FilmCrave Movie Blog 04/2014

Low Budgets, Big Returns - You Gotta Have Faith (or Horror)

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/30/14 at 07:13 PM CT

Movies - they are meant to entertain, to inspire, to teach - but, and let's face it, they are also there to make money. Sure, you have indie films and passion projects galore to choose from - many might never make it beyond a handful of theaters or a few festival showings. But those the general public are aware of - Hollywood is after profit, and if people like the movies? So much the better. …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 29-May 5

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/28/14 at 08:09 PM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:

There's a pair of very enjoyable movies coming to DVD this week aimed at everyone who has ever fallen in love -- or are searching for love: "Labor Day," directed by Jason Reitman and staring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith and Tobey Maguire; and "Gloria," Chile's official selection for the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

"Labor Day," based on the …

Weekend Box Office: Captain American Bows Down to The Other Woman

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/28/14 at 12:07 AM CT

Although the official summer movie season hasn't kicked off just yet, April certainly ended on a high note as the box office continued to top 2013, up 17% compared to last year. And it was the women who helped drive the box office over the weekend, as a female-centric comedy finally knocked Captain America off his perch. Too bad the other new entries couldn't match the popularity of that new …

Five Films That Prove Hollywood is Trying to Usher in the Apocalypse

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/26/14 at 05:21 PM CT

Every year is astounds me what Hollywood will do to turn a profit. Yes, there are plenty of stunning films each and every year, but, man, are there some real head-scratchers out there too. But just when I think things can't get any worse, Hollywood manages to up their game and decide on a course of action that Satan himself would be proud to present. I'm not prognosticator - some of these films …

New in Theaters April 25: The Other Woman, The Quiet Ones, Brick Mansions

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/24/14 at 07:39 AM CT

April has pretty much been The Captain America show since it opened. But will Winter Soldier be able to close April on a high note by taking the top spot once again or will we finally usher in a new box office champion for the weekend? At least there is some good competition - including an ensemble female comedy that looks to be the successor to the popular "Bridesmaids" we also have another …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 22-28

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/22/14 at 02:11 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS
From the opening shots of the daring "Master of the House" (1925), you know you're in the hands of a cinematic master. Carl Theodor Dreyer made some of the silent and post-silent era's biggest and splashiest opuses ("Joan of Arc," "Vampyr"), but this early gem is a finely detailed, ahead-of-its-time examination of daily domestic life. It's the heartfelt story of a …

Weekend Box Office: Winter Soldier Ices Competition, Heaven is the Real Deal; Transcendence Fails

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/20/14 at 09:54 PM CT

The Easter weekend proved good for superhero and faith-based films but Johnny Depp wasn't so lucky. It also wasn't a banner weekend for Marlon Wayans. But despite the highs and lows, year to year the box office continued to improve, up over $20 million compared to last years and continuing the trend we've been seeing for most of the year. And with this win, Captain America should have no trouble …

New in Theaters April 18: Transcendence, A Haunted House 2, Bears, Heaven is for Real

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/17/14 at 07:50 AM CT

Captain America has ridden the box office wave for two weeks now - even though Rio 2 almost had audiences going to the birds - but Winter Soldier is likely not going to three-peat thanks to the star power of Johnny Depp and Morgan Freeman (and various others). Given the trend, this weekend should be another strong showing thanks to the strength of both the new films and the likely impressive …

Let's Celebrate the MTV (Plug Your) Movie Awards, Shall We?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/16/14 at 05:04 PM CT

I'm showing my age, but I remember back when the MTV Movie Awards were really a throw-away celebration. Back when people like Chewbacca the Wookie and Jason Vorhees were awarded "Lifetime Achievement" awards and everyone who bothered to show up dressed in street clothes. But those days are gone. Now, in a bid to be a bit more relevant, the awards take themselves (slightly) more seriously. I say …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 15-21

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/15/14 at 04:28 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:

"Ride Along": The wild antics of comedian Kevin Hart rescues this cop-buddy-comedy from the mundane and predictable; he stars as a video game junkie and high school security guard who not only wants to become an Atlanta cop but also wants to marry the sister of the city's toughest detective, James Payton (Ice Cube). To persuade him otherwise, James invites him …

Weekend Box Office: Winter Soldier Retains Top Spot as Rio 2 Flys Just Short

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/14/14 at 12:29 AM CT

Just when you thought winter was over - it comes back with a vengeance... no, seriously, it's snowing here in Lincoln and it's the middle of freakin' April - now that's just all kinds of messed up if you ask me. But overly-nice weather may have helped one movie eek out a win as families took the opportunity to do something more active rather than sit in a dank theater. Meanwhile it was good new …

New in Theaters April 11: Draft Day, Oculus Rio 2

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/10/14 at 07:59 AM CT

All hail the real American hero - The Captain returned and the box office domination was impressive to say the least. And I have a pretty strong feeling that for the rest of April, we're going to be hearing a lot more about The Winter Soldier. Who dared go up against the Marvel universe this weekend? We have an animated sequel, a spring-time horror offering and Kevin Costner hoping for some …

Who Spoils the Spoilers?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/09/14 at 06:39 PM CT

I have a love/hate relationship with spoilers. On the one hand, if it's something I'm highly invested in, I want to know all I can - but on the other hand, knowing something ahead of time just seems like cheating. Lately, I have been eating up every single thing I can find on the next Star Wars film. I'm a massive Star Wars fan - and it reminds me of how obsessive I got when Lost was on TV. And, …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 8-14

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/08/14 at 03:08 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug": Peter Jackson's second in his Hobbit film trilogy continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and 13 Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. There's lots of action, great special effects …

Weekend Box Office: Winter Soldier Sets April Record

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/06/14 at 10:27 PM CT

With just one new movie making a wide debut over the weekend, the question was never about the film opening big - but how big it was going to get. Captain America didn't disappoint - continuing the trend of Marvel's Phase 2 outpacing the original films in the series. It also helped the first weekend in April take a 22% compared to same period last year as 2014 continues to improve over 2013. …

Can 4K UltraScreens Save the Day?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/05/14 at 05:41 PM CT

Although in my mind, nothing can beat the experience of seeing a movie on the big screen - there is no doubt the traditional theater experience has been on the wane. First you could blame TV, then cable and satellite and today you have streaming (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Roku - who doesn't have a streaming service these days?). Plus, with current HD technology - you can get nearly as good …

New in Theaters April 4: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/03/14 at 07:44 AM CT

While March was a good month, compared to the 2012 record, it was down 15% (and even down 3% from last year). Still, for the entire year, 2014 is running about 5% ahead of 2013 but trailing 2012, 2010 and 2009 in terms of total numbers. But April is going to open with a film that has the potential to be one of the biggest movies of the spring,. The juggernaut that is Marvel Phase 2 continues to …



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