QUANTUM OF SOLACE [PG-13]

I've never really understood the appeal of the James Bond empire. When everyone claimed that the last Bond film, Casino Royale, was the best yet, I, of course, had to see for myself. All I can say is that if that was the best Bond film yet, either that means the previous Bond films were all pretty sorry, or fans of the film don't have very high expectations for what constitutes a well-made film. Quantum of Solace picks up where the last film left off, with Bond seeking revenge for the death of the last Bond girl (don't worry, he'll get a new one). For me, the most exciting thing about this movie is the new Bond theme, titled "Another Way to Die," which pairs Jack White of The White Stripes and Alicia Keys.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [R]

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of a poor teenager living in India who, in order to prove his love for his friend, wins the country's version of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? The trailer is overwhelming, filled with vibrant colors, The Ting Ting's "Great DJ," and people running--lots of people running. The concept of this comedy-drama is definitely creative, and tons of positive feedback from critiques adds to its appeal. Slumdog Millionaire is a limited release, and, if you find it playing in a theater near you, it should be worth a viewing.

CHRISTMAS TALE [R]

If it seems a little early to start seeing Christmas movies, keep in mind that the most commercially-successful holiday of the year gets start early -- right after Halloween. And so the first sound of sleigh bells to be heard in theaters can be credited to the French film with a limited-release, Christmas Tale. It is the story of a dysfunctional family reunited at Christmas time. After watching the trailer, two films came into mind: The Royal Tenenbaums (which could possibly be considered a Christmas movie) and The Family Stone. Basically, this means that Christmas Tale seems like it won't be different from too many other Christmas movies. Then again, Christmas is all about tradition, and so maybe these type of stories never get old. A small bonus: the black sheep of the family (that will probably manage to be the most likable character) is played by Mathieu Amalric, the star of last year's critically acclaimed film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.