Soul Surfer

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Director: Sean McNamara

Rating: PG

The Bouw-Man.

With stories of individuals overcoming physical limitations to reach their dreams and potential, often times you’re looking at a pretty standard movie script.  Sometime during the story a tragic event takes place, which in the case of “Soul Surfer” is when the main character loses her arm from a shark attack.  Despite insurmountable odds, the main character summons the courage to re-enter the water where the tragedy took place, and continue surfing like she had intended before the accident.  Depending how the story is told, it is bound to be inspirational to at least a certain percentage of film-goers.  The fact that it’s based on a true story, will only add to the dramatic effect.  If you enjoy watching these types of films, then there’s little doubt that “Soul Surfer” will provide what you’re craving.  However, in the grand scheme of things, I’m not sure this is the best form of entertainment for your movie dollar.

Prediction.

Opening Weekend Gross: $8 Million

Noodles: Prediction

Opening Weekend Gross: $6 Million

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Your Highness

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Director: David Gordon Green

Rating: R

The Bouw-Man.

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” comes to mind as you’re watching the preview to “Your Highness.”  They may in fact have nothing to do with one another, but it just gets you thinking.  “Your Highness” brings together the people who brought you “Pineapple Express,” minus Seth Rogan.  “Pineapple Express” was a slightly better than average comedy, so one should expect similar results from this latest collaboration. The comedy of Danny McBride is best consumed in small doses (half-hour “Eastbound and Down” episode is appropriate), so it will be interesting to see if audience members can handle him for 100 minutes as the lead character.  In the end, I think you’re looking at a semi-entertaining ride with a lot of “hit or miss” scenes and jokes sprinkled throughout.  However, I would be shocked if we’re looking at comedy classic or a film that will be remembered for years to come.     

Prediction.

Opening Weekend Gross: $17.8 Million

Noodles: Prediction

Opening Weekend Gross: $21 Million

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Hanna

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Director: Joe Wright

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

“Hanna” appears to a story of an isolated teenager who is trained to be an assassin by her father.  The film brings back memories of the 1994 cult hit, “The Professional,” which ironically was the big screen debut of this year’s Oscar winner for “Best Actress” (Natalie Portman).  Based on the trailer, however, “Hanna” does seem to focus more on the teenage assassin than the older male teacher.  It does look interesting enough to warrant a look, although I’m sure the film’s success will hinge squarely on lead actress Saoirse Ronan.  What made last year’s “Kick-Ass” so original was that kids were doing the actual fighting.  Chloe Moretz’s “Hit Girl” stole the show, and I’m sure the producers are hoping for something similar with Saoirse Ronan’s “Hanna.”  Ronan made a name for herself with “The Lovely Bones,” and a strong performance here would definitely elevate her status and prescribed acting range.  All signs point to “Hanna” being at least an intriguing movie pick for this upcoming weekend.

Prediction.

Opening Weekend Gross: $11 Million

Noodles: Prediction

Opening Weekend Gross: $17 Million

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Arthur

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Director: Jason Winer

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

I only recently watched the original “Arthur” film a couple of months.  The reason I decided to go to my local video store to rent the Dudley Moore version, was I saw a preview to the updated Russell Brand version.  It looked so horrible, that I had to see for myself if the original was equally as unwatchable.  Of course, even some 30 years since it originally came out, 1981’s “Arthur” is still a pretty entertaining piece of cinematic work.  The cast members feed off each other well and John Gielgud’s performance deservedly so earned an Oscar win.  I know at least one close friend who still ranks this film as one of their favorites, and I really can’t give him too hard of a time for his choice.  I heard Russell Brand in an interview say they had to tone down Arthur’s alcoholism, because it’s treated much different now than it was 30 years ago.  He claimed that you could laugh at someone’s drunkenness a lot easier in 1981 than 2011.  This, he said, created a lot more challenges in remaking the classic film.  From what I see from the trailer, they appear to have failed to make a suitable updated version of “Arthur.”

Prediction.

Opening Weekend Gross: $12.5 Million

Noodles: Prediction

Opening Weekend Gross: $11 Million

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Sucker Punch

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Director: Zack Snyder

Rating: PG-13

The Bouw-Man.

The trailer for “Sucker Punch” has been around for quite some time.  My first reaction was, “What the hell is this?”  My current reaction is, “Man, I can’t imagine I would ever be bored enough to go see something like this.”  The only glimmer of hope I see is that this is being directed by the same man (Zach Snyder) who gave us “300” and “Watchmen.”  I remember feeling equally disinterested in both of those films when I watched the preview, and they actually turned out OK.  However, I would be surprised if “Sucker Punch” approaches either one in box office take or critical notoriety.  Whatever the final result of “Sucker Punch” is, you definitely can’t blame it on the film’s advertising and marketing scheme. 

Opening Weekend Gross: $22.5 Million

Noodles: Prediction

The only thing that gives me pause in wanting to see this movie is that I heard it deals with the girls going through all this amazing looking stuff in the their minds. I'll admit to being optimistically curious to check it out, but not necessarily excited to see it. Still Zack Snyder made 'Watchmen' and '300' so what the F**k, right?

Opening Weekend Gross: $28 Million

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

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Director: David Bowers

Rating: PG

The Bouw-Man.

I really didn’t think the first one did well enough to warrant a sequel, yet here we are a year later and the second edition is here.  For the record, 2010’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” amassed over $22 million during its opening weekend and over $75 total domestically.  Yes, these are certainly solid numbers, but no where close to what one would consider to be a blockbuster.  With the sequel coming this quickly, it must’ve been part of the landscape well before the final numbers came in from the original.  Since I never saw “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” it’s hard to have an opinion on what “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” will bring to the table this weekend.  My guess is, as far as the financials go, this year’s film will have a hard time coming close to the original’s total.  Not sure if this is going to be an annual occurrence, like the “Saw” films, or not.  However, a likely disappointing box office take might seal the deal.

Opening Weekend Gross: $14 Million

Noodles: Prediction

If this movie makes at least $15 million this weekend, we can expect to have another two theatrical 'Wimpy Kid' movies followed by half a dozen straight to DVD garbage piles. I think we're in for a long haul...

Opening Weekend Gross: $17 Million

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Weekend Results 3/18

Weekend Winner: 

Limitless

Opening Box Office: $19 Million 

Our Predictions:

Noodles - $32 Million 

The Bouw-Man - $15 Million

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#3 at the Box Office: 

The Lincoln Lawyer

Opening Box Office : $13.4 Million

Our Predictions:

Noodles - $24 Million 

The Bouw-Man - $18.5 Million

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#4 at the Box Office: 

Paul

Opening Box Office : $13 Million

Our Predictions:

Noodles - $17 Million 

The Bouw-Man - $13 Million