Yes, I was there to see The Wolfman on opening night, and it was certainly a scary movie, continue on to find out why…

I went into this film not really expecting too much, (which turned out to be a good thing) but surprisingly it was a little more gory and a little less story than I had hoped for.  The film boasts quite a decent cast; Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, and Hugo Weaving all point towards some serious acting potential, but it’s not entirely necessary.  The way remakes have become epic visually appealing fan-fests, should indicate that this movie would have a lot in common with the original, which I was only able to ever see some of in my past. This being the case, I cannot expertly compare the two.

Seeing the trailers for this movie, with such dramatic actors in the cast, led me to believe that the characters would be deep masterpieces of modern story-telling.  This was not the case at all.  The characters in this movie, as well as the overall storyline, are more shallow than that of ‘Dude Wheres My Car?’ or ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’.  It has a very dark atmosphere and story.  It turns out that this movie, although not as campy as the original tries to be a pure thriller/horror movie at heart and thus doesn’t feel a need for expert emotional portrayal, back story, or character development.  Don’t expect too much in that department…

Another thing that was crazy, Del Toro, although known to me as one of the homeliest men alive, was actually one of the better looking folks in the film.  This really makes me not want to jump into a time machine to England anytime soon.  There were certainly some very nicely done makeup and special effects in the film though.  One of my favorite parts of the film was when Inspector Abberline walks into an area where the Wolfman has gone nuts and absolutely destroyed a large group of men.  He wades through piles of organs and limbs that look like steaming cow patties in the cold night air.

One thing of note, the sets, costumes, and atmosphere were all very well put together.  I really felt like the movie brought me into the feeling of the time period.  Whether it was the spooky, foggy forests, the bland old England attire, or the hanging pigs in the slaughterhouse/morgue, it really delivered in that department.

All in all it was a very entertaining film.  There were only a few parts I felt that I could look around and move around in my seat, indicating that it kept my attention very well considering how little I cared about what was going on.  I would probably write more about it if it left more of an impression on me.  If I have to use stars, it would get a 2.5 to 3 out of 5 at the most.  My suggestion is that if you haven’t, you would spend your money better by going to see Avatar before it leaves theaters.  Heck, even if you have seen it, just go see Avatar again and wait for The Wolfman to make it’s way to FX or the Syfy channel…

Hey SparkBox Listeners! It’s time for the JungleTrek Check-IN, giving you the latest on whats coming out in theaters and the video game stores. Check out this week’s update right now:

Click Here:  JungleTrek Check-In

So, last night I, JungleTrek, saw the new Terminator Salvation movie on its opening weekend. Are you ready for my rip-snortin’, no holdin’ back review of this latest installment of an American classic series?

(SPOILER ALERT) I will be sharing some minor spoilers in this review so don’t read it if you don’t want to know.
To sum up the movie in two words, Terminator Salvation was “rushed” and “cliche”. There was nothing in this movie that we haven’t already seen 500x over in a million other movies or video games. (Fallout 3 comes to mind.) Each scene was extremely predicable and you could almost count down to when something was about to happen.

Let me break it down to a few finer points.

First off, this was a man’s man movie. (Yawn) There was very little plot, very little depth, and the women kept feeling the need to remove clothing as the men kept putting on more armor. The movie was filled with moments of cliche situations that ended with cliche solutions that wouldn’t happen in a million years.

The acting was spotty. Christian Bale is getting quite overused in Hollywood, and to be honest, I’m getting quite sick of seeing him yelling towards the camera, with a giant explosion behind him, as his forehead bleeds. (I swear this shot happens in every movie he is in.) HOWEVER. the character of Marcus, a human-terminator crossbreed, played by Sam Worthington, was the best part of the whole movie. His character was interesting, well-presented, and actually had some emotional depth to it. Honorable mention goes to Anton Yelchin for his role as Kyle Reese. Anton, who also made a memorable appearance in the new Star Trek, is definitely bound for great things in Hollywood. And finally, Helena Bonham Carter proved once and for all that she is just as freaky looking without hair as she is WITH hair.

And speaking of hair, the worst thing in the whole movie was DEFINITELY the little girl named “Star”. Nothing ruins a movie more then a child with an outrageously stupid haircut! Apparently, the costumer designer/hair dresser for Terminator Salvation loved the movie “Waterworld”… (Gag)

Ok, let’s talk technical! The biggest problems with Terminator Salvation was in the technical departments. The main one being that is was poorly, poorly written. Everything in the story has a reason for being there and has a predictable outcome. For instance, the character Marcus has a human heart…. why?! Because its going to be needed in the end, that’s why! There is no other reason that the machines would give him one. Now, a brain I can understand… but a heart?! That’s just bad writing. Also, apparently the writers thought it would be clever to keep repeating the words “second chance” about 3000 times during the movie to make it seem deeper… but, to be honest, it was just annoying.

