By: Open Book
It looks like Rango was unable to hold onto number one at the box office and fell to #2. The film that knocked it off its throne Battle: Los Angeles. So what did critics, consumers and box office say about Battle: Los Angeles? Can it hold on to its number one spot this weekend?
Here are the films we will be reviewing this weekend. Battle: Los Angeles, Red Riding Hood, Mars Needs Moms, Jane Eyre, Kill the Irishman and Certified Copy. It must be noted we will only review films that are in the top 40 of the box office rankings.[1]
| Critics Say | Consumers Say | Top Box Office Ranking | Date Opened |
| 37% | 89% | Rank #1
Battle: Los Angeles 58, 324,145 (WW) |
March 11th
|
| 12% | 55% | Rank # 3
Red Riding Hood 17,700,077 |
March 11th |
| 49% | 90% | Rank # 5
Mars Needs Moms 11,463,095 (WW) |
March 11th |
| 82% | 77% | Rank # 27
Jane Eyre 217,564 |
March 11th
|
| 56% | 82% | Rank # 31
Kill the Irishman 184,361 |
March 11th
|
| 89% | 69% | Rank # 40
Certified Copy 3,493,503 (WW) |
March 11th
|
- Battle: Los Angeles- PG-13: The aliens are coming film was not a favorite among film critics. One of the common complaints the movie suffered from was too many warmed over alien clichés.[2] Plus after watching the destruction in Japan, this film by comparison seemed more like a computer game. [3]Consumers gave it high marks and they demonstrated it at the box office. Will word of mouth help Battle: Los Angeles stay at #1 this weekend?
- Red Riding Hood-PG-13: This film came in at #3 at the box office last weekend. Hoping to capitalize on the teen Twilight fan base may have been a bad call. It’s no surprise critics hated it because it was made for teen girls yet, it failed to attract the main consumer it was for. The question this weekend? How far will it fall given the bad reviews by critics and disinterested Twilight consumers?
- Mars Needs Moms– PG: If the #5 box office rank is any indication word travels fast. Than this will not be a surprise. Although, consumers gave this film high marks the box office results are a different story. This film will have a hard time making back the $150 million dollar budget. Word of mouth? Parents and children had trouble sitting through the entire film because they disliked the live action animation and story.
- Jane Eyre-PG-13: Critics and consumers are pretty tied with this film. Although, it’s ranking is #27 that’s to be expected due to domestic limited release only. Perhaps, with word of mouth this film might get a better ranking this weekend.
- Kill the Irishman-R: This film opened in only a few theaters. Add to that, poor reviews by critics. Yes, the consumers gave it a good review. However, this films R rating seals it’s fate of dropping below the #31 ranking it holds now.
- Certified Copy–NR: Critics and limited audience members who saw this film without an MPAA rating explains why this film is ranked at #40. Given most theaters in the US will not show an unrated film resolves the mystery. Yet, the films worldwide release was impressive. Once, this film gets an MPAA rating it could possibly do well domestically given the rave reviews by critics and consumers.
Have you seen any of the films mentioned above? If so please give us your review.
Films to be reviewed next week: Paul, Limitless, The Lincoln Lawyer, Win Win and Cracks….
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The only movie offering I was interested in knowing more about was Catherine Hardwicke’s version of the “Red Riding Hood.” Those who are familiar the childhood fairy tale should recognize the film was (re)stylized to appeal to an older teen Twilightesque depiction of the characters.
The only reason I was interested in the movie was I thought Hardwicke was robbed when they pulled out the Harry Potter clause to avoid the discussion of her continuing as the series director. The Harry Potter series all had different directors. If not for that move on Summit’s Entertainment’s part most would have expected that she would continue on crafting the series. Of course you never know what happened behind the scenes to enable her easy dismissal so I don’t want to speculate too much.
That said “Red Riding Hood” was an obvious opportunity for Hardwicke to work the same magic. I’m sorry for the poor box office and equally poor reviews yet I think she needs to be wary of such shallow characters. With her music video background it isn’t uncommon to see her as a stylist filmmaker. Audiences are already wary of characters like (Puss n’ Boots, Captain Hook, Batman, etc.) that are named after their apparel, clothes, or accessories because conventionally speaking: characterization may end after the costume designer has finished his/her job. If we can believe the critics Hardwicke’s riding Hood did not stray from the norm.
Her depiction of Bella from the Twilight series was much stronger. What distinguished Bella’s presentation was it was a coming of age tale, a budding love story, and a tale of her own self discovery and it helped the character was thoroughly contemporary. Essentially teen audiences understood the message; a character that is in transition can still be considered beautiful.
I think a lot people forget Hardwicke directed “The Nativity Story” so it’s hard to believe she doesn’t have a lot more stories in her to tell. Her fans will just have to wait for the next film she directs.
Hi CR!!
Great post.
I think CH and David Slade and other actors associated with the Twilight Franchise have been put in a tight corner. It seams studios in the beginning were throwing money at anyone involved with this franchise hoping to capitalize on the TW fandom. Some caved to studios looking to re-create TW magic and some chose projects that did not go anywhere. Perhaps, u could argue some weren’t well prepared for the attention and just gave into the demand. But today it’s rare artist get second chances. IMO!! In the past 15 minutes was more like 30. However, today 15 really is 10. So what the director or actor chooses to do with it is up to them because audiences don’t attribute a film’s failure to a studio or producer but only to directors and actors.
It’s indeed a good post, helped me a lot.
Women may not hit harder, but they hit lower