Axiom's Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy

Fall officially starts on September 21st and there are quite a number of Science Fiction and Fantasy movies lined up for the Fall / Winter season.  We carried over the early September movies from our Summer Movie Preview page and have added the other ones that we currently have solid information on through December 2009.  The comments are by John J. Joex (JJJ) and Sam Christopher (SC). Where possible, we have included links to the movie’s official site and/or to other sites with the teaser trailers.  We will continue to update this page throughout the season as we get new information.

Also see our 2010 Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Movie Preview

September:

Gamer
Cast: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Alison Lohman, Kyra Sedgwick
Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: September 4th
Comments JJJ: A man becomes involved in an online game in which participants can control human beings as players.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD

Comments SC: I think this would sound so much better to me if they hadn’t done this on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, like, 15 years ago: “Chula, move along home.”
Interest Level: None, but could go up if Sisko, Dax, Kira, and Quark will be in it.

9
Cast: Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover
Director: Shane Acker
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes (Re-Make of Short Film)
Hits the Theaters: September 9th
Comments JJJ: Not to be confused with the musical Nine that will hit the theaters two months later, this Tim Burton produced animated film follows live rag-dolls living on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Sounds pretty off-the-wall, but what do you expect from Mr. Burton?
Interest Level: A Must See!

Comments SC: Meh.
Interest level: None

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Bruce Campbell
Director: Phil Lord; Chris Miller
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: September 18th
Comments JJJ: In this animated comedy, a man tries to solve the world’s food shortage and before you know it we have edible rain!
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD

Comments SC: I — no.
Interest Level: Not a whit.

Jennifer’s Body
Cast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody
Director: Karyn Kusama
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: September 18th
Comments JJJ: A cheerleader gets possessed by a demon then starts feasting off the local boys. All these demons and vampires running about, where’s Buffy when you need her?
Interest Level: I’ll just watch Buffy on Hulu.com instead.

Comments SC: Sounds stupid, I know, but if you’ve ever seen My Boyfriend’s Back you know this could be very good. That, and I’m sure that Courtney Love can use the money (you just know that Pieces of Jennifer’s Body has to be in this soundtrack).
Interest Level: Not sure yet.

Pandorum
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster
Director: Christian Alvart
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: September 4th September 25th
Comments JJJ: Two deep-space travelers make a discovery that could threaten the human race. But I’m betting we will survive so that they can get a sequel in case this one does well.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD

Comments SC: Don’t know enough about this yet. Sounds… all right, I guess.
Interest Level: Not much, but will wait for more info.

Surrogates
Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Ving Rhames
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: September 25th
Comments JJJ: In a future world where people never leave the safety of their own homes and only interact with each other through robotic “surrogates”, humans have managed to free themselves from fear, and crime.  But then that would make for a boring movie, so of course the first murder in years occurs, and FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) comes in to investigate.  Based on the comic book series of the same name written by Robert Venditti, drawn by Brett Weldele.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD.

Comments SC: I like Willis but…
Level of Interest: Maybe, but I doubt it.

The Invention of Lying
Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: September 25th
Comments JJJ: The creator of The Office (the original British version, that is) brings us a movie about an alternate Earth in which no one has ever lied.  Then Gervais’ character ends up telling the first one.  Also included in the cast are Patrick Stewart, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey, and Jason Bateman.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it if time allows.

Comments SC: Interesting premise.
Level of Interest: I might see this but no promises.

October:

Zombieland
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: October 2nd
Comments JJJ: This post-apocalyptic comedy gives us both zombies and Woody Harrelson.  How can you go wrong with that?
Interest Level: A must see!

Comments SC: What do you think? I HAVE to see this!
Level of Interest: Through the roof!

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Cast: Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Tom Waits, Johnny Depp
Director: Terry Gilliam
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: October 16th December 25th January 8th
Comments JJJ: The ever-inventive Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys) brings us a film about a traveling theater troupe with a sinister edge.  He co-wrote this with Charles McKeown whom he also collaborated with on The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and it sounds like this will be a similar film.  In any case, if Gilliam is attached to it, it’s worth a look.
Interest Level: A must see!

Comments SC: When I first read about this and saw Ledger’s name I had this image of Terry Gilliam showing a little film can to his landlord…
Level of Interest: I do want to see it.

The Road
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron
Director: John Hillcoat
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: October 16th November 25th
Comments JJJ: Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel of the same name gets the big screen treatment with Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) starring.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD.

Comments SC: Didn’t read the book.
Level of Interest: Maybe.

Where the Wild Things Are
Cast: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini
Director: Spike Jonze
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: October 16th
Comments JJJ: This movie brings Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book to the big screen.  Sure the original book only had ten sentences, but you know it will make a great movie!
Interest Level: A must see!

Comments SC: I know this is sacrilege but the trailer hasn’t really wowed me.
Level of Interest: We’ll see.

Astro Boy
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Kristen Bell
Director: David Bowers
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes
Hits the Theaters: October 23rd
Comments: The iconic Japanese character who gave us Anime gets the CGI treatment.  Seems almost like sacrilege, but then I have to admit that the preview trailer looked pretty interesting.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it if time allows.

Comments SC: I’m not as much a fan of this character as others.
Level of Interest: I might see this.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
Cast: Chris Massoglia, Josh Hutcherson, John C. Reilly
Director: Paul Weitz
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters JJJ: October 23rd
Comments: As if the Twilight film franchise and the Vampire Diaries TV series were not enough, this movie brings us yet another adaptation of a novel series populated with teens and vampires.  Sorry, but this trend is just not speaking to me.
Interest Level: None

Comments SC: What the hell does a bloodsucking demon’s assistant do? Romanticize his boss so that teenage girls fall head over heels for a vicious predator that thrives by ripping the throats out of his victims! How else?
Level of Interest: Me seeing it? Not gonna happen.

