Remake News: American Werewolf, Bride of Frankenstein and More

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, MGM, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Classics, Drama, Horror, Remakes, Science Fiction, Comedy, Casting, Rumors, Upcoming Releases, Videos

An American Werewolf in London: While fans are reminiscing over Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, it seems just appropriate that a remake of John Landis’ horror film is in the works. (Werewolf was the inspiration for the music video.) In the 1981 original, two college students (David Naughton and Griffin Dunne) are attacked by the creature while backpacking. The survivor eventually goes on to attack other victims. Dimension Films has tapped Sean and Bryan Furst (Daybreakers) to produce.

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Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: June 30, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Magnolia, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Music, Romance, Comedy, Home Entertainment

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• 12 Rounds: DVD, Blu-ray
• Barfly: DVD
• Do the Right Thing (20th Anniversary Edition): DVD, Blu-ray
• The Education of Charlie Banks: DVD
• Flawless: Blu-ray
• Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience: DVD, Blu-ray
• Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li: DVD, Blu-ray
• They Call Me Bruce? (25th Anniversary Edition): DVD
• Tokyo!: DVD, Blu-ray
• Two Lovers: DVD, Blu-ray

Click here to see the TV-on-DVD options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

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LaToya Jackson Scene Removed from Bruno

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Universal, Comedy, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

Sacha Baron Cohen may be known for pushing the boundaries, but he won’t - at least in this situation - be labeled insensitive.

Shortly after Michael Jackson’s death, the producers of Borat made quick edits before their film’s premiere. A scene that featured a Jackson sibling was cut from the film.

“Out of respect for the Jackson family, the filmmakers have decided to remove a small scene involving La Toya Jackson,” a Universal Pictures spokesperson said.

In previous screenings, critics saw the flamboyant title character trick Michael’s sister doing an interview with him. Bruno then went on to talk about the King of Pop’s high-pitched voice and trademark glove. He also attempted to retrieve the singer’s number from LaToya’s cell phone.

Although it was initially unsure whether the edit would be temporary, the studio confirmed today that the scene would be left out of the theatrical release.

Bruno opens on July 10.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Jimmy Cagney: The First Public Enemy

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Universal, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Period, Casting, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, isn’t the first gangster flick Hollywood has made and it certainly won’t be the last. Detailing the 1933-34 efforts of the FBI to thwart Depression-era criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, the movie will take viewers into the massive manhunt and the rampant crime that marked this period of American history. Stories of these legendary criminal figures and others (Bonnie and Clyde is one good example) have long lit up the silver screen.

The very first Public Enemy list was created in 1930, the term coined by Frank J. Loesch. At the top of the list was notorious gangster Al Capone. This became the start of the Public Enemy Era, but it also became the start for a much more benign era in Hollywood: gangster movies.

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Read More | Public Enemies

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Box Office Breakdown: Audiences Agree on The Proposal

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Touchstone, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

It seems a little skin might just go a long way.

After weeks of talking to the media about their joint nude scene, Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds saw their movie take the top spot. Was it a coincidence? Maybe. Whatever the reason, The Proposal became the actress’ biggest opener ever. Prior to this weekend, 2007’s Premonition - a horrible film, btw - had Bullock’s largest debut. (That movie grossed $17.6 million, almost 1/2 less than the romantic comedy.)

Meanwhile, Reynolds is this week’s Bradley Cooper. Sandra’s leading man, like The Hangover star, has just had his second #1 film of the year. (The first being Wolverine.)

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Read More | Variety

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First Look: Aniston and Eckhart in Love Happens

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Universal, Drama, Romance, Trailers, Upcoming Releases

The day Jennifer Aniston attempts a new genre in film is the day she does something drastically different with her hair. But when the object of her affections is Aaron Eckhart, who could blame her?

In Love Happens, love happens between a self-help guru and a hotel florist. Eckhart plays the widowed motivational speaker who finds himself opening up after meeting Aniston at a grief seminar. (BTW - did anyone else think of Notting Hill when they saw they saw the trailer?)

The Universal feature premieres on September 18.

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Little Fockers to explore death and divorce

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Universal, Sequels, Comedy, Upcoming Releases

Little Fockers will examine themes of death and divorce. The third movie in the comic franchise - starring Ben Stiller and Teri Polo - will focus on more serious topics, but writer John Hamburg promises to deal with them in a “really comic way”. He told IGN: “We’re catching up with these characters five years later and Pam and Greg have twins so they are dealing with that. And people are dealing with where they’re at in their lives, and themes of death and divorce and all these real things that as we get older, we start to think about, but in a really comic way.”

John also promised that Owen Wilson’s character Kevin Rawley will have an expanded role in the new film.

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Box Office Breakdown: Hangover Hangs on for Another Win

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Remakes, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

This is one hangover that’s taking a while to recover from.

For the second week in a row, the must-see comedy of the summer has taken the top spot at the charts. The Hangover, which already had a greenlighted sequel prior to its debut, raked in another $32.7 million over the weekend. The film has now earned over $100 million and given Bradley Cooper his second #1 entry of the year. (His first was February’s He’s Just Not That Into You.)

Sitting in third place this week (right behind Up), was The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, a remake of a 1974 version starring starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. The action thriller, which had Denzel Washington working with director Tony Scott for the fourth time, pulled in a respectable $23.3 million. Meanwhile, Imagine That, Eddie Murphy’s latest stinker, earned $5.5 million in wide release. That gross bests the premiere of Meet Dave by approximately $200,000.

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Read More | Variety

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Box Office Breakdown: The Hangover Rises Above Up

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Religious, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

Unlike most Mike Tyson fights, The Hangover‘s win was no knockout.

After a back-and-forth battle with Up, Todd Phillips’ film about an eventful bachelor party edged out the animated pic by less than $1 million. Hangover - which features no major stars (unless you count the boxer) - grossed nearly $45 million on its opening weekend. That’s the third best debut for an R-rated comedy ever. (Only Sex and the City and American Pie 2 have done better.)

Meanwhile, a project actually featuring an A-lister became the summer’s first stinker. Land of the Lost, starring Will Ferrell, Anna Friel and Danny McBride, earned a sad $18.8 million over the past three days. Although that amount was good enough for third place, the film cost an estimated $100 million to make.

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Read More | Yahoo! Movies

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Box Office Breakdown: Disney/Pixar Flying High with Up

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

The word “Pixar” always seems to generate smiles, and that’s exactly what Up did for Disney.

Over the weekend, the Cannes Film Festival opener generated $68.1 million, over $40 million more than its nearest competitor. The movie - which was also offered in 3D - also bested last year’s Wall-E (by $5 million) and had Pixar’s 3rd-best debut. (The Incredibles opened to $70.5 million in 2004; Finding Nemo grossed $70.3 million in 2003.)

Friday’s other new wide release, Drag Me to Hell, scared up only $15.8 million for a 4th place finish. Although it originally looked as if the horror film would surpass Terminator Salvation, the final numbers were $8 million below Sunday’s projections.

Another noteworthy mention: Star Trek officially crossed the $200 million mark after only four weeks in release. The Paramount feature is now the first movie of the year to reach that achievement.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Disney/Pixar Flying High with Up

Read More | Variety

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