Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gif Cinematical http://www.cinematical.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Phew! 'New Moon' Fails to Clinch Opening Weekend Recordhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/22/new-moon-fails-opening-weekend-record/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/22/new-moon-fails-opening-weekend-record/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/22/new-moon-fails-opening-weekend-record/#comments

According to estimates over at Variety, The Twilight Saga: New Moon failed to top The Dark Knight's three-day opening weekend record of $158 million, bringing what I'm sure will be a huge sigh of relief to all those folks (and there's lots of them) who felt the film was in no way deserving of these historic milestones. Instead, after clinching the Best Midnight Opening record and Best Opening Day record, New Moon will have to settle for third on the Best Opening Weekend list after walking away with a pretty astonishing $140 million when it was all said and done.

If that number holds up (and it should), the film will replace Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End for third place on the list of all-time best opening weekends (domestic), and will settle in behind only Spider-Man 3 (second) and The Dark Knight (first). Still, with $130 million, New Moon more than doubled Twilight's opening weekend ($69 million) -- in addition to taking in the largest domestic weekend gross of the year -- so if the franchise remains on that pace there's a good chance The Twilight Saga: Eclipse will indeed snatch the opening weekend record from The Dark Knight when it hits theaters on June 30th ... that is, unless Iron Man 2 doesn't get to it first.

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]]>new moon box officenew moon opening weekend box officeNewMoonBoxOfficeNewMoonOpeningWeekendBoxOfficethe dark knightthe twilight saga: eclipsethe twilight saga: new moonTheDarkKnightTheTwilightSaga:EclipseTheTwilightSaga:NewMoonErik DavisSun, 22 Nov 2009 11:37:00 ESTMovie Popcorn is Bad for You? Who Knew?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/22/movie-popcorn-is-bad-for-you-who-knew/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/22/movie-popcorn-is-bad-for-you-who-knew/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/22/movie-popcorn-is-bad-for-you-who-knew/#commentsPopcorn and sodaIn a report that will shock anyone that doesn't go to the movies, an advocacy group claims that movie theater popcorn is not a very good nutritional snack. In a press release, the Center for Science in the Public Interest says they commissioned laboratory analyses indicating a medium-size popcorn and medium-size soda purchased at a Regal theater, the country's largest movie theater chain, contains the nutritional equivalent of three McDonald's Quarter Pounders with 12 pats of butter. "Sitting through a two-hour movie isn't exactly like climbing Mt. Everest," a senior nutritionist for the Center said. "Why do theaters think they need to feed us like it is?"

Ah, but that comment betrays an ignorance of the current cinema. When I caught 2012 on opening day, for example, I watched it with a tub of popcorn by my side, as our reviewer Peter Hall suggested ($7.50 for a large popcorn at AMC). It gave me something to do during the non-disaster scenes. On a more serious note, the Center points out the high amount of saturated fat results from movie theater chains Regal and AMC using coconut oil to pop their popcorn. The Cinemark chain uses canola oil, which results in much less "artery-clogging" saturated fat.

For their part, the chains aren't talking, reports The Los Angeles Times, though Regal falls back on the MPAA's statistic that says the average American only attends six movies a year and thus: "Theater popcorn and movie snacks are viewed as a treat and not intended to be part of a regular diet." I know our readers watch up to six movies in a single weekend, so I ask you: Do you skip popcorn entirely? Do you buy anything from movie concession stands? If theaters offered healthier fare, would you buy it?

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]]>amccinemarkfeaturedmovie theater concessionsmovie theater popcornmovie theatersMovieTheaterConcessionsMovieTheaterPopcornMovieTheaterspopcornregalPeter MartinSun, 22 Nov 2009 10:02:00 ESTTrailer Park: Of Snakey Hair and Moody Teenshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/trailer-park-of-snakey-hair-and-moody-teens/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/trailer-park-of-snakey-hair-and-moody-teens/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/trailer-park-of-snakey-hair-and-moody-teens/#comments

Percy Jackson & the Olylmpians: The Lightning Thief
You go years without seeing Medusa and then all of a sudden we get two in one week. Percy Jackson is a descendant of both mortals and greek gods, and apparently his lineage comes with some way cool powers and some fearsome villains who want to do him in (among which is Uma Thurman as the aforementioned Medusa). Based on a series of books and directed by Chris Columbus, who helmed the first two Harry Potter films, this looks like it could be some good escapist teen fun, though not quite on the same level as Harry Potter. Watch for this on February 12.

