Her unlikely leading man is Owen, played by none other than Jason Mewes, star of pretty much every Kevin Smith film going (incidentally, Smith has a cameo role in this film as a Owen's friend). When the two meet in LA, Owen instantly dismisses Lisa as a girl solely interested in material things and high society, but he soon finds out that you shouldn't always trust first impressions.

We may laugh at Paris Hilton trying to pass herself off as an actress, but bear in mind, she's had a fair amount of cinematic roles ranging from romantic comedy (Bottoms Up), slapstick (Hottie and the Nottie), horror (House of Wax) and independent films (Repo! The Genetic Opera).

Which lead us to think, what gaps are there in her acting résumé?

An Achingly Cool Fantasy Film

Surprisingly, Guillermo Del Toro hasn't snapped her up to star in The Hobbit, though we imagine Paris would refuse to go through the make up process that transforms you into a dwarf or a wood elf anyway.

A Fun for All the Family Animation

Now studios have really missed a trick here, Paris has her own doll, so it's surprising that some badly created CG feature hasn't been created as a tie in. In all fairness though, would anyone force their child to watch that?! Surely a voice cameo is on the cards in the future though.

The Summer Action Blockbuster

As a media icon, Paris always wants to associate herself with what's hot. Maybe she can impress Christopher Nolan into giving her a part? Rumours suggest that the next Batman film will see Catwoman arrive on the scene, and we can only imagine that Christian Bale has been dying to work with her.

The Intense Thriller

Here Paris can draw on her own experience of having been banged up for drunk driving. With a partly biographical storyline, it's the fight for a wealthy heiress' freedom, that results in her  being incarcerated for 48 hours, and then forced to swan around a luxury mansion for forty days. It will be nail-biting!

A considerably beefed-up Jake Gyllenhaal is adopted by the King of Persia and brought up alongside his own natural born sons, which one day leads to a battle for the Persian crown.  He teams up with Princess Tamina, played by English rose Gemma Arterton, to demonstrate his acrobatic free-running skills and a British accent as they attempt to save the world from the villainous Nizam (Ben Kingsley). Together they strive to protect the mystical 'Dagger of Time', which has the power to turn back time and apparently whip up an Earth-destroying sandstorm.

Video game adaptations might have developed something of a stigma, but with producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, Pirates of the Caribbean) working alongside the original writer Jordan Mechner expectations are running high in the Film24 office. Here's an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek at Jakey G in action...

With a career that's had more highs than Whitney Houston, it's hard to know where to start when it comes to judging his films.

But with Minority Report finally released on Blu-ray Monday 17th May, we decided to celebrate  the release - because we like any excuse to celebrate really - we're counting down the top ten Spielberg movies of all time.

So here they are.  If you have a say about it please let us know below.

10. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

The movie equivalent to a theme park ride, Doom may be a darker and sillier outing than Raiders but it's sure a lot of fun.

From the glorious musical opening in Shanghai to the white knuckle rope bridge finale, Spielberg has the audience in the palm of his hand. The bearded one can sure whip up a family adventure.

Dr. Indiana Jones: "Nothing shocks me, I'm a scientist"

9. Catch Me If You Can

The real life story of Frank Abagnale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio), who famously conned millions of dollars by posing as a doctor, a pilot and an attorney, before he'd even turned nineteen. This comedy drama has a lightness of touch that deserves repeat viewings. Watch out for an early performance by Amy Adams as one of Abagnale's sweethearts.

Frank Abignale Jr.:"Two little mice fell into a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned, but the second mouse, he struggled so hard that he eventually churned that cream into butter and he walked out. Amen."

8. Minority Report

Why is the future always so bloody terrifying? We might as well call it a day if this is what we have to look forward to. Thanks to Spielberg and his first collaboration with Tom Cruise, Minority Report is a visually stunning futuristic noir with brains and thrills in equal measure.

Jam packed with exciting features and high definition visuals, Minority Report is available on Blu-Ray from Monday 17^th May. Watch an exclusive clip from the Minority Report Blu-ray.

Dr. Iris Henimen: "I call it a gift, for them it was more like a big cosmic joke."

7. Saving Private Ryan

Often replicated, Spielberg creates a harrowing depiction of the harsh realities of battle.

The agonising Omaha Beach scene is one of cinemas greatest aesthetic achievements, drawing the audience right into the futility of war.

Private Reiben: "Hey, Wade, I got a mother, you got a mother, the sarge has got a mother. I'm willing to bet that even the Captain's got a mother. Well, maybe not the Captain, but the rest of us have got mothers."

6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind

It's easy to see the impact of Steven Spielberg as a filmmaker on his peers. M. Night Shyamalan's 2002 hit Signs is a direct homage to the wonder of Close Encounters.

In recent years Spielberg has turned on his benign extraterrestrial creations (see War of the Worlds for further evidence), but here aliens are curious explorers with the ability to churn out euphoric electro.

David Laughlin: "Have you recently had a close encounter?"

5. Schindler's List

The horrors of the holocaust are brought vividly to life in the true story of Oskar Schindler, who saved the lives of over a thousand Polish Jews by employing them in his factory.

Earning Spielberg his first Oscar as Best Director, Schindler's List is a movie of monumental mastery that explores humanism in the most abject of situations.

Amon Goeth: "Today is history. Today will be remembered. Years from now the young will ask with wonder about this day. Today is history and you are part of it."

4. Jaws

How did this ever get past the censors as a PG certificate I will never know, Jaws packs more scares and gore than most recent horror movies. The real success here is Spielberg's ability to let his characters lead the drama rather than the Great White, in what essentially is a monster movie. Not forgetting John William's iconic score of course, responsible for raising the blood pressure of cinema goers everywhere. This was the original summer blockbuster that set the trend for the last 35 years.

Brody: "You're gonna need a bigger boat".

3. ET

Just your regular tale of boy meets alien, alien dresses in a wig and dress... and then they fly across the moon on a chopper bike! It doesn't necessarily make sense but ET is still as charming and heartbreaking as it was 28 years ago. With spellbinding performances from Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore and a certain animatronic alien, ET was shockingly overlooked at the 1982 Oscars, with Best Picture going to Richard Attenborough's Ghandi.

E.T.: "E.T. phone home"

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark

The film that introduced the greatest celluloid adventurer since...well ever, Raiders is a master class in crowd pleasing matinee fodder. Dr Indiana Jones is the unshaven antithesis to Bond, relying on good old fashioned luck and a PHD in archaeology to get the better of meddlesome Nazis. The awe inspiring real stunt work gives the movie a nostalgic Hollywood vibe that Spielberg should have channelled for the disappointing Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Toht: "You Americans, you're all the same. Always overdressing for the wrong occasions"

21.  Jurassic Park

We're slightly biased in the Film24 offices when it comes to JP, being a firm childhood favourite and all, but there's no denying that blockbusters don't come much bigger or thrilling than this. The first hour is a stirring science lesson in playing silly buggers with Mother Nature, and then all hell breaks loose in a perfect marriage of special effects and edge of your seat action. Though it might not boast Spielberg's strongest characters, Jurassic Park is the perfect blockbuster. Plus, everyone likes a Tyrannosaurus Rex chomping down on a lawyer...especially one sat on the dunny.

