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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:11:27 PST

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to these titles, you can now check out the second season of Big Love, High School Musical 2, and the indie movie Interview with Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller.

The Bourne Ultimatum
This third installment in the Bourne series was one of the most refreshing things of the summer movie season. From the looks of my Best Action Flick of 2007 poll, you all seriously enjoyed it as well! This chapter of Bourne's story finds him bopping around Moscow, New York, Paris, Madrid, London, and Tangier as he continues to figure out his past. The DVD version boasts plenty of extras, from the audio commentary and deleted scenes to the many production featurettes, including pieces on the many locations they traveled to and the making of the chase and fight scenes.

More new DVDs if you

read more Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Another of this summer's biggest releases, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix continues the story of the boy (er, teen) wizard as he trains an army of students (Dumbledore's Army) to defend the wizard world against the return of the evil Lord Voldemort. The new DVD is packed with extras, most of which deal with behind-the-scenes stuff, like a backstage tour led by Natalia Tena (Tonks) and a featurette devoted to the magic of editing. Additionally there are plenty of clips with the actors, some deleted scenes, and way more. Carve out some time in your schedule to tackle this particular set of DVD special features!
Lost - Season Three For me, the third season of Lost was one of extremes: There were some of the worst episodes and some of the best. The second half of the season completely restored my faith in the show, which had been shaken by the mediocre first half that aired during the Fall of 2006. In addition to the full season's episodes, spread out among seven discs, there are some intriguing special features. I'm most curious about a featurette called "The Lost Book Club," in which the role of literature in Lost is explored by the show's cast and producers. In addition, there are never-before-seen flashbacks, an examination of "The World of the Others" in which people from the show take a look at the significance of the Others in the world of Lost, and several more featurettes.

Harry Potter Works Record-Breaking Magic Worldwide

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:27:59 PDT

Just for funsies, someone over at Warner Bros. has done some number-crunching and come up with further proof that the Harry Potter franchise is on its way to world domination. Beating out the Star Wars and James Bond franchises, Harry Potter's is the top-grossing film franchise worldwide. Ever.

The first five Harry Potter movies have raked in a total of $4.47 billion worldwide, magically flying past the records set for the 22 James Bond flicks (which grossed $4.44 billion worldwide) and the six Star Wars movies ($4.23 billion).

Now, this is pretty crazy. But do these numbers account for inflation or higher ticket costs? No. Furthermore, this is worldwide they're talking about. Domestically, the Star Wars franchise still wins. As Variety points out, "All told, the Star Wars pics have grossed $2.18 billion, while the Harry Potter franchise has grossed $1.41 billion. But then there are still two more Potters to go."

Indeed, there are two more Harry Potters to go, and they will undoubtedly be extremely successful. Yet there's a definite end in sight for the Harry Potter story. James Bond, however, well, his stories could go on for many, many years. Someday his franchise may even outpace the boy wizard's.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Chuck & Larry Somehow Take No. 1 Spot at Box Office

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 05:34:51 PDT

Wow. In my poll last Friday I wondered if the No. 1 movie at the box office this weekend would be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix or Hairspray, and here we are on Monday with I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry smiling at us from the top of the list. The movie was critically panned (and even annoyed Molly), but apparently Adam Sandler has enough fans to float a pretty mediocre-sounding movie. Or maybe all the Harry Potter fans were just home reading the newest book!

The top three movies were close in sales, however, with Chuck and Larry and Harry Potter only about $2 million apart. In third place was Hairspray with $27.8 million, the most any musical movie has ever grossed in its opening weekend. At No. 4 was Transformers, staying strong with a cool $20 million, followed by Ratatouille at No. 5, raking in $11 million in its third weekend.

As for this weekend, I'm extremely excited to see The Simpsons Movie, so check out my review this Friday. For now, watch the trailer again and then see if you can get "Spider-Pig" out of your head.

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Which Will Be No. 1 at the Box Office: Hairspray or Harry Potter?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:28:47 PDT

There are an awful lot of people looking forward to seeing the new Hairspray movie this weekend, but can they rival the die-hard Harry Potter fans going to see The Order of the Phoenix for second, third, fourth or fifth times? What do you think? Which of these battling summer flicks will take the crown as No. 1 at the box office this weekend?

Sugar Bits - Kelly Rowland Collapses Onstage

PopSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:32:17 PDT

Kelly Rowland collapsed during a performance in Nigeria yesterday due to dehydration. We wish her a speedy recovery. - People
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix grossed $140 million since opening on Wednesday, taking the #1 slot away from Transformers. Even alien robots are no match for wizard magic. - BuzzSugar
Rapper Remy Ma has pleaded not guilty after being arrested on charges that include attempted murder after a woman was shot in Manhattan this weekend. - AP
Drew Carey is currently CBS' #1 candidate to fulfill the hosting duties on The Price is Right. Shhh, don't tell Ian Ziering! - R & M
This weekend in Beverly Hills, Al Gore's daughter Sarah married businessman Bill Lee. Congrats to the happy couple! - People

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Box Office: Harry Potter, Of Course!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:45:00 PDT

Harry Potter and Company made all sorts of money - both here and overseas - over the five-day opening for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Earning a tremendous $140 million nationally and $330 million worldwide, this fifth movie in the Harry Potter franchise had the best five-day opening of a non-holiday movie ever. Order of the Phoenix is on track to be the highest-grossing of all the Harry Potter movies.

