Rollicking robots, violent superheroes and lesbian vampire killers... Yes, it looks like being another great year for fans of all things fantastic. Matt McAllister takes a look at some of the genre highlights of 2009…
JAN-JUNE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6 February 2009 (UK); Out now (US)
David Fincher’s latest movie is the tragic-comic story of the titular character, who is born as an old man and gradually ages backwards. With critics already raving about the movie, it looks set to rank as one of the year’s best.
The Secret of Moonacre
Release date: 6 February 2009 (UK); US release date: TBC
An orphan goes to live with her eccentric uncle, where she discovers that she is the last Moon Princess in this family fantasy from Gabor Csupo (Bridge to Terabithia).
Bolt
UK release date: 6 February 2009 (US release date November 2008)
Advance word is good on Disney’s CG comedy, which is produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter. Bolt is a kind-hearted canine who plays a superhero on a TV show – and who believes his powers are actually real. Kid-friendly chuckles guaranteed.
Friday the 13th
UK & US release date: 13 February 2009
Bloody remake of the seminal slasher.
Push
UK release date: 20 February 2009; US release date: 6 February 2009
Psychic espionage thriller from the director of Gangster No 1, Paul McGuigan.
Outlander
UK release date: 20 February 2009; US release date: TBC
It’s got Vikings, a bloodthirsty monster, John Hurt and Ron Perlman… What more could you want? Think Predator meets Pathfinder.
The Unborn
UK release date: 27 February 2009; US release date: Out now
David S Goyer's supernatural thriller about a woman haunted by a demonic spirit.
Watchmen
UK & US release date: 6 March 2009
Zach Snyder’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel is one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year, and the trailer looks awesome. Let’s just hope that Fox and Warner Bros resolve their copyright wrangling and the movie is released on schedule.
Lesbian Vampire Killers
UK release date: 20 March 2009; US release date: TBC
Gavin and Stacey’s Matthew Horne and James Corden reteam in this horror comedy about, well, lesbian vampire killers.
Knowing
UK release date: 27 March 2009; US release date: 20 March 2009
New sci-fi mystery from the ever-stylish director of The Crow, Alex Proyas. Nicholas Cage plays the teacher who unearths a time capsule.
Monsters Vs Aliens
UK release date: 3 April 2009; US release date: 27 March 2009
Forget Freddy Vs Jason or Alien Vs Predator – this is the ultimate showdown we’ve been waiting for! When evil aliens land on Earth, it’s up to a crack team of monsters to show them who’s boss. The voice cast of the CG comedy includes Seth Rogen, Reece Witherspoon and Hugh Laurie.
Ponyo on the Cliff
Release date: 3 April 2009 (UK); US release date: TBC
Hayao Miyazaki, the animation mastermind who gave us Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, directs this charming story of a child who befriends a goldfish princess. It’s already been met with approval by Japanese audiences and critics alike.
Dragonball: Evolution
UK release date: 10 April 2009; US release date: 8 April 2009
Justin Chatwin and James Marsters star in this adaptation of the popular Manga.
Race to Witch Mountain
UK Release date: 10 April 2009; US release date: 13 March 2009
1975’s Escape to Witch Mountain and its 1978 follow up Return from Witch Mountain were great family fantasy flicks about two kids with supernatural powers, and we’re hoping that this big budget remake can capture the spirit of the originals. The cast includes Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Ciarán Hinds.
Let the Right One In
UK release date 17 April 2009
This Swedish vampire flick, based on John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel, has already notched up several awards, including Best Film at the Fantasia Festival and Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. An English language remake is already on the cards.
X-Men: Origins: Wolverine
UK & US release date: 1 May 2009
X-Men III received a somewhat lukewarm response from critics and audiences, but this action-packed prequel could restore the fortunes of the franchise. Hugh Jackman once again plays the razor-fingered one, while Tsotsi’s Gavin Hood directs.