Dr. Ian Malcolm: "God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs..." 

Dr. Ellie Sattler: "Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits the earth..."

"Ida is the only female figure who completely opposed the regime," said Filippo Timi, who played Mussolini and had to compete with archive footage of the real Duce. Timi, who admitted this was the most unpleasant role he has ever played, did not fall into imitation of the historical figure, though. "I had to look inside of me, in the "dark river" of yearning for power," he said in a Q&A following the UK premiere last 4 May. "It was hard to enter the role, but it was even harder to exit it," he added.

Rather than a documentary on a key figure of Italian history, the film is an account of the disruptive effects of power, which smashes any form of sweetness -the closing sequence of Mussolini's head statue crashed epitomises this. Nevertheless, footage from the archives of the Luce Institute, the oldest public organisation for cinema distribution in Italy, often intertwine with the plot.

Mussolini is presented as a human figure - the opening sequence, with a young Benito defying God and then making passionate love to Ida is emblematic; his gaze magnetic. "The tragedy is that he was human. Evil is human," said Timi, who prepared for the role studying a philosophical book on narcissism. What attracted him to the part were the many challenges it entailed, including the fact that he also had to play Mussolini's son, who at a certain point makes a spoof of one of his father's speeches, an artistic "double somersault" for the actor.

Working with 70-year-old director Marco Bellocchio -China is Near (1967), Devil in the Flesh (1986) and more recently Good Morning, night (2003)- was also a major turn-on for young Timi, who debuted on the silver screen ten years ago but gained momentum only in 2008 with Gabriele Salvatores's As God commands and Giuseppe Capotondi's The Double Hour, both presented at last year's London Film Festival.

Vincere will be released in theatres across Britain on 14 May.

Ridley Scott couldn't make it, due to knee injury, but Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett gave press the low-down on the highly anticipated film which opened this year's proceedings.

Shimmering under the French sun (we're not at all jealous...) in an iridescent pink Armani dress, Blanchett spoke of her joy at the opportunity  of working alongside long-time hero Max von Sydow, who plays Sir Walter Loxley, as well as Crowe and director Ridley Scott. Crowe cheekily cited the opportunity of kissing Blanchett as an incentive for his involvement in the film, as well as referencing the historical importance of the film's more factual elements.

Although the film is not competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or prize, so far it has received mixed reviews. Whilst the Gladiator comparisons were perhaps inevitable, they do not seem to be doing Scott and Crowe any favours with their latest collaboration. Blanchett's Lady Marion, on the other hand, has been commended for breaking the damsel-in-distress conventions that are commonly associated with the character.

The screening saw a stunning Salma Hayek wearing a red Gucci gown, closely followed by Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. Jean-Claude Van Damme and his wife, Gladys Portugues, were also in attendance, as was an elegant Helen Mirren with husband and director Taylor Hackford. Whilst Kristin Scott Thomas chose not to walk the red carpet, we hear she was also seen inside the Palais De Festivals for the screening.

True to form, Eva Longoria had heads turning as she arrived in a red-carpet-sweeping Pucci gown, and was one of the few stars who opted to change outfit before the Robin Hood after party. Other ladies spotted dress-swapping between events were the two female members of the Cannes Jury, Kate Beckinsale and Giovanna Mezzogiorno, who both opted to up the glamour before rocking the red carpet runway.

Jury member Tim Burton, on the other hand, kept to his signature dishevelled style. Speaking with the other judges at a press event he described the judging process as being "like a journey, where you know where you have to get to, but you're not quite sure how you're going to get there".

As expected, several of the Robin Hood cast were also present, with Crowe giving a peace-sign to photographers as he held the hand of his ethereally-styled wife, Danielle Spencer.  Blanchett, too, made a lasting impression by wearing a dress reported to have been selected especially for her by the late Alexander McQueen.

So there you have it: sunshine, glamour, and a plethora of cinematic celeb's have already descended upon 'le Festival de Cannes'…even if we haven't quite managed to (read our blog to find out just how absolutely fine with that we are). And if previous year's festivals are anything to go by, we can expect to hear reports of plenty more designer dresses, celebrity scandal, and, of course, some absolutely brilliant films.

It's inevitably going to make hundreds of millions with box office and DVD sales, but has Scott always been such a sure bet? He's a perfectionist with an eye for cinematic beauty, but this doesn't always mean that every film is a runaway hit. His first film, Boy and Bicycle, was a short starring his little brother Tony Scott - who just also happens to be an award winning producer and director as well - made whilst Ridley was studying at the Royal College of Art.

So it's a student film, but it does also foreshadow some of Scott's infamous cinematic shots. There's an eerie nature which is picked up in his sci-fi films, and the grandeur and length of streets that can also be seen in the Colosseum shots in Gladiator and the establishing shots of Black Hawk Down. It's clear he experimented with style early on, and has stuck to it like a fly on sticky tape. He even used this style in the now infamous Hovis advert.

But it wasn't all the glamour of directing Hovis ads and episodes of Z Cars.

With his first feature film, The Duellists, he received critical acclaim, though the cinema going audience disagreed. It was 1979's Alien though that really proved Scott's directing prowess.

It's arguable that's Scott's vision and exhaustive and extensive research into Alien, as well as bringing a strong female lead to a science fiction genre previously saturated by male action heroes, provided 20th Century Fox with a sci-fi franchise that's had some great, and some downright deplorable, sequels. The foundation was set, both for Ridley's career, and for James Cameron to come along seven years later and continue the story.

Such is the passion for Alien and its consequent films, Scott is rumoured to be working on not one, but two prequels: which is surprising considering Scott wanted to make a version of Tristan and Isolde, but decided on an action packed sci-fi after seeing the success of Star Wars in the cinema. It could have led to a very different career.

Blade Runner, based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, continued the fascination with science fiction. But is it a hit or a miss? Some love it, some hate it, and even Harrison Ford can't make up his mind. Having been furious at being made to do voiceover work on the film, as well as arguing with Ridley on set, Ford and Scott patched things up in time for the 2007 release of the Final Director's Cut.  Whilst certainly not as action packed as we've come to expect of Ridley, it reflected the original source's intensity and questioning of both contemporary issues, whilst projecting it faithfully in the future. Always up for discussion, Blade Runner frequently appears of best film lists, and has become a cult classic after a disappointing box office return.

Legend (1985) became the first time Scott had dallied with children's fantasy, and was also a time before Tom Cruise had found tweezers. Legend was, at the time, a little seen and little cared about fantasy film. Seems Tony Scott proved to get more bang for his buck with Tom Cruise in a little film called Top Gun. With its sickening tagline 'This is such stuff as dreams are made of. This is Legend', the film suffered from studio intervention (not the first time in Scott's career), leading there to be many different version out there in the stratosphere. Whilst decent enough, it pales in comparison when reminiscing over other kiddy fare out in the eighties; The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, The Never Ending Story, and dare we even say it, Willow.

Following this, Scott directed fairly successful films, proving that when left to his own devices he could ensure bums on seats when the film hit cinemas. Black Rain in particular, starring Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia, made a healthy profit but has since faded in film history (when writing, we hadn't found anyone in the office who had seen it).

