Movie Highlights Of 2006

Before the 2006 movie season really got under way, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honored the best of 2005. Paul Haggis' "Crash" was named Best Picture and Ang Lee was named Best Director for "Brokeback Mountain."

Global Protests

Despite generally poor reviews and protests by those offended at the idea that Jesus was married, Ron Howard's "The Da Vinci Code" generated huge interest and good box-office numbers when it opened as the first "big" movie of 2005. In this photo, Moldovan nuns protest outside a theater showing the movie.

A Cannes Winner

Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu won the directing prize at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival for "Babel," which featured Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in a multicultural drama about loosely linked families around the globe. British director Ken Loach's "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" was named best movie while Penelope Cruz and the ensemble cast of "Volver" won the female acting prize.

An Impossible Mission

Tom Mingles With Fans — AP Photo/Christophe Ena

Days after the birth of his daughter, Suri, actor Tom Cruise, pictured here at the Paris premiere in April, launched a whirlwind tour for his summer blockbuster "Mission: Impossible III." The movie took the top box office spot on its opening weekend, but attendance dropped off after that.

Altman's Last Work

DVD Launch — AP Photo/Marion Curtis, New Line

Garrison Keillor, left, and director Robert Altman pose together at the premiere of their movie, "A Prairie Home Companion." The movie was to be the last for Altman, who died of cancer in November at age 81.

New Superman

This year saw a new actor in the role of Superman. Newcomer Brandon Routh took on the role in the summer movie "Superman Returns." Even that failed to draw large numbers out of the summer sun and into the theaters.

Pirates To The Rescue

It took actor John Depp and his swashbuckler "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" to resuscitate the languishing summer box office. The movie dominated the top spot at the box office for a good part of the summer. And in December, it scored the biggest home video debut of any new release this year.

A Ray Of 'Sunshine'

The sleeper hit of the summer was "Little Miss Sunshine," a road trip movie about a dysfunctional family on a quest to have the daughter take part in a beauty pageant. It proved to have staying power, not only with audiences, but with award judges.

A 9/11 'First'

"United 93," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, was the first major feature-length movie to deal with the events of Sept. 11, 2001. It told of events aboard the hijacked plane that crashed in a Pennsylvania field. The movie recently was named best picture of the year by the New York Film Critics Circle.

World Trade Center

On the heels of "United 93" came Oliver Stone's version of the day's events -- "World Trade Center," starring actor Nicolas Cage, left, pictured with director Stone. The movie won generally good reviews and a decent showing at the box office.

Another Superman

This time, it was Ben Affleck's chance to play the superhero -- or, more accurately, the actor who portrayed Superman on 1950s TV. His efforts in "Hollywoodland" earned him the best actor award at the Venice Film Festival.

Royal Treatment

Hellen Mirren took on the role of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frear's movie "The Queen," recounting the days just after the death of Princess Diana. She and the movie have won international acclaim and a slew of awards.

Taking Dictation

Another award winner has been Forest Whitaker's performance as dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland." His portrayal has won universal praise and put him in the forefront for a number of end-of-the-year awards.

The Departed

Martin Scorcese's latest drama, "The Departed," lured audiences into theaters and critics into Oscar buzz. It featured performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. DiCaprio also drew acclaim this year for his portrayal of a mercenary soldier turned diamond hunter in December's "Blood Diamond."

The Disappointed

It had an all-star cast, a good director and a compelling story, based on the award-winning book by Robert Penn Warren. So what went wrong with "All the King's Men?" It starred award winners Sean Penn, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, Kathy Bates and Patricia Clarkson. None could save it. It was roundly panned by critics and didn't do much better with audiences either.

A New Bond

One of the most anticipated movies of the year was November's "Casino Royale" because it introduced audiences to a new actor in the role of super-spy James Bond. The verdict -- from critics and audiences -- is that British actor Daniel Craig is up to the part.

Dancing With the Stars

There were a number of eagerly anticipated animated films this year -- "Cars" and "Flushed Away" among them -- but a bunch of penguins waltzed away with audiences. "Happy Feet," a movie about an Emperor penguin who could couldn't sing but could dance up a snowstorm, swept to the top of the box office at its opening and stayed there for three straight weeks. Even heavyweights like James Bond couldn't make it budge.

Double Billing

Director Clinton Eastwood continued his winning streak this year with not one, but two World War II dramas. His "Flags of Our Fathers," released in November, recounted the Battle of Iwo Jima. The second, "Letters from Iwo Jimo," told the story from the view of Japanese warriors. It has been scheduled for release in early 2007 but was pushed forward to December to qualify for award season.

Foreign Film

Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" had a lot going against it -- it lacked stars, was in a foreign language and was reported to be bloody. Then, Gibson's anti-Semitic rantings during a drunk-driving arrest led to a fear of backlash by audiences. That didn't happen. The movie about the decline of the Mayan civilization opened in December with box-office success and generally good reviews.

Dreaming On

So far, it's been a movie studio's dream: a musical based on hit Broadway show and starring some of the hottest names in show business. "Dreamgirls" is opening Christmas Day but already it has generated a lot of audience interest and acclaim and award nominations for its stars -- Beyonc