Six in '10; Films I really want to see this year

Leonardo DiCaprio reunites with Martin Scorsese for "Shutter Island."  (Paramount Pictures)

I had a dream last night.

I had a DREAM last night!  I HAD A DREAM LAST NIGHT!

I dreamed that the only movies opening this year were original projects.  No sequels.  No remakes, no (gag me with a movie stub) "re-imagined" classics, but fresh, never-before-seen productions.

We had some greasy home-delivered Chinese food last night.  That may have had something to do with my wild dreams.  I also dreamed that Conan, Jay and the NBC executives had worked out the pesky late-night logjam amicably (Not yet by a long-shot) and that the plug hasn't been pulled on "Spider-Man 4" (It has.)

Wait a minute, though.  The first garlic chicken-inspired vision could come true if movie-goers would simply avoid the remakes and sequels and stick to the new stuff.

We won't, of course.  Frankly, I'm somewhat interested in the "Iron Man" follow-up.  But I'm way over tired franchises like "Harry Potter," "Shrek" and even "Twilight" (Sorry, girls), just to name a few.

The new year will deliver a cinematic six-pack of original movies I can't want to see, though:

"Shutter Island" -- Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese ("The Departed," "The Aviator") team up once again.  In this mystery thriller, DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo portray U.S. marshals dispatched to a remote, barren island off the coast of Massachusetts to check out the disappearance of a murderess from the island's hospital for the criminally insane.  (Feb. 19)

"Inception" -- DiCaprio again.  But this time he's teaming with "Juno's" Ellen Page and playing mind games in an action sci-fi thriller directed by "Dark Knight" filmmaker Christopher Nolan. (July 16) 

Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter.  (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

"Alice in Wonderland" -- Frequent collaborators Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, not to mention Helena Bonham Carter, whip up another batch of bizarre cinema in a new live version of the Lewis Carroll tale.  Depp's role?  Isn't it obvious:  The Mad Hatter.  And look for bizarre-in-real-life Crispin Glover as The Knave of Hearts.  (March 5)

"The Expendables" -- Sylvester Stallone wasn't finished when he resurrected "Rocky" and "Rambo."  In this new action yarn, Sly, who directs, rounds up Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren and even California gov Arnold Schwarzenegger to blow a bunch of stuff up.  One request, boys:  Keep your shirts on. (April 23)

"Robin Hood" -- This must be the year for old cinematic pals -- or collaborators, at least -- to reunite.  Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott, who did very well with "Gladiator," OK with "American Gangster" and not so well with the ironically titled "A Good Year," send Crowe out into the medieval forest in tights to try again.  (May 14)

"The Green Hornet" -- Going "Green," but not necessarily in support of the environment, Seth Rogen tries his luck as a super-hero.  Frankly, I prefer the old, fat, irreverent, funny Rogen.  I'm open-minded, though, so come on Seth, show us some moves.  It's only fair to warn you that Michel Gondry, the only filmmaker not to get a funny performance out of Jack Black in an alleged comedy ("Be Kind Rewind"), is in the director's chair.  (Dec. 22)