Box Office: 'Lone Survivor' Melts Down 'Frozen' as 'Hercules' Flops

1. Lone Survivor- $38.5M/$38.8M
In its third week of release, after an Oscar-qualifying run late last month, Lone Survivor has powered into first place with $38.5M. Hailed in ads as the best war film since Saving Private Ryan, has snagged the second-highest January debut ever, and can lay claim to 2014's first genuine hit.  While this is a nice bounce back for director Peter Berg, this is familiar territory for star Mark Wahlberg, who has been one of the most consistently bankable stars over the last few years. The only real exception was Broken City, which opened around this same time in 2013 and tanked with only $19M for its entire run. It's also a solid return for Taylor Kitsch, who took a crushing hit with duds John Carter, Savages, and Berg's Battleship.  War films of had it rough of late, especially those focusing on the Middle Eastern conflict, but Lone Survivor won over audiences and earned an 'A+' Cinemascore, suggesting this could be sticking around through the desolate January month.
2. Frozen- $15M/$317.6M
At $317M Frozen has now surpassed the original domestic run of 1994's The Lion King, so it's in very good company.
3. The Wolf of Wall Street- $9M/$78.5M
4. The Legend of Hercules- $8.6M
Perhaps it's time for studios to rethink casting Twilight hunks as action heroes? Taylor Lautner failed miserably (at least domestically) with Abduction, and now Kellan Lutz has managed to defeat Hercules in a way his 'Twelve Labors' couldn't. Nobody expected much from The Legend of Hercules, which inexplicably cost $70M but looks worse than an episode of Spartacus, and so it's a wonder that it was ever greenlit in the first place. Lutz isn't a star by any measure, and poor Renny Harlin is still smarting from Cutthroat Island twenty years ago. It currently stands at an embarrassing 2% on Rotten Tomatoes, and only managed a 'B-' Cinemascore so those who saw it weren't really into it. It's always a risky gamble when two similar movies come out within months of one another (see Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down), and audiences may have decided to wait until Dwayne Johnson's Hercules movie comes out.
5. American Hustle- $8.6M/$101.5M
6. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug- $8M/$242.2M
7. August: Osage County- $7.3M/$7.8M
Weinstein is banking on awards buzz for Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts to power August: Osage County as it expands into wider release. The star-studded adaptation of Tracy Letts' hit play got off to a solid start with a sizable $8K per site average, and if those Oscar nominations come next week it should do decent business.
8. Saving Mr. Banks- $6.5M/$68.9M
9. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones- $6.3M/$28.4M
Tumbling 65% after a mediocre debut, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is well on its way to being the lowest-grossing of the franchise.
10. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues- $6.1M/$118.5M

Read More

Cinema Royale #47- 'Lone Survivor'; 'The Legend of Hercules'; Golden Globes Predictions

On this week's show, I'm  joined by the "Cinema Siren" Leslie Combemale to look at Peter Berg's stunning war film, Lone Survivor, starring Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch, and Taylor Kitsch! Plus, from the battlefields of Iraq to the arenas of Greece as we'll also review Kellan Lutz in The Legend of Hercules!

As the race to next week's Oscar nominations continues, I'll take a look at this Sunday's Golden Globes!

You can find Cinema Royale every single week on Blogtalkradio, Itunes, Libsyn, Stitcher, Podomatic, and as part of the Hashtag Studios Broadcast Network.  Listen to the latest episode below...

New Movies Podcasts with Cinema Royale on BlogTalkRadio

Read More

Review: 'The Legend of Hercules' Starring Kellan Lutz

A number of our greatest modern stories have drawn much of their inspiration from the ancient Greek myths, and Hollywood has often adapted those classic tales into many impressive feature films. The tale of Hercules, in particular, is an unforgettable one that sees the son of Zeus embracing his godly lineage in an epic quest full of monsters, jealous deities, and grand adventure. Now that story has been brought to the big screen once more in Renny Harlin's The Legend of Hercules, only with 100% fewer monsters, jealous deities, and grand adventure.

The first train wreck of 2014 is a labor of incompetence not even Hercules' strength can overcome. Directed by Harlin, who has never quite gotten over that whole Cutthroat Island fiasco, the film bears practically no resemblance to the original myths, and is instead a hodge-podge of far superior swords 'n sandals flicks like 300 and Gladiator. The freakishly massive and untalented Kellan Lutz portrays the Greek demigod (although he dresses and acts Roman), who was conceived when the god Zeus ravished his mother Queen Alcmene (Roxanne McKee) like Barbara Hershey being visited by The Entity. Her other son, Iphicles (Liam Garrigan), is a wormy little loser and disappointment to his brutal but immaculately-ripped father King Amphitryon (Scott Adkins). Jealous of his half-brother, Iphicles takes credit for capturing the randomly-appearing Nemean Lion, and gets off by spying on Hercules and the beautiful Princess Hebe. When she is pledged to wed Iphicles, Herc fights back and is banished for his insolence or something.

Much like the script cobbled together by an army of writers, Herc's banishment proves to be a minor inconvenience.  He goes off to war against somebody or other, gets ambushed and defeated, but rather than being killed or held captive, he somehow manages to negotiate his own sale into slavery. Say what? He and squad commander Sotiris (Liam McIntyre) are forced to fight in gladiatorial games, or more accurately "game", and within the span of one battle Hercules is somehow christened the savior of the people. Savior from what? Are the people oppressed? And why would they trust just another gladiator who does nothing to inspire their loyalty?

