The Panda

Some great holds this weekend. A lot of really good movies in theaters too.

I just got out of Moana, so my brain would quickly go to it, but if I think back for a second, Id definitely go with Zootopia. Both are great movies though, and both deserve the Oscar.

I hardly see how this was anymore cliche than any other Disney Musical. I actually thought it was a breath of fresh air compared to others. The music felt a lot more wholesome than a lot of Disney musicals. Lin did a great job tying the songs together and to the story, and the score was alive and vivid. It's one of the rare times I'd actually consider a Disney animation a musical, as in many others there's a few times where characters break out into song but by the latter half of the movie the music becomes irrelevant. It was nice for Moana to keep the music going from start to finish. I definitely loved the characters of Moana and Mau'i, they worked very well together, and even the down moments felt energetic with the two of them. The animation itself was gorgeous, the world was alive and it created some of the best animated visuals that have been put to screen. The story itself could feel a little been there done that at points, especially near the beginning, however once the film gets on its fear into the adventure of it you're swept into it and stop caring about the cliches treaded. In fact, I thought it did a good job of setting its heroine apart from others. Moana is one of the best heroine's Disney has made yet. The story feels like a Disney classic, and it's a great time and very enjoyable. A

I'd go with Tangled, it set the style and the standard for their movies going forward.

1.La La Land 2.Passengers 3.Manchester by the Sea 4.Silence 5.Jackie 6.Fences 7.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 8.Rogue One 9.Blade Runner 2049 10.A Monster Calls

So Moana's looking at a 3-Day in the 60m range then?

A Arrival Deadpool The Edge of Seventeen Eye in the Sky Finding Dory Hacksaw Ridge Hunt for the Wilderpeople Kubo and the Two Strings The Nice Guys Zootopia B The BFG 10 Cloverfield Lane Captain America: Civil War Doctor Strange Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Hail, Caesar! Into the Forest The Jungle Book The Little Prince Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Sausage Party The Shallows Sing Street Star Trek Beyond Talullah Warcraft C The Accountant Allied The Angry Birds Movie Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Bolgen Central Intelligence The Conjuring 2 The Finest Hours Jason Bourne The Legend of Tarzan Miracles From Heaven Nerve Hardcore Henry Risen The Secret Life of Pets War Dogs X-Men: Apocalypse D Alice Through the Looking Glass The 5th Wave Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Dirty Grandpa The Divergent Series: Allegiant God's Not Dead 2 Jane Got a Gun London Has Fallen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 Suicide Squad Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows F 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Bengazi The Choice The Darkness Independence Day: Resurgence Nine Lives Norm of the North Ratchet and Klank Planning on seeing before the year ends Moonlight Hell or High Water Manchester by the Sea La La Land Rogue One Sing Loving Fences Moana 20th Century Women Passengers Assassin's Creed

This was a great coming of age film, one of the better of its genre actually. The performances all hit the spot exactly, it really does feel like you're watching life play out. The film is relatable, and all of the laughs are genuine. There aren't comic one liners and over-the-top sight gags, it's humor that comes from honest moments and brings really solid, genuine laughs. Steinfield really shines in this, and shows she really needs to be a thing (if that wasn't obvious from True Grit), because she really understands how to create a character. Harrelson is hilarious, and provides some great character moments. I also thought the guy who played Erwin had a bit of a breakout role with this, he definitely nailed the part. I did feel like the film could feel aimless at points though, while I reckon that's intended, it can make it drag a little bit near the middle. I think the message near the end though resonates very well, and offers something to anyone who goes to watch it. The film explores the brink of life's transition to adulthood very well, and it's shame it's not going to find much of an audience, it deserves to. A-

Arrival is the best one, because it didn't have one. Hail Villenueve for the stroke of genius.

Sky beams are the mark of an insecure film director (thus not a film god).

