Get your tickets: 2012 holiday movie review

>>> thanksgiving weekend is the traditional kickoff to the year end movie rush with many new films hitting the big screen . thomas roberts is here with a look at some of them.

>> erica, whether it's hobbits or hitchcock, hollywood has something for everybody this holiday season . 'tis the season for hobbits and tigers and scares.

>> i'm just a man hiding in the corner with a camera.

>> for film buffs, a look at the life of the master director of suspense alfred hitchcock . anthony hopkins plays the man behind the camera in "hitchcock."

>> how are you going shoot this shower scene? it's only that from here up, i'm not exactly boyish.

>> it gives us a bird's eye view into the make of an all-time classic "psycho." speaking of classics, in broadway smas -- a broadway smash hits the big screen . actors belt out songs.

>> they're sing live on camera, so you're getting an unfiltered listen to their real voices.

>> for the family, it's what happens when "the avengers" meets the holidays as santa claus , the easter bunny , the tooth fairy and sandman team up to protect the world from an evil spirit in the animated film "rise of the guardians."

>> it is our job to protect the children of the world .

>> like your rom comes a bit dark? bradley cooper plays a former teacher who is released from a psychiatric ward into the care of his family in "silver lining playbook."

>> let me break it down for you. the whole time you're waiting for this hemingway guy to be with the woman he loves.

>> fantasy fans feel good about returning to the shire as "the hobbit" hits theaters.

>> you'll have a tale or two to tell when you get back.

>> " lord of the rings " fans are so excited to see their favorite characters on screen again.

>> a remarkable journey at sea in a life raft connecting with a tiger along the way in " life of pi ."

>> it is such a visually interesting, rich, fresh, beautiful movie.

>> with so much to see, it's understandable how movie goers can't wait one day more.

>> so a true collection of movies out there. which one will you see first? a lot of times they say the movies at the end of the year, they're trying to get everyone's attention for oscar buzz, golden globes . " les mis ," as we heard there, the actors really singing in those live takes so you can hear what their voices sound like, not digitized.

>> i'm really interested to see that.

>> i can't wait for " les mis ."

>> and you've already seen "skyfall", right?

>> i loved it. i understood what was going on, which was the big milestone. [ laughter ]

>> i've got 3-year-old twins, so we may stay home and watch "the lorax" for the thousandanth time.

>> "rio" is pretty good.

>>> just ahead, this year's top toys for the children on your kp christmas list. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

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