The Christmas List

Well, we're two days away from another Christmas and if you're trying to navigate your way through the countless holiday-themed marathons invading TV this week or, if maybe you had tickets to see Spiderman on Broadway and now have some extra free time on your hands, here's a guide to some of (at least in my humble opinion) the movies and TV specials you shouldn't miss:

The Muppet Christmas Carol

"Light the lamp, not the rat!  Light the lamp, not the rat!"

There are far too many adaptations of Charles Dickens' classic tale of Christmas redemption, and I like quite a few of them, but my favorite definitely comes courtesy of The Muppets.  Expertly told by both Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, perfectly Muppet-ized for everyone's enjoyment ("It's Fozziwig's Olde Rubber Chicken Factory!") and with a wonderfully grouchy Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, I dare you to get "It Feels Like Christmas" unstruck from your head after watching this movie.

Gremlins

"They're watching Snow White.  And they love it."

Some people have Bad Santa for their choice of a twisted holiday movie, mine is Gremlins.  It's funny as hell, it was scary enough at the time to be part of the reason PG-13 was created (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, released that same summer, being the other reason), the effects are still halfway decent, and it has what is still most morbid story about a Christmas tragedy ever commited to film.  Besides, who can't love a movie that launches a mean old miser woman through her window in a stair lift on Christmas Eve?

Elf

"Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?"

I can take or leave Will Ferrell in most of his movies, but he was really never better than he was as a human raised by Santa's elves who heads to NY to find his long-lost father in Elf.  He spends the whole movie running around like one of those musical Christmas cards that you can't shut off, but in a very sweet and funny way.  When I saw it in the theater I had a feeling it was going to become one of those movies that played on TV endlessly every December, and today it is.  And of course, I've got to watch it whenever it's on. 

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians

"Elf tastes just like chicken!"

Make no mistake:  this is an awful movie.  It's unbelievably dreadful.  It's so bad, the word "costume" is actually spelled wrong in the opening credits.  In a nutshell:  martians kidnap Santa Claus and two human kids in order to bring some Christmas spirit to their own depressed children.  Who the hell thought this up, I have no idea.  And unless you're some sort of sadist, I don't even recommend watching it at all.  However, if you get your hands on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 version, with Joel and the 'bots tearing apart the entire film, it's suddenly one of the funniest Christmas movies ever made.

Love, Actually

"There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?" 

This 2004 film about the intertwining love lives of nearly every British actor on the planet (and at least half of the adult cast from the Harry Potter films) in the weeks leading up to Christmas has been quickly been moving up the lists of holiday essentials, and with good reason.  Sure, it's a bit of a chick-flick, but it's very funny, especially Bill Nighy as a washed-up rocker whose awful sellout of a Christmas song becomes a surprise hit, and the way the stories all mix together is terrific.  Also, Walking Dead fans can spot Andrew Lincoln as a lovestruck videographer pining for Keira Knightly. 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

"If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn't be more suprised than I am right now."

I just watched this again the other night, and it's starting to show it's age a little bit, but it's still the quintessential Christmas movie about the family from hell and Clark Griswold's attempt to make it the "hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny ****in' Kaye!"  In addtion to that, it also has the single greatest meltdown in holiday movie history.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

"And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

This is my favorite Christmas special.  I love the Linus and Lucy theme.  I love the choppy animation and that the kid voice actors stumble over their lines in a few scenes.  I love that Charles Schultz insisted despite the network's objections that the show include the actual Christmas story, and props to little Christopher Shea as Linus for nailing that scene.  But most of all I love seeing Charlie Brown fall in love with the rattiest little tree in the Christmas tree lot.  Best Christmas cartoon ever.

It's a Wonderful Life

"You call this a happy family?  Why do we have to have all these kids?"

