• Black Hawk Down' Leads Box Office for 3rd Weekend
• Schwarzenegger Film Is Insulting To Colombians And Firefighters
• Omar Epps and Meg Ryan Against the Ropes
• Mutual Film Co The Adventurers Club
• Singer/Jensen has paid almost seven figures for A Bend in the Road
• New Line Cinema, Smart and Smarter'
• Alejandro Amenabar's Chiller "The Others" Swept Eight Goyas
• Oh, those naughty, naughty Razzie people! Tom Green, Mariah Carey early contenders.
• Lynwood Spinks To Leave Industry Entertainment For Signpost
• Monstrous battle to beat Shrek for Oscar glory
• Hollywood studios are in the middle of the biggest Oscar spending spree in history.

Black Hawk Down' Leads Box Office for 3rd Weekend

"Black Hawk Down" and "Snow Dogs" topped the North American box office for the third consecutive weekend, as the movie industry braced for a major hit to sales from Sunday's Super Bowl.

According to studio estimates issued on Sunday, the military thriller "Black Hawk Down" (Columbia) pulled in $11.5 million for the three days beginning Feb. 1, while the comedy "Snow Dogs" (Walt Disney) made $9.9 million. The respective totals for the films rose to $75.5 million and $50.8 million.

Two movies opened dismally. The college comedy "Slackers" (Screen Gems) grossed $3.0 million, sharing the No. 10 spot with the similarly themed "Orange County" (Paramount).

The Nicole Kidman thriller "Birthday Girl," which sat on the Miramax Films shelf for two years, did not feature in the top 10, opening with $2.5 million.

"The Count of Monte Cristo" (Touchstone) rose two places to No. 3 in its second weekend with $9.0 million, while the teen romance "A Walk To Remember" (Warner Bros.) dropped one place to No. 4 with $8.8 million, also in its second weekend. Their respective totals rose to $23.6 million and $23.3 million.

Oscar hopeful "A Beautiful Mind," starring Russell Crowe as a schizophrenic genius, slipped a notch to No. 5 with $8.5 million, taking its total to $104.6 million. The Universal Pictures film passed the century mark on Saturday evening, its 44th day of release.

According to box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, the top 12 films grossed $80.6 million, which will be the lowest figure in three months if figures hold when final data are issued on Monday. The three-day data still represent a $7 million improvement from Super Bowl weekend last year, when the football clash took place on Jan. 28.

The Super Bowl, taking place this year in New Orleans, traditionally knocks box office attendance, especially among males. Accordingly, "Black Hawk Down" was projected to suffer one of the biggest hits among films in the top 10 with a 32 percent slide in sales from last weekend.

At the other end of the scale, seventh-ranked "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" (New Line) was expected to slip only 16 percent to $6.6 million in its seventh weekend. The 47-day haul for the fantasy rose to $267.2 million.

Elsewhere, the Harry Potter blockbuster opened in China, and grossed about $2 million, according to rough estimates provided by Warner Bros. The film's worldwide total, excluding China, rose to $903 million.

Meanwhile, Sony reported it has shipped video copies of "Black Hawk Down" to U.S. troops taking part in the war against terrorism. The grim film depicts an abortive U.S. military mission in Somalia in 1993. The videos will be destroyed after use to ensure they are not bootlegged.

New releases in North America next weekend include the Arnold Schwarzenegger terrorist thriller "Collateral Damage," the family comedy "Big Fat Liar" and a remake of the sci-fi thriller "Rollerball."

Columbia Pictures and Screen Gems are units of Sony Corp. ; Walt Disney Pictures, Miramax Films and Touchstone Pictures are units of Walt Disney Co. ; Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom Inc. ; Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema are units of AOL Time Warner Inc .

Schwarzenegger Film Is Insulting To Colombians And Firefighters

Colombian activists Sunday said an action movie that was delayed after the Sept. 11 attacks is insulting to Colombians and firefighters.

"Collateral Damage" stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a firefighter whose wife and son are killed when a Colombian rebel leader sets off a bomb in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger travels to Colombia to seek vengeance against the bomber.

The movie was pulled by Warner Bros. from its Oct. 5 release date out of concern it would be too disturbing after the Sept. 11 attacks. It opens Friday. At a news conference Sunday, the film was criticized by the Rev. Brian Jordan, a Franciscan priest who ministers to workers at Ground Zero.

