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Entries in Push (9)

Sunday
08Mar2009

Commentary: February '09 a weak movie month

January '09 was a pretty disappointing month as far as new movie releases were concerned, but February wasn't that brilliant either. On the contrary: the number (and quality) of wide releases dropped sharply compared to last year.

Let's take a brief look at what ruled and what really sucked in February 2009:

THE BAD

February didn't start well this year. One of the first films I saw was the totally unnecessary "The Pink Panther 2," an atrocity of a movie. After seeing the first one, I really hoped they wouldn't go there again, but that's exactly what happened, and the result is cheap, lousy and plain embarrassing.

On that same weekend I also saw Ken Kwapis' comedy "He's Just Not That Into You," a film I looked forward too because I really liked what I saw in the trailer and TV spots.

Click to read more ...

Sunday
15Feb2009

Box Office: 'Friday the 13th' reigns with $42M

Weekend of February 13 – 15, 2009

Friday the 13th” slashed its competition at the top of the North American box office with a whopping $42.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Marcus Nispel’s remake of the 1980 horror flick follows Jason Voorhees as he brutally murders everyone daring to enter his territory at Camp Crystal Lake. The film was produced on a $19 million budget.

Things didn’t look that great for this weekend’s two other wide releases. P.J. Hogan’s “Confessions of a Shopaholic” debuted only at No. 4, pulling in $15.4 million. Based on the books by Sophie Kinsella, the film follows Isla Fisher as a journalist struggling to get control of her debt.

Meanwhile, Tom Tykwer’s thriller “The International” finished in seventh place, collecting only $10 million. Starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, the movie focuses on an Interpol agent and a NY district attorney trying to bring down a corrupt bank.

Click to read more ...

Sunday
08Feb2009

Box Office: ‘Into You’ finds love at No. 1 spot

Weekend of February 6 – 8, 2009

Ken Kwapis’ comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You” topped the North American box office this weekend with an estimated $27.4 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Featuring an all-star cast including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Scarlett Johansson and Ginnifer Goodwin, the film follows a bunch of adults discovering new truths about dating and married life.

Still going strong in second place was Pierre Morel’s thriller “Taken,” which reached a total haul of $53.3 million after weekend earnings of $20.3 million. Liam Neeson stars as a protective father hunting down those responsible for his daughter’s kidnapping.

Debuting at No. 3 with $16.3 million was Henry Selick’s 3D stop-motion adventure “Coraline.” Based on the book by Neil Gaiman, the film follows a curious girl who discovers a door to a parallel reality in her new home.

Click to read more ...

Sunday
08Feb2009

Mini Movie Review: “Push”

Seen on: February 7, 2009

The players: Director: Paul McGuigan, Writer: David Bourla, Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Cliff Curtis, Djimon Hounsou

Facts of interest: McGuigan also directed "Wicker Park."

The plot: Three individuals with special powers are on the run from a ruthless government agency with evil intentions.

Our quick thoughts: In Paul McGuigan’s sci-fi thriller “Push,” three individuals with great powers are on the run from a ruthless government agency trying to capture and turn them into deadly weapons. But what sounds like a film filled with awesome action and suspense is in reality not as captivating as I originally thought.

Click to read more ...

Saturday
07Feb2009

'He's Just Not That Into You' takes box office lead

Ken Kwapis' latest comedy "He's Just Not That Into You" topped the North American box office Friday with an estimated $10.5 million in ticket sales.

Featuring a cast including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin and Scarlett Johansson, the film follows a bunch of individuals discovering new truths about dating and married life.

At No. 2, Pierre Morel's thriller "Taken" scored another $6.3 million, lifting its total haul to $39.3 million after one week in theaters. Following in third place with $4.5 million was Henry Selick's 3D stop-motion adventure "Coraline," based on the book by Neil Gaiman.

Meanwhile, new entry "Push" debuted at No. 4 with $3.5 million, beating "The Pink Panther 2," which only made it to fifth place with $3.3 million. The latter stars Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau, who's on a mission to find a thief and retrieve the stolen Pink Panther diamond.

