Movies for everyone this winter

It's getting cold out there, and what better way to keep warm than by cozying up for a flick at your local cinema?

 This season, there is no shortage of quality films to watch, whether you're looking for something escapist, such as Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," something intellectual, such as "Hitchcock," or something just plain fun, like Judd Apatow's latest, "This is 40."

Life of Pi: Director Ang Lee helms this adaptation of Yann Martel's best-selling novel about a young Indian boy who gets shipwrecked in the Pacific Ocean and winds up on a small boat with animals from his father's zoo, including a Bengal tiger. (Opened Wednesday at Carmike Cinema 9)

Red Dawn: When North Korean soldiers try to invade their town, teens — including star Chris Hemsworth — band together to save it. This is a remake of the '80s movie starring Patrick Swayze. (Opened Wednesday at Carmike Cinema 9)

Rise of the Guardians: This animated feature is adapted from a kid's book about the Easter Bunny, Santa, the Sandman and the Tooth Fairy, who team up to save the world, with help of Jack Frost. Featuring the voices of Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher and Jude Law. (Opened Wednesday at Carmike Cinema 9)

Hitchcock: A padded Sir Anthony Hopkins plays director Sir Alfred Hitchcock in this film about the making of "Psycho" — with Scarlett Johansson playing Janet Leigh — and the director's relationship with his wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren). (Nov. 23)

Killing Them Softly: Brad Pitt stars in this crime flick based on the novel "Cogan's Trade." He plays an enforcer looking into a heist. Also starring Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini and Ray Liotta. (Nov. 30)

Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning: This second sequel (following 2009's "Regeneration") to the 1992 film reunites Dolph Lundgren and Jean-Claude Van Damme. People probably get shot a lot and stuff. You know the drill. (Nov. 30)

Deadfall: A brother and sister (Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde) are split up and on the run and trying to get to Canada after they rob a casino. From Stefan Ruzowitzky, the director of the Oscar-winning film "The Counterfeiters." (Dec. 7)

Lay the Favorite: Based on the memoir of writer Beth Raymer, this film stars Bruce Willis as a sports gambler and Rebecca Hall as Raymer, a Vegas cocktail waitress who learns the ropes about gambling from him. Also starring Catherine Zeta-Jones. (Dec. 7)

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas: Edward Burns serves up some Christmas drama in his latest film, about a family that reunites with their estranged father after 20 years. (Dec. 7)

Any Day Now: A gay couple struggles to adopt an abandoned mentally handicapped teen who they have been caring for. Starring Alan Cumming. (Dec. 14)

Stand Up Guys: Two actors with the most imitated voices — Al Pacino and Christopher Walken — star in this film about old con men. Also starring Alan Arkin. (Dec. 14)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Come on back to the Shire as Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth with the first part of his prequels to "The Lord of the Rings" series. Martin Freeman (The U.K. "Office") stars as Bilbo Baggins, with returning stars Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom. (Dec. 14)

The Guilt Trip: Seth Rogen and . . . wait, Barbra Streisand? Really? Yeah, Streisand and Rogen star in this road comedy about a mother and son going cross-country. Written by Dan Fogelman, who also wrote "Crazy, Stupid, Love." (Dec. 19)

Monsters, Inc. 3D: The beloved Pixar animated movie about a pair of monsters returns to the big screen in 3-D. (Dec. 19)

Zero Dark Thirty: "The Hurt Locker" director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal reunite for this film about the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Starring Chris Pratt, Jessica Chastain and Joel Edgerton. (Dec. 19)

This is 40: Writer-director Judd Apatow's latest is a sequel of sorts to "Knocked Up," focusing on the characters of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) as they try to age gracefully. It's got an amazing supporting cast: John Lithgow, Albert Brooks (!), Jason Segel and Melissa McCarthy. (Dec. 21)

Jack Reacher: Author Lee Child's thriller novel character Jack Reacher comes to the big screen in the form of Tom Cruise. The homicide investigator checks out the case of a military sniper accused of killing five people. Also starring Werner Herzog as the villain, which is just awesome. (Dec. 21)

