Will Moviegoers Go Ape Over Latest Planet?

How much of a rise will 20th Century Fox’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes give the box office? Not an especially big one, according to box-office forecasters, who were notably way off in their calculations last week, when they predicted that Universal’s Cowboys & Aliens would do much more business than it did and that Sony/Columbia’s The Smurfs would do much less business than it did. They figure that this weekend, the Apes prequel will do around $30-35 million in business, while the latest gross-out comedy, Universal’s The Change-Up, will bag about $10-15 million. The big question is which movie will come in at No. 2? Cowboys & Aliens will be hoping for strong word-of-mouth to keep it from shedding a big share of its original take. On the other hand The Smurfs has been enjoying terrific midweek business, coming in well ahead of Cowboys every day of the week.

Update:

Daily Variety reported on its website today (Saturday) that the Planet of the Apes prequel grossed $19.5 million on Friday and is expected to double that figure through Sunday.

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Minnelli's Photoshoot In Handcuffs And Leather

Liza Minnelli has stunned fans after posing in handcuffs and leather for a provocative new magazine spread.

The Cabaret star can be seen wearing thigh-high leather boots and flashing her middle finger at the camera in the shoot with fashion photographer Terry Richardson.

Minnelli also channels the Statue of Liberty as she puffs on a cigarette with a green robe draped across her body and her hair styled in spikes.

In another shot, the actress/singer appears to be topless and handcuffed, with just a bouquet of red roses to protect her modesty.

The dramatic pictures appear in the latest issue of Britain's Love magazine.

Moss Swaps Partying For The Quiet Life

Wild child Kate Moss has swapped partying for bingo and playing children's games, according to her best friend Sadie Frost.

The British supermodel is famous for her hellraising antics, and has been a firm fixture of the London social scene since she hit the bigtime in the 1990s.

The beauty married her rocker beau Jamie Hince last month, and her actress pal Frost reveals Moss has opted for a more relaxed lifestyle since her big day.

She tells Britain's Metro, "We still have a really good time, doing things normal grown-ups do with their children, playing games.

"On Saturdays we cook lunch for our kids and hang out in the garden. I had a great time on Saturday night playing bingo at home with the children.

"She is a huge inspiration. She's godmother to (my daughter) Iris, and (her daughter) Lila is my godchild."

Reynolds And Theron End Brief Romance - Report

Ryan Reynolds and Charlize Theron have ended their rumoured relationship after just two months, according to a U.S. report.

The actors were first linked in June, after Reynolds' motorcycle was spotted outside Theron's Hollywood home.

Representatives for the South African beauty fuelled the claims last month by refusing to confirm or deny she was dating Scarlett Johansson's ex-husband, but it appears the romance has already fizzled out.

According to Us Weekly magazine, Reynolds called off the fling in late July.

A source says, "They're both too busy. And they were hardly ever together anyway."

Reynolds' divorce from Johansson became official on 1 July.

Coppola And Mars Will Marry In Historic Village Palace

Filmmaker Sofia Coppola will marry singer Thomas Mars on the historic grounds of the picturesque Palazzo Margherita in southern Italy later this month.

The Lost in Translation director will exchange vows with Phoenix frontman Mars in a civil ceremony on 27 August on her dad Francis Ford Coppola's lavish estate in the small village of Bernalda.

Francis Ford Coppola's great nephew Gaetano Russo tells wwd.com, "The ceremony will mark the end of renovations at the palace, which will soon be inaugurated as a resort, open to the public."

And the Coppolas plan to turn the nuptials into a celebration for the whole village - they will screen scenes from films by both Sofia and her famous father on the walls of 10 buildings around Bernalda.

Coppola's representative confirmed the engagement in May. The couple has two young daughters together.

Davis' Weight Gain Wasn't Enough For The Help

Actress Viola Davis piled on 25 pounds (11.34 kilograms) for her role as a middle-aged maid in new movie The Help - but still had to wear body pads to appear thicker than she was.

The usually-svelte Oscar nominee stars alongside Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard in the big screen adaptation of author Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel, about the 1960s racial divide between middle class white families and their African-American maids in Jackson, Mississippi.

