Johnny Dee 

This week’s internet reviews

Making Of | Bad Menu | Blog Roll: Christmas | What we learned on the web this week
  
  

Making Of
Bill Murray on the set of Fantastic Mr Fox from the Making Of website Photograph: 20th Century Fox Photograph: 20th Century Fox

Making Of

Concerning itself with the nitty gritty of the movie craft, Making Of's weirdly silent set visits to recent movies – including the Coen brothers' A Serious Man and Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox – reveal the tedious reality of the process. Among trailers and clips are the much better video interviews with stars like Eric Bana and Ben Stiller, plus proper insight into the industry in a series of exchanges with costume designers, casting directors, screenwriters and stuntmen all discussing their work. The site, co-founded by Star Wars pin-up Natalie Portman, could do with an injection of humour to go with its access to the inner echelons of Hollywood. If only Dennis Pennis was still available.

Bad Menu

Who doesn't love a catastrophic spelling mishap? Especially if it involves an attempt to tease your taste buds but instead triggers your gag reflex. Taken from menus, billboards, ads and signs the world over the delights on offer include "Stuffed Eggplant with shrimp and crap filling" (yum), a family pizza that comes with a topping of "40 to 60cm of sheet metal" (mmm) and "roast lamp" (delicious). A common error appears to be in translating a menu – or maybe antipasto really is a "copulation of daily meats". But there can be few excuses for the American establishments whose "vegetarian option" is chicken or for the Lebanese restaurant that insists on hiring a "lesbian chef".

Blog Roll: Christmas

Last Christmas

Pop noir, 8-bit, Swedish and choral covers of Wham's 80s classic.

Aluminum Tree Museum

Preserving vintage aluminium trees in all their tinselacious glory.

Ship Of Fools

The magazine of Christian unrest including "Gadgets for God" and the 12 Days of Kitschmas.

Big Balls Of Holly

Christmas tunes on YouTube, DIY decorations, album downloads and a 30ft spruce.

Put On A Panto At Home

All you need to stage your own panto in the comfort of your own living room.

Santas Working Overtime

Links galore including novelty advent calendars, vintage adverts, kids books and festive playlists.

What we learned on the web this week

Rock's infamous "crotch moments"

Think before you text

The economics of pinball

Pop stars are getting younger

Who's the best boat captain

Superheroes who are arseholes

The worst portrayals of technology in film

How to make Googling safer for kids

Where Nicolas Cage's money went

Curb Your Enthusiasm's formula

 

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