The holidays are approaching, and if people are not busy running around thinking of Christmas or Hanukkah gifts, they're considering what to do with their family when they actually have to entertain everyone.

Every year there are big blockbuster films that come out around Thanksgiving and Christmas purposely devoted to people looking to enjoy time with their families, or to escape from them for a few blissful hours.

Here's a look at some of the movies coming out for the holiday season:

November 6 - Disney's A Christmas Carol

Disney is no stranger to taking beloved tales and ma...

Jim Carrey runs with a pair of scissors before cutting a ribbon during an event opening the final stop on "Disney's A Christmas Carol" train tour today in New York. See more photos after the jump.

Writer/director Robert Zemeckis adapts Charles Dickens'classic holiday tale in a performance capture/Disney Digital 3-D animated film for all ages.

Carrey takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge as well as all three ghosts who come to haunt him.

The filmmaking process is similar to the director's other animated outings, The Polar Express and the adult-themed Beowulf adaptation.

Imag...

"Resistance is futile" this October as Spike TV presents the fourth annual "Scream," the first and only global event of its kind to honor the best in sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comic genres. Taping on Saturday, October 17 at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA, "Scream 2009" celebrates the hottest films, TV shows, comics, actors, creators, icons and pioneers who have influenced and shaped the industry. This year's show will also continue the tradition of featuring exclusive World Premieres from some of the most anticipated movies of 2010. The two-hour extravaganza will premiere on Spi...

One hundred sixty six years after Charles Dickens published his classic "A Christmas Carol," what could possibly be brought to the Christmas dinner table that hasn't already been done by Alastair Sim, The Muppets, and just about every community theater in the country? Incredible 3D animation, duh! Or at least that's what Disney is hoping pulls audiences in for "Disney's A Christmas Carol" come November 6.

To promote the film, the "Disney's A Christmas Carol Train Tour" is currently traveling across the country with stops in over 20 cities. Director Robert Zemeckis and Walt Disney Studios...

Pulp Fiction screenwriter Roger Avary has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal car crash earlier this year.

Avary, 42, faced prosecutors at a Ventura County, California courthouse on Friday to face charges of gross vehicular manslaughter for his part in the horrific car smash in January, which left his passenger Andreas Zini dead. Avary's wife, was also injured in the accident, but made a full recovery. Avary pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

As well as the manslaughter charge, the writer faces two felony counts of causing bodily injury while in...

It will be one "dark knight" this October as Spike TV presents the third annual "SCREAM," a celebration of the best in horror, sci-fi, fantasy and comic genres.

Taping on Saturday, October 18 from The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA, "SCREAM 2008" will premiere on Spike TV Tuesday, October 21 (9:00- 11:00 PM, ET/PT). Show host, presenters and musical performers to be announced shortly.

"We're incredibly honored to have the support of such luminaries in the creative community to help determine the nominees for 'SCREAM 2008,'" says Casey Patterson, senior vice president, event prod...

1.) Starpulse user djvandeusencade asks, "I read the book 'The Ruins' and loved it! I see that it came out on [the big screen], but when will it be available on DVD?"

Based on the novel by Scott Smith, director Carter B. Smith's Yucatan-set thriller follows four American tourists as they unwisely venture off the beaten path while vacationing in Cancun. When a friendly German tourist implores the Americans to help search the jungle for his missing brother, the group becomes hopelessly trapped in a nightmare scenario that seems too strange to be true. The film will be released on DVD Ju...

(HollywoodChicago.com) – After such a long respite from the beloved film progression, I was initially just as skittish about seeing Harrison Ford back in the Indy saddle as I was watching Sylvester Stallone back in the ring in “Rocky Balboa” in his 2006 comeback and then again in 2008 in his “Rambo” return.

Ultimately, though, I had faith in director Steven Spielberg not to royally torpedo the monolithically anticipated “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which resurrects the Chicago-born, 65-year-old Harrison Ford as one of my favorite film characters of all time.

...

Many filmmakers are taking on the challenge of turning classic novels into feature films. It's a challenge because many people have fallen in love with the books and don't want directors messing with them. There are many books that were translated poorly on the big screen, but there are films that are just as good as the book, if not better.

In no particular order, here is a look at some of the best and worst films that are based off books:

THE BEST

Atonement

Joe Wright directed the 2007 film "Atonement," which is based off of Ian McEwan's critically acclaimed novel. James...

Teen comedy Superbad is leading the nominations for the 2008 MTV Movie Awards after picking up five nods, including Best Movie.

The high-school comedy, directed by Greg Mottola, also scooped nominations for the film's stars Jonah Hill and Michael Cera, who will compete in the Breakthrough Performance category along with their co-star Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Hill is also up for Best Comedic Performance.

