New Movies and Box Office Predictions: X-Men: The Last Stand

The end of May is upon us, and the last weekend only has one new film to offer up nation wide. It has been quite some time since we have had so few films opening. With only one film to join those already in release, there are few new choices for us loyal theater going patrons. Perhaps they are herding us? Are we nothing but sheep? In some ways I suppose we are.

X-Men: The Last Stand. (2006, 103 minutes, PG-13, action, trailer) I am approaching this with guarded optimism. I really want to like it, but have a bad feeling about it. I was very disappointed when Bryan Singer left the project, in favor of Warner Bros. Superman Returns project. Taking his place is the mediocre Brett Ratner, and stories that Fox wanted to beat Warner to the theaters. Rushing is never a good thing. So far, the trailers have looked good, and the trickling of reviews have pretty much echoes each other saying that it is good, but not up to the first 2. Hopefully, it will be a fun action jaunt.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. (2006, 121 minutes, R, western, trailer) This film marks Tommy Lee Jones debut as a director, plus, he also stars with Barry Pepper. The film follows Jones, playing a ranch hand who takes the body of his murdered friend to his home in Mexico to honor his burial requests. Along for the trip is his murderer, whom Jones had kidnapped and dragged along. This originally opened in February, but is only know coming to my area.

Sir! No Sir! (2006, 84 minutes, NR, documentary, trailer) This documentary, from director David Zeiger, is getting a run at the local arthouse. The film tells the story of the G.I. Movement to end the Vietnam war. This movement included half a million desertions, organized protests, and anti-war newspapers. One of the screenings will even have 2 of the featured vets from the film, Jerry Lembcke and Susan Schnall.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Fanaa
• An Inconvenient Truth
• Lower City (Cidade Baixa)

Box Office Predictions

This week will most likely not be all that different from last week. There is only one new movie going into wide release, and the only difference I see it making is bumping everything down by one, and knocking the number 10 film off the list. So, that said, here are your top 10:

1. X-Men: The Last Stand
2. The DaVinci Code
3. Over the Hedge
4. Mission: Impossible III
5. Poseidon
6. RV
7. See No Evil
8. Just My Luck
9. An American Haunting
10. United 93

The only one I see that could change is United 93. It is dropping a lot of screens, and its days as a box office draw may be over. The other potential option would be Ice Age: The Meltdown, which is also dropping screens, catching a bit of the updraft from Over the Hedge and returns to the top 10 for a week.

Or, I could be completely off base and the top films could fall in a completely different order. I mean, really, what do I know?

On another note, what are you seeing this weekend?

Categories: News, Movies, Previews, Weekly