With all the excitement this week over the news of Guillermo del Toro's confirmed role in the director's chair for the two Hobbit movies, it's a little refreshing to find a dissenting opinion, if only to keep the excitement from getting to exaggerated. Salon's Andrew O'Heir doesn't take kindly to the news in his Beyond the Multiplex blog, structuring his argument against the latest report in a calculated manner. First, O'Heir quotes from an interview he did with del Toro at Cannes in 2006, where the director stated his disdain for "heroic fantasy." It's quite possible that he has changed his stance on this, and not just because of The Hobbit: As recently as a few days ago, he was spotted at a protest staged by HETFET (Humans for the Ethical Treatment of Faeries, Elves and Trolls), which may or may not have been a publicity stunt on his part.

The rest of O'Heir's piece holds water. He thinks the franchise has been ensnared by greed and too many people are in charge. Reflecting on Peter Jackson's expansive power, O'Heir questions the director's comfort with handing the story over to another filmmaker ("It smells of George Lucas") and predicts an incoming conflict. He likes del Toro's work, but worries that the director might be working in somebody else's back yard. "We've got one of the true cinematic visionaries of our age, spending four years of his life in a universe created by another one," he writes. "It's just too many cooks in the kitchen."

What do you think? Is del Toro getting in over his head?

As much as I might not be a huge fan of the multitude of film festivals and awards shows where awards are seemingly given away for almost anything these days, some festivals do provide a valuable service to the filmmaking community. I'm specifically referring more to the ones that showcase independent and lower budget films or genres that traditionally don't fit easily into the mandate of the major awards shows or festivals. One of these gatherings is the Toronto After Dark Film Festival -- which is now gearing up for its 2nd go-around.

At this particular event, which bills itself as "Canada's premier showcase of thrilling international cinema," you'll be exposed to and have the chance to experience a diverse slate of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and thrilling films not just from Canada, but from around the world. Part of the mandate of the fest is to expose people to innovative and independent cinema they might not otherwise get to experience in a theater setting. The fest also helps to foster homegrown talent by offering a program featuring Canadian filmmakers who might not otherwise have their films exposed to a large audience (or, in some cases, any audience at all).

Of course, according to the fest's official site, even though they have a large selection of features, shorts and other film-related programming, its not all about the movies. During the event there will also be several parties hosted by the fest as well as, according to the site, a "hugely popular zombie walk" in downtown Toronto. Screenings of great films from undiscovered talent that helps promote independent filmmaking and zombies? What could be better than that? The fest runs from October 19-25.

Miramax doesn't seem to be at a loss for projects lately, so it looks like they have decided to let one go. Variety reports that Gold Circle Films has picked up the rights to the film version of the Thomas Wheeler fantasy novel The Arcanum. Released by Bantam books in 2004, the novel is a fictionalized take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle leading a Super Friends style group of paranormal investigators called The Arcanum -- which includes Harry Houdini and the notorious voodoo priestess Marie Laveau as members. In the novel, The Arcanum is a secret society with a mandate to protect humanity from a variety of things that go "bump in the night" and the novel seems to be chock-full of fantasy and horror references (cameos include appearances by H.P Lovecraft and Aleistar Crowley). Throw in a plot about The Book of Enoch and a serial killer bumping off angels, and you end up with what sounds like a cross between The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Da Vinci Code, with maybe just a dash of Caleb Carr.

The project had been optioned by Miramax in 1999, but had been languishing in turn-around before Gold Circle showed up with designs on a fantasy franchise of their very own. Wheeler adapted the screenplay and a call has already been put out for a director. Gold Circle might not have the same high-profile reputation that Miramax does, but they have a respectable line-up set for the coming year, including Whisper with LOST's Josh Holloway, and the U.S. remake of the South Korean film My Sassy Girl with Elisha Cuthbert. So even if The Arcanum doesn't turn out to be the next great fantasy franchise, one studio's trash could still be another's treasure.

