Weekend Box Office: August 12-14

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo: 

1.  Rise of the Planet of the Apes - $27.8 million

2.  The Help - $26 million

3.  Final Destination 5 - $18 million

4.  The Smurfs - $13.7 million

5.  30 Minutes or Less - $13.3 million

6.  Cowboys & Aliens - $7.8 million

7.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - $7.25 million

8.  Captain America: The First Avenger - $7.21 million

9.  Crazy, Stupid, Love. - $7 million

10.  The Change-Up - $6.3 million

The box office was dominated by apes once again as Rise of the Planet of the Apes held on to the top spot, dropping just under 50% to earn $27.8 million and crossing the $100 million mark in its second weekend.  That's not bad, considering it had to fight off a ton of new releases this weekend - though it was more of an August dumping-ground weekend than any serious competition. 

The exception to that would be The Help, based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett, which came in a close second with $26 million.  Disney opened The Help on Wednesday to generate word-of-mouth for the weekend, which definitely worked:  the film has grossed $35 million an earned a rare A+ Cinemascore grade from audiences, which were mostly female.  This should play well through the rest of the summer.

The good news for Final Destination 5?  Fans really wanted to see it in 3D.  Roughly 75% of the tickets sold this weekend were for 3D screenings.  The bad news?  It's still the lowest opening of any of the Final Destination sequels, earning a so-so $18 million.

Another new release, 30 Minutes or Less, didn't make much noise this weekend, opening with just $13.3 million.  Even The Smurfs, now in its third weekend, did a little better than that with $13.7 million.  The little blue guys also continued to embarrass Cowboys & Aliens at the box office, as they passed $100 million this weekend while Cowboys continues to fade with just $81 million domestically. 

However, the biggest disaster of the weekend was Glee 3D, which didn't even make the top 10, earning a rather pathetic $6 million.  Somewhere, Sue Sylvester is laughing hysterically.

Summer continues to wind down next weekend as remakes of Conan The Barbarian and Fright Night open in theaters, as well as another sequel no one asked for, Spy Kids 4.

Arkham City Trailer Featuring Mr. Freeze

Batman & Robin holds shame for most fans and general audience members who actually sat through the entirety of the film. It completely ruined one of my favorite characters from the Bat Universe in Mr. Freeze. Arnold Schwarzeneggar tore through the already child-like dialogue as though he had just been birthed from the womb and learning to speak.

The saving grace for this character is definitely from Batman: The Animated Series. He is handeled seriously and with respect that you would actually be afraid to meet a guy devoid of such emotion from the death of his wife. Now we get what looks like another respectable version of the character outside of comics in Arkham City. Warner Bros. debuted a new trailer for the game which is centered around Freeze. It's shaping up to be quite a worthy sequel to Arkham Asylum. Hopefully when Nolan is finished with his final installment of the Caped Crusader, we might be able to see Mr. Freeze and some other obscure characters brought to life with care in later films.

Now THAT Sounds Like an Arrested Development Movie

Can you imagine a world with an Arrested Development movie finally getting made?

I can't.

Love the series as much as I do, it feels like that ship sailed a long time ago and it had a great wrap-up for a final episode. Going back to the Bluths five years later could be great. Or it could be one of those cases of where they should have left a great thing alone.

Our pals at Screen Rant have received word from a source stating that this will be announced in a few weeks time. But they've heard what the story for the movie will be:

"Ron Howard is making a movie about the Bluths using an A-List cast. But Dr. Tobias plays himself because nobody wants to play him in the movie. The Bluths decide to make their own movie in contention with Ron Howard's."

Not doubting them here. It's a cool idea, and fitting for the irreverent and meta nature of the great, short-lived television series. I'd just be cautious not to get your hopes up. Also this admittedly funny plot description notwithstanding, we've been here before with Arrested Development and creator Mitchell Hurwitz or stars Jason Bateman, Will Arnett or Jeffrey Tambor swearing up and down about how filming is going to start in the spring or fall for release the following year. And then nothing happens.

