'King Kong' DVD scares up $100 mln 1st-week sales (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - The computer-animated critters of "Ice Age" were not the only animals providing good news for a Hollywood studio on Monday. The DVD for "King Kong" scared up $100 million in revenues and broke a record for Universal Studios' home video group.
"Brokeback" Mounts Revolution (E! Online)
April 3, 2006
E! Online - On
Tuesday, the Oscar-winning gay cowboy drama will help Hollywood embrace
the brave, new world, becoming the studios' first major title to debut
as a download-to-own movie on the same day it's out on DVD.
Hollywood director charged in Pellicano case (Reuters)
April 3, 2006
Reuters - John McTiernan, director of "The
Hunt for Red October" and "Rollerball," was charged on Monday
with lying to the FBI in the Hollywood wire-tap investigation
surrounding celebrity sleuth Anthony Pellicano.
'Ice Age' Heats Up Box Office With $68M (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - "Ice Age: The Meltdown" put some fire into Hollywood's chilly year, debuting with a whopping $68 million and delivering the fourth-best premiere ever for an animated movie.
Fire Damages Director Ken Russell's Home (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - A fire has severely damaged the home of British film director Ken Russell. Russell, 78, wasn't at home when the fire broke out at his thatched cottage in the village of East Boldre in the New Forest, southern England, on Monday morning, Hampshire Fire and Rescue said.
Cruise Plans to Marry Holmes This Summer (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - American actor Tom Cruise told Germany's leading tabloid in its Monday edition that he wanted to tie the knot this summer with fiancee Katie Holmes, after the birth of their baby and the upcoming release of his new film, "Mission Impossible III."
Sesame Street Videos Spark Controversy (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - The creators of "Sesame Street" are releasing a new line of videos Tuesday targeted for children as young as six months, outraging some child-development experts who feel no form of TV or video is suitable for kids under 2.
At the Movies: `Lucky Number Slevin' (AP)
April 3, 2006AP - Once you get past the annoying title that strains at cleverness and misses, "Lucky Number Slevin" proves to be an engaging crime romp, even though it aims so hard at wily misdirection you fear the actors may pull some muscles as they bob and weave.
Rich Depicted in `Friends With Money' (AP)
April 3, 2006AP - The rich aren't that different in "Friends With Money."
'Take the Lead' Moves to High School (AP)
April 3, 2006AP - Like "Lords of Dogtown," the skateboarding film based on the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys," "Take the Lead" was a far more effective story in its original nonfiction form.
Dean Koontz Novel Gets Filmmaker Nod (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - Dean Koontz's new thriller, "The Husband," is the latest joint project of Focus Features and Random House Films, a partnership founded last year.
Hollywood to Sell Digital Films Online (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - Hollywood studios will start selling digital versions of films such as "Brokeback Mountain" and "King Kong" on the Internet this week, the first time major movies have been available online to own.
Does German director's vampire film lack bite? (Reuters)
April 3, 2006
Reuters - German film director Uwe Boll has
something of a reputation to overcome. One critic calls him "a
master of bad taste" and another says he is fast becoming "one
of the worst directors on the planet."
Can Hong Kong Produce New Jackie Chan? (AP)
April 3, 2006AP - "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" action director Yuen Wo-ping fears that Hong Kong may not be able to produce another Jackie Chan or Jet Li.
Hollywood Studios to Sell Movies Online (AP)
April 3, 2006
AP - Hollywood studios will start selling digital versions of films such as "Brokeback Mountain" and "King Kong" on the Internet this week, the first time major movies have been available online to own.
Erotic thrillers lose steam at box office (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - The last time "Basic Instinct" man-eater Catherine Tramell prowled the big screen, the studio erotic thriller was hitting box office heights. The first "Instinct" took the top spot when it debuted in 1992, with an opening weekend of $15.1 million, the equivalent of $20.45 million in today's dollars.
Webber, Deschanel among indie 'Life'-ers (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - Mark Webber and Zooey Deschanel are enjoying "The Good Life," an indie coming-of-age drama set in a Nebraska town obsessed with football. Shooting is underway in Winnipeg.
Banderas brings passion to 'Take the Lead' (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - Essentially "Mad Hot Ballroom" for mallrats, "Take the Lead" takes its lead from the life of Pierre Dulaine, the debonair founder of the popular program that brought ballroom dancing to New York inner-city public schools.
LivePlanet debuts multiplayer game on Amp'd Mobile (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - LivePlanet, the multimedia company behind television's "Project Greenlight" amateur filmmaking contest, said on Sunday it will debut its "PhoneTag" multiplayer video game on Amp'd Mobile later this year.
Hollywood studios to offer digital movies for sale (Reuters)
April 3, 2006
Reuters - Two online movie services,
Movielink and CinemaNow, on Monday said they will begin selling
major films such as "Memoirs of a Geisha" on the same day DVDs
are sold at stores in a watershed event for Hollywood in the
digital age.
'Simpsons' off sofa to big screen (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - Homer Simpson has hit the big screen in a short teaser trailer announcing a theatrical feature version of the long-running TV series "The Simpsons."
'SNL' star Samberg hops into 'Hot Rod' (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - Andy Samberg is revving his engine for the big screen. The "Saturday Night Live" star has signed on to star in the rowdy comedy "Hot Rod."
Starbucks building buzz for spelling bee movie (Reuters)
April 3, 2006Reuters - Starbucks will officially launch its first foray into the movie business Tuesday with a groundbreaking marketing campaign for the drama "Akeelah and the Bee," which opens April 28.