Hatebreed - Ghosts of War

Hatebreed's covers album is now on store shelves and I am looking forward to getting my hands on it. Their cover of Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist" is excellent, now they have a video for their take on Slayer's "Ghosts of War," also excellent.

The Berzerker - All The Things She Said

Aussie extreme metallers apparently love courting controversy. Their latest video is a cover of Russian lesbian pop duo T.A.T.u's hit "All the Things She Said." Check out the clip and see if it is worth the controversy:

CD Review: Duff McKagan's Loaded - Sick

Way back in 1987 Duff McKagan arrived on the national scene as the bass player for Guns N' Roses. The band absolutely exploded and their debut stands as one of the greatest hard rock albums ever created. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and by the time the mid-1990's rolled around the Guns as we knew them were all but disintegrated. During the latter half of the decade Duff formed a project called Loaded and released a couple of albums I've never heard of. Then came his reunion with Guns-mate Slash in Velvet Revolver, which put him back in the spotlight with a pair of strong releases. Now that project seems to be in a holding pattern, Duff is back with Loaded and an album full of new tunes.

This time out Duff trades in his four string for a sixer and steps up to the microphone as the band's front man. Joining him are Mike Squires on guitar, Geoff Reading on drums, and Jeff Rouse on bass. No, I have never heard of them either. So what? These guys come together as a solid unit delivering the goods on Sick.

The music is bluesy hard rock that occasionally borders on the punk side of the coin. It is simultaneously slick and raw. It does not have the raw power and fury of old school Guns N' Roses or the full on power of Velvet Revolver, but there is something decidedly infectious in the stripped down nature. This is not an album that takes itself too seriously and neither should you. Yes, it does seem to play it safe most of the time, but no mind. Once you start playing this, you will be hard pressed to turn it off. It is a solid collection of tunes.

More in line with old school Guns N' Roses than the current incarnation of Guns N' Roses, Loaded loads up and strikes out with thirteen infectious cuts that feature grooves to get into, vocals that will hold your attention, and enough sleaze to remind you of the glory days.

Sick opens wit pair of catchy rockers in the title track and "Sleaze Factory." The pace is kept solid through the first six tracks. Fuzzed guitars, a constant sense of forward momentum, and Duff's experience and focus lead us through the rockers. Even though the songs may not be the greatest, there is something about them that makes them inviting, encouraging you to just rock along for the ride.

With track seven we slow down for a much quieter and introspective side of Duff with "Mother's Day." The song is a bit of a downer and could threaten to draw a tear from even the hardest of souls. There is something about the way Duff's voice takes on that somber tone with the even bass line playing behind him that really hits home.

The pace picks right back up with "I See Through You" as we begin the charge through the second half of the album. The second half is highlighted by "No Shame," which reminds me of another song that I cannot quite put my finger on, and "Blind Date Girl," which is just plain fun.

I like this album. Everyone involved just hits the right note. It has the feeling of experience grounded by an energy that makes it feel youthful. This is definitely one to check out if you like bluesy hard rock, or want to catch up with what Duff has been up to. It is well worth the time.

Recommended.

Give'Em Hell Malone - Trailer

Before now I had just seen some footage set to "Bad to the Bone" of star Thomas Jane shooting up a joint in what looked like an awesome flick. Now there is a new promo cut set to the same tune as well as a full trailer that will play at Cannes. I am really looking forward to this. It looks violent, exciting, funny, and I just hope it gets a relase that allows me to see it on the big screen.

Blu-ray Review: The Uninvited

Horror films that make their bow on the big screen during the first few calendar months of each year do not tend to be all that good. Just take a look at such recent early year offerings such as One Missed Call, Primevil, Blood & Chocolate, and When a Stranger Calls, not to mention this year's The Unborn (which had a few nice visuals). It does not take a bit leap to think that The Uninvited would be another of the lame mass produced horror films that litter the screens each year. I was completely prepared to skip it myself, that is before I started to see some positive buzz around it. So, I relented and saw it. Guess what? It was actually pretty good. Not great, mind you, but better than I expected for a film with such modest aspirations. Here comes the test, will it successfully translate to the small screen? The answer there also happens to be yes.

