Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Tuesday December 30 2003— C3 SHERMANS LAGOON ‘Return of the King’ No 1 for second week HeRr&amtm FtUMMVtmiPem ncuzr Kmw&oNi OfmCOKNYtON&tOM noRmurrntim LOS ANGELES (AP) — The final install-meof ‘‘The Lord of the Rings" trilogy con- tinued to reign at the box office despite a handful of new openings as Hollywood had its best Christmas weekend ever ‘“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” pulled in $5 1 2 million in ticket sales for a total of $224 million since opening two 1 weeks ago according to studio estimates “ released Sunday The fantasy film also posted the best Christ- mas Day gross of ahy current movie $146 million y1 Out of the gate the movie also has out- stripped the nrst two chapters of the trilogy It look just 1 1 days to cross the $200 million ' mark — one day less than pah two “The Two Towers’V'- ': y Four movies opened oyer the holiday week- -' end including “Cheaper by the Dozen" The : Steve Martin comedy was No' 2 with $282 ' million over the weekend' War The Civil epic “Cold Mountain" opened : in third place with $145 million The '2 1 movie opened on 2167 screens action movie ' “Paycheck? a summer-styl-e ' million and with “Peter Pan" a $139 opened live-actiretelling of the classic sUiry ' grossed $1 14 million ' The total estimated weekend box office receipts for the top dozen pictures was $1686 v ' million a record said Paul Dergarabedian president of box-offitracking company ' Exhibitor Relations The top 1 2 movies over ' the same weekend Idst year pulled in $1559 million or 82 percent less he said The range of new openings in wide release the opportunity to catch up on older movies and the “Lord of the Rings' finale combined to make it “a perfect Christmas weekend at the movies” Dergarabedian said : '“Hollywood would love a Christmas like 'this next year'' he said ' “Return of the King" directed by Peter Jackson wraps up the trilogy based on JRR Tolkien's epic adventure of hobbits wizards ' humans elves and dwarves battling for control The of the mythical realm of Middle-eart- ensemble cast includes Elijah Wood Ian McK- ellenViggo Mortensen and CateBlanchelt' ’ “They have had a major investment in the1 characters over the last few years They are v waiting for the dramatic ending" said Rolf and chief officer Mittweg president operating for New Line which distributed the movie “Cold Mountain" an $80 million epic directed by Oscar-winnAnthony Minghella: features an ensemble cast led by Nicole Kid-- : man also an Academy Award winner It co- - ' ’ stare Jude Law and Renee Zellweger both previous Oscar nominees The filnfi is adapted from Charles Frazier’s Civil War best seller of the same name It is a reimagining of Homer's “The Odyssey" in which a wounded Confederate deserter ( Law ) makes his way home to his sweetheart (Kid- - v man) “That’s a film that will still he around when Oscarnominations 'are announced" in late Jan- -' uary Dergarabedian said “Return of the King" meanwhile could go on to become the second movie to top $i bil- - y lion worldwide after 1 997's “Titanic” ($18 billion) By Sunday it already had taken in $492 million according to New Line esti-v- nt CATHY ' ' r- IURETWW HOU It FOR ' UNE AM MOTHER THE TORCH FATHERS M MTOEAS PASS TOE RECEIPT KE1UMEDHKMAN0 WLL UKE ORE DAY RETURN WK'IOUR CHILD! UHEN ITS HOUR TORMJ HOtflL BE REAM andmWu KMOvO ENRCnN HURT TO DO BEETLE BAILEY er ' ed ur 4 ‘ ’ on mates “Elf? slipped to the bottom of the top 10 list — a strong showing all Ihesame for a movie in its eighth week of release Dergarabedian said : The Christmas comedy starring Will Ferrell has taken iii$1649 million Estimated' ticket sales for Friday through ‘ ' Sunday at North American theaters according to Exhibitor Relations Co jnc: L “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" $5 2 million 2 “Cheaper By the Dozen" $282 million ' 3: “Cold Mountain" $145 million 4 “Something’s Gotta Give? $ 1 42 million' J ' 5 “Paycheck” $i 39 million 6 “Mona Lisa Smile" $1 5 million V ' 7 Pan” $114 million Last Samurai" $84 million : : 9 “Bad Sanfa” $45 million ' lO! “Elf” $43 million: ce : HAGAR THE HORRIBLE r 1 '' 1 - Shoshono Trail novel by David J Hawkes A voice broke up the revelry' “You're going to" fire all over'NowiHitside with both of V "j M-- ormng brought colder weather and six inches of snow Shaking off the dusting of snow that had sifted through the top of the shelter-MorostIITcd around in the coals of last night s fire Finding a few glowing coals he placed some dry bark-anbits of wood next to them and gently blew on the tinder After a few tries he had a small blaze going From under the buffalo robe Sarah and Sam offered their morning greetings 'kick the you" i - MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM : - “ rnThe' mn i‘tuft‘ 'of driid 1 -- tol' mliungry-'svlitateniebHntp- WIN THE VARSITT BASEBALL MVP SET A PERFECTS 1MO SCORE ON MT SATO AND MAKE MY SED EVERT M0RNM6 HtltSM'tlNf Rssoumom PLANNED?