Retro-Active

Remakes take over the box office this weekend--as 2 new wide releases try to take out three-peater Shrek in the battle for the top spot....

Liam Neeson Bradley Cooper Sharlto Copley and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson are The A-Team (reviews) and Jackie Chan teaches Jaden Smith how to Wax on Wax off as The Karate Kid ( reviews) in the remake



Carl DiOrio of THR:

This weekend could put some sizzle back in the summer boxoffice.

Two studio tentpoles hit the marketplace Friday supported by solid interest in tracking polls: Sony's remake of "The Karate Kid," starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and Fox's Joe Carnahan-helmed adaptation of 1980s TV series "The A-Team."

"Kid" could kick up $30 million-$35 million through Sunday, and "A-Team" also ought to assemble at least $30 million. That would make for a one-two boxoffice punch of the sort even rival distributors would applaud if it can rouse the market from an early-season stupor.

Both pics should appeal to family moviegoers, but any audience overlap is mitigated by their respective ratings: "Kid" packs a PG, and "A-Team" is PG-13. One of the two should debut at No. 1.

"Both pictures look solid, and it looks like it could be close," Sony distribution president Rory Bruer said.

Following the Ralph Macchio-Pat Morita original by 26 years, "Kid" has drawn decent early reviews for its use of exotic locations in China. Despite such far-flung shoots, Sony says production costs totaled $40 million.

"Kid" should attract audiences evenly split between males and females, skewing a bit toward the latter.

Recruits to the big-screen "A-Team" include Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. The pic totes a negative cost of at least $95 million.

"It's action adventure with a touch of comedy but nothing campy," Fox distribution president Bruce Snyder said.

Older and younger males should offer core support....

Nicole Sperling of EW:

Can two 1980s reboots save this weekend's box office?

Reviews are mixed for both Team & Kid...And then there's this--Lawyer for Mr. T responds to those Mr. T slams The A-Team--stories in the press

''Mr. T has not seen the film and he did not make the comments attributed to him in several Internet articles''

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Yikes!