ROTTEN TOMATOES: Holiday Movie Preview

Holiday Movie Preview

November 24, 2008

The summer may be the biggest time of the year for movies, but winter is arguably the best. With a full slate of Oscar hopefuls, holiday films, and star vehicles, the holidays are a perfect time to head to the multiplex for some cinematic food for thought. With that in mind, we at RT have compiled a Holiday Movie Guide that will help you sift through the season's best movie offerings!

This winter sees new films from such big stars as Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, and Samuel L. Jackson. In addition, such top-notch directors as David Fincher, Bryan Singer, and Baz Luhrmann are out in force. The winter is sure to be a moviegoer's delight -- click on the links below to find out more!

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(1-20 of 23 posts) | Reply

collex writes:
on Nov 25 2008 11:15 AM

Of this list, I will go see Australia this weekend (I need this kind of epic love-sotry once in a time), Benjamin Button is probaby a must-see too. I will try to see both The Spirit and Valkyrie, but if I have to decide between the 2, it will be Valkyrie.

Yes Man looks like the Jim Carrey I love, but I doubt he will one day surpass Ace Ventura 1 and The Mask. I will probably rent it.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Nov 25 2008 12:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#2151780)
Yeah I will see Australia tomorrow and I will also see MILK. The only standout on this list is Benjamin Button, that will be amazing. Maybe I will check out Valkyrie if the reviews are strong and I can't lie I will probably be seeing Punisher War Zone just because it is The Punisher.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Nov 25 2008 12:30 PM

In reply to this comment (#2151780)
Oh yeah and I will see Frost/Nixon, and also maybe Cadillac records if the reviews are strong for it.

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Some guy you dont know writes:
on Nov 25 2008 05:49 PM

I'll be seeing all these movies, but I'm most looking forward to Yes Man, Button and the Wrestler.

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Almost.Famous writes:
on Nov 25 2008 06:07 PM

The day the Earth stood still, benjamin button, and seven pounds are the only things cathing my eye. Everything else i wont bother seeing or a rental at most. And i agree with jokerboy on cadillac records. Saw the commercial and it looked pretty good.

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jokerboy1991 writes:
on Nov 25 2008 07:04 PM

In reply to this comment (#2152542)
Oh damn I forgot about The Wrestler, I will definitely be checking that out. The only reason why I am considering see The Day The Earth Stood Still is because I want to see the new Wolverine trailer and they might be showing the Avatar trailer, but I will probably leave and get a refund after 10 minutes if the flick doesn't get me hooked because it doesn't look good and I love the original.

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Bloody Mathias writes:
on Nov 25 2008 08:21 PM

Um, where's MILK, Slumdog Millionaire and Revolution Road in this list???

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dahluzz writes:
on Nov 25 2008 08:59 PM

what a depressingly lame list. i mean it's put together nicely and everything RT, but the offerings are sorely lacking this time around.

the only interesting movies on this list are 'button,' which will get a best picture nod among various other academy nominations, 'valkyrie,' which will be return to form for bryan singer after his superhero phase, and possibly 'seven pounds,' which i probably won't see, but which will likely be well made. everything else is just more "meh."

'slumdog millionaire' was great. 'wrestler' will be excellent. 'frost/nixion,' 'milk' both look great. so there are some oscar hopefuls coming out, but my sleeper pick is 'gran torino,' eastwood's other competing directorial effort, since 'changeling' probly won't make much of a stir. watched the preview and it looks like vintage clint: teaching punks lessons - WITH GUNS.

but honestly, what a mediocre year for movies, with the exception of some very strong indies. last year was great, and by this time in 2007 we already had some serious oscar fare out building buzz. what has there been thus far that could really be considered? and don't say 'batman,' beyond some art or tech categories.

No, this year had a few summer bright spots, but fall has been a real shame and winter doesn't look a whole lot better. As far as the multiplex is concerned, the good ones have been few and far between in 08. start cooking up those top 10 lists, cause this is gonna be a hoot.

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Almost.Famous writes:
on Nov 25 2008 11:45 PM

And when will they stop making WW2 movies. It really needs to stop. Life is beautiful was good but after that it just got annoying.

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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Nov 26 2008 12:01 AM

Well, the holiday season appears to have many delightful

christmas presents under the film tree. My most anticipated film is the

Benjamin Button movie because Fincher {Zodiac, Se7en} & Roth {Forrest Gump}

screenplay equals masterpiece. And having that Pitt guy is a good sign, too.

