With 2011 rapidly coming to an end, many film fans are hastily spending their remaining days in local theaters, trying to catch a few more of the year’s films before they return to their everyday lives. And why not? The last days of the year always prove to have a great mixture of crazy fun, big-budget films – like Sherlock Holmes and Mission Impossible – and quiet, awards-y films – like The Iron Lady or My Week With Marilyn.

After seeing an exclusive preview of the upcoming fourth film in the series, it was immediately marked as my must-see movie to watch this holiday season. In a crowded lineup of potential blockbusters, standing out isn’t an easy thing to do. But Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol sets itself apart from other contenders by raising the bar for what’s been seen in any action picture to date. If the trailers didn’t get you hooked, than here are three major reasons that demand the need for pre-ordering tickets instantly.

In the Fall, as the kids head back to school, the market for animated films bottoms out. In the next two months, Disney’s limited engagement 3D re-release of The Lion King, opening for two weeks only on September 16th, will be the only animated product in the market.

It’s hard to believe but it’s already that time of year again, the Fall movie season. It feels like just yesterday I was sitting in the theatre watching films like The Social Network, The King’s Speech, Black Swan etc. We’re on the heels of the best time for movies and the best time to be a movie fan. This is when we get to see all the Awards films. From September to November (and sometimes December), studios put up their best shots for the little gold statue. If you’re going to see a really good film this year, it will be in the next few months.

Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming horror/thriller Don’t Be Afraid looks to be a spooky, atmospheric thrill ride. Hitting theaters on August 26th, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark has released some eerie trailers and clips that have me highly intrigued. And though del Toro didn’t direct this horror pic, he co-wrote the script and co-produced it, so there should be plenty of his dark imagination when it comes to supernatural scares.

Though it isn’t set to come out until June 22, 2012, teaser trailers and a few released images of Disney Pixar’s Brave have already excited plenty of buzz. This new and original take on a “princess” fairytale looks like a Celtic-flavored girl-power animated adventure. Not only do I expect the best from Pixar when it comes to CG animation, but I’m interested in seeing how their first film starring a heroine instead of a hero turns out.

With the release of yet another trailer, it certainly feels like Universal Studios has its promotional machine in high gear for upcoming sci fi/western Cowboys and Aliens. The film does have more than a few things to recommend it, from director Jon Favreau to a stellar cast including James Bond player Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde and Sam Rockwell. Cowboys and Aliens hits theaters on July 29, and it is yet to be determined whether genre-film fans will turn out to see it.

Upcoming Edgar Allen Poe mystery/thriller The Raven looks intriguing, as we get a peek at the first official image released by Relativity Media. John Cusack stars as the tortured Poe, who joins forces with a detective to hunt down a serial killer in this James McTeigue-directed pic. The Raven comes out next year on March 9, 2012.

YellowBrickRoad, an indie horror flick about of a group of investigators trying to solve the 70-year-old mystery of a missing town, has been a genre film festival darling for the last year. Now, thanks to horror film series Bloody Disgusting Selects, it will get a limited AMC theatrical release June 1st.

It’s that time of year again, the summer movie season. Time for all the superhero films, blockbusters and sequels. Time for the big box office takes and 3D/IMAX overload. Time to once again be entertained with daring stunts, monstrous explosions and raunchy comedies. And of course, it’s time for the We Got This Covered summer movie preview. Join us as we run down our most anticipated films of the summer and see why we’re so excited for them.