Where on earth did the summer go. It seemed like just a few days ago we were highly anticipating the big summer releases ahead of us. Now they’re gone and fall is upon us. The fall season has been notoriously sketchy yet over the past few years it’s featured some pretty good movies. And it looks like more studios are targeting the fall for some of their bigger release dates. That bodes well for us moviegoers. So all of this means it’s Flaunt It or Flush It time. This is where I list five fall movies from the months of September, October, and November that I’m particularly excited about. These I will flaunt. Then I’ll mention five fall movies that I want no part of. These I will flush. So let’s get to it!

FLAUNT ‘EM

#1 – “GRAVITY” (October 4, 2013) – I have to admit something – I know little about the plot of the upcoming film “Gravity”. But I also have to admit that I am extremely intrigued but what I’ve seen so far. The cast of George Clooney and Sandra Bullock is attractive. The idea of them stranded in space after a spacewalk catastrophe is even better. The teasers have been masterfully crafted telling us little in terms of plot but showing off both the beauty and daunting threat of space. Most importantly, the teasers did their job of catching my attention and exciting me for what I hope is a real treat.

#2 – “THOR: THE DARK WORLD” (November 8, 2013) – I love that Marvel Studios has spread their superhero movies out this year. At first I was surprised to see “Thor: The Dark World” get a November release. That’s sometimes a cause for concern. But with November becoming more and more attractive for bigger releases (see the new Hunger Games film as an example), I think it’s a good fit. I love Chris Hemsworth in this role and the early trailers show promise. But the real selling point is Tom Hiddleston as the conniving Loki. Just seeing him in a prominent role has me giddy with excitement!

#3 – “CAPTAIN PHILLIPS” (October 11, 2013) – From the first moment I saw the trailer for “Captain Phillips” I was hooked. Tom Hanks stars in this action biopic of Captain Richard Phillips who was taken hostage by Somali Pirates in 2009. The look and scope of this film is impressive and this looks like a perfect role for Hanks. Adding to the excitement is the direction of Paul Greengrass of Jason Bourne fame. Greengrass didn’t impress me at all with his last film “Green Zone” but this one looks back on par with his previous efforts. The action looks thrilling and Hanks looks in form. I’m excited.

#4 – “THE WOLF OF WALL STREET” (November 15, 2013) – How can you not take notice when Martin Scorsese releases a movie? This fall he’s back with “The Wolf of Wall Street”. He joins forces with Leonardo DiCaprio, a long time favorite of his, in this one part biopic, another part dark comedy. It also features Matthew McConaughey and favorites of mine Jean Dujardin and Kyle Chandler. This was one of my most anticipated movies from the start of the year but I have to admit I’m a little more cautious after seeing the first trailer. Something just felt a little off. But the wealth of talent in the load of potential is enough to keep me excited.

#5 – “THE COUNSELOR” (October 25, 2013) – Long time readers of this blog know I’m a huge Ridley Scott fan so naturally his new film “The Counselor” would have to make this list. The great author Cormac McCarthy writes the screenplay and the cast looks fabulous. Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, and Brad Pitt all make the film even more enticing. There’s still a lot I would like to know about the film but what little has been revealed looks very promising. And with Ridley Scott running the show I feel even more confident that this could be a really good picture. We will certainly find out on October 25th.

FLUSH ‘EM

#1 – “DELIVERY MAN” (November 22, 2013) – Look, I’m no Vince Vaughn fan so I probably wouldn’t go to see this anyway. But the movie’s synopsis is enough to ensure that will never happen. “An affable underachiever finds out he’s fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity.” (IMDb). Really? I mean I know the comedy genre is in shambles and this shouldn’t surprise me but what about that sounds good? I know this thing will draw its fair share of viewers but I won’t be one of them.

#2 – “BATTLE OF THE YEAR” (September 13, 2013) – I really liked Josh Holloway in the television series “Lost”. And while he was perfectly cast in that series, he’s never struck me as an actor with much range. Perhaps that’s why his casting as the lead in the B-boy dance film “Battle of the Year” is so jarring. We’ve all seen those sports movies featuring the inspirational coach who leads a team to realizing their dream. Well that’s what we have here except Holloway coaches a team of dances. Honestly the trailer looks as terrible as the concept. Like some goofy mix of “The Karate Kid” and “Step Up, this thing is flush-worthy through and through.

#3 – JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA” (October 25, 2013) – Haven’t these things ran their course yet? Thinly veiled as a cross country road trip picture, “Bad Grandpa” is really just another Jackass movie. Now I won’t deny that at first I found some of their hidden camera antics pretty funny. But over time they’ve just become more crude and more over-the-top. This looks like more of the same. Hopefully the more focused direction of the film will prove me wrong. But so far on the surface this looks like another Knoxville and company production that I would just assume skip. Many will go see it. I probably won’t be among them.

#4 – “LAST VEGAS” (November 1, 2013) – Granted, “Last Vegas” doesn’t look as blatantly awful as the previous three flushers listed so far. But talk about treading the same old tired ground. A very appealing cast heads this overdone story. Michael Douglas, Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline head to where else – Las Vegas for one big wild bachelor party. Heard that before? The catch – the are all in their late sixties. Again, heard that before? The trailer and plot summary doesn’t look a but original an the entire production seems like one big crowd-pleasing cash grab. I may be wrong but it looks like a lot of good talent wasted.

#5 – “CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2” (September 27, 2013) – Now don’t misunderstand me, there’s no way I’m comparing the upcoming animated sequel “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” to full-blown crap like “Delivery Man” and “Battle of the Year”. But this movie is a clear example of “Why?”. The first film was a success and plenty of people appreciated it. But this seems like such a cash grab and for some reason I think it may be a real stinker. The food gimmick was cool in the first film, at least for a little while. But I don’t see it or the characters as enough to make this worth seeing. Again, many will. I just don’t think I’ll be among them. But this is one I fully admit I could be wrong on.

There you go. I’ve flaunted five films that I’m anxious to see and flushed five that look like…well…crap. Agree or disagree? What are some summer movies you would like to flaunt or flush. Let me hear from ya.