FilmCrave Movie Blog 04/2016

New in Theaters April 29: Keanu, Mother's Day, Ratchet and Clank

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/28/16 at 07:43 AM CT

It was a chilly receptions for The Huntsman: Winter's War, the only new wide release last weekend couldn't hold a candle to the might of The Jungle Book. This week, there are three new entries that will enter the box office fray: Key and Peele debut their kitten gangster action comedy, an animated film based of a hit video game franchise (from about ten or so years ago) and a female-driven …

Almost Christmas, Café Society and More in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/27/16 at 11:36 AM CT

This week's update has a whole lot of movies, but it's quantity over quality as there are only a handful that will hit a wide release in theaters. This includes the latest film from Woody Allen and also a holiday comedy featuring yet another dysfunctional family. Otherwise, there are a bunch of limited release and some that may never see a release outside of major cities. It's not the most …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 26-May 2

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/26/16 at 03:54 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S BEST BETS:
Due this week from The Criterion Collection is a fabulous anthology of documentaries about John F. Kennedy: "The Kennedy Films of Robert Drew & Associates." Seeking to invigorate the American documentary format, which he felt was rote and uninspired, Robert Drew brought the style and vibrancy he had fostered as a Life magazine correspondent to filmmaking in the late …

Weekend Box Office: Jungle Book Tramples The Huntsman

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/24/16 at 08:06 PM CT

The writing was on the wall long before the film opened, but the weekend probably has put a nail in the coffin of any new, gritty Snow White films. The Huntsman: Winter's War was a major disappointment, meanwhile, Disney continues to bask in the glory of both The Jungle Book and Zootopia, which crossed a major milestone worldwide. Disney has a lot to look forward to and, if anything, will …

New in Theaters April 22: The Huntsman: Winter's War

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/21/16 at 07:38 AM CT

With The Jungle Book opening in near-record fashion, April is going to close out the month with some big numbers. This weekend, there is only one new film with a wide release, the Snow White prequel (without Snow White) The Huntsman: Winter's War. There are also three limited release films, all opening in under 400 theaters, but any of which could very well wind up in the top 10. I have a …

Captain America: Civil War, Central Intelligence, Neighbors 2 and More in This Week's MPAA Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/20/16 at 12:26 PM CT

For weeks now I have complaining about the lack of meaty ratings updates. I guess the ratings gods finally heard my prayers, because this week is a cornucopia of delights. We have the next Marvel film, which has been getting a great early buzz, two sequels that both look like they could be as good, if not better, than the originals, a comedic pairing of a little Hart and a big Johnson, George …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 19-25

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/19/16 at 04:35 AM CT

FROM THE BIG SCREEN:
"The Revenant" is an incredible cinematic masterpiece by Alejandro G. Inarritu, the brilliant director of "Birdman," "Babel" and "Biutiful." Along with "Carol," "The Big Short," "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Spotlight," one of the best films of this -- or any -- year. Inspired by true events, "The Revenant" is an epic story of survival and transformation on the American …

Weekend Box Office: Jungle Book Opens with a Mighty Roar

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/17/16 at 08:30 PM CT

Disney has figured out how to turn old, animated classics into live action gold. They did it with Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent and Cinderella and now The Jungle Book. With its $100 million plus debut, it became the third $100+ movie of the year and helped the box office soar to over 50% of its numbers from last year and a hefty 76.6% increase from last weekend. Meanwhile, the third film in …

New in Theaters April 15: The Jungle Book, Criminal, Barbershop: The Next Cut

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/14/16 at 07:45 AM CT

With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice falling apart, things are wide open for a new blockbuster to take the spotlight. This week, the best bet looks to be Disney's live action Jungle Book remake. Also on hand is an interesting body-swap/action/crime hybrid and a comedic sequel quite a few years in the making. I'm certain The Boss is going to fall one week after coming out on top, but we'll see …

High-Rise and More in This Week's MPAA Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/13/16 at 11:42 AM CT

Sometimes you ask and receive and sometimes your pleas fall on deaf ears. If last week was a stretch at finding something interesting to find in the update, this week is even worse. Unless you're a fan of ultra right-wing propaganda, I could only find a single limited release film that could be considered anything approaching a major film. So that's all you're going to get - one entry and, once …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 12-18

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/12/16 at 04:11 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
Here's a delightful, often overlooked gem from director Howard Hawks, starring a notoriously suave and daredevil Cary Grant and the always lovely, bewitching Jean Arthur, and featuring Hawks' penchant for verbal wit and visual craftsmanship. "Only Angels Have Wings" (1939) stars Arthur as a traveling entertainer who gets more than she bargained for during a stopover in …

Weekend Box Office: McCarthy's The Boss, Narrowly Tops Batman v Superman

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/10/16 at 08:56 PM CT

It's going to come down to the wire, but as of right now The Boss looks like it will top Batman v Superman in the superhero's third weekend though we will have to wait until Monday and the final numbers to confirm. While The Boss certainly made a a great debut, Hardcore Henry had to settle for middling numbers to go along with its middling reception while Jake Gyllenhaal's latest film, …

New in Theaters April 08: The Boss, Hardcore Henry, Everybody Wants Some!! Expands

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/07/16 at 07:50 AM CT

For two weeks Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has easily held on to the top spot, despite a precipitous drop in its second weekend. One would think a monster superhero blockbuster would be looking at weeks on top, but that drop was significant and could easily mean it will be toppled in just its third week out. The likely knock-out punch will come from Melissa McCarthy who had proven a very …

A Hologram for the King, Dheepan in This Week's MPAA Ratings Bulletin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/06/16 at 11:53 AM CT

If last week was an embarrassment of riches for the abundance of big-name films getting their due, this week is the exact opposite. There isn't a single wide-release getting a rating this week, thus I must relegate the excitement to the two most interesting limited release films. One stars Tom Hanks (that may go on to a wider release) and the other is a gritty crime drama that is foreign, but …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of April 5-11

Harley Lond - wrote on 04/05/16 at 05:53 AM CT

THIS WEEK'S THEATRICAL RELEASES:

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens":
This first of three sequels to "Star Wars" shattered box office opening-week records to become the highest grossing U.S. film of all time with over $930 million domestic, and the second-highest worldwide grossing film (behind "Avatar") with $2.82 billion worldwide. Thirty years following the battle of Endor, the Resistance is …

Weekend Box Office: Dawn of Justice Takes Big Plunge But Easily Tops Newcomers

Chris Kavan - wrote on 04/03/16 at 09:30 PM CT

It turns out the negative reviews and lack of very good word-of-mouth did indeed take its toll on the Justice League setup Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The competition wasn't exactly strong, with a Christian sequel and a horror parody to contend with, but the drop was still very significant. Still, that doesn't mean the film isn't a certified hit, just that it could mean troubled waters …



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