The Monica Edwards Weblog

In Theaters This Weekend (5/16)

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Disney, Miramax, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Foreign, Independent, Sequels, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG): starring Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley (directed by Andrew Adamson)
• How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer* (R): starring American Ferrera, Elizabeth Peña, Lucy Gallardo (directed by Georgina Garcia Riedel)
• Reprise* (R): starring Espen Klouman-Hoiner, Anders Danielsen Lie, Odd Magnus Williamson (directed by Joachim Trier)
• Sangre de mi sangre* (NR): starring Paola Mendoza, Jorge Adrian Espindola, Armando Hernandez (directed by Christopher Zalla)

*limited and/or gradual release

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Fahrenheit 9/11 Sequel Planned

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Documentary, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

Michael Moore - never one to shy away from controversy - is back at it again.  The writer/producer/director has chosen to follow up last year’s Sicko with a sequel to his 2004 hit, Fahrenheit 9/11.

While this movie will chronologically pick up where the original left off, it will not be about one specific event.  It will instead have a much broader focus.  According to the chief for Paramount Vantage (one of the two companies Moore is partnering with), the film “is going to tackle what’s going on in the world, and America’s place in it.”

Those already worried about the timing of Oliver Stone’s upcoming Bush project should feel at ease with this new documentary.  Moore is not planning to release the film until sometime next year - long after the presidential election is over.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Box Office Breakdown: Ashton Kutcher Drives Past Speed Racer

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Family, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Books, Lists, New Releases

Despite arresting visuals and a $120 million budget, the Wachowski brothers were unable to bring Speed Racer to life.  The Warner Bros. movie - which many had already predicted would fall behind Iron Man - did even worse than originally thought.  At one point, it was believed the anime adaptation would debut in 2nd place.  Unfortunately, the final box office numbers placed the PG film in third.

Meanwhile, What Happens in Vegas became the second wedding-themed entry in the recent Top Ten.  The comedy, starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, replaced Made of Honor as the go to ‘chick flick’ of the week.  The movie grossed $20.1 million, a slim $1.6 million more than Speed.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Ashton Kutcher Drives Past Speed Racer

Read More | Variety

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X-Files Trailer #2

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: 20th Century Fox, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

Nearly 2 months after a shaky clips were leaked online, we now have an improved - and updated - trailer for The X-Files: I Want to Believe.

Although there are many similarities to the original version, there are some new scenes within this preview.

The mystery unfolds on July 25.

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Why Tom Cruise Should Avoid Mission Impossible 4

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Paramount, Action, Sequels, Rumors

Although I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of Tom Cruise, I have to admit I found myself watching Oprah‘s recent two-day love fest about the man.  (The curiosity was killing me.) On Day One, I found myself gagging when I heard him gloss over all the remarks he made about Brooke Shields.  (His PR spin almost had me searching for my own set of anti-depressants.)

Day Two didn’t start out much better.  Listening to his friends fawn all over “T.C.” almost made me nauseous.  But then something helped change my mood a bit.  I actually found myself remembering some of the good parts he had played.

Click to continue reading Why Tom Cruise Should Avoid Mission Impossible 4

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Terminator Sequel More Family-Friendly

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

In hopes of broadening their movie’s audience, the producers of Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins have announced they’re aiming for a PG-13 stamp.  This move would be a departure from the first three installments which were all rated R.

Devotees of the series might find this bit of news a little upsetting.  Would a dialed-down film also mean a watered-down Terminator?  Meanwhile, younger fans of the FOX series are probably thrilled by this announcement.  Now they’ll get to follow along on the big screen.

Click to continue reading Terminator Sequel More Family-Friendly

Read More | Variety

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Collectors Line Up for Joker Doll

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

While the whole thing seems a bit morbid, I guess you kind of have to understand the reasoning.

In New York, collectors reportedly starting lining up around 4 A.M. this morning to cash in on Batman memorabilia.  Their object of desire?  The Heath Ledger/Joker action figure.  The item, which sells for $9.99, quickly disappeared from the Times Square Toys “R” Us store and ended up on the internet within a matter of hours.  (There’s nothing like a tragic death that makes an eBay seller salivate more.)

Although some hopeful profiters have been requesting nearly $50 for both the Joker and Batman figures together, a spokesperson for the toy store says they expect to be getting shipments of The Dark Knight products on a regular basis.

Read More | New York Post

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Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Strikes Gold

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Horror, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Where exactly can the summer box office go from here?

This past weekend, Iron Man blasted into theaters in a big way.  The comic book adaptation raked in a whopping $102 million putting an $87 million difference between itself and its nearest competitor.  The PG-13 film officially became the 10th best opener of all time and had the second best premiere for any non-sequel.  (Spider-Man grossed $114.8 million back in 2002.)

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Iron Man Strikes Gold

Read More | Variety

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Warner Bros. Releases Dark Knight Trailer No. 3

Posted by Kathleen Kane
Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Mystery, Sequels, Thrillers, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

As everyone and their mother rushed to the theaters to see Iron Man this weekend, they were in for quite a surprise as the latest teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Batman series played prior to the film.

Ever since the first screenings of Iron Man, bootleg versions of the trailer have appeared on YouTube; The Dark Knight team seems to have wanted to nip that in the butt quickly, as they ended up posting it on their official site this past weekend, which you can see after the jump.

Although the campaign for the film has bombarded us with clips and images of Heath Ledger‘s character, Joker, very little has been spoken of Aaron Eckhart‘s Harvey Dent, who ultimately becomes Two-Face. That is, of course, until this trailer, where if you look close enough, you’re able to see the scars on the side of his face when he’s holding up the gun.

Folks over at Warner Bros. just continue to keep us entertained, as they had just released new teaser posters a mere couple weeks ago (which can be viewed at Omelete). The film is set to be released in theaters July 18, 2008.

Click to continue reading Warner Bros. Releases Dark Knight Trailer No. 3

Read More | Coming Soon.net

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High School Musical 3 Poster

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories: Disney, Family, Music, Musicals, Sequels, Upcoming Releases

Here it is:  Your first official look at High School Musical 3.  (You can view a larger version of the poster after the jump.)

As you can see, the made-for-big screen sequel is apparently set to hit theaters on Oct. 24th.  (Parents - start preparing yourself for the endless viewing parties now.)

BTW—is it just me, or is Corbin Bleu completely unrecognizable in this photo?  He’s almost as white as Zac Efron!

Click to continue reading High School Musical 3 Poster

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