Archive for August, 2012

‘Watchmen: Collector’s Edition’ set announced

Friday, August 31st, 2012

Watchmen: Collector’s Edition has been announced by Warner Home Video.

The set includes the Ultimate Cut of the movie on Blu-ray and a hardcover edition of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s original graphic novel.

Extras include hours of bonus material, the Watchmen motion comic, and a collectible lenticular packaging.

Directed by Zack Snyder, Watchmen was released in cinemas in 2009. The film stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a group of masked vigilantes in an alternate 1985.

DC Comics launched a prequel comic book series to Moore and Gibbons’s iconic work earlier this year, sparking controversy among sections of the industry.

Watchmen: Collector’s Edition launches in the US on November 13 with a recommended retail price of $74.98. A UK release is yet to be confirmed.

‘The Expendables 2’ holds on to top of US box office

Sunday, August 26th, 2012

The Expendables 2 has remained top of the US box office for a second week.

The action blockbuster starring Sylvester Stallone took in a further $13.5 million in its second weekend at cinemas.

It held off the challenge from The Bourne Legacy, which amassed takings of $9.3m.

ParaNorman held steady at three, followed by The Campaign at four. The Dark Knight Rises climbed back one place into the top five.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green climbed one spot to six, while Premium Rush was the highest new entry at seven, with takings of $6.3m.

Anti-Barack Obama documentary 2016: Obama’s America climbed five places into the top ten at eight with a gross of $6.23m.

Hope Springs fell a place to nine, while Dax Shephard comedy Hit and Run entered at ten with $4.67m.

The US box office top ten:
1.
(1) The Expendables 2 – $13.5 million
2. (2) The Bourne Legacy – $9.3 million
3. (3) ParaNorman – $8.54 million
4. (4) The Campaign – $7.44 million
5. (6) The Dark Knight Rises – $7.15 million
6. (7) The Odd Life of Timothy Green – $7.12 million
7. (-) Premium Rush – $6.3 million
8. (13) 2016: Obama’s America – $6.23 million
9. (8) Hope Springs – $6 million
10. (-) Hit and Run – $4.67 million

Kinect gets price drop in North America

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

Microsoft has announced a price cut for the Kinect sensor.

The cost of a Kinect has dropped to $109.99 from its original price of $149.99.

The new price will go into effect starting today for North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. It will then extend to Australia and New Zealand on October 4.

Microsoft added that there are currently no plans for a change in price for Kinect in Europe or Japan.

Rumours suggest that Microsoft is planning an upgraded Kinect 2 for its next Xbox console. Kinect 2.0 is said to feature improved tracking and dedicated processing, and come with better play space and high definition.

‘Top Gun’ director Tony Scott dead at 68 after jumping off bridge

Monday, August 20th, 2012

Director Tony Scott has died after jumping off a bridge in Los Angeles.

The Top Gun helmer, and the brother of Sir Ridley Scott, threw himself off the Vincent Thomas Bridge at around 12.30pm on Sunday in an apparent suicide, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

The US Coast Guard said that a suicide note was found inside the 68-year-old’s car, parked on one of the eastbound lanes of the bridge, reports the Daily Breeze.

The Vincent Thomas Bridge spans San Pedro and Terminal Island and rises 185 feet at its highest point above the water.

Authorities used sonar equipment to find Tony’s body in the murky waters, after eyewitnesses reported a man jumping off the bridge. His body was recovered by a dive team at roughly 4.30pm.

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‘Expendables 2’ tops US box office

Monday, August 20th, 2012

The Expendables 2 has debuted at number one on the US box office.

The Sylvester Stallone movie opened with weekend sales of $28.8 million, compared with the $34.8 million start for The Expendables two years ago.

The Bourne Legacy fell to number two in its second weekend in theatres, earning $17 million – a 55% drop on its $38.1 million opening weekend.

Sparkle, which stars American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston, debuted at number five having sold $12 million in tickets this weekend.

Elsewhere, ParaNorman is at number three with sales of $14 million, while The Odd Life of Timothy Green earned $10.9 million in its opening weekend.