Forget Christmas, this is one of my favorite movies at any time of the year.  And frankly, if you're not moved by the ending it's entirely possible you were born without a soul.  It's about a guy named George Bailey who nothing goes right for in life, but in a moment of desperation on Christmas Eve is shown by an angel-in-training how things would have turned out if he'd never been born in the first place, and of course, he learns that he really had a wonderful life in more ways than he ever possibly imagined.  Atta boy, Clarence.

So that's my list of Christmas must-sees.  I've never been into the whole A Christmas Story thing, and I love Die Hard, but I rarely watch it at Christmas, which is why they're not on the list, but they're good movies too (especially Die Hard).  And for god's sake, if you haven't seen It's a Wondeful Life, watch that as soon as you can.  You won't regret it. 

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Anne Hathaway Updates on Judy Garland Biopic

The casting of Anne Hathaway in the planned Judy Garland biopic is a stroke of genius.

But since the news of her attachment to the project last year (based off the 2001 book Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland), development has been taking a snail's pace. So what the Hell is taking so long for what could be Hathaway's, seemingly inevitable, Oscar-grab role?

She gives an update status to BBC News:

"It's a very sensitive project and there have been so many stories told about her life that we're really trying to get it right. So we've taking our time with it. I know it seems like it's sort of an endless process but it's very, very slow incremental steps. I had a meeting about it a couple of weeks ago and we're all very motivated."

Also vital is the right director and screenwriter. Neither role of which I can recall has been filled. Even with the pitch-perfect casting of Hathaway, this needs the proper filmmakers to steer it away from the standard-operating procedures this genre typically does. This could be a great movie of one of the great tragic figures in Hollywood history – with the correction people in charge.

Superman: The Man of Steel Possibly Influenced by Secret Origin

With the kind of money and success it's garnished him over the years; it's not a detriment for David Goyer to be labeled "the comic book movie writer." Can't think of too terribly many flicks outside that genre bear his name – I know there are few. But it seems like he's content adapting high-profile comic-book characters to feature-film franchises, and they don't get any bigger than Superman, baby – the Zack Snyder-directed reboot he's writing.

Comic Book Movie (trust me, a rarity for me to link to them – they're notorious bullshit spreaders) have actually found something legitimately legit. Goyer wrote a forward to the recently-released hard-cover edition of Geoff John's Superman: Secret Origin, and gave what would be interpreted as a hint of what he, Snyder and the multitude of producers are aiming for with the Christmas 2012 reboot:

"There is a heart breaking moment halfway through the first chapter in which young Clark is told the truth about his heritage. He races out into the night, sobbing, stumbling through the cornfields. Eventually, his foster father, Jonathan, finds him."

'I don't want to be someone else,' says Clark. 'I don't want to be different. I want to be Clark Kent.'

'I want to be your son'

"Right there in that moment, Geoff contextualized Superman in a way that I'm not sure has ever really been done before. I had an 'aha' experience when I read that. For the first time I was able to grasp how lonely Clark must have been when he was growing up. And what a sacrifice Clark must continually make by being Superman."

"As I write this, I am midway through my first draft of a new Superman screenplay. It's a task that has stymied many talented fimmakers in the years since Donner's film. And for all I know, it will end up stymying me as well."

"But I've got one advantage that the screenwriters who came before me didn't have—and that's access to all the wonderful Superman stories written by Geoff Johns—first and foremost being the SECRET ORIGIN issues reprinted in the very volume you are now holding"

Reports prior to this suggested the Mark Waid-written comic Superman: Birthright would bear great influence on the new movie. Given Goyer's track record with this genre, it's not unorthodox to suggest he'll take spices here and there from noted works, add in his own ideas and blend it into a silver screen concoction all its down.

I wonder if the same fanboys who bitched and screamed about how lazy Superman Returns was for its influence by the Richard Donner films will act the same way with The Man of Steel. What with Goyer working off Johns who himself was greatly influenced by Donner. Assuming all this is to be believed.

