The prestigious Academy may have to do away with the original screenplay category this year, if the fall lineup is any indication of the state of filmmaking.

Finding an original work in this bunch is like finding a needle in a haystack.

From films inspired by books ("Friday Night Lights," "The Polar Express") to remakes galore ("Wicker Park," "Shall We Dance?," "The Grudge"), with a few sequels ("Resident Evil: Apocalypse," "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason") thrown in for good measure, you'll have to look to the fall weather for something crisp and new.

September 3

"Wicker Park"

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne

Director: Paul McGuigan

Summary: A Chicago banker sees a woman who looks just like a lost love, then puts his life on hold to follow her. Soon, dangerous things begin to happen.

Early buzz: Internet rumor mills warn against believing everything you see in the trailer.

"Paparazzi"

Starring: Cole Hauser, Robin Tunney

Director: Paul Abascal

Summary: A newly minted celebrity can't handle the paparazzi attention that comes with fame. After a personal tragedy, the celebrity shoots back.

Early buzz: Written by Waterloo native Forry Smith, this flick is a must-see thriller.

September 10

"Resident Evil: Apocalypse"

Starring: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory

Director: Alexander Witt

Summary: Though she escaped the forces of darkness the last time around, heroine Alice is always up for beating a little more evil creature butt.

Early buzz: Let's face it. If you own the video game and you saw the first flick, you'll be lining up for this one too. No one else probably cares.

"Cellular"

Starring: Kim Basinger, Chris Evans

Director: David R. Ellis

Summary: A man gets a call on his cell phone from an unknown woman, who says she's been kidnapped. He must rescue her before his battery dies.

Early buzz: Think "Phone Booth" with wheels.

September 17

"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"

Starring: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow

Director: Kerry Conran

Summary: In a futuristic New York City, flying robots are attacking and famous scientists are disappearing. It's up to a reporter and pilot to find out why.

Early buzz: The plot may be secondary to the oddly lush-looking NYC, which is 100 percent computer-generated. Actors performed in front of a blue screen.

"Wimbledon"

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany

Director: Richard Loncraine

Summary: A falling tennis star tries to hook up with a rising one, as both compete at Wimbledon.

Early buzz: The tennis action - partially shot on the real Wimbledon courts - may be more interesting to watch than the non-chemistry between the two leads.

"Mr. 3000"

Starring: Bernie Mac, Angela Bassett

Director: Charles Stone III

Summary: An retired baseball star finds out his title isn't valid and decides to try for the goal again at age 47.

Early buzz: Bernie Mac is on a high. If anyone can pull off mediocre comedy writing, it's him.

September 24

"First Daughter"

Starring: Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas

Director: Forest Whitaker

Summary: The president's daughter goes off to college and falls for a guy with some hidden intentions.

Early buzz: Originally slated to be released the same weekend as the Mandy Moore vehicle "Chasing Liberty," audiences still haven't forgotten the first flick.

"The Final Cut"

Starring: Robin Williams, Mira Sorvino

Director: Omar Naim

Summary: Robin Williams plays a "cutter," someone who removes futuristic memory chips from a person's head after death, then edits the contents for family.

Early buzz: More of a character-driven story than a sci-fi adventure, this movie will make you question which you value more - privacy or legacy.

"The Forgotten"

Starring: Julianne Moore, Alfre Woodard

Director: Joseph Ruben

Summary: A woman mourns her son, until a therapist tells her she invented eight years of memories. The "mother" sets out to find the truth.

Early buzz: With anyone but Julianne Moore in the lead, this thriller would fall flat.

"The Last Shot"

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin

Director: Jeff Nathanson

Summary: A movie director-screenwriter finds out the man financing his project is actually an undercover FBI agent.

Early buzz: A very ensemble cast raises questions of quality, even with names including Baldwin, Collette and Liotta.

October 1

"Shark Tale"

Starring: Will Smith, Robert DeNiro

Directors: Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson, Rob Letterman

Summary: A bottom feeder takes false credit for the death of a shark mob member. Soon his claim has serious consequences.

Early buzz: Despite funny performances from Smith, Jack Black and DeNiro, "Finding Nemo" this ain't.

"Ladder 49"

Starring: John Travolta, Joaquin Phoenix

Director: Jay Russell

Summary: A firefighter reflects on his life as he awaits rescue from a burning building.

Early buzz: More accurate than the firefighter-loathed "Backdraft," but just as exciting.

