10 January Movies That Ate Your Money
by Reg Seeton

COMPLETELY FULL (I can't breathe):

Cloverfield (January 18):
Shrouded in a veil of secrecy leading up to the film's release, Cloverfield hit the jackpot at the box-office to a tune of $41 million on its opening weekend. It was a risky gamble for Paramount, but obviously someone on the back-end knew it would probably be a home-run with fans if executed properly. Given the failed investment that New Line put into the online community with Snakes on a Plane, just image if Cloverfield bombed after all of the hype. Luckily online fans bought into the hype, spread the word, and were more than eager to have an unknown monster devour their money. However, although Cloverfield struck gold at the box-office, the movie has seen a 70% drop in new and repeat viewers since its opening weekend. What does that mean? Well, to us it means fans were so fully satisfied that they didn't need to hit the buffet for a second time.

U2 3D (January 23):
Unlike their so-so big-screen effort Rattle and Hum in 1988, Irish super-rockers U2 had two decades of success behind them before unleashing their second feature on the masses. This time, though, with the resurgence of 3D and the advances in technology (the first digital 3D concert film), U2 delivered big in the way of an amazing, eye-popping, close-to-live experience for both music and movie lovers to enjoy with U2 3D. Back in 1998, Rattle and Hum served as an alternative for the band to reach a wider audience in the still-relatively-early days of their career. In 2008, given the high standards they've set for themselves over the years, anything but a first rate experience for the first digital concert film would be a complete shock. Fans got most of their U2 favorite staples, a personal look at the band, footage from two jam-packed concerts in Buenos Aires, and a cool interactive 3D thrill ride. Although this one only went out to 61 theaters, U2 3D was still one of the best theatrical experiences of January 2008.

Rambo (January 25):
Although the one-man killing machine known as Rambo took a stiff jab to the chops from Meet the Spartans at the box-office, there's no doubt which movie gave fans more bang for their buck than expected. Can you say explosions, gunfire, and decapitations? After making good on the final chapter of Rocky in 2006, critics should have known Stallone wouldn't let fans down. How quickly people forget the guy is an Oscar nominated writer. How could Rambo not be insanely great on an old school action level? It's John Rambo for crying out loud! Hell, even though Stallone is getting long in the tooth at 61, there's now talk of another Rambo movie given the success of the latest rampage through the Burmese jungle.