How to Spend some Time in Bad Weather
The holiday season has geared up in the stores, and while the frenzy of shopping can be fun, sometimes, you just need to sit back and watch a good movie. Here are a few coming in December that look like they might not only have staying power, but be worth paying full price for.
The Violin – December 5
Three generations of a Mexican family hide a deadly secret behind their public lives as musicians. Now their involvement with guerillas may cost them their lives.
The Golden Compass – December 7
A rousing fantasy adventure that already has some religious groups screaming for boycott. The reason? Well, apparently, the author of the book’s an atheist and the bad guys in his books are the guys with god on their side. Whatever. With witches, talking polar bears, animals who are really people’s souls, and a twelve-year-old girl who’s destined to be the one to save her world and ours (or not…).
Nanking – December 12
Not exactly your feel-good holiday movie, but liable to be an important and impressive one. First-person accounts depict the horrors of the Rape of Nanking.
I Am Legend – December 14
The Richard Matheson novel of the same title has been made over by Hollywood twice before (1964’s The Last Man on Earth, and 1971’s Omega Man), but this time, it appears the filmmakers have kept much of the original plot along with the title. A single normal survivor of a worldwide plague fights back against the psychological torment of utter aloneness as well as battling vampire-like plague victims. Starring Will Smith.
Alvin and the Chipmunks – December 14
Yes, you read that right. The singing rodents now star in their own movie. If you loved the chipmunks way back when, this may be a pleasant trip down Nostalgia Lane. Or it might not.
Sweeney Todd – December 21
Everyone’s favorite psychopathic cannibalistic hair-stylist has made the leap to the big screen. Though normally not a Sondheim fan, I love this one, so I’ve been singing “The Worst Pies in London” and counting down the days until this opens. Starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton. These are probably the worst pies in London/ Even that’s polite/ The worst pies in London/ If you doubt it take a bite…
National Treasure: Book of Secrets – December 21
If you’re not in line for Sweeney Todd, you’ll probably be in line for this one. Once again, Nicholas Cage travels around the world Indiana Jones-style, discovering treasures and secrets that tie into American history. This time, our hero’s great-great-great grandfather is implicated as one of the conspirators involved in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem – December 25
If you’re in the mood for action-adventure with space aliens thrown in, then after you open your presents, you’ll be able to see the sequel to 2004’s surprisingly watchable AVP. This time, Aliens and Predators end up in a small town after a crash landing. The Aliens escape, and the lone remaining Predator is out to clean up the mess. For the townspeople, this is likely to be Very Bad News.
The Great Debaters – December 25
If Aliens and Predators aren’t your Christmas choice, then this heartwarming tale of a black debate coach in the segregated South whose debate team rises from obscurity in Texas to take on the team from Harvard might be the one for you. Starring Denzel Washington.
Charlie Wilson’s War – December 25
Hey, have you heard the one about the socialite, the CIA agent, and the congressman? Oh, wait, it’s not a joke, but an “inspired by true events” movie about a covert operation that helped end the Cold War. The commercials make it look worthwhile, and who could resist Tom Hanks on Christmas? With Julia Roberts.
This is only a sample; plenty of movies will be released by the studios in the next four weeks. There will certainly be something for everyone.
Copyright . Published 1 December 2007 in The Zone.
Reader comments
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They’re out to boycott The Golden Compass? Well, there’ll be more room in the theatre for my cf-bf and I to see it! I’m looking forward to the novel adaptation and even met the author when he was on tour from the UK.
permalink — 2 December 2007, 14:36