December Movies: Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, Invictus, Lovely Bones and..

[Mark Vader]

The month of December brings the Holiday season to an end and brings about the end of the year. Which brings more big name titles, actors, directors, and studios who want to get those final Oscar nominees in before the deadline. From action to drama, comedy to adventure and family to sci-fi, once again there will be just a little bit of everything for moviegoers.

 

Of all the big names out there this month, there has been one name that has been absent from movie theatres in over a decade: James Cameron. The director known for big titles, big budgets and big box office makes his long awaited return to the silver screen with “Avatar”. The story involves a band of humans that are pitted in a battle against a distant planet's indigenous population. The big draw to this movie is obviously Cameron’s return to a subject matter that his loyal fanbase loves. Previews show spectacular special effects, which will make the story secondary. However, if the story pays off, then word of mouth could make this film an even bigger hit than anticipated.

Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang and Giovanni Ribisi.

 

After making a big comeback in a big titled comic book actioner in last year’s “Iron Man”, Robert Downey Jr., now takes on a more literary character, but with still a large amount of action in “Sherlock Homes”. Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England. Placing a character like Holmes in a more action setting has raised some eyebrows from purists, but the big name cast has become very appealing, as this film looks set to score big at the box office. Also starring Jude Law and Rachel McAdams.

 

Making what seems to be an annual bid for Oscar is director Clint Eastwood with his latest offering, “Invictus”. A look at life of Nelson Mandela after the fall of apartheid in South Africa during his first term as president when campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup event as an opportunity to unite his countrymen. Eastwood’s movies usually draw raves and awards, and this may be no different. Starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

 

It’s been a few years since we last heard from director Peter Jackson, as he brings his latest to the big screen with “The Lovely Bones”. Based on the best selling novel from Alice Sebold, young Susie watches over her family from "the in-between" as they deal with the aftermath of her brutal rape and murder. Starring Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci.

 

Walt Disney Pictures finally returns to it’s roots with it’s latest tradional 2-D animated film “The Princess and the Frog”. A fairy tale centered on a young girl named Princess Tiana who lives in New Orleans French Quarter during the Jazz Age. Starring the voice talents of Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Terrence Howard, John Goodman, Oprah Winfrey and Bruno Campos.

 

Director Rob Marshall is in charge of another musical movie, “Nine”. Famous film director Guido Contini struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Stacy Ferguson and Kate Hudson.

 

Jake Gyllenhall, Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire headline, “Brothers”. Sam Cahill returns from being held as a prisoner-of-war in Afghanistan to find that his ex-con brother has become the man, of sorts, of the household where Sam's wife, Grace had been living under the assumption that she was a widow.

 

Robert De Niro stars in “Everybody’s Fine”. A widower takes an impromptu road trip in order to reconnect with his grown children, only to discover that his family members are living far from perfect lives. Also starring Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and Drew Barrymore.

 

George Clooney stars in “Up in the Air”. Ryan Bingham is a corporate-downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he's met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams. Also starring Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman and Sam Elliot.

 

“It’s Complicated”, is a romantic comedy in which two men vie for the affection of the same woman. Starring Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep.

 

Terry Gilliam brings us, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”, A story-telling doctor's deal with the devil sends him scrambling to save his daughter on the eve of her 16th birthday. Starring Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Lily Cole and Christopher Plummer.

 

In “Armored”, A newbie guard for an armored truck company is coerced by his veteran coworkers to steal a truck containing $42 million. But a wrinkle in their supposedly foolproof plan divides the group, leading to a potentially deadly resolution. Starring Columbus Short, Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne.

 

“A Single Man” takes place in Los Angeles, where an English professor whose partner recently passed away tries to go about his day in typical fashion. Starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Matthew Goode.

 

In “Did You Hear About The Morgans?”, In New York City, an estranged couple who witness a murder are relocated to small-town Wyoming as part of a witness-protection program. Starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen.

 

In “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squekquel”, Alvin, Simon and Theodore must put aside music superstardom and return to school, where they look to win a $25,000 prize in a battle of the bands contest in order to save their school's music program. But the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match in three singing chipmunks known as The Chipettes -- Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette. Starring Jason Lee, Zachary Levi and Drew Barrymore.

 

In “The Slammin Salmon”, Cleon Salmon, a former prizefighter turned restaurateur, hatches a plan to repay his debts to a Yakuza gang: for one night, the waiter who sells the most food wins $10,000 -- the loser, however, gets a beating from Cleon himself. Starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Jay Chandrasekhar and Kevin Heffernan.

 

“Transylmania” is a horror comedy that follows a group of college kids who travel to Transylvania for a semester at Razvan University, which isn't as picturesque (or safe) as it appeared on its brochure. Starring Patrick Cavanaugh, James DeBello and Tony Denman.

 

Calendar with Trailers.

 

12/4

“Armored”: http://www.armoredmovie.com/

 

“Brothers”: http://www.brothersfilm.com/

 

“Everybody’s Fine”: http://www.everybodysfinemovie.com/

 

“Up in the Air”: http://www.theupintheairmovie.com/

 

“Transylmania”: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810109899/info

 

12/11

“The Princess and the Frog”: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/

 

“Invictus”: http://invictusmovie.warnerbros.com/

 

“The Lovely Bones”: http://www.lovelybones.com/#home

 

“A Single Man”: http://www.weinsteinco.com/#/film/a_single_man

 

“The Slammin’ Salmon”: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi292226329/

 

12/18

“Did You Hear About The Morgans?”: http://www.didyouhearaboutthemorgans.com/

 

“Avatar”: http://www.avatarmovie.com/

 

“Nine”: http://www.nine-movie.com/#/home-page

 

12/23

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squekquel”: http://www.munkyourself.com/

 

 

12/25

“It’s Complicated”: http://www.itscomplicatedmovie.com/

 

“Sherlock Homes”: http://sherlock-holmes-movie.warnerbros.com/

 

“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”: http://www.sonyclassics.com/theimaginariumofdoctorparnassus/

 

That's all for now. Independent Films will be posted later. Enjoy!

