Egyptians are not amused by “I love you, Man” (Paramount Pictures), the latest summer comedy to come from across the Atlantic. The reason: the main character’s dog is named after the country's former president, Anwar Sadat. Read more…

"The Lord of The Rings", "Batman" and "The Matrix" were all very popular films which benefit from a strong community. They're so popular that fans are filming their own versions or spoofs of the films, thanks to current computer technology. Most of the young directors behind these films, some of which are reaching professional quality, share the same dream: to become a part of the Hollywood constellation. Read more...

For 23-year-old comedian Deborah Newman, Cannes Festival is a make-or-break. One way, you build a base of professional contacts, the other, you get scammed by fakes full of empty promises. Read more...

Film stars and dazzled onlookers are not the only people crowding Cannes at festival times. The Croisette is also home to several young directors, like Cédrick Spinassou, on the lookout for a producer. Read more…

Conspiracy theories sprout like mushrooms at each global crisis, and Swine flu is no exception: one blog blames a mysterious secret society, the Illuminati, for the recent outbreak. Do movies like Ron Howard's upcoming Angels and Demons add fuel to the conspiracy-theory fire? Read more...

Despite its popularity in Chinese cinemas, the director of a film which attempts to deal with "The Rape of Nanking" - the 1937 Japanese massacre in China's former capital - has come under fire on the Chinese web, for his apparent compassion with the Japanese soldiers. Read more and see the trailer...

Directed by Zack Snyder, the man behind the blockbuster hit '300', The Watchmen is expected to become the latest box-office sensation as it hits US cinemas on Friday. But this widely-anticipated 100-million-dollar movie adaptation of a popular graphic novel from the 80s has left its fan base with mixed feelings. Read more and watch the trailers...

Last week we discussed the scandal sparked by the release of a controversial film in Morocco. Now, another film has been axed in Lebanon. The reason is pretty much the same: sex. Read more and watch the trailer...

The leaked audio of Christian Bale's four-minute furious rant, in which he managed to fit in the word "fuck" 35 times, is the web's biggest hit this week. The American Psycho star erupted into the unending onslaught of insults, aimed at one of the set's directors, while shooting for Terminator 4. Even in the land of stars, the verbal assault has caused outrage. But on the inside of the industry, a producer tells us that it's nothing unusual. Read more...

While Slumdog Millionaire received rave reviews in the rest of the world, in India itself critics are complaining that the British-made picture is unrealistic and full of clichés. Several of our Observers went to the slum where the film is set to find out for themselves. And the scenes are even more astounding in reality. See their photos...