10.  Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – Aug. 13

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, and Brandon Routh

What it’s about:  A down and out 23-year-old, Scott Pilgrim has no job, no money, and plays in a band that’s going nowhere.  His life gets a little more promising though when the girl of his dreams appears in his dreams. Literally.  There is only one catch to dating the beautiful and mysterious Ramona Flowers though; he has to defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends first.

Why you should care:  The Bryan Lee O’Malley comics that this film is based on are excellent reads and are ripe with material for a movie adaption.  It should be the perfect mix of action, comedy and romance, and if it’s anywhere near as good as Director Edgar Wright’s previous films Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead expect this to be well worth the ticket price.

9.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 – Nov. 19

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson

What it’s about:  The first half of Harry Potter’s final story; Harry, Ron, and Hermoine go in search of the Horcruxes, the source of Voldemort’s unlimited power, in a mission to destroy both them and the Dark Lord in the process.

Why you should care:  It took six movies, but with The Half-Blood Prince we finally got a really good Harry Potter film for fans and non-fans alike.  While it may have strayed from the book more than the novel’s devotees would have liked, it managed to incorporate enough of the book into a story of it’s own to make an excellent film that even non-readers could enjoy.  Thankfully, this film keeps the previous entries director so Deathly Hollows is likely to continue with the outstanding additions to the film series.

8.  Alice in Wonderland – March 5

Director: Tim Burton

Starring:  Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter

What it’s about:  Taking place after Lewis Carroll’s beloved story, 19-year-old Alice returns to Wonderland to find that the Red Queen’s reign of terror has only gotten worse.  Now she must end Wonderland’s tyrannical rule along with the help of all her old familiar friends.

Why you should care:  Anyone who has seen a Tim Burton film knows he has an affinity for the weird and fantastical, and what better place to vent that imagination then on Wonderland.  Burton’s version of Wonderland is sure to take his level of amazing imagery to a whole new level.  Combine that with an excellent cast and 3-D effects and you get a unique adaptation that shouldn’t be overlooked.

7. Due Date – Nov. 5

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, and Michelle Monaghan

What it’s about: An expectant first-time father’s journey home to be by the side of his wife goes wrong and instead of a comfy flight, he has to make the trip cross-country with a less than phenomenal aspiring actor.

Why you should care:  Todd Phillips’s previous movie, The Hangover, was the best comedy of 2009.  If this movie even comes close to the bar set by Hangover then this is going to be a must see.  With Galifianakis in a leading role again and Robert Downey Jr., who proved he could be funny with his oscar nominted role in Tropic Thunder, opposite the Hangover’s comedian, this is sure to be a great follow up to Phillip’s last film.

6.  Iron Man 2 – May 7

Director:  Jon Favreau

Starring:  Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Mickey Rourke

What it’s about:  Tony Stark and his alter ego Iron Man are now a public figure, and now he has to deal with both of their newfound fame.  Stark has politicians, competing industrialists, and super villains all attempting to bring him down and it seems like he’s going to need a little help from his robot suit companion War Machine to take them all on.

Why you should care:  The first Iron Man was a rarity; a good movie adapted from a comic book hero.  While comic book adaptations are a dime a dozen these days, Iron Man was a stand out among the crowd.  Now, with the origin story out of the way, Iron Man 2 should have more action, more character depth, and a more fleshed out plot, taking each aspect of the already great original and making it even better for the sequel.

By Nick Baker