Wrestler and MILK both appear to be terrific vehicles for the lead actors

and it will be intersting to see this year's Oscars for best male lead. The

most fascinting films are Seven Pounds & Valkyrie because opf how the leads

respond to their recent rotten films. Will seems safe to nab a fresh rating

with his pursuit of happiness director on hand. But Tom Cruise and his

company, United Artists, are in grave danger if they don't supply a bonofide

success this December. A little wary of The Spirit as it seems Miller has

forgotten the vision of its creator, Will Eisner. I don't think Eisner never

envision Denny Colt to fit into Marv's Sin City. Still, Samuel Jackson over

the top performance, as "the Octopus", may be the funniest bad acting since

Arnold's in Batman and Robin. I'm rooting for Keanu and especially Jen

Connelly in their doomsday pic and hope its treated for what it is ... a fun

popcorn movie just like Australia. I really hope all these critics realize,

as they unfairly criticize Austrailia, that not all films must be perfection

to be good enough to recommend. Finally, I'm not expecting much from Yes,

Men- personally I think the 90s Carrey we fell in love with is not coming

back, unfortunately.

(Reply to this)

Christopher256G writes:
on Nov 27 2008 08:44 AM

Benjamin Button is easily my most anticipated movie on that list. Other films that interest me are The Day the Earth Stood Still, Valkyrie, Yes Man, and The Wrestler. Whether I see any of them in theaters will probably depend on what kind of reviews they get.

Oh yeah and Milk, missing from the list. May be the best film of the year and a serious Oscare contender.

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CaptainSiberia writes:
on Nov 27 2008 08:44 AM

I wasn't aware Baz Luhrman was a "top notch director."

Australia - You know? Maybe. Just maybe.

Four Christmases - Gonna suck.

Transporter 3 - Gonna suck.

Punisher: War Zone - Gonna suck.

The Day the Earth Stood Still - Gonna suck.

Delgo - Gonna suck.

Nothing Like the Holidays - Depending on what tone they go for, this could suck, or it could be merely ok.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - This should be interesting. Good interesting.

Seven Pounds - Will Smith and the director from The Pursuit of Happyness together again. This could be a good one. Pursuit of Happyness certainly was a strong piece of work.

The Tale of Despereaux - "Emma Watson co-stars as the princess, along with a huge ensemble cast...." Stop right there! None of these people are actually in the movie, you idiots! They just did voices! The way you talk, you'd think we were actually going to see these people on screen! Anyway, this movie is gonna suck.

Yes Man - Might just be a good one.

Bedtime Stories - I'm guessing Adam Sandler didn't write it. This one could be good.

Hurricane Season - You forgot to use the word 'ragtag' in your summary. Ragtag. Let's keep saying it. Ragtag! Ragtag! This movie is gonna suck. Even if it's ok on the surface, it'll be the same damn thing we've seen a hundred times before. It'll suck sheerly on the level of redundancy if nothing else.

Marley and Me - Heartwarming shmartwarming! Gonna be BORING! Gonna suck!

The Spirit - This one will be cool. Very cool.

Valkyrie - This one could be good if they get it right, but I think they'll pump up the commercial elements and make it... ok, but not great. Could be an Oscar film, could be a tremendous failure.

And seriously, Rotten Tomatoes, for a website that's supposed to be dedicated to getting the real voice of the critics out instead of paying lip service to the major studios and their propaganda machines, you guys are scared to editorialize! Grow a pair, will ya?

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Nov 27 2008 03:03 PM

I'll see wrestler opening night.

As far as Day the Earth Stood Still, it doesn't look like a re-make of the original, even though there are some carry-over elements. The original was a fantastic film drama, this one coming out seems to have a lot of great special effects(Like that plane flying into a tank) and action.

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C S. writes:
on Nov 29 2008 10:49 PM

I will see Australia for two reasons because it is an epic, and because my Fiancee is an Aussie so I am legally obligated or something.

Here are a few comments:

Stop funding and stop watching movies with Adam Sandler, I don't care if they are not from his production company, just stop giving him money so he will go away. If another Zohan/Waterboy/Big Daddy comes out... the world would be doing us a favor by ending.

Stop funding and stop watching Vince Vaughn movies, see above.

