‘V for Vendetta’ claims victory at box office

Los Angeles – Audiences were in a rebellious mood, lifting the action tale “V for Vendetta” to the top spot at the weekend box office with a $26.1 million debut.

The Warner Bros. film, which stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving in a story of revolution against a totalitarian British government, bumped off the previous weekend’s box-office leaders.

Paramount’s romantic comedy “Failure to Launch,” which debuted at No. 1, slipped to second place with $15.8 million, raising its 10-day domestic total to $48.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Disney’s family remake “The Shaggy Dog,” which premiered at No. 2, fell to third with $13.6 million, lifting its 10-day total to $35.9 million.

This weekend’s other new wide release, Paramount’s “She’s the Man,” opened in fourth with $11 million. The romance stars Amanda Bynes as a teen disguising herself as a male to play on a boys’ soccer team in a modern update of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

Fox Searchlight’s tobacco-industry satire “Thank You for Smoking” opened to huge numbers in limited release, grossing $260,066 at five theaters for a whopping $52,013 average a cinema. By comparison, “V for Vendetta” averaged $7,767 in 3,365 theaters.

Starring Aaron Eckhart as a spin doctor for cigarette companies, “Thank You for Smoking” gradually expands into nationwide release through April 7.

Overall box office revenue continued a monthlong decline, with the top-12 movies taking in $93.8 million, down 11 percent from the same weekend last year, when “The Ring Two” opened with $35.1 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.:

1. “V for Vendetta,” $26.1 million.

2. “Failure to Launch,” $15.8 million.

3. “The Shaggy Dog,” $13.6 million.

4. “She’s the Man,” $11 million.

5. “The Hills Have Eyes,” $8.1 million.

6. “16 Blocks,” $4.7 million.

7. “Eight Below,” $4.2 million.

8. “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion,” $3 million.

9. “The Pink Panther,” $2.5 million.

10. “Aquamarine,” $2 million.

Charles, Camilla to tour Middle East, India

London – Prince Charles and wife Camilla are to leave today for a two-week tour of the Middle East and India, officials said.

The Prince of Wales and the former Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, are scheduled to make stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India.

The tour aims to improve Britain’s profile and promote interfaith tolerance and the prince’s environmental initiatives, according to a statement from the prince’s office.

The royals will start in Egypt, where they are to lay a wreath at war graves in El Alamein and attend an exhibition of Islamic art. From there, they will travel to Saudi Arabia to attend meetings on education and work training.

Their tour wraps up in India, where the pair will attend the British high commissioner’s annual reception for diplomats, politicians and businessmen.

Injunction extended on Kid Rock tape

Detroit – Attorneys for Kid Rock and a California company have reached a tentative agreement to extend a judge’s order blocking the release of an explicit sex video featuring the rap-rocker, former Creed singer Scott Stapp and four women.

Under the agreement, the temporary injunction would remain in effect without the necessity of another court hearing, according to William Horton, an attorney for Rock who spoke to The Detroit News.

Paperwork to permanently block the release of the tape is expected to be filed early this week, the newspaper said.

Attorneys for the company, World Wide Red Light District, did not return messages left Saturday seeking comment.

Last month, federal Judge John Feikens in Detroit signed a temporary order that stopped the company from distributing or promoting the tape.

Kid Rock’s attorneys sued Red Light, which made headlines in 2004 by distributing the Paris Hilton sex video. The lawsuit sought a permanent court order halting sale or distribution of the video.

Stapp also has filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles to stop the company from selling or promoting the video. And a woman who claims to be involved in the video has sued Stapp for invasion of privacy.

Making things happen

Winston-Salem, N.C. – Ned Beatty says he sees himself as a quintessential character actor.

Although the leading man may get the girl, he said, as a character actor, “you make things happen. … You drive the story on.”

Beatty, who has appeared in more than 100 films, accepted the Master of Cinema award Saturday at the 2006 RiverRun International Film Festival.

He discussed his role in the 1972 adventure-thriller “Deliverance.” His character underwent an unforgettably vivid sexual assault. “The whole ‘squeal-like-a-pig’ thing … came from guess who?” Beatty said.

As the audience laughed, he theatrically put his head in his hands and silently pointed to himself. Beatty then explained how director John Boorman encouraged him to improvise the scene with Bill McKinney, his on-screen tormenter.

Despite identifying himself as a character actor, “I think I look like a leading man,” Beatty joked.