Updating my predictions January Patriot's Day - 40.5m OW, 120m DOM A Dog's Purpose - 27.5m / 82m DOM February Fifty Shades Darker - 50.5m / 101m John Wick: Chapter 2 - 27.5m / 77m LEGO Batman - 58m / 212m God Particle - 25m / 80m March Logan - 58m / 150m Kong: Skull Island - 52m / 128m Beauty and the Beast - 128m / 409.6m Power Rangers - 37.8m / 102m Ghost in the Shell - 30.5m / 85.4m Boss Baby - 28.9m / 89.6m April The Case for Christ - 21.4m / 96.3m Smurfs: The Lost Village - 24.5m / 73.5m Fast 8 - 104.2m / 238m May Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - 150.6m / 415m Barbie - 28.5m / 85m Mother/Daughter - 30.2m / 102.8m Alien: Covenant - 37.5m / 100m Baywatch - 34m / 114m Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - 78.6m / 200m June Captain Underpants - 32.1m / 103m Wonder Woman - 145.7m / 335.1m The Mummy - 34.2m / 87.2m World War Z 2 - 35.4m / 90m Cars 3 - 52.1m / 177m Tranformers: The Last Knight - 74.3m / 178.3m Despicable Me 3 - 120.5m / 385.6m The House - 30.2m July Spider-Man: Homecoming - 125.2m / 313m War of the Planet of the Apes - 65.7m / 180.6m Dunkirk - 37.8m / 151.2m The Dark Tower - 50.2m / 205.8m August Emoji Movie - 28.3m / 82m September It - 27.8m / 74m Ninjago - 35.8m / 133m American Made - 32.1m / 100m October Blade Runner 2049 - 34.5m / 125m Kingsman: The Golden Circle - 37.8m / 105.8m My Little Pony - 27.4m / 94m Friday the 13th - 45.4m / 102m November Thor: Ragnorak - 90.2m / 205m The Star - 37.2m / 126m Justice League - 135.4m / 305m Coco - 50.2m / 210m Let it Snow - 35.6m / 130m December Star Wars: Episode 8 - 205m / 725m Downsizing - 27.4m / 105m Pitch Perfect 3 - 40.2m / 140.7m The Story of Ferdinand - 25.6m / 94.7m Star Wars: Episode 8 - 725m Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - 415m Beauty and the Beast - 409.6m Despicable Me 3 - 385.6m Wonder Woman - 335.1m Spider-Man: Homecoming - 313m Justice League - 305m Fast 8 - 238m LEGO Batman - 212m Coco - 210m The Dark Tower - 205.8m Thor: Ragnorak - 205m Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - 200m War of the Planet of the Apes - 180.6m Transformers: The Last Knight - 178.3m Cars 3 - 177m Dunkirk - 151.2m Logan - 150m Pitch Perfect 3 - 140.7m Ninjago - 133m Let it Snow - 130m Kong: Skull Island - 128m The Star - 126m Blade Runner 2049 - 125m Patriot's Day - 120m Baywatch - 114m Kingsman: The Golden Circle - 105.8m The House - 105.7m Downsizing - 105m Captain Underpants - 103m Mother/Daughter - 102.8m Friday the 13th - 102m Power Rangers - 102m Fifty Shades Darker - 101m American Made - 100m Alien: Covenant - 100m The Case for Christ - 96.3m The Story of Ferdinand - 94.7m My Little Pony - 94m World War Z 2 - 90m Boss Baby - 89.6m The Mummy - 87.2m Ghost in the Shell - 85.4m Barbie - 85m A Dog's Purpose - 82m Emoji Movie - 82m God Particle - 80m John Wick: Chapter 2 - 77m It - 74m Smurfs: the Lost Village - 73.5m

Yeah, I have quite a bit of awards-caliber films to see this year.

Same, plus I see no reason to post spoilers for my personal top X of the year thread I'll make on the 31st.

I can see this getting 3 acting nods, and possibly 2 wins. Plus, given that adapted screenplay is weak this year, it should easily get in there. 3 acting nods and an adapted screenplay are all it needs to get a BP nod. Director is also possible, but I'm leaning on not for that one, as like always, the category is heated with strong competition.

