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It's Christmas time, so the films are coming fast and furious! Big releases Christmas Day as well as we build toward the end of the year. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright, and Joely Richardson

Synopsis: Director David Fincher brings his vision for Steig Larsson's novel to the big screen with an American version of the Swedish crime drama. I saw the original film, so I was familiar with the story, but it was fascinating to watch the way the Fincher brought it to life. He is a gifted director, particularly in that genre. This is easily his best crime film since "Se7en," and it's equally as rough to watch at times. Those familiar with the story will know already that it's not a family-friendly tale. Fincher stays true to the source material in showing the dark passages of the journey for Lisbeth Salander (Mara) and the rest of the character. It is unflinching in it's dedication to bringing the events of the book to the screen, but it still feels like a tasteful approach to the material, at least as tasteful as you can be when filming rape and murder. The film features excellent performances. Craig slides into the role of Mikael Blomkvist and does an excellent job bringing the character to life. He has the right combination of skills to play a dogged investigator in this film. The other supporting characters do well also. Plummer is strong as Henrik Vanger, and Skarsgard is appropriately menacing as Martin. Richardson and Wright also do nice work in supporting roles. But the real credit goes to Mara, a young actress who has to do a lot of heavy lifting in a tough role. She had to be vulnerable on the screen, enduring a tough story arc, and did it all well. She was at times tough, at times amusing, and often prickly, which is just what you need for the character. Without a strong performance from Mara, the adaptation wouldn't work. She gives that performance here, and the film is better for it. I appreciated the original film adaptation, and the work from Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth, but this is a better film. Fincher is an incredibly talented filmmaker — having shown his range over his last three films "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Social Network," and now "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." This might not be his best film, but it's everything one could hope that this new adaptation would be. From the snowy vistas to the haunting music from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, it all works to create a vibrant world to tell the story of the broken Mikael Blomkvist, the broken Lisbeth Salander, and the twisted Vanger family. This is easily one of the best films of the year.

Rating: R for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language. Enter With Caution.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Tom Wilkinson, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Josh Holloway, Michael Nyqvist, Anil Kapoor, and Lea Seydoux

Synopsis: It is the rare film franchise that gets better with age. Tom Cruise first brought "Mission Impossible" to the big screen 15 years ago, in 1996, with a film that was strong and engrossing. The 2000 follow up, directed by Hong Kong action guru John Woo, felt like a giant misstep, and not just for Cruise's ridiculous hairstyle. When J.J. Abrams took over the series in 2006, he delivered perhaps the best installment, returning "Mission Impossible" to it's stronger spy roots. Abrams' fingerprints remain on the series with "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," but it's director Brad Bird ("The Incredibles") who does the heavy lifting on what is the franchise' best film to date. "Ghost Protocol" has a strong story, great locations, incredible action sequences, and the kind of character development needed to elevate a film like this from good to great. In much the same way that "Casino Royale" added depth to James Bond, "Ghost Protocol" is a great compliment to Cruise's Ethan Hunt. The film is aided by a strong supporting cast — including great comedic timing from Pegg, and strong work from Patton, Holloway and Wilkinson as part of the IMF team. As villains, Nyqvist — who played Mikael Blomkvist in the original Larsson films — and Seydoux add to the story. Then there's Renner's Brandt, an analyst with a much deeper past. Renner, a past Best Actor nominee, does a great job and is a wonderful addition to the fabric of the "Mission Impossible" universe. But, really, these films all come down to Cruise's Ethan Hunt. Cruise is at his best as Hunt in this film, deftly moving between action, comedy, and moments of genuine drama. Bird shows he has a great visual eye as a director, crafting a moving and engrossing spy drama. This film really ups the stakes in terms of action sequences, but does it in a realistic way. The sequence filmed in Dubai is really something to behold and does a great job of hiding the movie magic used to make it happen. The final act is exciting and action packed, but the film never forgets that its the characters, as much as the plot, that make the film. This is a great spy film and one of the year's most satisfying action adventures.

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

New Year's Eve

Starring: Hillary Swank, Halle Berry, Josh Duhamel, Robert DeNiro, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel, Seth Meyers, Chris Bridges, Sarah Paulson, Til Schweiger, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Lea Michele, Ashton Kutcher, Jon Bon Jovi, Katherine Heigl, and Carla Gugino

Synopsis: And that's not even all the famous faces in this film... That's right, director Garry Marshall found yet another holiday with which to tell a sprawling, two-hour plus, romantic comedy. It does make it easier to contain the action to one day and try to tell 20 or so character stories because then you don't have to worry about a lot of depth. Writer Katherine Fugate has that part nailed as none of the characters is really developed in any depth, and none of the stories are developed in any depth. There really isn't time, and that's not the point of the movie. If you saw "Valentine's Day," then you already know how this film is going to go. I will say that Marshall is more at home with the formula on this film, the acting feels slightly better, the stories feel slightly more believable, and the film is funnier. It is a light, holiday treat for moviegoers; a film you don't have to think that deeply about. It's romantic and nostalgic in its own way, and it gets you excited to see the ball drop on New Year's Eve. The performances are (mostly) solid, and the film doesn't take itself too serious, which is evidenced by the out takes over the closing credits. It's not the greatest film, but it fills a genre niche, especially during this time of the year.

