Blog-organised publishing project aims to raise money for charity

A word of support this morning for Den Of Geek and their fantastic Den Of Eek project, which has now produced an e-book of stories, the proceeds from which go to charity. DOG's Geeks vs Cancer cause supports small cancer charities and this project, which sees the twelve short stories retailing for £5.14 from Amazon, forms the latest part of it. A worthy thing to pursue and a great project all round. Now get to Amazon.

The hunt for the missing parts of The Wicker Man

It would be easy to be cynical about this campaign's chances, but then you check what's already gone down on the Facebook group and you do start to wonder.

Studio Canal are appealing worldwide for footage shot for Robin Hardy's The Wicker Man, originally assigned to be in the final cut of the film, now missing. So, does a part of The Wicker Man reside in your attic? And if it does, how big is your attic?!

Film Intel's Final Word - Oscar Ceremony, Spider-Man (Amazing), Scouting NY

Oscar Night Prevailing Feelings, One Week on; Sour Taste, Distaste.

Story: The New Yorker

I did not see the Oscar Ceremony in full or live and therefore have no ability to pass comment. Amy Davidson did however, and her article is one of the best spearings of all that has been previously, and possibly presently, wrong with Seth MacFarlane.



You've Got Approximately One Year of This Sort of Thing to Look Forward to.

Story: Bleeding Cool

Sample suggested copy line: 'ooh, he has a suit. With eyes. And its red and blue'. It's just easier for everyone that way until the point where the film hits and everyone realises how startlingly average it is. Again.



Fans of Film Locations Have a New Must-Read Site.

Go to: Scouting NY

This really is spectacularly insightful, well researched and frequently incredibly interesting. Recommended.

Film Intel's Final Word - Carter Commentary, Hobbit Stills, LFF

A.V. Club Dissect John Carter Commentary.

Story: A.V. Club

Bleak reading. Especially if you've previously heard Andrew Stanton's comments on Kermode & Mayo where he claimed he 'wouldn't know what to do' if he only had $5million to make a film with. The closing comments are particularly condemning. Good article from The A.V. Club.



Hobbit Stills Feature Familiar Frodo.

Story: Sky Movies

Just checked my excitement meter and it's still not even flickering. And I love the book!



LFF Continues.

Story: Little White Lies

Great coverage from Little White Lies. Read it to warm up for LIFF, the Northern LFF!

Film Intel's Final Word - Mummy!, 18+ Vue, Cuaron/Abrams

Another Mummy Reboot. Is it a Wise Man That Chases This?

Story: Empire

It's interesting that the negative reaction to this seems largely un-related to the franchise and very related to the name Len Wiseman, a man who's sole function in recent years seems to have been to find roles for wife Kate Beckinsale. At least we already know one bit of the casting though, hey?



Trying Vue's 18+ Screenings For The First Time.

Story: Twitter

Not new news by any means, because Vue have been offering these for a while but, on 26th October, I'm off to try one of Vue's 18+ only screenings for Skyfall. The sceptic in me is, well, sceptical. This appears to be another way for cinemas to abdicate their responsibility to provide films in an appropriately hassle-free environment any way: if they feel under-18s make all the noise in normal screenings, why aren't they directing ushers to tell them to be quiet or face ejection?



Cuaron and Abrams Team Up for a TV Pilot.

Story: SlashFilm

This still sounds a little sketchy and the plot sounds far too much like Heroes but, know this: you cannot read the names Cuaron and Abrams in the same headline without getting at least a little excited.

Film Intel's Final Word - Casino Adele, Hobbits, Avengers Blu-ray

Adele Follows in the Footsteps of, erm, Lulu and Some Others.

Story: Total Film

Fine. She warbles. Other Bond theme-song mongers have warbled. It's better than Jack-bloody-White. He screeches.



Hobbits. And More Hobbits. And More Hobbits. And...

Story: Empire

Alternative endings to a film is one thing but alternative endings to a trailer is quite another. The original was fine (and quite funny). The rest of the trailer? I was keen to see Del Toro's take on Middle Earth. I am less keen to see the fourth and fifth instalments of Jackson's vision of it.