Short cuts are taken all over the place here, and while it's somewhat understandable in the shoddy special effects (the lion is comically awful), there's no excuse for cutting corners in the narrative. The dialogue isn't just wooden; it's damn near ossified into something that's vaguely Shakespearean recited by people who only occasionally remember to use an accent. Lutz doesn't just make for an uncharismatic hero and romantic lead, but he's outclassed by co-star McIntyre, who has more experience in this arena after starring in TV's Spartacus. He seems to be the only one who gets how this dialogue is supposed to sound, and actually manages to add a little something to a role clearly designed to be forgettable. Lutz may be the "big name" here, but this would have been a better movie if it were McIntyre in the title role, so perhaps he'll get his shot one day.

Harlin, who has fallen so far off the grid he's on the WWE's shortlist of go-to directors, gives the film an ugly, blanched look like a poor man's 300, while nothing can hide how poorly-framed and staged everything is. The battle scenes are dull, punched up with speed ramps, slow motion, and a curious amount of 3D rose petals. By the time Herc starts whipping around his newfound lightning powers, and the final battle comes to a confusing end that comes out of absolutely nowhere, The Legend of Hercules already stinks worse than the Augean Stables.

Read More

'The Legend of Hercules' Advance Screening

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED: WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED SHORTLY
The epic origin of Hercules heads to the big screen like you've never seen it before in The Legend of Hercules, starring Kellan Lutz (Twilight) and directed in 3D by Renny Harlin. The demigod and son of Zeus must use his formidable powers to fight his way back home from exile because of a forbidden love. We're happy to host a free advance screening of The Legend Hercules, held at AMC Georgetown on Thursday January 9th at 7:30pm.

To qualify, you MUST be a fan of Punch Drunk Critics on Facebook,so if you haven't "Liked" us yet please go there and do so now. To enter, simply send an email to punchdrunkcritics@yahoo.com with your name and favorite historical epic. Winners will be selected tomorrow January 7th and emailed a Gofobo link to download an Admit-Two pass to the screening.

Enjoy the show! The Legend of Hercules opens January 10th. 

Read More

Four Clips from 'The Legend of Hercules' Starring Kellan Lutz

Renny Harlin's The Legend of Hercules (formerly Hercules 3D) is right around the corner, and to help pump up one of 2014's early blockbusters (duds?), four new clips have been released. Twilight co-star Kellan Lutz will get his first shot as an action star playing the mythological hero, and he's probably hoping his solo goes a lot better than Taylor Lautner's. Here's the official synopsis:

In the epic origin story The Legend of Hercules, Kellan Lutz stars as the mythical Greek hero – the son of Zeus, a half-god, half-man blessed with extraordinary strength. Betrayed by his stepfather, the King, and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules must use his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom. Through harrowing battles and gladiator-arena death matches, Hercules embarks on a legendary odyssey to overthrow the King and restore peace to the land.

Co-starring Liam McIntyre, Scott Adkins,  Liam Garrigan, Johnathon Schaech, Roxanne McKee, Gaia Weiss and Rade Serbedzija, The Legend of Hercules opens January 10th. Thanks to Omelete for bundling these clips together.

Read More

Kellan Lutz is the Son of Zeus in New 'The Legend of Hercules' Trailer

Moving on from his vampire days in Twilight, Kellan Lutz is now drawing blood the old fashioned way, with sword and spear in The Legend of Hercules. A new trailer for the Renny Harlin-directed mythological flick has been released, with Lutz as the titular hero and son of Zeus. But this won't be Herc embarking on his famous Twelve Labors, instead he's the victim of an evil scheme hatched by his brother the king, and must wage bloody war to gain his freedom and return to the woman he loves.

Expect lots of sweaty, shirtless dudes in tattered loincloths fighting and apparently mud wrestling in crowded arenas. Actually, this looks far better than it has any right to be, and Harlin, who isn't really known for his special effects prowess, appears to have done an admirable job. It all depends on Lutz, though, and he's going to have to do with being compared to Dwayne Johnson, who has his own Hercules film coming out soon after.

Co-starring Liam McIntyre and Scott Adkins, The Legend of Hercules opens in 3D January 10th.


The Legend Of Hercules - Trailer / Bande-Annonce #2 [VO|HD720p] by Team Lyricis

Read More

New Trailer for 'The Legend of Hercules' Starring Kellan Lutz

Perhaps realizing that Hercules: The Legend Begins sounds like it should be starring Kevin Sorbo, Summit Entertainment have taken it upon themselves to give the Kellan Lutz-starring flick a much better title. Now known as The Legend of Hercules, the film has also been bumped up a month to January 10th 2014, and given a brand new trailer to reflect all the recent changes.

Directed by Renny Harlin and co-starring Scott Adkins, Liam McIntyre, Johnathan Schaech, and Roxanne McKee, the film has the titular Greek demigod betrayed and forced into slavery, where he must fight in gladiatorial games to win his freedom. It still looks like a combination of Spartacus and Gladiator, which is a good thing, even if the effects are a little shaky. Could be a solid role for Lutz and the next major step in building Lutz into a genuine action star, as he's also got The Expendables 3 coming up soon. Check out the latest trailer below...

Read More