This week's new movie releases.

Fantastic_four_rise_of_the_silver_surfer_ver8

1. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (3,957 Theaters): I was one of the few people, it seems, that liked the first Fantastic Four movies. Was it the best comic film ever? No. But it was better than I expected. I liked the way they made Doom more powerful (and more of a threat) and I think they captured the family-esque comradery well.

That said, I can't say that I am not hesitant about this movie. The Silver Surfer/Galactus arc is the definitive FF storyline, imho, and I really don't think a 90 minute movie will do it justice. And it looks like this movie will try to contain it all, since the internet is already abuzz about Galactus appearing in the movie (As a storm cloud, which has people complaining. I guess they wanted a big purple man to walk in).

My friend Jeff  said in a comment below that he didn't think FFRotSS had the legs to take over the number one spot. I say that I never expected the first movie to do as well as it did. The Fantastic Four has a lot of mainstream popularity. Don't underestimate the non-comic folks coming out to see this movie. And it really isn't up against anything special.

Nancydrew

2. Nancy Drew (2,612 Theaters): What I love about the marketing of this movie is that Emma Roberts is advertised in a litany of articles as "Julia Roberts' niece". She is also Eric Roberts' daughter. He's an actor too, you know. Sure, all he does these days is guest star in TV shows and hip-hop videos, but still. I know Julia has more swag these days but at least mention Eric, would ya?

And reading some Nancy Drew Fan's comments on IMDB acts as a reflections of how comic fans like me react to comic  book adaptations. The fact that she is not "popular" in some of her school scenes has people up in arms. And I gather that most of the people posting are at least 30 years above the target audience the producers are shooting for. It serves as a lesson that I am slowly learning. Hollywood does not do adaptations just to please fans of the original works. They try to reach the widest audiences possible.

This is not going to stop me from complaining when they do something dumb in the next Punisher movie. Just so you know.

So, how do I think the box office is going to be this weekend?

1. Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer
2. Ocean's 13
3. Knocked Up
4. Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End
5. Nancy Drew.

Although I believe there is a possibility that 3 and 4 will switch.