It seems that everyone has been swept over with a wave of Beavis and Butthead nostalgia after they were featured in a recent Extract promo, and I’m sure that trend will only continue after word gets out about what Mike Judge has been thinking of doing with them if given the chance. Our colleague Katey Rich over at Cinema Blend scored quite the scoop when she got Judge to reveal that he’s considered what it would be like for Beavis and Butthead to be in tech support, as well as what they’d be like as 60 year olds.
When asked how he felt about revisiting the characters, Judge responded:
I don’t ever want to close the door on that, but it seems like a couple of times when I’ve done interviews and say I’ve thought about, I go on the internet and see a headline that says I’m starting on the sequel. If I did do another movie, I wouldn’t think of it as a sequel, it’s just another. I don’t think of the Cheech and Chong movies as sequels. If they didn’t take so long– it would take at least two years, and I haven’t had two years to spare in a while. It is fun to do again. I worry that as I get older my voice is going to change, so I don’t sound the same. But it was fun doing this one.
Occasionally I’ll get an idea. A while back, I was thinking, God it would be so fun to just have them working tech support. They’re the guys you get when you call. I started writing stuff down.
As someone who’s worked in the tech support field for far too long, I could totally see Beavis and Butthead landing a gig somewhere under a manager that doesn’t know anything about technology. I’d also love to see them living with the technology we have today—don’t forget that in 1997 (when the series ended), the Internet was not widely used, cellphones were a luxury, and the iPod didn’t even exist. That possibility definitely excites me more than seeing them as old men. I’d rather Judge save that story line for several years down the line, and give us some sort of Beavis and Butthead sci-fi adventure similar to criminal adventure they went through in the first film.
Honestly, I hope that Judge seriously considers reviving Beavis and Butthead, especially now that Extract is out, and The Goode Family has been cancelled (it felt more like a King of the Hill spinoff than anything truly original). I don’t think I’m the only one that’s shocked how much I miss these two idiots.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Rambo 5 Goes Sci-Fi, The Savage Hunt Confirmed
This past week Nu Image/Millennium Films officially announced a greenlight for Rambo’s fifth mission, with Sylvester Stallone signed on to return to star and also direct. Stallone had previously hinted that the character would venture into a “slightly different genre,” leaving many fans to speculate sci-fi or a more comic bookish approach. But the plot synopsis released to the Hollywood trade papers was something else entirely… and apparently false.
Variety reported that Rambo would fight his way “through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border.” But Sly now confirms to AICN that the storyline is much different than what the trades had reported. Rambo will not be returning to the United States, and the story will instead be set in the Pacific Northwest.
The story involves a secret U.S. military installation where they are doing experiments to create “brilliantly instinctual killer soldiers that have no qualms about taking life.” And when things go wrong, Rambo is brought in with a Black Ops squad to hunt, capture and kill these chemically engineered creations. So basically, Rambo will be the hunter instead of the hunted. Head on over to AICN to see the full early concept poster for the new film, which is cropped above. And yes, the working title right now is Rambo V: The Savage Hunt.
Stallone is currently doing post production on The Expendables, but production on Rambo 5 will start in the spring.
Variety reported that Rambo would fight his way “through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border.” But Sly now confirms to AICN that the storyline is much different than what the trades had reported. Rambo will not be returning to the United States, and the story will instead be set in the Pacific Northwest.
The story involves a secret U.S. military installation where they are doing experiments to create “brilliantly instinctual killer soldiers that have no qualms about taking life.” And when things go wrong, Rambo is brought in with a Black Ops squad to hunt, capture and kill these chemically engineered creations. So basically, Rambo will be the hunter instead of the hunted. Head on over to AICN to see the full early concept poster for the new film, which is cropped above. And yes, the working title right now is Rambo V: The Savage Hunt.
Stallone is currently doing post production on The Expendables, but production on Rambo 5 will start in the spring.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
HBO Greenlights Enlightened, From School of Rock Writer Mike White
About a month ago, we told you that Columbia had picked up a spec script by Mike White, actor and writer on School of Rock and Freaks and Geeks. Now, with White also appearing soon in Zombieland (you can see him briefly in the trailer), comes more good news for the guy: HBO has greenlit the pilot for his show Enlightened.
THR reports that the show will re-team White with Laura Dern, who also starred in his directorial effort Year of the Dog. The plot puts Dern as “a self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening and becomes determined to live an enlightened life, creating havoc at home and work.” Sounds like a premise that could so easily be mined for both drama and comedy, and a perfect fit for Dern. I don’t think there’s a lot she can’t do, but capturing the spirit of that friend we’ve all had who gets too enamored of their own enlightening experience should be something at which she excels.
After not hearing much from him for a couple years, this is only the latest project for White, who also produced and appears in Gentlemen Broncos, is still working on another School of Rock film, and is working with Scott Rudin to adapt Sean Wilsey’s memoir Oh the Glory of it All; White wrote and is producing.
White and Dern are both exceptionally talented, and hopefully the show will only add to HBO’s new slate. After a couple of years losing ground to Showtime and AMC, HBO may be on the verge of become a home of great content again. The network has Hung and Bored to Death, as well as How to Make it in America, The Pacific and the upcoming Boardwalk Empire, the Terence Winter / Martin Scorsese show I talked about yesterday.
THR reports that the show will re-team White with Laura Dern, who also starred in his directorial effort Year of the Dog. The plot puts Dern as “a self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening and becomes determined to live an enlightened life, creating havoc at home and work.” Sounds like a premise that could so easily be mined for both drama and comedy, and a perfect fit for Dern. I don’t think there’s a lot she can’t do, but capturing the spirit of that friend we’ve all had who gets too enamored of their own enlightening experience should be something at which she excels.
