'The Dark Knight Rises' Tops Slow Box Office In Second Weekend

Even with a 60 percent drop, The Dark Knight Rises grossed $64.1 million its second weekend. That puts it at $289.1 million, which — combined with $248.2 million overseas — has it on track to earn between $900 million and $1 billion worldwide.

But it still hasn't earned as much as The Dark Knight or The Avengers had by this point, so, you know, total failure.

No, the real failures this weekend are the new releases. While Ice Age Continental Drift, now in its third weekend, earned $13.3 million, The Watch couldn't match that and grossed just $13 million That's a pretty dreadful opening weekend for a movie that cost $68 million to make.

Step Up Revolution disappointed, too. I know, you're shocked. But Step Up is actually a very successful franchise, and this latest instalment represents the weakest debut yet. It earned $11.8 million and cost $33 million to make.

Low box-office numbers could be attributed to people staying home and watching The Olympics. Also the fact that audiences don't want to pay $15 to see something terrible.

1. The Dark Knight Rises (WB) - $64.1 million ($289.1 mil.)
2. Ice Age IV (Fox) - $13.3 million ($114.8 mil.)
3. The Watch (Fox) - $13 million
4. Step Up: Flash Mobs Are A Thing (Lionsgate/Summit) - $11.8 million
5. Ted (Universal) - $7.4 million ($193.6 mil.)

[Entertainment Weekly/Image via AP/Warner Bros.]

Snoop Dogg Banned From Norway

It takes more than being banned from Norway to harsh Snoop Dogg’s vibe.

After the rapper was nabbed with eight grams of marijuana while passing through an airport in the country last month, the sticky-bud aficionado has been locked out of Norway for two years—a deal the D-O-double-G “can live with,” said the rapper’s lawyer.

The 40-year-old performer was also carrying more cash than is legally allowed when a canine unit sniffed him out and was fined $8,600 for both offences.

After the arrest, Snoop Dogg tweeted a photo of himself holding what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette with the caption, “Smoking crip n. cuzns. Hahahahagahhaha.”

Word.

[E!]

Canada Captures First Medal At London Olympics

Canada has its first medal of the London Olympics.

Divers Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel have claimed bronze in the women's three-metre synchronized event. World champions Minxia Wu and He Zi of China won gold while Americans Kelci Bryant and Abigail Johnston captured silver.

It's a historic result for the 30-year-old Heymans as she becomes the first female diver to reach the podium in four consecutive Olympic Games. The native of St. Lambert, Que., won silver in the 10-metre synchro in 2000, bronze in the same event in Athens in 2004, and a silver in the 10-metre individual event four years ago in Beijing.

The 20-year-old Abel, from Laval, Que., and Heymans won silver in the event at last year's world championships. The medal on the second full day of competition is good news for a Canadian team aiming for a top-12 finish overall.

 [CTV Olympics]

Video: Walrus Dances To Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is arguably the most popular person in the history of Everything, and his influence even extends to the animal kingdom, as this walrus gets down to the King of Pop’s greatest hits.



[Stuff I Stole From The Internet]

Video: Kurt Angle Tries To Return To The Olympic Games

Kurt Angle won freestyle wrestling gold at the 1996 Summer Olympics, and eventually went on to have a decorated career in the WWE. Now, 16 years after his triumph in Atlanta, Angle has the itch for the Olympics again, and attempts a comeback. Unfortunately, some old habits kicked in during the training process.

[Neatorama]

London Opening Ceremony Draws Twitter Record

Twitter announced that the opening ceremony of the London Olympics resulted in more than 9.66 million games-related tweets, which is more than the entire Beijing Olympics in 2008. To be fair, the social networking giant was in its infancy back then, but the massive growth means it’s safe to say this Twitter phenomenon might have some staying power.

[Next Web]

Swimmer Ryan Lochte Beats Out Michael Phelps To Win Gold

The first day of Olympic competition in London’s Summer Games kicked off Saturday with an array of upsets. American Ryan Lochte bested teammate Michael Phelps and took the gold in the 400-meter individual medley. It was the first time Phelps, who finished fourth, didn’t medal in an event since 2000.

Defending champ, Norway lost to France in women’s handball in its opening game by a score of 24-23.

Men’s cycling saw one of the most dramatic upsets of the day as 38-year-old Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan beat out the heavily favoured British team. Vinokourov had nearly retired last year when he broke his leg during the Tour de France.

In tennis, American Serena Williams advanced to the second round of the singles draw with a straight-set win over Jelena Jankovic.

Day 1 Medal  Table:

1. CHINA: 4 gold; 0 silver; 2 bronze; TOTAL: 6 medals
2. ITALY: 2 gold; 2 silver; 1 bronze; TOTAL: 5 medals
3. USA: 1 gold; 2 silver; 2 bronze; TOTAL: 5 medals
4. KOREA: 1 gold; 1 silver; 1 bronze; TOTAL: 3 medals
5. BRAZIL: 1 gold; 1 silver; 1 bronze; TOTAL: 3 medals
 ...
- CANADA: 0 gold; 0 silver; 0 bronze; TOTAL: 0 medals

SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

• Swimming: gold medal finals in men's 100-meter breaststroke, 400-meter freestyle relay, women's 100-meter butterfly, 400-meter freestyle.
• Women's gymnastics: team competition.
• Women's diving: synchronized springboard gold medal final.

[Yahoo!]

China Brings Home First Gold

Chinese air-rifle competitor Yi Siling secured the first gold medal of the 2012 Olympic Games for her country on Saturday.

The 23-year-old said she has been training since the age of 13 and that there was “a lot of pressure” on her to win. Yi was awarded her medal after prevailing in the 10-meter air-rifle competition, sweeping the field at London’s Royal Artillery Barracks.

“I feel very happy,” Yi told reporters afterward. “For the first round and the last round, I was very nervous and didn’t know what I was doing.”

Yi finished with a winning score of 502.9 points.

[Reuters]