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Netflix Synopsis: Yet again, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) is interrupted while attempting to take a quiet vacation! Agatha Christie’s most adored character attempts to celebrate the Christmas holiday without getting wrapped up in the usual mysterious mayhem. Unfortunately, crime seems to gravitate toward Poirot like a magnet to a refrigerator, and his incredible skills are desperately needed! Is there no rest for the weary?

 Amazon Synopsis:  Martian children have become unhappy watching Earth television programs showing Christmas cheer among humans. The wise old Martian Chochem tells the adults that Mars needs Santa Claus to bring fun and jow to their children. A group of Martians arrives at the North Pole and kidnaps Santa, but the angry Martian Voldar wants to get rid of him instead. With the help of two Earth children and the clumsy Martian Dropo, Santa defeats Voldar and brings happiness to Mars! 

Netflix Synopsis: The cheesy cult classic Santa Claus Conquers the Martians gets the “MST” treatment, spliced and diced under the watchful eyes of the ever-critical cineastes who are always at the ready with their cutting commentary. In the film, Martian kids catch a glimpse of Santa Claus on television and go on a rampage, insisting that the Jolly Old Elf make an appearance. To keep the children happy, the Martians abduct Santa and take him back to their planet.

Netflix Synopsis: Merry Christmas, possums! British comedian Barry Humphries and his alter ego, Dame Edna, star in this holiday special that truly is a one-of-a-kind “experience.” Armed with her patented machine-gun-like wit, Dame Edna decks the halls (and a few celebrities, too!) and dishes out her opinions to a host of guests. Episodes include “The Dame Edna Christmas Experience” and ” A Night on Mount Edna.”

Netflix Synopsis: After traveling far back in time and saving the Earth from aliens, Capt. James B. Pirk (Samuli Torssonen) winds up shipwrecked on the planet in the 21st century along with his crew, Comm. Dwarf (Timo Vuorensola) and Comm. Info (Antti Satama). As their situation begins to look bleak, Pirk spends his time scarfing down fast food and trying to impress unbelieving women with his space hero credentials in this sci-fi adventure spoof.

Kym’s Picks: 12/21/2010 and 12/28/2010

Archer S1 — Set amid the world of international espionage, this irreverent animated comedy from the FX network revolves around the exploits of smart-mouthed superspy Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) — code name: “Duchess.” For Archer, taking on top-secret missions around the world is a breeze compared to dealing with his fellow agents, notably his overbearing mother, Malory (Jessica Walter), and his ex-girlfriend Lana (Aisha Tyler).

Angel — In this adaptation of a novel by British author Elizabeth Taylor, Romola Garai plays Angel, a grocer’s daughter who writes her way to the life she’d imagined when her success as a romance novelist enables her to buy the country mansion of her dreams. True paradise, however, remains elusive in this satire of period melodramas directed by François Ozon and co-starring Michael Fassbender, Sam Neill and Charlotte Rampling.

Knight and Day — Perpetually unlucky in love, June (Cameron Diaz) becomes intrigued by a mysterious man (Tom Cruise), who unexpectedly drags her into a whirlwind adventure involving devious enemies, life-threatening confrontations and a major discovery that may alter the future of humankind. Directed by James Mangold, this exhilarating action-comedy also features Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Maggie Grace and Viola Davis.

Easy A — High school is the setting for this freewheeling comedic twist on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 19th-century novel The Scarlet Letter.  Ambitious student Olive (Emma Stone) decides to boost her popularity by pretending to be the school slut. As the school’s swirling rumor mill increases both her notoriety and her finances, Olive enjoys her newfound status but eventually must decide which is more important: popularity or self-esteem.

Flipped — From director Rob Reiner comes a multigenerational family saga about the highs and lows of love. Bryce and Juli first meet as second graders, with Juli having a crush on the uncertain Bryce, and as they mature, it appears their love may blossom. As they wrestle with the problems of adolescence, their parents cope with an assortment of issues of their own. Aidan Quinn, Rebecca De Mornay and Anthony Edwards co-star in this poignant romantic comedy.