The film centers on Anna (Emily Browning), a young girl who lost her sick mother in a tragic fire. It was supposed to have been an accident, but Anna is convinced that there is something else, something more sinister at work. What makes it more troubling is the fact that she has blocked out most of the events of that fateful night.

We begin with a dream sequence where she pieces together some of the events of the night in a dream sequence with a psychiatrist (who looks suspiciously like a lumberjack). Since the incident Anna has been kept in a mental hospital as she tries to get over the intense trauma of her loss. She has gotten to the stage where it is believed she is ready to go home and resume her life.

She is picked up by her author father (David Strathairn) and together they head home. Unfortunately the trip home also brings her face to face with Rachel (Elizabeth Banks), Anna's former nurse and now her father's live-in girlfriend. Anna is convinced that Rachel is behind the death of her mother and fears for her life and for her father. She teams with her older sister, Alex (Arielle Kebbel), to find the proof needed to stop Rachel and save her family.

Everything builds to a climax that I sort of see coming, but still manages to surprise, it pulls the rug out from under you, making you question all that has come before. The Uninvited brings together elements of other films into something that blends the fresh with the familiar, resulting in an effectively creepy blend. The Guard Brothers directed the film and display a good sense for pacing and an ability top build a suspenseful atmosphere without overusing elements like the jump scare or shrieky musical cues.

The cast is quite good all around. Emily Browning has a very unique look and she is able to carry a lot of emotion. Likewise, Elizabeth Banks shows how she is one of the hardest working actresses in the business and can deftly move from comedy to drama, here she plays a woman who seemingly means well, but has a distinct touch of menace, walking a fine line. David Straithairn and Arielle Kebbel are also fine in their supporting roles.

Audio/Video. The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and looks wonderful. It is not the most colorful of films, but its palette is accurately represented here and the high definition image offered a great deal of depth. Audio is presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround, which sounds wonderful. There is nice use of surrounds with a crisp score and clear dialogue. Nothing to complain about at all.

Extras. This Paramount release comes complete with a limited selection of extras.

• Unlocking the Uninvited. This is a rather light featurette that goes into the adaptation from the original Korean film (A Tale of Two Sisters) as well as some of the production itself.
• Deleted Scenes. This is a series of scenes that a slightly different takes on what is in the film. None of them would have added all that much to the film, but still interesting to see.
• Alternate Ending. This is not terribly different from the actual ending, it is just a different interaction with a patient at the mental hospital.

Bottomline. Surprisingly effective horror film that will draw you in. Even if you see where it is going, you will not likely accurately predict the finish. The performances are above average, and you will be affected. So, put your preconceptions aside and give it a shot, you may be surprised by what you find.

Recommended.

Christopher Lee Back in the Hammer Fold

Hammer Studios is back in action having staged a couple of new productions in recent years. That alone is ineresting news, but this news makes it even more worthwhile of your time. Christopher Lee has signed to appear in their next film.

Why is this such good news? You must not be familiar with their history. Chistopher Lee rose to fame early in his career with Hammer appearing their Frankenstein, Dracula, and Mummy series, not to mention countless others. In short, Hammer and Christopher Lee are nearly synonomous.

The new film is called The Resident. Hilary Swank will star as a woman who discovers her landlard is stalking her. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Supernatural, Watchmen) will also be appearing in the film that is set to shoot this June in New Mexico.

Whether or not this will recapture the glories of Hammer past is yet to be seen, but the cast (aside from Lee), shooting location, and plot do not really say "Hammer" to me.

Post Grad - Trailer

This comedy looks pretty decent, although the trailer does fall prey to the showtoomuch monster. It stars Alexis Bledel whose life is adrift following her graduation. It also stars Saracen from Friday Night Lights and Michael Keaton.

District 9 - Trailer

Not to be confused with the fun action flick District B13, this looks amazing. I love this trailer. If you love compelling trailers, this will do it for you. When I saw it in front of Wolverine, my jaw dropped.

DVD Pick of the Week: Chandni Chowk to China

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope that this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles and what follows are not necessarily reviews. It is my opinion based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists that I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations upon them are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

I must also mention that this is a pretty light week. The new release list is pretty much devoid of anything of much interest. Could it be the dawn of the blockbuster season that is keeping it quiet? In any case, there are still a few titls worth checking out.