- - To ' BEFORE School shouldnT THEY SCAT ' LEAST i MB4HT REALISTIC? YOU'RE RIGHT SCRATCH : THAT LAST ONE' I too-le- s i- biscuits yesterdayL : - face Moroni said Well on A hurt I'll just go chKk on the tones " Then laugh- - rng he reached over and grabbed Sam and : began fielding him along the ribs Howling and squirming Sam tried to get away but to no avail “Hey you two” Sarah’s REAL LIFE ADVENTURES it ISHOP TOSeTHf WHEN ou HAT HUSBANDS POD US kH4T euek Bad tast thcv hav ’ Win through filing watching ly lin5 Sam looked up at CoiHng Moroni "I don't think the fish are biting? See tomorrow's ofthisstory “ Look — HeraW journal for the next installment " “ r thaimtont: The defense went diamond ruff heart ip the ace ' diamond ruff at the full deal North ’arid South were two Polish " in a slow spot’ in the half-hearted- at bridge By Phillip Alder Vr IS AiVCJlDUeD TO 6eTHeJ2 THeY IN&IVlDUAL HN CLOSE TO HOME O at bejng ptished “Ow! Ma!” from the warm bed He tried for all he was motr W!?1 reason snow thefish weren t going td be bit- ' " in8i Vj ght' Moron said a on 1 j“st pa!bscults ? f9ra 8° hunt'ng ''Sam answered nibca bing his hands over the fire juidsam “I'll tell you what" Sandisaid crawling puf from under the blanket and robe “why don t thSuVhis me cook? I m tired of being waited t's Grinning at the boy he said ’Me Moroni said that Shrugging wh your has fixed to eat” if Sarah wanted to do the cooking that was v °k' kle V h wa‘sl 1 a very 8®° Late in the afternoon 'the sun finally shone ou kinda burned the Sam the clouds- Moroni was : m 60M0 ra'ils'Moroni we can make if It won't be easy but if we am careful we can be in a month or so? : Mon)ni led the appaloosa to a new patch of grassj sticking up through the fresh snow Watching Sam lead the mare he could tell that she was mulsuic from the accident in the river Running his hand up her leg Moroni could feel swelling had gone down but she Still a limped bit Well she would probably be oka? he thought: The mare would be calming a pack of only about seventy or eijghty pounds Npt a heavy load but it would take a burden from the stallion who Wo’iild be carrying Sarah ' - yes- j “ f 1 FOXTROT : world champions but surely v Do you think that experts ' : 'CNEAl-20b3V I never make mistakes? I hope " when North rebid five clubs North should South four hearts not tot Do you think' experts AA:iPS 3 2 have known that the heart ace never make really expensive ' ' ' and settled was missing for mistakes? If you do read on B'7 6 'a five orsix spades Fust look at the West hand a t : Now let’s turn to West He ? ” In the auction North's four-clu- b Host ! : West' ' :' would be ace the club knew a was splinter response J 73 ruffed He thought there was a V A t0 8 4 3 bid stowing a singleton or TP 7 B p 2: risk the heart ace Would be void in clubs with at least 10 9 3 2 ' So lead a four-car- d did he too: A and 4 3 2 A Q J 8 7 6 v trumped spade support diamond? No way! He selectvalues His five-- game-goin- g 'South ed a “clever? low dubA K Q 9 6 4 club rebid guaranteed a club TP VDeclarer ruffed in the dummy 'void South’s four diamonds K Q- 'vy:--12 : “IA and claimed immediately and five hearts promised first- ' j 'K ip a Them tricks five spades and controls in or second-roun- d seven diamonds those suits! What would you - v-- Dealer South At another table South lead? yulnerable: East-Wes- t is-one club with '' : deal prom occurred during This opened South 'wevt':- North Kaot the 1996 China Cup held in ing justl6 points ormore PM'"- 4 A '''1A dia-- 4 Pass S APai Beijing Have you decided V North responded two ' TP All pat 5 natural1 When ': mends Pur 7 A would so they you change yet? If also reached seven spades Opening lead: ?? Edst doubled West knew what V A-- J 4' '' K'-J'-- t- - - ' : : “ -- -- "Weil how did R go wtth ttw cat? Were you aMie : rubbing the appaloosa between the ears “Moroni? Sam asked Vdo you think we are ' really going to make it back home?" then down at looking the'adfeed: Pausing anWendi -- out from under the covers walked over to where they had picketed' the two horses the night before- Seeing Slim and Moroni approaching the stud and the little sorr jg theirgreetings: ““Good morning sir” Moroni said absently r ' "And what would you two- like for break- fastT' Moroni cheerfully “HoW about fresh trout oaught by our bes provider Sam?" s l°°out there Sam mumbled robe the (Ww his head : tok pulhng “Out with you Sarah said pushing her spn and Sam Ernerging from - -- -- Pa' |