Theatrical Releases This Week
Tuesday, December 20
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Director: David Fincher
Trailer
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first film in Columbia Pictures’ three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s literary blockbuster The Millennium Trilogy. Directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, the film is based on the first novel in the trilogy, which altogether have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and become a worldwide phenomenon. (Synopsis by Sony)
I wrote about this remake a little over a year ago, wondering at the time if it would live up to the original. Early reviews seem to indicate that it does. You would be well served to see the original, but if subtitles aren’t your thing, this version will suffice.
Wednesday, December 21
The Adventures of TinTin
Director: Steven Spielberg
Trailer
Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Present a 3D Motion Capture Film The Adventures of Tintin directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish. Starring Jamie Bell as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham. (Synopsis by the Official Site)
Check out my review on The Dagger later this week.
Friday, December 23
We Bought a Zoo
Director: Cameron Crowe
Trailer
This holiday season, acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) directs an amazing and true story about a single dad who decides his family needs a fresh start, so he and his two children move to the most unlikely of places: a zoo. With the help of an eclectic staff, and with many misadventures along the way, the family works to return the dilapidated zoo to its former wonder and glory. (Synopsis by the Official Site)
Not receiving particularly good reviews. Crowe is desperately trying to return to relevance and attempts to do so with a family offering. While handled with a defter touch than most movies in the genre, it falls into the same pitfalls as other lesser films.
The Artist
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Trailer
Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky’s the limit – major movie stardom awaits. The Artist tells the story of their interlinked destinies. (Synopsis by Weinstein)
Getting rave reviews despite being a 1) mostly silent film that is 2) shot in black and white and 3) stars no one you’ve ever heard of. The better choice of the two films scheduled for release on this day.
Sunday, December 25
War Horse
Director: Steven Spielberg
Trailer
Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, War Horse begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets-British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter-before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land. The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse-an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. (Synopsis by Dreamworks)
Spielberg’s second release this week. He must get a bonus if he releases two films at the end of the year. Stylish and sentimental, yet lacking in dramatic flair.
The Darkest Hour
Director: Chris Gorak
Trailer
The Darkest Hour is the story of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects. (Synopsis by Summit)
Apparently Hot Topic released a movie this week. Give the disenchanted teenagers something to rebel with over Christmas. I don’t want to have dinner mom! I want you out of my LIFE! GAAWWWDDDD!
DVD Releases This Week
Columbiana
Director: Olivier Megaton
Trailer
In the action film Colombiana, Zoe Saldana plays Cataleya, a young woman who has grown up to be an assassin after witnessing the murder of her parents as a child.
Turning herself into a professional killer and working for her uncle, she remains focused on her ultimate goal: to hunt down and get revenge on the mobster responsible for her parents’ deaths. (Synopsis by Sony Pictures)
All around terrible. See the latest “Mission Impossible” instead. Click here to read my thoughts on this cinematic gem when it was first released to theaters.
Midnight in Paris
Director: Woody Allen
Trailer
This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. It stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni, among others. (Synopsis by Sony Classics)
Got to see this on the plane coming back from Poland. A fantasic homage to a city and another fantastic Woody Allen film. Definitely check this one out.
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