I’m excited for pretty much about every single one of these upcoming films featured in i09’s article, 70 Science Fiction and Fantasy Films to Watch Out for in 2012. 

My top choices, however, are:

Chronicle (Feb. 3)
A group of teenagers gain telekinetic powers, in this “found footage” superhero movie. And judging from the trailer, one of them gets a little bit power-mad.

Something about this just screams ‘interesting’ at me. I’m not a ‘found footage’ fan, but seeing it used in this context intrigues me. Will it be as good as I hope? Who knows…

Here is where I would say The Woman in Black, but I’m a scaredy-cat, so that would be lying. From what I’ve heard, the original version of this, which was made for British television, was so scary that it was never aired more than once. Sold, if I can look past my hands at all.

The Raven (March 9)
John Cusack stars as fantasy/horror writer Edgar Allen Poe, as he investigates a series of crimes based on his stories.

I’m guessing this movie will probably be crap, but I love me some John Cusack and Poe freaks the living day lights out of me. Also, Edgar Allen Poe as an action/thriller star? What up now, bizzies?!

The Hunger Games (March 23)
It’s a post-apocalyptic future, and the United States has become the dystopian Panem, where children battle to the death in a huge arena.

I read the books (entire series) in about two weeks. ‘Nuff said. (I have more to say, though, so here goes.) So far, I’m not a fan of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, but that’s only based on her looks. I’ll be interested to see if she can pull Katniss off. Bonus: Gary Ross also directed Pleasantville, one of my favorite movies.

Here is where I would say Cabin in the Woods, but I’m a scaredy-cat, so that would be lying. Joss Whedon + Chris Helmsworth, however, might be worth not sleeping for a week.

The Avengers (May 4)
The culmination of all those Marvel superhero films, this one sees a crew of movie stars facing off against Loki, and his friends.

I think we’ve all been waiting for this.

Prometheus (June 8 )
Ridley Scott returns to science fiction in this ambiguous Alien prequel. A crew of explorers seeks the origins of humanity, but may find the end of the human race instead.

Just. Please. Now. If you haven’t seen the trailer, watch it. In fact, check out this post by Chris Hardwick in which he handily places the trailer for Prometheus next to the trailer from Alien. Awesome. Most intriguing shot from the trailer? The one where Charlize Theron looks like a creepy crawly alien. I have thoughts on this…

Brave (June 22)
Pixar’s first female hero, Merida, goes on a quest in this fairy-tale epic. Merida defies custom and makes a mistake that nearly unleashes chaos on the land.

If nothing else, I just want to watch the beauty that is Merida’s hair movements in Pixar’s newest creation. I just cannot believe how far computer animation has come.

I haven’t seen anything by Timur Bekmambetov, but I hear absolutely fantastic things, so I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for more information on Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.

The Amazing Spider-Man (July 3)
Spider-Man’s origin gets retold, just six years after the last Spidey movie. This time he faces the Lizard, and meets Gwen Stacey.

I want to marry Andrew Garfield… and Emma Stone.

Paranorman (Aug 17)
A boy who can speak with the dead tries to save his town from an ancient curse after it’s besieged by the undead.

I still remember how creeped out and amazed I was by Coraline. I want that to happen again.

Looper (Sept. 28)
This time-travel movie, directed by Brick‘s Rian Johnson, features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a hitman who has to deal with his own future self (Bruce Willis).

Noir + JGL = Love

Frankenweenie (Oct. 5)
The full-length version of Tim Burton’s cult short movie about an undead dog.

One of the first creations I ever watched in my first ever film class, Frankenweenie (the short) changed my life. Hopefully, the full length lives up to that.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Nov. 16)

…JUST KIDDING

Gravity (Nov. 21)
Sandra Bullock stars in Alfonso Cuaron’s epic about a woman who’s trapped in space after a space shuttle accident. George Clooney co-stars.

All I keep hearing is Guillermo Del Toro saying “life changing” and “Kubrickian”. Perhaps I just want to see this “one long take”.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey(Dec. 14)
Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth, in the first half of an adaptation of Tolkien’s classic quest novel.

Martin Freeman has yet to fail me in anything I’ve seen him in, and I’m really rooting for him in the Hobbit. Plus, it’s the Hobbit.

Honorable mentions: while I’m interested in seeing these films, I’m not yet excited. Operative word here is yet.

Antiviral
David Cronenberg’s son Brandon directs this weird film about people who smuggle viruses harvested from sick celebrities.

Upside Down
Kirsten Dunst and Jim Sturgess are lovers whose worlds are literally opposite, thanks to a weird gravitational quirk.

Iron Sky
The thrilling “Nazis on the Moon” film that we’ve been drooling over. Coming out April 4 in Finland, and hopefully sometime in the U.S.

Which ones are you excited for, and why?