Mark Kermode

Star Trek Into Darkness has been causing quite a stir online, though it's nothing to do with the film itself, which has largely been praised by critics. Speaking on his and Simon Mayo's radio show on BBC5 Live, Mark Kermode brought up a debate stirring in the Twitter world about the movie's title, before putting it to director Jj Abrams during a phone interview.

Kermode noted that many fans had been left disappointed by the title Into Darkness because Star Trek cannot go into darkness, or anything for that matter. A colon would have sorted this out and detached the two parts of the title, though Abrams argued that it shouldn't be taken too literally and that it only referred to Star Trek as an entity that could move into a darkening periods, "I'd like to start with an apology, I didn't mean to cause.[a fight]" he told Kermode. 

Upon discovering that the movie had no colon, one Twitter user, "If "Star Trek Into Darkness" (yup, no colon) is really the name they've chosen for the Abrams sequel, someone needs to slap JJ with a fish." Another said, "Star Trek Into Darkness is the official name of the Star Trek sequel. Should there have been a colon?"

Continue reading: Is 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Grammatically Incorrect? JJ Apologizes

Despite being called the best Bond over, breaking box-office records and continuing the tradition of subsequent 007 flicks to outdo the last, Skyfall risks falling into the pantheon of James Bond films not to grab an Oscar.

Following 2 wins from 24 nominations, the odds are stacked against Skyfall, with the Academy's penchant for ignoring serialized entries. But that's hardly fair considering both the fiscal and critical success the 23rd Bond has been. 

Mark Kermode - esteemed BBC film critic - told Digital Spy: "The really interesting question is going to be Skyfall. How is Skyfall going to do at the awards because traditionally Bond movies are not awards movies? They're crowd-pleasers and they tend to be slightly neglected by the awards ceremonies. I think that what Sam Mendes has done with Skyfall is to reinvent the Bond franchise in a way that deserves to be an awards contender. I'd love to see Skyfall get significant nominations. I hope it does."

Continue reading: Is It Time For James Bond To Win An Oscar? Mark Kermode Thinks So

You would have thought a glamorous, black tie event, with expensive drinks and beautiful, sometimes evil people in attendance would see 007 shine. But for whatever reason - the Academy's reluctance to reward film series is often cited - Bond has only 2 Oscars from 24 nominations in its illustrious 50 year history. 

"It is absolutely time for Bond to get proper attention at the Oscars," Timothy Dalton - twice Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill - said. "On almost every level this Bond movie [Skyfall] is right at the forefront of what cinema is capable of. [Skyfall] is an absolutely modern James Bond, a movie truly of its time. Daniel Craig is fantastic and it feels very real. It has also got a great story about M with a nice streak of cynicism. I thought the film was fabulous," he continued. Bond will be recognised without a doubt come February 24th, but in the form of a tribute rather an award. Theme song singer Adele has also been rumoured to perform at the ceremony.

Popular critic Mark Kermode, like Dalton, believes Skyfall should finally break Bond's Oscar blues. "The really interesting question is going to be Skyfall," he told Digital Spy. "How is Skyfall going to do at the awards because traditionally Bond movies are not awards movies? They're crowd-pleasers and they tend to be slightly neglected by the awards ceremonies. I think that what Sam Mendes has done with Skyfall is to reinvent the Bond franchise in a way that deserves to be an awards contender. I'd love to see Skyfall get significant nominations. I hope it does."

Continue reading: Time For "Bond To Get Proper Attention At The Oscars" Says Former 007, Timothy Dalton

It was quite a different picture from last year's Bafta Rising Star Awards, where not a single female was recognized. But judges say it was a "happy accident" that 4/5 nominees are female for this year's awards. 

Juno Temple - the daughter of filmmaker Julien - has an increasingly impressive acting CV, and is coming to the fore for last year's Killer Joe. Quoted in the Independent, she expressed her delight that the prize had "gone female" adding: "It's good to redress the balance, to keep things even. When you look at the girls who have been nominated, some of their work is mind-blowing." She also praised the writers and commissioners for some unique opportunities, saying  "We are very lucky to have such diverse character roles coming our way." Another nominee, 31-year old Andrea Riseborough, said: "To even be counted amongst this, and the last seven years' rising star nominees feels utterly phenomenal." Elizabeth Olsen and 24-year old Swede Alicia Vikander complete the female contingent, while Suraj Sharma completes a worthy list of actors. 

Mark Kermode, the film critic who was part of the jury, said: "The number of female nominees was one of those things that happens. There wasn't any sense of doing it as a balance, although it's nice it's worked out like that. It's a happy accident with the emphasis on the happy."

Continue reading: Girls Dominate Bafta Rising Star 2013 Awards