OKLAHOMA CITY, May 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuiBids was named a Finalist in the New Company of the Year category in The 2011 American Business Awards.

ATLANTA, May 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRXI), a leading presenter of museum-quality touring exhibitions around the world, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended February 28, 2011.

LOS ANGELES, May 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and The Walt Disney Studios announced today that the action fantasy adventure Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides posted global opening weekend record results for IMAX of $16.5 million on 394 IMAX screens. Domestically, IMAX screens generated approximately $8.2 million of the film's $90.1 million, for a per-screen average of $32,000. Internationally, the film grossed approximately $8.3 million on 138 IMAX screens, or roughly $60,100 a screen.

It's gratifying to see my Sunday P1 article on the multiplex chains' digital-projection shell game get a reaction of healthy outrage from readers, commenters, and the webcloud. The issue is very simply that consumers -- you can call us moviegoers -- are paying for a base level of film projection quality that we're not even close to getting and that the top dogs at AMC, Regal, and National Amusements truly do not care so long as we keep buying the tubs of popcorn and vats of soda that keep them in the black.

Some readers have asked me if there's any way to find out ahead of time whether they're going into a theater using one of the transgressive Sony 4Ks as opposed to a 35mm print or one of the other digital projectors, like a Christie, Barco, or NEC. It's a good question, and the answer is that your local multiplex wants to confuse you as much as possible. You can tell you're buying a ticket for a digital print by looking at the marquee -- it should have a "D" or "Digital" after the title -- but the marquee won't tell you what theater the movie's playing in, let alone what kind of projector they're using. And I can pretty much guarantee that the kid punching the ticket machine has no idea. Update: As Phoenix writer Brett Michel informs me, the self-service ticket kiosks in the lobby list the theater nuimber along with the film's title. That should be your first stop.

If the movie's playing in the multiplex's biggest theater, it's a good bet the projector's not a Sony but one of the others. Why? Because Sony digital projectors can only throw a beam of light big enough to effectively illuminate up to a 44-foot screen width, or so AMC's Dan Huerta told me. Screens larger than that have to go with a Christie, as in Theater 14 at the Loews Boston Common, or a Barco, like Theaters 12 and 13 at the Regal Fenway.

ADVISORY, May 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

• There’s a scene midway through Fast Five where Dom Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, and Brian O’Conner, played by Paul Walker, need a fast car and they need one now, so they go to the side of town where the street racers hang out and challenge a guy to a drag. Dom and Brian win — but director Justin Lin doesn’t even bother to show us the race. Five films into the Fast and the Furious series, the producers apparently remember that the first movie had something to do with street racing, but ten years later that’s not the point anymore. Fast Five isn’t about racing, but about guys chasing one another, folks shooting guns left and right, and action scenes that are cut so fast and frantic it doesn’t even matter who is beating up who anymore. From the start, this has been a string of movies made for adrenaline junkies, but Fast Five doesn’t offer much of a buzz — it’s just a maintenance dose that will keep you from crashing out without offering much thrill.Fast Five picks up literally where 2009’s Fast and Furious left off — Dom has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, and Brian…
  #
• In a world ravaged by wars between humans and vampires, a renegade priest fights to rescue his niece from the legions of bloodsuckers who seek to transform the young girl into one of them. A battle-weary veteran of the last vampire war, warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) now resides in a heavily fortified city where the ruling Church is a greater menace than any creature of the night. When a pack of vampires abduct Priest’s niece (Lily Collins), the vengeful holy man breaks his vows and promises to save the young innocent from a fate worse than death. He can’t do it alone, but with a powerful warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) and his niece’s boyfriend, a sharp-shooting sheriff (Cam Gigandet), on his side, Priest may have a fighting chance. Stephen Moyer, Karl Urban, and Brad Dourif co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Exiled to Earth after his arrogance fans the flames of an ancient conflict, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) of Asgard discovers the meaning of humility when a powerful old foe dispatches a destructive force to crush humanity. Only when the banished prince has defeated an opponent capable of crushing him in battle will he learn what it takes to be a true leader. Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, and Tadanobu Asano co-star in a comic-book adventure from acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• A handsome veterinary student falls for a married circus performer in this romantic drama adapted from author Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel, and directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend). When Jacob (Robert Pattinson) meets Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), it’s love at first sight — their shared affections for an extraordinary elephant stirring profound feelings of compassion within both of them. Theirs is a love that could span lifetimes, though the wrath of Marlena’s dangerously domineering husband, August (Christoph Waltz), threatens to spell tragedy for all involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Director Paul Fieg and producer Judd Apatow team-up again for this comedy that stars Kristen Wiig as Annie, a romantically unattached failed bakery owner who fears she’s losing her BFF, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), the best thing in her life, when Lillian announces she’s gotten engaged. Annie’s anxieties deepen as Lillian grows close to Helen (Rose Byrne), a wealthy and beautiful new friend who quickly assumes control of planning all the pre-wedding festivities. On top of the main storyline of a female friendship being torn apart, the movie adds a romantic storyline for Annie, who starts the film answering a booty call from the casually cruel yet undeniably handsome Ted (Jon Hamm), but develops a lovely flirtation with an Irish cop named Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd) after he pulls Annie over one night thinking she’s driving drunk. As the low-self-esteem Annie sabotages this new possibility for love, she also feels the most important friendship in her life slipping away. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
  #
• Flamboyant seafarer Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) lands himself in a bit of a bind after being lured onto Blackbeard’s (Ian McShane) ship by enigmatic siren Angelica (Penélope Cruz), and forced to seek out the Fountain of Youth. Trapped on the Queen Anne’s Revenge with the most nefarious pirate in history, Captain Jack reflects on his past with the elusive Angelica while embarking on his wildest adventure to date. With shambling zombies on deck and gorgeous mermaids beckoning sailors into the icy waters below, this time Jack Sparrow has his work cut out for him. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Angela Bassett and Paula Patton headline this comedy about two vastly divergent African-American families who clash during a lavish weekend wedding at Martha’s Vineyard. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #

Original: Movies.com Top 10 Box Office

This is a long film festival with a short awards ceremony. Just under two weeks of moviegoing culminates in less than an hour of tears, laughter, and shortness of breath. And that was just the aftermath of the Lars von Trier press conference on Wednesday. For now, the 64th Cannes is known as the year a great director became an ideological "Die Hard" villain. But who can say how history will frame it: The year nobody agreed, the sequel?

Which is not to say there were no popular favorites. On the last Sunday, the festival re-screens the 20 movies in the main competition. It's like a market day, where you -- the general public and assorted badge-holders -- can see what that the trades, your friends, and whoever you follow on Twitter have been talking about. It's the most fun day of the 12. All you're really doing is going to the movies. This morning, several hours before the closing ceremonies, hundreds of people and I went a little mad for seats to "The Artist," a comedy set in Hollywood that the director Michel Hazanavicius has done as a silent movie about a prideful actor facing obsolescence with the advent of talkies. He discovers an actress, falls in love, and has the most adorable terrier.

I arrived early enough to get a seat, which failed to stop anyone from crawling over me to snag one of his. There were sprints and musical chairs for seats, 4x100-style, about the Debussy Theater. That lasted a good 10 minutes. Once the movie started, the mood changed. You could hear the sound of rapt attention -- and not only because no one speaks. (There were far more silent movies in and around the main competition.) The audience seemed to love this charming but severely overlong movie (100 minutes!). Beforehand, over-the-top things were said about the French funny man Jean Dujardin (pictured above; all the photos are Agence France Presse) who plays the movie's star -- or is it "star within a star"? I'd just like to know why no one's talking about the dog.

The documentary filmmaker Bruce Ricker (that's him on the left, with Clint Eastwood and Quentin Tarantino) was like a Saul Bellow character. Not outsized and overwhelming, like a Herzog or Henderson or Humboldt, but one of those smaller, unswervingly colorful supporting players who bump around the edges of Bellow's books, sometimes a bedeviling presence, more often benignant. Single-minded and vigorous, they manage to combine street smarts with the immaculate innocence only the truly idealistic possess. Put another way, they're guys who know how to play the angles while themselves remaining resolutely non-Euclidean.

