Behind universally positive reviews and the tremendous amount of consumer confidence Pixar has inspired over the past 13 years, "WALL-E" beat all comers with a $62.5 million opening weekend. That's the third-best Pixar debut (2004's "The Incredibles" was tops with $70.5M). The overwhelming commercial and critical response to the brilliant robot film -- check out Jeffrey & Alison's rave review here-- has Disney thinking about a Best Picture Oscar push for "WALL-E."

That's not even the biggest news from the multiplex, however. "Wanted," loosely based on Mark Millar and JG Jones' twisted graphic novel, had an eye-popping $51.1M opening, much higher than Universal Pictures (who like REEL TALK, is part of NBC Universal) expected. Looks like audiences were ready for a big, loud, violent action pic.

Angelina Jolie may be overexposed in the tabloids but her drawing power can't be questioned after this. "Wanted" is the biggest opening of her career. Apparently, audiences can also buy James McAvoy in something other than a period piece like "Atonement." The reaction on fansites like www.newsarama.com seems pretty positive, which indicates the film could have some staying power. "Wanted" may not be a "300"-level phenomenon but its further proof that the appetite for comic book/graphic novel adaptations is far from satiated, whether there are capes or not. Look for a slew of graphic novels based on gritty, non-super powered characters to get fast-tracked...as well as the inevitable "Wanted" sequel.

As for the rest of the Top 5, "Get Smart" did a solid $20M in its sophomore outing ($77.2M total), the kids smash despite competition from "WALL-E" took in another $11.7M ($179.3M total) for fourth place, and bringing up the rear, "The Incredible Hulk." With $9.2M additional dollars, the Marvel reboot stands at $115.5M.

A few standout efforts in the limited release department: "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" earned a whopping $106,000 in its 2nd week of a NY-only engagement. That healthy $21,200 per-screen average bodes well for the family film's national roll-out this holiday weekend.

"The Last Mistress"-- which Jeffrey hated and Alison loved -- did a strong $35,200 on just 2 screens, while about blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, scored an impressive $28,500 in just 3 theaters. Both these films are expanding across the country over the summer, FYI.

Next week, Mr. Fourth of July, Will Smith, opens his latest blockbuster. "Hancock" promises to be sold out at most multiplexes, so buy your tickets early or make plans to see something else during the holiday weekend.

Time for some casting notes. Eva Mendes is likely to star with Nicholas Cage in a remake of "Bad Lieutenant" to be directed by Werner Herzog. The 1992 movie starred Harvey Keitel as a corrupt cop. Why remake an average movie?

I haven't heard any calls for a new version...Christine Lahti, who should've been a bigger star by now,(she's that talented) has joined the cast of "Obsessed" as a detective. It's a thriller starring Beyonce Knowles and "Heroes" star Ali Larter. Lahti recently had a small role in "Smart People." Jason Bateman, a recent guest on "REEL TALK" just signed a first-look deal with Fox TV to develop a series and produce and direct projects...Look for Comedy Central to air the two "Harold and Kumar" movies back to back in 2010....Director Bret Ratner has been developing the life story of Hugh Hefner called, of course,"Playboy." Word is Robert Downey Jr., currently red-hot in Hollywood after the startling success of "Iron Man" would play Hef...Paramount will film a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" movie, again with Eddie Murphy as Detroit detective Axel Foley, with Ratner directing. He has "X-Men, The Last Stand" and "The Red Dragon" on his resume, and will also be directing "The Incredible Shrinking Man", "Carnaval 3D: The Magic & The Music","Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra" (a possibility) and "New York, I Love You.' (So do I!)

See what Jeffrey and Alison thought about this weekend's movies. Click on the poster to watch their review!

On the show this week Jeffrey aired his beef with the AFI top ten lists.

Although I think it is almost impossible to pick “best ever” films…it’s also subjective…here are my choices, which do of course differ from Jeffrey’s.

