What's there to look forward to Nowadays?

For a critic there's always a pessimistic thought that creeps into your head whenever you see a trailer for a new movie. After all, you've seen it all before if you've seen enough movies. Chick flicks are assuredly going to be bad, sci-fi movies rarely turn out impressive, and horror movies generally disappoint as well. Of course, there are some exciting filmmakers nowadays who are, if not guaranteed to, expected to deliver an enjoyable film experience or just maybe one that's smart at the same time.
Whoa! Imagine that...
Of course, there's always Judd Apatow, who you can expect to deliver something hilarious and heartfelt, and yes intelligent as well. If he doesn't exactly hit the mark every time (see Funny People) you are at least getting something fresh.
Then there's the not so newcomer Tim Burton. Alice in Wonderland was a let down, but Nine was not. This is a visionary filmmaker at work and someone who's previous films shouldn't be overlooked, no matter how obscure the subject matter.
If you're looking for sci-fi, look no further than the producer of my least favorite tv show of all time, JJ Abrams. I may not be a Lost fan, and Cloverfield didn't exactly do it for me, but Star Trek was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I expect great things from him (sequel?) and hope he eventually abandons Lost and moves full-time to Hollywood.
Do I need to say anything about Pixar? I guess I will point out that Toy Story 3 has about a .000001 percent chance of being even as good as the original two. Big mistake as far as I'm concerned, while trilogies can be great, in this case two was enough.  Still, they are one of the best group of filmmakers ever.
The last group I'd like to point out is the duo of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright. Shaun of the Dead was of course pure genius and then Hot Fuzz surpassed it in my mind. Spaced (their now 10 year old t.v. show) was a delight for the senses (and brain) and anyone who is a fan of the former two movies should definitely give it a viewing. It's on DVD in the U.S. now.  These two (along with Nick Frost) will be collaborating for the last movie in the three flavors cornetto trilogy, which refers to the references in Shaun and Fuzz to a certain flavor of Cornetto Ice Cream (think Nestle Drumstick). Surely this is the most anticipated movie of the decade so far.
With so much out there NOT to look forward to, that's hopefully a list that will improve the discerning movie fan's spirits. As of right now Kick Ass and Hot Tub Time Machine are my upcoming favorites. The former is sure to please, the latter I'm still uneasy about but willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
Happy movie going everybody!