Green Lantern Casting News

In the latest casting news, Ryan Gosling and Emile Hirsch both turned down the lead for Green Lantern. Sam Worthington turned the role down due to scheduling conflicts. Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett, Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation) is the current contender. 

As much as I love Anton, I'm seriously concerned about this. How old do the plan on making Hal Jordan? Anyone else see the problem here?

~Lauren

Trailer Watch

Um, so none of these are especially spectacular trailers, but I feel obligated to report, so...

Goodbye Solo - this one is another feel good movie, judging from the trailer. On the bright side, it's set in NC. 

For all you horror fans, here's Babysitter Wanted.

Because it was only a matter of time before it happened, here's the first feel good sports movie, Ivy League addition. 

To be perfectly honest, the Angels & Demons trailers make me want to destroy something, and not in that good, hey-I-just-watched-Fight Club way.

~Lauren

Trailer Watch

Sometimes, just to make my day, a trailer comes along like this one for Mutant Chronicles. Wow. I mean, just, wow. And it's not directed by Uwe Boll. 

Also, Dakota Fanning's little sis has a movie coming out. Phoebe in Wonderland could be cute. The trailer certainly seems sweet.

~Lauren

Hollywood is acting weird again, must be time for another strike

I've been reluctant to post any news these past few days. It's not that there hasn't been any, it's just that what has come out has been... weird. 

Michel Gondry, director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Science of Sleep, has replaced Stephen Chow as director of the Green Hornet project starring Seth Rogen. Um, yeah. I think Katie summed this one up best with a confused look and a "...What?" It's a very odd choice for this director, but ok, I'll go with it.

In one of the biggest disappointments in casting this year, Emily Blunt will not be playing Black Widow in Iron Man 2. Rumors are that Scarlett Johansson, who has the acting talents of a flea, will be replacing Blunt. Personally, I think this would be one of the worst casting choices in history. I'd rather remove my eyes with a rusty spoon than watch Johansson attempt to act whilst next to Downey Jr.'s brilliance. Rumors of Eliza Dushku are somewhat less horrifying, but still not hopeful. 

Writer Diablo Cody of Juno fame is set to adapt zombie novel Breathers for the big screen. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Considering the novel is about a newly turned zombie who joins a support group, I'm not sure why anyone thinks this will appeal to horror fans. I like my zombies evil, dead, and trying to kill me. But hey, maybe you feel differently.

Jonah Hex and Green Lantern have both been green lit for 2010. Please, please, Warners, do Green Lantern right. You probably won't, but please, please make it everything we fans have hoped and dreamed it could be.

There are a whole lot of early Watchmen reviews circulating the net. Personally, I'm not reading any of them. I'm reserving my judgement/level of hatred for the midnight premiere. After watching one leaked scene, I have very, very little hope.

In this weeks edition of unnecessary remake, Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) is set to direct Clue. While it is unclear if this is or is not a remake of the previously entitled movie based on the classic game, this movie is part of a trend in bringing board games to the big screen. Ridley Scott is set to direct Monopoly and writer Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder) is set to write the script for Candyland. As if this wasn't enough, Michael Bay is producing a movie called Ouija.

Katie, in what I assume to be a moment of boredom, uncovered evidence of a Jonny Quest movie on imdb. It's set for release in 2010. We'll let you know when we learn more. Any casting ideas? Katie claims The Rock is set to play Race, but I'm not entirely sure where she got this information. Lets all hope that Zac Efron isn't cast to play Jonny. Haley Joel Osment's career has been pretty low key recently. Maybe the producers should consider him for Jonny.

Matt Damon is slated to star in The Adjustment Bureau. No idea what it's about, but Variety is calling it "a contemporary science fiction love story." Whenever I see that phrase attached to any movie, I get concerned.

Finally, if you haven't heard yet, SAG turned down it's final contract offer this week. A strike is now eminent. This is probably the reason for the more bizarre news above.

