Box Office Shines for Pirates

By Eliana Diaz

In Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, audiences are treated to 2 hours and 47 minutes of amazing action sequences, stunning CG effects, and a crazed Jack Sparrow rambling on about a…peanut??

Disney, being the business moguls that they are, decided to release the movie one day earlier than expected in English speaking countries and also moved the United States opening of At World’s End from screenings Friday, May 25, 2007 to Thursday at 8:00pm, May 24, 2007.  The film opened in 4,362 theaters domestically, beating Spider-Man 3’s theater opening record by 110.   

Unfortunately like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End received mixed reviews with the most common criticism of the film from reviewers was that the plot was too complicated for them to follow.  Despite the mixed reviews, people and audiences once again praised Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, whose witty humor and mannerisms have made him one of filmdom’s most memorable rogues. 

Ultimately, At World’s End earned $58 million worldwide, and earned the fifth-biggest three-day opening yet, breaking the Memorial Day weekend record of X-Men: The Last Stand, with a domestic gross of $142 million. The addition of the Thursday screenings gross bought the opening total to $126 million. Elsewhere, it grossed $205 million, bringing the worldwide opening gross to $332 million. So far, the film has grossed $400 million worldwide. 

So what does this mean for the summer movie-goers??  Due the unusually strong summer movie lineup (Transformers, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Simpson’s Movie, etc…).  It means that this year’s movies are sure to give us one heck of a summer. 

Yahoo! Movies

Who’s Channing Tatum?

By: Brittany Hamilton 

Channing Tatum (born April 26, 1980) is an American actor and former model. After beginning his career as a fashion model, he has branched out into acting roles, appearing in the films Havoc (2005), Coach Carter (2005), Supercross (2005), she’s the Man, then Step Up, and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, all of which were released in 2006.

 

Born Channing Bryan Isaac Tatum Anderson in Cullman, a small city in
Alabama, and has at least one sister. He has French, Irish and Native American ancestry. His family moved to
Mississippi enjoyed a rural existence, including “All the rattlesnakes and alligators a boy could possibly chase, fishing every day, Pop Warner football league, stuff like that”. 

Tatum was athletic while growing up, playing football, soccer, track, baseball and martial arts, and had “a lot of energy”, although he says that “girls were always [his] biggest distraction in school.” During the ninth grade, he “had an option either a military school or a private school”. Tatum won a football scholarship to Glenville State College in
West Virginia, although he soon lost interest in the sport and turned down the scholarship, citing his dislike of the demands of playing football. When he was six, although he visits
Alabama where his mother’s family still lives every summer. Tatum grew up in the bayous near the
Mississippi River, where he enjoyed a rural existence, including “All the rattlesnakes and alligators a boy could possibly chase, fishing every day, Pop Warner football league, stuff like that”. 

Tatum was athletic while growing up, playing football, soccer, track, baseball and martial arts, and had “a lot of energy”, although he says that “girls were always [his] biggest distraction in school.” During the ninth grade, he “had an option either a military school or a private school”. Tatum won a football scholarship to Glenville State College in
West Virginia, although he soon lost interest in the sport and turned down the scholarship, citing his dislike of the demands of playing football. 

Tatum began his acting career in 2004, appearing in an episode of the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. His first feature film role was in 2005’s high school drama, Coach Carter, playing Jason Lyle, a street smart basketball player opposite Samuel L. Jackson; Tatum also appeared in Twista’s “Hope” music video, which accompanied the film. In the same year, Tatum had a bit role in War of the Worlds when posing as a boy in a church, a factory endorsed top motocross racer in Supercross, and part of the supporting cast in Havoc. Although Tatum has said that he loves modeling, he has taken a break from the profession to concentrate on his acting career, saying that he prefers making more mature movies. 

 

 

Shrek the Third

By Caroline Murphy

 

Last weekend, Shrek the Third came out in theatres. 
Fairfax Corner 14: Cinema De Lux was packed with people wearing Shrek ears and carrying around Shrek and Donkey stuffed animals.  Despite the publicity, Shrek the Third was not what the high school crowd was expecting.  Although many children loved the movie, some of the

South
Lakes students were not impressed.  A junior at

South
Lakes, Lisa Andariese, thinks “the third one was OK, but I prefer the first one because no third movie is better than the first.”

