Avatar dominates Britain's Empire Awards

Updated on : Monday, March 29, 2010

LONDON: James Cameron's Avatar ruled Britain's Empire Film Awards on Sunday night, taking home three of the top trophies.

The sci-fi epic won the coveted Best Film honour and Cameron landed the Best Director award, while Zoe Saldana was named the Best Actress at the ceremony in London.

Inglourious Basterds star Christoph Waltz won the Best Actor award for his role in Quentin Tarantino's movie, while Aaron Johnson won the Best Newcomer honour for his portrayal of a young John Lennon in Nowhere Boy.

Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes landed the Best Thriller film award and Star Trek won Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy film.

British actor Ray Winstone, Jude Law, Andy Serkis and Sir Ian MCKellen all won special awards for their contribution to film, with the X-Men star being named Empire Icon, the evening's top honour.

He says, "I've played iconic parts - I think that's the point. I played Gandalf the Grey and the White and Magneto. So their lustre rubs off on me rather than the other way round."

The list of winners is as follows:

Best Film: Avatar

Best Director: James Cameron (Avatar)

Best Actor: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Best Actress: Zoe Saldana (Avatar)

Best Newcomer: Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy)

Best Thriller: Sherlock Holmes

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Star Trek

Best Horror: Let The Right One In

Best Comedy: In The Loop

Best British Film: Harry Brown

Outstanding Contribution To British Film: Ray Winstone

Empire Hero: Jude Law

Inspiration award: Andy Serkis

Empire Icon: Sir Ian MCKellen.

'Avatar' smashes North American box office record

Updated on : Thursday, February 4, 2010

LOS ANGELES: "Avatar" has reached yet another milestone, smashing the North American box office record previously held by the 1997 James Cameron epic "Titanic," Fox studios announced on Wednesday.

By Tuesday the futuristic 3-D blockbuster had racked up some 601.1 million dollars in the United States and Canada, overtaking the 600.8 million dollars that "Titanic" earned.

"We have broken the domestic number" for North America, Fox spokeswoman Aviz Hakhamanesh confirmed.

"Avatar" has also earned nine Oscar nominations, including in the leading categories of best film and best director, as well as several technical achievement categories.

Believed to be the most expensive motion picture ever made, the film and has now shattered all the major box-office records previously held by "Titanic."

The love story on the doomed cruiseliner took in 1.8 billion dollars over the course of its release worldwide, but by last weekend "Avatar" had already scored 2.05 billion dollars, just seven weeks after it was released.

'Avatar' tops Box Office for seventh week running

Updated on : Monday, February 01, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Science-fiction epic "Avatar" topped the North American box office for the seventh week running, taking in 30 million dollars one week after it broke the all time ticket sales record set by "Titanic," weekend estimates showed Sunday.

Director James Cameron's groundbreaking 3-D spectacular raised its North American takings to 594.5 million. Its international ticket sales on Tuesday broke the 1.841 billion set by "Titanic," also made by Cameron.

Opening this weekend in second place was revenge thriller "Edge of Darkness," featuring Mel Gibson's first screen appearance since 2002. It raked in 17.1 million dollars.

Romantic comedy "When in Rome," starring Kristen Bell as a New Yorker seeking love in the Eternal City opened in third place, taking in 12 million dollars.

Dwayne Johnson comedy "The Tooth Fairy," retained fourth place in its second week of showing, with 10 million dollars in box office receipts, with 26.1 million in total.

Denzel Washington's "Book of Eli," an action movie also set in a post-apocalyptic world took in 8.7 million dollars for fifth place and 74.3 million for it's three week run.

Post-apocalyptic thriller "Legion," starring Dennis Quaid, fell from second to sixth place with 6.8. million dollars and a two-week total of 28.6 million.

"Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones" made 4.7 million dollars for seventh place and a total haul of 38 million dollars since it opened eight weeks ago.

In eighth place was "Sherlock Holmes" with 4.5 million dollars. The high-octane take on the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary London detective, played by Robert Downey Junior, has taken 197.6 million dollars in six weeks.

Rounding out the top ten were family film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," which added another 4.0 million dollars to its six-week haul of 209.3 million dollars.

Bringing up the rear in tenth place was love triangle comedy "It's Complicated," starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, taking 3.7 million dollars for a six-week total of 104 million.

'Avatar' tops box office again; eyes 'Titanic' record

Updated on : Tuesday, January 26, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Science-fiction epic "Avatar" was poised to sink "Titanic" as the highest-grossing movie of all time after topping the North American box office for a sixth consecutive week, figures showed.