October 8

"Friday Night Lights"

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke

Director: Peter Berg

Summary: Based on the book of the same name, about an economically deprived town and its winning football team.

Early buzz: Hopefully a cast of relative unknowns led by Thornton can pull off this emotional storyline.

"Taxi"

Starring: Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon

Director: Tim Story

Summary: A sassy cab driver helps a rookie cop chase down bank robbers.

Early buzz: In no way, shape or form based on the TV show from the late-'70s/early-'80s.

October 15

"Shall We Dance?"

Starring: Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez

Director: Peter Chelsom

Summary: An overworked accountant signs up for ballroom dancing lessons after seeing the beautiful instructor.

Early buzz: It in no way lives up to the original, a Japanese film, and no sparks really fly between Gere and Lopez.

"Team America: World Police"

Starring: Dian Bachar, Alec Baldwin

Director: Trey Parker, Matt Stone

Summary: A puppet police force goes after a terrorist arms dealer, with the help of a well-known Broadway actor.

Early buzz: Yes, we said puppets. But, if anyone can pull it off, it's the "South Park" guys.

October 22

"Alfie"

Starring: Jude Law, Julienne Davis

Director: Charles Shyer

Summary: A womanizer learns the hard way how dangerous his actions can be.

Early buzz: The original was a classic, starring Michael Caine. Can Jude Law live up to the high standards?

"The Grudge"

Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr

Director: Takashi Shimizu

Summary: An American nurse living in Tokyo is exposed to a curse that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading.

Early buzz: The first time an original director has helmed a remake of his own film, at least he can be trusted to stay true to the material.

October 29

"Ray"

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Regina King

Director: Taylor Hackford

Summary: The life story of legendary singer Ray Charles.

Early buzz: The recently deceased icon should be paid a fitting tribute by normally funny guy Foxx.

November 5

"The Incredibles"

Starring: Brad Bird, Holly Hunter

Director: Brad Bird

Summary: A family of undercover superheroes, trying to live a quiet life, is forced into action when the world needs saving.

Early buzz: Pixar never misses, but somehow an overweight superhero doesn't have quite the same appeal as a cute little clown fish.

"Alexander"

Starring: Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie

Director: Oliver Stone

Summary: The tale of one of history's greatest warriors and his quest to conquer the world.

Early buzz: Sparks flew between leads Farrell and Jolie, so at least the romance should be true. The same can't be said for Stone's history bending.

November 12

"The Polar Express"

Starring: Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Summary: A boy doubts that Santa exists, but a magical train conductor sets to prove him wrong.

Early buzz: The animation is incredible, the story is endearing and Hanks - as always - is perfect, even if he is a little cartoonish.

"Finding Neverland"

Starring: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet

Director: Marc Forster

Summary: The story of J.M. Barrie, the author of "Peter Pan," and the experiences that led him to pen the classic book.

Early buzz: Previews aren't even out, and fans are already etching Depp's name onto the Oscar.

November 19

"The Spongebob Squarepants Movie"

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Tom Kenny

Director: Sherm Cohen, Stephen Hillenburg

Summary: Spongebob leaves Bikini Bottom so he can hunt down King Neptune's stolen crown.

Early buzz: Any adult humor sinks to the bottom in this big screen adaptation. The movie is strictly for the kids.

"Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason"

Starring: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth

Director: Beeban Kidron

Summary: Taking place just one short month after the first film, Bridget is already seeing problems with new beau Mark Darcy.

Early buzz: Same old Bridget, just as good of a movie.

"National Treasure"

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Harvey Keitel

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Summary: A treasure seeker closes in on a war chest hidden by the founding fathers after the Revolutionary War, but the FBI is right on his tail.

Early buzz: Internet conspiracy theorists are having a ball with this hidden treasure story. Does it really exist?

November 24

"Christmas with the Kranks"

Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis

Director: Joe Roth

Summary: Fed up with the commercial nature of Christmas, a man decides to skip the holiday and go on vacation instead.

Early buzz: A waste of the comedic talents of Allen and Curtis.

November 26

"Beauty Shop"

Starring: Queen Latifah, Kevin Bacon

Director: Bille Woodruff

Summary: A spin-off of the "Barbershop" series, Gina opens a salon in which she listens to her customers' sass while snipping hair.

Early buzz: Latifah was perfect for the role then, and she's still perfect now.