Box Office Update: Snuffed at the Source

Fun Fact: The 2011 box office is still failing miserably in comparison to both 2010 and 2009. I get the feeling that once we reach the summer movie season, things will pick up and we'll be on our way to a solid number to end the year on. This weekend does come as something of an upset, because there is a genuinely great film for audiences, but their attention seems to be averted by the typical drivel. Hop came on top, managing a gross that comes close to surpassing Rango. Kids flicks have had the greatest financial success thus far this year, and that trend is continuing here.

Source Code did lure in the majority of the adult audiences this weekend, but such a paltry number as $15 million has to disappoint in some way. Insidious came just behind it, revealing where the other adult crowds decided to go. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules fell to forth place with a massive 57% drop. Even more massive was Sucker Punch's descent of 68%, spelling quick and sudden death for Zack Snyder's only original effort. This weekend constituted a 33% drop from the same weekend last year, when Clash of the Titans opened to a large, but circumstantially disappointing, number.

1. Hop (First Weekend; $38.1 million)
2. Source Code (First Weekend; $15 million)
3. Insidious (First Weekend; $13.5 million)
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Second Weekend; $10.2 million)
5. Limitless (Third Weekend; $9.4 million)
6. The Lincoln Lawyer (Third Weekend; $7 million)
7. Sucker Punch (Second Weekend; $6.1 million)
8. Rango (Fifth Weekend; $4.5 million)
9. Paul (Third Weekend; $4.3 million)
10. Battle: Los Angeles (Fourth Weekend; $3.5 million)

Box Office Update: Felled by a Wimpy Punch

It's kind of hard to believe how pathetic the box office has been this year. There have been films that from afar seemed like definite irrational box office successes, such as Battle: Los Angeles and more recently Sucker Punch, and yet they have come in to less than spectacular numbers. It's kind of sad and depressing that a film made with all the things that guys love (girls, dragons, etc.) ended up drawing such a small opening. Zack Snyder's psychological action film Sucker Punch came in at #2 with a gross that doesn't even head past $20 million. Even more surprising than that low income is what it was surpassed by.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules performed exactly as expected to, drawing in enough excited children to surpass Snyder's under-performer. Kids being kids, you can expect them to return to the film across the following weeks. Talking of which, there were some pretty strong holdovers from last weekend, with Limitless and The Lincoln Lawyer both dropping less than 20%. Mars Needs Moms took the biggest dip of 59%, its target audience being snatched away by the top new release. Interesting enough, the top news of the weekend is probably Rango shooting past the $100 million mark, making it the first film of 2011 to do that. Adam Sandler's Just Go With It came just behind it, edging past the mark by a far more minuscule degree. Surprisingly, this weekend ended up being just 6.8% less than last year, when How to Train Your Dragon came in at the top spot. It did on the other hand come 22.9% lower than two years ago when Monsters vs. Aliens wowed audiences so.

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (First Weekend; $24.4 million)
2. Sucker Punch (First Weekend; $19 million)
3. Limitless (Second Weekend; $15.2 million)
4. The Lincoln Lawyer (Second Weekend; $11 million)
5. Rango (Fourth Weekend; $9,8 million)
6. Battle: Los Angeles (Third Weekend; $7.6 million)
7. Paul (Second Weekend; $7.5 million)
8. Red Riding Hood (Third Weekend; $4.3 million)
9. The Adjustment Bureau (Fourth Weekend; $4.2 million)
10. Mars Needs Moms (Third Weekend; $2.2 million)

Metaphorical Review of "Sucker Punch"

I found this video really interesting and amusing, because the way the review is done is actually better and more creative than the film it is reviewing. Take a look below.

The Weekend Report: Success Is A Fantasy

As has happened almost every weekend this year, we can't really expect anything monumental or spectacular, no matter how large a budget a film releasing has. I did have a small spark of hope lit for Sucker Punch, because how can you not for a film set in the unstable dream world of a young girl in a mental asylum. Besides that, there's also the flash, flair, and overwhelming noise that made the trailer an unwilling assault on the senses. The latter of those appeals to the dumb grunt male audience this film is targeting, and the former is a cinephile's vain hope for something greater than indicated. The former isn't a factor in Sucker Punch, and I can't say I hold out much hope to see the film this weekend. If it makes as little sense as reviews are contesting, I can't see a reason to shell out $10 for it.

The only other option this weekend is Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules, and we know what the target demographic of that picture is. As such, we can expect it to do moderately well for itself this weekend, giving Zack Snyder's mindless action fest a run for its money. I'd like to think that maybe one of these films will break the mold and come out of the weekend with a figure north of $50 million. I think we'll just have to wait until May for that sort of nonsense. Success is a fantasy right now, and we are waiting for that to change. So what do I suggest you do with your Friday nights? I think I've made that abundantly clear by now.

For Your Anticipation: Take That You Mother!

So why exactly were we ever so interested in seeing in the first place? Right! It's because it has prostitutes, Nazis, mech suits, robots, samurais, dragons, and really attractive young women. Even at this point, though I know that it probably won't be something great, I don't think it will be anything less than Zack Snyder's past films. What has been so disconcerting for me in the past is the unoriginal nature of all his features. 300 and Watchmen are both practically panel for panel adaptations of their respective comics. There is nothing new there, but Sucker Punch does seem to offer us something original. It could be something fresh and unpredictable to take our minds off all the dreck that's currently in the market. If nothing else, the opening credits will be great.

