For Friday through Dec. 15

THE SITTER, (NR), rated R. Noah is the world’s worst babysitter, and he meets his match when he is tasked with sitting with three manipulative brats. When a shady deal in which Noah is involved goes wrong, it leaves him and the youngsters engaged in a wild chase through Manhattan. Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell, Ari Graynor. NEW THIS WEEK

NEW YEAR’S EVE, (NR), rated PG-13. The lives of several couples and singles intertwine during the course of New Year’s Eve in New York City. Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Halle Berry, Robert DeNiro, Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank. NEW THIS WEEK

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, 3 stars, rated PG. On Christmas night at the North Pole, Santa’s youngest son, Arthur, looks to use his father’s high-tech operation to complete an urgent mission. Featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Michael Palin, Joan Cusack.

THE MUPPETS, 3 stars, rated PG. With the help of three fans, the Muppets must reunite to save their old theater from demolition by a greedy oil tycoon. Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Alan Arkin, John Krasinski, Sarah Silverman, Mickey Rooney, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez.

HAPPY FEET 2 standard and in 3D 3 stars, rated PG. Mumble and Gloria are back along with their friend, Ramon, and a new addition, their son, Erik. While the young Erik struggles to find his own particular talent in the emperor penguin world, new dangers are threatening the penguin nation. Only with everyone dancing and singing together will they be able to save their world. Featuring the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Pink, Sofia Vergara, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt.

TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART I, 1 1/2 stars, rated PG-13. The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expectant parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolves and vampires. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Christina Hendricks, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Maggie Grace, Ashley Greene.

IMMORTALS standard and in 3D, 1 1⁄2 stars, rated R. The ruthless King Hyperion leads his bloodthirsty army on a murderous rampage across Greece to find a deadly weapon that will destroy humanity. A mortal named Theseus, chosen by Zeus, must lead the fight against Hyperion to save not only humanity but the Greek gods as well. Mickey Rourke, Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, John Hurt, Stephen Dorff.

J. EDGAR, 3 stars, rated R. As the face of American law enforcement for nearly 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was admired, feared and reviled. Behind closed doors he held secrets that would have destroyed the lives and careers of people too numerous to mention. However, among his greatest secrets were the ones that would have destroyed his own image, lifestyle and career. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Dermot Mulroney, Judi Dench.

TOWER HEIST, 3 stars, rated PG-13. Working-class stiffs who provide services in a New York luxury condominium find that their retirement funds have been swindled from them by a Wall Street mogul who lives in the building’s penthouse. Now, they band together to seek revenge and get back what has been stolen from them. Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Tea Leoni, Casey Affleck.

PUSS IN BOOTS , 3 stars, rated PG. A chronicle of the early career of Puss as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to save his town from evil. Featuring the voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton.

JACK AND JILL, 1 1⁄2 stars, rated PG. Jack Sadelstein is a successful advertising executive living in Los angeles with his beautiful wife and kids. Despite his wonderful life, there is an annual event that Jack dreads as it approaches every year — the Thanksgiving visit from his passive-agressive, needy and maddening identical twin sister, Jill. She threatens to turn his enjoyable life upside down with her holiday visit. Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes, Al Pacino.

MONEYBALL, 3 stars, rated PG-13. Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s, is forced to reinvent his team on a tight budget and try to compete with the richer clubs. The one-time jock teams with Ivy League grad Peter Brand to recruit bargain players that the scouts have labeled as flawed. While they may be imperfect, they do have the ability to get on base, score runs and win games. Challenging old-school traditions puts Beane in the crosshairs and has many people saying he is ripping the heart and soul from the game. Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Harvard Cinema: 3161 W. Harvard Ave. 673-6604

THE MUPPETS, 3 stars, rated PG. With the help of three fans, the Muppets must reunite to save their old theater from demolition by a greedy oil tycoon. Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Alan Arkin, John Krasinski, Sarah Silverman, Mickey Rooney, Neil Patrick Harris, Selena Gomez.

TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART I, 1 1/2 stars, rated PG-13. The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expectant parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolves and vampires. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Christina Hendricks, DAkota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Maggie Grace, Ashley Greene.

HUGO in 3D, 3 stars, rated PG. Set in 1930s Paris, this is the story of an orphan that lives in a busy train station. Hugo, the orphan, soon becomes involved in a mystery that revolves around his late father and an automaton. Asa Butterfield, Jude Law, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloe Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee, Emily Mortimer, Ray Winstone.

Star ratings: 4 stars – Excellent, 3 stars – Good, 2 stars – Fair, 1 star – Poor, (NR) – No rating available