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David Mumpower: I think it has a chance to be mentioned in the same breath as Wizard of Oz and Toy Story in terms of technological advancements creating an unprecedented movie-going experience. It's also going to be the Lou Gehrig to the Babe Ruth-ian Titanic in his filmography. More than anything else, what Cameron has done here is prove once and for all that he should not be underestimated in any circumstance. His next failure in this industry will be his first.

Reagen Sulewski: What's interesting to me is that this film is becoming a lot of people's first real introduction to the new 3-D style. I'd seen a bit of the technology before so I knew what to expect, but it's first film that has to has to has to be seen in 3-D to really be appreciated. Even though it's not all that different than a lot of the animated films that have come out in the last year or so, Avatar is going to get a lot of the credit for pushing the tech.

Kim Hollis: Reagen, I've seen pretty much every animated film in 3-D this year, and I believe Avatar's 3-D is worlds beyond it. Before I saw Avatar, I would have gone so far as to say the only movie that was actually worth seeing in 3-D was Coraline. Now, with Avatar, I think it must be seen in 3-D to get the real effect. The viewer is immersed in the film. It's spectacular. My only question is how its longevity is impacted by TV viewing. It is simply not going to be the same. I wonder if that will hurt it in the long run.

Love is not actually all around for Hugh during this holiday season

Kim Hollis: Did You Hear About the Morgans finished in fourth place with $7 million. Why couldn't Sony turn this one into a hit?

Sean Collier: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker: Old and busted. Now, someone please find every single poster and billboard bearing the phrase "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" and write "No" on them.

Reagen Sulewski: Dear Sony: Next time, include jokes.

Tom Macy: I'm slightly surprised this didn't fare better. I would have thought if movies like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Confessions of a Shopaholic could open to $15 million this could too. There always seems to be a place for lighthearted fare this time of year. I guess Mr. Grant just doesn't have the Two Weeks Notice pull he used to. Also, it might be a stretch, but the only images I have of this film are of a summer-y/wilderness landscape. Doesn't exactly evoke the holidays. Look for Streep and Baldwin with It's Complicated to show 'em how it's done next weekend.





Michael Lynderey: This for me is the real box office story of the week (no, really). The low-key numbers here are just weird, especially in a year that has turned so many similar movies (comedies with name actors) into inexplicable mega-hits. Yes, the reviews on the Morgans seemed more negative than usual for this type of picture, but it should still have been able to open decently - if on star power and high concept alone. Maybe the target audience is holding out for It's Complicated. Color me confused.

Shalimar Sahota: Although it involves an already married couple, it still has the stench of, "seen-all-its-unfunnyness-before" about it.

Matthew Huntley: I think it's simple: nothing seemed original or funny about this movie's idea. We've seen it before with City Slickers and For Richer or Poorer, and also Sweet Home Alabama - the idea of, well, city slickers trying to survive in a rural environment. Because the script is (likely) hackneyed and we know the actors are above this material, audiences were probably thinking, why even give this movie a chance? Next to Avatar, Morgans looks so plain and ordinary. It's a movie that should have been released in the spring, when an opening of $7 million wouldn't seem as bad.

Max Braden: Could it be that audiences have become too sophisticated to laugh at big city folk yukking it up in rural settings? Wait, who am I kidding?

Ben Farrow: They skipped this movie because it looked exactly what it was - jokes about how urbane sophisticates bumble around until they find the real meaning of life. the trailer with Grant talking to the bear about how he meant to join PETA was crap. I don't think hicks passed on this, because it wasn't aimed at hicks. Your urbane city dweller decided he didn't want to see it because it's Christmas time and two hours of your life is too much to give up for crap.

Reagen Sulewski: Hix Pix in Stix Nixed by Mix.

Pete Kilmer: No one wants to see Sarah Jessica Parker out in the forest. Her movie persona is not believable out there. Plus, she's not Jennifer Aniston.

David Mumpower: This entire discussion reminds me of the time that The Love Letter was sacrificed to the gods of cinema as a tribute to the other weekend's release, Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace. We're talking about a movie that is a historical footnote of trivia and little else. I blame Sarah Jessica Parker, mainly because I dislike her in everything (L.A. Story excluded).

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