Looking Forward to in 2010...

Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Liam Hemsworth, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, Steve Austin, Gary Daniels, Randy Couture, David Zayas

Plot: A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator.

Release Date (in Australia): August 12th

My thoughts...: Man, do I really need to tell you my thoughts on this masterpiece in the making? I just listed the main members of the best cast ever, and outlined the plot bursting with action possibilities, and revealed that Sylvester Stallone is at the helm. Good God, I must be in heaven. I cannot wait to witness this movie...it will be a movie event to treasure for decades. Now with 10 Best Picture nominees at the Oscars, The Expendables has a pretty good shot...

Excitement Rating: 100,000/10









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Afterthoughts: It was EPIC! I don't give a crap if people disagree or tear it to shreds. This is a genuinely well-made, exciting, awesome manly movie with heart that I will watch over and over again.

Review here

You've got a very important date.


Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Michael Sheen, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Christopher Lee, Stephen Fry, Crispin Glover, Timothy Spall

Plot: The adventures of a young girl, Alice, who falls into a magical world full of strange characters and darkness behind every corner.

Release Date (in Australia): March 5th

My thoughts...: The latest Tim Burton film is always an event to cherish. The cast for this one is great, and the source material is perfectly suited to Tim Burton's sense of humour (the novel was incredibly random and funny, after all). It should be great! Bring it on.

Excitement Rating: 9/10



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Afterthoughts: Maybe not as good as it could've been, but it was a great ride. Great visuals. Great performances. Great fun!!!

Review here

Directed By: Jon Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson

Plot: The continuing adventures of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. It's 6 months after the events of the first movie, and Stark's revealing of his identity is taking its toll on him

Release Date (in Australia): April 29

My thoughts...: The first film is a worthy attempt at beginning a cinematic franchise for the legendary Marvel hero. With the return of director Jon Favreau as well as Robert Downey Jr. in the role he was born to play (not to mention the removal of the weakest link of the first film, Terrence Howard), this sequel promises to be summer blockbuster gold.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Perhaps not as good as it could've been, but a fun ride and a worthy sequel. Thank God it wasn't the tragedy it could've been.

Review here

They just fucked with the wrong Mexican...


Directed By: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Cheech Marin, Steven Seagal

Plot: After being betrayed by the organization who hired him, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.

Release Date (in Australia): November 11

My thoughts...: Oh FUCK YES! I fucking LOVED the fake Grindhouse trailer. Robert Rodriguez was born to be a Grindhouse director. No doubt this will be an awesome exploitation action film in the vein of Planet Terror. The world needs more guilty pleasures like this... (I'm even looking forward to it despite the presence of Steven fucking Seagal...maybe he's a fat Jabba the Hutt-type drug dealer or something?)

Excitement Rating: 9/10



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Afterthoughts: It was pretty much what I dreamed it would be: an awesome, violent exploitative B-movie. I had a ball.

Review here

Directed By: Jeff Tremaine
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Jason Acuña, Ryan Dunn, Preston Lacy, Dave England

Plot: Plot? WTF?!

Release Date (in Australia): November 4th

My thoughts...: I laughed my ass off in Jackass Number Two and ever since I've dreamed about and hoped for a Jackass 3. From what I've seen so far, this movie will be an absolute hoot. I'm there!!

Excitement Rating: 9/10



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Afterthoughts: Oh HELL TO THE FUCKING YES! I laughed my ass off, and I had a great time. I was sad when it ended because of the quality of the skits. Absolutely hilarious movie!!

Review here

Where Were You When Everything Changed?


Directed By: Stuart Beattie
Starring: Rachel Hurd-Wood, Phoebe Tonkin, Caitlin Stasey, Lincoln Lewis, Masa Yamaguchi

Plot: When their country is invaded and their families are taken, eight unlikely high school teenagers band together to fight.

Release Date (in Australia): September 2nd

My thoughts...: Stuart Beattie is an amazing talent, and I have faith his directorial debut will rock. This looks like an awesome, Red Dawn-style actioner that will have smarts and action. Praying it lives up to my expectations...

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: This is an excellent Aussie blockbuster. Far more thoughtful than your typical Hollywood product, but just as exciting.

