There were howls at midnight on Wednesday and none of them came from any canine maws. Instead they were howls of anguish as boyfriends and husbands alike took their partners to watch the newest installment of the “Twilight” saga.

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” opened midweek and in a true show of strength raked in at least $30 million. Impressive as that maybe for a midweek opening, the success is highlighted further when you consider that it broke the record for an opening night haul in the series. The second movie in the series, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”, gathered over $26 million last year; but it opened on a Friday which obviously guaranteed it more traffic. Summit Entertainment, the movie’s distributor, could not give a final accurate figure as the total tally would only be arrived at on Thursday morning. However, they were quite confident that that it would be well past the $30 million mark by then.

The movie can only expect to go from strength to strength, as it is poised to run rampant over a massive five day run helped by the 4th of July weekend. The current record for the five day weekend is held by the sci-fi thriller “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and stands at $200 million. “Eclipse” looks set to sail past that figure with ease.

Success in that league will only ensure rapid processing of the next two movies in the saga; “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1″ and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2″ are set to be released in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

You might be the one who avidly watches movies, and is known as the film critic amongst your circle of friends. To make their life easier, and even yours, maybe a movie list compilation might come in handy with your friends.

When you watch movies, you might look out for certain qualities and rate it yourself. The storyline, actors, director - your rating scale for movies could be any of these factors or more. Regardless of your rating scale, a movie list must indicate your screening process. Use a movie database software for this purpose. This makes compiling a list for your friends that must easier. It might end up being a lengthy list, but at least you are giving your friends plenty of choices and your likes and dislikes as well.

Rating the movies on your list would be useful, especially for your friends. You might make notes, make your own rating system. If you have a movie database software in place, then this task is made that much easier. You can add notes to the database, and even print out the movie list along with the notes for your friends. The list explains it all.

Once you’ve got this list of movies across your friends, you actually have more time to head out to a theatre with your friends or even by yourself to watch the latest movies. If taking friends along, you can perhaps even encourage some discussion on the film watched and create an informal group of sorts.

District 9 is a movie about an alien spaceship that comes to rest over Johannesburg, South Africa. The government first waits for something to happen, and when it does not, they drill into the spaceship to make ‘first contact’. When they drill through, they come across malnourished aliens unable to make their way back home. District 9 is then set up, a camp for the aliens to recover, until a better course of action is decided upon.

This feature debut of South African writer-director Neil Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson was called ’smart and vicious and filled with moments that make you smile at the wonders of contemporary film craft, a bravura calling card from an exciting new talent.”

District 9 brings up a number of moral dilemmas. One of them bringing into focus human rights organizations and their role in such a situation - claims of human rights violations are brought up with regards to the aliens’ living conditions. The other is how far one would go to stand up for his/her ethical rights and beliefs.

Reviewers praised District 9 for creating characters viewers got emotionally attached to. When the moral issues surface during the movie, viewers are compelled to ask themselves the same questions. The movie also used a different filming technique. The first 45 minutes of the plot is told via interviews as well as video footage. This provides a clearer picture of the characters and the events about to take place.

With unique filming techniques, District 9 does have its own set of flaws. However, with a good movie, flaws are overlooked in the grander scheme of things. It is not just a good sci-fi flick, but action packed and has a solid story to its name.

Trying to figure out which costumes will be hot for Halloween ‘09? Here are seven costumes that most certainly be the hottest movie costumes for men and boys.

Wolverine - The wolverine costume from the new X-Men Wolverine movie is much hotter than the costume from the X-Men comic book. However, it may not be the most popular costume this season due to its early summer release.

Star Trek Costumes - Star Trek movie released this year has ignited the “Star-Trek-Fan” in almost everyone. Although the costumes in this year’s film are based on the original characters and pretty much the same the do look slightly sleeker. You can find plenty of these costumes at online costumes stores.

Inglourious Basterds Costumes - The combination of Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino has sent this film in to box office record books. So why not don a 1940s G.I uniform this Halloween?

G.I. Joe Costumes - The new G.I. Joe in the 2009 film is a black leather clad jumpsuit wearing soldier with unbelievable skills. Although no official costume has been released yet, they might be available closer to Halloween. If not, you can always wear all-black motorcycle leather jumpsuits.

