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Box Office: People Love Funny People

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:30:02 -0700

Though the Judd Apatow movie Funny People opened in first place at the box office this weekend with a respectable $23.4 million, that number is "the lowest tally for a No. 1 film this Summer." It's an interesting season when Bruno's opening weekend surpasses that of a Judd Apatow-Adam Sandler-Seth Rogen film.

After the guinea pigs in G-Force took the box office crown from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last weekend, the two hit films nearly tied this time around with both hovering around the $17 million mark. Harry Potter beat G-Force by less than $1 million. The latest in family-friendly entertainment, Aliens in the Attic, took in a dismal $7.8 million over its opening weekend, though it did come in fifth at the box office, just after The Ugly Truth.

The best news comes from the indie film arena, as 500 Days of Summer and The Hurt Locker continue to have impressive per-screen averages.

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Box Office: Guinea Pigs Take Down Wizards

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:30:56 -0700

In perhaps the first showdown ever between guinea pigs and wizards, the guinea pigs won out this weekend, as Disney's animated G-Force edged out Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the box office. The little furry guys grossed $32.2 million to Potter's $30 million, though Half-Blood Prince has now accumulated a total of $221.8 million domestically.

The Gerard Butler-Katherine Heigl rom-com, The Ugly Truth, had a strong opening weekend as well, coming in third place with $27 million. The fourth movie in the box office top five took in dramatically less: scary movie Orphan was No. 4 with $12.7 million. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs rounded out the top five with $8.2 million.

Image courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

What Did You Think of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:30:44 -0700

It's no big surprise that audiences flocked to theaters all weekend long to welcome Harry and the gang back to the big screen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I thought Warner Bros. and David Yates did a fine job with the film, but there are always a few gripes, especially when you're a huge fan of the book series.

What did you think of the latest installment of the franchise? Was it a home run, or were there too many deviations from the original story? Are you still loving all the movies, or are you over the mania? Tell me what you loved, what you hated, and what you would have changed!

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter Works Its Magic on the Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:30:25 -0700

It may be darker than ever, but Harry Potter still brings the magic at the box office. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince worked its wizardry on audiences to the tune of nearly $160 million for its first five days in the theater, with $79.5 million of that coming over the weekend.

That's not quite as strong as the five-day opening for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen last month (that movie pulled in $201.2 million in its first five days), but it's the best tally yet for a Harry Potter movie.

The other big story of this weekend's box office is the fall of Bruno. Last weekend's box office winner pulled in just $8.4 million this week, finishing in fourth place. That put it behind second-place Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, which brought in $17.7 million. Transformers kept up the pace with a third-place tally of $13.8 million.

In indie news, 500 Days of Summer had a solid debut with almost $840,000 from just 27 theaters. It'll be interesting to see how that movie holds up when it expands into many more theaters this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Back and Darker Than Ever

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:30:05 -0700

From the moment the opening credits start to roll and we hear that telltale theme song, there's one thing that’s very clear about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: this is not the bright, shiny Hogwarts we came to know back in the first movie.

For one thing, the wizard world has been turned on its head by the Dark Lord and his followers, and now everyone knows it. The Death Eaters have been wreaking havoc, and the chaos has gotten so out of hand that it's even affecting the Muggle (nonwizarding world). To see what else you can expect, just read more.

The movie picks up right where The Order of the Phoenix left off. Harry’s godfather is dead, and he finds himself lonely, confused, and angry as he heads back to Hogwarts during a time of crisis. As usual, he finds solace in his friendships with Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione, but Harry's relationships and loyalties are about to be tested in ways he never imagined.

The film wastes no time pulling you right into the action, twisting and turning right along with the most evil of wizards as we watch the mania spread. While losing yourself in the magic world is what makes these movies so special, I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of Harry’s realm with a few shots of London’s most famous landmarks. The visual effects don't stop there, and the audience stays immersed in fantasy throughout the film. The cinematography is, in a word, dazzling.

When he gets to school, Harry's duties as "The Chosen One" weigh heavily on him. He and Dumbledore are trying to unravel Lord Voldemort’s mysteries, and Harry finds himself tracking his arch nemesis Draco Malfoy in his free time. On the other hand, Harry's role as a student comes with its own set of responsibilities - picking a Quidditch team, dealing with new professors, and playing mediator between Ron and Hermione. As far as classes are concerned, Harry finds help from "The Half-Blood Prince," whose old, heavily annotated Potions book sends Harry to the top of the class.

