Movie Buzz: 3-16

This week Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax took number one at the box office taking $38M.  John Carter came in second grossing $30M and Silent House came in fifth place bringing in $6M. A Thousand Words came in sixth and only grossed $6M. So let’s see how they did and if they are worth the money![1]

Note: We only review films in wide release.  

John Carter – PG –13  What’s the Buzz? 

This film is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs science-fiction classic novel A Princess of Mars. It’s about a war-weary former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who is transported to Mars where he becomes involved in a war, USA Today describes it as “ambitious, it’s also bloated, dreary and humorless. It’s tedious even during its frantic action scenes, many of which also involve computer-generation and performance-capture technology..”[2]

So is it worth the money? Sorta

• Box office rank:#2
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 53 (Mixed)
• Film Critics Say: Rotten Tomatoes: 51% (Rotten)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 7.1 (Positive)
• Consumers Say: Rotten Tomatoes: 71% (Fresh)

Silent House — R– What’s the Buzz?

Elizabeth Olsen plays Sarah a young woman who finds herself trapped inside her family’s secluded lake house.  The Washington Post describes it as “”Silent House” is a masterpiece of cinematic choreography, albeit of the claustrophobic variety.[3]” However the  New York Times said, “Silent House” doesn’t add much to the anticipation that Ms. Olsen, younger sister of the Olsen twins of “Full House,” will be something special because there isn’t much movie there…...”[4]

So is it worth the money? Maybe

• Box office rank: #5
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 48 (Mixed)
• Film Critics Say: Rotten Tomatoes: 45% (Rotten)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 7.4 (Positive)
• Consumers Say: Rotten Tomatoes: 45% (Rotten)

A Thousand Words — PG-13 – What’s the Buzz?

Eddie Murphy is Jack McCall a literary agent who’s world is turned upside down after coming across a mysterious Bodhi tree.   Entertainment Weekly says, “The movie also makes virtually no sense: With a thousand words at his disposal, couldn’t Murphy take at least one sentence to explain what’s happening to his wife (Kerry Washington)? And why does no one even question why he has suddenly stopped talking?”[5]

So is it worth the money? Nope!

• Box office rank: #6
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 26 (Negative)
• Film Critics Say: Rotten Tomatoes: 0% (Really Rotten)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 2.7 (Negative)
• Consumers Say: Rotten Tomatoes: 60% (Fresh)

What’s opening in theaters this weekend?

21 Jump Street  (latest review results—Critics: 86% Consumers: 93%)

Casa de mi Padre (latest review results—Critics: 42% Consumers: 84%Rotten Tomatoes)

Jeff, Who Lives at Home (latest review results: Critics: 74% Consumers: 88% Rotten Tomatoes)

Tags: box office, Movie Buzz