Paramount Pictures
Tom Cruise goes up in the air for “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.”
Here’s our look at the week ahead in movies, TV and DVDs.
Movies
Yes, that’s really Tom Cruise hanging from the world’s tallest skyscraper, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. He’s back as spy Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.” Hunt and his team become “ghosts” when the CIA must disavow all knowledge of them after the spies are accused of blowing up the Kremlin. You can bet that Cruise makes it through, in style. And a tip: If you see this movie in certain IMAX theaters, you’ll be treated to a special six-minute preview of the next Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Here’s the list of those 42 theaters. Two movies in one, kind of! (Opens Dec. 16.)
Robert Downey Jr. has to be one of the luckiest actors around. He not only has the “Iron Man” franchise going, he’s starring in the “Sherlock Holmes” series. The second film featuring the savvy British detective and his loyal pal, Dr. Watson (Jude Law) is “Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows,” and it opens this week. This film brings in Holmes’ legendary nemesis, Dr. Moriarty, played by Jared Harris. (Opens Dec. 16.)
How can a fight between children erupt into a painful black comedy? Roman Polanski’s “Carnage” features Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz as parents whose kids have a fight. Sounds simple, but somehow the film, based on a stage play, turns that plot into what the U.K.’s Daily Mail calls “one of the funniest and most intelligent films of the year.” (Opens Dec. 16.)
TV
Another millionaire’s about to be made on “Survivor.” The 23rd season, “Survivor: South Pacific,” featured some familiar elements, and some fans disliked that from the start. The show revived the Redemption Island concept, filmed once again in Samoa, and brought back two former players — Ben “Coach” Wade and Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth, as well as Brandon Hantz, nephew of notorious show villain Russell Hantz. Who will “outwit, outlast, and outplay?” We will know soon enough. (Dec. 18, 8 p.m., CBS.)
DVD
Jack Black returns as roly-poly Po with Angelina Jolie voicing sleek, tough Tigress in “Kung Fu Panda 2,” hitting DVD this week. In this film, the leader of the Furious Five, Po the panda, discovers a bit about the mystery of his parentage. It all ties in with the film’s villain, power-hungry peacock Lord Shen, voiced by Gary Oldman. (On DVD Dec. 16.)
Related content:
Processing your request, Please wait....