Star Trek
UK & US release date: 8 May 2009
Can JJ Abrams’ reboot of the franchise possibly live up to expectations? Judging by the 20 minutes of footage Total Sci-Fi saw recently, we’re pretty confident that it can…
Coraline
Release date:15 May 2009 (UK); US release date: 6 February 2009
Stop-motion director Henry Selick revisits the mixture of darkness and sweetness that marked his much-loved A Nightmare Before Christmas. This time he adapts Neil Gaiman’s book and graphic novel about a girl who stumbles across a doorway to a parallel dimension. Even better, the movie is in 3-D!
Synecdoche, New York
UK release date: 15 May 2009; US release date: TBC
There’s another gloriously outlandish concept at the heart of Charlie Kaufman’s latest. A depressed theatre director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) builds a scale version of New York City inside a warehouse – and the fake city gradually begins to echo the real one... In addition to scripting duties, the film also marks Kaufman’s directorial debut.
The Descent 2
UK release date: 15 May 2009; US release date: TBC
Neil Marshall’s 2004 horror flick was the frankly terrifying story of female cavers stalked by cannibal mutants. Expert more subterranean bloodletting in Jon Harris’s follow-up.
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian
UK & US release date: 22 May 2009
The original 2006 fantasy comedy was no classic, but it raked in enough box office bucks to warrant this sequel. Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais all return.
Terminator Salvation
UK release date: 5 June 2009; US release date: 22 May 2009
McG sets out to prove he can deliver something more substantial than Charlie’s Angels with the fourth Terminator movie. Christian Bale plays leader of the resistance, John Connor.
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
UK release date: 6 June 2009; US release date: TBC
Terry Gilliam’s latest fantasy is the story of a travelling theatre company that invites audience members to explore the depths of their own imaginations. Christopher Plummer plays the immortal Dr Parnassus, while the film also marks the final role for Heath Ledger, who died during the production.
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
UK & US release date: 26 June 2009
Michael Bay’s follow up to 2007’s mega-hit is another subtle indie drama that throws up more pertinent questions about the modern age... who are we kidding? Expect more rampaging robots, boundary-breaking CG and lots of stuff being smashed up.
http://www.dwscifi.com/features/2954-2009-movie-preview
JAN-JUNE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
6 February 2009 (UK); Out now (US)
David Fincher’s latest movie is the tragic-comic story of the titular character, who is born as an old man and gradually ages backwards. With critics already raving about the movie, it looks set to rank as one of the year’s best.
The Secret of Moonacre
Release date: 6 February 2009 (UK); US release date: TBC
An orphan goes to live with her eccentric uncle, where she discovers that she is the last Moon Princess in this family fantasy from Gabor Csupo (Bridge to Terabithia).
Bolt
UK release date: 6 February 2009 (US release date November 2008)
Advance word is good on Disney’s CG comedy, which is produced by Pixar’s John Lasseter. Bolt is a kind-hearted canine who plays a superhero on a TV show – and who believes his powers are actually real. Kid-friendly chuckles guaranteed.
Friday the 13th
UK & US release date: 13 February 2009
Bloody remake of the seminal slasher.
Push
UK release date: 20 February 2009; US release date: 6 February 2009
Psychic espionage thriller from the director of Gangster No 1, Paul McGuigan.
Outlander
UK release date: 20 February 2009; US release date: TBC
It’s got Vikings, a bloodthirsty monster, John Hurt and Ron Perlman… What more could you want? Think Predator meets Pathfinder.
The Unborn
UK release date: 27 February 2009; US release date: Out now
David S Goyer's supernatural thriller about a woman haunted by a demonic spirit.
Watchmen
UK & US release date: 6 March 2009
Zach Snyder’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel is one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of the year, and the trailer looks awesome. Let’s just hope that Fox and Warner Bros resolve their copyright wrangling and the movie is released on schedule.
Lesbian Vampire Killers
UK release date: 20 March 2009; US release date: TBC
Gavin and Stacey’s Matthew Horne and James Corden reteam in this horror comedy about, well, lesbian vampire killers.
Knowing
UK release date: 27 March 2009; US release date: 20 March 2009
New sci-fi mystery from the ever-stylish director of The Crow, Alex Proyas. Nicholas Cage plays the teacher who unearths a time capsule.
