Snap! Judgment: Holiday Movie Guide
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With only a few weeks till Christmas and the holiday season (start panicking… NOW) it’s expected that major movies are set to be released just around that time. Surprisingly this year, instead of the typical surge of sappy movies, there is actually quite a variety coming out. Here’s a quick preview of your choices so you know what you might wanna hold out for:

• Avatar:

This one is going to be MAJOR. Already being hyped since the beginning of this year, Avatar is directed by James Cameron and just looks amazing with all of the visual effects and 3D effects they used when creating the “other world” where most of the movie seems to take place. The story is a bit complicated, so try and wrap your brain around this: a paraplegic war veteran is placed in this program where he learns to walk again and is given an alien “avatar” (hence the title). He then becomes more and more involved in the other world and the problems the alien race faces… Wow, did that even make sense? Just watch the trailer. If the hype says anything, then this one should be a hit. Voices/actors include Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, and Michelle Rodriguez. In theaters Dec. 18th.

• Nine:

The trailer was on TV recently and it immediately caught my eye. Pretty much going on the complete other end of the spectrum from a sci-fi movie like Avatar, this is a musical about film director Guido Contini and his struggles with maintaining both his personal and professional lives. Daniel Day-Lewis plays the lead with Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman AND Fergie supporting. Could they fit in any more famous females? If the holidays put you in a sing-song mood, this would be your choice movie for the season. In theaters everywhere Christmas Day.

• Sherlock Holmes:

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are lookin’ mighty fine on all those billboards around the city. Oh, and Rachel McAdams is a good actress. I probably don’t need to go into explaining this movie because I’m going to assume you’ve at least heard of Sherlock Holmes. It’s directed by Madonna’s Ex Guy Ritchie and my guess is that this one’s gonna do just fine in raking in the millions. My type of movie: hot guys with accents, action, comedy thrown in for good measure, and hopefully a decent storyline. In theaters Christmas Day.

• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus:

You might have heard of this one way before now since it was Heath Ledger’s last (and unfinished) role before his untimely death. Also starring Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, and “Mini Me” Verne Troyer. Directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame… Which I hope you’re familiar with. The story goes that a doctor makes a deal with the devil, which of course is never a good idea, and when that turns for the worse it leads him on a quest to save his daughter. I’m really excited to see this, not just because of the curiosity to see how they wrapped things up with Ledger’s role, but also because it’s one of those mystical, magical stories that will take you on a journey. Maybe that sounds fruity, but it’s a nice change of pace from most of the action, horror, and crude comedies that I feel theaters were full of this year. Catch this Christmas Day.

• Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

I’m going to do my best not to bash this one. Because there must be a LOT of you out there that adored the first one for the studio to want to create a sequel, right? What else can you expect, other than more of the signature chipmunk high-pitched song and dance, which this time around will include the introduction of the Chipettes… female chipmunks, for those not familiar. Jason Lee returns as Dave and TV show “Chuck” actor Zachary Levi playing another human and not just lending his voice. Don’t be fooled; the voices behind the animated characters include a lot of big names: Justin Long, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, singer Jesse McCartney, and Amy Poehler. Rated-PG so you know what that means… Bring the little ones. In theaters Dec. 23rd.