Bruce died last week, at 68, after a long battle with pneumonia and other health problems. He was a man constantly on the go. He had to be. A dedication to documentary film is no recipe for success in this culture. Ditto a dedication to jazz. And being dedicated to each at the same time? That's tying both hands behind your back, not just one.

A few days ago I commented that I sensed journalists and moviegoers weren't all talking about Lars von Trier's backhanded anti-Semitic comments during his press conference for "Melancholia." We weren't, really. It's the been the fallout: the festival's decision to deem him persona non grata; von Trier's ongoing, very public search for a shovel magical enough to get him out of this hole (he's quit drinking, he's not Mel Gibson, he's truly sorry)l the condemning statement released by Zentropa Films, von Trier's own production company; and the distancing objection of his younger, slicker countryman Nicolas Winding Refn, whose father has edited some of von Trier's movies and who is here with a better titillation ("Drive") than von Trier's, made in a country (the United States) that von Trier's fear of flying will always keep as an object of risible conjecture for him.

That, of course, is how von Trier managed to make one perceptive but generally loathed movie about America (2003's "Dogville") and one about American slavery ("Manderlay") that is simply imaginary. No matter how contrite he is, von Trier is a showman and provocateur who has a habit of burrowing himself beneath people's skin. For the Cannes Film Festival, his personal thoughts on Hitler, the Nazis, and Jews were particularly unwelcome -- the kind one censures -- because France is a country that takes talk of the Holocaust gravely seriously. Von Trier suggested as much in comments he allegedly made after the festival banned him.

The war, the Occupation, the Holocaust, not to mention the Resistance have shown up, to some extent, in all kinds of French movies ("Night & Fog," "Army of Shadows," "The Sorrow and the Pity," "The Last Metro," "The Story of Women," as a very short but very good beginning). A new one, "The Round Up," opened in France last year and comes to the Unites States this summer.

This year one of the strangest such movies is in the main competition. It's called "This Must Be the Place," it premiered yesterday, I saw it this morning, and while it's neither at all French -- its writer and director, Paolo Sorrentino, is a fanciful Italian visualist -- or set during the war, you can see why the festival felt compelled to invite it. It's the sort of quirky doodle that manages to back into the gravity of its subject matter and even then only partially, with one, late disturbing image. With all due respect to the misapplied talents of Sorrentino, the movie is also here because it stars Sean Penn. Penn wears a plume of teased black hair, white face paint, eyeliner, and lipstick that make him look like kabuki Jeff Spiccoli on Robert Smith night at Edward Scissorhands High.

