Other than the whole family thing and the food and the whole holiday atmosphere, the best part of this time of year is the non-stop football and the fact that Hollywood occasionally puts out a decent flick this time of year.
I can’t wait for Narnia, the Ice Harvest looks mildly entertaining, and I might give Aeon Flux a shot (for the simple geeky joy combined with Charlize Theron in skintight clothing, which is usually enough to get my Aeon to Flux, if you will). What other movies are coming out that look decent?
Nikki
How could you forget Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?
Pb
I’ll probably watch the next Harry Potter movie, as well as Rent. Maybe King Kong and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (oh wait, you said Narnia, didn’t you) too. So many movies, so little time.
Ancient Purple
AMEN! Already have my Saturday night planned around this movie. The trailer looks grand and I am dying to see the interpretation of the book from the new director.
MrProliferation
KING KONG! Come on, people. Peter Jackson does King Kong? You can’t tell me that doesn’t get you going.
Nikki
The last one has been the best so far, but this one looks to be pretty amazing!
jg
I almost bought the Narnia book the other day. Anyone read it? Would you compare it to the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings? If its a childrens book like the Hobbit I’ll pass.
JWeidner
Let’s put it this way. The last time I read any of the Narnia Chronicles, I was in grade school.
They were fun to read then, but don’t buy it expecting Lord of the Rings.
Shygetz
Narnia is a kids’ book, but my wife read an enjoyed it at age 21. Then again, she likes kids books. I’d say it’s more mature than the Hobbit, but it’s nothing like LoTR.
I’m seeing Harry Potter, and Narnia has me really excited. I’ll wait on Aeon Flux ’till I see reviews.
Krista
That’s my list too, along with Walk the Line, and Memoirs of a Geisha (I loved the book, so I’ll wait to hear if it’s a good interpretation before I plunk down my money.)
Mark
It’s already come and gone, but Serenity (based on Joss Whedon’s Firefly series) is a great movie and comes out on DVD in December.
Slartibartfast
I’ve reread them recently, and they’re just as good. Just don’t expect a good story with no strings attached, because the allegory is pretty obvious. Still, they’re good reads. And I say they, because there’s seven of them.
Tractarian
Dear Lord that woman is hot. I wonder if the live-action movie can capture the same abstract beauty of the animated shorts?
Pb
I also read Narnia when I was in grade school, and I enjoyed most of it at the time–especially the first book (the book in question). So I’m a bit fuzzy on how it’d read now, but I’d expect that it’s a children’s book in the proud tradition of, say, E. Nesbit‘s The Enchanted Castle. Harry Potter fans might like it, Tolkien fans might not necessarily like it.
mil0
the man behind lord of the rings and everyone’s favorite movie-whose-plot-was-stolen-for-the-game-oddworld: abe’s oddysee (that would be Bad Taste) remakes king kong. he casts jack motherfucking black in the lead.
i swear to god i must have dreamed about this at some point in my life, maybe while on some kind of hallucinogenic cocktail.
walk the line definitely looks intriguing. the RENT movie looks pretty gay, and by that, i mean homosexual.
but really, i’m just looking forward to the day after thanksgiving so i can watch A Christmas Story again.
mil0
just remembered, it’s only in production (i think) now, but i’m very excited for Bruce Campbell’s new project My Name Is Bruce. has anyone heard anything about that? i’m sure you won’t care if you didn’t like evil dead 2, but if you didn’t like evil dead 2 you obviously have no taste.
jaime
KONG!!!!!!
Also…George Clooney’s Syriana, The New World, and the Producers.
Joey
Why have only two people mentioned King Kong? Well, I’ll make it three… KING KONG!!!!! Munich also looks very promising as well judging from the trailer. Plus, it’s Spielberg, and I’ve never seen a Spielberg movie I didn’t love. Syriana looks decent, but I may wait until video for that. Narnia, Kong, and Munich I will definitely see in theaters though.
Joey
Ooops, a couple of other people mentioned Kong too. But still, how can everybody not have mentioned this when thinking of movies coming out this winter?
Geek, Esq.
Kong could be great.
Munich will be interesting.
Brokeback Mountain will piss the Spongedob Stickypants crowd off to no end, and merits support on that basis alone.
jg
The book I almost bought had all 7 stories in it. It said that the stories are presented in CS Lewis’ preferred order, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was the second story in the book. Each story was 120 – 150 pages which made me think Hobbit. Nevermind the essay on writing for children that was included in the book. :)
Nikki
Is Disney turning all 7 into movies?
Forgot about Brokeback Mountain. I read the short story when I heard it was in production. Will definitely take time to see this.
jg
I’ve never seen that movie. Can you believe it? I’ve also never seen Its A Wonderful Life.
