Short Takes

Condensed from Daily News movie critic Gary Thompson's reviews, unless noted otherwise.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG. Lighter, funnier and with a feisty new female elf (Evangeline Lilly). But still too freaking long. (PG-13) B

TYLER PERRY'S A MADEA CHRISTMAS. Holiday cheerless, except when Madea and Larry the Cable Guy riff. (PG-13) C- Reviewed by Daily News Wire Services.

THE LAST DAYS ON MARS. Zombies-in-space flick does sci-fi horror well on the cheap, with Liev Schreiber. (R) B Reviewed by Daily News wire services.

OUT OF THE FURNACE. Too-grim blue-collar epic, with Christian Bale, Casey Affleck. (R) C+

BLACK NATIVITY. Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige sing in revamp of the play. (PG-13) B

HOMEFRONT. Jason Statham tangles with James Franco. (R) B-

FROZEN. Disney's latest. Note the rating, for scary parts. (PG). B

OLDBOY. Spike Lee's take on Korean thriller. (R) B- Reviewed by Daily News wire services.

PHILOMENA. Judi Dench as Irish woman searching America for child she gave up. (PG-13) B

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE. As smart as the first installment, and it looks even better. (PG-13) B+

DELIVERY MAN. Sperm bank mix-up makes Vince Vaughn a dad to 500 in so-so comedy. (PG-13) C+

NEBRASKA. Will Forte takes aging, delusional father Bruce Dern on a road trip. (R) B+

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB. Matthew McConaughey as AIDS patient running a business for black-market medications. (R) B+

THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY. Terrence Howard steals the show again in "Best Man" sequel. (R) B

THE BOOK THIEF. Nazi-era German girl is taught to read by Jewish neighbor. (PG-13) B-

ABOUT TIME. Young man finds he can revisit moments in his own life and fix as needed. (R) B-