Chandni Chowk to China. This film only received a limited theatrical release, which prevented me from seeing this on the big screen. Well, it is now arriving on DVD and it seems like the perfect time to catch up on it. It is the story of a decimated village in China, that sends out a couple of is itizens in search of the answer to a prophecy. They are searching for a rebor warrior from their past. Their search leads them to India and t Chandni Chowk, who accompanies them back to China. It looks like a riot, plus it features Gordon Liu and that is never a bad thing.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (also Blu-ray). This is a movie that needs to be seen, for better or for worse. All too often films state their intentions right up front, leaving nothing to be discovered and nothing to reward multiple viewings. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is not one of those films. There are layers here to be peeled back and exposed to the light of day. A trip well worth taking. Benjamin is someone in the world but not of the world. It is a film that is near poetic with meaning, while also maddeningly obtuse. In the end, it is a movie that bears enough evidence to sway viewers to the side of love just as it contains enough to push them in the opposite direction.

Twilight (Blu-ray). Some were upset when the high def version was not released simultaneously with the standard. However, it may have made perfect business sense. How many diehards will be buying it again, having bought the standard because they did not want to wait? Interesting. I, on the other hand, will avoid both versions like the plague.

Last Chance Harvey (also- Blu-ray). Not a great movie, but one that seems to tap into an underserved realm of light romantic comedy. It is a movie that does not rely on big laughs or gags, or even the plot (despite its insistence in intrusion), and has a nice and easy flow. If you want a little romance and humor, you would do well to spend some time with Harvey and Kate.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Blu-ray). Bueller. Bueller. Bueller. The high school classic is taking a bow on high definition. Will it benefit from the potential image upgrade? Someone will have to let me know.

Dog Soldiers (Blu-ray). Here is a film that every horror fan needs to check out, and if your only experience is with the Sci-Fi presentation (where it made its US debut), you need to see the ful thing. This werewolf fil, is the real deal with strong practical effects and good performances. The Blu-ray is here and it is pretty cheap. No reason not to give it a shot!

Box Office Update 5/1-5/3: Wolverine Slashes the Competition

Is anyone surprised by this week's top movie? No? Me neither. I guess it was easy to predict that the film with the most hype behind it will top the box office of any given week; although, there are exceptions to every rule (last year's Speed Racer comes to mind). This weekend say the clawed star of X-Men Origins: Wolverine slice its way to the top of the pile with an impressive $85 million open. It seemed to be right in line with most predictions (including mine), although there were some that thought it would open similar to last year's Iron Man ($98 million). I believe this is also a solid test of the effect the leak of the workprint had, which does not seem to be much. Next week may be the bigger test as word of mouth gets out (much of it not good) and it faces the hyped, and better reviewed, Star Trek next week.

Coming in a distant second is the counter-programming romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. It stars Matthew McConaughey as a womanizer pining over the one that got away. The error of his ways is pointed out to him in full on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol mode with the arrival of a series of ghosts who take him on a tour to open his eyes to the truth. I chose not to see this movie this weekend, despite the positive buzz. Frankly, it looked a little on the generic side. Perhaps I will catch up with it at some point.

Coming in an even more distant third is last week's number one film, Obsessed, suffering a steep 58% drop, which had to be expected. This is another film I chose not to see. Having seen the trailer a number of times, I feel as if I have seen it already. Besides, if I want to see a story like this I suspect I would be better off staying at home and watching Fatal Attraction.

17 Again is your fourth place film. This is yet another film I have decided to pass on. It is one of those movies that looks like something I have seen a number of times before in slightly different guises; you know, movies like Big. Funny, movies like this are making it easy for me to keep my promise to cut back on the number of movies I go to during the year.

Fifth place is held by Monsters vs. Aliens, which is showing some good legs as it tries to drag itself to the $200 million plateau. I am not sure it will be able to make it, but it is making it interesting. It makes me wish the movie was just a little bit better than it is.

Slipping down the list is The Soloist, a decent movie that is sputtering at the box office as audience flock towards more blockbuster fare. It features a pair of good performance despite being a familiar story. That is followed by Disneynature's earth, which is doing well for a big screen documentary.

Hannah Montana holds steady in eighth place, same as last week, as Fighting slips on past down to ninth place. It appears that word got out on how bad the Channing Tatum drama is. Not surprising.

