For some years now, a sense had been growing that Comic-Con, the annual comic-related jamboree in San Diego, has more significance in the movie world than Cannes or Toronto. Well, this year’s event, which ended on Sunday, boasted an awful lot of stars and screened a great deal of footage, but genuine revelations were thin on the ground.

The big draw was James Cameron's presentation of 25 minutes from the upcoming Avatar. The lucky punters, some of whom had been queuing since the Iron Age, seemed impressed by the technical effects and cool metaphysics in the 3-D sci-fi epic, but, of course, the disciples would say that. Indeed, Varietymagazine argued that only three presentations – for Jonah Hex, Zombielandand Legion– received "lukewarm responses".

Given the faint hint of Nuremberg that hangs about the place, stars and directors are delighted to turn up and bathe in adulation. “I wish you could take the energy here and bottle it and give it to Hollywood to drink,” said Peter Jackson during his visit.

Yet, for all the buzz, there really was not much news to report. Sorry folks. The rumour, repeated here a few weeks ago, that Russell T Davis was to announce a Doctor Whomovie turned out to be without foundation. Ho hum! It seems as if Cannes still offers more fodder for the ticker tapes.