However there were a few more misses, Someone to Watch Over Me, with Mimi Rogers (Tom Cruise's ex), was a thriller, a genre Scott has since learned to excel in. 1492: Conquest of Paradise was a Christopher Columbus biopic, starring Gerard Depardieu. Whilst it had more historical integrity than Carry on Columbus, released in the same year, it was probably only seen by the same amount of people (though we doubt they were the same people).

Likewise the little heard of White Squall was an action disaster movie starring Jeff Bridges, Ryan Phillipe, and, er, Scott Wolf of Party of Five fame. It sunk at the box office, much like the boat did in the film.

But somewhere amongst the box office flops and diffident thrillers, a road movie with solid female leads came hurtling down the horizon. Responsible for bringing Brad Pitt to the world of film (something which we imagine a lot of women would like to thank the casting director for), Thelma and Louise was at one point a film that seemingly everyone in Hollywood was linked to. Even two decades after its release, it's hard to think of a film that focuses so heavily on two female leads whilst providing big box office returns.

Riding high on the mid-nineties obsession with Girl Power, G. I. Jane caused a stir during filming and upon release, mainly due to lead actress Demi Moore, who was hot property at the time, shaving her hair for the role. But whereas Thelma and Louise seemed to strike a chord with the audience, G. I Jane seemed gimmicky and not as thought provoking as hoped.

After a three year break, and even with the combined experience of the cast and crew, we don't think anyone anticipated just how successful Gladiator was going to be. Cue five Oscars, a slew of spoofs, and a film that inspired a whole host of movies attempting to honour epic stories. It lay the framework for storytelling, action sequences and computer graphics for films that would follow it; Troy, Alexander, King Arthur and even Scott's own Kingdom of Heaven. My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius indeed.

Black Hawk Down was packed with action, with a frenetic and beautifully shot retelling of the Battle of Mogadishu. It nearly rivaled Saving Private Ryan for the sheer onslaught of bullets and noise, and Josh Hartnett confidently led an ensemble cast (in fact, it remains one of Hartnett's best roles). Winning awards right, left and centre, it reassured the industry of Scott's box office talent, being able to satisfy the most ardent of cinema boffins to the popcorn munchers in the first row.

The underwhelming Matchstick Men, starring Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell came off the back of the critical and box office success of Black Hawk Down, a gamble considering Nic Cage's reputation was only on the climb again after success with Adaptation and Sam Rockwell had only just made the leap from Indie films.

The old story of Scott's films being critically revered but not setting fires alight with audiences reared its ugly head, something film goers were keen to see Scott combat with his next film. In 2005, Scott attempted to emulate the success of Gladiator with Kingdom of Heaven, and while all the pieces of the puzzle were there, they didn't seem to fit together. Was Orlando Bloom too young to be the lead of film about the Crusades?

Again, Scott had his film's running time slashed, with the studio releasing a heavily edited print. True fans can now see the film as intended with the DVD release, complete with director's cut.

For his next three films, Scott teamed up with Mr. Crowe in A Good Year, American Gangster and Body of Lies. Whilst A Good Year barely registers in people's memory, American Gangster brought them both back with a vengeance. A story set in the seventies, against a drug empire back drop, was perfectly told with Denzel Washington in tow (one of Tony Scott's favoured actors), only to be followed by the less than a mediocre reaction for Body of Lies (it was behind Beverly Hills Chihuahua in the American box office).

Comparatively though, Body of Lies tackled the war on terror with more box office success than other films that preceded and followed it.

Bringing us to present day, Russell Crowe is back in period dress, showing Gerard Butler that he can scream about Sparta all he wants; the reigning champion of gruff voices and looking moody is back. Suppress any thoughts of Kevin Costner and Bryan Adams, as Scott's Robin Hood - and its stellar cast -looks set to get the summer box office off to a flying start (and it's seemingly one of the few films that has resisted the urge to have weapons flying out the screen at you).

With a host of producer and director credits in the future, tongues are already wagging about the Alien prequels as well as a new mobster thriller starring one of Hollywood's most underrated actors, Casey Affleck. But one of the more bizarre films Scott is attached to Monopoly. Yep, a film about a board game. And considering Scott was more than impressed by James Cameron's use of 3D technology in Avatar, it's likely that the boot (probably voiced by Russell Crowe) will be hurling its way towards you soon.

We're bringing you a weekly film show, presented by Peter Bart (until recently he was editor-in-chief for top industry magazine Variety) and film producer Peter Guber.

In the House brings you the latest interviews with the stars in the hottest films, behind the scenes news and trends in the movie world, all from the people who have helped make some of the biggest films in history.

Episode 2 (repeat) - Tuesday 18 May 19:05 PM

Episode 1 (repeat) - Tuesday 11 May 19:05 PM

Episode 3 - Tuesday 4 May 19:05 PM

Lee Daniels and Gabourey Sidibe feature today, talking in depth about the independent sensation Precious.

Director Rob Marshall also drops in to talk about his musical homage to Fellini, Nine, which stars Daniel Day Lewis and a host of infamous leading ladies.

Their final guest is character actor Stanley Tucci, who talks openly about his experience playing his latest role in The Lovely Bones, as well as his up and coming movie, Burlesque, with Cher and Christina Aguilera.

Episode 2 - Tuesday 27 April 19:05 PM

This week the industry know-it-alls are joined by Golden Girl Betty White to talk about her role in rom-com The Proposal, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award she was presented with at the Screen Actors' Guild Awards. Also in the studio this week is Oscar winning director Kathryn Bigelow (the first female film maker to win Best Director) to talk about her Iraqi War drama, The Hurt Locker.

And if you want to find out more about the BLOGDOM section, this week Jenna Briand, Editorial Director of NBC LA gives her opinion on the hottest films around.

Nell Minow, aka the Movie Mom, stresses the need for censorship when marketing films towards children. Make sure to check out similar posts on her blog: www.moviemom.com

Lastly, keeping us topped up on Twilight news, fashionista Kris Schoels takes us behind the style of the cinematic teen sensation. For more fashion, gossip and news, all with a film twist vsit www.starpulse.com

Episode 1 - Tuesday 20 April 19:05 PM

Guests are Morgan Freeman talking about his experiences with teaming up with Clint Eastwood to play Nelson Mandela in Invictus, and Gucci genius, turned film director, Tom Ford on his award winning, A Single Man.

You can also keep up with all the gossip from the programme on the awards season: the Baftas, Oscars, Spirit Awards and Screen Actors' Guild Awards.

And if you want to find out more about the BLOGDOM section, you can read about Carrie Milburn's, aka Spicy,  visit to Forks and the Twilight set on her blog www.celebritysmackblog.com

Serial blogger Anne Thompson keeps you informed on everything you need to know about Precious at www.thompsononhollywood.com

And finally, man in the know, Jon Lloyd brings you celebrity gossip, straight from Hollywood at www.nbclosangeles.com/blogs/popcornbiz/

If you love film blogs, be sure to check out our very own one blog.film24.com.

Walking away from an explosion

In a high-octane world where a single bullet can cause a car or a helicopter to explode into a ball of flames, our leading men are often unphased by the deafening noise, blazing fire and powerful force of any explosion. As such, they can walk away from such situations without even looking, somehow knowing that they are a safe distance from the flames heading their way.