Despite the mesmerizing spell cast by Potter, other summer favorites didn't fall behind very much. Transformers held its own at No. 2 with $36 million, while Ratatouille stayed strong at No. 3. In fourth place was Live Free or Die Hard with License to Wed following behind. This doesn't appear to be the summer for torture porn, however, as Captivity opened to a dismal $1.5 million and came in at No. 12. This weekend it will be interesting to see if Harry Potter can bewitch his way to No. 1 even in the rotund face of John Travolta getting his groove on in Hairspray.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Sugar Bits - Harry Potter Is Already Raking It In At The Box Office

PopSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:41:45 PDT

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix has already made $12 million after opening yesterday. Sounds like trouble for Shia and the Transformers. - BuzzSugar
Queen Elizabeth was not happy when photographer Annie Lebovitz suggested the Queen take off her crown for a photoshoot, but she did not storm off the set as was originally reported. Annie still might want to consider sticking around U.S. soil for awhile. - BBC News
Kevin Federline has moved on from Britney and is now dating radio host Liz Hernandez. Wonder what Brit will have to say about this one. - The Scoop
Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo may be in danger of losing her crown after some photos of her exhibiting "non lady-like behavior" were released. Someone needs to tell these pageant girls to be more careful with their cameras. - AP
Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady and wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, passed away yesterday at the age of 94. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family. - People
Ian Ziering was apparently "jittery" and excited at an ESPY Awards gifting suite on Tuesday after learning he got a second call back to audition to host "The Price Is Right." Hope he's practicing his "Come On Downs!!" - R&M

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter Is Box Office Magic

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:20:33 PDT

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix just opened yesterday, but it is already breaking records at the box office. The film made $12 million for the midnight showing alone, beating out Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King as the No. 1 Wednesday opening midnight run ever. Still with me? Order of the Phoenix doubled the midnight revenue of Goblet of Fire, which opened up on a Friday night back in 2005. Basically, what this all means is that the Transformers are in for some stiff competition at the box office this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix: Just What You'd Expect

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:35:13 PDT

I feel the need to start off my review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with the disclaimer that I am and always have been a fan of the books. As good as the movies are, they will probably never fully capture the wonderful magic of the novels. That being said, the fifth film installment of Harry Potter definitely makes a solid attempt.

The movie takes us back to Hogwarts for year 5, and so begins a much darker time for Harry and the rest of the wizarding world. A war is brewing between good and evil, and the need to take a side is growing imminent. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is reunited with his best friends and sidekicks Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), but the brooding teenager has never felt more alone. To find out why, and more,

read more As the only good wizard who can confirm Lord Voldemort’s return, Harry is constantly faced with opposition from his peers, the particularly awful new Professor Umbridge, and the Ministry of Magic. Umbridge and the Ministry have teamed up to prove that Harry is a fraud and will stop at nothing to assure that all is well at Hogwarts and in the world of magic. Unfortunately, the school begins to crumble under Umbridge’s nauseatingly negligent care while Harry is forced to confront his own inner demons as he struggles to make sense of the connection between himself and the Dark Lord. The best things about The Order of the Phoenix are the visual effects and the acting. The young actors only get better as they age, and I was particularly impressed with Imelda Staunton as Umbridge and Helena Bonham Carter as the frightening Bellatrix Lestrange. The cinematography is stunning, and the world director David Yates creates for us is almost better than what you’d imagine when you’re reading the book. The magical action sequences are a lot of fun, and there are enough flashes and fireworks to keep kids and adults entertained throughout. My biggest problem with the film is its lack of emotional depth, although Yates tries his hardest to pack as much teenage angst into Harry as he possibly can. There’s just so much plot to get through that the audience has little time to feel connected Harry's problems. The movie barely scratches the surface of his complicated situation and I couldn’t help but feel a little empty inside, even despite the dazzling visuals. However, I realize the movie is intended to be suitable for kids which means making light of heavier issues, and it does a great job in this category, even injecting a fair amount of comedy into a story that is often very grim. Overall, I’d say that fans of the Harry Potter mania that has been sweeping the world will enjoy this movie, and be satisfied enough to make the ticket purchase worth it. Whether you’re an avid reader or grew to love Harry in the films, audiences will appreciate a good reason to take a two-hour escape into Harry’s whimsical world. Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hits LA

Molly — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:48:40 PDT

The Harry Potter kids are all grown up and ready to show the world Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The teenage stars rocked the red carpet at the LA premiere, especially Emma Watson in her up-do, who is just the cutest little movie star ever -- even though her dress looks like it had pills spilled on it. As if you needed a reminder, the movie comes out on Wednesday, excited? As for little Miss Watson, she recently talked to Parade about playing Hermione and what it's like to be a young woman these days:

“There are too many stupid girls in the media. Hermione’s not scared to be clever. I think sometimes really smart girls dumb themselves down a bit, and that’s bad.” Watson admits that there is quite a lot of herself in the confident and bookish Hermione. “I’m a bit of a feminist,” she proclaims. “I’m very competitive and challenging.”

Have I mentioned how great she is? Hopefully with all her stardom, she's able to keep that good head on her shoulders.

To see a whole bunch more pictures from the premiere, including Miley Cyrus, Antonio Sabato Jr (random), Ashley Tisdale and all the kids above just read more

View 30 Photos ›

Andrea Bowen, Antonio Sabato Jr, Ashley Tisdale, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Eva La Rue, Jeff Foxworthy, Melissa Joan Hart, Seth Green, Alison Sweeney, and Masi Oka Source