After not hearing much from him for a couple years, this is only the latest project for White, who also produced and appears in Gentlemen Broncos, is still working on another School of Rock film, and is working with Scott Rudin to adapt Sean Wilsey’s memoir Oh the Glory of it All; White wrote and is producing.
White and Dern are both exceptionally talented, and hopefully the show will only add to HBO’s new slate. After a couple of years losing ground to Showtime and AMC, HBO may be on the verge of become a home of great content again. The network has Hung and Bored to Death, as well as How to Make it in America, The Pacific and the upcoming Boardwalk Empire, the Terence Winter / Martin Scorsese show I talked about yesterday.
Big Momma is Back!
20th Century Fox has hired Randi Mayem Singer (Tooth Fairy, Mrs. Doubtfire) to write Big Momma's House 3, reports Variety.
The trade says the storyline for the second sequel is under wraps. New Regency and David Friendly are attached to repeat their producing duties from the first two pics.
The first two films, starring Martin Lawrence, grossed $174 million and $138 million worldwide, respectively.
The trade says the storyline for the second sequel is under wraps. New Regency and David Friendly are attached to repeat their producing duties from the first two pics.
The first two films, starring Martin Lawrence, grossed $174 million and $138 million worldwide, respectively.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Paul W.S. Anderson To Ruin The Three Musketeers… in 3D
Paul W.S. Anderson will direct a new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s Les Trois Mousquetaires, aka The Three Musketeers. Anderson co-wrote the screenplay (read: run, run far away…) with Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Tailor of Panama), and plans to shoot the film in, wait for it… 3-D. UGH! If you’re not yet disgusted, please read on.
According to the article on HeatVision, Anderson intends for the film to have a contemporary feel. Here is the quote:
“We are definitely modernizing ‘The Three Musketeers’ without compromising the fun of shooting a period piece,” said Anderson, who hopes to shoot in France and Germany. “But in our film, corsets and feathered hats don’t take center stage. Our version is rich in eye-popping action, romance and adventure.”
So basically, Anderson wants to make a non-period period film, which will really just be a dumbed down B-action 3d spectacle? I wasn’t too interested in seeing The Three Musketeers back on the big screen again anyways, certainly not with Anderson at the helm, and definitely not based on his pitch. Is there any chance this movie will be any good? I’d recommend that anyone interested should probably just read the book instead (which is available for free thanks to Google).
Paul WS Anderson (not to be confused with Paul Thomas Anderson) has made a career directing bad video game adaptations (Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil trilogy) before moving on to equally bad Sci-Fi remakes/spin-offs (Alien vs. Predator, Death Race). His best film, the 1997 sci-fi film Event Horizon, earned critic quotes like “a retarded Goth version of 2001″ and “Anderson shoots things to look cool, but he has no grasp on how to modulate the visuals to carry the audience into the deepening nightmare of the plot.”
The plan is to begin shooting next year, with a tentative 2011 release date being eyed.
According to the article on HeatVision, Anderson intends for the film to have a contemporary feel. Here is the quote:
“We are definitely modernizing ‘The Three Musketeers’ without compromising the fun of shooting a period piece,” said Anderson, who hopes to shoot in France and Germany. “But in our film, corsets and feathered hats don’t take center stage. Our version is rich in eye-popping action, romance and adventure.”
So basically, Anderson wants to make a non-period period film, which will really just be a dumbed down B-action 3d spectacle? I wasn’t too interested in seeing The Three Musketeers back on the big screen again anyways, certainly not with Anderson at the helm, and definitely not based on his pitch. Is there any chance this movie will be any good? I’d recommend that anyone interested should probably just read the book instead (which is available for free thanks to Google).
Paul WS Anderson (not to be confused with Paul Thomas Anderson) has made a career directing bad video game adaptations (Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil trilogy) before moving on to equally bad Sci-Fi remakes/spin-offs (Alien vs. Predator, Death Race). His best film, the 1997 sci-fi film Event Horizon, earned critic quotes like “a retarded Goth version of 2001″ and “Anderson shoots things to look cool, but he has no grasp on how to modulate the visuals to carry the audience into the deepening nightmare of the plot.”
The plan is to begin shooting next year, with a tentative 2011 release date being eyed.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Mad Men Picked Up for Fourth Season
Mad Men has been renewed for a fourth season, AMC announced Tuesday.
The pickup for the cabler's flagship series comes three weeks after the Emmy-winning and buzzed-about series' third-season premiere opened to 4.5 million viewers — a number that factors in encore presentations.
"We always saw the potential for Mad Men, and believed in and supported the series because of our strategy of developing cinematic television that complements our library of the most entertaining movies, from every genre, on television," Charlie Collier, president and general manager of AMC, said in a statement. "With this early fourth season renewal, we're excited to let our audience know the captivating world of Sterling Cooper will be back on AMC again next year."
And unlike the ad drama's previous renewal, fans won't have to worry about creator Matthew Weiner's involvement, since he inked a seven-figure deal with Lionsgate in January to remain onboard for two more seasons.
The pickup for the cabler's flagship series comes three weeks after the Emmy-winning and buzzed-about series' third-season premiere opened to 4.5 million viewers — a number that factors in encore presentations.
"We always saw the potential for Mad Men, and believed in and supported the series because of our strategy of developing cinematic television that complements our library of the most entertaining movies, from every genre, on television," Charlie Collier, president and general manager of AMC, said in a statement. "With this early fourth season renewal, we're excited to let our audience know the captivating world of Sterling Cooper will be back on AMC again next year."
And unlike the ad drama's previous renewal, fans won't have to worry about creator Matthew Weiner's involvement, since he inked a seven-figure deal with Lionsgate in January to remain onboard for two more seasons.
New Colors for DSi, Wii Remote Bundle Coming
New DSi colors coming September, Black Wii remote this holiday.
