On VIP Breakdown: A Weekend of Sorrow: Three Beloved Celebs Depart

Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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Cloverfield Sequel Might Not Happen

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Drama, Horror, Sequels, Rumors, Scripts

CloverfieldAlthough Paramount was quick to greenlight a Cloverfield sequel back in January, the director of the original monster flick says plans are currently on hold. Smartly enough, the filmmakers (Matt Reeves, producer J.J. Abrams, writer Drew Goddard) have decided they’d like to wait until they actually come up with an interesting story.

While ideas for a sequel - or a prequel - have been tossed around, Reeves told SCI FI Wire that nothing has really stood out so far. “We’re still kind of toying with what it’s going to be and whether or not we’re going to find something that will be as exciting for us to make and, hopefully, for an audience to watch. So we’ll see. It’s really in the baby, baby stages. And right now it’s definitely on hold until we come up with what that would be.”

Well, whatever the trio eventually decides - the film better not have a shaky cam involved. Otherwise, they can simply count me out.

Read More | Sci Fi Wire

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Box Office Breakdown: Hannah Montana Humiliates Her Elders

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Family, Horror, Music, Romance, Satire, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus

It’s now time for the entertainment industry to take notice:  a 15-year-old girl has officially become the hottest thing thing around.  already had a hit TV series () and a sold-out concert tour, but now she has a record-breaking movie as well.

The limited run of her 3-D film, , made waves on what is usually considered a slow weekend for movies.  (Audiences are usually plopped in front of the TV watching the .)  The pic earned over $31 million, surpassing the total set by 1998’s during the same football weekend.  (That weeper grossed $25.2 million.)  Miley also rocked a stellar $45,560 per screen average.  In comparison, this week’s #2 (), earned $40,000 less per theater.  Fortunately, those unable to snag a Montana ticket now have their chance.  The wildly successful film has been extended indefinitely.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Hannah Montana Humiliates Her Elders

Read More | Variety

Sequel News: ‘Cloverfield’, ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: New Line, Paramount, Horror, Sequels, Thrillers, Upcoming Releases

Cloverfield - a movie that’s only two weeks old - has already earned itself sequel buzz.  While that shouldn’t be surprising news given the film’s stellar debut numbers, the movie did drop 68% in its second week.  And let’s not forget the movie’s ending.  Wouldn’t the movie be better served as a stand-alone piece….or do people really need further explanation?

Well, regardless of what I might think, the negotiations have already begun.  Its ‘s hope that the three behind the first installment - director , producer and writer - will return to create them a monster-sized hit.  Who knows?  I actually found myself enjoying 28 Weeks Later, and I was convinced that would be a disaster.

Click to continue reading Sequel News: ‘Cloverfield’, ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’

Read More | E! Online

Box Office Breakdown: Rambo Outgunned by Spartans

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Horror, Satire, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists, New Releases

Rambo

Although was hoping to end the series on an up note, it appears the actor/writer/director will just have to settle for second place.  Many had expected the fourth installment would come away with the weekend’s spoils, unfortunately the aging action hero was overpowered by a group of toga-clad warriors.

It should be said though that had an extremely narrow victory.  The spoof of 2007’s edged out the action flick by just $300,000.  But a win is still a win, right?  The satire also had the best per screen average of any movie in the Top Ten ($7104).

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Rambo Outgunned by Spartans

Read More | Variety

Box Office Breakdown: Cloverfield Attacks the Charts

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Horror, Independent, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Books, Lists, New Releases

Cloverfield

Final numbers for the three-day weekend revealed what many had suspected: toppled New York and the competition.  The strong numbers were a result of smart marketing.  In addition to the eerie trailers, the film debuted in January - usually a fairly quiet month for decent films.  Cloverfield’s $46 million take has already covered the movie’s budget (estimated at around $25 million).  That dollar amount also earned the flick the title for best MLK and January opener ever.

Although raked in $20 million less than the horror flick, had nothing to cry about.  Thanks to more strategic marketing - this time by - the film was able to take advantage of those looking for something less dark.  Dresses was originally scheduled to debut last week but was repositioned so it could open during the busy weekend.

Unfortunately, female focus on the romantic comedy didn’t help the female-filled .  The movie - co-starring , and - cashed out in 8th place.  This makes two disappointing debuts in a row for the Clan (the first being Tom’s ).  Let us not forget that Katie opted to do this film instead of the for her post-Tom movie return.  Come to think of it, maybe it was for the best.  I could just hear Tom telling us now that if he had known Heath was doing drugs, he would have cured Ledger himself.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: Cloverfield Attacks the Charts

Read More | Yahoo! Movies

‘Cloverfield’ Warning: Take Your Motion Sickness Pills

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Drama, Horror, Thrillers, Filmmaking

Cloverfield

Tonight, I was really looking forward for my chance to see .  Not only was I intrigued by the trailers, I was relieved to watch a movie that was only 1.5 hours long.  A short run time basically guaranteed the action would start quickly.  Unfortunately, the production ended up feeling like the longest 85 minutes of my life.  (And that wasn’t because it was necessarily a bad film.)  It was also the most nauseating experience I had had in quite some time.  (And that wasn’t because it was a particularly gory film.  In fact, it was fairly tame.)  Cloverfield just happened to be the shakiest piece of film I can recall having to endure.  Period.

Had this been any other movie, I might have walked out on it.  The problem was that I wanted to sit through the whole thing.  (I needed to see that bad-ass monster for myself.)  If that meant averting my gaze through a third of the film, I figured that would still be better than completely leaving halfway through it.  I refused to wimp out.

But if any of you out there have a problem with motion sickness, heed my advice:  Take Your Dramamine!  Envision the shaky home video your friend took at your wedding. Then imagine them running with the camera.  Then extend that same piece of film (with no pauses) to movie-length.  I like to think that I can stomach a lot, but this was x 10.  (Though when compared to the sickening feeling I felt on a casino boat once, this was about half as bad.)

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In Theaters This Weekend (1/18)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Weinstein Company, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Period, Political, Romance, Comedy, Thrillers, Lists, New Releases

27 Dresses

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

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