Friday, March 23, 2007
Coming Soon
Check back over the next few days when i will be posting reviews of upcoming films Half Nelson, The Lives of Others, Paris Je T'aime and Woody Allen's last film (which was never released in the UK) - Scoop.
Daywatch Release Date
I don't know if anyone saw Nightwatch when it was first released in cinemas but i thought it was a great movie! For a long while now have been eagerly anticipating the release of the follow up - Daywatch - but have heard nothing regarding a release date. On IMDB the film is listed as due for release in the US in June but no UK release has been confirmed.
I did a bit of digging around online and have found a few sources which suggests it could be due for release in the UK this October! Yeah! I'm quite excited by this news (although six months is quite long) and i hope the second part can live up to the thrills of Nightwatch.
I did a bit of digging around online and have found a few sources which suggests it could be due for release in the UK this October! Yeah! I'm quite excited by this news (although six months is quite long) and i hope the second part can live up to the thrills of Nightwatch.
New Review - Ghost Rider (Belated)
I went to see this at the cinema expecting a decent movie, if not a classic. I left the movie theatre dejected and bored after vieweing what i think is easily the worst movie i have seen all this year.
The film stars Nic Cage as Johnny Blaze, a stuntman who sold his soul to the Devil and now works as his personal hitman. The film basically revolves around Johnny turning into a skeleton on fire, riding around on a flaming motorbike and doing pretty much nothing else.
The special effects were weak at best and felt forced rather than an integral part of the movie. The dialogue was awful, lacking any form of originality and full of old cliches. The plot was pretty standard - guy turns into a superhero, tries to win over childhood sweetheart, childhood sweetheart gets caught up in superhero stuff - and was very poorly paced.
Overall, i thought this was blockbuster cinema at its dullest. Usually the special effects would have at least provided some form of thrill but in the end Ghost Rider was just one big dissapointment. I really feel sorry for Nic Cage who, in my opinion, is a good actor who has chosen a bunch of bad films lately. Hopefully he can get back on to winning ways soon.
Summary
Dissapointing - a truely awful film with very few plus points
Score - 3/10
The film stars Nic Cage as Johnny Blaze, a stuntman who sold his soul to the Devil and now works as his personal hitman. The film basically revolves around Johnny turning into a skeleton on fire, riding around on a flaming motorbike and doing pretty much nothing else.
The special effects were weak at best and felt forced rather than an integral part of the movie. The dialogue was awful, lacking any form of originality and full of old cliches. The plot was pretty standard - guy turns into a superhero, tries to win over childhood sweetheart, childhood sweetheart gets caught up in superhero stuff - and was very poorly paced.
Overall, i thought this was blockbuster cinema at its dullest. Usually the special effects would have at least provided some form of thrill but in the end Ghost Rider was just one big dissapointment. I really feel sorry for Nic Cage who, in my opinion, is a good actor who has chosen a bunch of bad films lately. Hopefully he can get back on to winning ways soon.
Summary
Dissapointing - a truely awful film with very few plus points
Score - 3/10
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
UK Box Office Review
1. - Norbit - £1.069m
2. - Premonition - £1.021m
3. - Hot Fuzz - £0.688m
4. - Becoming Jane - £0.562m
5. - Ghost Rider - 0.491m
6. - Outlaw - £0.305m
7. - Charlotte's Web - £0.230m
8. - The Illustionist - £0.222m
9. - The Number 23 - £0.195m
10. - Stomp the Yard - £0.192m
The UK box office slumped this week to its third lowest level in a year. For the second week running Norbit led the way with a decent £1.069m, down an understandable 46% from last weeks opening. With over £3.5m in the bank to date, the film could end up in the £5-5.5m range.
Opening in second with moderate results was the Sandra Bullock starring thriller The Premonition. With just over £1m from 357 theatres the film averaged a solid £2862. The film was slammed by critics as one of the worst films ever (see its ratings on Rotten Tomatoes), therefore its reasonable opening once again indicates the growing irrelevance of critical acclaim to a films success.