Nintendo's holiday hardware lineup is getting a little more colorful.
On September 13, the company plans to release two new colors for its DSi handheld. Both pink and white versions will be made available in the U.S., giving shoppers "even more options to personalize their experiences." Nintendo already released two other colors, black and blue.
Also coming this fall is a new black colored Wii Remote bundle, featuring the Wii MotionPlus add-on. The black Nunchuk will be sold separately. No pricing details have been announced just yet. For now, however, it seems the black version of the Wii console will remain exclusive to Japan. We're crossing our fingers, though.
Nintendo's holiday hardware lineup is getting a little more colorful.
On September 13, the company plans to release two new colors for its DSi handheld. Both pink and white versions will be made available in the U.S., giving shoppers "even more options to personalize their experiences." Nintendo already released two other colors, black and blue.
Also coming this fall is a new black colored Wii Remote bundle, featuring the Wii MotionPlus add-on. The black Nunchuk will be sold separately. No pricing details have been announced just yet. For now, however, it seems the black version of the Wii console will remain exclusive to Japan. We're crossing our fingers, though.
Opera Browser Now Free
Nintendo opens up the Internet Channel on Wii for no cost, and gives back to those who paid.
Nintendo of America today announced that it will make the Internet Channel -- the Wii Opera Browser -- free to all Nintendo Wii owners. The Internet Channel makes it possible for Wii users to surf the web easily using the Wii remote to navigate pages.
The Wii Browser was once offered for free in early beta form, but in July of 2007 Nintendo made it a premium for 500 Nintendo Points (then called Wii Points).
Additionally, starting in October, Wii owners that paid for the Internet Channel will be able to download a Virtual Console NES game of their choice, valued at 500 points.
On top of this, the Internet Channel has just been updated to support upgraded features of the Adobe Flash standard.
Nintendo of America today announced that it will make the Internet Channel -- the Wii Opera Browser -- free to all Nintendo Wii owners. The Internet Channel makes it possible for Wii users to surf the web easily using the Wii remote to navigate pages.
The Wii Browser was once offered for free in early beta form, but in July of 2007 Nintendo made it a premium for 500 Nintendo Points (then called Wii Points).
Additionally, starting in October, Wii owners that paid for the Internet Channel will be able to download a Virtual Console NES game of their choice, valued at 500 points.
On top of this, the Internet Channel has just been updated to support upgraded features of the Adobe Flash standard.
Wii Fit Plus Priced, Dated for October
Stand-alone disc, bundles being offered.
Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, an enhanced version of the original, is set for release in North America on Oct 4. A stand-alone disc will retail for $19.99, while the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board bundle is priced at $99.
Wii Fit Plus offers more exercises and yoga activities, customizable workouts, and new balance games. Nintendo will be phasing out the current Wii Fit game at retail for this upgrade.
Nintendo announced Wii Fit Plus, an enhanced version of the original, is set for release in North America on Oct 4. A stand-alone disc will retail for $19.99, while the Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board bundle is priced at $99.
Wii Fit Plus offers more exercises and yoga activities, customizable workouts, and new balance games. Nintendo will be phasing out the current Wii Fit game at retail for this upgrade.
Fox Will Reboot Fantastic Four
I find it funny that 20th Century Fox waited until the day when Disney revealed that they would be acquiring Marvel to announce the next step in the Fantastic Four film franchise. Or perhaps the information somehow leaked out when everyone was trying to gather all the details of what properties Disney would have and not have feature film rights to. Either way, tonight it was revealed that Akiva Goldsman has been hired to produce a new Fantastic Four film, a complete reboot.
Variety reports that a screenwriter has been hired to reboot the franchise: Michael Green, a producer/writer for Smallville, Everwood and Heroes (ugh…) who co-wrote the upcoming big screen adaptation of The Green Lantern. No other details are known at this time, as Fox has not commented about its plans. But one would assume that the creative talent (and I use that term loosely) from the original 2005 film and the 2007 sequel, will not be a part of this new attempt. And that includes director Tim Story and stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis.
One can only hope that Fox takes a cue from the recent superhero films (The Dark Knight on one extreme, and Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk on the other) and allows a less corny take on the series. I’d likely be happier with a film even if they took a slightly more adult (yet still comic) tone of a film like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2.
Goldsman got his start in Hollywood as a screenwriter, and at one point wrote the bad Batman movies (Forever and Batman & Robin). More recently he has made the transition into producer of such films as I Am Legend, Hancock, and the upcoming comic book films Jonah Hex and The Losers.
Variety reports that a screenwriter has been hired to reboot the franchise: Michael Green, a producer/writer for Smallville, Everwood and Heroes (ugh…) who co-wrote the upcoming big screen adaptation of The Green Lantern. No other details are known at this time, as Fox has not commented about its plans. But one would assume that the creative talent (and I use that term loosely) from the original 2005 film and the 2007 sequel, will not be a part of this new attempt. And that includes director Tim Story and stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis.
One can only hope that Fox takes a cue from the recent superhero films (The Dark Knight on one extreme, and Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk on the other) and allows a less corny take on the series. I’d likely be happier with a film even if they took a slightly more adult (yet still comic) tone of a film like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2.
Goldsman got his start in Hollywood as a screenwriter, and at one point wrote the bad Batman movies (Forever and Batman & Robin). More recently he has made the transition into producer of such films as I Am Legend, Hancock, and the upcoming comic book films Jonah Hex and The Losers.
'Teen Wolf' pilot moving ahead at MTV
Reinvention is 'very different from' 1985 film, network says
MTV's reinvention of the 1980s movie "Teen Wolf" is inching closer to reality with a pilot presentation order.
The cable network announced the project in January as part of its development slate. After seeing the script, MTV brass picked it up to presentation.