Turning Green — Sent to live with his aunts in Ireland, sex-obsessed teen James (Donal Gallery) goes to work for a bookie (Alessandro Nivola), trying to raise enough cash to return to the States. But when he discovers nude magazines on a trip to London, James dreams up a better business plan. Back in Ireland, the porn-peddling entrepreneur finds his adult contraband in high demand. Colm Meaney and Timothy Hutton co-star in this film set in 1979.

Beautiful Kate — When his sister, Sally (Rachel Griffiths), invites him to the hardscrabble family farm to make peace with his dying father (Bryan Brown), successful Australian writer Ned (Ben Mendelsohn) must finally face the truth about his twin sister Kate’s (Sophie Lowe) tragic death decades before. But as father and son stumble toward reconciliation, long-hidden secrets threaten to engulf them all once more. Rachel Ward directs this provocative drama.

Eat Pray Love — Julia Roberts stars in this adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir about coping with a depressing divorce. After deciding to reshape her life, Liz (Roberts) travels the world in search of direction. She heads to Italy, India and Bali, indulging in delicious cuisine while seeking the true meaning of self-love, family, friendship and forgiveness. Along the way, she meets a bevy of characters and, possibly, her true love.

Map of the Sounds of Tokyo — When the daughter of prominent Tokyo businessman Mr. Nagara (Takeo Nakahara) commits suicide, Nagara’s heartbroken employee Ishida (Hideo Sakaki) hires part-time hit woman Ryu (Rinko Kikuchi) to kill the man (Sergi López) perceived as responsible for the daughter’s death. Meanwhile, a curious sound engineer becomes obsessed with Ryu and her life in this lyrical and mysterious drama from acclaimed Spanish director Isabel Coixet.

Peepli Live — When indigent farmers Natha (Omkar Das) and Budhia (Raghuvir Yadav) stand to lose their land over a loan they can’t repay, a government official comes up with a modest proposal: Commit suicide and collect a subsidy that’s paid to the relatives of deceased farmers. As Natha weighs his options, a journalist learns of his predicament and the media circus begins. Anusha Rizvi directs this satirical take on a real-life crisis afflicting India’s underclass.

Soul Kitchen — Young restaurant owner Zinos (Adam Bousdoukos) decides to revamp Soul Kitchen, his dumpy diner, but the customer response isn’t what he was hoping for. To make matters worse, his girlfriend (Anna Bederke) flies off to Shanghai, and the tax collector comes knocking. But with the help of an inspired new chef (Birol Ãœnel), Zinos still has a chance at redemption. German director Fatih Akin delivers a riotous modern romantic comedy.

Handsome Harry — For many years, small-town resident Harry Sweeney (Jamey Sheridan) has avoided confronting painful memories from his past. But when his best friend becomes seriously ill, Harry builds up enough courage to explore long-hidden secrets and uncover his true identity. Bette Gordon directs this character-driven drama that boasts a strong ensemble cast featuring Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, John Savage and Campbell Scott.

The Special Relationship — Screenwriter Peter Morgan (The Deal, The Queen) delivers a third film centered on the career of British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) with this political drama chronicling Blair’s relationships with two U.S. presidents: Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Dennis Quaid takes on the challenge of portraying President Clinton, with Hope Davis co-starring as then-First Lady Hillary Clinton in this Emmy nominee for Best Made-for-TV Movie.

And Soon the Darkness — Two American friends, Ellie (Odette Yustman) and Stephanie (Amber Heard), set out for a bike trip through Argentina, eager to explore its spectacular beauty. One afternoon, Stephanie disappears, and as darkness encroaches, so does Ellie’s panic and desperation. Virtually alone in a foreign land, she wonders if either of them will get home alive. Karl Urban (Star Trek) and Adriana Barraza (Babel) co-star in this update of the 1970 horror classic.

Legacy — Taking refuge in a shabby Brooklyn motel after narrowly surviving a failed mission in Eastern Europe, Black Ops soldier Malcolm Gray (Idris Elba) begins to disintegrate mentally as he broods over the legacy of his actions in this taut psychological thriller. Haunted by his demons while holed up in his room, Malcolm ponders the ascent of his brother (Eamonn Walker), an ambitious senator with designs on the presidency.

