Last weekend, Brian and I saw the full-length trailer for “The Last Samurai.” When I first heard about this movie, my first thought was, oh boy, Tom Cruise is “Shô-gun.” Bleah. But then we saw the trailer, the beautiful scenery, realistic-looking sword training, and what seemed to be historical accuracy and attention to detail. As the trailer ended we turned to each other and said at the same time “I want to see that…” Then I pinched Brian and he now owes me a coke.

There seems to be a long list of Fall-Winter movies on my list… perhaps I should just store that list here.

The Station Agent
Return of the King
The Last Samurai
Matrix Revolutions
Pieces of April
Die, Mommy, Die!
Shattered Glass
Stuck on You
Girl With a Pearl Earring

I noticed that a film of the book House of Sand and Fog is coming out in December… I read the book last summer in my book club, and I had a few problems with it… Though I will say I read it all the way through and thought it was an original story. I just kind of didn’t like the characters — as people. Their actions annoyed me. Maybe that’s compelling… anyway the casting of the movie seems fair (having read the book), and it might be really good. Of course now I’m a little bummed that I know what happens at the end, but I still might see this movie. I didn’t imagine someone like Ben Kingsley in the main role at all — I imagined a guy who was maybe heavier and maybe had a ‘stache, but I do think it works, and Kingsley is good in everything he does, pretty much.

I haven’t read Return of the King, so I don’t really know how the third movie in the trilogy will end. I presume all will end well, I just don’t know how it will get there.

To be honest, I am the least excited for the third “Matrix” movie. Maybe because I was sort of disappointed by the second one and kind of… don’t care? I dunno. I think the anticipation was a bit out of hand, anyway.

“Die, Mommy, Die!” will include yet another small indie role for Jason Priestly, who is actually the best actor to emerge from “Beverly Hills 90210.” No, really. I’m serious. And hey, looks like he’s walking again, at least — unless this was made prior to the crash.

Speaking of better actors, “Stuck on You” has Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon (the better of Ben’n’Matt) doing comedy. I heart them both.

I read Girl With a Pearl Earring last year for book club and loved it. Also I have a big fat crush on Scarlett Johansson, so I will totally be seeing this one, too.

In unrelated news, I love listening to the singing voice of Mark Kozelek.