Results tagged “Star Trek” from Modern Mythology

In this film still from the movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, released by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Larry Daley, played by Ben Stiller, left, has a heart-to-heart with Napoleon, played by Alain Chabat, about the latter's plans for world domination. (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Doane Gregory)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- New movies "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" and "Terminator Salvation" topped the box office over the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The sequel starring Ben Stiller took the No. 1 spot with $70 million over the long weekend while the fourth "Terminator" film came in second with $51.9 million. "Star Trek" held strong in its third week at No. 3 with $29.3 million.

On the whole, it was another strong weekend of business at movie theaters, which have been drawing large crowds throughout the recession. The top Memorial Day weekend at the box office remains 2007, which featured the third "Pirates of the Caribbean," ''Shrek" and "Spider-Man" films.

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Monday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Tuesday by Hollywood.com:

1. "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian," $70,052,004, 4,096 locations, $17,103 average, $70,052,004, one week.

2. "Terminator Salvation," Warner Bros., $51,943,726, 3,530 locations, $14,715 average, $65,316,217, one week.

3. "Star Trek," Paramount, $29,380,384, 4,053 locations, $7,249 average, $191,014,403, three weeks.

4. "Angels & Demons" Sony/Columbia, $27,413,992, 3,527 locations, $7,773 average, $87,524,618, two weeks.

5. "Dance Flick," Paramount, $12,622,450, 2,450 locations, $5,152 average, $12,622,450, one week.

6. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Fox, $9,910,686, 3,183 locations, $3,114 average, $165,164,423, four weeks.

7. "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," Warner Bros. , $4,767,809, 2,255 locations, $2,114 average, $46,906,154, four weeks.

8. "Obsessed," Sony/Screen Gems, $2,424,470, 1,603 locations, $1,512 average, $66,332,824, five weeks.

9. "Monsters vs. Aliens," Paramount, $2,060,680, 1,434 locations, $1,437 average, $193,706,544, nine weeks.

10. "17 Again," Warner Bros. , $1,292,506, 1,107 locations, $1,168 average, $60,601,427, six weeks.

11. "The Soloist," Paramount, $1,112,075, 654 locations, $1,700 average, $29,507,907, five weeks.

12. "Next Day Air," Summit Entertainment, $780,280, 542 locations, $1,440 average, $9,092,382, three weeks.

13. "Earth," Disney, $656,239, 619 locations, $1,060 average, $30,602,070, five weeks.

14. "Hannah Montana the Movie," Disney, $616,109, 628 locations, $981 average, $77,002,329, seven weeks.

15. "The Brothers Bloom," Summit Entertainment, $495,527, 52 locations, $9,529 average, $618,915, two weeks.

16. "Fast & Furious," Universal, $419,585, 378 locations, $1,110 average, $153,616,625, eight weeks.

17. "State of Play," Universal, $382,285, 278 locations, $1,375 average, $36,284,540, six weeks.

18. "Race to Witch Mountain," Disney, $377,099, 310 locations, $1,216 average, $65,402,038, 11 weeks.

19. "Under the Sea 3-D," Warner Bros., $333,024, 40 locations, $8,326 average, $8,390,160, 15 weeks.

20. "Rudo y Cursi," Sony Pictures Classics, $320,865, 134 locations, $2,395 average, $1,216,084, three weeks.

In this film publicity image released by Columbia Pictures/Sony Entertainment, Tom Hanks and Ayelet Zurer, right, are shown in a scene from, "Angels & Demons." (AP Photo/Columbia Pictures/Sony, Zade Rosenthal)

JAKE COYLE
AP Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- "Angels & Demons" took the box office from "Star Trek" by earning $48 million in its first weekend of release.

The haul was far less than the earlier Dan Brown adaptation "The Da Vinci Code" -- which earned $77.1 million when in opened in 2006 -- but still enough to topple the popular "Star Trek," according to studio estimates Sunday.

In its second weekend, Paramount Pictures' "Star Trek" took in $43 million, a strong number after its $75.2 million opening last weekend, excluding its Thursday midnight screenings. The cumulative total for J.J. Abram's reboot of the sci-fi franchise is $147.6 million.