"It is discriminatory against Colombians," said Jordan, flanked by professionals and politicians of Colombian descent. "The sins of the few should not be inflicted on the rest," he said, referring to the guerillas in Colombia's civil war.

Jordan also said making the main character a firefighter who becomes a vigilante is an insult to the firefighters who became heroes after the terrorist attacks. Jordan said the studio had denied his request for a preview of the film, and he has not seen it.

A spokesperson for the studio did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Many of the protesters Sunday said they feared the movie will cement stereotypes that Colombians are drug traffickers and guerillas, rather than hardworking, educated people.

Omar Epps and Meg Ryan Against the Ropes

Omar Epps will lace on the gloves and star alongside Meg Ryan in "Against the Ropes," a drama based on the story of Jackie Kallen, the first female boxing manager.

Production is about to get under way with Charles Dutton directing. Ryan will play Kallen, and Epps the pugilist whom she helps lead to glory.

Kallen battled personal adversity to become a fight manager who, three years into the game, helped James Toney battle to the world middleweight championship. Toney recently played Joe Frazier in the Michael Mann-directed "Ali."

Kallen had a total of four middleweight champs in her stable, including Bronco McKart and Thomas Hearns.

Epps' recent credits include "Dracula 2000," "Love and Basketball," and the upcoming "Big Trouble." Ryan is currently in theaters with "Kate & Leopold."

Mutual Film Co The Adventurers Club

Paramount Pictures has paid a mid-six-figure advance for "The Adventurers Club," a pitch from former DreamWorks Television president Dan McDermott.

Acquired by Paramount-based equity partner the Mutual Film Co., the contemporary romantic adventure pairs a male desk-bound fact-checker for National Geographic with a savvy, planet-roving female botanist for a cosmetics and fragrance company. Together, they must put aside their families' long-standing Hatfield and McCoy relationship to complete their forebears' unfinished exploration of the Valley of the Immortals in central Asia.

The pitch, based on an original idea from McDermott, was inspired in part by Gotham's Explorers Club, a society dedicated to the advancement of field research and scientific exploration. Its members have included Teddy Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, Thor Heyerdahl and Chuck Yeager.

"The final frontier is space," McDermott said, "but that's now the provenance of big governments and institutions. This (adventure) sort of bridges that gap, but it does it in a contemporary way."

After six years running DreamWorks TV, McDermott sold his first spec script, supernatural thriller "Selling Time," to Fox 2000 last October, then left the company to become a full-time scribe only two weeks later.

Singer/Jensen has paid almost seven figures for A Bend in the Road

Nascent production company Singer/Jensen Entertainment has paid almost seven figures for the Nicholas Sparks' bestseller "A Bend in the Road."

The story concerns a sheriff in a small town whose wife was killed several years before. He romances his child's schoolteacher, only to notice a trail of clues to what may have happened to his wife.

Sparks' "A Walk to Remember" bowed successfully in theaters last weekend. His novel, "The Notebook," is in development at New Line.

Singer/Jensen also has optioned "Mephisto," a comic by Jason Hall and Matt Kindt, published by Top Shelf Comics. The story concerns a couple trying to save their troubled marriage. They attend a magic show and the wife volunteers for a disappearing trick, but the magician dies midway through. The wife is nowhere to be found, and the husband, not sure if she's dumped him, enters a metaphysical world to try to find her.

Also in place are two deals with scribe W.R. McKinney ("Teachers"), one for a drama called "One Shot One Kill," the other for "Booker and Chance," a Western in which two scam artists hype themselves as famous outlaws as an easy way to rob a town.

Singer/Jensen was founded by producer Joe Singer ("Dr. Dolittle") and Texas entrepreneur Janet Jensen.

About the Author; Nicholas Sparks's last novel, The Rescue, was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and his previous books-The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, and A Walk to Remember-were international bestsellers that were translated into more than thirty languages and adapted into major motion pictures. Nicholas Sparks lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.

Book Description; (buy this book) Recently selected as the Best Author by readers of Entertainment Weekly, Nicholas Sparks is one of America's preeminent storytellers. Now Sparks spins a tale about a man, a woman, and the devastating secret that threatens to keep them apart...

Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. Missy had been his first love, and Miles fervently believes she will be his last. As a deputy sheriff in the North Carolina town of New Bern, Miles Ryan not only grieves for Missy, but longs to bring the unknown driver to justice.

