'Alien vs. Predator' tops U.S. box office
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- In it's premier week, Fox's "Alien vs. Predator" grossed $38 million, topping the U.S. box office, estimated boxofficemojo.com.
"The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," distributed by Buena Vista, grossed $37 million in its debut week.
"Collateral," distributed by DreamWorks, added $16 million to its box office of $52 million.
"Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie," distributed by Warner Bros., grossed $9.3 million in its debut week.
Universal's "The Bourne Supremacy" added $8.3 million to its box office of $139 million.
"The Village, distributed by Buena Vista, added $7 million to its box office of $99 million.
Paramount's "The Manchurian Candidate," added $6 million to its box office of $48 million.
"Little Black Book," distributed by Sony/Revolution, added $3.7 million to its box office of $14.5 million
Fox's "I, Robot" added $3.6 million to its box office of $134 million.
Sony's "Spider-Man 2" added $3.4 million to its box office of $360 million.
The book 'A Real Thing' may become movie
HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A movie studio in Hollywood may make a film about Coca-Cola based on the book "The Real Thing, Truth and Power at the Coca-Cola Co."
The Atlanta Journal Constitution confirmed a Beverage Digest report that a major movie studio is interested in the project, but the book's author, Constance Hays, declined to elaborate because the talks are incomplete.
Hays, a New York Times reporter, covered the Atlanta-based company from 1997 to 2000 and wrote the book just as Coke executive Doug Daft announced his retirement.
The book is to be released in a paperback version early next year, with an epilogue by Hays.
Rowling says Potter survives to book seven
EDINBURGH, Scotland, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Author J.K. Rowling, who read Sunday from her latest Harry Potter book in Scotland, say the boy wizard will survive to book seven.
The Sunday Telegraph reported Rowling refused to tell the 500 people that heard her read at the Edinburgh Book Festival whether Harry Potter will grow up to be a wizard.
She also refused to divulge the title of her seventh and final Harry Potter book.
Rowling read from "Order of the Phoenix," her fifth book in the Harry Potter series, and said she has been "shockingly indiscreet" in giving details to her books in progress.
The best-selling author added there were two vital questions she had never been asked about the series -- which might help to unravel its mysteries -- but she didn't give any clues as to what those questions are.
Top 10 British films ranked
LONDON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The Oscar-winning epic "Lawrence of Arabia" has been named the best British film of all time by a poll of 230 actors, technicians, writers and directors.
The poll, conducted by the Sunday Telegraph, named director David Lean as Best Director and four of his films were named in the top 10 best British films: "Brief Encounter," was ranked No. 2, with "Great Expectations," ranked fourth, and "The Bridge On The River Kwai," tied for seventh place.
The 1949 thriller, "The Third Man," placed third place ahead of "The Ladykillers," "Kind Hearts and Coronets," "The Thirty-Nine Steps," "A Matter of Life and Death" and "Four Weddings and A Funeral."
Alfred Hitchcock was named the most influential Briton in film, while Alec Guinness was named the most influential British actor in world cinema and Judi Dench was named favorite actress in Britain.
"Carry On Columbus," released in 1992, was chosen as the worst British film.
