With the new year fast approaching, I figured it would be a good time to sit back and reflect on where we’ve been and what new horizons the future has in store for us. What lessons I’ve learned, what heartaches have taught me, who I need to strengthen my relationships with, and who to let go, remembering fondly the past, but acknowledging it as just that. The past.

Not that you’re gonna hear about any of that here. Instead, you get the 2009 movie schedule! If there’s one thing I can’t seem to get enough of, it’s big movies coming out, especially in the summer. Midnight showings are my absolute favorite, of all time, forever.. The energy is high, and all the hardcore fans are there. Naturally excited, I started poking around for release dates to look forward to in 2009. Here’s some of the pickin’s:

Inkheart – January 23rd

A man who can bring characters out of the pages of the books he reads must fight a villian he released. I have mixed feelings about Brendan Fraser a lot of the time, but generally, I think he can be pretty ok. This story looks fun, too. Not a bad opener for 2009.

Push — February 6th

A movie about super-powered psychics and such. Also, Dakota Fanning with pink highlights in her hair? If there’s one movie I won’t be broken up about missing in this list, this is probably it. But it looks like at least a semi-decent way to pass the time until….

Watchmen — March 6th

I was never really interested in 300. But I always enjoy a production team with a style that makes people go, “Wha-?!” I’ve seen trailers for Watchmen and it looks just fantastic. I can’t wait to marvel at the special effects in this movie, if nothing else. It really just feels……massive, I think, would be a good word for it.

Note: This release date is pending the result of some actually pretty annoying legal crap between 20th Century Fox, who claims they have the legal right to distribute the Watchmen movie, and Warner Bros. who, you know, *made* it.

Dragonball : Evolution — April 8th

I’m not a huge animé fan. I like some stuff, but generally, I’m geared more towards either American or, in the event I’m feeling more experimental, European movies. But Dragonball looks to be an interesting case study, if nothing else. There were rumors that, after a terrible reception of the trailer, the studio decided to reshoot a lot of footage. It turns out only a single scene was reshot apparently.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine — May 1st

And the real fun begins. Wolverine is pretty much at the top of my Must-See 2009 movies. I will always be a sucker for a superhero movie, and this one is no exception. Not to mention all the potential for the work-ins for the Avengers. And also, at least one other surprise. I won’t spoil it, but check out the trailer if you want to see why I’m so excited.

Star Trek — May 8th

Yes. I admit it. I’m going to see Star Trek. And I’m not ashamed of it, either. This movie is actually looking to be pretty big. Not to mention, my main man Sylar in the role of Spock. Well. I’ve *gotta* see how that’s gonna turn out.

Night at the Museum: Escape from the Smithsonian — May 22nd

I like the first Night at the Museum. However, I could see this one suffering from Home Alone syndrome*. Much like National Treasure did recently. But as funny as I found the last one, I’m willing to at least give it a chance. But it will have to wait until the daytime. The midnight showing on May 22nd is strictly reserved for…

Terminator Salvation – May 22nd

Even though this movie breaks the Terminator pattern of one movie per decade, I’m looking forward to seeing Christian Bale rail on some truly massive and ugly pieces of machinery. It certainly has potential, I’ll give you that right now.

Up — May 29th

May is the month for movies. Starting with a superhero movie and ending on Pixar? I could think of no better way to run the month. You can’t really infer much from the trailer, but Up is a Pixar movie. That’s all I need to know. Note to self: watch Ratatoullie before that happens.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen — June 26th

Alright, let’s get one thing straight right off the bat. The first Transformers was not great. I don’t really like Michael Bay as a director. I think that if we knew each other in high school, he would’ve made mean jokes about how being a nerd is lame, and I would have made snide jokes about how he’s not smart, but he wouldn’t get them. That’s just my completely unfounded perception. Nonetheless, giant robots beating the crap out of each other is good at least once. And you simply cannot argue with the effects in the first movie. 38 hours per frame goes a long way. Not to mention Transformers is part of my childhood. So there’s really no getting around it. I have to see this movie. I hope that girl isn’t in it, though. Shia LaBoof can stay.

G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra – August 7th

First off, I’m one movie away from banning the use of “Rise of the Blank”. I would even take “Cobra Ascending”. In any case, this one is more for my brother than me. Growing up, he was the G.I. Joe guy, I was the Power Rangers kid. Naturally, he will want to see this movie, and I, being the supportive brother I am, will go with him.

There will probably be others I’ll take an interest in as I hear more about them (and some on here that I may kick off the list). But for the most part, there it is. May is going to be one fun month.

As a bonus, here’s a list of movies coming out in 2009 I do NOT plan on seeing, thankyouverymuch:

– My Bloody Valentine 3D
I know nothing about this movie. But the title could not sound worse. Especially the “3D” part. Ugh. Some things should not be 3D.

– Friday the 13th
By an AMAZING coincidence, this comes out February, Friday the 13th. Oh, my GOSH. *What* are the odds?

– Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li
I thought fighting-game movies died a long time ago?

– Land of the Lost
Yes. That one. I had to look it up to be sure.

– Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Scrat can only carry so much mediocre movie on his tiny little back before it’s just not enough anymore.

– Final Destination 4
It’s over, ok? Let it go.

– Saw VI
I think it should say something about a horror movie series when it suffers the same over-abundance as The Land Before Time

– Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel
I wish I were kidding.

So, that being said, what do you think? Any movies didn’t make the list that should have? Can you see in this list a horrible, ten-dollar mistake in my future? What does 2009 look like for you in movies?

******

* - ‘Home Alone’ syndrome is defined as the condition a sequel suffers when it bears far too much resemblance to the original movie, including the most, if not all of the same jokes. Ironically, Home Alone 2 is generally considered one of the few acceptable instances of this phenomenon.