Oklahoma City Harkins theater selling “Twilight”/”New Moon” marathon tickets
Harkins Bricktown Theatres has tickets on sale now online and at the box office for the ”Twilight”/”New Moon” movie marathon beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The marathon will start with the one-day-only rerelease of “Twilight,” the movie adaptation of the first book in Stephenie Meyer’s mega-popular series. It will continue with the midnight Friday, Nov. 20 premiere of the sequel, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
Tickets for the marathon are available online at www.harkinstheatres.com or at the box office for $15. For those who have already purchased tickets at Harkins for the midnight premiere, they can simply purchase a marathon ticket and Harkins Theatres will refund the original midnight premiere ticket at the box office, according to a news release.
Harkins is also offering the “Twilight”/”New Moon” marathon in the Cine Capri at Bricktown, the theater’s extra-large-screen house. It is exclusively for guests who have already purchased midnight premiere tickets for the Cine Capri at Bricktown. Guests can bring their midnight premiere Cine Capri ticket to the box office and upgrade it for $5 to a ticket for both films.
In the second installment of Meyer’s literary phenomenon, director Chris Weitz brings to life this modern, visual, and visceral star-crossed story of the ultimate forbidden love affair – between vampire and mortal. “New Moon” stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Ashley Greene.
Harkins Bricktown 16 is located at Reno and Oklahoma avenues in Bricktown.
-BAM
Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin to star in “True Grit” remake
John Wayne won an Oscar for playing Rooster Cogburn in 1969’s “True Grit.”
From left, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin (Associated Press photos)
Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are in talks to star in the Coen brothers’ remake of the John Wayne classic “True Grit,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Paramount Pictures and the Oscar-winning writer-director team are moving swiftly on their re-adaptation of the Charles Portis novel, the trade publication reports.
They’ve also cast Jeff Bridges to play the starring role in the remake, and the studio hopes get production going in spring.
The story follows a 14-year-old girl who accompanies two lawmen in the dangerous search for the man who killed her father.
Brolin would play the part of the murderer, Tom Chaney. Damon would take on the role of La Boeuf, a Texas Ranger who helps gruff U.S. marshal Rooster Cogburn track the outlaw across Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Glen Campbell played the part in the original film.
And Bridges will play Rooster Cogburn, the part for which Wayne won an Oscar. That’s hard for me to envision, particularly since Bridges’ last job with the Coens was playing iconic slacker Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski in 1998’s “The Big Lebowski.”
Brolin also has worked with the Coens before, playing Llewelyn Moss in their Oscar-winning film ”No Country for Old Men,” based on the Cormac McCarthy novel.
This would be Damon’s first outing with Joel and Ethan Coen.
Despite my initial knee-jerk reaction to what seems another unnecessary Hollywood remake, I’m trying to keep an open mind because the project has the Coen brothers at the helm.
In an exclusive interview, Ethan Coen told RottenTomatoes.com that their take on “True Grit” would stay more faithful to the “very odd book” than the 1969 Western.
“It’s partly a question of point-of-view” he said. “The book is entirely in the voice of the 14-year-old girl. That sort of tips the feeling of it over a certain way.
“I think it’s much funnier than the movie was so I think unfortunately they lost a lot of humour in both the situations and in her voice. It also ends differently than the movie did. You see the main character – the little girl – 25 years later when she’s an adult.”
With that said, it will be interesting to learn who the Coens will tap to play 14-year-old Mattie Ross. Kim Darby, who also played the wacky mom in 1985’s “Better Off Dead,” took on the role in the original film.
-BAM
“Twilight” film to get one-day theatrical rerelease Nov. 19
Summit Entertainment announced today that it plans to rerelease the vampire-romance movie “Twilight” in more than 2,000 theaters for one day only on Nov. 19, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
That’s the day before the sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” opens in even wider release.
“Despite the first film already being on DVD, fans across the nation have been calling out to see the film once again on the big screen, and the studio is honoring their request,” Summit said.
According to the trade publication, “Twilight,” the first film based on Stephenie Meyer’s super-popular four-book series, has made $191.5 million to date domestically and $383.7 million worldwide. When it opened Nov. 21, 2008, it topped the domestic weekend box office with $69.6 million.
The buzz is even bigger for “New Moon,” so don’t be surprised to see the sequel take an even bigger bite of the box office on Nov. 20.
