The San Francisco Chronicle called the movie “completely ridiculous.”

The Washington Post said it was “just plain nuts.”

The New York Post said audiences would be “sorely disappointed with this bloodless PG-13 adventure.”

The USA Today called it a “bombastic bore.”

Despite the hurling of insults by film critics, the public ignored the gibes and flocked to theaters anyway. The cavemen confrontations with woolly mammoths, saber toothed tigers and other prehistoric predators were just too compelling.

The flick was #1 right out of the box, with a weekend take just shy of $36 mill in North America and just over $25 mill overseas.

In the most explicit terms, the Newark Star Ledger warned anyone who was even thinking of seeing the film to “Yabba-dabba-don’t.”

In a clear response, no doubt to the chagrin of film critics across the nation, the public “Yabba-dabba did.”

Mostly shunned at the 80th Annual Academy Awards was the uplifting, light-hearted surprise hit “Juno” (won Best Original Screenplay), but honored with major awards were two dark and violent offerings; this despite the fact that “Juno” had a significantly greater box-office take than any of its competitors.

“No Country for Old Men,” a story about an insane murderer, took Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture trophies, while “There Will Be Blood,” the tale of a brutally sadistic oil tycoon, was the recipient of Best Cinematography and Best Actor gold statues.

Hollywood ignored the box-office and turned a blind’s eye to a recent Reuters/E-Poll survey as well, one in which “Juno” beat the competition again. In a poll of 1,100 adults, 29% of respondents chose “Juno” for best picture, 25% picked “No Country For Old Men” and 20% “Atonement.”

More significantly, the survey confirmed the growing gap between fans and Academy voters. About 72% said the Academy’s best film choices were influenced by critics and Hollywood insiders.

James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor and teacher of mass media law at Biola University.

The abhorrent movie from Lionsgate brought in $32.1 million last weekend, the second highest opening of the “Saw” films, which have been released every Halloween weekend since 2004.

Hollywood will no doubt continue to churn out more of the big-screen garbage. “Saw” (2004) opened with $18.2 million, “Saw II” (2005) $31.7 million and “Saw III” (2006) $33.6 million.

In stark contrast, “Bella,” a life affirming movie from Roadside Attractions, opened with the second highest per screen take, with more than $8,000 per theater.

“Bella” was only on 165 screens.

That number should swiftly expand if Hollywood execs are paying attention.

In torture of the terrorism related kind, the Fox hit “24” has alarmed critics on the Left with its counterterrorist characters and their willingness to use extreme measures when dealing with terrorists in trying to save countless lives.

The show appears to be taking its critics head-on.

In scenes from a trailer promoting the show’s seventh season, Kiefer Sutherland’s character, agent Jack Bauer, appears in front of a governmental panel that is investigating his past actions, including harsh treatment of terrorism suspects.

“Don’t expect me to regret the decisions that I have made, because sir, the truth is, I don’t,” Bauer says in the scene.

In another segment, Bauer is preparing to interrogate a suspect when a female official gives him free rein.

“Do whatever it takes. Torture him if you have to,” the woman says.

Although “Dreamgirls” got the most noms (8) the musical was left out of the Best Picture category.

“Babel,” “The Departed,” “Letters from Iwo Jima,” “Little Miss Sunshine” and “The Queen” were nominated for every Hollywood producer’s dream award for the 2007 version of the Academy Awards.

Even after snagging a Golden Globe, the academy snubbed the Motown muscial.

The surprise flick of the awards season has to be the indy phenom, “Little Miss Sunshine,” which received an impressive four major noms: supporting actor, supporting actress, screenplay and picture. The comedy is now in position to be this year’s “Crash.”

The questions on everyone’s lips are, “Will Al Gore accept the Best Documentary award for “An Inconvenient Truth” and “What will he do when the music starts playing.?”
The 79th Annual Academy Awards are scheduled to be presented Feb. 25. Ellen DeGeneres will host the ABC telecast.