Entertainment

Super Mario Movie breaks box office records

Published

2 months ago

April 11, 2023

editor

The new Super Mario Bros Movie has broken box office records, scoring the most successful global opening of all time for an animated film.

The family film – Hollywood’s second version of the hit Nintendo game – took $377m (£303m) around the world in its first five days on release.

That overtook the previous record of £358m (£288m) held by Frozen 2.

“The numbers are sensational,” noted analyst David A Gross, who said it would “easily be the #1 flick of 2023”.

In The Super Mario Bros Movie, the moustachioed Italian plumber is voiced by Chris Pratt, while Jack Black plays fire-breathing villain Bowser.

It left many critics cold, with the New York Post’s Johnny Oleksinski saying it’s “just another soulless ploy to sell us merchandise” and The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw calling it “tedious and flat in all senses”.

He added that it was “a disappointment to match the live-action version in 1993” – a reference to the infamous original adaptation starring Bob Hoskins.

But many fans seem to disagree, with the 56% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes eclipsed by the 96% audience score. Even Elon Musk tweeted that “the critics are so disconnected from reality!”

Crowds “didn’t seem to care about so-so reviews”, the Hollywood Reporter’s Pamela McClintock wrote.

The film broke other records, including the best-ever opening for a movie based on a video game and the top opening of 2023 so far, she said.

Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian told the outlet: “This is one of the biggest box office over-performances in recent memory and is absolutely shattering all pre-release projections.”

(BBC News)

Entertainment

Independent regulatory body to develop cinema & television industry

Published

3 days ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of an independent regulatory body to provide necessary facilities and guidance for the development of the cinema and television industry.

The State Film Corporation was established under the State Film Corporation Act No. 47 of 1971 to promote local cinema and was renamed as the National Film Corporation in 1980.

The government said the film industry is facing a severe setback due to various problems and it has been recognized that there is a need to establish an independent regulatory agency to revive the film industry.

“It also appears desirable to have an independent body to provide guidance to develop the television industry. After taking these factors into consideration, the proposal made by the Mass Media Minister was approved by the Cabinet,” it said.

Entertainment

Yohani receives Dubai Golden Visa Award

Published

4 days ago

June 5, 2023

editor

Sri Lankan singing sensation Yohani De Silva received the ‘Golden Visa’ awarded by Dubai, UAE.

The prestigious award awarded by the Dubai authorities to the people who have made a great contribution in the fields of arts, culture and entertainment is known as ‘Golden Visa’.

Yohani continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of traditional Sri Lankan folk music and contemporary pop music, and the ‘Golden Visa’ recognizes her unwavering commitment to artistic excellence and commitment to promoting cultural diversity on a global scale.

In a Facebook post, Yohani said that she is thrilled to share the incredible news of being honored with the prestigious Golden Visa in Dubai.