Director James Cameron's groundbreaking 3-D film harvested another 34.9 million dollars at the weekend, raising its overall North American gross to 551.7 million and pushing its international earnings to almost 1.838 billion, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said.

Cameron's 1997 Oscar-winning "Titanic" remains the highest-grossing film of all time with 1.843 billion dollars.

But that mark was likely to fall sometime, Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock said.

"I would say it's almost certain to beat 'Titanic' today once the international numbers are taken into account," Bock said.

"Avatar" is closing in on "Titanic's" North America record of 600.8 million dollars. It is now in second place, having surpassed the 533.3 million dollar mark set by 2008 Batman sequel "The Dark Knight.

Post-apocalyptic thriller "Legion," starring Dennis Quaid, opened this weekend in second place with 17.5 million dollars.

Denzel Washington's "Book of Eli," an action movie also set in a post-apocalyptic world took in 15.7 million dollars for third place and 60.7 million for its two-week run.

Dwayne Johnson comedy "The Tooth Fairy" opened in fourth place with 14 million dollars.

"Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson's latest film, "The Lovely Bones", an adaptation of Alice Sebold's acclaimed 2002 novel about a murdered schoolgirl who from the afterlife helps her family catch her killer, made 8.4 million dollars for fifth place.

In sixth place was "Sherlock Holmes" with 6.6 million dollars. Director Guy Ritchie's high-octane take on the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary London detective, played by Robert Downey Junior, has taken 191 million dollars in five weeks.

Seventh place went to family film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" with another 6.4 million dollars, pushing its take to 204 million in five weeks.

In eighth spot was "Extraordinary Measures," starring Harrison Ford as a scientist helping Brendan Fraser find a cure for his childrens' rare genetic disease. It scored a disappointing debut with six million dollars.

Love triangle comedy "It's Complicated," starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, dropped to ninth place, taking 5.8 million dollars.

Hong Kong film legend Jackie Chan weighed in at tenth place with his slapstick comedy "The Spy Next Door," which took 4.6 million dollars.

Precious Avatar win Critics' Choice awards

Updated on : Saturday, January 16, 2010

LOS ANGELES: "Precious," "Avatar" and "Inglourious Basterds" won early prizes on Friday at the Critics' Choice Awards, a ceremony that has an uncanny knack of foretelling Oscar success.

Quentin Tarantino's Nazi revenge fantasy "Inglourious Basterds" picked up the first award, for best ensemble. The film led the field with 10 nominations, tied with the all-star musical "Nine."

Comedian Mo'Nique was named best supporting actress for her turn as an abusive mother in the harrowing urban drama "Precious."

She described the film's director, Lee Daniels, as "one of the most brilliant directors and visionaries of our time," and said she was "awe-struck" by the film's star, Gabourey Sidibe.

"Avatar," which scored nine nomination, was named best action movie.

All three movies will compete for the best picture award, an honor that usually leads to the top Oscar.

"Avatar" producer Jon Landau declined to be drawn on the film's Oscar chances, or how much money writer/director James Cameron's blockbuster would make at the box office. It is quickly catching up to the pair's all-time champ "Titanic."

"I'm very excited about the whole season," Landau said. "I think it's a very competitive year this year. To be included with the group of movies that we are it's very exciting."

Other early winners included "Up" for best animated film, and Saoirse Ronan for best young actor/actress. She played a teen who was raped and murdered in Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones."

The Critics' Choice Awards, organized by the 235 members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, have established a reputation as the leading barometer of Oscar success. In the last 10 years, 80 percent of its best-picture winners went onto take Oscar gold. The success rate for director, best actor and actress is 70 percent.

The Golden Globes, by contrast, have a 60 percent rate for best picture in the same period, even after dividing its category into drama and comedy. Its hit rate with best director is 50 percent. "Up in the Air" is the leading contender at the Globes, which will take place in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

'Avatar' rules box office universe

Updated on : Tuesday, January 12, 2010

LOS ANGELES: Science-fiction epic "Avatar" enjoyed another stellar showing at the North American box office to finish in top spot for the fourth consecutive week, final figures showed Monday.

Oscar-winning director James Cameron's groundbreaking 3-D spectacular, which has already grossed 1.3 billion dollars worldwide, scooped another 50.3 million dollars, box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said.

So far the film has taken 430.8 million dollars in North America and is on course to overtake Cameron's 1997 Academy Awards best picture winner "Titanic" as the highest-grossing film of all time.

The phenomenal success of "Avatar" left its nearest rival, "Sherlock Holmes," trailing in a distant second place with 16.58 million dollars.