1. Animation: I would have to go with “Toy Story”. I believe that each list has to change with the times…. “Snow White” is a beautiful film, but I’m not so sure kids would sit still through it these days. “Toy Story” combines the innocence of childhood, with the hipness of the nineties and the excitement of a modern action adventure.
2. Romantic comedy: here I agree with Jeffrey. “Annie Hall” is possibly my favorite film ever.
3. Western: not my Favorite genre. My pick is “High Noon” for its tight running time and insane amount of tension packed in.
4. Sports movie: I can’t believe “Breaking Away” made this list…and I’m a cycling fan!!! I would pick “Rocky” as it’s the template for every underdog sports movie to follow. And a labor of love for Stallone.
5. Mystery: I never understood the appeal of “Vertigo”. And “the Maltese Falcon” just seems needlessly complicated. I pick “North by Northwest” because Cary Grant was ever the innocent everyman caught up in circumstances out of his control.
6. Fantasy: who can argue with “The Wizard of Oz”?
7. Sci fi: I also have to agree with “2001: a Space Odyssey”. A masterpiece of foresight, mood and mystery.
8. Gangster: you can’t even discuss gangster films without reference to “The Godfather.” It is the paragon that all others are compared to.
9. Courtroom Drama: I’d have to go with “a Few Good Men.” The scenes with Jack Nicholson on the stand still give me chills.
10. Epic: although I love “Spartacus”…“Lawrence of Arabia” by David Lean defines epic. Sweeping, intimate, adventurous and tragic.

On this weekend's show, I took issue with some of the AFI’s choices for best films in ten genres. Here are some which time didn't permit us to include on air: Later, I’ve added some categories of my own, and since they're my categories, I get to put as many movies in them as I wish. Enjoy!

For sports movie’s, "Raging Bull" was a fine choice, but mine is "Field of Dreams" or maybe "Jim Thorpe, All-American"..."To Kill a Mockingbird" is another great choice, though I'd pick "12 Angry Men" for drama, if a jury room drama fits that category.

For epic, I can't quarrel with "Lawrence of Arabia," though I'd have picked "Bridge on The River Kwai"...same director, just as good. "2001, a Space Odyssey" is a great choice for science fiction, but I enjoyed "Star Wars" even more...finally "Vertigo" as best mystery? I'd pick "Rear Window" or maybe "North by Northwest," all three Hitchcock classics.

Other Western Classics: "3:10 to Yuma," (both versions), "The Gunfighter", "How the West Was Won" (Eli Wallach stole that one), and "Hondo." Also "Nevada Smith.”

Best Revolutionary war movies: "Drums Along the Mohawk", "The Devil's Disciple"...

Funniest films: "A Night at the Opera," "Blazing Saddles."

Best WWII movies; "The Counterfeit Traitor, " "The Man Who Never Was," "The Longest Day," "Saving Private Ryan," "30 Seconds Over Tokyo," "Tora,Tora,Tora," "From Here to Eternity", "Five Fingers" " Night of the Generals", "Judgement at Nuhremberg", "The Desert Fox" and of course "Patton.” "The Gallant Hours," "Bridge on the River Kwai" (my favorite, also in another category: epics,)"Back to Bataan" and "The Sands of Iwo Jima."

Scariest films: "Jaws", "The Exorcist" ...and anything with the Olsen twins.

Jeffrey Lyons looks back on the life and career of legendary comedian George Carlin, who died Sunday from heart failure.

As we mourn the loss of groundbreaking comic George Carlin, we've managed to uncover some great footage, including this interview from 2004. Carlin had dropped by 30 Rock to talk with Jeffrey about his new project at the time, Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl." Watch and enjoy:

Comedian Robert Klein shares his thoughts on the passing of his friend and fellow standup comic, George Carlin:

When George Carlin burst onto the scene in the late 1960s, he changed the face of standup comedy forever. His influence would be seen in later years in the work of countless comedians, from Chris Rock to Jerry Seinfeld. Richard Zoglin, author of the standup comedy tome "Comedy at the Edge", talked to us about the impact Carlin had on several generations of comedy.

In light of this weekend’s box office release of Wall-E, it’s only fitting to highlight Pixar’s feature films. The company literally popped out of the box with its then-groundbreaking CGI animation. Blending their special animation software with good old-fashioned storytelling skill, Pixar has added new dimensions of emotions, expressions, and movement to the characters we have come to know and love.

Since its first completed work, “Toy Story” in 1995, made $328 million worldwide, Pixar has only seen rising success with one record-breaker after another. Thereafter, more brainstorms and storyboards produced “A Bug’s Life” in 1998, “Toy Story 2” in 1999, “Monsters, Inc.” in 2002, and let’s not forget “Finding Nemo,” which in 2003 banked an unbelievable $850 million in global box office.

Since then, Pixar’s legacy of excellence has been sustained by notable awards and international recognition for recent adventures such as “The Incredibles,” “Cars,” and last year’s delectable “Ratatouille.”

