December 2008
(as seen in the Scottsdale Airpark News)
Movies in theaters are alive and well as Hollywood
continues to release some very exciting films. Why see these films
in a theater instead of at home on your great home theater system?
Some movies are best experienced on a massive screen with amazing
sound, with audience interaction, or maybe that guilty pleasure
-- with hot liquid butter poured all over that big bag of popcorn.
There could be one annoyance though -- deciding just what to see,
given there are often four or more new movies released every week.
So with your busy life, if you could see just one newly released
movie per week, which four in December should they be?
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For
the weekend of December 5, it is “Cadillac
Records”, starring Adrien Brody, Beyonce
Knowles, Jeffrey Wright (W.), Cedric the Entertainer, Gabrielle
Union (Meet Dave), Columbus Short (Studio 60), Emmanuelle
Chriqui (Entourage), Mos Def (Be Kind Rewind), Eamonn Walker
(Justice) and Norman Reedus (American Gangster), directed
by Darnell Martin (Law & Order). Genre: musical drama,
rated R. The plot: a tale of sex, race, violence, and rock
and roll in the 1950's Chicago recording company. Mixed
in are the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's
musical legends, including Etta James (Knowles), Muddy Waters
(Wright), Leonard Chess (Brody), Little Walter (Short),
Howlin’ Wolf (Walker), and Chuck Berry (Def).
The other three movies opening this weekend are: Frost
/ Nixon, Nobel Son, and Punisher:
War Zone. |
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For the weekend of December 12, and the Scottsdale Airpark
Movie of the Month, it is “The Day the Earth
Stood Still”, starring Keanu Reeves, Jennifer
Connelly, Kathy Bates, John Cleese, Jon Hamm (Mad Men), and
Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness), directed by Scott
Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose). Genre: science fiction
drama, rated PG-13. The plot: a contemporary remake of the
1951 classic film. Klaatu (Reeves) is an alien whose arrival
on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and
scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor's
appearance, a woman (Connelly) and her young stepson (Smith)
get caught up in his mission and come to understand the ramifications
of his being a self-described "friend to the Earth."
The other six movies opening this weekend are: Delgo,
Doubt, Nothing Like the Holidays,
The Class, The Reader, and
Wendy and Lucy. |
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For
the weekend of December 19, it is “Gran Torino”,
starring Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang. Genre: action drama, not
yet rated. The plot: a disgruntled and iron-willed Korean
War veteran living in a changing world is forced by his immigrant
neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices. In the
process, he sets out to reform his teenager neighbor who nearly
stole his prized possession – a 1972 Gran Torino.
The other six movies opening this weekend are: Nothing
But the Truth, Seven Pounds, The
Brothers Bloom, The Tale of Despereaux,
The Wrestler, and Yes Man. |
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For the
weekend of December 26, it is a tie. The first is “Valkyrie”,
starring Tom Cruise, Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton), Bill
Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Eddie
Izzard (The Riches), Kenneth Branagh, and Terence Stamp (Get
Smart), directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men 2). Genre: World War
II suspense drama, rated PG-13. The plot: based on actual
events, a group of German high ranking officers headed by
a colonel (Cruise) hatch a scheme to assassinate Adolph Hitler
at the height of WWII, and seize power of the military command
in order to end the war. The operation was codenamed Valkyrie,
that was an emergency plan meant to be used in case of a revolt
against the Nazi government. In this case, the plan was modified
by the conspirators to ensure their success.
The second is “The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button”, starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett,
Tilda Swinton (Burn After Reading), Julia Ormond (Kitt Kittredge:
AN American Girl), and Elias Koteas (Shooter), directed by
David Fincher (Zodiac). Genre: fantasy romantic drama, rated
PG-13. The plot: adapted from the 1920’s short story
by F. Scott Fitzgerald, about an elderly man (Pitt) who ages
backwards. He is born in his eighties at the end of World
War I in New Orleans. As his age regresses, he falls in love
with a much younger woman and then must come to terms with
the relationship as they literally grow in opposite directions.
The other six movies opening this weekend are: Bedtime
Stories, Last Chance Harvey, Marley
& Me, Revolutionary Road, The
Spirit, and Waltz with Bashir. |
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These are
expected to play at the multiplexes in the Scottsdale, AZ - Airpark
area including:
Harkins Scottsdale 101 at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd. 480-538-1707
AMC Desert Ridge 18 at 21000 N. Tatum Blvd. 480-606-0806
United Artists (Regal) Sonora Village 10 at 15512 N. Pima
Rd. 480-998-1300
Farrelli’s Cinema Supper Club at 14202 N. Scottsdale
Rd. 480-905-7200
Furthermore, gong to the movies still gives you the most entertainment
“bang for the buck” when compared to a similar two hour
venture at any professional sporting event, play or music performance.
See you at the movies!
Note: While the release dates & ratings for
these movies were correct at the time of printing, studios sometimes
make last-minute changes. If this happens, we apologize for any
inconvenience.
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