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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – February 4th

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Happy Friday to all of you wonderful ConsumeU students!  The first box office weekend for February is getting underway today and there are a couple new films to check out.  Below are the previews for Sanctum and The Roommate which open in theaters today.

Sanctum


Starring: Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley, Christopher Baker

Director: Alister Grierson

What could be more exhilarating than exploring a cave that has never been visited by another human being?  When a dive team finds such a cave they are excited to see what it has to offer and reap any rewards that might come their way.  What is just ahead for these individuals is more difficult than any of them could have imagined.  Check out this stunning 3D film from the amazingly talented executive producer James Cameron (Titanic).  Sanctum is the biggest film in the young career of director Alister Grierson so it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the table.


The Roommate


Starring: Minka Kelly, Leighton Meester, Cam Gigandet

Director: Christian E. Christiansen

College is supposed to be the time of your life.  Being out on your own for the first time and meeting new friends is just the start.  When Rebecca (Leighton Meester) first checks into college she is extremely happy to have such a great roommate in Sara (Minka Kelly).  Unfortunately as the two get to know each other better Rebecca finds out that Sara is not quite as stable as she appears.  Desperately wanting to keep Rebecca as a friend, Sara will stop at nothing to make sure that happens.   The Roommate is directed by Christian E. Christiansen (Zoomers, Crying for Love). If you are looking for an intense thriller this weekend check out The Roommate.


I hope you all enjoy your weekend at the movies.  I am headed out to the mall to buy a Valentine gift for my mother!

The Prof

Symmetrel

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – January 7th

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Greetings and happy Friday to all of you wonderful ConsumeU students.  For the second weekend in a row there is not a great deal to report on the new movie front.  There is only one film being released this weekend which I will preview for you below.  For those of you that haven’t signed up for ConsumeU what are you waiting for?  ConsumeU collects all of your preferences on things like movies, books, music and television shows and provides you with customized recommendations just for you.  Oh yeah and it is also really fun.  Take a few minutes to sign up and explore the campus.

Season of the Witch

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Claire Foy

Director: Dominic Sena

Nicholas Cage stars as Behmen the crusader who returns after years of battle to discover his homeland has been overrun by the Black Plague.  Behmen and his comrade Felson (Ron Perlman) are requested to take an accused witch (Clair Foy) to an abbey to have her powers removed by the monks. The dangerous and mystical journey that the group makes is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.  Without much competition this week the film might perform well but with great movies like The Green Hornet and The Dilemma on the ticket next weekend this film better make some cash quick.  Season of the Witch is directed by Dominic Sena best known for his work on Gone in Sixty Seconds (also starring Nicholas Cage) and Swordfish.  Check out the trailer for the PG-13 film below:

If this film doesn’t look like one that interests you check out the previews for the following films currently playing in theaters:

Blue Valentine, Another Year, TRON: Legacy, Yogi Bear

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – December 10th

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Happy middle of December ConsumeU students!  It feels like we should have something to celebrate with all of these holidays around so why not celebrate the movies!  Check out some of the great new films that are being released to theaters today.

The Tourist


Starring: Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Johnny Depp plays Frank Taylor who decides to take a trip to Venice to get over his recent relationship that just ended.  Little does Taylor know that he is about to meet and fall for the mysterious Elise (Angelina Jolie).  As the relationship grows Frank finds out that Elise is not what she seems and Taylor is now a wanted man.  This star studded cast is sure to bring in the crowds this weekend and might be in the running for an Oscar.

The Tempest


Starring: Helen Mirren, Felicity Jones, Djimon Hounsou

Director: Julie Taymor

The Tempest is an adaptation of the William Shakespeare play starring Helen Mirren as Prospera, the Duchess of Milan.  Prospera and her daughter Miranda (Felicity Jones) have been exiled from Milan to a remote island that is run by the slave Caliban (Djimon Hounsou).  Watch as the conflict ensues when Prospera and Caliban fight for leadership of the island.  It will be interesting to see how this film performs as it is up against the fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader


Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley

Director: Michael Apted

The third installment of The Chronicles of Narnia comes to theaters today starring Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian.  This time Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) Pevensie take a magical voyage across the sea on the Dawn Treader, which is a beautiful royal ship.  The three encounter many mythical and magical creatures on their voyage to the end of the world.  Fox is behind the third installment of the Narnia franchise after Disney released the first two films.  Not only is the franchise owned by a new company there is also a new director, Michael Apted, who has taken over from Andrew Adamson who directed the first two films.