Review here

Someone is missing.


Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Max von Syndow, Jackie Earle Haley, John Carroll Lynch.

Plot: Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Release Date (in Australia): February 18th

My thoughts...: Ah, Martin Scorsese. Can he make a dud? The cast is phenomenal for this picture. And the screenshots look quite promising here. Interesting story as well. So I'm looking forward to this one.

Excitement Rating: 9/10



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Afterthoughts: Yup, I got exactly what I wanted and expected. Atmospheric and thoroughly gripping. Scorsese has not lost his touch.

Review here

Directed By: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn

Plot: A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.

Release Date (in Australia): March 17, 2011

My thoughts...: I'm intrigued by this movie. Same writer and director of Slumdog Millionaire, and seems like the type of film which could prove to be an Oscar contender. Plus, the reviews I've read so far do suggest that it will indeed be an Oscar contender. I'll be sure to keep my eye on this one.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Jesus, this movie was great. It was even better than Slumdog Millionaire! Absolutely gripping from beginning to end, and that amputation scene is fucking intense.

Review here

Two agents. One city. No merci.


Directed By: Pierre Morel
Starring: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Amber Rose Revah, Melissa Mars, Richard Durden

Plot: In Paris, a young employee in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy looking to stop a terrorist attack in the city.

Release Date (in Australia): February 25th

My thoughts...: Pierre Morel does badass action movies. This one should be no exception. I'm expecting an awesome, adrenaline-pumping action-thriller in the vein of Taken. Hopefully, it will deliver. Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: I got what I wanted, even if the film didn't capitalise on all of its potential (lousy first 15 minutes, a disappointing climax). A good fun action flick.

Review here

Review here

Directed By: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Durand, Mark Strong, William Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave, Scott Grimes

Plot: The story of an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders and becomes the legendary hero known as Robin Hood.

Release Date (in Australia): May 13th

My thoughts...: If anyone can make a gritty, epic Robin Hood film...it'd be Ridley Scott. The man is a visionary able to engage when it comes to any sort of action or drama (let's just forget Kingdom of Heaven in this discussion, k?). The cast for this one looks great as well. I can imagine this being a massive commercial and critical hit.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: It was GOOD! People may not agree, but it worked for me.

Review here

Directed By: Nimród Antal
Starring: Adrian Brody, Danny Trejo, Walter Goggins, Alice Braga, Oleg Taktarov, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace.

Plot: A group of elite warriors are hunted by members of a merciless alien race known as Predators.

Release Date (in Australia): July 8th

My thoughts...: Robert Rodriguez is resurrecting Predator?! I hope against hope this isn't a wasted opportunity. Let's hope we get a badass, unapologetically R-rated sci-fi action-thriller that's better than the dire Predator 2.

Excitement Rating: 8/10







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Afterthoughts: Ah, a worthy Predator sequel. This movie rocked.

Review here

Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller is done following orders


Directed By: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Matt Damon, Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan, Khalid Abdalla

Plot: A thriller about a pair of CIA agents on the trail of certain Weapons of Mass Destruction and a foreign correspondent following their mission. Inspired by Imperial Life in the Emerald City.

Release Date (in Australia): March 11th

My thoughts...: Paul Greengrass. Matt Damon. I'm already sold. It's also a thriller. Early reviews are positive. It even had Oscar possibilities when it was supposed to be released in late '08. I can't wait!

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts...: I liked it. In fact, I liked it a lot. This is a solid war film; an honest depiction of Iraq, and an honest depiction of America's involvement in the war. It's an enthralling thriller.

Review here

Directed By: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Matt Damon, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jay Mohr, Cécile De France, Steve Schirripa, Mylène Jampanoï

Plot: A supernatural thriller centered on three people -- a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy -- who are touched by death in different ways.

Release Date (in Australia): February 10th, 2011

My thoughts...: Clint Eastwood turns 80 this year. And he is not stopping. Without a doubt, Clint is one of my idols. People talk about how great he is as a director and as a person, and he hasn't made a bad film in about a decade. I'm hoping Hereafter will prove to be yet another winner.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: It could've been better... But Clint is still a top-notch filmmaker.

