By David Gordon

Movies:

It’s a very diverse year for cinema with a few war-related films, many children’s movies and even a high-profile gothic musical in the mix. The following are just a few of the highly anticipated flicks that you’ll most likely be spending $10.75 on.

Now playing, Brad Pitt is gaining early Oscar buzz playing the title role in “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”. Test audiences didn’t like the original cut of the film, so Pitt went back to reedit it himself. Critics were mixed, finding it too talky.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon star in the CIA drama “Rendition” (Oct 19), the movie that brought them romantically together (they’ve since separated…or have they?)

November brings “The Kite Runner,” a movie adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s New York Times best-seller about a voyage to present day Afghanistan, opening Nov 2, along with “Bee Movie,” the Jerry Seinfeld-produced CGI film about a bee who falls in love with a florist.

Another film involving present-day Afghanistan is Robert Redford’s “Lions for Lambs” (Nov. 9), about a journalist (Meryl Streep), a congressman (Tom Cruise) and a professor (Redford) who must investigate the injuries of two American soldiers.

Later in the year, there’s “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” (Nov. 16) about Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) and his magical toy store, which he decides to give over to store manager Natalie Portman. Also aimed at children is “Enchanted” (Nov. 21). Half Disney cartoon, half Disney live action, it’s about a princess banished by her evil stepmother to present day New York City.

December brings “I Am Legend” (Dec. 14), Will Smith’s new movie in which he finds himself the lone survivor of a biological weapon attack on New York City. There’s also the live-action adaptation of “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” starring Jason Lee as Dave Seville.

But the most anticipated by far is Tim Burton’s bloody adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical, “Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” The film, about a barber who gets revenge on his enemies by slitting their throats and the pie maker who bakes them into pies, stars Burton favorite Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter alongside Alan Rickman. And yes, they all sing.

Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling novel, “The Kite Runner” gets its own screen adaptation, out in November. (AllMoviePhotos.com)

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter once again join forces with director Tim Burton, this time in a screen adaptation of the musical “Sweeney Todd.” (AllMoviePhotos.com)

Veteran Dustin Hoffman portrays a toy store owner and joins screen darling Natalie Portman in the fantastical film “Mr. Marorium’s Wonder Emporium,” out just in time for Thanksgiving. (AllMoviePhotos.com)