What movies are you looking forward to in 2009?

1. 'Fanboys'
(Kyle Newman, 2008)
It's 1998 and four Star Wars fans can't wait to see "Episode I." So much so that they concoct a plan to break into director George Lucas' pad, the legendary Skywalker Ranch in California, and steal the film for their own enjoyment. Additional fanboy kudos for a cameo by William Shatner as himself.

2. 'Coraline'
(Henry Selick, 2009)
One afternoon, mischievous and bored Coraline stumbles upon a secret door. It leads to a crazy parallel dimension where anything is possible and her parents are more caring and fun. But as ever, such good luck comes at a price. This quirky stop-motion animation is based on a dark novella by acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman.

3. 'Blood: The Last Vampire'
(Chris Nahon, 2009)
Even Buffy might have a few problems competing with Saya, a 400-year-old demon-hunting vampire whose weapon of choice is a lethal Samurai sword. When she is sent on an undercover mission to an American military base in post-WWII Tokyo, she finds the perfect opportunity for a grand showdown against the highest-ranking vampire on Earth. The original 2000 Japanese animation was almost entirely in English, and its release on DVD was a hit in North America.

4. 'Watchmen'
(Zack Snyder, 2009)
This comic-based movie resurrects 1985 in an alternate universe, where the law has driven most superheroes into either retirement or vigilantism. But when a murdered man is revealed to have been a government-hired superhero, the superheroes uncover a terrifying conspiracy to eliminate them all, amidst heightened political tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

5. 'Dragonball Evolution'
(James Wong, 2009)
Fans of the original 1984 Japanese Manga series "Dragon Ball" and its spin-off TV series have had mixed feelings about this live-action American adaptation. No doubt that the original simple premise will be preserved -- protagonist Goku journeys to seek the advice of a wise martial arts master, to gather the seven magical Dragon Balls before an alien villain can use them for his evil plans -- but will Hollywood be able to pull it off?