BEST BET: “Pride and Glory”, but from what I’ve heard… EVERYTHING on this week’s list *except*  is worth a rent, although “The Rocker” disappointed at the box office.  Don’t forget “Fireproof”, the romantic drama surprised critics at the box office and did very well for a small budget Christian movie.

New at Theaters (Friday): “New in Town”, “Taken”, “The Uninvited”

BEST BET: Finally… I hope… “Taken” is scheduled to open this weekend… I say that because after I saw the trailer back in August, the release date moved from September 19th to January 23rd to now this Friday, January 30th !!!  I have a feeling my review will be impacted by this massive delay.

Also new this week the cute and funny date movie “New in Town” with Renee Zellweger and Harry Conick, Jr. and the horror flick “The Uninvited” from the producers of “The Ring”.

MY REVIEWS OF OTHER MOVIES CURRENTLY PLAYING IN THEATERS OR AVAILABLE TO RENT: 

Playing at West Michigan movie theaters:
“Slumdog Millionaire” (9.5 / 10)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (9.5 / 10)
“Changeling”  (9.5 / 10)
“The Wrestler” (8.9 / 10)
“Defiance” (8.0 / 10)
“Australia”  (7.9 / 10)
“Bride Wars” (7.5 / 10)
“Marley & Me” (7.5 / 10)
“Four Christmases”  (7.5 / 10)
“Quantum of Solace”  (7.5 / 10)
“Role Models”  (7.5 / 10)
“The Boy in the Striped Pajamas”  (7.5 / 10)
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (7.0 / 10)
“Bedtime Stories” (7.0 / 10)
“Hotel for Dogs” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight”  (7.0 / 10)
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5 / 10)

- – -

Available to rent or buy:
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“WALL-E” (9.0)
“Righteous Kill” (8.9 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Get Smart” (7.0 / 10)
“Appaloosa” (6.9 / 10)
“Hellboy II: Golden Army” (6.5 / 10)
“Noise” (6.0 / 10)

- – - 

Next Week at Theaters: “Coraline”, “He’s Just Not That Into You”, “Pink Panther 2″, “Push” 

Next Week on DVD: “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”, “The Secret Life of Bees”, “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist”, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”, “Bottle Shock”

The Cesar E. Chavez Scholarship, announced Tuesday by the Southwest Michigan Cesar E. Chavez Committee, will be available to high school seniors or graduates who are enrolled or are planning to enroll full-time for the 2009-2010 school year.

Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have maintained a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).

Mike Ramirez, Chavez committee chair and assistant director of the Division of Multicultural Affairs at Western Michigan University, told 24 Hour News 8 the committee raised the money for the scholarship at banquets over the course of two years.

The scholarship is set to be awarded at at the committee’s March 28 dinner.

“As part of the application, students will be required to write an essay describing their experiences, activities and leadership roles, as well as any challenges or obstacles they have had to overcome. The scholarship is not renewable, however former recipients may apply in succeeding years,” Ramirez said in a statement.

Applications have to be postmarked by Feb. 16 and sent to:

Southwest Michigan Cesar E. Chavez Committee
P.O. Box 50989
Kalamazoo, MI 49005

The fall trend continues… last weekend, only “Tropic Thunder” made more than $10 million, the week before 4 movies made more than $10 million, now this past weekend none of the movies even came close to that mark, setting up a very interesting weekend ahead…

Top 10 Weekend Box Office list this week (actual results):

1. “Bangkok Dangerous” - $7.78 million (1st week)

2. “Tropic Thunder” - $7.23 million
(4th week, was #1 last week, lost 37% from last week)

3. “The Dark Knight” – $5.52 million (total gross: $511.99 million)
(8th week, was #3 last week, lost 36% of its audience from last week)

4. “The House Bunny” - $5.51 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 33% of its audience from last week)

5. “Traitor” - $4.27 million
(2nd week, was #5 last week, lost 45% of its audience from last week)

6. “Babylon A.D.” - $4.18 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 56% of its audience from last week)

7. “Death Race” - $6.29 million
(3rd week, was #6 last week, lost 41% of its audience from last week)

8. “Disaster Movie” - $3.03 million
(2nd week, was #7 last week, lost 48% of its audience from last week)

9. “Mamma Mia!” – $2.86 million
(8th week, was #8 last week, lost 32% from last week)

10. “Pineapple Express” - $2.26 million
(5th week, was #9 last week, lost 36% of its audience from last week)

—

Chasing History:

“The Dark Knight” continues to try to close the gap between itself ($511.99 million) and “Titanic” ($600.78 million) for the highest grossing movie ever in the U.S. !!

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Bangkok Dangerous” poster courtesy Lionsgate