Review: Movie-Con at the BFI

Visitors to the two-day festival were treated to exclusive footage of Zack Snyder's upcoming movie, which follows the trials of a group of "super" vigilantes.

A total of 430 people swung over to the plush promenades of South Bank over the weekend, hungry for news of the latest developments on the silver screen. But Movie-Con was about more than teasing snippets played in dark rooms.

Whipped on by the cheerful ringmasters at Empire magazine, the first-year event provided early screenings of Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express and Hellboy 2. And it even threw in a surprise screening of Guy Ritchie's new Brit gangster flick Rock 'n' Rolla, before inviting the man himself onto the stage to discuss his roots, his plans for new movies and his own critical reputation.

Of course, it's all very well seeing new movies. But there's nothing better than picking up little bits of secret information about future films, and then taunting your friends with them when you get home.

It's doubtful many people will be boasting about catching a glimpse of Vin Diesel's new vehicle Babylon AD. But a few sofa conversations might well be sparked by the little-known Push, a Dakota Fanning movie which pans out like a grittier X-Men. Benicio Del Toro's The Wolfman has the atmosphere of a gory Sleepy Hollow, but the jury's out on whether the CGI in the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still can overcome the presence of Keanu Reeves.

Others on the reel included previews of vampire romance Twilight, Jason Statham's remake of Death Race, comedy-horror Lesbian Vampire Killer and Disney animation Bolt.

Better still, the early birds were even treated to footage of current Batman Christian Bale in his new low-profile movie Terminator Salvation. Now all they have to do is patiently wait for the films to come out.