娱乐英语新闻:"Avatar" remains atop North America box office for fifth week

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Blockbuster sci-fi epic "Avatar" won yet another victory at North America box office this week, taking in 41.3 million U.S. dollars in ticket sales and waved goodbye to the fifth consecutive week when it maintained its dominance with ease, the North America box office authorities said Sunday.

    The widely-acclaimed fantacy by James Camemon will gross a total of 491.8 million dollars from theaters in Canada and the United States by this weekend, according to estimates released by the authorities.

Actor Sam Worthington, who portrays the character Jake, gets a first look at his avatar, a human-alien hybrid bred from Jake's own DNA, in this undated publicity photograph from a scene in director James Cameron's new film "Avatar."

Camemon walked off the 15th Broadcast Film Critics Association ceremony triumphantly Friday as his hallmark movie won six technological awards -- best action movie, best cinematography, best art direction, best editing, best visual effects and best sound, to become the top winner at the night.

    The second place on the box office was won by "The Book Of Eli," an action-laden Denzel Washington vehicle. The Warner Bros.' post-apocalyptic thriller described how a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. It premiered this weekend with 31.6 million dollars in estimated sales.

Director James Cameron (C) poses with movie goers Mahdroo McCaleb (R) and Sonjia Huirzar at a sold-out midnight screening of Cameron's new film "Avatar: The IMAX 3D Experience" at the AMC 16 IMAX 3D theater in Burbank, California December 17, 2009 in this publicity photograph released December 18.

    The third place was stormed by yet another debut -- "The Lovely Bones" from Paramount with a projected 17.5 million dollars in gross sales. Adapted from Alice Sebold's 2002 novel, the thriller centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family -- and her killer -- from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. This film's popularity has risen by 300 percent this week, the Internet Movie Database said. It has been nominated to the 67th Golden Globes that will give out their awards Sunday evening in Hollywood.

    The No. 4 and No. 5 positions were occupied by two leftovers from last four weeks. "Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," Fox, took in 11.5 million dollars this weekend and 192.6 million dollars over four weeks. "Sherlock Holmes," Warner Bros., fetched 9.8 million dollars this weekend and 180 million dollars over four weeks.