It is one of the evergreen rituals of the Holidays: going to the movies with friends, family or children. TheNewyorker has chosen for you the ten movies you absolutely must not miss (and here we start with the first five).
Let’s start with the animated fantasy The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the first to hit theaters, December 13 (in Italy it is delayed until January 1). It is a kind of prequel to Peter Jackson’s celebrated trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel and is signed by Japanese director Kenji Kamiyama. The film takes us back to Middle-earth 180 years earlier to tell the story of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary king of Rohan, forced to organize a daring resistance against the attack of the ruthless lord of Dunlending. The voices are by Brian Cox, Christopher Lee, Miranda Otto and Luca Pasqualino, and the film is, of course, suitable for children.
It is dedicated to romantics, however, White Christmas, the 1954 musical comedy penned by Michael Curtiz that returns to theaters Dec. 15 (with a limited release) to celebrate its 70th anniversary. The cast will reunite Bing Crosby (singing White Christmas, of course), Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen; the film at the time smashed the box office.
Two more highly anticipated and highly suitable animated films for children arrive on December 20: Mufasa: The Lion King (pictured) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The first, which will also appeal greatly to adult companions, is a kind of prequel directed by Barry Jenkins that takes us back to the savannah to tell the legend of the lion king Mufasa. The photorealism of the images is absolutely spectacular, and the story (occasionally tear-jerking) moves in two temporal dimensions: the misadventures of little Mufasa, an orphaned lion cub forced to disentangle himself from the dangers of the savannah, are narrated in flash backs to the young cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, by the meerkat Timon and the warthog Pumbaa (already present in cardboard version in the first Lion King).
Sonic 3, in turn, is the third installment in the saga based on the famous video game starring a blue-colored alien hedgehog, and boasts the voices of Jim Carrey, James Marsden and Krysten Ritter in voice acting. The previous two films were super box-office hits.
Also coming on December 20 although not really a Christmas film (but certainly a must-see) is Babygirl, written and directed by Dutch director Halina Reijn and screened in competition at Venice 81. The leading lady, Nicole Kidman, has already been much talked about for her role: the story is about a powerful corporate executive who jeopardizes her career and family to pursue a super-hot affair with her much younger intern. He is Harris Dickinson; the cast also includes Antonio Banderas, Sophie Wilde, and Esther McGregor.
Trailer Mufasa
The article The ten must-see Holiday 2024 movies at the cinema (part one) comes from TheNewyorker.