Christian Bale to Star in Nanjing Heroes

I actually thought he was going to use the next six months to workout for The Dark Knight Rises...I guess not.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Christian Bale is set to star in acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou's Nanjing Heroes.  The film is to be set around the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, when Japanese troops killed thousands of Chinese citizens in the then nation's capital.  Bale will play an American priest named John who helps save Chinese citizens from death.  The film will be shot in 40% English, and the rest in Mandarin Chinese.  The $90 million budgeted film is set to start filming January 10th.

A few things to take away from this news.  1) Bale is without a doubt in control of his career as he's chosen to do not only a foreign produced film but also one that won't even be primarily in English.  2) This will already be one of the more anticipated films of the next couple years as the director, Zhang Yimou, is basically China's Christopher Nolan (go figure), having been chosen to direct the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008.  3) If Bale's amazing performance in The Fighter is anything to go by, he might be up for Best Actor at next year's Oscars after winning this year's upcoming Best Supporting Actor Oscar (that's right, I'm guaranteeing it now).

H.R. Giger Working on Alien Prequel?

Going by the life cycle of Alien prequel rumors, prepare yourself for a rival post saying, "Nu-uh!" in the next 24 hours.

AvP Galaxy has uncovered an interview with Carmen Scheifele stating that Swiss surrealist artist H.R. Giger has return to the world of Alien and working closely with Ridley Scott on new designs and what not on the oft-discussed 3D prequel.

"How would she know?" you ask? Well, she is Giger's wife. Presumably this arose from conversations at the diner-table.

Until we hear this officially from Fox's lips or it's confirmed by our more insider-savvy colleagues, I'll rather wait for the afore-mention follow-up article stating this the info is bullshit. We should be used to this by with this fucking project.

Salt 2 In Search for Director - Phillip Noyce Exits

Sony might be moving forward on a sequel to their summer hit Salt. But Angelia Jolie will have to be directed by someone other than Phillip Noyce.

The director tells Movie Hole he won't call "Action!" on Salt 2:

"Those 3 [alternate] Blu-ray cuts [of the film] represent just about everything I have to offer on Everlyn Salt. If there ever is a sequel, better its directed by someone with a completely fresh take on what I believe could be a totally entertaining and complex series of stories."

Despite looking generic as shit and opening a week after juggernaut Inception, Salt was a hit for Sony thanks to a hard marketing push and star Jolie working the press circuit to maximum effect. A sequel hasn't been officially announced yet, but it appears highly-likely that won't be the last we see of Everlyn Salt.

Claudia Wells Returns!

Claudia Wells might have has been off the film scene for awhile, but she's been captured on celluloid for all times. She'll forever be Jennifer Parker in the original Back to the Future. You totally bought her and Michael J. Fox as a teenage couple with their future (No pun intended) ahead of them. Alas we unfortunately didn't get to her interact with herself (well, her 2015 self) and Christopher Lloydd in the sequels. But it is what it is.

You might have noticed her resurfacing during the promotions for the home video re-releases of the BTTF trilogy. Now she's headed back to the silver screen. Here’s the press release:

"Actress Claudia Wells, best known for her role as Jennifer Parker in the timeless classic Back to the Future (1985), is returning to film.

Wells, who for the last 19 years has been running the high-end fashion store Armani Wells in Los Angeles, has signed to play a part in the upcoming science-fiction film Battleground Los Angeles.

When the world is invaded by an ancient race of aliens, the city of Los Angeles is fortified as an alien stronghold. The only way to fight is from within.

Wells plays a character said to be similar to that of Linda Hamilton’s in Terminator 2 : Judgment Day.

Battleground Los Angeles, directed by Neil Johnson, marks Wells first on-screen appearance since 2008 and her first science fiction film since originating the role of Marty McFly’s devoted girlfriend in the box office smash Back to the Future 25 years ago.

Prior to her involvement in Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future, Wells was a TV regular appearing in the likes of Fast Times opposite Courtney Thorne-Smith and Patrick Dempsey, Off The Rack with Ed Asner, and Disney’s Herbie : The Love Bug."

