Bob Dylan begins, Nosferatu returns, and Sonic battles Mufasa for the Christmas crown



Merry Christmas and welcome back to the Align Movie Guide, your easy-to-follow guide to the films worth your hard-earned money.

Thanksgiving offered hungry moviegoers a veritable big-screen buffet with "Wicked," "Moana 2," and "Gladiator II" on the menu.

Families eager to get out of the house responded to the tune of $400 million in ticket sales — Hollywood's highest-grossing Turkey Day weekend ever.

Will the studios close out the year with some crowd-pleasing Christmas cheer? Let's take a look.

'Mufasa: The Lion King' | Dec. 20 | Disney

"Hakuna matata" is not a phrase you'll hear much at Disney these days. After a series of woke misfires, the studio has struggled to regain the public's trust; this prequel to the 2019 "live action" remake probably won’t do anything to shift the needle.

"Mufasa: The Lion King" tells the origin story of Mufasa and his wayward brother, Scar. The film also features the return of Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Simba, Nala, and Simba’s daughter Kiara (not seen since "The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride").

The first trailer for the film was ratioed to oblivion, with fans criticizing bland visual effects carried over from the 2019 film. Others were unimpressed that the film ignores established lore of Mufasa’s rise to power, retconning him as an orphan this time around.

On the plus side, the actual Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing new songs for the film, which should satisfy those irked by the “imitation Lin-Manuel knockoffs” of "Moana 2." Will it be enough to outgross a blue hedgehog with a movie coming out the same day?

'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' | Dec. 20 | Paramount

The "Sonic the Hedgehog" franchise is the gift that keeps on giving for Paramount, despite an initial horrifying character design that screamed "game over." Sometimes it pays to listen to your audience.

The latest installment introduces fan-favorite nemesis Shadow (Keanu Reeves), whose power is so great that Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and his friends Tails (Colleen O'Shaughnessey) must form an unlikely alliance with Sonic’s archenemy, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) as well as his grandfather (also played by Carrey).

Two Jim Carreys in one movie? That’s an easy yes for me. Disney may be king of the multiplex jungle, but this blurry blue upstart may have what it takes to steal the crown. Which one will you be seeing on December 20?

'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' | Dec. 13 | Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. returns to Middle-earth with this animated epic, the first of many new "Lord of the Rings" films coming from the studio. "The War of the Rohirrim" goes back 200 years before Frodo took the ring to Mordor and follows Hèra (Gaia Wise) and her father, king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) as they make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg, against an enemy led by Dunlending lord Wulf (Luca Pasqualino).

Directed by anime veteran Kenji Kamiyama ("Blade Runner: Black Lotus"), the film also brings back two characters from the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies: Éowyn (Miranda Otto) and Saruman the White (the late Christopher Lee, using archived audio from the previous films).

Let's hope that recent grumbling about the "girlbossing" of Hèra is exaggerated and that this new installment helps us all forget Amazon's execrable "The Rings of Power."

'A Complete Unknown' | Dec. 25 | Searchlight Pictures

After the disappointment of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," James Mangold excavates America's rock and roll past with Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown." Timothee Chalamet portrays the Minnesota-born Robert Zimmerman, who conquers the New York folk scene only to throw it all away by bringing an electric guitar to Newport.

Based on the book "Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties," "A Complete Unknown" features a stellar cast, including Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Scoot McNairy as Woody Guthrie, Dan Fogler as Albert Grossman, and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash.

With a soundtrack featuring some of the most beloved songs of the 1960s, early buzz for Elle Fanning's performance, and talk of a Best Picture Academy Award, the stars seem aligned for "A Complete Unknown" to be the complete package when it comes to holiday season entertainment.

'Nosferatu' | Dec. 25 | Focus Features

A good remake requires a delicate balance. The director must respect the source material while also risking doing something new with it. Early signs indicate that Robert Eggers hit the sweet spot with his upcoming version of F.W. Murnau's silent classic.

In 1838 Germany, Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp) is stalked by an ancient Transylvanian vampire, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård). As her interest turns into obsession, she opens the door to untold horrors for herself and her loved ones. Eggers' "Nosferatu" has already been praised as a true Gothic horror film, the likes of which have not been seen in quite some time.

