Disney to acquire Marvel

Walt Disney Co. is set to buy Marvel for $4 billion. Does this mean that we'll see a Kingdom Hearts game with Marvel characters? Cool.

Variety article here: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007932.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

The Tempest also moved to 2010

The release of Julie Taymor's The Tempest, buzzed for potential Oscar nods for Helen Mirren's performance and Sandy Powell's costumes, has also been moved to 2010.

Oscar predictions here will be updated by 1 September.

Shutter Island moved to 2010

How frustrating. After showing us that fantastic trailer, Paramount pulls off Shutter Island from its original October 2009 release date to February 2010, making it ineligible for the coming Academy Awards. Financial woes are the cause, so say execs. Understandable. Paramount would most likely want to focus on their awards campaign for The Lovely Bones. Still...it's annoying.

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/shocker-paramount-moving-scorsesedicaprios-shutter-island-to-february-2010/

66th Venice International Film Festival

IN COMPETITION

Soul Kitchen - Fatih Akin (Germany)
La Doppia Ora - Giuseppe Capotondi (Italy)
Yi Ngoi (Accident) - Pou-Soi Cheang (China-Hong Kong)
Persecution - Patrice Chereau (France)
Lo Spazio Bianco - Francesca Comencini (Italy)
White Material - Claire Denis (France)
Mr. Nobody - Jaco Van Dormael (France)
A Single Man - Tom Ford (USA)
Lourdes - Jessica Hausner (Austria)
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans - Werner Herzog (USA)
The Road - John Hillcoat (USA)
Ahasin Wetei (Between Two Worlds) - Vimukhti Jayasundara (Sri Lanka)
Al Mosafer (The Traveler) - Ahmed Maher (Egypt)
Levanon (Lebanon) - Samuel Maoz (Israel)
Capitalism: A Love Story - Michael Moore (USA)
Zanan-E Bedun-E Mardan (Women Without Men) - Shirin Neshat (Germany)
Il Grande Sogno - Michele Placido (Italy)
36 Vues du Pic Saint Loup - Jacques Rivette (France)
Survival of the Dead - George Romero (USA)
Life During Wartime - Todd Solondz (USA)
Baaria - Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy)
Tetsuo the Bullet Man - Shinya Tsukamoto (Japan)
Prince of Tears - Yonfan (China-Taiwan, Hong Kong)