The 1985 film starred Michael J. Fox as a teenager who discovers he is a werewolf. The MTV version will be set in high school, draw from the horror genre to explore werewolf mythology and include a romantic plot line.
"It has a fresh take and is very different from the original," said Liz Gateley, senior vp MTV series development. "It has more of an 'American Werewolf in London' feel to it. It's a dramatic thriller with two best friends in the center who provide a great comedy element: They are two very relatable characters on the outer circles of popular cliques."
The new "Wolf" was written by "Criminal Minds" creator Jeff Davis, who executive produces the pilot with Marty Adelstein (Fox's "Prison Break") and Rene Echevarria (ABC's "Castle").
The '80s continue to be hot at the broadcast networks, with contemporary remakes of the feature "Parenthood" and miniseries "V" set to launch next season on NBC and ABC, respectively, and ABC and Fox developing series based on "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Heathers," respectively.
As part of its push in scripted TV, MTV recently ordered another high school project, the comedy "Hard Times," to series. It also is developing a U.S. version of the raunchy U.K. teen series "Skins."
MTV's reinvention of the 1980s movie "Teen Wolf" is inching closer to reality with a pilot presentation order.
The cable network announced the project in January as part of its development slate. After seeing the script, MTV brass picked it up to presentation.
The 1985 film starred Michael J. Fox as a teenager who discovers he is a werewolf. The MTV version will be set in high school, draw from the horror genre to explore werewolf mythology and include a romantic plot line.
"It has a fresh take and is very different from the original," said Liz Gateley, senior vp MTV series development. "It has more of an 'American Werewolf in London' feel to it. It's a dramatic thriller with two best friends in the center who provide a great comedy element: They are two very relatable characters on the outer circles of popular cliques."
The new "Wolf" was written by "Criminal Minds" creator Jeff Davis, who executive produces the pilot with Marty Adelstein (Fox's "Prison Break") and Rene Echevarria (ABC's "Castle").
The '80s continue to be hot at the broadcast networks, with contemporary remakes of the feature "Parenthood" and miniseries "V" set to launch next season on NBC and ABC, respectively, and ABC and Fox developing series based on "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Heathers," respectively.
As part of its push in scripted TV, MTV recently ordered another high school project, the comedy "Hard Times," to series. It also is developing a U.S. version of the raunchy U.K. teen series "Skins."
Monday, August 31, 2009
Noel Gallagher Quits Oasis
Lead guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher has quit Oasis, according to a statement he posted tonight (Aug. 28) to the band's website. The announcement came shortly after the last-minute cancellation of the group's scheduled performance today at the Rock En Seine festival in Paris.
"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight," Gallagher wrote. "People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."
Noel's brother and Oasis lead singer/guitarist Liam Gallagher founded the band in 1991 with Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCaroll. Noel joined shortly thereafter and took over as Oasis' lead songwriter. The Gallagher brothers are the longest-standing members of the band; the rest of the current lineup includes guitarist/keyboardist Colin Archer, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Chris Sharrock.
Oasis had performances scheduled at the Rock Am See Festival in Konstanz, Germany tomorrow, and the I-Day Festival in Milan, Italy on Sunday, both of which are canceled, according to Gallagher's statement. "Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz and Milan," he wrote. No further news on the band's future have been announced.
Oasis' most recent album, "Dig Out Your Soul," peaked at 5 on the Billboard 200 last October.
"It's with some sadness and great relief to tell you that I quit Oasis tonight," Gallagher wrote. "People will write and say what they like, but I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer."
Noel's brother and Oasis lead singer/guitarist Liam Gallagher founded the band in 1991 with Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan and Tony McCaroll. Noel joined shortly thereafter and took over as Oasis' lead songwriter. The Gallagher brothers are the longest-standing members of the band; the rest of the current lineup includes guitarist/keyboardist Colin Archer, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Chris Sharrock.
Oasis had performances scheduled at the Rock Am See Festival in Konstanz, Germany tomorrow, and the I-Day Festival in Milan, Italy on Sunday, both of which are canceled, according to Gallagher's statement. "Apologies to all the people who bought tickets for the shows in Paris, Konstanz and Milan," he wrote. No further news on the band's future have been announced.
Oasis' most recent album, "Dig Out Your Soul," peaked at 5 on the Billboard 200 last October.
Nicolas Cage To Star In 3D Action Revenge Movie Drive Angry
Nicolas Cage has caught the 3D fever and has signed on to star in a revenge action film titled Drive Angry , to be directed by the helmer of My Bloody Valentine 3D.
Patrick Lussier will direct based on a screenplay he co-wrote with his Bloody Valentine writing partner Todd Farmer for Nu Image/Millenium Films. The story is definitely R-Rated, an enraged man who is out for revenge, chasing the people who killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby. According to THR, “the vendetta/rescue spins out of control as the chase gets bloodier by the mile, leaving bodies strewn along the highway.” The film will go into production in April in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Nu Image has a brand new $10 million studio.
Lussier got his start in Hollywood as an editor on Wes Craven horror films like New Nightmare (Nightmare on Elm Street 7), the Scream trilogy, Mimic, and Halloween H20. He made his feature directorial debut with Dracula 2000, and followed up with the series’ two direct-to-video sequels. The interesting part is that he went on to direct My Bloody Valentine 3D, which made some big money for an R-Rated horror film (which some credited to the 3D), and was praised as a fun ride by horror fanatics. And of course, he’s also developing another 3D horror film, called Condition Dead 3D.
Lussier has become a 3D propagandist, once telling the LA Times that the 3-D format is “more than a fad,” and that “you could do My Dinner With Andre in 3-D and it would be incredibly compelling.” Agree with that statement or not (for the record, I do not), I have to admit that I love the fun gimmicky 3D movie every once in a while. Yes, hopefully Hollywood restrains from the practice, but the idea of a revenge action car film in 3D starring the incredibly over-the-top and cheesy Nicolas Cage sounds like it will be more than worth my $10.
