Maze Runner Scorch Trials blazes to top of box office

1.Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials – $30.3 million [debut week] The sequel to the surprise 2014 YA hit torched the competition (barely) to race to the box office crown.

Black Mass review – mob movie is more of a mess

More of a reclamation project for star Johnny Depp than the fascinating account of an actual gangster, “Black Mass” is a missed opportunity to do anything more trudge through the same old gangster story.

“Into the Woods” is enchanting film take of beloved musical

With its creative premise, terrific ensemble, mesmerizing visuals and dazzling musical numbers, “Into the Woods” is a dream come true for fans of the revered Broadway production that will undoubtedly win over a new fan base in theaters.

New on Blu-Ray/DVD – Dec. 17, 2013 – Elysium, The Lone Ranger, The Family, Prisoners

You can stuff your stockings full of coal or any of these lousy offerings for this week. There’s a lot of new releases, but unfortunately, none are any good.

Elysium – Matt Damon stars in this sci-fi action/political commentary piece by “District 9” Director Neil Blomkamp. There’s a decent plot here that gets bogged down under a tedious script and is ultimately a little too boring to get invested in.

Box office roundup – “Despicable Me 2” takes top spot, “Lone Ranger” settles for silver

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment
The Minions party.

1. Despicable Me 2 – $82.5 million [opened Wednesday; $140 million] The Fourth of July marked a great holiday weekend for Gru and The Minions who had the year’s second best animated opening behind “Monsters University‘s” $84 million debut last month.

“Despicable Me” opened to a surprising $56 million in 2010 and the sequel has already made back its $76 million budget so this looks poised to easily become one of the year’s biggest hits as well as surpassing the original’s $251 million domestic take. With a Minions spin-off set for next December, things are looking great for Universal Pictures’ new franchise.

First images, trailer from “The Lone Ranger”

There’s a lot of movies I’m looking forward to in 2013. from “Iron Man 3,” “Man of Steel” and “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Then there’s “The Lone Ranger,” which I think either will be great with Johnny Depp’s Tonto becoming one of his most revered roles or a so far out there performance that it ruins the whole film. I’m not seeing a lot of middle ground with it.

This take of the iconic Western crime-fighting duo, directed by Depp’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” director Gore Verbinski, places more of the focus on Tonto — a spirit warrior recalling how John Reid (“The Social Network’s” Armie Hammer) became The Lone Ranger. The teaser poster also gives a clear indicator as to who is the priority, which makes me wonder why they didn’t just call the film, “Tonto and The Lone Ranger.”

It wouldn’t be a Depp film without frequent collaborator Helena Bonham Carter, but the rest of the cast including Tom Wilkinson (“Batman Begins”), James Badge Dale (“Iron Man 3”) and William Fichtner as Butch Cavendish, the Lone Ranger’s arch-enemy.  That’s some pretty good casting.

Box Office Roundup – May 14, 2012 – the fight for #2

It really wasn’t even close this week as Marvel’s The Avengers crushed the competition in its record-breaking second week atop the box office. Here’s the Box Office Roundup – May 14, 2012 – the fight for #2.