Ghostbusters continues to haunt GameFly Top 10
Ghostbusters remains at the top of the the GameFly Top 10 List for the week ending June 29, 2009, continuing its reign for the second straight week. The GameFly Weekly Top 10 reflects gamers’ choices from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1. Ghostbusters PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2 Action Adventure Atari
2. Prototype PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Activision
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP Games, PS2 Action Adventure Activision
4. Red Faction: Guerrilla PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter THQ
5. Fight Night Round 4 PS3, Xbox 360 Fighting Electronic Arts
6. Overlord II PS3, Xbox 360 RPG Codemasters
7. Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter Ubisoft
8. Halo 3: ODST Xbox 360 Shooter Microsoft
9. Infamous PS3 Action Adventure Sony Computer Entertainment
10. The Bigs 2 PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2 Sports Take Two
More lists after the break.
(more…)
Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince already driving ticket sales
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does not open for another two weeks, but Fandango reports that the film already makes up 27% of ticket sales.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the adaptation of the sixth book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. It stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, and is directed by David Yates.
According to Box Office Mojo, the previous five Harry Potter films had the 11th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 24th biggest opening weekends of all-time.
- Matt Price
Smurfs live-action film gets release date
According to Cinema Blend, a Smurfs live-action film is in the works, with a planned release date of Dec. 17, 2010.
It’s coming from Sony, and Cinema Blend assumes it’ll be something in the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” vein, a live-action Gargamel with GGI Smurfs running about.
I haven’t personally thought much about the Smurfs since the 1980s, though I did once own the first three issues of the comic book. Smurfs was largely something I watched because it was on, rather than something I sought out. Is there enough Smurf nostalgia to fuel a successful remake? I didn’t think 20th Century Fox’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks” would work, but my kids loved it, and it was a financial success.
“The Smurfs are one of the best-known franchises, and among the most beloved collection of characters in the world,” Columbia co-president Doug Belgrad said in a release at smurf.com. “We’re very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs in all of their ‘three-apple-tall’ glory.”
- Matt Price
Michael Jackson tribute comic book planned
Bluewater, the publisher of the Female Force and Political Power comic books, will create a Michael Jackson tribute comic, set for an October release.
“Michael Jackson’s music served as the soundtrack to countless lives — including mine,” said Bluewater president Darren G. Davis in a release. “His influence on our culture has been profound.”
“Tribute: Michael Jackson, King of Pop” is being written by Wey-Yuih Loh, (Political Power: Colin Powell” and “Political Power: Joe Biden) and illustrated by Giovanni Timpano (Vincent Price Presents).
Irony that the artist of Vincent Price Presents draws the Michael Jackson comic book, given the collaboration of those two on “Thriller”?
Davis said in the release that he was swayed to produce a tribute comic after receiving dozens of e-mails and phone calls.
“This is a celebration of his life and what he meant to a legion of fans,” Davis said in the release. “Although the book won’t shy away from some of his personal troubles, we try to tell a balanced story that shows Jackson as a musical genius, an unparalleled superstar and as a complex person.”
Monday movie quote challenge #34
“I want to buy eight hot dogs and eight hot dog buns to go with them. But no one sells eight hot dog buns. They only sell twelve hot dog buns. So I end up paying for four buns I don’t need. So I am removing the superfluous buns.”
Identify who said the above quote in what film in the comments!
Transformers 2 has $112m weekend; $201m so far
According to the AP, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will crack $200 million in ticket sales in just 5 days. Paramount reports Transformers 2 with an estimated $112 million weekend, and $201.2 million since the Wednesday opening.
The film shows itself to be virtually critic-proof, as the huge opening is despite a 20 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Transformers 3 is already set for a July 1, 2011 opening, according to Variety, though it’s not yet clear whether director Michael Bay will return.
- Matt Price
Star Trek expo: Did you go?
The Star Trek Expo continues today in Tulsa. Did anyone go? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Read more about the expo here, here, here and here. See a photo gallery from the show on Saturday at BAM’s Blog.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: X-Men Forever 2, Dark Avengers X-Men Utopia, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Detective Comics 854
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price review some of this week’s comics, including X-Men Forever 2, Wolverine Weapon X 3, Berserker 1, Dark Avengers/X-Men Utopia and Detective Comics 854. Note: I talked about Silvestri drawing a “whole comic” in Utopia, when in fact he had assistance from several other Top Cow folks.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to honor Michael Jackson
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Michael Jackson this weekend at the 12th annual Rock and Soul Festival.
Special performances are scheduled and footage from Jackson’s induction both with the Jackson 5 and a solo artist will be shown this Saturday.
“Michael Jackson was one of the most creative and influential recording artists of the last 40 years,” said Terry Stewart, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, in a release. “He was uniquely gifted with his talent as a songwriter, dancer and performer. While we deeply mourn the loss of any Inductee, few have generated the response from fans like the tragedy we learned of this week. His legacy will live on for a long, long time.”
See the full release from the Rock Hall after the break.
Top 10 Michael Jackson songs
With dozens of chart-topping hits and a worldwide influence, Michael Jackson had a career that’s unlikely to be equaled anytime soon. As we remember the career of the King of Pop, who died today in Los Angeles, here are my selections of the Top 10 Michael Jackson songs from his solo career.
1.Billie Jean
Maybe it’s because it’s the song with which he introduced his signature move, the moonwalk, but this song seems to me the quintessential Michael Jackson song. Catchy, fresh, and a bit edgy and rebellious.
2.Thriller
One of the most brilliant videos of all time, and a cameo by Vincent Price, in an homage to classic horror films.
3. Beat It
A mixture of rock and pop, with the help of Eddie Van Halen.
4. Black or White
Slash provides a guitar solo in this New Jack Swing mixture of hard rock and rap. This racial-unity promoting song is the best single off 1991’s “Dangerous.” It briefly made me think that the 1990s might be as kind to Jackson as the 1980s; sadly this was more a last gasp than a new herald.
5.Don’t Stop til You Get Enough
This first single from Off the Wall introduced the mature Jackson and his songwriting talents to the world. It was also the first to feature his soon-to-be-signature falsetto.
6.Smooth Criminal
The best track from “Bad,” Jackson’s 1987 followup to “Thriller,” features a woman named Annie under attack from a ’smooth criminal.’
7. Wanna Be Startin’ Something
The fourth single from Thriller is side A, song 1. And listening to it, you DO want to be starting something.
8. Man in the Mirror
Social commentary in a catchy package; if you want to make the world a better place, start with yourself.
9. The Way You Make Me Feel
Might not be on most rock critics’ list of essential Jackson, but this optimistic tune from Bad hit No. 1 in 1987.
10.Scream
Jackson did angry well, and here he was reacting to tabloid accusations in this duet with sister Janet Jackson on the HIStory album.
- Matt Price
