New on DVD (Tuesday): “Big Stan”, “Bolt”, “The Cake Eaters”, “Quantum of Solace”

New at Theaters (Friday): “12 Rounds”, “The Haunting in Connecticut”, “Monsters Vs. Aliens”

BEST BETs: “12 Rounds” looks like a good action thriller from the trailer, but we’ll have to see… “Monsters Vs. Aliens” is just okay for an animated sci-fi/action movie with so much hype… and “The Haunting in Connecticut” is not really my kind of movie, so horror fans, chime in when you see this one.

New on DVD (Tuesday): “Big Stan”, “Bolt”, “The Cake Eaters”, “Quantum of Solace”

BEST BETs: If you’re like me and haven’t see the Oscar nominated animation “Bolt”, this is the week to do so.
“Quantum of Solace” is an above average James Bond movie, but not as good as Daniel Craig’s first Bond film “Casino Royale” (2006)… if you do see it, make sure you see “Casino Royale” first because “Solace” continues the story about 30 minutes after “Royale”.
“The Cake Eaters” is a fairly well reviewed, but small romantic comedy starring Kristen Stewart of “Twilight” fame.
“Big Stan” is a straight to video Rob Schneider comedy, so beware… straight-to-video is a red flag.

 CLICK HERE TO FIND A MOVIE SHOWTIME

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)
“The Wrestler” (8.9 / 10)
“Defiance” (8.0 / 10)
“I Love You, Man” (8.0/ 10)
“Revolutionary Road” (7.9 / 10)
“New in Town” (7.9 / 10)
“Taken” (7.5 / 10)
“Fanboys” (8.5 for me, adjusted to 7.5 for most)
“Quantum of Solace”  (7.5 / 10)
“He’s Just Not That Into You” (7.5 / 10)
“Bride Wars” (7.5 / 10)
“Marley & Me” (7.5 / 10)
“Four Christmases”  (7.5 / 10)
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (7.0 / 10)
“Knowing” (7.0 / 10)
“Watchmen” (7.0 / 10)
“Bedtime Stories” (7.0 / 10)
“Hotel for Dogs” (7.0 / 10)
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5 / 10)
“Monsters Vs. Aliens” (6.0 / 10)
“Confessions of A Shopaholic” (5.5 / 10)

- – -

Available to rent or buy:
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“Changeling”  (9.5 / 10)
“WALL-E” (9.0)
“Pride and Glory” (9.0 / 10)
“Righteous Kill” (8.9 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“The Visitor” (8.0 / 10)
“Australia”  (7.9 / 10)
“Frozen River” (7.9 / 10)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Get Smart” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight”  (7.0 / 10)
“Appaloosa” (6.9 / 10)
“Lakeview Terrace” (6.5 / 10)
“Hellboy II: Golden Army” (6.5 / 10)
“Noise” (6.0 / 10)

- – - 

Next Week at Theaters: “Adventureland”, “Fast and Furious”, “Sunshine Cleaning” (new to Grand Rapids market)

Next Week on DVD: “Marley & Me”, “The Other End of the Line”, “Seven Pounds”, “Slumdog Millionaire”

—

Follow my updates on twitter: http://twitter.com/aaronlafferty

Add to your RSS feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/woodtv8-blogs-laff-at-the-movies?format=html

New at Theaters (Friday): “12 Rounds”, “The Haunting in Connecticut”, “Monsters Vs. Aliens”

New on DVD (Tuesday): “Big Stan”, “Bolt”, “The Cake Eaters”, “Quantum of Solace”

BEST BETs: If you’re like me and haven’t see the Oscar nominated animation “Bolt”, this is the week to do so. “Quantum of Solace” is an above average James Bond movie, but not as good as Daniel Craig’s first Bond film “Casino Royale” (2006)… if you do see it, make sure you see “Casino Royale” first because “Solace” continues the story about 30 minutes after “Royale”.   “The Cake Eaters” is a fairly well reviewed, but small romantic comedy starring Kristen Stewart of “Twilight” fame.  

“Big Stan” is a straight to video Rob Schneider comedy, so beware… straight-to-video is a red flag.

