Weekend Box Office: June 29 - July 1

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1.  Ted - $54.1 million

2.  Magic Mike - $39.1 million

3.  Brave - $34 million

4.  Tyler Perry's Medea's Witness Protection - $26.3 million

5.  Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - $11.8 million

6.  Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - $6 million

7.  Prometheus - $4.9 million

8.  Moonrise Kingdom - $4.8 million

9.  Snow White and the Huntsman - $4.4 million

10.  People Like Us - $4.3 million

Well, the creator of the Teddy Ruxpin doll might not be happy about it, but audiences certainly were as Ted took the top spot this weekend with $54.1 million.  That's the third-highest opening weekend ever for an R-rated movie, behind The Hangover Part II and Sex and the City.  Directed and co-written by Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane, Ted benefitted not only from a built-in audience of McFarlane fans, but a brilliant marketing campaign, and the good fortune of a better release date, after GI Joe got moved to next summer.  With an "A-" Cinemascore, this one is probably going to stick around for a good part of the summer.

But this weekend was not without Channing Tatum (at this point, what weekend is?) since Magic Mike opened this weekend to the delight of women who clearly raced out to see the stripper film as quickly as possible - nearly half of the $39.1 million it earned this weekend came in on Friday.  Still, it's a great debut, especially for Tatum, as Mike becomes his third hit film of the year after 21 Jump Street and The Vow. 

Not to be left out amongst the foul-mouthed teddy bears and strippers, Tyler Perry's latest entry in the Medea franchise did all right, opening with $26.3 million.  That's not quite as big an opening as some of the previous films in the series, but the series is still going strong.

The weekend's other new release, the family drama People Like Us, couldn't hold up against any of the competition, opening in tenth place with just $4.3 million. 

As far as the kids' films:  Pixar's Brave crossed the $100 million mark this weekend, earning $34 million to bring its domestic total to $131.7 million, while Madagascar 3 continues to perform strongly, earning another $11.8 million to bring its own domestic total to $180 million.  But on the horizon is Ice Age 4, which has already earned $78 million overseas.  That opens in the US on July 13.

Next weekend, the endless speculation on whether or not the world is ready for a Spiderman reboot can be put to rest as The Amazing Spiderman finally opens in theaters.  The reboot has gotten off to a promising start overseas, where it has already earned $50 million.  Whether or not that continues here (Battleship, anyone?) remains to be seen.  Joining Spidey will be Katy Perry's 3D concert film (who greenlit that?) Katy Perry: Part of Me, and Taylor Kitch's third-time-is-the-charm crime thriller, Savages.

First Footage from 'Jack Reacher'

Granted this is an international trailer - albeit not even in English unless you click the subtitles button - but we have our first official look at footage from Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher.

For those who don't know, Jack Reacher is based off Lee Child's bestselling novel, One Shot, the 9th book in the author's Reacher series.

I must say, having read One Shot and enjoyed in tremendously, it's almost crazy seeing many of the scenes in the novel ripped off the pages and brought to life.  And for those still bitching about Tom Cruise playing the title character, please stop.

The one thing I will say about Jack Reacher is that though he is a great character, I never really got the sense the guy was in danger much considering the size of the man described in the book.  There's never any real threat to someone who is larger and more powerful then everyone else.  It wouldn't make for much of an exciting movie if the guy playing Reacher was walking through everything so easy without really breaking much of a sweat.  If anything, it'd be kind of boring.

Anyway, I think Cruise will do great and can't wait until the official domestic trailer is released online sometime early this week.  I guess it'll be playing in front of The Amazing Spider-Man (great exposure).

Opening in theaters on December 21, the thriller is based on Lee Child’s best-selling novel "One Shot" and stars Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, David Oyelowo, Richard Jenkins, Alexia Fast, Robert Duvall, Jai Courtney and Werner Herzog.

The film was directed by Christopher McQuarrie from a script by Josh Olson and McQuarrie.

Update on Sun, July 1, 2012 by John DiNicola

Sorry guys, looks like the trailer has been taken down due to copyright issues.  As I stated in the article, the domestic trailer will be online in the next couple days so we'll be sure to post that once it's available.