Review here

Directed By: Paul Weitz
Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Jessica Alba, Harvey Keital, Laura Dern, Teri Polo, Barbara Streisand, Dustin Hoffman

Plot: The Focker and the Byrnes families brace themselves for the arrival of a baby.

Release Date (in Australia): December 26

My thoughts...: Okay...look, I loved the first two entries in this series. I watch them a lot. They're hilarious and endlessly enjoyable. I've been looking forward to a third for for so fucking long now. I just hope the wait is worth it.

Excitement Rating: 8/10





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Afterthoughts: Even though it's not as funny as it could've been, this is an enjoyable addition to the Focker family.

Review here

Directed By: Ben Affleck
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Ben Affleck, Blake Lively, Chris Cooper, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall

Plot: As he plans his next job, a longtime thief tries to balance his feelings for a bank manager connected to one of his earlier heists, as well as the FBI agent looking to bring him and his crew down.

Release Date (in Australia): October 14

My thoughts...: YAY! I loved Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone, and I will see anything the actor-turned-director makes. The world needs more mature movies like Gone Baby Gone, and I'm hoping The Town will confidently stand alongside it. It might even be an Oscar contender... I can't wait!!

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Luckily, Ben Affleck proved his directorial debut was no fluke. The Town is an excellent crime thriller.

Review here

Your mind is the scene of the crime.


Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe

Plot: A CEO-type becomes involved in a blackmailing scandal.

Release Date (in Australia): July 22nd

My thoughts...: Christopher Nolan can direct the hell out of any film he gets his hands on. What we're looking at here promises to be a gritty, big-budget sci-fi action-thriller with an exceptional cast. I'll certainly see this one!

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Not the best movie of the decade, but still a solid, intelligent blockbuster.

Review here

An epic of epic epicness.


Directed By: Edgar Wright
Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman

Plot: Scott Pilgrim must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil ex-boyfriends in order to win her heart.

Release Date (in Australia): August 26th

My thoughts...: I adore Edgar Wright's prior films, the cast is great, the concept is promising, and the trailer is epic. I will be checking out this one, though it won't be first priority. Why? Because The Expendables will be out at around the same time.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Loved it.

Review here

Slow Justice is No Justice


Directed By: George Tillman Jr.
Starring: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Carla Gugino, Tom Berenger, Jennifer Carpenter, Maggie Grace, Moon Bloodgood, Billy Bob Thornton

Plot: An ex-con sets out to avenge his brother's death after they were double-crossed during a heist years ago. During his campaign, however, he's tracked by a veteran cop and an egocentric hit man.

Release Date (in Australia): February 10th, 2011

My thoughts...: This looks like a good old-fashioned, no-holds-barred, simple, hardcore, badass R-rated action flick. It's what the plot promises. It's what the trailer promises. Perhaps this is a sign that Dwayne "The Soft" Johnson will stop making tosh like The Tooth Fairy and try his hand at awesome action stuff.

Excitement Rating: 8/10





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Afterthoughts: This was great! Bloody action and great thematic depth.

Review here

There Is No Plan B


Directed By: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, Jessica Biel, Sharlto Copley, Patrick Wilson, Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson

Plot: A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed.

Release Date (in Australia): June 10th

My thoughts...: Action/adventure/thriller with an awesome cast, a good concept and a promising trailer? Well say no more, I'll certainly be there.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: It was... Okay.

Review here

Directed By: Anton Corbijn
Starring: George Clooney, Bruce Altman, Thekla Reuten, Irina Björklund, Violante Placido, Paolo Bonacelli

Plot: An assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.

Release Date (in Australia): TBA

My thoughts...: This looks good. There's a talented director at the helm, and George Clooney is watchable in virtually everything. Interesting story, too, not to mention there's talks of it being an Oscar contender in 2011. So yeah... Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 8/10

Directed By: Noboru Iguchi
Starring: Yoshihiro Nishimura, Naoto Takenaka, Asami, Takumi Saito, Suzuki Matsuo, Kentaro Shimazu

Release Date (in Australia): June 16th

My thoughts...: Oh hell yes! This looks like a simple over-the-top comedy-action flick. Feels like I've seen the whole movie just by watching the trailer...but nonetheless, the whole film will be a cheesy ride worth taking I'm sure.

