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SALT LAKE CITY -- It's hard to believe, but here we are just weeks away from Christmas and not a single major release will hit theaters this weekend. What to do? It's the perfect time to look ahead at the most anticipated films of the season, and here they are.
Next week Garry Marshall delivers "New Year's Eve," a star-studded story focusing on several couples and individuals whose lives come together and intertwine during the celebration of New Year's Eve in New York City. The cast is amazing including Robert De Niro, Kathryn Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, John Lithgow, Halle Barry, Josh Duhamel, Hillary Swank and that's just scratching the surface.
The week of Dec. 16 delivers the film I'm most anxious to see this season and that's "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." Robert Downey, Jr. is back as the famous sleuth along with Jude Law as Watson and, of course, Rachel McAdams returns as Irene Adler. This time they face their arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty portrayed by Mad Men's Jared Harris.
- New Year's Eve
Opens Dec. 2
PG-13 - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Opens Dec. 16
PG-13 - Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Opens Dec. 21
PG-13 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Opens Dec. 21
R - The Adventures of Tintin
Opens Dec. 21
PG - War Horse
Opens Dec. 25
PG
Christmas week, Hollywood delivers three huge titles; the first is "Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol." Tom Cruise reprises his role as Ethan Hunt, this time working to clear the name of the IMF when it is implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin. By the way, you'll be able to see MI4 early in IMAX theaters on the 16th.
Next it's the English speaking version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Daniel Craig steps into the role of journalist Mikael Bloomkvist who is hired to help solve a 40 year mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young woman from a very wealthy Swedish Family. When fate teams him with a strange young woman, yes, the one with the dragon tattoo, her computer hacking skills help crack the case.
With something a little more geared for the family, Steven Spielberg brings us "The Adventures of Tintin." Released first on its home turf in Europe, Tintin has already been wildly successful, but how will the story be received here in the States? We'll find Christmas week as Tintin and Capt. Haddock set off on a search for a sunken ship laden with treasure.
Finally, opening on the 25th, it's "War Horse," another Spielberg film. It's the story of Albert and his horse, Joey, and how their lives are changed when the horse is sold to the cavalry and ends up in the trench warfare of World War I. Too young to enlist, Albert still find his way to Europe in an effort to save Joey. The run on Broadway for this story has been off the charts. We'll see if the movie measures up on Christmas Day.