Anyone familiar with the director's previous work should expect something cinematically gorgeous and rich in story. Horror may not be everyone’s cup of tea during the holidays, but anyone brave enough to succumb to "Nosferatu" may find themselves richly rewarded.

'Kraven the Hunter' | Dec. 12 | Sony

After mixed results with "Venom," "Madame Web," and "Morbius," Sony is about to release its third Spider-Man film (without Spider-Man): "Kraven the Hunter." Based on the popular villain from the Spider-Man comics, Kraven (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) blazes a bloody trail of vengeance as he goes against his mob-boss father (Russell Crowe) and the Rhino (Alessandro Nivola).

Word on the street is this one could be more "Venom: The Last Dance" (closing in on $500 million in box office since its October 25 debut) than "Madame Web" (closing in on "was that a real movie or did I dream it?" status).

While the R rating bodes well for a faithful depiction of the notoriously violent Kraven, the desperate marketing campaign (the first eight minutes of the film were released online) is suspicious. As is Taylor-Johnson publicly begging audiences to give the film a chance. The big holiday hit Sony's stalking may turn out to be just another lump of coal.

'Homestead' | Dec. 20 | Angel Studios

Want to avoid supporting Hollywood all together? Angel Studios has you covered with family-friendly apocalyptic thriller "Homestead."

When a bomb goes off in Los Angeles, a former Green Beret and other survivors take refuge from the ensuing societal collapse at an eccentric prepper’s mountain fortress. The group must overcome threats of violence and scarce resources to protect their own.

Neal McDonough, fresh off his last Angel Studios film, "The Shift," leads a cast that includes Dawn Olivieri, Bailey Chase, and Olivia Sanabia. "Homestead" — which will spin off into a series for the Angel Studios streaming service — continues the studio's tradition of wholesome, well-made entertainment for those fed up with mainstream excesses.

It may not be the holly-est, jolliest film to be hitting theaters, but the exceptional talent involved should make it an offbeat Yuletide treat.

Here are some lesser-known titles you may want to keep an eye on this Christmas.

'That Christmas' | Dec. 4 | Netflix

Based on the book by Richard Curtis: A blizzard hits a seaside town, setting off intertwined tales of family, friends, love, and loneliness — and Santa making a big mistake. Starring Bill Nighy, Guz Khan, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, and Brian Cox as Santa. Directed by Simon Otto.

'Werewolves' | Dec. 6 | Briarcliff Entertainment

Two scientists try to stop a mutation that turns people into werewolves after being touched by a supermoon the year before. Starring Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Lou Diamond Phillips, and IIfenesh Hadera. Directed by Steven C. Miller.

'Nightbitch' | Dec. 6 | Searchlight Pictures

An artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mom seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form. Starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Zoe Chao, Mary Holland, and Jessica Harper. Directed by Marielle Heller.

'The Order' | Dec. 6 | Vertical Entertainment

A string of violent robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads veteran FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) to a white supremacist group that plans to overthrow the federal government. Also starring Nicholas Hoult, Jurnee Smollett, Tye Sheridan, Alison Oliver, and Marc Maron. Directed by Justin Kurzel.

'The Return' | Dec. 6 | Bleecker Street Media

A retelling of Homer’s "Odyssey:" After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king finds much has changed since he left to fight in the Trojan War. His beloved wife, Penelope (Juliette Binoche), is a prisoner in her own home and hounded to choose a new husband. Their son faces death at the hands of suitors who see him as an obstacle in their pursuit of Penelope and the kingdom. Odysseus is no longer the mighty warrior his people remember, but he must face his past to save his family. Also starring Charlie Plummer, Amir Wilson, Jaz Hutchins, Tom Rhys Harries, and Marwan Kenzari. Directed by Uberto Pasolini.

'Y2K' | Dec. 6 | A24

On the last night of 1999, two high school juniors crash a New Year's Eve party, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when Y2K becomes a reality. Starring Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, Kyle Mooney (who also directs), Alicia Silverstone, and Fred Durst.

'Mary' | Dec. 6 | Netflix

A retelling of the life of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the birth of Jesus Christ. In this timeless coming-of-age story, Mary is shunned following an otherworldly conception and forced to flee when Herod's insatiable thirst for power ignites a murderous pursuit of the newborn. Starring Noa Cohen, Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Mili Avital, and Anthony Hopkins as King Herod. Directed by D.J. Caruso.