Toy Masters is coming to Comic-Con - Unadulterated. Absolute. Barbarian. Fiction

You may remember our interview a little while back with filmmaker, producer and DVD special feature maestro Roger Lay Jnr.  If you don't, you can watch or listen to it right here.

In that interview, Roger teased with details on what is, hands down, my most anticipated film of the year.  Never mind how 'The Dark Knight Rises' ends, I want to know who really created 'He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe'.

'Toy Masters' (the amazing trailer of which you can view right here) is the new documentary that aims to answer that question and if you're lucky enough to be going to Comic-Con this year, you'll be able to get the first exclusive look at it.  Here are the details:

Toy Masters is the first ever feature-length documentary about the worldwide billion-dollar phenomenon that inspired an entire generation of children: Masters of the Universe (MOTU). Filmmakers Roger Lay Jr. and Corey Landis have tracked down all the key players in search for the answer to the question: “Who actually created He-Man?” The filmmakers will be screening exclusive material from the documentary and participating in a Q&A at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, being held at the San Diego Convention Center on Friday, July 13th, 2012, from 8:30pm-9:30pm in room 26AB.

Legions of MOTU fans are already buzzing with anticipation. It is likely the film will reach an even wider audience once released, (a la King of Kong), for the controversial rivalry between former Preliminary Designer for Mattel, Roger Sweet, and former Visual Designer for Mattel, Mark Taylor, (both of whom are claiming bragging rites for the initial concept behind He-Man), makes for a compelling, and highly entertaining film.

During this special one-hour panel fans will get to see exclusive never before seen footage from the epic toy industry smack-down that is TOY MASTERS. Moderator Robert Meyer Burnett (Director, Free Enterprise, Femme Fatales) will be joined on stage by Toy Masters director / producer Roger Lay, Jr and co-producer Corey Landis. Joining them on the panel will be many of the key players from the franchise's 30-year history including writer J. Michael Straczynski and designer Mark Taylor.

The film, which is already being hailed as the next KING OF KONG and the SOCIAL NETWORK of the toy industry, features interviews with the key creative personnel behind every version of the best selling toy line and all incarnations of "Masters of the Universe" on television, film, stage, and print, tracing the inception and ups and downs of the fantasy juggernaut. Everyone involved in the 30 year history of this beloved franchise makes appearances in the film including such genre luminaries as J.

Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Marvel’s Thor), Richard Edlund (Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark), William Stout (Conan The Barbarian, Pan's Labyrinth), Lou Scheimer (Filmation co-founder), Michael Westmore (Star Trek Franchise), Don Glut (Empire Strikes Back, Transformers Animated), and Gary Goddard (Terminator 2-3D, Captain Power).

For more details visit the San Diego Comic-Con official site: www.comic-con.org

Follow TOY MASTERS on the Facebook group for updates, including exclusive details on how you can be one of the first to see the film. Or go to the film’s official site for a first look at the trailer: www.toymastersmovie.com

Also, during the Comic Con panel, the filmmakers will reveal details on the world premiere of the film, which will be hosted by one of the most prestigious film festivals in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre. 

For media inquiries write to: contact@urbanarchipelagofilms.com

Here's hoping the DVD/Blu Ray announcement isn't too far behind.

Yes, Godzilla Will Be at Comic-Con

Godzilla won't be the great obsession that gets away if Thomas Tull has his way. The Legendary Pictures big-cheese is a die-hard, and had his sights set to do the proper Americanized version for years. Can you believe it's been fourteen years since the Roland Emmerich/Dean Devlin disaster? Few others have truly matched that level of hype...led by massive disappoint!

Latino Review says Legendary will make a big splash with a "SICK!" presentation at their Comic-Con panel in two weeks. There must be prototype footage to show off (Disney did that with Tron: Legacy during Comic-Con 2008 if you'll remember) since Gareth Edwards has long been onboard to direct.

Such an investment could prove wise in the event the studio's other monster epic, the Guillermo del Toro-helmed Pacific Rim takes off next July.

'Captain America 2' to shoot in Wilmington

As Iron Man 3 aims to finish filming by September, Marvel Studios is keen on staying in Wilmington, North Carolina for production on another hotly anticipated film-- Captain America 2. Latino Review and Star News Online exclusively confirm that North Carolina is in the running to host the production, which is tentatively scheduled to start production by fall.

