“Captain America: The First Avenger” remains at the top of the box office today. Over the weekend, the Marvel comic book-inspired movie  debuted with a mighty $65 million. That’s the best superhero film weekend opening so far this summer.

On Monday, “Captain America” held onto its title as the number one flick in the country, by scoring $7.7 million. Yesterday, another top performance by the patriotic crusader with the film earning $7.8 million.  It stars Chris Evans as the physical weak, but strong in heart patriot, Steve Rodgers, who gets transformed into the super soldier Captain America during World War II. 

Here’s the rest of the weekend’s top five.  “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ slipped to second after only one week in the number one spot — with $47.4 million.  New romantic comedy, “Friends with Benefits” collected $18.6 million — good enough for third place. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as a couple of wanta-be friends/business associates who try to keep their relationship light, but end up falling for each other.

The sci-fi actioner, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” lands in fourth with $12 million, and in fifth, the comedy “Horrible Bosses” with $11.8 million.

The long-awaited film featuring the patriotic superhero, Captain America, finally hit movie screens today. “Captain America: The First Avenger” reportedly earned around $4 million at midnight screenings — besting “Green Lantern” and “Thor” for those early shows.

“Captain America,” which stars Chris Evans as the Marvel-comic- book inspired shield -wheeling hero, could be on track to make $60 million this weekend. Question is does the red, white, and blue crusader have enough power to boot the kid wizard, Harry Potter, from the number one spot? Ticket buying movie fans will make the call. More box office results later.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Promotional poster for the book "Chuck Fries Godfather of the Television Movie A History of Television."

Prolific television producer, Chuck Fries, was in the spotlight recently at the Burbank public library sponsored “An Evening with Hollywood Movers & Shaker.” The event on March 22, drew a crowd to the Buena Vista Library.

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- The spotlight on television producer Chuck Fries drew a crowd to the Buena Vista Library in Burbank March 22, 2011

Fries was introduced by popular radio personality and disc jockey, Rick Dees, who has the #1 rated internationally syndicated radio show, “Rick Dees Weekly Top 40.”

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Radio personality Rick Dees gives the thumbs-up after introducing TV producer Chuck Fries at the Buena Vista Library in Burbank March 22, 2011

Chuck Fries has produced over 100 movies for television. His credits include a wide variety of films like, “She Waits” (1972), “The Secret Night Caller” (1975),”Cat People” (1982), ”Sins of the Father” (1985), ”Flowers in the Attic” (1987),”The Case of the Hillside Stranglers” (1989), “Troop Beverly Hills”  (1989),  “Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean” (1990), and “The Initiation of Sarah” (2006).

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- (l-r) Producer Chuck Fries, moderator/senior editor The Hollywood Reporter Alex Ben Block, actor Dorian Harewood at the Buena Vista Library Burbank March 22, 2011

Actor Dorian Harewood talked about working in the Fries fact-based TV film, “The Ambush Murders”(1982).

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Producer Chuck Fries, moderator/senior editor The Hollywood Reporter Alex Ben Block, Ava Fries at the Buena Vista Library in Burbank March 22, 2011

Chuck’s wife, Ava, joined him on the platform to discuss her experience as a producer of the film, “Troop Beverly Hills” (1989).

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Spider-Man made a brief appearance at the Buena Vista Library in Burbank March 22, 2011

The web slinger, Spider-Man, dropped in to remind folks that Fries produced the TV series “The Amazing Spider-Man” (1977-1979) and the TV movie ”Spider-Man Strikes Back” (1979).

Photo: FLLewis/Media City G -- Producer Chuck Fries signed copies of his book at the Buena Vista Library in Burbank March 22, 2011

The book, “Chuck Fries Godfather of the Television Movie  A History of Television,” was released last fall.

"Jackass 3D" movie poster

Two new adult films debuted at the top of the Box Office, outperforming expectations. Leading the way, “Jackass 3D,” a crude comedy, that packed theaters and earned an estimated $50 million, to become the new number one film in the country.

This is the third installment of the “Jackass” series and is based on the TV series (2000-2002). The movie has no real plot, and basically shows a bunch of guys doing stupid pranks, stunts, and other idiotic routines. You either dig this kind of R-rated humor or you don’t. Johnny Knoxville stars.   

In second place, a different kind of adult film, “Red,” which stars Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Mary-Louise Parker, and Bruce Willis. “Red” debuted with around $22.5 million. It’s about a CIA agent who is forced to come out of retirement and to assembly his old team, after he gets targeted by assassins. The action-comedy is based on a DC comic book series of the same name.

Following in third place, “The Social Network” with an estimated $11 million, “Secretariat” with $9.5 million took fourth, and the comedy/drama, “Life as We know It,” is close behind in fifth with $9.2 million.

A great movie poster, solid reviews, and a debut estimated at $36.5 million were not enough for the new Angelina Jolie film, “Salt,” to win the weekend domestic Box Office derby. The Leonardo DiCaprio sci-fi action flick, “Inception,” held onto the number one spot for the second week in a row with around $43 million.

“Salt” opened in second place. The spy thriller is about a CIA agent who gets fingered as a sleeper KGB operative and must go on the run to clear herself. The project was originally set up with Tom Cruise in the lead role.

The animated film, “Despicable Me” raked in somewhere in the range of $24 million to take third, followed by “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” with just under $10 million, and rounding out the top five, “Toy Story 3″ with an estimated $9 million.

Another big story, Comic-Con, that huge comic book convention-turned-media-event in San Diego. The Wrap and Deadline.com have several posts on the stars, events,  movies, panels, and the deals.

A hot topic in Hollywood and politics — President Barack Obama’s planned appearance on “The View.” Obama is scheduled to visit the program this Thursday. He will become the first sitting U.S. president to appear on a daytime talk show. Details on The Hollywood Reporter.

“Twilight” stars to view “Eclipse” movie with fans

Photo: “Twilight” stars from Deadline.com/Hollywood

Early numbers indicate “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” is going to rack up a huge money haul this July 4th holiday weekend.  The third installment of the vampire/fantasy/love story film series debuted on Wednesday, June 30, with a gigantic $68.5 million domestic Box Office tally.  On Thursday, the movie earned $24.2 million, and $28.6 million yesterday, for a total so far of $121.3 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

The promotion machine for “Eclipse” has done a bang-up job — and is still working. Over the next few day, some of the “Twilight” stars will be watching ”Eclipse” on the big screen with fans. Nikki Finke over at Deadline.com/Hollywood says about 20 members of the cast will be popping in at movie theaters all across the country. The surprise visits began yesterday and will continue through the holiday weekend.

For details on the cities where the “Twilight” stars will be appearing check out the “Eclipse”website  Los Angeles is on the list, but, ah, not Burbank.  Don’t know how Media City got missed. 

Wonder Woman #600 one hot comic book

Photo: Wonder Woman DC Comics website

Yeah, Wonder Woman is a bona fide hot babe. She can dust the floor with the bad guys and never have a wardrobe malfunction, despite that skimpy outfit she has worn for more than fifty years. I’m not hating on her — just giving WW her dues.  However, finally in the reimagining of Wonder Woman issue #600, Diana Prince gets a new outfit — one more suitable for crime fighting than walking the runway in a beauty pagaent.  Wonder Woman in pants, how very 21st Century.

Photo: New Wonder Woman DC Comics/ New York Times

The DC Comics’ superheroine is hot for another reason right now – the reboot of Wonder Woman #600, officially on sale last Wednesday, has sold out!  Also, Nikki Finke is reporting DC Comics is already printing up a second edition.

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — The House of Secrets at 1930 West Olive Avenue in Burbank

While I was out and about in Burbank today, I dropped by the House of Secrets comic book store and asked about Wonder Woman issue #600. Sure enough, it was sold out. The counter clerk estimated they got 100 issues on Wednesday and those flew off the shelves. They received a few more issues on Thursday and by last night those were gone, too. A new shipment is expected next week.

If you’d like to check out a preview of that hot comic click here. The New York Times has an excellent article on the makeover of Wonder Woman as well.

Dodger Manny Ramirez donates some rare wheels

 Photo: Jon SooHoo/L.A. Dodgers — Dodger Slugger Manny Ramirez ‘s 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 964

Looking for a flashy ride with some power and celebrity history? Dodger outfielder Manny Ramirez has donated a rare Porsche to a charity auction. The 1994 red Porsche 911 Turbo 964 has less than 35,000 miles. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Dodgers’ official charity, ThinkCure! and Maryvale, a local residential placement home for girls.

Bids for Ramirez’s wheels, reportedly appraised at more than $58,000, are now being taken online at  eBay until Monday, July 12, 2010 at 11 a.m.

“Iron Man 2″ won the Box Office race by a huge margin. The final weekend numbers released today show the sequel raked in $128 million at the domestic Box Office  — to easily become the number one movie in the country. That was good enough for fifth place on the all-time highest-grossing opening weekend list. “IM2″ could have done better with a stronger marketing plan, according to Box Office Mojo.

In the comic-book-based sequel, Robert Downey Jr. again plays the charming, billionaire tech-genius, Tony Stark/Iron Man. This time around, Stark faces serious challenges at home and from a new powerful enemy. The cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson.

The rest of the weekend movies were left in Iron Man’s dust. The remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” managed to scare up only $9.1 million for second place. Next, the family 3D animation “How to Train Your Dragon” in third with $6.7 million.

The romantic comedy “Date Night” took fourth with $5.4 million. After five weeks, this Tina Fey/Steve Carell romp has scored $81 million in five weeks playing in theaters across the nation. Rounding out the top five, J-Lo’s rom-com, “The Back-Up Plan” with $5 million, after three weeks, it’s domestic haul is $30 million. 

A familiar scary face, Freddy Krueger, topped the Box Office this weekend. A remake of the 1984 “A Nightmare on Elm Street” debuted red hot — with an estimated $32.2 million — to become the number one film in the country. This fright franchise is apparently very much alive. It now includes 9 slasher films, novels, a TV show, and comic books. In the 2010 reboot/update Krueger is up to his old tricks of stalking and killing victims by first attacking them in their dreams. The horror flick stars Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, and Rooney Mara.

In second, the animated adventure fantasy “How to Train Your Dragon” with around $10.8 million. Next, a couple of romantic comedies. “Date Night” nabbed third with about $7.6 million. Close behind in fourth, earning $7.2 million, J-Lo and company in “The Back-Up Plan.” 

Rounding out the top five, the new family comedy “Furry Vengeance,” which had trouble attracting an audience. It managed only $6.5 million in its debut. Brendan Fraser, Ricky Garcia, and Brooke Shields star in this film about some furry critters who launch a protest against a new development in the wilds of Oregon. 

Jennifer Lopez looks hot in this movie poster, but her new romantic comedy,”The Back-Up Plan,” could not generate enough heat to slay the “Dragon” at the Box Office. The 3D animation, “How to Train Your Dragon” reclaimed the title of number one movie in the country with an estimated take of $15 million over the weekend. That brings the family adventure fantasy’s five week haul to around $178 million.

“The Back-Up Plan” debuted in second place with around $12.2 million. The rom-com is about a single woman, desperate for a baby, played by Jennifer Lopez, who gets pregnant through artificial insemination and then, of course, meets Mister Right, Alex O’Laughlin. The project hits the major beats in a Hollywood formula for a movie hit: high concept script, big name star, debut on a weekend with little competition. Yet, “The Back-Up Plan’s” weekend numbers are far from spectacular. So much for the Hollywood formula for a sure fire hit. Also, the lackluster opening of “The Back-Up Plan” may indicate J-Lo’s star power is losing some of its glow or at least the ability to attract a large audience.

Meanwhile, the Tina Fey/Steve Carell “Date Night” is still on a nice roll. The romance comedy raked in an estimated $10.6 million to bring its three week total to $63.4 million.

In fourth, another comic book adaptation “The Losers,” which managed to open with only around $9.6 million in theaters. The movie focuses on members of a special CIA undercover team who set out to even the score after they get betrayed and left for dead. The action adventure drama stars  Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Close behind “Kick-Ass,” which lost most of its kick from last week, dropping from number one to fifth place.  Based on a comic book, the action adventure scored $9.5 million — for a two-week haul of $34.8 million.  

The final numbers are in – ending the cliffhanger at the Box Office. The new superhero flick, “Kick-Ass,” edged out the animated hit, “How to Train Your Dragon” for bragging rights to the number one film in the country. The action comedy generated $19.8 million in theater ticket sales, below expectations, but still enough to win the Box Office derby.

“Kick-Ass” centers on the misadventures of a teenager who decides to live out his dream of being a superhero, despite not having any superpowers. It stars Aaron Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Nicolas Cage. The movie is based on the comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. 

“How to Train Your Dragon” had to settle for second with $19.6 million bringing its four week domestic Box Office tally to $158 million. In third, the comedy romance “Date Night” with $16.7 million.

Another new flick, “Death at a Funeral,” earned $16.2 million to debut in fourth place. It played on the least number of screens, 2,459, of any film in the top five. This a remake of the 2007 British film of the same title and storyline. It’s about high junks, misplaced bodies, and exposed family secrets at a funeral ceremony. The 2010 version features a mostly African American cast that includes Danny Glover, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, and Loretta Devine.

In fifth place, the action fantasy “Clash of the Titans”  with $15.3 million — after three weeks its domestic Box Office total is $132.6 million.

“Watchmen” the movie stormed the Box Office over the weekend, grabbing the number one ranking and making around $55 million. Even though fans have not gushed and cheered the way they did for “The Dark Knight,” the “Watchmen” flick is still making barrels of money.

DC Comics quickly moved to capitalize on the “Watchmen” movie success with a campaign called “After Watchmen … What’s Next? ” according to Publishers Weekly.  As part of that campaign, DC Comics launched a new After Watchmen website today. This is a very slick and glossy site, which showcases a number of superhero, science fiction, and adventure graphic novels like “Batman: Broken City,” ” Wild Worlds,” and “Sentences: The Life of MF Grimm.”

In the Publishers Weekly article, DC senior v-p, sales and marketing Steve Rotterdam said, “We recognize that the success of Watchmen opens doors to new readers, and we’re more than happy to use this opportunity to bring new readers into our world.”

Also, the new After Watchmen website will probably be getting a lot of visits from Hollywood producers looking to create another superhero movie hit.

Superheroes ruled the Box Office over the weekend. The long awaited movie version of “Watchmen” debuted Friday and has been packing the theaters. So it’s no surprise the doomsday thriller killed the competition and racked up an estimated $55 million to become the number one film in the country. No doubt, a sequel is in the works. “Watchmen” is based on a popular comic book series first released in the mid-1980s.

Despite that huge money haul, “Watchmen” fell short of the record for a March opening weekend. The record holder is the film “300,” which earned $70 million on the same weekend in 2007.  “Watchmen” will have to settle for third place behind the $68 million earned by “Ice Age: The Meltdown” in 2006.

Meanwhile, “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail” got bumped to second place with $8.8 million after two weeks at number one. In third, the thriller “Taken” with around $7.4 million, followed by Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire” with $6.9 million for fourth and rounding out the top five, the comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” with an estimated $4.2 million.

Action Comics #1 DC Comics/ www.mikecs.net

 The first superhero, Superman, was introduced in the Action Comics #1 published in 1938 for 10 cents. These days the average price of a regular comic book is around $3. One of the few remaining copies of this rare publication is up for bid at ComicConnect — an online marketing website for comic book buyers and sellers. You can get a peek inside the landmark comic on that website.

This original copy of the first Man of Steel comic went up for auction today with a minimum bid of $1.  No one expects the comic to go for chump change. According to CNN, Stephen Fishler, owner of Comic Connect, predicts it will sell for around $400 thousand.  Fishler called this comic “… the Holy Grail of comic books.” Also, included in this comic is the debut of Superman’s girlfriend Lois Lane.

Since the stock market continues to tumble, many investors are looking for other places to put their money. Comic books are becoming a hot commodity. The auction of this first Superman comic is open to the public and ends on Friday, March 13, 2009. 

Google Image

Actor Samuel Jackson has signed a major multi-picture deal with Marvel films, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Jackson and Marvel reportedly have been haggling for weeks, but now it’s a done deal for the actor to play Nick Fury, a spy in the comic book agency S.H.I.E.L.D. 

The deal calls for Jackson to appear as Fury in an unprecedented nine Marvel films including “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America,” and “The Avengers.” Jackson is going to be one busy actor.

Over at the Marvel.com website they’re reporting “Iron Man 2″ will be directed by Jon Favreau and filming is expected to begin this April. The cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Don Cheadle. Marvel is also saying Kenneth Branagh has signed on to direct “Thor,” which is scheduled to hit theaters in July of 2010.

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — House of Secrets in Burbank

The day after the release of the fifth edition of the Amazing Spider-Man #583 featuring President Barack Obama, it’s still very much in demand. Over the past few days, a lot of folks have been calling House of Secrets on West Olive Avenue in Burbank searching for the comic. New issues usually appear in comic book shops on Wednesday.

Yesterday, House of Secrets got some of its order, but not the fifth edition Spidey-Obama comics. When I was in the shop on Wednesday, manager Erik Warfield was fielding calls asking about the popular issue. Warfield told me the Spidey-Obama issues could arrive by UPS later, well they did, today in fact.

Warfield says they got 150 issues of the fifth edition of the Spidey-Obama comics. First, Warfield filled some pre-orders. A hundred of those comics went to the Skirball Cultural Center on North Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles. Today a special exhibit, “Zap! Pow! Bam! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950” opened at the Skirball Cultural Center. The comic book exhibit runs through August 9, 2009.

 By the time I spoke with Warfield around 4 :30 p.m. this afternoon, he had only “30 or so” of the fifth edition Spidey-Obama comics left. If this fifth edition is a hot seller at other shops and websites, then Marvel Comics will probably come up with another interesting way to team-up the president and the web slinging superhero.

House of Secrets  1930 West Olive Avenue Burbank, CA    (818) 562-1900

President Barack Obama is not only making news on the economic front, but in the comic book world as well. Today Marvel Comics  released a fifth edition of its now famous Amazing Spider-Man # 583 featuring President Obama: “After numerous sold out printings, Marvel is going back to press with a record fifth printing arriving in stores February 18. Now’s your chance to experience the story uniting President Barack Obama with the character that, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he named his favorite super hero!”

 The first Spidey-Obama comic hit stores on January 14, 2009. Even when the original price of $3.99 jumped to $40 in some places, the issue sold out in a flash! Marvel quickly went back to press for a second, third, fourth, and now a fifth edition with the Lincoln Memorial on the cover.

 I dropped by the House of Secrets on Olive Avenue In Burbank around 11:30 this morning hoping to pick up a copy of the new Spidey-Obama comic. Well, I got disappointed like many others who called or came into this comic book shop today. New comics are released on Wednesdays, but House of Secrets Manager Erik Warfield says for some unknown reason their order of the new Spidey-Obama comic did not come in.

So I took a drive to Legacy Comics and Cards on Wilson Avenue in Glendale and got lucky. Legacy had the new fifth edition of the Spidey-Obama comic, along with copies of the second, third, and fourth editions. The price was $3.99 each, except for the second edition, which was $9.99.  Assistant Manager Aaron Eaton says the second edition cost more because its yellow background has attracted a lot of interest from collectors. 

The Spidey-Obama comics are on sale at speciality & novelty shops, as well as online at websites including  Amazon.

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove

Four copies of the first edition of that special Obama/Spidey comic went on sale for $40 at Legacy in Glendale 01/14/09.

Marvel Comics’ special inauguration issue of “Amazing Spider-man” dropped yesterday and the company is already planning a second edition. Some folks who were able to find and buy a copy were thrilled, while those who could not find the issue were understandably disappointed. Now, here’s some good news.  The word is there will be plenty more copies hitting comic book shops next month.

At the House of Secrets in Burbank, the doors opened at 11 a.m. yesterday and an hour and a half later all copies of the regular cover version of “Amazing Spider-Man” 583 were sold. I stopped by there in the afternoon. Manager Erik Warfield was still getting inquiries about the special Obama/Spidey issue, “every other phone call … since last Friday.” 

Warfield and owner Paul Grimshaw say they were as disappointed as frustrated would-be buyers that they did not get more copies of the special issue. They received only 70 regular issues and 45 of them were pre-paid orders. Apparently, retailers received an allotment of the the issues calculated on a complex formula based on certain previous orders.

Over in Glendale, Legacy Comics and Cards got only 30 of the regular Obama/Spidey issue and those were sold through pre-orders before the store opened its doors at 11:30 a.m. Legacy fared better than many retailers in that it got 47 copies of the limited special issue with the president-elect and Spidey on the cover. Twenty-three of those were pre-paid. When I picked up my copy of that issue at 3 p.m. they had only four copies left.

Aaron Eaton, who has worked at Legacy seven years, says some buyers were very determined to get that limited special issue. One woman, who happened to be in Las Vegas yesterday, had a co-worker pick up her copy. Another lives in Pennsylvania  and could not find it there — so she had her mother buy a copy at Legacy. Also, while I was at Legacy, local Telemundo anchor Jose Ronstadt came in and bought two copies of the limited special issue.

 Still for some the price tag of $40 for the limited special issue was too much. I saw a mother and a young boy leave empty handed for that reason. However, they’ll get another chance. The second edition of the special inauguration issue of  “Amazing Spider-Man” is due in stores on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. 

Amazing Spider-Man # 583

President-elect Barack Obama has done some pretty amazing things before even taking the oath of office. His historic victory in the 2008 presidential race probably tops the list. More than likely somewhere on that list is Obama’s hook-up today with that web-slinging wise-cracking superhero, Spider-man.

Through the magic of Marvel Comics, Obama and Spidey team up to stop an old foe of the webhead from disrupting the swearing -in ceremony on January 20, Inauguration Tuesday.  Since it was previewed in the media last Friday demand for the special issue has been running very high.

Yesterday, I called House of Secrets on West Olive Avenue in Burbank and was told their phones had been ringing constantly with buyers looking for the Obama/Spidey issue. They’ll have the first version on sale for $3.99 today, but not the so-called variant issue with Obama and his superhero pal on the cover. Both versions are limited, and the one with the Obama/Spidey cover rarer still.

Legacy over on Wilson Avenue in downtown Glendale has both versions. Last night, there was already a waiting list for the comic with Obama and Spidey on the cover. The price; 40 bucks plus $3.30 for sales tax. That’s pretty steep for a comic book, but the buzz is this one is a collector’s item from day one.  So I dropped by and plopped down my money for the issue with the new dynamic duo on the cover.

 Both local comic book shops are expecting a lot of foot traffic today. I would imagine speciality stores nationwide, which managed to get copies of the Obama/Spidey issue, will be doing a bang-up business as well.