Big Movies in 2007

20. 'Transformers'

Release Date: July 4
Why We're Excited: Michael Bay delivers a live-action flick based on an '80s cartoon about robotic aliens kicking each others' asses on Earth. Sounds preposterous, but it's jam-packed with cool effects, action and Bay's signature talent for blowing stuff up. Perhaps there's more to it than meets the eye.

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Discuss Big in '07

19. 'Blades of Glory'

Release Date: March 30
Why We're Excited: Will Ferrell plus men's professional pairs ice skating equals ... well, we don't know. We're not math whizzes over here. But we DO know that just imagining Ferrell in a man-itard makes us snort our Pepsi (blatant product placement, anyone?).

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18. 'Live Free or Die Hard'

Release Date: June 29
Why We're Excited: John McClane (Bruce Willis), the iconic badass who single-handedly took down two terrorist organizations on two separate Christmases, is back to battle something he hates more than Hans Gruber: Internet porn (and by "porn" we mean "terrorism"). Yippee-ki-yay, motherf!&#er!

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17. 'Zodiac'

Release Date: March 2
Why We're Excited: After three films in '05, Jake Gyllenhaal made us miss him in '06; this may be his only '07 flick -- for that reason alone, we're stoked. And director David Fincher takes a stab at a serial-killer thriller for the first time since 'Seven.' We expect to be thrilled.

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16. 'Beowulf'

Release Date: Nov. 16
Why We're Excited: True, the Old-English poem doesn't seem like blockbuster material. But this ain't your high-school version of 'Beowulf'; it's helmed by Robert Zemeckis, written by comic-book god Neil Gaiman and co-stars Angelina Jolie as Grendel's mom. Now that's epic.

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15. 'The Nanny Diaries'

Release Date: April 20
Why We're Excited: Take one hugely popular novel, add in Scarlett Johansson as the nanny with the job from hell, and you've got 2007's guilty-pleasure chick flick: It's 'The Devil Wears Prada' with potty training instead of fashion shows. ('The Devil Wears Pull-Ups'?)

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14. 'Be Kind Rewind'

Release Date: TBD
Why We're Excited: It's from Michel Gondry, the man who's taken us on fun-filled head trips with 'Eternal Sunshine' and 'Science of Sleep.' It's geared toward movie lovers (set in a video store). And it stars Jack Black and Mos Def. Need we say more?

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13. 'Evan Almighty'

Release Date: June 22
Why We're Excited: Well, drop any other actor in this premise -- a man is tasked by God (Morgan Freeman) to make like Noah and build an ark -- and we'd be skeptical. But given it's Steve Carell, we're keeping the faith this sequel to 'Bruce Almighty' will be hee-larious.

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12. 'American Gangster'

Release Date: Nov. 7
Why We're Excited: Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington lock horns as an NYPD detective and a Harlem drug kingpin in this '70s-set drama from Ridley Scott. With Russell as the tough cop and Denzel as the urban baddie, it's like 'L.A. Confidential' meets 'Training Day.' We can't wait for the fireworks.

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11. 'Ratatouille'

Release Date: June 29
Why We're Excited: It doesn't take much to get us psyched about a Pixar film. But this one's directed by Brad Bird ('The Incredibles') and has a quirky storyline about a foodie rat, which means Pixar's about to knock our socks off ... again. Genius can be SO predictable.

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10. 'Knocked Up'

Release Date: June 1
Why We're Excited: It's Judd Apatow's follow-up to the 2005 sleeper hit 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin.' And, for the cherry on top of the ice-cream sundae of hilarity that will be this movie, it stars the adorable Katherine Heigl of 'Grey's Anatomy' as a woman who gets, um, knocked up by a one-night stand. McSweet!

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9. 'The Simpsons Movie'

Release Date: July 27
Why We're Excited: We've only been waiting for a big-screen version of 'The Simpsons' for six years or so. The not-so-revealing teaser trailer and scandalous plot outline on IMDB ("Plot unknown") somehow only whet our appetite more. Mmmm, movie shrouded in a cloud of mystery.

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8. 'Ocean's 13'

Release Date: June 8
Why We're Excited: George Clooney, Brad Pitt and posse once again got together and partied, or as they call it, "shooting a movie." The most enticing development: Andy Garcia turns from foe to friend, while Al Pacino fills out the villain's shoes. And yells a lot, we're sure.

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7. 'The Bourne Ultimatum'

Release Date: Aug. 3
Why We're Excited: Fresh off the powerful but heavy 'United 93,' Paul Greengrass has high-octane entertainment in his crosshairs. He promises the third Bourne flick will blow away its two predecessors, as Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) finally uncovers the mysteries of his past. And, yes, there will be a car chase.

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6. 'Shrek the Third'

Release Date: May 18
Why We're Excited: Shrek (Mike Myers), Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) set out on a quest to ... bring 'Sexyback'? Actually they'e off to find a young King Arthur, voiced by Justin Timberlake. Expect tons of celeb cameos, fairy-tale puns and probably a few farts (courtesy of Shrek).

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5. 'Grindhouse'

Release Date: April 6
Why We're Excited: Robert Rodgriguez and Quentin Tarantino give us two films -- a zombie movie and a slasher flick -- for the price of one. And the bit in the trailer where zombie-slaying amputee Rose McGowan straps a machine gun to her stump, well, that just brings tears to our eyes.

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4. '300'

Release Date: March 9
Why We're Excited: This epic tale, based on Frank Miller's visionary graphic novel about 300 Spartans who faced down the mighty Persian army at Thermopylae, feels like 'Gladiator,' looks like 'Sin City' and is perhaps the greatest underdog story ever. We can't wait to dine in hell.

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3. 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'

Release Date: July 13
Why We're Excited: We've read (and re-read) the books, we know the story. But the fun of the 'Potter' series is watching the actors grow and seeing how the director puts page to screen. The revolving door of helmers has kept us guessing, and this one's no exception.

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2. 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'

Release Date: May 26
Why We're Excited: Like, oh, about 6 BILLION people around the world, we too saw 'Dead Man's Chest' and were at the edge of our seats when it ended. Prior to that, we'd thought only 'LOTR' could get away with a cliffhanger. But then came Jack.

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1. 'Spider-Man 3'

Release Date: May 4
Why We're Excited: Screw Green Goblin and Doc Oc. This time, Spidey (Tobey Maguire) has a more formidable enemy: his own inner demons (look for him to embrace his dark side). He also takes on THREE villains: Night Surfer, Sandman and Venom -- and juggles two women! Ah, to be an arachnid ...

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Oscar's Winning Women

We check in with the past 15 Best Actress Oscar winners -- from Kathy Bates to Charlize Theron to Reese Witherspoon -- to see what they'be been up to since snagging their gold statuettes.
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