Rounding out the top ten is State of Play, the thriller that seems to be falling faster than I had initially anticipated. It is not a great film, but it is a solid thriller.

Next week will see the arrival of the highly anticipated Star Trek reboot. Also arriving nationwide is Next Day Air, an action comedy with an ensemble cast including Donld Faison, Mos Def, and Mike Epps.

Two movies dropped off the top ten this week: Fast & Furious (11) and Crank: High Voltage (16).

This Week	Last Week	Title	Wknd Gross	Overall	Week in release
1	N	X-Men Origins: Wolverine	$85,058,003	$85,058,003	1
2	N	Ghosts of Girlfriends Past	$15,411,434	$15,411,434	1
3	1	Obsessed	$12,052,151	$46,854,485	2
4	2	17 Again	$6,361,358	$48,503,817	3
5	6	Monsters vs. Aliens	$5,803,429	$182,407,971	6
6	4	The Soloist	$5,654,558	$18,162,696	2
7	5	earth	$4,340,235	$22,004,284	2
8	8	Hannah Montana: The Movie	$4,164,185	$70,946,323	4
9	3	Fighting	$4,011,465	$17,344,805	2
10	7	State of Play	$3,715,980	$30,944,180	3

Box Office Predictions Recap
Here is an odd week for me. I only got a few positions correct, but where I failed there I succeeded in getting the vast majority of dollar predictions right in the ballbark. That includes this week's top moneymaker, Wolverine. I will admit that as we get into the blockbuster season, it becomes a little bit easier to guess the top films, however, I generally still find a way to screw it up, especially when a hyped film flops or a modest film explodes.

Here is how the field matched up:

Actual	Prediction	Title	Wknd Gross	Prediction
1	1	X-Men Origins: Wolverine	$85,058,003	$86 million
2	2	Ghosts of Girlfriends Past	$15,411,434	$17 million
3	3	Obsessed	$12,052,151	$13 million
6	4	The Soloist	$5,654,558	$7.5 million
4	5	17 Again	$6,361,358	$6 million
9	6	Fighting	$4,011,465	$5.5 million
7	7	earth	$4,340,235	$5 million
5	8	Monsters vs. Aliens	$5,803,429	$4.5 million
10	9	State of Play	$3,715,980	$3.75 million
12	10	Battle for Terra	$1,082,362	$3 million

Deadpool vs. Watchmen = AWESOME!

This is hilarious and speaks for itself:

Movie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Way back in 2000 X-Men arrived on the big screen and (along with Blade) helped reinvigorate the stagnant comic book scene, that had pretty much died upon the release of Batman & Robin. X-Men successfully translated the fantastic and rich world of the mutant universe to a believable live action world. It was brought to the big screen under the steady direction of director Bryan Singer, a man who seemed to "get it" when it came to portraying these characters on the big screen. Among the characters that graced that initial film was Wolverine, one of he most popular characters to grace the page instantly became one of the most popular characters to hit the screen. It was only a matter of time before the character got his own feature. It took three X-Men films, but it is finally here. Unfortunately, it fails to live up to the promise delivered by the first two X-films.

With such a large pool of tales to choose from, not to mention innumerable factoids surrounding the characters origin, it should not have been too hard to find the right pieces to build an adaptation from. Which begs the question in the harsh afterglow of my screening: "What went wrong?"

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not really a bad movie, it is just a bad X-Men movie; i much the same way X-Men: The Last Stand is bad X-Men movie. They suffer from too many characters and an undeveloped plot. Wolverine is a decent action film and given a different name and some character modifications probably would have gone down easier in the eyes of fans.

I went into this movie with low expectations tempered by a small glimmer of hope that it would be done right. In the end, the film is enjoyable, has some fun action sequences but feels like squandered potential. Rather than write a script that developed its characters or allowed any chemistry to build, they wrote script that was not content unless something flashy was happening. Wolverine, despite another good turn from Hugh Jackman, is reduced from a troubled, complex anti-hero into a guy who screams a lot and always seems to be running towards something.

Wolverine open with a clever and nicely done opening credit sequence that shows Logan and his brother, Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber), battling side by side in wars throughout the ages, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and Korea, and Vietnam before we see the brothers have a difference of opinion and head their separate ways. Of course, their parting is not a pleasant one, and one that will have long lasting implications on them both.

