Japanese Trailer For "The Legend of Chun-Li"

The Japanese trailer for "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" has been released to offer fans a first look at the movie.

The film is directed by the guy responsible for the crap "Cradle 2 The Grave" - Andrzej Bartkowiak, and stars Kristin Kreuk as Chun-Li, Neal McDonough as M. Bison, Chris Klein as Charlie, Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog, Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas as Vega and Robin Shou as Gen. The fights in the film are choreographed by Hong Kong veteran Dion Lam.

The film is based on the "Street Fighter" video game and will focus on the character Chun-Li (what do you expect?). The film is set for release on February 27, 2009.

Judge Says Fox Owns Rights To "Watchmen"

According to The New York Times, U.S. District Court judge Gary Feess has issued a ruling that Fox has a copyright stake in the upcoming "Watchmen" movie.

The film was co-produced by Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Fox has been trying to prevent Warner Bros. from releasing the movie.

At an earlier hearing, the judge said he believed that issues in the case could be settled only at a trial, which was scheduled for late January. Last week, however, Judge Feess said he had reconsidered and concluded that Fox should prevail on crucial issues.

"Fox owns a copyright interest consisting of, at the very least, the right to distribute the 'Watchmen' motion picture," Judge Feess said in the ruling.

Fox picked up to the rights to the "Watchmen" graphic novel in the 1980s with Lawrence Gordon on board as producer, but the plan was eventually dropped. Gordon later pursued the project with Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.

Judge Feess advised both Fox and Warner to look toward a settlement or an appeal. “The parties may wish to turn their efforts from preparing for trial to negotiating a resolution of this dispute or positioning the case for review,” he said.

Source: The New York Times


Related posts:
Second "Watchmen" Trailer Is Here
Six New "Watchmen" Character Posters
New "Watchmen" Trailer Released

"Kinta" Movie Review

Director: C.L. Hor
Cast: Robin Ho, Kuan Jun-Fei, David Bao, Michael Chin, Shawn Lee, Patrick Teoh, Albert Yuen


The film's title "Kinta" refers to a district in the state of Perak, Malaysia which was one of the major producers of tin ore while under British colonial rule. At the beginning of the film, there is a brief history lesson about the migration of Chinese to Malaya in the 19th century to work as slave labourers in tin mines. Most of them were brought here on ‘contracts’ where they are only allowed to return back to their homeland after serving for a period of time.

We are then introduced to the stars of the film - four slaves working for a wealthy mine owner, Uncle Hoong (Patrick Teoh). The quartet consist of Lung/Dragon (Robin Ho), Kit/Ace (Kuan Jun-Fei), Kwong/Blaze (David Bao), and Fu/Tiger (Michael Chin). One night, Uncle Hoong decides to kill all the slaves and have them replaced with a new batch instead. Only the four slaves, along with their foreman, Uncle Tin (Albert Yuen) managed to escape the massacre. Badly injured, they are saved by the Malay locals from a nearby village. During their recovery, their back stories were told by the use of flashbacks. The group then goes through a series of martial arts training, followed by the final caged fight against the bad guys when Uncle Hoong holds a competition to select a new foreman for the fresh batch of slaves.

The plot of "Kinta' sounds pretty decent but most unfortunately, the execution and editing of the film was really poor and it just doesn’t quite live up to its potential.

The flashbacks, which provide the back stories to the film, were so poorly edited that you never know whether the events are happening in the past or the present. The flashbacks also provide the director an excuse to repeat the exact fight scenes that took place earlier in the film. Maybe the running time of the film is too short perhaps?

The ending of the film, if you can call it that, does not provide any satisfying resolutions to the main plot or any of the sub-plots. The movie ends right after the cage fight and does not address the fate of the main characters or of the bastard Uncle Hoong.

My other complaint is the large amount of CGI blood used in fight scenes. Instead of enhancing the fight scenes, the CGI blood gives them a comic-book feel (in a bad way) and looks really fake.

The only good thing I can say about the film is the fight choreography by Hong Kong veteran Chin Kar-Lok. All the four main actors as well as Uncle Hoong’s right hand man, played by Shawn Lee are real life martial arts champions. And it really shows as all of them deliver solid fight performances, especially Shawn Lee who looks ferocious in his fight scenes.

I think only hardcore fans of kung fu films might enjoy “Kinta” because of the incoherent plot and messy editing. I have high hopes for the film, which is touted as Malaysia's first martial arts film. Unfortunately I left the theatre disappointed as the end result doesn’t live up to the hype.

Score: 4/10


Related post: Malaysia's First Martial Arts Movie

Footage From "The Storm Warriors"

A footage from the Pang Brothers' "The Storm Warriors" has been posted online. The footage features two armies colliding in battle. The scene looks totally awesome and reminds me a lot of Zack Snyder's adaptation of "300".