Most likely to be seen in: The Expendables

Bad guys attacking one at a time:

Whenever a hero attempts to catch a bad guy, he will inevitably be faced with a group of henchmen all ready to attack. What they don't realise is, if they all went in punching and kicking together, they would stand a good chance of defeating the action star, thus allowing their evil boss's plans to come to fruition. Instead, though, they approach one at a time, getting despatched easily with swift blows and headbutts.

Most likely to be seen in: Robin Hood

Driving into a fruit stand:

During the course of any high-speed car chase, the two vehicles will hurtle down a quiet street and collide with a fruit stand (or a newspaper stand, or some empty tables and chairs outside a café, etc). The owner will then be seen shouting and angrily shaking his fist as the cars speed off in the distance.

Most likely to be seen in: Knight and Day

Bad guy with a nice hobby:

As the main villain resides in his headquarters, perhaps while hearing a report from his chief henchman, we will see a more sophisticated side of him, designed to make him more relatable to the audience and less like the sadistic egomaniac he clearly is. He could be lovingly tending to a pet cat or a tank full of expensive tropical fish, or just showing an unwarranted appreciation of classical music or fine art. Always remember though: he's evil really.

Most likely to be seen in: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Funny tech expert:

Whether he is a member of the criminal gang, or a sidekick who helps our protagonist in some way, there is invariably a quick-talking, wise-cracking computer expert who makes fun of those around him, boasts about his talents and, if he is called upon for an action scene, is always useless at firing a gun.

Most likely to be seen in: The Losers.

Computer hacking for dummies:

This technical whiz will be able to crack into high-security organisations like the CIA or the Pentagon in a matter of minutes using just a laptop which doesn't even have a mouse attached. This is made easier by these organisations having a screen which says, in big green letters, things like "Enter Password" and "Access Granted".

Most likely to be seen in: Salt

Henchmen with no shooting practice:

When our hero finds himself ducking behind an impractically thin wooden door as a dozen bad guys shoot at him, he may as well just walk out in the open because they can't aim for toffee. Bullets will even spark off the ground as the renegade action star runs from one hiding place to another, because no one thinks to move their gun just that little bit in front of him.

Most likely to be seen in: The A-Team

The bullet-proof pocket item:

In the unlikely scenario that the leading man does get shot straight in the chest, it will be ok because there will always be a thick object of sentimental value in his pocket that will stop the bullet, whether it's a tiny locket given to him by his murdered wife, a bible handed to him by the local priest, or the huge wad of cash he got paid for starring in the film in the first place.

Most likely to be seen in: Jonah Hex

Indestructible heroes:

If our protagonist happens to falls foul of a bullet, and has left his lucky pocket charm at home, then he has one final fail-safe: invincibility. Because even when our action hero does get shot, beaten up, and blown to smithereens, you can guarantee that he'll just wince a bit and carry on as normal. Die hard, indeed.

Most likely to be seen in: Predators

The big bad guy speech:

At the end of any movie, when the hero finds himself at the mercy of the villain, he may think that it's all over, but he needn't worry just yet - Doctor Chaos has but the kettle on because he wants a chinwag about his diabolical plans for world domination. This gives the hero more than enough time to turn the tables, even after enjoying a jammy dodger or two.

Most likely to be seen in: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

But be warned as we all know that football can be quite volatile: so expect dreams to be dashed, goals to be missed, naughty words to be shouted, and get ready to adopt the head in your hands position as we look at the movie world of players, fans, thugs, managers, icons and a pop star in the making.

Fever Pitch

You may have seen a bastardisation of Nick Hornby's 1992 autobiographical novel starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, A Perfect Catch. Well it was a remake of sorts of the 1997 film starring Colin Firth as a Gunners obsessed thirty something, a far superior product, we think you'll find. A true example of studios believing America 'doesn't get getting soccer', so baseball was the name of the game. Basically we refuse to put up with their bilge of American Football films (Varsity Blues anyone?), they in turn don't want to know about football (but in all fairness if Mike Bassett: England Manager is all we have to offer, then you can hardly blame them).

Sixty Six

The fact that England has not had success since that fateful summer in 1966 is hardly ignored, with stoic Englishmen still holding onto the dream that this year will be the year. And whilst we may not know the outcome of Capello's team this time around, we can relieve the electric final in Sixty Six, a coming of age tale of one boys poorly timed bar-mitzvah of the day of the final. Starring - would you believe it - a British cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Marsden and the awesome Peter Serafinowicz.

Bend It Like Beckham

The Billy Elliot of the girl world, Gurinder Chadha's 2002 film is probably the most successful football film England has had at the worldwide box office. Which is surprising considering how unrepresented woman's football is (did you know that the Arsenal Women's team has won the Premiership seven consecutive times?). Chadha uses football as a backdrop to explore the social issues surrounding a Sikh girl defying convention to become the next big thing. But there are enough footie scenes to get the fans interested, the actresses were sent off to soccer camp, whilst the remainder of the Hounslow Harriers was made up of professionals (and Shaznay from All Saints).

There's Only One Jimmy Grimble

Capturing the dream of boys desperate to play for their team, Jimmy Grimble teaches the audience that all the best players start somewhere. For Jimmy, it's trying to prove his worth so he can captain the school team. With Brit actors Robert Carlyle, Gina McKee, Ben Miller and Ray Winstone, it's a great ensemble piece, with enough emotion to keep those less interested on the pitch engaged.

The Damned United

Michael Sheen is the draw for the non-footie fans among us, in the story of Leeds United's infamous manager, Brian Clough. He shines at the motor mouth manager, who tries to lead a team of disrespectful and cheating players, whilst always under the constant glare of his predecessor, who just happens to be the new England manager. It's made all the more funny, because it's actually true, giving the game some cinematic integrity. It's ultimately about the characters as oppose to the action shots, 'cos if you want to watch some football you may as well watch ninety minutes of the real game.

The Goal! Franchise

What started off as an ambitious project, with three films portraying one boy from Mexico's meteoric rise to football stardom, got off to a cracking start. But by the third film you'd be forgiven for thinking it was about League two than an international superstar for all the attention it got. All three films did have some awesome cameos though; everyone from Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Brian Johnson from AC/DC, one of Newcastle United's biggest fans. Whilst the last film was released straight to DVD, there are rumours that a fourth film, focusing on the world cup in South Africa is intended, but these seem to have been shot down before pre-production began.

Gregory's Girl

Taking a look at the Scot's love of football, Gregory's Girl shows the importance of football in a teenagers life, only to have that interrupted by a girl, who *shock horror* is better at the game than they are. A coming of age tale, not specifically about football, but demonstrates the presence it has in the majority of people's lives in the British Isles.

Mike Bassett: England Manager

Probably one of the more realistic films about the sorry state of English football, and a peculiar example of a film becoming a television series four years after its release. This mockumentary starred comedy man of the moment Ricky Tomlinson, and Bassett's leadership style echoes that of Brian Clough (abrasive, rude, obnoxious loudmouth). It's a love it or hate it film, much like England's other passion: Marmite.

