The Twilight Saga: New Moon

It was speculated something such and the makers of the vampire saga were not let down. “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” wolfed $140.7 million in its opening weekend. On the first three days the movie minted total $258.8 million worldwide as per reports of studio estimates on Sunday.

A year back “Twilight”, the first installment of Stephenie Meyer’s popular vampire series, grossed $69.6 million haul over the same weekend. A year after the picture was completely changed. The No. 1 domestic debut for Summit Entertainment’s “New Moon” was more than twice.

“Obviously, with the success of ‘Twilight’ itself, sequels being what they are will generate X-number of dollars more, particularly if it’s a satisfying sequel”, Richie Fay, head of distribution for Summit, was quoted as saying.

“New Moon” ranked third on the all-time domestic chart, with Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight” ranking 1st with a gross of $158.4 million opening weekend and “Spider-Man 3″ ranking 2nd with a gross of $151.1 million. On the opening day itself, “New Moon” earned $72.7 million, which is an all time domestic high for opening day. This surpassed the previous record of $67.2 million by last year’s “The Dark Knight”. “New Moon” is also the second-biggest non-holiday weekend ever in Hollywood, the top being none other than the July 18, 2008 release of “The Dark Knight”.

Outside “New Moon” debuted in 25 countries and took in $118.1 million over the first weekend. There was no doubt that “New Moon” would emerge this big.

The third installment of Meyer’s next “Twilight” chapter, “Eclipse,” arrives in the heart of summer, next June 30 and is expected to do as big as this.

Twilight had showcased the supernatural teen romance between a school girl and a vampire (Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson) and New Moon adds a love triangle with a werewolf (Taylor Lautner) to the plot. Both the films have been hot favorite among female fans resulting to around 80% of the audience for “New Moon” being female. The “Twilight” franchise “taps into something primal and visceral that drives women crazy, and they’re willing to pay for the privilege” commented Dergarabedian. The viewers for the film were mostly young who apparently left to chance to fall in love with vampire and werewolf heartthrobs.

The five films that grossed highest during last weekend are:

1. “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” ($140.7 million)
2. “The Blind Side” ($34.5 million)
3. “2012″ ($26.5 million)
4. “Planet 51″ ($12.6 million)
5. “A Christmas Carol” ($12.2 million)

Homecoming Queen Dakota Fanning posing with the Homecoming King

At the age of 15, Dakota Fanning is a normal kid. This Charlotte’s Web actress works in movies and when her shooting is over, she’s goes back home to Los Angeles and lives an absolutely ordinary life. While actors at and around her age study at home with tutors coming to them, Fanning prefers going to school. And that is not all. She is also part of the cheer-leading team.

She studies in the Campbell Hall Episcopal High School which is situated in North Hollywood. This high school student is pretty popular in the school too, naturally. So, it might not be surprising for all, that she was named the “Homecoming Queen” this year on friday, the 30th Oct ‘09.

The Viking cheer leader seemed to have a great time performing the cheerleading routine, sources say. When she won the Homecoming award she was elated. It’s really amazing to see someone as famous as she is is having a normal and great teenage life like this.

Dakota is not only in the Pom-Pom brigade, she is active in many other extracurricular activities like horse riding and playing the piano. She started her career in acting from the age of 5 with a Tide commercial. 10 years of a successful career which includes working with some of the greats in the film industry like Mike Myers and Julia Roberts and also leading a normal life, this is extraordinary and also, many might agree, the most coveted life any celeb would love to have. What do you say?

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie shared some private and cozy moments together. The Hollywood’s most desired couple was seen together spending some intimate time at the Italian restaurant for a romantic dinner date.

The Hollywood couple who raises 6 kids, 3 adopted and 3 of their own, seemed to be in need of some private moments. Leaving the little ones home with their nanny, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie went on a cozy Italian dinner date. The couple spent their Saturday night at Vincenti, which is a coveted Italian restaurant in L.A.’s Brentwood neighborhood.

A night before Pitt was spotted with his sons Maddox and Pax in New Orleans enjoying Green Day perform.

Dressed in black the “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” couple were on a night out in Tinseltown together. The couple were holding hands while they were spotted walking down together sharing a laugh.

In a recent interview Pitt was quoted as saying that he turns to architecture when he feels stressed out. “Architecture is like play to me. As a boy, you play with Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Legos, and you get interested in how things are made, like cars and drills and all that. Years later you come back around to what interested you as a boy. Now, if I have something that I’m dealing with that’s causing me a lot of stress, my mind goes to architecture. I walk around the yard and start thinking about what I need to do to the house structurally. It’s similar to puzzles in that way, like a crossword puzzle or anything else I can put my mind into. It’s a relief for me”, the Oscar nominated star was quoted as saying.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman appeared upset while admitting the fact that she very strongly feels Hollywood plays an important role in contributing to violence against women. Kidman also added that in most films women are portrayed as weak sex objects.

The Oscar winning actress said she is dead againt such roles and shows no interest in playing any of them. Kidman also added that she finds such roles extremely demeaning but Hollywood has given extra effort to give a solution to and bring down violence on women.

Kidman took the stand before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that is regarding legislation to address violence against women. The committee is expected to take up this issue overseas through means of humanitarian relief. Grants will also be provided to those organization working towards eradicating such problem from the society.

When Kidman was asked by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., whether Hollywood has influenced the society or “played a bad role” in this issue, the actress replied with a diplomatic “probably”. Followed by this she quickly added that she herself doesn’t justifying her stand point.