Stop rebooting Punisher. They all suck let it go.

Stop funding and stop watching remakes of classic films like The Day the Earth Stood Still. If we stop going to see them trash classic original cinema maybe they will stop trashing classic original cinema, and think up something different.

Pay your condolensces to a past superstar fading away, that being Tom Cruise. I have seen the trailer, and though the film maybe interesting it seems Mr. Cruise and his cast mates cannot take the time to learn a German accent. Why does this matter? Because how the hell can you get immersed in Hitler Germany if they are speaking Yankee English?! Another superstar jumped the shark the same way. That being Kevin Costner in Robin Hood.

On the positive side. Benjamin Buttons looks interesting and the original source material was done by F. Scott Fitzgerald, that's some good pedigree.

I hope Jim Carrey comes back to life. It seems like decades since Bruce Almighty.

Despereaux looks fun.

Anyways that is my two cents.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Nov 30 2008 01:50 PM

I agree about the language issue with Tom Cruise in Valkyrie. No way in hell I'm seeing it in theaters. . . unless cruise puts on a fat suit and does a rap at the end. . .

(Reply to this)

Paul777 writes:
on Nov 30 2008 03:04 PM

I am sorry but I do not think German accents are such a good idea for a film like Valkyrie.

It's like Tony Montana in Scarface having to speak accented English because he is in America. Makes sense... he's in a foreign country other than his own. Now if the movie took place all in Cuba, I wouldn't expect him or any actors to use Cuban accents. Its understood where they are. English is only a matter of getting across the plot.

When a film is set in somewhere like Germany and the cast are speaking English with no accent, I think "Oh they're speaking German because everyone can understand everyone. German people understand each other perfectly and this way I understand them perfectly so it's like I too am speaking German." It helps to draw you into the world. But when they're speaking English in Germany with a GERMAN ACCENT I think "Why the hell are these Germans struggling to speak English in Germany?". It's the major thing that killed Hannibal Rising for me (That and all the other horrible things it did).

What about "Hitler: The Last 10 Days?" Many people (myself included) consider Alec Guiness' portrayal of Hitler to be one of, if not the best ever put to film. As I recal, the cast is nearly all Brisith speaks with English accents, but the effect is riveting. (Did Guiness speak with a Russian accent in Dr. Zivago? I cant recall, but don't think so.) Sure, in a perfect world they'd all really speak German with subtitles. But if you can't have that have normal English not some damn fence sitting crap. If the script is good and the acting first rate (as seems to be the case here), I'm willing to accept any accent they use. If they aren't, then there isn't any authenticity that's going to save a second or thrid-rate movie.

(Reply to this)

C S. writes:
on Nov 30 2008 08:38 PM

Some good points. Moreover I need to find the movie with Alec Guiness as Hitler, that sounds interesting.

For me I just cannot get into a film that foreign characters speak yankee english. It is laughable to me but I understand where you are coming from at least.

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Propadanda writes:
on Dec 01 2008 12:20 AM

Ha, I'm an Aussie and I'm so glad Australia bombed (relative to its budget and it's mixed reviews which may mean it won't have very strong legs) at the box office.

Out of all these movies I'm so psyched for Valkyrie. I

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moviedude360 writes:
on Dec 07 2008 11:03 AM

That is a pretty bad list. The only Best Picture Worthy films look like Benjamin Button, and maybe 7 Pounds, maybe Valkerie(probably not though). Slumdog Millionare, Revolutionary Road, Milk, Gran Torino are deserving on the list and should kick out BAD films like Four Christmas's, Delgo, Tale of Despereaux, Transporter 3. Punisher, Hurricane Season also look bad. Marley and Me might be good for dog owners but other than that, it will suck.

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TruSake5 writes:
on Dec 08 2008 10:26 AM

Australia ---- No
Four Christmas ----- No
Transporter 3 ----- No
Punisher War Zone ----- No
The Day the Earth Stood Still ----- Maybe
Delgo ----- No
Nothing like the Holidays ----- No
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ----- Yes
Seven Pounds ----- Maybe
The Tale of Despereaux ----- No
Yes Man ----- Maybe
Bedtime Stories ----- No
Hurricane Season ----- No
Marley and Me ----- No
The Spirit ----- No
Valkyrie ----- No

The Dark Knight on DVD ----- HELL YES

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