The story is pretty straightforward. As Logan attempts to live a new life away from the violence that was life with his brother and the military group that he was a part of, he cannot seem to stay away as trouble always finds him. Members of his old team are being cut down one by one and only he can stop the culprit, but first he needs the right tools.

This story tells of how Wolverine came to be Wolverine, how he got the name, were the metal on his skeleton and claws came from, everything. We do indeed learn these things, but i is dealt with in such a fashion that I did not care.

The one thing that helped the first two X-Men films so good was the way you cared about the characters, the flow of the story made you become invested in what was to happen. This film is more about the posturing than the caring.

You see, this is what happens when you get too many cooks in the kitchen, when executives think they know the best way to direct a franchise. People begin to think with dollar signs instead of logic. Yes, the film, will make a ton of money, but it will all be in the short term, as long term viability will be compromised by lack of true artistic input.

Perhaps I have been spoiled by the likes of Iron Man, The Dark Knight, and Watchmen, where we got films that had true vision, where the filmmakers understood what they were working with and the studios let them do their work.

Gavin Hood is the man behind the camera for this outing, and he seems like an interesting choice for this, much like Bryan Singer was for the original film. Could this Academy Award winner (Tsotsi) be able to bounce back from the disappointing war drama Rendition and hit a winner? Apparently not. The film is devoid of any genuine vision, and quite frankly looks to be on the cheap side. The effects work was not up to par (the claws looked awful), the editing was choppy, and the performances mediocre. Nothing seemed to add up for the project.

The one good thing to come out of this is Hugh Jackman who, even when hampered with a bad script can pull off the role. Aside from him, Liev Schreiber does a fine job as the menacing Sabretooth, taking the role over from Tyler Mane from the first X-film. The rest of the cast is pretty much just there, including Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson.

Bottomline. That glimmer of hope I had when entering was extinguished by the time the end credits rolled. What can I say? The title says "Wolverine," but this is not Wolverine. Perhaps one day, when the studio gets bored with the character, a young upstart director will get his hand on the property and show us how it is really done.

Mildly Recommended.

CD Review: Testament - Live at Eindhoven '87

In 1987 I was still in my musical infancy, listening to acts like Def Leppard, Poison, and Warrant. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I still like them and others of that era, for what its worth. All I am saying is that I had not made the jump to the heavier stuff yet, although my childhood best friend was into the more extreme acts of the day and I was never far away from listening to a little bit of it. What does that have to do with this release? Well, Testament was one of those heavier bands that I heard bits and pieces of in those early years. I cannot say I thought much of them, my uneducated mind saw them as something of a Metallica clone (how wrong was I?). Anyway, some years later I discovered just how good these guys were and are (have you heard The Formation of Damnation?). This live set takes me back to the years where I paid little attention and shows me just what I was missing.

The Dynamo festival ran for 20 years, beginning in 1986, and was a precursor to some of Europe's largest metal festivals, such as the almighty Wacken Open Air Festival (which debuted in 1990). The Netherlands' Dynamo festival, held in Eindhoven, was just getting started when they invited newcomers Testament to be a part of the show. Testament only had one album, The Legacy, under their belts, but were already making metal waves worldwide, not that I ever noticed.

Anyway, the young quintet made their European debut on a rainy June 8, 1987 in front of thousands of metalheads, looking for something to get into. The band played a 45-minute set, covering much of their debut album. The show was recorded, but before now only five songs had ever been released (as an EP on cassette and vinyl). Now, Prosthetic Records has given us a fantastic release of the set, it took awhile, but it is finally here and well worth the time it takes to listen to it (over, and over, and over, and....).

The album opens with an incendiary performance of "Disciples of the Watch," a track that would not appear in studio form until the following year on The New Order. What can I say? This is one of the band's best cuts and to hear it played so early in its life at the beginning of a live set with such energy and conviction, it is rather electrifying.

The recording of the album is quite good, considering the analog nature of the equipment at the time; however, I am sure there was much clean up that went into the remastering. The finished album is not perfect by any stretch, but it is a lot better than I had any right to expect.