~Lauren

The End of the World

I would like to point out that according to the Year Zero timeline, there is going to be a bioterrorism attack tonight in Los Angeles. So, if this actually happens, this blog will turn into an attempt to raise awareness about our future government's constitution-breaking acts and I'll probably disappear within the next year for dissident activity. If so, it's been real everybody. If not, well, I might be kind of disappointed, but I'll definitely be relieved. 

In the mean time, go listen to the Year Zero cd and prepare yourself for this.

~Lauren

Katie's Oscar Picks

Let me just say that I saw all the Best Picture nominees this year, as usual. Dear God, what a crap year. Sure, I enjoyed them all, but the magic of years past was simply not there. Considering the epic summer we had, that's too bad. Unlike Lauren, I don't play this "who I think should win" game. As always, I haven't seen everything, and I don't like deciding what ought to be when I don't really know for sure. So here's what I think is going down on Oscar Night. Enjoy.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke (if Sean Penn takes this one, I will vomit)
Best Actress: Kate Winslet (if Meryl Streep takes this one, I will vomit)
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Best Animated Film: Wall-E
Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Cinematography: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Costume Design: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Director: Danny Boyle
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Documentary Short: The Witness-From the Balcony of Room 306
Best Film Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Foreign Language: Waltz with Bashir
Best Makeup: The Dark Knight
Best Music (Song): "Jai Ho"
Best Music (Score): James Newton Howard
Best Short Film (Animated): Presto
Best Short Film (Live Action): The Pig
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: The Dark Knight
Best Visual Effects: Iron Man
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Reader
Best Writing (Original Screenplay): Milk

Once again, this is one of the lamest years...ever. Boo.

-Katie

Twigman Awards

Every year, I find myself marveling at the overrated, overwrought tripe that has all the Hollywood sycophants going ga-ga over during awards season. And I drag myself to see all the films nominated for that most coveted of prizes: the Academy Award for Best Picture. But when I try to discuss Brokeback Mountain, There Will Be Blood, or The Queen with the casual moviegoer, I get nothing but looks of bewilderment. And rightly so. Because nobody's seen ANY of these motion pictures. And this year, it's worse than ever. Sure, the nominees are (mostly) excellent. But...that's just it. They are excellent films in the most stereotypical awards show ways.

No wonder the Oscars gets abysmal ratings year after year. The tedious self-congratulatory exercise has no relation whatsoever to the crowds who pack the cineplex for (damn good) flicks like The Dark Knight, Iron Man, and Kung Fu Panda. Because I end up sitting through both the arthouse/indie flicks AND the box office bonanzas, Lauren and I are going to use this insight to give you a gift, dear movie fan. Something you've deserved all along, and something you will never get from the Academy. We humbly present The Twigman Awards, the awards for you folks who will never get satisfaction on Oscar night.



Best Picture: The Dark Knight

OK, folks, this one's a no-brainer. The fact that the Academy didn't deem this at least one of the five best motion pictures of the year is a travesty and further (unnecessary) proof that the Hollywood system lacks...oh, what's the word? Balls? Anyway, Christopher Nolan's dark, twisted take on the Batman mythology is nothing but stunning. Brilliantly scripted, superbly acted, and visually captivating, The Dark Knight was a comic book junkie's dream. And with Heath Ledger's haunting performance as the "agent of chaos" himself, The Joker, critics were throwing his name into the ring for Oscar consideration from day one. Try to name a more engrossing film from 2008. Are those crickets I hear? None of the Best Picture nominees from this year is stellar enough to shut out this absolutely incredible movie. Not even Slumdog Millionaire, as lovely as it is. Shame on you, Academy.

Best Director: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight


We all knew after Memento that Nolan was a genius. The Dark Knight is a brilliant masterpiece of cinema that proves he's a truly epic director. Nolan creates a comic book movie that transcends action blockbuster. It's a social commentary, a character study... I could go on, but Katie will tell me I'm rambling, so I'll end it with this. Nolan's work on The Dark Knight is brilliant.

