From the Crusader - 25-11-08

Supercharged!
Quality films, high PTAs drive local box office to all-time high

By Carlos Guarado
Head Entertainment Writer

It was really hard to tell what was more crowded: the schedules or the very long queues. Either way, more than a million Rogatians--some 65% of the population--managed to flock to the island's highest-grossing weekend ever recorded.

As was the case three weeks ago, a trio of animated features ruled the roost. Opening day-and-date with the U.S., Disney's CGI film Bolt was the new alpha dog with EC$1.9 million from 29 venues. In second place was Bollywood cousin, Roadside Romeo, with another $1.2 million. The European 2D comic-book adaptation, Asterix and the Vikings, settled to third.

Vampire romance Twilight, based on the Stephenie Meyer books, debuted in fifth place. The hype has evidently not caught on with islanders the same way it has in the States--and all for good reason, considering its almost mixed reviews. Meanwhile, the American opening brought Summit Entertainment its biggest bow at US$69.4 million.

Ticket sales were up 24.8% from last week--but the EC$17,133,011 aggregation was even more unbelievable. From Hycam staff to rival distributors--and even to filmgoers themselves--no one expected quite a bonanza like that.

"I mean, not even the Greater Antilles could muster up such a big draw," said Hycam's President, Vito Anderson, last night. "We may have all started to switch our attention towards better films--but never in my tenure did I predict that people are finally taking them for granted."

And Hycam's surefire streak is bound to continue on Friday, when it opens another two films exclusively in Shropshire: Carlos Reygadas' drama Silent Light / Stellet licht, and the music documentary Youssou N'Dour: Return to Gorée. Soon, the company will end 2008 with the Caribbean's first major animated production, Henrick Marhamm's squirrel romance Luko.


This weekend's top ten releases, based on figures (all in EC$) compiled by the Government of Rogatia's Ministry of Communications:

Guide:
This Week's Rank/Last Week's Rank, Title, Distributor, Weekend Gross / % Change / Theatres (Change) / PTA / Total Gross / Weeks on Chart.

1/N, Bolt, Disney, $1,904,069 / - / 29 (-) / $65,658 / $1,904,069 / 1.
2/1, Roadside Romeo, Disney, $1,199,601 / -9.5 / 28 (-3) / $42,843 / $8,617,837 / 5.
3/2, Asterix and the Vikings, Hycam, $989,259 / -17.5 / 22 (-4) / $44,966 / $6,774,968 / 5.
4/3, Mamma Mia!, UIP, $906,982 / -5.8 / 21 (0) / $43,156 / $2,224,508 / 2.
5/N, Twilight, Hycam, $867,699 / - / 25 (-) / $34,708 / $867,699 / 1.
6/4, Lotte from Gadgetville, Hycam, $834,085 / +0.4 / 17 (+1) / $49,064 / $4,619,970 / 15.
7/5, Fireproof, UIP, $810,324 / +0.5 / 18 (+2) / $45,018 / $2,183,457 / 2.
8/7, Sita Sings the Blues, Hycam, $692,513 / +16.1 / 22 (+3) / $31,478 / $3,476,821 / 5.
9/6, Maria Bethania: Music Is Perfume, Hycam, $630,883 / -3.7 / 15 (0) / $42,059 / $4,798,310 / 6.
10/9, Timeframe, Hycam, $586,145 / +25.6 / 20 (+5) / $29,307 / $33,489,353 / 22.