Identity Thief grabs the spotlight

Identity Thief grabs the spotlight

[Feb 8-10]

#1-Identity Thief debuted at the top spot with a solid collection of $36.5million.Directed by Seth Gordon of Horrible Bosses ,Identity has done remarkably well.The only competition the movie faced was the winter storm,Nemo , in North America.On the other hand the movie hasnt managed to make the critics happy.Scoring just 24%, only Melissa & Jason's performance was appreciated while the story was deemed a rip off other comedies.The movie has already recovered its $35million budget and considering its good start its expected to be another big hit ,following last years Ted.

#2-Warm Bodies made $11.5million bringing its worldwide total to $45.3million.The movie is doing a good business and with its fresh concept ,its bringing in the crowds.

#3-Acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh's final movie before retirement ,Side Effects ,turned out to be a disappointment.The movie just managed to make $10million.The medical thriller was praised by critics for its twist filled story.The movie has a fresh rating of 86%.

#4-Silver Linings Playbook had another good week making $6.9million.The movie is holding strong and is inching its way to a domestic gross of $100million.Currently the movie has made a worldwide total of $120million from a budget of $21million.

#5-Hansel and Gretel:Witch Hunters has turned out to be a hit.Making $5.7million in its 3rd week ,the movie has made a domestic gross of just $43.8million from a budget of $50million.But its overseas collection has been strong.The movie has made $84million just from overseas ,putting the worldwide collections to $127.8million.

Tom Cruises' Top Gun 3D re-release turned out into a bitter disappointment.The movie made just $1.9million strengthening the notion that 3D re-releases might not be such a great idea.

Boosted by its overseas collection ,Skyfall & Hobbit are still making big bucks in the international market.Skyfall has made $1.094billion (#7 highest grossing movie all time) and Hobbit Part 1 is at $955million (#18 in the same list).

With Valentines around the corner ,Hollywood has lined up 4 interesting movies.One romantic drama ,one teenage fantasy ,one kids movie and one action packed thriller.My pick of the week will be---

1-Die Hard 5- A Good Day to Die Hard will have a tough sell this time.Headed by Bruce Willis ,this is a sequel to a series of tough as nails action movies.But on the down side its director,John Moore is having a bad run (MaxPayne ,Omen) ,and the Die Hard series always are at the border of being cliched and amazing.And also to be considered is the curse of the Expendables.So far all 3 action movies of the stars who acted in the movie have tanked ,will this effect Die Hard too? Whatever it is ,Die Hard seems to be the best option this week.This is MY PICK OF THE WEEK!

2-Beautiful Creatures ,is based on the novel of the same name ,and is in the same line as of Twilight series.Whether it will be as bad as the latter is yet to be seen ,but its undeniable that its catered to the female audience of below 18 years of age.The story is about 2 teenagers falling in love and uncovering their families dark secrets.

3-Safe Haven.Now this is the most standard romantic movie that you can expect to be released this week.Its based on a Nicholas Sparks novel (his novels have been made into movies such as Notebook,Walk to Remember,Dear John and so on).Since its based on his novels ,theres 2 things that are guaranteed - its going to be a cheesy movie and its going to be a hit among the female audience.The story is of a young woman who comes into town and starts a relationship with a store owner ,and dark secrets start to turn up. (dark secrets seem to be a favorite this week)

4-Escape From Planet Earth ,is the animated movie of the week ,and this is the one you MUST miss at all costs.Poorly marketed ,cheesy looks and animation is not so great either.This is a movie made for just one reason ,its the only family movie this week.Die Hard is rated R ,and Safe Haven & Beautiful Creatures are both PG13 ,which leaves Escape that seems to be the only option for families with little kids.Itll be worth it if you sit at home rather than watch this.

Warm Bodies makes a warm debut

Warm Bodies makes a warm debut[Feb 1-3]

#1- Warm Bodies made a strong opening (for a February release) with $19.5million.The zombie movie was strengthened by good reviews which praised its unique concept and sweetness.The movie currently has a 77%.

#2-Hansel & Gretal fell as expected and landed second with $9.2million.The fairy tale adaptation has already made $96million worldwide recovering its budget of $50million in just 2 weeks.This is impressive considering it has been getting poor reviews from both critics as well as from the audience.

