Hollywood isn't messing around this week—it's not only Christmas, but it's also the beginning of the final sprint for awards season. That means you'll be seeing two of the biggest, most anticipated blockbusters of the year—The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Adventures of TinTin—entering theaters. For something a little less intense, but also family friendly, there's the amiable Matt Damon picture, We Bought A Zoo.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Probably the most anticipated blockbuster of the year, it doesn't matter that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (based on the first novel in a series) already has a Swedish version, and one that was well-received. In true American style, we have to do it our way, with Rooney Mara (rendered unrecognizable as hacker sleuth Lisbeth Salander, with shaved eyebrows, a razored black hair cut, facial piercings, and tattoos), and Daniel Craig in the lead roles, and ultra-micro-manager/director, David Fincher at the helm. Promises to be dark, cold, violent, and impeccably well-made. Plus Karen-O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is singing on the soundtrack. Can't beat that.
Perfect For: We're not sure we'd take mom and dad, unless they are familiar with the books—and their admittedly dark and violent themes. Murder-mystery fans and followers of the novels will get a steel-toed kick out of it
What the Critics Say: They are all over the remake—Fincher is a critical darling, after all. Entertainment Weekly writes: "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo gives off a ripely kinky, menacing glow." The New Yorker praises Mara: "You can’t take your eyes off Rooney Mara as the notorious Lisbeth Salander… Slender, sheathed in black leather, with short ebony hair standing up in a tuft, her fingers poking out of black woollen gloves as they skitter across a laptop keyboard, Mara cuts through scene after scene like a swift, dark blade."
Our Take: We’ve been pining for it since the first trailer debuted over the summer.
Adventures of TinTin
Now that Martin Scorsese's done his 3D kid's movie, it seems only fair that all the other big Hollywood directors follow suit. This time it's Steven Spielberg's turn (the film is produced by Peter Jackson). Voiced by Jamie Bell (TinTin), Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, and Andy Serkin (of the Lords of the Rings Fame), Adventures of TinTin —based on the comic book series of the same name—is shot in that weird real-looking cartoon style known as "performance capture" that will either make you marvel at technology or feel a little creeped out by it.
Perfect For: Children and their parents who want a smarter, better-made kid's movie.
What the Critics Say: The animated technique is both dazzling and exhausting. The Hollywood Reporter praises the movie: "Serving up a good ol' fashioned adventure flick that harkens back to the filmmaker's action-packed, tongue-in-cheek swashbucklers of the 1980s, Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn is a visually dazzling adaptation." While the New Yorker writes: "After about an hour, I lost interest in the picture, something that never happens with Pixar’s animated movies, which have actual stories, not just strung-together tumbles, as well as social themes to chew over."
Our Take: Hmmm. Not that intrigued, but fans of the comic book may disagree.
We Bought a Zoo
Matt Damon has entered that stage in his career where he looks a little paunchy, sports bad hair, and plays middle-aged dads, but he nevertheless still gets to date Scarlett Johansson. Still, Damon's the glue that holds together the otherwise treacly Cameron Crowe movie. Once upon a time Crowe directed movies with a rock'n'roll edge (remember Almost Famous?), but these days, he's more sappy. We Bought A Zoo (following in the footsteps of other recent movies named after the plot premise, like Bad Teacher and Horrible Bosses), is about a family (duh) that buys a zoo.
Perfect For: Grandma! Anyone who is easily offended by anything risqué in a film.
What the Critics Say: They didn't want to like it so much, but they kinda, sorta did. Entertainment Weekly writes: "From the high-concept title to the family-friendly story line, it's basically a Tim Allen movie, only made with taste and feeling," and admits, "by the end, it got to me."