Director Guy Ritchie's high-octane take on the adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary London detective, played by Robert Downey Jr, has taken 165.2 million dollars in three weeks. In third spot was family film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," which scored 15.56 million dollars.

Fourth place was occupied by horror movie "Daybreakers," a new vampire thriller starring Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill. The film took 15.1 million dollars in its opening weekend.

Love triangle comedy "It's Complicated," starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, dropped to fifth place, taking 11 million dollars.

In sixth spot was "Leap Year," a romantic comedy starring Amy Adams and Adam Scott, which opened with 9.2 million.

Seventh place belonged to "The Blind Side," about a white couple who give an illiterate black teen a home and a new lease on life, earning 7.5 million dollars.

"Up in the Air," starring George Clooney in the acclaimed story of a corporate downsizer who questions his role in life, held eighth place, with 7.2 million dollars.

Teen comedy "Youth In Revolt", starring Michael Cera, was ninth with 6.9 million dollars. Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" rounded out the top 10 with 4.6 million dollars.

New sunglasses can also be used for 3-D viewing

Updated on : Sunday, January 10, 2010

LAS VEGAS: With the hit movie "Avatar" creating a buzz around 3-D entertainment, a California company is touting what it believes are the first 3-D glasses which can also double as sunglasses.

"We believe we're the first ones and we have a significant patent portfolio in the lens device so we believe we'll have a good bit of protection in the market," MicroVision Optical president David Johnson said.

The San Diego-based company is displaying the glasses here at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, where leading television manufacturers have been pushing 3-D technology as the next big thing in home theater.

MicroVision Optical said the polarized lenses provide sun protection while also allowing for 3-D viewing of the most widely used 3-D movie theater systems and the latest generation of flat screen television or computer monitors.

"It decodes the content very clearly, very crisply," Johnson said, adding that the 3-D/sunglasses "should be a permanent addition to your eyewear collection."

He said the glasses, which come in a variety of styles, will sell for between 32 dollars and 40 dollars in optical stores.

"We're also working on a prescription program where you can have your own prescription 3-D glasses as well," Johnson said.

James Cameron’s 'Avatar' premieres in London to cheers

Updated on : Friday, December 11, 2009

LONDON: A delighted audience clapped and cheered as the lights came on after the world premiere of James Cameron's sci-fi extravaganza "Avatar" in London on Thursday.

The 3-D epic about humans taking extraterrestrial form as they explore a distant world is reportedly one of the most expensive movies ever made, with a price tag well in excess of the $200 million spent to make "Titanic."

The industry has been watching closely to see how audiences respond to Cameron's long-awaited film, which uses cutting-edge digital technology to create dizzying special effects. On Thursday, the film provoked a breathless response from many in the audience.

"It's brilliant, it's as good as the hype, both the 3-D effects and the story," said 28-year-old Victoria Blasdale.

"This was remarkable, Unlike anything I've ever seen before," added law maker John Whittingdale, who had joined the media, Cameron fans and families at the premiere.

Stars Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana joined the crowds on a specially made blue carpet at London's Leicester Square before the gala screening at two massive side-by-side movie theaters.

Cameron said the movie, set in the future on an alien planet being pillaged by humans for natural resources, deals with how indigenous people are treated by newcomers.

"It's a way of connecting a thread through history. I take that thread further back to the 16th and 17th centuries and to how the Europeans pretty much took over South and Central America and displaced and marginalized the indigenous peoples there," he said.

"There's just this long, wonderful history of the human race written in blood going back as far as we can remember, where we have this tendency to just take what we want without asking," he said.

Weaver said she didn't consider the film a sci-fi movie. "I consider it an old-fashioned, epic swashbuckling romance," she said.

There's a topical environmental message too. As humans exploit their new-found world the indigenous species of the planet harmonize with nature to fight back.

"There's a sense of entitlement — we're here, we're big, we've got the guns, we've got the technology, we've got the brains, we therefore are entitled to every damn thing on this planet," said Cameron, describing the attitude of humans in the movie.

"That's not how it works and we're going to find out the hard way if we don't wise up and start seeking a life that's in balance with the natural cycles of life on earth."

Cameron conceived the story for "Avatar" in 1995 then waited a decade for technology to catch up so he could film it. The film mixes live action and computer animation to create an eye-poppingly vivid alien world.

"Avatar" is Cameron's first narrative film since 1997's "Titanic," which won 11 Academy Awards and has taken $1.8 billion worldwide at the box office.

"Avatar" opens around the world next week.