Tron’ Opens Atop Box Office With $43.6 Million in Receipts

Dec. 19 (Star Twitter) -- “Tron: Legacy,” a sequel to the 1982 Walt Disney Co. release about a man trapped in a video game, opened as the top-grossing weekend movie, with $43.6 million in ticket sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters.

“Yogi Bear,” based on the TV cartoon character, opened second with $16.7 million for Warner Bros., researcher Hollywood.com Box-Office said today in an e-mailed statement. “The Fighter,” expanding to 2,200 theaters from four, took in $12.2 million.

“Tron: Legacy” continues the story of programmer Kevin Flynn, who has been trapped in a video game for 20 years. In the new film, Flynn’s son Sam is transported into the digital world while investigating his father’s disappearance. Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Flynn. Michael Sheen and Bruce Boxleitner co-star.

In “Yogi Bear,” a greedy politician decides to close Jellystone Park and sell the land. Yogi and his friend, Boo Boo, join forces with a park ranger to save their home. Dan Aykroyd provides the voice of Yogi. Justin Timberlake plays Boo Boo.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” the third film based on the C.S. Lewis books, fell to third place from first with $12.4 million.

“The Fighter,” distributed by Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures, finished fourth. It stars Mark Wahlberg as Irish- American boxer Micky Ward, with Christian Bale as Ward’s half- brother and trainer, Dicky Eklund. The film was nominated for six Golden Globe awards, including best film drama and best actor in a drama for Wahlberg.

(source:businessweek.com)

Hollywood executives jailed for Thai film festival bribery

Two married Hollywood movie executives have been jailed for six months in Los Angeles for bribing Thai officials so they could run the Bangkok International Film Festival.

The Greens helped transform the Bangkok Film Festival, attracting stars including director Oliver Stone Photo: GETTY

Gerald Green, 78, and Patricia Green 55, were sentenced to prison despite a supportive letter to the court from the veteran film star Kirk Douglas.

Mr Douglas said the couple “were extremely honest and fair in all of their dealings with me.”

The Greens were convicted of conspiracy and money laundering after a jury found they had paid a former Thai tourism official $1.8 million (£1.1 million) to secure the film festival rights, and other tourism-related deals, between 2002 and 2007.

The deals were said to have earned them more than $13 million (£8 million.)

Prosecutors said they created shell companies to pay off Juthamas Siriwan, former governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

They then transferred money into bank accounts of Juthamas’ daughter and a friend so they would be awarded business contracts.

Juthamas has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged in Thailand. She and her daughter have been charged with conspiracy in Los Angeles.

The Greens helped transform the Bangkok Film Festival, attracting stars including Jeremy Irons and director Oliver Stone to Thailand for the event.

Gerald Green’s career in Hollywood spans more than 30 years. He worked with Stone on the Oscar-nominated “Salvador” and was executive producer on the 2006 film “Rescue Dawn” which starred Christian Bale.

Patricia Green produced the 1999 comedy “Diamonds” starring Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall.

The Greens were also ordered to serve six months of home detention after their jail sentence and pay $250,000 (£150,000.)

(source:telegraph.co.uk)

Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 Platinum Stars: Amakhosi Continue Winning Streak

Stars’ goal was scored by Hendrico Botes and Chiefs’ were scored by Siphiwe Tshabalala, Jose Torrealba and Kaizer Motaung Jnr.

Stars were down to 10-men in the 80th minute when they had Luis Renteria sent off. After holding out and not conceding a goal in the opening quarter, Stars grew in confidence and with their first real foray forward managed to take the lead.

The cross from Joseph Malongoane was perfect and Henrico Botes got above Thabang Rooi and headed the ball past Itumeleng Khune to put Stars a goal up.

Conceding the goal spurred Chiefs into action and they began to show more of the killer instinct they displayed in their previous two league games. As soon as they picked up their tempo, Chiefs found themselves back level with Stars.

Siphiwe Tshabalala crafted an opening for himself with as he stormed in from the left and as soon as he had a sight of goal he blasted the ball flat along the ground with his left foot past Tapuwa Kapini.

The second half was an exciting affair and once again Chiefs demonstrated their ability to finish strongly. For the second game in succession it was a hard working Jose Torrealba who came off the bench to help propel Chiefs to victory.

As Chiefs pressed for the winner, with chance after chance passing by, it seemed as though they would be kept out by some stubborn Stars defending. Their lucky break came when Josta Dladla was brought held back by Almiro Lobo inside the Stars 18-yard area.

Initially referee Jacob Frolick had allowed play to go on but was flagged down by assistant referee Shaheem Salot, who pointed out the foul on Dladla. Jose Torrealba stepped up to take the spot kick, which Kapini saved diving to his left to block the ball.

Not to be outdone, Torrealba was quick to the rebound and tapped it home in the 81st minute. Stars played the final minutes a man short as Luis Renteria was dismissed for protesting the awarding of the penalty.

Three minutes later and it was curtains for Stars. Again Kapini could only parry a shot hit from distance by Jimmy Tau and it fell to the feet of Kaizer Motaung Junior, who had the simple task of touching it home to make the score 3-1 and give Chiefs the points.
Source:goal.com/