Virgins of the world rejoice! Some more movies about elves, druids, and gnomes are coming to a theater near you! Warner Brothers has picked up the rights to Terry Brooks' Shannara series. If you're like me, you're probably asking yourself, "What in God's name is the Shannara series?" Well, I can tell you that it "blends technology and magic." I can tell you that it is "set in a world decimated by apocalyptic battles, with mankind splitting into races of trolls, gnomes, dwarves, and men, with elves coming out of hiding." And I can tell you that parents' basements worldwide will be briefly vacated when these babies come rolling out! I kid, I kid! Put your wands down, everybody, I'm joking around!Has anyone read these books? Could this be another Lord of the Rings or is it just another pale imitation?

The first book in the series was called The Sword of Shannara. It was published in 1977, and was the first fantasy book to top the New York Times best-seller list. Brooks has written over a dozen novels in the series since, so there's plenty of material available should the franchise take off. The most recent book in the series was Straken, released in 2005. In the books, "politics and war are waged using magic, with a backdrop of the skeletal remains of skyscrapers and subways." Warner Bros. is looking for writers now, and intends to kick off the film series with the second book (makes sense) -- The Elfstones of Shannara. My opinion on this is kind of irrelevant -- I have never been able to get into anything in this genre outside of Harry Potter and Willow. I didn't even like playing The Legend of Zelda (by the way, surely a Zelda movie can't be far off, right?). More power to these people if they can make this into a hit franchise, but I'd imagine the lower-than-expected grosses for Eragon have them a little nervous.

I don't know how many DVD discs I own whose extra features I haven't fully explored yet, but suffice it to say that there are hours and hours worth of deleted scenes, storyboards and interviews that I'll never get a chance to watch. The Lord of the Rings trilogy alone holds about 1,945 hours worth of extras that I will never have the time to check out. If I was a Ringer, I would have already delved deep into them, but the truth is that there just aren't enough hours in the day.

On top of all this we're getting director's commentary on sketchbooks ... sketchbooks! Now, it would be a lot harder to find this absurd if it wasn't completely amazing. Guillermo del Toro offered Cinematical a sneak peek into his notebooks for Pan's Labyrinth, but the website goes even more in-depth. It offers up 12 pages from del Toro's personal sketchbook, including commentaries, page views and a dose of creativity that will have you heading to the art supply store to purchase your own notebook. I'm serious about that because I just ran out and bought a new moleskin notebook in the hopes that it will ignite some of the smoldering remnants of my creative impulse here at year's end. His commentary on the sketchbook pages is extremely insightful and personal, and has me even more excited for this film.

There is even a Sketchbook Contest that allows users to upload their own creations which will be judged by del Toro. The winning entries will receive a signed Pan's Labyrinth poster and be featured on the DVD. The film opens on December 29, and looks to be something like Amelie crossed with Jim Henson's Labyrinth. I can't wait for it -- what about you?

Greetings and salutations, all you box office predictors -- or as I like to call you, BOPs. (Behind your backs, of course.) It's the morning after the office holiday party, which means I am moving a tad slowly right now, which means this is going to be the shortest Box Office Prediction ever. Please, try to contain your crushing disappointment.

'Eragon': I get to see a fair number of movies for my job, but the one that's prompted the most curiosity among friends of mine this year (as in, "Please please please tell me when you get to see a screening, I am SO EXCITED for it") has been this one. The first book in Christopher Paolini's 'Inheritance' trilogy comes to the big screen this weekend complete with fire-breathing CGI dragon, a newcomer (Ed Speleers) as the fledgling Dragon Rider, Jeremy Irons as his mentor Brom, and John Malkovich as bad guy Galbatorix. Aaaand that's pretty much all I know about it, since apparently the movie didn't screen in New York. Damn you, 20th Century Fox! At any rate, excitement for 'Eragon' in certain circles has reached a fever pitch, so the question really isn't whether or not the movie will finish No. 1, but how much it'll make. 'The Chronicles of Narnia' made $65 million in its opening weekend; 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' made $47 million. My guess? 'Eragon' won't quite reach those numbers, but somewhere around $25-30 million is probably a safe bet.

