FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM is much the best at the Box Office this weekend, debuting with $76 million for Warner Bros. in 4,144 theatres across North America. Penned by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling and directed by Potter director David Yates, this first installment in the Franchise fares well critically with an 76% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore, boding well for some word of mouth. Some are concerned these numbers are not strong enough to propel a Franchise, although we think they are just being diffficult! We mustn’t forget the international appeal of Rowling…
In second is 20th Century Fox‘s TROLLS with $16.9 million in its third week, totalling $115 million in its domestic run.
DOCTOR STRANGE finds itself in third with $16.3 million for Marvel/Disney in its third week, bringing its tally to $180.6 million for the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring superhero flick.
ARRIVAL lands in fourth with $11.2 million for Paramount Pictures, bringing the Oscar contender’s two-week total to $42.8 million.
HACKSAW RIDGE is in sixth with $6.4 million in its third week, a total of $42.5 million grossed for Elevation Pictures/Lionsgate Films.
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN opens in eighth for STX Entertainment/VVS Films with $4.8 million from 1,945 theatres. The TIFF ’16 selection and coming-of-age Dramedy starring Oscar nominee and Popstar Hailee Steinfeld, gets a whopping 95% on the Tomatometer and an A-CinemaScore.
SHUT IN rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.6 million in its second week out for EuropaCorp and VVS Films.
By Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Yesterday morning members of the press were privileged enough to be the first Canadian audiences to try out the newest innovation for Movie experiences, 4DX. This new technology improves on the already established DBOX by making it much more a roller coaster ride than a slight massage and exhilarating experience. With the addition of wind, fog, snow, rain, and truly interactive movements either with the chair moving or it giving a slight jab like feeling during fight sequences it truly is the most immersive Moviegoing experience. However with that being said, the experience can be jarring for someone who does not know what to expect. It is recommended that you be at least three-and-a-half feat tall and that if you have any medical issues, including but not limited to back issues or suffer from seizures, this experience is not meant for you.
Moreover, I for one truly enjoyed everything that 4DX had to offer, it was one of the most immersive Movie experiences I have ever been part of. Throughout the Movie, it felt like the audience was literally attached to the characters that the action had happened to. There is also another warning that I learned from my viewing experience, going on a full stomach or having a pop that is not bottled or any form of food on your person is going to end in a disaster. 4DX is a roller coaster on steroids, in the best way possible, sure the experience may be a little jarring for some but if you can truly strap yourself in you will enjoy the ride.
Lastly, if you are not used to a format like DBOX or enjoy your movies without any form of distraction, 4DX is a perfect second viewing so you can pick up on Easter Eggs, experience things in a new way without losing any part of the movie or story telling. For me, everything 4DX had to offer is what I want from a premium Moviegoing experience, I can do without the food and alcohol being brought to my seat, but to experience truly being IN a Movie is always an adventure. Expand your movie going experience. The first ever 4DX is now open in Canada at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP.
For a 3D showing in 4DX, the price tag is $24.99 but there is discounts on Tuesdays and then SCENE members discount.
Back in December, we posted this piece pointing to some early images of Benedict Cumberbatch in the role of Doctor Strange for the upcoming Marvel Studios project of the same name. The film has flown under the radar to some extent, perhaps because we have some other superhero releases to get through first in 2016, but the argument can be made that Cumberbatch is the biggest star to take up a superhero role since Robert Downey, Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. And that should make this a pretty exciting release when the time comes.
In the meantime all we have is speculation and whatever the studio gives us. And this past week, that included a first look at the character in action! The debut trailer for Doctor Strange was uploaded to YouTube by Marvel Entertainment, and you can view it in its entirety here.
In the meantime, here are some thoughts and questions we had regarding this early look…
First, how about the distinct Christopher Nolan undertones? Upon a first watch of the trailer you may notice that in a very general sense the sounds and cinematography on display are reminiscent of Nolan’s style. But watching more closely, you might see distinct echoes of two films in particular: Batman Begins and Inception. We see Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) in both humble rags and a tuxedo, and then seemingly training and reinventing himself in what looks to be a Far East temple of some sort very much in the image of Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. We also see people manipulating environments and even folding cities in ways that bring Inception visuals to mind. This is by no means to suggest this film will be anything like those Nolan projects, but either way they’re certainly not bad comparisons.
The next thought that came to mind was the question of how familiar this character will be to comic fans, if at all. The truth is that the studio (and larger company) have already made some efforts to plant an image of Doctor Strange in the minds of modern fans. The character exists in multiple games online and on mobile devices, and there may even be a hint of him in a popular casino game at this site. The image for The Magician Trick Picks slot game looks suspiciously like some versions of Strange, and we know that both Marvel and DC like to advertise their characters by licensing their images out to these platforms. In this case, the game isn’t official, but it could easily have been taken as a hint of more to come. Despite all these appearances most of which fall in line with the Entertainment Weekly stills of Cumberbatch in the role that we discussed previously the trailer shows a humbler and more ordinary looking character. It may b e that for this first film we’re pretty much looking at a normal human before he transforms into a costumed hero.
