Fireworks worldwide ring in the new year
LONDON - The world welcomed 2007 with skyrockets and rock concerts but in some corners of the globe, the New Year was marked by saber-rattling and bombings.
Fireworks exploded over Sydney's Harbor Bridge as a million onlookers greeted the New Year. In London, thousands of revelers gathered to cheer as Big Ben rang in 2007. But the Thai capital of Bangkok canceled the main celebration after nine bombs exploded across the city, many in crowded tourist areas. Two people were killed and 34 were injured.
In the Australian capital — one of the world's first major cities to see the dawn of the new year — people crammed the harbor shore for a lavish fireworks display celebrating the 25th anniversary of its iconic bridge.
Thousands of would-be revelers who had gathered at Bangkok's Central World Plaza shopping mall complex for the event were sent home, officials said. Festivities continued in other parts of the city, though, including the famous Patpong Road red light district. Police and army troops with assault rifles, meanwhile, guarded some tourist sites, mass transit stations and traffic circles.
In India, police arrested two suspected Islamic militants about half a mile from the site of New Delhi's main public New Year's Eve celebrations, a report said, citing police.
Pope Benedict XVI prayed at a New Year's Eve service at the Vatican City in Rome that 2007 would bring the world "peace, comfort, justice." But he cast a cold eye on some secular New Year celebrations, saying such social "rites" are "often carried out as an escape from reality."
In London, Big Ben's chimes were relayed by sound systems along the banks of the great, gray River Thames. Crowds flocked to the banks near the Houses of Parliament to watch a light show countdown projected onto the 443-foot London Eye Ferris wheel, followed by a 10-minute fireworks display "big enough and loud enough to be seen ... all over the capital," Mayor Ken Livingstone said.
At least a million revelers were expected to pack Times Square in unseasonably warm New York City, to hear singers Christina Aguilera and Toni Braxton cheer and watch a 1,070-pound Waterford Crystal ball fall at midnight.
In North Korea, an editorial carried in all three state-controlled newspapers celebrated the new year by boasting that the country's possession of nuclear weapons "serves as a powerful force for defending peace and security ... and guaranteeing the victorious advance of the cause of independence."
The editorial exhorted North Koreans to "mercilessly defeat any invasion of the U.S. imperialists."
Meanwhile two former Communist Eastern bloc states, Romania and Bulgaria, took another step toward the West as they became the newest members of the European Union at midnight. Fireworks thundered through the sky in the Romanian capital.
"Citizens of Bucharest. Welcome to the EU," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said, standing on a stage with Romania's president and European foreign ministers. The ministers from Germany, Denmark, Austria and Hungary wished Romanians a Happy New Year, and planned to fly Monday to Bulgaria for celebrations there.
High winds and winter storms dampened celebrations in other parts of Europe. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, an outdoor concert that was to feature soul singer Beverley Knight and rock band The Thrills was called off due to the threat of gale-force winds.
Glasgow officials said high winds and rain had forced them to cancel Hogmanay, or traditional New Year's celebrations, in the Scottish city. Edinburgh at the last minute also canceled its Hogmanay party, which was to be headlined by the Pet Shop Boys.
In Belgium, several fireworks displays were canceled after two party tents set up for celebrations in northern Belgium blew away on Saturday.
No official celebrations were planned in Paris, but thousands were expected to congregate along the city's glittering Champs-Elysees to welcome 2007.
In the Philippines — where many believe noisy New Year celebrations drive away evil and misfortune — police threatened to arrest anyone setting off oversized firecrackers.
Despite the warning, 284 people were injured by firecrackers and celebratory gunfire in the two weeks before New Year's Day, a 75 percent rise from last year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
"I have campaigned every day against firecrackers," Duque said. "But this has become a deeply rooted part of our culture."
In Japan, thousands climbed mountains, some scaling famed Mount Fuji, to greet the first dawn of the year. Police expected crowds on the peaks to reach 15,000.
Many Japanese — ranging from families with children to elderly couples — usually start climbing at night so they can reach the top in time for sunrise.
Police anticipated 95 million visitors to the country's major Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines over the first three days of the new year, as people offer prayers for peace, health and prosperity in one of the few religious rites in which most Japanese regularly take part.
The South African city of Cape Town prepared to celebrate New Year's Eve with a show by the Cape Minstrels.
'Museum' tops box office with $37.8M
LOS ANGELES - Ben Stiller's playful "Night at the Museum" was the top box office draw during the New Year's weekend with $37.8 million, a 24 percent jump over its debut the previous week, according to studio estimates released Sunday.
Uplifting movies dominated the Top 10 for the holiday weekend, a busy period at turnstiles.
Will Smith's "The Pursuit of Happyness" took second place with $19.3 million, up 30 percent, while the musical "Dreamgirls" finished third with $15.5 million.
"The Pursuit of Happyness" was expected to cross the $100 million threshold on New Year's Day.
No. 4 "Charlotte's Web" was up 59 percent with $12 million in its third week. "Rocky Balboa" was in fifth place with $11.4 million.
No new movies went into wide release.
"Dreamgirls" saw a major surge in business, averaging a whopping $18,192 per screen as Paramount rolled it out slowly with word-of-mouth creating a buzz. It was showing on just 852 screens, compared to 3,768 for "Night at the Museum."
