Movie Minesweeper - The Palm Tree Peel Edition

- Paramount are to fly solo (distribution wise) in Japan from the start of next year. This pretty much puts the final nail in UIP's coffin.

- Adam Rifkin's an odd one. His Homo Erectus is to be released theatrically as National Lampoon's Homo Erectus this autumn. Meanwhile, his bona fide cult number The Dark Backwards is finally about to hit DVD after months of delays. And, of course, Underdog isn't too far away.

- David MacKenzie's Hallam Foe will be the opening night film for this year's Edinburgh festival.

- Doug Aarniokoski, an old 2nd of Robert Rodriguez, is making his 1st debut with the horror film Animals. Marc Blucas, Nicki Aycox, Andy Comeau and Eva Amurri are to star.

- Iwo Jima is being re-named Iwo To (re-named literally - it is returning to its original name). Clint Eastwood is being credited with reminding people of the misnomer and prompting the change.

- Is there going to be a sequel to 30 Days of Night? Apparently, planning is already underway.

- Peter Medak is to direct Addicted. Addicted to what? Sex, apparently. Might as well be Risk?

- AintItCool have a test screening review of the Halloween rehash.

- The brains behind lonelygirl15 have signed a Neutrogena sponsorship deal. I wonder if there's anybody similar out there trying to get attention on YouTube but, I dunno, possessed of some artistic ambition and integrity. Angling for a film deal is one thing, just wanting fame is another entirely.