Caprica 1.5 — Caprica is in turmoil, and everyone is scrambling to decipher what’s reality and what’s not. Who will survive the constant clashing between the Cylons and humans? Season 1.5 of this sci-fi saga is centered on more conspiracies and shifts in power. Technology titan Daniel (Eric Stoltz) is left to confront serious questions about losing military contracts, the U-87 and his own company. The future of the world is also at stake.

Family Guy: It’s a Trap! — An outrageous “Family Guy”-style remake of Return of the Jedi, this Star Wars spoof finds Chris Skywalker and Princess Lois attempting to rescue Peter Solo from Jabba the Hutt, defeat the mighty Stewie Vader and blow up the second Death Star. This wacky animated parody features off-the-wall Star Trek: The Next Generation guests including Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf.

Futurama V5 — After an absence of nearly seven years from the airwaves, the critically acclaimed animated sitcom set 1,000 years in the future returned to television for a brand new season. This collection includes 13 episodes with the full original voice cast. In this season, the Planet Express crew takes on subjects as varied as gay marriage, iPhones, creationism and the Da Vinci Code. Billy West, Katey Sagal and John Di Maggio star.

United States of Tara S2 — Emmy winner Toni Collette returns as Tara (and Alice, Buck and T) in this compelling comedy-drama about a homemaker whose dissociative identity disorder causes aspects of her character to manifest as wildly different personalities. As Tara struggles to integrate her alter egos into everyday life, she finds warm support from husband Max (John Corbett) and their kids, but encounters only skepticism from her resentful sister Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt).

Kym’s Picks: 12/07/2010 and 12/14/2010

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World — When dreamy delivery girl Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) starts popping up in his life, slacker musician Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) takes notice. But to win the love of this rollerblading goddess, Scott must vanquish all seven of her evil exes in martial arts battles. Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, director Edgar Wright’s action-packed romcom also stars Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh and Chris Evans.

Cronos — After an ancient device attaches itself to his body, aging antiques dealer Jesus (Federico Luppi) struggles to cope with an insatiable thirst for human blood, a menacing brute (Ron Perlman) dead set on retrieving the mechanism and the gradual realization that he cannot die. The directorial debut of acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, this thrilling vampire tale co-stars Tamara Shanath as Jesus’s granddaughter, Aurora.

Exit Through the Gift Shop — Filmmaker Thierry Guetta had been casually documenting the underground world of street art for years, but when he encounters Banksy, an elusive British stencil artist, his project takes a fascinating twist. Unimpressed with Guetta’s footage, Banksy takes over filmmaking duties and Guetta reinvents himself as a street artist named Mr. Brainwash — and, much to Banksy’s surprise, immediately becomes a darling of the Los Angeles art scene.

Micmacs — rench filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet takes a satirical look at the global arms trade with this foreign-language comedy starring Dany Boon as Bazil, who rallies his friends to take down weapons manufacturers responsible for his father’s death. Bazil also discovers a dump into an underground haven for cool tools and sculptures crafted from discarded junk. Dominique Pinon, André Dussollier and Jean-Pierre Marielle co-star.

 

 

Shrek Forever After — The fourth chapter of this fractured fairy-tale series finds the lovable green ogre Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) feeling less like a monster and more like a man in the midst of a midlife crisis. But will striking a deal with Rumpelstiltskin make his life better or worse? Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas return as the voices of Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots, respectively.

My Own Love Song — Years after a life-changing car accident that left her paralyzed, a wheelchair-bound woman (Renee Zellweger) embarks on a cross-country journey to reconnect with her long-lost son, accompanied by a friend (Forest Whitaker) who won’t let her wallow in self-pity. She used to be a singer, but lately, she’s lost her voice. Maybe facing her emotional demons will bring music back into her life. Olivier Dahan (La Vie en Rose) writes and directs.

Prayers for Bobby — Sigourney Weaver (in an Emmy-nominated role) stars in this heartbreaking TV drama inspired by the true story of gay rights advocate Mary Griffith. At odds with her gay son, Bobby (Ryan Kelley), over his sexuality, Mary finds her once-unshakable faith on rocky ground when he commits suicide. When her pastor is unable to help her make sense of the tragedy, Mary embarks on an amazing journey of self-discovery that teaches her the wisdom of tolerance.

