An Entertaining Close to 2022

NEWS FEATURE

PHOTO CREDIT APPLE TV PHOTO CREDIT WARNER BROS. PHOTO CREDIT HULU

By Michele E. Buttelman

Signal Staff Writer

Between shopping, gift wrapping, holiday parties and other festivities there are also a few entertaining films and holiday specials you’ll want to catch before the close written and directed by Damien Chazelle. Set in when the maniacal ruler Kahmunrah escapes, it is 1920s Hollywood, Babylon is described as a tale up to Nick to save the museum once and for all. of outsized ambition and outrageous excess that chronicles the rise and fall of different characters during an era of decadence and depravity in Hollywood. Starring Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Tobey Maguire, Samara Weaving, Spike Jonze and Li Jun Li. ‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ (HBO Max) The movie is a follow-up to the 1983 blockbuster “A Christmas Story.” It takes place 30 years after the events in the original. Original child star Peter Billingsley returns to his role as the now grown up Ralphie. The sequel takes place in the 1970s, with of 2022.

Opening in Theaters

There are films for the family and films for grownups opening in December.

Avatar: The Way of Water’

The long-awaited sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar is finally in theaters. Set more than a decade after the first movie, the film follows the Sully family, led by Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), the trouble that follows them and their efforts to keep each other safe while battling to stay alive and enduring many tragedies. Also starring Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet and Britain Dalton. This film is the first of four planned sequels to Cameron’s groundbreaking sci-fi movie.

‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’

“The Last Wish’ is the sequel to the 2011 animated movie and a spin-off of the enduring “Shrek’ franchise. It follows the journey of Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas, as he sets out to find the mystical Last Wish to restore eight of the nine lives he has lost, while also escaping new enemies who plan on hunting him down. The voice cast includes Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman and John Mulaney.

‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’

This biographical musical movie is based on the life of the late pop icon Whitney Houston. It follows Houston’s (Naomi Ackie) journey to success after being discovered by record executive Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci), taking her from obscurity to international fame in the 1980s. Also starring Tamara Tunie as Cissy Houston, Nafessa Williams as Robyn Crawford, Ashton Sanders as Bobby Brown and Bria Danielle Singleton as Bobbi Kristina Brown.

An Entertaining Close to 2022 ‘Babylon’ the American Museum of Natural History, so he This is an epic period comedy-drama movie knows what happens when the sun goes down. But ‘The Mean One’ the adult Ralphie taking his family to his childSanta Clarita Valley residents Flip Kobler and his hood home on Cleveland Street to deliver his kids a son, Finn, have written “The Mean One” a Christ- magical Christmas like the one he had growing up. mas slasher comedy-horror film directed by Steven Ralphie will reconnect with childhood friends and LaMorte. The film is an unauthorized horror par- reconcile the passing of his Old Man. ody of the 1957 children’s book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” by Dr. Seuss, and stars David Howard Thornton, with Krystle Martin, Chase Mullins, John Bigham, Erik Baker, Flip Kobler and Amy Schumacher. Rated R, this film is definitely not family-friendly and certainly not for kids. ‘Scrooge: A Christmas Carol’ (Netflix) This Netflix Original Christmas release is from director Stephen Donnelly. A new animated spin on the Charles Dickens novel featuring the voices of Luke Evans, Olivia Colman and Jonathan Pryce.

Currently Streaming Streaming

‘Spirited’ (Apple TV) A hilarious musical version of Charles Dickens’s story of “A Christmas Carol” with Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell and Octavia Spencer. Watching “A Christmas Story” has become a holiday tradition ever since TNT began its annual marathon of the beloved movie in 1997. This year both TNT and its sister station TBS will begin the 24-hour marathon on Christmas Eve. ‘Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays’ (Disney+) Superstar a cappella group Pentatonix is struggling to find inspiration for their annual holiday album. To make matters worse, their well-inten‘A Storm for Christmas’ (Netflix) Per-Olav Sørensen directs this new miniseries about a group of people stranded at an airport over Christmas. tioned, but misguided manager mistakenly locks ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ (Netflix) them in a magic mailroom. But with the help of Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc in this sesome Disney magic, the group takes a whirlwind quel to Knives Out directed by Rian Johnson. tour around the world, discovering holiday tra- ‘“The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Paditions and inspiration from Pentatonix fans all rade: Livestream’ Dec. 25, 7 a.m.-9 a.m. (ABCaround the globe … from Japan to Grenada, Ice- TV and Hulu) land to Ghana and Mexico. Derek Hough and Julianne Hough host this live ‘Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again’ Christmas Day event. In addition to the parade (Disney+) there will be musical performances from the Black In the animated “Night at the Museum: Kah- Eyed Peas, Chloe Flower, David Foster and Kathamunrah Rises Again” movie, Nick Daley is follow- rine McPhee, Maren Morris, Meghan Trainor, Neing in his father’s footsteps as night watchman at Yo and Il Volo. 