The US box office top ten:
1. (-) The Expendables 2 – $28.8 million
2. (1) The Bourne Legacy – $17 million
3. (-) ParaNorman – $14 million
4. (2) The Campaign – $13.4 million
5. (-) Sparkle – $12 million
6. (3) The Dark Knight Rises -$11.1 million
7. (-) The Odd Life of Timothy Green – $10.9 million
8. (4) Hope Springs – $9.1 million
9. (6) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days – $3.9 million
10. (5) Total Recall – $3.5 million

Marvel announces ‘The Avengers 2’ release date as May 1, 2015

Friday, August 17th, 2012

Marvel has officially set a release date for The Avengers 2.

Reports emerged last week suggesting that the film had been tentatively scheduled for a May 2015 release.

The studio has now confirmed those reports, saying in a statement: “The Walt Disney Studios has announced a release date for Marvel Studios’ sequel to the biggest superhero blockbuster and third highest-grossing film of all time, Marvel’s The Avengers.

“Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the untitled Marvel’s Avengers sequel, set for release [on] May 1, 2015.”

The first film earned a record-breaking $200 million at the US box office over the course of its opening weekend.

The majority of the cast, including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans, are also expected to return for the sequel.

‘The Bourne Legacy’ beats ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ at US box office

Monday, August 13th, 2012

The Bourne Legacy has topped the US box office on its first weekend on release.

The Bourne sequel, which sees Jeremy Renner take over the franchise from Matt Damon, pulls in an impressive $40 million to emerge as the number one movie ahead of Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis’s political comedy The Campaign and The Dark Knight Rises.

Bourne Legacy‘s opening sits between the $27 million earned by Bourne Identity in 2002 and its sequel Bourne Supremacy‘s $52.5 million haul in 2004. The last instalment, The Bourne Ultimatum, grossed $69 million in August 2007.

Hope Springs, the romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, debuts at number four, while Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days completes the top five.

Last week’s chart-topper Total Recall slides down four places to six after experiencing a 68% dip in second-week ticket sales.

The US box office top ten in full (weekend estimates):
1. (-) The Bourne Legacy – $40,265,000
2. (-) The Campaign – $27,440,000
3. (1) The Dark Knight Rises – $19,540,000
4. (-) Hope Springs – $15,600,000
5. (3) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days – $8,200,000
6. (2) Total Recall – $8,100,000
7. (4) Ice Age 4: Continental Drift – $6,750,000
8. (6) Ted – $3,290,000
9. (7) Step Up Revolution – $2,850,000
10. (5) The Watch – $2,200,000

Ohio man arrested for bringing gun and knives to Dark Knight Rises screening…

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

An Ohio man has reportedly been arrested for bringing several weapons to a screening of The Dark Knight Rises.

The unnamed man was picked up by police on Saturday (August 3) after being spotted carrying a satchel by a cinema manager, according to The Plain Dealer.

An off-duty police officer and the cinema manager searched the man’s satchel and found a gun, two magazines and multiple knives.

Police issued a search warrant following an investigation and eventually arrested the man on Monday evening (August 6), with charges pending.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ retains US box office crown

Sunday, August 5th, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises has remained at the top of the US box office.

The Batman movie earned $36.4 million for its third straight weekend at number one, taking its domestic total to $354.1 million.

The Total Recall remake, which stars Colin Farrell, opened at number two with first weekend takings of $26 million.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days debuted at number three on the US box office with ticket sales of $14.7 million.

Meanwhile, Ted‘s total takings have crossed the $200 million mark, while The Amazing Spider-Man has hit domestic sales of $250 million.

The US box office in full:
1. (1) The Dark Knight Rises – $36.4 million
2. (-) Total Recall – $26 million
3. (-) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days – $14.7 million
4. (2) Ice Age: Continental Drift – $8.4 million
5. (3) The Watch – $6.4 million
6. (5) Ted – $5.5 million
7. (4) Step Up Revolution – $5.3 million
8. (6) The Amazing Spider-Man – $4.3 million
9. (7) Brave – $2.9 million
10. (8) Magic Mike – $1.4 million