Monsters Vs Aliens
UK release date: 3 April 2009; US release date: 27 March 2009
Forget Freddy Vs Jason or Alien Vs Predator – this is the ultimate showdown we’ve been waiting for! When evil aliens land on Earth, it’s up to a crack team of monsters to show them who’s boss. The voice cast of the CG comedy includes Seth Rogen, Reece Witherspoon and Hugh Laurie.
Ponyo on the Cliff
Release date: 3 April 2009 (UK); US release date: TBC
Hayao Miyazaki, the animation mastermind who gave us Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, directs this charming story of a child who befriends a goldfish princess. It’s already been met with approval by Japanese audiences and critics alike.
Dragonball: Evolution
UK release date: 10 April 2009; US release date: 8 April 2009
Justin Chatwin and James Marsters star in this adaptation of the popular Manga.
Race to Witch Mountain
UK Release date: 10 April 2009; US release date: 13 March 2009
1975’s Escape to Witch Mountain and its 1978 follow up Return from Witch Mountain were great family fantasy flicks about two kids with supernatural powers, and we’re hoping that this big budget remake can capture the spirit of the originals. The cast includes Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Ciarán Hinds.
Let the Right One In
UK release date 17 April 2009
This Swedish vampire flick, based on John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel, has already notched up several awards, including Best Film at the Fantasia Festival and Best Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival. An English language remake is already on the cards.
X-Men: Origins: Wolverine
UK & US release date: 1 May 2009
X-Men III received a somewhat lukewarm response from critics and audiences, but this action-packed prequel could restore the fortunes of the franchise. Hugh Jackman once again plays the razor-fingered one, while Tsotsi’s Gavin Hood directs.
Star Trek
UK & US release date: 8 May 2009
Can JJ Abrams’ reboot of the franchise possibly live up to expectations? Judging by the 20 minutes of footage Total Sci-Fi saw recently, we’re pretty confident that it can…
Coraline
Release date:15 May 2009 (UK); US release date: 6 February 2009
Stop-motion director Henry Selick revisits the mixture of darkness and sweetness that marked his much-loved A Nightmare Before Christmas. This time he adapts Neil Gaiman’s book and graphic novel about a girl who stumbles across a doorway to a parallel dimension. Even better, the movie is in 3-D!
Synecdoche, New York
UK release date: 15 May 2009; US release date: TBC
There’s another gloriously outlandish concept at the heart of Charlie Kaufman’s latest. A depressed theatre director (Philip Seymour Hoffman) builds a scale version of New York City inside a warehouse – and the fake city gradually begins to echo the real one... In addition to scripting duties, the film also marks Kaufman’s directorial debut.
The Descent 2
UK release date: 15 May 2009; US release date: TBC
Neil Marshall’s 2004 horror flick was the frankly terrifying story of female cavers stalked by cannibal mutants. Expert more subterranean bloodletting in Jon Harris’s follow-up.
Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian
UK & US release date: 22 May 2009
The original 2006 fantasy comedy was no classic, but it raked in enough box office bucks to warrant this sequel. Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais all return.
Terminator Salvation
UK release date: 5 June 2009; US release date: 22 May 2009
McG sets out to prove he can deliver something more substantial than Charlie’s Angels with the fourth Terminator movie. Christian Bale plays leader of the resistance, John Connor.
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
UK release date: 6 June 2009; US release date: TBC
Terry Gilliam’s latest fantasy is the story of a travelling theatre company that invites audience members to explore the depths of their own imaginations. Christopher Plummer plays the immortal Dr Parnassus, while the film also marks the final role for Heath Ledger, who died during the production.
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
UK & US release date: 26 June 2009
Michael Bay’s follow up to 2007’s mega-hit is another subtle indie drama that throws up more pertinent questions about the modern age... who are we kidding? Expect more rampaging robots, boundary-breaking CG and lots of stuff being smashed up.
http://www.dwscifi.com/features/2954-2009-movie-preview
- "Things will not calm down, Daniel Jackson, they will in fact calm up!" 
- "I hope you like Guinness Sir, I find it a refreshing alternative to... food" 
- "I'm Beginning to regret staying up late to watch "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalo" last night... Check that, i regretted it almost immediately" 
[/QUOTE]
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