The flick opened in third place, with Denzel and Spike's Inside Man pulling in the big bucks. Funny thing about Inside Man, which I just saw, is that it too features some in-game action sequences. One of the bank hostages in the film (a young boy) is a PSP owner, which Clive Owen takes a moment to play. In typical Spike Lee fashion, he over-sensationalizes video game violence with a full screen display of what the boy is playing, with a gruesome faux GTA-style game. The virtual violence portrayed was much more comically brutal than anything happening onscreen. It seemed very out of place amid what else was going on, but Spike loves pushing buttons. (Pun not intended.)

Denzel Washington's 'Inside Man' tops box office, Game on for "Stay Alive"
Stay Alive Not A Hit With Critics [Kotaku]

Here are a few choice quotes from the scant reviews online (It seems the film wasn't pre-screened for critics, usually a bad sign):

• "What will terrify the audience very early on is the realization that there's better acting in the video game than on the big screen"
• "Obviously earmarked as dead on arrival"
• "Crummy, asinine, incoherent schlock"
• "It's a test of endurance few will survive"
• "Proves itself to be the most idiotic film this year that wasn't directed by Uwe Boll" (ouch!)

I sure hope Frankie Muniz is saving those Malcom In The Middle dollars for a rainy day!

Today, video game movie Stay Alive hits American movie theaters. It stars Frankie "Don't Call Me Malcom" Muniz and follows a bunch of teens as they are killed in a video game or something. Can't find a review of the film, but know most will include this zinger: "Stay Alive? More like Stay Away." Cue the rim-shoot.

Watch The Opening [Kotaku] Thanks, Robert!

Stay Alive [Official Site] Thanks, Oscar!