Avengers DVD Release a Bit of an Interstellar Balls Up.

Story: MTV

Missing extras is less important than changing ratios, which are in turn less important than cuts. As a whole package, I would argue that those changes probably won't make a great deal of difference to you when you watch Avengers at home. The real question is: how did Disney let such things effect one of the biggest home viewing releases of the year? Should have been an easy ride, surely?

Film Intel's Final Word; TIFF, S.H.I.E.L.D, LaBeouf Talks A Lot

TIFF Starts Thursday.

See: TIFF Official Website

Notable because the Toronto International Film Festival 2012 has one of the best festival lineups I've ever seen. Have I mentioned I'm not able to go? And that I'm very jealous of those who can? Oh, I have. Well, I'm mentioning it again. Because I am.



Marvelling at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s March to TV.

Story: IndieWire

In a land where a set of Marvel films are making a killing at the box office, this is destined to do well but, for me, Marvel need to start taking some risks too. A TV series is the perfect opportunity to do so; throw in some minor characters of the universe, move into more advance plots than Bad Guy A wants to destroy World B. This could be very special.



Shia LaBeouf Won't Shut Up.

Story: Guardian

'I'm naked!', 'I'm not naked!', 'I'm having sex!', 'I'm not having sex!', 'I knocked Tom Hardy out!', 'I didn't touch Tom Hardy!', 'I took LSD!'... can we guess where this is going?

Film Intel's Final Word - Tony Scott, Knuckleball, Pixar Art

Tony Scott - 1944-2012

Obituary: The Telegraph

Our simple tribute to Tony Scott's immense contribution to cinema can be found here and, by coincidence, Scott's Spy Game featured on the site on Sunday. Not every Scott film was a success but his influence on cinema should not be underestimated and, at the age of sixty-eight, he was still shaping the cinematic landscape. As someone remarked earlier in the week, he was one of a handful of people studios trusted to make 'films'. Not franchises or events, real films with a beginning, middle and end, that could be enjoyed as they are and make money whilst people were enjoying them. Man On Fire will probably remain my favourite but Spy Game and Enemy Of The State are also both crackers and that's before we've made it to Top Gun or Crimson Tide, favoured by many. A real tragedy.



Knuckleball Trailer Rides Coat-Tails of Moneyball

Story: Slash Film

This undoubtedly has less mass-market appeal than a Brad Pitt-starring, Oscar nominated film but for those of us who follow baseball the story of the knuckleball pitch (and R. A. Dickey's personal story, for that matter) is a fascinating one. Nice to see this getting some attention.



Pixar Concept Art Collection is Predictably Gorgeous

Story: Empire

I find most of the hand drawn stuff more beautiful than the computer animated renders. This probably makes me old. Get off my lawn.

Film Intel's Final Word - Passion, Expendables, Daredevil

Brian De Palma's Passion has Rapace and McAdams Kissing and A Scary Mask. In The Same Film.

Story: IMDb

De Palma hasn't been on fire of late but take a look at the IMDb image gallery above and tell me there's not something to get excited about here. Kissing! Masks! A Clapperboard! Passion will be showing at Toronto International Film Festival for anyone that can get there. I can't get there. Yes, that's very annoying.



Expendables 2 is Out. Lets Talk Expendables 3.

Story: IGN and plenty of others

There's nothing more endemic of a 'me first' news culture then discussing the inner workings of a second sequel before any one has even had chance to see the first sequel. It won't be long before Expendables 4 is being discussed. Expendables 3 is old news.



Joe Carnahan's Daredevil Sizzle Online.

Video: YouTube

Looks interesting but can you watch this without calling to mind the Affleck version? Some properties will just never get over previous rubbish iterations. This might be one of them.

Tony Scott - 1944-2012

'I feel the need...'

'This is the '90s. You can't just walk up and slap a guy, you have to say something cool first.'

'I expect and demand your very best. Anything less, you should have joined the Air Force.'

