Holiday Movie Preview Guide 2011

The Twilight Saga:
Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (November 18)

In this highly anticipated chapter of the Twilight vampire saga, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) must deal with potentially devastating consequences brought on by their marriage and the birth of their child. (PG-13)

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Happy Feet Two (November 18)

The sequel to the Academy Award-winning animated film, Happy Feet Two reunites audiences with the lovable tap-dancing penguin, Mumble (Elijah Wood), who tries to teach his choreo-phobic son, Erik, to dance. Robin Williams, Sofia Vergara, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt also star in the 3D-riffic adventure. (PG)

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The Muppets (November 23)

In this star-studded (and we're not just talking about Miss Piggy and Kermit) epic adventure, three fans help reunite The Muppets so they can save their old theater from a greedy oil tycoon. Jason Segel, Amy Adams star and Chris Cooper star, with appearances from Zach Galifianakis, Mila Kunis, Rashida Jones, and Selena Gomez. (PG)

'The Muppets (November 23)' Movie Preview #1

'The Muppets (November 23)' Movie Preview #2

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Arthur Christmas (November 23)

Set on Christmas night, Arthur Christmas reveals the answer to every child's question: "So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?" James McAvoy leads the cast as Arthur, Santa's younger son who must complete an urgent mission before Christmas morning dawns. The animated film also features the voices of Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy. (PG-13)

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The Artist (November 25)

Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky's the limit - major movie stardom awaits. "The Artist" tells the story of their interlinked destinies. (PG-13)

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Coriolanus (December 2)

Caius Martius 'Coriolanus' (Ralph Fiennes), a revered and feared Roman General is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuses to support him, Coriolanus's anger prompts a riot that culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city. (R)

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Shame (December 2)

Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a New Yorker who shuns intimacy with women but feeds his desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his wayward younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves into his apartment stirring memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's insular life spirals out of control. (NC-17)

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Sleeping Beauty (December 2, 2011 - Limited)

Death-haunted, quietly reckless, Lucy (Emily Browning) is a young university student who takes a job as a Sleeping Beauty. In the Sleeping Beauty Chamber old men seek an erotic experience that requires Lucy's absolute submission. This unsettling task starts to bleed into Lucy's daily life and she develops an increasing need to know what happens to her when she is asleep. (R)

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New Year's Eve (December 9)

The lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwine over the course of New Year's Eve. Features an all-star cast that includes Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Jessica Biel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Josh Duhamel, Katherine Heigl, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, and more. (PG-13)

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Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy (December 9)

Staying in the thriller vein, look out for "Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy" in November. Based on the acclaimed novel, this international spy remake of the 1970s original is set at the height of the Cold War and stars Gary Oldman and last year's Oscar winner for best actor, Colin Firth, and is directed by Tomas Alfredson. (R)

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Young Adult (December 9)

Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron plays an alcoholic writer of young adult novels who returns to her hometown after her divorce to rekindle an old romance with an ex-boyfriend (Patrick Wilson). Diablo Cody (who won an Oscar for writing "Juno") penned the script to this dramedy, which is also directed by "Juno" and "Up in the Air" director Jason Reitman. (R)

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The Sitter (December 9)

The irreverent comedy will harken back to 1987's "Adventures in Babysitting." It follows a college student, suspended for the semester and living back at home with his single mom, who has a night to remember when he gets talked into baby-sitting the eccentric kids next door -- two boys and a wild 8-year-old girl. (R)

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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (December 16)

The world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.), reunite with his sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law) to face off against their most cunning adversary Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). Guy Ritchie directs this action-packed adventure, also starring Noomi Rapace and Stephen Fry. (PG-13)

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Carnage (December 16)

Set in contemporary Brooklyn, New York, "Carnage" centers on two pairs of parents one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos. (R)

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (December 16)

"Chipwrecked" brings those lovable critters Alvin, Simon and Theodore back to the big screen. This time they turn a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, with more than just a little hijinks to keep the entire family entertained over the holidays. (G)

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Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (December 21)

In this action sequel, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his rogue team go undercover to clear their organization's name when it is implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Directed by Brad Bird, the film also stars Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton. (PG-13)

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (December 21)

Director David Fincher delivers his much buzzed-about adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestseller. In this remake, Daniel Craig plays the journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who is aided by the troubled young hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) in his search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. (R)

We Bought A Zoo (December 23)

The new comedy-drama from director Cameron Crowe is based on a memoir by Benjamin Mee, who used his family's life savings to buy Dartmoor Zoological Park, a dilapidated zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. The film stars Matt Damon (who plays Mee), Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church and Elle Fanning. (PG)

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The Darkest Hour (December 23)

In this action-packed thriller, a group of young people led by Emile Hirsch find themselves stranded in Russia, struggling to survive a devastating alien invasion attack. The 3D effects and Moscow setting get the spotlight in this film, which also stars Olivia Thirlby and Max Minghella. (PG-13)

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The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (December 23)

Steven Spielberg directs this 3D film (produced by Peter Jackson), based on "The Adventures of Tintin," the comic book series created by Belgian artist Hergé. Combining the stories of The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure, the film depicts Tintin's (Jamie Bell) first encounter with Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and the discovery of a clue to the treasure of his ancestor Sir Francis Haddoque. (PG)

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War Horse (December 25)

Steven Spielberg's epic adventure is a tale of loyalty and hope set in rural England and Europe during the First World War. It tells the story of a friendship between a young man named Albert and the horse Joey, who moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets. (PG-13)

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

(December 25 - Limited Release | January 20 - Wide Release)
Based on Jonathan Safran Foer's bestselling 2005 novel, the film tells the story of one young boy's journey from heartbreaking loss to the healing power of self-discovery, set against the backdrop of the tragic events of September 11. Directed by Stephen Daldry, the drama stars Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, and newcomer Thomas Horn. (PG-13)

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Iron Lady (December 30 - Limited Release)

Meryl Streep stars as Margaret Thatcher in this biopic of the former British prime minister. Not surprisingly, the film is already garnering Oscar buzz for 16-time Academy Award nominee Streep. "Iron Lady" also stars Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant. (PG-13)

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