Sony's "Angels & Demons" reunites Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard for the sequel to "The Da Vinci Code." It opened without the benefit of the buzz and controversy that propelled "The Da Vinci Code" to a $753 million worldwide total.

Overseas business was again strong for "Angels & Demons," which earned $104.3 million internationally. Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony, said the studio expects the film will eventually take in half a billion altogether in theatrical release.

"That chemistry (of Hanks and Howard) worked incredibly well with 'Da Vinci' and it looks like it's absolutely headed in that same vein, certainly on a lesser scale," said Bruer. "We never expected anything to the phenomenon of 'Da Vinci.'"

Like "The Da Vinci Code," reviews were not illustrious for "Angels & Demons," but they were mostly better. Bruer called Brown's action-packed best-seller "a far more cinematic story" than "Da Vinci." In it, Hanks again plays Harvard symbolist Robert Langdon who's trying to prevent a series of murders at the Vatican.

"Sony positioned it well," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. "They didn't try to say, 'This is going to be "The Da Vinci Code.'" It was actually quite the contrary. They tried to say this was not 'Da Vinci Code,' that it was a different kind of movie."

"Angels & Demons" was the only new wide-release film of the weekend. Coming in third was "X-Men Originals: Wolverine," which earned $14.8 million in its third week, bringing its total to $151.1 million. The prequel to the "X-Men" franchise, starring Hugh Jackman as the mutant with metal claws, had a step drop-off in its second week.

On the whole, it was another robust weekend of business at movie theaters, which have been drawing large crowds throughout the recession. Dergarabedian pegs the year-to-date box office at a 16 percent increase over last year.

"We're headed toward a record breaking summer," said Dergarabedian. "If you've got a blockbuster in the pipeline, you're very happy about all the strength of the box office right now. Momentum is key in this business."

That's good news for the two blockbusters opening next weekend: "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" and "Terminator Salvation."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Angels & Demons," $48 million.

2. "Star Trek," $43 million.

3. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," $14.8 million.

4. "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," $6.9 million.

5. "Obsessed," $4.6 million.

6. "17 Again," $3.4 million.

7. "Monsters vs. Aliens," $3 million.

8. "The Soloist," $2.4 million.

9. "Next Day Air," $2.2 million.

10. "Earth," $1.7 million.

Previous entries:

'Star Trek' has galactic $76.5M opening weekend

Leak doesn't keep fans away from 'Wolverine'

Young Spock challenges a creature on the planet Vulcan in Paul Pope's "When Worlds Collide" for Wired magazine.  The May 2009 issue of Wired was guest edited by "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams.  Read the comic online here.

What can I say about the new "Star Trek" film that hasn't already been said in print, over the interwebs or on the tube already?

You've heard it's good -- Well darn right it is. This picture is good enough to inspire at least one more viewing out of me.  Yeah me, the guy who is growing weary of the constant stream of big screen remakes.

Director J.J. Abrams and crew pulled this project off. "Star Trek" managed to be nostalgic and boldly new at the same time.

Comic writer and artist Paul Pope ("Heavy Liquid," "100%") created a six-page Star Trek comic prequel "When Worlds Collide: Spock confronts the ultimate challenge" for Wired magazine. Trek film fans who are also comic fans should peep it out for two big reasons:

1. It's work by Paul Pope, so why wouldn't you?
2. And yes, it should make you want to see "Star Trek."

Once again, read the comic online at Wired here.

Moviegoers wait in line to see the first public showing of "Star Trek" in IMAX at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 7, 2009. "Star Trek" opened in theaters Friday, May 8 but some theaters began showing the film as early as 7 PM Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

CHRISTY LEMIRE
AP Movie Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Star Trek" beamed itself up to the top of the box office, earning $76.5 million in its opening weekend.

Paramount Pictures had estimated that the movie would make about $50 million for the weekend, but figured that strong reviews helped carry it to the bigger opening.

Director J.J. Abrams' reboot of the beloved sci-fi franchise made $72.5 million from Friday through Sunday, plus $4 million just in pre-midnight screenings Thursday, the studio said Saturday. That cumulative figure includes a record $8.2 million in IMAX showings.

"Star Trek," which reveals the back stories of Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock and the rest of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, is an unusual blockbuster that pleased critics, too, receiving 96 percent positive reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes Web site.

