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Editor's note: Comment on today's "Cinema Chat" for a chance to win free movie tickets to the Michigan Theater. Some time between now and 6 a.m. Wednesday, leave a comment on this column, written by the Michigan Theater's Russ Collins. Offer your opinion on a recent movie you've seen, or on anything Russ mentions. We'll randomly select a winner and notify that person via the email address they signed up with. They will get two passes to a movie of their choice.

Merry Christmas! Whether or not you celebrate the Christian holiday, we can all celebrate local movie houses being filled with excellent films! Last week “Avatar” (be sure to see it in 3-D), “Me and Orson Welles,” the epic John Woo film “Red Cliff” and “The Road” (based on the Cormac McCarthy Pulitzer Prize-winning book) all opened. Each is an interesting film worth checking out. This week every critic’s favorite film, “Up In the Air,” opens, as does Robert Downey Jr. as “Sherlock Holmes” (with Jude Law as Watson). “The Young Victoria” opens at the Michigan, another film that is a critic’s favorite. “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin in a hilarious love triangle; “Nine” the Rob Marshall (“Chicago”) musical based on Fellini’s “8½” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” all play our local multiplexes. Here’s a recommended strategy to hit all the great films playing now in area theaters.

Do not miss ...

“Up in the Air” stars George Clooney, who all the critics are raving about, in a film by Jason Reitman (“Juno”). No more need be said; just go, it will probably take home multiple Oscars. You can even see it in the spectacular Michigan Theater — always a treat (if I do say so myself), especially at the holidays. “Avatar,” which critics loved and everyone is talking about, so you should just go. Trust me, it is terrific! Don’t go repeated times, however, because there are just too many other good movies to see.

“The Young Victoria.” I saw this film in the UK and highly recommend it. “Emily Blunt is utterly charming in this dramatization of Victoria's ascension to the throne and her courtship with Prince Albert. Director Jean-Marc Vallée's images have a creamy stateliness, but this is no gilded princess fantasy — it's the story of a budding ruler who learns to control her surroundings, and Blunt makes that journey at once authentic and relevant,” wrote Ann Arbor native Owen Gleiberman in Entertainment Weekly. “The Young Victoria” opens on Friday at the Michigan. You really shouldn't miss ...

“It’s Complicated.” If you are over 40 and want a good laugh, this film sounds perfect. It has a great cast: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski and Mary Kay Place, to name a few. “Streep and Baldwin are terrific, and if you like your romance bittersweet you won’t want to miss this one,” said A.O. Scott of “At the Movies” and The New York Times. “It’s Complicated” opens everywhere on Christmas day. “Me and Orson Welles” stars Christian McKay in a brilliant impersonation of the great man, Orson Welles, and Zac Efron as his hopeful protégé. The critics love this film and it won’t be around much longer, so GO!

“Sherlock Homes” is directed by Madonna’s ex, Guy Ritchie, and stars the usually wonderful Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. The critics are on the fence about this action-hero-style characterization of the famous 19th century English sleuth. “Ritchie is all about the whooshing and head banging, leaving no space between Holmes' words to savor their meaning. Downey is irresistible. The movie, not so much,” says Rolling Stone. Adds Variety: “If you can get over the idea of Sherlock Holmes as an action hero — and if, indeed, you want to — then there is something to enjoy about this flagrant makeover of fiction's first modern detective into a man of brawn as much as brain." “Sherlock Holmes ” opens everywhere on Christmas day. “Red Cliff” is a big-budget spectacle directed by John Woo. Los Angeles Times and NPR critic Kenneth Turan opines, “Returning to his roots after a stint in Hollywood, Woo has made the most expensive film in mainland Chinese history, a pleasantly traditional picture that marks a new direction for one of the world's premier action maestros.” “Red Cliff” is now playing at the State Theatre. “The Road” is based on a Cormac McCarthy Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The Chicago Sun Times' Roger Ebert says, “‘The Road’ evokes the images and the characters of Cormac McCarthy's novel. It is powerful.” “The Road” continues screening around Washtenaw County, including the State Theatre. You might consider skipping ...

“Nine,” believe or not. Despite the great critical acclaim given director Rob Marshall’s film of “Chicago,” critical consensus about “Nine” is weak. “Straining to capture artistic frenzy, it descends into vulgar chaos, less a homage to Federico Fellini’s ‘8½’ (its putative inspiration) than a travesty,” writes A.O. Scott of The New York Times. It does, however, have a wonderful cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren — so maybe you should check it out after all!? Skip entirely “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.” The Hollywood Reporter captures the critical consensus: “Ross Bagdasarian's enduring characters are a bit tougher to endure in this charmless sequel.” Happy holidays and see you at the movies!

Russ Collins is executive director of the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Tune in to the audio version of “Cinema Chat” on WEMU radio (89.1-FM) each Thursday at 7:40 AM and 5:40 PM, or listen to it online at WEMU's web site.