This Weekends Movie News – Whats Hot This Weekend, What Happened Last Weekend

.

The Fourth Kind...They Faked It

Well, this didn’t come as too much of a surprise.  It wouldn’t be the first time that a movie said to be “based on a true story” turned out to be complete hogwash.

So, here is the deal:

Universal Pictures is paying $20,000 to the Alaska Press Club to quell the many complaints they are receiving about the falsified news archives that were created to hype of the movie “The Fourth Kind”.

It was an Anchorage lawyer who negotiated the fee (I would have tried to go for more….haha).  The name of the lawyer was John McKay, and part of his argument was that the fake news stories were undermining the credibility of news organizations.

In case you didn’t know, The Fourth Kind was supposed to be based on a true story about strange events that took place in Nome, Alaska.  In this day and age of avid internet users, they knew that as soon as people heard that it was based on a true story that they would take to their keyboards to see just what happened (or if anything happened) in Nome.  They knew that Google had better have some interesting stories to return to those “Googlers” looking for the scoop.

To make sure that people found something, they went and falsified online news articles that went on to describe a wave of alien abductions that took place in Nome, Alaska over ten years ago.  The reason that they were sued isn’t JUST because the stories were completely fake…but also because of how they appeared on the web.

The stories they posted appeared to be from real and legitimate Alaska news sites…but they weren’t.  The stories and the sites were all made just for the purpose of hyping up this movie.

They even went so far as to include a fake obituary and full news story about the death of the main character that appears in the movie “Dr. William Tyler”, and the articles appeared to be from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, which is an Alaskan news publication.

I’ve got to say, this is pretty disappointing as I did want to believe that it was possible this movie was based on a true story.  While it is disappointing, it certainly isn’t surprising.  Movie companies nowadays will do pretty much anything to make their movies huge…regardless of the backlash that is inevitable, especially when using underhanded tactics such as this.

Read the full story about The Fourth Kind Fake.

.

2012 Tagline - We Were Warned

Release Date (everywhere): October 13th, 2009

Their Plot Synopsis: An epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors

Starring: John Cusack, Amanda Peet

2012 Movie Rating: PG-13 due to it’s intense disaster scenes and some adult language.

My Thoughts: I couldn’t be more excited about a movie than how I feel about 2012.  I’ve wanted to see this movie since I heard about 6 months ago.  It is coming from the same guy who directed “Independence Day” & “The Day After Tomorrow” both of which I loved.  This movie is going to be a HUGE blockbuster movie and I feel that it is easily going to take the number one spot out of all of this weekends movies.

The special effects are probably going to be right on the cusp of groundbreaking, maybe showing us some things we haven’t seen before mixed up with a new twist on things we have seen.

John Cusack is also one of my favorite (albeit underrated) actors.  He is normally very funny with a quick wit and is usually very dry (my favorite kind of funny).  For those of you who don’t know, this movie took it’s inspiration from what is supposed to happen (according to the Mayan calender…Mayan as in the ancient civilization) in 2012.  I’m assuming that is the reason for this movie being released long before that date…they need to make sure they get their money before the world goes completely underwater.

Anyway, out of all this weekends movies, this is the one to see.  Should be amazing.

.

Here is What I'd See

Well, unfortunately, this weekends movies aren’t offering much of a choice.  There is pretty much absolutely nothing new coming out with the exception of Michael Jackson’s This Is It.  Seeing as thought I’m not a big fan of Michael Jackson, I’d have to opt to see a movie that came out last weekend, or even the weekend before that.

Saw 6 got better reviews than the previous release of Saw 5, and I’m kind of in the Halloween spirit so I might actually go to see that.  I was really hoping that the newest installment of the Saw movies was going to be better than the last couple that came out and seeing as though the reviews are saying that it is, it makes it a little easier for me to make that choice.

If I wasn’t such a big fan of “scary” movies, I’d probably go and see Amelia.  I know it had an absolutely atrocious opening weekend, but the idea of the movie intrigues me.  I absolutely loved The Aviator, and I know I shouldn’t compare this movie to that one as they are going to be completely different films I’m sure, but I just can’t help it.

Hilary Swank is a great actress in my opinion, and the story of Amelia Earhart is a good one to begin with.  For the movie to be any good, all that really had to be done was make sure that it was directed and produced well.