Mademoiselle Chambon — When shy schoolteacher and gifted violinist Véronique Chambon (Sandrine Kiberlain) invites blue-collar construction worker Jean (Vincent Lindon) to speak to her class about his trade, she’s surprised to find herself irresistibly attracted to him — and the feeling is mutual. But the gulf in their social positions and Jean’s marital status complicate matters in this quiet drama, which snagged an Independent Spirit Award nod for Best Foreign Film.

The Milk of Sorrow — Stricken with a pathological fear she contracted from her mother’s breast milk — the “milk of sorrow,” a condition suffered by women who were raped during Peru’s civil wars — Fausta (Magaly Solier) goes to extreme lengths to protect her own sexuality and safety. But when her anguished mother finally dies, Fausta finds herself compelled to embark on a frightening journey that could lead her to freedom and wholeness. Claudia Llosa directs this Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Film.

The Kids Are All Right — Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson), the children of same-sex parents Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore), become curious about the identity of their sperm-donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) and set out to make him part of their family unit, often with hilarious results. But his arrival complicates the household dynamics, and nobody is sure where or how he fits in — if at all — in this Independent Spirit Award-nominated comedy.

The Trotsky — Seventeen-year-old Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) thinks he is the reincarnation of Russian October Revolution leader Leon Trotsky, thus staging a strike at his father’s (Saul Rubinek) factory and then a student walkout at his new school. Film legend Geneviève Bujold appears as the head of the school board in writer-director Jacob Tierney’s “revolting” comedy. Emily Hampshire, Justin Bradley, Kaniehtiio Horn and Jesse Rath also co-star.

Mother and Child — Fifty-year-old Karen (Annette Bening) regrets giving up her daughter, Elizabeth (Naomi Watts), for adoption; years later, Elizabeth questions her own approach to life. Their stories intersect with that of Lucy (Kerry Washington), who hopes to fulfill her dreams of motherhood through adoption. Rodrigo García writes and directs this drama about parenting, sacrifice, romance and self-fulfillment. Eileen Ryan and Samuel L. Jackson co-star.

 

 

Restrepo — Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm, teamed with photographer Tim Hetherington to spend a year embedded with the Second Platoon in Afghanistan, documenting the hard work, fear and brotherhood that come with repelling a deadly enemy. Hunkered down with the soldiers in one of the region’s most strategic valleys, the filmmakers uncover the dark humor, sleepless surreality and constant anxiety of war in this Best Documentary winner at Sundance.

 

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work — Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg provide an uncompromising glimpse into the personal and professional life of comedian and red-carpet mainstay Joan Rivers, a woman clinging stubbornly and steadfastly to the pop-culture bandwagon. Stern and Sundberg (whose previous film, The Devil Came on Horseback, covered the Darfur genocide) take a no-less-intensive approach to their subject here, taking a hard look at fame’s bitter toll.

The Nature of Existence — Roger Nygard travels to the sources of the world’s major philosophies and talks to everyone from physicist Leonard Susskind to Ultimate Christian Wrestling founder Rob Adonis to answer the questions, Why are we here and what are we supposed to do? Spiritual leaders, scholars, scientists, artists, pizza chefs and the guy next door inform this humorously enlightening documentary about the nature and meaning of life.

Kym’s Picks: 11/23/2010 and 11/30/2010

Valhalla Rising — After years of slavery, Viking warrior One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) escapes from his captors and seeks refuge on a Norse ship bound for his homeland. When a storm throws them off course, the crew lands at a mysterious realm inhabited by invisible demons. As the bloodthirsty creatures claim one sailor after another, One-Eye rediscovers his fighting spirit but begins to wonder if they have arrived in Jerusalem or someplace much more sinister.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed — Thinking they’ve cooked up the perfect crime, Vic (Eddie Marsan) and Danny (Martin Compston) abduct young heiress Alice Creed (Gemma Arterton), only to find their surefire plan unraveling as they attempt to negotiate a tidy ransom in director J Blakeson’s twisty thriller. As the steely Alice lies tethered to a bed, an escalating battle of wills — and wits — ensues when setbacks shift the balance of power.

