2011 is almost gone, the summer blockbusters have fled, your hard earned euros clutched in their generation spanning talons. But fear not winter movie goers, there are still some treats left in store before the year turns.

50/50 (25/11) – Joseph Gordon-Levitt (we like him) stars as a young man diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and given the title’s chances of surviving. He’s supported by friend Seth Rogen (we can just about put up with him) who played a similar role in the real life illness of screenwriter Will Reiser, who based the script on his experiences. You’ll also find the likes of Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard on board for this dramatic comedy.



Moneyball (25/11) – Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill team up for this unusual sports movie directed by Capote helmer Bennett Miller and written by Aaron Sorkin. Based on a true story, it concerns a down on his luck baseball manager who hires a statistician to give him an equation for the perfect team, on a budget. When the Oakland Athletics squad starts to win games, it will cause a shakeup of how the game is played.




The Thing (02/12) – There’s no doubting that John Carpenters 1982 version of The Thing is a stone cold horror classic so the filmmakers behind 2011’s iteration were wise enough to steer clear of an unnecessary remake, instead crafting a prequel which leads up to that infamous helicopter vs. dog chase. By all accounts, the result pilfers liberally from the earlier film but with the addition of subtle (we hope) CG effects and a decent enough cast – including Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton – there’s hope for this to be more than a money-grabbing rehash.




Another Earth (02/12) – After the operatic ridiculousness of Lars von Triers Melancholia, Another Earth offers a more contemplative take on the way the world might react to the arrival of a new planet. This time, it’s seems the planet is actually an alternate version of Earth and lead Rhoda (Brit Marling) gets a chance to earn passage there, in the hope of fleeing from a personal tragedy. Another Earth comes from first time writer/director Mike Cahill and we think it looks a little bit special.




Puss in Boots (09/12) – The Shrek series may have outstayed it’s welcome but Antonio Banderas’ feline character remains one of the highlights of the franchise, so cue a feature film spin off. Here, Puss (in Boots) takes on an adventure that predates his meeting with Shrek – in pursuit of sinister siblings Jack and Jill who are in possession of a powerful artefact. Hint – it’s a magic bean. We actually caught a couple of scenes from this earlier in the year and it looks like a lot of fun, complete with solid action scenes and a more mature tone than the scattershot Shreks. Coming in 3D.




A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (09/12) – John Cho and Kal Penn are back in the third entry of a comedy series everyone probably expected would have done direct to DVD by now. Their mission this time is to find a new Christmas tree after Kumar burns down his friends perfect specimen. Penn actually quit his job at the White House to make this film and it’s 3D and it features the return of series hero Neil Patrick Harris as himself. Still don’ think it sounds good? Check out the redband trailer. Best 3D claymation phallus ever?



Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (16/12) – We weren’t overly fond of 2009’s Sherlock Holmes but it was certainly a fresh take on the much adapted stories by Arthur Conan Doyle and audiences can’t seem to get enough of Robert Downey Jr. and his trademark smirk. Here’s hoping things are a little neater for this sequel, which sees Jude Law and Rachel McAdams return, joined by the girl with the whatsit tattoo Noomi Rapace and Jared Harris as long time villain Moriarty. Expect slow mo explosions, natty fast thinking set pieces and some cross-dressing.




Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (26/12) – It’s been a full five years since Ethan Hunt last stalked the corridors of your local multiplex, and superstar Tom Cruise has been almost as absent, apart from last year’s Knight and Day. The franchise has been hit and miss so far (we’re fond of M:I II but isn’t the first a bit of a bore?) but there’s no reason not be excited about Ghost Protocol, with Brad Bird at the helm. He made The Incredibles, that is all you need to know. We caught a couple of scenes earlier in the year and know this; they’re out to redefine the term epic.




The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (26/12) – If you fancy something a little grittier than Tom Cruise’s acrobatic antics, how about some murder, physical abuse and investigation with David Fincher’s remake of Stieg Larsson’s multi-million selling book. The original Swedish movie is a fine example of the genre so here’s hoping Fincher can carve a unique point of view from the often labyrinthine plot. He’s got an able case in Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer and Robin Wright, with most of the attention on young Rooney Mara as an emaciated Lisbeth Salander.




That's your lot. What are you most looking forward to?