Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, left, and Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."Vampires, Armageddon and humbug: Name something these three things have in common.
Usually, the correct answer is nothing. But this month they do.
All three will invade theaters in hotly anticipated films opening in November.
Perhaps none more so than "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" which, if you'll pardon the awful pun, has its fans all moony and howling for its arrival. The second chapter of the vampire/teen girl/werewolf love-triangle soap-opera saga -- which has turned Grand Rapids-born actor Taylor Lautner into a megastar -- debuts in less than three weeks, so the hype frenzy is beginning to reach its apex.
"Moon" almost certainly will join end-of-the-world action extravaganza "2012" and the latest version of "A Christmas Carol" at the top of the box office charts this month.
Here's what to expect from this blockbuster trio (and other flicks on the November schedule):
"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" (PG-13)
The plot: In a nutshell, the sequel to "Twilight" finds teenager Bella's (Kristen Stewart) relationship with sparkly vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) hitting the skids. Heartbroken, she turns to Jacob (Lautner) who turns out to be a shapeshifting wolf/boy. She sure can pick 'em, can't she?
The hype: It's deafening. The shrieking of the series' legion of female fans, that is. Some of this is fueled by the trailers and posters for the film, which have us believing that Lautner -- who had only three scenes in "Twilight" and has a much more substantial role here, physically and script-wise -- may be shirtless for most of the movie. Chris Weitz ("The Golden Compass") took over directing duties after Catherine Hardwicke helmed the first one. "Moon" is the second of four films in the franchise based on Stephenie Meyer's gazillion-selling series of novels. Expect "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" roughly a year from now.
Opening: Nov. 20
"2012" (PG-13)The plot: Some prognosticators believe the world will end in 2012. This does not bode well for Earth or its inhabitants, and the planet doth crumbleth.
The hype: Director Roland Emmerich has wrecked CGI landscapes before in "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Independence Day," but "2012" might be his largest-scale smiting of scenery yet. Somewhere amid the earthquakey carnage is an all-star cast, including John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor. One assumes the biggest names from this bunch will play the folks who survive the longest.
Opening: Nov. 13
"A Christmas Carol" (PG)
The plot: Charles Dickens, yada yada yada, Scrooge, etc. etc., humbug and Tiny Tim, you know. If you're not familiar with the classic story of a Christmas curmudgeon's comeuppance/change of heart by now ....
The hype: Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis uses his trademark motion-capture technique ("The Polar Express," "Beowulf") to turn Jim Carrey into several incarnations of Scrooge, not to mention the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future. Some have deemed Zemeckis' neo-realist animation style weird and creepy, but the results are admirable technical achievements. "Carol" will be presented on 2D, 3D and 3D IMAX screens -- quite possibly the only reason to see the umpteenth version of the same story. If it's even half as impressive as the 3D IMAX version of "Beowulf," it will be quite a spectacle.
Opening: Friday
