December may not be the month for big action blockbusters (those are usually reserved for the summer), but this year, Hollywood is preparing a few gift-wrapped presents for moviegoers across the nation just in time for the holidays. From mysterious Phantoms and evil uncles to shark hunts and jewel heists, there's certain to be something for everyone during winter break.
Ocean's Twelve (Opens Dec. 10)
In what is sure to be the runaway hit of the holiday movie season, "Ocean's Twelve" reunites the cast of "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) in an action-packed sequel.
After ripping off casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) a few years before, Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his entire team of con artists and crooks are contacted one by one: Pay back the money you stole from me with interest, or else.
The "or else" may be left up to the imagination, but Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, and company launch themselves off on an adventure to pull off an even bigger heist to save their own skins. In the process, they have to contend with a suspicious Europol agent (played by newcomer Catherine Zeta-Jones) and an increasingly vengeful Benedict.
Will they win the day again, or will they wind up in a foreboding European prison? Whatever happens, it's sure to be a lively ride.
Blade: Trinity (Opens Dec. 10)
Things get a little dicier for Blade (Wesley Snipes), the half-vampire turned vampire hunter, in the third installment of this action franchise. Blade joins forces with a group of vampire hunters to take down Danica Talos, a sinister man trying to resurrect Dracula.
The top nod in early advertisements has gone surprisingly to Jessica Biel, who plays vampire hunter Abigail Whistler, leaving title star Wesley Snipes out in the cold. Will Blade go Anne Rice on Whistler the first chance he gets? Will Snipes avenge the snub? Or has Hollywood just finally realize that his talent really isn't anything worth promoting?
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Opens Dec. 17)
"A Series of Unfortunate Events" is not your typical sparkles-and-light holiday family film. After their parents die, the Baudelaire children are sent to live with their evil uncle, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), and suffer catastrophe after catastrophe in their attempts to foil his devilish schemes.
Carrey has already been receiving accolades for his role as the villainous Olaf, who enacts malicious plots to kill the children and steal their inherited fortune. The "Unfortunate Events" movie combines several of the books from the hit novel series of the same name, promising an active but somewhat schizophrenic movie rendition of a children's favorite.
Phantom of the Opera (Opens Dec. 23)
Joel Schumacher should have known he faced a challenge when he agreed to adapt Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of Gaston Leroux's classic tale. Stage productions don't usually make for good cinema, but stray too far from the original and millions of "Phantom" fangirls would send a chandelier crashing into his house.
The result is a relatively faithful version of Lloyd Webber's musical, with some twists added from the original novel. Gerard Butler (starring as The Phantom) may not have Michael Cooper's voice, but Schumacher's version of the lead character is snarky and debonair, much like Erik originally was in the novel.
Emmy Rossum stars as ing?©nue Christine, and Minnie Driver steals the show as opera singer La Carlotta.
Grainy flash-forwards slow the film down and some of the lyrics are turned into awkwardly stilted dialogue, but overall, it's the most vivid screen version of "Phantom" yet.
The Aviator (Opens Dec. 25)
In Hollywood, Howard Hughes is a legend unto himself. Hughes directed "Hell's Angels" (1930), helped launched the career of Jean Harlow and other early film stars, and created the Spruce Goose, an enormous flying boat designed during World War II.
"The Aviator" is the film adaptation of Hughes' life, following him from the production of "Hell's Angels" in the late 1920s to the test flight of the Blue Spruce in 1946. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as the aviation-obsessed Hollywood mongol, with Cate Blanchett taking co-star credits in her role as actress Katharine Hepburn.
Action movie it may not be, but this close-up look at one of Hollywood's own is sure to bring something new to the table. Whispers have already started about DiCaprio getting an Oscars' nod for his role, and they're sure to build after the movie's release.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (Opens Dec. 25)
Bill Murray stars as Steve Zissou, the oceanographer's version of Captain Ahab, who launches on an all-consuming quest to hunt down the shark that killed his partner.
"The Life Aquatic" features a star-studded cast that rivals "Ocean's Twelve" for sheer name recognition. Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, and Willem Dafoe all star as the team that Zissou brings in to help him with his crusade.
He may be no Jacques Cousteau, but Murray's comedic adventure still hopes to reel in a few laughs.
