Clash of the titans

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, May 23, 2007

It’s all about the Benjamins … millions and millions of ’em. In the battle of the 2007 movie blockbusters, The Buzz wonders if Capt. Jack Sparrow can muster enough of his pirate pals to capture the $151 million opening week booty of “Spider-Man 3.”

This is the first season the movie starring the arachnid-enhanced superhero has gone mano-a-mano with a film inspired by a Disneyland ride in which a 13-year-old Young Buzz recalls a long wait in line, followed by eye-stinging chlorine fumes rising from the murky, hissing waters.

Forget the critics. This is a fight for the fattest bottom line. Let’s take a look at “Spider-Men vs. The Carrots and Beans, the Battle for Cubic Dollars,” courtesy of our friends at imdb.com.

“Spider-Man” wins round one, taking $115 million on its opening week and grossing $404 million. “The Curse of the Black Pearl” opened slowly with $47 million, but went on to gross $305 million.

Round two? Give it up for “Dead Man’s Chest,” opening at $136 million and grossing $423 million. “Spider-Man 2” opened with “only” $116 million and grossed $373 million.

Now we’re “At World’s End” and The Buzz will happily blow half a tank’s worth of his gas money to give his sweetie some Johnny Depp eye candy.

— Kurt Batdorf, Herald staff