Davis indulged in fatty fried Southern foods to bulk up for the part, but her weight gain wasn't quite enough.

She says, "I had to gain 25 pounds during The Help and then I was padded. I gained weight by eating Mississippi food. They fry the butter before they put it on the bread and then they fry the bread!"

Swinton Didn't Know Importance Of Oscar Win

Actress Tilda Swinton had "no idea" how prestigious it was to win an Academy Award because she doesn't own a television and has never been interested in Oscars news.

The British star was named Best Supporting Actress for her role in 2007 drama Michael Clayton and it was Swinton's first time attending the biggest event in the Hollywood calendar.

The actress acknowledges the professional clout that came with landing such a coveted honour, but insists it is "not really" of any personal significance for her or her kids - who couldn't care less about the Oscar statuette.

She tells W magazine, "I have to admit that I'd never seen the Oscars on television and really had no idea that it was so important. It was a very long show, but it did move me up from the children's table, professionally, in Hollywood.

"When I brought my Oscar home and showed the children, nobody knew what it was. The thing sat on the kitchen table for two weeks. It was kind of meaningless to them."

Swinton decided against capitalising on her new-found status in Hollywood and instead chose to return to the smaller, independent films that she was more moved by.

She adds, "After winning, I went straight to Milan (Italy) and started I Am Love. Since then, I haven't done another Hollywood film."

Thompson To Revamp Annie Screenplay For Willow Smith

Oscar winner Emma Thompson has signed on to rework the classic Annie script for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's new musical.

Glee creator Ryan Murphy let the big news slip while explaining why he is no longer attached to the project, which will star the Hollywood couple's daughter Willow as the titular orphan.

Murphy tells Deadline.com, "They are doing a movie version and I loved the idea that Jay-z was going to do the music. I met with Jay and talked to him about it. I wanted to write the script and direct it. And then (Murphy's new TV project) American Horror got picked up and Willow is a certain age and you need a script by November. I didn't think I could do it.

"So now she's (Pinkett Smith) got Emma Thompson, who is 50 million times better than me. Love her. I wish I could have had the time to do it. The thing that was the biggest turn on for me was Jay. We talked about how we were going to set it (Annie) in Detroit."

Actress Thompson has frequently won acclaim for her scriptwriting skills, and she won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Sense & Sensibility.

Richards Gave Sheen's Hooker Pal Relationship Advice Over Dinner

Denise Richards was so comfortable dining with a prostitute her ex-husband Charlie Sheen had hired for the night, she gave her romance tips when the actor excused himself and went to the bathroom.

Sheen invited the actress to join him and "some friends" for dinner during an infamous 2010 trip to New York, but when she got to the restaurant, it quickly became clear she was dining with her ex, a pal and their hookers.

Richards recalls, "I said to the women, 'When did you guys all meet?' And they said, 'Tonight!' So they were hookers... I thought, 'Ok, I can be a grown-up about this, suck it up and have a nice meal... It's not my place to judge.'"

But she was caught offguard when Sheen's date, Capri, turned to her for relationship advice.

She adds, "Charlie went to the bathroom... and I find myself giving her advice about her boyfriend... (She was) saying that she didn't know if she should tell him that she was a prostitute... I said, 'I think I would probably not say anything'.

"I was nervous because I took a picture with her before I knew that she was in entertainment and so in my head I'm like, 'Oh my God, I just took a picture with this prostitute.'"

But the night started to get "a little crazy" and Richards excused herself and went back to her hotel suite.

The following morning the news broke that Sheen and his hooker pal had been involved in an altercation over a missing watch and the actor allegedly trashed his room, while Capri cowered in the bathroom.

Injured Atkinson 'All Fine'

A representative for actor Rowan Atkinson has assured fans the Mr. Bean star is doing well after he was hospitalised following a car crash on Thursday night.

The funnyman reportedly lost control of his $1 million (£625,000) McLaren F1 supercar while driving through Cambridgeshire, England, and smashed the rare vehicle into a tree and a lamppost.

He was admitted to a local hospital with a minor shoulder injury, but Atkinson is expected to continue his recovery at home.