 

Even though many of the students at

South
Lakes did not like the movie, others could not get enough of Shrek and the rest of his cast.  Molly Farrell, a junior at South Lakes High, states “it was a great movie.  Granted, it was not better than the first one, because no sequel is better than the original movie.  I just wish it was much longer.”  Even though Shrek the Third was one of the longest in the trilogy, it seemed to go by much faster.

 

http://www.shrek.com/main.html

^^official Shrek website

So Easy a caveman can do it

By: Mia Saunders

 

 

 

            ABC is creating a new show, remember the caveman commercials featured for Geico car insurance? Well they now are about to have their own show. It’s a unique comedy with its own twist on stereotypes about the early caveman. The series will look at life through the eyes of the outsider’s three modern cavemen as they try to find a place in the world of today.  The series will be produced by Touchstone television this spring they will struggle with prejudice on a daily basis as they strive to the lives of normal people in 2007
Atlanta Georgia. The show will air every Friday.

Shrek the Third has success at box office

by Katie Busch 

Shrek the Third made 122 million dollars at box office its opening weekend, making 20 million more than Shrek 2. With its box office success there is not question this film isn’t good, it’s just not great.

 

The movie opens with Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) stepping in as king and queen of Far Far Away due to King Harold’s (John Cleese) failing Health. When Shrek becomes aware of another heir to the throne, he ventures out with Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Puss and Boots (Antonio Banderas). The heir being Fiona’s cousin Arthur (Justin Timberlake) a misfit teenager who’s whining voice and much too sensitive attitude will annoy you to death. Other characters from the previous Shreks make appearances in the film like Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) who again amuses the villainous role of trying to take over Far Far Away.

 

Shrek the third was a little disappointing with its writing as well as acting. Many of the old jokes in both Shrek and Shrek 2 reappeared in Shrek the Third. Some of the jokes weren’t as fast or witty enough and were somewhat predictable. Casting Timberlake was a poor with his very sappy voice over as Arthur.

 

The film did have a good message of being your self and was able to include some adult humor. It was an enjoyable film but it was that of the quality of it’s’ predecessors Shrek and Shrek 2.

 

 

From first meeting to Engaged

Lisa Andariese 

The Bachelor two hour season finale was Monday night May 21, 2007 at 9pm. People sat around their television anticipating his pick. 

 Lieutenant Andy Baldwin went through weeks of spending time with plenty of beautiful women to only realize that he has to come up with a decision each week and let a lot of them go. He got to know all of the women and took them on group dates and took one special lady each week on a one on one date. At the end of each episode he kept who he thought he could connect with the most, which would be the hardest decision anyone could ever make. He broke hearts as he got closer to picking the women he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.  

The two women in the finals were Bevin, who works as a clinic research coordinator and currently lives in
California, everyone who watched this show could see how Andy and Bevin connected. The other woman is Tessa who is a social worker who also currently lives in
California.  

They went on one on one dates with Andy and met his family and his family liked them both but had liked Tessa’s personality better and thought she would be a better match for him.    

The last scene was Andy standing on the balcony of a gorgeous mansion by the sunset and told Bevin that she wasn’t the women for him. It was very emotional when he walked her to the limo and when she got in she broke down in tears. Then Tessa came and he told her that his love for her is very strong and was finally convinced that she felt the same way. He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him and of course she said yes. He stood up and said “ One last thing” he grabbed the red rose and said “ Tessa Lee, will you please accept this rose” Tessa replied “Of course” They kissed and looked into the sunset and then the credits came on.   

 

The Only One he Ever Feared…

by Michael Shannon

We have all been waiting to see what happens to Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) next in the fantastic and breathe taking movie series. Finally, the 5^th chapter of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix, has been seen on the big screen in theaters. The official trailer for Harry Potter is now out and can be seen at Moviefone.com, Youtube.com, or Harry Potter’s own official web site.

The 5^th chapter of Harry Potter is mainly about Dumbledore’s army which Harry creates to prepare all the 5^th year students at Hogwarts of what danger awaits them. Dolores Umbridge who is later the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts and soon not long after that, the Headmistress of Hogwarts, is also the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and simply will not let any of the students practice attack spells or defense spells…this is what sparks Harry and causes him to explode with anger, enough in fact that he creates his own class where he is the teacher and he and his friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) help out as well.