'Maria' | Dec. 11 | Netflix

Famed opera singer Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie) retreats to Paris in the 1970s after a glamorous yet tumultuous life in the public eye. Also starring Haluk Bilginer, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, and Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy. Directed by Pablo Larraín.

'Carry On' | Dec. 13 | Netflix

A mysterious traveler blackmails Ethan Kopek, a young TSA officer, to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. But Ethan is not so easily persuaded to let this traveler’s sinister holiday plans go unstopped. Starring Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, Logan Marshall-Green, Sofia Carson, Theo Rossi, and Dean Norris. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

'Babygirl' | Dec. 25 | A24

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with a much younger intern. Starring Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, and Sophie Wilde. Directed by Halina Reijn.

Complete list by date:

  • "That Christmas" | Dec. 4
  • "Werewolves" | Dec. 6
  • "Nightbitch" | Dec. 6
  • "The Order" | Dec. 6
  • "The Return" | Dec. 6
  • "Y2K" | Dec. 6
  • "Mary" | Dec. 6
  • "Maria" | Dec. 11
  • "Kraven the Hunter" | Dec. 12
  • "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" | Dec. 13
  • "Carry On" | Dec. 13
  • "Mufasa: The Lion King" | Dec. 20
  • "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" | Dec. 20
  • "Homestead" | Dec. 20
  • "Nosferatu" | Dec. 25
  • "Babygirl" | Dec. 25
  • "A Complete Unknown" | Dec. 25

'The Lion King' at 30: What Disney once got right about life, death, and responsibility



When he was a precocious two-and-a-half-year-old, my second-born had an existential crisis. Among the questions that plagued him at bedtime for weeks on end: When will I die? When will you die, Mommy? When will Daddy die? What will I do if you die when I am still a kid?

Why did his little thoughts take such a dark turn at this tender age?

'The Lion King' is peerlessly accessible, pointed, and poignant in its countercultural argument that personal responsibility and self-sacrifice — not freedom from care or pursuit of pleasure — are what make living worthwhile.

He had recently watched the children’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s "Hamlet": Disney’s "The Lion King," which turns 30 this year.

In one of the movie’s most iconic scenes, the king of Pride Rock, Mufasa, is murdered by his brother, Scar. Next, Mufasa is found lifeless by his young son Simba, who did not see his uncle’s betrayal and thus blames himself for his father’s demise. This scene is harrowing and unsparing. It can be a tearjerker for adults, particularly parents. Of course, it can also be a terror beyond mere tears for a contemplative preschooler.

So how did my husband and I help our son through his nightly, Disney-induced spiral about death?

Eternal love

It turned out that the problem was also the solution: If you “look harder,” as the spiritual leader of Pride Rock, Rafiki, admonishes the grieving Simba, "The Lion King" makes tangible for children a belief in eternal life. When Simba has lost faith and despairs of his worth and destiny, Mufasa appears to his son in answer to what could be most aptly called a prayer. The dead king, it turns out, is still here in spirit. He “lives in [Simba].”

Thirty years ago, around the time "The Lion King" was released, I was six years old and worried about my own parents dying. My dad told me that he and my mom would always be there in my heart, whether I could see them or not, because God spans both earth and heaven.

In an animated interpretation of this spiritually supple comfort, "The Lion King" gives voice to the eternal love of God.

So before the decadent, backward-looking victimology that has animated the company’s recent features, from "Moana" to "Encanto" to "The Wish," Disney illuminated some truths worth imbibing in "The Lion King."

And not just about death. Also, and perhaps even more importantly, about life.

Rejecting 'Hakuna Matata'

"The Lion King" is peerlessly accessible, pointed, and poignant in its countercultural argument that personal responsibility and self-sacrifice — not freedom from care or pursuit of pleasure — are what make living worthwhile.

In the film, a catchy song explains that “Hakuna Matata” is a “problem-free philosophy” that “means ‘no worries’ for the rest of your days.” This nihilistic, pleasure-seeking attitude toward life is embodied and endorsed by the two friends who take Simba in after Scar orders him to leave Pride Rock.

“Hakuna Matata,” of course, is as good an encapsulation as any for the disposition of our post-1960’s mainstream culture toward young (and not so young) people. Ever more each decade, we treat the commitments of which adult life is made — marriage, parenthood, professional vocation, religious community — as morally inconsequential “take it or leave it” lifestyle choices.