[WellDressed]

mmmmm Sherlock Holmes. Hopefully NOT chock full of action scenes.

[Wooderson]

I'm excited to see what Avatar ends up being like. I've heard that he's been wanting to do the movie for like the past 15 years.

[DC Tom]

In “Did You Hear About The Morgans?”, In New York City, an estranged couple who witness a murder are relocated to small-town Wyoming as part of a witness-protection program. Starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen.

 

I cannot WAIT to avoid this movie like the plague, and mock anyone who goes to see it.

[EC-Bills]

I cannot WAIT to avoid this movie like the plague, and mock anyone who goes to see it.

 

In other words, your wife is going to make you watch it with her.

[Just Jack]

mmmmm Sherlock Holmes. Hopefully NOT chock full of action scenes.

I've seen enough advertising (previews, commercials, posters) that I've already decided I'm not gonna see it.

 

I'm wondering if anyone else has felt the same, meaning you see so much advertising for a film that while you might have seen it, now you don't want to.

[The Poojer]

lovely bones was a great book, not sure how it will adapt to the movies though.....

[/dev/null]

I'm excited to see what Avatar ends up being like. I've heard that he's been wanting to do the movie for like the past 15 years.

 

I've heard that it sucked the first time when Kevin Costner did it

[Mark Vader]

I've seen enough advertising (previews, commercials, posters) that I've already decided I'm not gonna see it.

 

I'm wondering if anyone else has felt the same, meaning you see so much advertising for a film that while you might have seen it, now you don't want to.

There was a lot of advertising for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen this past summer and that did not deter people from seeing it.

[Just Jack]

There was a lot of advertising for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen this past summer and that did not deter people from seeing it.

But the way I'm looking at it is someone that may be borderline about seeing a movie, can be swayed either way based on the amount of advertising. It seems all the stuff I've seen for SH makes it out to be an action movie, not the intellectual movie I would expect being Sherlock Holmes.

[Mark Vader]

But the way I'm looking at it is someone that may be borderline about seeing a movie, can be swayed either way based on the amount of advertising. It seems all the stuff I've seen for SH makes it out to be an action movie, not the intellectual movie I would expect being Sherlock Holmes.

And you would be correct in your analysis. This is not going to be your typical Sherlock Holmes movie, and Warner Bros. and Guy Ritchie want it that way. They are not going for purists, but a younger crowd who crave action instead of prognostication.

 

We shall see how audiences respond.

[The Poojer]

damn, this is a guy ritchie film? has he done anything that didn't suck?

 

And you would be correct in your analysis. This is not going to be your typical Sherlock Holmes movie, and Warner Bros. and Guy Ritchie want it that way. They are not going for purists, but a younger crowd who crave action instead of prognostication.

 

We shall see how audiences respond.

[EasternOHBillsFan]

mmmmm Sherlock Holmes. Hopefully NOT chock full of action scenes.

 

Sherlock Holmes looks a LOT like Wild, Wild West... it will probably be an enormous flop, and lambasted everywhere for ruining another great franchise. When I saw the trailer, I wanted to reach through the TV and strangle the people involved in this movie- Sherlock Holmes in a 19th century UFC-style cage match?! Are you SERIOUS?!?! Morphine addicts don't go around acting like stuntmen.

 

I hate you, Sherlock Holmes movie people.

[FluffHead]

I saw Avatar today. I was blown away. This movie was REALLY good, IMO. The visuals were probably the best I have ever seen, and the story was good. The 3D technology was awesome. Do everything you can to see this movie in IMAX 3D because the visuals are the best part. But like I said, the story didn't disapoint. I hope they make all movies like this in the future. The 3D is just stunning...

[Mark Vader]

Here are this month's Independent Films.

 

In "Crazy Heart", A hard-living country music singer makes a reach for salvation with the help of a journalist set in her attempt to find the real man behind the musician. Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall and Colin Farrell.

 

In "The Last Station", The Countess Sofya, wife and muse to Leo Tolstoy, uses every trick of seduction on her husband's loyal disciple, whom she believes was the person responsible for Tolstoy signing a new will that leaves his work and property to the Russian people. Starring Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti & Christopher Plummer.

 

Emily Blunt is "The Young Victoria", A dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert. Also starring Rupert Friend & Paul Bettany.

 

In "Serious Monnlight", When a high-powered attorney discovers her husband is planning on leaving her for a younger woman, she duct tapes him to the toilet in hopes of keeping him hostage until they reconcile. Starring Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton & Kristen Bell.

 

Calendar with trailers. Note: This dates are for exclusive or limited release, these films may be released in your area at a later date.

 

12/4

"The Last Station": http://www.sonyclassics.com/thelaststation/

 

"Serious Moonlight": http://www.seriousmoonlightfilm.com/

 

12/18

"Crazy Heart": http://www.foxsearchlight.com/crazyheart/

 

"The Young Victoria": http://www.theyoungvictoria.co.uk/

 

That's all. Be back with more for January. Enjoy!