Aerobitch & other: August 2008

Friday 29 August 2008

'Tropic Thunder' Takes Box Office, But 'Dark Knight' Becomes Second-Highest-Grossing Film Of All Time

The Box-Office Top Five

#1 "Tropic Thunder" ($26 one thousand thousand)

#2 "The Dark Knight" ($16.8 meg)

#3 "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" ($15.5 zillion)

#4 "Mirrors" ($11.1 jillion)

#5 "Pineapple Express" ($10 million)

The Scarecrow couldn't do it. Neither could Two-Face. The Joker, it turns out, was just a minor hassle. Batman has been assaulted by the combined efforts of every major villain in Gotham City, but world Health Organization ultimately brings him down? Would you believe no villain at all, but, gulp, Iron Man?

Well, sort of.

Tony Stark would be mincemeat if he of all time got into it with Bruce Wayne, but something's gotta give after a month in theaters. And so, buoyed by a strong performance from the man of the summer, Robert Downey Jr., Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" scored $26 million over the weekend to claim the #1 spot at the domestic box office, end the four-week reign of supremacy by "The Dark Knight." The war charade has made $37 one thousand thousand since opening on Wednesday (incidentally, $4 million behind what "Pineapple Express" made last weekend).

But with a second-place finis and $16.8 one thousand thousand, "The Dark Knight" is still the story of the summer, meaning "Tropic Thunder," "Iron Man" and just about everyone else save Michael Phelps will have to settle for minor victories. Falling only if 35 percentage, "The Dark Knight" continued to make history in its fifth weekend in release, mounting past "Star Wars" to become the second-highest-grossing moving picture of all time. Its total now stands at a mind-boggling $471.5 million.

Coincidentally, "The Dark Knight" also laid the smackdown on the newest tautologic chapter in George Lucas' ever-expanding universe. The Force was not strong with "The Clone Wars," as the critically panned midquel managed only $15.5 million. Hey, at least it has a grossly stereotyped gay character passing for it, right? The animated adventure should top off around $40 million.

In fourth place, "Mirrors," stellar Kiefer Sutherland, scared up $11.1 million. "Pineapple Express" rounded out the top five with $10 million. The stoner comedy's two-week tally stands at $62.9 million.

Among former new releases, Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" came in 10th place with $3.7 million, patch Luke Wilson's "Henry Poole Is Here," well, wasn't. The spiritual dramedy managed only $800,000.

Upcoming Releases

Trust us, summer's virtually over. You can tell by the late-August offerings, like "Death Race," "The House Bunny" and "The Rocker," all coming to theaters this week. Wake us up when it's time for the Toronto Film Festival.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more � updated around the clock � visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Tuesday 19 August 2008

Band in Boston hits the stage

One of Boston�s best-kept secrets is again stepping out of the living room and into the clubs.

This hebdomad the �Band in Boston� podcast, headed by the Somerville-based husband-and-wife duo of Andy and Jen Guthrie, takes over P.A.�s Lounge for a six-night stand featuring 25 local bands and musicians on multiple stages.

The fun starts tonight with a relatively unknown lineup featuring Boat, the Woodrow Wilsons, Creeping Weeds and Old Abram Brown.

�There ar a number of bands who are flying under the radio detection and ranging right now,� Jen Guthrie aforesaid. �We�re psyched to be able to highlight their music.�

That�s what �Band in Boston� has been around since its inception in 2006. But the Guthries� podcast visual modality is a troika of local medicine goodness. In addition to highlighting new music and upcoming shows, �Band in Boston� �s Flophouse Sessions features artists playing stripped down, semi-acoustic performances in the Guthrie house, piece Boston Bootlegs broadcasts live recordings of local gigs around the city.

More than 100 bands have already dropped by the Guthries� Somerville monotone for a Flophouse Session, and some of the more recent acts highlighted this workweek at P.A.�s, located on Somerville Avenue near Union Square.

Some of the artists that leap off the listings page include Emeen Z tomorrow night, the Beatings� Eldridge Rodriguez, Mr. Sister and Ryan Lee Crosby on Wednesday, and a mega Friday night lineup of Baker, Drug Rug duette Tommy Allen and Sarah Cronin, and Marc Pinansky of Township.

But the best thing close to �Band in Boston is the chance to disclose new, previously unheard local music. So head over to bandinbostonpodcast.com for a preview of the week ahead, as well as previously recorded performances of those taking part.

All shows start at 8:30 p.m., with a $7-$8 cover ($10-$11 for those 18-to-20 days old).

Madonna have two

Madonna�s company is forever better the second time around - just ask Alex Rodriguez.

So let Boston rejoice. Madge has added a irregular local date to her 90-percent sold-out �Sticky & Sweet Tour.� In increase to her previously proclaimed Oct. 15 show at the TD Banknorth Garden, which sold out quicker than Guy Ritchie, she�s announced a follow-up gig the future night.

Tickets ar $57.50-$352.50 and go on sale Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. through Live Nation and at the TD Banknorth Garden.

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