A couple of UK pictures followed in third and fourth with some pretty decent results. Hot Fuzz fell a heafty 48% in its fifth to 688k for an ultra impressive total of just over £19m, almost trpile the £6.5m taking of Edgar Wright's last film - Shaun of the Dead. Becoming Jane followed with the smallest decline in the top ten - 13% - to 563k for a £1.781m total. The James McAvoy and Anne Hathaway film could have legs in weeks to come.
Rounding out the top five was Ghost Rider with 491k in its third week for total just over £4m - pretty underwhelming for an effects driven movie.
Other debutants this week included Stomp the Yard with a poor 192k and the Sienna Miller starring Factory Girl in eleventh place with a likewise poor 157 k. Long term prospects for both movies do not look good.
For more details of this weeks box office check out the UK Film Council Site for all the official statistics.
2. - Premonition - £1.021m
3. - Hot Fuzz - £0.688m
4. - Becoming Jane - £0.562m
5. - Ghost Rider - 0.491m
6. - Outlaw - £0.305m
7. - Charlotte's Web - £0.230m
8. - The Illustionist - £0.222m
9. - The Number 23 - £0.195m
10. - Stomp the Yard - £0.192m
The UK box office slumped this week to its third lowest level in a year. For the second week running Norbit led the way with a decent £1.069m, down an understandable 46% from last weeks opening. With over £3.5m in the bank to date, the film could end up in the £5-5.5m range.
Opening in second with moderate results was the Sandra Bullock starring thriller The Premonition. With just over £1m from 357 theatres the film averaged a solid £2862. The film was slammed by critics as one of the worst films ever (see its ratings on Rotten Tomatoes), therefore its reasonable opening once again indicates the growing irrelevance of critical acclaim to a films success.
A couple of UK pictures followed in third and fourth with some pretty decent results. Hot Fuzz fell a heafty 48% in its fifth to 688k for an ultra impressive total of just over £19m, almost trpile the £6.5m taking of Edgar Wright's last film - Shaun of the Dead. Becoming Jane followed with the smallest decline in the top ten - 13% - to 563k for a £1.781m total. The James McAvoy and Anne Hathaway film could have legs in weeks to come.
Rounding out the top five was Ghost Rider with 491k in its third week for total just over £4m - pretty underwhelming for an effects driven movie.
Other debutants this week included Stomp the Yard with a poor 192k and the Sienna Miller starring Factory Girl in eleventh place with a likewise poor 157 k. Long term prospects for both movies do not look good.
For more details of this weeks box office check out the UK Film Council Site for all the official statistics.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Martin campbell for Bond 22???
In an interview with USA Today, Martin Campbell doesn;t rule out directing the next Bond movie. I really hope he does decide to go ahead with the new bond as Casino Royale is easily one of the best in the series. Given that Bond 22 is a kind of sequel to Casino, i really think he could be the man to take the franchise forwards!
Cinema Review - 300
About 45 minutes into 300 I looked at my watched and thought to myself ‘this movie is shit’. An hour later as the end credits roll, I thought one word – ‘awesome’. It certainly is a movie of two halves.
The film tells the story of the ancient battle of Thermopylae in which 300 Spartan warriors (hence the name) fought the whole of an invading Persian army. Led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler), the Spartans must stop the Persians before they reach Sparta and conquer their beloved country Will they hold out? And more importantly, will they survive?
First up, this is a beautiful film to watch. Filmed entirely on greenscreen in an old warehouse, the film has a similar look and feel to Sin City. Shot primarily in dark blacks and greys with a dash of red from the Spartan’s capes, the film plays like a moving graphic novel with some truly stunning shots. Watch out for King Leonidas discussing civilisation as his soldiers calmly plunge their spears into half dead Persians.
