3D films – exciting big screen trend or pointless use of technology? This week’s Face/Off swings the spotlight on this re-emerging technique currently embarrassing moviegoers at a cinema near you. Whack on your crazy specs and get ready for one crazy ride as we debate the ins, outs and “Ooh, it’s going to touch my face!”s of 3D.

This year’s Bafta longlist has been announced, with Brit flicks An Education and Moon proving to be strong contenders. An Education is up for best film along with a bevy of acting nominations, including Carey Mulligan for Best Actress.

2009 certainly brought us a few cinematic corkers, from sci-fi epic Avatar to comic-book crunching goodness from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and Watchmen. But it wasn’t all wham, bam and explosions – will 2010 be a year of smarter movies? Judging this list… maybe.

The buzz around Avatar has been almost unprecedented – James Cameron’s long-awaited return to sci-fi has been panned, praised and everything in between even before it was released. Approaching Avatar with an open mind, we discovered one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful and immersive films of recent years.

No – scratch that. One of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful and immersive films ever released.

The nominations for 2010’s Golden Globes award ceremony are in – and there are certainly some surprises.
Everyone’s favourite poor man’s Oscars will take place on January 17 next year, and to give us all adequate jeering and scoffing time, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association today announced their illustrious potential award recipients.

At least, not always. Films that studios allocate ridiculously bloated publicity budgets to are not always likely to be showered in glowing reviews and critical acclaim. Here we chronicle 2009’s most hyped films, some of which delivered and some that blew up in the studios’ faces big time.

Speaking to Channel 4, Avatar’s resident botanist Sigourney Weaver has let slip a few possible (and, if true, pretty major) spoilers concerning the possible third instalment of the Ghostbusters franchise.

After months of speculation, debate, rumours and one of the most aggressive cinematic marketing pushes of recent memory, Avatar received its premiere last night in London. Despite a flurry of non-disclosure agreements being signed left, right and centre the press just couldn’t wait.

It’s a case of all work and no play for Avatar director and all-around blockbuster wizard James Cameron. He’s jumping straight back on the production wagon, developing a new, as yet unannounced sci-fi script for Fox.

Heck, we’re as guilty as anyone out there banging on about Avatar for the last goodness-knows-how-long, what with the fancy new effects, stereoscopic whatsit and mind-blowing interactive trailer. When a film’s hyped as much as Avatar has been, it gets pretty tricky (after a while) to distance yourself from all the marketing hoo-har.