• A champion surfer loses her left arm in a terrifying shark attack, but summons the determination to make an incredible comeback in this inspirational sports drama based on an incredible true story. A lifelong surfer who always felt at home in the sea, Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) honed her surfing skills in Kauai, and went on to compete in numerous surfing competitions. Then, one fateful Halloween morning, the wave-riding teen was taking part in a national surf competition when a 14-foot-long tiger shark emerged from the depths and changed her life in the blink of an eye. By the time Bethany reached shore, her left arm was almost completely gone. But just when it started to look like she would never ride a surfboard again, young Bethany used her faith and determination to reclaim the title of champion while being cheered on by her supportive parents (Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt), and Sara (Carrie Underwood), the kind-hearted leader of a local youth group. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• A misfit macaw named Blu (voice of Jesse Eisenberg) heads to Rio de Janeiro, embarks on a magnificent journey, and makes some loyal new friends in this animated adventure for the entire family. Domesticated from the time he was just a hatchling, Blu traded a life in the clouds for a contented existence in Moose Lake with his doting owner, Linda (Leslie Mann). They live under the impression that Blu is the last of his kind, but upon receiving word that a female macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway) has been discovered in Rio de Janeiro, Linda and Blu set their sights on South America on a mission to replenish the species. Shortly after their arrival in the Brazilian capitol, however, the two rare birds fall victim to a gang of greedy animal smugglers intent on making a mint by selling Blu and Jewel to the highest bidder. But the headstrong Jewel isn’t about to be locked in a cage and put on display, so when the opportunity arises she stages a daring escape with the help of some wisecracking local birds, and takes her new friend Blu along for the ride. With the bumbling birdnappers fast closing in, Blu realizes that…
  #
• A handsome veterinary student falls for a married circus performer in this romantic drama adapted from author Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel, and directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend). When Jacob (Robert Pattinson) meets Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), it’s love at first sight — their shared affections for an extraordinary elephant stirring profound feelings of compassion within both of them. Theirs is a love that could span lifetimes, though the wrath of Marlena’s dangerously domineering husband, August (Christoph Waltz), threatens to spell tragedy for all involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• In a world ravaged by wars between humans and vampires, a renegade priest fights to rescue his niece from the legions of bloodsuckers who seek to transform the young girl into one of them. A battle-weary veteran of the last vampire war, warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) now resides in a heavily fortified city where the ruling Church is a greater menace than any creature of the night. When a pack of vampires abduct Priest’s niece (Lily Collins), the vengeful holy man breaks his vows and promises to save the young innocent from a fate worse than death. He can’t do it alone, but with a powerful warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) and his niece’s boyfriend, a sharp-shooting sheriff (Cam Gigandet), on his side, Priest may have a fighting chance. Stephen Moyer, Karl Urban, and Brad Dourif co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Angela Bassett and Paula Patton headline this comedy about two vastly divergent African-American families who clash during a lavish weekend wedding at Martha’s Vineyard. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• There’s a scene midway through Fast Five where Dom Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, and Brian O’Conner, played by Paul Walker, need a fast car and they need one now, so they go to the side of town where the street racers hang out and challenge a guy to a drag. Dom and Brian win — but director Justin Lin doesn’t even bother to show us the race. Five films into the Fast and the Furious series, the producers apparently remember that the first movie had something to do with street racing, but ten years later that’s not the point anymore. Fast Five isn’t about racing, but about guys chasing one another, folks shooting guns left and right, and action scenes that are cut so fast and frantic it doesn’t even matter who is beating up who anymore. From the start, this has been a string of movies made for adrenaline junkies, but Fast Five doesn’t offer much of a buzz — it’s just a maintenance dose that will keep you from crashing out without offering much thrill.Fast Five picks up literally where 2009’s Fast and Furious left off — Dom has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, and Brian…
  #
• When her five grown-up children fail to answer her call for a family gathering, exacerbated mother Shirley calls on outspoken force of nature Madea to see that everyone comes together to discuss some rather important issues in this filmed stage play written and directed by Tyler Perry. With everyone finally assembled thanks to Madea’s tenacity, Shirley addresses some important family secrets, reveals that she’s in the midst of a financial crisis, and engages her sons and daughters in a serious talk about drugs. Through it all, Madea makes it a point to emphasize the importance of faith in helping her family weather the rough waters ahead, and stay true to their values. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Director Paul Feig and producer Judd Apatow team with co-writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo for this comedy about a devoted maid of honor whose life falls into ruin as she plans her best friend’s dream wedding. Upon hearing the news that Lillian (Maya Rudolph) has gotten engaged, ecstatic Annie (Wiig) leaps at the chance to plan the perfect wedding. With the big day rapidly approaching, Annie struggles to put her romantic and financial woes aside in order to give her dearest friend a day of memories that will last a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Exiled to Earth after his arrogance fans the flames of an ancient conflict, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) of Asgard discovers the meaning of humility when a powerful old foe dispatches a destructive force to crush humanity. Only when the banished prince has defeated an opponent capable of crushing him in battle will he learn what it takes to be a true leader. Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, and Tadanobu Asano co-star in a comic-book adventure from acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  #
• Luke Greenfield’s Something Borrowed stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel, a 30-year-old lawyer always able to put aside what she wants for the betterment of her BFF since childhood, Darcy (Kate Hudson), a sexy extrovert who never met a party or a drink she didn’t like. Darcy is marrying Dex (Colin Egglesfield), Rachel’s study partner from law-school, and the guy she’s had a massive crush on since they took their first Torts class together. When Dex and Rachel finally hook up just months before the wedding, he realizes he might be marrying the wrong woman, but pressures from his parents corner him into going through with his duties, even if it’s not what his heart wants. Meanwhile, Rachel’s other best friend, Ethan (John Krasinski), does his best to convince her to make a big play for Dex before it’s too late. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
  #

Original: Movies.com Top 10 Box Office