Best Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

When Heath Ledger died, it was a sad day. He was one of Hollywood's most promising young actors. True, he made some really, really bad movies (see The Order and The Brothers Grimm), but he's also been a vital part of some classic movies (Brokeback Mountain, The Patriot). I'll be honest. When I heard he's been cast as the Joker, I was deeply offended and concerned about the future of this movie. I didn't doubt that Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson would be great villains. But Heath Ledger? Ledger had always been mainly viewed as the pretty boy actor. Sure, he was a great actor, but he'd never played a villain. And honestly, I didn't see him as the Joker. But then I saw The Dark Knight at an afternoon matinee the Saturday after it came out. And then, a few hours later, I went back again that night to watch it all over again. The movie was near-flawless. And Ledger was brilliant. I cried inside because I knew that, aside from the few scenes he'd shot on Terry Gilliam's movie Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, this was the last work we would ever see from Ledger. You cannot help but wonder what else we would have gotten from him if he'd lived. Heath Ledger gave hands down the best performance in a movie this year.

Best Actress: ?

We couldn't think of a single performance that deserved this. Tragically, none of the limited release movies like The Reader qualify for nominations for these awards, so Kate Winslet, while we salute you, do something mainstream.

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder

Just to let you folks know, Lauren and I duked it out with Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who'd get the honor of describing the magnificence of RDJ. Although this performance is (somehow) Oscar-nominated, there's not a chance in hell that this mad portrayal of an egocentric method actor will come away with that elusive gold statuette. Anyway, in his second great performance of 2008, Downey Jr. sheds the shades, suits, and sex appeal of Tony Stark and dons the military fatigues and flawless Rick Baker makeup effects to play Kirk Lazarus. Or is it Lincoln Osiris? Or Father O'Malley? Downey Jr., who couldn't be anything but himself in Iron Man, manages to disappear into this latter performance. Simultaneously unflinchingly offensive and uproariously funny, Downey Jr.'s dim Lazarus remains the most endearing and enduring character of the film. Much of the magic comes from his improv skills more so than the script. Don't believe me? Check out the cast commentary on the DVD. Comedy gold.

Best Supporting Actress: Angelina Jolie, Wanted


Angelina, you are a badass in this movie. Hands down, you gave the best female performance in a summer blockbuster. The fact that you didn't talk much in this movie only made me like you more. Angelina, you rocked it. However, Katie thinks you need to eat a sandwich (see promo poster for reason why).


Best Screenplay: The Dark Knight

A comic book movie with issues of morality, social conformity, anarchy, ethics, freedom, terrorism, and justice? A year ago, I would have laughed and told you it would be impossible. There was no way such a movie could exist and convincingly pull it all off. But The Dark Knight does. This script is a work of art. It should be studied and lectured on in the greatest universities in the world. This script is sheer perfection.

Best Use of a Previously Written Song in a Movie: Wanted, Nine Inch Nails "Every Day Is Exactly The Same"

If you know me, then you know I love Nine Inch Nails. I saw them twice last year in concert. Twice. So, needless to say, I jumped out of my seat when I heard the opening note of this song. And yeah, I recognized it from it's intro. I'll be the first to admit I'm nothing but obsessive when it comes to my favorite music. What I didn't expect was to see this song used in such a phenomenal way. The blend of scenes with music is genius. The pacing and visual look of the movie is perfectly matched with the music. Several Nine Inch Nails song would have worked with this movie, but this choice was inspired. The editing with this sequence is so perfect. This is how movies should use music.

*In hindsight, I, Katie, realize that I wildly, emphatically, COMPLETELY disagree with this selection. Good God, what was I thinking? Best use of song is DEFINITELY "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" in Wall-E. This tune is originally used in a ridiculously long song-and-dance number in Hello, Dolly! that uses too many singers, dancers, and horrible costumes. Here, it's used to stunning effect to give a hapless little robot a touch of whimsy in his monotonous life. Unlike the use of "Everyday is Exactly the Same," this song is absolutely essential to the function of the story. Wall-E would not understand the concept of love, be able to woo Eve, or know how to dance and charm an audience without it. WHAT WAS I THINKING??? No question, hands-down. Perfect. As far as editing the song goes, guess what? The filmmakers knew to cut the scene before Barbra cuts in with her brassy vocals. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.