His spokesperson tells TMZ.com, "(Atkinson is) all fine and going home (from the hospital) soon."

Ramsay Sues In-laws

British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is taking a family feud to court by suing a number of his wife's relatives.

The TV cook's rift with his in-laws hit the headlines last year when his father-in-law Chris Hutcheson left his post as CEO of Gordon Ramsay Holdings (Grh) and subsequently filed a lawsuit against Ramsay.

The chef later spoke out to insist he felt "betrayed" and "let down" by his in-laws, and he has now stepped up the feud by filing suit against Hutcheson and a number of his family members.

Ramsay filed a writ at London's High Court on Friday taking aim at his wife Tana's father, as well as her mother Greta, sister Orlanda Butland, brother Adam and sister-in-law Adelaide, and Hutcheson's alleged mistress Sara Stewart, according to Britain's Daily Mail.

In the documents, Ramsay accuses Hutcheson of allegedly hacking into his personal and company files, withdrawing millions of dollars from the firm and using the money to reportedly fund a double life with Stewart.

The chef also alleges Hutcheson put his wife and son on the company payroll without permission and wrote massive cheques to himself.

A spokesperson for Ramsay and his wife tells the Daily Mail, "Clearly, this whole episode has been hugely distressing for Gordon and Tana. All they want is to put the events of last autumn behind them and move on, but given the enormity of what has been uncovered they have no option but to let the legal process take its course."

Meanwhile, Smeetesh Kakkad, a solicitor representing the Hutcheson family defendants, says, "They will be responding through the legal process and have no comment to make at this stage."

Atkinson Leaves Hospital

British actor Rowan Atkinson has been discharged from hospital after sustaining a fractured shoulder blade in a car crash this week (beg01Aug11).

The 56-year-old funnyman was hospitalised after crashing his luxury McLaren F1 supercar, which spun off the road, hitting a tree and a road sign before catching fire. Atkinson left the medical facility in Peterborough, England in a wheelchair on Friday and was driven away in a private ambulance.

The accident occurred as Atkinson was driving home following work on his new movie Johnny English Reborn, in which he plays a hapless secret agent.

The Mr. Bean star's agent Peter Bennett-Jones tells Britain's Daily Mirror, "I understand he has a fractured shoulder blade which is very painful and why he needed to stay in overnight. He is shaken but not stirred. I think he was in pain and had painkillers.

"The car has been removed and I'm sure he won't want it to be written off. He will want to get it repaired straight away...

"He will be very rattled and I think he'll want to keep as low profile as possible."

Prop Man Wins Victory Over George Lucas

Andrew Ainsworth

The British prop designer who created the Stormtrooper helmets for Star Wars has won an important legal battle in the U.K. where he is selling replicas of them. Although a U.S. court had previously ruled against the prop man, Andrew Ainsworth, the U.K. Supreme Court judges upheld a ruling by an appellate court in 2009 that allowed Ainsworth to continue making and selling the helmets. In an interview with the BBC, Ainsworth said, “This is a massive victory, a total victory. We’ve already got the champagne out.” A Lucas spokesman said that the court decision was based on an anomaly in British law.»

Movie Reviews: The Smurfs

The Smurfs is receiving little of the admiration that critics bestowed on that other movie with characters who were blue and in 3D. But here and there it is picking up some mostly favorable reviews. Neil Genzlinger in the New York Times observes that the funniest moments in the movie “are either raunchy or scandalous,” which make the movie “surprisingly tolerable” for adults. His conclusion: “On a hot summer day, The Smurfs is a decent enough excuse to haul the little ones into an air-conditioned theater.” Peter Hartlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle writes that it’s actually “a better movie than anyone could have possibly expected, thanks in large part to an honest effort by

Movie Reviews: Crazy, Stupid, Love.

