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2009-04-27T14:08:22Z

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Top Ten: Opening Weekend Box Office

2008-07-27T18:57:41Z

Unless you've been in a cave, you already know that last week The Dark Knight became the motion picture with the highest gross on it's opening weekend, and the film continues to break records. In fact, this latest adventure for the Caped Crusader made more in it's opening weekend than the previous top three (Batman Forever, Batman Begins, Batman Returns) made in their opening weekends combined!

We were trying to recall the other nine movies (without cheating). Now that we've verified the information (and gotten the details), we figured we'd share them with you.

]]> Following is the first of what we plan to be a growing list of Top Tens.

Top Ten: Opening Weekend Box Office

The Dark Knight (7/18/2008): $158,411,483 in 4,366 theaters
Spider-Man 3 (5/4/2007): $151,116,516 in 4,252 theaters
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (7/7/2006): $135,634,554 in 4,133 theaters
Shrek the Third (5/18/2007): $121,629,270 in 4,122 theaters
Spider-Man (5/3/2002): $114,844,116 in 3,615
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (5/25/2007): $114,732,820 in 4,362 theaters
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith: (5/19/2005): $108,435,841 in 3,661 theaters
Shrek 2 (5/19/2004): $108,037,878 in 4,163 theaters
X-Men: The Last Stand (5/26/2006): $102,750,665 in 3,690 theaters
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (11/18/2005): $102,685,961 in 3,858 theaters

(sources: The Numbers, Box Office Mojo, E! Online.)

Now that you know the Top Ten, which film was bumped into the number eleven position after The Dark Knight's opening weekend? Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Jazz Legend Johnny Griffin Dies in France

2008-07-26T06:49:17Z

PARIS -- US jazz tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, who played alongside such luminaries as Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey and Thelonius Monk, died Friday in France, his agent Helene Manfredi said. He was 80.

Nicknamed the Little Giant, Griffin was due to perform Friday evening alongside US organist Rhoda Scott, French saxophonist Olivier Temime and drummer Julie Saury.

Griffin died at home in Mauprevoir, a village in the west-central La Vienne district, where he had spent the last 18 years of his life. The cause of death was not disclosed.

After studying music at the DuSable High School in his native Chicago, Griffin joined vibes star Hampton's orchestra in 1945 before leaving with trumpeter Joe Morris to join the latter's own band.

Throughout the 1950s, he played with a variety of combos, including Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

]]> He also played alongside cornetist Nat Adderley and recorded with John Coltrane. The fruits of that collaboration produced the 1957 Blue Note album for which he is perhaps best remembered, "A Blowin' Session."

At the start of the 1960s, Griffin founded his own group along with another saxophone player, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, but in 1962 he decided to set up home in France.

A spell in the Netherlands followed in the 1970s, before his return to France, where he continued to record and tour right to the end.

Legendary London jazz club Ronnie Scott's described Griffin on its website as a "member of jazz's elite ... his burning solos and furiously nimble runs anchored by an amazingly well-informed and complete grasp of melody and harmony, marking him out as one of the greatest tenor sax players".

Be Seeing You!

2008-07-26T06:03:14Z

In 1967, a British secret agent resigned from his job. Shortly thereafter, he woke to find himself in an idyllic village on an island guarded by, well, giant white balloons affectionately called Rover.

So starts the saga of Number Six, played by Patrick McGoohan in the 1960's series and, presumably, that's how it will start for Jim Caviezel in AMC's upcoming reinterpretation of The Prisoner. As in the original, Number Six will have a Number Two to contend with, Caviezel's in the form of Sir Ian McKellan, as he tries to discover the secrets behind the Village, why he's there, and who is Number One.

(On the series, McGoohan actually found himself facing off against many different Number Twos, both male and female, as each was presumably replaced after his or her failure to get information from Six.)

The Prisoner, a six-part miniseries, will be seen on AMC in 2009. You can follow the production and test your knowledge of the iconic show at their The Prisoner Blog.

Movie News from Comic-Con

2008-07-26T02:39:08Z

The web is abuzz with news coming out of Comic-Con 2008 in San Diego, some of which we're betting will also pique the curiosity of triviots. A few quick items:

The big surprise came from Disney. The entertainment giant had gathered attendees to show a clip from Race to Witch Mountain--more on that in a moment--and then, at the end of the presentation, something unexpected. According to Adam Quigley of /Film, "The teaser starts off with the camera panning through a strange stylized landscape. At this point, nobody knew what we were watching, so only silence filled the hall. And then, two blue/yellow suit-wearing motorcyclists burst into frame, engaged in a frenzy of a race. Audiences erupted in applause."