Transformers Costumes - Which boy or man does not want to be an auto-bot? The second installment of the Transformers franchise was also immensely popular and equally breathtaking. Transformers costumes are available in most costume shops.

Public Enemies - This was another hit film of 2009 and Johnny Depp’s character John Dillon will be a popular choice for this year’s Halloween. Most costume shops have 1930’s gangster outfits with toy Tommy guns, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding one.

Harry Potter Costumes - Harry Potter Costumes have been a popular during Halloween for many years and this year is no different. Almost every costume shop will have costumes for Harry, Ron Weasley, Draco, Hagrid and the crew.

Inglourious Basterds is the latest Quentin Tarantino film to hit the big screens. The movie is based on a World War II film made by Enzo Castellari in 1978. However Tarantino merely borrows the title from the old film and re-does almost everything else.

In this film, Brad Pitt’s character, Aldo Raine organizes a group of Jewish-American soldiers to perform organized acts of retribution against the Nazi’s in occupied France. This group called the “Basterds” by their enemy performs shocking and brutal acts of violence and mutilation of corpses. They meet Shosanna Drefus (Melanie Laurent) who witnessed the execution of her family and narrowly escaped to France. Then Shosanna together with the Basterds mount their biggest struggle - to take down the leaders of Third Reich.

Many critics claim that this film is very unlike Quentin Tarantino. The film does not build on a series of sequences upping the stakes and ending in a climax, as with his previous films. Those expecting to witness long and brutal gunfights maybe disappointed as they suddenly appear and disappear quickly. There is plenty of humor and long drawn dialogue as with any Tarantino film. However, it must be said that this film is by no means a failure. Although it may not be a modern day Pulp Fiction, it certainly reeks of Tarantino inventiveness and originality, which yet again provides his audiences with a brilliant film and a terrific good time.

Knowing, a pre-apocalyptic Science Fiction film has all the best and worst qualities that can be expected from this type of film. The film takes a small, undeveloped look at faith versus science, mashes it together with numerology, throws in grief and a ton of alcohol, and then blows it all up with spectacular special effects. Nicolas Cage gives his par for the course attempt at playing John Koestler, an astronomy professor and single father, trying to save the world from certain doom, as he unravels the mystery of a set of numbers that foretell disastrous events. Underneath all this, John is tying to deal with the death of his wife, reconcile his lost faith, and avoid his father who is a pastor. Needless to say, the film has a few too many themes to handle adequately.

Truthfully, there isn’t a whole lot of science in the film. The numerology is not so much hard to swallow as it is unnecessary. Granted, there wouldn’t be a movie if it weren’t for the prophecy that John finds in a string of numbers written fifty years ago by a seriously disturbed little girl, but then maybe the writers could have found a more profound means of delivering it. Perhaps Koestler’s son, who is being haunted by seemingly deranged alien/angel men – that provide the film’s creepy qualities – could have delivered the prophecy himself. That would have taken care of at least one underdeveloped aspect. Or, perhaps he could have discovered it in some biblical reference, while trying to work out his lost faith. In the end, it doesn’t really matter how he came across the prophecy, as nothing can stop the sun from consuming the earth in a blaze of fire.

The Transformers franchise has returned yet again this summer with another popcorn summer blockbuster laden with more special effects and product placement than you can shake a stick at. Fans of the first Transformers film are likely to enjoy Transformers 2 just as much as the first, as it packs in all of the explosions and fast paced action that director Michael Bay is known for. At the same time, this new Transformers film carries all of the same flaws as a typical Bay film, as the movie consists more of a ninety minute hodge podge of titillating CGI action and teeny popper eye candy at the expense of anything resembling a plot.

While the lack of any real substance may mean that most viewers of the film will not be pondering the finer nuances of Transformers 2 during quiet moments of introspection for weeks afterward, it doesn’t mean that the movie doesn’t keep you right on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Film buff snobbery aside, that is just fine, because Transformers 2 is exactly the kind of film you want for easy watching summer time fun. Adults who grew up playing with the original Transformers toys will get a kick out of seeing their favorite childhood heroes in computer generated glory on the big screen, as well as enjoying watching their children’s faces light up in excitement in the eyes of the next generation of Transformers fans. So grab a bucket of popcorn, set your brain to mush, and enjoy the ride.

