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December Movie Preview
By Vince Palomarez | Images property of respective holders.
Aeon Flux
December Movie Preview
December 2nd
Aeon Flux:
Tired of going the dramatic route, Charlize Theron takes a stab at the action/Sci-Fi genre in film that’s about 10 years too late. Based on the cult hit cartoon that aired on MTV in the mid 90’s, the film follows Aeon’s adventure as she uncovers secrets that could destroy what is believed to be a perfect society. From looking at the trailer, Aeon Flux hardly resembles the cartoon it was based off of and with a PG-13 rating; I really doubt it will be as risqué as the cartoon was when it originally aired. The big question is will people remember the material it was based off of? If they don’t, at least the male audience will get to enjoy Charlize Theron jumping around in tight leather outfits.
December 9th
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: This film could either be the next Lord of the Rings or Battlefield Earth. Based off of the first part of CS Lewis classic Chronicles of Narnia series follows the story of four children who are sent to a professor’s house for protection during WWII. Bored with their current surroundings, the children explore the house and uncover a magic wardrobe that leads them to a magical world of talking animals, witches and epic battles. One of the big reasons this film is getting made is due to the success of Lord of the Rings and just like its predecessor there are many questions surrounding it. Are audiences ready to invest their time in another lengthy trilogy? Can a director (Andrew Anderson) from the CGI animated world be as successful with his first live action film as he was with his CGI films (Shrek, Shrek 2)? Will the heavy emphasis on religious themes turn audiences away? With this film aiming to be one of the big hitters of the fall season one things for sure, expect incredible special effects and great action.
Honorable mention:
Brokeback Mountain:
Ang Lee is back after a 2 year hiatus (more than likely spent recovering from the disaster that was The Hulk) with a film that has as much buzz as it does controversy. Set during the summer of 1963, the film tells the story of two young men, a ranch hand (Heath Ledger) and a rodeo cowboy (Jake Gyllenhaal), who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection -- one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. This film has been building up a lot of buzz the past few months, but is it more about the homosexual theme or the fact that it’s a good film? With Ang Lee’s unique visual style and strength at telling character driven stories, expect this one to be a beautifully shot tear jerker.
King KongDecember 16th
King Kong: Two years and a bunch of Oscars later, Peter Jackson returns with a film he claims is the one film he’s wanted to make his entire life. This remake of the 1933 classic follows a group of explorers and filmmakers journey to a mysterious island in search of the legend of a 25ft tall gorilla. Once they discover the Kong and his weakness for a down on her luck actress (Naomi Watts), the group brings him back to New York City where all hell breaks loose. Sounds like a pretty short film, right? Not if you’re Peter Jackson who insisted on keeping the films length at three hours long. Due to the success of LOTR the man has final cut as well as scoreboard so I won’t question him, but let’s just hope he doesn’t tag on 17 endings like he did with Return of the King. If he stays away from that I think I can sit through 3 hours of intense action and jaw dropping special effects.
Honorable mention:
The Family Stone:
Not much has been said about this film that follows a son’s attempt to introduce his family to his uptight girlfriend over Christmas, but from the looks of things this has all the makings of being another Meet the Parents. With an all star cast that includes Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, Dermot Mulroney and Sarah Jessica Parker, odds are this one could be the sleeper of the fall….or it could be just another Spanglish.
December 23rd
Fun with Dick and Jane: What could be funnier than Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni playing a married couple who resort to robbery to pay their bills? Not much if you ask me. Add in the fact that Judd Apatow (The 40-Year Old Virgin) had a part in screenwriting duties and you can guarantee this film is going to have some great comedic moments. This film has been pushed back a few times and has gone through many rewrites, but the combination of Carrey and Apatow should more than make up for all the problems that plagued this film before its release.
Munich: After wowing audiences with the sci-fi action thriller War of the Worlds, you knew it wasn’t going to be long before director Steven Spielberg brought us back down with another gritty drama. This time he take a look at tragic events that plagued the 1972 Olympics which saw eleven Israeli athletes taken hostage and murdered by Palestinian terrorists. Spielberg has had much success telling these gritty stories based on true life events (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) and with a superior cast that includes Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig; this film already looks to be the frontrunner for the best picture Oscar.
Honorable mention:
Rumor Has It : Things get even worse for a young woman, whose life is falling apart, when she discovers that her family was the inspiration for the classic film The Graduate. Sounds like an interesting premise, but with so many delays, rewrites and directing changes this film has a lot of baggage attached to it. When the film was first announced it had a ton of positive buzz, but the closer the film gets to its release date, the less you hear about it. That’s never a good sign. With a an A-list cast that includes Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine and Mark Ruffalo plus a credible director in Rob Reiner; this could wind up being an enjoyable film…..or a total disaster, which is also pretty enjoyable depending on your sense of humor.
What do you think? Know of anything else I forgot to mention? Send me an
e-mail (vince@canmag.com)
and let me know.
Stay tuned for updates.
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Vince Palomarez
Sources: Images property of respective holders.
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