FilmCrave Movie Blog 03/2014

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 1-7

Harley Lond - wrote on 03/31/14 at 06:55 PM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
"47 Ronin": The legend of the 47 Ronin, a real-life group of master-less samurai in 18th-century Japan who avenged the murder of their master, has been the backbone of stories and plays for a couple centuries now, so it's a shame that the story had to be tarnished by this uninspired special-effects yarn starring Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Kou Shibasaki, …

Weekend Box Office: Noah a Force of Nature at the Box Office, Sabotage Trounced

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/31/14 at 12:26 AM CT

It wasn't so much a question of whether Noah was going to open first, but whether the controversy surrounding the film would have a noticeable negative impact. For all intents and purposes, those fears were laid to rest, as the biblical story proved its worth. But the news wasn't good for aged action star Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose latest opening suggests maybe the governator should have stuck …

New in Theaters March 28: Noah, Sabotage, Bad Words

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/27/14 at 07:42 AM CT

With Divergent scoring a major hit at the box office last weekend - and continuing to improve over last year's return - will the last week in March roar like a lion or go out quietly like a lamb. There is a very good chance the weekend is going to be strong - besides Divergent, the biggest movie over the weekend looks to be a biblical smackdown, there is also yet another attempt at an action …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of March 25-31

Harley Lond - wrote on 03/24/14 at 09:12 PM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
"The Wolf of Wall Street": Let me preface this by saying that I think Martin Scorsese has created some of the greatest films ever to hit the big screen: "Mean Streets," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas" and "Casino" are masterpieces. But his last couple of films -- "The Aviator," "The Departed," "Shutter Island" and …

Weekend Box Office: Divergent Breaks YA Curse, Muppets Far From Most Wanted

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/23/14 at 09:48 PM CT

The burning question over the weekend was whether Divergence was going to be the next big YA hit, or going to crash and burn like so many before it. For Hollywood - it turns out that while it may not be as big as The Hunger Games, there is plenty to be happy about Divergence. The same can't be said for the Muppet sequel - which was upstaged by the news of a limited-release Christian-themed film …

New in Theaters March 21: Divergent, Muppets Most Wanted

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/20/14 at 07:41 AM CT

Last week was supposed to provide some sparks at the box office, but Need for Speed stalled and Tyler Perry had his worst opening of all time. If it wasn't for a pair of animated friends and some well-toned Greeks, the March box office would be in sad shape indeed. But hopefully this upcoming weekend will jump-start the somewhat anemic state of movies. You have a potential YA blockbuster along …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of March 18-24

Harley Lond - wrote on 03/18/14 at 01:41 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
"American Hustle": Though overlooked at this year's Oscars, David O. Russell's film set in the alluring world of high-stakes scams and politics, loosely based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s and early '80s that ensnared East Coast politicians and congressmen in accepting bribes for political favors, was still one of the highlights of a year that …

Weekend Box Office: Mr. Peabody and Sherman Grab Top Spot as Need for Speed Breaks Down

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/16/14 at 10:42 PM CT

Even though 300 fired up the box office last weekend, it was the family audience who had the biggest impact at the theaters this weekend. Meanwhile, the two new films failed to spark much excitement while Wes Anderson's latest continues to do monster business in limited release. All told, March may have roared in like a lion, but this week things quieted down quite a bit. Next week should …

New in Theaters March 14: Need for Speed, Single Moms Club, Veronica Mars

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/13/14 at 07:38 AM CT

Last weekend the leather-clad navy in 300: Rise of an Empire easily cut down any and all competition at the box office. This week the warriors will face off against a Fast and Furious clone, the latest from Tyler Perry and, in a limited opening before expanding, a kickstarter success story that has brought a beloved (but low-rated) TV show back from the dead. I have a feeling it will be close …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of March 11-17

Harley Lond - wrote on 03/10/14 at 09:01 PM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
"Inside Llewyn Davis": The Coen Brothers have a knack for taking a film genre (and time period) and making it their own, from Hollywood satire ("Barton Fink") to Depression-era social drama ("O Brother, Where Art Thou?") to crime thriller ("Blood Simple") to modern Western ("No Country for Old Men") to 1960s melodrama ("A Serious Man") and period Western ("True …

Weekend Box Office: 300 Rises to Box Office Domination

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/10/14 at 12:56 AM CT

Liam Neeson was certainly stopped this time around as a group of abnormally chiseled men (and one wicked woman) easily conquered the box office. There was also good news for director Wes Anderson, as he posted one of the most impressive limited-release openings of all time. All in all, it was an good way to start March, as the top 12 ran a little over 2% ahead of the same weekend in 2013 and, …

New in Theaters March 07: 300: Rise of an Empire, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Grand Budapest Hotel

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/06/14 at 09:37 AM CT

The Lego Movie finally was taken down last weekend thanks to a kick-ass Liam Neeson and Son of God. This week, two other big guns (and an art house favorite) enter the scene. Another animated family film will see if it can launch to the same success as our Lego buddies, while a sequel to the most awesome CGI abs to hit the big screen comes eight years after the original hit the big screen. Big …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of March 4-10

Harley Lond - wrote on 03/03/14 at 05:55 PM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:
"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire": Even if you're not a fan of the worldwide phenomenon that is "The Hunger Games," there's three very good reasons to see the second of the quartet of films based on the books: the formidable acting talents of Jennifer Lawrence, the presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman (as the new Gamemaker), and the firm directing hand of Francis …

Weekend Box Office: Non-Stop Tops Son of God as Lego Movie Finally Gives Up Crown

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/03/14 at 01:43 AM CT

It was a one-two punch as an action icon and religious experience took down the Lego Movie over the Oscar weekend. And 2014 continued to improve over last year, as the box office ran over $15 million ahead of the same frame last year. Thanks to the Academy Awards, almost all the best picture nominees got an appreciative bump while the other animated juggernaut from last year crossed a major …

86th Annual Academy Awards LIVE

Chris Kavan - wrote on 03/02/14 at 06:22 PM CT

With the Red Carpet special less than an hour way here, I'm gearing up for the first live FilmCrave blog. You can comment here or the forum, but I will be updating all the night's award right here as they are announced. I admit I still didn't get to watch half the films I wanted to before tonight's show, which looks to have one of the tightest Best Picture races in recent history, but …



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