Best Costuming: Iron Man

Tony Stark's suits. Game over.

Best Makeup: Hellboy II

One of the things that irritates the hell out of me every Oscar Night is the award for Best Makeup. It almost never fails to go to something "historical," like Frida. Really? An Oscar for a unibrow? Spare me. We're making amends for this right now. Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II, a vast improvement over its overcomplicated predecessor, takes place in a fantastical world so imaginative and stunning that even Peter Jackson would get jealous. Populating this world are demons, fish people, and elven beings that are generally achieved through the laborious application of...just plain awesome makeup. And as incredible as the makeup work itself is (check out the ethereal porcelain skin of the prince and princess, the brilliant crimson of the Hellboy full-body makeup, and the gills and slippery skin on Abe Sapien), what's even more amazing is how the characters come alive as a result of their physical appearance. Makeup here is critical to the storytelling; without the perfect look, there'd be zero interest in the adventures of Hellboy and his compatriots.

Best Visual Effects: Speed Racer

This whole movie gets credit for being one giant acid trip.

Best Technical Explosion: The Dark Knight, Hospital explosion

So cool. And who would have guessed this wasn't a hospital, but a random office building scheduled to be demolished. Way to go Nolan for taking advantage of a great opportunity.

Best Use of Pyrotechnics: Tropic Thunder, Opening Scene

This was hands down the most impressive use of Pyrotechnics in cinema this year, and possibly one of the best ever. The following was taken from Wikipedia.

"Filming the large napalm explosion in the opening scene of the film required a 450-foot (137-meter) long row of explosive pots containing 1,100 gallons (4,165 liters) of gasoline and diesel fuel. All of the palm trees used in the explosion were moved to the specific location after the crew determined the impact of the lighting and necessary camera angles. Due to the size and cost of the 1.25-second explosion, it was only performed once and was captured by twelve cameras. For the safety of the crew members and cast, the detonators were added one hour prior to the explosion and nobody was allowed to be within 400 feet (120 m) of the explosion. The explosion was made up of 12 individual explosions and resulted in a mushroom cloud that reached 350 feet (110 m) in the air."

Cody, I agree with your pyromaniac fervor. This made me want to go blow something up.

Best Drop of the F-bomb: Tropic Thunder, "I'm a lead farmer, motherf*cker!"

...I use the f-word a lot. Know why? Because it's extremely useful. Especially in scripts (just ask Scorsese). From one of our favorite (and most f-word-laden) scripts of the summer, this gem of a line instantly became a part of our movie quote cannon. Tropic Thunder, deliciously preposterous, offered a bizarre context wherein this line could be shockingly appropriate. Downey, practically unrecognizable behind his absurd makeup and costume, amps up the ridiculous factor to deliver the best line of 2008, hands down. Seriously, who WASN'T quoting this one last August?

~Katie & Lauren

Lauren's Oscar Picks 2009

Every year, I always pick who I think should win the at the Oscars. So, without much ado, here are my Oscar picks for 2009.

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Directing: Slumdog Millionaire

Actor, Leading: Mickey Rourke

Actress, Leading: Kate Winslet

Actor, Supporting: Heath Ledger

Actress, Supporting: Penelope Cruz

Animated Feature: Wall-E

Documentary Feature: Man on Wire

Documentary Short: The Final Inch

Foreign Language Film: Waltz with Bashir

Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire

Original Song: "Jai Ho"

Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire

Costume Design: The Duchess

Makeup: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Short Film, Animated: This Way Up

Short Film, Live Action: New Boy

Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire 

Sound Editing: The Dark Knight

Sound Mixing: Wanted

Visual Effects: Iron Man

Writing, Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire

Writing, Original Screenplay: In Bruges

~Lauren

Trailer Watch: Wolverine Part 2

The next spiffy Wolverine trailer is up. God bless Fox. Please watch then read my comments. 

