With the majority of the year behind us, we all look forward to jesting, playing cards and watching movies. Ah yes, the favorite past time for those of us who can stand shelling out 9.50 or more a weekend to see something good. The previous months have presented us with tons of movies. Some good(Cloud Atlas, Looper, Cabin in the Woods) and some bad(The Amazing Spider-Man, That’s My Boy, Battleship). The major studios and independent film circuit has saved it’s best films for last, and if this is the last year in the world, then I don’t think I’ll be disappointed. These are my most anticipated films of the rest of the year. Let’s take a looksy, shall we?

• Skyfall – British spies, handsome gadgets and extravagant women – who better to handle that kind of stuff than James Bond himself? The 23rd installment of this franchise sees Daniel Craig reprise his role as the smooth talking and ass-kicking secret agent, and this time he faces a formidable threat in Javier Bardem. Why I’m excited: I love Craig’s Bond, and have been waiting eagerly for his return since Quantum came out in ‘08. Pair craig with a supporting cast that includes Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw, as well as director Sam Mendes, and you get what some critics are hailing as the best Bond yet. Can’t wait for the explosions and the martinis to unfold on the big screen. When it’s coming out: November 9th

• Anna Karenina – I’m skipping Spielberg’s Lincoln in favor of a different period piece. One that I’m certainly more curious about. This film, an adaptation of the Tolstoy classic, chronicles love, passion and betrayal. Why I’m excited: The cast is wicked: Keira Knightly, Jude Law and Aaron Johnson lead this Russian love story. The director, Joe Wright, helmed one of the truly underrated films of recent years with Hanna, and he’s back to tease us with his visual flare and storytelling excellence. Also, this movie is reported to be set almost entirely on a stage. Hell yeah. When it’s coming out: November 16th

• Silver Linings Playbook - As soon as it premiered at Toronto International Film Festival people started screaming “Oscar!”. The film stars Bradley Cooper and (Katniss!) Jennifer Lawrence. The trailers are selling it as an odd love story, but we all know that there’s more to it. Why I’m excited: Director David O’ Russell is following this up from The Fighter, which was an amazing movie. So naturally, I’m ready to devour this one. The cast is great, with Cooper, Lawrence, and even supporting roles from Robert DeNiro and Chris Tucker(?!). The trailers made it look funny, which the Fighter was at times, and the early reviews out of TIFF are calling it one of the best films of the year. When it’s coming out: November 23rd

• Life of Pi – A story about a boy stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean. Wait, that’s not entirely true. He’s stranded in the ocean in a boat, and there’s also a Tiger in the boat. Sounds enticing. Why I’m excited: Director Ang Lee is being brave here, adapting a best seller with a concept that is kind of hard to sell. Casting a kid no one’s heard of and putting him in a boat for the majority of the movie? I’m on board(ha!). The film looks like a visual spectacle, and with one early reviewer saying it’s “the next Avatar”, how can I not be excited? When it’s coming out: November 23rd

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Peter Jackson returns to the material that started it all, with the prequels to the colossally popular Lord of the Rings series. This film, the first in a trilogy, centers around the beginning of young Bilbo’s journey into what’s presumably some adventure involving swords and talking trees and a dragon. Why I’m excited: This movie has been a long time coming. It’s interesting to see Peter Jackson return to the series after he left it in the hands of Guillermo del Toro(who departed for various reasons). I’m excited nevertheless. The ensemble cast is eclectic, with many key players returning. Hopefully it will be as fun and adventurous as the first three. When it’s coming out: December 14th

• This is Forty – A pseudo, sort of sequel to Knocked Up, this film centers around a married couple and the ups and downs of being in a long term relationship and growing older and overcoming the idiocy that is modern technology. Why I’m excited: It’s directed by Judd Apatow, who is pretty much a comedy genius in today’s day and age. Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprise their characters from the movie Knocked Up, which they had fantastic chemistry in. The supporting cast looks great, and the trailer made me laugh, which is a plus. When it’s coming out: December 21st

• Django Unchained – The return of Quentin Tarantino sees him tackle the western genre. Nuff said. Why I’m excited: It’s Tarantino, who’s last movie, Inglourious Basterds was amazing. He’s got a freaking stellar cast, with Jaime Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leo DiCaprio as the bad guy. We saw what happens when Tarantino does samurai. We saw what happens when Tarantino does war. Now I can’t wait to see what he does with the western, which has undoubtedly been a great influence on the majority of his films. So, so, so excited. When it comes out: December 25th

• Les Miserables – You know, the story of the french people being poor, and stuff is turned into a sprawling three hour musical. Why I’m excited: I don’t normally enjoy musicals. I thought Mamma Mia was god awful and don’t even get me started on Sweeney Todd. But this is different. For one, the cast is amazing: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried to name a few. The director is Tom Hooper, who’s following up his Oscar win for Best Director and Best Picture(The Kings Speech) with this epic. On top of that, Hooper is going where no musical auteur has dared traveled: he’s using the actors live recordings, instead of recording them in the studio. Having heard some of the songs in the trailer, I can say, without hesitation, that it’s absolutely paid off. When it comes out: December 25th

Other Movies to Consider:

• Lincoln
• Killing them Softly
• Rust and Bone
• Zero Dark Thirty
• Jack Reacher
• The Impossible
• Not Fade Away
• On the Road
• Promised Land
• West of Memphis

Ones to Avoid:

• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II
• Hitchcock
• Hyde Park on Hudson
• Playing for Keeps
• The Guilt Trip
• Parental Guidance