Patrick Lussier will direct based on a screenplay he co-wrote with his Bloody Valentine writing partner Todd Farmer for Nu Image/Millenium Films. The story is definitely R-Rated, an enraged man who is out for revenge, chasing the people who killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby. According to THR, “the vendetta/rescue spins out of control as the chase gets bloodier by the mile, leaving bodies strewn along the highway.” The film will go into production in April in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Nu Image has a brand new $10 million studio.
Lussier got his start in Hollywood as an editor on Wes Craven horror films like New Nightmare (Nightmare on Elm Street 7), the Scream trilogy, Mimic, and Halloween H20. He made his feature directorial debut with Dracula 2000, and followed up with the series’ two direct-to-video sequels. The interesting part is that he went on to direct My Bloody Valentine 3D, which made some big money for an R-Rated horror film (which some credited to the 3D), and was praised as a fun ride by horror fanatics. And of course, he’s also developing another 3D horror film, called Condition Dead 3D.
Lussier has become a 3D propagandist, once telling the LA Times that the 3-D format is “more than a fad,” and that “you could do My Dinner With Andre in 3-D and it would be incredibly compelling.” Agree with that statement or not (for the record, I do not), I have to admit that I love the fun gimmicky 3D movie every once in a while. Yes, hopefully Hollywood restrains from the practice, but the idea of a revenge action car film in 3D starring the incredibly over-the-top and cheesy Nicolas Cage sounds like it will be more than worth my $10.
Bad Boys 3 In Development
Remember the scene in Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen where Sam is drawing symbols all over the walls of his dorm room? Yeah, we’ve tried to forget about it too. What you might not have noticed is that Sam writes the number 3 on a poster for the other Michael Bay sequel, Bad Boys II. Now we’ve learned that the studio is moving forward with development on a third film, but will the original crew return for one more adventure?
THR reports that Columbia Pictures has hired Peter Craig to write a screenplay for Bad Boys 3. But the project is only in the early stages and none of the participants have yet agreed to return.
The hope is to get both Martin Lawrence and Will Smith to return, alongside director Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer said in an interview that “When we had about two weeks of shooting left to go on Bad Boys II, Will and Martin were having such a good time, they phoned (Columbia studio boss) Amy Pascal and said, ‘We want to sign up for another one.’ So hopefully we’ll get them all back together again.”
At the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, Will Smith told Hollyscoop that he had an idea for Bad Boys 3, but added that “Michael (Bay) is too expensive now. He’s way too expensive.” And that is the big hurdle — getting the cash to bring back Will Smith, who has since exploded into a megastar, Bruckheimer, who never comes cheap, and Bay, who is now use to collecting percentages of toy merchandise Lucas-style.
All of the usual suspects have expressed an interest in coming back for a third movie, but only if they can get the story right. That’s where Craig comes in. For those of you who don’t recognize his name, you probably shouldn’t, as he has no completed screenwriting credits on his Hollywood resume.
According to Wikipedia, he’s a published author known for his “darkly comic novels of imploding father-child relationships.” His novels include The Martini Shot, Hot Plastic, and Blood Father. As for Hollywood, he has been developing a few projects, mainly co-writing Ben Affleck’s The Town which begins shooting next month, and has been working on a live-action adaptation of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop for 20th Century Fox and Keanu Reeves. Oh, and he’s also the son of actress Sally Field.
Many of you know that I’m often a defender of Michael Bay. That said, I didn’t speak up after the release of Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen for obvious reasons. And before that, my least favorite films he’s made are the Bad Boys series. That’s not to say they’re bad, I just don’t like Martin Lawrence. The first Bad Boys film is interesting to watch just because you can tell Bay is on a leash, restrained by producers and budget, on his first feature film. His next two films, The Rock and Armageddon, are probably his most coherent, probably because it was a time when he still had structure.
Back to the Bad Boys films, I will say this — the car chase sequence in Bad Boys 2 is very under-appreciated, and is probably (wait for it.. hyperbolic statement coming up… in 3…2…1..) one of the best car chase action sequences of the last decade (seen below).
And hey, best case scenario, as GetStuck suggests, this and the Point Break sequel might lead to a Hot Fuzz 2… Just a thought.
THR reports that Columbia Pictures has hired Peter Craig to write a screenplay for Bad Boys 3. But the project is only in the early stages and none of the participants have yet agreed to return.
The hope is to get both Martin Lawrence and Will Smith to return, alongside director Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer said in an interview that “When we had about two weeks of shooting left to go on Bad Boys II, Will and Martin were having such a good time, they phoned (Columbia studio boss) Amy Pascal and said, ‘We want to sign up for another one.’ So hopefully we’ll get them all back together again.”
At the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, Will Smith told Hollyscoop that he had an idea for Bad Boys 3, but added that “Michael (Bay) is too expensive now. He’s way too expensive.” And that is the big hurdle — getting the cash to bring back Will Smith, who has since exploded into a megastar, Bruckheimer, who never comes cheap, and Bay, who is now use to collecting percentages of toy merchandise Lucas-style.
All of the usual suspects have expressed an interest in coming back for a third movie, but only if they can get the story right. That’s where Craig comes in. For those of you who don’t recognize his name, you probably shouldn’t, as he has no completed screenwriting credits on his Hollywood resume.
According to Wikipedia, he’s a published author known for his “darkly comic novels of imploding father-child relationships.” His novels include The Martini Shot, Hot Plastic, and Blood Father. As for Hollywood, he has been developing a few projects, mainly co-writing Ben Affleck’s The Town which begins shooting next month, and has been working on a live-action adaptation of the popular anime Cowboy Bebop for 20th Century Fox and Keanu Reeves. Oh, and he’s also the son of actress Sally Field.
