Spies & Idiots!

Three new movies hit the big screen today!

Of the three new movies only two really rise to the top. The third is actually in somewhat of a limited release. The sad thing about the movies this weekend also revolves around the fact that of the three movies, one is getting lots of promotion, while the truly funny movie of the weekend will fly under the radar as it almost seems like Hollywood is trying to make it fail. But, the pull for the movie is Steve Carell.

So, maybe Dinner for Schmucks will surprise everyone.

New On The Big Screen

Dinner for Schmucks – PG-13 on 2,911 screens
Paul Rudd’s Tim invites a dimwitted man, played by Steve Carell to dinner. It’s not a friendly gesture on Tim’s part – he’s involved in a competition among his co-workers to bring the biggest idiot he can find to the dinner.

Frame by Frame movie review of Dinner for Schmucks!

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore – PG on 3,705 screens
Cats and dogs set aside their differences to stop the evil Kitty Galore, voiced by Bette Midler, from taking over the world. Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Applegate, James Marsden, Nick Nolte and Roger Moore also lend their voice talent to the film.

Frame by Frame movie review of Cats & Dogs!

Charlie St. Cloud – PG-13 on 2,720 screens
Zac Efron is a sailor who struggles with the death of his younger brother as he pursues a romance with a former high school classmate. Kim Basinger and Ray Liotta also star.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

Angelina Jolie’s Box Office Weekend Fav

Angelina Jolie hits the big screen this weekend in a role that’s a new adventure for her. The most impressive thing about Salt revolves around the fact that Jolie did her own stunts in this movie! Aside from Jolie’s spy flick there’s a new G rated movie hitting the big screen this weekend too.

By the end of the weekend will we have a new #1 box office topper? Only time will tell!

Personally, my pick for the weekend, even though it’s not a family-friendly movie, is Salt.

New On The Big Screen

Salt – PG-13 on 3,612 screens
Angelina Jolie is a CIA agent named Evelyn Salt who’s accused of being a Russian spy. While on the run, she also sets out to prove the allegations are false. Liev Schreiber also stars.

Frame by Frame review of movie Salt!

Ramona and Beezus – Rated G on 2,719 screens
Ramona, a mischievous young girl played by newcomer Joey King comes to the rescue when her family is in danger of losing their home. Selena Gomez co-stars as her older sister, Beezus, in this movie adaptation of the popular Beverly Cleary book series – which, just to be confusing, is entitled Beezus and Ramona. John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan and Ginnifer Goodwin also appear in the film.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

It’s A Mind-Thing!

Director Christopher Nolan’s New Flick On Big Screen

Disney decided to get a jump on the weekend with the opening of their re-imagining of the old Mickey Mouse story – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice - of course keep in mind, this new twist on the old story starring Nicolas Cage will be nothing like the cartoon version.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Opened Wednesday

As for new movies opening today, there’s just one more to mention which opens in wide release. Director Christopher Nolan delivers his first movie since The Dark Knight blockbuster.

One New Movie For Friday

Inception -PG-13 on 3,792 screens
Inception is described as a sci-fi thriller starring Leonardo DiCarprio as a thief who robs people of their secrets when they’re in a dream state. His heists have made him an outcast. But, now he has a chance to turn his life around when he’s offered an assignment to plan an idea inside a man in order to tear down a corporation run by the target’s father. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Michael Caine also star in the movie.

Frame by Frame review of Inception

If you’re wondering, the Disney movie The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which debuted on Wednesday, made approximately $3.9 million for it’s opening day ticket sales.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Another Mid-Week Opening!?

I don’t understand what Hollywood is doing these days. Yes, I know it’s summer and yes I understand kids are out of school and looking for things to do. But there was a time when the sacred Wednesday movie opening day was reserved for major holidays. But, such is not the case these days! We have yet another Wednesday opening this week too!

This time it’s Disney’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

I do not understand why the entertainment industry is suddenly opening movies in wide distribution on Wednesday instead of Friday. It’s not even like there are a lot of movies opening this weekend. As a matter of fact, the only other movie opening this week, on Friday, is the new Christopher Nolan directed Inception.

For those who like to keep track of numbers, Inception is opening on more screens than The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which opens today, Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

Not Your Mickey Mouse Sorcerer

It might say Disney and even has the same name as the favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon.

I have a feeling the latest version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice will be nothing like the Mickey version. Parents be forewarned! Even though I haven’t screened this movie yet, I’d hazard a guess that with a PG rating, it’s probably cautionary-family friendly at best. Stay tuned for my review as I will see the new twist to the old tale and review it here on Frame by Frame.