"Last year 'The Dark Knight' and 'Iron Man' both were embraced by critics as incredible filmmaking as well as big action-adventure movies. This one has been even better reviewed," said Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore. "You look at the level of critical response and the audience reaction, we definitely feel like the movie is set to play into Memorial Day and into the summer."

Moore said he expected the movie, which had a $140 million budget, should gross over $200 million total this summer, even with competition like "Terminator: Salvation" coming on May 21 and "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" arriving in theaters July 15.

Abrams got it right, he said, by appealing to both hardcore "Star Trek" fans as well as moviegoers who may not have been familiar with the 1960s television series and the many movies and TV spin-offs it spawned. It stars Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, and features an appearance by Leonard Nimoy as an older version of the half-Vulcan, half-human Spock.

"It just shows you how talented he is and what a great movie he made," Moore said.

"Star Trek" also beat the $6.3 million record "The Dark Knight" set in its opening weekend on IMAX screens last year.

"The DNA of this movie and the DNA of the 'Star Trek' franchise work perfectly together and are very much a complement to what IMAX has accomplished," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "IMAX was a company that had a sort of older-school, older-fashioned approach to things and we hipped it up and reinvented ourselves, if you will. That's precisely what J.J. Abrams and Paramount did with 'Star Trek.'"

The fact that the "Star Trek" haul improved from $26.8 million on Friday to $27.4 million on Saturday is a good sign, said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

"Sometimes you will see a movie drop big-time," Dergarabedian said. "What this 'Star Trek' is going to have is legs, a rare commodity in this world where every week there's a new blockbuster."

As expected, last week's top film, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," came in at No. 2 with $27 million. The prequel to the "X-Men" franchise, starring Hugh Jackman as the mutant who slices and dices his enemies with his metal claws, has made nearly $129.6 million in two weeks.

"It's the same weekend drop as ('X-Men: The Last Stand'), the last one. That tends to be what fan-based movies do," said Chris Aronson, senior vice president of domestic distribution for 20th Century Fox. "To have $130 million in the first 10 days is sensational. We think we withstood the attack of 'Star Trek,' if you will, and will settle into a long, successful run."

The week's other new wide release, the stoner comedy "Next Day Air," came in at sixth place with $4 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Star Trek," $72.5 million.

2. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," $27 million.

3. "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," $10.45 million.

4. "Obsessed," $6.6 million.

5. "17 Again," $4.4 million.

6. "Next Day Air," $4 million.

7. "The Soloist," $3.6 million.

8. "Monsters vs. Aliens," $3.4 million.

9. "Earth," $2.5 million.

10. "Hannah Montana: The Movie," $2.4 million.

This guy doesn't like anything.

At least that's what I heard about one notably churlish customer at Geoffrey's Comics who had seen an early screening of J.J. Abrams' rebooted "Star Trek."

Turns out he thought it was pretty darn good.

During comic day Wednesday this week I picked up some new titles and talked with customers and employees alike about the latest summer blockbusters; "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "Star Trek."

The love for "Wolverine" was dicey, but almost everyone was interested in seeing the new Enterprise crew in action this weekend.  This enthusiasm for the "Star Trek" film -- which intends to draw new fans while satisfying stalwart ones -- is shared by most of the critics I've read this week.

Kenneth Turan of the LA Times says:

"this 'Star Trek' has in general bridged the gap between the old and the new with alacrity and purpose."
The Los Angeles Times review.


Mick LaSalle at The San Francisco Chronicle says the flick can give you goosebumps:

"The emotions they (younger Kirk and Spock) incite are as strong as ones associated with the most beloved historical figures, and the great thing about the new 'Star Trek' movie is that the filmmakers know it."
The Chronicle review.
 

Associated Press film reviewer Christy Lemire admits there are some plot holes but gives the movie credit for jumping over them:

"It's a daring and exciting approach that's sure to tickle and provoke purists, while at the same time probably cause neophytes to feel a bit lost."
Read the entire AP story.


Roger Ebert called "Star Trek" fun but doesn't dig some of the science in this science fiction:

"like so many franchises, it's more concerned with repeating a successful formula than going boldly where no 'Star Trek' has gone before."
Get the skinny from Mr. Ebert here.

Not bad, huh?  I guess I'll have to see for myself.