#3-Silver Linings Playbook continued its strong hold with $8million.The movie has been performing quite well and has crossed $100million worldwide.

#4-Mama made $6.7million in its 3rd week.The horror movie has been staying strong and has so far made an impressive $58million domestically ,and is the 4th highest grossing horror movie in the last 5 years (overshadowed only by the first 3 Paranormal Activity movies).

#5-Even though it started strong ,Zero Dark Thirty continued its downfall making just $5.3million in the weekend.The movie was expected to easily cross the 100million mark when it first showed impressive openings in limited theaters but in the last 2 weeks ,ZDT has been losing audience steeply.The movie has made $77million domestically so far.

The curse of the Expendables continued as Sylvester Stallone's Bullet to the Head flopped.In the last couple weeks ,Expendable stars such as Arnold's Last Stand and Jason Statham's Parker flopped.Bullet to the Head turned out to be more worse than those two making just $4.5million.The movie failed to impress the critics also.It has a rating of 46%.

The Stand Up Guys was a bigger dud and failed to open even in the Top 10.The Al Pacino movie opened at #17 with barely $1.5million.With poor reviews and zero marketing ,the movie was destined to die.It has a rating of 36%.

Meanwhile ,Skyfall overtook The Dark Knight Rises to become the #7 Highest Grossing Movie Worldwide.The latest James Bond movie has made $1.093billion in 12 weeks.This is far as James Bond will go in the list as its next target is quite unattainable - Lord Of the Rings 3- $1.119billion

Next week we have 2 extreme genres opening - One a comedy and the other a crime drama.Which is my pick of the week?

Identity Theft- Im choosing the comedy movie this week.Identity Theft is directed by Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) and stars 2 great comedy stars ,Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) & Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids). Although it doesnt have much hopes of becoming a great comedy movie ,its trailers do look great. Identity Theft is My Pick Of The Week.

Side Effects- This is a strong movie,directed by Steven Soderbergh (Contagion ,Oceans 11 ,Che 1&2 and loads more) ,and this is also reported to be last.The movie also has a strong cast of Channing Tatum ,Rooney Mara,Jude Law & Catherine Zeta Jones.With an initial rating of 92% ,this sounds to be an excellent medical thriller.But i wasnt a fan of his earlier medical thriller,Contagion ,so ill just wait for the reviews first.But if you like thriller more than comedy ,this will be a good watch.

Witch Hunters grab the top spot

Witch Hunters grab the top spot

[Jan25-27]

#1- Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters had a easy takeover the box office ,as it debuted with $19million.This is an average debut for a $50million and its fate is yet to decided.The movie is a gritty retelling of the classic childrens-tale.But as all gritty remakes of such tales ,this too isnt no better.Critics have panned the movie and is rated at 18%.

#2-Mama slipped by 55% to make $12.8million on its second week.With that this horror movie has already made a strong $48million and can easily beat last years top grossing horror movie ,Woman In Black ,by this weekend.

#3-Silver Linings held the 3rd spot as it fell by just 7% to make $10million.Made at a budget of $21million ,the romantic movie has made a worldwide gross of $86million and is still going strong.

#4-Zero Dark Thirty has started slipping down ,as it made just $9.8million.The momentum has been dipping slowing.The movie has made $77million worldwide so far ,and is set to be director Kathryn's highest grossing movie by this week.

#5-Jason Statham starrer Parker had a very poor start with $7million.The heist movie which is like any other Jason movie ,wasnt liked by critics either.The movie got a negative 37% and the critics say this is just like any other Jason Statham movie with a poor script and even more poorer heist.The movie is expected to tank as competition grows this week.

The third new release ,Movie 43 ,flopped with just $5million.But for a movie made at a small budget of $6million,this comedy has already made its cost.Reviews have been thoroughly negative and harsh ,and is rated at 05%.

Meanwhile ,Skyfall beat up Toy Story 3 & Pirates of the Caribbean2&4 as it rose up to #8 in the highest grossing movies worldwide list.The Bond movie has made $1.077billion and is still going at a strong pace.The next in line is The Dark Knight Rises with $1.081billion ,which will be an easy takeover for Skyfall.

