BY Ellen Pham, Chamberlain High

The fall movie season has been a whirlwind of highs and lows — filled with unexpected originality and hard-to-watch duds. Wreck-It Ralph and The Perks of Being a Wallflower surprisingly had endearing characters and plots loaded with substance. On the downside, the Twilight saga ended with a lucrative but forgettable demise, and the waves in Chasing Mavericks didn’t flood moviegoers with satisfaction. But there is hope. As it starts to get colder (even by Floridian standards), directors are quick to do whatever they can to fill those coveted movie seats, meaning this holiday season we’re going to welcome some sentimental films and visual masterpieces, several of which began as page-turning books.  I’m excited.

*Life of Pi (Opened Nov. 21)
Starring Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Adil Hussain. Directed by Ang Lee.  

Life of Pi has not been screened by tb-two*, but it’s not surprising the movie is being received so well. Based on the popular novel by Yann Martel, the film’s trailer is intense, luring you in with brief, dramatic scenes, most of the movie having been shot in the sea after a boy named Pi gets shipwrecked. Lee has won Academy Awards and Golden Globes in the past. They say history tends to repeat itself, so fingers crossed for this one.

*Les Miserables (Dec. 25)
Starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. Directed by Tom Hooper.

The movie is based on Victor Hugo’s popular novel and the acclaimed musical. Despite the pressure of opening on Christmas Day, it is predicted to ring up the box office and secure a spot as serious Oscar contender. The familiar story is of Jean Valjean, who escapes from prison and tries not to get caught by a persistent police inspector. With a cast to drool over and Hathaway’s dramatic transformation for the role making headlines, Les Misérables is the one to look out for.

*The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Dec. 14)
Starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage. Directed By Peter Jackson.

Jackson directed the cult-adored Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the books, so he’ll likely bring the same imagination to The Hobbit, which is the prequel to the series. The fantasy film features a Hobbit that tags along with a group of dwarves to obtain some stolen treasure. I can’t wait to get whisked away to a magical world by the gorgeous landscapes and powerful soundtrack.

*Playing for Keeps (Dec. 7) (pictured, bottom)
Starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Judy Greer and Dennis Quaid. Directed by Gabriele Muccino.

Butler plays the main character, which will surely draw a strong female audience. It’s about a former soccer player who’s trying to figure out his life. This romantic comedy full of movie veterans looks to be a feel-good movie with few surprises. Let’s hope there’s an edge to that bubblegum-sweet plot.

*Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (Dec. 21) (pictured, top left)
Starring Erica Linz, Dallas Barnett and Lutz Halbhubner. Directed by Andrew Adamson.

It’s about a young woman who finds herself in a realm filled with dreamlike characters, better known as Cirque du Soleil. The movie is only in 3-D (sorry, my 2-D fans), which is sure to amplify the stunning visuals shown so far, and is produced by James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar). Need I say more?

Other holiday movies
• Silver Linings Playbook (now in theaters)
• Rise of the Guardians (now in theaters)
• Anna Karenina (Friday)
• Hitchcock (Dec. 7)
• Django Unchained (Dec. 25)
• Promised Land (Jan. 4)
• Hyde Park on Hudson (Jan. 4)
• Zero Dark Thirty (Jan. 11)