Friday, January 4

• Hope you kept the receipt for that HD DVD player you just bought

  Warner Bros. today delivered the biggest bombshell yet in the high-def DVD war, announcing that it has chosen Blu-ray as its exclusive high-def format. Warners, which boasts the biggest movie library of all the major studios, had previously declined to choose sides in the duel between rivals Blu-ray (developed by Sony) and HD DVD (developed jointly by Toshiba and Microsoft), opting instead to issue titles in both formats.

  The decision is being labeled a deathblow for HD DVD, which now boasts Paramount/Dreamworks and Universal as its only exclusive clients. No technology can overcome that kind of market share advantage -- not even with awesome combined powers of Bill Gates and Shrek at its disposal. 

  Source: Variety

  
  

  Posted 01/04/2008 by Thomas

  Shrek the Third

Tuesday, November 13

• DVD Tuesday

  The animated blockbuster Shrek the Third debuts on DVD today; expect to see it playing on an endless loop in most minivan DVD players by tomorrow afternoon.

  Sci-Fi enthusiasts might want to add the new Close Encounters of the Third Kind 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition DVD or Blu-Ray to their holiday wish list. The lavish new edition comes packaged in a fold open box with a book featuring great behind-the-scenes photos and three discs chock full of never-before-scene material and all three versions of the film - Theatrical, Special Edition and the new Ultimate Edition cut!

  Other new releases include the William Wilberforce biopic Amazing Grace, the short film compilation Paris, je t'aime, the UK drama This is England.

  Our DVD pick for this week is the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie en Rose, featuring virtual Best Actress Oscar shoo-in Marion Cotillard.

  
  

  Posted 11/13/2007 by Thomas

  Shrek the Third | Amazing Grace | Paris, je t'aime | La Vie en Rose

Tuesday, May 29

• Box office report: Pirates can't sack Spidey

  As expected, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End dominated the weekend box office, scoring $142.1 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, boxofficemojo.com reports. The take was the biggest Memorial Day opening ever, but still fell short of Spider-Man 3's staggering 3-day $151 million take just three weeks ago.

  Some industry insiders speculate that the third Pirates might have done substantially better if it weren't for the fact that Keith Richards, who portrays Captain Jack's Papa in the movie, smoked a large portion of the receipts.

  Shrek the Third held strong in second place with $69 million while Spidey 3's $18 million took third, bringing the web slinger's box office tally to a staggering $806 million worldwide.

  
  

  Posted 05/29/2007 by Jeff

  Keith Richards | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | Shrek the Third

Sunday, May 20

• Shrek's B.O. Smells Great
  

  Shrek the Third cruised to the top box office spot this weekend, taking in an estimated $122 million over the three days. The take ranks as the fourth highest ever for a 3-day weekend, garnering nearly two and a half times as much as Shrek 2 did on the same weekend three years ago.
  
  The bar has now been set even higher for Disney's third Pirates of the Caribbean. The series has been a monster success thus far, the 170-minute runtime of the third entry, At World's End, could hamper the chances of Spidey and Shrek-like numbers.
  
  For Shrek the Third, it bumps Spider-Man 3 out of the top spot, which stayed respectable with an estimated $28.5 million, a 51 percent drop from last weekend.
  
  
  
  

  Posted 05/20/2007 by Jeff

  Shrek the Third

Friday, May 18

• By the numbers

  Spider-Man 3's turbulent reign atop the box office charts looks to finally end this weekend with the arrival of Shrek the Third. Don't like kids? You might want to steer clear of the cineplex over the next few days.

  Check out our reviews of this weekend's new releases: 

   Shrek the Third 
  "As expected, the animation is extraordinary. But there are too many characters in this one, and Shrek is basically relegated to a supporting role." [Full Review]

   

   Fay Grim 
  "Unless you've spent the last decade lying awake nights wondering what happened to the Grim/Fool clan, I'm sorry to say I'd skip this one."  [Full Review] 

   

  The Wendell Baker Story  
  "I could go into a whole slew of details of what I didn't like about who, but honestly, the movie fails to motivate me to do even that." [Full Review]

   

  Severance  
  "Seeing likeable characters getting tortured and killed isn't all that enjoyable, even if some of them do deserve it." [Full Review]

   

  The Last Time  
  "The story is dark and tight, and Caleo shows an excellent understanding of one of the central tenets of cinema--showing characters', well, character." [Full Review] 

   

  Brooklyn Rules  
  "Alec Baldwin is perfectly convnicing as the bloody, scary Caesar. But the story is just so weak and watered down that it doesn't matter." [Full Review]

   

  Also opening this week: Even Money and Once.

  
  

  Posted 05/18/2007 by Thomas

  The Wendell Baker Story | Severance | Brooklyn Rules | The Last Time | Shrek the Third | Fay Grim

• How BIG will the Ogre's B.O. Be?
  

  That's Box Office, by the way (you weirdo).
  
  Speculation on the potential Box Office for Shrek the Third has been all over the place, from as low as $90 million (yes, that's actually low these days for a blockbuster) to as high as $120 (dangerously close to Spidey 3 numbers).
  
  As reviews surfaced this week, the big green smelly guy has taken a critical pummeling. Rotten Tomatoes scores Shrek the Third a lowly 45% splat (compared to and 88% certified fresh for Shrek 2) and his Metacritic score is a failing 57 out of 100. Our own Thomas Leupp scored Shrek the Third a 6 out of 10.
  
  So what do you think the Ogre will take in at megaplexes this weekend? Are you planning to see it? Chime in on the comments section of the Shrek the Third detail page where you'll also find photos, trailers and Thomas Leupp's 60-second video review.
  
  
  
  Next Showing: Shrek the Third is now playing Nationwide and Far, Far Away.
  

  Shrek the Third

  Princesses Rule!
  

  Shrek the Third

  Another Whirlwind Adventure

  Posted 05/18/2007 by Jeff

  Cameron Diaz | Eddie Murphy | Mike Myers | Shrek the Third

Tuesday, April 3

• Get ready for Shrek

  Does Mike Myers even make live action flicks anymore? Not that he needs to -- he's got more than enough Shrek money coming in to ditch them entirely. Actually, that might not be a bad idea. Remember Cat in the Hat? It still gives me nightmares.

  Myers reprises his trademark role as the voice of the big green ogre this summer in Shrek the Third. Will the third installment the franchise, the crown jewel of Dreamworks Animation, live up to the hype? Check out our preview of the highly-anticipated animated flick, which arrives in theaters on May 18th.

  
  
  

  Shrek the Third trailer

  The wait is OGRE!

  Posted 04/03/2007 by Thomas

  Mike Myers | Shrek the Third