Many of you know that I’m often a defender of Michael Bay. That said, I didn’t speak up after the release of Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen for obvious reasons. And before that, my least favorite films he’s made are the Bad Boys series. That’s not to say they’re bad, I just don’t like Martin Lawrence. The first Bad Boys film is interesting to watch just because you can tell Bay is on a leash, restrained by producers and budget, on his first feature film. His next two films, The Rock and Armageddon, are probably his most coherent, probably because it was a time when he still had structure.
Back to the Bad Boys films, I will say this — the car chase sequence in Bad Boys 2 is very under-appreciated, and is probably (wait for it.. hyperbolic statement coming up… in 3…2…1..) one of the best car chase action sequences of the last decade (seen below).
And hey, best case scenario, as GetStuck suggests, this and the Point Break sequel might lead to a Hot Fuzz 2… Just a thought.
Rambo 5 Gets The Greenlight
After the successful release of Rambo 4 (which was released under the simple title Rambo), there has been a lot of talk about making a possible fifth film. Stallone had hinted that he hopes to take the character into a “slightly different genre,” leaving many fans to speculate sci-fi or a more comic bookish approach. He later was quoted as saying that “this is the last Rambo just as Rocky Balboa is the last Rocky.” Yeah right…
Nu Image/Millennium Films have officially announced a greenlight for Rambo’s fifth mission, with Sylvester Stallone signed on to return to star and also direct. No word on if Stallone will also write this latest adventure, but I would say it’s a strong possibility considering that he wrote the screenplays for the previous films.
So what is the new movie going to be about? According to Variety, Rambo will fight his way “through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border.” Doesn’t sound like the big departure that Sly had previously promised (but then again, he also said that there would never be a fifth Rambo film).
Earlier this year, the not-so-reliable British tabloid paper The Sun reported that Mickey Rourke had agreed to play the villain in a fifth Rambo. There has also been rumors that Stallone was looking to film the sequel in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, which would
actually serve as Rambo’s hometown “somewhere in Arizona.” I’m not sure if those were totally bunk, but it sounds like it.
Stallone is currently doing post production on The Expendables, but production on Rambo 5 will start in the spring.
Nu Image/Millennium Films have officially announced a greenlight for Rambo’s fifth mission, with Sylvester Stallone signed on to return to star and also direct. No word on if Stallone will also write this latest adventure, but I would say it’s a strong possibility considering that he wrote the screenplays for the previous films.
So what is the new movie going to be about? According to Variety, Rambo will fight his way “through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border.” Doesn’t sound like the big departure that Sly had previously promised (but then again, he also said that there would never be a fifth Rambo film).
Earlier this year, the not-so-reliable British tabloid paper The Sun reported that Mickey Rourke had agreed to play the villain in a fifth Rambo. There has also been rumors that Stallone was looking to film the sequel in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, which would
actually serve as Rambo’s hometown “somewhere in Arizona.” I’m not sure if those were totally bunk, but it sounds like it.
Stallone is currently doing post production on The Expendables, but production on Rambo 5 will start in the spring.
Halloween 3D Slated for Summer 2010 Without Rob Zombie
Over the weekend, the conclusion to Rob Zombie’s fresh take on the franchise, Halloween II, grossed $17 million. Budgeted at $15 million, the sequel would likely have grossed much more if not for direct competition with the weekend’s top movie and debut, The Final Destination 3D (a very healthy $28m). Today, the rebounding Weinstein Company announced a new, eleventh installment that is already in the planning stages. Entitled, not-so-curiously, Halloween 3D, it’s slated for release next summer.
According to the LA Times, Dimension’s Bob Weinstein offered that Zombie would not be back, as expected per his upcoming The Blob, and that a new director is in talks, one with experience in horror and a “different take” on Michael Myers. Note: /Film commenter, DrChicago, guesses that Alexandre Aja (High Tension) may be the director in line to take over the franchise. This is a great guess because Aja is currently finishing up Piranha 3D for Dimension and is not officially booked for another project; then again, Piranha is due April ‘10, so would Aja really have two 3D horror films from the same studio released so close together?
In a set visit report last Friday, I quoted franchise producer, Malek Akkad, as acknowledging a “third” film way back in April: “Well, the way it works is that, our deal with Dimension, is that hopefully they can opt to do another one. And that’s a legal technicality, and a whole other issue. …It feels like these two films are really Rob’s take. And, you know, we’ll address [a sequel] later. …Where we go from here is anyone’s guess. …There’s going to be the diehards that are never going to be happy unless it’s frame-for-frame like John Carpenter’s version.”
In lieu of generally poor reviews and unjustified vitriol from critics for Halloween II, this writer is predictably quite curious to see how these same critics react, both to the news of an unrelated follow-up and to the 2010 film itself. Similar to Frankenstein, Dracula, and hell, even the Blob, new films featuring Michael Myers, an iconic monster of modern horror, will always be on the way. As an enthusiast of horror, personally I’m fine with that. I also chalk this reality off to why I prefer watching new entries written and directed by a talented and cool genre auteur like Rob Zombie; a filmmaker who actually took the time to deconstruct and reconstruct the franchise’s mythos, characters, and ignore its reputation for C-list talent (by casting Brad Dourif, Malcolm McDowell, and Weird Al). For once, audiences were required to think about Michael Myers, about why—post Carpenter’s original—he remains scary, and the character’s murky line between spectre, zombie, and serial killer.
Whether one disliked or even detested Zombie’s vision(s), he forever contributed two films to a series that had come to possess all the definition of a dark, dead-end alley in the worst way. With nowhere else to go but retread that tired path, Zombie instead took a risk and placed the identity of Myers—a far more dubious horror icon compared to Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger—and his sister’s front-and-center. And, in retrospect, I think it will come to be seen as natural that, arguably, the only working American director whose face/image is synonymous with American horror got a shot; nay, wanted two shots at Myers.
