Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 31 deceMber 2018

'Aquaman' still rules, and others see a post-Christmas bump

By LINDSEY BAHR poorly reviewed ("Holmes
Associated Press and Watson," which is in the
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In single digits on Rotten To-
the final weekend of 2018, matoes and got a deathly
"Aquaman" still led the D+ CinemaScore).
pack at the box office, but Annapurna's "Vice," star-
other films like "Mary Pop- ring Christian Bale as the
pins Returns," ''The Mule" former Vice President,
and "Second Act" enjoyed came out on top for the
post-holiday bumps too, new films, grossing $7.8 mil-
even amid an onslaught of lion from the weekend and
new Christmas offerings like $17.7 million since its Christ-
"Vice," ''Holmes and Wat- mas opening. A leading
son," ''On the Basis of Sex" contender at the Golden
and the Netflix phenom- Globe Awards this coming
enon "Bird Box." Sunday, the film earned
Warner Bros. said Sunday mixed reviews from critics
that "Aquaman" added an and a C+ CinemaScore
estimated $51.6 million in from audiences.
North American ticket sales This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Jason Momoa, left, and Amber Heard in a "That a movie with that
over the weekend to take scene from "Aquaman." subject matter can ride a
first place again. Down just Associated Press wave to sixth place is re-
24 percent from its domes- ally indicative of how in-
tic debut, the DC Comics up an estimated 19 per- off to a slow start last week- score's senior media analyst terested people are in this
pic, which has been No. cent, in second place, with end, also found itself up 11 Paul Dergarabedian. "But movie," Dergarabedian
1 internationally for four $28 million, while "Bumble- percent, with $7.2 million the weekend after, most of said. "This is required view-
weeks, has now grossed bee," down only five per- in seventh place. But the these films in the top 10 got ing for anyone studying the
nearly $748.8 million world- cent, settled in third with biggest bump of all came a bounce." awards season race."
wide. $20.5 million. for Disney's "Ralph Breaks This so-called "catch-up" Driven by the star-power
Although other films in the- Up 11 percent, "Spider- the Internet," which was up weekend made it a little dif- of Will Ferrell and John C.
aters were left in "Aqua- Man: Into the Spider-Verse" nearly 40 percent in its sixth ficult for the Christmas new- Reilly, "Holmes and Watson"
man's" wake, more than got fourth with $18.3 million, weekend in theaters, with comers to make a huge im- managed to take in $7.3
a few in the top 10 experi- and "The Mule," up 24 per- $6.5 million. pact, however, especially million despite the nega-
enced an uncommon up- cent, took fifth with $11.8 "There is a bit of a lull on when the big wide-releases tive audience and critic
tick in returns this weekend. million. the weekend leading into this time were either po- reviews. The Sony film has
Disney's "Mary Poppins Re- The Jennifer Lopez-led Christmas. People are busy litically charged (the Dick grossed $19.7 million since
turns" ended the weekend "Second Act," which got and distracted," said Com- Cheney movie "Vice") or Christmas Day.q

Longtime British comedy star

June Whitfield dies at 93

Her agent said that she brought to the hugely pop-
died Friday night. ular show.
Whitfield enjoyed a career "I will always be grateful
spanning decades, ap- that she agreed to be in Ab
pearing on some of Britain's Fab and even more grate-
most popular TV shows and ful that she became a dear
earning generations of fans friend," Saunders said in a
drawn by her wide range statement. "She lived and
and impeccable timing. worked with an extraordi-
She was prominent in the nary grace."
"Carry On" series and the Lumley said she was "heart-
sitcom "Terry and June" broken to lose such a dar-
with Terry Scott in the '80s ling friend."
Nov. 16, 2017 file photo of
Dame June Whitfield after she before playing a vital role Whitfield's father was a
was made a dame. in "Absolutely Fabulous." telephone company ex-
Associated Press Her time on "Ab Fab" play- ecutive and her mother an
ing the slightly odd moth- amateur actress. She once
By GREGORY KATZ er of Jennifer Saunders' told The Telegraph news-
Associated Press boozy character Edina in- paper she knew very early
LONDON (AP) — British troduced Whitfield to fans in life she wanted to be a
actress and comedic star who hadn't been born performer.
June Whitfield, whose long when she started on radio "There was never one mo-
career included memora- decades earlier. ment when I decided," she
ble roles in TV series "Abso- Fellow "Ab Fab" stars Saun- said. "I went to dancing
lutely Fabulous" and "Terry ders and Joanna Lum- classes and elocution class-
and June," has died. She ley praised Whitfield for es and the appeal was sim-
was 93. the warmth and wit she ply that I loved it all."q