Wannabe Captain America Vs. Fireworks

This dude thought it would be a good idea to strap on a Captain America mask from Toys R Us and use a star spangled plastic shield to protect himself from his friend and a fast moving firework of some kind. Needless to say, Chris Evans would be extremely disappointed in his efforts.

The Chive

"Last Call At The Oasis" Poster

Although it covers 70 percent of the earth’s surface, there is a very real possibility that in the near future, there won’t be enough water to sustain life on the planet. This documentary illuminates the vital role water plays in our lives, exposes the defects in the current system and shows communities already struggling with its ill-effects and individuals championing revolutionary solutions. Firmly establishing the urgency of the global water crisis as the central issue facing our world this century, the film posits that we can manage this problem if we are willing to act now.

Participant Media

A Threesome Of Actresses Up For "One Shot"

The HollyWoodReporter has unveiled that Hayley Atwell, Alexa Davalos, and Rosamund Pike are three names on the short list to play the female lead opposite Tom Cruise in "One Shot".

Christopher McQuarrie wrote the script so in my opinion, it must be good right? According to THR the decision is going to be made this week. I guess it would depend on shooting schedule among other factors.

Atwell did a solid job in "Captain America" and Davalos has some films under her belt including "Clash Of The Titans" and "Defiance". Pike is more low profile, although she had a role in "An Education.

Gun to my head? I think Atwell gets the role if she is available.

Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me.

And sure enough, ex–military investigator Jack Reacher is coming. He knows this shooter—a trained military sniper who never should have missed a shot. Reacher is certain something is not right—and soon the slam-dunk case explodes.

Now Reacher is teamed with a beautiful young defense lawyer, moving closer to the unseen enemy who is pulling the strings. Reacher knows that no two opponents are created equal. This one has come to the heartland from his own kind of hell. And Reacher knows that the only way to take him down is to match his ruthlessness and cunning—and then beat him shot for shot.

"American Reunion" Poster, Save The Best Piece For Last

In the comedy, all the "American Pie" characters we met a little more than a decade ago are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship. It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married  while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler's mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about—and get inspired by—the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.

"Breaking Bad" Renewed For Final 16 Episodes

AMC announced today that "Breaking Bad," the Emmy Award-winning and critically lauded drama series from acclaimed writer/producer/director Vince Gilligan has been renewed for a 16 episode order that will conclude the series. Production on all episodes of the final order will commence in early 2012. The roll-out of the episodes and premiere date schedule has yet to be determined by the network. The announcement was made by Charlie Collier, president of AMC.

"Breaking Bad's" fourth season premiered on Sunday, July 18th to the highest ratings ever for the series. "From the day we heard Vince Gilligan's completely original vision for 'Breaking Bad,' it has been a complete joy to be involved with this show. Watching this story evolve into the complex, compelling, and intense roller coaster ride that it has become has been an incredible creative experience for everyone at AMC. Beyond that, working with Vince, his brilliant cast and crew, and our wonderful partners at Sony has been remarkable in every way. While it is sad to even contemplate the end of this series, we are so happy to have had the chance to go on this ride, and truly look forward to presenting the rest of this amazing story," said Collier.

"It's a funny irony -- I'd hate to know the date of my own last day on earth, but I'm delighted to know what Walter White's will be (episodically speaking). This is a great gift to me and to my wonderful writers. It's knowledge which will allow us to properly build our story to a satisfying conclusion. Now, if we don't manage to pull that off, we've got no one to blame but ourselves," said Vince Gilligan. "'Breaking Bad' has been a dream job these past four years. Working with the best cast and crew in television has no doubt spoiled me for future projects. I'm lucky to get to work with them on sixteen more episodes, and I will always be grateful to both AMC and Sony Television, who from the beginning, believed in our show and supported me creatively and professionally. We have been able to take risks with 'Breaking Bad' which would not have been possible on other networks."

