Seven Must See Movies: Thanksgiving Through Christmas 2013
The slates of movies set for release over the 2013 holiday season are toplined by a “girl on fire,” a magically frozen kingdom, a large, greedy dragon, an even greedier “wolf,” the life story of a civil rights icon, the real world adventures of a fantasy world bound daydreamer, and the return of a self proclaimed news legend.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Release Date: November 22, 2013
About: After winning the Hunger Games, Katniss and co-victor, Peeta, take a compulsory “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Katniss’ heroics have turned her into an icon, and have inspired whispers of rebellion against the Capital. In an effort to reaffirm his power, President Snow turns the next Hunger Games into a Quarter Quell, pitting contestants drawn from the winners of previous Hunger Games against each other. Katniss is thrown back into the fire.
Buzz: Hunger Games may be branded a teen flick, but its $408 million U.S. and $691 million worldwide gross, is evidence of its wider appeal.
Frozen
Release Date: November 27, 2013
About: The Kingdom of Arendelle is thrust into an eternal winter, by the magic of the “Snow Queen.” The eternally optimistic Anna, sets off on a quest to save the kingdom and prove that her sister, Elsa, is not the evil queen people believe her to be. Along the way, she gets help from a mountain man, a reindeer, and a magical snowman.
Buzz: Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairly tale, “The Snow Queen,” Frozen should be the go to movie of this holiday season for the under 10 crowd.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Release Date: November 29, 2013
About: Based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Mandela takes us from his early years, through his 27 year stint in prison into his Presidency and the challenges of reconstructing a formerly segregated South Africa.
Buzz: The 30+ crowd as well as any cinephiles who are drawn to inspirational stories about overcoming adversity, that are based on iconic, historical figures.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Release Date: December 13, 2013
About: The Desolation of Smaug, follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, as he accompanies Gandalf the Grey, Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves, on a quest to the Lonely Mountain. A confrontation with the dragon Smaug, is inevitable.
Buzz: Moviegoers who love adventure flicks, LOTR fans minus the faction of LOTR fans appalled by Peter Jackson’s loose adaptation of the source material.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Release Date: December 20, 2013
About: After hitting rock bottom, Ron Burgundy and his new crew come together, to join a 24 hour cable news channel in New York – And they have entered the 80s.
Buzz: It’s been a long wait for Will Farrell fans, and anyone eager to bask again in Ron Burgundy’s uncouth glory. As Burgundy himself might say, “Don’t act like you’re not impressed.”
The Wolf of Wall Street
Release Date: December 25, 2013
About: Wall Street stock broker, Jordan Belfort, made millions by defrauding investors in the 1990s.
Buzz: Leo fans are eager to see if DeCaprio’s portrayal of Wall Street swindler, Jordan Belfort, will rival Michael Douglas’ turn as the infamous Gordon Gecko. With its late season release date, Wolf is positioning itself to be an Oscar contender.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Release Date: December 25, 2013
About: Walter Mitty is a mild mannered man, who daydreams his time away into an imagined world of adventure, heroism and romance. Mitty must embark on an adventure in the real world, to recover a missing photograph, for the final issue of Life magazine.
Buzz: Fans of the original movie are curious as to whether Ben Stiller’s update can live up to the classic, or at least be good enough to provide a fun Christmas night outing for the family.
Eight More Movies to Consider
Nebraska, is Alexander Payne’s critically acclaimed movie about a son who agrees to drive his father from Montana to Nebraska, to collect a winning sweepstakes prize, despite the fact that he believes the award letter is a scam.
Release Date: 11-15-13
In Delivery Man, Vince Vaughn plays an everyday Joe and former sperm donor, whose world is upended, when he discovers that he has fathered 533 children.
Release Date: 11-22-13
Old Boy is Spike Lee’s remake of the South Korean movie, about a man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 20 years and then suddenly released. He seeks revenge on his captors.
Khumba is an animated feature about a zebra blamed for causing a drought, who goes on a quest to literally earn his half missing stripes.
Release Date: 12-6-13
Although no one ever utters the “Z Word,” Last Days on Mars is a movie about astronauts who become infected with an undead making virus, while on a mission to Mars.
Release Date: 12-6-13
Tyler Perry’s inexplicably successful Madea franchise continues this Christmas season with the aptly named, Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas.
Release Date: 12-13-13
Saving Mr. Banks, stars Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. The movie follows Disney’s efforts to secure the film rights to Mary Poppins, from the book’s author.
Release Date: 12-20-13
Bradley Cooper stars in American Hustle, a movie based on an FBI sting operation that skewered a slew of political figures in the 1970s, including a powerful Congressman.
Release Date: 12-25-13
47 Ronin marks the return of Keanu Reeves as an action hero. Ronin is the fictional and fantastical account of a group of rogue samarai (aka the ronin), who band together on a mission to avenge their slain lord.
Release Date: 12-20-13