Mean Machine

This one is extra special, as it has an ex-footballer in, Vinnie Jones. Whilst it amused us to see him crop up in Guy Ritchie films, we're welcoming his decision to live in LA. America you are more than welcome to keep him and his corny films. Mean Machine is an adaptation of The Longest Yard, an American football film from the seventies which has also been remade by Adam Sandler. Set in prison, it stars the usual host of cock-e-knee rebels, Jason Statham, Danny Dyer and Jason Flemyng, who are led by Vinnie as he organises a match between the prisoners and wardens. It must have been a leap of faith on Jones' behalf.

Escape to Victory

It seems oddly satisfying that even in times of war; we can get a game going. It happened in the WWI, a moment depicted in French film Joyeux Noel, the video for Pipes of Peace - a Paul McCartney song - and football anthem All Together Now by The Farm. However, Escape to Victory focuses on Allied POW during WWII and stars footballing legends Bobby Moore and Pele alongside Michael Caine, Max Von Sydow and Sly Stallone. Often said to be one of the best football films, mainly because it plays on the old footballing rivalry between England and Germany.

Green Street, The Football Factory, Awaydays, The Firm, I.D.

Football hooliganism is not so much about the game, more about those who feel the need to bring down the name of football, believing they are doing their team proud. As disgusting as it may be, it's part of the culture, and is well documented in the world of film. These films often become cult classics (and frequent paychecks for Danny Dyer), representing the history of violence from brawling in the seventies, to organised 'firms' in the eighties. Whilst they receive a lot of criticism because they are said to glamorise gang brawling, it seems that audiences can't get enough of them.

Looking For Eric

Move over David Ginola, the original French smoothie is back, and this time he's planning on tackling the film world. After a curious appearance in Elizabeth as the fantastically named Monsieur De Foix, Cantona is back as a life coach for down in the dumps Manchester United fan, Eric Bishop. The game itself takes a back burner, but its proof of Cantona's iconic status that he can have a film released about what a great guy he is.

Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait

The closest you'll get to watch a full ninety minutes of football as a film, all eyes and cameras are on Real Madrid midfielder, Zinedine Zidane. The French legend was tracked by seventeen cameras during the 2005 match between Real Madrid and Villarreal CF, and the game is documented in real time. Some say a thing of beauty, others are a bit perplexed, but it's undeniably a brilliantly presented, up close and personal review of a great player.

Rudo & Cursi

Whilst Diego Luna may have turned down the opportunity to play the lead in the Goal! Series, he did get together with his favourite acting buddy Gael Garcia Bernal, to bring us the story of two brothers fighting to be the best football star of their family. It's a satirical look at the world's obsession with footballer's lives, and what happens to young men's egos when they have the spotlight on them.

Kicking and Screaming

Most Americans just don't get our fascination with the beautiful game. It appears the only ones who do care for it are under-10s, absent mindedly wandering the pitch, not really caring for the game, but do it because it'll give their dad a chance to vicariously live out the sport star career he had once hoped for. An excellent send up of this is in Will Ferrell's much maligned Kicking and Screaming, bringing football, er, we mean soccer, to the periphery of the American fans, and way before David Beckham rocked up at LA Galaxy. If you want to see how American soccer films shouldn't be, keep an eye out for The Lady Bugs, with the goggle eyed Rodney Dangerfield.

When Saturday Comes

Before an acting career came along, Sean Bean had planned a career kicking the ball about, but an accident which left him with glass in his leg soon put a stop to that. So he gets to live out his footballing dreams in this role as a factory worker who finds himself on the starting eleven for Sheffield United, going up the ranks in the F.A. Cup. It's in the imaginative glory days of Sheffield United (so take it with a pinch of salt), where a thirty six year old actor can be the lead striker in the F.A. Cup. That's the magic of movies, folks!

Over the weekend of the 29th and 30th May, from six in the morning, to five in the afternoon, we're bringing you a host of programmes celebrating those we admire and those we are fascinated by.

Throughout the two days we'll be showing profiles of some of the hottest property in the celebrity world: Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Arnie, Barack Obama, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz and Leonardo Di Caprio, Kylie, George Lucas, Keanu Reeves. Phew. That's a lot of talent.

As well as documentaries, we'll also be showing films with some of the highly respected figures in the history of celluloid. Starting in the very early hours, we have cinema legend Alec Guinness as Julius Caesar in Caesar and Cleopatra, an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play of the same name.

White Christmas star, Danny Kaye, stars as Geppetto the carpenter in Pinocchio, the infamous tale of a puppet becoming a real boy.

The epitome of style and class, Audrey Hepburn makes her first ever film appearance in One Wild Oat, and then we take a closer look at the roles that made her a star as well as her humanitarian efforts and legacy, which are still felt around the world today, in The Magic of Audrey.

Everyone's favourite uber-bitch in shoulder pads, Joan Collins, stars in Our Girl Friday. Joan is Sadie Patch, a girl marooned on a desert island, being pursued by the remaining survivors, all of them as unappealing as the next. Popcorn at the ready, in a twist on the classic Daniel Defoe novel Robinson Crusoe.

Michael Jackson, love him or hate him, there's a fascinating story behind his meteoric rise to fame and his consequent intriguing public persona. Honouring his life, as well as the legacy he left behind, Michael Jackson: Devotion is unmissable.

A channel that champions British film wouldn't be able to have an Icons weekend, without including the Carry On chaps. Frankie Howerd features in a blink and you'll miss him role in the caper Inn for Trouble where the notorious British couple, The Larkins, pester the owner of an Inn (run by Leslie Phillips) and convince him to hand it over to them for a weekend. We've then got World War II comedy, starring Sid James, in The Desert Mice.

Hopefully summer is on its way, but not in The Big Freeze and the home for the retired, when two plumbers (Eric Sykes and Bob Hoskins) turn up to fix the heating on the coldest day of the year. Very much in the style of his Sykes' infamous shorts, eccentrics hide round every corner, including John Mills, Spike Milligan and Donald Pleasence.

Everyone loves Hollywood royalty, as Elizabeth Taylor: England's Other Elizabeth proves. An in-depth look at her career, health and elaborate personal life, with interviews from the woman herself, and her closest friends and colleagues; Shirley McClaine, Rod Steiger and Angela Lansbury, as well as juicy material from the archives.

Live fast, die young: a statement continually attributed to James Dean. Forever James Dean chronicles his success and legend, with a comprehensive look at his life and career and his untimely death in 1955. Echoing the success of a young actor who was taken from the cinema far too soon, we finish our Icons weekend with a Heath Ledger: A Tribute. The young Australian actor has been immortalised in the films he made, with an industry paying the highest of respects to him, and fans mourning his death.

See schedule for times and further details

Rappers Raekwon, Tego Calderon and rapper/jewellery designer Paul Wall meet former child soldiers, amputee survivors and those still suffering the effects of a civil war that killed tens of thousands of people, and left a third of the country's population fleeing to neighbouring countries.

It's an unforgettable film that goes some way to highlight the unlicensed nature of diamond mining and the changes in law to guarantee that jewels will be conflict free. The film also investigates why diamonds have become so popular when portraying glamour in hip-hop culture, with opinions from Kanye West. It's time to think about the sacrifice that may be behind the bling.