Audiences and critics alike have come to expect greatnesss with every film that begins with the clever ‘hopping lamp’ logo.

And 13 years since our introduction to Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Pixar continues to put a different twist on those G-rated kiddie films. Not only is the animation still astounding, the storylines of each film speak to the heart, be it young or old. The human qualities in each non-human character deliver the message beautifully, clear and simple.

Seeing all of Pixar’s achievements, we can only see a bright future for that cute little robot with those expressive human-like binocular eyes named Wall-E.

But before I sign off on this post, we, at Reel Talk, are trying to decipher an urban legend that surrounds Pizza Planet. This sci-fi themed pizza restaurant first made its debut in “Toy Story.” Pizza Planet’s fifteen minutes of fame did not end there. As the story goes, each Pixar film supposedly contains a reference to Pizza Planet in some manner.

With that in mind, we have speculations about the legitimacy of this urban legend. If you have any type of confirmation, send us an email. In the meantime, if you’re going to see Wall-E this weekend, look out for a Pizza Plant appearance and let us know!

Get ready for the biggest movie star of our time, Will Smith gets to crash into the theaters next weekend on July 2nd, in Hancock. Co-starring Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman Here's the trailer! Enjoy!

Are you a French wine snob? Or a California hippie wine snob? Based on the true story about French versus California wines, check out the trailer for the new movie "Bottle Shock" coming to theaters on August 8.

2001... Remember that year? Before September 11th, when Clinton finished his Presidential duties and Bush was just sworn into office? Remember, how good the economy and this country felt prior to the World Trade Center disaster? If you don't, the movie August, will take you back to when everyone seemed to be making money and tech stocks were at their highest. Check out the trailer for "August," coming to theaters July 11th, starring Josh Hartnett.

Hilary Duff has signed on to add another movie credential to her resume. The comedy "Stay Cool" written and directed by Michael and Mark Polish just added the teen pop star to their cast along with Winona Ryder, Chevy Chase, Sean Astin and John Cryer.

According to Real Movie News.com Duff will be playing the role of Shasta O'Neil, a seductive high school student who asks the successful author/commencement ceremony guest speaker (Polish) to prom. This comedy is scheduled to be released sometime next year. Watch the review of the last movie she was in "War Inc." by clicking here or on the picture.

The death of Cyd Charisse last week, marked the passing on a Hollywood icon of a bygone era. The heyday of the musical movie was just beginning to wane when the leggy (as they used to say) dancer made her mark. Billed first as "Lily Norwood" in 1943's "Something to Shout About," and appeared in "Mission to Moscow" the same year, those films wouldn't be long remembered. It was when she was teamed with Fred Astaire that she became an immortal.

They appeared together for the first time in "Ziegfeld Follies' in 1946, though she was uncredited. Amazingly, however, the studio recognized her talent and signed her to a seven year contract, the standard length of star contracts in those days.

Six years later she teamed with Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain", one of her most famous screen appearances. The next year, re-teamed with Asatire in "The Band Wagon," her second screen classic. Add "Brigadoon" to that list, too. Along with Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell and Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse was one of the greatest dancers in Hollywood history.

A surprisingly well-behaved Judd Apatow-produced comedy, "Drillbit Taylor" wasn't the hit you'd expect from a movie starring Owen Wilson and co-written by "Superbad" and "Knocked Up" star Seth Rogen. Wilson plays a down-on-his-luck 'soldier of fortune' hired by a group of dorky kids to protect them from a schoolyard bully. "Drillbit Taylor" arrives on DVD & Blu-ray July 1st in an 'Extended Survival' edition, loaded with deleted scenes, gag reels, featurettes and commentary from the principal players (except for Wilson). Check out some clips here:

What would happen if you were the only person in the world who was BORN at the age of 80?! And while everyone else was getting older, you were actually getting younger! Well look at the makeup job they did on the Hollywood hottie, Brad Pitt, in his new movie with Cate Blanchett " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It will be in theaters some time in December... I can't wait!

While, everyone else is waiting for movies like "The Dark Knight," "Wall-E," "Hancock," "The Wackness" etc. etc. to be released, all the other folks in the movie world are concentrating on films for next year and the year after that. Take a look at some of the projects in production right now!

It's Show Time! According to Variety, George Clooney and writer Danny Zuker ("Stacked") will be teaming up to work on a half-hour mini comedy series for Showtime, called "The Fall of Bob."