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With a title like Crazy, Stupid, Love., the producers would appear to be making it easy for critics to bash it. The remarkable thing is that many are turning that title inside out. A. O. Scott in the New York Times, for example, begins his review by writing, “Crazy, Stupid, Love. is, on balance, remarkably sane and reasonably smart.” He goes on to write that it’s “a smooth blend of modern comic genres with a surprising undercurrent of dark, difficult emotion.” That’s the conclusion of quite a number of critics. After writing a tag line for the movie ads (“one from the heart and one for the heart”), Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times writes that Dan Fogelman’s script is “driven by realism without cynicism that is so winningly sentimental it is almost enough to turn that word into praise rather than the pejorative dig it has become.” Wesley Morris in the Boston Globe wonders about the punctuation in that title, noting that it has two commas and a period. “What are these words modifying?” he asks. “Is ‘love’ a noun or a verb? Is the amount of punctuation in a movie title proportional to the pleasure to be found in the movie itself? The answers are: I don’t know, I don’t know, I can’t tell, and evidently.” Carrie Rickey in the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the filmmakers “take all the formula ingredients and blend them into a satisfying — and tasty — concoction.” And Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times seems especially grateful to have a romantic comedy come to theaters sans raunch. “At the end,” he concludes, “I felt an undeniable satisfaction.” But the movie gets little of that from most other critics. Rex Reed’s review in the New York Observer seizes on that title: “It’s not nearly crazy enough to clear the clogged arteries of summer comedies, and when the love appears, it s in all the wrong places. Oh well, at least they nailed the stupid part.” Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post is also left uncharmed by the movie. “What the filmmakers clearly meant to be sweet and lighthearted instead too often feels forced, contrived and hopelessly banal,” she concludes. Likewise Peter Howell in the Toronto Star remarks that “rarely does the dialogue exceed sitcom banality.” One thing that all of the critics agree on is that the performances of the cast, who in include Steve Carell, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon and Ryan Gosling are superb. And many of them particularly single out Gosling. Writes Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal: “You’d expect Mr. Carell to be funny … and he certainly is. The revelation is Mr. Gosling’s comic chops.”

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Movie Reviews: Cowboys And Aliens

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The reviews of Cowboys and Aliens are about as mismatched as, well, cowboys and aliens. Critics either buy the ridiculous concept (this is not a comedy, by the way,) or they don’t. Most don’t. Rex Reed in the New York Observer calls the plot of the movie “idiotic” but allows that it could prove to be a big hit. “Never underestimate the desperation of summer moviegoers to escape reality no matter how much they trash their I.Q.s. They’ll do anything to get out of a heat wave,” he writes. Claudia Puig in USA Today observes that while the movie may be intended as “an explosive genre mash-up,” it ends up being “a listless misfire.” Steven Rea in the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the real problem is that the two movie genres — western and sci-fi — never mesh in this movie. “Instead, it’s somewhere in between, neither fish nor fowl (nor extraterrestrial), and that’s a problem.” Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times calls it “the most cockamamie plot I’ve witnessed in many a moon.” On the other hand, his Chicago colleague, Michael Phillips of the Tribune, deems it “the unlikeliest good movie of the year.” Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post also thinks that the concept works. “A loving throwback to the classic westerns and sci-fi adventures of yore, this celebration of two of cinema s most revered genres doesn’t stint in lavishing their most cherished conventions with even-handed affection and respect,” she enthuses.

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New Adversary Lands In Movies’ Comic-book War

In another battle of comic-book characters, Cowboys and Aliens will do battle with Captain America at the box office this weekend, and most forecasters are saying that the battle is likely to be close. They’re giving the edge to the newcomer, saying that it should bring in around $40-45 million, while Captain America: The First Avenger is likely to generate about $35-40 million in ticket sales. Third place should go to The Smurfs with about $25-30 million, while the third week of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will likely end up with around $20-25 million. A third newcomer, the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love., is not expected to do more than around $15 million in business. However, it reportedly only cost around $40 million to produce.

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Photo Finish At Box Office

With Universal’s Cowboys and Aliens coming in well below analysts’ forecasts and Sony’s The Smurfs coming in well above them, the result was a rare tie for first place — at least so far as Sunday’s studio estimates were concerned. Each studio figured that its contender earned $36.2 million over the weekend and will now have to wait until Monday’s final tally to learn which movie actually came out ahead. Warner Bros.’ Crazy, Stupid Love. opened at the high end of estimates with $19.3 million to place fifth, behind third place Captain America, with $24.9 million and fourth place Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 with $21.9 million.»