Another one of the technical problems was the editing. It seemed the editing was rushed and the timing was off on several shots. I noticed that some shots started about three seconds too early, as if the director had just said “action” and the actors hadn’t begun to act yet.

And finally, the special effects were a half and half split for quality. Some of the them were well made and well done. However, MANY others were noticeably terrible. Many of the explosions were badly composited and the edges were very visible and pixelated. The moments where Marcus has a half-human, half-terminator face are obviously green-screened, since when the actor moved, the machine part did not. (Tsk tsk.. sounds like the keyframe editor got lazy.)

In closing thoughts, I will not call this movie a complete waste. If you are a Terminator fan, this movie delivers on everything that the second Terminator promised and you get to see a lot of things that Terminator fans have been wanting to see for years. However, if you enjoy good movies, Star Trek is my pick so far for this year, because without Stan Winton’s brilliant Terminator design, Terminator Salvation or the entire Terminator series wouldn’t be worth jack.

One last thing, the grand Arnold Schwarzenegger special effect was the highlight of the entire movie and was not only done well, it was done believably! Arnold will definitely take his grandchildren to this movie and say: “See, kids? That’s what your flabby ol’ grandpa USED to look like…”

Over all, I give Terminator Salvation a thumbs down, and 1.5 out of 5 stars.

Your Buddy,

JungleTrek

Have you ever found yourself in a poorly-funded monster movie and you don’t know if you’re going to get through the movie alive? Well, don’t worry! JungleTrek is here to help! By following these few tips in my survival guide, you should be just fine…

-  First off, If you are going on a trip, you can avoid problems right from the beginning by actually researching the destination you are doing to. For instance, camping in woods directly next to an insane asylum might be a stupid idea. Also, avoid places that have legends and ghost stories attached to them. Go camping in Central Park. The worst that can happen in Central Park is you could mugged for your Spam.

- If there is a very annoying, bratty child (usually a girl) who knows more about the creature then anyone else, make sure you befriend this child as best you can because she will be alive and unharmed at the end of the movie. The reason for this being that Hollywood has deemed it inappropriate to have children hurt in monster movies, even if they deserve to be bashed in the face. (Which almost ALL of them do.) So if you hug the child close to your body, you will be safe. After the creature is dead or sent to hell, feel free to kill the child too, as the child won’t be able to resist delivering a final line that will ruin the whole movie, if it hasn’t ruined it already.

- If you’re standing in a group that consists of five or less Asian men who are glancing around the room like scared hamsters, you are all about to be killed.

- Never do anything that begins with you turning to the main characters and saying: “I’ll be right back, guys. I just have to leave the safety of the group, go into the dark woods, and do something totally pointless that will probably get me killed. Come find my body when I start screaming in a few minutes…”

- This is a tip for the military. Use the ultimate weapon on the monster at the beginning of the disaster instead of at the end. You might save lives and time!

- Never, EVER be the best friend of the main character. You might as well slit your throat now and get it over with. (This also applies to people with silly-sounding names that end in “y” or “ie”. Names like “Buddy”, “Johnny”, “Sally”, “Betty”. “Tommy”, “Willie”, “Ernie”, or “Bucky” just mean that you are the comedy relief who NEEDS to be killed before the movie ends.)

- If it comes to the point where your group is choosing to send one person for help, you have a 50/50 chance of surviving if you go. The two possible outcomes of this scenario are:

OUTCOME 1. You will make it to civilization, fetch the police, and arrive back at the very end of the movie, after the creature is dead and all the dirty work is done. You get to wave a flashlight around and hug the main characters who will have just moments ago blow up the creature and are half dead and say to them: “It’s ok. It’s all over now.” At which point, the credits will begin and Cate Blanchett will accept another Oscar.

OR

OUTCOME 2. The main female character, while breathing hard, trying to escape the monster, after she has somehow become separated from the main male character, will turn quickly and scream as she finds your dead body, horribly mutilated. At this point, no one watching the movie gives a crap about you as a person anyway.

- If you know how to kill the monster or creature. Do NOT mention anything about it until the last quarter of the movie. If your try to tell anyone before the last quarter, you will be killed before your can finish your senten…. AHHHHHHH!!!!!

- And finally, a word to the girls: Wear reinforced clothes that won’t rip off at the slightest pin-drop. Avoid short skirts as the director will be constantly trying to film up them as you are crawling through the mud trying to escape from the monster. And if the creature is looking to mate with you, simply put him through what you usually put guys through when they ask you for the same thing in bars. (The creature won’t have a chance.)

