France is famous for its history of industrial solidarity, but I've never seen it affect movies before. Last week cinemas across the whole country turned their outside lights off in a show of national protest against new anti piracy laws that would see DVDs come out only four months after the theatrical run. Though I'm ashamed to admit it to fellow left leaning cineaste comrades, my first thought was 'they wait that long?' Indeed, the shortest delay between a theatrical and DVD release in Australia was only 29 days when I last took notice – it was for a Disney teen comedy the name of which I can't remember now and it was long before the Bittorrent era.

Two truly wacky pieces of casting news. The first is the return of Joan Collins, who I can't believe is still working after I last saw her in Aaron Spelling's Dynasty when I was a teenager in the 80s. But that's not what's weird about it. She's going to play the hostess for a dinner party thrown in honour of UK graffiti artists Banksy.

Don't think it can get any stranger? Then how about Eminem in his first film since 2002's 8 Mile in a 3D movie described as 'The Twilight Zone meets Creepshow'.

In fanboy news, Joss Whedon made a bid for the financially beleagured Terminator franchise. Honestly, read his open letter here.