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Evolution of a Champ: The Rocky Film Saga
On March 24th, 1975, struggling actor Sylvester Stallone spent his last few dollars to see boxing champ Muhammad Ali fight Chuck Wepner. Thought to be an easy win, Ali surprisingly met his match: a career brawler who was having the fight of his life. Fifteen rounds and an Ali knockdown later, Wepner lost. But the scrappy no name fighter inspired Stallone, who emerged from a twenty-hour writing bin...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: $100 Million for Hunger Games…But Is It Starving?
While many movies would kill for an estimated $101 million opening weekend at the box office, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 might have been wishing for a little more…after a dip in the franchise with the last movie, this latest entry opened at nearly $20 million less. While unlikely to be considered a flop (it is getting decent enough reviews, and the worldwide gross for the franchis...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: Place…First Place Again for Spectre
At $245 million in costs, it had quite the hurdle to overcome. But thanks to the worldwide popularity of James Bond, Spectre has become a box office success. With an estimated $35.4 million in domestic weekend gross, it has brought in $543.8 million worldwide with many more weeks left to go. In the meantime, while The Peanuts Movie is staying in a strong second place with an estimated $24.2 millio...[Read More]
The 10 Best Brian De Palma Films
Brian De Palma has become the directorial litmus test of cinephiles everywhere. To supporters, he stands as a startling visual genius with a penchant for set pieces and lurid subject matter. To naysayers, he remains a lowbrow imitator who spends his studio budgets chasing the ghosts of Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard. Great director or high class hack? Inconsistent misogynist or Master of the...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: Martian Tops Worst Box Office Weekend of 2015
While Halloween weekend tends to be a slower weekend than usual, it proved to be the slowest weekend of the year at the box office (at least so far). So slow, in fact, that the top three films include two winners and two potential box-office flops. The Martian is a worldwide hit, earning an estimated $11.4 million on the weekend, but Goosebumps, with an estimated $10.2 million, has a long ways to ...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away in the Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Official Trailer
Happy Halloween, dear readers! Whether you’ll be out trick-or-treating, at home giving out candy, going to parties, or something else entirely, I hope you enjoy the holiday. Now, let’s take a look at the official trailer for the biggest movie of the rest of the year, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Premise: The Force Awakens is set approximately thirty years after the events of Return of...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: The Martian Rides High Again
How does a film that dropped out of first place regain that spot? Put it up against a handful of duds. While some of them failed to make the list (Bill Murray in Rock the Kasbah did not even finish close to the list, and neither did the 1980s cartoon adaptation Jem and the Holograms), even the horror-themed films failed to stop The Martian from riding high at the box office once more with an estim...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: The Box Office Gets Goosebumps
As we reach the midpoint of October, it seems strange that not only are there a dearth of horror-themed films in theaters, but that of the three in the top ten, two of them are aimed primarily at children. And of those two, both have topped the box office at one point. This week, Goosebumps is the winner. Based on the R.L. Stine series of books for children, the family-friendly scare fest brought ...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: Martian Remains Ahead of the Game
The Martian not only remained the top draw at the box office, its estimated $37 million over the weekend brings its worldwide totals to $227.8 million; enough to ensure the widely acclaimed film is a box office success. Hotel Transylvania 2, as well, entered its second week with an estimated $20.3 million and an even higher domestic gross than The Martian, and almost as successful worldwide. Pan, ...[Read More]
Cinema Revisited: The Postmodern Horror of Wes Craven’s Scream
With the advent of the Internet, postmodernism found the perfect vessel. Today, a few clicks and an enter button can thrust you into any realm you so chose – along with a wink and plenty of ironic air quotations. This practice hasn’t solely applied to the common consumer either; tastemakers and artists have also sought this chic alternative in their works. Charlie Kaufman writes about his fictiona...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: James Bond Returns in the Final Spectre Trailer
Hello again, dear readers. We’re now firmly into October, the days are getting shorter, and Halloween is on the way. But there’s still some cool movies coming out this year, including the subject of today’s column. With that, let’s take a look at the latest (and final) trailer for the new James Bond movie, Spectre. Premise: In the aftermath of the attack on MI6, a cryptic message sets in motion ev...[Read More]
Box Office Weekend: The Martian Conquers the Box Office
While not the horror movie the title conjures up, October began with a strong start thanks to The Martian. With an estimated $55 million, director Ridley Scott and Matt Damon have been earning high marks from critics and audiences, though it will probably need a few more weekends like this if it hopes to make back its $108 million in costs. In fact, very little in release conjures up the spooks an...[Read More]