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Twilight (2008)

Did you really think I would let the opening weekend of Twilight 2 come and go without recommending you see the first film beforehand? I don't think you understand how serious the release of this film is going to be. I haven't been this pumped for a movie since J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (since I was in Greece when Harry Potter 6 was released and couldn't see it). New Moon has fanboy/girl written all over it. Who cares how much it makes in the long run? Its opening weekend is going to be huge. This one has twice the mythological creatures, twice the eye candy, twice the sexual tension and – as far as I'm concerned, this is the most important selling point – DAKOTA FANNING!

It was only because of my sick vampire fetish that resulted from watching season one of True Blood last summer that I even bothered to go see Twilight. That's right, I thought the movie looked like crap, like a True Blood knock-off for teens. Boy, was I wrong. For all the instant gratification and enjoyment that comes with watching the near-pornographic True Blood, there is equal entertainment to be found in the restraint and tension shown in Twilight. The man-whore in me WANTS True Blood, but the one-time believer of everlasting first love in me NEEDS Twilight. I don't necessarily need to be in some fairy tale blah blah blah romance, but it sure is nice to know the concept exists, and not since Romeo and Juliette have unable lovers been so intriguing.

Bella (Kristen Stewart) moves to a small town, so small that high school cliques don't exist and everyone is friendly. Then she meets one of the only five outcasts in the school, Edward (Robert Pattinson), who just happens to be a vampire. First they hate each other, then they like each other, then they love each other, then action and drama take the movie to a-whole-nother level that has me aching for the sequel. Just when I didn't think things could get better, that awkward Native American character, Jacob (Taylor Lautner), is bringing the werewolf clan front and center. That's not a cool enough reason to see New Moon? Okay, what about getting to see the vampire lawmakers and whatnot? Still not enough? Let me repeat myself from earlier... DAKOTA FANNING.

Center Stage (2000)

You know, there is one saving grace to the aforementioned Avatar: Zoe Saldana. It's sad how few people actually recognize that name, though. Only after this year might people start to acknowledge the supreme talent that is Ms. Saldana. Going into Avatar, you should at least know she was in this year's best movie, Star Trek (and I say that as someone who has always hated Star Trek and preferred Star Wars). If you don't know her after this year, you'll probably never catch on. She's sassy, unbelievably sexy and hasn't aged a day in the last ten years. My fingers are crossed that her 2009 blockbusters put her center stage on the A-list. If nothing else, she better keep those supporting roles coming.

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