The Expendables — Barney (Sylvester Stallone) leads a ragtag band of hired guns charged with overthrowing a South American despot, a job no official military unit is willing to touch. But once on the ground, the team learns there’s more to the mission than they were told. Their next move determines whether they survive — or are, indeed, expendable. Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren and Jet Li round out a stellar cast.

Sex and the City 2 — Set two years after the wedding that almost wasn’t, this sequel finds gal pals Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Samantha (Kim Cattrall) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) embarking on a much-needed vacation to exotic Abu Dhabi. They’re still the same soul mates despite responsibilities of motherhood and marriage, but a new romance for Samantha and a little thing called Aidan, Carrie’s ex, keep things interesting.

The Winning Season — Searching for a coach for his hapless girls’ basketball team, school principal Terry (Rob Corddry) turns to his friend, Bill (Sam Rockwell), a divorced, drunken dishwasher who isn’t even involved in his own daughter’s life. But Bill’s life changes as he bonds with the team. He develops a special connection with team captain Abbie (Emma Roberts), and while the girls start winning, Bill and his players still have a lot to overcome off the court.

Cairo Time — When magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her diplomat husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), she learns from his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) that Mark has been delayed. As Tareq introduces her to the city and its customs, an unexpected attraction arises between them. Juliette soon grows accustomed to life in Cairo while she and Tareq try to find the best way to deal with their complex feelings in this romantic drama.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice — While Horvath (Alfred Molina) and Drake (Toby Kebbell) plot to restore Morgana Le Fay (Alice Krige) to power, master sorcerer Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) makes physics student Dave Stutle (Jay Baruchel) his apprentice, teaching him enough magic to save the world from sure ruin. Also featuring Monica Bellucci, Teresa Palmer and Toby Kebbell, this whimsical fantasy is a live-action update of the beloved animated short from the 1940s, “Fantasia.”

The Pillars of the Earth — Political conflict, grand passions and epic ambition fuel this sweeping miniseries set in 12th-century England that centers on the struggles of Prior Philip (Matthew Macfadyen), who’s devoted to seeing the construction of Kingsbridge Cathedral. At the same time, civil war is roiling Britain as the result of a struggle for succession among King Henry’s heirs, with the outcome of history hinging on a portentous secret. Ian McShane also stars.

You Don’t Know Jack — Al Pacino stars in this enthralling, Emmy-winning biopic that focuses on the life of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the controversial physician who boldly advocated the legalization of euthanasia and personally helped over 100 terminally ill patients commit suicide. Directed by Hollywood veteran Barry Levinson, this drama co-stars Susan Sarandon as vocal activist Janet Good and John Goodman as Kevorkian’s trusted friend and supporter Neal Nicol.

Luther: S1 — Idris Elba (“The Wire”) stars in this powerful television drama as Det. John Luther, whose personal demons complicate the chase as he searches for the evidence to convict mass murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), who is also his closest confidante. Luther’s marriage to the long-suffering Zoe (Indira Varma) is equally complicated, and after she leaves him, he pours even more frenetic energy into the pursuit of London’s most nefarious criminals.

A Touch of Frost: S15 — The final season of one of Britain’s most beloved crime dramas finds quirky but brilliant homicide detective Jack Frost (David Jason) tackling complicated cases involving dog fighting, drug smuggling and murders similar to crimes committed many years ago. During his investigation, Frost becomes romantically involved with animal welfare officer Christine Moorhead (Phyllis Logan) and combats the operations of gangster Berland (Adrian Dunbar).

Have Gun, Will Travel: S5, V1 — The fifth season of this TV Western kicks off with gentleman gunfighter Paladin (Richard Boone) making his way to a Nevada mining camp that’s suffered a mining disaster. But on the way to the site, he meets a pair of prospectors with a suspicious-sounding sob story. Later in the season, he’s hired by the scorned groom (Charles Bronson) of a runaway mail-order bride (Shirley O’Hara) to help the Mr. get his Mrs. back by force.

The Pacific — A companion piece to HBO’s hit Band of Brothers, this miniseries follows three World War II Marines — Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale) and John Basilone (Jon Seda) — through harrowing battles in the Pacific theater, including Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman produced the Emmy winner for Best Miniseries, which is based on memoirs by Sledge and Leckie.