MANILA, Philippines--Film buffs are excited about some new movies that are set to play in theaters this year. The most unique and eagerly-awaited productions include:

James Cameron?s ?Avatar,? the ?Titanic? director?s 3D saga about human clones of aliens. Can Cameron?s latest film approximate the exceptional success of ?Titanic,? still the most popular film of all time?

The latest ?Sherlock Holmes? movie, directed by Guy Ritchie, transforms the dour sleuth into a more exciting and passionate investigator, thanks in large measure to Robert Downey Jr.?s exuberant characterization. Even his traditionally dry and terse assistant, Watson, has been revitalized by Jude Law.

Animation techniques

Talk about transformations, Jim Carrey has been transmogrified by motion-capture and animation techniques into Ebenezer Scrooge, the world?s stingiest and most cold-hearted man.

Any new movie by Clint Eastwood is cause for celebration, so we look forward to viewing ?Invictus,? a film on Nelson Mandela.

New animated features on view are led by ?Toy Story 3.? And, if you?re a diehard Michael Jackson fan, you can look forward to viewing ?This Is It,? a film edited together from extensive rehearsal footage of his would-have-been series of special shows in London. The ?rehearsal? film opens worldwide on Oct. 28.

Personally, we?re eager to savor two Meryl Streep starrers-?Julia & Julie,? where the revered star plays pioneering TV chef, Julia Child, and ?It?s Complicated,? where she?s pursued by two men (Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin).

Other admired thespians with new starrers to delight their fans include Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart, Nicole Kidman in the musical, ?Nine,? Robin Williams and John Travolta in ?Old Dogs,? George Clooney in ?Up in the Air? and Matt Damon in ?The Informant.? Reasons to celebrate, indeed.

Chinoy movie

Locally, Comedy King Dolphy has a new starrer in the works that we?re looking forward to viewing next year, Sharon Cuneta topbills the latest ?Mano Po? Chinoy movie in this year?s Metro film fest, and Aga Muhlach is gearing up for another rom-com starrer.
If we had our druthers, it would be great if new films could also be made soon starring Nora Aunor, Hilda Koronel, Mona Lisa, Susan Roces, Lolita Rodriguez, Pilar Pilapil, Daria Ramirez, Barbara Perez, Robert Arevalo, Jose Mari Avellana, Mark Gil, Amy Austria, Rosa Rosal, Rosemarie Gil, Tirso Cruz III, Lorna Tolentino, Elizabeth Oropesa, Laurice Guillen, Johnny Delgado, Marlene Dauden, Charo Santos and Bembol Roco. We need to benefit from their proven acting prowess?soonest.