DreamWorks is about to get "Schooled!" According to Hollywood Reporter, DreamWorks purchased the comedy script "Home Schooled," written by Chris Poole and Mike Arnold. The story about a 30-year-old man who was home schooled and who will be attending college, will be produced by Scot Armstrong (co-writer of Semi-Pro.)

Variety reports Michael Sheen has joined the cast "The Damned United," a biographical story based on the life of legendary English soccer coach Brian Clough. Sheen will portray the ill-tempered, egocentric and eccentric soccer coach.

"Wanted" hasn't even been released yet and already, graphic novelist Mark Millar (whose novel "Wanted" was based on) is already in the talks with Universal about a sequel. According to Cinematical.com the author has posted an enthusiastic message about the possible sequel on his official message board.

The world is substantially less funny - and expletive-filled - today than it was yesterday. Legendary comedian George Carlin passed away Sunday at the age of 71 due to heart failure.

The groundbreaking comic was a multi-media success, thanks in part to roles in comedy films like Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Scary Movie 3 and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Carlin leaves behind a unique legacy of tipping the system with his series of riffs on the "Seven Words" and religious hypocrisy, among numerous topics he tackled in his standup act.

According to the Associated Press, Carlin had a history of heart trouble and went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died of heart failure later that evening. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Carlin's resume consisted of 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, 3 books, a few TV shows and several movie appearances. His 1972 arrest in Milwaukee for using one of the seven words led to a Supreme Court ruling upholding his free speech rights. Three years later, he was also the first-ever host of "Saturday Night Live."He also made more than 100 appearances on "The Tonight Show," despite the fact that Johnny Carson at first didn't want him on the show!

He was a comedian who was able to make you laugh no matter what kind of comedy you were interested in, and no matter how offensive you thought he may have been. Carlin's voice still proved to be powerful, and is and will be a staple in Television history. "Nobody was funnier than George Carlin," said Judd Apatow, director of comedies and "Superbad" "I spent half my childhood in my room listening to his records experiencing pure joy. And he was as kind as he was funny."

Goodbye, George. Your millions of fans will f*#$@n miss you!

There's a movie waiting to be made about Major League Baseball player, Bert Shepard, who died the other day at 87.

He'd been a fighter-bomber pilot shot down while on a mission to destroy Nazi oil refineries in Romania during World War II. He was taken prisoner and his right leg had to be amputated. Actually the doctor who pulled him from the wreckage of his P-38 lightning saved him from local farmers who'd surrounded him, armed with pitchforks. Then, a P.O.W. with an artificial leg, he was returned to the States in a prisoner of war exchange while the war continued to rage in Europe.

And after the war, he returned to his first love…baseball.

And on Aug. 4, 1945, while still a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps (which later became the U.S. Air Force) he pitched against my team, the Boston Red Sox. He'd been a pitcher and first baseman in the low minors for the White Sox, but never dreamed that he'd make it to the majors, albeit for one game, and on the mound however, he did pitch five innings. Shepard, later went on to work for IBM and in 1993, the weekly show "This Week in Baseball," produced by MLB, found the German doctor who'd save Shepard’s life during W.W.II and they were reunited. During the reunion, the doctor saw Shepard’s historic game on tape and as I recall it was an extremely touching reunion.

Actor, Jimmy Stewart played Monty Stratton in the 1944 film "The Stratton Story. Which, was about the pitcher whose leg was amputated after he'd accidentally shot himself, but who then returned to pitch minor league ball. But, Shepard was the only man with one leg to pitch in the majors.

O.K. budding screenwriters, there's the story. Now get to work!

The other day my producer, Michael Avila, gave me a John Wayne Beef Jerky (Maybe he was sending me a subtle message.) Anyway, I mailed it to a friend who reverses John Wayne's movies. It reminded me of efforts by the descendants of dead celebrities to try and copyright their images. It's a double-edged sword, as far as I'm concerned.

Current libel/slander law does not include anyone who is dead. In other words, you can say anything you want to about a dead person basically, and get away with it. This is probably to avoid endless lawsuits. I think the same thing ought to apply to the images of dead celebrities. Otherwise, where do you draw the line? Do the descendants of famous authors have the right to get paid by Barnes and Noble, which has a display of images of long-dead authors? Will some relative of, say, Marilyn Monroe suddenly turn up and demand money? And who is to say which actors deserve such protection. All actors? Some? Oscar winners? The courts are crowded enough as is. If you think some of the brick-a-brack with stars' images on them is tacky stuff, just don't buy it. Instead, remember the stars for who they were in their glory days.