And finally, it’s difficult to watch the trailer without wondering: is this a little bit too much? The imagery and Nolan-like quality are quite exciting, on their own, but the film looks to have a distinctly different tone than most of the other superhero films we’ve seen. Furthermore, it certainly appears as if the school of power that Strange is studying in has secrets that would far surpass the abilities of the other Avengers, and of the villains we’ve seen thusfar. An early review for Captain America: Civil War essentially praises the upcoming film for remaining grounded, whereas so many superhero films have focused on greater powers and enemies emerging from the skies. Frankly it’s all gotten a little bitridiculous and there has to be some concern that Doctor Strange will ramp things up in that department just a few months after Civil War brings the genre back down to Earth.
Purely as its own project, however, Doctor Strange is looking pretty interesting. Its trailer definitely makes you want to know more.
He’s a Buddhist? We had no clue. Entertainment Weekly has a fascinating read on Benedict Cumberbatch this week as he graces the cover in an exclusive DOCTOR STRANGE preview!
Cumberbatch who stars in the titular role of the upcoming Blockbuster reveals that he spent his teen years working with Tibetan monks, teaching them English. “I became interested the meeting point between Western logic and Eastern mysticism”, he says. The role of Doctor Strange allows him to explore supernatural forces and alternative dimensions.
Read more here.
DOCTOR STRANGE also stars Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tilda Swinton, Chiewetel Ejiofor and Mads Mikkelsen.
See the Cover:
Marvel Entertainment Canada release DOCTOR STRANGE on Friday, November 4, 2016.
(Photo credit: Marvel/Entertainment Weekly)
By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong
If you’re anything like me then you like to plan ahead. Luckily our friends at Walt Disney Studios feel the same way and have already mapped out what can only be described as an epic 2016. Whether you like animated animals, space operas in far away galaxies, comic book superheroes, or all of the above then Disney has just the Movie for you.
The year will kick off with The Finest Hours starring Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. This IMAX 3D adventure is based on the true story a daring Coast Guard rescue mission.
Jon Favreau helms the new remake of the 1967 animated classic The Jungle Book. Neel Sethi ‘s Mowgli is the only live action character in a CGI jungle populated with a voice cast that includes Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Ben Kingsley and Scarlett Johansson.
Johnny Depp fans will rejoice when he returns as the Mad Hatter in Alice Through the Looking Glass. Sacha Baron Cohen will join the Wonderland family as Time in this Tim Burton-produced Sequel.
Later in the year another remake will hit the screen: Pete’s Dragon starring Robert Redford and Bryce Dallas Howard.
July 1st will be more than simply Canada day in 2016 as it is also the day Steven Spielberg‘s The BFG will finally hit the big screen. Based on the beloved children’s classic by Roald Dahl this Movie is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults.
If superheroes are more your thing then you have probably been salivating for news about Captain America: Civil War. The new trailer is scheduled to play in theatres before Star Wars: The Force Awakens and is sure to electrify fans.
Benedict Cumberbatch will also be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in November as Doctor Strange.
December 2016 will bring a new Star Wars Movie: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tells the tale of the rebels who stole the plans for the Death Star. The Movie takes place between the events in Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
Finally, nothing says Disney like animation. In June, Pixar will return to a familiar family of fish in Finding Dory.
November finds Disney in Hawaii for Moana, the story of a girl in search of a fabled island. Moana is helped along the way by a demi-god voiced by Dwayne Johnson. Broadway fans may be intrigued to hear that music by Lin-Manuel Miranda will be featured.
The biggest Canadian news from Disney Animation is Zootopia. Set in a world completely devoid of humans, Zootopia’s anthropomorphic residents live in a modern world where animals just happen to walk, talk, and dress like people. One of the inhabitants of this animal world is newscaster Peter Moosebridge voiced by the CBC’s own Peter Mansbridge.
With these must-see Movies on your radar 2016 is sure to be a movie-tastic year.
Marvel certainly knows how to do it big and this morning at L.A.’s El Capitan Theatre we learned through President Kevin Feige not only that Breakout Star Chadwick Boseman (42, Get on Up) has confirmed what we’ve known all along – he’s a Megastar – the brilliant Actor has been announced to star as BLACK PANTHER!
In addition, several release dates have been confirmed on their Blockbuster Marquee Slate including:
5/1/15 – AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
7/17/15 – ANT-MAN
5/6/16 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
11/4/16 – DOCTOR STRANGE
5/5/17 – GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (previously dated 7/28/17)
7/28/17 – THOR: RAGNAROK
11/3/17 – BLACK PANTHER
5/4/18 – AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART I
7/6/18 – CAPTAIN MARVEL
11/2/18 – INHUMANS
5/3/19 – AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART II
Impressive, right? We’re so waiting on DOCTOR STRANGE casting news, although we certainly aren’t alone in wanting Benedict Cumberbatch to get the assignment! The thought of 2019 actually kinda scares us on some levels!
Dates of course are subject to change. Are we excited?
(Photo credit: Marvel Canada)
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