Saw VI
Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Shawnee Smith
Director: Kevin Greutert
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes
Hits the Theaters: October 23rd
Comments JJJ: This grisly franchise gives us yet another dose of its form of torture.  And you can take that comment any way you want.
Interest Level: None

Comments SC: I haven’t “Saw” any of these since the first. And it sucked.
Level of Interest: Is there a number less than zero?

November:

The Box
Cast: Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella
Director: Richard Kelly
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: November 6th
Comments JJJ: Based on a Richard Matheson short story, in this movie a married couple receives a mysterious box that has the power to deliver riches if you push the button, but also someone will die.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD.

Comments SC: I saw this story done on the ‘80s Twilight Zone. I knew what I would do as soon as I read the description.
Level of Interest: Very little but could change. It is a Matheson, after all.

A Christmas Carol
Cast: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes
Hits the Theaters JJJ: November 6th
Comments: Uber-director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Forrest Gump) gives us yet another spin on the classic Charles Dickens tale.  This time, he uses the same performance capture technique that he employed in his previous animated movie The Polar Express along with the already animated Jim Carrey playing Scrooge and each of the ghosts that visit him.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it if time allows.

Comments SC: Not a Jim Carrey fan.
Level of Interest: None

2012
Cast: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover
Director: Roland Emmerich
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: November 13th
Comments JJJ: Master of Disaster Roland Emmerich wiped out the Earth with aliens in Independence Day and Global Warming in The Day After Tomorrow, now he does it with the Mayan calendar in 2012.  Strap on your seat belts and get ready for the destruction roller coaster!
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD.

Comments SC: I thought Day After Tomorrow sucked. This doesn’t impress me as being better.
Level of Interest: None, really, but I know someone who wants to see it so I may get roped into it.

Fantastic Mr. Fox
Cast: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray
Director: Wes Anderson
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: November 13th
Comments JJJ: This movie gives us another adaptation of a children’s book.  Roald Dahl’s feisty Mr. Fox comes to life with stop-motion animation and George Clooney croon.  Stop-motion is a rarity these days and automatically moves this one up a notch on my list.
Interest Level: I will catch it if time allows.

Comments SC: Whatever.
Level of Interest: None.

Planet 51
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman
Director: Jorge Blanco
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: November 20th
Comments JJJ: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson lands on an alien planet to find it populated by little green people living the idyllic life of suburban America in the 1950’s . . . Yes you did read that correctly.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD.  Maybe.

Comments SC: Is this what they’re hiding at AREA 51? And if so why do they feel the need to show it to us now?
Level of Interest: Are you kidding?

New Moon
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Director: Chris Weitz
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes
Hits the Theaters: November 20th
Comments JJJ: The sequel to last year’s Twilight has probably already brought several texting networks to the verge of collapse as pre-teen girls go wild with anticipation.  And tickets for this show are already on sale.
Interest Level: None

Comments SC: See Cirque du Freak above.
Level of Interest: I’m not a teenage girl.

The Princess and the Frog
Cast: Anika Noni Rose, Oprah Winfrey, Keith David, John Goodman
Director: Ron Clements
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: November 25th
Comments JJJ: Disney’s first 2-D animated movie in five years takes The Frog Princess fairy tale and spices it up New Orleans style.  Should provide a nice break from the recent overload of CGI animation.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD.

Comments SC: Dunno.
Level of Interest: Very little.

December:

The Lovely Bones
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon
Director: Peter Jackson
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: December 11th January 15th
Comments JJJ: Peter Jackson takes a detour from the blockbusters of The Lord of the Rings and King Kong as he gives us a tale of a murdered girl who watches from the afterworld as her family and friends come to terms with her violent death.
Interest Level: A must see!

Comments SC: This is one of those things that sounds kind of interesting and either is very gripping or is sleep inducing. I give Jackson the benefit of the doubt.
Level of Interest: Not a lot, really, but I may go see this.

Avatar
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
Director: James Cameron
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: No
Hits the Theaters: December 18th
Comments JJJ: James Cameron (Aliens, Terminator 2, The Abyss) returns to the director’s chair to helm this mega-expensive blockbuster ($200 million and counting).  The premise of humans infiltrating an alien planet sounds similar to this past Summer’s Battle for Terra, but I’m sure this will be a very different experience.
Interest Level: A must see!

Comments SC: I like Cameron pretty well, and I love Sigourney, and I love sf. Why do I feel like I’m being sand-bagged here?
Level of Interest: I really want to see this.

Sherlock Holmes
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong
Director: Guy Ritchie
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes
Hits the Theaters: December 25th
Comments JJJ: Hollywood is always looking for a new film franchise to fill the theaters and we have not heard much from the infamous British detective in a while.  And hey, why create something new and original when you can guarantee ticket sales with name recognition?  And it’s pretty sequel friendly to boot.
Interest Level: I’ll catch it on DVD if I’m really bored one day.

Comments SC: JJJ said it as well as I ever could.
Level of Interest: Less than New Moon, and that’s saying something.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Cast: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Zachary Levi
Director: Betty Thomas
Sequel/Prequel/Re-Make/Spin-Off: Yes
Hits the Theaters: December 25th
Comments JJJ: And speaking of sequels, this is one I’m sure we really need to have.  Yet more from the uber-cute, CGI, falsetto crooners.  Any chance we will get a team-up between these guys and G-Force?
Interest Level: None.

Comments SC: Why can’t they just meet the Wolfman again? That was a cool movie.
Level of Interest: Somewhere around Sherlock Holmes

Other Late 2009 / Early 2010 Movies:

Daybreakers
The Wolfman
Red Sonja
Tekken
The Crazies
Alice in Wonderland