Summit said “Twilight” tickets would be sold at a discount at select sites.
-BAM
Just in time for Halloween: BAM’s reprised list of horror movie recommendations
Jamie Lee Curtis in “Halloween”
Back in spring, I compiled a list of 10 of my favorite horror movies available on DVD in honor of Friday the 13th. Since Halloween is nigh, I’m posting it again, with a few slight modifications, for your potential viewing enjoyment. Happy Halloween!
1. “Halloween” (1978): This John Carpenter film starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence isn’t just for Oct. 31. But it’ll certain satisfy your spooky-season yen for serial killers slashing sex-crazed teenagers.
2. “Jaws” (1975): Between the great performances and John Williams’ urgent, Oscar-winning score, Steven Spielberg’s creature feature continues to foster a fear of the ocean in millions of movie lovers.
3. “Psycho” (1960): Again, music helps strike a fear of water in the hearts of filmgoers. Bernard Hermann’s distinctive scoring of Janet Leigh’s famed shower demise remains a highlight of this Alfred Hitchcock classic.
From left, Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris in “28 Days Later”
4. “28 Days Later” (2002): This was my favorite Danny Boyle film until the British director helmed Oscar winner “Slumdog Millionaire.” The film revived the zombie subgenre as it follows a group of survivors trying to avoid infection by a powerful virus that turns its victims into lightning-quick, mindless murders.
5. “Night of the Living Dead” (1968): And what’s a scary movie list without radiation-transformed hordes relentlessly preying on human flesh? George Romero has created several sequels, but the original low-budget black-and-white film should be required viewing for horror fans.
6. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956): Sci-fi scares don’t get any better than this McCarthyism metaphor about a California town whose residents are slowly replaced with emotionless “pod people” planted by sinister aliens. I prefer the original, but the 1978 version starring Donald Sutherland, Leonard Nimoy and Jeff Goldblum is the rare worthwhile remake.
7. “Let the Right One In” (2008): This acclaimed and affecting Swedish film is intensely spooky and strangely romantic. It centers on a bullied boy (Kåre Hedebrant) who befriends his strange new neighbor Eli (Lina Leandersson) only to learn she is a vampire.
From left, Laurie Holden, Thomas Jane and Nathan Gamble in “The Mist”
8. “The Mist” (2007): Frank Darabont (“The Shawshank Redemption”) again successfully adapts a Stephen King novella, only this time the results are harrowing instead of uplifting. When a freaky mist covers a small town, a group of residents takes shelter in a grocery store. Blood-thirsty creatures are lurking in the haze, but it’s hard to tell whether the mysterious beasts are as scary as the panicky mob trapped inside the store.
9. “The Frighteners” (1996): Before he won Oscar glory for “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Peter Jackson wrote and directed this underrated horror-comedy about a widower (Michael J. Fox) who uses his ability to see ghosts to track a serial killer still wreaking havoc from beyond the grave. Among the teen-oriented schlock of the “Scream”s and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”s, Jackson’s film offered a refreshingly original change of pace in the ‘90s.
10. “The Evil Dead” (1981): Sam Raimi’s extra-violent, super-gory, low-budget horror flick about a group of college students who accidentally unleash vengeful demons launched the career of B-movie icon Bruce Campbell and still offers a scary good time. It is the best exception to the rule that horror sequels stink; “Evil Dead II” and “Army of Darkness” are worthy successors. Raimi also has a new horror film, “Drag Me to Hell,” out on DVD, and I’m looking forward to checking it out.
-BAM
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” soundtrack ascends to No. 1 on Billboard charts
N0t surprisingly, “New Moon” has risen quickly.
The soundtrack to the hotly anticipated movie “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” has ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week, according to Billboard.com.
The soundtrack sold 153,000 copies in its first full week of release. The album, released by Summit/Chop Shop/Atlantic, arrived on the chart last week with 115,000 after an early release Oct. 16 release landed it on the chart after just three days of sales.
The album features music by Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, the Killers, Muse and a collaboration between Tulsa-born singer-songwriter St. Vincent and indie band Bon Iver.
According to Billboard, “New Moon” is the second soundtrack this year to top the Billboard 200. The “Hannah Montana: the Movie” album hit the top of the chart dated May 2.
