by R. Allen Leider and
CJ Henderson, Andrew Johnson and Monis Rose
Celebrating 40 Years 1968-2008

Black Cat Critics Review Films at AMC Theaters in NYC

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Breaking News

"I get a lot of pleasure out of making shows," MacFarlane said. "It's a bonus to be getting paid well for it, and it's a double bonus to be getting paid exorbitantly for it."   MacFarlane, who also voices most of the characters on "Guy,"
said, "No one can afford for the strike to permanently affect the relationship with the studio that you work for," MacFarlane said. "And on some level, you have to pretend it didn't happen, and at the same time continue to press ahead."   Fox is the only TV home MacFarlane's work known.   Ten years ago, fresh out of college, he pitched to Fox an idea for an animated comedy based on characters from his thesis and his sequel to it.  MacFarlane's main priority at the moment is getting "Cleveland," which he created with Rich Appel and Mike Henry, up and running. Eventually, he envisions his Fuzzy Door production company as an incubator for writing talent.

''IRON MAN'' BRINGS IN $100 MILLION FIRST WEEKEND "Iron Man"  Paramount's blockbuster superhero Marvel cComic epic starring  Robert Downey Jr. and Gweneth Paltrow rocketed to the top of the domestic boxoffice with an estimated $100.8 million in first-weekend grosses and a $104.3 million since bowing Thursday night at Midnight shows around the country. The outsized performance by the Marvel Studios-produced film represented the second-biggest opening ever by a non-sequel, after the $114.8 million bow by "Spider-Man" in May 2002. An estimated $96.8 million from 57 foreign territories further underscored the sense that an important new movie franchise had been born. "Iron Man" opened to rave reviews prior to its big bow, and Paramount is hoping word-of-mouth from opening-weekend patrons will carry the Jon Favreau-directed film through more competitive future sequels.  "Iron Man"'s  performance may benefit more than just Paramount and Marvel by kick-starting the summer boxoffice, which for the past several years has begun with the first weekend in May.

Summer Movie Checklist The Chronicles of Narnia (May 16) - The continuing adventures of kids in a fantasy world of amazing beings. The second story in the series of children's bestsellers. Indiana Jones 4 (May 22) - Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Harrison Ford will bring in well over $300 million and this film may be the biggest hit of the season.  Sex and the City (May 30) - The original cast continues the story from the TV series. R-rating may hurt.  The Incredible Hulk (June 13) -  Edward Norton as Bruce Banner in a decidedly more action-oriented take on the hero that is faithful to the original Marvel concept. Wanted (June 27) - A story about an ordinary guy who trains with a powerful group of assassins.  WALL-E (June 27) - The Pixar kids flick about a cute robot. Hancock (July 2) - Superhero action and comedy will draw all ages and those looking for a new superhero will pick this over the old Marvel franchises. The Dark Knight (July 18) - The darkest entry into the Batman series will certainly turn some away, but it will also give the film a tone not seen in other comic-book movies. Pineapple Express (August 8) - Seth Rogen and James Franco star in the must-see R-rated comedy of the summer.

''IRON MAN 2'' COMING WITH MARVEL FRIENDS.
Following Iron Man's amazing opening weekend, Marvel Studios has set a date for a sequel: April 30, 2010. Meanwhile, the comic-book-based entertainment company has unveiled the roster of superhero movies it plans to release during the next three years we can look forward to Thor — June 4, 2010,  The First Avenger: Captain America — May 6, 2011,  The Avengers — July 2011 which brings together the characters of Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Thor in one movie, Ant-Man which is in development.   All of these features will be financed, developed, and produced by Marvel. While the company had enjoyed great success for more than a decade with movies based on many of its popular characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four,  it only recently started fully financing, producing its own films and distributing them via an agreement with Paramount Pictures.

NEW BOND THEME HITS A SOUR NOTE
Superproducer Mark Ronson has dropped a project to record a theme song for the forthcoming James Bond film, because collaborator Amy Winehouse ''isn't fit enough to focus on music''.  Ronson confirmed he had started work on a track for the superspy's latest outing, and had reeled in the "Black to Black" star to lay down her vocal talents in his studio in Oxford, England. But the celebrated DJ has hit out at the star's recent return to erratic behavior, insisting the troubled Winehouse is simply not "ready" to work on music while she has still not dealt with her demons.  Ronson believes ''Quantum of Solace'' [roducers will have to hire other musicians to come up with the movie's theme song.  He claims it would be a "miracle" if he and Winehouse ever completed their joint effort.  He explains, "We did work on it (Bond theme) but we never finished it. I don't think it will happen unless by some miracle it gets recorded and someone sings on it.

