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America checks into horror Hostel |
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The low budget horror film Hostel, reportedly made for $5 million, worried many movie fans because of its relentless violence and horror. Which translates to over three million movie fans embracing it across North America, letting it gross a strong $20 million, and making it profitable in just three days!
At second place in the American box-office charts, the superhit The Chronicles Of Narnia grossed $15 million, followed by King Kong which snared $12.5 million over the weekend. Jim Carrey's Fun With Dick And Jane is going steady with a $12.9 million weekend haul. While Steven Spielberg's Munich jumped to number 6 with $7.5 million, its per screen average wasn't much. And hence our verdict that the film -- which could end its North American run with $45 million -- is a disappointment. The $75 million film can break even only if it has a fantastic run abroad. Primed for major Oscar nominations, the gay-themed Brokeback Mountain was at number 9, with the film playing in just about 485 theatres.
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1. Hostel Cast: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson. Director: Eli Roth.  Horror fans will love the scenes that make them squirm. Too much of gore, hardly any wit; weak performances.Number of weeks: 1. BO Verdict: Hit.
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2. The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe Cast: Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson. Director: Andrew Adamson. Charming and scary at the same time; plenty of thrilling scenes.Second half drags.Number of weeks: 5. BO Verdict: Superhit.
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3. King Kong Cast: Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Andy Serkis. Director: Peter Jackson. Gorilla-size thrills and emotional pull.To some, the film takes too long to warm up.Number of weeks: 4. BO Verdict: Hit. The review
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4. Fun With Dick and Jane Cast: Jim Carrey, Tea Leoni. Director: Dean Parisot. Jim Carrey is fun as ever.a poor remake of a classic 1977 film.Number of weeks: 3. BO Verdict: Hit.
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5. Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Cast: Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, Bonnie Hunt. Director: Adam Shankman. Bunch of great comic actors in fine form.Very mediocre and overdone script.Number of weeks: 3. BO Verdict: Hit.
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6. Munich Cast: Eric Bana, Daniel Craig, Geoffrey Rush. Director: Stephen Spielberg. Engaging true story told with relentless conviction.Occasionally can be too obvious.Number of weeks: 5. BO Verdict: Disappointing.
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7. Memoirs of a Geisha Cast: Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh. Director:Rob Marshall. Captivating story about women in Japan.Has several slow moments.Number of weeks: 5. BO Verdict: Average.
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8. Rumor Has It... Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley Maclaine. Director: Rob Reiner. Shirley Maclaine; some fun moments.Lacks polish; mostly feels contrived.Number of weeks: 3. BO Verdict: Flop.
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9. Brokeback Mountain Cast: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal. Director: Ang Lee. Tender love story; great performances.Occasionally a bit too brooding.Number of weeks: 5. BO Verdict: Hit.
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10. The Family Stone Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes. Director:Thomas Bezucha. Sentimental comedy with lots of appeal to women; Diane Keaton.Laughs become less and less in the second half.Number of weeks: 4. BO Verdict: Hit.
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Text: Arthur J Pais
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