Right, so now they're brothers...what version of the comics are they reading? Please, tell me, cause I really, really want to know why the comic lore I've devoted so much of my life to has been thrown in the trash. What's good? Another glimpse of Ryan Reynolds. What's bad? The brother implications, yet again a complete lack of Dominic Monaghan's character. I'm starting to wonder if our favorite hobbit is really in this nonsense. Come to think of it, that may be a good thing. We get our last trailer tonight. Hopefully, these things don't get progressively worse.

Proof that this whole brother thing is complete nonsense can be found here and here.

~Lauren

Trailer Watch: Wolverine

So Fox has all these spiffy Wolverine trailers that they plan on showing this week. Here is the first. Please watch before reading my comments.

What. The. Hell? Since when was Sabretooth his father? I know that's what the writer of the original comics had intended, but that got shot down big time by subsequent writers. It CLEARLY states in the comics that they are NOT father and son (see Wolverine vol. 2 #42). As a comic book geek, this deeply, deeply upsets me. Otherwise, this looks amazing, but seriously? How could they screw this up?

~Lauren

Box Office Injustice

This week on Box Office Injustice, I was hoping that things would be slightly more just. Tragically, I was wrong. Paul Blart had a positive growth of 7.5%. Shameful. However, it was overall a good take for the studios. Record smashing results, blah, blah, blah. The International had a poor opening weekend, but who had the brilliant idea of releasing an action/suspense movie on Valentine's weekend? I'm glad to see that Taken is still going strong. Numbers have been rounded.

1. Friday the 13th $42 million

2. He's Just Not That Into You $19.6 million

3. Taken $19 million

4. Confessions of a Shopaholic $15 million

5. Coraline $15 million

6. Paul Blart $11.7 million (Why are people still going to see this?)

7. The International $10 million

8. The Pink Panther 2 $9 million

9. Slumdog Millionaire $7 million

10. Push $6.9 million

Coming this weekend to a theater near you are Fired Up and Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail. If you held a gun to my head and forced me to pick one, I'd go for Fired Up, but seriously, you're better off catching something, anything, else.

~Lauren

Movie News

I know we kind of slacked off on updating this site last week, which is a real shame, since so much happened. Thus, here are last week's highlights.

Christopher Nolan's next film is NOT Batman. Instead, it's something he's written called Inception. 

David Cronenberg's (Eastern Promises) next film is the adaptation of Robert Ludlum's The Matarese Circle. The writers of Wanted have been hired to adapt it. Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise are set to star.

Woody Allen has reportedly cast Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin in his new, and currently untitled, project.

~Lauren

Watchmen Update!

There is a new trailer online that gives us our first look at the Tales of the Black Freighter. MTV has it here. While it is woefully short, I for one cannot wait to see more.

~Lauren

Shameless Promotion

Strictly speaking, this blog is dedicated to movies. However, Katie and I, especially me, do watch an insane amount of television. We just agreed to make this blog about movies. However, this is going to be one of those rare times in which I discuss television.

Dollhouse is the latest work from the ever masterful Joss Whedon. This is the man who has written Toy Story, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Serenity. He is one of my favorite writers in Hollywood. Unfortunately, it seems that Fox hates him. Firefly, despite it's brilliance, was cancelled. It looks as though Dollhouse will soon meet the same fate.

The show premiered Friday night to abysmal ratings. Anyone could have foreseen that. I mean, Fox put it on a Friday night. It's clearly geared to the scifi/geek audience, which is fine. I appreciate the fact that Fox has been creating such shows with this audience in mind. The Sarah Connor Chronicles, while in no way a great show, gets points for effort. I chalk it's failure up to Lena Headey's inability to act. Fringe, even though I don't particularly like it, gets credit for trying to be the X-Files. Placing Dollhouse after The Sarah Connor Chronicles makes sense, I guess. However, placing Dollhouse on a Friday night is suicide. The Scifi channel dominates every geek's Friday night with Battlestar. Even if Dollhouse is a full hour before Battlestar, forget it. Battlestar fans are too busy waiting to find out how their favorite show will end. And as for a non-geek audience, it's a Friday night. Those people will be out watching movies at the theater. In short: Dear Fox, you're morons.