Clash of the Titans
As for Medusa number two, she is just one of the monstrosities in this remake of the 1981 film about the adventures of Perseus from Greek mythology. Most of the original film's charm comes from the stop-motion effects by Ray Harryhausen, so it will be interesting to see how well the ideas translate to modern effects technology. The clash begins on March 26.

Remember Me
Robert Pattinson plays the tortured emo kid card once more in this drama about a young man trying to find his way. He's really got the angry young man thing down and Lost's Emile de Ravin makes for an appealing romantic interest. This will be out on March 12.

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]]>Clash of the TitansClashOfTheTitansLetters to JulietLettersToJulietPercy Jackson the Olylmpians: The Lightning ThiefPercyJacksonTheOlylmpians:TheLightningThiefRemember MeRememberMeThe Last SongTheLastSongMatt BradshawSat, 21 Nov 2009 17:02:00 ESTMaking The (Up) Grade: Rockyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/making-the-up-grade-rocky/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/making-the-up-grade-rocky/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/making-the-up-grade-rocky/#comments
While new Blu-rays of old movies are sometimes dubious replacements for prior editions (hence the need for this column), box sets released in the high-definition format have thus far been fairly helpful, at least in terms of shelf space: many or most of them forego a lot of the frills and flourishes of their standard-definition iterations in favor of more streamlined packaging. Unfortunately, that's also sometimes extended to their extras, thanks in no small part to the legal entanglements of transferring commentaries and bonus content from one format to another.

Both Warner Brothers and Fox have faced this challenge a couple of times thanks to their ownership/ adoption of the libraries of MGM and United Artists, which until a few years ago issued their own releases. Rocky, which is one of United Artists' premier franchises, was recently released on Blu-ray in The Undisputed Collection, a set that contains all six of the films in the series, but it remains to be seen whether complete also means comprehensive in this particular case.

What's Already Available:

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]]>making the up gradeMakingTheUpGraderockyrocky balboarocky the undisputed collectionRockyBalboaRockyTheUndisputedCollectionsylvester stalloneSylvesterStalloneTodd GilchristSat, 21 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST'Avatar' Watch: Running Time Announced and New Featuretteshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/avatar-running-time-new-featurettes/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/avatar-running-time-new-featurettes/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/avatar-running-time-new-featurettes/#comments

Though early rumors suggested the film was going to clock in at over three hours, 20th Century Fox claims James Cameron's Avatar will instead clock in at 150 minutes (or 2.5 hours), or about 156 minutes if you count the credits. The main reason why the film will run under three hours is because of the IMAX showings. Avatar will open in about 180 domestic IMAX theaters on December 18th, and because of the way the IMAX system is set up, the theaters that aren't converted over to digital projection can only hold about 170 minutes worth of film. But while Cameron's final edit came in significantly under 170 minutes, there's no saying whether there will be a cut on the DVD that will run over 170 minutes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Avatar will open on a minimum of 5,500 screens, with almost half of those screens equipped to show the film in 3D.

In other Avatar news, two new featurettes were released online toward the latter part of the week. IGN UK unveiled one behind-the-scenes video focused primarily on the realistic sci-fi equipment created for the film, and Coke Zero released a video that introduces Stephen Ling's character, Col. Quaritch, and reveals a whole bunch of new footage. You can watch both videos over at SciFi Squad.

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]]>avataravatar running timeAvatarRunningTimecinematicaljames cameronJamesCameronErik DavisSat, 21 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST'New Moon' Smashes 'Dark Knight's' Opening Day Record!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/new-moon--box-office-record-dark-knight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/new-moon--box-office-record-dark-knight/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/new-moon--box-office-record-dark-knight/#comments

According to ERC, The Twilight Saga: New Moon sold roughly $71 million (Variety is reporting $72.7 million) worth of tickets on its opening day -- a number that, if correct, far surpasses the current opening day box office record of $67 million set by The Dark Knight back in 2008. With its $26 million take in midnight showings, that gives the second installment in the Twilight franchise two pretty giant records: Best Midnight Opening and Best Single Day Opening. Next up for the franchise is the three-day opening weekend record, also held by The Dark Knight with $158 million.