Fawcett Barbie Doll To Raise Funds For Her Cancer Charity

A Barbie doll bearing the likeness of late actress Farrah Fawcett has been created to raise funds for the star's cancer research foundation.

The Charlie's Angels icon set up her own charity organisation, the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, several years before she lost her battle with cancer in 2009 at the age of 62..

And now the actress' best pal Alana Stewart, who is president of the firm, has signed a deal with doll makers Mattel to create a figure based on Fawcett's most iconic 1976 poster, in which she is seen wearing a sexy red swimsuit.

Stewart says she always asks herself, "What would Farrah do?" and is convinced the late star would "love" the doll, adding "(It has) a sexy, all-American beauty; there is an innocence to it. When we were in Germany (for treatments), Farrah told me she was glad she got cancer because now she could make a difference."

The doll is priced at $34 (£21).

Carell Thrills Leno Audience With Free Movie Passes

Steve Carell thrilled audience members watching U.S. programme The Tonight Show With Jay Leno by walking onto the set and giving everyone free passes to see his new movie Crazy, Stupid, Love.

The Office star dropped by the show seemingly unannounced on Friday and interrupted the host's comedic stand-up, much to the delight of the surprised crowd.

Carell acknowledged America's ailing economy and soaring movie ticket prices - and then invited the entire studio to see his new comedy at a nearby Los Angeles cinema for free.

He said, "I happened to be driving by the studio and I heard you talking about the economy. And it is bad. I'm not here to talk about my new film Crazy, Stupid, Love, which opens today. That is not the reason I am here. I am here because I care Jay. I care about these people, I care about what they're going through.

"Jay, tonight I would like to be your Oprah. I would like to offer, to everyone in this studio, free passes to the AMC Burbank (theatre), tonight, a screening of Crazy, Stupid, Love."

Carell then rushed into the cheering audience, and handed out the passes, yelling, "You get a ticket! You get a ticket! And you get a ticket!"

Gable's Grandson Leaves Jail

The grandson of Hollywood legend Clark Gable has been released from jail following his arrest for allegedly targeting a laser at a police helicopter in Los Angeles.

Clark Gable III walked free from custody on Thursday after representatives from California's Lipstick Bail Bonds bailed him out.

Upon his release, he told local news station Kcbs, "People make mistakes."

Cops swooped on the 22 year old after he reportedly pointed a laser at an L.A Police Department helicopter while driving with friends. It is believed he intended to shine the light at the famous Hollywood sign - but missed.

Cowboys And Smurfs Share Top U.S. Box Office Spot

Cowboys & Aliens and family fun movie The Smurfs have tied for the U.S. box office top spot - both films opened at the weekend (29-31Jul11) with $36.2 million (£22.6 million).

Captain America: The First Avenger didn't have enough power to hold onto last week's number one - it fell to third place with $24.9 million (£15.6 million).

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 raked in $21.9 million (£13.5 million) to land fourth place, and Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell's new romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love, rounded out the top five after premiering with $19.3 million (£12 million).

Potter Joins $1 Billion Box Office Club

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has joined the ultra-exclusive $1 billion club at the box office.

The final installment of the wizarding franchise accomplished a magical fete at the weekend (29-31Jul11) - the movie, starring Daniel Radcliffe, has now hauled in more than $1 billion at the box office worldwide, easily making it the highest-grossing film of the series.

The only other movies to accomplish the same money milestone are Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The Dark Knight, Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story 3, and most recently Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Cheadle Once 'Got Shot At' In New York

Actor Don Cheadle narrowly escaped a life-or-death situation while living in New York during the 1980s - he once "got shot at" in the street.

The Crash actor, who is originally from Kansas, first moved to the Big Apple to star in a play at the Public venue - and although he enjoyed city life, he admits it was a dangerous place to be.

He tells the New York Daily News, "Back then, stuff was always going down... I even got shot at for the first time in New York. It was great. I was leaving my friend's house way up on the Upper West Side, walking down a completely deserted street by myself, when I heard a gunshot and the street door next to me shattered.