Excitement Rating: 8/10

Some will kill to have it. He will kill to protect it.


Directed By: Hughes Brothers
Starring: Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman, Malcolm McDowell, Jennifer Beals, Michael Gambon, Ray Stevenson

Plot: A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.

Release Date (in Australia): February 18th

My thoughts...: Love the cast. Love the concept. The whole thing looks totally awesome. Nuff said.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Meh, it was kinda underwhelming.

Review here

How Fast Can You Swim?


Directed By: Alexandre Aja
Starring: Elisabeth Shue, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames

Plot: A tremor under the surface of Lake Victoria unleashes scores of prehistoric piranhas, an event which rallies the local sheriff (Shue) who will risk everything to save her townsfolk.

Release Date (in Australia): August 26th

My thoughts...: Hehe... C'mon, the thought of piranhas attacking people in a violent, R-rated, 3-D movie? Count me in. It's just a bonus the cast is awesome.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: I had a fun time with it and laughed quite a bit, but the 3-D effects were slipshod and, unfortunately, some of the gore was more disturbing than funny. It was still on the right track though.

Review here

Directed By: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Lindsay Sloane, Ray Stevenson, Michael Keaton.

Plot: Two mismatched New York City detectives seize an opportunity to step up like the city's top cops whom they idolize -- only things don't quite go as planned.

Release Date (in Australia): September 30th

My thoughts...: Oh my word, this looks absolutely hilarious, and the cast is fantastic. Plus, Adam McKay + Will Ferrell = win. You can count me in, and then some. I just hope it's better than the underwhelming Step Brothers...

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: *sigh* Hampered by a PG-13 rating and a tendency to rely on Will Ferrell's improvisational skills rather than wit, The Other Guys is sometimes amusing but predominantly forgettable. File it under "misfire" and move on.

Review here

Directed By: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Sebastian Stan, Ksenia Solo

Plot: A thriller that hones in on the relationship between a veteran ballet dancer and a rival.

Release Date (in Australia): January 13th, 2011

My thoughts...: It's quite possible that this will end up being an Oscar contender, considering the talent involved here. Everything so far looks promising, so count me in.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Expectedly, it was great. Very clever and haunting...

Review here

Directed By: Todd Phillips
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Michelle Monaghan, Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Alan Arkin.

Plot: High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.

Release Date (in Australia): November 4th

My thoughts...: Word of mouth sensation The Hangover deservedly became one of the biggest comedy hits in recent times, and I'd give most of the credit to Todd Phillips' tight direction and Galifianakis' hilariously oddball performance. So it's great to see them back together and working with Downey Jr - one of the sharpest comedic actors around - and the wonderful Michelle Monaghan. This looks HILARIOUS!

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: HOW DID THIS MOVIE GO SO WRONG?! For crying out loud, the cast was ideal, the director was ideal, the trailer was awesome. But this was a mirthless, joyless, sluggish mess. What a huge disappointment.

Review here

No toy gets left behind.


Directed By: Lee Unkrich
Starring: Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack, Tim Allen, Michael Keaton, John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, Ned Beatty

Plot: Woody, Buzz, and the rest of their toy-box friends are dumped in a day-care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college.

Release Date (in Australia): June 24th

My thoughts...: The memories of seeing + loving the Toy Story films as a kid... So many memories. So I'll have to see this one for the little kid inside of me who wants to see where these characters are heading next! Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 7/10





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Afterthoughts: Oh my hat, why didn't I have higher expectations for this? It was exceptional!!!

Review here

Directed By: Roel Reiné
Starring: Danny Trejo, Sean Bean, Ving Rhames, Luke Goss, Robin Shou, Lauren Cohan, Tanit Phoenix

Plot: An origin story for convicted cop killer Frankenstein.

