How to Spend $20
By Eric Hughes
June 1, 2010
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Pick of the Week
For people who like it when Johnny Depp speaks in a ridiculous accent: Alice in Wonderland
To say Alice in Wonderland exceeded box office expectations over its opening weekend is a bit of an understatement. The forecast here on Box Office Prophets, for example, was off by 50%. (But no worries, we weren’t alone in that respect). In three days, the Tim Burton-directed flick earned a staggering $116.1 million, securing it seventh place on the all-time list of biggest weekends at the box office.
I think the take home message with Alice is that a majority of people at this point in time really frickin’ love 3D. The format has hit some snags recently, most notably in Shrek 4’s soft opening about a week ago. But, if a studio pumps out what looks to be at least decent to good entertainment, a sizable audience will follow.
In Alice’s case, it was the promise of another great movie from Team Burton/Depp. The duo has done so much together over the courses of their respective careers it’s downright disgusting. Even I, a moviegoer who considers 3D gimmicky and overpriced, was pretty excited to see what Burton had in store with his re-imagining of a classic tale. I think I may have seen the movie within its first week of setting up shop at the box office.
I left the theater with an overwhelming feeling of disappointment. All I can remember is that by the time Depp’s Mad Hatter did that stupid dance number for no apparent reason whatsoever, I asked myself: “Eric, wtf did you just spend $12 on?”
Maybe my beef is with the story of Alice in Wonderland itself. I mean, from an artistic standpoint, the film is gorgeous. (If, of course, green screens are your bag). I just never felt that engaged with the story Burton was trying to tell.
Disc includes: The Mad Hatter featurette, Finding Alice featurette, Effecting Wonderland featurette
For people who know exactly what Burn Notice is, thank you very much: Burn Notice - Season Three
"When you're burned, you've got nothing: no cash, no credit, no job history. You're stuck in whatever city they decide to dump you in. You do whatever work comes your way. You rely on anyone who's still talking to you. A trigger-happy ex-girlfriend, an old friend who used to inform on you to the FBI. Family, too…if you're desperate. Bottom line? Until you figure out who burned you... you're not going anywhere." --Michael Westen in the intro to Burn Notice
Back in 2007 when Burn Notice was all fresh and brand new, I tuned in to the pilot episode because Bruce Campbell was in it. Those of you who have followed BOP for any period know that I sort of love him, and even though I couldn't completely remember the title of the show for more than an hour (I called it "Burn…Something" for a long time), I was very excited to check it out.
Of course, once I started watching the show, I knew it was special. Yes, Campbell is awesome as the wisecracking buddy of lead character Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), but there's so much more to it than that. The story of a covert agent who has been "burned" by the intelligence agency he had worked for, Michael spends each week searching for the people responsible for his current situation as well as their motivation for doing so. Along the way, he helps people who are in sticky situations. For example, one of the last episodes of Season 3 had him trying to assist a fashion VP wrongfully accused of murdering one of the two main partners in the business. Sam Axe (Campbell) and current?/former? girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) are always on hand to provide tactical support (Fiona is an explosives expert and former IRA operative, while Sam is a semi-retired intelligence man and one-time Navy SEAL).
The show is a lot of fun, with plenty of humor mixed in with the somewhat serious proceedings. Donovan, Anwar and Campbell have fantastic chemistry together, and Michael's mother Madeline (Sharon Gless) has become pretty important to the story, too. Season 4 starts later this week, so now is the perfect time to get all caught up - especially since the final episode of Season 3 left us on a pretty big cliffhanger. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
Disc includes: Smash, Crash, Boom: Inside the Burn Notice Stunt Unit featurette; 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International featurette
For people who love it when otters do absolutely anything: Life
The Blue Planet was the first comprehensive series on the natural history of Earth’s oceans. Planet Earth, which I like to simplify as Blue Planet’s television series sequel, featured a global overview of Earth’s different habitats, from mountains to caves to jungles. The next logical series, then, would be one that pertains exclusively to Earth’s inhabitants.
First broadcast on BBC One in England in 2009 – and then again on the Discovery Channel earlier this year – Life takes a look at the specialized strategies and behaviors learned by living things to survive. It’s Charles Darwin’s “struggle for existence” caught on camera. (And, fortunately for us, it’s in high definition).
