STAR TREK WARPS TIME FOR WEEKEND RELEASE
Thursday, May 7 2009
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Forget about midnight releases on Thursday to pad the opening box office for expected blockbusters. Many theaters have scheduled screenings for as early as 5:00 p.m. for tonight's release of the new Star Trek movie, according to today's Hollywood Reporter. The trade publication also noted that the movie will also get a two-week release on 138 IMAX screens, where trekkers will pay premium prices to see it. "This is right in our wheelhouse," IMAX Filmed Entertainment chief Greg Foster told the Reporter. "It's a demographic that loves IMAX ... and there's also a cool factor to it. Of course, the fans will want to dress up for it, and we can help event-ize all of that." The movie will be going up against Fox's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which took in $85.1 million in its debut a week ago. Analysts are forecasting that Star Trek will debut with about $55-65 million, while Wolverine will fall to around $40-50 million. Meanwhile, trailers for the new Star Trek movie have ignited a passionate debate between old-time trekkers and newcomers to the franchise. A video produced by YouTube about the "controversy" has suddenly gone viral. A CNN-like newscast is headlined "Star Trek Fans Outraged New Film Is Exciting, Enjoyable" and includes interviews with faux trekkers dressed in costume proclaiming, "Where was the heavy-handed messages about tolerance? Where was the stiff acting? It just didn't seem like a Star Trek movie to me." Another: "I'm just really, really disappointed that the story line made sense." Another: "If I wanted to see cool, attractive people doing exciting things, I'd go watch sports."
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