It's been a busy couple of years...

Yes, it's been quite busy! But they've all been busy in different ways. This has just been a bit busier on the movie front, as I've had two films come out close together.

Including,  Dear John, the film that knocked Avatar off the top of the box office.

Yes, that was nice. (Laughs) Of course, it was nice but let's put that in perspective! Avatar had been there for weeks, it's not like I took them out on week two! They'd already gone well over $600m by the time we arrived.

So many of your books have been filmed. Do you write with that visual sense, that idea of how it would look on the screen?

I suppose I do, but not necessarily because of Hollywood, more because it's part and parcel of my own style. I've had a wonderful run. The Lucky One starts filming here in July, so that will be seven out of my 14 novels that have been adapted for film... Of course, it also means that seven of them haven't been!

But I don't write with Hollywood in mind, I just concentrate on writing the best novel that I can. I've learned I can't predict which books will get picked up. I was certain that The Guardian would get picked up. It was a shoe-in, I knew it, I knew it would for sure... and it didn't! The one I thought would absolutely never be purchased? Nights in Rodanthe! I can't predict it.

I do keep film in mind, but only to the extent that I try to keep my stories as original as I possibly can. The originality doesn't just go towards other novels, it goes to film and TV. I would never, for example, set a love story on the Titanic. Even though it's never been another novel, so many people saw the film they'd say that's not very original.

But yes, seven out of 14, it's been a great run. But I think Stephen King has 38, so let's keep it in perspective...

There is some criticism that your novels follow a distinct "Sparks formula". How do you respond to those sorts of comments?

I'm a big believer that everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I look back and know that the novels are exceedingly different in terms of style and structure. I will say though that the films tend to feel more familiar, because with a film you don't vary the structure. There are screenplay things you have to do at the 25 minute mark, the hour mark, etc. My novels have been much more different than the films, but you know, people like the films...

The Last Song was the first time you've adapted your own work. How did you find rewriting it as a screenplay?

It was fine. It wasn't necessarily all that challenging. Writing is writing. The only thing is that there's that specific structure you have to follow with a screenplay and as long as you're familiar with that, and I was, then it just becomes about telling the story in other words.

Before I wrote either the novel or the screenplay, I was very clear on what the story was. I knew the characters, I knew their movements through the story, I knew the plot-turning points, I knew how they reacted to those, I knew how I wanted it to end. All of that was very clear before I wrote a single word. Then I met and worked with Miley on that. She's a lovely young lady, very bright, very charismatic, and she told me what she wanted and we talked about developing the story, because I knew that she would be in it if Disney made the film. Then I sat down and wrote the novel in two and a half months.

Do you find it easy to let your novel go, to allow somebody else to turn it into a film?

I find it very easy. I work with producers who understand the point behind what I do, so we're all on the same page, and we want to make the best possible movie we can make, one that audiences will go out to see. We want to write a movie that follows the story and takes the characters and doesn't change them too much. I've been fortunate that it's always been that way - I've never had any argument about "vision"! If they're buying it, they know what they're getting! You don't want to mess with that "formula", right? (laughs).

Any plans to write a story as an original screenplay?

Not at the present. Right now, I'm buried in my current novel and right now that feels to be about as much as I can handle.

What about directing? Any appeal?

Absolutely not! I don't know enough about directing or the film business. I'm under no illusion that I could do a better job!

The Last Song, starring Miley Cyrus, is out now.  To win one of 10 copies of the novel, visit our Win Stuff page.

Erasing David is a fascinating, and often chilling, exploration into how much personal information is stored in government and corporate databases. But also how easily this information can be misconstrued to the detriment of the individual, or even more frightening, used to hunt you down.

Following the arrival of a letter informing him that his daughter Ivy is among 25 million residents whose details have been lost by the government, David Bond decides to leave his family behind for one month in an attempt to achieve total anonymity: "My wife was wonderful about the whole thing. Mostly. At times I wondered whether she thought I was having some sort of male crisis!"

On his tail are two private investigators that will use whatever means to track him down before the end of the thirty days. Bond hopes that by disappearing he will be able to expose the extent of surveillance that is now an everyday fact of life for British citizens, but also that it isn't too late to turn things around: "I don't think we can expect politicians to legislate in our favour to protect us from people who want to collect data. What we need is for us as individuals to take care of our own data."

With a name like Bond, you'd expect the director would be more apt at being spied upon but confesses he developed a bad neck looking over his shoulder all the time. And instead of using all manner of high tech equipment to track Bond across Britain and Europe, the private investigators look through refuse bags and even Facebook!

So not quite as thrilling as Bourne Supremacy then? No, but Erasing David does make compelling viewing when you consider the evidence that Bond uncovers. We learn about information collated by Internet providers, victims of faulty criminal databases, surveillance cameras and new measures taken by schools to register pupils by their fingerprints. All of which makes for riveting viewing that is often humorous and terrifying. Just don't expect the London based director to go all kung fu halfway through the film.

Since making the documentary we asked what changes David Bond had made to his life to reduce unnecessary data capturing: "I now shred. A lot"

For more information go to www.erasingdavid.com

Erasing David is in cinemas nationwide from the 29 April and plays on More4 on the 4 May at 10pm as part of the award-winning True Stories.

Iron Man 2

Release date: 30^th April

Robert Downey Jr comes back as the super-charismatic billionaire playboy Tony Stark in this eagerly anticipated sequel to Marvel's Iron Man.

This time, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell make up the baddies and extra players as Stark is forced to fend off the US government's attempts to take his Iron Man suit as well as face off against a hew foe, Whiplash (Rourke).

Ideal for: kick-starting a summer of fun and thrills.

> Watch the Iron Man 2 Trailer

> Read the Iron Man 2 Review

Robin Hood

Release date: 12^th May

Russell Crowe teams up with his Gladiator director Ridley Scott in yet another film based on the Robin Hood legend.

Robbing the rich and giving to the poor, Robin Hood, along with his band of merry men in Sherwood Forest, leads an uprising against the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham.

With Ridley Scott in charge, expect lots of grand, epic battle sequences, and Russell channelling his inner Maximus with lots inspiring shouts and swordplay.

Ideal for: feeling patriotic in the run-up to the World Cup.

> Watch the Robin Hood trailer

MacGruber

Release date: 21^stMay

Extended from a regular Saturday Night Live sketch, comedian Will Forte stars as ex-special operative MacGruber, who recalled into service to thwart his arch-nemesis Dieter Von Cunth (Val Kilmer).

With a lot of big blockbuster action films heading our way, this parody of the genre could turn out to be one of the funniest films of the year.

Ideal for: remembering not to take other summer blockbusters too seriously.

> Watch the MacGruber trailer

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Release date: 28^thMay

Based on the hugely popular videogame, Jake Gyllenhaal plays the eponymous prince who partners with a rival princess (Gemma Arterton) to stop a villainous tyrant (Ben Kingsley) from unleashing a life-threatening sandstorm on the whole world.

Expect lots of awesome special effects and Gyllenhaal swashbuckling in the sand.

Ideal for: seeing some hot weather, just in case it rains all summer.

