My take on the Summer Blockbusters

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Director: Shawn Levy

Theatre visits: 1

What’s it about: The museum night watchman starts a new company and moves on with the good money. But the news of his friends being packed off to the Smithsonian Museum makes him put on the watchman’s uniform again to bring them back to where they belong. To make that job a ride through hell, an ancient Egyptian ruler resurrects (courtesy: the magical slab) with plans to take over the world. Watchman puts together a team of new friends from the Smithsonian Museum to spoil the party and to save us all from doom.

Whistles: Bigger with the Smithsonian Museum as its backdrop, the funny men brigade, the laughs, bubbly Amy Adams.

Boos: Gets a bit boring after a while. Stiller looks tired of the role.

Verdict: A clean family entertainer. Got the laughs and the gags. Kids will love it.

Sequel suggestions: Ask Stiller whether he is interested; let’s not have the story revolving around that magical life-giving gold slab and try not to make it look like a reworked script of the first and second movies.

Mayhem in May - T4 disappoints, Museum receives more vistors

Am I disappointed today? Of course I am. What was hailed and screamed from the rooftops as one of the biggies of the year, surrendering to a "does-anyone-really-care" fantasy comedy - just what I needed. :(

If the opening weekend estimates are anything to go by, Terminator Salvation received something more than a kick on the butt. A dismal $43 million is all that it had on its first weekend. Lower than expectations, lower than its unimpressive predecessor and lower than its current opponent, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Museum had a fine start at $53 million. Not so bad a performance, during these times. But the shock which T4 has given me and the number-crunchers still persists. If Fast and Furious (non-brainer) and Wolverine (some-brainer) could get a sumptuous opening then why didn't T4 manage a similar feat?

Mayhem in May - Terminators to battle the Museum boys

Another face-off of the unlikely kinds is brewing in the box office. Two different contenders in the ring.

On the left, we have the resurrected Terminator movie, Terminator Salvation. Powered by Christian Bale, this one is be counted on as the big hit which will boost up the collection counters from the former booster rockets (read Fast and Furious, Wolverine, Monsters v/s Aliens). A brand new cast with the right use of CGI and real action, T4 is just what the doctor recommended to the franchise. Hopefully we are about to witness Terminator “Resurrection”.

On the right, we have the ever dependable funny little man Ben Stiller with Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, the sequel to his previous hit, Night at the Museum. The theatre count of the fantastical action comedy is on the higher side compared to Terminator Salvation’s 3480. The museum parade will be on display in 4096 centres. The return of the good old cast isn’t that bad. Ben stiller teams up with fellow smileys Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Steve Coogan and Bill Hader. Amy Adams forms the romantic angle here.

T4 definitely has the edge as Bale is flying high, post TDK and Stiller is on a bit of a low after the mediocre run of Tropic Thunder. Give it a week’s time and the image of the winner will be more clear. Till then T4 holds the cards.