New at Theaters (Friday): “12 Rounds”, “The Haunting in Connecticut”, “Monsters Vs. Aliens”

BEST BETs: “12 Rounds” looks like a good action thriller from the trailer, but we’ll have to see… “Monsters Vs. Aliens” is just okay for an animated sci-fi/action movie… and “The Haunting in Connecticut” is not really my kind of movie, so horror fans, chime in when you see this one.

 CLICK HERE TO FIND A MOVIE SHOWTIME

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)
“The Wrestler” (8.9 / 10)
“Defiance” (8.0 / 10)
“I Love You, Man” (8.0/ 10)
“Revolutionary Road” (7.9 / 10)
“New in Town” (7.9 / 10)
“Taken” (7.5 / 10)
“Fanboys” (8.5 for me, adjusted to 7.5 for most)
“Quantum of Solace”  (7.5 / 10)
“He’s Just Not That Into You” (7.5 / 10)
“Bride Wars” (7.5 / 10)
“Marley & Me” (7.5 / 10)
“Four Christmases”  (7.5 / 10)
“Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (7.0 / 10)
“Knowing” (7.0 / 10)
“Watchmen” (7.0 / 10)
“Bedtime Stories” (7.0 / 10)
“Hotel for Dogs” (7.0 / 10)
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” (6.5 / 10)
“Confessions of A Shopaholic” (5.5 / 10)

- – -

Available to rent or buy:
“The Dark Knight” (9.5 / 10)
“Changeling”  (9.5 / 10)
“WALL-E” (9.0)
“Pride and Glory” (9.0 / 10)
“Righteous Kill” (8.9 / 10)
“Eagle Eye” (8.5 / 10)
“Burn After Reading” (8.5 / 10)
“Wanted” (8.0 / 10)
“The Visitor” (8.0 / 10)
“Australia”  (7.9 / 10)
“Frozen River” (7.9 / 10)
“Traitor” (7.5 / 10)
“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
“Get Smart” (7.0 / 10)
“Twilight”  (7.0 / 10)
“Appaloosa” (6.9 / 10)
“Lakeview Terrace” (6.5 / 10)
“Hellboy II: Golden Army” (6.5 / 10)
“Noise” (6.0 / 10)

- – - 

Next Week at Theaters: “Adventureland”, “Fast and Furious”, “Sunshine Cleaning” (new to Grand Rapids market)

Next Week on DVD: “Marley & Me”, “The Other End of the Line”, “Seven Pounds”, “Slumdog Millionaire”

—

Follow my updates on twitter: http://twitter.com/aaronlafferty

Add to your RSS feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/woodtv8-blogs-laff-at-the-movies?format=html

Either way, the weekend’s three new releases came out on top, with Jim Carrey’s comedy Yes Man edging out Will Smith’s latest drama Seven Pounds for first place while the family movie The Tale of Desperaux barely beat last weekend’s number one The Day the Earth Stood Still for third place.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 
1. “Yes Man” – $18.16 million  (1st week)

2. “Seven Pounds” – $16.00 million  (1st week)

3. “The Tale of Desperaux” – $10.51 million  (1st week)

4. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” – $10.15 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 66% of audience from last week)

5. “Four Christmases”  – $7.75 million
(4th week, was #2 last week, lost 40% from last week)

6. “Twilight”  – $5.22 million
(5th week, was #3 last week, lost 34% from last week)

7. ”Bolt”  – $4.26 million
(5th week, was #4 last week, lost 43% from last week)

8. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $3.15 million (limited release: added 420 theaters – now playing in Grand Rapids)
(6th week, was #11 last week, 44% more audience than last week)

9. “Australia”  – $2.33 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 44% from last week)

10. “Quantum of Solace” - $2.15 million
(6th week, was #6 last week, lost 42% from last week)

- – -

11. ”Milk” – $1.64 million   (limited release: added 28 theaters)
(4th week, was #9 last week, lost 36% from last week)

14. ”Doubt″ – $0.73 million (limited release: added 24 theaters)
(2nd week, was #19 last week, 43% more than last week)

18. ”Gran Torino″ – $0.47 million (limited release: added 13 theaters)
(2nd week, was #20 last week, 72% more than last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 
1. “The Day the Earth Stood Still” – $31.00 million  (1st week)

2. “Four Christmases”  – $13.27 million
(3rd week, was #1 last week, lost 22% from last week)

3. “Twilight”  – $8.01 million
(4th week, was #2 last week, lost 39% from last week)

