Movie Buzz: 5/4

This weekend, Think Like a Man was still in the #1 spot at the box office, grossing $17.6M.  The Pirates! Band of Misfits came straight in at number 2 taking in $11.1M. The Hunger Games stayed at the #3 spot taking in an additional $10.8M.[1] The Five-Year Engagement ($10.6M) came in at number 5; Safe ($7.8M) took 6^th place, while The Raven ($7.2M) placed at number 7.also opened this weekend bringing in $10.7M.  Let’s see how they did and if they are worth the money!

Note: We only review films in wide release.  

The Raven—R What’s the Buzz?

When a serial killer begins murdering his victims in ways that are inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s stories, the author (played by John Cusack) is brought in to help Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evan) in his investigations. While consumers are giving mixed reviews, most critics don’t like The Raven. While the acting, costumes and cinematography are good, the plot just doesn’t seem up to Poe’s story telling standards. The Los Angeles Times states that “What’s missing in the movie is the tightly constructed tension-building that Poe did so unsettlingly and inventively well. When one scene features Poe holding a reading for some of the city’s bookish bunch, it is a reminder of just how powerful his prose could be.[2] “The Raven,” in contrast, has some momentary flourishes and a few harrowing moments, but nothing to tie things together with all the fear and loathing that made the author such an original.”

So is it worth the money? Maybe.

• Box office rank: 7
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 44 (Mixed)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 22% (Rotten)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 6.0 (Positive)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 57%  

 Safe—R –What’s the Buzz?

Starring Jason Statham as Luke Wright, an ex-cage fighter, comes to the rescue of a girl who is being pursued by the same gangsters who ruined his life. Soon he realises that they are in much bigger danger as the girl memorised a code that the Triads, Russian gangsters and corrupt police officers want. Safe seems to be getting mixed reviews from the critics. The most common complaint is its lack of depth and originality.[3] However it ticks all the boxes when it comes to action films and that’s what fans of the genre look for. The Telegraph perhaps sums up fan reviews best, “Profoundly trashy and violent, Safe clatters along with a thrilling seat-of-its-pants propulsiveness. There’s no messing around and that’s why it works; Statham just beats, shoots and leaves.”

So is it worth the money? If you’re a fan of this genre, YES!

• Box office rank: 6
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 55 (Mixed)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 53% (Fresh)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 6.4 (Positive)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

The Five-Year Engagement —R –What’s the Buzz?

The Five-Year Engagement is a romantic comedy about a couple (played by Emily Blunt and Jason Segel) whose engagement goes on longer than they thought as life gets in the way of them tying the knot! It seems to be doing well in the reviews. Despite it being a little predictable (rom com fans will still love it), the acting between Emily and Jason will more than make up for it.[4] The Chicago Tribune comments that “Segel and Blunt are enormously likable people on screen, armed with wide-eyed charm and stealthy timing. When the relationship at the movie’s heart threatens to erode from within, you feel for both halves equally. And by the end, you realize how seldom this happens in this most devalued of genres. “

So is it worth the money? Yes.

• Box office rank: 5 
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 61 (Positive)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 64% (Fresh)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 6.1 (Positive)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

The Pirates! Band of Misfits —PG –What’s the Buzz?

The Pirates! Band of Misfits is an adaptation of a book from Gideon Defoe’s “Pirates!” series and made by Aardman Animation (creators of Wallace & Grommit). The film centres on Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) and his crew on a quest to beat his rivals Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Salma Hayek) and win the Pirate Of The Year award.[5] It seems to be loved both by critics and audiences and that despite this being Aardman’s first foray into 3D, it has actually enhanced the experience rather than hindered it as other films have found out.[6] The New York Times says it’s “Exquisitely detailed — from its ocean breakers to the wavelike curlicues on a pirate’s luxurious beard — the movie is a curiosity cabinet of visual pleasures but so breezy and lightly funny that you may not realize at first how good it is. (You’re too busy grinning.).”

So is it worth the money? Yes!

• Box office rank: 2 
• Film Critics Say: Metacritic- 73 (Positive)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (Fresh)
• Consumers Say: Metacritic- 7.7 (positive)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

What’s opening in theaters this weekend?

The Avengers (latest review results—95% Rotten Tomatoes)

Tags: The Avengers