So what does this say about us? Well, while it's not as critically acclaimed as, say, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (previous midnight opening record holder) or The Dark Knight, these numbers do show just how much of an impact the female audience can have on a box office take. Sure, when The Dark Knight broke records everyone wanted to single out the teenage male audience as having won that film its titles, but polls showed females were responsible for upwards of 50% of that film's opening box office too. And now, with New Moon breaking records attracting a younger female audience, here's hoping studios wake up and realize that, yeah, the female audience is a damn powerful force.

So kudos to all you Twi-hards for showing up to support the property you love. Is the film truly worthy of its new records? Probably not. Will another film break those records within the next year? Yeah, most likely. But dammit if the folks at Summit Entertainment aren't partying their asses off this weekend. They just won the World Series at the box office. Congrats!

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]]>featuredharry potter and the half-blood princeHarryPotterAndTheHalf-bloodPrincenew moonnew moon box office recordNewMoonNewMoonBoxOfficeRecordthe dark knightthe twilight saga: new moonTheDarkKnightTheTwilightSaga:NewMoonErik DavisSat, 21 Nov 2009 10:55:00 ESTRight Now on TV Squadhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/right-now-on-tv-squad/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/right-now-on-tv-squad/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/21/right-now-on-tv-squad/#commentsOur brothers and sisters over at TV Squad have busted through the boob tube and brought with them the following juicy bits of must-see eye candy.

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]]>CinemaCinematicalMoviesTV SquadTvSquadMatt BradshawSat, 21 Nov 2009 09:02:00 ESTInterview: Judd Apatow (Part One)http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/judd-apatow-interview-funny-people/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/judd-apatow-interview-funny-people/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/judd-apatow-interview-funny-people/#comments
Funny People was the latest in Judd Apatow's ongoing series of summer comedies, but it was anything but a typical summer comedy: following a successful comedian (played by Apatow's longtime friend Adam Sandler) who reflects on his life after discovering he's going to die, the film offered lots of humor but with decidedly heavier themes lurking beneath the yuks. The film debuts on Blu-ray in a 2-Disc Collector's Edition next week, and the contents are amazing, showing how Apatow combined lighthearted fare with more serious ideas in the service of exploring something substantive.

Cinematical was lucky enough to catch up with Apatow via telephone one recent morning to discuss the process of putting together the film's home video iteration. In addition to discussing the bonus materials, extras, featurettes, and a documentary that's the most thorough and thoughtful ever produced about a comedy production, Apatow talked about finding the right ending for his magnum opus, discovering and deconstructing the process of producing laughs, and front-loading the film's universe with outside content about the supporting characters.

Cinematical: One of the ideas highlighted in the Blu-ray bonus materials was the fact that you knew this was going in a different direction than your previous films. Even knowing that while you were making it, were you surprised by the reactions of audiences and critics when it was released? Or does it matter?

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]]>adam sandlerAdamSandleraziz ansariAzizAnsarifunny peopleFunnyPeoplejim carreyJimCarreyjudd apatowJuddApatowleslie mannLeslieMannseth rogenSethRogenTodd GilchristFri, 20 Nov 2009 21:02:00 ESTSerious Scores: 'Aguirre: The Wrath of God'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/serious-scores-aguirre-the-wrath-of-god/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/serious-scores-aguirre-the-wrath-of-god/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/serious-scores-aguirre-the-wrath-of-god/#commentsWe're doing something crazy, and launching another little series here on Cinematical: Serious Scores. You're a smart bunch, so I imagine you've already figured out that the goal isn't to highlight our favorite bank heists, but to praise the creme de la creme of cinema's soundtracks. Hopefully, you'll find something new for your iPod, rediscover a lost favorite, or appreciate a piece along with us.

Technically, Werner Herzog's Aguirre: The Wrath of God doesn't have an official soundtrack. The entire score was recorded by the German progressive band Popol Vuh (the first of many collaborations they did with Herzog), and was released as an album in 1975, with a 2004 re-release. Only two tracks were actually used in the film: Aguirre I and Aguirre II. If you disdain the rest of their Krautrock, the magic of iTunes and Amazon allows you to buy them individually. Now you can put them on a playlist, set them to repeat, and go as mad as Aguirre himself.