Hobbit Part 1 has now grossed $939million and easily took over Lord Of The Rings:Two Towers.This has been a good run by the prequel, but much of the collection is from overseas ,and Hobbit ($293million) is yet to match upto the Lord of The Rings domestic collection ($313 ,$339 ,$377 million).

As we enter February ,there are 2 new movies this week.My pick of the week will be ---

1- Warm Bodies:Warm Bodies is a zombie romantic movie.Yes, i said romance.Strange as it is ,the movie looks like a sweet comedy movie.Warm Bodies is about a zombie that falls in love with a human.This is directed by Jonathan Levine ,who earlier directed another unique movie ,50/50.

2-The other new movie is Sylvester Stallone's Bullet To the Head.So far i have zero interest in this one ,and none of the trailers have made much of an impact.The movie is based on a graphic novel about a hitman & a cop who unite to bring down a gang.So far the movie has been getting average reviews and is currently rated at 63%.

Mama beats new releases

Mama beats new releases
[Jan 18-20]

1-The horror movie ,Mama ,made the top spot with a powerful $28million debut.Made at a budget of just $15million ,Mama is already reaping profits.its also Jessica Chastain's second movie to make it to #1 consecutively ,shes already become a sought after actress and is proving that she can attract the crowds with strong ,female centered movies.

Mama is about 2 girls who are being haunted by someone after they are rescued from an abandoned house in the forest.

Reviews have been above average ,with most saying it delivers on the scares but is a bit lagging in the narrative aspect.Mama has a rating of 62%.

2-Zero Dark Thirty ,another movie led by Jessica Chastain ,made $17.6million ,bringing its worldwide total to $59million.This movie has out-grossed ,Kathryn's (the director) earlier movie ,The Hurt Locker and looks strong enough to be her most grossing movie (currently Point Break -$83million).

3-Silver Linings Playbook finally expanded its business to all theaters and made $11million to come 3rd.This brings its worldwide total to $67million.

The movie is about a 2 people who have very deep problems falling in love.The movie has been getting excellent reviews and is currently rated at 91%.I watched this movie and i found it to be nothing exceptional (Review- http://bit.ly/silinplaRJG)

4-Gangster Squad managed to hold on to the Top 5 with $9million.The action movie is not having such a great time ,with mixed reviews and a slow start at the box office ,Gangster Squad is struggling to make its budget of $60million.The movie has a worldwide total of $41.3million.

5-The second new movie of the week ,Broken City , had a poor opening as well.The movie managed to make just $9million ,which is a disappointment considering the movie stars A-listers such as Mark Wahlberg & Russel Crowe.The movie has been getting very poor reviews with many complaining about the poor script and predictability.The movie has a rotten rating of 24%.

The 3rd new movie was The Last Stand ,which is Arnold Schwarzenegger's first lead role in a decade (last one being Terminator3 in 2003).The movie made just $6million.

Although directed by acclaimed Korean director ,Kim Jee Woon (I saw the Devil) ,the reviews have been fairly mixed,with critics saying its not very unique but is a treat for Schwarzenegger fans.The movie is rated 57%.

Meanwhile ,Skyfall is now the 11th highest grossing movie with $1.034billion ,overtaking Star Wars 1 & Alice in Wonderland.The next target for Bond is Pirates of the Caribbean 4 ($1.043b)

This week ,theres a poor set of movies opening.So my pick of the week will be last weeks ,Mama.

1-Hansel and Gretel:Witch Hunters-Starring Jeremy Renner & Gemma Arterton ,this movie has been written off as a terrible movie ,judging by the concept and trailers.Gritty remakes of fairy tales have never pleased the critics so far ,and this wont either.

2-Movie 43- Starring almost the entire Hollywood's A-Listers ,Movie 43 is also directed by 12 directors.This is a comedy movie which is made up of multiple short comedy movies.Trailers have been ok ,and the movie is completely for adults.It doesnt seem too interesting either.

3-Parker-This is a Jason Statham movie.Thats the most appropriate synopsis for Parker.An action packed movie ,Parker is about a guy looking for revenge.Not too interesting or anything new.