OPENS: August 15, 2008
RATING: G
GENRE: Amination, 3D, Space Fantasy, Family Friendly
Starring: Voices of: Buzz Aldrin, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Begley Jr., Philip Bolden, Cam Clarke, Tim Curry, Trevor Gagnon, Grant George, David Gore, Steve Kramer, Christopher Lloyd, Mimi Maynard, Scott Menville, Lorraine Nicholson, Robert Patrick, Kelly Ripa, Nicollette Sheridan
Director: Ben Stassen
Writer: Domonic Paris
Plot: Three young houseflies stow away aboard the Apollo 11 flight to the moon.
The Dark Knight extended its reign to a month atop the weekend box office this past week. It brought in more than $26 million in ticket sales in its fourth weekend. Its grand total domestic take of $441.5 million has the film as the No. 3 all-time money maker in Hollywood and it should pass Star Wars to be come No. 2 by the end of August.
No new sci fi flicks debuted this past weekend. But in the upcoming weekend three new genre films are set to debut: the horror film, Mirrors, the animated space opera, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and the animated children’s science fantasy, Fly Me to the Moon.
Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of August 8-10, 2008.
RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]
Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.
The modern – and moody – spy fi re-telling comic book adaptation of Batman, The Dark Knight fought off hordes of mummies to continued its reign as the box office weekend royalty this past weekend.
Dark Knight brought in just under $44 million in ticket sales in its third weekend – besting horror comedy newcomer, The Mummy:Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, starring Brendan Fraser. Mummy brought in $42.5 million in its first weekend and debuted in the No. 2 spot.
Last week’s debut genre title, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, landed at No. 6 on the Genre Top 10 list (No. 9 overall.) with $3.4 million in ticket sales.
To make room for Mummy animated fantasy comedy Kung Fu Panda dropped out of the genre Top 10 after being a mainstay for the past 8 weeks. So far in its run, Panda brought in more than $210 million in North American sales alone on a $130 million budget; almost ensuring that a sequel will be made.
No genre films are set to debut next week, so this list is expected to largely be unchanged for the second weekend of August.
Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of August 1 -3, 2008.
RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]
Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.
OPENS: August 15, 2008
RATING: PG
GENRE: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Animation
Starring: Ian Abercrombie, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Daniels, Christopher Lee,
Director: Dave Filoni
Writer: Henry Gilroy based on George Lucas’s story and characters
Plot: As the Clone Wars sweep through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi Knights struggle to maintain order and restore peace. More and more systems are falling prey to the forces of the dark side as the Galactic Republic slips further and further under the sway of the Separatists and their never-ending droid army. Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano find themselves on a mission with far-reaching consequences, one that brings them face-to-face with crime lord Jabba the Hutt. But Count Dooku and his sinister agents, including the nefarious Asajj Ventress, will stop at nothing to ensure that Anakin and Ahsoka fail at their quest. Meanwhile, on the front lines of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of the dark side.
The latest Batman flick. The Dark Knight continued its reign at the box office this past weekend. It brought in more than $75.6 million in ticket sales in its second weekend – more than the next five top-grossing films combined.
The only sci fi flick to debut this weekend was The X-Files: I Want to Believe, which debuted at No. 2 on the genre movie list and No. 4 overall with just over $10 million.
To make room for X-Files, Eddie Murphy flick Meet Dave dropped out of the genre Top 10 after making slightly more than $10 million in North American sales. With a $60 million budget – a movie this unprofitable almost ensures a sequel for this will never see the light of day.
Genre films set to debut next week: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is set for wide release and Clive Barker’s Books of Blood short horror story Midnight Meat Train debuts on the big screen in big cities only.
Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of July 25 -27, 2008.
RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]
Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.
OPENS: July 25, 2008
Rating: PG-13 (Gore, Violence)
Genre: Science Fiction; Supernatural Dark Fantasy
No Spoilers
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise the roles of Mulder and Scully six years after their long-lived TV series. The X-Files left the air.
This is the second X-Files movie, the first was released while the TV show was still in production and wasn’t necessarily loved by fans or by critics.
The second film, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, isn’t winning over many critics – unless they were die-hard fans of the show who miss seeing their favorite FBI agents verbally spar and chew through scenery. But some mainstream critics who were fans of the show felt disappointed that this new film failed to recapture the spark that made the series so special.
Of the positive reviews, most critics raved about Gillian Anderson – many lamenting that as an actress, Hollywood has been unfair to such a talent with intelligence, smoldering beauty and a screen presence that would have made her one of the biggest stars of the screen had she been born 60 years earlier.
Also receiving kudos are Duchovny and the supporting cast – particularly Amanda Peet as a young FBI agent with the same gusto that Mulder had when he was first introduced to TV viewers 15 years ago.
Of the not-so-kind reviews, most of the mud is being slung at writer-director Chris Carter for not delivering a film as good as it could have been. Some fear that die-hard fans will leave the film disappointed that a weak story overshadowed the stars and damaged the on-screen chemistry between the two leads.
