Russell Crowe in a scene from the film, Les
Miserables. Source:
The Daily Telegraph
Neala Johnson, The Daily Telegraph, reports
Boxing Day king Peter Jackson returns to
Middle Earth to ward off the challenge to his throne from Aussie heavyweights
Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe.
Last year, the Jackson-produced The Adventures Of Tintin lorded over its
rivals on Australian cinemas' biggest day and the Kiwi director looks set to
repeat the dose with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a 169-minute 3D epic
that has already topped box office charts in New Zealand, the US and across
Europe.
The Lord Of The Rings prequel's only competition will come from the
movie version of stage musical Les Miserables, which had its claims boosted by
Jackman and Crowe appearing at the red carpet premiere in Sydney last week.
Filling the Boxing Day family comedy slot -- dominated in recent years
by Ben Stiller's Fockers franchise -- is Parental Guidance. It stars
old-schoolers Billy Crystal and Bette Midler and serves up enough
inter-generational chaos to appeal to everyone from grandma down.
Disney's feel-good 3D animation Wreck-it Ralph -- about a video game character
who jumps into different games -- may be aimed at kids, but with plenty of
1980s video arcade references (and guest stars such as Pacman and Sonic the
Hedgehog), grown-ups will have plenty to dig, too.
For The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel set there is Quartet, Dustin
Hoffman's directing debut about a retirement home for British opera singers. It
stars Maggie Smith and Billy Connolly.
Those in a "bah humbug" frame of mind should head to the
arthouse for British black comedy Sightseers. It's about a caravanning couple
who visit museums and kill litterbugs.
Village Cinemas CEO Kirk Edwards believes the chain is "on course
for its biggest ever Christmas period".
"The magic of the movies is still alive," he said. "There
has been unprecedented demand for tickets to see The Hobbit, Les Mis and all
the other major blockbusters."
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