TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week # 1 N Hansel and Gret...

TWLWTitle (click to view)StudioWeekend Gross% ChangeTheater Count / ChangeAverageTotal GrossBudget*Week #
1 N Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Par. $19,690,956 - 3,372 - $5,840 $19,690,956 $50 1
2 1 Mama Uni. $13,088,145 -53.9% 2,682 +35 $4,880 $48,875,585 $15 2
3 2 Zero Dark Thirty Sony $9,700,132 -38.6% 2,929 -17 $3,312 $69,803,979 $40 6
4 3 Silver Linings Playbook Wein. $9,444,039 -12.2% 2,641 +118 $3,576 $68,908,666 $21 11
5 N Parker FD $7,008,222 - 2,224 - $3,151 $7,008,222 - 1
6 7 Django Unchained Wein. $4,946,932 -36.2% 2,007 -509 $2,465 $146,236,758 $100 5
7 N Movie 43 Rela. $4,805,878 - 2,023 - $2,376 $4,805,878 $6 1
8 4 Gangster Squad WB $4,278,235 -50.5% 2,590 -513 $1,652 $39,725,102 $60 3
9 8 Les Miserables (2012) Uni. $4,221,055 -43.7% 2,201 -378 $1,918 $137,546,205 $61 5
10 5 Broken City Fox $4,019,558 -51.4% 2,622 +2 $1,533 $15,289,547 $35 2

Jeremy Renner is mostly known for a lot of films. He headlines the 2010 Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker. The latter director's film currently also has the 3rd place in the chart. Although he did not win in the Best Actor category, Renner went on to star in big-budget productions such as Mission Impossible 4 and the fourth Bourne movie.
  And not to forget his role as Hawkeye in both Thor and The Avengers. His roles are many in such mega budgets that it's hard to pin him down to a B-movie. Paramount's latest release Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters showcases that all those heavy costs return abundant revenues. The number 1 movie of the weekend also stars British starlet Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia) along with Famke Janssen (Mother in Taken 1 +2). Directed and co-written by Tommy Wirkola whose last theatrical movie was the cult Dead Snow in 2009, that included Nazi Zombies and was a dark-fantasy comedy. H and G falls into the same genre and has also become a hit in Russian theatres. The original tale was written by Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. So Hollywood did not hesitate to transform the innocent children into Witchhunters and give it both a 3-D and IMAX release.
  Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters has commenced with an approximate $20m off $50m and will definitely cross the $50m mark in the States alone. The second new entry Parker was destined to launch at no. 5. There are a number of reasons: Jason Statham hasn't had a good film since Crank 2 except The Expendables 1+2. Other releases like The Transporter 3 and Safe were well below average. So I don't expect much from his latest venture except Jennifer Lopez's presence. But even that did not save it from Box Office doom.
  The last new introduction is made by Movie 43 on the 7th spot. I never even heard of it coming out but it stars the biggest ensemble cast of all time. The list makes The Expendables series look weak in comparison. Sadly, even with such a cast and with a variety of experienced directors, it fell into both critical and commercial mayhem. Rotten Tomatoes has it scored with 4% and my favourite network Chicago Sun-Times giving it a 0 out 4 stars.

  The number in the title might refer to the number of recognised actors in the film. It has a total of 12 different storylines and I hope you can make out the big names in the poster. Movie 43 has grossed $4m from $6m in its opening domestic market. Even with the worldwide gross it won't be a blockbuster. Peter Farrelly of The Farrelly Brothers who've directed big comedy hits such as Dumb and Dumber, and Me, Myself and Irene, has directed two segments. The latter film being one of my favourite comedies of all time starring Jim Carrey. In addition, they directed The Three Stooges in 2011 which was above-average. But every director has his bad film. Maybe it was due to the lack of his brother's assistance that there were such non-optimistic reviews.
  Brett Ratner (Rush Hour series) has also directed a part and actress Elizabeth Banks also directing and starring in one.
  Horror film Mama is at number two and is based on a 2008 Spanish-language feature. The executive producer is Guilermo del Toro known for his obscure visionary works. Critics have praised the movie and it was in the top spot last week, mainly due to the anticipation of many horror fans of del Toro.
  Another interesting fact is that both Mama and Zero Dark Thirty star the pretty Jessica Chastain. Last year Charlize Theron had major roles in two movies that both coincided in the top 5.
  That's all from me folks. Check out the trailer of Zero Dark Thirty below based on the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden. Well, I also acknowledged the actual chase as a flick too.

 

 (Chart by Box Office Mojo)

As any true cowboy flick, it has one or two humorous characters, an innocent heroine and gritty action scenes. Mainly, it has a captivating ...

