BOX OFFICE BEAT DOWN: How to Train Your Dragon Flies Back to the Top with $20 Million

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

1) How to Train Your Dragon - $20 million
2) Kick-Ass - $19.7 million
3) Date Night - $17.3 million
4) Death At A Funeral - $17 million
5) Clash of the Titans - $15.7 million
6) The Last Song -$5.8 million
7) Why Did I Get Married Too? - $4.1 million
8) Hot Tub Time Machine - $3.54 million
9) Alice in Wonderland - $3.5 million
10) The Bounty Hunter - $3.2 million

There were big surprises at the box office this weekend as How to Train Your Dragon fought it's way back to the top spot on the charts after four weeks. The film, which stars Gerard Butler, Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill and Kristen Wiig, debuted at number one four weeks ago and had fallen all the way back to the fourth spot before climbing it's way back to number three last week. The film added 182 theaters for a total of 3,825 and earned an average of $5,229 per theater for a weekend total of around $20 million. The film has now earned about $158 million in four weeks, just shy of it's $165 million production cost. Coming in second place in it's debut week was Matthew Vaughn's highly anticipated adaptation of Mark Millar's extremely popular comic book series, Kick-Ass. The film, which stars Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz earned around $6,444 in each of the 3,065 theaters that it was shown in for a total of about $19.7 million.

Last week's box office champ, Date Night, fell 31.4% and two spots back from the previous week to the number three position. The film, directed by Night at the Museum's Shawn Levy and starring Steve Carell & Tina Fey added six theaters for a total of 3,380 and earned roughly $5,188 in each for a weekend total of $17.3 million. That brings the films total gross to around $49.2 million, just shy of its $55 million purported production cost. Coming in forth place in it's debut week was the remake of the British comedy Death At A Funeral starring Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, James Marsden, Luke Wilson, Zoe Saldana and Columbus Short. The comedy was seen in 2,459 theaters and earned $6,913 per theater for an opening weekend total of around $17 million, which comes very close to earning back it's $21 million production budget. Finally, rounding out the top five this week is the 3D remake of the classic '80s Greek-mythology film Clash of the Titans starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. The film, which fell 40.8% and three spots back from the previous week was also seen in 49 less theaters but still managed to earn $4,202 in each of it's 3,753 theaters for an additional $15.7 million. That brings the films total gross to around $132 million in just three weeks, already surpassing it's $125 million purported production cost.

Doing well this week in limited release is the Argentine film, The Secret in Their Eyes, by acclaimed director Juan José Campanella and starring Ricardo Darín. The film, which was seen in only eight theaters, earned $17,600 per theater for an opening weekend total of $176,000. Also doing well this week was the Australian neo-noir thriller, The Square from filmmaking brothers with Joel and Nash Edgerton. The film rose 122.9% from its opening week and added eight new theaters for a total of ten, earning $3,810 per theater for an additional $38,100, which brings the films total gross in two weeks to about $61,700. Finally, the Imax 3D space documentary Hubble 3D continues to do well in limited release. While the film was still down 11.6% from the previous week, it still managed to earn $7,634 in each of its 41 theaters for a weekend total of $313,000, which brings the films total gross to around $3.2 million in just five weeks on the charts.

Next weekend will see three new films enter into wide release and two into limited release. First up is the adaptation of the extremely popular DC Comics/Vertigo graphic novel about a burned-CIA team, The Losers starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short and PEHNxHHQHlrtLO||Jason Patric}. Also next week, superstar Jennifer Lopez returns to the big screen week with her new romantic comedy The Back-Up Plan co-starring Alex O'Loughlin. Also hitting theaters next week is the latest nature film from Walt Disney Studios, Oceans, narrated by Pierce Brosnan. In limited release next week we have the independent film, Paper Man, starring Jeff Daniels, Emma Stone, Lisa Kudrow and Ryan Reynolds, as well as legendary comedians Cheech & Chong's reunion concert film, Cheech & Chong's Hey Watch This. So please check back in seven days to see who comes out on top at the box office next week!

Source: Movie Web

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Plot By Bloods & Crips To Assassinate Cops Uncovered In New York Drug & Gun Ring Bust

A massive gang takedown in Queens uncovered a rare alliance between Bloods and Crips and a ruthless plot to assassinate cops, authorities said Friday.

The revelations came as law enforcement unveiled the chilling results of long-running "Operation Under Siege" - 104 suspects, dozens of guns, two slayings and piles of drugs and cash.

The sprawling case was built on wiretaps - including recordings of gang associate Keith Livingston, who blabbed about plans to protect his drug turf by killing cops on patrol.

"He intended to position himself on rooftops and shoot police officers who were compromising his business in Far Rockaway and South Jamaica," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

"Before his deadly plans could be carried out, detectives arrested him and seized a defaced 9-mm. Hi-Point rifle, among other weapons."

Livingston's plot was only one facet of an investigation that began two years ago when police and prosecutors began looking into a drugs-and-guns network in Far Rockaway.

By Friday, they had arrested 104 people, closed two murder cases, and exposed ties between Far Rockaway Crips and the Bloods in South Jamaica.

The Crips, working to lock up the drug trade at four housing projects, bought cocaine, heroin and marijuana from a gang that should have been their enemy.

"The Bloods in South Jamaica aren't loyal to the Bloods in Far Rockaway, who were feuding with the Crips," a law enforcement source said. "That's what made this so unusual."

In fact, some of the Bloods in Far Rockaway were actually part of four Crips sets known collectively as Flocc - the last "c" standing for Crips.

One of the Flocc leaders was charged with shooting at an occupied NYPD car in January during an altercation with members of a Bloods set known as "Klick Klack." The cops were not hurt.