"Dreamgirls," the first musical sensation since "Chicago" in 2002, will expand to about 1,800 screens on Jan. 12.
"We knew it was a movie that was a real crowd-pleaser," said Rob Moore, Paramount's president of marketing and distribution. "The amazing word of mouth is bringing it along. It's been a while since a musical really worked."
Here are the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Wednesday.
1. "Night at the Museum," $37.8 million.
2. "The Pursuit of Happyness," $19.3 million.
3. "Dreamgirls," $15.5 million.
4. "Charlotte's Web," $12 million
5. "Rocky Balboa," $11.4 million.
6. "The Good Shepherd," $11.2 million.
7. "Eragon," $8.5 million.
8. "We Are Marshall," $8 million.
9. "Happy Feet," $7.8 million.
10. "The Holiday," $6.7 million.
This week The Couch Potato Report shines the spotlight on the two most successful Canadian films of all-time!
Ladies and gentleman, it is my pleasure to inform you that our long lasting national nightmare is over!
For the past twenty-five years we Canucks had to live with the knowledge that PORKY'S - a teen sex comedy - was the most popular Canadian film at the Canadian box office.
But, as of November 23rd, we have a new champion! Now, our new national Champ is the half-English, half-French action film BON COP BAD COP.
BON COP BAD COP has now grossed $12.2 million, surpassing the long-standing record of PORKY'S $11.2 million.
In BON COP BAD COP English and French police officers are forced to work together when a body is found on the border of Quebec and Ontario.
As is the norm in buddy cop movies, the two men couldn't be more different.
In fact, the only thing they appear to have in common is that they are both cops, because each one has his own way of doing things.
But eventually - again as is the norm in buddy cop movies - they learn to put their differences aside to try and solve the case.
BON COP BAD COP is funny, has some great action and dialogue, is very entertaining, and I really liked it!...but truth be told, it is just a LETHAL WEAPON Hollywood-esque buddy cop action movie wannabe.
But what allows the film to rise above that formula is the fact that all of it is Canadian.
The two police officers are tracking down a person who is killing people who where involved in moving the Quebec Fleur De Lys hockey team from Quebec City to Colorado, and the representatives of the star player who was drafted by Quebec, but wouldn't play there, and instead he was traded to Philadelphia.
If that story sounds familiar, well it should. In addition to adapting the Eric Lindross saga into an action film, BON COP BAD COP also has some fun at the expense of our national pastime.
The league is called the CHL, the commisioner's name is Buttman, and the loud, opinioned television personality is Tom Berry.
BON COP BAD COP probably won't do as well outside of Canada as it has done inside our home and native land, as it is too Canadian for an international audience.
But since the majority of Canadian films usually gross less than one million dollars at our box offices, and many of them don't even get to play in more than a handful of theatres, I hope filmmakers look at the success of this film and try to capitalize on it.
Otherwise it could be another twenty-five years before PORKY'S is removed from it's position as the second most popular Canadian film at the Canadian box office.
For now, BON COP BAD COP is the Canadian champion and if you didn't see it in a theatre, you can now watch it at home.
As for PORKY'S it is also new on DVD.
Unfortunately, the new 2-disc COLLECTOR'S EDITION of PORKY'S - a set that includes all three films made in the series - looks awful!
When most films of a certain age are put on DVD the people resonsible take the time to remaster them, clean them up, and present the films in the best possible manner.
I am not sure if they didn't have the time, access to better prints of the film or what, but all three movies are presented in pan and scan instead of widescreen, and the picture looks like it was dubbed to DVD from an old video source.
They might not be the most pristine versions of the films that you will ever see, but if you want to have them in your library, they are still funny, even after all these years, especially the original - PORKY'S.
That film and it's not too bad sequel PORKY'S II - THE NEXT DAY and PORKY'S REVENGE are all included in the PORKY'S COLLECTOR'S EDITION 2-DVD set.
Plus, the original film is still the second most popular Canadian film at the Canadian box office.
Finally this week is a show called KENNY VS. SPENNY a show that I couldn't stop watching...even though I really, really wanted to.
KENNY VS. SPENNY is a Canadian comedy reality TV series that originally aired on CBC and the first two seasons of the show are available now on DVD.
In each episode the two best friends and roommates face each in different competitions, like drinking beer, kissing women and selling bibles, just to names three.
Some episodes and the competitions on the show are funny, others are interesting, and there are also several that are so childish or stupid that you want to just ignore.
But there is something about those shows that makes you keep watching, long after you want to, and if you are like me you will be constantly asking yourself, "Why am I watching this?!?!"
But I couldn't stop watching, and laughing, and being entertained!
Due to it's content, KENNY VS. SPENNY isn't a show for everyone, but if you are looking for something unique and fun, check it out!
SEASONs ONE & TWO of KENNY VS. SPENNY, the COLLECTOR'S EDITION of PORKY's and the most popular Canadian film at the Canadian box office of all time BON COP BAD COP are all available now on DVD.
Coming up in the next edition of The Couch Potato Report, I will have more information on some films that are new on DVD.
I'm Dan Reynish and that's this edition of THE COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next time on The Couch!