“Despicable Me 2” tops box office again

Giant robots and Adam Sandler couldn’t stop “Despicable Me 2”, which topped the box office for a second weekend in a row. The animated sequel earned $44.7 million. Adam Sandler had the second biggest opening of his career with “Grown Ups 2”, which also features Kevin James, David Spade, Taylor Lautner and more with $42 million. Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim” opened with $38 million, a disappointing debut for the monster/robot film.
Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Box office battle: 7/12/13

On one hand, one of the most creative and best filmmakers out there comes out with his homage to monster movies, anime and giant robots. On the other hand we have…Adam Sandler. Who will come out on top?

It pains me to say this, but “Grown Ups 2” will do better than “Pacific Rim”. For some reason, Sandler continues to have his fans, despite his movies, for the most part, declining in quality through the years. This one sees Kevin James, Chris Rock and David Spade return. The last film opened to around $40 million and expect a similar audience this time around.

Opening weekend: $40-45 million

Unfortunately that means Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim” will be left in the dust. People just don’t seem excited for this one, which is a sham since del Toro directed “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Hellboy”. To put it simply, this film looks epic. But won’t find an audience.

Opening weekend: $35-40 million

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

“Pacific Rim” set to flop…is del Toro worried?

Yes, sci fi fans. “Pacific Rim” is set to flop, losing to both Adam Sandler’s “Grown Ups 2” and “Despicable Me 2”. But director Guillermo del Toro isn’t worried:

“I’m not a guy that plays inside baseball. My responsibility as a director is to be fiscally responsible and deliver a movie under budget and under schedule. I think we have an amazing movie — one I’ve seen connect with an audience like crazy. So it’s anyone’s guess what happens.”

That’s true. But, with all the films he wants to make like “Frankenstein” with Benedict Cumberbatch and “Hellboy 3” it’s going to be a little tougher to get those movies made.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Box office battle: Is “Pacific Rim” in big trouble?

It would be a shame. I’m very much looking forward to Guillermo del Toro’s “Pacific Rim”. Think “Transformers” with monsters and intelligence (sorry Michael Bay). But, as one of my friends said, “The movie looks kinda dumb.” Thus the challenge the film has made. Coming on the heels of news that Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are splitting comes some distressing news from Variety. Apparently audiences are showing more interest in “Grown Ups 2” than “Pacific Rim”. You know the Adam Sandler comedy where we see Sandler do everything he’s done in practically EVERY OTHER MOVIE he’s made. Hopefully audiences warm up here late in the game.

But if “Grown Ups 2” actually does beat “Pacific Rim” none of those people has any right to complain about the lack of new films. When a new film comes out, they’re going to shun it? It’s like people complaining about movies not making you think so when a film like “Cloud Atlas” comes out and challenges you, they ignore it. Come on, people.

“Pacific Rim” stars Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Rinko Kikuchi, Ron Pearlman and more. I know I’ll chose a movie from the director of “Pan’s Labyrinth” over the actor responsible for ‘Jack and Jill” any day of the week.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

“Olympus Has Fallen” review

Another action film out this year, this time it’s “Olympus Has Fallen”. How does this one stack up to the competition?

The Good

This is the best action movie of the year so far. I know, with the quality of the films that’s come out this year, it’s a bit like saying, this is the best Adam Sandler comedy! But, give this film a chance. It’s surprisingly suspenseful, entertaining and has a few twists that keep the story from falling into a complete cliche. Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) directs the film very well and the set pieces are a beauty to behold. The assault on the White House is, despite the outrageous premise of the film, actually quite believable within the context of the film. The real star here is Gerard Butler. Butler was a bad ass in “300”. Since then, he’s had one of the worst string of movies I’ve ever seen. Let’s go through some of his most recent films: “Chasing Mavericks”, “Movie 43”, “Playing for Keeps” and “Machine Gun Preacher”. Yeah. But he’s in a near return to form to his action movie bad ass self in this one. Lots of one liners. But he’s believable as Mike Banning. Also, Morgan Freeman is solid, as always and Melissa Leo was also fun to watch as the tough Secretary of Defense. The other real star here is Rick Yune. Equal parts charming, chilling and lethal, he’d rank right up there with the best Die Hard villains.

The Bad

Well, as you could probably imagine, the story and dialogue is predictable and at times comes close to falling into a complete cliche of a film. You can see where the story’s going from a mile away and, aside from a few twists, this is  a by the books action film. It takes a lot of cues from Die Hard and it doesn’t try to do anything new with the genre. The film isn’t groundbreaking in any way, but then again, it’s not trying to.