Release Date (in Australia): December 28th

My thoughts...: Though many are free to disagree, I found Paul W.S. Anderson's Death Race to be an extraordinarily fun action ride. The thought of another film showcasing similar types of carnage is very exciting to me. Added to this, look at that cast! Danny Trejo, Sean Bean and Ving Rhames in the one action movie! Awesome. Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 7/10



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Afterthoughts: You know what? I loved it. I signed on for cars, carnage and girls. It delivered.

Review here

Directed By: Tod Williams
Starring: Brian Boland, Sprague Grayden, Molly Ephraim, Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Vivis Cortez

Plot: After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem.

Release Date (in Australia): October 21st

My thoughts...: I liked the first movie, and although I figured a sequel could only tarnish its reputation I remain optimistic, especially after the trailer. Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 8/10



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Afterthoughts: Happy days! A sequel which does not diminish the original film! I enjoyed this follow-up very much, and await the third film with great anticipation.

Review here

Directed By: John Carpenter
Starring: Amber Heard, Danielle Panabaker, Lyndsy Fonseca, Mika Boorem, Jared Harris

Plot: A thriller centered on an institutionalized young woman who becomes terrorized by a ghost.

Release Date (in Australia): TBA

My thoughts...: I'm looking forward to this one on the basis of John Carpenter. It may have been a while since he's made a great movie, but the premise for this one is very promising. And plus, I love me a creepy thriller.

Excitement Rating: 7/10



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Afterthoughts: It really wasn't that great, which is disappointing...

Full review here

Directed By: Woody Allen
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones, Naomi Watts, Ewen Bremner

Plot: Follows a pair of married couples, Alfie (Hopkins) and Helena (Jones), and their daughter Sally (Watts) and husband Roy (Brolin), as their passions, ambitions, and anxieties lead them into trouble and out of their minds. After Alfie leaves Helena to pursue his lost youth and a free-spirited call girl named Charmaine (Punch), Helena abandons rationality and surrenders her life to the loopy advice of a charlatan fortune teller. Unhappy in her marriage, Sally develops a crush on her handsome art gallery owner boss, Greg (Banderas), while Roy, a novelist nervously awaiting the response to his latest manuscript, becomes moonstruck over Dia (Pinto), a mystery woman who catches his gaze through a nearby window.

Release Date (in Australia): TBA

My thoughts...: Over the past few years, I've loyally watched Woody Allen's annual output, and the results have been impressive. Well, I've been impressed by Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Whatever Works at least. I'll see this one, of course.

Excitement Rating: 7/10

Directed By: David O. Russell
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Dendrie Taylor, Jack McGee, Jenna Lamia, Bianca Hunter

Plot: A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.

Release Date (in Australia): January 20th, 2011

My thoughts...: Great director, great cast, great concept. Early talks posit this as a possible Oscar contender too, so all things considered...Count me in!

Excitement Rating: 7/10



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Afterthoughts: As I expected, this turned out to be an Oscar contender, and for good reason - The Fighter is a great, great movie.

Review here

Directed By: Elliott Lester
Starring: Jason Statham, Luke Evans, David Morrissey, Richard Riddell, Paddy Considine

Plot: A tough cop is dispatched to take down a serial killer who has been targeting police officers.

Release Date (in Australia): TBA

My thoughts...: I'm interested in this because the premise is interesting and I'm a fan of Jason Statham. Trailer looks cool as well. Could be a fun, good old-fashioned action-thriller. Seems like it. Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 6/10

Directed By: Géla Babluani
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Jason Statham, Alexander Skarsgård, 50 Cent, Ray Winstone

Plot: A naive young man assumes a dead man's identity and finds himself embroiled in an underground world of power, violence, and chance where men gamble behind closed doors on the lives of other men.

Release Date (in Australia): TBA

My thoughts...: Mickey Rourke + Jason Statham + interesting premise = something of great interest. Like Blitz, I'll be in no rush to see it unless the previews blow me away.

Excitement Rating: 6/10

Who is Salt?


Directed By: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Zoe Lister Jones, Yara Shahidi, Gaius Charles

Plot: As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who is Salt?"

Release Date (in Australia): August 26th

My thoughts...: I like action-thrillers, I like the concept, I like the trailer, I like the director, and the cast could be worse. Even if it turns out like something akin to Eagle Eye, it'll hopefully get the pulse pounding a few times. Count me in.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: Yeah, this was a powerfully dumb action-thriller, but it's saved by the great craftsmanship and starpower.

