Monday Movie Quarterback - 5/18/09

It must be an interesting morning to be Tom Hanks.

1) Your new movie "Angels & Demons" opens to number one at the box office with $48 million, probably because you toned down your ridiculous man-mane from previous film "The Da Vinci Code."

2) Your new movie "Angels & Demons" barely beat out last week's winner "Star Trek," and fell $30 million short of the $77 million opening weekend haul of the previous installment "The Da Vinci Code." Probably because you cut your sexy, flowing hair. Bad idea.

Overall, I would say it was a good showing for "Angels & Demons." Although I was among critics who did not like the film, you have to respect the monstrous $152 million worldwide box office total this weekend. Dan Brown seems to be on to something with these thrillers soaked in religious conspiracy. The lovers and haters are turning out in big numers to have an opinion.

Why I didn't like the film? Like "The Da Vinci Code," it's just flat. Tom Hanks floats through this thing as uninterested as ever. His Robert Langdon is a man strolling around Rome (or in a slightly brisk jog) pointing at statues and spouting off trivia. Dan Brown's Robert Langdon seemed to get a thrill at encountering priceless artifacts - think Chris Matthews entering the Obama Library for the first time. Hanks' Langdon looks like he's doing his chores.

I wish Ron Howard's take on these Dan Brown books played the excitement and wonder factor up a bit more and stopped reminding us how dire and serious the subject matter is. But then again, this isn't "Indiana Jones." Too bad.

Memorial Day weekend should be interesting at the box office. We have "Terminator 'Oh, Good For You' Salvation" entering the ring, but that won't matter. Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" will dominate and be a clear number one. I'm guessing people will go see Terminator and make it #2 (I'm checking it out tonight), but could the T factor be played out by now? Here's my prediction on how things will shake out:

1. Night at the Museum (only family fare for a mile, HUGE numbers coming)

2. Terminator Salvation (could be shaky showing)

3. Star Trek (word of mouth could keep it in Top 3 for a while)

4. Angels & Demons (shouldn't have cut that hair, Hanks)

5. Wolverine (why people continue to go see this movie? One of those strange paradoxes)

*DISCLAIMER: The Monday Movie Quarterback is all in fun, because who really cares about box office numbers? When did society reach a point where we cared how much money some Hollywood corporation cleaned up over the weekend? If you want to see a film, go see a film, regardless of how many people have or haven't seen it. Also, if too many people have seen a really bad film, pointing fingers and heckling is always accepted and/or encouraged. The LeShock Value is not responsible for any physical or property damage that may occur as a result of your overreaction/heckling.