Zachary Quinto as Spock, left, and Chis Pine as James T. Kirk are shown in a scene from, "Star Trek." (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Industrial Light & Magic)

CHRISTY LEMIRE
AP Movie Critic

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- J.J. Abrams' hugely anticipated summer extravaganza "Star Trek" boldly goes to the past within the distant future of the "Trek" universe, years ahead of the TV series and the myriad movies and spin-offs it spawned.

And in doing so, he and his longtime collaborators, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, change everything you know -- or obsess about, if you're into this kind of thing -- about the kitschy pop-culture phenomenon.

It's a daring and exciting approach that's sure to tickle and provoke purists, while at the same time probably cause neophytes to feel a bit lost.

A major plot twist pops up -- which includes the arrival of Leonard Nimoy -- about halfway through the film, a twist that doesn't exactly work and from which the film never completely recovers.

Having said that, Abrams clearly aimed to appeal to the broadest possible audience with this dazzling visual spectacle while also leaving plenty of Easter eggs for the hardcore fans to find. If there's any social or political subtext, as in the original series, it's difficult to determine; this "Star Trek" seems solely made to entertain. It's an absolutely gorgeous film with impeccable production design -- the lighting is wondrous, almost heavenly -- and lovely, tiny details frequently emerge from within the larger, grander images.

In this film publicity image released by 20th Century Fox, Hugh Jackman stars as Logan, left, and Liev Schreiber stars as Victor Creed in a scene from "Wolverine." (AP Photo/20th Century Fox, James Fisher)

DAVID GERMAIN
AP Movie Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- What a who's who list Hollywood has lined up for its summer action spectacles: Wolverine. Transformers. Harry Potter. James Kirk. G.I. Joe. Terminator.

If there's one word to sum up it all up, it's this: Relentless.

Starting May 1, barely a weekend will pass without another brawny special-effects extravaganza landing in theaters.

Appropriately, summer starts with a couple of prequels.

After co-starring in three "X-Men" adventures about the Marvel Comics mutants, Hugh Jackman steps out from the pack for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." The film spins the back story of Jackman's metal-clawed loner, a military experiment gone rogue amid a government conspiracy to control his super-freak kinfolk.

Next, the starship Enterprise is relaunched in "Star Trek," with a new cast taking on the characters originated in the 1960s TV show. Chris Pine inherits William Shatner's role as dashing James Kirk, while Zachary Quinto plays Vulcan egghead Spock (Leonard Nimoy, who created the role, pops up as the older Spock).

Like "Star Trek" director J.J. Abrams, Pine grew up more a "Star Wars" kid than a "Star Trek" kid. After snagging the role, Pine started watching the original series but stopped halfway through the first season.

"It was kind of nice to familiarize myself with the world, but it didn't help me much at all to delve any deeper," Pine said. "If anything, it was a hindrance to kind of watch what Mr. Shatner had done, because he'd done it so well, and he was so specific.

"There were certain mannerisms that I think are definitely Kirk-ian things that I wanted to use in my portrayal, but for the most part, I wanted to free myself up to create something new."

The director of the final four "Harry Potter" movies, David Yates, is still giving thanks for the young cast he inherited, led by Daniel Radcliffe as boy wizard Harry and Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as his school pals.

"There was something very, very, very clever in their choices. Not a day goes by I'm not grateful for this bunch they put together," Yates said. "It's a remarkable bunch of kids."

In "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Harry is charged with uncovering a forgotten memory from a new Hogwarts teacher (Jim Broadbent), information the young sorcerer needs for his final showdown against dark wizard Voldemort.

While Yates marvels over how his youthful cast has blossomed, "Transformers" director Michael Bay was thrilled over the improved acting chops of his computer-animated robots for the sequel.

"We were just touching the surface last time in what they're capable of doing," Bay said. "This time, they really emote."

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" reunites puny but plucky human Shia LaBeouf with his giant, shape-shifting Autobot buddies in a rematch against the evil Decepticon robot clan.

Also in a rematch are Tom Hanks and Ron Howard with "Angels & Demons," their follow-up to "The Da Vinci Code." This installment hurls Hanks' symbologist into an ancient feud between the Vatican and a secret brotherhood that has kidnapped the cardinals in line to become the next pope.

