SHERLOCK HOLMES SEQUEL DEBUTS ATOP VIDEO CHARTS

Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows shot up the DVD and Blu-ray charts last week, debuting at No. 1 on both of them, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert, which tracks home video sales. Disney’s John Carter, which briefly had its day in the sun on home video last week after failing theatrically, […]

MOVIE REVIEWS: THE RAVEN

It’s as if the makers of The Raven were begging for trouble. After all, they’ve made the victim of a serial killer who recreates Edgar Allan Poe’s lethal pendulum — a critic! So now it’s time for the critics to strike a blow for one of their own — by slicing and dicing, not to […]

MOVIE REVIEWS: SHERLOCK HOLMES: GAME OF SHADOWS

Although Arthur Conan Doyle would probably not recognize the characters he created if he returned from the grave today, the new Sherlock Holmes, played by Robert Downey Jr., and Dr. Watson, played by Jude Law, are likely to keep the coffers of the Doyle estate filled to the brim for some time to come with […]

COURT TOSSES VIACOM’S $1-BILLION CLAIM AGAINST YOUTUBE

Viacom, which owns Paramount Pictures as well as such cable networks as MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and BET, has vowed to appeal a federal judge’s decision on Thursday tossing out its $1-billion copyright-infringement lawsuit against Google’s YouTube. In a statement, Viacom general counsel Michael Fricklas said, “YouTube and Google stole hundreds of thousands of video […]

NOW IT’S “ALVIN” TAILING “SHERLOCK”

Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel reversed positions on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart last week, with Sherlock taking over the top spot, followed by Alvin in second place. A week earlier, Alvin had been the clear winner. On Home Media magazine’s rental chart, Sherlock remained at the top for […]

“ALVIN” BEATS “SHERLOCK” IN SALES; LOSES IN RENTALS

Demonstrating the continued strength of kid-friendly movies in the DVD market, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Movie easily outdistanced Sherlock Holmes in sales as both films hit retailers’ shelves last week. According to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert, Sherlock, which debuted in second place, sold only two-thirds as many DVDs as Alvin. Nevertheless, according to Home […]

BLOCKBUSTER’S SLOGAN: RENT IT WHILE IT’S STILL A NEW RELEASE

Blockbuster is making the most out of its privileged status as the only major video store/kiosk operator renting Warner Bros. and Universal home video titles beginning the day they are released. “Rent It While It’s Still a New Release,” Blockbuster is trumpeting in its ads, alluding to the fact that online renter Netflix and kiosk […]