You Buddy,

JungleTrek

Hello lovers of the meaner things in life, it is I Cerberus, your fearless guide in the maddening psyche of the voiceless nerd.  It has been too long and I ask your pardon, but I assure you the time away has not quelled my rage, and today I have for you the first true entry to the approaching summer blockbusters — X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

(*note from Andy*: this article contains a few spoilers about the film, so please see the film first before continuing, unless you really don’t care…)

This particular Marvel comics movie adaptation is unique.  You see some Marvel movies suck ass, i.e. Daredevil, Electra, Fantastic Four, and Spider-man 3.  Then some are great Spider-man 1-2, Iron man, the second Hulk movie, and the first two X-men.

X-Men Origins Wolverine is unique, for it falls in between – in a whole different realm of description that can only be described as  ”eh, it was alright.”  Let me explain myself.  The action sequences were very good and fun to watch, but Wolverine’s origin story seemed pieced together from other story lines and not derived from the “Wolverine Origins” graphic novel.  Still I liked seeing Wolverines soldier past, but found myself disappointed with the whole lack of Weapon X torture methods back-story, which was the birth of Wolverine’s animalistic rage and fury (not just his claws).  The sorrow he endures in the movie just wasn’t enough to bring out the opus of ultra violence that exudes from Wolverine…

Oh and help me out; was it so hard to make the guy playing Sabertooth look like freaking Sabertooth?  I know they were shooting for a family resemblance but have pity for the fan boys who foolishly expect quality. Also what is the relationship between this Sabertooth and the Sabertooth in the first X-men movie?   One has a guy who looks like the character but doesn’t act like him, the other has one that acts like him but doesn’t look like him.  Which is better?  It depends on if you would like a pink costumed dead-on Spider-man.

Now be forwarned, yes, Deadpool is in the movie.  Yes, Ryan Renolds is playing him – and yes they did screw with his character: as “Weapon11″.  Including weird video game-esque boss-battle that bares to ask to mind two questions:

1. Was it necessary to ruin an already established and popular character?

2. How does he bend his elbows with his Frankenstein sword arms? WTF!

Now take that into account, then add a rushed ending involving adamantium memory seeking bullets (no I’m not kidding).

It’s a decent superhero movie, and good action movie, just not a good fan movie.  It wouldn’t be as bad except they pretty much marketed it as a fan flick – and that if nothing else made it a bit disappointing.

Well until next time may blood flow from every “Snick, Snick”.

The term nerdgasm does not begin to describe Star Trek. This film blows away any fears you might have about seeing it. In fact I ask you to go see it before reading any further.

Let’s start off with the visuals shall we? It is refreshing to see a movie use its budget wisely on both cast an special effects, unlike what wolverine did. This movie is pure to the core eye candy and by the end you are almost on sensory overload. The space scenes are intense and the ships are beautifully done. Yes we expected this because of the caliber of all the other star trek films, but it takes talent to go and make what is supposed to be a prequel into something even more mind blowingly visual then it’s predecessors. The CGI blends flawlessly with the real world and at times (like Iron Man) it is hard to discern what is real and what is CGI.

The cast was something I was a little iffy about when I first saw a trailer and mainly because of kirk. The way Kirk was portrayed didn’t really sit well with me because he was played as to much of a rebel. But when you see him in the movie, he works perfectly. And as the title states this is a reboot, so you can take a little more creative license with characters. Scotty worked great because he was always the comic relief character and who better to do that then Simon Peg? Mr. Spock was the best casting I have seen as of late. His mannerism’s, way he carries himself, and uncanny likeness to Lenard Nemoy made him the only person to be able to pull off the role. Bones and Uhura were alright as they were pretty much sub characters that were meant to move the plot along, and rightfully so as this is the story of Kirk and Spock. Many kudos to the director for not trying to give each and every character a giant story arc. Keeping it simply about Kirk and Spock was the best idea ever.

I cannot stress enough to the general public that this is a REBOOT not a REMAKE! I wanted to strangle people coming out of the theatre complaining because things turned out differently then the original Star Trek universe. I have to give this movie a 9/10 simply because this is how a prequel should be done. Lucas should watch this then hang his head in shame!

As always if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email me or to post below. And if you are interesting in becoming a writer for the Sparkboxshow, send me an email letting me know! I will get back to you asap with any info and answer any questions you may have.

-James

Its a tough one this weekend. We have Wolverine going for its second weekend, and then we have Star Trek. Do the trekkies win this one?

Yup… Wolverine went down hard…

Star Trek debuted #1 at the box office this weekend, earning $72.5 million over the weekend to bump its four day total to $76.5 million. The film had the highest per theater average of any in the top ten with $18,836 per theater.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine dropped nearly 70% in its second weekend, earning $27 million to raise its total gross to $129.6 million.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past fell one spot to #3 in its second weekend, earning $10.4 million to raise its total gross to $30.2 million.

Obsessed fell one spot to #4 in its third weekend, earning $6.6 million to raise its total gross to $56.2 million.

17 Again fell one spot to #5 in its fourth weekend, earning $4.4 million to raise its total gross to $54.1 million.

Next Day Air debuted at #6 with $4 million.

The Soloist fell one spot to #7 in its third weekend, earning $3.6 million to raise its total gross to $23.5 million.

Monsters vs. Aliens fell three spots to #8 in its seventh weekend, earning $3.3 million to raise its total gross to $186.8 million. The film had a budget of $175 million.

Earth fell two spots to #9 in its third weekend, earning $2.48 million to raise its total gross to $26 million.

Hannah Montana The Movie fell two spots to #10 in its fifth weekend, earning $2.41 million to raise its total gross to $74 million.
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Star Trek – $72.5 million ($76.5 million)
2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine – $27 million ($129.6 million)
3. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – $10.4 million ($30.2 million)
4. Obsessed – $6.6 million ($56.2 million)
5. 17 Again – $4.4 million ($54.1 million)
6. Next Day Air – $4 million ($4 million)
7. The Soloist – $3.6 million ($23.5 million)
8. Monsters vs. Aliens – $3.3 million ($186.8 million)
9. Earth – $2.48 million ($26 million)
10. Hannah Montana The Movie – $2.41 million ($74 million)

Who could have topped the box office this week??? If you even have to think about that, I suggest you go back under the rock you came from.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine debuted #1 at the box office this weekend, earning $87 million. The film had a huge per theater average of $21,225. The film has a $150 million budget. The debut ranks as the 11th biggest May opening ever.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past debuted at #2 with $15.3 million.

Obsessed fell two spots to #3 in its second weekend, earning $12.2 million to raise its total gross to $47 million. The film had a low budget of $20 million.

17 Again fell two spots to #4 in its third weekend, earning $6.3 million to raise its total gross to $48.9 million.

Monsters vs. Aliens moved up one spot to #5 in its sixth weekend, earning $5.8 million to raise its total gross to $182.4 million. The film had a budget of $175 million.

The Soloist fell two spots to #6 in its second weekend, earning $5.6 million to raise its total gross to $18.1 million.

Earth fell two spots to #7 in its second weekend, earning $4.18 million to raise its total gross to $21.8 million.

Fighting fell five spots to #8 in its second weekend, earning $4.17 million to raise its total gross to $17.5 million.

Hannah Montana The Movie fell one spot to #9 in its fourth weekend, earning $4 million to raise its total gross to $70.8 million.

State of Play fell three spots to #10 in its third weekend, earning $3.6 million to raise its total gross to $30.8 million.
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. X-Men Origins: Wolverine – $87 million ($87 million)
2. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – $15.3 million ($15.3 million)
3. Obsessed – $12.2 million ($47 million)
4. 17 Again – $6.3 million ($48.9 million)
5. Monsters vs. Aliens – $5.8 million ($182.4 million)
6. The Soloist – $5.6 million ($18.1 million)
7. Earth – $4.18 million ($21.8 million)
8. Fighting – $4.17 million (17.5 million)
9. Hannah Montana The Movie – $4 million ($70.8 million)
10. State of Play – $3.6 million ($30.8 million)

Another weekend, another slew of moderate movies. Lets see who won the battle of the box office.

17 Again opened #1 at the box office, earning $24 million.

State of Play opened #2 at the box office this week, earning $14 million. GRRRR, why does this man keep making movies?

Monsters vs. Aliens stayed at #3, earning $12.9 million and raising its four-week total to $162.7 million. The film had a budget of $175 million.

Hannah Montana The Movie fell three spots to #4 at the box office, earning $12.6 million and raising its two-week total to $56 million.

Fast and Furious fell three spots to #5 at the box office, earning $12.2 million and raising its three-week total to $136.7 million. The film had a budget of $85 million. It still suprises me how well this did.

Crank: High Voltage debuted #6 at the box office, earning $6.5 million. Did you really think it would make any more? All I can say is that another $6 of its total will be from me on friday…

Observe and Report dropped three spots to #7 at the box office, earning $4 million and raising its two-week total to $18.6 million. The film had a budget of $18 million.

Knowing dropped three spots to #8 at the box office, earning $3.4 million and raising its five-week total to $73.6 million.