4. ”Bolt”  – $7.46 million
(4th week, was #3 last week, lost 24% from last week)

5. “Australia”  – $4.17 million
(3rd week, was #4 last week, lost 41% from last week)

6. “Quantum of Solace” - $3.72 million
(5th week, was #5 last week, lost 45% from last week)

7. ”Nothing Like the Holidays” - $3.53 million  (1st week)

8. “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” – $3.18 million
(6th week, was #8 last week, lost 37% from last week)

9. ”Milk” – $2.60 million   (limited release: added 229 theaters)
(3rd week, was #11 last week, 42% more than last week)

10. ”Transporter 3″ – $2.35 million
(3rd week, was #7 last week, lost 50% from last week)

—

11. “Slumdog Millionaire” - $2.18 million +55.2%   (limted release: added 91 theaters)
(5th week, was #12 last week, 55% more than last week)

It was a down weekend for theaters and studios, with numbers down significanty from Thanksgiving weekend.  The weekend’s poorly reviewed new release of Punisher: War Zone and the limited distribution of the other new releases Cadillac Records and Nobel Son and the fact that this wasn’t the big movie watching Thanksgiving weekend all added up to a loss of 50% nationwide and the 3rd lowest total box office since kids went back to school in September.   Twilight and Australia both moved up one spot from last week as they lost less of their audience than Bolt and Quantum of Solace.

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (studio estimates)
1. “Four Christmases” – $18.18 million
(2nd week at #1, lost 42% of its audience from last week)

2. “Twilight” – $13.20 million 
(3rd week, was #3 last week, lost 50% of its audience from last week)

3. “Bolt” – $9.70 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 64% of its audience from last week)

4. “Australia” – $7.00 million
(2nd week, was #5 last week, lost 53% of its audience from last week) 

5. “Quantum of Solace” - $6.60 million
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 65% of its audience from last week)

6. “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” – $5.10 million 
(5th week, was #6 last week, lost 64% of its audience from last week)

7. “Transporter 3″ – $4.50 million
(2nd week, was #7 last week, lost 63% of its audience from last week)

8. “Punisher: War Zone” – $4.00 million (1st week)

9. “Cadillac Records” – $3.50 million (1st week) (limited release: 686 theaters)

10. “Role Models” – $2.62 million
(5th week, was #8 last week, lost 50% of its audience from last week)

- – -

11. “Milk” – $1.69 million  (limited release: 99 theaters)
(2nd week, was #10 last week, gained 16% more than its audience from last week, added 63 more theaters)

12. “Slumdog Millionaire” – $1.41 million  (limited release: 78 theaters)
(4th week, was #11 last week, gained 5% more than its audience from last week, added 29 more theaters)

13. “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” – $1.69 million  (limited release: 678 theaters)
(5th week, was #9 last week, lost 40% of its audience from last week)

14. “Changeling” - $0.50 million
(7th week, was #12 last week, lost 50% of its audience from last week)

15. ”Nobel Son” – $0.37 million (1st week) (limited release: 893 theaters)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Four Christmases” poster courtesy New Line Cinema

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (studio estimates)
1. “Four Christmases” – $31.68 million (1st week)

2. “Bolt” – $26.60 million
(2nd week, was #3 last week, gained 1% more than its audience from last week)

3. “Twilight” – $26.37 million 
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 62% of its audience from last week)

4. “Quantum of Solace” - $19.50 million
(3rd week, was #2 last week, lost 27% of its audience from last week)

5. “Australia” – $14.82 million (1st week)

6. “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” – $14.50 million 
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 7% of its audience from last week)

7. “Transporter 3″ – $12.33 million (1st week)

8. “Role Models” – $5.28 million
(4th week, was #5 last week, lost 28% of its audience from last week)

9. “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” – $1.69 million
(4th week, was #8 last week, gained 3% more than its audience from last week, added 30% more theaters)

10. “Milk” – $1.38 million (1st week)

- - 

11. “Slumdog Millionaire” – $1.37 million
(3rd week, was #11 last week, gained 44% more than its audience from last week, added 35% more theaters)

12. “Changeling” - $1.21 million
(6th week, was #6 last week, lost 55% of its audience from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Four Christmases” poster courtesy New Line Cinema

No real surprise here… Bond is always a big moneymaker… it wasn’t a question of it would be #1, just a question of how much money it would actually make. 