As soon as the concert begins, you cannot help but get caught up in the energy being generated by these metal upstarts. They clearly knew what they had when they put pen to paper and instrument to tape. Chuck Billy's voice commands your attention while Alex Skolnick's face-melting leads make you want to pull out your air guitars.

There are very few moments when the band stops to take a breath, although the best is early on when they are looking into the crowd for fans with beer, and complaining when they don't see enough. I guess when you see Testament live it is a requirement to have multiple beers on your person at all times.

Aside from the beer comment, you really just need to listen to the music. From the previously mentioned "Disciples of the Watch" to "Apocalyptic City" to "Over the Wall" to the great performance of the show closer, "Reign of Terror," you cannot go wrong with what they brought to the table that day in June.

Highly Recommended.

Star Trek - Shatner watches the trailer

Nothing terribly substantial here, but it is entertaining to watch William Shatner watch the Star Trek trailer for the first time and get a couple of digs on George Takei.

William Shatner Watches New Star Trek Movie Trailer

New Movies & Box Office Predictions: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Battle for Terra

Well, the blockbuster season has officially begun. Are yuou ready for a steady stream of big it hopefuls? I know I am, whether or not any of them pay off is a completely different story. This week's big release suffered a blow when it was leaked some weeks ago, the studio is hoping that will not hurt its box office receipts. The weekend will also see the arrival of a couple counter programming options if big budget action is not to your taste.

The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. (2009, 100 minutes, PG-13, romantic comedy) How to say this tactfully... I don't have a lot of interest in seeing this movie. At the start of the year I vowed to cu back on the number of movies I saw. You know, it is not for a dwindling love for movies, it is more of an attempt at being more selective. Of course, that did not start out so well, but the past few weeks have offered up such fare as Obsessed and 17 Again, which I have found easy to bypass. Now we have another offering that does not stir the interest bug inside me. This is a romantic comedy take on A Christ,as Carol, the twist being instead of greedy old Scrooge, we get womanizing Matthew McConaughey, and instead of a tour of his greedy past, we get a llook through his past girlfriends and how they relate to the "one that got away." It strikes me as wholly mediocre and easily avoidable. The cast also includes Michael Douglas and Jennifer Garner.



X-Men Origins: Wolverine. (2009, 97 minutes, PG-13, action) Here is the movie everyone has been waiting for, well a lot of people anyway. Earlier this year an unfinished workprint got out and has been making the rounds all across the web. It is going to be interesting to see if that leak will have any impact on opening weekend. I am looking forward to it, although I am not geting my expectations too high. It is hard to get too excited following the big disappointment that was the third X-Men movie. Hugh Jackman has done a fine job providing one of the main story threads for those three films, it will be interesting to see how he does as we take the story back to the beginning. Hopefully it will not be as screwed up as I fear it could be. The cast includes Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Ryan Reynods, and Taylor Kitsch. It was directed by Gavin Hood, an interesting choice considering his last two films are the Oscar winner Tsotsi and Rendition.



Battle for Terra. (2009, 85 minutes, PG, animated science fiction) Here is a another movie I am planning on skipping. I like the idea of humanity being the invading force on an alien culture, but this just does not look good. I get the idea it is another Space Chimps, and I was already suckered into seeing that. I am sure there will be those who like it, I am happy for you, I am just not willing to lay out money for it.



Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Home
• The Limits of Control
• Skeptic

Box Office Predictions
Is there any doubt what movie is going to top this week's charts? Would it be safe to guess it features a tri-clawed Aussie?Yeah, I think so. Yes, everyone's favorite mutant hero has his own film opening this weekend, perhaps you've heard of it? As for the rest of the chart? There probably will not be much happening other than a downshift. The other new release, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, should prove to be a popular counter-programming choice. As for Battle for Terra, opening on 1000 screens? I doubt it will have much of an impact at all.

Here is how I think it could play out.

Rank	Title	Box Office
1	X-Men Origins: Wolverine	$86 million
2	Ghosts of Girlfriends Past	$17 million
3	Obsessed	$13 million
4	17 Again	$7.5 million
5	The Soloist	$6 million
6	Fighting	$5.5 million
7	Earth	$5 million
8	Monsters vs Aliens	$4.5 million
9	State of Play	$3.75 million
10	Battle for Terra	$3 million