Now that his versions have ridden the white horse into horror history, who would you like to see direct Halloween 3D? Moreover, what American horror director(s) do you find superior to Rob Zombie, with the exception of Sam Raimi, who tends to venture outside the genre? Producer Akkad previously expressed, “…obviously Halloween, and Michael Myers, is a very American horror icon. And Rob gets that.” This was in response to a question about the involvement of Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, the French directors of Inside, who were originally slated for Halloween II. He added, “And these guys were French, so there was something lost in translation somehow,” half in jest. That said, is there a foreign director(s) you’d rather see take over in 3D?
According to the LA Times, Dimension’s Bob Weinstein offered that Zombie would not be back, as expected per his upcoming The Blob, and that a new director is in talks, one with experience in horror and a “different take” on Michael Myers. Note: /Film commenter, DrChicago, guesses that Alexandre Aja (High Tension) may be the director in line to take over the franchise. This is a great guess because Aja is currently finishing up Piranha 3D for Dimension and is not officially booked for another project; then again, Piranha is due April ‘10, so would Aja really have two 3D horror films from the same studio released so close together?
In a set visit report last Friday, I quoted franchise producer, Malek Akkad, as acknowledging a “third” film way back in April: “Well, the way it works is that, our deal with Dimension, is that hopefully they can opt to do another one. And that’s a legal technicality, and a whole other issue. …It feels like these two films are really Rob’s take. And, you know, we’ll address [a sequel] later. …Where we go from here is anyone’s guess. …There’s going to be the diehards that are never going to be happy unless it’s frame-for-frame like John Carpenter’s version.”
In lieu of generally poor reviews and unjustified vitriol from critics for Halloween II, this writer is predictably quite curious to see how these same critics react, both to the news of an unrelated follow-up and to the 2010 film itself. Similar to Frankenstein, Dracula, and hell, even the Blob, new films featuring Michael Myers, an iconic monster of modern horror, will always be on the way. As an enthusiast of horror, personally I’m fine with that. I also chalk this reality off to why I prefer watching new entries written and directed by a talented and cool genre auteur like Rob Zombie; a filmmaker who actually took the time to deconstruct and reconstruct the franchise’s mythos, characters, and ignore its reputation for C-list talent (by casting Brad Dourif, Malcolm McDowell, and Weird Al). For once, audiences were required to think about Michael Myers, about why—post Carpenter’s original—he remains scary, and the character’s murky line between spectre, zombie, and serial killer.
Whether one disliked or even detested Zombie’s vision(s), he forever contributed two films to a series that had come to possess all the definition of a dark, dead-end alley in the worst way. With nowhere else to go but retread that tired path, Zombie instead took a risk and placed the identity of Myers—a far more dubious horror icon compared to Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger—and his sister’s front-and-center. And, in retrospect, I think it will come to be seen as natural that, arguably, the only working American director whose face/image is synonymous with American horror got a shot; nay, wanted two shots at Myers.
Now that his versions have ridden the white horse into horror history, who would you like to see direct Halloween 3D? Moreover, what American horror director(s) do you find superior to Rob Zombie, with the exception of Sam Raimi, who tends to venture outside the genre? Producer Akkad previously expressed, “…obviously Halloween, and Michael Myers, is a very American horror icon. And Rob gets that.” This was in response to a question about the involvement of Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, the French directors of Inside, who were originally slated for Halloween II. He added, “And these guys were French, so there was something lost in translation somehow,” half in jest. That said, is there a foreign director(s) you’d rather see take over in 3D?
Disney to Acquire Marvel for $4 Billion!
A huge announcement this morning - Disney is going to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion!
Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.
Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.
Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.
“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”
“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.
“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”
Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.
The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.
UPDATE #1: In a conference call, the companies said that the deals for movies for characters at other studios (Spider-Man, X-Men, etc.) will stay in place under the terms set by Marvel and the other studios.
UPDATE #2: John Lasseter met with Marvel last week about a possible team-up between Marvel and Pixar and got "pretty excited, pretty fast." They say there's definitely an opportunity there.
UPDATE #3: The deal with Paramount Pictures to distribute five films--"Iron Man 2," "Thor," "Captain America," "The Avengers" and "Iron Man 3"--stays in place as well, but Disney would like to self-distribute down the line. "When the time comes we'll take a closer look at it."
Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.
Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney on August 28, 2009, Marvel shareholders would receive a total of $30 per share in cash plus approximately 0.745 Disney shares for each Marvel share they own. At closing, the amount of cash and stock will be adjusted if necessary so that the total value of the Disney stock issued as merger consideration based on its trading value at that time is not less than 40% of the total merger consideration.
Based on the closing price of Disney stock on Friday, August 28, the transaction value is $50 per Marvel share or approximately $4 billion.
“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”
“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.
“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”
Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Marvel including its more than 5,000 Marvel characters. Mr. Perlmutter will oversee the Marvel properties, and will work directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build and further integrate Marvel’s properties.
The Boards of Directors of Disney and Marvel have each approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, effectiveness of a registration statement with respect to Disney shares issued in the transaction and other customary closing conditions. The agreement will require the approval of Marvel shareholders. Marvel was advised on the transaction by BofA Merrill Lynch.
UPDATE #1: In a conference call, the companies said that the deals for movies for characters at other studios (Spider-Man, X-Men, etc.) will stay in place under the terms set by Marvel and the other studios.
UPDATE #2: John Lasseter met with Marvel last week about a possible team-up between Marvel and Pixar and got "pretty excited, pretty fast." They say there's definitely an opportunity there.