Back on track???  This will be the first time since the summer that I correctly predicted all of the top 10 box office spots.

"Quantum of Solace" tops box office with $67 million

TOP MOVIES AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE (actual results)
1. “Quantum of Solace” - $67.53 million (1st week)

2. “Madagascar 2: Ecsape to Africa” – $35.02 million
(2nd week, was #1 last week, lost 44% of its audience from last week)

3. “Role Models” – $11.15 million
(2nd week, was #2 last week, lost 42% of its audience from last week)

4. “High School Musical 3” - $5.66 million
(4th week, was #3 last week, lost 38% of its audience from last week)

5. “Changeling” - $4.25 million
(4th week, was #4 last week, lost 41% of its audience from last week)

6. “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” - $3.15 million
(3rd week, was #5 last week, lost 50% of its audience from last week)

7. “Soul Men” – $2.35 million
(2nd week, was #6 last week, lost 57% of its audience from last week)

8. “The Secret Life of Bees” - $2.34 million
(5th week, was #9 last week, lost 24% of its audience from last week)

9. “Saw V” - $1.77 million
(4th week, was #7 last week, lost 56% of its audience from last week)

10. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” - $1.58 million
(7th week, was #11 last week, lost 37% of its audience from last week)

- – - -

11. “Eagle Eye” - $1.46 million
(8th week, was #10 last week, lost 42% of its audience from last week)

Box Office numbers courtesy Box Office Mojo

“Quantum of Solace” poster courtesy MGM

Quantum of Solace

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content) (1 hr, 46 min)

Starring: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen

Director: Marc Forster

"Quantum Of Solace" good, but not as good as "Casino Royale"

Genre: Action/Adventure

The Plot: Seeking revenge for the death of his love, secret agent James Bond sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country’s water supply.

MY TAKE (minor spoilers): As you’d expect from the opening sequence of a Bond movie, Quantum takes little time to get going, jumping right into a vicious car chase through Italy.  As previously reported, this is a direct sequel, as the story picks up about an hour from the end of Casino Royale… with Bond racing to his HQ.

Daniel Craig is great again as 007, Judi Dench is awesome as usual as M, Jeffrey Wright and Jesper Christensen were good again in their limited, but important roles as Felix Leiter and Mr. White.   New Bond girl Olga Kurylenko is solid as the female agent trying to conduct her own covert operation on new villian Dominic Greene, played convincingly by Mathieu Amalric.

There’s tons of action in this one – but if you didn’t see Casino Royale, you may be surprised at the style and type of action – its a lot more Bourne Identity that your grandfather’s smooth talking shoot and punch Sean Connery of the classic Bond movies.   Craig’s James Bond is fleet of foot, jumps from rooftop to rooftop, dangles from ropes, shoots, punches, and jumps some more.  But as we saw in Casino Royale, this Bond is also more conflicted and a little darker than the just charming and cool Bond’s of the past – this Bond has many layers and troubles that has M in a constant state of concern.

The script and character development were good as you’d expect after Casino Royale, eventhough Quantum has a different director.

Its fun to see the opening scene going through a construction site again as it did in Casino Royale… all of the action scenes were great: a car chase, a boat chase, foot chases, and an airplane dogfight.

BUT…. there are 2 very noticeable issues that set this apart from the last movie:

During the action sequences the camera is often too close to make out exactly what’s going on – yes, it puts you right in the action, but its a little jarring and distracting during chase scenes and fight scenes when the camera is so close to the action, that its confusing of who is getting hurt and who is escaping.

There seems to be a lack of connection that the audience had with Bond in Casino Royale, it could be that this Bond is darker and crass and devoid of true feelings.

But I think what really bogs this movie down is the movie’s complex plot points that are a bit harder to grasp.    In Casino Royale, it was a lot more basic: chase down and catch a bomber, link him to the next bad guy, then to the next bad guy, stop a plane from blowing up, play some poker, and then chase down another bad guy – with a bunch of other action and character interaction in between.    In Quantum, the bad guys’ “evil plan” is all about land rights and wildlife preserves, oil rights, and secret conspiracy groups.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t read this as I didn’t like the movie – because I did like it, I just want to explain why I’m giving it a lower grade than Casino Royale.   This just wasn’t the great action sequel that we’ve been spoiled with lately with The Dark Knight, Bourne Ultimatum, Bourne Supremacy, and Spider-Man 2.

