But there is no time to rest in Fantasy Moguls! Films keep opening, leagues keep moving, so you players should carry on strategizing and spending your money on the good horses. As usual, I am here to humbly help you see clearer in the ocean of limited releases, to help you be less lackadaisical (I love the word) about your arthouse options, and more energic, more ready to conquer the world (well, at least the Fantasy Moguls world). This week, I will be catching up with a March 7 release that popped up in the new season, as well as discussing two 2008 Sundance Film Festival entries opening March 14. And away we go!

I am sure there are many fans of Stephen Chow around these shores. The Chinese comedian/director who exploded on the international scene with Shaolin Soccer, then confirmed his newfound stardom in 2004 with Kung Fu Hustle, is back. Chow's new comedy, CJ7 (March 7), has a high concept, absurd humor, and lots of special effects — everything we like, right?

Chow, an actor in Chinese cinema since the early '80s, has worked less and less frequently in front of the camera these last few years, and more and more often behind it. He's been a writer, a director and lately a producer (he's producing the Dragonball movie). In fact, CJ7 is Chow's first film as director or actor since Kung Fu Hustle in 2004! So admirers of the energetic and comedic talents he flashed in films like From Beijing With Love, as well as Soccer and Hustle, probably can't hardly wait (J-Lo Hewitt reference!) to discover his new project.

CJ7 may surprise some, as it seems clearly more oriented to younger audiences. This is a PG-rated, family-friendly picture, whereas Chow's previous films were more aimed at the 15-35 male crowd. Those viewers should still take notice of Chow's name, but may not rush to see the story of a poor man who offers his kid a strange pet from outer space. CJ7 opened a few weeks ago in China and drew a very large audience, but don't expect its U.S. launch, probably in a dozen or so New York and Los Angeles theaters, to generate the same level of interest the film played to in China.

In late 2004 and early 2005, everyone was talking about Kung Fu Hustle, which opened to $269,000 on just 7 screens. The PTA score was huge, the buzz was higher than the Everest, and the film went on to gross $17 million at the U.S. box office. Don't expect this kind of success for CJ7. At best you're gonna end up with $3-4 million, two or three PTA points, and a User Rating around 7 (most likely just under). Of course, the interesting factor here is that the Sony Pictures Classics release has a very affordable $6 price tag in Ultimate Movie Moguls leagues (it's just $2 in Box Office Moguls, where it's pretty much useless). An honest price.

One film I think Fantasy Moguls is overrating a bit is Sleepwalking (March 14). $17.7 million at the box-office?! Three Top 5 points?!! Allow me to cool down Fantasy Moguls's hype on this particular picture. I'll admit that, on paper, Sleepwalking looks promising, mostly because of its cast: Charlize Theron (also a producer), Woody Harrelson, Dennis Hopper, Nick Stahl, and rising young actress AnnaSophia Robb, who for once is not irritating (she was the heroine of the surprising Bridge to Terabithia).

All those good actors team up for an R-rated drama following a 12-year-old girl, abandoned by her mother, who ends up in the care of her uncle. The uncle decides to go back home with his niece to his rancher father. The film was an official entry at this year's Sundance Film Festival, and if people had  gushed about it in Park City, then maybe one could have envisioned a triumphant release. But there just wasn't much passion for Sleepwalking at Sundance. Sure, the current IMDb User Rating is a glorious 8.2, but with less than 100 votes. More importantly, the reviews out of the festival have been so-so.

For first-time filmmaker Bill Maher, a second unit director on The Chumscrubber (which shares its screenwriter with Sleepwalking), it's still a good start into feature films. But he almost certainly would have had more success with a more experienced and skillful distributor than Overture Films, which took a cold shower a few weeks ago with the disappointing release of Mad Money. In Box Office leagues, don't even think about paying $5 for Sleepwalking.

The film has more of a shot at being a good investment in Ultimate leagues, but one still has to be cautious when grabbing Sleepwalking for $9. I can't picture the film opening wide enough to grab any Top 5 points. Depending on the number of locations on opening weekend (the lower the better), it might collect two or three PTA points, and, although the presently sky-high User Rating might be misleading, the film should still be able to linger in the high 6s at the very least. Bottom line: Watch carefully for the reviews and release pattern before grabbing this one.

If you want to play it risky, take a chance on Funny Games (March 14), Michael Haneke's American remake of his own ... Funny Games, made in his native Austria more than 10 years ago. (Okay, technically he is German-born. But he grew up in Austria. Schwarzy, if you're reading this ... well, no, nothing in fact.) At first, the film was set to be released last October, but Warner Independent decided instead to hold back and dip into the 2008 Sundance Film Festival first. Perhaps to let the buzz build, or maybe because they just felt it would be go unnoticed in the hotly contested fall season.

Anyway here it is, fresh off a number of festival triumphs. Funny Games is most definitely an eagerly awaited film. Why? Well, first of all because Michael Haneke is quite a name in European cinema: An Austrian auteur, well-known for his sulfurous films, not afraid of exhibiting rough violence and crude sex, Haneke is a sort of cinematic cousin of Paul Verhoeven. Benny's Video, Code Unknown, The Piano Teacher and Hidden are some of the films that forged his reputation for controversy, also garnering a few prestigious prizes in film festivals, often at Cannes.

Haneke's original Funny Games, released in 1997, in Austria, caused an uproar because of its shocking violence. More than 10 years later, Haneke took a trip across the Atlantic Ocean and made his first American movie (although still co-produced in Europe), an almost shot-by-shot reenactment of Funny Games. For those who haven't seen the first film, the story follows a family on vacation that's held hostage by two angel-faced, but devilish young men. Brady Corbet and the always excellent Michael Pitt play the two very dangerous psychopaths, while Tim Roth (after his terrific turn in the underrated Youth Without Youth) and Naomi Watts (offering some star power to the film) play the besieged couple.

Haneke's films that arrive in theaters with strong buzz and a lot of curiosity usually end up with strong User Ratings, a few PTA points ... and less than $5 million in total receipts. This time, the allure of seeing Haneke tackle an English language remake, as well as the the glamor factor supplied by Watts, will surely help Funny Games sell more tickets than Haneke's films usually do.

Although I'm not convinced at all the film has what it takes to drive itself to a $19 million take at the box office, I think it could flirt with $10 million. The one Top 5 point Fantasy Moguls is predicting seems unlikely, but Funny Games should have no trouble grabbing 4 PTA points, and a solid User Rating, above 7. It's not a small investment though, as it has been assigned a $14 price tag in Ultimate leagues, and $8 in Box Office. Most definitely risky ... but a tempting risk, I must say.

And ... no, in fact, that's it for this week. A Chinese comedy, an American drama, and Naomi Watts in another remake (The Ring, King Kong), nice program. Next week shouldn't be too bad either, as the Mexican drama Under the Same Moon, and especially the French musical drama Love Songs, will be on the agenda. Spectator relfections of the week: Brian De Palma's Redacted is probably the most powerful film made about the current war in Iraq, while Kenneth Branagh's Sleuth is a stylish and fascinating surprise. Both were unjustly neglected by U.S. moviegoers last year. Chers amis, bonsoir! Personal note: Rico/Nico, all my thoughts are with you in this difficult time.

Indie Jones is preparing to direct a French language, shot-for-shot remake of one of his columns ... just as soon as Naomi Watts's agent starts returning his phone calls. Fantasy Moguls predicts two Top 5 points, four or five PTA point, and a User Rating in the 7-8 range. Tell Indie how much you'd pay to have that on your slate at danceswiththearthouse@gmail.com.