Hints of madness aside, Aguirre I and II are pretty incredible pieces of music and were raved about in the 1970s. I think the music is just as powerful today, even if Moog synthesizers seem to have fallen out of favor. It's hypnotic and eerie, and so very evocative of that torpid jungle journey. Never have native panpipes sounded as frantic and terrified. I've embedded Aguirre I below the jump, but I highly recommend spending the $0.99 so you can download it to something hand-held and listen to it in the dark.

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]]>AguirreAguirre: The Wrath of GodAguirre:TheWrathOfGodAguirreWrathOfGodpopol vuhPopolVuhSerious ScoresSeriousScoresWerner HerzogWernerHerzogElisabeth RappeFri, 20 Nov 2009 20:15:00 ESTReview: Planet 51http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/review-planet-51/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/review-planet-51/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/review-planet-51/#comments

As voiced by Dwayne "the artist formerly known as The Rock" Johnson, astronaut Chuck Baker is the paragon of all-American achievement -- that is, until he conquers a far off world with an unexpected population, one inexplicably steeped in our '50s-era culture and terrified by the prospect of an alien invader in human form. More unfortunately for us, Chuck has landed smack-dab in the middle of Planet 51, a short-sighted assembly of sci-fi references and scatalogical humor that should nonetheless placate undemanding tots and, by extension, their undiscerning parents for ninety minutes or so.

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]]>dwayne johnsondwayne the rock johnsonDwayneJohnsonDwayneTheRockJohnsongary oldmanGaryOldmanjessica bielJessicaBieljoe stillmanJoeStillmanjohn cleeseJohnCleesejorge blancoJorgeBlancojustin longJustinLongplanet 51Planet51seann william scottSeannWilliamScottthe rockTheRockWilliam GossFri, 20 Nov 2009 19:32:00 ESTFree Flick of the Day: The Doom Generationhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/free-flick-of-the-day-the-doom-generation/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/free-flick-of-the-day-the-doom-generation/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/free-flick-of-the-day-the-doom-generation/#commentsThe '90s were a good time to be a teen -- especially if you were itching for more than just the mainstream. Nestled between the John Hughes '80s and the bubbly Disney '00s, the '90s were a time when teen films thrived in tunes-led rebellion. It wasn't all about spunky mainstream music marketing and bubbly personalities. Scores and strangeness got to go a little wild, and Gregg Araki ran with that idea when he made The Doom Generation.

Dubbed Araki's "heterosexual movie," the film starred then-newcomer Rose McGowan as Amy Blue, a tough-as-nails, filthy-mouthed, self-proclaimed virgin in love with one Jordan White (James Duval). Their rather mundane lives are thrown through the ringer when they help out a strange boy named Xavier (Johnathan Schaech), who leads them through an insane road trip of unintended violence. A trip, mind you, that showcases a slew of names from all walks of life -- Skinny Puppy (band), Margaret Cho, Dustin Nguyen (21 Jump Street), Heidi Fleiss (the Hollywood madam), Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction), Parker Posey, Nicky Katt (Dazed and Confused), Zak Spears and Rex Chandler (gay adult film stars), Christopher Knight (Brady Bunch), Lauren Tewes (The Love Boat)...

It is, however, a film spliced in tone. The first three quarters are violent, black comedy, while the last third makes the violence personal as the trio faces off against Neo-Nazis -- a rather apt juxtaposition between pulpy imaginary thrills and violence laced with a sense of reality.

Get dark with The Doom Generation now on SlashControl!

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]]>CinematicalDoom GenerationDoomGenerationFree Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDayJames DuvalJamesDuvalJohnathan SchaechJohnathanSchaechRose McGowanRoseMcgowanSlashcontrolthe doom generationTheDoomGenerationMonika BartyzelFri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:00 ESTMike White Starts a Santa Claus Civil Warhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/#commentsNot pleased with the likes of our latest serving of A Christmas Carol? Want a little more originality served with your ho-ho-ho's? This might be the answer: Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has tapped Mike White to write the script for a new comedy called Santa Wars. Oh yes, it's just like you'd imagine.

This project will follow the story of two rival factions that emerged within a group of professional Kris Kringles, and how they "became arch enemies during a Santa Claus civil war." And I should probably point out -- this concept is based on a true story. It all stems from a segment on Ira Glass' radio show This American Life, which aired last December and talked about how two professional Santas formed the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, only to become bitter rivals.

