'Ghost Protocol' Reignites Cruise's Career and M.I. Franchise

Tom Cruise is back for a fourth go-around in the most profitable franchise of his career.

Tom Cruise might not be the box-office draw he once was, considering he has only two of his films break the century mark in five years (one of which was little more than a cameo in Tropic Thunder) and his last film to hit the 200 million dollar threshold was 2005’s War of the Worlds. Still there is one franchise keeping this mega-star alive for the past 15 years, Mission: Impossible. 

The Mission: Impossible series has undergone many changes from film to film, most notably being the constant swapping of directors. This time around, Brad Bird takes the reins from J.J. Abrams, joining Brian DePalma and John Woo as director in the latest franchise entry, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. In Ghost Protocol, Cruise steps back into the shoes of agent, Ethan Hunt, minus the aid of IMF and being accused of creating disruption between Russia and the rest of the world after an attack on the Kremlin. Fortunately for Hunt, he isn’t alone; backed up by a team to restore the balance of global peace.

Third 'Chipmunk' Adventure Misses the Boat Yet Again

More singing. More mayhem. And this time not even an island can handle the chipmunks.

How both Alvin and the Chipmunks movies managed to churn out over 200 million dollars each time in exchange for cheesy and excruciating entertainment is downright mindboggling. But of course if two movies soar past that milestone, a third film is assured whether audiences like it or not. That brings us up to date with the latest Alvin adventure given the fitting portmanteau subtitle of Chip-Wrecked. 

If 2009’s Squeakquel wasn’t bad enough, the creative minds behind this franchise decided to combine the words chipmunk and shipwrecked to give said title. This second sequel is unlike the previous two films, leaving the music industry behind for open waters aboard a cruise ship. Dave Seville (Jason Lee), the Chipmunks and the Chipettes are on vacation, but after some seafaring hi-jinx, they find themselves overboard and washed up on a deserted island. Not only do they have to contend without the luxuries of their pop sensation lifestyle, but they also have former producer, Ian (David Cross), on their tail still seeking revenge.

'Game of Shadows' Contributes to the Web of Sherlock's Success

Back again, Sherlock and Watson find themselves on the brink of global catastrophe.

There is always that incredible sense of satisfaction when a re-imagination of a classic just doesn’t break out from the pack, but more importantly deserves to.  Back in 2009, Guy Ritchie did exactly that in tackling Sherlock Holmes, which has been interpreted more times than one can count, and the start of new adventures for the legendary detective and his dear, dear Watson. 

Elementary you might say, but without the chemistry of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law with Ritchie helming this project, Sherlock could have easily been a thrown together cash-in on the century-plus-old brand name. Far from it. Fast forward two years later; Ritchie, Downey Jr. and Law team up once more for the anticipated sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. In this sequel, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in the midst of the plot of a mastermind, which could ignite a world war.

2011 Fizzles Out with Yet Another Valentine's....'New Year's Eve'

Valentine's Day isn't the only holiday that Hollywood can cash in on for a quick ensemble film. 

Chick flicks have always been a dime a dozen – sappy, unreal easily fixable little worlds with a perfect little ending topped off with some pretty bow. Sometimes one linear sappy story is way more than one can handle at any given moment. Then Garry Marshall gave us Valentine’s Day, where it wasn’t just one story of love, but somehow a whole bunch intermixed with one another and better yet, throwing in pop celebrities and product placement for the sake of filling up two hours. 

It’s not over; not by a long shot. Swap out boxes of chocolates and dozen roses for champagne and annoying party favors to celebrate another year gone by and countdown another three hundred odd days until that infamous Mayan prediction. Like Marshall’s previous ensemble film, New Year’s Eve follows countless storylines in the Big Apple, leading up the final moments of the year.

Babysitting Takes a Wild Ride in 'Sitter'

What started out as an ordinary night quickly became another adventure in babysitting.

I’m almost glad I was never expected to babysit. Kids are more than little handfuls when around their parents, but even greater terrors when grown-ups are nowhere to be seen. Of course, not all kids are like that, but just one little terror is more than enough. In his husky swan song, Jonah Hill deals with not double, but triple the trouble in David Gordon Green’s The Sitter. 

In his typical twenty-something slacker persona, Hill’s character, Noah, is coerced into babysitting his neighbor’s trio of “darling” for what should be a quiet evening. Expectedly, that is not the case when Noah’s girlfriend calls wanting him to pick up some drugs and come to a party and he accepts. With the three kids in tow, what started as a quiet night turns into chaos in New York City.

Reitman, Cody Reteam Again with More Adult Comedy

Some people grow up while are still the self-serving witches that you hated in high school.

It’s an unfortunate truth that growing up is simply just another part of life. Sure, you’d love to freeze time and stay in that 18-year-old body without a care in the world and idolized in high school or college for some shallow reason. Things change. 

And for author Mavis Gary, she still hasn’t grown up and she’s well into her mid thirties. Charlize Theron (Monster) plays Gary in Young Adult, directed by the quite talented Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. After nearly twenty years since graduation, Mavis returns home with one thing on her mind – getting back together with her old high school flame (Patrick Wilson), even if that means being a downright home wrecker.

Tech-Savvy 'Arthur Christmas' Isn't Your Parent's Christmas Movie

The entire Claus family bring joy to the children of the world, particularly young Arthur. 

It just doesn’t feel like Christmas unless there’s a Christmas movie hitting the theater. Luckily this year, we’ve already had our holiday treat in A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas. But wait! Aardman, the studio that brought us Chicken Run and Wallace and Gromit are joining in on the fun with a modern take on the whole Santa operation in Arthur Christmas. 

Operation: Christmas has gone beyond the typical Santa, sleigh and reindeer. Instead, with the innovations of eldest son Steve, the plan is now part "Mission: Impossible" mixed with North Pole quite similar to NASA’s mission control. But when the foolproof plan misses a child in England, Santa’s younger and clumsy son, Arthur, takes it upon himself to deliver the forgotten present halfway across the globe.