For the first time which in this reporter’s opinion seems to be a long while is a tie for first over this past 4th of July weekend. Dreamworks’ Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs ties up with the robot-clad Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen both coming in with 42.5 million each. The third installment of the Ice Age animated trilogy involves the fuzzy mammoth Manny (Ray Romano) and his wife Ellie (Queen Latifah) expecting, while Sid (John Leguizamo) gets himself into some big time hijinks that even his friend Diego (Dennis Leary) cannot save him out of as they discover a world underneath them of dinosaurs. Even though Ice Age 3 did have a really strong opening, especially on this past holiday weekend, Transformers 2 definitely is starting to loose steam which is most likely coming from the big time negative reviews on the flick.

Also slinking its way into the top three is Michael Mann’s 1930′s gangster drama, based off of true events, Public Enemies. Starring Johnny Depp, Chrisitian Bale and Marion Cotillard, the thrilling dramatic tale took in 26.1 million. With an estimated budget of 80 million, one can easily see this movie make it all back and then some with the fairly positive word of mouth.

Earlier released movies such as The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 and Year One have thrown themselves into bomb status, making this summer movie season evenly matched with overly outstanding pics and ones that just fall straight on their faces. Pelham only scrapped in 58 million total despite its 100 million dollar budget which it does not seem it will make back, along with Year One having 38 million despite its 60 million budget. Enough chit chat, lets take a look at the results below:

Weekend Box Office (July 3-5)

1. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs  ($42.5 Million)
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen  ($42.5 Million)
3. Public Enemies  ($26.1 Million)
4. The Proposal  ($12.7 Million)
5. The Hangover  ($10.4 Million)
6. Disney/Pixar’s Up  ($6.5 Million)
7. My Sister’s Keeper  ($5.2 Million)
8. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3  ($2.5 Million)
9. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian  ($2.1 Million)
10. Year One  ($2.1 Million)
11. Star Trek  ($1.8 Million)
12. Away We Go  ($1.1 Million)

Note: The list is extended due to two ties in total numbers over the weekend

Time to draw out another huge selection of movies with this Friday’s new releases that include I Love You Beth Cooper, Bruno, Blood: The Last Vampire, Soul Power among many others. Keep on going to your local theater fellow movie goers!

Is this a minibot on my tail?

Although normally we do push a weekend box office report, since it is summer time and there are a fairly larger number of films being released mid-week, we cannot ignore it any longer. Sam Witwicky and his friendly Autobots have succumbed to the fallen after this past Wednesday. No, I am not referring to The Fallen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen but to the cute and cuddly mammals in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

Taking in around 13.8 million on its opening day, reptiles and weasels alike reigned at the top of the box office. Optimus and his own Matrix of Leadership managed to take in 10.9 million, and all though it does not seem that impressive, it just brings them even closer to making around 300 million domestically (and in its second week too). Now you must be pissed and or wondering, what’s the deal with Michael Mann’s latest cinematic achievement of sorts, Public Enemies? It still made a smaller but still noticeable amount, bringing in 8.2 million for its first day.

The weekend has not even begun though, and then is when these three films will really duke it out. Stay on here to check out Philip’s weekly box office prediction article, The Wrong Guess along with the monday released weekend box office from myself.

PHILIP BARRETT: I’d never been introduced to the Ice Age films until this most recent outing. Oh sure, I’d heard of them and was mildly interesting in seeing the first one, but for whatever reason I never got to it. The first did receive pretty decent reviews while the second was pretty much reviled by anyone under seven. Fox still thinks there’s an appeal (or they heard the term “STRIKE!”) and have decided to give us a third entry in the franchise.

ANDY GATHMAN: I saw the first Ice Age when we were visiting relatives and my then-three-year-old happened upon the movie box and insisted on watching it with us. Though he was enthralled, laughing wildly throughout, I felt I could take it or leave it. It seemed very much a movie for children and not nearly as well developed as, say, Shrek (Dreamworks) or Finding Nemo (Pixar/Disney). On this third installment, however, the Ice Age franchise seems to have improved upon the original formula and worked in plot and character nuances that held my attention and interest through the duration of the film. My son (now four) loved it, and I enjoyed it as well.

PHILIP: And I’m sure the film will play well to kids, as well it should. It’s not exactly a terrible movie, but it’s not without it’s problems either. The biggest one in my opinion stems from how unnatural the actors seem to be at times. A couple of times I felt the actors were talking “at” each other rather than “to” each other. The best example I can use is in the begging when Diego and Manny are having a discussion. Denis Leary and Ray Romano seem to be operating on different plains.

