2009 was a very interesting year, full of technological breakthroughs (Avatar), box office hits (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), surprises (The Hangover, The Proposal), and flops (Land of the Lost). We went from Jews shooting Nazis (Inglourious Basterds) to a kid befriending large-headed monsters (Where The Wild Things Are) and from creepy children films (Coraline) to low-budget sensations (Paranormal Activity).

So what will be the talk of 2010? We spot several trends in this year’s upcoming releases:

The 80s Revival: It crept back into fashion, it crept back into music and now it returns to the movies – you will not be able to escape 80s remakes or sequels this year. We’ve got the movie based on the TV show The A-Team, the remakes of Karate Kid, Footloose and Nightmare on Elm Street, and the sequels to Tron, Wall Street and Predator. What is it about that infamous decade…?

Unusual Superheroes and Super-Villains: 2010 takes the trend of flawed superheroes one step further with movies like The Green Hornet, which features Seth Rogen as the superhero, and Kick-Ass, a black comedy about a teen without any special powers who decides to become a superhero. Also coming up are super-villain films like Despicable Me and Megamind.

All-Star Comedies: Don’t they make any small-scale comedies these days? We have The Other Guys (Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Paris Hilton…) Grown Ups (Adam Sandler, Steve Buscemi, Salma Hayek, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock…), Little Fockers (Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Harvey Keitel…) and many more.

Sequels: Like any year in the last decade, most of the potential blockbusters of this year are part of successful series: Shrek Forever After, Sex and the City 2, Toy Story 3, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and more.

So here are our 10 most anticipated films of the upcoming year (by release date):

1. Shutter Island (Feb 19 2010)
Scorsese’s new film was pushed from the awards season of 2009 to the beginning of 2010, but that hasn’t lowered fans’ expectations – on the contrary. Scorsese reunites with his favorite actor Leonardo DiCaprio, this time for a period thriller set in the 50s. The trailer shows horror and supernatural themes - somewhat new to Scorsese’s work - in what looks like a combination of Changeling and The Shining…

2. Alice in Wonderland (Mar 5 2010)
Every new Burton film is a celebration for cinema lovers, and this take on Lewis Carroll’s classic is no different. It seems like Carroll’s crazy, nonsensical world will fit perfectly with Burton’s vision of twisted, fantastic images, full of magnificent colors and quirky characters. The usual Burton cast of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter is rounded out here with names like Anne Hathaway, Alan Rickman and Christopher Lee.

This is also Burton’s first attempt with 3D, which is supposed to enhance the vivid eccentricity of the wonderland. Perhaps this will be 2010’s take on the trend in movies expressing a preference for living in virtual reality or dream, as Slashfilm recently considered.

3. Green Zone (Mar 12 2010)
Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon reunite after two successful movies in the Jason Bourne series, and after Greengrass’s highly acclaimed United 93.

A US army officer (Damon) is sent to search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but instead reveals an elaborate US cover up. Some say the movie is too “Jason Bourne in Iraq.” But I say – what’s wrong with that? There’s no need to fix what isn’t broken, as Bourne fans will surely agree, and the trailer definitely shows the action sequences and realistic filmmaking that characterize Greengrass’s other works.

4. Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps (Apr 23 2010)
The 2000s were a terrible decade for Oliver Stone: The catastrophic Alexander (2004) and World Trade Center (2006) and the not-so-good W. (2008). Now Stone is returning to Wall Street (1987), a modern classic from the days he was considered one of the great directors of our times.

On one hand, it’s alarming that a supposedly original and daring director tries a sequel (and most sequels do not outdo their predecessors). On the other hand, the topic is timely.

Stone managed to recruit Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen from the original film, and added rising stars like Shia LeBeouf, Carey Mulligan and Josh Brolin. Will Stone get a fresh start in 2010? As a trailer was not yet released, we can only hope for the best.

5. Iron Man 2 (May 7 2010)
The first Iron Man was one of the most successful films of 2008, both financially and critically, second only to The Dark Knight. A fresh superhero take in terms of plot and casting, it was fun, light and fast-paced, yet with a well-delivered contemporary message.

The question now is whether the sequel will succeed in keeping this “feel” or will become more like other superhero films: too serious, too full of clichés. The trailer looks as fun as the first. Strengthening these prospects are the new additions to the already stellar cast: say welcome to Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson - in a tight black suite (let’s hope she won’t follow in the footsteps of Halle Berry and Michelle Pfeiffer).

6. Robin Hood (May 14 2010)
Gladiator’s effect hasn’t worn off for Ridley Scott, and despite the failure of his latest medieval epic (Kingdom of Heaven) he’s yet again trying his luck - with no other than the classic and extensively adapted vigilante tale.

However, this time it seems lessons were learned: The script was re-written several times, and Russell Crowe, Scott’s collaborator from Gladiator, is in the lead role. With actors like Cate Blanchett and William Hurt at his side, it’s no wonder this film is highly anticipated.

The recently released trailer reveals what will hopefully be an action-packed, thrilling film. More like Gladiator, less like Kingdom of Heaven. But will it outdo the successful Kevin Costner – Morgan Freeman adaptation?

7. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (May 28 2010)
Sword fights, evil wizards, breathtaking special effects – all these and more await us in adaptation of the beloved video game Prince of Persia. This is the movie Disney Studios hopes will become the next Pirates of the Caribbean. Aimed at teen audiences, stuffed with thrills and action, starring good-looking actors like Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton, the movies still stays within the safe borders of PG-13.

Director Mike Newell formerly directed Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which is considered one of the best Harry Potter films, and his vision of a fantastic world of magic and mystery looks very promising in the trailer.

8. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (June 30 2010)
New Moon made an astonishing $664 million despite its (relatively) medium-sized budget of $50 million. Its opening day gross was the highest ever recorded, even higher than The Dark Knight.

All eyes are now on director David Slade, who will replace New Moon’s director Chris Weitz. Will he be able to recreate those amazing box office results, or was it a one-time trick? Remaining in the leading roles are every-teenage-girl-fantasy Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

9. Inception (July 16 2010)
With the success of The Dark Knight, many expected Chris Nolan to “catch the wave” and continue for a third batman-franchise film. But Nolan, who is known for being a filmmaker always in search of new challenges, chose to do Inception instead.

Inception is probably the most mysterious project of the year - which of course heightens the anticipation. No real plot details are known, and the trailers are intriguing without being revealing. But with such a crew (same cinematographer, composer, editor and of course director as The Dark Knight) and cast (Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Michael Caine) this film promises to be worth watching, at least.

10. The Expendables (Aug 20 2010)
If your girlfriend took you to too many romantic comedies last year, this is your ultimate chance for revenge. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and cameos by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, all in a film directed by Sylvester Stallone as a tribute to the 80s action cinema. Can it get more typically “boys’ night” than this?!

Does the plot really matter? My guess is that it’ll include violence, fighting, shooting and explosions.

If any of you is anticipating – heaven forfend – a lesser-known indie or foreign film, or if you have any additions to, or criticism of, the list above, comment and let us know! And as a complement, you might check out Get the Big Picture on the worst movie of 2010.

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