Life’s debut on the Discovery Channel was watched by 11.8 million viewers, a 15% increase over Planet Earth’s premiere. The series’ cumulative viewer count over 10 episodes was even rosier. Life’s 78 million cumulative viewers outpaced Planet Earth by 22%. Clearly people love watching cute frogs skip over calm lakes and the rest of it.
Disc includes: Life On Location featurette
For people who think the moon brings out the crazy in people: The Wolfman (Unrated Director's Cut)
Joe Johnston’s The Wolfman turned out to be the non-factor that many figured it to be after its ever-changing release date helped plant the idea that the Benicio del Toro vehicle may, in fact, stink. (A new action scene and transforming the look of one werewolf were said to be the reason for the reshoots). Originally scheduled as a November 2008 release, The Wolfman bounced around Universal’s 2009 slate three times before it found a final home in February 2010. Even the Weinsteins don’t shift a release that much.
A remake of the 1941 classic of the same name – but with a significantly altered plotline – The Wolfman was liked by just 33% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Even worse, the movie failed to earn back its hefty $150 million budget in worldwide receipts, let alone Stateside. Following a decent, certainly not great $31.5 million start, The Wolfman earned just $61.9 million in the U.S. This isn’t exactly glowing news for the del Toro/Anthony Hopkins camps. Both actors received top billing on the production.
Disc includes: Deleted and extended scenes, two alternate endings, The Wolfman (1941) bonus movie, featurettes
June 1, 2010
Blu-ray
50 First Dates / Click Back-To-Back
About Last Night / St. Elmo's Fire
Absolute Power
Air Force One / In The Line Of Fire
Alice in Wonderland
Bad Boys
Band Of Brothers (Includes Pacific Sampler)
Blue Streak / National Security
Bram Stoker's Dracula / The Grudge
Clint Eastwood Collection
Eastwood Essential: Director's Collection
Enforcer / Sudden Impact
Every Which Way But Loose
The Fifth Element / Gattaca
Focus/Refocus: When Porn Kills
The Gauntlet
Groundhog Day / Hitch
Hawaii: Island Symphony
Heartbreak Ridge
I Know What You Did Last Summer (Set)
Kelly's Heroes / Where Eagles Dare
A Knight's Tale / First Knight Set
Kung Fu Hustle / The One
Life
Life (British Version)
Life / Planet Earth Collection
The Man with No Name Trilogy
NFL: Road To Super Bowl 44 / New Orleans Saints
Pale Rider (New Packagin)
The Professionals / Quick & The Dead
The Red Baron
Replacement Killers / SWAT
Revolver / Run Lola Run
The Rookie
Silent Hill / Ultraviolet
Space Cowboys (New Packaging)
The Stranger
U2: 360 Degrees at the Rose Bowl
Undisputed III: Redemption
War of the Worlds
Wild Things: Foursome
The Wolfman Unrated Director's Cut
XXX 1 & 2
DVD
Alice in Wonderland
American Pickers: The Complete Season One
Band Of Brothers (Includes Pacific Sampler)
Best of the Allman Brothers Band
Burn Notice: Season Three (Widescreen)
The Cleaner: The Complete Series (Set)
The Cleaner: The Final Season
Clint Eastwood Collection (Set)
Daredevil / Fantastic Four / X-Men (Triple Feature)
Drop Dead Diva: The Complete First Season
The Eastwood Factor (Extended Edition)
Elvis: 75th Birthday Collection
The Gauntlet
Ghost Hunters International: Complete First Season
Hawaii: Island Symphony
Heartbreak Ridge
Life
Life (British Version)
Life / Planet Earth Collection
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil
Mister Ed: The Complete Third Season
Peanuts 1970s Collection: Volume 2
The Red Baron
Rescue Me: The Complete Fifth Season
The Rookie
The Stranger
U2: 360 Degrees at the Rose Bowl (Deluxe Edition)
Unforgiven (New Packaging)
Wild Things: Foursome (Unrated)
The Wolfman (Unrated Director's Cut)