'The Hobbit', 'SkyFall': The 5 Most Anticipated Films This HolidaySeason

Other than Blockbuster Summer, the studios release their best films during this time to take advantage of everyone having more time on their hands and more willing to spend their money on entertainment since they are already in the spending mood. Their are a lot of great films that are coming out this season especially with all the Oscar bait films that are thrown in with the family fare and blockbusters as well. I have made a list of the 5 films I am anticipating the most - and no Breaking Dawn Part II is not on the list. So let's get started shall we.



5) 'Silver Linings Playbook'

 There is a lot of hype surrounding this movie. It has won the Audience award at one of the most prestigious film festivals - The Toronto Film Festival - and has garnered a lot of praise for everyone involved, in particular Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro. Not to mention there is Oscar buzz about this film as well. The trailer doesn't redeem all of the attention that this film is getting, but I am a fan of all of the actors in the film and especially the director, David O. Russell, who directed The Fighter which was one of my favorite films of 2010. Here's hoping lighting strikes twice. Silver Linings Playbook opens November 21st.

4) 'Skyfall'

Casino Royale is my favorite Bond film. Quantum of Solace is my least favorite Bond Film. So, Daniel Craig and the team behind the new James Bond universe is 1 for 2 in my book. With Skyfall, though, things seem to have improved greatly from Quantum and may even surpass Casino Royale as my favorite Bond film. With the addition of Javier Bardem as the adversary the conflict is sure to be explosive, and with Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead) in the directors chair things are shaping up real nicely for the 23rd installment and 50th anniversary of the Bond franchise. Also, with nearly $300 million in the box office already overseas this may also be the highest grossing in the series as well. Skyfall opens this Friday, November 9.

3) 'Django Unchained'

Bottom line this comes down to Quentin Tarantino being one of my favorite directors of all time. He consistently pushes the envelope on his work and his joy and passion for film oozes out of every single project he does. His last film 'Inglorious Basterds' is one of my favorite films of 2009 and I believe probably should have won that years Oscar for Best Picture. In 'Django', Tarantino has an extremely capable and very talented cast with Jamie Foxx as the title character and the brilliant Christoph Waltz as his partner in crime. Oh, and a guy named Leo Dicaprio is in it as well, I heard he is really good as well.
I don't know exactly what to expect from this film but I know I will not be disappointed. Django Unchained opens Christmas Day.

2) 'Les Miserables'

I am a sucker for brilliant musicals, and whenever they are adapted into films that remain as brilliant as they were on the stage (i.e. Rent, Hairspray, and Chicago) it is like getting the best of both worlds. Of course the jury is still out for Les Miserables but if the trailers are any indication the film is going to be amazing.
Anne Hathaway is quickly becoming my favorite movie actress. She rarely disappoints me, she is always committed to her character and her craft and if this role in Les Mis is as heartbreaking as it seems in the trailer constantly challenging herself as well.
Another thing I find exciting about the production of Les Mis is that the singing is actually performed live during filming. This is unheard of since productions prefer the purity of a studio recording to dub over the performance instead. Les Miserables opens on Christmas Day.

1) 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'

This film above all else has me excited the most. It is because of the pedestal that I hold the  Lord of the Rings trilogy on that this comes as a no brainer. I have not read The Hobbit neither did I read the Lord of the Rings books, so I am a pure cinematic fan of the series. After the Lord of the Rings i became a huge fan of not only the series but the cast and crew as well, especially the director, Peter Jackson. He built such an amazing world out of the words the the legendary J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that it seemed only fitting that he would bring The Hobbit to the screen as well.
One thing does concern me though. The fact that a single children's book can be turned into three epic films seems a bit far fetched to me. It makes me believe that the audience may be getting a watered down version of the book to make more money off of the films. Something I admire the Lord of the Rings series for doing is caring about the quality of the film along with making money. Let's hope the same is the case with The Hobbit. The Hobbit opens on December 14.

Honorable mentions of films that I am also anticipating are: Life of Pi, This is 40, and Zero Dark Thirty