I give Quantum of Solace a 7.5 out of 10.  If you are a fan or have any interest in the James Bond franchise – you should check this movie out because with Craig signed on for at least one more Bond movie, this movie certainly sets itself up for a third chapter.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

** CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER MOVIE REVIEWS **

Follow me on twitter: @aaronlafferty

"Casino Royale" poster courtesy MGM

If you haven’t already seen “Casino Royale” (2006), you should rent it, borrow it, buy it, find it on TV, because the new movie is a DIRECT SEQUEL of the last!

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

“Quantum of Solace” is the 22nd official Bond movie.

“Quantum of Solace” was originally set to release last weekend Nov. 07 (o07 – that marketing would have been cool).

The movie is 1 hr., 46 min. long and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content.

Daniel Craig returns for his 2nd Bond movie… he hearned a BAFTA (British Film Award) for his 1st performance as James Bond in 2006’s ”Casino Royale.”

Judi Dench returns as “M”… her sixth time in the role.

Jesper Christensen returns as “Mr. White”… Jeffrey Wright returns as American CIA agent “Felix Leiter”… and Giancarlo Giannini returns as “Mathis”

"Quantum Of Solace" poster courtesy MGM

Bond movies are known for their intense opening scenes that don’t waste time getting you into the action and it sounds like…

“Quantum of Solace” is no different – the movie starts with a car chase scene that some lucky critics who have already seen the movie are calling “awesome”.

Director Marc Forster has some memorable movies prior to joining the Bond franchise: “The Kite Runner” (2007), “Stranger Than Fiction” (2006), “Finding Neverland” (2004), and “Monster’s Ball” (2001).

“Quantum of Solace” was filmed in Chile, Mexico, England, Austria, Italy, Panama, and Spain.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT:

The famous lines “Bond, James Bond” and “Shaken, Not Stirred” are not in the new movie “Quantum of Solace”… the line “Bond, James Bond” was shot, but was cut in the editing process.  The movie’s Director Marc Forster told the Los Angeles Times “It was the only scene that got cut; not because of that line, only because the scene itself was not working.”

–

“Casino Royale” poster courtesy MGM

“Quantum of Solace” poster courtesy MGM

On DVD (Tuesday): “Beer for My Horses”, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”, “Star Wars The Clone Wars”, “Sukiyaki Western Django”, and “This Christmas.”

In Theaters (Friday): “Quantum of Solace”, “Slumdog Millionaire” (limited), and “A Christmas Tale.”

Courtesy Universal

Courtesy Warner Bros./Lucasfilm

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW ON DVD:
If you’re like me and waited for “Hellyboy 2″ to come out on DVD, so as not to be so disappointed after the original – this is our week !!!  And if you took my advice back in August to wait and rent “Star Wars Clone Wars” (unless you’re a die-hard fan, or young fan of the new cartoons)… this is the week to consider renting it.

Also out this week, Toby Keith’s song/music video “Beer For My Horses” turned into a feature-length movie, Quentin Tarantino in the Japanese Western “Sukiyaki Western Django” that got decent reviews, and the Christmas drama “This Christmas” about a family’s first holiday together in four years.

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW IN THEATERS:
Bond, only Bond… there’s a reason why other movies shuffled their schedules around the opening of the latest 007 movie (the 2nd for title star Daniel Craig)… Bond movies always open big… and this should be no different – it will take in close to one-third of the weekend box office all by itself… some estimates have it as high as $60-70 million this weekend… I’ll be a little more realistic.

Courtesy MGM

MY WEEKEND BOX OFFICE PREDICTION:

1. “Quantum of Solace” – $50 million
2. “Madagascar 2: Ecsape to Africa” – $31.5 million
3. “Role Models” – $9.6 million
4. “High School Musical 3” – $5.5 million
5. “Changeling” – $5.1 million
6. “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” – $3.8 million
7. “Soul Men” – $3.5 million
8. “The Secret Life of Bees” – $2.3 million
9. “Saw V” – $1.6 million
10. “The Haunting of Molly Hartley” – $1.5 million
11. “Eagle Eye” – $1.3 million

Next Week on DVD: “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2″, “WALL-E”

Next Week at Theaters: “Bolt”, “Twilight”, “Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (expanded release), “Special” (limited)