05.31.07
My Weekend In Pop Culture
Just a quick update on the Memorial Day weekend that just past. First off, my box office predictions were more or less correct. Where I was right: We had three out of four weekends with a movie breaking $100 million; Spiderman 3 has sunk like a stone since it’s record opening; Shrek 3 held strong over it’s second weekend; Pirates broke the 4 day record; Shrek and Pirates made well over $200 million combined over the Memorial Day weekend (Wait, I actually said $300 million? Well, that was stupid of me. Ah well). Where I was wrong: Pirates did not break Spiderman 3’s three day record; my numbers per film were a little off; Spiderman 3 is definitely going to make more than the $315 million domestic total (my new prediction: $335m). Still to be determined: The final grosses of the three films. I still say Pirates and Shrek blow past $400m, with Pirates ending the year the big winner.
So overall, I’d say I didn’t do half bad. Especially considering that I’m an idiot.
Speaking of Pirates 3, I did happen to catch it over the weekend. In short, I liked it. I feel it had much more of a purpose than the second one. Yeah, keeping the motivations of all fifteen hundred-ish or so characters straight was virtually impossible, but it really didn’t matter. I was definitely engaged in the characters and stories throughout; so much so that I didn’t notice the nearly 3 hour running time until I left the theater (sunny and 75 when I went in, dark and 55 when I came out). True, another viewing may change my mind, but my overall feelings at the moment are positive.
Oh, and I disagree with this review almost of the movie almost entirely. What Owen liked about Pirates 2 drove me nuts, and what he disliked about Pirates 3, I liked quite a bit. But he gets paid to do this and I don’t, so I guess he wins. Damn it.
I did also get the chance to watch the Lost season finale over the weekend. Holyf@#kingsh*t! Now that was a season finale. One of the best two hours of scripted television I have ever seen. If I had any doubts the creators could pull this thing off, they are gone now. I’m still blown away. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. January can’t come fast enough.
If you’re a Lost watcher, you really should check out these Doc Jenson articles over at EW.com. Required reading.
See you on the flip flop.
GO CAVS!