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Leonardo DiCaprio dominates the holiday movie season with two big openings.
[Photo: Miramax Films]
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Cover Story
Cinematic stocking stuffers
Movie fans will have new baubles to divert them during the holidays, even though the largest box office draws bear the tag "Not to be opened before New Year's."
Film
Outer space, inner demons
Solaris is a cerebral, hypnotic film in which director Steven Soderbergh again takes a standard form -- this time science fiction -- and strips away the expectations.
Family Movie Guide
The Family Movie Guide should be used along with the Motion Picture Association of America rating system for selecting movies suitable for children. Only films rated G, PG or PG-13 are included in this weekly listing, along with occasional R-rated films that may have entertainment or educational value for older children with parental guidance. Compiled by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall.
Lost in space
Disney's Treasure Planet is more ho-hum than humdinger.
Fowl films
For your holiday enjoyment, a parade of movies with pluck.
Top 5 movies
1. Solaris -- Director Steven Soderbergh raises fascinating questions about fate and mortality in a film so well-conceived that his lack of answers isn't frustrating. George Clooney delivers his best performance to date as a space traveler with heavy emotional baggage.
Also opening
Sandler's Hanukkah: The Movie
On Stage
A culture in motion
As it performs its native land's traditional and contemporary folk dances, the Georgian State Dance Company traces the history of a people.
Down the road
Story -- American Stage presents A Christmas Story, based on writings of Jean Shepherd, on Dec. 6-22 at the Canterbury School, St. Petersburg. $7-$15.
Hot ticket
Examining "The Blue Room'
Video
New releases: 'Ice Age': just the tip of the iceberg
Ice Age (PG)
Pop
She's just so darn happy
Wynonna -- the Judd, not the shoplifter -- finds lots to love in a life spent in the public eye for the past 18 years.
Team pop trivia
This week's winner: Jim Priebe of St. Petersburg knew that Bruce Dickinson, now a certified pilot who flies Boeing 737s when he's not touring with his band, is the lead singer of heavy metal's legendary Iron Maiden.
Ticket window
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown with Charlie Vegas and the New Blues Combo -- 8 p.m. Dec. 7, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa. $12.
Dine
Pacific flavors
Two new restaurants, Cubiertos in Clearwater and Little Manila in Tampa, bring cooking of the Philippines a little closer to home.
Looking to eat out today?
It's T-Day minus zero. Still looking for a holiday dinner? Don't give up; pick up the phone. Here are just a few of many options:
Art
Hot ticket
Unveiling the postmodern nude
At the museums
Red Grooms: Selections from the Graphic Work -- Through Jan. 5. Also Famous Faces: Celebrity Portraits in Photography, through Dec. 8, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg.
Get Away
Hot ticket
Large helpings of Christmas spirit
Down the road
Events to watch for; details in future editions of Weekend.
Epcot's wonders cheaper after 4 p.m.
Floridians can buy an Epcot-after-4 annual pass for unlimited visits to the park, which is featuring a holiday "Candlelight Processional." A Pleasure Island pass is available, too.