UPDATE #3: The deal with Paramount Pictures to distribute five films--"Iron Man 2," "Thor," "Captain America," "The Avengers" and "Iron Man 3"--stays in place as well, but Disney would like to self-distribute down the line. "When the time comes we'll take a closer look at it."
And This Final Destination is... #1!
The ComingSoon.net Box Office Report has been updated with studio estimates for the weekend.
Going into the weekend, it looked like there was going to be a tight race between two R-rated horror movies, but with Friday estimates it became evidently clear that The Final Destination was going to come out the victor. The fourth installment of the gory horror series opened in 3,121 theaters with nearly half of them screening the movie in 3D, and the higher ticket prices helped it gross an estimated $28.3 million over the weekend, an impressive per-theater average of $9 thousand per venue. That amount is nearly 50% of the total gross that the previous installment made domestically in its entire theatrical run. According to Real D, 3D accounted for 70% of the opening weekend box office with Real D accounting for 90% of that amount or roughly $18 million. In past years, the last weekend in August before Labor Day weekend was a dumping ground where few movies ever grossed more than $18 million, so topping that amount by over $28 million is a huge coup for The Final Destination.
After opening with $38 million last week, Quentin Tarantino's WWII thriller Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company/Universal) dropped 47% to second place with roughly $20 million and a ten-day total of $73 million domestically. The well-reviewed film cost roughly $70 million to produce, which its well on its way to recouping with the inclusion of international grosses.
Rob Zombie's horror sequel Halloween II didn't stand a chance against such heavy R-rated competition, as it grossed $17.4 million in just over 3,000 theaters or roughly $5,700 per venue, settling for third place. The previous movie opened with $31 million over the four-day Labor Day weekend two years ago then went on to gross $58 million, an amount that might be difficult to match for its sequel.
The Neill Blomkamp-directed sci-fi thriller District 9 (Sony) brought in another $10.7 million in fourth place, bringing its total to $90.8 million after three weekends.
Dropping to fifth place, Stephen Sommers' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Paramount) took in another $8 million to bring its own gross to $132.4 million.
Sony's cooking comedy Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, brought in another $7.4 million for sixth place as it crossed the $70 million mark in its fourth weekend. Its 16% drop from last week is the best hold from last weekend's returning movies.
The romantic drama The Time Traveler's Wife (New Line/WB) with Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams dropped to seventh place with $6.7 million and a total gross of $48 million.
Robert Rodriguez's family adventure Shorts (Warner Bros.) held up well in its second weekend, taking eighth place with $4.9 million, off just 24% from its opening weekend. It has grossed $13.5 million so far.
After an exclusive release in New York and L.A. on Wednesday, Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock (Focus Features) opened nationwide in over 1,300 theaters where it brought in $3.7 million.
The Top 10 grossed $110 million, which was not only up 33% from the same weekend last year, but it also might be one of the best pre-Labor Day weekends at box office.
R. J. Cutler's doc The September Issue, which followed Anna Wintour and the staff of Vogue as they create their phonebook-sized annual Fall preview, opened in 6 theaters in New York, raking in $240 thousand, roughly $40k per site.
Going into the weekend, it looked like there was going to be a tight race between two R-rated horror movies, but with Friday estimates it became evidently clear that The Final Destination was going to come out the victor. The fourth installment of the gory horror series opened in 3,121 theaters with nearly half of them screening the movie in 3D, and the higher ticket prices helped it gross an estimated $28.3 million over the weekend, an impressive per-theater average of $9 thousand per venue. That amount is nearly 50% of the total gross that the previous installment made domestically in its entire theatrical run. According to Real D, 3D accounted for 70% of the opening weekend box office with Real D accounting for 90% of that amount or roughly $18 million. In past years, the last weekend in August before Labor Day weekend was a dumping ground where few movies ever grossed more than $18 million, so topping that amount by over $28 million is a huge coup for The Final Destination.
After opening with $38 million last week, Quentin Tarantino's WWII thriller Inglourious Basterds (The Weinstein Company/Universal) dropped 47% to second place with roughly $20 million and a ten-day total of $73 million domestically. The well-reviewed film cost roughly $70 million to produce, which its well on its way to recouping with the inclusion of international grosses.
Rob Zombie's horror sequel Halloween II didn't stand a chance against such heavy R-rated competition, as it grossed $17.4 million in just over 3,000 theaters or roughly $5,700 per venue, settling for third place. The previous movie opened with $31 million over the four-day Labor Day weekend two years ago then went on to gross $58 million, an amount that might be difficult to match for its sequel.
The Neill Blomkamp-directed sci-fi thriller District 9 (Sony) brought in another $10.7 million in fourth place, bringing its total to $90.8 million after three weekends.
Dropping to fifth place, Stephen Sommers' G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Paramount) took in another $8 million to bring its own gross to $132.4 million.
Sony's cooking comedy Julie & Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, brought in another $7.4 million for sixth place as it crossed the $70 million mark in its fourth weekend. Its 16% drop from last week is the best hold from last weekend's returning movies.
The romantic drama The Time Traveler's Wife (New Line/WB) with Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams dropped to seventh place with $6.7 million and a total gross of $48 million.
Robert Rodriguez's family adventure Shorts (Warner Bros.) held up well in its second weekend, taking eighth place with $4.9 million, off just 24% from its opening weekend. It has grossed $13.5 million so far.
After an exclusive release in New York and L.A. on Wednesday, Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock (Focus Features) opened nationwide in over 1,300 theaters where it brought in $3.7 million.
The Top 10 grossed $110 million, which was not only up 33% from the same weekend last year, but it also might be one of the best pre-Labor Day weekends at box office.
R. J. Cutler's doc The September Issue, which followed Anna Wintour and the staff of Vogue as they create their phonebook-sized annual Fall preview, opened in 6 theaters in New York, raking in $240 thousand, roughly $40k per site.
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