Superheroed out? Fall movies have arrived.

The biggest news about the fall/winter movie season is not what you will be seeing, but what you won’t be seeing. Warner Brothers, in a move of pure evil, has postponed the next Harry Potter from November to next freaking summer.

Hey, some of these Potterheads are diehards, and I fear the possibility of riots! They’re revved up like Star Wars fans, and they dress up like characters from the movies/books and get emotionally involved in these installments. (I don’t. No, really, I don’t). Moving their movie over half a year away is dastardly, and if I had anything resembling gumption, I’d boycott the assholes. But, alas, I am weak, and I will be there on opening day, smelling of sun block instead of being adorned in wooly garments. It just seems so wrong!

As it stands, we had a fun summer with the superheroes and the funny guys and whatnot, but we’re in the same boat we’re always in at this time of year—hoping the last chunk of the 2008 calendar can rescue a mediocre movie year’s ass. Bring on the quality movies that get our brains percolating!

Here be a sample of the films that give me the most hope for pure goodness, or ones I just really want to see.

Burn After Reading

The Coen brothers follow the triumph of No Country for Old Men with a nutty-looking comedy, which sort of echoes what they did when they followed up Fargo with The Big Lebowski. Hey, if it has the Coen stamp on it, it automatically moves to the top of the anticipation list. If you have a problem with this, I will fight you.

Oh my, this one looks mighty interesting. David Fincher directs Brad Pitt as a man who ages backwards. If you haven’t seen the coming attractions for it yet, Google it, and be amazed. This has the makings of something truly amazing.

Oliver Stone makes what looks like a comedy out of the life of one George W. Bush (played by Josh Brolin). What other way could he go, really? I just re-watched Nixon and have newfound respect for that film. I’m all ready for some crazy Oliver Stoneness in a year that’s been playing it way too safe.

Kevin Smith leaves his View Askew universe (no Jay and Silent Bob) and employs Seth Rogen the Great and Elizabeth Banks as two broke roomies who decide to make some money by making a film from the genre heralded in this movie’s title. Smith is best when he’s completely obscene, his stars are comically gifted, and there will probably be lots of nudity. Yippee!!! (Banks is also starring as Laura Bush in W., so it’s a big year for her).

Good Christ, I’ve started and stopped reading the Cormac McCarthy book on which this film is based, like, five times. I only have a couple of months to suck it in because the movie is a coming, and it’s got Aragon (Viggo Mortensen) in it. It’s about some dude and his son trekking across an apocalyptic wasteland, but you knew that because, unlike me, you’ve completed the book.

Bill Murray ends his rest from leading roles by playing the mayor of a town where, for many years, residents have lived under giant lights. Their generator starts to fail, the lights start to dim, and some kids try to save the day. This science-fiction family adventure also stars Tim Robbins and the amazingly good Saoirse Ronan.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official, who was assassinated by dickhead Dan White (played by Josh Brolin). It’s directed by Gus Van Sant, which means it has a fighting chance of being really good. Having Penn and Brolin in your cast doesn’t hurt.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet re-team for the first time since Titanic, and Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Jarhead) is at the helm. This makes me happy, even though the movie is supposed to be kind of sad.

It used to be that the prospect of a James Bond movie didn’t really do anything for me. That’s all changed since Daniel Craig took over the role.

Sam Rockwell, one of the greatest actors breathing, stars in the latest adaptation of a book by Chuck Palahniuk. Need I say more?

Clint Eastwood ain’t screwing around this year. He directs Angelina Jolie in The Changeling, and then he directs himself in Gran Torino. Crazy old bastard isn’t ready to stop just yet.

Really curious to see what has transpired here. Bryan Singer directs Tom Cruise in a film based on a true plot to kill Hitler. Early buzz was bad, and the release date has changed numerous times. I say you can’t go wrong with Cruise and an eye patch.