terrific show that takes the terminator mythology very seriously and features a very solid cast lead by Lena Headey as Sarah Conner. Its action sequences are TV’s best!

8. RESCUE ME- Denis Leary might be an acquired taste for some, but I fringe_intertitlereally like him and his FX show about a group of NYC fire fighters and their turbulent personal lives. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, this is a slice of life that feels very real. 

7. ENTOURAGE- The fastest moving half hour on television. The Mark Wahlberg produced HBO program continues to be highly entertaining and is anchored by the brilliant work of Jeremy Piven who plays super agent Ari Gold. The shows at a creative highpoint!

Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and Sisters

6. FRINGE- This JJ Abrams produced program plays like a cross between the X-Files and House with a touch of the Twilight Zone thrown in for good measure. Extremely well thought out, the show keeps getting better with each episode in its first season on Fox. Newcomer Anna Torv is terrific as the lead FBI investigator, Olivia Dunham. John Noble, an actor mostly known for stage work, is an absolute revelation as the mentally unstable scientist Walter Bishop. He fascinates with every scene he appears in. I smell Emmy award in his future!  

5. BROTHERS & SISTERS- A highly enjoyable melodrama that never misses niptucklogoa beat. Sally Field at her neurotic best leads the cast as family matriarch, Nora Walker, in the best melodrama since Knots Landing back in the 1980’s. Highly enjoyable week after week!

4. NIP TUCK- One of the great guilty pleasures on television. This FX show is definitely geared to an adult audience. It focuses on two of television’s most interesting characters, plastic surgeons Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) Christian Troy (Julian McMahon). What makes this so much fun is that fridaynightnothing is taboo and it does a great job exploring the duality of human nature. I love it!

3. FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS- The 2004 Billy Bob Thornton film about a small Texas town and its love affair with High School football was very good, but the show is even better. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are terrific as the teams head coach and his wife. This is the best program on air about ordinary people. It continues to be overlooked during Emmy awards season.  

Dexter

Dexter

2. DEXTER- Writing doesn’t get any better than this Showtime program. The show explores the character of Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter expert by day and an empathetic serial killer who takes out bad guys by night. Michael C. Hall is brilliant in the title role and all the supporting characters including, Jennifer Carpenter (his sister Deb), are all top notch. MUST see TV!

lostlogo_1. LOST- Easily the most inventive mind-bending program since Rod Serlings Twilight Zone in the 1960’s. It’s amazing how the writers have managed to keep the show about a stranded group of people on a mysterious island fascinating week in and week out. But they have! The introduction of flash forward scenes two seasons ago was a brilliant move. This is the ONE I cannot miss!

December 8, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | | Leave a Comment

TELEVISION News and opinions by Chuck Curry

Dexter

Dexter

With just two episodes left this season I can’t say enough about Showtime’s DEXTER. The writers have done it for a third straight year, mapping out a 12 episode storyline that has you on the edge of your seat. If only the writing in feature films were half as good! Can you imagine the original pitch? A show about an empathetic serial killer – original and awesome!

californication_102_0609Showtime has picked up its adult oriented CALIFORNICATION for a third season. The show, featuring David Duchovny as a hedonistic writer in Los Angeles, is a fun and very different half hour of television. Word to the wise; don’t watch with your grandmother!

er-logoNBC has announced that March 12, 2009 will be the final episode of its long-running medical drama, ER. It will be a two hour episode airing at 9PM. I’m wondering if George Clooney will make an appearance one last time as Dr. Doug Ross since the show launched his career. I bet he will! If he does it’s highly unlikely it will be promoted in advance. It’s hard to believe that a 15 year weekly habit will come to an end.

The third season of the critically acclaimed series, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, returns to NBC on what else, a Friday night, January 16. The show has been airing on Direct TV since October having split production costs with the Peacock network in order to keep the low-rated program on the air. I am a big fan. It’s one of the best shows on television. It takes what could be an overworked plot – football coach meets fanatical High School Football town – and turns it into a compelling story of human relationships that any parent or Football fan can relate to.

smallvillenewopeningcredits According to TV guide, despite a ratings upswing for SMALLVILLE this season, the show might come to an end in May as there are some actor availability issues to deal with. Most notably, the show’s star, Tom Welling, who might finally hang things up. Producers go on to say that Welling’s ‘Clark Kent’ will most likely never put on the cape and actually become the man of steel in the TV show, as Warner Bros would probably shoot the idea down, deeming it a conflict of interest with the studios Superman movie franchise. Pretty stupid if you ask me! The focus on the blossoming love story between Lois and Clark this season has really reenergized the programs appeal, with a nice creative rebound. I hope it lives to see another season.

In a sad note; actor Paul Benedict, who played the English neighbor Harry Bentley on the hit sitcom The Jefferson’s, passed away Friday December 5th. He was 70 years old.

December 6, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | , , | Leave a Comment

ETB Radio – Top 10 Christmas Movies – Four Christmases preview

Chuck and Michael reveal their Top 10  Chistmas Movies of all time – does Vince Vaughn’s Four Christmases make the list? LISTEN HERE and let us know what you want to hear about. email Chuck
Listen when you want >Get the Radio Show RSS FEED HERE

December 5, 2008 Posted by | Radio Shows | , | Leave a Comment

NEW FRIDAY THE 13th TRAILER

fridaythe13th-final-posterNew Line Cinema has just released a new EXTENDED trailer to its re-imagining of the classic 1980 slasher film FRIDAY THE 13th. It looks pretty good, although it actually shows a bit too much! This version hits theaters Feb 13, 2009. Take a LOOK

December 5, 2008 Posted by | Reviews | | Leave a Comment

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