Livingston was arrested in September after he was heard on his cell phone complaining he was fed up with cops on foot patrol along Sutphin Blvd. in South Jamaica.

The officers were part of Operation Impact, an NYPD initiative that floods crime-ridden areas with rookie cops.

"[He] was unhappy with the fact that the police were out there, aggressively doing their job," said Deputy Chief Robert Boyce, head of the NYPD's Gang Division. "He stated that he wanted to shoot a police officer, to get them out of the way, from a rooftop."

Police secured a warrant and arrested Livingston hours later at his home on 160th St., recovering two guns, including the camouflage Hi-Point.

Livingston, charged with gun possession and conspiracy, is being held on $250,000 bail. His lawyer did not return a call.

The Livingston recordings are among thousands of hours of wiretap evidence amassed by the operation.

"It's tedious work. It's laborious work," Kelly said. "But it was extremely fruitful in this case."

Other top suspects collared in the probe include Gquan Lloyd, 23, the Crip who allegedly helped merge the four sets "mainly to corner the narcotics trade."

He was charged with gun possession. His lawyer could not be reached for comment.

Farrad Smith, 23, who worked as a corrections officer for a year before getting fired, was also busted on a weapons rap. Under his mattress, police found a 9-mm. handgun allegedly stolen from another corrections officer and a loaded AK-47.


Source: NY Daily News

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Soccer Star Cristiano Ronaldo and Kim Kardashian Caught Kissing in Spain

The Daily Mail reports:

First it was Paris Hilton. Now it seems Cristiano Ronaldo has turned his attention to another Hollywood socialite.

The Real Madrid, 25, was caught kissing Kim Kardashian, 29, during her low-key trip to Spain this week, according to sources.

Sharing many hobbies in common - think sunbathing and posing - it must have been a real meeting of minds.

The pair are said to have enjoyed a romantic dinner together during her a three-day visit to Madrid.

'She and Ronaldo were kissing and very affectionate,' a source tells The Sun.

'They looked to be getting on really well, laughing the whole time.'

Another insider confirmed the sighting to celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

The newly single reality TV star is also believe to have visited the football player, who is worth an estimated £80million, at his luxury home in the Spanish capital.

She flew back Los Angeles yesterday for a scheduled photoshoot with her sisters Khloe and Kourteney.

Kim split from her on-again off-again NFL boyfriend Reggie Bush in March.

Khloe recently said she was praying she stayed single after the split because she had a 'habit of going from man to man'.

Ronaldo has been making the most of his bachelor status following his split from Spanish model Nereida Gallardo in 2008.

He went on to enjoy a brief liaison the same year with Kim's former friend Paris Hilton after meeting her at a Hollywood nightclub.

But the young Portuguese star is concerned for his reputation.

He is suing a Spanish TV programme which claimed he had thrown a party the night before his team lost 2-0 at home to dreaded rivals Barcelona in Spain's biggest game of the year on Saturday.

There were also claims he had held a second party after the match.

However, Ronaldo said: 'I categorically refute such allegations, which are completely false. There is not one iota of truth in them.'

'With a game the next day it is more than obvious I spent Friday night resting and on Saturday night my spirit was anything but festive..

'Considering the gravity of the charges, I have instructed my lawyers to use all legal means to restore the truth of the matter and ensure that those responsible are punished to the fullest extent provided.'

Actor Nicolas Cage Is Buried In Debt, Buys Pyramid Shaped Tomb To Serve As His Final Resting Place

Nic Cage has purchased himself a fancy new pyramid to stay in -- but he doesn't plan on moving in .... until he's dead.

TMZ has learned Cage recently had a 9-foot tall pyramid-shaped super-tomb built in a New Orleans cemetery -- with the expectation that it will be his final resting place.

It's unclear why Cage chose a pyramid-shaped building -- but it's probably no coincidence that there happens to be a pyramid-shaped symbol on the poster for his classic film, "National Treasure."

Source: TMZ

Oprah Winfrey's Cousin Claims The Talk Show Host Made Up Stories About Growing Up Poor Because "The Truth Is Boring"

OPRAH WINFREY's cousin has accused the media mogul of embellishing stories of her poverty-stricken background, insisting her famous relative was "spoiled" as a child.

The media mogul has often claimed her family was so poor she was dressed in potato sacks and adopted cockroaches as pets growing up in rural Mississippi.

The TV titan's life comes under scrutiny in new book Oprah, by gossip queen Kitty Kelley, and the tome includes interviews with Winfrey's cousin Katherine Carr Esters.

She alleges Winfrey has exaggerated tales of her poor childhood, claiming that although the family wasn't rich, her cousin was relatively "spoiled" compared to her stories of abject poverty.

Esters says, "Where Oprah got that nonsense about growing up in filth and roaches I have no idea. I’ve confronted her and asked, ‘Why do you tell such lies?’ Oprah told me ‘That’s what people want to hear. The truth is boring.’”

In an interview with EW.com, the book's author, Kelley, adds, "I was having lunch with Ms. Esters, and she was talking about Oprah’s lies. And I said, 'Well, are they really lies? They’re more colourful stories.' And Mrs. Esters is saying, 'No, those are lies. She said she was raised in abject poverty. Oprah said she never had a pretty dress until she was successful. She was beautifully dressed as a child.' I said, 'Is that the most important thing?' And she looked at me and said, 'No, the most important thing is that we were poor folks down there. But she was raised as an only child, and she had the full and undivided attention of all of these adults who spoiled her to death. And that was the reason she was so precocious and successful.'”

Source: ContactMusic

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