Howard felt less pressure this time adapting Dan Brown's best-seller than he had with "The Da Vinci Code," a literary phenomenon whose did-Christ-have-kids premise put the movie under a severe microscope by fans and detractors alike.

"Documentaries are being made about 'Da Vinci Code.' Theologians develop symposiums around it. Ministers were using it as a way to, frankly, entice people to church," Howard said, adding that the new film "remains provocative, yes, but it doesn't hold that same place at the center of the zeitgeist. So it's really full-on escapism.

Other action highlights:

-- "Terminator: Salvation": Christian Bale leads the last shreds of humanity against machine enemies as the franchise reboots without Arnold Schwarzenegger.

-- "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra": The action figures get their own movie as the G.I. Joe guys take on an arms dealer and a militant secret organization.

-- "Inglourious Basterds": Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino resurrect "Dirty Dozen"-style action as Jewish soldiers dish out chaos among the Nazis.

-- "Public Enemies": Johnny Depp is gangster John Dillinger and Christian Bale is G-Man Melvin Purvis in Michael Mann's Depression-era crime saga.

-- "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" -- The remake casts Denzel Washington as a subway dispatcher and John Travolta as a bad guy ransoming a trainload of passengers.

-- "Drag Me to Hell": "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi returns to his "Evil Dead" roots with a horror tale about a bank employee (Alison Lohman) tormented by a vengeful customer's supernatural curse.

-- "District 9": "Lord of the Rings" overlord Peter Jackson produces a sci-fi tale about a human who becomes an unlikely ally for aliens held in a South African ghetto.

Police released this surveillance photo of the suspect, holding a double-ended weapon which resembled one used by Klingons in "Star Trek." (Colorado Springs Police)

By Kieran Nicholson
The Denver Post

A man wielding a "Star Trek Klingon-type sword" robbed two Colorado Springs convenience stores early this morning, police said.

The first robbery happened at about 1:55 a.m. at a 7-Eleven at 145 N. Spruce St., Colorado Springs police said in an incident report. The second robbery happened at about 2:20 a.m. at a 7-Eleven store at 2407 N. Union Blvd.

Witnesses told police that a man wearing a black mask, black jacket and blue jeans entered the stores carrying a sword. The armed robber took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot from both stores, police said.

Officers searched the area but didn't find the robber or the weapon, which was described as a "bat'leth." 

No more indirect speculation based on scattered and varied interviews with filmmaker J.J. Abrams on his upcoming "Star Trek" film. The director answers questions and discusses the plot in a magazine article to be released tomorrow.

Of course, it is available online now at the Entertainment Weekly Web site.

There are some cool pictures depicting several cast members in their character get up. The cast includes: Chris Pine as Kirk, John Cho as Sulu, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoe Saldana as Uhura and "Heroes'" Zachary Quinto as Spock.

I have already slipped you some of the rumors on the plot a little while ago. If you read it then what you'll find in the EW article is that much of what was posted here is indeed true. (Don't check it out if you don't want a spoiler. The article also gives you a chance to turn back if you don't wanna know.)

I will say one of the most interesting parts of the article is Abrams admission that he is not a hardcore Trekker but sought the advice of Hollywood-ites who are. (Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman - the writers of "Transformers.")

Of course there is also an Abrams response to the William Shatner YouTube response to not being in Abrams' film. Check it out here.


Images Courtesy Entertainment Weekly



 

The word on the new "Star Trek" story is here at Rotten Tomatoes and in even greater detail over at Chud.com.

I was not waiting with great anticipation for yet ANOTHER remake of anything. Not that I am against the remakes, just a little tired of hearing about yet another one being announced.

And then this bit of information. Could it be that J.J. Abrams will deliver a Star Trek that is not a remake even though the new cast has been announced to be playing familiar characters in the same old starship?

I guess the answer is "yes" and "no."

The Abrams plot for this new 'Trek' is said to follow Leonard Nimoy as Spock to the past where he encounters the original crew and must help to stop a Romulan plot to kill a young Captain Kirk before he breaks a foot off in their... plans in the years to come.

A future Spock from the current continuity meeting with this young version of himself and the old crew? It is suggested at Chud that this could branch into numerous possibilities for new stories with old staff. If it's played right this may be cool and if not then at least interesting to see.