New Movies to Crave Holiday Edition: Dragon Tattoo, Adventures of TinTin and Ghost Protocol Face Off

By Chris Kavan - 12/21/11 at 11:41 AM CT

Hollywood looks to end 2011 with a bang instead of whimper. After Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and his Chipmunks failed to provide that much-needed spark, three high-profile films look to reverse those fortunes.

1) I've been looking forward to David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo since it was announced. From early set photos to the teaser trailer, TV spots, up to that full-length six-minute monster - my interest has only continued to build. You can say I'm setting myself up for a letdown, but I have faith that Fincher's vision will manage to outshine the Swedish original and put a darker, gritty spin on Stieg Larsson's story. It's going to be a busy week from here on out, so I don't even know if I'll get to watch it this week, but this is one film I wouldn't dream of missing in the theater.

2) After showing some impressive numbers in limited showings, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol expands nationwide. If it can back up those numbers with a more well-rounded audience, it will breath new life into the series. By all accounts Brad Bird has upped the action, while still providing a decent story - even if it comes at you fast and furious. With Holmes being such a cookie-cutter clone of the previous film, I can only hope this movie brings something new to the table, but if the previews are any indication, I have a good feeling I won't be disappointed.

3) Steven Spielberg has always been a man who takes a personal interest in many of his projects: Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, A.I. - all these films have that unmistakable Spielberg touch - one that comes from the heart. Now, am I saying The Adventures of Tintin will have that same impact? Probably not. However, Spielberg specifically chose this project because, well, he really likes Tintin. Am I expecting Schindler's List here? Obviously he's targeting a different audience with this one. Once again, the family market is crowded right now, and I don't know if American audiences will embrace Tintin - as he isn't as popular here as he is in Europe, but I'm hoping it at least does better than some singing rodents.

4) Opening on Friday (if you can wait that long) is the feel-good family dramadey We Bought a Zoo. Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, Colin Ford and Patrick Fugit - a pretty good ensemble if you ask me - all deal with a family who decide to move to a run-down countryside zoo and spruce it up a bit. Even with the talent involved, this is normally the type of film I just tend to avoid simply because it looks too sweet for its own good. Plus, do people even realize how hard it would be to run an actual zoo - no matter the size? I see the good intentions they want to get across, but it just makes me roll my eyes.

It's going to be a long week - I hope everyone stays safe and happy and I'll be back with the full report on Monday.

Comments

Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/21/11 at 01:40 PM CT

I figured one Spielberg film is enough - why are they releasing in on the 25th anyway? I agree, everything I've seen about the film screams "forgettable".

Alex - wrote on 12/21/11 at 11:56 AM CT

We bought a zoo looks pretty awful to me. There are a ton of movies that I am looking forward to coming out. Dragon and Protocol lead the list. You didn't mention War Horse but that movie looks like it will blow.

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