“Imagine what these films could do for tourism…” – Iron Fist
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The Help does just that. Sensei ties record streak at 18.
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1. The Help
Prediction: 16 million. Actual: 14.5 million. Hurricane Irene affected much.
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There were reports that as many as 1000 theaters were affected by the storm. This meant lower numbers for most but film still pulls a solid win. More to the point…
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Sensei’s streak of calling the correct #1 film extends to 18 straight weeks.
Ties longest ever MCA call streak (Set February 2011)
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2. Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark
Prediction: 13.5 million. Actual: #4 with 8.5 million. Tough to say exactly…
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What exact factors lead this to a much lower opening. Is the genre just tired or was the east coast the best market for this which was affected greatly by Hurricane Irene?
Hard to say as the film came in way under similar title openings in Insidious and The Messengers (12-14 million).
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3. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Prediction: 10.6 million. Actual: 8.8 million. Another great finish…
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Yet another higher than expected weekend score. Sequel definitely a possibility.
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4. Colombiana
Prediction: 9.2 million. Actual: #2 with 10.4 million. To its credit…
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Film did rise back into the #2 spot, but still ended up around the predicted amount anyway and not very eye opening in that. In the end, only slightly better than The Losers’s opening (9.4 million).
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5. Our Idiot Brother
Prediction: 8 million. Actual: 7 million. .Predicted it would struggle…
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The film was able to hold a spot in the top five, but not a very strong opening and future weeks will not be kind. Look for this film to make a very quick box office exit.
Pressure’s on now. This week Sensei has the opportunity to set a new steak record as Shark 3D and Apollo 18 raid the box office market place.
All our best,
Sensei White Lotus
Celebration week has started. Check out Sensei’s newest essay “Why Certian Critics…” here….
Or check out all the new stuff at once at the Special Anniversary Page here….
In answer to Sensei Lotus’ inquiry concerning “Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark”…we may never know. Perhaps a combination of all of these factors would account for the numbers.
However, a poor opening did not prohibit me from sneaking off of work a little (okay…a lot) early to give this one a try.
Based on a long-ago tv-movie (that I saw as a kid….and ‘yes’ people actually do live that long) I think it was the way the original creeped me out that made me curious to see this one as well.
Always suspicious of re-makes (are they ever as good as the originals?) I have to say…Del Toro delivers. This version reworked the creepiest scenes of the original, but to good effect. It’ll wind up your ‘suspense’ spring nice and tight..and leaves it there.
Dunno why I liked this one so well (other than it’s quite well done). Or…maybe it’s just my kind of movie.
+CAUTION+ Totally pointless opinion follows:
Speaking soley for myself; vampires, slashers etc. have all become passe’ and now inhabit that far away and dreary realm that we call “tedious” (which is latin for “I sure wish I was somewhere else”). So just about anything outside of the “formula D’jour” is bound to have some attraction to it.
Given that, I think it safe to say that, if you liked the original?…you’ll love this one.
Del Toro manages to push the ‘creepy’ factor way past what-the-hell-was-that? all the way over to I-need-to-change-my-underwear.
So I can’t decide if Del Toro is a genius at this stuff or if he just managed to hire one of the best DPs money can buy. Either way, but it was wonderfully shot.
Clever use of light & shadow and camera angle all played a part in making the film look outside of ‘safe’…which is what a good borror flick needs.
But, best of all…it was a shakey-cam free movie!! (personally, I am convinced that there is some sort of conspiratal connection between who funds these shakey-cam movies and the drug companies that make ‘drama’-mine)
The cast was excellent. I forget the little girl’s name that was the central character, but she is very very talented. Maybe even better than Dakota Fanning as a child actor.
And while most horror movies in general have become a snore-fest for me (almost to the point of abandoning the genre entorely) this one delivers the chills.
Of course, being alone in the theater may have something to do with it, but I haven’t had that kind of tingle in the spine since the original “Alien”.
So, if ghosts and vampires are more your style, you may want to skip this one.
But if that thing just seen at the corner of your vision – as it skitters under your bed – makes your skin crawl?…this one is worthy of consideration.
18, 18, 18, 18! Loving this…