Thanks for reviewing the new releases to theaters this weekend.  If you are tired of shopping why not take in a matinee with your family because after all, family is what the holidays are all about.

The Professor

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – December 3rd

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

Happy weekend after Thanksgiving ConsumeU students.  After two big weekend movie releases this weekend doesn’t have a great deal to offer. If you don’t have enough great choices from the films currently in theaters, check out the new releases to theaters for Friday, December 03, 2010.

Black Swan

Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) is a dedicated ballerina competing for the lead role in the production of Swan Lake. When Lily (Mila Kunis) enters into picture as Nina’s understudy, the two form a complicated relationship which results in Sayers believing she is being stalked. Black Swan is sure to provide an intense storyline to keep viewers clutching their popcorn. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky best known for his work in Requiem For a Dream.


All Good Things

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Director: Andrew Jarecki

All Good Things is a twisted love story that centers on David Marks (Ryan Gosling) who is a New York City real estate mogul and falls in love and marries Katie Marks (Kristen Dunst). As the two explore their relationship, Katie discovers there is a great deal that she doesn’t know about David. This movie looks to be incredibly suspenseful and very well produced. All Good Things is directed by Andrew Jarecki (Capturing the Friedmans) and is predicted to be in the running for an Oscar.


Enjoy your weekend at the movies.  If you don’t like the new selections released today don’t forget about the excellent recent releases like Disney’s Tangled, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part I, and Megamind.  Have a great weekend and don’t forget to rate your favorite movies, music, television and books right here at ConsumeU.com.

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – November 24th

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

Welcome ConsumeU students to the special Wednesday edition of the weekly movie preview.  Since it is Thanksgiving week the movie studios thought that we would appreciate having some new movies to watch on Thursday and Friday of this week so they released them a few days early.  Take a look at some of the great flicks hitting theaters tonight.

Tangled


Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi

Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard

Disney will likely give Harry Potter a run for the money with the release of Tangled this weekend.  Tangled is the tale of Rapunzel (Moore) who is a beautiful princess that is hidden away in a high tower above the kingdom.  Rapunzel with her extremely long and beautiful hair wants only one thing, to be free.  When she meets Flynn Rider (Levi) she offers him a place to hide in exchange for a ticket out of her tower.  Look for this film to do quite well with the family crowd this weekend but more than likely take the second spot behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part I.

Burlesque


Starring: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Alan Cumming

Director: Steve Antin

Christina Aguilera stars as a small town girl who is looking to escape her boring life in search of the big city of Los Angeles, CA.  When she arrives so finds work at a neo-burlesque club that is run by a former burlesque dance played by Cher.  This film is sure to bring some amazing musical numbers as both Cher and Christina are known to light up the big screen.  Look for this film to be in the top five at the box office this weekend.

Love and Other Drugs


Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Judy Greer

Director: Edward Zwick

Jamie Reidy (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a Viagra salesman who gets caught up in a wild romantic relationship with Maggie Murdock (Anne Hathaway).  Love and Other Drugs is all about the pharmaceutical industry and the money hungry joke that it has become.  Look for this comedy to also be in the top five at the box office this weekend.

Faster


Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace

Director: George Tillman Jr.

The actor formally known as “The Rock” (Dwayne Johnson) stars as Driver, an ex-con that is on a mission to avenge his brother’s death.  While on his mission Driver is followed by a hit man and a veteran police officer played by Billy Bob Thornton.  This film is sure to be packed with action and a fair share of violence.  Depending on the early reviews of this film it will be fighting for a top five box office spot with the movies previously listed.

Thanks for tuning into my weekly segment and I wish all of your the happiest of Thanksgivings!  Have a great weekend and eat lots of turkey.

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Weekend Box Office Results for November 21st, 2010

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

One of the easiest predictions of the year was that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I would dominate the box office for its opening weekend.  The only question that needed answering was how much would it make.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I had an incredible weekend bringing in just over $125 million with its Friday opening.  This figure outpaced all of the previous Harry Potter releases with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire being the closest second bringing in $102 million on its opening weekend.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I was not the highest earning opening weekend film of the year because it was beat out by Iron Man 2 which made $128 million.