ANDY: I agree that the film has some problems. In particular, it doesn’t get off the ground very smoothly. The conflict Sid and Diego have with Manny as he is preparing for a child isn’t very convincing to begin with. At the same time, I applaud the attempt to explore one of the difficult dilemmas faced by every new parent: how to maintain loyalty to one’s friends on the verge of a change that is bound to change everything. And as clumsy as the conversation between Manny and Diego was, that is when I thought things really picked up steam.

PHILIP: It’s a theme the film builds upon over the course of it’s run time and no doubt it’s a nice one to follow. Things didn’t really kick off for me though until we’re introduced to Buck voiced by a true talent in Simon Pegg. He’s silly without going overboard and gives the picture a much needed shot to the arm that it was teetering with before he came into the fold. He’s Solid Snake but more outlandish, and the film is way better for having him.

ANDY: For me it picked up considerably when Sid happens upon the dino eggs, and begins attempting to raise them as his own. Though it was a brief section of the movie before mama T-Rex takes Sid and her babies away, they made the most of the scenario and piled on plenty of gags. How can you not when you have a prehistoric sloth attempting to be mommy to three baby dinosaurs. Favorite moments for my son (judging by the laugh-factor) were the toboggan ride with the three eggs and the playground mess. But your point is well taken—without the addition of Buck, the mad one-eyed weasel, the movie would have groaned to a dragging conclusion. As it turns out, he stole the show from the moment he makes his vine-swinging entrance, until he finally says goodbye and destroys the cave linking the surface with the cavern that time forgot.

Like Vince says, "you're gonna love my nuts."

PHILIP: That’s what surprised me most about the film was that I was able to feel something good for a character. A sense of depression came to me when Buck wanted to go back. I wasn’t crying my eyes out but at the same time I wanted him to go back with the rest in case there’s an Ice Age 4. Touching on Sid though, I absolutely hated him. Understandably he’s the village idiot but there was something in John Leguizamo’s voice that didn’t sit well with me. Whatever it was had me rolling my eyes anytime he ungraced us with his presence.

ANDY: Certainly that’s one of the main themes of the Ice Age movies—a herd formed not because everyone is alike but in spite of everyone’s differences. When you get down to it, there’s something to dislike about each character, and yet their commitment to one another is what keeps the “family” intact. Sid, though, is certainly is the least lovable of the bunch. Still, they choose to love him, even when they are given an obvious out (“Uh oh, the dinosaur took Sid away. Too bad…may he rest in peace.”) Manny in particular risks not only himself but his whole family to rescue the “village idiot.” Why does he do this, when he loathes the creature as much as we do?

PHILIP: Because of the dedication to family, and also an interesting point. Plus, you’d be hard pressed to find a group or family that doesn’t have the moron of the bunch (some parts of my own family would make the case that it’s me, but they can snuff it.) The point Andy is making is that Sid, regardless of how bad of an idiot he acts like, is still a part of their family. Thus they feel the need to protect him and rescue him, even if he’s the black sheep. We might be being a little bit too analytical of a kid’s film, but it’s nice to see that some thought was put forth rather than none.

ANDY: Yes, we digress, but as I mention earlier, I appreciated that the filmmakers found a script that worked on multiple levels. Woven through it all are plenty of jokes and sight gags to keep you laughing, right up to the end. All told, it was a better than average kids movie, and I’d say probably the best of the Ice Age trio. Two days later, my four-year-old is still talking about it, and I didn’t find myself cringing when he asked if we could see it again sometime soon. For anyone considering this movie, chances are your kids will love it, and you won’t hate it.

PHILIP: I concur. I fully expected to come into this getting another silly, asinine kids film. While at times this is what the movie gave me, I came away liking parts and was completely taken with Buck. A note though, I saw this film in 3D and I don’t know if it’s the glasses but the animation didn’t look as pristine as it should. Up had a similar problem too but this was just atrocious. In any case though, the film will play fine to it’s audience and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.

Andy’s Grade –

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

20th Century Fox has just released the second teaser trailer for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs I would have to say that Ice Age goes down as one of my all time favorite animated features to date. I have yet to see Wall-E so don’t kill me just yet.

Watch the teaser trailer for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs in theaters everywhere on July 1st 09. Are you seeing this in theaters or is this a rental for you?