MY MOVIE WEEKwith Mike Shaw

» When I was a kid, I loved The Garbage Pail Kids. I loved them almost as much as my parents hated them. Looking back, I can see why they wouldn’t want their seven-year-old playing with trading cards designed to parody the Cabbage Patch Kid dolls and boasting characters like Nervous Rex (a baby who chain-smoked and drank coffee by the gallon) and Fryin’ Brian (a kid doomed to spend his entire life strapped in an electric chair).

In 1988, three years after the cards appeared, a movie was released and my little head exploded with glee.

However, even 20-plus years ago, I knew it was rubbish, and the sound of my hollow, trying-too-hard laughter haunts me even now.

But there is now news a new Garbage Pail Kids movie is on the way, due no doubt to a recent resurgence in the popularity of the cards – albeit a popularity that doesn’t even come close to its 1980s heyday.

While this initially sounds like a terrible idea, there is something that gives me pause for thought: visual artist PES has been hired to direct the film. PES has made some interesting short films using stop-motion animation which is reminiscent of Michel Gondry’s work. The idea that a 21st century Garbage Pail Kids film could go in an abstract and legitimately freaky direction makes it something worth keeping an eye on.

» You know who else has been in tons of stuff over the past 12 months?

Ryan Gosling, that’s who, and like Fassbender he’s not stopping for a rest either. Far from it – his latest movie is a martial arts action flick from Nicolas Winding Refn, the man who directed him in Drive.

The film, called Only God Forgives is set in Bangkok and Gosling, pictured top, plays a former gangster who owns and runs a muay Thai gym.

When his brother is murdered by a retired police lieutenant, he attempts to avenge his brother’s death by challenging the policeman in a Thai boxing match.

Kristen Scott Thomas co-stars in the film as Gosling’s mother, who is the head of a criminal organisation.

With films like Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Ides of March and Drive, Gosling has proved himself to be a versatile leading man and it’ll be interesting to see if the actor (who is already trained in Thai boxing) can carry a pure action movie. Only God Forgives is scheduled for a late 2012 release.

» It’s almost April Fool’s Day, which means it’s almost time for the annual 2 Days Laughter comedy film festival. As ever, the idea is for film-makers to record and produce a 10-minute film in just two days, following a strict set of guidelines.

Following the amazing success of previous years, the historic Theatre Royal Margate will once again play host to the shortlisted screening and awards ceremony, taking place this year on Saturday, March 31.

This year, there were entries from across the country and even further afield, including France and California. One film even features a guest appearance from TV Burp star Harry Hill, pictured right.

The screening is free, but to reserve tickets for that and the after-party, get thee to www.2dayslaughter.co.uk