Reviews by A. Allen Leider and Monis Rose

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Reviewed by Monis Rose

Reviews by R. Allen Leider, CJ Henderson and Monis Rose

Not Reviewed

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Not reviewed

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Reviewed by CJ Henderson

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson and CJ Henderson

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Not Reviewed

Reviewed by Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson has been a film critic for over forty years. Now retired, he taught film and film criticim in the N.Y.C. school system and was a professor at St. John's University. He has also acted in and directed off-Broadway and community theatre productions.

Monis Rose-Sr. Arizona State University My name is pronounced like "honest," but with a silent 'T'.  I've been getting paid to review movies since I was in 4th grade.  Born and raised in the valley of the well done, Phoenix, AZ, I am completing my senior year of college now and seeking the good life thereafter.

C. J. Henderson A professional writer for more than thirty years, CJ Henderson is the creator of the Teddy London supernatural detective series, author of the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies, and some fifty other novels and books, as well as the writer of hundreds of short stories and comics, and thousands of non-fiction pieces.

New York, N.Y. and Kansas City, Mo. – Dec. 7, 2007 – IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC), one of the world's largest and most innovative theatrical exhibition companies, today announced a joint-venture agreement to install 100 IMAX® digital projection systems at AMC locations in 33 major U.S. markets. The theatres will feature IMAX’s digital projection system which is being developed for the IMAX MPX® theatre design. The agreement is projected to double IMAX’s current commercial theatre footprint in North America and accelerates the momentum behind IMAX and AMC’s transition to digital projection technology.

"We are committed to delivering a premium entertainment experience by offering a menu of entertainment alternatives inside our facilities," said Peter C. Brown, chairman and chief executive officer, AMC Entertainment Inc. “Our expanded relationship with IMAX and the deployment of its state-of-the-art, next-generation digital projection systems is a key part of our strategy of continuing to broaden and enhance the AMC experience. It also builds on the successful partnership we have had with IMAX since June of 2005 and complements our overall digital plan.”

The rollout of the first 50 IMAX digital projection systems will begin in July 2008 at premier AMC theatre locations in 24 of the 33 selected markets, with an additional 25 scheduled for rollout in 2009 and 25 more in 2010. The IMAX theatres are slated to be installed in many of AMC’s top-performing locations in the United States, including: AMC South Barrington 30, Chicago; AMC Mesquite 30, Dallas; AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC Century City 15, Los Angeles; AMC Empire 25, New York; AMC Neshaminy 24, Philadelphia; AMC Eastridge 15, San Francisco; AMC Hoffman Center 22, Washington D.C.

“The agreement cements a partnership between two great brands. Partnering with AMC in a theatre deal of this size and scope is a transformational moment for our company from both a financial and strategic perspective,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “We couldn’t be more pleased that The IMAX Experience® will be more accessible to consumers in nearly every major market in the United States. AMC is unique in the number of successful, stadium-seat megaplexes in locations that could accommodate this large number of new IMAX® theatres. Further, AMC’s confidence in our digital projection system is a terrific endorsement. We look forward to rolling out our ground-breaking new technology and delivering the premium experience that moviegoers have come to expect from the IMAX® brand.”

In October of this year, IMAX announced that it had moved up the launch date of its digital projection system to mid-2008 from its previously announced anticipated timeframe of the end of 2008 to mid-2009. The highly anticipated IMAX digital projection system will further enhance The IMAX Experience and help to drive profitability for studios, exhibitors and IMAX theatres by virtually eliminating the need for film prints, increasing program flexibility and ultimately increasing the number of movies shown on IMAX screens.

IMAX has already secured important parts of its film slate for 2008, 2009 and 2010 through agreements with major Hollywood studios including: The Spiderwick Chronicles (February 2008), Shine A Light (April 2008), Kung Fu Panda (June 2008), The Dark Knight (July 2008), Deep Sea-quel 3D (working title, February 2009), Monsters vs. Aliens 3D  (March 2009), How to Train Your Dragon 3D (November 2009), Hubble 3D (working title, February 2010) and Shrek Goes Forth 3D (May 2010).

Added Messrs. Gelfond and Wechsler, “An agreement of this magnitude significantly jumpstarts our joint venture initiative, which we expect will generate increased recurring revenues for IMAX going forward. AMC’s decision to enter into this agreement will accelerate the growth of our theatre network in North America and should help power the digital transition underway at our company, which we believe will help drive our operating and financial performance for years to come.”

Now Playing in IMAX 2-D
at Loews Lincoln Square - Broadway at 68th Street
and other IMAX theaters nationwide

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