So, since this show is already fated to be canceled, I encourage you to jump on the Dollhouse bandwagon. If the numbers go up, then the show might last longer. So watch Dollhouse on Fridays at 9/8c on Fox. If you missed the first episode, watch it at Hulu.

~Lauren

Trailer Watch

It is here at last. If you haven't gotten to look at the first teaser for Inglorious Basterds, look no further. As psyched as I am for Tarantino's next movie, something about this trailer seems a bit too reminiscent of a certain Cormac McCarthy novel. But seriously, if nothing else, this trailer proves that Tarantino must adapt Blood Meridian into a movie. If you haven't read that novel, press pause on your dvd player and get to the nearest bookstore. But back to the trailer, how creepy is Eli Roth's grin?

Here is another new trailer for you. The Taking of Pelham 123 stars Denzel Washington and John Travolta. I commend this trailer first for its use of "99 Problems." Trailer music is always an interesting selection process. This one has one of the weirdest selections ever. From "99 Problems" we move onto what sounds suspiciously like Explosions in the Sky. Even weirder than the mix of music, is the dialogue between Washington and a woman I assume to be his character's wife. "You do what you need to do, but we need milk." What is this? Bad, bad trailer cutting. This dialogue makes NO sense. Maybe it will in the context of the movie, but not in this trailer. It is refreshing to see Travolta in a serious role, i.e. not Hairsray or Bolt. Finally, does this feel vaguely like Inside Man to anyone else?

This next set of trailers are all serious movies, which is odd, since this is the time of year we get our summer blockbuster trailers. It must be the result of Film Festival Season. Anyways, we have Must Read After My Death and The Education of Charlie Banks. Neither of these look like particularly happy films. Must Read After My Death feels like a Sam Mendes movie, only a true story, which really says a lot about what to expect.

Diego Luna has apparently decided to start producing movies. I'm not really sure what else to say about the trailer for Sin Nombre, other than I'm pretty sure it uses the same music as The Motorcycle Diaries trailer.

Also, the trailer for American Violet hit the internet this week. The trailer starts out weak, but improves as it goes. Still, looks like a somewhat solid film.

Finally, if you are feeling like you want to liquify your brain, I have the perfect trailer for you. Watch the Dragonball Evolution trailer if you dare. I have only one comment: why, Hollywood, why?

~Lauren

HELP WANTED!

We, Katie and Lauren, need your, the readers, help. In case it somehow escaped your notice, it's award season in the cinematic world. In light of this, we have decided to create our own awards. This is where you come in. 

We need some suggestions for 

1. A name for this snazzy award

2. Categories

3. Nominees

Here's a goal/mission statement so you understand our aim in this matter. Every year, awards are given to movies most people probably don't see. Let's face it, limited release means half the movies nominated for awards are never seen outside of art houses in New York, Chicago, and L.A. Box office gems, like The Dark Knight, get constantly overlooked. Our awards will go to these overlooked, but great movies. 

For some inspiration to encourage those ideas to flow, probable categories at this point include Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best visual Effects, and Best Screenplay. Obviously, these are the usual categories. We want you to tell us what you think of these potential categories: Best Technical Explosion and/or Use of Pyrotechnics, Best Fight Choreography, and Best Film Set in a Foreign Country (in regards to the last one, this is up for suggestion because most people don't see foreign films; they do see movies set entirely in foreign countries). Also, what if instead of Best Score we had a category for Best Use of a Song in a movie that hadn't been written for that movie?

Please comment and give us possible titles, categories, and nominees. Input is greatly appreciated. Think of this as a new way of procrastination if you need an excuse. 

Thank you,

Katie and Lauren

Box Office Injustice

I feel compelled to report box office results, mainly because it's a study in the stupidity of the American public, although congratulations to Taken for getting the number one spot. Maybe America isn't entirely as hopeless as it seemed last weekend, when Paul Blart was number one. So, without further ado, the take for January 30 - February 1. Numbers have been rounded.