]]> The the three-minute clip made it official: There will be a sequel to 1982's TRON called, and don't ask me how to pronounce it, TR2N. ("Tr-two-un"?!) There have been rumors for a while about a sequel and a lot of speculation about whether Jeff Bridges would be involved, but the teaser makes it clear that he will be. The film is still more than a year away, but you can head on over to slashfilm.com to read more.

* * *

As I said, the audience was actually gathered to hear about Race to Witch Mountain, a sequel to 1975's Escape to Witch Mountain. Dwayne "Don't Call Me the Rock Anymore" Johnson and Carla Gugino star, but it was nice to see Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann, Tia and Tony from the original film and it's sequel Return from Witch Mountan, are in the cast list.

If you'd like to know more, ComingSoon.net has been following the production of the movie for quite some time. The scheduled release date for Race to Witch Mountain is March 13, 2009.

* * *

A sequel to The Lost Boys will follow-up on the gang of teenage bloodsuckers from the original film more-than-20 years later. The two Coreys (Feldman and Haim), who were in the 1987 movie, took a break from humiliating themselves on reality TV to appear in the film. Lost Boys: The Tribe will be released directly to DVD and Blu-ray this Tuesday.

* * *

Since we're talking about vampires, Stephanie Meyer's young adult book series, the Twilight Saga, will get the big screen treatment. Twilight is scheduled for a December 12 release.

* * *

Which leads us directly to the Twilight Zone: Rumor is Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way, has reportedly sent out feelers for a new movie version of the Rod Serling classic. While little is known at this point, it's believed that Leo wants to do a single story, rather an episodic treatment, as was used for the 1983 film.

* * *

The remake of another black-and-white classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still, hits theaters on December 12. Keanu Reeves replaces Michael Rennie as Klaatu, the man from another world who comes to Earth with a warning. Jennifer Connelly has the Patricia Neal role of Helen and it appears that Jaden Smith (son of Will and Jada) will play her stepson (Billy Gray of Father Knows Best in the original).

No actor has announced to play Gort, Klaatu's giant robot companion, but director Scott Derrickson says he plans to remain faithful to the original. We're not sure, though, if he refers to the 1951 movie or the short story upon which it was based, which had different endings.

Check out the teaser for The Day the Earth Stood Still at dtessmovie.com. And, just in case, remember the words, "Klaatu barada nikto"!

Screech the Snitch

2008-07-26T01:57:59Z

In his latest bid to remain on our pop culture radar, Dustin Diamond, Screech from Saved by the Bell (as well as its prequel, Good Morning, Miss Bliss, and too many Bell spin-offs and made-for-TV movies to list) is reportedly writing a tell-all book about his days in the spotlight. Apparently his appearances on Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrity Boxing, and the infamous sex tape just weren't enough to make the Screecher happy.

The book, titled Behind the Bell, will be ghost written by Alan Goldsher, who, according to his website, has worked on projects with comedians Fred Willard and Bernie Mac, and actor Michael Madsen. According to New York magazine, the book will reveal the, "sexual escapades among cast members, drug use, and hardcore partying," that took place on the set of the show.

Gee, I wonder why none of his co-stars will speak to him.

Related Links:

Saved by the Bell on DVD

Connie Francis Hospitalized

2008-07-25T21:03:09Z

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- Singer Connie Francis is being treated at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York where she was hospitalized after falling ill earlier this week.

Her agent, Mike Church, says the 69-year-old singer had been scheduled to perform Wednesday night with Neil Sedaka at The Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury. Instead, she was taken to the hospital with dangerously high blood pressure.

Francis, who recorded '50s and '60s pop hits including "Who's Sorry Now?" and "Lipstick on Your Collar," had been expected to leave the coronary care unit Friday.

Church says that although she is "doing well," doctors decided she should remain in the hospital for observation for at least another day.

Related Links:

Well, He Warned Her!

2008-07-25T15:52:23Z

Let's Do The Time Warp Again (Again)

2008-07-24T15:54:09Z

Grab your toilet paper and squirt guns! MTV is planning a remake of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Oh, Lord!

2008-07-24T14:45:29Z

Hawaii Five-0's Jack Lord had his share of fans. We're not sure we'd count the author of this letter among them.

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You Really Can't Stop The Beat

2008-07-24T10:20:21Z

ComingSoon.net is reporting that New Line Cinema is working on a sequel to the movie-turned-musical-turned-movie-musical Hairspray. Many from the creative team behind the movie musical, including creator John Waters and director Adam Shankman, are on board for Hairspray 2, and they hope to reunite the original cast.

Golden Girl Getty Dies

2008-07-23T15:12:25Z

The feisty actress who played Sophia Petrillo, the senior member of the Golden Girls, passed away this morning.

Read more in the Associated Press obituary.