Additionally, some were not pleased that the script skipped on the science fiction and dark fantasy elements that made the TV series its creepy best. Similarly, more than one critic derided the camera work as missing the film noir-type feel that audience have come to expect in an X-Files presentation
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"Duchovny and Anderson seem just right, too – she has one of the great faces in movies, and brings an earnest likability to Scully the Doctor. And Mulder is allowed to be Mulder – someone Duchovny can't escape any easier than Mulder can escape the lure of the unknown." – John Anderson
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“As smart and obsessed as ever, Mulder and Scully generate a lot of good will that helps “I Want to Believe” plow its way out of numerous narrative snowbanks. ” – Bob Strauss
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“Anderson almost makes the new “X-Files” film, subtitled “I Want to Believe,” something to believe in.” – Michael Phillips
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“A taut, well-acted, not very scary, not very hard to figure out serial-killer mystery revolving around two adults with trust issues.” – Michael Steuver
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“The movie is less like an episode of The X-Files and more like the trashiest installment ever of Law & Order: SVU. Benson and Stabler have seen some loony stuff but nothing this sick.” – Wesley Morris
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“The X-Files: I Want to Believe resembles those TV-series reunions that bring the cast of a hit together for a not-so-special occasion.” – Michael Sragow
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“Even at its stride, The X-Files was a load of malarkey. But it was thoughtful malarkey and compulsively watchable. One could say the same about the first two-thirds of The X-Files: I Want to Believe before it spins out of control and into a delirious plane of awfulness.” – Jan Stuart
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“The film also skimps on plot; don’t expect the clever, intricate twists of the series. It feels like a wan version of the show — one that has lost its otherworldly edge.” – Claudia Puig
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Most people thought the opening of the new Batman movie would be big – but few thought it would be this big. The Dark Knight brought in more than $155 million in ticket sales in its first weekend – the biggest opening of any movie in Hollywood history.
The other sci fi flick to debut is the kiddie animated entry, Space Chimps, which debuted at No. 6, behind WALL-E.
To make room for the two new comers, both Incredible Hulk and Indiana Jones fell out of the genre top 10 for the first time in months.
With Journey to the Center of the Earth still performing well against stiff kiddie competition, expectations are growing for, The Mummy; Tomb of the Dragon Emperor which opens in two weeks and like Journey, stars Brendan Fraser.
Of all the Top 10 films of the week – all but the second spot (Baby Boomer-targeted musical Mama Mia!) were either science fiction, fantasy, horror or spy fi.
Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of July 18 -20, 2008.
RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]
Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.
OPENS: July 18, 2008
RATING: G
GENRE: Science Fiction, Comedy, Children’s Film, Computer Animation, Space opera
Reviewing the mainstream media reviews of the new animated film, Space Chimps, you can only come to one conclusion: whether you hate or love this film comes down to one thing – individual taste.
Although most critics panned this film as a pale entry in comparison to WALL-E or Kung Fu Panda, other well-respected critics are praising the film’s message and family friendliness.
One thing is for sure, opening against the new Batman move and Mama Mia! and while both Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda are still hot in the box office, Space Chimps probably will not be bre4aking any box office records.
Of the positive reviews, noted is the film’s pro-animal rights and humane message, and the comedic talents of the actors adding voice to the film. The include comic geniuses Adam Samburg (SNL), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Patrick Warburton (The Tick, Family Guy), Kristen Chenowith (Pushing Daisies, Robot Chicken) and Kenan Thompson (SNL).
Although the good reviews are few and rather positive, the negative reviews are legion. Mostly noting the all-too-familiar plot line, the lack of any sort of suspense and no real dramatic climax to the story. Some critics are coming out and saying that this is a “comedy” that is just plain not funny.
Others say, that while the film is destined for success as a kiddie DVD, parents will avoid it like the plague.
In other words – it will probably be a minor cult hit among a core group of science fiction fans.
WATCH THE TRAILER
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"After a summer of good animation (Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda), Space Chimps is a callous clunker.” – Sean P. Means
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“Why would you take your kids to see Space Chimps, an uninspired animated feature about chimp astronauts, when you could take them instead to see Wall-E?” – Peter Rainer
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“Pretty much like the story of Kung Fu Panda. Only in space. With monkeys. And not as funny.” – Colin Covert
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“Most adults like to think there’s still a little 6-year-old inside them. Well, mine isn’t talking to me anymore, not since I took him to Space Chimps.” – John Anderson
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“It’s summer, you’ve got time off, the kids are bored and, under those circumstances, you could do a lot worse.” – Jim Slotek
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“The film’s witty, smart story reminds us that chimps (even if they’re not being shot into space anymore) are still involuntarily on the dangerous, painful front lines of research.” – Tom Keogh
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“Journalism is all about having the courage to write the truth even if it will get you mocked by your relatives and co-workers, so here goes: “Space Chimps” is hilarious.” – Neil Genzlinger
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“The CG animation is nothing special, but the characters are surprisingly fun and the story is full of enough puns, wordplay and slapstick to elicit laughs from across the age spectrum.” – Kirk Honeycutt
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OPENS: July 25, 2008
RATING: PG-13 (Violence)
GENRE: Science FIction
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Callum Keith Rennie (BSG), Xzibit
Director: Chris Carter
Writer: Frank Spotnitz and Chris Carter
Plot: Scully and Mulder are back.
This week’s new additions at Bill Burns’ eFanzines.com.
JULY 8
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JULY 15
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