"THE LION KING 3-D" REIGNS OVER BOX OFFICE

Still from The Lion King

Family always comes first and that would be the case at the Box Office this weekend as Disney's The Lion King 3-D reigns supreme with $29.2 million earned from 2,330 theatres.

Former Champion Contagion by Stephen Soderbergh slips to second this weekend with $14.4 million after landing on-top last week.

Debuting in third is early Best Picture contender Drive starring Ryan Gosling, with $11 million for Lionsgate/Alliance Films, opening in 2,886 theatres. It currently stands at a stellar 93% on Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

Disney's The Help also is still going strong in fourth spot this weekend in its sixth week of release with $6.4 million this weekend, just ahead of the Remake of Thriller Straw Dogs in fifth spot, starring James Marsden and Kate Bosworth.

I Don't Know How She Does It starring Sarah Jessica Parker opens in sixth spot this weekend with $4.5 million and poor reviews at 20% on the Tomatometer.

The excellent Warrior is in eighth spot with $2.7 million in its second week for Lionsgate/Alliance Films, which is a pity.  Hopefully it will see strong numbers overseas.

WARRIOR - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Warrior

Let me first start off by saying that I know v. little about Mixed Martial Arts. Warrior however from Pride & Glory Director Gavin O'Connor sure makes the it look exciting.

The gritty Sports Drama centers around two estranged Brothers, Brendan (Joel Edgerton) and Tommy (Tom Hardy), raised single-handedly by their abused and terminally ill Mother. Brendan abandons his Mother and Tommy at age 16, resulting in strife between the two Brothers. Meanwhile their non-present Father Paddy (Nick Nolte), a renowned Mixed Martial Arts Trainer, after several years of battling Alcoholism, turns his life around fully.

Tommy visits Paddy by surprise one day, harbouring much resentment still towards him. Paddy however is set on repairing his relationship with Tommy, agreeing to take him under his wings after Tommy makes it known he wishes to train as a Mixed Martial Arts Fighter.

Brendan now is a High School Physics teacher, who along with his Wife Tess (Jennifer Morrison) are struggling financially and on the verge of Foreclosure. Deciding to return to his roots as a  former  Fighter in helping ends meet, he is met with little understanding at his School. Despite Tess' reluctance, he then fully delves into training with the help of and old Friend Frank (Frank Grillo) who gets him into fighting form for the biggest test of his life. After being confronted by Paddy, he expresses little interest in reuniting with his Father.

NEW TRAILER FOR "HAYWIRE"

Still from Haywire

"You better run.".

Move over Angelina - there's a new Girl in town.  Mixed Martial Arts star Gina Carano looks super-convincing in Steven Soderbergh's new Action Thriller Haywire, in theatres January 2012.  She stars as a Secret Agent who gets betrayed ...and she looks rather pissed about it.

The Film which did the rounds at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend looks rather promising with an A+-list Cast which includes Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas and Ewan McGregor.

Haywire isn't the only anticipated Film inspired by Mixed Martial Arts as Warrior starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, gets a release this September.  And possibly a TIFF Premiere in September too after doing the rounds at Comic-Con?  Soderbergh last was represented at TIFF with  The Informant! in 2009, although his Contagion looks more likely to surface at TIFF with its forthcoming September release. Relativity Media will be distributing Haywire in the U.S.

Check out the Trailer in full below:

POSSIBLE 2011 TIFF TITLES? (UPDATED)

Still from Like Crazy

Although the Toronto International Film Festival is only a little over two months away, there already is wide speculation about which major Oscars Keyplayers will be getting a Toronto Premiere here come September.  Although these are based purely on rumour, the below v. possibly could be screening in the City - meaning you just might be seeing these Stars here!

Here are a few Candidates:

We Need to Talk About Kevin – starring Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly; about a Mother recounting the series of events leading up to her Son’s massacring of students and teachers at his High School.

Sleeping Beauty – Australian film starring Emily Browning about a Girl who enters a secret underground Prostitution Ring, taking a sleep-inducing Drug which then allows her Clientele to have their way with her without any recollection.

The Ides of March – starring George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood. A Staff Member to a new Presidential Candidate is given a quick, dirty Crash Course on Politics during his Campaign Trail.

ALLIANCE FILMS TO PURCHASE MAPLE PICTURES

Maple Pictures Logo

It was just announced yesterday that two of Canada's biggest Film Distributors are now one. Alliance Films will be purchasing Maple Pictures for a total $38.5 million, effectively handling its releases in Canada for U.S.-based Lionsgate Films.

Alliance Films' President Charles Layton states in a Press Release, "This transaction combines two extraordinary Distributors in Canada and strengthens the distribution infrastructure we offer to our content partners. We’re thrilled to add Lionsgate’s new Films and very large, renowned library to Alliance. We look forward to working with the entire Lionsgate Team in the years to come.”.

THANK YOU, TOM HARDY.

Personalized Photo from Tom Hardy

Some Boys really have all the luck!  Thank you to Mr. Tom Hardy, for this lovely personalized Photo.  It made my day completely.  Huge fan.  *gush*

See Hardy next in upcoming Boxing Film Warrior and This Means Wear, alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon.  He also has recently been cast in The Dark Knight Rises as Bane together with his Inception Co-star Marion Cotillard, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman and of course, Batman himself, Christian Bale.