This is my favorite time of year-No, not for that. Because December is the best time of year for movie lovers. First of all, the movie studios usually release their big, Oscar-worthy movies at the end of the year- just in time to be nominated by the Academy. Second, all the movies that we have loved during the year are now available on DVD and probably on sale!

So let’s take a look at some of the movies I am looking forward to seeing this month. There are Chick Flicks and a few others on the list. All in all its a great month for movie lovers. And I want to say thanks to you for visiting Just Chick Flicks this year.

Totally Wonderful Chick Flicks

The Princess & The Frog

This one is #1 on my list.  Disney has finally given us their first African-American Princess, Tiana.  Set in Jazz Age New Orleans, The Princess & The Frog is a twist on the old fairy tale. Instead of the frog turning into a handsome prince after being kissed, the Princess turns into a frog. They head down the river to find someone who can break the spell and along the way they fall in love.  With original music by Randy Newman and featuring the voices of Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls), Bruno Campos, Terrence Howard, Oprah Winfrey and  John Goodman, The Princess & The Frog is also the first hand drawn animated movie to come along in many years.  –December 11

Nine

Director Rob Marshall (Chicago) brings us another wonderful musical. It has been a long time since we have had a really good musical. Actually, that movie was directed by Rob Marshall too.  Nine has an international cast full of Oscar winners.

 Daniel Day-Lewis stars as a famous Italian film director  who is faced a creative and personal crisis  and is trying to balance  the many women in his life. The women include  his wife, played by  Marion Cotillard, his mistress played by Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, his confidant and costume designer  Dame Judi Dench, and an  American journalist played by Kate Hudson. Black Eye-Peas singer, Fergie makes an appearance as a prostitute  and his mother is played by screen legend Sophia Loren

Everybody’s Fine

This is another one I am really looking forward to seeing. I mean, anything with DiNiro is sure  to be interesting. Right? Robert De Niro,  Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell star in Everybody’s Fine, a remake of Tornatore’s “Stanno Tutti Bene.” Academy Award winner Robert De Niro plays a  widower who sets off on a road trip to reconnect with his grown children during the holidays. –December 4

It’s Complicated

I love Meryl Streep. Drama…comedy…she can do it all.  She is an incredible actress and in It’s Complicated she stars with Alec  Baldwin as a divorced couple who are sneaking  around and having an affair. Steve Martin also stars and perspective suitor. Wow! A romantic comedy about a middle aged- woman who has two men chasing her. My dream come true! –December 25

Up in the Air

Jason Reitman directs George Clooney in Up in the Air. I am not sure if you can call this a comedy or a drama, since Clooney’s character is a corporate henchman who leads an empty and lonely life as he flies all over the country to fire people. How funny can that be during a recession, but we will enjoy watching George. –December 4

Young Victoria

Emily Blunt (Devil Wears Prada, Sunshine Cleaning) stars as the young girl who would go on to rule an empire, Queen Victoria and  Rupert Friend (Pride and Prejudice) stars s Prince Albert, the love of her life.  –December 18

Action Flicks & More

Avatar

If you have been hiding in a cave for the past few months, you have probably not heard all the buzz about James Cameron’s upcoming Sci-Fi movie, Avatar. Since the sneak peek at Comic-Con, fanboys and geeks have been anxiously awaiting the release of this movie. The storyline is interesting, but what looks more interesting are the incredible special effects that make this imaginary world  come alive. You guys know I love sci-fi, so yes, I will be in line to see this one. Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and Zoe Saldana.

Sherlock Holmes

Starring Robert Downey Jr. as the master detective Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes is directed by Guy Ritchie (Madonna’s ex). You know this is not going to be your mother’s Sherlock Holmes. –December 25

The Lovely Bones

Based on the novel by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones should satisfy you mystery lovers.  Young  actress Saoirse Ronan  stars a murdered girl who watches over her family and her murdered from heaven. Director Peter Jackson has some play the parents of the dead girl who can not come to terms with their daughter’s death.

Limited Releases

You may have to search a little  for these movies. They are in limited release and may only open in larger cities and at Art House theaters, like The Angelika Film Center or Landmark Theaters.  

A Single Man

Colin Firth is already receiving Oscar talk for his role a George , a college professor who looks for meaning in his life after the death of his long-time partner. Set in the 1960’s, the movie is directed by fashion designer Tom Ford and judging by the trailer, there are some gorgeous clothes. Also starring Matthew Goode, Ginnifer Goodwin– December 11

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Rebecca Miller directs Robin Wright Penn and  Alan Arkin in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, a gripping drama in which Robin Wright Penn,   a New York City housewife who  moves with her much older husband, played by Alan Arkin  to a suburban retirement community.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

After the tragic death of  Heath Ledger,  director Terry Gilliam  had to make changes to the film in order to save the film and Heath’s last performance. Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell stepped in to fill in for Ledger and help Gilliam complete the movie. The former member of Monty Pythons is known for making visually stunning movies, so if  anyone can pull of having 3 actors playing one character, Gilliam can do it.  The plot revolves around a story-telling doctor who made a deal with the devil that will affect his daughter on her 16th birthday.–December 25

For the Man in Your Life

Armored

While you are out shopping til’ you drop…drop your man off at the theater to see Armored, a robbery heist movie starring  Matt Dillon and Laurence Fishburne. -December 4

Brothers

In Brothers, we get to see  Tobey Maguire in a much different role than his Spiderman character. He plays Sam Cahill,  a prisoner-of-war in Afghanistan who returns to find  his ex-con brother, played by Jake Gyllenhaal  has become the man the house  during his absence and his  wife Grace ( Natalie Portman) who believed he was dead has started to fall for the brother. Talk about family drama. –December 4

Invictus

Even though this is technically a sports, movie, you might want to check it out too. Clint Eastwood directing Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. There’s an Oscar nomination just waiting to happen. Invictus is about  South African President Nelson Mandela’ s campaign  to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup and his efforts to unite his country. –December 11

New Chick Flicks on DVD

If you don’t want to venture out in the cold  ice and snow to you local theater, stay home, make yourself some hot chocolate, snuggle up on our comfy sofa in your jammies  and watch one of these movies on DVD.

Julie & Julia

Public Enemies

Lost: The Complete Fifth Season

Star Trek 

500 Days of Summer

This is quite a list of movies. There is something for almost everyone’s taste. What looks good to you? Which one of the new releases are you looking  forward to seeing?

Leave a comment and let me know what you think. As a small (and I do mean small) token of my appreciate, I want to treat you to a movie on me. I am giving away a few pairs of  AMC Gold Movie Passes. They are good for admission into any AMC Theater in the U.S. (sorry, but this contest is only valid for residents of the United States-and you know you need to be 18 years or older to enter.)  I will randomly pick the winners on December 13th and mail the prizes to the winners.

The Small Print: Winners will be selected randomly from approved comments on Just Chick Flicks from December 4-13, 2009.  AMC Gold Movie Passes are valid at Lowes theatres, Cineplex Odeon theatres, Magic Johnson theatres and Star theatres. They cannot be used for special engagements. This contest is valid for residents of the United States ONLY.  You need to be 18 years or older to enter.