A few new faces enter the Harry Potter series in this chapter like Luna Lovegood (Evana Lynch), Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), Ballitrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Cartar), and more.

Lord Voldemort(Ralph Fiennes), has returned to full strength and is now trying to build a army of Death Eaters(Lord Voldermort’s followers) so he can take down the ministry of magic and all that are muggles(not pure blood). Harry Potter wants to stop Voldemort before he can gather to many followers; The Order of the
Phoenix is an organization of aurors (dark wizard catchers) which are all on the move to stop Voldemort as well.

Hurry and watch the 5^th exciting chapter of Harry Potter coming to theaters in 7/13/07!

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Reggaeton Concert

 by Johanna Martinez

 

This past Friday May 11^th the reggaeton duo Wisin y Yandel exploded the

Patriot
Center with their melodic beats and amazing pyrotechnics. The duo preformed many of their newest songs such as Pam Pam, El Telefono, and Pegao.  They also played a set from their previous platinum album Pal Mundo album which was nominated for best album if that genre at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards in 2006. Fans were extremely pleased with the performance, Freshman Dahlia Cardona Says, “It was really good! Don Omar was there too!” Yes it was true Don Omar himself made a special appearance at the concert and joined them to sing one of their most popular songs Nadie Como Tu. All in all Wisin y Yandel seem to have put on a great show for all us reggaeton fans here in Virginia who patiently awaited their arrival.

 

 

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Summer Movie Love

by Eliana Diaz 

 

As school starts to wind down and the temperature begins to rise, many people are eagerly waiting for the hottest movies to be released.  Some of the year’s most anticipated movies include: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Pirates of the
Caribbean: At World’s End, the Simpson’s Movie, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and Shrek the Third.

Kicking off the summer movie season was Spiderman 3.  For it’s opening weekend, Spider-Man 3 set a record $59.8 million take for its opening day in the United States, breaking Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest ’s $55.8 million record. The
US opening day take includes a record $10 million in Thursday midnight showings. Spider-Man 3 broke Pirates of the
Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’s all-time weekend debut by grossing $151.1 million. As of May 14, 2007, the worldwide total was $622.1 million.  As amazing as its box office record is, Spiderman 3 received lukewarm reviews from the critics and fan, who stated that Spiderman had gone “Emo” on them. 

Shrek the Third and Pirates of the Caribbean 3 are up next for the summer movie lineup.  Shrek the Third comes 3 years after the ending of Shrek 2 and features the return of Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Fiona, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and (everyone’s favorite character) and Antonio Banderas as Puss-In-Boots. New to the cast is Eric Idle, Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris, Regis Philbin, and Mr. Sexy back himself, Justin Timberlake. 

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is the final movie in the POTC trilogy. The entire cast from the first 2 movies will return (yes ladies, Jack Sparrow and Will Turner) as well as a cameo from Keith Richards (of the Rolling Stones fame). Due to the incredible success of the 2 movie (it broke all kinds of box office records) this next one has high expectations. Who knows, there might also be a fourth one in the works…

Last but not least, is everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure, Harry Potter.  The Hogwarts trio (Harry, Ron, and Hermione) are back for the fifth adventure at Hogwarts, which includes the return of Lord Voldemort, a new headmistress, and the never-ending insanity of school. The movie is scheduled to be released one week before the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book. This will definitely be a summer for the movie lovers indeed!

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Rihanna (Good Girl Gone Bad)

by Parvin Sahraei

Remember Rihanna’s songs “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want” and “Music of The Sun”? Those songs bring back memories of summer in 2006 and of beaches in Barbados. But those songs are no more.

 

It seems like the sweet tropical girl from Barbados has grown up into a sex idol. It all stared with her song “S.O.S.” She performed it right here in the Reston Town Center.It happens to everyone in the music industry. They start out cute, then pretty, and then comes sexiness. You can see how she changes from her first C.D Music of The Sun to her latest C.D Good Girl Gone Bad. But her latest song “Umbrella” has gotten some pretty good ratings. It seems like her best song from all her albums. But all her songs seem to catch up really fast.

She has become the newest sensation in music with her good looks, singing talent, and country of origin. But no matter what Rihanna becomes remember the “sweet” tropical girl, and love the present “bad” girl because even though she changes, her voice still moves all her fans.

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