Sci Fi Overthrows Animation at the Box Office

Fox’s The Martian brought down the box office with a strong 54 million for its opening weekend and sent Sony’s Hotel Transylvania 2 to number two for its second week with 33 million.

The Action sci adventure based on the book by Andy Weir, The Martian, follows the story of an astronaut, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) who survives a dust storm, but that’s just the beginning because now he has to survive over 500 s0ls, until he can be rescued after his team leaves Mars, thinking he is dead.

It’s an action packed suspense film that will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering if the next moment is his last.

The Martian opened October 1, and also stars,  Jessica Chastain,  Jeff Daniels,  Kristen Wiig,  Michael Peña, and  Sean Bean.

See it now in a theater near you.

Fans Go ‘Furious’

The seventh installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise hits theaters Easter weekend with vengeance as fans of blockbuster showed up in droves to watch the latest sequel and ultimately pay respect to the late Paul Walker, who died over a year ago in a street race up in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The film reunites the characters in a final race as Deckard Shaw (played by Jason Statham) seeks revenge on Dominic Toretto (played by Vin Diesel) and his family.  Meanwhile Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) begins to regain her memory as the group battles Shaw in a fight that is purely fast cars and big explosions as Toretto’s Team tries once and for all to silence Shaw for the sake of everyone.   Furious Seven also stars Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson as Hobbs, Paul Walker as Brian O’Conner, Jordana Brewster as Mia, Tyrese Gibson as Roman and rapper, Ludacris as Tej.

Furious seven is a movie for the records, with surprises around every turn as Toretto and the gang thrills us for a final time and concludes with a fitting tribute that reminds fans of what they loved most about the Fast and the Furious saga.  It’s a movie that will delight crowds, as it brought in over 143 million for its opening weekend debut, making it the second all time grossing movie for its opening day total and is currently playing in a theater near you.

A Classic Fairytale takes The Crown

Walt Disney has done it again.  The classic tale of the girl with the heart of gold had audiences worldwide flocking to see the live action Cinderella.  The film stars, Lily James as the heroine, Ella, who earns the name Cinderella from her evil step mother, played by Cate Blanchett and her two step sisters, however she remains as kind and courageous as her father and mother taught her, but is it enough to earn the awe from the prince, played by Richard Madden?

The film pays a great homage to the original, 1950 animated version, and did a fair job in following the original.  The acting was spot on spectacular even down to Helena Bonham Carter who took on the challenging role of the fairy Godmother and brought humor and wit to an enchanted audience.

Though, this version didn’t have the same musical variations, if one stayed toward the end of the credits, Lily James did sing the familiar song, “A Dream is a wish your heart make” and Helena Bonham Carter brought the always favorite “Bibbidi, Bobbidi, Boo” to crowds who waited out the credits.

And on a side note, the movie brought back the favorite sisters from last year’s blockbuster film, in the new short titled, “Frozen Fever” and it was a hilarious ten minutes of laughter that had the entire theater cracking up from the first minute on.

Cinderella opened in theaters on March 13 and brought in over 70 million worldwide and is currently at a theater near you.

“Boy Next Door” Takes Number Two

Universal’s suspense thriller, starring Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, John Corbett and Kristen Chenoweth entertained crowds its opening weekend and came in second at the box office behind American Sniper.

The Boy Next Door is the story of Claire Peterson (Lopez) who falls for Noah Sandborn, played by Guzman who is also a student in her class and befriends Peterson’s son.  Striken with grief of the age difference she tries to distance herself, though the boy is only a house away and she quickly realizes that he has a dark past which leads to a violent turn of events.  The movie starts off more of a romance and quickly turns to a film that keeps you on your toes just to figure out what is going to happen next.

Rated R for extreme violence and sexual conduct, viewer discretion is highly advised especially if you are going to bring young children or teenagers.  A more mature audience is better suited, but that being said, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

It’s a movie that will keep you awake until the final minute and that’s saying something.  It opened January 23 in theaters world wide and is a must see for all who likes a good romance mystery.

“Into The Storm”: A Modern Day “Twister”

Produced and Distributed by Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema, Into the Storm opened August 8 and thus far as brought in over 31 million.
Produced and Distributed by Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema, Into the Storm opened August 8 and thus far as brought in over 31 million.

Loosely based on the 1996, blockbuster Twister, that starred Helen Hunt and and Bill Paxton, Into the Storm brings the power of nature back to the big screen for a new generation to experience.  Told documentary style, storm trackers and high school students on their graduation day are caught in a series of deadly tornados that hit the local town of Silvertown, Oklahoma.  The film stars Richard Amitage, Sarah Wayne Calles, Matt Welsh, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Arlen Escarpeta, strangers who find themselves working together to both survive and document the deadly storm for the chance of saving future generation.

With action, suspense and a slight hint of romance, the story line is enough to keep the audiences attention throughout the entire movie.  Now in theaters, worldwide it’s a movie that one doesn’t want to miss.

 

“Turtles” Take 4th Highest August Box Office

Director Michael Bay’s epic blockbuster,TMNT, brought in a record 65 million for its opening weekend and fans showed up to nearly sold out theaters to see just how the 90’s Turtles were brought back in their latest adventure.

The movie holds true to the story as it is told through the eyes of budding reporter April O’Neil, played by Megan Fox, who follows the vigilant anti, a.k.a the turtles, who are fighting to save the people of New York from the infamous Shredder.   Through her adventures, O’Neil releases deep secrets behind the turtles as well as her father’s former company that lead to his untimely death as well as her father’s most trusted friend and partner, who is now working for Shredder to find the turtles and use them for their own benefit of capitalism.

The use of the CGI and camera effects make this movie appealing to the eye and the storyline is right on track to what Turtle fans know and love, despite the critics’ opinion that the ‘turtles look creepy’.

Rated PG 13, it is recommended for any “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” fan and is currently playing in various theaters near you.

Photo taken by Julie Moree, the original van from the movie on display outside Universal Citywalk theater on TMNT's opening weekend.
Photo taken by Julie Moree,
the original van from the movie on display outside Universal Citywalk theater on TMNT’s opening weekend.

“Non-Stop” Is Number One Opening Weekend

Number one at the box office is Universal’s Nonstop with 30 million in ticket sales for its opening weekend.  The action packed, mystery driven thriller stars Liam Neeson as the U.S Air Marshall, who is being framed for hijacking a plane.  He receives a text shortly after the plane takes off on a transatlantic flight and with the aid of Julianne Moore, another passenger, who seems to be the most trustworthy onboard, they attempt to save the rest of the passengers, however his method of interrogation gets misinterpreted.

What will happen when Neeson realizes his country thinks he’s a terrorist?  It’s nearly two hours of suspense that is sure to keep everyone on the edge of his or her seats.

 

“Son Of God” Opening Weekend Review

20th Century Fox’s Son of God gave Universal’s Nonstop a run for it’s money finishing just 3.5 million below, in second place with 26.5 million for it’s opening weekend.  The film stars Diogo Morgado, as Jesus and expands on the History Channel’s Emmy winning miniseries, “The Bible” as it follows the life of Jesus Christ from Virgin birth, through his miraculous ministries and culminating with the betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection and “Great Commission.

Filmed on location in Morocco, Son of God is told through the eyes of the Apostle John and despite a few minor changes, follows the writings fairly close for a modern day audience.

For a list of theaters near you, click here.