Welcome to this week’s edition of “Movie News Monday!” (“MNM!”)!!
What is ‘MNM’ all about?
In case this is your first time here, “Movie News Monday!” (MNM) is the place to visit every Monday for a quick recap of trending entertainment news! I’ve collected info, rumors, etc from all over just for you to keep you updated on movies being released, actors/actresses in roles, dvd releases to keep a lookout for, which movie won in the box office over the weekend, etc! Are you ready for your weekly update? Here it is!
This Just In!!…
#1- “The Weekend Winner.” Last weekend, the 2 wide new releases that entered the box office arena made their presence known. And while neither of them took top place (Iron Man 3 still won that battle), they put up a decent effort. In other box office news, however, the limited release MUD (starring Matthew McConaughey) earned its spot in the Top Ten. I watched it this weekend and was very impressed (my delayed review will post later this week. Stay Tuned!
Here are the weekend’s estimated results for Fri, May 10 -Sun, May 12:
- Iron Man 3 ~$72.5M
- The Great Gatsby ~$51M
- Pain & Gain ~$5M
- Tyler Perry Presents Peeples ~$4.9M
- 42 ~$4.7M
- Oblivion ~$3.9M
- The Croods ~$3.6M
- The Big Wedding ~$2.5M
- Mud ~$2.3M
- Oz The Great and Powerful ~$802K
*Actuals may vary as earnings are updated much later on Monday afternoons. For updates, visit boxofficemojo.com.
Congratulations once again to Iron Man 3.
What did YOU watch this weekend?
#2- “Hail, Caesar.” As production is underway for the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, we have the first of several to follow photos from the set of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Take a look:
This photo, taken from the set in New Orleans, shows motion capture expert Andy Serkis in the suit, as Caesar, on a horse and…possibly…surprising some humans(?). Directed by Matt Reeves (Let Me In, Cloverfield), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes place after the events of the 2011 film and follows Caesar and his growing group of genetically evolved apes who are
“threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species.” -comingsoon.net
Starring Keri Russell, Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee and more, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is set for a May 23, 2014 release.
Are you ready for the Dawn?
#3- “Man of Steel Posters“ The marketing for DC’s flagship superhero’s latest theatrical presentation is in full swing. I, for one, have avoided as many tv spots and “spoilerific” stories in the hopes of enjoying what should be the best Superman film in decades. A lot is riding on Zack Snyder’s re-introduction, and, to help secure more viewers for next month’s release, marketing is now underway.
From special “early” tickets from Wal-Mart to action filled tv spots and more, plenty is out there about Man of Steel. While I personally do not expect to call it the “best movie of 2013,” I do expect it to be the “best Superman movie since Superman II.
Check out the pretty sweet EMPIRE edition (both the print and iPad versions):
In addition to all the promotion, Man of Steel launched several similar, yet different, posters this past week that borrow a lot from each other (part of me found the “same stuff, just different” approach both lazy and frustrating, but HEY, they’re still cool). Check them out below. (click photo for fullscreen slideshow)
Pretty neat looking posters. Which one do you like the most? I prefer “Poster 1.” Well, Man of Steel is set to fly into theaters on June 14. Will you be there?
Which poster is your favorite?
#4- “Cinderella has found her Prince.” The upcoming live-action project for Cinderella, directed by Kenneth Branagh (Thor), had a bit of a time finding their leading lady. Talks of Emma Watson starring as the to-be-princess seemed sure until she signed on to be Belle in Guillermo del Toro’s Beauty & the Beast. That part has since been filled by Downton Abbey star Lily James.
With Cate Blanchett set to star as the evil step-mother, only one major role was left to be filled: Who would be the prince left alone holding the glass slipper?
Welcome Game of Thrones’s Robb Stark (actor Richard Madden) who will be the fabled prince who lost the only woman with glass slippers and a pumpkin carriage (I understand how that must have been difficult!) 
Cinderella is in pre-production and hopes to be in theaters in 2014.
Thoughts on this casting news?
#5- “This Week’s Blu-ray release.” This week, look for the following films on Blu-ray to possibly add to your collection:
Cloud Atlas- The Wachowski siblings (The Matrix) present the “unfilmable” book in a way that saw polarizing reception from audiences and critics alike. This genre-less and time-less film is a bold and ambitious venture of three directors along with the author and a great cast starring Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant and more in numerous roles. I very much enjoyed this film, but understand why others did not. FINALLY it comes to blu-ray. Check out my full thoughts in my review for this visual treat that was snubbed in award season HERE.
Several other films also release this week. Check it out!
Also releasing: Texas Chainsaw 3D 3, 2, 1…Frankie Go Boom, A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III and more.
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Well, that’s it for this round of “Movie News Monday!”
Thanks for reading! Happy Watching!
-T, The Focused Filmographer
up next: ”Time to Vote Tuesday!” and my review of MUD