1. Taken $24.7 million

2. Paul Blart $13.8 million ($83 million total - Why, America, why?)

3. The Uninvited $10 million

4. Hotel For Dogs $8.6 million

5. Gran Torino $8.2 million

6. Slumdog Millionaire $7.6 million

7. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans $7.5 million

8. New In Town $6.7 million

9. My Bloody Valentine 3-D $4.4 million

10. Inkheart $3.7 million

We would now like to strongly encourage you NOT to see Paul Blart this weekend. If you want to see a movie, see the reviews on this site for some advice. We also strongly, strongly endorse Slumdog Millionaire. If you haven't seen it, run to the nearest theater. Other contenders for this weekend's number one spot are the newcomers Coraline, He's Just Not That Into You, Pink Panther 2, Push, Chocolate, and Fanboys. Personally, I'm heavily suggesting you go out and see both Push and the long awaited Fanboys. Reviews will be posted when (monetary circumstances permitting) we see them.

And please, people, it's an injustice to humanity that Paul Blart was even made. Spare yourselves.

~Lauren

However, just as an obligatory PS to this great post: I actually walked out of The Pink Panther. I got up from my seat and took a phone call, which I had never done before and hope will never have to do again. Easily one of the most painful cinematic experiences of my life. And I had only paid a dollar to see it. If the sequel to this travesty tops the box office, I may be more ashamed of my fellow man than I am right now with Paul Blart in the number one slot.

Yeah. I said it.

-Katie

McG's attempt to make a good movie

I love Terminator. Love, love, love it. You know what I love even more? Terminator 2. You know what movie is number five on my list of top ten worst movies ever made? Terminator 3. Hence, I was really, really worried when I heard there was going to be a fourth installment in the series. I almost threw up when I heard McG was directing this project. I felt slightly more hope when I heard that Christian Bale was signed on to be John Connor. I mean, if anyone would be the perfect John Connor, it would be Bale.

If you, like me, are still really worried about how much Terminator: Salvation could potentially suck, here's an interview with McG which may or may not give you hope. I'm liking the new terminator designs. It's sort of like the sentinels in The Matrix at times, but nowadays there isn't an action movie made that doesn't draw some kind of inspiration from that movie. What's really interesting is the process used to develop/corrode the film. Thoughts anyone?

~Lauren

Trailer Watch: Super Bowl Edition

As I've mentioned before, the Super Bowl brings all kinds of fun new trailers. In case you blinked and missed them, here they are again for your viewing pleasure.

Transformers 2

I cannot freaking wait for this nonsense. Awesome teaser. It has almost a Terminator vibe at times. I desperately want the full trailer. I had a few issues with the first movie. Megan Fox irritates the hell out of me, and the dialogue in the first movie was downright laughable, but Transformers is exactly the sort of thing Katie and I eat up, movies that are so bad they're amazing. Michael Bay, worst director in Hollywood after Uwe Boll, finally found the perfect project to apply his skills, or lack thereof.

Up

Cannot wait for more Pixar glory.

Star Trek

I'd make a comment on this trailer, but I'm too busy brushing up on my Klingon.

Fast and Furious

Personally, I don't think it was necessary to make this movie. This trailer is basically a shorten version of the trailer that's already been put out.

Angels & Demons

I'd like to discuss how irritating it is that (1) they've made the first book as a sequel to the second book and that (2) Ewan McGregor is in this movie, but the rant would be way too long. Suffice to say, I'm betting this will suck.

Monsters vs. Aliens

Am I the only one who hates 3D movies? Name one decent 3D movie. Oh, and for the record, Beowulf sucked and doesn't count.

Escape to Witch Mountain

Why must Disney continue to create bad remakes of classic Disney movies?

Land of the Lost

Oh boy. I have a very sneaking suspicion Alyssa is going to drag me to this.

Year One

Michael Cera, how could you betray your fans like this?

As a side note, I've expressed some frustration with Jason Statham's recent career moves. The jury is still out as to whether or not the Audi commercial was a good move or a bad move. This commercial feels like a summary of the Transporter movies. I'm starting to wonder if Hollywood thinks the only thing he's capable of doing onscreen is driving a car.

~Lauren