Django Unchained: The latest from auteur Quentin Tarantino features Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave freed by Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). Schultz then trains Django as a bounty hunter, and Django sets out to rescue his wife from plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Also starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Jonah Hill and a ton of violence. (Dec. 25)

Les Miserables: Director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") adapts the musical for the big screen. Starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. (Dec. 25)

Parental Guidance: Bette Midler and Billy Crystal play grandparents who go to visit their daughter (Marisa Tomei) to help to watch the kids — and then quibble about the best way to raise them. (Dec. 25)

Promised Land: Matt Damon and John Krasinski write and star in this film about a small-town battle between big business and farmers who are out to save their land. Directed by Gus Van Sant. (Dec. 28)

Quartet: Dustin Hoffman directs this comedy about a retirement home for opera singers. Starring Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly. (Dec. 28)

Texas Chainsaw 3D: The trailer for this film begins with a young lady in a van in her bra putting her shirt on with Johnny Cash's cover of Nick Lowe's "The Beast in Me" playing. Pretty soon there's some buzzing, hand washing and all sorts of horror tropes. It's a unique experience, for sure. (Jan. 4)

Gangster Squad: The LAPD puts together the title squad to face off against gangsters — such as Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) — who are trying to expand their business to the City of Angels. Also starring Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Emma Stone and Nick Nolte. (Jan. 11)

Mama: From producer Guillermo Del Toro comes this horror film starring Jessica Chastain about a couple that adopts the husband's nieces, who were found living by themselves in a forest for five years. But what about mama? The film looks creepy. (Jan. 18)

The Last Stand: Ladies and gentlemen, I present you the big return of former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as a leading man in an action film. Arnold plays a sheriff in a small town, who takes on the head of a drug cartel. High five for including Luis Guzman with a sword! (Jan. 18)

Broken City: New York City Mayor Russell Crowe? The actor plays Hizzoner in this new film, with Mark Wahlberg as a former cop who he hires to track his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones). But while Walhberg's on the job, he uncovers something even more scandalous. (Jan. 18)

Parker: Jason Statham is the latest actor to step into the role of Donald E. Westlake's famous character Parker (you might remember Mel Gibson's take on him in "Payback"). Here, the thief Parker goes undercover to take down his old pals who robbed him. With Jennifer Lopez and Michael Chiklis. (Jan. 25)

February and March highlights

Bullet to the Head: Sylvester Stallone takes on another tough-guy role in this adaptation of a French graphic novel, directed by Walter Hill ("The Warriors"). Stallone plays a hitman who teams up with a lawman to beat down a bad guy. And there will be an ax fight. Also starring Jason Momoa and Christian Slater. (Feb. 1)

Identity Thief: After his identity was stolen, Colorado businessman Sandy (Jason Bateman) heads to Florida to confront the woman who took it (played by a wild-haired, hard-hitting Melissa McCarthy). Also starring Jon Favreau, John Cho and Amanda Peet. (Feb. 8)

Safe Haven: Lasse Hallstrom ("The Cider House Rules") directs the latest adaptation of a novel by Nicholas Sparks ("The Notebook"). This likely tearjerker observes a woman (Julianne Hough) who arrives in a small North Carolina town, where she meets a widower (Josh Duhamel) that she takes a liking to. All goes well until her past catches up with her. (Feb. 8)

A Good Day to Die Hard: Apparently the title "Die Hard 5" wasn't acceptable. This awfully titled fourth sequel in the famous franchise follows John McClane (Bruce Willis) in Russia, to help his son (Jai Courtney) and then save the world. Featuring the tag line "Yippee Ki-Yay Mother Russia." (Feb. 14)

Dark Skies: Keri Russell takes the lead in this sci-fi film about a mother and father who have to protect their child from aliens who want to abduct him. (Feb. 22)

Jack the Giant Slayer: Director Bryan Singer amps up the classic fairy tale in this monster-sized action flick starring Nicholas Hoult as Jack. Expect a giant beanstalk, a gruesome, oversized monster and tons of action. Also starring Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Bill Nighy. (March 1)