Fall has long been my favorite season. The leaves go orange, the air turns crisp, and the mindless summer tentpoles give way to passion project Oscar bait. Of course, we’re not free from knock-offs of previous box-office champs, nor from standard Hollywood drivel. Still, the percentage of art-house fare rises, and I couldn’t be happier. There are quite a few I’m looking forward to this fall and winter. I think the movie I most expect to love is Elizabeth: The Golden Age, coming October 12. Queen Elizabeth was a badass, and so is Cate Blanchett. If the trailer is to be believed, this movie will move past political intrigue to full-on war. Sweet. After a summer dripping with franchise sequels, here’s a story that actually begs for a trilogy. I’m glad director Shekar Kapur was able to convince Blanchett that this needed to happen. Next would have to be Sweeny Todd, due December 21. I’m preparing myself for the kind of disappointment I felt from Corpse Bride and Sleepy Hollow. Tim Burton can only do so many Johnny Depp, Helena Bonnam-Carter movies, wallowing in cartoony darkness, before we all turn on him. But something tells me that tackling a Sondheim musical with a story that just shouldn’t be will summon up the best in Burton. Bringing us the demon barber of Fleet Street, in song, will no doubt push Burton out of his comfort zone, and that’s often where the best art happens. Allan Rickman may be the aspect to which I most look forward form this outing. Then, on January 18, we get “Cloverfield.” Not since The Blair Witch Project has a movie so effectively generated preliminary buzz. Considering we haven’t even been told a damn thing about the movie, (Cloverfield isn’t even its real name…) some marketing guy somewhere clearly deserves a promotion. It has worked on me. There’s no way the movie can deliver on the promises of the marvelous trailer, but I’ll still be in line when it comes out. The other movies that have me excited:

• Bee Movie (November 2): Jerry Seinfeld has been picking and choosing his projects very carefully, and he spent a long time in development on the script for this one. Sure, the last thing we need is another computer-animated feature about insects. And sure, the trailers are pretty dopey. I nonetheless expect big things.
• Beowulf (November 16): Robert Zemekis is one of the most talented and underrated directors alive. For better or worse, he’s pushing virtual characters to new levels (I’m even excited by the Jim Carey Christmas Carol project.) Add to this a Neil Gaiman script, with swords and monsters? I’m in.
• The Golden Compass (December 7): Harry Potter methadone. Yes, please.
• I Am Legend (December 14): Will Smith can do no wrong. What’s that? No, I didn’t see Wild, Wild West. Why do you ask?
• Charlie Wilson’s War (December 25): I don’t know that much about this one. But when you can say the names Aaron Sorkin, Mike Nichols, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Philip Seymour Hoffman all in one sentence, seeing the movie is a foregone conclusion.

Movies I’ll eventually see, fully expecting to be disappointed:

• The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (October 5): Looks cookie-cutter. Still, Walden Media has earned some trust.
• Good Luck Chuck: Dane Cook should not have Jessica Alba-touching privileges. Still, great premise. I’m guessing, though, that the execution won’t live up to the logline.
• Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (November 16): Mmmm… Natalie. Fun cast, original feel. Here’s hoping it offers more than a you-gotta-believe storyline. (”No. It’s MAGIC!”)
• Walk Hard (December 21): Judd Apatow’s name is everywhere lately, but this is the next film after Knocked Up that the ubiquitous new king of comedy has WRITTEN. It’s kinda weird to parody Walk the Line, but if there’s a team to do it, this is it. Kristen Wiig is fast becoming my favorite female funny person. Her laugh-per-line ratio in Knocked Up was off the charts.

Movies featuring actors I’m happy to see step into bigger roles:

• Enchanted (November 21): Amy Adams has skills, and no one knows who she is. No one saw Junebug, and no one was watching the American Office during her fantastic guest episodes. Sure, I’ll wait for reviews on this one, and even then only catch it on DVD. And yes, Patrick Dempsey is half of TV’s lead couple with the least chemistry ever. But I’m still glad to see more of Adams.
• Leatherheads (December 7): Speaking of The Office, I’m happy to see star John Krasinski trade in Robin Williams and Mandy Moore for George Clooney and Renee Zelweger.

Movies I’d sooner papercut off a toe than watch:

• Hatchet (September 7): I don’t care what all the critic raves on their web site say. That’s Jason and Leatherface warmed over. Boring.
• Mr. Woodcock (September 14): Smacks of the most juvenile humor ever.
• Resident Evil: Extinction (September 21): Mila, you are so pretty. Please stop, pretty one. Please?
• The Game Plan (September 28): Oh, Duane.
• Saw IV (October 26): Sigh.
• Alvin and the Chipmunks (December 14): Hip hop, poo-eating rodents. Stop it.

Movies I can’t figure out what to think about:

• Lars and the Real Girl (October 12): Great cast, interesting premise, but still doesn’t feel right to me somehow.
• 30 Days of Night (October 19): I’m a sucker for a good vampire movie. Problem is, maybe 5% of vampire movies are any good. Still, this one draws from an acclaimed graphic novel and has Sam Raimi producing. Ya never know…
• Dan in Real Life (October 26): Steve Carell has done a whole lot of things right. If Evan Allmighty was a big mess, it probably wasn’t his fault. And I’m happy to see him take on subdued roles; his turn in Little Miss Sunshine was probably my favorite of his performances. Still, this movie looks… pedestrian? I shall hope for the best.
• Fred Claus (November 9): Paul Giamatti and Vince Vaughn have earned my respect. Still, am I wrong in saying this just looks like ill-conceived holiday tripe?

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