'Twilight, Bolt' Top This Week's New Movie Releasest

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star in 'Twilight,' which promises to draw young audiences to theaters in droves.

It's a something-for-everyone weekend at the box office, but as far as generating eager anticipation, one title stands out: "Twilight," the vampire romance based on the wildly popular book series.

The film, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, is targeted squarely at the teen market -- that unique market segment that tends toward repeated viewings of their favorite movies -- and judging by the amount of swooning I've witnessed in discussions with various people about the film, you can expect the film to enjoy a brisk opening.

Even then, though, it'll have competition. Chief among them: the new animated dog tale "Bolt," featuring the voices of Miley Cyrus and John Travolta. Not only is it an animated, family-friendly adventure -- a genre that always seems to do well, as proven by "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" a couple of weeks ago -- but its also got the Disney name attached to it, which is always a help.

Not all of this week's films are for young audiences, though. Here's a rundown of all the movies expected to open this Friday (Nov. 21), with the essential details a links to trailers where available:

__________________________________________________________________

A scene from Disney's newest animated feature, 'Bolt.'

"BOLT" (Find the trailer here.)

A TV-star dog gets a rude awakening when he finds himself stranded in the real word -- and absent any actual superpowers. Miley Cyrus and John Travolta lend their voices to the latest animated adventure from Walt Disney Pictures. It is being released in 3-D and 2-D formats (Although only one local theater, the Grand in Slidell, is expected to show it in 3-D.) Rated PG for some mild action and peril. 1 hour 36 minutes.
__________________________________________________________________

Asa Butterfield, left, and Vera Farmiga in a scene from 'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.'

"THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS" (Find the trailer here.)

World War II, as seen through the eyes of the young son of a German officer at a concentration camp who befriends a Jewish boy on the other side of the fence. Asa Butterfield and Zac Mattoon O'Brien star in director Mark Herman's drama. Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material involving the Holocaust. 1 hour 33 minutes.
__________________________________________________________________

Lina Leandersson in the Swedish horror film 'Let the Right One In.'

"LET THE RIGHT ONE IN" (Find the trailer here.)

Watch out, "Twilight" -- there's another vampire love story in town, in the form of this Swedish film about a bullied boy who finds friendship and strength in a peculiar girl with a ghastly secret. Named best narrative feature at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. In Swedish, with subtitles. Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson star in director Thomas Alfredson's horror-romance. Rated R for some bloody violence including disturbing images, brief nudity and language. 1 hour 54 minutes.
__________________________________________________________________

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Samantha Morton in 'Synecdoche, New York.'

"SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK" (Find the trailer here.)

Left-of-center screenwriter Charlie Kaufman ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") directs for the first time in a dramatic feature about a neurotic New York theater director who embarks on his magnum opus, which involves turning an emormous warehouse into a stage that mimics the real life going on outside. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener and Hope Davis star. Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity. 2 hours 4 minutes.
__________________________________________________________________

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in 'Twilight.'

"TWILIGHT" (Find the trailer here.)

Young readers -- and more than a few not-so-young ones -- are already swooning over this horror-thriller-romance that chased "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" to next summer. Based on the wildly popular book series about a girl who falls in love with a vampire, it stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (who just put the finishing touches on the New Orleans-shot drama "Welcome to the Rileys" with James Gandolfini). Catherine Hardwicke directs. Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality. 2 hours 2 minutes.