A Christmas Frog
In the US: Disney's trumpeted return to traditional 2D animation is a hit, if not quite as sizeable as they'd hope, as THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG claims #1 with $24m... biopic INVICTUS didn't do too well, with $8m, but it was still enough to grab #3...
US TOP 10
1. The Princess And The Frog $24.2m
2. The Blind Side $15.1m
3. Invictus $8.61m
4. The Twilight Saga: New Moon $7.96m
5. A Christmas Carol $6.83m
6. Brothers $5.01m
7. Old Dogs $4.41m
8. 2012 $4.35m
9. Armored $3.5m
10. Ninja Assassin $2.71m
In the UK: Disney's A Christmas Carol returns to the #1 spot, as Brits feel more festive now... the week's biggest new success was WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, in at #2, but that only managed £883,000... and overall this was apparently the worst box-office weekend of 2009 in the UK. I guess people are just too busy buying presents to spend the cash on movie-going.
UK TOP 10
1. A Christmas Carol £1.5m
2. Where The Wild Things Are £883k
3. Planet 51 £764k
4. Paranormal Activity £758k
5. The Twilight Zone: New Moon £750k
6. Nativity! £667k
7. Law Abiding Citizen £604k
8. 2012 £471k
9. The Box £249
10. A Serious Man £130k
UK RELEASES THIS WEEK
AVATAR
Sci-fi action-adventure. A paraplegic marine dispatched to the planet Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.
Director: James Cameron Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi & CCH Pounder
Tomatometer: 83% (Fresh; based on 178 reviews) " It might be more impressive on a technical level than as a piece of storytelling, but Avatar reaffirms James Cameron's singular gift for imaginative, absorbing filmmaking."
HUMPDAY
Comedy. Two guys take their bromance to another level when they participate in an art film project.
Director: Lynn Shelton Starring: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore & Lynn Shelton
Tomatometer: 79% (Fresh; based on 115 reviews) "Observant and insightful, this indie comedy takes a different tack on the "bromance" but still makes a point without sermonizing."
NINE
Musical romance. Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.
Director: Rob Marshall Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren & Stacy Ferguson
Tomatometer: 48% (Rotten; based on 66 reviews)
ST. TRINIAN'S 2: THE LEGEND OF FRITTON'S GOLD
Adventure-comedy. The girls of St. Trinian's are on the hunt for buried treasure after discovering headmistress Miss Fritton is related to a famous pirate.
Directors: Oliver Parker & Barnaby Thompson Starring: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, David Tennant, Gemma Arterton, Talulah Rile, Tamsin Egerton & Sarah Harding.
Tomatometer: 8% (Rotten; based on 12 reviews)
