The top three films at the U.S. box office this past weekend all outperformed expectations. Where the Wild Things Are, directed by Spike Jonze from the popular children’s book by Maurice Sendak, came in on top of the heap with a healthy $32.5 million in ticket sales. The audience was primarily adults, as the distributor, Warner Brothers, successfully chose to market it mainly toward adults instead of children for the film combining live action, animation, and puppetry.
The vigilante film Law Abiding Citizen benefited from a popular story subject (vigilante films have been a Hollywood staple since the movies’ inception) and the presence of stars Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler. Extremely bad reviews by mainstream critics failed to discourage audiences from seeing the film. It finished second in its opening weekend, with $21 million.
Finishing a very strong third was the low-budget horror film Paranormal Activity, which brought in $20.2 million. Both this film and Where the Wild Things Are received good reviews from the critics.
–S. T. Karnick
I know what you mean about Where the Wild Things Are. I remember the book being a bit weird, but the trailers make the film look even weirder.
What you see in LAC is pretty much the norm in suspense films these days, alas. The villains often make no sense at all. It looks as if everybody wants to invent the next Hannibal Lector. As far as I’m concerned, the original was one too many, Academy Award or no Academy Award.
I have yet to see Paranormal Activity but intend to. Will probably have to go it alone, however, for the very reasons you give.
Just kind of riffing here:
Never read Wild Things as a kid and haven’t seen the movie but the trailer really creeps me out. LOL
Law Abiding Citizen started strong but when the bad guy sort of morphed into a Lex Luthor-type Supervillain they lost me.
Wanted to see Paranormal Activity but my wife wouldn’t go anywhere near it and my best friend was…scared. LOL He’s usually made of sterner stuff. Watching him get spooked like that kinda scared ME so I think I’ll just skip it.