Review here

Directed By: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, Rose Byrne, Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs, Pink, Katy Perry, Elisabeth Moss, Lars Ulrich, Colm Meaney

Plot: A record company intern (Hill) is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow (Brand) to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theater.

Release Date (in Australia): June 17th

My thoughts...: Yet another addition to mega-producer Judd Apatow's body of work! This spin-off of Forgetting Sarah Marshall promises to be an amusing distraction, so count me in.
EDIT: The trailers aren't making me laugh so far... In fact I haven't seen a shred of evidence that this may even be funny at all...

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: Yeah, it wasn't as funny as I wanted it to be, but I still had a pretty fun time - and it was funnier than I expected, at least.

Review here

Directed By: David Fincher
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Rashida Jones, Joseph Mazzello, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara

Plot: A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook.

Release Date (in Australia): November 25

My thoughts...: I'm very much on the fence about this one. It'll either be good, or it'll tank. If the reviews are positive, I'll probably catch it in the theatre as soon as possible. It may be an Oscar contender. However, if reviews aren't too favourable, I'll happily give it a miss.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: Reviews persuaded me to check this out asap, and I'm happy I did. A masterpiece.

Full review here

Directed By: Tony Scott
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rosario Dawson, Chris Pine, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn, Jessy Schram

Plot: A rail company frantically works to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city.

Release Date (in Australia): January 13th, 2011

My thoughts...: I'm on the fence about this one. I like my action movies, and the concept is promising. But Tony Scott at the helm? He let me down last year with The Taking of Pelham 123. The writer also has a pretty poor track record. So... Verdict? Probably when it hits DVD.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: It was surprisingly solid. I enjoyed it!

Review soon

Directed By: Matt Reeves
Starring: Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins, Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak, Sasha Barrese, Chris Browning, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas

Plot: A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.

Release Date (in Australia): October 14th

My thoughts...: I love the original Swedish movie, and the concept of an American remake is abominable. That said, the writer-director Matt Reeves did do great work with Cloverfield, and he appears to want to present a good reinterpretation of the original movie. So whatever... Maybe it'll be good. I'll still be seeing it out of curiousity. It sure as hell can't be worse than the Twilight movies.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: As expected, this was nowhere near as good as the original film - not by a long shot. It's a well-shot movie with some good performances, but that's it.

Review here

Rock out with your Glock out.


Directed By: Kevin Smith
Starring: Bruce Willis, Tracey Morgan, Juan Carlos Hernández, Cory Fernandez, Sean Cullen, Kevin Pollak

Plot: A comedy about a veteran NYPD cop whose rare baseball card is stolen. Since it's his only hope to pay for his daughter's upcoming wedding, he recruits his partner to track down the thief, a memorabilia-obsessed gangster.

Release Date (in Australia): March 18th

My thoughts...: I guess you could say I'm on the fence about this one... Looks pretty good, but reviews are mixed. I'll still give it a go.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: Disappointing. Could've and should've been funnier. 4 or 5 minor laughs and action set-pieces which are nothing special are nothing to justify seeing this film.

Review here

They have a plan that's going to catch EVERYBODY off-guard.


Directed By: Nimród Antal
Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Matt Dillon, Columbus Short, Jean Reno, Skeet Ulrich, Amaury Nolasco.

Plot: A newbie guard for an armored truck company is coerced by his veteran coworkers to steal a truck containing $42 million. But a wrinkle in their supposedly foolproof plan divides the group, leading to a potentially deadly resolution.

Release Date (in Australia): February 25th

My thoughts...: This one looks fairly interesting. Good cast, interesting premise, good director. I'll be sure to check this one out at some point.

Excitement Rating: 6/10

It's ain't ogre... til it's ogre


Directed By: Mike Mitchell
Starring: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Eric Idle, Larry King.

Plot: The further adventures of the giant green ogre, Shrek, living in the land of Far, Far Away.

