The X-Mas Factor: Top Film Releases

There are many reasons why people love the holiday season. Some love it for the winter vacation, be it from school or work. Others love it for the religious celebrations (i.e. Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa). Some love the weather and the opportunity to hit the slopes for a little snowboarding or ski action. While people may do or feel different things during the holidays, there is one constant in the world of entertainment. In the month of December, there are a variety of films that are worth watching. Ranging from comedy, action, and Oscar nominated, there are plenty of choices for entertainment during the cold months of December. However, in lieu of the holiday season and the spirit of giving, the list has been narrowed and the top choices presented for your viewing pleasure.

Action/ Adventure:

Avatar

Release Date: December 18^th

Voice talent: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, and Sigourney Weaver

After four long years of production, director James Cameron finally delivers one of Hollywood’s highly anticipated animated films for 2009. Please take the time to watch the trailer. It is spectacular. The graphics and visuals are unbelievable. The trailer itself shows why Cameron took four years to get the film done. It is just stunning, and the plot is also pretty intriguing. The film is already nominated for four Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture Drama and Best Director. The film introduces the audience to Jake Sully, a former Marine who is in a wheelchair. He is assigned to go to Pandora to help find a mineral that has the power to solve the Earth’s energy crisis (Note to Obama: Go to Pandora). As always, there is a catch. Pandora’s air is toxic. Insert the Avatar Program, in which humans have their consciousness linked to avatars that can survive the air quality. As a result, Jake can walk and is assigned to infiltrate the native people, the Na’vi, who oppose the mining. While exploring in Pandora, he falls for Neytiri, a beautiful Na’vi and through her, he learns about their culture. The more he learns about the Na’vi, the less Jake is willing to help the mining program. The fight is inevitable, but which side will Jake choose? Watch Avatar to find out!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809804784/trailer

Sherlock Holmes

Release Date: December 25^th

Talent: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams

RocknRolla and Snatch director Guy Ritchie introduces Sherlock Holmes in a way never seen before. Downey Jr. is perfect as Holmes. Like Downey Jr, Holmes is an ass kicking, witty, and loveable detective out to save Britain from the plot of Lord Blackwood, played by Mark Strong. Jude Law balances Holmes as his trusty sidekick Watson. While others may let Holmes sweet talk them into divulging information, Watson is the only one who doesn’t let Holmes bully him around and keeps him in check. Their interactions provide the comedy throughout the film. Rachel McAdams’ Irene Adler also provides comedic relief as the femme fatal who has successfully outwitted Holmes through her tricks and deceptive plots. Nothing says I love the holidays better than Downey Jr. saving the world. (Go Iron Man!)

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810045845/trailer

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

Release Date: December 25^th

Talent: Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp

Heath Ledger gave the world an unbelievable performance as “The Joker” in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Director Terry Gilliam shows us Heath’s final performance as Dr. Parnassus. Dr Parnassus has the ability to inspire imagination in others. He goes through different universes by using a magical mirror and explores worlds with limitless imaginations. How does Parnassus have this incredible power? He made a deal with the devil, Dr. Nick, in which he will have to give up his daughter Valentina on her 16^th birthday, in exchange for his ability. Parnassus makes one last bet with Dr. Nick in order to save Valentina, and the adventure begins. It will be interesting to see how Farrell, Law, and Depp portray Parnassus as Ledger died mid production, and all three agreed to take on the role of Parnassus. The gift of traveling to different worlds allows such transformations of the actors to be credible. Parnassus is Ledger’s final gift to the world, and I will be front and center observing the magic of the imaginarium.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809961111/trailer

Dramedy (Drama and Comedy)

Up in the Air

Release Date: December 11^th (limited), December 25^th (Worldwide)

Talent: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, and Jason Bateman

This film is already getting Oscar buzz, and it is nominated for six Golden Globes. Clooney is among the favorites to win the Best Actor category, with Colin Firth’s performance in A Single Man being his competition. Clooney stars as Ryan Bingham, a career transition counselor whose purpose is to fly around the country firing people. Ryan’s goal is to obtain ten million frequent flyer miles, which has only been reached by six other people. He wants to get the ten million miles before he quits or is fired from his job. Because of his job, he is unable to lead a steady life and lives isolated in his world. While traveling, he meets Alex (Farmiga) who also has a job which keeps her traveling. In addition, Ryan is asked to train Natalie (Kendrick) and teach her about the job. Through these relationships, he learns about his life and is forced to examine if he really wants to live alone. To be alone or not to be alone, that is the question. Will Bingham find happiness? Tune in!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810062520/trailer

Musical

Nine

Release Date: December 25^th

Talent: Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, and Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson

Talk about Oscar glory. With the exception of Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson of The Black Eyed Peas, the rest of the cast has won or been nominated for an Academy Award. Full of life, color, passion, intrigue, and sex appeal, Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha director Rob Marshall brings the story of Guido Contini to life. Day-Lewis plays Contini, a world famous film director who is experiencing a midlife crisis, both personally and creatively, while trying to create his 9^th production. The audience sees Contini try to balance his life, which is surrounded by various women. They include his wife, mistress, his film star muse, his costume designer and confidant, an American fashion journalist, a prostitute, and his mother. Mix Hollywood and awesome choreography, Nine takes musicals in a whole new direction.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810053986/trailer

Happy Holidays everyone!