Weekend Movies: Cowboys, Tiny Blue Creatures, Crazy Love and Goonies

The major question from last weekend: Will Captain America take down the Boy Who Lived at the Box Office? An overwhelming amount of people said "Absolutely Not", including me.

As it goes, moviegoers were more interested in a super-hero origin story than seeing the boy wizard face the Dark Lord in the final Harry Potter film. Over the weekend the Captain took in $65 million, while HP 7 PT II took in $47.5 million; though it should be noted that HP 7 PT II has made $820 million world wide in 12 days. Potter fans need not be upset. It was almost inevitable that Potter would see a drastic drop from the 1st to 2nd week. I should have seen this coming, but I was naive. Why did people flock to see CA?

The last Captain America film to hit theatres was in 1990; and back then the film received an overall negative reaction from critics and audiences alike. So with a re-boot now in 2011, its an obvious given that it would be king. Of course, this is all leading up to the highly anticipated film The Avengers, which hits theatres May 12, 2012.

Opening this weekend: Cowboys and Aliens, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Smurfs and The Goonies at Willow Creek 12.

Cowboys and Aliens: 1875. New Mexico Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force.  

The Smurfs: The Smurfs make their first 3D trip to the big screen in Columbia Pictures'/Sony Pictures Animation's hybrid live-action and animated family comedy, The Smurfs. When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the Smurfs out of their village, they're forced through a portal, out of their world and into ours, landing in the middle of New York's Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. (Willow Creek 12 does not offer 3D digital cinema any longer)

Crazy, Stupid, Love: At fortysomething, straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the dream-good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protégé to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling).

The Goonies (1985): A group of misfit, small-town children discovers a pirate-treasure map and embarks on a journey to find the riches in this beloved 1980s classic. Along the way, they battle curmudgeonly crooks and squabble with one another in their quest for fortune. Stars Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman are among the motley crew of youngsters in this modern riff on Peter Pan co-written by Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus. | The film plays at Willow Creek 12 July 28th 9:30pm, July 29th Midnight and July 30th 10:30am & Midnight. Invite your friends by going to the official event page for the film. 

For a complete listing of all films and showtimes, please go to the Official Muller Family Theatres - Willow Creek 12 website.  

This question now: Will Cowboys and Aliens take down Captain America at the weekend Box Office? Will Harry Potter make a surge and bolt back up to the top? I will not be so bold to predict what film will or won't be the top of the Box Office anymore. So that is for you to decide.