As any true cowboy flick, it has one or two humorous characters, an innocent heroine and gritty action scenes. Mainly, it has a captivating story which Lawless mostly lacked.
  Directed by John Hillcoat (The Road) with a screenplay by Nick Cave. The plot follows three bootlegging brothers who face opposition from a new deputy in town (Guy Pearce). And Pearce was brilliant as he is always in his selective roles. It had great expectations for this movie after viewing the trailer, as it had been a long time since I'd seen a high-budget horse opera flick. Clint Eastwood's era is still missed. Lawless had material but had no coordination in how to use it. It is based on a historical novel written by Matt Bondurant explaining the moonshining operation in Virginia, and the tale of his grandfather Jack Bondurant (Shia LaBeuof).
  However, there are plus points. The list of fine actors include the previously mentioned LaBeuof and Pearce, along with Gary Oldman from Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy as a renowned gunslinging gangster. The former had not many chances in off-mainstream movies and is best-known for his headlining in the Transformer series. He used to star in the teen comedy series Even Stevens where I became a fan of his. Needless to say, LaBeuof is still good thespian and his latest focus on choosing more determined parts is nice on the ears. He plays the youngest brother with Tom Hardy (Bane in The Dark Knight Rises) is the oldest and a greater unknown Jason Clarke is stuck in the middle. Jessica Chastain plays Hardy's love interest on-screen and sizzles. And #spoiler# she has a sexy nude scene. Dane DeHaan also acted to-the-role in a small capacity. The settings, background and score are brilliant and truly capture the essence of the wild, wild west.
  Still, there is no depth in the storyline. Only a few fights, scared and brave authorities make up the entire follow-through. Even the bootlegging of moonshine is not interestingly showcased. With better screenwriting and better attention to detail, Lawless would have been one of the best western movies of the decade.
  It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 65th Cannes.The film made $53m worldwide off $45m largely because of the mass cinema murder in Colorado last year. As mentioned a handful of times before in my blogposts.

Rotten Tomatoes: 67%.
IMDB: 7.3/10.
BO101: 2/4.

Retribution:    the act of punishing or taking vengeance for wrongdoing, sin, or injury. I solemnly swear to not watch another Resident Ev...

Retribution:  the act of punishing or taking vengeance for wrongdoing, sin, or injury.

I solemnly swear to not watch another Resident Evil flick for the remainder of my critical years. Yes, the movie was that awful. And yes, CGI could not have been more over-used.

   Directed and written by the same Paul W.S. Anderson of the first 3 durable zombie flicks, and the fourth misused 3-D one. Based on the hit Capcom video game series although the franchise is based on 20% of the original storyline. The main character Alice does not even exist in the virtual universe and thus the absurdness. RE: Retribution made over $200m off $65m showing that the loyal fanbases could not stop Evil from spreading Global. It was released in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D.
  It is absurd to term Hollywood as preparing anything with an over $50-budget to proper standards. Retribution is more of a B-movie even with that production cost. It starts with suspenseful action and ends with it. Though the suspense makes no sense. Seriously, after Wrath of the Titans and Men in Black 3 I though the worst-of-2012 was over. But this made a place just below Titans. It seemed as if the Resident Evil screen-world was taking retribution on me for watching the prequels.
  The RE games are about surviving zombies or people affected by the virus made by Umbrella Corporation. Here there is a mix-up of undead figures, CGI, martial arts, horror, nonsense etc. Milla Jovovich cannot escape being typecast because of the high grosses and that the director is her husband. Sure is a marriage of convenience. This film has made me hate her more.
  Most characters from Extinction and Afterlife were not included. Although their absence is explained. Major cast members are from the first 2 flicks with their inclusion being dumbfounded. If there was a prequel to them, those people would've been included. Apart from the start-up scenes, there is no fright left. Why people continue to fill the seats in the theatre is beyond my reasoning. And above-average thriller like Alex Cross are given lower ratings than this. Truly proving that the voters on IMBD are real persons. 
  The only perks of RE: Retribution are some martial art exhibitions that were epic, specially the last fist battles, and some CGI applied well to scenes. The rest is Hollywood introducing such fan favourites like Leon S. Kennedy, Ada Wong from the shooter and raping their virtual existence.
  Anderson has confirmed the sixth part, and a seventh without Jovovich. Sony hopes for a reboot and I hope for a boot to Anderson's rear. There is still life in undead flicks. Check out the trailer for Warm Bodies releasing this February below:



Rotten Tomatoes: 31%.

IMDB: 5.2/10.
BO101: 1/4.