“I can’t be responsible for all of Hollywood but I can certainly be responsible for my own career”, said Kidman.

Kidman represented a  the U.N. Development Fund for Women’s (known as UNIFEM) goodwill ambassador in front of the committee. She was promoting  the International Violence Against Women Act.

“In the real world, the laws go unenforced and impunity is the norm”, she added.

Lindsay Lohan

The Hollywood beauty Lindsay Lohan had been asked to appear in court on Friday. Reports have been submitted stating that Lohan has violated the terms and conditions of an alcohol education program imposed on her for a 2007 drunk driving case.

The 23 year old Lohan might be sent to jail if she is being found guilty. Reliable sources have reported that the Hollywood beauty might have broken her probation or other orders imposed on her as part of her sentence.

According to reports of court officials, Lohan has been asked to pay a routine hearing in court on Friday by Marsha Revel, the Beverly Hills Superior Court judge.

Followed by a drunk driving case in August 2007, the “Mean Girls” actress received an order from the court to attend and complete an alcohol education program of a duration of eighteen months. According to reports Lohan was also ordered to serve 24 hours in jail and perform 10 days of community service during her 36 months probation. The charges brought against her was that of drunk driving, reckless driving and driving under the influence of cocaine.

Lohan rose to fame as a child artist by appearing in the film names “The Parent Trap”. The recent years have been controversial for the actress. Her addiction to drugs and relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson have led her to become the most troubled and talked-about teen stars in Hollywood.

Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody wants to move his career from parallel to mainstream films. Brody who is regarded by directors as an actor best suited for character roles wants to shift his base and image. Brody said that he is sick of landing quirky roles. He put in front his desires of working with directors who would atleast consider him for the ‘mainstream’ roles.

Brody who won his Best Actor Academy Award for playing the role of a Jewish Pianist in 2002 drama of Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist”. He has always stuck to a genre that was not much taken by the mainstream actors. His roles in “The Village” and “Hollywoodland” were offbeat. He struck mainstream with 2005’s “King Kong”. Brody wants to expand his career just like he did in “King Kong”.

“What I still crave more of is great roles. I wish the studios would see me in more mainstream movies but there are a handful of actors that routinely get that chance because they are supposedly safe bets. In that sense, Hollywood is a business. It’s not really about the work”,Brody explained. He has urged the “Hollywood Movie Bosses” to consider him for more “mainstream” roles.

The 2008 Halloween in Hollywood be marked with three hot releases: RocknRolla, Zack and Miri Make a Porno and The Haunting Of Molly Hartley.

RocknRolla

RocknRolla is the story of a  Russian mobster. He engineers a crooked land deal of  millions of dollars. To make the deal reach its goal he would require  all of London’s criminal underworld connections on the action. Everyone starting from a severe crime lord to sexy accountant, debauch politician and petty thieves conjure, conspire and clash with one another in an effort to get richer in the fastest possible manner.

Cast and Crew:

Director : Guy Ritchie
Screenplay By : Guy Ritchie
Producers : Joel Silver, Guy Ritchie, Susan Downey, and Steve Clark-Hall
Executive Producers : Steve Richards and Navid McIlhargey

One Two : Gerard Butler
Stella : Thandie Newton
Mumbles : Idris Elba
Mickey : Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges
Roman : Jeremy Piven
Lenny : Tom Wilkinson
FreD the Head : Geoff Bell
Cookie : Matt King
Johnny Quid : Toby Kebbell
Archie : Mark Strong
Uri : Karel Roden
Councilor : Jimi Mistry

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is the story of two lifelong friends, Zack and Miri, who are deep in debt and seek help of their friends to make a porno movie to earn some quick cash. But as the work progres and everybody starts making love with each, Zack and Miri has a feeling that they may have more than just being friends as they previously thought.

Cast and Crew:

Director : Kevin Smith
Writer (WGA) : Kevin Smith

Elizabeth Banks : Miri
Seth Rogen : Zack
Jason Mewes : Lester
Gerry Bednob : Mr. Surya
Edward Janda : Customer
Nicholas Lombardi : Teen #1
Chris Milan : Teen #2
Jennifer Schwalbach Smith : Betsy (as Jennifer Schwalbach)
Kenny Hotz : Zack II
Brandon Routh : Bobby Long
Anne Wade : Roxanne
Justin Long : Brandon
Tom Savini : Jenkins
Jeff Anderson : Deacon
Jim Norton : Auditioner #1

The Haunting Of Molly Hartley

The Haunting Of Molly Hartley is the most sought after release of the Halloween. Molly Hartley (played by Bennett) looks ahead to put her ailed past behind her with a fresh start at a new school, where she meets one of the most popular students (played by Crawford). But can her secrets stay buried, especially as she learns more about the horrific truth that awaits her once she turns 18?

Cast and Crew:

Director : Mickey Liddell
Writers (WGA) : John Travis (written by) and Rebecca Sonnenshine (written by)

Haley Bennett : Molly Hartley
Jake Weber : Robert Hartley
Chace Crawford : Joseph Young
Shannon Marie Woodward : Leah
Shanna Collins : Alexis
AnnaLynne McCord : Suzie
Marin Hinkle : Jane Hartley
Nina Siemaszko : Dr. Emerson
Josh Stewart : Mr. Draper
Jessica Lowndes : Laurel
Randy Wayne : Michael
Jamie McShane : Father
Ron Canada : Mr. Bennett
Kevin Cooney : Dr. Donaldson
Ross Thomas : Jock