Bob
Munich and Syriana both look good. And I’ll probably go see Memoirs of a Geisha, since Ziyi Zhang is perfection.
The Captain of the O
I’ll be dipping into my limited cash reserves to see Syriana.
Perry Como
I’m waiting for the next piece of genius from Uwe Boll.
Mr Furious
Yeah, I’ve been meaning to write a movie post. I periodically check the apple QuickTime site for trailers and it looks like there are several good movies coming out.
Go here for links to all the trailers.
Blockbusters that look good:
King Kong — Looks freaking awesome, and I love the casting. I think Naomi Watts has 37 films coming out…
Narnia — I fear it will be disappointing after LOTR, but I am still excited.
Syriana — Clooney is on a roll.
The New World — Will make or break Colin Farrell for me.
Promising Art House stuff…
Capote — Already out there, but PSH is always good and he will win the Oscar for this movie.
The Squid and The Whale — Strong cast, looks really good.
Duane Hopwood — I cannot believe I a m looking forward to a David Schwimmer movie, but this looks really good. A real departure and career move for him.
Crap?…
Bloodrayne — I don’t know anything about this film, but Sir Ben Kingsley should never be caught dead (or un-dead) with the likes of Billy Zane, Michael Madsen and…Meatloaf?!?
Mr Furious
Sorry, blew the link. The QuickTime trailers are here.
Slartibartfast
Charlize Theron has abstractly beautiful animated shorts? I’m almost afraid to ask: custom, or Abercrombie and Fitch?
gswift
January 6th we get the Underworld sequel.
Charlize Theron is good looking, but she’s no Kate Beckinsale.
gswift
January isn’t “holiday movies”, but while I’m thinking about it, january will also bring Revolver. I loved Snatch, so I’m hopeful to see Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham both on a movie again. Produced by Luc Besson, who produced Kiss of the Dragon, The Professional, Unleashed, etc.
Unleashed, by the way, was vastly underrated.
John Cole
Charlize Theron animates my shorts, FWIW.
Tim F.
No, unless it’s direct-to-video. So on second thought, yes.
New Zealand makes great stuff (Steinlager, Peter Jackson, freakishly good rugby) but they won’t make two Peter Jacksons in one lifetime. And, be fair, Narnia isn’t Lord of the Rings.
Krista
LOL
bg
I’ve heard a tremendous amout of buzz about Brokeback Mountain, the cowboy love story.
Stormy70
I want to see those, too!
Narnia all the way, and Potter, as well. I have to wait for Thanksgiving to see it with everyone in the familia. This Saturday we have tickets to the Moscow Ballet performance of The Nutcracker. Sweet!
Kong – meh. Need convincing.
Brokeback Mountain – chick flick, just the gay version. I hate chick flicks.
Rent – see above.
Theron movie – does noone smile in the future? Just jump around in leather all the time with cool sunglasses. I need some major convincing on this one. My shorts, of course, are not moved by Charlize.
When’s the next Batman come out, for pete’s sake?!
Mike Quinlivan
Yeah, BrokeBack Mountain looks really good. Gay cowboy love story; hell, I’d go just to see how Ang Lee manages to make it appealing for those of us here in the South Dakota. And I must throw in the obligatory Seinfeld thing about gay cowboys “Not that there’s anything wrong with That…”
BIRDZILLA
ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE,CHRISTMAS CAROL and well what about CHICKEN LITTLE?
Gary Farber
Some comments on C. S. Lewis and Narnia here, here, here, and some of my own opinions in the second part of this.
Meanwhile, John continues to suppress news of Joss Whedon, alas.
I’ll be happy to see Ms. Theron. Respectfully, I do not desire to see John’s animated shorts, although I’m sure he’s very talented, and he’s always wanted to direct.
“Is Disney turning all 7 into movies?”
If the first and then others make lots of money, of course. If they don’t, no.
Krista
Hey Stormy..sorry I didn’t get back to you on this yesterday evening. Yes, I definitely have to see Narnia, just ’cause it looks gorgeous, and I definitely have to see Potter (not this weekend, though…it’ll be a freaking zoo!)That’s wicked that you’ve got tickets to the Nutcracker…I’d love to see that. I’m with you on Kong – meh. Brokeback Mountain intrigues me, and I have to say that the idea of those hotties kissing is quite titillating, but I might wait for the dvd. Rent – that’s another one that I’m intrigued by, and might see in the theater, but might not. Theron movie…whatever. She does nothing for my shorts. (Now Salma Hayek, on the other hand…)
HH
Walk the Line – Best film of the year bar none.