Like last week, this week brings a lowly two wide releases to the nation. Your choices this week are targeting two different audiences. One promises a few splashes of the red stuff, and maybe a few fleshy treats; on the other hand, we get a comedy that promises a dosing of gross-out humor and over the top slapstick. Which one is going to win your cinematic dollar?

Hannibal Rising. (2007, 117 minutes, R, thriller, trailer) This could go either way. I am actually not sure whether or not it will be any good. Of course, I hope it will be good. This movie chronicles the formative years of our favorite helpful serial killer. This will be the first time that Hannibal will be a full on bad guy, I think. In the other films he was a bad guy, no doubt, but he was instrumental in the discovery of other sinister forces. Ah, I can't lie, I'm looking forward to seeing some creepy grue on the screen.

Norbit. (2007, 90 minutes, PG-13, comedy, trailer) Following his wonderful turn in Dreamgirls, we get back to the funny side of Eddie Murphy. Without seeing this, I have to say it looks funny — stupid, but funny. Murphy plays a trio of roles, Norbit, his hefty fiancee, and his adoptive father. Norbit is a nerdy guy engaged to an overbearing and oversized woman when he meets the girl of his dreams, played by Thandie Newton. Could be goofy fun, or it could be a tedious bore. Let's hope for the former.

Little Children. (2006, 130 minutes, PG-13, drama, trailer) This Oscar nominee is making its way to my area this week. It is coming to a new arthouse that I found a few weeks back. It stars Kate Winslet and concerns the intersecting lives of a group of married couples. I do not know a lot about the film, other than I hear it has a very good script and a show-stealing performance from Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley.

Also opening this week, but not near me:

• Black Friday
• The Last Sin Eater
• The Lives of Others

Box Office Predictions

I think that the skin-wearing serial killer is going to have a strong showing. It has been a little over four years since Red Dragon opened with over $36 million; now I don't think Hannibal Rising will soar that high, but there is no doubt that the character has a certain allure. Eddie Murphy always is a pretty good draw — his last live action starring film was Haunted Mansion in 2003, and it opened to the tune of $24 million. Both of the new films should have good openings. That leaves the rest of field open.

Here is how I think the top ten field will play out:

What are you seeing this weekend?