New Movies and Box Office Predictions: The Bucket List, First Sunday, Veggie Tales, In the Name of the King

Last week brought the first new release of the year, the tepid One Missed Call. This week we get a trio of new releases. None of them look terribly promising, although one definitely looks to be more entertaining than the rest. Like every January, we are off to a slow start. Even with regards to late December Oscar releases it does not seem to be all that exciting. Whatever, things will pick up soon enough, Cloverfield arrives next week!

The Bucket List. (2007, 97 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) The teaming of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, on paper, would seem to be a match made in heaven. The trailer seems to support that, at least a little bit. The movie looks like fun, it looks like the two of them were having fun. Now, the big question is whether or not the story holds up, time will tell. This looks to be the biggest release for the weekend and the one with the best shot of taking a high ranking position.

First Sunday. (2008, 96 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) This movie looks pretty funny. I don't think it will be a terribly good film, but it looks like fun. It features a good cast with Ice Cube who always has a good screen presence, Tracy Morgan whose star is on the rise, and Katt Williams who I do not know much about but think is funny when I do see him. The story follows a pair of bumbling criminals who decide to rob a church while performing community service.

The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie. (2008, 85 minutes, G, animated, trailer) The trio of vegetable stars, while working at a pirate themed restaurant are transported back in time where they will have to reach deep inside themselves to rise up against a tyrant. Not my thing, but he kids love these guys, and they do deliver a positive message so how bad could it be? Just don't expect to see my review.

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. (2008, 124 minutes, R, fantasy/action, trailer) The latest slice of Uwe Boll genius is upon us (that was sarcasm). Uwe Boll makes some of the worst films known to man, including House of the Dead and Bloodrayne. It is a story of revenge and bloody uprising, and it looks to be absolutely mediocre. Who might be appearing here? Well, let's see: Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, Burt Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, John Rhys Davies, Matthew Lillard, and Ron Perlman. Wow. I may have to see this one. Perhaps One Missed Call won't be the worst of the year after all!

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Summer Palace

Box Office Predictions
Will this be the weekend when National Treasure: Book of Secrets finally falls from its perch? I would have to say yes. I would like to say this will be the week that Juno climbs to the top. In fact, I will say it, the little film that could will suffer a very small drop in box office as it ascends to the number one spot. The Bucket List has the star power to fuel a good weekend in it's first week out. I also suspect that First Sunday will do pretty good as well. The rest will be a dogfight.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Juno	$14 million
2	The Bucket List	$13.5 million
3	National Treasure: Book of Secrets	$11 million
4	First Sunday	$9 million
5	Alvin and the Chipmunks	$8.5 million
6	I Am Legend	$7 million
7	The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything	$5.5 million
8	PS I Love You	$4.5 million
9	One Missed Call	$4 million
10	In the Name of the King	$3.5 million