Films To See In 2011: March

At the start of every month, I tell myself that it's going to be better than what we were saddled with last month. That hasn't really been working for me lately, seeing as the closest January brought us to real quality was No Strings Attached, and the top film out in February happens to come from Justin Bieber. That's meant to be a compliment, because unlike most people on the planet, I don't hate Justin Bieber. I have better things to do with my time than hate a 15 year old kid who never did anything wrong to me. Getting back on track, I genuinely believe this month will be a step in the right direction. There are some films that I'd have liked to put on this list, but just didn't make the cut. The Adjustment Bureau looks like it could be another great film for Matt Damon, Paul looks absolutely hilarious, and features like Sucker Punch and Battle: Los Angeles look like well produced action spectacles. I just found myself most anticipating of three somewhat unlikely films.

#3."Beastly"
Directed by Daniel Barnz

A surprise, I am sure this is going to come as, but I can't remember a point in which I didn't think this was going to be a good film. I know that it has a supporting cast that includes Mary-Kate Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens, of all people, but I remember when Hudgens was set to appear in Bandslam a few years back. Nobody thought that would turn out well, and it turned out great. Beastly truly looks like a sweet and somewhat enjoyable twist on the tale of Beauty and the Beast. This could be the true breakout role for Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four), or else just another film worth seeing for Neil Patrick Harris.

#2."Jane Eyre"

Directed by Cary Fukunaga

I wasn't exactly sold on this one so instantly, but before the trailer came out, I had a hard time seeing the down side. It's a pretty well-known story, though I haven't ever found the time to read it, and the film features two of my favorite up-and-coming actors of this era. If you're familiar with this sight, you'll know how much I've appreciated Mia Wasikowska's work over the few months, and Michael Fassbender immediately struck me when he appeared in Inglourious Basterds nearly two years ago. I knew that this guy was going places. The first trailer was a bit mysterious for my tastes, and I had no idea what to make of this film. However, given the tone and writing of the footage I've seen, I think Jane Eyre could be the rare old-British drama that actually works. I'm certainly hoping for that outcome.

#1."Win Win"
Directed by Thomas McCarthy

Inevitably the film that I am 100% assured of is from Thomas McCarthy, who is fashioning a resume that paints him to be the Christopher Nolan of indie dramedies. By that, I mean that his track record thus far is impeccable, which I can't say is too stupefying since this is only his third film. Still, the man has done some great work in the recent past, and he's also partially responsible for the screenplay for Up. My anticipation for this film is do only partly to the director's craft, because it also features a clean shaven (kinda) Paul Giamatti in the lead role. The plot of a failing lawyer and family man moonlighting as a high-school wrestling coach who takes in a talented teenager doesn't strike as classic off the bat, but it's off-kilter enough to be more than just nothing. This could be McCarthy's best yet, and Giamatti could be looking at his second Academy-Award nomination. Maybe my hopes are a bit too high, but I really want Win Win to be a major win.

"Sucker Punch" Poster

Somehow, I feel Christopher Nolan deserves royalties whenever a film uses the word mind-bending in their advertising campaign.

Theatrical Trailer: Sucker Punch

I wasn't quite certain at first, but I am officially sick and tired of Zack Snyder. The man is a visual genius, and that is undeniable. However, when it comes to an emotional connection and an activating storyline, he just falls flat. That shows no more than here, in the new trailer for his next film, Sucker Punch. We see visual glimpses here that would be guaranteed for a cinematography nomination if released in the latter half of the year. The story is all over the place, and nearly indecipherable by the casual moviegoer. On top of that, Emma Stone was apparently supposed to be in this film, but pulled out over scheduling conflicts. Without her, what's point? However, I feel inclined to want to like this film, because it contains one of the sweetest lines in film history: "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

Comic Con 2010: Sucker Punch Trailer Online!

This was news that happened a few days ago, but somehow it just slipped past me until now. The trailer for Zack Snyder's period action film, Sucker Punch, dropped onto the internet the other day, and it was something pretty spectacular. This is the first completely original film that Zack Snyder has made, so it'll be interesting to see what is really going on inside Snyder's head. We've gotten glimpses based on the visual look of his films, but now we have something new. His images are just as amazing as they always have been, but now they're not from a graphic novel. Check the trailer out below.

Comic Con 2010: Green Lantern, Harry Potter, and Sucker Punch Panels!

So today Warner Bros. finally got around to advertising their top upcoming movies, which this year is narrowed down to three. Those three are Green Lantern, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and Sucker Punch. As much as I'd like to point you off to one specific site, I just can't, because I planned to send you to Kristopher Tapley's article detailing it at In Contention. What happened? Kris didn't really go that deep into the Potter footage. I understand that he's become fatigued with the franchise, as quite a few people have, and I respect that. It just means I have to send you off to two different sites. One is the previously mentioned article by In Contention, and the other is ComingSoon.net's breakdown of the footage. You can find the links below, and if any of the footage burrows its way online, I'll let you know.

In Contention
ComingSoon.net