Talk about picking the perfect pen. White is the writer of all things weird, whether that be with creepy stalkers, transcript trouble, discontent with mundane life, rock 'n' roll classes, strange wrasslers, or dog obsession. Furthermore, he's jumped back and forth between mainstream and edgy indies, which means the potential for a film that will appeal to more than just the casual, family fare moviegoer. Let's just hope Paramount ignores this year's strange release schedules (Valentine's Day in the summer, Christmas before Thanskgiving) and serves this puppy up during the right season.

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]]>Christmas filmsChristmasFilmsCinematicalMike WhiteMikeWhiteSanta WarsSantaWarsThis American LifeThisAmericanLifeMonika BartyzelFri, 20 Nov 2009 18:02:00 ESTForbes Determines Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actorshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/forbes-determines-hollywoods-most-overpaid-actors/#commentsJust the other day, I tackled the notion of whether A-List actors were becoming an endangered species. Now Forbes is adding to the celebrities woes with a list of Hollywood's 10 Most Overpaid Stars. Their criteria for the list: Look at the 100 biggest stars who have starred in at least 3 flicks opening in more than 500 theaters in the last 5 years, and calculate a return-on-investment by dividing total operating income on the 3 movies by the actor's total compensation (salaries and sales earnings).

So, who could possibly end up on such a list? Hazard a guess? Well, here are some hints. The 10-spot actor, who has the biggest earnings for his pay, earns an average of $8.62 for every $1 paid, while the worst offender skyrocketed to the #1 spot with a pretty big flop this year, earning only $3.29 for every buck paid. Some of the names in the middle are quite expected, especially Tom Cruise and Eddie Murphy, the former still dealing with image issues, and the latter found out that his silly-comedy formula isn't working like it used to. Also, there is one lone woman on the list, but this actress might be a little hard to guess.

Considering the previous post and some of the names on this list, I think we might be seeing a big decrease in star-power pay over the next few years. But for now ... Who's the least-bad investment, the worst, and the woman? Can you figure out the names in-between? Take a stab and then check out the list after the jump

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]]>10 Most Overpaid Actors10MostOverpaidActorsA-ListCinematicalEddie MurphyEddieMurphyForbesHollywoodoverpaid actorsOverpaidActorsTom CruiseTomCruiseMonika BartyzelFri, 20 Nov 2009 17:15:00 ESTNetflix and IFC Team Up for Streaming Indieshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/netflix-and-ifc-team-up-for-streaming-indies/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/netflix-and-ifc-team-up-for-streaming-indies/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/netflix-and-ifc-team-up-for-streaming-indies/#commentsNetflix knows where it's at when it comes to the rental biz; more and more, folks want to stay at home and watch movies instantly. We don't even want to wait for those happy little red envelopes any more. Nope, if it's not on our Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or computer, we get all squirrelly. (Okay, maybe that last part is just me.) And IFC is also on the cutting edge of home entertainment in its steadily growing on-demand offerings, including their IFC Festival Direct program, where you can watch a selection of movies that have played during recent festivals, and the In Theaters + On Demand program, which offers at-home viewers the chance to see indie flicks the same day they premiere in what's usually limited release.

Now Netflix and IFC have sealed the deal for a partnership that gives Netflix access to 53 IFC releases to be streamed online to whichever platform you like, starting today.

I would guess that if this experiment takes off, we'll be seeing more IFC goodies on Netflix, but for now, you can see docs like The Thing Blue Line and Gates of Heaven; international films from Catherine Breillat, Christophe Honoré, and Alfonso Cuaron; and Joe Swanberg; and plenty of other flicks like The Brother from Another Planet, Nights and Weekends, and more. Check back later for the full list and more details on the launch of this new project.

Have you watched any of the IFC On Demand offerings, especially if they're for releases not otherwise available in your area? Do you think this is another death knell for the indie video store, or a really, really good idea to help spread the word about otherwise underseen independent films in a struggling market? Or both?