> Watch the Prince of Persia trailer

Sex and the City 2

Release date: 28^thMay

Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte are back with new shoes and new dilemmas.

Two years after her wedding to Big, Carrie worries about becoming a bored housewife and so she and her friends jet off to Dubai for a girly holiday. While there, though, she bumps into her old flame, Aidan, and finds that there is still a lot of chemistry between them.

Ideal for: World Cup widows.

> Watch the Sex and the City 2 trailer

Get Him to the Greek

Release date: 11^th June

Russell Brand reprises his role as Forgetting Sarah Marshall's eloquent British rock star, Aldous Snow in this raucous comedy co-starring Jonah Hill and even P Diddy.

As Hill's record company intern is tasked with the job of making sure Snow arrives on time to perform a concert at LA's Greek Theater, he finds he has work cut out for him as the cockney rebel is busy living a wild rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

Ideal for: festival goers

> Watch the Get Him to the Greek trailer

Jonah Hex

Release date: 18^th June

Josh Brolin stars as the hideously scarred gunslinger of the Old West, in this supernatural comic-book adaptation.

Bitter loner Jonah Hex, a tough, horse-riding bounty hunter with a price on his own head, teams up with prostitute Lilah (Megan Fox) when the US military offer him his freedom in exchange for bringing in his old enemy, Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich) who is planning to unleash Hell on Earth.

Ideal for: anybody going to the beach, but is too old for the donkey rides.

Knight and Day

Release date: 2^nd July

A-list actors Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz star in this comedy actioner which sees Cruise stick to type as a trained spy who has been framed.

When Diaz's June Havens gets mistaken as his accomplice, the two go on the run as fugitives, which leaves Cruise's hero trying to keep safe while clearing both their names in a film which is sure to contain spectacular stunts and 100-watt star smiles.

Ideal for: those looking forward to an adventurous holiday.

> Watch the Knight and Day trailer

Shrek Forever After

Release date: 9^th July

The Scottish green ogre returns to our cinema screens for what has been dubbed 'The Final Chapter'.

After a deal with mischievous trickster Rumplestiltskin goes awry, Shrek is transported to an alternate version of Far Far Away in which ogres are hunted and both Fiona and Donkey don't know him.

He then vows to restore his world and win back the love of his life.

Ideal for: keeping the kids quiet for just two hours out of the whole school break.

> Watch the Shrek Forever After trailer

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Release date: 9^th July

If you haven't already, the time has come to choose between Team Edward or Team Jacob, as vampires and werewolves clash in this latest instalment of the gothic phenomenon that has taken over the world.

When a series of murders occur near Bella's hometown, she must rely on the pale R-Patz and the toned Taylor Lautner to keep her safe despite them both competing for her love.

Ideal for: feeling good about your new tan.

> Watch the Eclipse Trailer

Inception

Release date: 16^th July

Writer-director Chris Nolan is back after providing the most successful comic-book film of all time, The Dark Knight, and, just like his last non-Batman film, The Prestige, this is sure to be a twisty stylish caper.

Leo DiCaprio stars as a special agent who enters people's dreams in order to retrieve information. Plot details have been kept strictly hush-hush, but, suffice to say, this will feature tons of action with an intelligent, mind-boggling spin.

Ideal for: keeping your brain active during the summer break.

> Watch the Inception trailer

The Karate Kid

Release date: 16^th July

This remake of the classic 80s film, originally starring Ralph Macchio, gets a makeover with Will Smith's son Jaden in the lead role and Jackie Chan in the Miyagi mentor role as Mr Han.

Even those outraged at the idea of this remake should still be in for a treat as there are sure to be several nods to the original film.

Ideal for: motivating yourself to exercise.

> Watch The Karate Kid trailer

Predators

Release date: 22^nd July

It's Adrien Vs Predator, as The Pianist star Adrien Brody becomes the unlikely successor to Arnold Schwarzenegger in jungle-fighting the deadly alien foe.

Leading a group of dangerous criminals, Royce (Brody) soon realises that they have been transported to the Predators' home planet for a hunt. This film should banish all memory of the lacklustre Alien Vs Predator franchise and re-establish the Predators as the meanest alien race in the galaxy.

Ideal for:those who have returned from a bad holiday - these guys have it worse.

> Watch the Predators trailer

Toy Story 3

Release date: 23^rd July

Eleven years after their last cinema outing, Woody, Buzz and co are back with a whole new toy-related adventure.

As owner Andy goes to college, the toys are given to a day-care centre, which not only introduces them to a whole host of new companions, but puts them in immediate danger from all of the young toddlers who play rough.

Ideal for: those about to start university and feeling nostalgic.

> Watch the Toy Story 3 trailer

The A-Team

Release date: 30^th July

Anybody hoping that this feature-length film would be every bit as ridiculously fun as the classic 80s TV series on which it is based can rest assured, thanks to a sequence in the trailer that showed a plane squaring off against a mid-air tank.

The story is about how four war veterans attempt to clear their name after being framed, but you won't need to worry about this - just check your brains in at the door and enjoy the ride.

Ideal for: hot and bothered workers - this should be the perfect escape.

> Watch The A-Team trailer

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Release date: 6^th August

Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright has finally been given a comic-book adaptation to match his quirky style with this story about a young slacker (Michael Cera) who must defeat a girl's seven exes before he can find true happiness with her.

Judging from the recently released super-cool trailer, this film will feature slick fight scenes combined with an over-the-top comic style, and fanboys are already frothing at the mouth waiting for its release.

Ideal for: those enjoying a summer romance.

> Watch Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World trailer

The Last Airbender

Release date: 13^th August

M. Night Shyamalan is hoping to win back fans after the negative critical reaction to his last few films with this CGI fest based on a popular children's cartoon. Set in an ancient time, the four nations of the world are divided into the different elements: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. When the Fire Nation attacks the other three, 12-year-old Aang is the only person who can restore balance to the world thanks to his given birthright to control all four elements.

Ideal for: gardeners, picnic-goers, barbecue-chefs and anyone else braving the elements.

> Watch The Last Airbender Trailer

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Release date: 13^th August

Nicolas Cage is back on screens once again this year and, while he tones down the crazy this time, he still gets to have a lot of fun as off-the-wall sorcerer, Balthazar Blake, who hires Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel) to be his apprentice in helping him fight the evil wizard Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina).

Loosely based on Disney's Fantasia but looks to be way more fun.

Ideal for:those worried about exam results.

> Watch The Sorcerer's Apprentice Trailer

Salt

Release date: 20^th August

Angelina Jolie returns to action blockbusters with this spy-based thriller packed full with stunts, car-chases and explosions.

Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer accused of being a Russian spy. As she uses all of her skills and training, not to mention a series of wigs, judging from the trailer, to evade capture and attempt to clear her name, her actions only serve to further cast doubts on where her loyalty stands.

Ideal for:anybody who has recently pulled a sickie to enjoy a beautiful summer's day.

> Watch the Salt trailer

The Expendables

Release date: 20^th August

Sly Stallone has brought together a Who's Who of 80s, 90s and modern-day action stars for this film, co-written and directed by Stallone himself.

