This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: April 20, 2010

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, MGM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Weinstein Company, Action, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Music, Period, Remakes, Science Fiction, Comedy, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists,

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options today:

• 44 Inch Chest: DVD, Blu-ray
• Avatar: DVD, Blu-ray  **releases on April 22/Earth Day**
• The Basketball Diaries: Blu-ray
• Batman: Blu-ray
• Batman Forever: Blu-ray
• Batman Returns: Blu-ray
• Cheech & Chong’s Hey Watch This!: DVD, Blu-ray
• Crazy Heart: DVD, Blu-ray
• Fist of Legend: Blu-ray
• Homecoming: DVD
• The Horse Boy: DVD
• The Lovely Bones: DVD, Blu-ray

Click to continue reading This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: April 20, 2010

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: March 9, 2010

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Sequels, Comedy, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available today:

• The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day: DVD, Blu-ray
• Capitalism: A Love Story: DVD, Blu-ray
• Hachi: A Dog’s Tale: DVD, Blu-ray
• Old Dogs: DVD, Blu-ray
• Paris: DVD, Blu-ray *releases March 10*
• Planet 51: DVD, Blu-ray
• Precious: DVD, Blu-ray
• The Stoning of Soraya M: DVD, Blu-ray
• Tapeheads: DVD, Blu-ray
• Up in the Air: DVD, Blu-ray
• The Who: The Kids are Alright: Blu-ray

Make sure to also check out the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

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In Theaters This Weekend: September 18, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, IFC Films, Magnolia, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Animation, Biopics, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign, Horror, Period, Religious, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Lists, New Releases,

Here are a few selections in theaters this weekend:

• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (PG): starring Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg (directed by Chris Miller, Phil Lord)
• The Informant! (R): starring Matt Damon, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale (directed by Steven Soderbergh)
• Jennifer’s Body (R): starring Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody (directed by Karyn Kusama)
• Love Happens (PG-13): starring Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler (directed by Brandon Camp)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: September 18, 2009

In Theaters This Weekend: May 15, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: IFC Films, Sony, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Angels & Demons (PG-13): starring Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor (directed by Ron Howard)
• 99* (NR): starring Kunal Khemu, Boman Irani, Soha Ali Khan (directed by Raj Nidimoru, Krishna DK)
• Anaglyph Tom (Tom with the Puffy Cheeks)* (NR): (directed by Ken Jacobs)
• Big Man Japan* (PG-13): starring Hitoshi Matsumoto, Riki Takeuchi, Ryunosuke Kamiki (directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto)
• The Big Shot-Caller* (NR): starring Marlene Rhein, Robert Costanzo, David Rhein (directed by Marlene Rhein)
• The Brothers Bloom* (PG-13): starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz (directed by Rian Johnson)

Click to continue reading In Theaters This Weekend: May 15, 2009

Box Office Breakdown: Fred Claus No Match for Jerry Seinfeld

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Bros, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Political, Romance, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,

In a shocking turn of events, Bee Movie came buzzing back to life this weekend stealing the #1 spot from recent victor, American Gangster.  Bee’s $25 million take also embarrassed the newest comedic entry, Fred Claus.

Although fellow ‘Frat Packer’ Will Ferrell rang bells with November 2003’s Elf, Vince Vaughn couldn’t come close to matching his friend’s $31.1 million debut.  The news was especially surprising given Vaughn and director David Dobkin’s recent collaboration on 2005’s Wedding Crashers.  Could this mean Vaughn’s only appealing when he’s part of a larger comedic team?

Also noteworthy this weekend was the disappointing performance of Lions for Lambs.  Lions wasn’t expected to take in Mission Impossible-esque numbers, but the film did still boast Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and actor/director Robert Redford.  As it was, the movie grossed less than any other Cruise-attached wide release in more than 20 years.  At least Streep can say this topical film debuted higher than her last attempt (Rendition).

P2, the only other new Top Ten entry, racked up ninth place.

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Box Office Breakdown: A Gangbusters Weekend for Washington, Crowe

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, New Line, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,

Combine Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington’s star-wattage and you’re bound to get a hit.  But did anyone expect a $43 million debut for American Gangster?  Why did these Oscar-winners do so well when others have only done okay?  How did an R-rated film beat out an animated PG flick?  Why didn’t the movie’s long running-time (157 minutes) turn people away?

Gangster’s #1 spot was just one of the film’s many weekend achievements.  The movie also marked the biggest opening weekend for both lead actors (Russell’s Gladiator earned $35 million; Washington’s Inside Man grossed $29 million).  It also had the 2nd best debut for a drama in November (right behind 2002’s 8 Mile).

Unfortunately, all this good news was lost on comedian Jerry Seinfeld—the hardest working self-promoter of 2007.  Even though NBC spent countless hours of airtime sucking up to its former Golden Boy, Seinfeld’s Bee Movie was stung with a 2nd place finish.  Although $38 million take is nothing to complain about, I expect next week’s Fred Claus will slide right in to become the week’s best-grossing comedy.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: A Gangbusters Weekend for Washington, Crowe

Box Office Breakdown: Saw Slices Its Way to #1

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Miramax, Lionsgate, Sony, Touchstone, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,

This weekend’s success of Saw IV proved that ‘torture porn’ is very much alive and well…at least right before All Hallows Eve.  (Apparently originality is not a prerequisite when you’re in the haunting mood.)  The horror series, which took in $55 million domestically when it debuted in 2004, bloodied the competition with its recent $31 million take.  It will now likely hit the $80 million mark the last two installments surpassed.

Although Dan in Real Life, lagged behind with only $11 million, the film at least managed to place second.  Hopefully Dan will have legs in the weeks to come; it’s a nice counter-programming option for those desperately seeking romance on their date nights.  Those hunting for acceptable kids fare may have it a bit harder though—- which probably explains why The Game Plan has remained firmly planted in the Top Five.

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In Theaters this Weekend (10/26)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Lionsgate, Sony, Touchstone, Warner Bros, Documentary, Drama, Horror, Independent, Noir, Political, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases,

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• Dan in Real Life (PG-13):  starring Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook (directed by Peter Hedges)
• Saw IV (R):  starring Shawnee Smith, Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor (directed by Darren Lynn Bousman)
• Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead* (R):  starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei (directed by Sidney Lumet)
• Bella* (PG-13):  starring Sophie Nyweide, Eduardo Verastegui (directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde)

  Click to continue reading In Theaters this Weekend (10/26)