Ouija: McG Versus Breck Eisner

One had his chance to sit in the grown-up's table and blew it. The other I don't think has had his shot yet.

Heat Vision says there's a tug-o-war between Breck Eisner and McG. Both want to direct Ouija, Universal's adaptation of the Hasbro board game. Michael Bay is producing and it's from a script by Tron: Legacy (How quick will they try to hide that factoid away?) screenwriters Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis.

Directors are filtering in and out of Universal offices the last few weeks with their pitches with no success. But with it set for a November 2012 release, there's plenty of time for the execs to make their decision – most likely when they return from the Christmas/New Year's break.

No offense, but This Means War will have to truly impress till I take McG serious again.

Weekend Box Office: December 17-19

Courtesy of Box Office Mojo: 

1.  Tron Legacy - $43.6 million

2.  Yogi Bear - $16.7 million

3.  The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader - $12.4 million

4.  The Fighter - $12.2 million

5.  The Tourist - $8.7 million

6.  Tangled - $8.6 million

7.  Black Swan - $8.3 million

8.  How Do You Know - $7.6 million

9.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - $4.8 million

10.  Unstoppable - $1.8 million

Well, they weren't Avatar numbers, but considering the 28-year gap between movies, Tron Legacy did pretty well this weekend, opening with $43.6 million.  The 3D/IMAX screens certainly helped, accounting for 82% of the opening weekend take, and it should continue to do decent business through the upcoming holiday week. 

Yogi Bear, you are no Alvin and the Chipmunks.  Opening in second place with $16.7 million, which does put it ahead the openings of this summer's CGI flops Marmaduke and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, the return of Yogi and Boo-Boo still wasn't all that impressive this weekend.  But it could also just mean that the family crowd is waiting until the kids are off next week to head to the movies too, although we could still hold out hope that even parents have had enough of these silly movies.

This weekend other new release, James Brooks' How Do You Know, was a total disaster this weekend, landing all the way down in seventh place with just $7.6 million.  Blame some barely noticeable advertising for this one. 

The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader dropped 48% from last week's opening, which isn't awful, but its meager $42.7 domestic total is pretty terrible, and doesn't bode well for the rest of the series.  It's doing much better overseas, where it's grossed $123.6 million. 

This weekend also saw wider releases for two of the big Oscar hopefuls:  Black Swan appears to confusing the masses as all good Darren Aronofsky films do, but is still doing well, landing in seventh place with $8.3 million, while the The Fighter opened in fourth place with $12.2 million.

Next week's big Christmas weekend brings the openings of Little Fockers and the remake of True Grit, as well as the limited release of Country Strong.  Should be a busy weekend.

Tom Hardy NOT Playing Hugo Strange

While everyone and their mother waits to find out what the heck The Dark Knight Rises will be about, the always trustworthy Batman-On-Film has dropped a little tidbit for everyone.  Since British thesp Tom Hardy was reported to be cast in the film a few months back, speculation has been rampant as to what character he would be playing.  BOF doesn't quite have the answer as to what role it will be, but rather, what role he won't: Hugo Strange.

The character of Hugo Strange has been widely speculated to be in the next film with rumors that the 3rd Batman film would be based off the comic book story arc, Prey, featuring the crazy scientist and master psychologist.  Along with this, the trailer for next year's video game release, Batman: Arkham City, featured the character as well, fueling speculation the character would be in the next movie.

My take?  I believe Hugo Strange will be in the film and that Christopher Nolan is going to surprise everyone with who he casts.  I'm thinking Pete Postlethwaite, as he worked with Nolan in Inception and has a good relationship with Warner Bros. right now, having played vital roles in both Clash of the Titans and The Town.  As for Hardy, I think he will play a hard-nosed cop (Sergeant Max Cort possibly?) on a mission to bring down Batman.  Regardless, we'll all know soon enough as an official announcement is expected early next year.