Rating: PG-13 for language including some sexual references.

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams, and Stephen Fry

Synopsis: There is no denying Robert Downey, Jr.’s talent as a performer. So it seems fitting that in an era where British actors are consistently tapped to play iconic American characters that Downey has a chance to return the favor as one of the most famous literary characters from England. The modern cinematic take on “Sherlock Holmes,” however, is as much a reflection of Guy Ritchie’s filmmaking as Downey’s take on the character. Now in their second big screen collaboration, the filmmaker, star, and story are taking shape in new ways and expanding on the legend of the cerebral sleuth. Doubtless, much like the first installment, the latest “Sherlock Holmes” film won’t sit well with purists. In truth, the film bears more of a striking resemblance to “Snatch,” Ritchie’s gangster picture, than the old “Sherlock” TV movies with Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett. But this is a property that has taken on many forms over the years. Ritchie has endeavored to retain the core elements — Holmes intellect, friendship with Watson, and peculiar social skills — while putting a new, modern touch. I think it works fine as part of the Sherlock Holmes cannon, but more importantly it’s a fun film series in its own right. This second film is an improvement on the first in many ways. A criticism of the first film was the fact that the main villain lacked dimension and the central narrative lacked depth, in part because the film worked to lay the groundwork for this sequel. Both the villain and the story are much more in focus this time, and the actors seem more at home in their roles. Ritchie does a nice job of pacing the action, humor, and special film effects. The whole production coalesces into a more consistent and entertaining end product. Another improvement in this installment is the rapport between Holmes and Watson. Downey and Law do a nice job with the roles and play off one another well. There seems a more free and easy exchange between characters in this film, and the story allows for a little more humor and more character growth. Secondly, Harris does an exceptional job as the villain, Moriarty. Fans of “Fringe” will recognize Harris for his work on that show as the mysterious villain David Robert Jones, and he brings the same kind of intelligence and cunning to the role of Moriarty. Not only does the film allow for greater development of his character, he is equally matched with Downey on the screen, making their exchanges thrilling, entertaining, and engrossing. The rest of the supporting cast does well too. Rapace, best known for her work as Lisbeth Salander in the original “Dragon Tattoo” franchise, adds a nice dimension as Madam Simza, while British comedian Stephen Fry turns in nice work as Holmes’ brother Mycroft. Overall, “Game of Shadows” is a fitting and entertaining follow up to the original film that leaves the door cracked open for the possible future installments. It’s the rare sequel that tops the original.

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some drug material.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Young Adult

Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, and Elizabeth Reaser

Synopsis: I love Jason Reitman's work as a director. He has given us "Thank You For Smoking," "Juno," and "Up In The Air," all of which I had on my Top 10 lists for the year they were released. So I was excited to see him again pair with writer Diablo Cody ("Juno") on this latest film, "Young Adult." It's fair to say this film isn't what I expected, nor does it rise to the level of his previous films, but it isn't all together bad. The central character, Mavis Gary (Theron), is totally unlikeable. She's self-absorbed, an alcoholic, and bent on getting her old boyfriend back. The fact he's happily married and a new father doesn't seem to phase her. When she runs into an old classmate, Matt (Oswalt), he tries to talk some sense into Mavis, but she won't here it. The film is a collection of uncomfortable interactions between Mavis, her family, her old classmates, and her old boyfriend, Buddy Slade (Wilson). There is comedy in the film. It's more of a black comedy, but the snarky lines from Mavis and the charm of Oswalt as Matt give the film it's warmer moments. Wilson and Reaser do nice work in supporting roles as well, but this film basically comes down to Theron. Theron has to accomplish something difficult, making you care about a character that's basically a mean girl in a state of arrested development. To her credit, she accomplishes just that. This film is also daring. It asks you to invest in a main character that is unlikeable, and the story ends in a somewhat organic way with that character not really learning anything from her dark deeds. It won't be a satisfying conclusion for audiences, but it's probably right for the characters and story. This isn't a great film, but it's well done and features some strong performances. It doesn't rise to the level of Reitman's previous work, but it's one that sticks with you after the screening ends.

Rating: R for language and some sexual content.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Dec. 25 — "War Horse," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," "The Darkest Hour," "We Bought A Zoo"