"We've watched 'Breaking Bad' grow over the years with viewers, as championed by the unwavering support of critics and the well deserved accolades Vince and his talented actors have received. We're looking forward to seeing Vince's masterful storytelling come fully to fruition over the course of the series' final episodes," said Zack Van Amburg, President, programming for Sony Pictures Television.

"Breaking Bad" stars Emmy Award-winner Bryan Cranston as Walter White; Emmy Award-winner Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman; Anna Gunn as Skyler White; Dean Norris as Hank Schrader; Betsy Brandt as Marie Schrader; RJ Mitte as Walter, Jr; Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman; Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring; and Jonathan Banks as Mike. “Breaking Bad” is filmed on location in Albuquerque, NM.

The series first premiered on AMC in January 2008 and follows protagonist Walter White, a milquetoast high school chemistry teacher who lives in New Mexico with his wife, teenage son who has cerebral palsy and a new baby girl. White is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of two years left to live. With a new sense of fearlessness based on his medical prognosis, and a desire to gain financial security for his family, White chooses to enter a dangerous world of drugs and crime and ascends to power in this world. The series explores how a fatal diagnosis such as White's releases a typical man from the daily concerns and constraints of normal society and follows his transformation from mild-mannered family man to a kingpin of the drug trade.

"Breaking Bad" is produced by High Bridge Productions, Inc. and Gran Via Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television for AMC. Executive Producers are Vince Gilligan, Mark Johnson, and Michelle MacLaren; Co-Executive Producers Melissa Bernstein and Sam Catlin; Supervising Producers Peter Gould, George Mastras, and Tom Schnauz; Producers Moira Walley-Beckett, Bryan Cranston, and Diane Mercer; Produced By Stewart A. Lyons; Associate Producer Andrew Ortner, Staff Writer Gennifer Hutchison; and Director of Photography Michael Slovis.

So Long, Lone Ranger

Even though he headlined three billion-grossing films (two of them in the last two years in a row) and has long been the studio's MVP, even Johnny Depp's power and influence is limited over at Disney. In what was a bombshell announcement late Friday evening, "TOLDJA" broke the story of Disney pulling the plug on The Lone Ranger.

Things had advanced on the Western adventure as far as a director (Gore Verbinski), producer (Jerry Bruckheimer), script (Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio), cast (including Armie Hammer in the title role, Depp as Tonto, Ruth Wilson, Dwight Yoakam, Helena Bonham Carter and Barry Pepper) and a prime December 21, 2012 release date all being committed to.

Who can we thank for this? The budget.

Reportedly in the vicinity of $275 million and Disney execs wanted down to $200 and lowest the filmmakers could bring it down to was closer to $232 million. So just what the Hell would make a Western cost that much? Reports Hollywood Elsewhere, werewolves, obviously! The recent box-office failure of Cowboys & Aliens, Depp's dwindling box-office appeal in the US and Western's unpopularity in the foreign box-office (where Depp is still a huge star and thus the bulk of the gross would come from) also played a factor in its cancellation.

When you're reuniting the key players from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as Lone Ranger was going to, you know they were just going to let Depp do his "colorful weirdo" routine, no questions asked. As we said on Movie Moan last night, we'll all tired of it and honestly were that many people really looking forward to this?

Faces In The Crowd Trailer

The plot here is that Milla Jovovich sees a serial killer killing his latest victim, he attacks her but somehow she doesn't end up dead, instead she wakes up with a case of "face blindness" (A real neurological disorder) which means she can't identify the serial killer to the cops, in the form of former Nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon.

The serial killer then starts stalking her and it looks like it will play as some form of cat & mouse thriller. It's a different kind of role than Jovovich's gun toting, gravity defying martial arts heroines, but the film does look a bit like a routine TV movie thriller.