Back to School: Four movies to keep your eye on this fall

‘Skyfall’

Release date: Nov. 9

“Skyfall,” the 23rd film in the James Bond series, will be Daniel Craig’s third performance as 007. The film’s release will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Bond series.

Bond’s loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is challenged after secrets from her past come back to haunt her. When MI6 is attacked, it becomes Bond’s duty to seek out and eliminate the threat — regardless how personal the cost.

Sam Mendes, the film’s director, says “Skyfall” begins with Bond as he is experiencing a combination of lassitude, boredom, depression and difficulty with what he’s chosen to do for a living.

The film stars Craig, Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Naomie Harris.

‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’

Release date: Dec. 14

This movie is the first in a two-part epic fantasy-adventure film directed and produced by Peter Jackson and based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name.

The adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself joining a company of 13 dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage).

Although their goal lies to the East, first they must escape the goblin tunnels where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever: Gollum (Andy Serkis).

‘Les Misérables’

Release date: Dec. 14

“Les Misérables” is a film adaption based on the musical of the same name, which is in turn based on an 1862 French novel by Victor Hugo. The movie is directed by Tom Hooper.

The film tells the story of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, has broken his parole and must flee from Javert (Russell Crowe), a police inspector.

The pursuit consumes both men’s lives, and after two decades on the run, Valjean finds himself in the midst of the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris.

In addition to Jackman and Crowe, the film also stars Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmaybe, Amanda Seyfried and Sacha Baron Cohen.

‘Django Unchained’

Release date: Dec. 25

This film is an upcoming western written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The title and setting of the film are inspired by the 1960s western “Django.”

Django (Jamie Foxx) is a slave living in the Deep South after having been separated from his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). When Django is held for a slave auction, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), a bounty hunter, frees Django from his vicious owners (James Remar and James Russo) and gives him the option of hunting down and killing the Brittle Brothers, a ruthless gang of killers whom only Django has seen.

In return, Schultz will free Django from slavery completely and help rescue Broomhilda from Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), a ruthless plantation owner.

Staff Reports

Staff is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as