Movie Monday: Zero Dark Thirty
Nothing like a little controversy and some Oscar buzz to stir curiosity among moviegoers. Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow’s much ballyhooed (and occasionally maligned) tale of the finding and killing of Osama Bin Laden, steamrolled to an estimated $24 million this weekend (its first in nationwide release) and thumped two newcomers for the week’s box […]
Playing God on Hawaii Five-0
On Jan. 14, Hawaii Five-0 will give its fans a chance to determine the outcome of its show. The whodunit—where the team must solve the murder of a prominent professor—will (according to Entertainment Weekly) feature three different endings, each with a different killer: The professor’s boss? A student? A teaching assistant? One of ’em will […]
Movie Monday: Texas Chainsaw
What’s the buzz in Hollywood? Texas Chainsaw, that’s what. The 3-D sequel of 1974’s venerably vile Texas Chainsaw Massacre brap-brap-brapped its way to the top of the box office, chopping down an estimated $23 million in an otherwise sleepy week at the multiplex. The horror flick benefitted by being the only wide release of the […]
The Parable of the Good Celebrities
Taylor Swift is America’s most philanthropic celebrity, according to the charity-minded website dosomething.org. According to the site, the 23-year-old singer/songwriter donated $4 million to the Country Hall of Fame Museum and has worked tirelessly to help youth battling cancer. She’s also the youngest person to ever be named top dog on the site’s annual list. […]
Movie Monday: The Hobbit—One Movie to Rule Them All
Next big thing in Hollywood? Furry feet. There are probably some entertainment executives who believe that those tousled toes must be the secret to the success of Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. I mean, it couldn’t be the story or CGI, could it? No, people just love a little fuzz on the […]
Pop Culture’s Top 10 Movers and Shakers (2012 Edition)
Let’s be honest: A lot of us are relieved to see 2012 go. Sure, we got to see some grand Olympic performances and all. But we spent far more time dealing with hurricanes or mourning horrific tragedies or fighting about politics or panicking over the looming fiscal cliff. It’s a wonder the world didn’tend on […]
Movie Wednesday: The Hobbit Burgles Box Office (Again)
So, imagine it’s Christmas morning, and you unwrap a present that contains, oh, $50 million or so. Now, imagine being disappointed that it’s not more. That sums up the holiday weekend for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Yeah, director Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit movie was given a nice little bundle by moviegoers. It made an […]
Television Tops: Paul Asay’s Year-End Picks
“So I’m just wondering, after reading quite a few of your reviews, is there a secular TV show you guys do like?” A reader emailed me that question just a couple of days ago. It’s a pretty simple question, really—one that probably some of the rest of you have also asked a time or two. “Man, […]
Movie Monday: The Hobbit Makes an Expected Debut
You know, I’m not sure whether those dwarves really need to risk life-and-limb tromping to Lonely Mountain to reclaim their family fortune. Looks like they’re making plenty at the movies. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey pillaged an estimated $84.8 million at the box office—a record for a December opening—and burgled another $138.2 million overseas. That […]
The Gingersnaps Have Been Delivered
Hey there! Great to see you again! It’s been a bit hectic reconnecting with you. Everything was ticking along just dandily—words were showing up on the blog and everything—when suddenly, our IT experts received a mysterious message from deep in the bowels of the blog. “We’re holding your code for ransom,” it read. “We demand […]
