By John C.

It’s hard to believe that we are no longer in 2010.  I will be sharing my picks for some of the best and worst titles of the previous year over the coming month of January, but believe it or not, I am still playing catch up on a select few titles.  So for now, here are my picks for some of the most anticipated movies that are set to be released in the first half of the coming year.

Surprisingly, aside from the curiosity that is The Green Hornet (Jan. 14th) and several festival favourites that are finally making their way to Canadian screens, I didn’t really find any titles from January or February to put on this list.  There are countless titles being released in 2011, including the small gems that we always look forward to discovering on the festival circuit.  There are many others coming from major studios that I will likely regret not putting on this list, but here are a select 11 right off the bat that are all coming before August, and already have me interested.

Rango – March 4th from Paramount Pictures

The first full length film from special effects powerhouse Industrial Light and Magic, this CG western starring Johnny Depp looks to be an edgy, funny and original adventure for older kids and adults.

Rio – April 15th from 20th Century Fox

From Blue Sky Studios, this animated adventure about a bird going to Brazil has me most interested for the leading voice work by Jesse Eisenberg and Anne Hathaway.

African Cats – April 22nd from Walt Disney Pictures

The Earth day documentaries from Disney•Nature are always beautiful to watch, and the latest is set against the backdrop of the African savanna and should be a great excuse to see these images on the big screen.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – May 20th from Walt Disney Pictures

The fourth in the popular franchise, this stand alone adventure is most anticipated for its swaggering return of Johnny Depp as the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow.

The Tree of Life – May 27th from Fox Searchlight

Director Terrence Malick’s first film since 2005’s The New World, The Tree of Life is easily the most anticipated movie of the year and the most sophisticated one on this list.  There is a cloud of secrecy surrounding the project, but the trailer finally dropped a few weeks back.  I hate to add to the hype, but this looks to be a stunning, breathtaking and beautiful human journey, like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

Kung Fu Panda 2 – May 27th from Paramount Pictures

Dreamworks Animation has a long track record of sequels, and a follow-up to the excellent Kung Fu Panda may seem needless.  But in the case of the second movies in the Shrek and Madagascar franchises, they actually proved to be at least as good as their predecessors.  So fingers crossed for a film that equals or betters the original.

Super 8 – June 10th from Paramount Pictures

Director J.J. Abrams’ first film since 2009’s Star Trek, all that is known of the mysterious Super 8 is that it takes place in 1979 and involves Area 51.  The little that we know so far already has me excited.

Cars 2 – June 24th from Walt Disney Pictures

I’m not expecting something in the same mature and emotional league as some of the previous Pixar winners, but this looks to be a satisfying follow-up to the underappreciated 2006 film.  The action-oriented trailer was pretty awesome, and this is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – July 15th from Warner Bros. Pictures

For me, the Harry Potter movies are no longer about the hype.  With outstanding art direction and cinematography, these are fully realized films that provide smart escapist fantasy.  Part 1 of the grand finale was excellent, and Part 2 looks to be a worthy closer to the series.

Winnie the Pooh – July 15th from Walt Disney Pictures

This 2D big screen revival of the bear of very little brain should be a nice change of pace for everyone over next summer.  We got a beautifully edited trailer a few months back, and this film solidly gets my vote for nostalgia and sentimentality.

Cowboys & Aliens – July 29th from Universal Pictures

Be it both Iron Man movies, the sci-fi adventure Zathura, or the charming Christmas comedy Elf, Jon Favreau’s efforts as a director have never disappointed.  This sci-fi western starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford looks to be no exception.