Lately we have been reviewing another kind of movies here and focused less on your typical box office stuff because… well every does that already and we like to be different. But everyone also seems to be in need of a credit loan in recent years. Unless your name is Quentin Tarantino of course but you would probably prefer to be Zemeckis, Cameron or Spielberg because these are the guys raking in the real money. And Jerry Bruckheimer.
The team of Infographiclabs created this most successful movies infographic for us and ForeverGeek.
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Iron Man 2 Surprises No One, Reigns Supreme
“Iron Man 2” debuted this weekend with a $140M box office pull, helping Paramount Pictures score its best film debut of all time.
Yes, of ALL TIME.
But Robert Downey Jr. and his repulsor ray were unable to take down the “The Dark Knight” for the biggest movie opening ever ($158M). The only way that would have happened is if (God forbid) Downey croaked before the premiere. [Read more…]
Nightmare on Elm Street Scores Box Office Dream
Who said you can’t go home again? Freddy Krueger proved them wrong, returning to Elm Street 26 years later to slash in $32M in the film’s opening weekend.
Despite tepid reviews, fans proved that for 97 minute, they were willing to hop into a time machine, one where a striped red sweater can strike fear into your heart. [Read more…]
Avatar surpasses Titanic at the box office
There wasn’t even any doubt that it could.
James Cameron’s CGI movie Avatar has officially surpassed his own movie Titanic as the highest grossing movie of all time.
In the US domestic market Avatar reached a record $601,141,551 47 days after it was released in theaters. The take easily surpassed the $600,788,188 that Titanic earned for its whole run in the theaters.
The money shoveling also continued in the international market. Avatar has already surpassed Titanic’s worldwide take of $1,242,413,080. Avatar has earned an astonishing $1,446,989,293. It even achieved the record in far less time than Titanic, which, anyway you look at it, is just phenomenal. The total worldwide take Avatar is now pegged at $2,048,130,844, which leaves Titanic’s total take of $1,843,201,268 in the dust. Amazing, really.
I guess this means we’ll be treated to more of Cameron’s “I’m the king of the world!” arrogance this year.
Tom Ford: new director on the block
Tom Ford shifts his focus from creating expensive designer suits to directing films with Single Man.
The story draws inspiration from a short story written by Christopher Isherwood. Set in the 1960s, it centers around George (played by Colin Firth), an English professor still grieving the death of his partner. Though several years have passed, he’s still trapped in the past — or miserably trying to escape it. In his depression, he, uhm, “seeks comfort” from his best friend (played by Julianne Moore). We all know how that goes.
So George decides to kill himself. And that would be a pretty horrible way for a Christmas movie to end (although, interestingly, suicides tend to rise during the winter season — must be the combination of the dreary weather and dysfunctional family reunions). But in the spirit of another holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George has a “moment” that convinces him that yes, life is meaningful.
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Colin Firth was pretty darned good in this movie, and all things considered, Tom Ford did a fantastic job, too. It is his first film, and he took creative risks, including the subtle use of color to express mood or even shift time frames (must be the designer in him). Even the placement of objects is symbolic.
It won’t win any Cannes awards but “Single Man” is a brave directorial debut that tackles a powerful topic of enduring love, triumph over tragedy, and hope. All in all, it’s a thought provoking film, and one that will have you in a suitably reflective mood when you think about the holidays “and what really matters.”