2011 Holiday Movie Guide

From 'Sherlock Holmes 2' and 'Mission: Impossible 4' to 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' and 'War Horse', moviegoers will be treated with a selection of entertaining films this holiday season.

The holiday season has once again come around, and Hollywood has prepared a selection of entertaining and thrilling films to be chosen by movie lovers. To help them in picking which movies to check out with families or friends throughout the month of December, AceShowbiz provides this 2011 Holiday Movie Guide.

Some of the movies which make it into the list are romantic comedy "New Year's Eve", high-octane action "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol", mind-bending thriller "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)", and touching drama "War Horse". Also included are some limited releases, such as "Carnage".

 

WIDE RELEASE:

"New Year's Eve"

Release Date: December 9

What happens if plenty of Hollywood A-listers come together in one romantic holiday movie? "New Year's Eve" offers the answer to the question. Jessica Biel getting close to delivering her baby, Zac Efron helping Michelle Pfeiffer to accomplish her New Year's resolutions, Jon Bon Jovi getting slapped in the face by an ex-flame, Jake T. Austin stealing a kiss from Abigail Breslin, and Lea Michele engaging in a war of words with Ashton Kutcher are some of what this movie have to offer. But, those are just a small part of this star-studded rom-com since it revolves around the lives of several couples and singles in New York City over the course of one New Year's Eve.

 

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"

Release Date: December 16

Ready to once again embark on a thrilling adventure with Sherlock Holmes? The legendary detective is back for more challenging case in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows". In his new mission, the quirky yet charismatic problem-solver meets "the most infamous villain in the history of literature," Prof. Moriarty. An intriguing plot, plenty of fresh jokes and action-packed scenes promise to bring more thrills. While there will be more bromance between Robert Downey Jr.'s Holmes and his trusted comrade, Jude Law's Dr. Watson, this sequel is said to be darker than the 2009 "Sherlock Holmes".

 

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked"

Release Date: December 16

Looking for a movie for the whole family? Then, check out "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked" as it brings back Alvin and his brothers for a new exciting adventure. Along with David Seville, the mischievous chipmunks are enjoying a vacation on a splendid cruise liner before they get stranded in a remote island. With plenty of toe-tapping soundtracks and slapstick humors, this kid-friendly movie will be enjoyable for the whole family members. Not to mention, audience could see the attractive performance of the Chipettes gang as they sing and dance, imitating some famous musicians with their iconic high-pitched voices.

 

"Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol"

Release Date: December 21

Those who have been longing to see Ethan Hunt going for some death-defying actions could satisfy their thirst with "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol". Tom Cruise once again slips into the shoes of the fearless IMF point man as he does all the risky stunts himself at the world's tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa. Not only does it present plenty of adrenaline-rush scenes, but it also offers a more complicated mission. This time around, Hunt and his trusted team must go undercover to clear their organization's credibility after being accused of taking part in a global terrorism plot. Together with his fellow IMF agent Brandt and humorous computer expert Benji, could Hunt accomplish the mission?

 

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)"

Release Date: December 21

Moviegoers are invited to solve a mysterious murder case in this brain-twisting adaptation of Stieg Larsson's macabre Swedish mystery, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)". The story centers on an unlikely partnership between punk-hacker heroine Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist as they try to unlock the mystery behind the long-unsolved disappearance of a heiress. Expect to see Rooney Mara making a drastic transformation to portray the fierce-looking Lisbeth. Plus, Daniel Craig ditches his flamboyant James Bond persona to get into Mikael's gloomy character. Making it more special is that the U.S. remake features a darker twist from the original Swedish version.

 

"The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn"

Release Date: December 21

From two of the biggest names in movie industry, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, comes "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn". Fans of Herge's famous adventurous comic can see their favorite characters getting animated in this movie. Not only following the thrilling adventure of Tintin and Captain Haddock in finding a lost treasure, it will also be injected with plenty of humorous scenes delivered by identical detective duo, Thompson and Thomson. Vividly colored and detailed objects are also set to wow the audiece, while the likes of Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Daniel Craig help voice the characters.

 

"We Bought a Zoo"

Release Date: December 23

How does it feel to live in a zoo? Spending daily life together with tigers, monkeys, zebras and other wild animals is probably unimaginable for most people, but in "We Bought a Zoo", Matt Damon would prove that nothing is impossible. Based on the true life of journalist Benjamin Mee, this drama has an emotional storyline about a single dad who dramatically quits his job following the death of his wife and decides to start a new life by taking his children to move in to an abandoned zoo. Together, the family aims to restore the zoo's glorious age. In addition to Damon who gives "one of the best performances of his career in this film," the movie has Scarlett Johansson and Elle Fanning on the supporting roles.

 

"War Horse"

Release Date: December 25

"War Horse" will show audience that people could find a friend from an unlikely source. Through this potential tear-jerker drama, director Steven Spielberg will bring forward a strong emotional bond between a young man, Albert, and his reliable horse, Joey, during the First World War era. Fueled with touching scenes, it will see the two best friends being forcefully separated as Albert is pulled to join the warship and Joey is sold to a cavalry and shipped to France. Determined to find his master, the faithful horse then takes a long, long compelling journey across the Europe. Based on Michael Morpurgo's novel and Tony Award-winning play, this drama will show an adorable canvas of rural England and Europe along the way.

 

"The Darkest Hour"

Release Date: December 25

Alien invasion-themed movies usually visualize monstrous creatures, but "The Darkest Hour" will present the alien in a unique form. Visionary filmmaker Timur Berkamambetov and director Chris Gorak are teaming up to bring the extraterritorial creatures as mesmerizing flash lights, but without reducing their menace. Despite their enchanting look, the invisible aliens could suck the energy out of living creatures. This movie will see the struggle of five youths who battle to survive from being destroyed by the evil creatures. Not only showing an intense storyline and remarkable visual effects, the movie will also bring the audience to witness the adorable landscape of Russia.

 

LIMITED RELEASE:

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Release Date: December 9

Spy movie lovers should not miss to watch "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy". While most British spy movies highlight intricate gadgets and the heroic side of MI6 organization, this movie explores the genre in a different angle. It follows a retired espionage veteran George Smiley, who is pulled away from his semi-retirement to ferret out a Soviet agent in MI6. The adaptation of John Le Carre's 1974 best-selling novel received an outstanding early reviews from critics who lavished on its gripping suspense and A-list cast ensemble that includes the likes of Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy.

 

"Carnage"

Release Date: December 16

"Carnage" will reveal that even a well-educated adult could behave so much like an ignorant kid. This dramedy, which is presented in a relatively light way by controversial filmmaker Roman Polanski, follows a day in the life of two sets of parents as they meet up after their children were involved in a fight. Receiving positive reviews at some Film Festivals, is sees Kate Winslet as a drunkard mom who can't control her emotion, Jodie Foster who acts like a wise one, Christoph Waltz as annoying businessman who can't get rid of his cell phone, and John C. Reilly as a proud father who arrogantly brags about his gang leader son.