Escapism

Ah, the days after Thanksgiving - when everyone pretends they didn't know Christmas was coming for the last 11 months and they freak out, flocking to the malls. Mass consumerism is the essence of this time of year. That and something about the birth of some child or other?

But most importantly, holiday movies. It's hard to wade through the dreck that comes out each year, so I'll tell you what this humble blogger wants to see (i.e. what I believe will be worth the time).

1. The Golden Compass

I've wanted to see this movie since before I knew there was a movie being made. The Golden Compass is the first of a trilogy of books by Phillip Pullman and, precious few novels aside, is one of the most deeply complex and compelling books I've ever read along with its sequels. Seriously. If you haven't read the trilogy (dubbed altogether as the "His Dark Materials" trilogy), you are missing out on genius. It's like Harry Potter, only more engrossing, better written and has a touch of reality that you can feel, despite witches and talking bears and souls that live outside the body. It's more like the Chronicles of Narnia than anything else, now that I think about it. It's so fantastic that I won't ruin any of it for you.

Anyway, the point is that if they mess this movie up, I will literally cry. And I don't cry.

2. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Not one for the kids, folks, if the title hadn't already tipped you off. Yes, it's a musical (it might be worth the price just to see Johnny Depp singing), but when did that stop Sweet Charity from being depressing as hell? Or Les Miserables? Or lots of others that I can't think of at the moment? Well, take all that depressing stuff from those musicals altogether and go about twenty yards farther and then down into a big black hole of murder and despair. Most full-blown operas don't have this much death and destruction.

But it has Johnny Depp and Alan Rickman (as the bad guy... err, the badder bad guy) and it's directed by Tim Burton. And it's about a demon barber with an old-time straight edge razor. What more could you ask for at Christmas?

3. I Am Legend

Unlike the above two movies, I don't know more than what they've told me in trailers about this one. But apparently there are zombies. And not the zombies that turn what was a horror flick into pure gore (surely you can see the difference?) but more like Shaun of the Dead zombies - tasteful. (Perhaps that's the wrong word...)

Also, Will Smith is in it and I'm just not tired of his one character - the charming, grimly funny hero - yet. I'm not tired of Harrison Ford's rugged smart-ass character either, so this shouldn't be surprising.

Three movies is actually quite low for my typical holiday movie season. It seems the writers' strike is working retroactively (Alien v. Predator: Requiem??? Are you kidding me?) but I can struggle through. For now the time being though, it's back to the grind.