The Raven is a fictional account of the last days of American writer/poet Edgar Allan Poe's life. And after watching this movie you won&...
The Raven review
The Raven made a little above $22m below its budget of $26m worldwide. But it should've grossed more given that it is one of the four mainstream horror features to be released this year, and a decent one. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin), and written by Ben Livingston along with Hannah Shakespeare. Poe's life couldn't be more action-orientated than depicted.
Sure there are good points to swallow before realising you ate that whole bag of popcorn at half-time. It starts quite well and mysteriously. Detective Fields played by Luke Evans is a fun character and has enough charm to convince the audience that he can convince an egoistic author to aid in a murder investigation. But seriously, if there was Sherlock Holmes he would've solved the case in the first hour. The film follows Poe aiding in a murder investigation (as already mentioned) in which the killer is copying killings depicted in the respective story-teller's tales.
Apart from John Cusack (Poe) and Luke Evans, British blonde Alice Eve plays Poe's love interest. She's OK at it. Dialogues are literary as expected and dialogue delivery especially by Cusack is top notch. Also, the atmosphere is so stunning and with such finely tuned atmosphere that it is worth praise. Direction is praise-worthy as McTeigue made his two previous films so wonderfully gruesome.
The main core of the problem is the screenwriting. After the first hour, the film becomes a bit too predictable. Huge number of plotholes that I cannot mention seem to have been blindly added by the script-writers. Another point to mention is that better policework should've been included in Baltimore in the mid-1800s as shown in the film.
All in all, The Raven is an above average thriller with a few action scenes to keep the adrenaline pumping, or in this case, start up the tempo. After reading the plot mystery fans would be highly interested to see this but I was disappointed. Seems the movie could not balance action and mystery as well as the first 21st century Sherlock Holmes film did. The Raven could've earned more if Cusack was a brand name like Nicolas Cage (in his golden box-office days). Sadly, after starring in well-known movies such as 2012 and 1408 - both in which he plays authors - this film couldn't double its budget.
IMDB: 6.4/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 56%.
BO101: 2.5/4.
TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week # 1 1 The Dark Knight ...
US box office weekend July 27-29
TW | LW | Title (click to view) | Studio | Weekend Gross | % Change | Theater Count /Change | Average | Total Gross | Budget* | Week # | |
1 | 1 | The Dark Knight Rises | WB | $62,101,451 | -61.4% | 4,404 | - | $14,101 | $287,112,810 | $250 | 2 |
2 | 2 | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Fox | $13,352,646 | -34.6% | 3,869 | -17 | $3,451 | $114,899,860 | - | 3 |
3 | N | The Watch | Fox | $12,750,297 | - | 3,168 | - | $4,025 | $12,750,297 | $68 | 1 |
4 | N | Step Up Revolution | Sum. | $11,731,708 | - | 2,567 | - | $4,570 | $11,731,708 | $33 | 1 |
5 | 4 | Ted | Uni. | $7,353,150 | -26.6% | 3,129 | -85 | $2,350 | $193,618,750 | $50 | 5 |
6 | 3 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Sony | $6,701,111 | -38.4% | 3,160 | -593 | $2,121 | $241,953,721 | $230 | 4 |
7 | 5 | Brave | BV | $4,305,153 | -28.5% | 2,551 | -348 | $1,688 | $217,329,672 | $185 | 6 |
8 | 6 | Magic Mike | WB | $2,619,128 | -39.0% | 2,075 | -531 | $1,262 | $107,625,983 | $7 | 5 |
9 | 7 | Savages (2012) | Uni. | $1,838,215 | -45.9% | 1,414 | -922 | $1,300 | $43,983,785 | $45 | 4 |
10 | 9 | Moonrise Kingdom | Focus | $1,434,904 | -21.7% | 853 | -42 | $1,682 | $38,641,403 | $16 | 10 |
The Dark Knight Rises although at no. 1 in its 2nd week and likely to hold that position for many weeks to come. Dark Knight 2 has also outgrossed its budget in the States with just over $287m off $250m. Worldwide the cumulative has surmounted to $337.1m. Sadly, this 3rd feature in the 21st century Batman series would've earned more than its predecessor had it not been for the highly covered midnight showing murders in Colorado...
Christian Bale visited the injured victims out there and I wish them all the best, but now it's time for more box office showcasing than international news. Another surprise is Step Up Revolution's opening. The 4th in the dance-movie series. I'm not surprised as it was not promoted by Walt Disney and has a debut director. Apart from Adam Sevani who played teenage-prodigy dance star in the previous 2 films, the new cast is not so well-known. Sure they gave a lead role to contemporary shaker Kathryn McCormick who took part in the US show So You Think You Can Dance, but alas Disney should've been involved. And so instead of being at the 2nd spot this week it lands at no. 4 (ironic as it is the 4th part) with Ice Age: Continental Drift having attained the 2nd spot in 3 weeks.