Release Date (in Australia): June 17th

My thoughts...: Look, I'll watch this one. I liked the first movie, and somewhat enjoyed the others. But by the law of deteriorating sequels, this one shouldn't be too good... I guess we'll wait and see.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: Meh. Better than expected, but not great.

Review here

One ordinary couple. One little white lie.


Directed By: Shawn Levy
Starring: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Mark Ruffalo, James Franco, Olivia Munn, Kristen Wiig

Plot: In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.

Release Date (in Australia): April 8th

My thoughts...: You know what? This looks pretty good. I mean, granted, it won't be held in the same league as The Godfather, but for what it is... It looks as if you could do a lot worse. I like the cast, after all. So sure, count me in. Maybe not in the cinema, but I'll certainly see it eventually.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthought: Jesus... This was good. Against all odds, this was good. I walked in with tempered expectations, laughed a lot, and left the cinema with a smile on my face. Who can complain about that?

Review here

Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Jackson Rathbone, Nicola Peltz, Cliff Curtis, Dev Patel, Noah Ringer, Jessica Andres, Aasif Mandvi

Plot: The story follows the adventures of Aang, a ten year old successor to a long line of Avatars, who must put his childhood ways aside and stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations.

Release Date (in Australia): 8th July

My thoughts...: Looking forward to this one on the basis that it's another M. Night Shyamalan movie, and I'm one of the very few people in the world who think this guy actually has talent. Story sounds intriguing, trailer looks interesting...sure, I'll see it at some stage.

Excitement Rating: 6/10



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Afterthoughts: I'm done defending you, M. Night. This movie sucked.

Review here

Welcome to Your New Nightmare.


Directed By: Samuel Bayer
Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz, Clancy Brown, Connie Britton

Plot: A re-imagining of the horror icon Freddy Krueger, a serial-killer who wields a glove with four blades embedded in the fingers and kills people in their dreams, resulting in their real death in reality.

Release Date (in Australia): May 20th

My thoughts...: Michael Bay's production company re-imagines and reboots yet another horror franchise. This particular re-imagining was as inevitable as the tide. I'll probably see this one at some stage out of sheer curiousity...not really looking forward to it, to be honest.

Excitement Rating: 5/10



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Afterthoughts: This film didn't need to happen... But it did. And it sucked.

Review here

She's back...And she's bringing a few of her friends.


Directed By: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Wentworth Miller, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Spencer Locke, Boris Kodjoe

Plot: In a world ravaged by a virus infection, turning its victims into the Undead, Alice (Jovovich), continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety. Her deadly battle with the Umbrella Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets some unexpected help from an old friend. A new lead that promises a safe haven from the Undead takes them to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city is overrun by thousands of Undead - and Alice and her comrades are about to step into a deadly trap.

Release Date (in Australia): October 7th

My thoughts...: Look, I've enjoyed the Resident Evil movies so far. Some fun action, bit of gore, etc. But so far, they've just been disposable guilty pleasures. None of them have stuck in my mind for very long. So while I'm curious to see how this one pans out, word of mouth will dictate on how soon I see it.

Excitement Rating: 5/10



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Afterthoughts: It was a piece of shit.

Review here

Review here

Titans will clash.


Directed By: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Alexa Davalos, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Izabella Miko, Jason Flemyng, Mads Mikkelsen, Danny Huston

Plot: A remake of the 1981 film version of the myth of Perseus and his quest to battle both Medusa and the Kraken monster in order to save the Princess Andromeda.

Release Date (in Australia): April 1st

My thoughts...: Not a fan of the original film. In fact, I haven't even seen it. Only looking forward to this one due to the nice cast and the promise of some good old-fashioned action.

Excitement Rating: 4/10



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Afterthoughts...: Even with tempered expectations, I was disappointed and underwhelmed. What a shame.

Review here

Directed By: Michael Apted
Starring: Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Will Poulter, Bill Nighy, Gary Sweet.

Plot: Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world.

Release Date (in Australia): December 9th

My thoughts...: I liked the first addition to this franchise but I missed the second and I still haven't caught up. This is not top priority. It's only on here because I know it'll be big, and I like to have seen each year's biggest movies. So... Meh.

Excitement Rating: 2/10