“New Moon”’s predecessor, last year’s blockbuster film “Twilight,” also notched a No. 1 soundtrack. The “Twilight” album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 less than a year ago, on the list dated Nov. 22, 2008, with 165,000 units sold.
Here is the song listing for the “New Moon” soundtrack:
1. “Meet Me On The Equinox” Death Cab For Cutie
2. “Friends” Band Of Skulls
3. “Hearing Damage” Thom Yorke
4. “Possibility” Lykke Li
5. “A White Demon Love Song” The Killers
6. “Satellite Heart” Anya Marina
7. “I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)” Muse
8. “Rosyln Bon” Iver and St. Vincent
9. “Done All Wrong” Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
10. “Monsters” Hurricane Bells
11. “The Violet Hour” Sea Wolf
12. “Shooting The Moon” Ok Go
13. “Slow Life” Grizzly Bear with Victoria Legrand
14. “No Sound But The Wind” Editors
15. “New Moon (The Meadow) Alexandre Desplat
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: More film trailers
Since the holiday movie season is approaching, and the studios soon will be rolling out films worthy of awards consideration, I’m again posting trailers and TV spots for upcoming movies in this week’s Video Spotlight:
-BAM
New releases for Oct. 27, 2009
Halloween is almost here, so naturally the number of Christmas-related releases is beginning to increase, a trend that will only intensify as the holiday shopping season heats up.
Sting pays tribute to winter with his collection of songs, carols and lullabies “If On A Winter’s Night …” Taylor Swift and U2 have special editions of their hit albums out in time for seasonal giving.
Also in new CDs, The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo behind the film and soundtrack to “Once,” release their second album. And Grammy-nominated country singer Joe Nichols has his new record, “Old Things New,” out this week; I’ll have an interview with Nichols next week, when he’s playing Oklahoma City’s Wormy Dog Saloon.
In DVDs, the next installment of the wildly popular Disney Fairies series, “Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure” is out, and I’ll have a review and interview with the director and producer soon. Another family-friendly new release is “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” Also, Woody Allen’s latest film, “Whatever Works,” and the horror film “Orphan,” are new on DVD.
In books, titles from Anne Rice, Emeril Lagasse, Robert Jordan, Phil Mickelson and Hulk Hogan are out this week.
Here is a list of the new CDs, DVDs and books from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Sting, “If On A Winter’s Night…”
U2, “The Unforgettable Fire” (Super Deluxe Edition).
Taylor Swift, “Fearless” (Platinum Edition).
Pink Martini, “Splendor in the Grass.”
The Swell Season, “Strict Joy.”
Tegan & Sara, “Sainthood.”
Stephen Stills, “Live at Shepherd’s Bush” (CD/DVD set).
R.E.M., Live At The Olympia” (CD/DVD set).
Joe Nichols, “OId Things New.”
DVDs
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
The Guardian: The First Season
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Night Of The Creeps
Nothing Like the Holidays
Orphan
Stan Helsing
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Whatever Works
Books
“Tempted (House of Night Series No. 6)” by P. C. Cast.
“Angel Time: The Songs of the Seraphim” by Anne Rice.
“Ayn Rand and the World She Made” by Anne C. Heller.
“The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy” by Bill Simmons.
“Emeril Quick and Easy” by Emeril Lagasse.
“The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time Series No. 12)” by Robert Jordan.
Grave Secret (Harper Connelly Series No. 4)” by Charlaine Harris.
“Last Night in Twisted River” by John Irving.
“Matchless: A Christmas Story” by Gregory Maguire.
“My Life Outside the Ring” by Hulk Hogan.
“Nigella Christmas” by Nigella Lawson.
“Secrets of the Short Game” by Phil Mickelson.
“True Blue” by David Baldacci.
“You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas” by Augusten Burroughs.
-BAM
Box office report for Oct. 26, 2009
he gory and seemingly endless “Saw” franchise finally met its match over the weekend.
The micro-budgeted fright flick “Paranormal Activity” ascended to the No. 1 spot after its nationwide release over the weekend.
In contrast, “Saw VI” debuted with just $14.8 million for second place. According to the Associated Press, the “Saw” franchise that has been an annual fixture before the Halloween holiday since 2004.