This is all contingent on whether North Carolina legislature will pass an extension on production tax credits by next Tuesday -- if not, the credits expire on January 1, 2014 and Marvel Studios will likely move production elsewhere.

Chris Evans will reprise the titular role, with Joe & Anthony Russo directing from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Marvel and Disney will release it April 4, 2014.

New Domestic Trailer for 'Looper'

With the International trailer for Looper hitting yesterday, we Americans now get our 'official' look at the film with the newest domestic trailer.

I must say it does look good, really good, however - like Jamie mentioned as well - I am pretty weirded out by Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing a young looking Bruce Willis.  Hey, maybe if they want to reboot Die Hard they can just get him to play John McClane!

Yeah, that would suck.

Anyway, here's the newest look at Looper with the film's official synopsis below:

In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels. Ram Bergman and James D. Stern produce.

"Goats" & "The Tall Man" Posters Featuring Vera Farmiga & Jessica Biel

GOATS:

In GOATS, Ellis (Graham Phillips) is the most adult member of his eccentric family at 15 years old.  His mom (Vera Farmiga) is a New Age hippie that spends all of her time working on self-help rituals with her hustler boyfriend (Justin Kirk).  His dad (Ty Burrell) left home years ago and is more focused on his new wife (Keri Russell) and family.  And then there’s Goat Man (David Duchovny), the goat-herding sage who has lived in their pool house since Ellis was a child, teaching him the meaning of stability, commitment, and expanding one's mind. 
 
When Ellis decides to leave Tucson to go to the same East Coast prep school that his father went to, he easily assimilates to his new environment - even gaining the attention of a local girl (Dakota Johnson).  But as he re‐connects with his estranged father, he finds Goat Man’s influence and his life out West thrown into stark contrast.
 
Based on Mark Jude Poirier’s best-selling novel, director Christopher Neil's hilarious and poignant film is a witty reversal of the coming of age formula, a beautifully honest portrayal of life with its rough edges, awkward moments, and non-endings.

THE TALL MAN:

In an isolated, slowly dying mining town, children are vanishing without a trace – abducted, the townsfolk whisper, by a mysterious entity known locally as “The Tall Man.” Town nurse Julia Denning (Jessica Biel) seems skeptical…until her young David disappears in the middle of night. Frantic to rescue the boy, Julia lives every parent’s darkest nightmare in this twisting, shock-around-each-corner thriller from acclaimed director Pascal Laugier (“Martyrs”) called THE TALL MAN.

New Total Recall Trailer Cock-Blocks Us Outta Seeing Three-Breasted Woman!

If you're going for the three-breasted woman (again) in Total Recall, don't talk about it. SHOW IT! Damn green-band trailers! Here's the second one for Len Wiseman doing Paul Verhoeven (per Yahoo! Movies), minus all the delicious Verhoeven-isms.

Everything else, whatever:

Looper International Trailer

If all you did during the first Looper trailer was stare at how eerie Joseph Gordon-Levitt was (playing the younger version of Bruce Willis), you're in no better shape for the International trailer, courtesy of MSN.

This time you get a better sense of what Willis' character is all about, more Jeff Daniels and yeah more of Levitt as young Bruno. Rian Johnson looks like he's really hit one outta the park here. September can't get here soon enough.

Ryan Reynolds Confirmed for Highlander

The saying goes, "There can be only one."

Try telling that to Ryan Reynolds' management. Have to hand it to them really. The dude has been set up as this huge deal numerous times. It never pans out. Yet when the latest attempt fails, there's always someone else convinced the four quads don't know what they're talking about (You know when they vote with their wallets by not seeing Reynolds-starring fare) and that he is destined to be a mega-star.

A month ago, Variety scooped the ex-Emerald Knight was the front-runner for Lionsgate/Summit's Highlander remake. Tracking Board is here to confirm its "done deal" status. Reynolds will swordfight homeless people in parking lots for helmer Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

Nothing personal, everyone talks about Reynolds being a super cool guy (Heard as much from Green Lantern down here). But where is the appeal investors keep seeing? Is it that he's Canadian?