Given its unique look and feel, it’s a pity that director Zack Snyder couldn’t match it with substance. The opening 45 minutes is the standard introduction for a battle movie – we see quickly how our protagonist becomes a great warrior, an enemy declares war, the council is reluctant to enter into such a war so our hero takes a small bank of warriors off to overcome the odds of the massive Persian army. And the opening wouldn’t be complete without the fleeting moment of sentimentality as our warrior leaves behind his loved ones. All pretty boring really but the promise of the great battle to come gets you through.
And when the fighting starts, its been well worth the wait. The film has been amply called ‘warporn’ – a particularly suitable title for a film with shot after shot of decapitations, limbs flying off, blood spurting onto the screen and logic defying, muscular, bare chested warriors covered in blood and sweat. The film hasn’t got the most substance but my, the final hour certainly makes up for it in terms of sheer entertainment.
Gerard Butler pulls of the role of the King particular well, the only flaws being his massive, oddly shaped beard (what the fuck?) and the clumsy dialogue which saddles the whole film: neither of which is his fault. The rest of the cast are also ably competent in their roles but the true star here is the stunning special effects.
Summary
If you like your movies with a bit of substance then this is not for you. If, however, you are just looking for some mindless entertainment then this should be right up your street.
Score - 6/10
Monday, March 19, 2007
Will Superman Return Again?
There has been much speculation over the next Superman movie and when it will be released but now rumours are doing the rounds that the sequel to Superman Returns has been put on hold. For full news on this story check out Moviehole.
I really liked Superman Returns and thought it worthy of a better box office take. Heres hoping these rumours are not true and another Superman flick is heading our way soon.
I really liked Superman Returns and thought it worthy of a better box office take. Heres hoping these rumours are not true and another Superman flick is heading our way soon.
Cate Blanchett for Indy 4
Its been all over the web the last few days but it now seems that Cate Blanchett is in talks for an unspecified role in Indy 4. No deal has yet been concluded but speculation has already started on whether she will play a love interest or even Indy's daughter. I don't know about you guys but i think that Blanchett is too young to be playing a love interest for Harrison Ford's character, although stranger things have happened. I think its probably more likely that she will play a side-kick of some sort - Blanchett could eaily pull off a believable archaeologist!
In other Indy news Shia LeBouf has also been linked with the role of Indy's son but again no deal has been struck. Stay tuned for all the news on Indy 4 as it breaks.
In other Indy news Shia LeBouf has also been linked with the role of Indy's son but again no deal has been struck. Stay tuned for all the news on Indy 4 as it breaks.
New on DVD - Casino Royale
I don't know about you guys but one of my favourite films of the last year was definately Casino Royale. In my opinion Daniel Craig gave the best performance of all Bond Movies and made the character his own. Anyone who has not yet caught the movie should head out now and buy it on DVD and for this week only ASDA has it at the bargain price of £7 for the 2 disc edition!!! The offer is available instore only so get down to your local ASDA and snap one up.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
US Box Office Review (estimates)
1st - 300 - $31.2m
2nd - Wild Hogs - $18.8m
3rd - Premonition - $18m
4th - Dead Silence - $7.8m
5th - I Think I Love My Wife - $5.7m
For the second week in a row 300 ruled the US box office by a huge margin. Down a steep but understandable 57% in its second week, the film collected an estimated $31.2m from 3,270 theatres for a healthy average. The total so far stands at just over $127m and at this rate the movie could end up close to, if not over, the $200m mark.
Second place went to Wild Hogs, another film which joined the century club this weekend. Down a mere 32% to $18.8m, the total now stands at $104m. The Disney movie has been holding well since its release and should end up in the $150m-$165m range.
The top 5 was rounded with three poorly reviewed openers. All ready listed in the rotten tomatoes 100 worst reviewed movies of all time, premonition still managed to scare up $18m
this weekend. With a budget of only $20m, the picture should go on to make reasonably good money for Sony. Hopefully that won't result in talk of a sequel.
Another horror, Dead Silence, opened in fourth place with $7.8m, closely folowed by Chris Rock's I Think I Love My Wife with a meagre $5.7m. Long term prospects don't look good for either movies.
