'Batman v Superman' has super opening despite critical Kryptonite
Also in Tattle: Robert De Niro, the Rolling Stones, naked magic
SUPERMAN. Batman. Wonder Woman. Critics.
Who wins?
Duh.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice rebounded from a bat cave full of bad reviews to debut with a massive $170.1 million in North America, the sixth best opening of all-time.
The stakes were high for the Warner Bros. release, which cost $250 million to make and about $150 million to market. But the studio's bid to launch a DC Comics universe to rival Marvel's empire was met with persistent PR pains and numerous changes in the release date. (For more on the comic book movie universe see Page 23.)
But the allure of seeing two of the most iconic superheroes battle it out was enough to set a record for the best pre-summer debut. Batman v Superman also grossed $254 million overseas, bringing its global total to $424.1 million for the weekend.
The movie dominated Easter weekend with a blockbuster performance. In second was Zootopia, with $23.1 million in its fourth week of domestic release. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, a sequel to the 2002 hit romantic comedy, debuted with $18.1 million - effective counterprogramming to the comic book battle.
* In other movie news, Robert De Niro is removing the anti-vaccination documentary Vaxxed from the lineup of his Tribeca Film Festival, after initially defending its inclusion.
Vaxxed: From Cover-up to Conspiracy, was set to be part of the film fest next month. The decision to include the film by anti-vaccination activist Andrew Wakefield came under fire, particularly since Wakefield's contention that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine have a link to autism have been discredited.
While De Niro on Friday defended the decision to include the film, on Saturday he said he had reversed his decision.
De Niro, who has a child with autism, said he had hoped to provide an opportunity for conversation around an issue "that is deeply personal to me and my family."
However, he said after he and Tribeca organizers reviewed it, "We do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for." He said members of the scientific community also had reviewed it with him.
A statement from Wakefield, the film's director, and Del Bigtree, its producer, decried De Niro's decision, saying they didn't get a chance to defend themselves against critics of the film.
"We have just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art and truth," their statement read. "Tribeca's action will not succeed in denying the world access to the truth behind the film Vaxxed."
Havana a good time
Here the
Rolling Stones
have been playing their hits for more than 50 years.
In Havana, when they hear "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Sympathy for the Devil" the Cubans sigh, "Finally, some new music."
The Stones, who came to power not long after Fidel Castro, unleashed two hours of shrieking, thundering rock and roll on an ecstatic crowd of hundreds of thousands of Cubans and foreign visitors Friday night, capping one of the most momentous weeks in modern Cuban history with a massive celebration of music that was once forbidden here.
The week opened with the arrival of President Obama in Air Force One and ended with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts blasting from 3-story-tall high-definition television screens and thumping towers of speakers. By bringing their riffs to the island, the Stones became the biggest mainstream rock act to play in Cuba since its 1959 revolution.
"After today I can die," said 62-year-old night watchman Joaquin Ortiz. "This is like my last wish, seeing the Rolling Stones."
See, you can get "Satisfaction."
Their clothes disappear
The idea came to Aussies
Christopher Wayne
and
Mike Tyler
, remarkably, without alcohol: Two magicians decided to create a new kind of show that mixed stripping and illusion.
That's right, a naked magic show.
"It's kind of crazy because magic is the second-oldest profession ever and we couldn't believe that no one had combined the two things that everyone loves - magic and nudity," Wayne said.
Sure there's nothing up their sleeves. They have no shirts.
"Good magicians don't need sleeves," Tyler said, "and great magicians don't need pants."
"The Naked Magic Show" plays the Kimmel Center on May 6.
Be prepared to ask, "Is that a rabbit in your hat or are you just happy to see me?"
- Daily News wire services
contributed to this report.