Aeon Flux (Dec. 2)
It is very hard for me to reconcile the trailers for Aeon Flux with the show I occasionally watched on MTV. Director Karyn Kusama had a fabulous debut with 2000's Girlfight, but it just doesn't come close to the abstract weirdness of Aeon Flux. I don't know how anyone could have visualized this in live action in the first place. I suspect drugs were involved. Lots and lots of drugs. Either way, if she doesn't die in the film (preferably more than once), I'm going to be very upset.
Chronicles of Narnia (Dec. 9)
I never read these as a child, but the trailers make me wish I had. This film, an adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by renowned author and theologian C.S. Lewis. This film is being marketed very aggressively and is obviously going to try to steal the Potter audience. Relax, folks. It looks pretty enough that people will go to see both even if they're not familiar with the story. Look for the always fabulous Tilda Swinton in the role of the witch.
Syriana (Dec. 9)
Oscar winner Stephen Gaghan, who wrote 2000's Traffi helms this political thriller starring George Clooney. This is even riskier than Jarhead, but looks interesting. Anything that hints at conspiracies, or at least connections, within the global oil industry is likely to foster some discussion.
King Kong (Dec. 14)
Perhaps THE most anticipated holiday film of the season, King Kong is set to be the Next Big Thing. Peter Jackson (one of my absolute favorite directors; go get Heavenly Creatures now if you've never seen it) seems to be the latest talent blessed with the Midas touch... but he's got his own recent work (Lord of the Rings) to follow, as well as the original classic film. This could be tremendous, but I'm not making any bets. Just another one to cross fingers over, and maybe hold a breath or two. A side note: I mentally cast Naomi Watts as the female lead months before it was announced. Someone should hire me as a casting director, eh? Or maybe it's just the monkey connection.
Brokeback Mountain (Dec. 16)
Yet another adaptation, Brokeback Mountain has been generating critical buzz at all the festivals, but it's so hard to avoid the gay-cowboys-and-pudding jokes, thanks to South Park. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal do indeed play cowboys in love, and with Ang Lee behind the camera, it's safe to say that the story will get the subtle and lovely treatment that has marked Lee's best films (like the fabulous Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). This is on my list of Must See Films, but I'm a sucker for an Ang Lee movie.
Article comments
1 - Sterfish
Great preview. There are really more films I am looking forward to this holiday season then there were during the summer. The only one I am definitely seeing is Harry Potter, but I hope to catch Chicken Little, King Kong, and The Producers. Even though I saw (and for the most part enjoyed) Rent when it was touring, I don't think the film will be very good.
2 - ss
Heavenly Creatures was great, and, judging by the trailers I've seen so far, I'm going to see King Kong based on the way the guy who made Heavenly Creatures has envisioned Skull Island.
I have to say, though, my feel for the audience right now is people want 5 things:
1) Old jokes with a new spin
2) New faces
3) Action based special effects that suprise them (the way Twister and Jurassic Park did), or a story that suprises (the way Pulp Fiction and Silence of the Lambs did.)
Basicly just about any suprise EXCEPT the visual artistry of the back drop setting
4) A hot 20 yr old nibblet and the guy from American Pie and/or Jackass
5) Cheaper tickets and a ride to the theater.
I'm not sure Jack Black and the CGI I saw in the trailer can deliver in the suprises/new faces dept's, though if Jackson's got a nymph and some old jokes up his sleeve, this may still turn out to be J.B.'s big break yet.
3 - LegendaryMonkey
I hope so... I was VERY excited to see Jack Black cast in the role of the director. He's incredibly talented and I hope this helps him to branch out a little.
4 - Joanie
Will Sean Penn overact? I've been laughing for hours over that one.
And, there's absolutely no way that a new version of The Producers can be better than the original.
5 - LegendaryMonkey
Well, y'know, Joanie... he does have that habit. I was a non-fan of Mystic River for a couple of reasons (I mean, it was okay....) because, damn, Sean Penn can just really... overdo it.
I am ellipsis girl! Rawr!
About The Producers, no, of course not. But people have been pissing themselves over the new Broadway show for the last several years so you KNOW this one is going to be popular.
6 - DJRadiohead
LM, Jack Black? Incredibly Talented? wincing Wow. OK. He will be the reason my wife has to watch King Kong with her twin sister instead of me.
I liked the novel too much to spoil it watching the movie. Sean Penn. Rubbish.
Harry Potter has me pumped. I want to see Shopgirl because I love Steve Martin. I liked "The Corpse Bride." I think that's about it.
7 - LegendaryMonkey
Awwwww... the DJ is hating on Jack Black. We'll just have to agree to disagree, because I love me some Jack Black. Especially High Fidelity.
I love Harry Potter. I would also like to see Shopgirl for the same reason, but will probably wait for video. Same for Corpse Bride. It takes something pretty momentous to get me out to the theater. This is probably because my husband splurged before we were married and we have one of those ridiculous televisions. ;)
8 - DJRadiohead
Yeah, we'll leave the JackBlack talk alone.
I probably will only go to the theater twice more this year. Seeing Harry Potter twice. The theater experience has become nearly intolerable for me so I have to REALLY want to see the movie. Otherwise, I wait for DVD.
My wife hasn't consented to the ridiculous TV but we have a pretty solid sound system...
9 - LegendaryMonkey
Hubby had one... but we had to sell it when we moved in together. Large floor speakers + cats = bad.
They're on our list of things to replace. We're going to get some wall mounts.
10 - DJRadiohead
The kids (our cats) think it's great fun to knock my speakers off their stands. They don't do it real often but you can practically see the smile on their faces when their goal is achieved.
The problem is living in an apartment I can't really let my system loose (although if I get woken up one more time by Kanye West or Wu-Tang by our neighbors I might revisit this....).
11 - LegendaryMonkey
Ohhhh, I can't tell you how happy I was to move out of an apartment and into a house for just that reason.
Maybe you can have a movie vs. Kanye West speaker fight some night, though. Comedy. Gold.