However, Superbad will be going up against Oscar-winning Juno - which Cera also stars in - for the Best Movie prize, while the actor is also recognized for his efforts in the te...

Inspired by the epic Old English poem of the same name, director Robert Zemeckis's digitally rendered film "Beowulf" follows the Scandinavian hero Beowulf as he fights to protect the Danes from a ferocious beast named Grendel. Also on DVD: 30 Days of Night and The Darjeeling Limited.

It's almost here. The Superbowl of Hollywood (a.k.a. The Academy Awards) will be held for its 80th run on February 24. With the announcement ceremony on January 22, I would like to take a moment to look at one of my favorite categories: Best Animated Feature.

Some real gems have been nominated in this category in the past (i.e. Spirited Away, The Incredibles, The Triplets of Belleville, etc.). For this year's Oscars, there are 12 animated features that have been submitted for consideration:

"Alvin and the Chipmunks," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters," "Bee Mov...

Beowulf star Ray Winstone has turned down a part in popular British soap opera Eastenders - because he is too young to play the role offered. The long-running television program is currently casting for the villainous character Archie Mitchell, dad to Ronnie, who is played by actress Samantha Janus.

But 50-year-old Winstone - who is friends with Janus - has rejected the producers' request, insisting he is too young to take on the part.

He jokes, "I'll play her fella (love interest) but I'm not playing her dad."

An insider at the BBC says, "We want to get a British acting ico...

From the epic shootout in Heat to the Terminator battling the T-1000, everyone loves fight sequences. The two previously mentioned are some of the best of all time. The good fight scenes stand out and the bad ones are forgotten. But it’s the great ones that are seared into our memory. The following is a list consisting of the very best fight scenes that 2007 had to offer.

# 10. Transformers – Optimus Prime vs. Bonecrusher

While this was a guilty pleasure of mine this year, for many fan-boys, it was a dream come true. Their childhood toys and favorite cartoons came to life like...

Actress Angelina Jolie refuses to let her romance with Brad Pitt temper her desire for on screen intimacy with actors. The Beowulf star is always willing to shed her clothes for movie sex scenes - and takes great pleasure in sampling the bedroom credentials of her male co-stars.

She says, "A physical thing is, for some people, like me, very easy. You find something about that person that you love and you enjoy, that you truly embrace and have fun with, and you just enjoy each other. You're two adults and you know that it doesn't mean anything."

-More Sexy Angelina Jolie Pict...

Already a star on Broadway, the charismatic Idina Menzel ("Rent," "Wicked") is ready to star on album. To make that happen, she has enlisted the man responsible for launching, or continuing the phenomenal careers of, other recent major female artists. Glen Ballard, best known for Alanis Morissette's 16-times-platinum Jagged Little Pill and who has worked with Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Annie Lennox and Celine Dion, produced and co-wrote all but one of the songs on I Stand with Menzel.

Idina Menzel's Warner Bros. Records debut album, "I Stand" is a powerful collection of exquisite new...

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has branded her biological daughter Shiloh an "outcast", because she looks so different from her adopted siblings. The 20-month-old tot's bright blonde hair has set her apart from her dark-haired brothers Maddox, six, and Pax, four, and her two-year-old sister Zahara.

The Beowulf beauty admits she feels more of a connection to her adopted kids than her baby with partner Brad Pitt, because they have already survived such pain and poverty in their young lives.

She says, "(Shiloh) looks like Brad. It's funny because she's almost going to be the outcast...

Beowulf continues to slay the competition at the international box office - the animated warrior epic is the world's number-one film for a third successive week.

The movie adaptation of the epic poem, featuring the voices and animated recreations of Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins and Ray Winstone, took $19.4 million in cinemas outside the U.S. over the weekend.

Disney fairytale Enchanted is at two with $10.7 million, while action movie Hitman shoots to three with takings of $10 million.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Disney fairytale movie Enchanted continues to conjure up magic at the box office, claiming a second week at number one.

The film, starring Amy Adams as an animated princess-to-be who comes to life in modern-day New York City made $17 million in its second weekend on release to hang on to the top spot. The studio estimates, released on Sunday, suggest the film has made over $70 million in just 10 days.

The only new entry in the box office top 10 is Jessica Alba and Hayden Christensen's thriller Awake, which debuted at number four with $6 million.

The new top 10 is:

1. En...

Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins has unveiled plans to embark on a major world tour - as a concert pianist. The Welsh actor has revealed a secret passion for piano and hopes to showcase his talents in a series of concerts, to be performed in cities across the world, kicking of in Melbourne, Australia.

The shows will see the Beowulf star live out a life-long dream of playing classical pieces accompanied by an orchestra, with stories narrated over the music.

Hopkins - who has starred in more than 70 movies - will also use the music tour to tell anecdotes from his film career.

The p...