The Final Word

This isn’t a classic, but it’s one heck of a fun, if forgettable ride. This is Butler’s best film in a long time and, in a year where we’ve seen crappy action movie after crappy action movie, this one is fun, exciting and everything you’d expect from a big budget action flick.

Adam Sandler returning to romantic comedies

Well…it can’t be worse than “Jack and Jill” right? After “Grown Ups 2”, Adam Sandler is reportedly going back to romantic comedies in an untitled comedy about a couple who has a disastrous blind date and somehow find themselves stuck together in a resort for families, each with their kids from a previous marriage in tow. But as you would expect, what begins as a tumultuous encounter turns into a budding romance.

There are several unnamed actresses reportedly up for the female lead, but one name that did come up is Drew Barrymore. If Barrymore takes the film, it will be the third time they’ve starred in a film together, the other times being “The Wedding Singer” and “50 First Dates”.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

New names emerge for lead in “Guardians of the Galaxy”

The list of actors who reportedly were trying out for Peter Quill/Star-Lord in “Guardians of the Galaxy” was growing to be a huge list. None of them included the following names of actors who Marvel is reportedly pursuing. According to the Latino Review, Wes Bentley, Chris Lowell and Cam Gigandet are being considered for the role. Also, Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey are apparently being sought for an unspecified role.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

The Razzie award nominations are in

That’s right, before the Oscar nominations, we get the Razzie nominations, which “honor” the worst movies of the year. Overall, most of the usual suspects you’d expect are on the list. Take a look:

Worst Picture
“Battleship”
The Oogieloves in Big Balloon Adventure”
“That’s My Boy”
“A Thousand Words”
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”

Worst Director
Sean Anders – “That’s My Boy”
Peter Berg – “Battleship”
Bill Condon – “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
Tyler Perry – “Good Deeds” / “Madea’s Witness Protection”
John Putch – “Atlas Shrugged: Part II”

Worst Actress
Katherine Heigl – “One for the Money”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil: Retribution”
Tyler Perry – “Madea’s Witness Protection”
Kristen Stewart – “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II” / “Snow White and the Huntsman”
Barbra Streisand – “The Guilt Trip”

Worst Actor
Nicolas Cage – “Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance” /” Seeking Justice”
Eddie Murphy – “A Thousand Words”
Robert Pattinson – “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
Tyler Perry – “Alex Cross / Good Deeds”
Adam Sandler – “That’s My Boy”

Worst Supporting Actress
Jessica Biel – “Playing For Keeps / Total Recall”
Brooklyn Decker – “Battleship / What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Ashley Greene – “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
Jennifer Lopez – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
Rihanna – “Battleship”

Worst Supporting Actor
David Hasselhoff – “Pirannha 3-DD”
Taylor Lautner – “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
Liam Neeson – “Battleship / Wrath of the Titans”
Nick Swardson – “That’s My Boy”
Vanilla Ice – “That’s My Boy”

Worst Screen Ensemble
“Battleship”
“The Oogieloves in Big Balloon Adventure”
“That’s My Boy”
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
“Madea’s Witness Protection”

Worst Screenplay
“Atlas Shrugged Part II”
“Battleship”
“That’s My Boy”
“A Thousand Words”
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”

Worst Remake, Rip-Off, or Sequel
“Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance”
“Pirannha 3-DD”
“Red Dawn”
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
“Madea’s Witness Protection”

Worst Screen Couple
Any two cast members from “Jersey Shore” in “The Three Stooges”
Mackenzie Foy and Taylor Lautner in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II”
Tyler Perry and his drag in “Madea’s Witness Protection”
Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, or Susan Sarandon in “That’s My Boy”

Who is Hollywood’s most overpaid star?

According to Forbes, that title goes to Eddie Murphy. Murphy has had a string of flops, including “A Thousand Words”, “Meet Dave” and “Tower  Heist”. The other names on the list include Katherine Heigl, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock, Jack Black, Nicolas Cage, Adam Sandler, Denzel Washington, Ben Stiller and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Not a surprising list here. Frankly, I’m glad to see Heigl on this list, since pretty much the only hit she’s been in (“Knocked Up”) she’s made a point of bashing.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Hotel Transylvania getting a sequel

“Hotel Transylvania” made a boatload of money so this is no surprise, “Hotel Transylvania 2” is coming in 2015. Director Genndy Tartakovsky won’t be coming back, though. The first one featured the voice talents of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade and Jon Lovitz.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.