SPIN FACTOR^® - The HSX Blog

Three movies about society's unglamorous positions (bounty hunter, repo men, and middle school kid) look to put a dent in the earning powers of the high-flying Alice in Wonderland [ALCNW].  Most films with $100 million+ openings tend to fall dramatically in its second weekend, but Alice held up better than expected on the appeal of its 3D spectacle.  With the next 3D fare not appearing until next weekend, the re-imagined fantasy classic should lock up the box office title for a third time at...

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Based on the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love [ETPLV] stars Julia Roberts [JROBE] as a happily married woman who suffers a mid-life crisis.  Divorcing her husband and postponing her career, she goes on a journey of self-discovery around the world to find out what she really wants from life.  Yeah, what middle-age women wouldn't want a younger guy who looks like James Franco [JAFRA] and a Latin lover who looks like Javier Bardem [JBARD]. 

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DreamWorks Animation has revealed the first trailer to Megamind [MEGAM] featuring Will Ferrell [WFERR] as the voice of a super villain.   The film was first called Mastermind, which was then changed probably due to copyright issues with the existing game. The title became Oobermind, but that was quickly dropped probably because market research determined American audiences had no idea what 'oober' means.  However, everyone knows about mega from Mega Millions!

Universal has its own animated...

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Previously known as The Baster, the Miramax film The Switch [SWITC] has delivered the first trailer on Apple. Jennifer Aniston [JANIS] plays a single woman who decides to have a child through artificial insemination and chooses an athletically fit donor, played by Patrick Wilson [PWILS], to be the father rather than her neurotic friend, played by Jason Bateman [JBATE].  Apparently too poor to go to a doctor, she is going to inseminating herself at home with a turkey baster (eww!) since the...

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Paladin has released the first trailer for the drama The Greatest [GRTST] starring Hollywood's current ingenue, Carey Mulligan [CMULL].  One can't help but laugh, for the wrong reasons, at how this poorly cut trailer tries to manipulate your emotions.

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This year's American Idol is featuring unprecedented talent, not to mention Ellen Degeneres replacing Paula Abdul as one of the judges.  The musical level the contestants are competing on a more elevated level of competition than ever before.  Last night, the top twelve went head to head with a Rolling Stones themed evening.  The competition was stiff with each contestant making no attempt to hold back.  Unfortunately, one will go home tonight.  Let's take a look at the top twelve and their...

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Declining just 47% from its record-breaking opening weekend, Alice in Wonderland [ALCNW] dominated the box office once again with an estimated $62 million weekend.  No longer just a novelty, 3D live-action films and their higher ticket prices have been embraced in full by audiences. Disney has already amassed $208.6 million after 10 days.

Universal's Green Zone [GREZN] will be awashed in red as the $140 million thriller debuted second with just $14.5 million. Not even  marketing the ...

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The full theatrical trailer to the 3D animated Shrek Forever After [SHRK4] has appeared to explain the story to the final chapter in DreamWorks Animation's lucrative franchise.  Shrek makes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin and finds himself in an alternate version of Far Far Away which has gone to the gutter and ogres are hunted.  Worst of all, Fiona, Donkey and Puss 'n Boot do not know him.  Shrek must set out to restablish his love and reclaim the world from Rumpelstiltskin who has made himself...

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Moviegoers were apparently really starved for a new 3D film, especially a fresh spin on the classic story Alice in Wonderland [ALCNW] reuniting Tim Burton [TBURT] and Johnny Depp [JDEPP].  However, the fantasy film is unlikely to have the legs of its 3D predecessor, Avatar after its multiple record-breaking debut.  Alice in Wonderland could be headed for a tumble of more than 50% to come through its second weekend at about $54 million.

Matt Damon [MDAMO] reteams with director Paul...

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Summit has revealed the first teaser for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse [TWLI3], which shows more of the same from the franchise.  Why fix what isn't broken.  Bella is her usual downcast self, while Edward remains sullen and Jacob stays mostly shirtless.   The one bright spot for potential, Bryce Dallas Howard [BDHOW] takes over the role of Victoria, the mate James from the first Twilight, who returns the avenge his death she blames on Bella and the Cullens.  Whether you're Team Edward or Team...

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