At number three there's a new opening and that is The Watch. Frankly, I never heard of this movie opening in July. But landing in front of Step Up 4 could be due to the star comedy cast (Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill). The film follows suburban dads trying to defend the earth from an alien invasion. I'm a fan of Ben Stiller and a huge one of Hill but the 15% approval rate from Rotten Tomatoes critics is depressing. Still, I'll catch this on DVD for sure. The director Akiva Schaffer holds his second feature (he previously directed teen-com Hot Rod in 2007). Renowned US comic actor co-wrote this with Jared Stern and veteran screenwriter Evan Goldberg.
The Amazing Spider-Man just outgrosses its US budget with $241m off $230m. Globally it has a $654.6m and will not gross $1b still being the 3rd highest grosser of 2012, and one of the highest-amounting reboots of all time. Still it was not as financially successful as its predecessors although being generally aimed at the teenage audience, this has caught me at surprise. Spider-Man grossed $821m, the 2nd and 3rd both high above $700m. Also considering the first two having lesser budgets than the reboot and the 3rd having a meagerly higher production cost of $258m.
Spider-Man 3 is still Mavel's 2nd most materially successful movie to date, The Avengers, of course, at 1st. And so that's mostly all for this weekend. August 3 is the US release date for Total Recall, Aug 10 for The Bourne Legacy and The Expendables 2 at Aug 17. So expect an adrenaline-packed August people.
Here's the HD trailer for The Watch:
1 N Ice Age: Continental Drift Fox $46,629,259 - 3,881 - $12,015 $46,629,259 - 1 2 1 The Amazing Spider-Man Sony $34,628,104 -44.2% 4,318...
US box office July 13-15 weekend
1 | N | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Fox | $46,629,259 | - | 3,881 | - | $12,015 | $46,629,259 | - | 1 |
2 | 1 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Sony | $34,628,104 | -44.2% | 4,318 | - | $8,019 | $200,500,351 | $230 | 2 |
3 | 2 | Ted | Uni. | $22,410,855 | -30.4% | 3,303 | +47 | $6,785 | $159,257,250 | $50 | 3 |
4 | 3 | Brave | BV | $11,160,522 | -43.1% | 3,392 | -499 | $3,290 | $196,061,319 | $185 | 4 |
5 | 4 | Savages (2012) | Uni. | $9,393,840 | -41.4% | 2,635 | +7 | $3,565 | $32,125,290 | $45 | 2 |
6 | 5 | Magic Mike | WB | $9,021,123 | -42.3% | 3,090 | -30 | $2,919 | $91,841,198 | $7 | 3 |
7 | 6 | Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection | LGF | $5,584,027 | -45.1% | 2,004 | -157 | $2,786 | $55,611,721 | $20 | 3 |
8 | 8 | Katy Perry: Part of Me | Par. | $3,800,607 | -46.8% | 2,732 | +2 | $1,391 | $18,653,544 | $12 | 2 |
9 | 9 | Moonrise Kingdom | Focus | $3,704,507 | -18.0% | 924 | +40 | $4,009 | $32,483,002 | $16 | 8 |
10 | 7 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | P/DW | $3,669,675 | -51.2% | 2,285 | -576 | $1,606 | $203,901,397 | $145 | 6 |
TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week # 1 N Ted Uni. $54,415,...
US box office June 29-July 1 weekend
TW | LW | Title (click to view) | Studio | Weekend Gross | % Change | Theater Count /Change | Average | Total Gross | Budget* | Week # | |
1 | N | Ted | Uni. | $54,415,205 | - | 3,239 | - | $16,800 | $54,415,205 | $50 | 1 |
2 | N | Magic Mike | WB | $39,127,170 | - | 2,930 | - | $13,354 | $39,127,170 | $7 | 1 |
3 | 1 | Brave | BV | $34,094,643 | -48.6% | 4,164 | - | $8,188 | $131,768,334 | $185 | 2 |
4 | N | Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection | LGF | $25,390,575 | - | 2,161 | - | $11,749 | $25,390,575 | $20 | 1 |
5 | 2 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | P/DW | $11,840,276 | -39.9% | 3,715 | -205 | $3,187 | $180,036,798 | $145 | 4 |
6 | 3 | Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter | Fox | $6,009,612 | -63.1% | 3,109 | +1 | $1,933 | $29,043,805 | $69 | 2 |
7 | 11 | Moonrise Kingdom | Focus | $4,926,837 | +45.1% | 854 | +459 | $5,769 | $18,465,954 | $16 | 6 |
8 | 4 | Prometheus | Fox | $4,921,254 | -50.3% | 1,951 | -911 | $2,522 | $118,258,102 | $130 | 4 |
9 | 5 | Snow White and the Huntsman | Uni. | $4,498,725 | -44.4% | 2,337 | -582 | $1,925 | $145,684,645 | $170 | 5 |
10 | 8 | Marvel's The Avengers | BV | $4,421,671 | -38.4% | 1,757 | -473 | $2,517 | $606,504,744 | $220 | 9 |
Prometheus will cover its budget in the States by 2 more weeks but it's likely to exit by the latter week as two biggies are about to finalise their entries. Brave has already made $156.1m worldwide off a budget of $185m and hasn't been so successful overseas. Marvel's The Avengers sees its exit next weekend after staying 9 whole weeks in the top 10. Salute!