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]]>IFCNetflixnetflix playernetflix streamingnetflix watch instantlyNetflixPlayerNetflixStreamingNetflixWatchInstantlyon demandOnDemandJenni MillerFri, 20 Nov 2009 16:32:00 ESTMichael Fassbender Goes From One Bronte To the Nexthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/michael-fassbender-goes-from-one-bronte-to-the-next/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/michael-fassbender-goes-from-one-bronte-to-the-next/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/michael-fassbender-goes-from-one-bronte-to-the-next/#commentsThe Brontes are all the rage for adaptation right now. It's undoubtedly due to Edward and Bella bestowing their favor on Wuthering Heights, and had they chosen Great Expectations, perhaps we'd see Dickens adaptations flinging themselves to the big screen. I love corsets and cravats, so I'm not going to complain, and I'm certainly not going to whine if Cary Fukunaga gets this cast for Jane Eyre. Variety is reporting that Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska are in talks to play Jane and Rochester for Fukunaga, and oh, how torrid it would be!

This is actually the second time Fassbender has circled a Bronte adaptation. Last May, he was said to be in talks for Wuthering Heights, but Ed Westwick stepped into that particular waistcoat. It's a shame. I think Fassbender would have made an excellent Heathcliff, and may have been the first one to actually snarl, bang his head against a tree, and slap people convincingly. But he will make a very simmering Rochester, and is the only actor who could top Toby Stephens' wonderful turn in 2006.

Wasikowska is still a bit of a dark horse. She's becoming one of those much-discussed names, but most of us have yet to really meet her until Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland hits theaters. She's very pretty, but is just "ordinary" (if that doesn't sound too terrible) enough to fit the part of plain Jane, and as an Aussie, she'll be able to turn on an English accent better than Ellen Page. If this is the Jane Eyre that makes it to the screen, I'll be happy. Let the eerie screams, mysterious fires, and lingering looks commence.

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]]>cary fukunagaCaryFukunagaCharlotte BronteCharlotteBronteFocus FeaturesFocusFeaturesJane EyreJaneEyremia wasikowskaMiaWasikowskaMichael FassbenderMichaelFassbenderMoira BuffiniMoiraBuffiniRuby FilmsRubyFilmsToby StephensTobyStephensElisabeth RappeFri, 20 Nov 2009 15:48:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Best Buyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/black-friday-movie-deals-best-buy/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/black-friday-movie-deals-best-buy/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/black-friday-movie-deals-best-buy/#commentsOur good friend and EIC Erik Davis had a very thoughtful idea for the holiday season: Why not scan the early flyers for the Black Friday sales, and report back to you -- the ravenous movie junkie -- to let you know where to find the best treats on the day after Thanksgiving?

The first big brick and mortar retail store we'll be scouring for Black Friday deals is Best Buy. So grab your Reward Zone card and some kind of protective shield to fight back the horde of shoppers, for there are deals incoming!

Note: Best Buy opens its doors at 5:00am on November 27th.

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]]>Best BuyBestBuyBlack FridayBlack Friday 2009BlackFridayblackfriday09BlackFriday2009featuredmovie dealsMovieDealsPeter HallFri, 20 Nov 2009 15:03:00 ESTThe Last Word(s) on 'Twilight' Belong to Kevin Smithhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/twilight-kevin-smith-new-moon-comic-con/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/twilight-kevin-smith-new-moon-comic-con/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/twilight-kevin-smith-new-moon-comic-con/#comments

You've read all the reviews and interviews, and watched all the spoof videos. Most of you reading this have probably already watched the film, too. Today, as The Twilight Saga: New Moon finally reaches theaters, it sorta feels like the day after Christmas -- all this hype, work and constant coverage building up to the release of just one film ... and then it's over. Now the "real" fans will begin their endless geeked-out debates on their own fansites, and the rest of us will talk about the film's boffo box office while preparing for three weeks worth of nonstop promo for JAMES F*CKING CAMERON'S AVATAR! ROAR!

So while you drink the last of your blood energy drink, and begin breaking down the Bella and Edward Nativity Scene that's currently on your front lawn, why not let our good buddy Kevin Smith have the last word on all things Twilight. During his panel at this past San Diego Comic-Con, Smith went off for about four minutes on the Twilight Phenomenon, and took us through the experience of watching a clip from New Moon while thousands of young girls screamed their silly little heads off. It's a very amusing clip (that's homemade, so excuse the jerky camera movements), and if it's the last thing you watch before folks begin ramping up their Eclipse coverage, you'll find yourself a happier and more well-adjusted human being because of it.

Watch the clip after the jump, though be warned that it comes with plenty of foul language.