I Love You, Man dropped three spots to #9 at the box office, earning $3.3 million and raising its five-week total to $64.6 million.

The Haunting in Connecticut dropped three spots to #10 at the box office, earning #3.1 million, and raising its four–week total to $51.9 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. 17 Again – $24 million ($24 million to date)
2. State of Play – $14 million ($14 million to date)
3. Monsters vs. Aliens – $12.9 million ($162.7 million to date)
4. Hannah Montana The Movie – $12.6 million ($56 million to date)
5. Fast and Furious – $12.2 million ($136.7 million to date)
6. Crank: High Voltage – $6.5 million ($6.5 million to date)
7. Observe and Report – $4 million ($18.6 million to date)
8. Knowing – $3.4 million ($73.6 million to date)
9. I Love You, Man – $3.3 million ($64.6 million to date)
10. The Haunting in Connecticut – $3.1 million ($51.9 million to date)

So there you have it, another lack-luster weekend at the box office. Hopefully next week won’t suck as much!

Another weekend has ended and there was some tough competition at the box office. Any idea on who topped it this week?

Thats right…. Hanna Montana opened at #1…. UGH

Hannah Montana The Movie opened #1 at the box office, raking in $34 million.

Fast and Furious dropped one spot to #2 this week, bringing in $28.7 million and raising its two week total to $118 million. I still find it amazing that Vin Diesel was able to bring life back to this franchise.

Monsters vs. Aliens dropped one spot to #3 this week, bringing in $22.6 million and raising its three week total to $141 million. If you have kids, stay away from the movie and wait for UP. It is a cute movie but the comedy is way above kids heads and will mostly be lost on them.

Observe and Report opened #4 at the box office with $11.1 million. Good thing the budget was only $18 million.

Knowing droppedone spot to #4 this week, bringing in $6.6 million.

I Love You, Man dropped one spot to #5 this week, making $6.4 million, and raising its four week total to $58.9 million.

The Haunting in Connecticut plumitted three spots to #7 this week, making $5.7 million and raising its three week total to $46.2 million.

Dragonball Evolution failed epicly at #8 at the box office, making $4.6 million. HAHAHAHAHA

Adventureland dropped three spots to #9 this week, bringing in $3.4 million, raising its two week total to $11.4 million. This is what happens when you advertise the movie as a comedy and it ends up being depressing.

Duplicity dropped three spots to #10, making $2.9 million and raising it four week total $36.8 million.

Wait… where is 12 Rounds??? Thats right, it made less then 2 mil this weekend. WWE films needs to stop.

 
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Hanna Montana The Movie – $34 million ($34 million to date)
2. Fast and Furious – $28.7 million ($85 million to date)
3. Monsters vs. Aliens – $22.6 million ($141 million to date)
4. Observe and Report – $11.1 million ($11.1 million to date )
5. Knowing – $6.6 million ($68 million to date)
6. I Love You, Man- $6.4 million ($58.9 million to date)
7. The Haunting in Connecticut – $5.7 million ($46.2 million to date)
8. Dragonball Evolution – $4.6 million ($4.6 million to date)
9. Adventureland – $3.4 million ($11.4 million to date)
10. Duplicity – $2.9 million ($36.8 million to date)

Well thats all for this week. Next week the epic blockbuster 17 again opens!!! Yeah I dont care either. But who knows, maybe it will fail like Dragonball! So join me next week to see what happens!

As always feel free to leave comments and questions below. And if you are interested in writing for the Sparkboxshow, please leave a comment or email myself or Andy from the staff section!

So this weekend we had the new Fast and Furious debut, but did it do well enough to knock Monsters VS Aliens out of the coveted #1 spot?

Fast and Furious opened #1 at the box office this weekend, earning $72.5 million. This film had the highest per theater average of any in the top ten with $20,950 per theater. And not only is this the largest April movie opening ever, it is also the largest opening of any movie in the Fast and Furious franchise! Guess Vin Diesel can bring in the bucks!

Monsters vs. Aliens dropped one spot to #2 this week, taking in $33.5 million and raising its gross to $105 million in two weeks.

The Haunting in Connecticut dropped one spot to #3 at the box office, taking in $9.5 million and raising its two week total to $37.2 million.

Knowing dropped one spot to #4 with $8.1 million.

I Love You Man dropped one spot to #5 in its third weekend, earning $7.8 million to raise its total gross to $49.2 million.

Adventureland opened at #6 at the box office, earning $6 million. Honestly it looks funny, but it opened way under the radar.

Duplicity dropped two spots to #7 in its third weekend, earning $4.3 million to bump its total gross to $32.3 million.