This was the worst opening ever for Lionsgate’s “Saw” series, whose previous low was $18.3 million for the original movie. Subsequent installments of the “Saw” franchise all opened at $30 million or better.
This time, horror fans simply opted for the documentary-style chills of “Paranormal Activity” instead of the bloody thrills of the new “Saw” installment.
After four weeks in narrower release, distributor Paramount released “Paranormal Activity” into 1,945 theaters. That still was just under two-thirds of the 3,036 theater count for “Saw VI.”
“Paranormal Activity” raised its total haul to $62.5 million. The movie was shot for a reported $15,000 but has become a horror sensation because of online fan buzz. The fictional movie unfolds like a homemade documentary as a couple copes with apparitions and supernatural phenomena in their home.
It has a strong shot at topping $100 million, something none of the “Saw” movies ever managed.
Paramount already is toying with the prospects for sequels or prequels.
“Given the success of this and the passion of the online community, I think our guys have got a number of different ideas they’re percolating,” said Rob Moore, Paramount vice chairman, to the AP. “Once we’ve gotten to the end of this run, we’ll see what other fun we can have with this.”
According to the AP, the overall box office declined, with Hollywood revenues totaling $121 million, down 9 percent from the same weekend a year ag, when ”High School Musical 3: Senior Year” debuted with $42 million and “Saw V” opened with $30.1 million.
That was despite the number of new releases in theaters, most of which notched lackluster numbers. Summit Entertainment’s “Astro Boy” opened at No. 6 with $7 million, Universal’s “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant” debuted at No. 8 with $6.3 million, and Fox Searchlight’s “Amelia” premiered at No. 11 with $4 million.
The previous weekend’s No. 1 movie, the Warner Bros. tale “Where the Wild Things Are,” fell to No. 3, just behind “Saw VI” with $14.4 million. Spike Jonze’s adaptation of the beloved Maurice Sendak’s beloved picture book raised its total to $54 million.
The box-office should get a jolt over the Halloween holiday as “Paranormal Activity” expands to as many as 2,500 theaters and Sony’s “Michael Jackson: This Is It” heads into its first weekend after debuting late Tuesday night.
Here are the weekend’s top 10 movies, from the AP:
1. “Paranormal Activity,” $22 million.
2. “Saw VI,” $14.8 million.
3. “Where the Wild Things Are,” $14.4 million.
4. “Law Abiding Citizen,” $12.7 million.
5. “Couples Retreat,” $11.1 million.
6. “Astro Boy,” $7 million.
7. “The Stepfather,” $6.5 million.
8. “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” $6.3 million.
9. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” $5.6 million.
10. “Zombieland,” $4.3 million.
-BAM
Weitz brothers’ releasing dueling vampire movies
“Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”
Filmmaking brothers Paul and Chris Weitz are facing off this fall with dueling vampire films. Their battle for cinematic supremacy starts this weekend.
The horror-comedy “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” written and directed by Paul Weitz, opened Friday in theaters.
Chris Weitz is the director for the hotly anticipated sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which comes out Nov. 20.
Paul and Chris Weitz in 2003 shared an Oscar nomination for their adapted screenplay for “About a Boy.”
-BAM
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” lights up Rome Film Festival
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” actors, from left, Charlie Bewley (Demetri), Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius) and Cameron Bright (Alec) walk the red carpet Thursday at the Rome Film Festival. (Associated Press photo)
Three actors who play Italian vampires in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” walked the red carpet at the Rome Film Festival on Thursday, with fans getting a 20-minute preview of the film before next month’s release.
Three actors who are playing vampires of the Volturi coven – Charlie Bewley, who plays Demetri, Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Caius, and Cameron Bright, who plays Alec – along with screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg were in Rome to promote the second film based on Stephenie Meyer’s mega-popular four-book series.
In “New Moon,” teenage heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are separated because he fears putting her life in jeopardy. Bella stays behind in Forks, Wash., and befriends werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), while Edward disappears from her life.
Edward eventually travels to Italy, where he encounters the Volturi, who ruthlessly enforce the laws of the vampire world.
The first “Twilight” movie was a smash hit that grossed $383 million worldwide, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Tickets for the preview of “New Moon” were sold out in just a few hours, and hundreds of screaming teenagers braved the rain to greet the three Volturi actors on the red carpet.
The film will be released Nov. 20 in U.S. theaters.
-BAM