'Charlotte's Web': I was a complete bookworm as a child -- still am, really -- and 'Charlotte's Web' was one of my very first favorite books. (Well, first favorite book that didn't have pictures in it, anyway.) Therefore, I have to admit I was a little taken aback when I heard that there was a new movie in the works, as I didn't want anything to mar the pictures I already have in my head of Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider and everything else in E.B. White's wonderful children's classic. That said, it's getting very nice reviews, and Julia Roberts (who provides the voice for Charlotte) is one of those stars that I will never, ever get tired of. Plus, Steve Buscemi as Templeton the rat! Genius! So it looks like 'Happy Feet' will be toppled at last ... but don't cry for the penguins. They had a nice run of it, after all.

'The Pursuit of Happyness': Interestingly enough, all three movies opening wide this weekend were based on books. (Go, reading!) 'Happyness' is based on the memoir by Chris Gardner, who overcame seemingly unsurmountable odds to become a successful stockbroker while caring for his young son and living in homeless shelters. Will Smith stars as Gardner, and his son Christopher is played by Smith's real-life son, Jaden -- who's never acted before, but who does a terrific job (as does his dad, who just earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance). If you're in the mood for a tearjerker, then this is the movie for you; there's one scene involving a Captain America doll, of all things, that is one the most wrenching scenes in the movies this year. I kid you not.

If you live in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles, then you're lucky enough to get to see 'Dreamgirls' this weekend -- but since it's only opening on three screens, I'll save that analysis for another week. Ready to predict? All righty. Please don't forget to post by midnight on Saturday if you want your prediction to count. And have a rockin' weekend, all.

1. Eragon
2. Charlotte's Web
3. The Pursuit of Happyness
4. Apocalypto
5. Happy Feet

POST: What's your weekend top five prediction?

POST: What do you think of these movies?

'Eragon': Showtimes, trailer & more | Exclusive clips | Photos

'Charlotte's Web': Showtimes, trailer & more | Five-minute clip | Photos

'The Pursuit of Happyness': Showtimes, trailer & more | Photos | Chris Gardner interview

The film that's been lauded as "This year's Lord of the Rings" (I highly doubt that, but I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the movie) could be decorating your walls soon if you're lucky. This would be the perfect stocking stuffer for someone who loves fantasy, dragons or John Malkovich. While it's great to see another fantasy film hitting the box office, it makes me nostalgic for movies like Dragonslayer, which defined the genre for me when I was kid.

Eragon's big claim to fame is that it was written by Christopher Paolini when he was 15 years-old. Since being published, it has attracted a lot of attention, and the film stars actors like Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Robert Carlyle, which isn't too shabby for a fantasy film. The trailers haven't wowed me yet, and I played a demo of the video game based on the movie -- which was almost enough for me to give up on the film, it was that bad. However, I'm determined to give this one a fair shake. At the very least, they've got themselves a cool poster.

FirstShowing.net will be giving away 20 of these as part of their "Poster Madness Contest," so head over and sign up before midnight, December 16. You have to answer a couple of trivia questions, but with the help of your trusty sidekick 'The Internet,' we have every confidence that you'll come through with flying colors. Good luck!

Variety reports that Fox Animation president Chris Meledandri has scooped up the rights to Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox, which will be directed by Wes Anderson, based on the script he wrote with Noah Baumbach. The film will be a mixture of several forms of animation, mostly stop-motion. Anderson had been associated with the film as long ago as 2004, when Revolution Studios owned the films rights to the book, and Anderson was planning on working with stop-motion director extraordinaire, Henry Selick.

This slim novella has been a board game, an opera, and will now finally see life as a motion picture, probably sometime in 2009. Animation takes time, and when it's stop-motion it takes even longer. It will be very interesting to see how Wes Anderson handles this movie. I am a huge fan of all his previous work, especially Bottle Rocket. Wes is a quirky director like Paul Thomas Anderson (no relation) who knows how to populate his films with enough character and detail that it seems they take place in an alternate universe, and somewhere you wouldn't mind living.

Hopefully Wes will be able to pull a Tim Burton and direct a terrific stop-motion film that keeps the whimsy of the book, and allows Anderson some room to stretch his legs in an animated fashion.

[Thanks tedz]