Then Miles meets Sarah Andrews. The second grade teacher of his son, Jonah, Sarah had left Baltimore after a difficult divorce to start over in the gentler surroundings of New Bern. Perhaps it is her own emotional wounds that make her sensitive to the hurt she first sees in Jonah's eyes, and then his father's. Tentatively, Sarah and Miles reach out to each other. Soon they are both laughing for the first time in years...and falling in love.

Neither will be able to guess how closely linked they are to a shocking secret-one that will force them to question everything they ever believed in...and make a heartbreaking choice that will change their lives forever.

In A BEND IN THE ROAD Nicholas Sparks writes with a luminous intensity about life's bitter turns and incomparable sweetness. His affirming message carries a powerful lesson about the imperfections of being human, the mistakes we all make, and the joy that comes when we give ourselves to love.

New Line Cinema, Smart and Smarter'

New Line Cinema has acquired the comedy spec "Smart and Smarter" from scribes Dan Wilson and David Gilbreath and is negotiating with Charles Roven to produce the picture through his Atlas Entertainment banner.

"Smart" is the story of two brainiacs who have spent their lives in the rarified world of a think tank. When they venture into the real world to reclaim one of their childhood sweethearts, they continually overthink their way into chaotic predicaments that lesser minds would never fathom.

New Line released the Jim Carrey-starrer "Dumb & Dumber" in 1994 and has longed hoped to develop a sequel, though "Smart & Smarter" is not that project.

Alejandro Amenabar's Chiller "The Others" Swept Eight Goyas

Alejandro Amenabar's chiller "The Others" swept eight Goyas at Saturday's 16th Spanish Academy Awards, the country's equivalent of the Oscars.

The nods included film, director, original screenplay and cinematography (Javier Aguirresarobe). The triumph of "The Others," a Spanish-U.S. co-production, struck a blow for international filmmaking in Spain.

Spanish director Vicente Aranda, whose "Mad Love" competed with "The Others" in most categories, sparked controversy Friday by claiming that "The Others" was "more American than Spanish" and that its star, Nicole Kidman, should not be competing for a best actress Goya.

"The Americans have our cinemas, now they want our Goyas," he said.  While Spanish Academy members predictably gave the actress nod to Pilar Lopez de Ayala ("Mad Love") over Kidman, they spread other kudos further afield, voting Argentinean Leonardo Sbaraglia most promising actor for his performance in Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's "Intact."

Spaniard Fresnadillo took debut director for "Intact." Eduard Fernandez won the actor nod for his tearaway performance in "Fausto 5.0," and Paz Vega most promising actress for "Sex and Lucia."

Oh, those naughty, naughty Razzie people! Tom Green, Mariah Carey early contenders.

Every year, Hollywood filmmakers and actors work very hard to create the best film possible. And when the results don't match their sincerity, what is the reward? All too often, it's disappointing box office -- and a nomination for a Razzie award.  It's enough to make you wonder if life is fair.

John Wilson and his Golden Raspberry Foundation send out preliminary ballots, which offer about 10 semifinalists, with the opportunities for write-ins.

At least in the early tabulations, the big "winner" is Tom Green. Thanks to "Freddy Got Fingered," he's up for worst actor, director and screenplay, while "Tom Green & any animal he abuses" were in the race for worst screen couple.

Also in that last-named category: Tom Cruise & Penelope Cruz in "Vanilla Sky"; Sylvester Stallone & Burt Reynolds in "Driven"; and Mariah Carey's cleavage in "Glitter."  We told you the Razzie people were naughty.

This is the 22nd year of the awards. "It started in 1980 when I saw a double feature of 'Can't Stop the Music' and 'Xanadu.' I only paid 99 cents and it still wasn't worth it," Wilson said.

From its living-room origins, the organization has grown enormously. Nominating ballots were sent to 507 people, evenly split among voters from the Internet, journalism and industry workers.

The nominations come out Feb. 11, the day before Oscar nominations are announced. And the Razzies will be handed out March 23, the day before the Oscar ceremonies. (Wait, is there a pattern here?)

The group has a development deal with Nash Entertainment, which is pitching a TV version of the ceremonies to broadcast and cable.

As for this year's crop, Wilson expressed great fervor for "Freddy" and "Glitter," particularly for Carey. "I would say she's got a lock on best actress. She's the female equivalent of 'Battlefield Earth."'

