New Movies and Box Office Predictions: How She Move, Meet the Spartans, Rambo, Untraceable

Last week saw the arrival of the first blockbuster of the young year in Cloverfield. It will also likely be the first film to cross the century mark, even with the mixed reactions (personally, I loved it). Will this week deliver the second big hit of the year? Unlikely, at least compared to the record numbers Cloverfield put up. There is the potential for another strong release from an aging action star, as well as another front-runner for worst of the year. Time will tell how it pans out. Read on to see if there is anything to catch your eye.

How She Move. (2008, 98 minutes, PG-13, drama, trailer) This is not my usual fare, but I have to say that this looks pretty good, if the you go by the trailer. On the surface it looks like just another dance movie in the vein of Step Up and Stomp the Yard (I know I am generalizing, but those trailers were not compelling to me beyond the dance). This film tells the story of a young woman trying to make her way through adversity and uses dance as a way to get to where she needs to go. Even that sounds typical, but the trailer does look pretty good. Ian Iqbal Rashid makes his directorial debut with a cast of unknowns.

Meet the Spartans. (2008, 84 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) No. I refuse. I will not spend money on this surefire crap fest. You got my money for both Date Movie and Epic Movie, but not this time. It made me want to cry every time I saw someone laugh at this trailer. The sobbing only worsened when they actually expressed interest in this. Why are these guys allowed near a camera? Better yet, why are they allowed to write? Please do not support this so-called comedy.

Rambo. (2008, 93 minutes, R, action, trailer) Am I allowed to say that I am really looking forward to this? Of course I am, I can say whatever I want! It's true, ever since I saw that wildly violent teaser last year, I have been anticipating this movie. It looks like fun, and it looks unapologetically violent. Stallone reinvigorated his career with the superb Rocky Balboa, I am looking forward to seeing if he keeps the trend going here. Once again, Stallone directs himself.

Untraceable. (2007, 100 minutes, R, thriller, trailer) This looks like it could be really intense or really dumb. I am hoping for intense (who wouldn't?). Diane Lane stars as the leader of a cybercrime unit of the FBI. A new serial killer has appeared and he uses the internet, and web surfers, to commit his murders. It is up to Lane, Colin Hanks, and the rest of her team to track him down. It is a task that intensifies when the killer makes it personal. Gregory Hoblit directs, his last film was 2007's Fracture.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days
• The Air I Breathe
• U2 3D

Box Office Predictions
Last week, Cloverfield easily topped the box office charts, will it be able to make it two in a row? I tend to doubt it. The very mixed word of mouth will likely lead to a drop of 50%+ in week two. This will leave the top spot open for..... I am going to say Rambo, but it will likely be a close one. I suspect 27 Dresses will have a strong hold and I can only hope that Meet the Spartans bombs out of the gate.

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

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	Rambo	$21 million
2	Cloverfield	$19 million
3	27 Dresses	$13.5 million
4	Meet the Spartans	$10 million
5	Untreaceable	$9 million
6	The Bucket List	$8 million
7	How She Move	$7.5 million
8	Juno	$7 million
9	Mad Money	$4.5 million
10	National Treasure: Book of Secrets	$4 million