Holiday releases promise laughs, thrills

The Family Stone

The Family Stone

Several movies are due out this holiday season. We have chosen six movies we believe should be popular draws this year.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Nov. 18Harry and the Hogwarts gang make their return to the big screen in the fourth installment of this popular series. In this edition, Hogwarts plays host to the Triwizard Tournament, in which a student from each of the three schools is represented. Three schools are participating in the tournament, and somehow Harry is chosen as the fourth student.Although this part of the series was given a PG-13 rating, everyone, young and old, will enjoy it. This is considered the darkest book in the series to date. Fans of the series are in for another fun-filled adventure with the famous trio.Aeon Flux Dec. 2Charlize Theron portrays the title character in this action-adventure flick. The film is set 400 years in the future and a disease has killed much of the world’s population. Aeon Flux is an operative for a rebel group sent to assassinate a member of the oppressive government.While this movie is a member of the new clichéd Matrix-style action films, it shows some promise. The Oscar-winning Theron, however, finds herself stuck in another dead-end role.The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Dec. 9The first movie of the popular young-adult series tells the story of four children, sent to their uncle’s home during World War II. In the home, the youngest, Lucy, discovers a hidden world in an old wardrobe. Soon all the children pass into this new land, Narnia, but only to discover it is in the clinches of an evil witch. Liam Neeson voices the wondrous lion ruler of Narnia, Aslan.This movie, one of many family-themed films for the season, continues in the epic tradition of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.The Family Stone Dec. 16Who is not in this movie? Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Luke Wilson all grace the cast list for this Christmassy comedy-drama. The story is about a New England family whose eldest son brings his girlfriend to meet his family during the holidays, with the intention of proposing to her.This film looks to be full of laughs and should make a good movie to take that special someone to during the winter break.Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Dec. 21The Baker family takes a vacation where they face competition from another family, led by Eugene Levy. Steve Martin, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo and Hilary Duff return to their original roles. For all the fans of Carmen Electra, she makes an appearance in the film. Though this may be a sequel, the trailer promises many delightful moments and a plot full of laughter. This film should also make for a great family movie and a good date movie as well.Rumor Has It…Dec. 25 Again, who is not in this movie? Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Ruffalo, Mena Suvari and Kathy Bates fill the big screen with their presences. The plot tells of a woman who returns home for her sister’s wedding and discovers her mother and grandmother were the inspiration for the book and movie The Graduate. She also learns she may be the result of that film’s romance.This movie looks promising, but only Christmas day will tell.