"THE DARK KNIGHT RISES" STILL ON-TOP ON TEPID WEEKEND

Still from The Dark Knight Rises

In a tepid weekend at the Box Office, The Dark Knight Rises’ dominance still isn’t enough to spark some heavier Moviegoing with last week’s Colorado Tragedy still v. present in the Public’s Pysche. Add above that the fact that everyone's glued to their Television Sets watching the Olympics. Earning $65 million this weekend, the Batman Trilogy Finale cumulatively has earned $278 in North America, surpassing the $420-million mark globally for Warner Bros.

Despite limited promotion, 20th Century Fox’s all-star Comedy The Watch still manages to debut at number two with $13.3 million. Despite a Cast of Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller and Seth Rogen, it still only mustered an embarrassing 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer.  This betters Ice Age 4: Continental Drift's showing just slightly in third with $13.2 million in its third week.

Step Up Revolution 3D dances its way to a debut in fourth spot with $11.8 million from 2,567 theatres, which actually is the lowest opening to-date for the Franchise. Now onto its fourth Film, the Series’ Sequels have yet to eclipse the performance of their Predecessor in 2006, which debuted with a bang at number two with $20.6 million.

Ted still continues to go strong with $7.4 million in this its fifth week of release, now earning $192.5 million in North America alone for Universal Pictures, just ahead of The Amazing Spider-Man which earns $7 million for Sony Pictures in its fourth week. It’s safe to say that the Reboot has somewhat underwhelming in terms of performance.

Meanwhile, Magic Mike still hangs-on at number eight with $2.2 million and Madea’s Witness Protection rounds out the Top Ten with $1.2 million in its fifth week.

"TED" TOPS BOX OFFICE WITH RECORD-BREAKING DEBUT; "MAGIC MIKE" SECOND-BEST

Still from Ted

Stellar weekend at the Box Office with us celebrating Canada Day Weekend up north and Americans gearing-up to celebrate their 4th of July Weekend. Although it was a heated battle between two strong R-Rated Openers in Ted and Magic Mike, alas it is the former which takes the top spot with $52.5 million from 3,239 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis and Seth MacFarlane also is a hit with Critics, earning 70% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes. Above this, it sets the record previously held by The Hangover as the largest-ever Opening for an R-Rated Comedy.

Magic Mike also stuns in its Debut for Warner Bros., opening at number two with $38 million. The Male Stripper Dramedy starring Channing Tatum, directed by Steven Soderbergh, was made for only $7 million apparently and also has fared v. well with Critics, earning a stellar 80% on the Tomatoemeter.

Disney/Pixar's Monster Brave continues to perform well in its second week, earning $35.5 million from 4,164 theatres. To-date, it has made $132.7 million.

Meanwhile Lionsgate Films' Madea's Witness Protection Program opens in fourth spot with $27 million, one of Tyler Perry's more decent showings in quite some time considering his last few Films failed to fire.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter continues to plod along with $6.2 million this weekend for 20th Century Fox, good enough to land it in sixth spot, just ahead of Moonrise Kingdom which from just 854 theatres, earns $5 million in eighth.

DreamWorks Pictures' People Like Us starring Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks fails to impress, taking-in just $4.2 million and rounding out the bottom of the Top Ten.

"MADEA'S WITNESS PROTECTION" - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Madea's Witness Protection

Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection based on title alone is ridiculous, so shame on you if you are walking into it expecting anything beyond the absurd. The question though is whether or not Perry's loyal Fanbase is growing weary yet of his Humour. His last three Films have debuted far off-the-mark set by 2009's Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail, which opened to the tune of $41 million.

This Comedy's Premise surrounds Wall Street Banking CFO George Needleman (Eugene Levy), whose World is turned upside-down after discovering that his Corporation has been involved in a Ponzi Scheme. Although clear of any intentional wrongdoing, George suddenly becomes the target of an Investigation, is in danger and faces possibly a stiff Sentence. He and his Family are brought down South to live with the outspoken and sassy Madea (Tyler Perry), who might have a thing or two to say about him and his Family's troubled ways.

Playing off the cultural and socio-economic contrasts of White America and Black America, much of the Humour here is not-so-subtle. Much of the Film's more rewarding moments are delivered courtesy of Toronto's own Levy who hasn't carried the weight of a Lead Role in quite some time but is likeable as a naïve Businessman.  Also surprisingly effective is the doe-eyed Denise Roberts as George's Wife Kate - whom surely herself might have drawn upon a personal experience or two as a burdened Wife. 

Unmistakably once again though, Perry is the true Star of it all carrying the weight of not one, but five roles here as Joe, Brian and Madea - plus being Producer and Director. His innate sense of comedic timing and his unwavering delivery are an inspiration to Women, Drag Queens and Gay Men everywhere.  And wait till you see Madea's glamorous Jackie O.-inspired Makeover.

As is the case traditionally with Tyler Perry's Films, all culminates in some sort of a spiritual Catharsis through all the Chaos and Fans will be singing Oh Happy Day even if Critics won't.  Alliance Films releases Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection on Friday, June 29, 2012.

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.”.

"FAST FIVE" RACES TO THE TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Still from Fast Five

Moviegoers raced to the theatres this weekend for  Fast Five, the latest in the series of Auto-racing/Action Films, a massive success at the Box Office taking in $83.6 million in its debut. This makes it the best opening yet for The Fast and The Furious Franchise, with the distinction also of being the biggest opening weekend for a Movie so far in 2011.  It is estimated that Fast Five made  $165 worldwide this weekend alone for Universal Pictures. Critics also agree that this one is a hit, with it earning a 79% rating on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.

20th Century Fox continues to perform well with RIO 3-D, slipping to second this weekend after two weeks on top.  This weekend it pulled in $14.4 million from 3708 theatres, landing just ahead of Madea's Big Happy Family in third with $10 million.

Romantic Drama Water for Elephants slips one spot to fourth with $9.1 million, bringing its tally to $32.1 million domestically.

Debuting below expectations was Disney's PROM which lands in fifth with $5 million from 2,730 theatres.  The Teen Romance was estimated to make upwards of $9 million this weekend.

Hoodwinked Two Hood vs. Evil is the second film in its Series, and it debuts in sixth with $4.1 million.  Its predecessor made a total $51.4 million at the Box Office worldwide for The Weinstein Co.

Rounding out the Box Office Top Ten is Scre4m which after three weeks of release, brings in $2.2 million this weekend.  It its theatrical run domestically, the Horror/Comedy has just surpassed the $70 million mark worldwide for The Weinstein Co./Dimension.