We already gave you the lowdown about the end of the 2014 movie year back in our Fall 2014 Movie Preview, but since the holidays are approaching - and people want a reminder of what awaits them at the theater - we're taking another look at the movies that will be available to fans and families everywhere as they enter the season of good tidings and joy.
There's also the reality that as the end of the year approaches, so changes the perception of a lot of the movies being released in this fourth-quarter blockbuster season. We learn more from promotional materials, see more in trailers and TV spots, and generally gain awareness of promising (or not so promising) flicks that may not have been on our radar before - or barely made a blip if they did .
Below you'll find a breakdown of the November and December 2014 movie releases - which kick off the holiday season with the huge double-whammy of Disney/Marvel's first animated venture, Interstellar.
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November
Bottom Line: The holiday blockbuster movie season 2014 begins in November - but there are plenty of smaller genre films in the mix as well.
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Big Hero 6
Nov. 7th
From Walt Disney Animation Studios, the team behind "Frozen" and "Wreck-It Ralph," comes "Big Hero 6," an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called "Big Hero 6."
OUR TAKE: Disney Animation (not to be confused with Pixar) has been churning out some good flicks, and combined with some Marvel-brand superhero action/adventure and a merchandising cash-cow in inflatable robot Baymax, we expect Big Hero 6 to be a big win for Disney, Marvel and audiences alike.
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Interstellar
Nov. 7th
A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to sur the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.
OUR TAKE: A Chris Nolan sci-fi film starring Matthew McConaughey at the height of his career? We're in - even if early reviews are less than stellar.
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Jessabelle
Nov. 7th
Returning to her childhood home in Louisiana to recuperate from a horrific car accident, Jessabelle (Sarah Snook) comes face to face with a long-tormented spirit that has been seeking her return -- and has no intention of letting her escape.
OUR TAKE: The trailer looks like a mix of so many other horror movies - and we're not sure our horror interest will extend beyond the Halloween holiday (at least not for this film).
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Open Windows
Nov. 7th
An actress named Jill (Sasha Grey) refuses to have dinner with Nick (Elijah Wood), a fan who won a date with her in an Internet contest. In return, a guy named Chord (Neil Maskell), posing as Jill's campaign manager, helps Nick to follow in the footsteps of the actress from his own computer. But Nick soon realizes that he is only a puppet into the manic plans devised by Chord, to hunt down the star.
OUR TAKE: On the surface this looks like a B-movie thriller with the hook of starring a former porn star (Grey). However, a look beneath the surface reveals that it is also the latest work by director Nacho Vigalondo, who impressed many with his stripped-down time travel movie, Timecrimes. That's certainly a boost.
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Rosewater
Nov. 7th
A journalist (Gael García Bernal) is detained in Iran for more than 100 days and brutally interrogated in prison.
OUR TAKE: This is Daily Show star Jon Stewart's first foray into directing. It seems that not everything is a joke to the comedian behind the news desk.
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The Theory of Everything
Nov. 7th
A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife (Felicity Jones).
OUR TAKE: The world knows Stephen Hawking - but not like this. Redmayne (Les Mis) and Jones (Like Crazy) are solid talents to lead this biopic drama - with early buzz pointing to awards considerations for Redmayne's performances as Hawking.
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Beyond the Lights
Nov. 14th
A talented young musician (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) on the brink of super stardom struggles with the pressure of her new-found success.
OUR TAKE: This one is a curious animal, with a cast that places the likes of Minnie Driver and Belle star Gugu Mbatha-Raw alongside Nate Parker (Non-Stop) and Danny Glover. However, it does look closer to director Gina Prince-Bythewood's breakout film, Love & Basketball, which will lure a certain audience in.
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Dumb and Dumber To
Nov. 14th
20 years after the dimwits set out on their first adventure, Harry (Jeff Daniels) and Lloyd (Jim Carrey) head out in search of one of their long-lost children in the hope of gaining a new kidney.
OUR TAKE: The first trailer brought accusations that the filmmaking team had lost a step - but we're hoping that green-band restrictions are simply hiding the true depraved fun of this long-awaited sequel.
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Foxcatcher
Nov. 14th
Based on the true story of Mark Schultz, an Olympic wrestler whose relationship with sponsor John du Pont and brother Dave Schultz would lead to unlikely circumstances.
OUR TAKE: Director Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) is known for turning the most unlikely of stories into compelling character drama films. With an intense performance from Channing Tatum as Mark Schultz, an oddball dramatic turn from Steve Carell as du Pont, and Mark Ruffalo as Schultz' brother, there are definite hints of dark-horse greatness in this film.
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Wolves
Nov. 14th
Wolves follows the story of Cayden Richards (Lucas Till) - a young, handsome eighteen-year-old with an edge. Forced to hit the road after the death of his parents, Cayden finds his way to an isolated town to hunt down the truths of his ancestry. But in the end, who's hunting whom?
OUR TAKE: Jason Momoa is about to get some huge mainstream exposure now that he's playing Aquaman in DC's superhero movie universe - and considering that this is some pretty pulpy genre fare (werewolf horror) that also involves X-Men: First Class star Lucas "Havok" Till and X2 writer David Hayter, we think Wolves will draw a certain (if not limited) audience.
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