In global news, Ice Age 4: Continental Drift opened at $80.1m and The Amazing Spider-Man opened at $51.1m respectively. It is disappointing that the latter film comprising of a superhero favoured by kids and adults alike tastes dirt by an animated feature. But Ice Age isn't just any animated franchise being one of the most profitable of its kind. In Inda the Spider-Man reboot has boasted the highest-grossing entrant in the theatres with $6.0m and reports indicate it already outpacing Marvel's The Avengers. This is not surprising as the venture also consists of renowned non-mainstream actor Irrfan Khan.
Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 declaring it better than the original version and the 2nd best Spider-Man film after Spider-Man 2. So with this sorta critical reaction I am bound to watch this one (on Blu-ray to be precise).
When remakes weren't enough reboots started. There are many extraordinary saviours in the comic-book world similarly for Marvel and DC. Films based on characters like Deadpool should've been released by now. That's Hollywood for you...
The 3rd new entrance this weekend is Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection. It is the seventh in the franchise and surpassed its budget in the States with $25m on debut on a budget of just $20m. Witness Protection is also the first in the franchise not to be based on play. WP stars the man in the title himself Perry, along with well-known Eugene Levy (American Pie series) and Denise Richards (famous in this case for being previously married to Charlie Sheen).
So we end this worldwide film fiesta analysis with Ted's trailer. Rock of Ages has flopped both in the States and overseas and despite being original (a rock musical) and a Tom Cruise starrer this shows that animated features, and comic-based movies are winning audiences more than ever. The Amazing Spider-Man will top the US next week with a forecast $70-$90m opening as by BO101.
(Chart by Box Office Mojo)
I remember watching Sir Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) on the tele a few years back thinking it was a 90's release. Yes, the film is th...
Prometheus (2012) Review
The sci-fi venture is made by the same director mentioned above. With a screenplay by Jon Spaihts (2011's The Darkest Hour) and Damon Lindelof (Lost TV series writer). Alien was written by the late Dan O'Bannon and it's a mournful that he is no longer with the desolate H-wood industry. But the designs were influenced by still-alive H.R. Giger who is the creator of the original Alien treatment. This time around Arthur Max led the production design and in respect to this era, he has outdone himself. Max has won two Academy Awards for Gladiator and American Gangster.
Scott's latest feature is brilliant. The plot is far from simple: a group of explorers must find the clues to the beginning of mankind in the darkest corners of the universe. Set in the late 21st century Prometheus delivers what the trailer promises.
Furthermore, the acting is better than included in Serenity. Believe me the only good point of Whedon's first feature-film was the role-playing. The thespians in Prometheus showed their full acting prowess. If this were a Broadway play it would've won hearts by the cast alone. Michael Fassbender has already garnered universal critical/commercial acclaim for his role as a cyborg - wonder if he actually is one. Fassbender is a fine actor acting such charisma in movies where there was non (X-Men: First Class, Haywire). My fav. critic Roger Ebert commented that Idris Elba (Thor, Ghost Rider 2) acted the best. I rate Fassbender above all but all are worth mentioning. Noomi Rapace (Sherlock Holmes 2) showed immense female impact in her performance and Charlize Theron showed why her comeback matters. Logan Marshall-Green did well too for a largely unknown actor. And I just have to concur that the dreary scenery was out of this world.
Scott is perfect at timing. Action and horror scenes occur when least expected. Also, they really get to you. The moods of the characters complement well with the type of scenes depicted. Conversation is 2nd best to Marvel's The Avengers. Characterisation is top-notch and applause to the writers for no stereotyping.
However, there are notable cons. Unlike Alien, the film is not intended for every R-rated viewer. To be blunt, Prometheus is slow in the beginning and in most parts of its entire running time. Alien also had the same features like horror, action and suspense in one. But Prometheus being more of an exploration film doe snot fully extend the adrenaline rush like Scott's legend. Though it does lure the audience into the suspenseful world of the filmmaker but it should've been spent more time exploiting the dark areas in thriller-mode. So Prometheus is not a thriller/mystery for everybody like Inception or the two Sherlock Holmes features. It is more of Nolan's The Prestige and to some extent Shutter Island (not a recommendation).