The comic relief of the film lies in the fact that the kids aren't exactly kids anymore. They’re growing up. They’ve got raging hormones. Their soapy, teenage world is a refreshing break from movie's heavy overtones. We can all relate to Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s angst and jealousy, plus everyone loves to see a little snogging. The chemistry between the characters is heating up, and the children we've watched all these years have emerged as solid actors.

I feel obligated to mention one thing, especially for families and kids: the movie is kind of scary. Along with the stunning visuals, there are a few scenes that get a bit graphic as the dark magic gets more intense. Though I knew what was coming I still had goosebumps and found myself jumping out of my seat - and I could see certain parts being a bit much for Harry's pint-sized fans.

The bottom line: The Half Blood Prince packs exactly the right amount of action, effects, and laughs - though it's definitely not my new favorite Potter movie. At two and a half hours it’s a lengthy journey, but at the end of it all you're left feeling more ready than ever for the epic two-movie finale.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter Fans: Have You Bought Your Tickets Yet?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:00:05 -0700

Advance tickets for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince are going fast! Sales for the sixth installment in the Harry Potter film franchise have already outpaced the advance sales for the opening of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and a few hundred screenings for the movie's opening weekend have already sold out. So, Harry Potter fans, have you gotten your tickets yet or are you not buying your tickets in advance? Or are you going to avoid the first weekend crowds and go another time?

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Will You Wait Two Extra Weeks to See Harry Potter in IMAX?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:30:09 -0700

Don't freak out - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is still scheduled to open nationwide on July 14, but for two weeks the only option will be to see the movie on your normal movie screens (with the exception of two theaters: one in New York and one in Los Angeles). Starting July 29, the movie will be available on IMAX screens nationwide.

Why the delay? Apparently it's a result of "the decision by Warner Bros. to push Potter from its originally scheduled November 2008 opening. The new July opening overlaps with Imax's month-long window dedicated to Paramount's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." The delay has some analysts worried that ticket sales will suffer. But then again, the movie "contains 12 minutes of 3-D footage that moviegoers can experience only through IMAX," so there will probably be plenty of folks who go to the theaters twice: once on opening weekend and a second time to experience the movie in IMAX.

What do you think? Will you wait the two weeks for the IMAX experience? Or are you going to see Potter opening weekend no matter what?

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

The New Harry Potter Trailer Is Exciting (and Terrifying)

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:45:09 -0700

"These are mad times we live in! Mad!"

When I heard there was yet another trailer out for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince I thought, "Come on, what else could they possibly need to show us? We're already pumped for this movie!" But as it turns out, this new trailer is even scarier and creepier than anything I've seen yet.

Some of the images are insanely eerie - almost apocalyptic. One scene of a possessed-looking girl screaming like a banshee into the air will haunt my dreams for months. Honestly, look at that image above. This is not the image of a PG movie, in my opinion. I have to go look at pictures of daisies or cute animals or something because this trailer has freaked me out. To take a look for yourself, read more.

Buzz News Roundup, 4/15

BuzzSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:30:43 -0700

The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is now Wednesday, July 15, two days earlier than originally planned. - ComingSoon
Mark Wahlberg and James Franco are joining Steve Carell and Tina Fey in the comedy Date Night. - Zap2It
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is likely canceled. - TV.com
Kristen Bell has been cast as the lead in Disney's You Again, a comedy about a girl who's horrified to find that her brother is marrying the very girl who made her life a living hell in high school. - Variety
A former Daily Show writer is working on a comedy called Women's Studies for HBO. - The Hollywood Reporter
Sally Hawkins and Charlotte Rampling have signed on to join Keira Knightley in Never Let Me Go. - Variety
Pearl Jam is working on a new album, an upcoming tour, and a film directed by Cameron Crowe. - Billboard
Adele will play herself in an upcoming episode of Ugly Betty. - TV Guide
Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne, and Sean Combs are joining Jonah Hill and Russell Brand in the comedy Get Him to the Greek. - ComingSoon

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter Fans: Is a PG Rating Annoying?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:30:19 -0800

Rumor has it today that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (now opening July 17) has received a PG rating ("For scary images, some violence, language, and mild sensuality"), rather than the PG-13 rating given to some of the previous Potter movies.

Do you think this will affect the story to an annoying degree? Will the movie be able to do the book justice with a PG rating? Or will you just be happy if the darn thing comes out on time?

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.