This weekend's comedy clash at the cinema was no contest. "Get Smart" easily bested "The Love Guru" with a $39.1 million debut. The Steve Carell-topped revival of the classic sitcom overcame middling reviews to take the pole position.

Mike Myers' return didn't even land in second place.

That went to the smash-hit kids cartoon "Kung Fu Panda," which took in another $21.7M ($155M total). "The Incredible Hulk" smashed his way into third with $21.5M ($96M total), which marks a steeper-than-Marvel Studios-hoped drop of 61% from last week. It should earn more than 2003's "Hulk" did ($122M) but whether it will earn enough to start a franchise is now seriously in doubt.

"The Love Guru" could not overcome the dreadful reviews and took in a disappointing $14M. What, did NO ONE listen to Jeffrey and Alison this weekend?!?

In fifth place, "The Happening" with $10M ($50.2M total), an alarmingly-large 67% week-to-week decline.

A few notable efforts by some indie films: "Mongol" took in $744,000 in just 94 theaters ($7,914 per screen average), and "Brick Lane," our Websclusive this week, earned $50,500 from just 7 screens ($7,214 per screen).

But "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" put those two, and every other film this week, to shame. During a limited engagement of just 5 theaters in NYC, the family film earned a superb $223,000 (over $44K per screen!). That bodes well for its national release Fourth of July weekend.

Matthew Broderick will be going head to head at the box office with his wife Sarah Jessica Parker this weekend, when “Finding Amanda” opens. It’s a small film that probably won’t make much news…but he follows it up with “Diminished Capacity” the week after. Both films are Indies each with an offbeat sense of humor.

In “Finding Amanda” Broderick plays a gambling addict and ex-alcoholic who finds himself in Vegas looking for his niece. In “Diminished Capacity” he plays a newspaperman recovering from a head injury, which makes him forgetful and a bit confused. Both roles are perfect for the eternally boyish Mr. Broderick. Ever since “Election” he has perfected the dweeb everyman with hidden vicissitudes. His wide-eyed, innocent, chubby face often masks mischievous intent or deeper sadness. I’m not sure if he has great range as an actor…I’m not sure I could ever take him too seriously…but watching his last two films I realized that there is something very human and very appealing about him.

I caught a preview screening of “Wanted” last night, the anticipated action thriller starring Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy. Boy! McAvoy must have really wanted to change his image from Brit pretty boy to American tough guy. Agreeing to be in this film after stellar turns in “The Last King of Scotland” and “Atonement” must have seemed like a good idea at the time. But what a piece of loud, badly scripted, rubbish it is.

I understand it’s from a graphic novel…and maybe the plot of a ‘loom of fate’ that spells out names of evildoers for assassination reads better on the page, because on screen it’s laughable. Even Morgan Freeman, doing his best ‘righteous man’ acting couldn’t prevent guffaws from the audience. For my part, I was hoping that the loom turned into the contraption from “The Mangler” and started chewing up the actors. But they were all doing enough chewing already.

Mike Myers stopped by our studio in New York City yesterday, to talk to Jeffrey about "The Love Guru," his love of the Stanley Cup and more! Watch the entire interview right here...

Hmm... Steve Carell or Mike Myers? Who will make you laugh more this weekend? Well, see what Jeffrey and Alison had to say about "Get Smart," "The Love Guru," and more!

Our guest on 'Top Billing' this week on RT is comedy maestro Mike Myers. The star/writer/producer of "The Love Guru" -- which opens Friday -- dropped by today to talk to Jeffrey Lyons. In this clip, Jeffrey asks Myers about one of his comedy heroes, Peter Sellers.

Did you register to vote yet? I know, I know, if you're like me you're are probably so sick of the ongoing talks and analysis of the upcoming election, that you just can't wait until it's November already, so it will all stop!

However... On August 1st, it's up to Kevin Costner to decide who becomes President! Starring Kelsey Grammer, Stanley Tucci, Dennis Hopper and George Lopez, watch the trailer for "Swing Vote" after the jump.

Based on the novel written by mulit-award winning author, Jonathan Trigell. Boy-A tells the dramatic story of a young boy involved in murdering another young boy, and is sent to prison for most of his childhood until he is released at the age of 24. See what happens when your past comes back to haunt you on July 23rd. Check out the trailer after the jump!