Lynwood Spinks To Leave Industry Entertainment For Signpost

Stewart Till's Signpost Films has appointed Lynwood Spinks, formerly chief operating officer of the US' Industry Entertainment, as head of worldwide business affairs.

Spinks will be based in Los Angeles and takes up the position with immediate effect. He spent ten years at Carolco Pictures, where he ended his stint as chief operating officer. As executive vice president of MCA Motion Picture Group, he oversaw international operations and exhibition investments.

"I am truly delighted Lynwood has joined the senior management team," said Till, formerly head of Universal Pictures International and international chief of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. "His expertise and experience are second to none."

Earlier this week, Till unveiled a first-look deal with Miramax Films for US distribution for films from Signpost. The ambitious start-up, backed by Canada's CDP, aims to become a worldwide production and distribution operation, with own-distribution in major international markets.

"I'm excited to be joining Stewart's team in building Signpost from the ground up," said Spinks. "The collective experience of the group and the solid capitalization of the company will make Signpost an instant powerhouse in financing major films."

Monstrous battle to beat Shrek for Oscar glory

Disney's latest animation is about to open but faces an uphill struggle to beat Shrek to an Academy Award. Everybody knows children are frightened of 'things that go bump in the night'. But what are 'things that go bump in the night' scared of? The answer, of course, is children, at least according to Disney's Monsters, Inc.

The animated film, on general release this Friday, tells of a pair of monsters who spend their nights sneaking into wardrobes and under beds to scare young people - until they find they are more afraid than their victims.

A computer-generated cartoon, Monsters, Inc. is Disney's answer to the phenomenal critical and commercial success of DreamWorks' Shrek and comes from the same technical team that made the Oscar-nominated Toy Story. Disney's innovative Pixar Studios has become the powerhouse of the entertainment and leisure dynasty, which has recently been suffering a financial downturn, prompting rumors of a possible takeover by Microsoft.

Although American box offices took $62 million when Monsters, Inc. opened there last November, the highest amount for an animated film, and despite the fact that ticket sales have outstripped Toy Story 2, the chances of Disney beating its arch rival on Academy Awards night look slim.

Monsters, Inc. may have started out with a big budget promotional campaign and all the usual spin-off merchandise, but it is Shrek that is being tipped as the serious Oscar contender and the competition between the films has become something of a grudge match.

Shrek 's irreverent screenplay deliberately poked fun at the conventions of Disney filmmaking and of fairytales in general, becoming an instant modern classic. It has won 13 awards in the US and has been listed among the top 10 grossing films for a total of 151 weeks, as opposed to Monsters, Inc. with only 41 weeks to its credit so far.

Co-produced by Jeffrey Katzenberg, a former chairman of Disney, Shrek was wickedly full of jokes at the expense of the 'Mouse House', the LA nickname for Disney. What's more, Eddie Murphy, who plays an irrepressible Donkey in Shrek, has become the first film star nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Award as best supporting actor for voicing an animated character.

Disney has hit back with groundbreaking special effects. Monsters, Inc. has developed highly sophisticated graphic tricks that make the monsters' fur appear to ripple as they move.

But in the end, it is the 4,000 Academy Award voters who will decide if they prefer Sulley, a purple-spotted 8ft monster, voiced by John Goodman, to Mike Myers's green Scottish ogre in Shrek.

Monsters, Inc. is set in Monstopolis, a company town where all the monsters work at the scream processing factory. Sulley and his one-eyed friend Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are an elite team of Scarers responsible for gathering the town's main power source - the fresh screams of children. The monsters are also strictly banned from making any contact with the children, who are considered highly toxic. However, a little girl called Boo follows Sulley and Wazowski back into Monstropolis and threatens to upset their careers.

Steve Buscemi, star of Fargo, plays the villain, Randall Boggs, a monster determined to become top Scarer at the factory. The factory owner is voiced by veteran star James Coburn and the title was suggested to director Pete Docter by Joe Grant, the Disney artist who co-wrote the 1941 feature Dumbo .

For 93-year-old Grant, an Oscar would be particularly sweet, not only because Disney marked its 100th anniversary last year, but also because not even Disney classics such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty won a best picture Academy Award. This year there is at least a chance because the Academy has created a special category for animated features.