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SALT LAKE CITY — Last week saw "The Dark Knight Rises" remain victor of the box office for the third consecutive week. Immediately behind was "Total Recall" in second place, followed by "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" in third. Fourth place was held by "Ice Age: Continental Drift," while fifth went to "The Watch."
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There are several new wide releases that will inundate moviegoers this weekend. The first, "Hope Springs," was released Wednesday. Starring Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell, this PG-13 comedy took a head start in preparing for battle against the daunting Friday competition.
Friday's wide releases include "The Campaign," an R-rated Will Ferrell comedy that will attempt to add humor to the lives of those frustrated and tired of the incessant political furor engulfing the country.
Last out is "The Bourne Legacy," a PG-13 action thriller that is on track to finally dethrone Batman at the theaters.
For those living along the Wasatch Front, this weekend also sees the re-release of Jack Weyland's "Charly" in 3-D. Additional footage was recently shot to help tell a more comprehensive version of this well-known Mormon classic. Several theaters will be holding midnight showings, a peculiarity for a film that is already widely available on DVD.
The predictions for the weekend of Aug. 10 are:
1. "The Bourne Legacy"
"The Bourne Legacy" provides this week's million-dollar question — will audiences be interested in seeing another addition to the franchise sans Matt Damon. Jeremy Renner takes the reins and stars in this parallel story, detailing the actions of the Treadstone project outside of Jason Bourne's activities. Although there is a book of the same title that was written in 2004, the film does not adhere to the plot in the book. The book revolves around the events in Jason Bourne's life that purportedly occur after the conclusion of "The Bourne Ultimatum." While it is slated to outshine "The Dark Knight Rises," it remains to be seen whether this new installment will be the legacy of the series.
The third and final film concluding director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, "The Dark Knight Rises," has done well in spite of tremendous obstacles. The midnight-showing massacre has unquestionably marred the performance of "The Dark Knight Rises," leading to myriad questions. The heat of the arguments have revolved around the copious violence that is unabashedly demonstrated and increasing in volume in this and other similar titles. This PG-13 spectacular sees Batman on the recovery track after the events of "The Dark Knight." An outcast and fugitive of the law, Batman winds up forced out of a questionable retirement when a new terrorist threatens the survival of Gotham City.
3. "The Campaign"
Leveraging the turmoil that society finds itself in as the heated political battle approaches its apex, this R-rated comedy promises a welcome reprieve. "The Campaign" features two Southerners fighting for a North Carolina congressional seat. A number of supporting actors and cameos increase the value of the star appeal, including Dan Aykroyd, John Lithgow and Piers Morgan among others.
4. "Total Recall"
A PG-13 science-fiction remake of the 1990 film of the same name, "Total Recall" stars Collin Farrell in a derivation of the original story. Audiences will find this remake devoid of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Omitting the trip to Mars featured in the original, "Total Recall" delves into a world where two superpower factions find themselves fighting after a devastating chemical war that has taken place. The star character, Douglas Quaid, is forced to try and navigate a world where the real and artificial blend together after he is supposedly implanted with fake memories.
5. "Hope Springs"
Sort of a stone soup of romance, comedy and drama, this release features a number of star actors in a series of predictable plot twists. A husband and wife find themselves needing a bit of help after 30 years of marriage. As a result, a decision is made to rely on a counselor — one whom ultimately winds up impacting several lives in the process.
Joseph Irvine is an engineer and consultant in Madison, Ala. A graduate of Utah State University and working on a master's degree at the University of Alabama, he hopes to complete a degree in law at BYU.