Race to Witch Mountain dropped two spots to #8 in its fourth weekend, earning $3.3 million to raise its total gross to $58.3 million. I really expected more from this one.

12 Rounds dropped two spots to #9 at the box office in its second weekend, earning $2.3 million to raise its total gross to $9 million. WWE films does it again! lol

Sunshine Cleaning takes the #10 spot , jumping up from #11 to take in $1.8 million in its fourth weekend, raising its total to $4.7 million.
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Fast and Furious – $72.5 million ($72.5 million to date)
2. Monsters vs. Aliens – $33.5 million ($105 million to date)
3. The Haunting in Connecticut – $9.5 million ($37.2 million to date)
4. Knowing – $8.1 million ($58.2 million to date)
5. I Love You Man – $7.8 million ($49.2 million to date)
6. Adventureland – $6 million ($6 million to date)
7. Duplicity – $4.3 million ($32.3million to date)
8. Race to Witch Mountain – $3.3 million ($58.3 million to date)
9. 12 Rounds – $2.3 million ($9 million to date)
10. Sunshine Cleaning – $1.8 million ($4.7 million to date)

I am very amazed how well Fast and Furious did this weekend. When I saw it was coming out I was like ” Ok sure why not, Ill go see it at some point. But how well can it really do?”  Good job guys!

Questions, comments OMG YOU SUXXORS? Well feel free to submit a reply below. Thanks for reading and I will see you next week.

Also if you are interested in writing for our site, please check out the main page and head on down to the article writers post. All the info you need is right there!

So who topped the box office this weekend? Was it Dreamworks newest animated flick? Or did…. Ah screw it, we all know who won this weekend.

Monsters vs. Aliens opened at #1 at the box office this weekend, earning $58.2 million. This opening stands as the third biggest March opening ever, behind 300 ($70.8 million) and Ice Age: The Meltdown ($68 million). This movie is definatly worth watching. It really isn’t a kids film because most of the humor goes over the kids heads. But it is very enjoyable and worth your money.

The Haunting in Connecticut opened at #2 with $23 million.

Knowing dropped two spots to #3 with $14.7 million.

I Love You Man dropped two spots to #4 in its second weekend, earning $12.6 million to raise its total gross to $37 million.

Duplicity dropped two spots to #5 in its second weekend, earning $7.5 million to bump its total gross to $25.6 million.

Race to Witch Mountain dropped two spots to #6 in its third weekend, earning $5.6 million.

12 Rounds opened #7 at the box office, earning $5.3 million. As much as I love the WWE, they need to stop making movies. Or hell just stop having high expectations when they are released! WWE was looking at a 7.5-10.5 million dollar opening…. Oi.

Watchmen dropped three spots to #8 at the box office, earning $2.75 million and raising its gross to $103 million. This film looks like it will barely make back its $150 million budget with its theatre run. Believe me it was an amazing movie, but it takes a hardcore fan to appreciate it. Look for this to make some good cash with the DVD release.

Taken dropped two spots to #9 in its ninth weekend, earning $2.7 million to raise its total gross to $137 million. I need to see this movie mainly because Liam Neeson is one of my favorite actors, but also for the fact I want to see him kick some ass.

The Last House on the Left was the bookend for the top ten this weekend with $2.6 million, raising its total gross to $28.4 million. I will prolly see this movie, but I think it will be my thursday matinee pick. I wont pay full price for it.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN THIS WEEK!
1. Monsters vs. Aliens – $58.2 million ($58.2 million to date)
2. The Haunting in Connecticut – $23 million ($23 million to date)
3. Knowing- $14.7 million ($46.2 million to date)
4. I Love You Man- $12.6 million ($37 million to date)
5. Duplicity – $7.5 million ($25.6 million to date)
6. Race to Witch Mountain – $5.6 million ($53.2 million to date)
7. 12 Rounds – $5.3 million ($5.3 million to date)
8. Watchmen – $2.75 million ($103 million to date)
9. Taken – $2.7 million ($137 million to date)
10. The Last House on the Left – $2.6 million ($28.4 million to date)

Questions? Comments? Have a movie you really think I should see? Feel free to email me or post below!

Wanna become a writer for the SparkBoxShow.com team? Send Andy or myself and email with any questions and we will get back to you with all the details!

Until Next Week…

So who topped the box office this weekend? Was it Nick Cage playing Nick Cage? Or did something beat it out?

Knowing opened at #1 this weekend, earning $24.8 million. The film had the highest per theater average of any in the top ten with $7,447 per theater.

I Love You, Man opened at #2 with $18 million.

Duplicity opened at #3 with $14.4 million.

Race to Witch Mountain dropped three spots to #4 this weekend, earning $13 million to raise its total to $44.7 million.