"I don't know if they were aiming for me or (if) it was just a stray bullet. All I know is I just kept running and thinking, 'New York is f

Kardashian's Safety Fears After Fans Visit Home

Kim Kardashian is planning to move out of her Los Angeles home after she was left feeling "violated" by a series of fan encounters at the property.

The socialite, who is to wed New Jersey Nets basketball player Kris Humphries later this month, has ordered her devotees not to visit her mansion in the hope of meeting her.

In a series of posts on her Twitter.com page, she writes, "I pride myself in being very open & available to my fans, but the one place I won't interact or tolerate people showing up to is my home.

"I won't answer my gate & I don't find it appropriate. This is my personal space & my comfort zone & when that is violated, I have a problem. I luv 2 meet my fans, you mean the world 2 me but I please ask that you don't show up 2 my home.

"It scares me.... Security will be enforced 24hrs a day. Looks like I will be moving soon."

Aniston Throws Farewell House Party

Jennifer Aniston threw a final house party at her sprawling $42 million (£28 million) Beverly Hills mansion on Friday to celebrate selling the property.

The former Friends star bought the estate in 2006 for $13.5 million (£9 million), and then spent more than two years renovating it.

She moved in just before her 40th birthday in 2009, but put the mansion on the market earlier this year as she prepares to move to New York.

And after it was snapped up by a buyer, Aniston celebrated by throwing a bash for her closest pals and new boyfriend Justin Theroux, according to People.com.

A source tells the website,
 "Jen had a party at her Beverly Hills house Friday night - a little going away party since she plans on spending so much more time in New York.

"She just wanted to have one more great get together with friends at the house before she moved out."

Lowe Moves In With Smith

Model Daisy Lowe has taken her relationship with actor Matt Smith to the next level after reportedly moving in with Doctor Who star.

The Brits have been dating since last year and went public with their romance at the 2010 Coachella music festival in California.

Now Lowe, who previously dated DJ Mark Ronson, has proved her commitment to the relationship by moving into her beau's London home, according to Britain's Daily Mirror.

A source tells the publication, "Daisy moved in with Mark Ronson when they were dating but she was a lot younger then. She wanted to wait until she was certain it was the right thing to do with Matt. They're really serious."

Bloom Keeping Musketeer Costumes For Son's Dressing Up Box

Orlando Bloom has taken home the costumes he sported in the new The Three Musketeers movie, as they'll make the perfect fancy dress outfits for son Flynn when he grows up.

The actor donned a series of intricate 17th century period garments for his role as the Duke of Buckingham in the 3D reimagining of Alexandre Dumas' classic tale.

And Bloom, who is married to model Miranda Kerr, has kept his kooky on-screen wardrobe to hand down to his son, who was born in January.

He says, "When I worked on The Three Musketeers I embraced all of it. I think that getting dressed up and stuff - I love a frock - really informs what you're doing.

"The boots are staying, and the costumes, too. That's definitely a fancy dress outfit one day down the line - probably for my son."

Mirren Tops Best Body Poll

Veteran actress Dame Helen Mirren has fought off competition from younger rivals Jennifer Lopez and Kelly Brook to be named the best body in showbiz.

The Queen star, 66, topped the poll voted for by members of British gym chain La Fitness, leaving Amazonian supermodel Elle Macpherson in second place.

Brook and Lopez came third and fourth respectively, while U.K. singer Cheryl Cole rounded out the top five.

David Beckham topped the men's poll, while James Bond star Daniel Craig was named runner-up. Johnny Depp came third, Brad Pitt was voted fourth and Australian singer Peter Andre was fifth.

Watson & Fry Honoured By Scout Association

Actress Emma Watson, British funnyman Stephen Fry and beloved author Sir Terry Pratchett have been honoured by the British Scout Association for their inspirational charity work.

The trio was among the group of heroes who received special Scout badges as the traditional boys' organisation celebrated its 104th birthday.

