Ah, January. A time when Mother Nature takes a few whacks at us lowly humans by beating us silly with all kinds of nasty weather (at least here in the Northern Part of the US, anyway). Lately, she's been playing with us by giving us warm weather, and then taking it away, only to replace it with cold and rain. We might actually see snow for the first time in a month and a half. Nature can be cruel sometimes.

But so can the box office! Just look at the list of today's new releases, and with the knowledge that a horror flick set in Africa is the biggest release of the weekend, you'll feel a little battered around inside the theater as well as out.

Horror-thriller Primeval opens in over 2,400 screens, but that still puts it in fourth place behind Night at the Museum, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Charlotte's Web, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. If you weren't inspired by Hillary Swank in last week's Freedom Writers, you've got another chance with Stomp the Yard, which is a story about a young man overcoming the death of his brother, going to college, and helping his fraternity win a step dancing competition.

Also new this week is Arthur and the Invisibles, an animated fantasy tale about a boy who tries to save his grandmother's home. Rounding out the list of wide releases is Alpha Dog, which is a drama from Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook, John Q) about a young boy who gets wrapped up in his older brother's troubles, and adapts to his new situation, only for things to go from bad to worse.

So, just like the weather, maybe things aren't as bad as they initially seem. Plus, while one person grumbles about not having any snow (that would be me), another rejoices in the fact that he doesn't have to shovel it or drive in it. I guess it's all a matter of perspective!

Have fun at the movies this weekend, and don't forget to write those Reader Reviews!