Movie Reviews, January 7

CREATED Jan. 7, 2013

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 Leatherface cut down the hobbit at the box office as Texas Chainsaw 3-D brought in 23 million for first place. Django Unchained remained the number two movie and crossed the 100 million dollar mark, The Hobbit dropped to third, and Les Miserables took fourth while also crossing the 100 million dollar mark. Matt Damon tanked with his anti fracking drama Promised Land which only brought in 4.3 million for 10th place.

Box Office - January 7, 2012

1. "Texas Chainsaw 3-D," $23 million
2. "Django Unchained," $20.1 million
3. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $17.5 million ($57.1 million international)
4. "Les Miserables," $16.1 million ($14.5 million international)
5. "Parental Guidance," $10.1 million
6. "Jack Reacher," $9.3 million ($22.3 million international)
7. "This Is 40," $8.6 million
8. "Lincoln," $5.3 million
9. "The Guilt Trip," $4.5 million
10. "Promised Land," $4.3 million

(Django Unchained – The Weinstein Compamy – Rated R)
Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained is hugely entertaining with his typically great dialogue and colorful characters while featuring the terrific Christoph Waltz – he delivers his lines with gleeful abandon and is absolutely wonderful! I even loved Leonardo DiCaprio who was perfect. This film harkens back to the spaghetti westerns of the 60’s and 70’s, but with the typical Tarantino treatment. It’s got over the top splatter gore, great visuals, loads of laughs, and actually does something no one expects – makes you feel revulsion for the slave traders and that period of America’s history. It is a great film that I absolutely loved. 5 Stars Out of 5

(Hyde Park on Hudson – Focus Features – Rated R)
Bill Murray is never convincing as FDR in Hyde Park on Hudson. I could never make the connection. I just kept seeing Carl from Caddyshack trying to do an east coast accent. Laura Linney does a typically fine job, but the script plays with the facts concerning his relationship with his fifth cousin. There is evidence that shows the film’s basic relationship was a lie. Still, there is enough good in the film to warrant a viewing…but one to save for a dollar rental. 3 stars Out of 5

(Texas Chainsaw 3-D - Lionsgate - Rated R)
After using the seminal 1974 film as an intro, Texas Chainsaw 3-D quickly devolves into a typical run of the mill horror film. The original changed film making. This one just perpetuates a tired genre. There are meat hooks and chainsaw disembowelments, but it seems tired. The 3-D consists of a chain saw being poked at you a time or two. Not worth the extra money. It’s not awful, but there is nothing earth shattering here. Eh…I’d call it semi satisfying. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5

(Promised Land – Focus Features – Rated R)
Funded by middle east oil money, and written and produced by stars Matt Damon and John Krasinski, Promised Land is pure environmentalist propaganda. The film does its best to demonize the process of fracking, or pulling oil and natural gas out of shale, currently the USA’s best chance at energy independence. It plays fast and loose with the facts. Do yourself a favor and do a little research before seeing it. The cast, for the most part delivers solid performances, but can’t overcome the contrived script with an insanely stupid plot twist. This Frack attack is whack. 2 stars Out of 5

For Bob Richards' past reviews and more visit bobrichardsmoviereviews.com .