For a more detailed analysis of the Box Office results head over to Box Office Guru or Box Office Mojo.
2nd - Wild Hogs - $18.8m
3rd - Premonition - $18m
4th - Dead Silence - $7.8m
5th - I Think I Love My Wife - $5.7m
For the second week in a row 300 ruled the US box office by a huge margin. Down a steep but understandable 57% in its second week, the film collected an estimated $31.2m from 3,270 theatres for a healthy average. The total so far stands at just over $127m and at this rate the movie could end up close to, if not over, the $200m mark.
Second place went to Wild Hogs, another film which joined the century club this weekend. Down a mere 32% to $18.8m, the total now stands at $104m. The Disney movie has been holding well since its release and should end up in the $150m-$165m range.
The top 5 was rounded with three poorly reviewed openers. All ready listed in the rotten tomatoes 100 worst reviewed movies of all time, premonition still managed to scare up $18m
this weekend. With a budget of only $20m, the picture should go on to make reasonably good money for Sony. Hopefully that won't result in talk of a sequel.
Another horror, Dead Silence, opened in fourth place with $7.8m, closely folowed by Chris Rock's I Think I Love My Wife with a meagre $5.7m. Long term prospects don't look good for either movies.
For a more detailed analysis of the Box Office results head over to Box Office Guru or Box Office Mojo.
Preview - 300
One up-coming film which has me excited is 300, which is based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller, creater of Sin City. Reviews from the states have been reasonably positive, achieving 60% positive reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, and it has already taken over $100 million after only eight days at the US box office.
The film, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Scotland's very own Gerard Butler, tells the story of the battle of thermopylae in 480BC where 300 Spartans held off an invading Persian army. The film was shot in an old warehouse entirely on greenscreen, Sin City style. If 300 can be half as good as that movie then i'll be a happy man for sure!
The film opens Friday (23rd March) and check back on Tuesday when i'll offer a full review of the bloody epic. Also check back later today (Sunday) for the US box office round up, including the figures for 300's second week in US cinemas.
The film, directed by Zack Snyder and starring Scotland's very own Gerard Butler, tells the story of the battle of thermopylae in 480BC where 300 Spartans held off an invading Persian army. The film was shot in an old warehouse entirely on greenscreen, Sin City style. If 300 can be half as good as that movie then i'll be a happy man for sure!
The film opens Friday (23rd March) and check back on Tuesday when i'll offer a full review of the bloody epic. Also check back later today (Sunday) for the US box office round up, including the figures for 300's second week in US cinemas.
Contributors Wanted!
Interested in Movies? Live on the UK? Have an interest in online journalism? This could well be the hobby for you. I am looking for like-minded people to post news and reviews of the big new releases each week. Any one interested should leave a comment with a valid e-mail address and state why you think you would make a good film correspondent. No prior experience necessary but if you attend a local film festival at any time during the year that would be advantageous.
Come on, get writing!
Come on, get writing!
Welcome to MoviesUK
Hi guys and welcome to my new blog dealing with anything movie related in the UK. Here i will keep you up to date with all the big new movie news currently doing the rounds as well as posting reviews of all the latest UK releases. Every week, i will also provide an analysis of the UK and US box office, keeping you up to date with all the big money makers.
This summer will undoubtedly be one of the biggest and best summers ever, with anticipated big releases such as: Pirates of the Carribean 3, Shrek 3, Spiderman 3, Die Hard 4.0, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, Fantastic Four 2, and The Simpsons Movie. For all the news on these, and many more, stay tuned and together we will find out who will be crowned king of the summer!
This summer will undoubtedly be one of the biggest and best summers ever, with anticipated big releases such as: Pirates of the Carribean 3, Shrek 3, Spiderman 3, Die Hard 4.0, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, Fantastic Four 2, and The Simpsons Movie. For all the news on these, and many more, stay tuned and together we will find out who will be crowned king of the summer!
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