FilmCrave Movie Blog 10/2012

Disney + Star Wars: Recipe for Success or Total Disaster?

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/30/12 at 05:23 PM CT

Money may not be able to buy happiness, but apparently $4.05 billion can buy you the rights to Star Wars. Disney's plan not only allows it to create new films in the franchise (with reports that a new film could be released as early as 2015) but plans to release new films every 2-3 years. Lucasfilm, of course, has many other facets (including Indiana Jones and a lot of technology) but Star Wars …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of October 30

Harley Lond - wrote on 10/29/12 at 09:16 PM CT

There's a pair of pleasant theatrical surprises making their way to DVD this week: "Ruby Sparks" and "Safety Not Guaranteed," both of which fall into the "small film" category. "Ruby Sparks" is a fantastical romantic comedy about a once-successful writer named Calvin (Paul Dano) whose writer's block is unclogged when he creates a fictional character, "Ruby Sparks," who literally steps out of the …

Weekend Box Office: Argo Tops in its Third Week, Cloud Atlas, Silent Hill Disappoint

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/29/12 at 12:26 AM CT

After a stream of successful weekend following a dreadful September, Hollywood finally had another down weekend compared to last year. While the studios are quick to lay the blame on the freak "frankenstorm" brewing in the northeast, the real problem is all four new entries failed to find much traction with audiences. That led to an overall decline of 12% compared to the same weekend in …

New in Theaters October 26: Cloud Atlas, Chasing Mavericks, Fun Size, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/25/12 at 03:37 PM CT

With October winding down, two new movies aimed at the Halloween crowd are being released this weekend (though this market is becoming quite crowded). A crazy film that travels through time and multiple characters fills in the gap and finally a randomly placed movie about surfing decides to debut. Volume does not necessarily mean quality, and I have a feeling success is going to elude most new …

The Iron Man 3 Teaser Trailer - Let Phase 2 Begin

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/23/12 at 03:07 PM CT

I've said before that we were going to hit a super hero saturation point at some time. Yet if The Avengers taught me anything, it's that when done right, a movie with a bunch of actors in outrageous costumes battling it out can actually be not only entertaining in a blockbuster sense, but make a good film.

There was a big gamble on introducing Iron Man, but once that was a success, it was …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of October 23

Harley Lond - wrote on 10/22/12 at 09:33 PM CT

There's four fairly forgettable films moving from the big screen to DVD this week. Topping the list is the kind and gentle "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World," a quiet dissertation on what it means to be human -- even in times of disaster. Despite the title and premise -- the movie begins when there's 21 days left on Earth before an asteroid smashes into the planet -- there's no death …

Weekend Box Office: Paranormal Activity 4 Comes Out On Top, Alex Cross Fails to Impress

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/21/12 at 11:31 PM CT

It was another good week for Hollywood, as the top 12 films managed a 10% increase from last year at the same time, but while the numbers were good, considering the prospects, things should have been a bit better.

Leading the charge was perennial Halloween franchise Paranormal Activity. The fourth film took the top spot with $30.2 million. While that number still looks great next to a $5 …

New in Theaters October 19th: Paranormal Activity 4, Alex Cross

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/18/12 at 07:21 PM CT

After early September brought nothing but bad news, it's looking like October is providing the turnaround Hollywood needs. This week, it's going to be up to a horror franchise to keep those wheels turning. I have good feeling that with Halloween just around the corner, it's going to be another winning weekend. Combined with strong holdovers, the new entries should help make a big mark at the box …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of October 16

Harley Lond - wrote on 10/15/12 at 08:01 PM CT

Pick of the week: "Moonrise Kingdom"
It has been three years since director Wes Anderson blessed us with the whimsical "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Though we enjoyed "Fox," we must admit that we've been patiently waiting for an Anderson film to match the pure joy and whimsey of 2004's "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou" ("The Darjeeling Limited" was Anderson off his game) -- and it has been well worth …

Weekend Box Office: Argo, Sinister Impress, Here Comes the Boom Implodes

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/15/12 at 12:27 AM CT

It was another successful weekend for Hollywood, as the top 12 wound up 59% ahead of the same weekend last year. Two newcomers couldn't quite take the top spot, but still impressed with good numbers - though not every new film could boast exceptional openings.

In first place for the second straight weekend was Liam Neeson's Taken 2. Thought the film took a 55% drop, it managed to take in …

New in Theaters October 12th: Argo, Sinister, Here Comes the Boom, Seven Psychopaths

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/11/12 at 06:32 PM CT

For two weeks now, Hollywood has reveled in grosses that, while maybe not wiping out the humdrum September, certainly help. This week, with a broad comedy, a horror in anticipation for Halloween and a potential Oscar contender, not to mention some movies that should have a strong second weekend, I think we're looking at a three-peat up weekend. I have high hopes for some, little to no hope for …

Official FilmCrave Staff Verdict: The Master Movie Review

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/09/12 at 08:31 PM CT

It's hard to imagine, but Oscar season is about to heat up. As we get closer and closer to the end of the year, Hollywood always seems to ramp up their contenders for the big awards show. That's not to say something that is released early in the year can't win (Hurt Locker comes to mind) but let's face it, most nominees seem to come out later in the year. This year, if I had to guess, films like …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of October 9

Harley Lond - wrote on 10/09/12 at 01:56 AM CT

This week's highlights:
Thirty-three years ago Ridley Scott unleashed a monster on the collective moviegoing consciousness that has never been duplicated for sheer terror and science fiction inventiveness. Like "Star Wars" just before it, "Alien" has been imitated countless times -- with three sequels and numerous knock-offs -- but its legacy is unique in cinematic history. For some three …

Weekend Box Office: Audiences Approve Taken 2, Pitch Perfect; Frankenweenie Lies Down

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/07/12 at 11:18 PM CT

Last week represented a big turnaround for Hollywood and it looks like the beginning of October continues to hold good news for studios. While not every film performed in line with expectations, the good outweighed the bad and the total box office wound up 55% higher than last year over the same weekend.

A lot of the reason for this success was the opening of Taken 2. Liam Neeson's movie may …

New in Theaters October 5th: Taken 2, Pitch Perfect and Frankenweenie

Chris Kavan - wrote on 10/04/12 at 01:17 PM CT

Last week, it was a win for studios as, after many disappointing box office returns, finally we had a reason to celebrate as the one-two punch of Hotel Transylvania and Looper lifted the total to a 21% improvement compared to 2011. Can Hollywood make it two weeks in a row? With a solid action films, a film that has made big waves in limited release and another Halloween-themed animated film, …

New on DVD and Blu-ray Week of October 2

Harley Lond - wrote on 10/01/12 at 10:22 PM CT

This week's highlight:
Somewhere between concept and production there was an enormous disconnect behind the scenes on "Dark Shadows," the Johnny Depp-Tim Burton tongue-in-cheek take on the 1960s TV series. It all looked so good on paper -- In the year 1750, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from England to start a new life in America, where they build a fishing empire …



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