Featuring Jason Statham, Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren, among others, as well as featuring cameos from Bruce Willis and Arnie, this tale of a group of elite mercenaries hired for 'one last job' is sure to pay a perfect homage to the type of ballsy action flick they just don't make like they used to.

Ideal for: ending a night spent catching up with old friends.

> Watch The Expendables trailer

So we've decided to embrace social networking. You can keep in touch and join the conversation on Twitter, or if you're on Facebook you can become a fan, and watch the latest videos and win tickets to exclusive screenings.

Tell us what you love, what you hate, your favourite films, what you'd like to see on the channel, what you want more of, which actors do you love, hate and tolerate, and make sure to keep an eye out for our latest reviews, interviews, competitions and television updates as well as the latest snippets of gossip on our blog.

Scott divulged that the prequels will take inspiration from the original and star a woman before further adding that even with the original, the script called for a lead male actor, "Well, the main character in the prequel will be a woman.   We're thinking it could go down that route, yeah. When I started the original Alien, Ripley wasn't a woman, it was a guy. During casting, we thought, why don't we make it a woman?"

The screenplay for the prequels are still being honed into a final draft (they're currently on version four) although Scott has revealed that the story is set some three decades before the original, hence Sigourney Weaver not being involved in the project as her character wasn't even born when the new story takes place.  The story will revolve around "The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle - there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer's chair."

Alien was a great success at the box office,  met with huge critical acclaim while also winning an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.  The original story centred on crew of a spaceship who were investigating a transmission from a barren planet only to discover that a life form existed on it which was able to obliterate mankind. Followed up by James Cameron's Aliens in 1986, Scott has promised that the prequels do not require calling on past knowledge of the franchise although it looks like they definitely nod towards the themes and motifs that were prevalent in them.

Talking about the advancements in modern technology since he made Alien in 1979, Scott reveals how all aspects of the original were purely physical, "I had no digital technology at all.  The movies that followed us in the series, they all had tech. But I had no computers at all. Alien was all physical. Even the spaceship, which was about the size of this table. You'd just hang it from a wire and the camera would push in underneath... I was the operator on it myself. You'd try to keep it steady with this fan and all this dry ice blowing to give some sense of movement. That was it. And it worked pretty good, actually."

Given that Scott is famed for his visual style and obsessive detail we can only imagine how good it's going to be in 3D.

Starting from 4.15 in the afternoon, there's a variety of programmes, so make sure to check on the schedule or EPG to see when your childhood and comedy favourites are on.

And if there's one of your best loved programmes from Southern Television missing, let us know in the comments section below.

Dick Barton - Special Agent

Based on the radio plays of the forties and fifties, the programme sees Dick, Jock and Snowey return to solve the latest mystery threatening innocent civilians. From kidnappers to villains in pursuit of world domination Dick and Co. are here, with some of the best fight sequences from the seventies.

The Flockton Flyer

Filmed on the West Somerset Railway in the late seventies, it's the tale of one family and their locomotive, endeavouring to keep open and protect the old railways branches and lines. Starring Peter Duncan (who then went on to present Blue Peter), the programme tackles issues relevant to the time such as the privatisation of the railways, youth culture and they even managed to stop the odd criminal or two. Not bad for a 35 mile per hour steam train.

Freewheelers

Although the first five series have since been lost, we're bringing you series six, full of espionage and adventure on sea, land and air. With storylines that involved hijacking of gold bullion and the development of radio-active plankton, it's teenagers fighting crime on the high seas.

Take a Letter Mr. Jones

Starring Rula Lenska and John Inman, you could say that Take a Letter Mr. Jones was advanced when portraying sexual equality in the work place; however innuendo and farce are truly at the heart of this programme. Inman starred as the put upon secretary to Rula Lenska's high flying executive. There's even a role for Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes, who plays the worryingly eccentric maid Maria.

That Beryl Marston

A programme that brings you Miss Marple in her younger years, Julia McKenzie is the recently divorced Georgie Bodley, juggling her family, best friend Harvey, her diminishing love-life and ex husband, Gerry. All blame lies at the feet of Beryl Marston, that dirty so-and-so.

Talking about the script, Rourke revealed: "John wrote the piece as told from the son and grandson's point of view, how they saw this mythic figure from their family. You see him in flashbacks, back when he was in his mid-40s."

Though Rourke has a reputation for tough guy roles in films such as Sin City and The Wrestler outside of the film industry Rourke is a animal activist and a well known dog lover.  He revealed that he took on the role primarily based on his love of dogs and the fact that Khan was apparently a dog lover too.

"The Mongols used dogs in battle, and dogs rarely made it out of the battle. But in one instance, in this script, Khan orders his men - 'Hold the dogs back.' He was looking out for the dogs. I like that."

While you would expect the motorcycle enthusiast, boxer and Wrestler star to hang around mutts like say Rottweiler's, his actual breed of choice is er Chihuahuas; the miniscule breed currently toted around by the likes of Paris Hilton in her handbag.

Rourke is so devoted to his dogs he spent $5400 to have his Chihuahua Loki flown over to England from the United States to accompany him on the set of Stormbreaker.

He even gave them credit in his Golden Globe Best Actor acceptance speech for The Wrestler, "I'd like to thank all my dogs. The ones that are here, the ones that aren't here anymore because sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you got is your dog. And they've meant the world to me."

Even Robert Downey Jnr noticed his love of dogs revealing that on the set of Iron Man 2 to get him into the zone, "He would have someone holding pictures of recently deceased pets off camera to make him feel sad or whatever for a scene, it was all serious stuff. I've never seen anything like it."  All together now, awwww!

The series ran on the box from 1965 to 1970 and starred Barbara Eden, Larry Hagman, Bill Daily and Hayden Rorke.  At one point, National Treasure writers Cormac and Marianne Wibberley had a script for Jeannie which apparently didn't work out before Mulan writer Rita Hsiao had a bash at it and failed too. Getting close to making it, Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha signed on to direct but that didn't pan out either.  Although in development for a while now, Sony had said that they were finding it hard to make the movie relevant to modern day what with it's, "pre-feminist notions."  Callaghan seems a worthy choice then considering that alongside writing for The United States of Tara, she's a reputable playwright who has dealt with feminist issues in the past.

Casting-wise we hate to say it but Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes and Jessica Simpson were considered to be in the running for the iconic role. Please no; not when there are actresses out there who possess the cutesy kooky and loopy aspects of the character that Barbara Eden brought to the role.  We're thinking Oscar winning Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson (always reminiscent of a young Goldie Hawn) and Cameron Diaz.

The prequel titled, Oz The Great and Powerful, will take inspiration from L. Frank Baum books while being injected with a few original ideas as well and will detail the wizard's life before Oz when he was a circus performer hence the wacky name and his journey (not too dissimilar from Dorothy's) to Oz.

Taken on by Disney, Mendes will pit his Oz movie against a Warner Bros project revolving around Dorothy's granddaughter who returns to fight evil in Oz as well as Universal's move adaptation of the hit musical Wicked.

Neither Downey Jnr nor Mendes have confirmed their part in the project however it seems Mendes has some spare time on his hands now that Bond 23 has been delayed indefinitely and what with Downey's huge success of late with blockbusters Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man, he's becoming one of Hollywood's most wanted actors.