Prometheus' earnings have been mentioned in my earlier post. And they are about my estimates. Though it should've done better financially speaking. Watchers with a high threshold for slow thrillers should definitely check this out.
The following justifies its outlook to every type of theatre-goer. Prometheus classifies as a sci-fi mystery in contrast to sci-fi thriller (Alien), or sci-fi horror (The Thing, 1982 of course).
RT: 73%.
IMDB: 7.6/10.
BO101: 2.5/4.
BO101 sci-fi rank: 3rd after The Thing 1982 and Alien.
TW LW Title (click to view) Studio Weekend Gross % Change Theater Count / Change Average Total Gross Budget* Week # 1 N Brave BV $66,32...
US box office June 22-24 weekend
TW | LW | Title (click to view) | Studio | Weekend Gross | % Change | Theater Count /Change | Average | Total Gross | Budget* | Week # | |
1 | N | Brave | BV | $66,323,594 | - | 4,164 | - | $15,928 | $66,323,594 | $185 | 1 |
2 | 1 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | P/DW | $19,712,315 | -42.1% | 3,920 | -343 | $5,029 | $157,086,037 | $145 | 3 |
3 | N | Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter | Fox | $16,306,974 | - | 3,108 | - | $5,247 | $16,306,974 | $69 | 1 |
4 | 2 | Prometheus | Fox | $9,905,670 | -52.2% | 2,862 | -580 | $3,461 | $108,452,350 | $130 | 3 |
5 | 5 | Snow White and the Huntsman | Uni. | $8,085,630 | -39.0% | 2,919 | -782 | $2,770 | $137,128,350 | $170 | 4 |
6 | 3 | Rock of Ages | WB (NL) | $7,655,377 | -47.0% | 3,470 | - | $2,206 | $28,418,621 | $75 | 2 |
7 | 4 | That's My Boy | Sony | $7,630,411 | -43.3% | 3,030 | - | $2,518 | $27,910,794 | $70 | 2 |
8 | 7 | Marvel's The Avengers | BV | $7,177,661 | -19.4% | 2,230 | -352 | $3,219 | $598,425,442 | $220 | 8 |
9 | 6 | MIB 3 | Sony | $5,726,756 | -43.0% | 2,462 | -673 | $2,326 | $163,465,707 | $225 | 5 |
10 | N | Seeking a Friend for the End of the World | Focus | $3,822,803 | - | 1,625 | - | $2,352 | $3,822,803 | $10 | 1 |
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens at 3 and I'm surprised this wasn't distributed by LionsGate as this is in their element. It stars Benjamin Walker. Dominic Cooper and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (The Thing 2011) in the main roles. It's directed by Wanted filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov - and produced by Tim Burton (director of Sweeney Todd, Dark Shadows,etc.), based on the 2010 novel of the same name, and the adapted screenplay the same author Seth Grahame-Smith. And I'm not looking that forward to this one. It seems overrated by the teaser. 37% is the Rotten Tomatoes score and I don't seem surprised. Nicolas Cage was considered for the lead but Fox is lucky he didn't make it. Nic shouldn't get an act based on a great historical figure until his movie earnings match the criteria.
As predicted, by next The Avengers will gross $600m in the US alone. The superhero venture is already the 3rd highest grosser of all time and should be first in my book. James Cameron is overvalued.
Adam Sandler's That's My Boy has become a flop comedy. And will definitely not even reach its $70m budget in the States. MiB 3 has grossed above $150m in American and has made a figure of $577m meeting above my expectation of $500m. And it has grossed above MiB2 and will eventually outdo the first part in universal earnings by the end of its theatrical run.
Animated features always cover the top 3 spots of the US BO. So unless you have a film like The Avengers it's useless to compete. Even Tom Cruise couldn't beat Madagascar from the top spot. Same disappointment for Sir Ridley Scott's Prometheus. It has made $260.1 million globally as of 25 June. It broke pre-sales records for the London IMAX. And a personal review will be COMING SOON.
Roger Ebert, an American top critic and my favourite, has given the sci-fi film 4 out of 4 stars: ''magnificent... blend of story, special effects, and pitch-perfect casting, filmed in sane, effective 3-D that doesn't distract''.
His favorite performance was by Idris Elba.
In other news, The Amazing Spider-man releases July 3 in the States and will no doubt straight to numero uno. Another new entry this weekend at the 10th spot, is the comedy-drama Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring well-known comedian Steve Carrell and UK beauty Keira Knightley.
Below is the trailer for Step Up Revolution, the 4th in the series, produced by the previous part's director John Chu and directed by Scott Speer in his debut. Adam G. Sevani the superb teenage dancer revives his role as Moose. Releasing July 27 in USA and 10th August in the UK. I am looking forward to this one in 3-D:
(Chart by Box Office Mojo)