'You're the only woman for me. You and Janet Jackson.'

'Technology gets better everyday. That's fine. But most of the time all you need is a stick of gum, a pocket knife and a smile.'

'Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting.'

Film Intel's Final Word - Incest, Ecclestone, Nebraska

Jennifer Lawrence Goes for Incest as The Hunger Games Antidote.

Story: Film School Rejects

The rule when you're in a major franchise is that you then normally go off and do something a bit off-the-wall and non-franchise-based to prove your acting metal hasn't been softened by all this guff about vampires. May have got confused there. Anyway, Jennifer Lawrence is taking that path and taking it well. This tale about the oil industry and incest has controversy and PROPER DRAMA written all over it.



Ecclestone In Line To Thump Thor.

Story: The Hollywood Reporter

Mixed feelings. Ecclestone is a really solid actor but when he gets given the villain he seems to go into full on Ham mode (see: G.I. Joe). That might have suited Thor's world under Branagh but Alan Taylor is something of an unknown quantity. This feels like a tone-setting risk.



Details on Alexander Payne's Next Film, Nebraska.

Story: Slash Film

Sounds great. It seems to be another film about the troubles and perils of being a middle-to-late aged man but, so what? Payne's output on that front has been high quality so far and I'm happy to watch him do it again. It's a bit strange that its going to star MacGruber though.

Film Intel's Final Word; Lobo, Punish Jane, Comic-Con Fans

DC's Next Attempt at a Franchise: Lobo

Story: First Showing

The problems with this? It involves the word 'interstellar' and will therefore remind people of Green Lantern. Good luck, DC.



Thomas Jane in Fan Punisher Short.

Video: YouTube

I don't mind Punisher and I don't think any of the film's problems are down to Jane so yeah, sure, bring this back, with him in it. No reason Marvel can't have a R-rated franchise running alongside their existing family-friendly fare.



Browsing Comic Con Pictures can be Dangerous to Your Health.

Gallery: IMDb

It's difficult to pick a favourite, although this one is clearly going to be very hard to 'beat'.

Film Intel's Final Word - Assassinate Fassbender, Man Of 3D, Mocking Jay

Fassbender in Assassins Creed Adaptation. Videogames Going Arthouse?

Story: Variety

Presumably, if this is going to stick closely to the game, the first two hours will be Fassbender wandering around, doing nothing much in particular, eventually dying of boredom.



Man Of Steel Getting 3D Conversion. Or is it? No. But Probably Yes.

Story: Den Of Geek and then The Playlist

This was inevitable: whilst Nolan can stand by his principles and resist studio pressure, Snyder made Sucker Punch.



Mockingjay Split In Two. Presumably Now Making it Mocking Jay, Which Will be Like Saving Grace but With More Snark.

Story: BBC

I don't know any Hunger Games fans who think the final book needs to be two films. Of course, I don't actually know many Hunger Games fans, but don't let the facts get in the way of accusing the studios of valuing extra dosh over artistic form.

Film Intel's Final Word; Reacher, Soap Screens, Goldblum Jokes

Jack Reacher Trailer Debuts. Confirms it's Not the Jack Reacher You Were Looking For.

Story: Yahoo

If Tom Cruise wants to run around and be all actiony, may I suggest he does it under the guise of someone anonymous enough that no-one knows what he's supposed to look like, thus avoiding this very awkward looking trailer where he tries to convince us he's 6'5 and as hard and as silent as nails. Suggestions, Mr Cruise; Ethan Hunt, Roy Miller, Vincent, et al.



Soap Bubble Screen Surely the Future for Movies in the Bath.

Story: BBC

Picture credit: A Colloidal Display. Story alert thanks to @thewriterer.

Simultaneously mind-blowing and one of those moments where you have to stop and wonder... why?



July 4th Results in Annual Bout of Crushingly Un-Funny Jeff Goldblum Jokes.

If you did this this year, remember not to do it next year. If you did this this year having also done it last year, you are part of the problem.