Those that weren’t looking to join the teenage crowds pouring into Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I went to see the animated comedy Megamind starring Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt.  The movie, now in its third weekend, just broke the $100 million mark with the $16 million addition of this weekend.  This film should have another few weeks of success to look forward to with the holiday week coming.

The third place finisher of the weekend was Unstoppable starring Denzel Washington.  The action thriller now in its second weekend added $13 million to bringing the movies two week total to just over $41 million.   The movie clearly benefited from being in a different demographic category than the top two films.

Check out the top ten performing films from the weekend in the chart below.

With the holidays just ahead this week will be a great one for new movie releases.  Look for these great films to hit theaters on Wednesday of this week: Disney’s Tangled starring Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, Love and Other Drugs starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, and finally Faster starring Dwayne Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton.  With this diverse offering there is certainly something to see for everyone.

Weekend Domestic Box Office Results for November 21st, 2010

Results for Friday, November 19th - Sunday, November 21st, 2010

# Title weekend Total Wks.
1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I $125,120,000 $125,120,000 1
2 Megamind $16,175,000 $109,475,598 3
3 Unstoppable (2010) $13,100,000 $41,961,914 2
4 Due Date $9,150,000 $72,669,412 3
5 The Next Three Days $6,750,000 $6,750,000 1
6 Morning Glory (2010) $5,233,000 $19,855,903 2
7 Skyline $3,400,000 $17,611,775 2
8 Red (2010) $2,467,000 $83,573,922 6
9 For Colored Girls $2,400,000 $34,539,697 3
10 Secretariat $962,000 $56,368,594 7
11 Paranormal Activity 2 $926,000 $83,563,770 5

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – November 19th

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Greetings and happy Friday again to all of my loyal ConsumeU students.  We are just a week away from Thanksgiving and I can smell the turkey cooking already.  If you are looking for a break this weekend before the holiday mayhem ensues, check out the previews of the movies hitting theaters tonight.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Director: David Yates

Can you believe that the first Harry Potter film was shown over a decade ago?  Get ready for another great installment of the series as Voldemort takes  control over Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic.   In order to stop him Harry, Ron, and Hermione need to finish Dumbledore’s mission and uncover the remaining Horcruxes. They will have to work together if they have a chance at beating the Dark Lord.  This film should dominate the box office this weekend and more than likely next weekend as well.  Be prepared to be left in suspense as this is part one of two which is set to release in July 2011.

The Next Three Days

Starring: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson

Director: Paul Haggis

John (Russell Crowe) and Lara’s (Elizabeth Banks) life is picture perfect.  All of that changes in a instant when Lara is thrown in prison for murder.  Having to raise his son by himself while his wife is in jail, John beings to feel his life getting away from him.  When Lara attempts suicide in prison John devises a plan to help Lara escape.  Get ready for non-stop action in the second half of this film as some of the chase scenes look amazing.  The Next Three Days is written and directed by Paul Haggis who won two Oscars for his work on the2004 film Crash.

Just two films to preview this week but make sure to stop by next Wednesday as I preview all of the great films being released for the holiday weekend.  Enjoy you weekend and have some extra butter on your popcorn for me!

The Professor

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – November 12th

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Greetings ConsumeU students and welcome to the middle of November.  The holidays are fast approaching so treat yourself to a movie and some relaxation this weekend.  If you are looking for a great new movie to see check out the previews below.

Unstoppable


Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson

Director: Tony Scott

When an unmanned train measuring a half mile long is headed at top speed toward a city the veteran engineer Frank (Denzel Washington) needs to think fast.  When they find out that several train cars are filled with hazardous chemicals the entire city begins to panic.  Can Frank and his new trainee Will (Chris Pine) devise a plan to stop the train before it reaches and destroys the city?  Unstoppable is sure to be an action packed blockbuster and is our pick to dominate the box offices this weekend.  The film is directed by Tony Scott (Man on Fire, Enemy of the State).

Morning Glory (11/10)


Starring: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton

Director: Roger Michell

When the producer of the morning show Day Break realizes that the show is tanking he hires a young aspiring director Becky (Rachel McAdams) to turn the show around.  Becky decides to compliment the on air talent Colleen (Diane Keaton) with the veteran Mike (Harrison Ford).  The on air chemistry between the two could not be worse as Rachel realizes that she has quite a bit of work on her hands.  Can Becky turn the show around or did she bite off more than she could chew?  This film is directed by the talented Roger Michell (Changing Lanes, Notting Hill).

