Who needs chestnuts roasting on an open fire when you can butter up a tub of popcorn? With the best lineup in recent holiday season history, audiences will be able to choose from a buffet of deliciously diverse offerings. From a black-and-white historical drama set in post-war Berlin to the opulent landscape of a dragon-themed fantasy flick, this season has something for cinephiles of any taste. recess rummaged through the lists of upcoming winter releases to help you better arrange your cinematic game plan.
Fantasy/Sci-Fi:
Eragon: Wide release, Dec. 15: Based on the beloved fantasy book of the same name, the film follows the boy Eragon who discovers a dragon egg on his parents' farm. Soon the prophesied dragon rider is swept off on epic adventures in an effort to protect his country from a tyrant king.
Historical drama:
The Good Shepherd: Wide Release, Dec. 22: A fictionalized take on the birth of the CIA, the story is seen through the eyes of a young man fresh from Yale University, played by Matt Damon. The film, directed by Robert De Niro and starring Angelina Jolie, is sure to excite history buffs with a taste for Cold War intrigue.
Family:
The Pursuit of Happyness: Wide release, Dec. 15: The spelling is intentional as is the unabashed tearjerking. Will Smith acts alongside real son, Jaden Smith, in a heartfelt tale that makes us think Wall Street bankers aren't so bad, after all.
Musical:
Dreamgirls: Wide release, Dec. 25: This adaptation of the twenty-five-year-old musical of the same name stars the likes of Beyonce, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. Packed with song and dance routines, glittering costumes and a soul lurching rendition of "And I am telling you," this musical will drown out jingle bells playing on repeat in your head.
International:
Pan's Labyrinth: Limited release, Dec. 29: This fantasy from the mind of visionary director Guillermo del Toro won widespread acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival and has been described as a "fairy tale for grown-ups" by Roger Ebert.
Sports:
Rocky Balboa: Wide release, Dec. 20: With the tagline "It ain't over 'til it's over," this Rocky revival needs little description. Needless to say, Sylvester Stallone decided to tap back into the source of his success in this sequel to the sequel to the sequel to the....
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