Watchmen dropped three spots to #5 in its third weekend, earning $6.7 million making its total so far a modest $98 million. The film had a budget of $150 million. I’d hate to say it but I think the movie has a slim chance of making its budget back if it keeps dropping.

The Last House on the Left went down three spots to #6 in its second weekend, earning $5.9 million.

Taken dropped three spots to #7 in its eighth weekend, earning $4.1 million to raise its impressive total to $133.1 million.

Slumdog Millionaire dropped two spots to #8 in its 19th weekend, earning $2.7 million to raise its total gross to $137.2 million. Not to bad for a film that came out of no where with a budget of only $19 million.

Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail fell four spots to #9 in its fifth weekend, earning $2.5 million.

Coraline becomes #10 with $2.1 million this week, raising its total gross to $72.8 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Knowing – $24.8 million ($24.8 million to date)
2. I Love You, Man – $18 million ($18 million to date)
3. Duplicity – $14.4 million ($14.4 million to date)
4. Race to Witch Mountain – $13 million ($44.7 million to date)
5. Watchmen – $6.7 million ($98 million to date)
6. The Last House on the Left – $5.9 million ($24 million to date)
7. Taken – $4.1 million ($133.1 million to date)
8. Slumdog Millionaire – $2.7 million ($137.2 million to date)
9. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail – $2.5 million ($87.2 million to date)
10. Coraline – $2.1 million ($72.8 million to date)

Questions? Comments? OMGYOUSUXXORS? Please feel free to send me an email or respond below. And if you are interested in becoming a writer for the site, please go to the staff page and contact either Andy or myself for more information. We can always use more writers and articles! Until next week…

Another weekend has passed and its time to check out what topped the box office this week.
 Madea Goes To Jail -  Remained #1 at the box office this weekend, earning $16.5 million to raise its total gross to $64.8 million.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience opened at #2 with $12.7 million.

Slumdog Millionaire moved up two spots to #3, earning $12.1 million to raise its total gross to $115.1 million.

Taken dropped one spot to #4 with $9.9 million, raising its five week total to $107.8 million.

He’s Just Not That Into You dropped one spot to #5 with $5.8 million, raising its total gross to $78.5 million.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop moved up one spot to #6 in its seventh weekend, earning $5.6 million to raise its total gross to $128.1 million.

Coraline dropped five spots to #7 in its fourth weekend, earning $5.2 million to raise its total gross to $61.1 million.

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li bombed at #8 with $4.6 million.

Confessions of a Shopaholic fell one spot to #9 in its third weekend, earning $4.4 million to raise its total gross to $33.6 million.

Fired Up fell one spot to #10 with $3.8 million, raising its total gross to $10.1 million in two weeks.
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail – $16.5 million ($64.8 million to date)
2. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience – $12.7 million ($12.7 million to date)
3. Slumdog Millionaire – $12.1 million ($115.1 million to date)
4. Taken – $9.9 million ($107.8 million to date)
5. He’s Just Not That Into You – $5.8 million ($78.5 million to date)
6. Paul Blart: Mall Cop – $5.6 million ($128.1 million to date)
7. Coraline – $5.2 million ($61.1 million to date)
8. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li – $4.6 million ($4.6 million to date)
9. Confessions of a Shopaholic – $4.4 million ($33.6 million to date)
10. Fired Up – $3.8 million ($10.1 million to date)

So yet again this weekend was no big shocker. But next weekend with Watchmen opening on friday…. Well it should be interesting to see how well a rated R super hero movie does. Until next week!

And here we are, another edition of “This Weekends Winners Are…” is upon is and its time to see who rocked ths box office this weekend. Was it the unstoppable Oscar Juggernaut? Or did something new open up and take down the competition?

Madea Goes to Jail opened #1 at the box office with $41.1 million. The film had the highest per theater average with $20,236.

Taken moved up one spot to #2 this week with $11.4 million. The film has made $95 million since it opened 4 weeks ago.

Coraline moved up two spots to #3 earning $11 Million

He’s Just Not That Into You moved down two spots to #4 at the box office with $8.5 million,  raising its three week total to $70 million.

Slumdog Millionaire moved up four spots to # 5 this week, earning $8 million. The film had a $15 million budget, and has now made $98 million after 15 weeks. Since its sweep of the Oscars last night, it will be interesting to see how many people go and see it this week. It has the potential to make a lot more money now.

Friday the 13th dropped four spots to #6 this week, earning $7.8 million. The film has made $55 million and only had a budget of $19 million.

Confessions of a Shopaholic dropped three spots to #7 this week, earning $7.01 million.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop fell two spots to #8 this week, earning $7 million. This has made $121.3 million so far. The film had a budget of $26 million.

