Friday, January 25, 2008

"Bo" Knows Box Office?

This weekend marks the cinematic return of Rambo (reviews)...The big question: After a 20 year-long hiatus-Can he pull off a victory over these fellow new releases?...

300 gets spoofed in Meet The Spartans (reviews); Diane Lane goes high tech for the thriller Untraceable (reviews); And the dance drama How She Move (reviews)...

Pamela McClintock and Dave McNary of Variety file: Rambo returns to take on 'Spartans':

...This weekend, Sylvester Stallone hits theaters in the fourth installment in the long-dormant film franchise, simply titled "Rambo." Stallone stars and also directed and co-wrote the R-rated pic, which Lionsgate opens in 2,751 theaters.

Stallone isn't just revisiting his own populist personas -- last year's "Rocky Balboa" made $155 million worldwide -- he's got his sights set on remaking Charles Bronson films, too, with MGM and the actor reviving the "Death Wish" franchise and "The Mechanic."

"Rambo" won't be the only title on the hunt for male moviegoers, although it has a built-in base among older men who grew up on the iconic 1980s franchise and is tracking solidly among younger men intrigued by the retro carnage fest, according to Lionsgate.

Paramount holdover "Cloverfield" nevertheless has a shot at remaining No. 1 in its second frame. Monster pic grossing a record-breaking $46.1 million over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Twentieth Century Fox and New Regency's "300" spoof "Meet the Spartans" also could be a strong contender. The PG-13 movie is tracking well among male teens and boys. "Spartans," from "Epic Movie" directing-writing team Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, opens in 2,605 locations...


Joshua Rich of Entertainment Weekly:

''Cloverfield,'' ''27 Dresses,'' and Sly Stallone's sequel likely will fall prey to the power of the spoof...

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Next Week: The chicks take over the box office as Jessica Alba "sees" the light in the thriller The Eye and Eva Longoria Parker plays dead in the romantic comedy Over Her Dead Body...

Hey, despite feeling under the weather, I forged ahead last night and saw Cloverfield....Watch out for my review soon...

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