Here are three of the best dating movies to watch on a date, whether the first or the fiftieth.

“Fifty First Dates” is a surprisingly smart, sensitive dating movie. It has a creative premise based around Drew Barrymore’s character, who suffers a condition in which her short-term memory is wiped clean each morning. A smitten Adam Sandler takes on the challenge of having her fall for him newly, every day. The film deftly blends the magic of first love with the challenges of maintaining a relationship, and the cast portrays that struggle with touching skill.

Another entertaining dating movie is “Hitch” starring Will Smith, who plays a ‘date doctor’ out to counsel struggling men in getting from the first date to a lasting relationship. Smith then meets a reporter played by Eva Mendez, and forgets all his own lessons in his desire to impress her. Dating movies that focus on the male psyche are less common than female-featured stories, and this film does a side splitting job exploring what men do for love, or even for simple acceptance.

The quintessential dating movie is “When Harry Met Sally,” starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. They play the title characters, who meet three times over ten years. Writer Nora Ephron crafts their evolution from awkward acquaintances to fast friends to true lovers. The sparkling dialogue digs into every corner of relationships, from one night stands to marriage. It is not just a superior dating movie, but a modern classic of American film.

War movies typically do well at the box office; their action and drama appeal to American movie audiences. Each year there are a number of war movies made, some are memorable, and some not. The best are those that combine action with a compelling story, or even with a touch of humor. Of the many war movies that have been released over the past ten years, a few stand out as having achieved this objective. They contain enough action to satisfy the action junkies, but also either have a profound message, or are really humorous.

Following are the all time best ten war movies shown in American movie theaters in the past ten years:

Letters from Iwo Jima. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Ken Watanabe, this film tells the story of the epic battle for Iwo Jima from the point of view of the Japanese defenders.

Flags of Our Fathers. This film, also directed by Eastwood, starred Ryan Phillippe and Neal Mcdonough, was based on a book by one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers. It shows the horrors of battle from a very personal perspective.

Charlie Wilson’s War. Technically not a traditional war film, this movie stars Tom Hanks as the controversial Texas congressman Charlie Wilson who supported the resistance to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Black Hawk Down. The story of America’s ill-fated mission in Somalia; stars Ewan McGregor and Josh Hartnett.

Courage under Fire. Oscar winner Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan star in this drama about an officer’s conflict between his duty and his personal feelings.

Memphis Belle. The story of a World War II bomber crew, based on actual events. Mathew Modine and Eric Stoltz star.

Tropic Thunder. An hilarious spoof of Vietnam War films starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey, Jr.

Hotel Rwanda. Don Cheadle stars in this fact-based film about a Rwandan hotel owner who sheltered Tutsis during the murderous genocide in Rwanda. Though not a military movie in the strictest sense of the word, it shows war in all its horror and waste.

Inglorious Basterds. A 2009 release, a story about a group of Jewish-American GI’s in World War II, spreading terror among Nazi troops in France. Stars Brad Pitt.

Braveheart. Mel Gibson stars as a Scottish warrior fighting against English domination.

There was a lot of hype and anticipation when it was announced that Lost create J. J. Abrams was going to helm the new Star Trek film which was to be released in 2009. Many die-hard fans who have affectionately been dubbed Trekkeis either boycotted the movie or were overly excited about it’s release.

The star line-up for the film included actor Chris Pine (Blind Dating, Princess Diaries 2) playing James Tiberius Kirk and Zachary Quinto (Heroes) as Spock as the main characters.

Overall, the film was action packed, despite it’s relatively unknown actors who made this film worth it. I have never seen a Star Trek film or watched the series as they weren’t of my generation, but after seeing this film for the first time, I went back and saw it four more times and began to watch the older versions of the films. The story line was a much different take than I had expected, but it brought to life the characters and how they developed into the heroes of television history as most people know them today.

The movie was well worth the money spent to see it and I will be adding it to the collection of movies I own in the future. Though perhaps it got bad raps at first because it was a different approach on how the famous Spock and Captain Kirk became life-long friends through their radically different child hoods, J. J. Abrams has given fresh life to franchise and now eagerly await the sequel.