Skyline


Starring: Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson

Director: Colin Strause

Skyline plays of the Steven Hawking claim that when aliens come to visit earth that it will be much like when Columbus found the United States was for the Native Americans.  When the aliens descend on Los Angeles they use bright lights to lure the citizens into their destructive plan.  The cast of Skyline is not the strongest and the early indications are that this movie will be a bust.    The film is being directed by Colin Strause who has extensive visual effects experience but is rather new to the role of director.

As always have a great weekend and if the weather gets too cold, catch a movie!

The Professor

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – November 5th

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Hi Film Fans! The Professor here with your weekly movie preview. Here are some of the films coming this weekend:

Megamind

Starring: Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt

Director: Tom McGrath

Megamind (Will Ferrell) is the most powerful villain that the planet has ever known.  Meganmind has his mind set on taking over Metro City but his nemesis Metroman will do everything to stop him.  The two have been in competition since the day they were born.  While trying to keep Metro City safe Metroman witnesses Megamind doing something for the first time in his life, good.  This Dreamworks animated film is our pick to win the box office this weekend.

 

Due Date

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan

Director: Todd Phillips

Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) is a soon to be father who desperately needs to make his way across the country to be there for the birth of his child.  His only solution to his situation is hitching a ride with a quirky aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis).  After the journey begins it takes everything for the high strung Peter not to throw Ethan out of a moving car.  This Todd Phillips (The Hangover) comedy is sure to be a smash hit.  Phillips will also be working on The Hangover 2 starting this year.

127 Hours

Starring:James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara

Director: Danny Boyle

From director Danny Boyle that brought us Slumdog Millionaire, comes an inspiration film based on a true story.  Aaron Ralston (James Franco) is an explorer who likes to live life to the fullest.  His many adventures take him to incredible heights and depths of the deserts in Utah.  When Ralston fails to tell anyone about his latest adventure he finds himself trapped under a boulder in the middle of the Moab Desert.  The lengths that he will go to survive will inspire you.


For Colored Girls

Starring: Janet Jackson, Anika Noni Rose, Whoopi Goldberg

Director: Tyler Perry

For Colored Women is a story about a group of African American women and how their lives intersect at a 12-step healing program.  The movie is an adaptation of Ntozake Shange’s play. This movie is packed with talent from the director Tyler Perry to the ensemble of talented actresses like: Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington, and Phylicia Rashad.  Mariah Carey was also cast for the film but dropped out on rumors that she is pregnant.



Fair Game

Starring: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn

Director: Doug Liman

From director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) comes a story about a CIA agent Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) who leaves her husband and family behind to investigate Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.  In the middle of her investigation she realizes that her identity has been leaked by her own government in a move to get back at her journalist husband Joseph (Sean Penn) for an honest article he wrote about the Bush administration.  With her identity made public her family becomes a target and pushes Valerie to the edge.

With so many great movies coming out this weekend it will be difficult to decide what to see.  I recommend you head to the theaters on Saturday and stay all day!  Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the popcorn!

- The Professor.

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ConsumeU Weekly Movie Preview – October 29th

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Happy Friday CU students and what a great Friday it is.  I love the Friday before Halloween because I get to line up all of my favorite spooky movies to watch for the weekend.  If you have ideas for me please leave them in the comments below.  Speaking of scary movies the big movie coming to theaters this weekend is Saw 3D.  Check out the preview below to see if you can handle the horror!

Saw 3D

Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell
Director: Kevin Greutert

The sixth and final chapter of the Saw movie franchise focuses on the haunting legacy of Jigsaw.  A group of Jigsaw survivors look to one of their fellow survivors Bobby Dagen (Flanery) but it turns out that Bobby has his own issues that create a reign of terror.  The team at Lionsgate is hoping that bringing the chilling gory details to the theater in three dimensions will help the movie win the top box office position on this Halloween weekend.  Check out the trailer below if you think you can handle it.

I don’t know about you but this looks too scary for me!  Between Paranormal Activity 2 and Saw 3D there are sure to be some frightened folks leaving the theaters tonight.  Look for a lot of spilled popcorn!  Have a great weekend and don’t forget to eat lots of candy.

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