Inception, Other Stuff, Weekend Box Office #196

So I saw Inception, and I liked it a lot. It's mentally engaging and visually cool, and it hangs together for what it is.

It's interesting to hear the criticism of the movie from people who don't like it (including some critics). Basically, either they are too confused with what is happened (which probably means they aren't used to being actually challenged to figure things out in a theater) or they wish it was a different version of the idea that it isn't.

There are probably hundreds of ways to take this basic idea and do it differently, and a lot of them might have worked. Christopher Nolan chose this tale, and on that level it's hard to quibble with a lot here.

Worth seeing on the big screen.

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As an odd little writing experiment, I created a Facebook page for the main character in my Nicholl semi script, which I'm trying to turn into a pilot. It's a different way of storytelling, using text and pictures to tell the tale, and I'm having fun with it, while it's a good way to make me think about aspects of this world every day.

Her name is Blue Malone; if you're around Facebook, check out the page and friend her if you like. She won't bite.

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Opening this weekend in wide release --

CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE (3705 theaters). I'm not sure why the not-very-good first movie demanded a sequel, but my niece and nephew (age 9 and 11) want to see it, and that's a lot of theaters. Figure $21.9 million for the weekend.

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (2911 theaters). I was hoping this would be good, but most reviews have been unenthusiatic (it's running at 53% on Rotten Tomatoes right now -- though that's better than a lot of movies currently out). Figure $16.9 million for the weekend.

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD (2720 theaters). Looks a bit earnest and sappy, though I suppose there's a market for that. Figure $10.2 million.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT is expanding to 847 theaters; it'll be interesting to see how it does. Figure about $4.8 million.

*****

Last weekend, SALT made $36.0 million, finishing about $6 million behind INCEPTION's second week. RAMONA AND BEEZUS made $7.8 million.