Fired Up opened at #9, earning $6 million. The film had a budget of $20 million.

The International dropped three spots to #10 at the box office with $4.4 million. The film has made $17 million is 2-weeks, and had a budget of $50 million.
BOX OFFICE TOP TEN
1. Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail – $41.1 Million ($41.1 Million to date)
2. Taken- $11.4 Million ($95 Million to date)
3. Coraline – $11 Million ($53.3 Million to date )
4. He’s Just Not That Into You – $8.5 Million ($70 Million to date)
5. Slumdog Millionaire – $8 Million ($98 Million to date)
6. Friday the 13th – $7.8 Million ($55 Million to date)
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic – $7.01 Million ($27.6 Million to date )
8. Paul Blart: Mall Cop – $7 Million ($121.3 Million to date)
9. Fired Up – $6 Million ($6 Million to date)
10. The International – $4.4 Million ($17 Million to date)

Stay tuned for next weeks edition and see how the Oscars effected the movie going crowd. Will Slumdog break into the top 3?  Will Friday the 13th drop even more? Only time can tell.

-James

Welcome machete wielding  maniacs, pretty boy would-be heroes, and bouncy hotties to Nerd Rage movie review.  Today your good pal cerberus has a treat for you. That’s right kids it’s time for everyone’s favorite genre: “Campy Horror Movies.”  No don’t worry I’m not reviewing “Monsturd” or “Aswang”.  Today I’ve got two different movies for you filled with screams and laughs: “Friday the 13th” and the direct to DVD  Bruce Campbell Movie “My name is Bruce”.

I went to the midnight showing of “Friday the 13th” and I learned something: if at all possible don’t sit next to the heavy-set guy covering his ears and making snide remarks to himself in order to keep himself from being too scared by a slasher flick in front of his friends.  I’m just saying any time you can avoid that it’s a good thing trust me.

Friday the 13th is a remake… oh I’m sorry a  ”re-imagining” of the original, not a sequel.  I must admit it was a more than decent Horror/Slasher.  Unlike his predecessors this version of Jason is way more adamant then he was in any of the other Friday the 13th movies.  He’s more then a slow moving dimwit waiting for the next white woman to trip in a frantic run for her life in the middle of the woods.  This time he hunts, fights, runs, and sets traps.  Which makes him  more inventive this time around.  That being said once you strip down all the hype, that is all that changed in the series.  There was really nothing new about the movie itself.  It followed the same formula, and the same cast of stereotypes from dumb blonds, token black dude, nerdy asian kid, spoiled rich boy, and of coarse the pretty boy hero trying to rescue the girl.

If you just go into the movie not expecting much more then to be entertained by cool yet fairly predictable death scenes, good ‘ole fashion nudity (hurray boobs), mindless slaughter and a film that doesn’t let a small thing like tripping over a few plot holes slow it down, then this is the movie for you.  However if you are expecting anything else you will probably be disappointed.  Overall if you’re a fan of the series or just a fan of the genre itself then it is a fun movie to watch, so enjoy.

So tell me this, with movies like “Halloween”,  ”Texas Chainsaw Massacre”,  “The day the Earth stood still”, and the ever frightening “Charlies Angels”, what movies would you like to see be remade?

Do you find yourself wanting to be alone in a cabin with a good book to resurrect the corpses in the basement? Wonder what it would be like to lop off you’re hand and replace it with a chainsaw? Or split your brain in two and share with a friend?  If so you may have a case of Campbellitis or you’re a complete screw head.  Either/or there is a cure and it’s more Bruce Campbell.

“My name is Bruce” is about a fictitious version of Bruce Campbell down on his luck from making so many cheesy B-horror movie sequels.   However his luck turns from crap to suck when one of his uber-fans Jeff (Taylor Sharpe) accidentally awakens Guan-Di the chinese god of war and patron of bean curd…(I’m not kidding) who goes on a killing spree.  So Jeff seeks out the one man you would want to have your back if there is ever a monster, zombie invasion, or pesky apocalypse.  That of coarse being Bruce Campbell.  After kidnapping Campbell and dragging him to Gold Lick, Oregon.  Bruce assumes the whole town is really part of some birthday hoax perpetuated by his agent (Ted Raimi) and agrees to do battle with the demon god Guan-di…..hilarity ensues.

If you are not a fan of  Bruce Campbell then this movie is not for you, and you should be beaten to death by angry pumas.  For the rest of us this movie will make you feel nostalgic for the times you and your buddies rented crappy horror flick to poke fun of and did your own rendition of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

… Ahh the good old days…