In this re-imagining of the old Disney tale, Nicolas Cage has some tricks up his sleeve in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Cage plays a New York City based sorcerer named Balthazar Black, who takes a young man, played by Jay Baruchel, under his wing and teaches him his magical skills. Together they try to protect Manhattan from Balthazar’s nemesis, Maxim Horvath, played by Alfred Molina.

Molina and Baruchel also attended a screen of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Monday night in Burbank, California. The screening benefited the Creative Visions Foundation, which is trying to raise $150,000 to build a high school in Kenya.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Opens Today – Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Rated PG for fantasy action violence,
some mild rude humor and brief language.
Opening on 3,385 screens.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

Cartoons & A Re-Boot On The Big Screen

Steve Carell As Cartoon & Sci-Fi Predators

A new weekend is upon us and while it’s not a long weekend, there’s at least one movie that many people have been waiting for. Despicable Me starring a cartoon version of Steve Carell has received much hype over the past few months. This is the weekend that we finally get to see if all the hype for this PG movie was really worth it. Personally, while I have not screened the movie yet but will do so this weekend, it looks like a re-worked Spy VS Spy from the old Mad Magazine days.

Aside from Toons, this weekend also brings us yet another Hollywood re-boot which proves once again that there’s really nothing new under the sun. This time around it’s a re-boot of the 1987 sci-fi flick Predators.

New On The Big Screen

Despicable Me – PG on 3,474 screens
Steve Carell is the voice of the bald super-villain Gru, who plots to steal the moon. He has just one small obstacle to overcome – three orphaned girls who take a shine to him and want him to become their new dad. Julie Andrews, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig and Will Arnett also lend their voices to this animated 3D film.

Predators – Rated R on 2,669
The reboot of the sci-fi franchise, which traces its origin back to the 1987 film Predator featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, stars Adrien Brody as a mercenary who is joined by other killers on a planet where they’re being hunted by aliens. Topher Grace and Laurence Fishburne also star in this Robert Rodriguez produced film.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

The Last Airbender

Another early opener for the July 4th Weekend

It’s been two years since M. Night Shyamalan has had anything on the big screen. As we head into the July 4th weekend, his latest big screen flick opens in wide release today. The Last Airbender, Shyamalan’s first movie since The Happening, is based on the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.

This new flick also marks the first Shyamalan film that was not inspired by one of his original ideas.

Cartoons Coming To Life on Big Screen

Don’t be deceived by this PG rated movie. Just because it’s based on a Nickelodeon animated series does not mean it will be family-friendly. All too often parents feel safe just because of the Nickelodeon association. But again, all too often parents leave the theater saying wow, that was over the top.

The Last Airbender, which opens on 3,169 screens today, focuses on four nations split by the elements they represent – air, water, earth and fire. A bald male named Aang is the only person who can control all four elements. That of course means it’s up to him to put an end to a war launched by the Fire Nation against the others.

Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Slumdog Millionaire actor Dev Patel and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse actor Jackson Rathbone all star in The Last Airbender.

Happy 4th of July!
Dr. Rus

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Now On The Big Screen!

Midnight Showings!

Okay, so it seems somewhat appropriate that a movie about vampires would open at midnight. After all, isn’t that when vampires do their best work?

The moment millions of teens have been waiting for
has finally arrived.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third movie in the Twilight series opened with many midnight showings. In all, the latest installment in the vampire series is opening on 4,416 screens!

Catching Up On Story Line

Just in case you haven’t been keeping track of what’s going on in the Twilight world here’s a quick summary.

Kristen Stewart’s character, Bella, is caught up in a love triangle with Edward the vampire, played by Robert Pattinson, and Jacob, a werewolf portrayed by Taylor Lautner. From two very different worlds, as a matter of fact, if Jacob is true to himself and his character he’s supposed to kill Edward, but now they will put their differences aside. Why would they do such a thing? Mainly because the story line of Eclipse has vampires and werewolves teaming up to battle the evil vampire Victoria. She’s looking for revenge against Bella and her band of “newborn” vampires.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse also stars Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Dakota Fanning and Bryce Dallas Howard and is rated PG-13.

Frame by Frame Reviews of Earlier Twilight Movies

• Twilight Saga – 2008 Movie Review
• Twilight Saga: New Moon – 2009 Movie Review

Your’s in movie news!
Dr. Rus

Spies & Big People

Spy movie opens early and big people hit big screen today!

The Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz spy type movie hit the big screen mid-week. I have no idea why the entertainment world has decided to open something mid-week when it’s not even a long weekend, but for some reason, Knight and Day opened nationwide on Wednesday. Maybe they’re simply afraid a movie about growing older will topple them at the box office.

Opening today, four alumni from Saturday Night Live, plus their comedian-friend Kevin James, hit the big screen in an Adam Sandler written movie entitled Grown Ups.

While Grown Ups opens nationwide today, the team of Cruise and Diaz grabbed an estimated $3.8 million for it’s mid-week debut.

New On The Big Screen

Grown Ups – PG-13 on 3,534 screens
Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin James play five longtime friends who hold a reunion during the Fourth of July weekend at a lake house. They’re accompanied by their respective families, whereupon wacky shenanigans ensue. Salma Hayek Pinault, Maria Bello and another former Saturday Night Live cast member, Maya Rudolph, also star.

Frame by Frame movie review of Grown Ups Click Here!

Knight and Day – PG-13 on 3,098 screens
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz play two very different people in this action film which opened nationwide on Wednesday. Cruise is a spy on the run after being assigned to a mission gone awry. While he attempts to escape from the people he believes double-crossed him, he meets Diaz’s character, an average woman named June, who reluctantly comes along for the ride. Knight and Day reunites Cruise and Diaz who previously appeared together in 2001’s Vanilla Sky.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

Is It The Weekend Of The Summer Smash Hit?

Another new weekend has arrived and that means it’s time for some new movies to hit the big screen. For the most part it’s a rather quiet weekend for new movies. Only two new flicks open this weekend. However, one of the new movies, the third in the Toy Story franchise, could very well be the summer smash hit of the year. At least that’s what some of the Hollywood predictions are. As for the second movie, it’s based on the Marvel Comic Book hero Jonah Hex.

What will grab the #1 Box Office spot this weekend!

New Movies On The Big Screen

Toy Story 3 – Rated G on 4,028 screens
Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potato Head and all of their toy friends are back for their first adventure in 11 years. When their owner, Andy, leaves for college, the toys are all placed in a new home, a daycare center, where they meet new toys – including Barbie’s love interest, Ken. Of course they’re also mishandled by unruly kids. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger and Joan Cusack all return to the voice cast. They’re joined by newcomers Michael Keaton, Timothy Dalton and Ned Beatty.

Jonah Hex – PG-13 on 2,825 screens
Josh Brolin is the title character, a scarred bounty hunter and former Confederate soldier with supernatural powers. He’s asked to track down a bitter rival, a terrorist named Turnbull. Megan Fox and John Malkovich also star in this adaptation of the DC Comics series.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus

New On the Big Screen

Four new movies hit the big screen this weekend.

After a rather dull and slow Memorial Day weekend, it appears as though movie studios are ready to dump a bunch of new movies on this weekend. Two carry R ratings while one has a PG rating and another with a PG-13 rating.

Who will be king of the box office this weekend? We could actually have quite the shake up in the Top Ten Movies at the Weekend Box Office by Monday morning! One movie will certainly be carried by co-star Katherine Heigl, NOT the other person who’s starring in her movie. Then there’s that lovable big comic strip dog coming to life on the big screen this weekend too!

So many movie choices, so little time!

New Movies For This Weekend

Marmaduke – PG on 3,213 screens
The comic strip dog leaps off the newspaper and onto the big screen in a live-action film. Owen Wilson supplies the voice of the beloved Great Dane, who finds a love interest after moving with his owners to Orange County, California. George Lopez, William H. Macy, Amanda Seyfried, Jeremy Piven and pop star Fergie are also part of the voice cast.

Killers – PG-13 on 2,859 screens
Katherine Heigl is a married woman who doesn’t realize that her new husband, played by Ashton Kutcher, is a spy, whereupon action and hilarity ensue.

Splice – Rated R on 2,450 screens
Genetic engineers splice DNA in order to create a part-human, part-animal being that ultimately terrorizes them. Adrien Brody stars.

Get Him to the Greek – Rated R on 2,696 screens
Russell Brand reprises his Forgetting Sarah Marshall role of the brash British rock star Aldous Snow. It’s now up to record executive Aaron Green, played by Jonah Hill, to get Aldous from London to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for the first show of his tour. The assignment is easier said than done. Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne and Diddy co-star, while a host of other celebrities, including Christina Aguilera, Pink and Mario Lopez play themselves.

Enjoy the show!
Dr. Rus