FilmCrave Movie Blog 04/2017

Weekend Box Office: Fate Still Furious, Latin Lover, Baahubali 2 Surprise, The Circle Deflates

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/30/17 at 08:55 PM CT

While the top movie over the weekend wasn't that big of surprise, just below we find two films targeting specific demographics that had huge openings while The Circle, a more star-driven film, failed to drum up much interest. The box office this weekend may be a look in to the near future where less mainstream films find bigger support with audiences that support them - though I don't think it …

New in Theaters April 28: The Circle, Sleight, How to Be a Latin Lover

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/27/17 at 07:31 AM CT

Five new releases last week all failed to make any impact whatsoever, while The Fate of the Furious continued to drive circles around the competition. This weekend might turn out slightly better than last weekend's massacre, but I still don't expect any of the new films to be able to dethrone Fate. The best bet looks to be the techno-driven thriller The Circle, with Emma Watson and Tom Hanks …

Alien: Covenant, Cars 3, Snatched and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/26/17 at 10:40 AM CT

Once again, the ratings gods have smiled upon us and ye, we have unto us three major ratings. By far, the film I'm most interested in is Alien: Covenant. I admit, Prometheus was kind of a mess - but this one - this looks like a true Aliens film - and actually back to horror rather than sci-fi mumbo jumbo. Hopefully this will really kick-start Ridley Scott's efforts and bring about the return of …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 25-May 1

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/25/17 at 01:53 AM CT

FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
"La La Land" was the exhilarating widescreen musical that set hearts thumping in the latter part of 2016, just in time to ameliorate (somewhat) a presidential election that tore the country apart. From the original and creative opening dance number staged on a freeway overpass during Los Angeles rush hour traffic to the alternative, dreamlike film ending, this original, …

Weekend Box Office: Fate of the Furious Dominates Weak Newcomers

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/23/17 at 09:07 PM CT

Despite a big influx of new films across a lot of different genres, only Disneynature's Born in China managed to crack the top five. Two of the new films didn't even make it in to the top 10. The top 12 couldn't even top $100 million (for only the second weekend in 2017) and, overall, the weekend was down a big 40% compared to last year. The top three remained exactly the same as Fate of the …

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

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/20/17 at 12:30 AM CT

FROM THE BIG SCREEN:

"Split": Hailed as M. Night Shyamalan's return to straight-up thrillers (after his impressive 1999 "The Sixth Sense," Shyamalan entered a downward spiral of inane, incoherent films culminating with the abject emptiness of "The Last Airbender" and "After Earth"), this is indeed a straight ahead chiller that owes much to "Psycho," "Sisters," "Seven" and all the …

New in Theaters April 21: Born in China, Free Fire, Phoenix Forgotten, The Promise, Unforgettable

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/19/17 at 07:09 PM CT

The box office is going to get a lot more crowded this upcoming weekend but even with the onslaught of new movies, Fate of the Furious should have no problem driving circles around the competition. Disneynature presents its newest documentary, following a trio of animal families in Born in China, for those wanting all-out action, Free Fire promises some claustrophobic mayhem. Horror fans can …

Despicable Me 3, Wimpy Kid: Long Haul, Hitman's Bodyguard and More in This Week's MPAA Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/18/17 at 10:54 PM CT

Another decent updated from the ratings board this week as we can look forward to another Despicable Me outing, another Wimpy Kid outing, Ryan Reynolds in another action/comedy NOT involving a superhero and a bunch more random entries that may pique your interest. At least the board isn't slacking off even after Easter, hopefully I can look forward to many more positive weeks ahead - after I …

Weekend Box Office: Fate of the Furious Makes a Worldwide Statement in Record Fashion

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/16/17 at 10:03 PM CT

We all knew that the new Fate of the Furious was going to open big. While its domestic debut may not have shattered any records, it was on the the international front that it made the biggest impact, and it means this franchise still has a lot left in its tank. Meanwhile, most of the hold-overs managed to keep a decent grip, though Ghost in the Shell continued to drop like a rock. Next week a …

New in Theaters April 14: The Fate of the Furious, Gifted

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/13/17 at 07:48 AM CT

Last week was the calm before the storm, this week we're getting that storm and its name is Fate of the Furious. The last film may have been a fitting tribute to the late Paul Walker, but many are saying that Fate of the Furious could be the biggest opening for the franchise yet. It's looking very good as it stands almost unchallenged, the only other new film with an (expanded) opening is …

Geostorm, All Saints and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/12/17 at 11:16 AM CT

After a certified deluge of big-name ratings last week, the board is slowing down a bit. We have the next big, apocalyptic disaster film in Geostorm and an inspirational true story about a sales-man -turned-pastor who tries to save a small church and changes lives (including his own) in the process. There is an impressive list this week, but those are really the only big names on it. But, as …

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

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/11/17 at 02:49 AM CT

FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
There's a pair of "feel-good" movies coming to home entertainment shelves this week. First up is "Lion," a superbly directed and acted film that got great reviews but just didn't find the audience it deserved. Based on a true story, the film follows five-year-old Indian boy Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who gets lost on a Calcutta train traveling away from his home and family. …

Weekend Box Office: Boss Baby Repeats as Champ While Smurfs, Going in Style Have Average Openings

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/09/17 at 08:11 PM CT

While the audiences (well, action fans anyway) wait with baited breath for the opening of the next Fast films, this weekend was a bit of a yawner. None of the new films had exciting openings with the biggest news being the continued success of Boss Baby and Beauty and the Beast. It was a rough second weekend for Ghost in the Shell, which saw a big 60% drop compared to its already disappointing …

New in Theaters April 07: Smurfs: Lost Village, Going in Style, Case for Christ, Zookeeper's Wife

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/06/17 at 07:39 AM CT

Although there are going to be plenty of new choices this weekend, wisdom seems to point to the continued success of Boss Baby and Beauty and the Beast rather than any of the newcomers breaking out. The best of the bunch looks to be a new Smurfs movie, which ditches the live action/animated hybrid and goes fully animated this time. We also have the geriatric comedy heist Going in Style, the …

Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Dead Men Tell No Tales, The Circle in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/05/17 at 10:07 AM CT

A lot of movies with long names in this update, hence the shortened title. But, luckily, those long titles belong to some pretty major movies coming out this year. By far one of my biggest surprises, and what quickly became one of my favorite Marvel films, Guardians of the Galaxy was a lot of fun with a great cast to boot. Now we have a sequel and I hope it will be just as good. Speaking of …

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

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/04/17 at 01:11 PM CT

FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
Since almost everyone in the known universe has seen "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" (except for the Trumps and the Putins, who were too busy divvying up the world), there's no need to replicate the entire stoyline here, save to say that -- unlike "Star Wars 1 & II & III" --- this is a true prequel, picking up matters just before the beginning of the original 1977 "Star …

Weekend Box Office: Boss Baby Tops Beauty, Ghost in the Shell Has Little Impact

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/02/17 at 08:35 PM CT

The family audience looks like they were content to support both a new entry and still more than happy to continue supporting an old friend as well. Things weren't so rosy for Scarlett Johansson as her latest film grossed less than half of what Lucy opened with three years ago. It was also a reality check for Power Rangers, which looked solid in its opening weekend but took a brutal tumble in …



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