So, there you go, out of all this weekends movies, I’d be going to see one that came out last weekend.  My only solid suggestion to anybody that wants to go see a movie this weekend, is to NOT see Paranormal Activity…  I stand by my review of the film, and it was terrible.  I don’t care how many times this movie gets the top weekend movie honor.

_________

I really don’t understand it…there must have been some paranormal activity going on at the box office, because Paranormal Activity was the top weekend movie this weekend.  Overall, this was actually a terrible weekend for any movie to open….laughable actually.

Paranormal Activity is the Top Weekend Movie

There were so many things that I thought could have happened at this weekends movies, but I seriously never thought that this was even an option.  Somehow, Paranormal Activity took the number one spot at the box office this weekend.  Here is how everything played out:

1:  Paranormal Activity:  Grossed an estimated $22 million.   More than last weekend.  And this movie opened over 4 weeks ago.  I saw it and thought it was a terrible movie.  I really just don’t get it.

2:  Saw VI:  Grossed $14.8 million.  Comparing that to every other Saw movie opening (none of which EVER grossed less than $30 million on an opening weekend) I have to say that is pretty awful.  Obviously, Paranormal Activity was leeching would-be Saw movie goers.  They really should have re-thought that decision, as this years Saw movie is actually being better received than last years Saw V.

3:  Where the Wild Things Are:  Held its own and took the number 3 spot.

4:  Law Abiding Citizen:  Again, holding its own and not dropping very far from its opening weekend spot.

5:  Couples Retreat:  I don’t understand it…I really don’t.  There were just so many great options, and somehow this movie is still appearing in the top 5 movies of the weekend.

That means NONE of the other opening movies of this weekend managed to make it into the top 5!!

The only film that opened this weekend that made it into the top 5 was Saw 6!  There were FOUR  new movies that opened this weekend and only ONE made it!

Astro Boy only managed to bring in almost $7 million.  I never expected this movie to be a blockbuster or anything, but to not make it into the top 5 surprises me a bit.  I guess families were simply choosing Where the Wild Things Are as their family friendly flick of the weekend.

The Vampire’s Assistant brought in an absolutely awful $6 million (just over that actually).  This I guess isn’t too much of a surprise.  It really just didn’t have much appeal, other than those who might have wanted to see a movie that looks like a spoof on the Twilight movie series.

Amelia, the last new opening movie this weekend, brought in…are you ready for this?  A staggering (staggeringly low that is) $4 million.  There isn’t anything to even say…that just sucks.

_________________________

My guess is, this weekends movies just had too many competing movies vying for its own viewers.  You had a couple head-to-head match ups where one just didn’t stand a chance over the other.

You had the Astro Boy vs. Where the Wild Things Are

There was Paranormal Activity vs. Saw 6

Then there were the movies that didn’t really fall into a genre at all, and maybe were just hoping to bring in viewers based on star power or buzz.  The thing is, that only works when you don’t already have so many decent movies at the box office to compete with.

All in all, this wasn’t a very good weekend to choose your movie to open on.

.

Michael Jacksons This Is It Movie Poster

Release Date (everywhere): October 28th, 2009

Their Plot Synopsis: A compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.

This Is It Movie Rating: PG

Starring: Michael Jackson of course

My Thoughts: I’ve got so many…but I’ll keep them to a dull roar if I can.  I believe this movie is just another way to profit off of what was an unfortunate tragedy.  So many people stood to profit SO MUCH money off of what was supposed to be a crazy set of performances in London (which was completely sold out).  There were actually 50 performances that were supposed to take place, all of which were expected to be the most visually stunning performances ever.  It was also supposed to be the highest grossing pop production….ever.  Fast forward to now…and for all those people who expected that, they are instead getting this…This Is It actually.  I have the feeling it will have a very “thrown together” feel and will not be any consolation to those who expected to be going to one of those London performances.  However, I also think this movie is going to be absolutely HUGE.

.

Hilary Swanks Headshot...and her Smile

In a recent interview with Hilary Swank, she said “If you’re not doing what you love, what’s the point.”

Hilary Swank is an amazing success story.  It has been ten years since the movie that made her career and thrust her into the spotlight…that movie being “Boys Don’t Cry” and she has done a lot in that time.

She has now won herself two Oscars in total, which is pretty amazing.  That is apparently the same number that Meryl Streep has won.

She’ll be starring in one of this weekends movies, “Amelia” which may not be the top weekend movie, but I’m fairly sure it will be a great one nonetheless.

Be sure to click the link I’ve provided at the top to read the full story about Hilary Swank and her interview.