Upcoming Releases — November

Here's a look at the new releases coming in November. Releases this time of year can be fluid, as Oscar contenders shuffle around. We've already seen this with "The Wolf of Wall Street," which was supposed to open on November 15 and was pushed to Christmas Day. So these release dates are as they stand today...

Friday, November 1:
12 Years A Slave — This is one of the biggest Academy Award contenders. It got a limited release in late October, but it's supposed to go wider in this first Friday of November. The story and performances are rumored to be great. This is a must see film.

Ender's Game — This film has a high profile cast and looks like it wants to, like "The Hunger Games," be the start of a franchise. I'm just not feeling it. I didn't read the book, so I could be wrong, but something feels off about this movie.

Free Birds — This looks like one of the best animated films of the fall. The trailers are hilarious and the premise works perfectly with the Thanksgiving holiday.

Last Vegas — This has been billed as "The Hangover" for an older generation. Sure, that might prove to be true. But it also looks like a fun buddy comedy featuring a quartet of great actors — Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. I think this will be a fun movie experience.

Friday, November 8:
About Time — I love Richard Curtis movies. "Four Weddings and A Funeral" is great, so too is "Love, Actually." I like some of the elements of this trailer and I think it could be a fun film. But what is it with Rachel McAdams and time travel movies?

Thor: The Dark World — I wasn't sold on the first "Thor" film. I thought it was the weakest entry in Marvel's Phase One of "The Avengers" plan. But Thor as a character has grown on me a bit, and there is something intriguing about this follow up. It's being released at what feels like an odd time, but this might be the rare sequel to improve upon the original.

The Book Thief — The Awards season battles continue with this film, which feels like it could be a fascinating and moving story. This is another emotional story set in Europe during World War II, so this will probably be an incredibly moving film.

Friday, November 15:
Best Man Holiday — This is a sequel to a film that was reported to be very popular, "The Best Man." I have never seen the original, so I was a bit lost in the trailer. Could be a fun holiday film, especially for those who loved the original.

Friday, November 22:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire — The sequel to "The Hunger Games" lands here. I LOVED the first film, so I'm all in on this second film. I though "The Hunger Games" was one of the best movies of 2012, and this sequel looks like it touches on and builds on those same themes. I'm intrigued.

Delivery Man — This is the latest comedy from Vince Vaughn. His earlier comedy this year, "The Internship," wasn't great. Still, the trailer for this and the concept seems strong. This could be a sneaky watchable holiday comedy.

Wednesday, November 27:
Oldboy — This is Spike Lee's re-make of a Korean film released a decade ago. There is a mysterious quality to this film. It looks ultra violent and it will be interesting to see how this film is received.

Frozen — Another big animated release, this one more of a Christmas theme. This could be a nice tonic to some serious adult films being released in November.

Black Nativity — Not sure what to make of this film, which is based on the Gospel music of Langston Hughes. This is a holiday themed film that feels more like family-friendly entertainment for Thanksgiving weekend.

Homefront — Here is the latest action epic starring Jason Statham. This film was released on VOD in July and is now making its way to theaters.