Unsurprisingly, given that Simba is a young male without parental guidance exposed at length to the “Hakuna Matata” way of life, this philosophy also ensnares the future king for a time.

It is not endorsed, however, by the film.

Demanding better

"The Lion King" is best understood as an argument in favor of burdening oneself for the good of others. After a dual guilt trip (first from his prospective love interest and then from the spirit of his deceased father), Simba is compelled to return to Pride Rock, wrest control from his evil uncle, and bring the kingdom back to its former glory.

This fundamentally conservative call to restoration and responsibility employs the old trope of male maturation in pursuit of worthy female regard — an erstwhile societal reality that we have, if young men’s present malaise is any indication, discarded at our peril.

Nala, Simba’s childhood best friend and eventual love interest, is no shrinking violet. She leads the charge toward responsibility by example, running into Simba on her lone quest for help. Finding the rightful king in the midst of his “Hakuna Matata” phase, she upbraids him harshly and demands better. Because of her, he delivers. Together, Simba and Nala defend their home and restore its order and beauty.

Thus, the movie ends as it began: with a birth of the future king, a “circle of life” coming full circle, and an invocation toward responsible stewardship of an as yet unwritten future.

That is, with a wholesale rejection of “Hakuna Matata.”

If Disney would like to know how to make itself great again (as in, not just commercially successful but also counterculturally and positively formational for the nation’s children), the company need look no further than arguably its own best animated feature.

Thanks to "The Lion King" — and no thanks to the company’s most recent endeavors — my husband and I have found elementary versions of some essential life lessons close at hand.

And set to great music. The apparent catchiness of “Hakuna Matata” as more than a melody, notwithstanding.

Disney’s Gloomy ‘Little Mermaid’ Remake Couldn’t Dull Halle Bailey’s Shine

Unfortunately, as tends to happen when a copy is copied, Disney completely distorted the movie and 'updated' the film in dysfunctional ways.

A-list actor and rapper seems to go after cancel culture for stifling creators; his comments divide the internet



Actor and rapper Donald Glover — also known as by his rapper name Childish Gambino — appears to have hit out at cancel culture for what he suggests is stifling content creators.

Much of social media, however, ran with Glover's remarks, and their thoughts on what he meant has divided Twitter.

What are the details?

According to a Tuesday report from the New York Post, Glover said that fear of cancel culture is creating "boring" avenues of entertainment as many content creators feel they are restricted from experimentation out of fear of repercussion.

Early Tuesday morning, Glover took to Twitter where he wrote, "[S]aw people on here havin a discussion about how tired they were of reviewing boring stuff (tv & film)."

"We're getting boring stuff and not even experimental mistakes (?) because people are afraid of getting cancelled," he continued.

The 37-year-old entertainer concluded his thoughts, "So they feel like they can only experiment w/aesthetic (also because some of em know theyre not that good.)"

Image source: Twitter screenshot

Image source: Twitter screenshot

Image source: Twitter screenshot

What else?

Glover's comments seem to have been taken one of two ways: Some social media users believe that Glover is referring to cancel culture, while other social media users believe that Glover is saying that creators are concerned over their actual projects being canceled.

One user wrote, "This tweet immediately highlighted how fake woke so much of Twitter is. The man tweets about tv show cancellation because executives don't want to go outside the box and yall busted out your torches and pitchforks over cancel culture. Which is irrelevant to this tweet."

Another user added, "He's talking about movies/tv shows being cancelled but everyone's brains are so poisoned by twitter they think he's talking about cancel culture and getting mad."

"The internet has rotted people so much that they forgot the word cancelled literally just means to get your program taken off the air lmao," another user wrote.

On the flip side, one user who believed Glover was referring to cancel culture itself wrote, "The PC culture has really put a damper on creative work."

Another user chimed in, "[L]eave cancel culture for the racists, sexists, rapists, ect. It's gone from a good thing to something that has made people afraid of expression. Ain't right."

"Isn't the purpose of art to trigger a reaction in people?" another user asked. "Get creative because you're not getting canceled. I love your work, but when public opinion changes, being canceled isn't an excuse for making good art. Just look at history for that. Art perseveres."

Despite the flurry of discussion, Glover has yet to clarify his original comments at the time of this reporting.