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]]>cinematicalcomic conComicConeclipsekevin smithKevinSmiththe twilight saga: eclipsethe twilight saga: new moonTheTwilightSaga:EclipseTheTwilightSaga:NewMoontwilightErik DavisFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:15:00 ESTSam Worthington Gets Gritty in 'American Crime'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/#commentsFew of us have had the chance to read Rick Remender's upcoming series, The Last Days of American Crime, but it's already tapped for the big-screen treatment. To sweeten the deal, American Crime already has a face. An Australian one. Mania is reporting that Sam Worthington has signed on to play the series' star criminal, Graham Brick.

American Crime is set in a near-future where the government has found a way to kill the criminal impulse in its citizens. That's good for everyone but the criminals, and chaos erupts as the unsavory element goes mad trying to get in one last job. One of these men is Graham Brick, who is in the midst of planning a big heist, and gets to watch all his best laid plans fall apart in a bloody fashion. I read the preview Radical handed out at Comic-Con this year, and like all previews, it was too short to really get a handle on the story. But the art was incredible, it was ridiculously violent, and it had that slimy feeling of Sin City. You can check out three pages here, and Radical has 15 pages up on MySpace. The first issue is scheduled to hit stands in December.

Remender will be penning the screenplay himself, and Radical will be producing it under their film shingle. We'll supposedly be getting a studio, a director, and more cast-members very soon, but it's tough to get excited without having read issue #1. Still, if this is really the mix of James Ellroy and David Mamet's Heist that Remender promises, Crime will be something to look out for.

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]]>Radical ComicsRadical Picturesradical publishingRadicalComicsRadicalPicturesRadicalPublishingrick remenderRickRemendersam worthingtonSamWorthingtonThe Last Days of American CrimeTheLastDaysOfAmericanCrimeElisabeth RappeFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:32:00 ESTSex and Nudity Don't Draw You to the Movies?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sex-and-nudity-dont-draw-you-to-the-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sex-and-nudity-dont-draw-you-to-the-movies/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sex-and-nudity-dont-draw-you-to-the-movies/#commentsWould you have liked Terminator Salvation more if Moon Bloodgood's topless bit hadn't been cut out? Would you have been more likely to see the movie in theaters if you knew there was a flash of boob? Probably not, according to a recent psychological study, which looked at 914 movies released between 2001 and 2005 to determine if sex indeed sells at the cinema.

The results of the study say no: "sex and nudity do not, on the average, boost box office performance, earn critical acclaim or win major awards." Well, the research did show that the Golden Globes are more favorable to movies with sex scenes than the Oscars, which might make sense given that many foreign moviegoers (particularly those in Europe) are more accepting of nudity than American viewers, though it's unlikely the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is thinking about sex while determining its nominees.

In contrast, the study actually showed that sex sells even less outside the U.S., which may be because a number of international markets, such as those in Asia and the Middle East, are more censoring of such content.

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]]>featurednuditypowder bluePowderBluepsychological studiesPsychologicalStudiessexsex scenesSexScenesterminator salvationTerminatorSalvationChristopher CampbellFri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:00 ESTOscar Snubs? Extortion Plot? Do Tell!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/oscar-snubs-extortion-plot-do-tell/#comments

Are members from the documentary branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences being paid to short list some films over others? That's what it sounds like director James Toback was alluding to when he spoke to the New York Times recently about how his buzzed-about documentary, Tyson, was left off the Academy's short list along with several other notable documentaries from the past year. Toback told the Times that at some point during the selection process he experienced something he puts "fully in the category of extortion", adding that he did not go along with it.

Speaking on behalf of the documentary branch -- which Toback refers to as "some tiny, dirty covert weirdly protective group" -- chairman (and filmmaker) Rob Epstein said, "I have no idea. It certainly hasn't come before me." Among some of the critically acclaimed docs snubbed this year are Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story, the awesome Anvil! The Story of Anvil, and The September Issue. This year's documentary short list was narrowed down to 15 finalists from 89 possible contenders. So, yeah, obviously you're going to see some fantastic films miss the cut, and, subsequently, some pissed off filmmakers, but it's a pretty bold move for Toback to go and claim extortion, don't you think?

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]]>academy awardsAcademyAwardsAnvil The Story of AnvilAnvilTheStoryOfAnvilcapitalism: a love storyCapitalism:ALoveStorytysonErik DavisFri, 20 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST