Looking at the Weekend: May 18-20, 2012

It’s possible that The Avengers could again top the weekend box office. This weak line up is evinced by the number of releases competing for a piece of the pie. While The Dictator might be the kind of comedy that does good business, never underestimate the power of aliens+visual effects, which I think gives Battleship the best chance of being the week’s top new release.

Consensus

Below is a list of what we have come to a general consensus on. The number in parens represents the percentage of our contributors who agree with the statement.

Battleship: Loud and bombastic, it’s going to need to do big business to avoid being labeled a flop.
The Dictator: Does anyone really find Sacha Baron Cohen funny anymore?
What to Expect When You’re Expecting: The chances of this being a lame “chick flick” are fairly high.
Hysteria: If you don’t mind period dramas, then this story of the purported invention of the vibrator may pique your interests.

WIDE RELEASES

Battleship
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts It’s like a Michael Bay film, but without Michael Bay. Not that I’d be at all interested in a Michael Bay film, his absence might be the lone reason I’d see it. Yet, the trailer looks awful, the premise is ludicrous and in general, I’m tired of lame adaptations of board games.	Thoughts Looks destined to join Taylor Kitsch’s previous non-stater, John Carter, on the heap of this year’s flops.	Thoughts Looks like a serviceable action film, which could get it some sound nominations or the like.

Battleship

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

It’s like a Michael Bay film, but without Michael Bay. Not that I’d be at all interested in a Michael Bay film, his absence might be the lone reason I’d see it. Yet, the trailer looks awful, the premise is ludicrous and in general, I’m tired of lame adaptations of board games.

Thoughts

Looks destined to join Taylor Kitsch’s previous non-stater, John Carter, on the heap of this year’s flops.

Thoughts

Looks like a serviceable action film, which could get it some sound nominations or the like.

The Dictator
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I’m not a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen’s style of comedy, which means I have no interest in seeing this film.	Thoughts I wish Sacha Baron Cohen would just go away.	Thoughts I am over Sacha Baron Cohen, and I think the Academy may be too

The Dictator

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

I’m not a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen’s style of comedy, which means I have no interest in seeing this film.

Thoughts

I wish Sacha Baron Cohen would just go away.

Thoughts

I am over Sacha Baron Cohen, and I think the Academy may be too

What to Expect When You’re Expecting
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts Apart from the scarcity of laughs in the trailer, there are some fun actors in this film, which might mean a visitation on home video.	Thoughts Looks like one of those films that borrows the title of a how-to book to tell a rather lame tale.	Thoughts Female-centric romantic comedies don’t get Oscars too often, and this won’t be the exception.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

See the original
CinemaSight
Trailer & Poster
Preview

Will I See?

Recommendation?

Oscar Chances

Thoughts

Apart from the scarcity of laughs in the trailer, there are some fun actors in this film, which might mean a visitation on home video.

Thoughts

Looks like one of those films that borrows the title of a how-to book to tell a rather lame tale.

Thoughts

Female-centric romantic comedies don’t get Oscars too often, and this won’t be the exception.

LIMITED RELEASES

Hysteria
See the original CinemaSight Trailer & Poster Preview
Will I See?	Will I See?	Will I See?
Recommendation?	Recommendation?	Recommendation?
Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances	Oscar Chances
Thoughts I might be inclined to see the film if it has good word of mouth. It looks mostly predictable, which doesn’t do well for enticing my viewership.	Thoughts Not to be confused with the play In the Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play), but it covers the same, ahem, territory.	Thoughts Looks fun, but too light for serious consideration.

Hysteria