Enchanted cast a spell on the box-office over the Thanksgiving weekend, out-selling seasonal movie This Christmas to debut at number one. The animated fairy-tale romance has taken $50.05 million since it opened in cinemas on Wednesday, $35.3 million of which was made over the weekend.

"This Christmas" came second with $18.6 million for the weekend and $27.1 million in total since Wednesday.

Beowulf, starring Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins, falls two places to three with $16.2 million while Hitman debuts at four with $13 million.

Rounding out the top five is Bee Movie w...

Crispin Glover is known to movie fans for his roles as George McFly, the father in the first Back to the Future, The Creepy Thin Man in the Charlie's Angels films, the title character in Willard (you know, the rat movie), and can currently be seen supplying the voice of Grendel in Robert Zemeckis's Beowulf. Glover is taking advantage of the publicity Beowolf has received to showcase his own film, It Is Fine. Everything Is Fine! as well as to perform his Big Slide Show, which is an hour long dramatic reading of books that he has written, and to screen his surrealist film 'What is It?'

I...

Movie mogul Steven Spielberg's movie company will produce all its animated movies in 3-D from 2009. Following the success of the 3-D movie Beowulf, which is currently the world's number one movie, Dreamworks SKG bosses are going full-steam ahead with three-dimensional film projects.

Spielberg's partner Jeffrey Katzenberg says, "Everything we're doing, starting in 2009, will be in 3-D. Our first movie is Monsters Vs. Aliens."

Katzenberg tells website MovieHole.net, the 3-D films will include the fourth Shrek film, adding, "That'll be (out in) 2010 - and it'll be in 3-D. It's cal...

Ancient warrior epic Beowulf has slaughtered its competition worldwide to claim the globe's number one spot at the international box office.

The movie adaptation of the epic poem, featuring the voices and animated recreations of Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins and Ray Winstone, took $17 million in cinemas outside the U.S in its opening weekend.

It took in $28.1 million during the same period in the U.S.

American Gangster debuts at two internationally, with $14 million, while Ben Stiller's comedy The Heartbreak Kid climbs a place to three with $7.1 million.

(This news ...

Ancient warrior Beowulf has slayed the competition at the box office in its first week on release.

The movie adaptation of the epic poem, featuring the voices and animated recreations of Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins and Ray Winstone, claimed $28.1 million in its opening weekend. Almost 50 percent of that figure came from special 3-D screenings.

Animated family film Bee Movie, which stung the countdown by claiming the top spot last weekend, dropped to two on the new chart with a respectable third weekend take of $14.3 million. The film, written and featuring comedian Jerry Sei...

Hard-man actor Ray Winstone has branded his role in new movie Beowulf the most grueling of his career. The 50-year-old star, who plays the eponymous hero in the CGI adventure, even broke bones while shooting the epic tale.

He says, "It was the most physical job I have done in my life. I was on wires, running up walls and spinning. You are tearing up a metal frame, which represents the dragon or pounding a stuntman. I would go home every night and relax in a hot bath of Radox."

"I broke two or three ribs. I thought I was Errol Flynn. I swung in to get the dragon's heart and it wa...

This is the time of year many moviegoers get giddy. In addition to Oscar contenders and holiday films, fantasy often makes its mark on the big screen.

Part Two - Visions of Sugarplums- Fantasy

Closely linked to the "Instant Holiday Classic" is a surge in fantasy films that often accompany the season. The fantasy genre capitalizes on that same childhood yearning for holiday magic that Christmas specials do. These feelings open the door to fantastical worlds, and not just those located in the North Pole.

Last year marked a noticeable absence of these films despite the success...

Brad Pitt came to his girlfriend Angelina Jolie's rescue at the European premiere of her new film Beowulf on Sunday, by helping her cover-up when her leather pants split at the back. Pitt and Jolie were on the red carpet in London's Leicester Square when the actress' skin-tight black leather trousers started to unstitch around her bottom.

But quick-thinking gentleman Pitt shielded Jolie's embarrassment from photographers by covering the exposed area with his hand.

Jolie didn't have the best entrance to the event - she also stepped in a piece of chewing gum which stuck itself to t...

Inspired by the epic Old English poem of the same name, director Robert Zemeckis's digitally rendered film follows the Scandinavian hero Beowulf (Ray Winstone) as he fights to protect the Danes from a ferocious beast named Grendel (Crispin Glover). Though at first Grendel seems invincible, Beowulf eventually manages to defeat him in a desperate battle to the death. Continue Summary

Pictures / Cast and Crew / More

British actor Anthony Hopkins signed up to new movie Beowulf - without reading the script. The star had no prior knowledge of the original English poem, on which the movie is based, and didn't even read the script before agreeing to appear in the film. He only took the time to look at his own lines.

He says, "I never read the book. The script is good but I have to admit I only read part of it - I only read my part."

-More Beowulf News

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)