9.9m is behind track of Frozen, but it could have a larger increase today to make up for it. It's going to need over a 160% increase though to catch up.

We'll see, I expect it to be a hit, but I'm not sold on it performing on a Zootopia kind of level.

I'm still thinking the 300m predicts are ridiculous for this. This isn't hyped like Pets was.

I really enjoyed this movie, it was very entertaining, and the visual sequences made it worth the price of admission alone. I think the movie hits all of the right beats, and doesn't take itself too seriously (which is good for what it is), however I did feel like it rushed through those beats. I think the movie needed more time to build and let you discover the world. Things just kind of happen, and it leaves you going, "Well, okay I guess he perfected that now.". I also felt as if the side characters could have used more time to build. I would have maybe cut back on some of the action and spend more time building to it. In some ways, the crazy visual effects shown weren't always earned. I did really enjoy the creativity of it though, and it kept me engaged the entire time through. This isn't as good as Iron Man, GOTG, or The Avengers but it's better than the rest of Marvel's list. Marvel is fairly consistent at delivering decent extravaganzas. With Doctor Strange, Marvel didn't hit the bullseye but they still delivered a very solid movie that's much better than their average. B+

Figured I should bump this.

Nolan already made his first bad movie. The real question is when the true Lord of Cinema Villenueve will make his first bad movie.

Or maybe Disney was intelligent with the studios they purchased, and are wise in letting each studio do their own thing? Also, maybe this shows that long-term investing in quality reaps it's benefits? Disney sure did sow over the last few years, and now they're reaping the harvest.

15.5m is a much better Wednesday and sets it on track for a fantastic opening.

A Arrival Deadpool Eye in the Sky Finding Dory Hacksaw Ridge Hunt for the Wilderpeople Kubo and the Two Strings The Little Prince The Nice Guys Zootopia B The BFG 10 Cloverfield Lane Captain America: Civil War Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Hail, Caesar! Into the Forest The Jungle Book Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Sausage Party The Shallows Sing Street Star Trek Beyond Talullah Warcraft C The Accountant The Angry Birds Movie Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Bolgen Central Intelligence The Conjuring 2 The Finest Hours Jason Bourne The Legend of Tarzan Miracles From Heaven Nerve Hardcore Henry Risen The Secret Life of Pets War Dogs X-Men: Apocalypse D Alice Through the Looking Glass The 5th Wave Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Dirty Grandpa The Divergent Series: Allegiant God's Not Dead 2 Jane Got a Gun London Has Fallen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 Suicide Squad Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows F 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Bengazi The Choice The Darkness Independence Day: Resurgence Nine Lives Norm of the North Ratchet and Klank Planning on seeing before the year ends Moonlight The Edge of Seventeen Hell or High Water Doctor Strange Manchester by the Sea La La Land Rogue One Sing Loving Fences Moana 20th Century Women Passengers Assassin's Creed

Mel Gibson earned his right to direct back with this one. Not a fan of the man, but the art he made with this was gorgeous. It was very moving, the performances were solid, Andrew Garfield wasn't recognizable. The action was non-stop, shot brilliantly, and had a purpose. The first act was fairly conventional (and felt a bit rushed, as if he had to cut some out to meet a time) but still well-done. But when it hits the second act, it gets gut-wrenching, and then leaves you inspired. It's sad the mediocre movie about man bragging about sniping people is going to be the war movie remembered from this decade and not the one about a medic who saved people and was humble about it. A-

Is there something everyone else knows about Passengers that I don't? Tyldum's an academy friendly director, JLaw has gotten nominated for nearly every serious role (that excludes Katniss and Mystique) she's played, the screenplay was apparently great. Plus, the academy has become increasingly more friendly to original/high end sci fi movies. The marketing has been weak, but I don't think that has any bearing on the actual movie quality?