Other results from Friday's box office: "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" takes No. 6 with $2.7 million, while "The Uninvited" pulled $2.1 million in seventh place. Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" finished at No. 8 with $1.9 million.

Source: Box Office Mojo (www.boxofficemojo.com)

Friday
06Feb2009

'Push' web reviews

In Paul McGuigan's action flick "Push," three individuals with supernatural abilities are on the run from a ruthless government agency. Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans, Camilla Belle and Djimon Hounsou star. Here is what online's critics have to say about it:

• Ron Henriques at LatinoReview: "There are double-crosses, continuous plot turns and even the notion that every step of the plan against the villains was devised long before our heroes were born, but none of it is powerful enough to hold interest."

• Matt Goldberg at Collider: "'Push' loves its world of special powers in the big Hong Kong landscape but it doesn't love those powers or the characters that using them."

• Brad Brevet at RopeOfSilicon: "Director Paul McGuigan did all he could with the limited budget using camera effects, flashy editing and a few effects here and there to make this film seem like it was bigger than it really is, but in the end it is all for naught."

Joblo's JimmyO: "The script by David Bourla is fine. While I think this is one of the rare times they could of simplified the plot a little, it certainly is better than 'Jumper.'"

Cinematical's Jeffrey M. Anderson: "This is his sixth feature, and he has stepped up a notch; he has learned to be spontaneous, to use instinct and to use the things around him for additional weight and depth."

• Josh Tyler at CinemaBlend: "So maybe a blah script leaves it to end with a whimper instead of a bang, there’s still plenty to like about Push."

Monday
02Feb2009

This week's new movie releases - Feb. 6, 2009

I can only hope this week of new movie releases will turn out better than the last, and at this stage, things look pretty good. This week's releases are: Henry Selick's "Coraline," Paul McGuigan's "Push," Ken Kwapis' "He's Just Not That Into You" and Harald Zwart's "The Pink Panther 2."

CORALINE

Synopsis: Coraline Jones is bored in her new home until she finds a secret door and discovers an alternate version of her life on the other side. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life and the people in it – only much better. But when this seemingly perfect world turns dangerous, and her other parents try to trap her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination and bravery to escape this increasingly perilous world – and save her family.

Click to read more ...

Tuesday
23Dec2008

New posters for 'Push,' 'Land of the Lost,' 'Fast & Furious

Here are three new posters from a bunch of more or less anticipated movies that will open in 2009.

The first one after the jump is the latest one-sheet for Paul McGuigan's upcoming sci-fi thriller "Push," a film I am particularly looking forward to. Think of it as a big-screen version of "Heroes." Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans and Camilla Belle star.

Next up is the first teaser poster for Justin Lin's "Fast & Furious," which reunites Vin Diesel and Paul Walker on the big screen. Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster are back as well. (via MTV)

Finally, check out the new poster for Will Ferrell's upcoming adventure comedy "Land of the Lost," about a ranger who ends up in a mysterious land inhabited by weird creatures. (via Cinematical)

"Lost" opens in theaters June 5, while "Fast & Furious" debuts April 3. As for "Push," it opens Feb. 6. Enjoy!

Click to read more ...

Sunday
19Oct2008

Trailer radar: 'Push'

Here's something cool to watch out for: Paul McGuigan's upcoming sci-fi action flick "Push," about a group of people with extraordinary abilities.

Chris Evans can move objects with his mind, Dakota Fanning can see the future, and Camilla Belle can read people's thoughts. Unfortunately, these unique individuals are followed by Division, an organization that plans to turn them into war machines.

The plot sounds cool, the footage in the trailer looks great, and I can't wait to see how the whole thing turns out. I know it sounds like an episode of "Heroes" for the big screen, but this could have the potential to entertain big time.

Check out the trailer right after the jump. By the way, McGuigan also directed "Lucky Number Slevin."

Click to read more ...