Holiday movie preview

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

Elijah Wood stars as Frodo in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," the last chapter of Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation. Gannett News Service photos

Jessica Alba in "Honey."

Tom Cruise in "The Last Samurai."

Steve Martin in "Cheaper by the Dozen."

Julia Roberts in "Mona Lisa Smile."

Ben Affleck in "Paycheck."

Jeremy Sumpter in "Peter Pan." All of these movies will be released during the holiday season as Hollywood saves its best for last.

It's when studios show off their best wares, hoping to land on top 10 lists and be in the running for Golden Globes and Oscars.

This holiday season, viewers will be able to choose from among the conclusion to the rich "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, a historic samurai epic with Tom Cruise, the eagerly awaited adaptation of "Cold Mountain" and a lavish version of the familiar story of the eternally playful Peter Pan. But just in case you think it's all going to be artsy-smartsy, you'll also be able to check out comedies from Steve Martin or those wicked Farrelly brothers and a thriller about a guy who kills with his Cadillac.

Here's what's on tap for holiday viewing, but remember, dates can change based on the whims of Hollywood. In fact, an epic version of "The Alamo," originally scheduled to be released Christmas Day," was recently postponed until April.

Nov. 26

"The Haunted Mansion." Another Disneyland attraction follows "The Pirates of the Caribbean" into movie theaters. Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Tilly co-star in this presumably light-hearted mock-horror romp.

"Timeline." Paul Walker and Frances O'Connor co-star in the latest sci-fi thriller to be adapted from the works of Michael Crichton ("Jurassic Park"). Time travelers head back to the Middle Ages.

"The Missing." Ron Howard's latest — a western saga with Cate Blanchett as a 19th-century New Mexico mother determined to retrieve her kidnapped daughter. The child's grandfather (Tommy Lee Jones) also joins the hunt.

Dec. 5

"Highwaymen." A thriller with James Caviezel seeking revenge against the man who killed his wife. The killer has a unique weapon of choice: A '72 Cadillac Eldorado.

"Honey." A romantic drama that might be a "Flashdance" for a new generation. Jessica Alba stars as a music video choreographer who shakes up her life after her mentor propositions her. Mekhi Phifer and a not-so-little-anymore Lil' Romeo co-star.

"The Last Samurai." One of the season's big-buzz films, starring Tom Cruise as a successful Civil War officer recruited to teach modern western battle methods to Japanese samurai. As you can imagine, the teacher becomes the student in this opulent epic.

Dec. 12

"Love Don't Cost a Thing." A remake of 1987's "Can't Buy Me Love," with high school loser Nick Cannon paying a popular cheerleader to date him so he'll appear to be cool. Christina Milian co-stars.

"Something's Gotta Give." A romantic comedy with Jack Nicholson as an older guy who's dating a younger woman (Amanda Peet). However, after he suffers a heart attack at the girl's mother's house, he finds himself falling for the mom (Diane Keaton). Keanu Reeves is also in Nancy Meyer's romantic mix.

"Stuck on You." The latest movie from brothers Bobby and Peter Farrelly features Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear as conjoined twins. Their lives turn crazy when one of them gets a job on Cher's TV show. (Cher plays herself.)

Dec. 17

"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." It's finally here, the last chapter of Peter Jackson's superb three-part adaptation. Is this the part that'll finally earn this awesome enterprise the Oscar?

Dec. 19

"Mona Lisa Smile." A prep-school heart-tugger in the "Goodbye Mr. Chips"/"Dead Poets Society" tradition. Julia Roberts plays a teacher at a girl's school in the '50s, determined to inspire her pupils to more than a good marriage.

"In America." Writer-director Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot") tells the autobiographical story of an Irish immigrant and his family, overcoming obstacles and tragedy when they move into a fleabag New York apartment. Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton co-star.

Christmas Day

"Cheaper by the Dozen." A remake of the classic Hollywood comedy about a father who gets in way over his head with a number of kids. The daddy of the dozen is Steve Martin.

"Cold Mountain." A Civil War drama based on the best-selling novel about a soldier's arduous journey back home to North Carolina, and the equally arduous struggle of his wife back home. Jude Law and Nicole Kidman co-star, along with Renee Zellweger and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Anthony ("The English Patient") Minghella directs.

"Paycheck." A futuristic fable about a man who has had part of his memory erased. He struggles to rediscover the last two years of his life. Ben Affleck stars. Adapted from a novel by Philip K. Dick (of "Blade Runner" fame). It's directed by the always-interesting John Woo.

"Peter Pan." If the beautiful previews are any indication, this could be a sleeper — it looks like it might be an exquisite gem of an adaptation of the James M. Barrie classic. P.J. Hogan directs Jeremy Sumpter is Pan while experienced villain Jason Isaacs ("Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets") plays Hook.

Jack Garner of The Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle is chief film reviewer for the Gannett News Service.