Fry, who won the It badge for raising awareness of the internet through his Twitter.com page, says, "Scouting connects people who would otherwise have no reason to be friends. The standards of the Scouting Movement are as important today as they ever were - you have to be kind, be considerate, be thoughtful and you have to push yourself. If there's any better advice for any young person I've yet to hear it."

Special badges were also awarded to soul star Adele, Olympic gold winner James Cracknell and British TV presenter James May.

Deathly Hallows Smashes Weekend Record

Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 shattered one record after another over the weekend, culminating with an estimated $168.6 million for the three-days, making it the all-time champion for a regular weekend opener. The previous record, $158.4 million, set in 2008, was held by another Warner Bros. film, The Dark Knight, but that film did not have 3D premium pricing going for it. Earlier, Deathly Hallows broke the record for a midnight debut, for a Friday opener, and for an IMAX debut. The film had already earned $157.5 million overseas. The only other film to open wide, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, outperformed most estimates, taking in about $8 million to finish in sixth place.

Update: Two more records fell today as Warner Bros. announced that the Harry Potter finale earned a record $307 million overseas this weekend bringing its worldwide total to $475.6 million, another record.

The top ten films for the weekend, according to studio estimates compiled by Box Office Mojo: 1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, $168.6 million; 2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon, $21.3 million; 3. Horrible Bosses, $17.6 million; 4. Zookeeper, $12.3 million; 5. Cars 2, $8.3 million; 6. Winnie the Pooh, $8 million; 7. Bad Teacher, $5.2 million; 8. Larry Crowne, $2.6 million; 9. Super 8, $1.9 million; 10. Midnight in Paris, $1.9 million.

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Studio Yanks Surprise Captain America Ending For Critics

Paramount decided not to show critics a “surprise” sequence tacked on to the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger following the closing credits but did show it at certain sneak screenings on Sunday. The result is that critics are indignant, and the secret sequence has popped up online. MovieLine.com observed today (Monday) that “journalists and critics aren’t likely to pirate films, especially during monitored screenings on a studio lot; it is an honor system, after all — the press trusts studios to provide access to their product, and studios trust the press to cover fairly and not spoil their films.” But already some reviews by non-journalists who attended the public screenings have popped up online, several including spoilers. Although one review on a blog called My.Spill.com includes this postscript: “Make sure you stay through the credits. usually they do things that really isn’t

Report: Studio Replaced 3D Projector At Potter Premiere

For the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Warner Bros. removed the RealD 3D projection equipment and had it replaced with a Dolby 3D projector, which produces a brighter picture, according to Btig media analyst Richard Greenfield. Greenfield, who has warned that moviegoers are becoming increasingly upset by 3D premiums and darker screen images, suggests that exhibitors erred when most of them “took options in return for RealD exclusivity.” Said Greenfield: “We continue to believe these exclusive relationships in the Us were a short-sighted decision — the three majors should would have benefited from robust competition in the U.S. (similar to what we are seeing overseas).” Greenfield also asks, “If the largest studio in the U.S.

Woody’S Latest Is His Biggest Hit

Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris collected an additional $1.9 million over the weekend, bringing its gross to date to $41.8 million and thereby putting it ahead of his most successful film, Hannah and Her Sisters, which took in $40.1 million over its entire run in 1986. While the earlier figure is not adjusted for inflation, writers have indicated that inflation has not had much of an effect on Allen’s budgets. He still churns films out about one a year for not much more than he did in 1986. The film has also earned $33.5 million overseas, to bring its worldwide total to $73.9 million.»

Bollywood Forces Alleged Pirate Sites To Shut Down

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Users in India of some of the leading file-hosting sites found those sites replaced by the following announcement on Wednesday: “This site has been blocked as per instructions from Department of Telecom (Dot). As reported by TorrentFreak.com, such sites as RapidShare, MegaUpload, MediaFire, and HotFile have been blocked. India produces the largest number of movies of any country, including the U.S., and Bollywood producers have long complained that they have been particularly hard hit by Internet piracy often executed via those sites. A recent report claimed that overall motion picture revenue in India has fallen 20 percent over the last three years as a result of film piracy with many films hitting the Internet or bootleg video stores on the same day that they are released theatrically.»

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