Film Intel's Final Word - Nora Ephron, 25min Spider-Man, Monsters Sequel

Nora Ephron: 1941-2012

Story: BBC

I don't really know what to say about Nora Ephron apart from to mention that although You've Got Mail may not be considered her best work, it is a film I can always watch and a rare beast which has not suffered from advances in technology or business, despite fundamentally having a plot which relies on both of them. That says something. This may not be the greatest tribute to anyone ever written but never fear, thanks to Lists Of Note, Ms Ephron herself has got me covered.



Spider-Man Done in 25 Minutes From Available Trailers and Clips. Sony Displeased.

Story: Cinema Blend

This story, video and the subsequent saga says so much about film marketing. Studios want saturation coverage but are then offended when that very saturation is used in a way that is seen to threaten their product. Bad Sony. Sit in the corner and contemplate what you've done. Then reboot Spider-Man again with twenty-eight posters, a dozen trailers and fifteen clips.



Unlikely Monsters Sequel Moves Forward. In A Major Surprise Its Going; Bigger, Broader.

Story: Shock Till You Drop

Dark Continent is a title which sounds like major bargain bin fodder. As a massive fan of the original film, this somewhat pains me. Realist though I am (yes I know the original film will still be there to enjoy, etc, etc.), it just wasn't a piece which needed a follow-on. The fact that Gareth Edwards has gone straight from original ideas to monster movie remake (Godzilla) is disheartening enough.

Film Intel's Final Word - Spider-Reviews, Alien Lamp, The Gate Short

The Amazing Spider-Man Reviews Hit.

Story: Telegraph

It seems to be at least OK but the claim that it's 'the superhero film for the Twilight generation' has me somewhat worried.



Alien Lamp Wins 'Design of the Week'.

Story: Evil Robot Designs

Presumably coming soon; the Predator hat stand and the Rambo footstool.



The Gate Short Film Tapped for Long-Form Adaptation

Some good ideas. Works better as a public-awareness or 'cause'-style promo piece though, than as a narrative. If it holds on to its morals then perhaps it could be something.

Film Intel's Final Word; Watch Dogs, More Prometheus, WWZ Troubles

Paramount Has Second Struggler as World War Z Joins G.I. Joe.

Story: Collider

But the book cover has the word 'oral' on it, so that's OK. Tee hee. Oral. Tee hee.



Extended Cut Of Prometheus Coming.

Story: IndieWire

Don't understand the negative spin being put on this. Scott's extended cuts nearly always add something worthwhile and this should be no exception. Then again, I tweeted this last week, so I have to say that.



Watch Dogs Takes Time to Explain Concept, Then Shows Thundering Filmic Gameplay.

Story: Here and Here

Fine, this is a game, but if you're a film fan and you don't recognise the aspirations of this when you see it then I suggest a thorough cleansing of ye olde eyeballs. This has oodles of potential as a game and games which deliver tend to be looked at for film adaptations. Consider your dog watched. Or something.

Film Intel's Final Word - Cannes, Cloud Atlas, Skyfall Trailer

The 65th Cannes Film Festival is a Go!

Story: Telegraph

Marilyn Monroe will not be blowing out candles on a cake but over the next few days we can continue to enjoy moaning from a variety of film journalists about how tiring the festival is, applause, boos and screening walk-outs. There might be some films occasionally too. Also look out for/go back and read Kinnemaniac's AltCannes.



Cloud Atlas News Encourages Dangerous Optimism.

Story: Slashfilm

It's nearly three hours (I would suggest you cannot tell this story properly in much less than that), it looks like it might be getting set for an awards run and the buzz around the previews has been largely positive. I'm starting to think about seriously considering placing one toe in the 'optimistic' camp.



Skyfall Tease Features Man Falling From Sky and Other Sexy Things.

Story: YouTube

This is my favourite image from the trailer. I don't really know why. Something to do with the good ol' DB5 making a reappearance I suspect. And it somehow sums up Bond and M's relationship for the last few films. Did I mention I'm quite excited for this? I am.