This highly anticipated sequel to 1998's "The Storm Riders" stars Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok who are returning as Whispering Wind and Striding Cloud respectively. The film also stars Simon Yam, Charlene Choi and Nicholas Tse.

As with the previous installment, "The Storm Warriors" is adapted from the "Fung Wan" comicbook series created by Ma Wing-Shing. The film will focus on two of the most popular story arcs in the comicbook series - 'Japanese Invasion' and 'Death Battle'.

"The Storm Warriors" is currently in post-production and is expected to be released in Hong Kong by December 2009.

Related post: "The Storm Warriors" Teaser

Second Trailer For "Monsters vs. Aliens"

The second trailer for DreamWorks Animation's new animated movie "Monsters vs. Aliens" has been released. This will be the first film released to utilise the Ultimate 3D format. The movie is directed by Rob Letterman (Shark Tale) and Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2).

When Susan Murphy is unexpectedly clobbered by a meteor, she mysteriously grows to 49-feet-11-inches tall and is instantly labeled a "monster". She is then captured and held by the military in a secret government compound together with other monsters rounded up over the years. This ragtag group of monsters are called into action on a desperate order from the President when a giant alien robot suddenly lands on Earth and becomes hostile.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" is scheduled for release in North America on March 27, 2009 and in Malaysia on May 28, 2009.

Related post: First Look At "Monsters vs. Aliens"

Disney Drops Out Of Third "Narnia" Movie

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney won't be producing or financing the third film in the Narnia series, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader".

While declining to elaborate, the studio confirmed that the decision to leave the franchise is for financial and logistical reasons. The third entry in the series, based on the classic books by C.S. Lewis, was set to start production in spring 2009 but the move puts the film and those attached in limbo.

Box-office statistics for the franchise shows a downward trend. The first film in the series, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" was a huge success at the box office, taking in $292 million domestically and another $453 million internationally, but "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" grossed just $141 million in North America and another $278 million internationally.

Walden Media is now looking for a new partner to co-produce and co-finance the film. The most likely candidate at this stage is Fox, which markets and distributes other films from Walden Media under the Fox Walden banner.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

New "Fast & Furious" Movie Poster

MTV Movies Blog has just posted a new teaser poster for "Fast & Furious", the latest film in the "The Fast and the Furious" franchise. The plot connects with the original film of the series from which Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster are reprising their roles.

When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto (Diesel) reignites his feud with agent Brian O’Conner (Walker). But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, two men will find the best way to get revenge: push the limits of what’s possible behind the wheel.

"Fast & Furious" is set for release in North America on April 3, 2009.

New Movie Poster For "Push"

The new movie poster for "Push" is now online. The Paul McGuigan directed action thriller stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Maggie Siff and Scott Michael Campbell.

The movie involves a group of young American expatriates with telekinetic, telepathic, and clairvoyant abilities, hiding from a U.S. government agency referred to as "The Division." They must use their different talents and band together for a final job enabling them to escape the agency forever.

"Push" is set for release on February 6, 2009.

Related post: "Heroes" Imitation?

"Night At The Museum 2" Full Trailer

The full trailer for "Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" is now online. The film stars Ben Stiller, Dick Van Dyke, Robin Williams, Amy Adams, Owen Wilson, Rami Malek, Hank Azaria, Bill Hader, Ricky Gervais, Christopher Guest and Steve Coogan.

When the Museum of Natural History is closed for upgrades and renovations, the museum pieces are moved into federal storage at the famous Washington Museum. The centrepiece of the film will be bringing to life the Smithsonian Institution, which houses the world's largest museum complex with more than 136 million items in its collections, ranging from the plane Amelia Earhart flew on her non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic and Al Capone's rap sheet and mug shot to Dorothy's ruby red slippers and Archie Bunker's lounge chair.

"Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian" is set for release on May 22, 2009.

Stephen Chow Not Directing "The Green Hornet"

Empire has reported that Stephen Chow won't be directing "The Green Hornet" but is still attached to play Kato, the sidekick to the masked millionaire, Britt Reid.

No reason has been given for Chow’s departure from the director's chair but it is most likely due to creative differences with the film studio. Damn you, Hollywood!

Sony Pictures is now scrambling to find another director to replace Chow as the filming date looms closer. It’ll be a surprise if they can find anyone whose action/comedy sensibilities match those of Chow’s, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

"The Green Hornet" first originated as a radio series on WXYZ (a local Detroit station) from 1936 to 1952. ABC then adapted "The Green Hornet" to television on 1966. The television series starred Van Williams as The Green Hornet and introduced martial arts master Bruce Lee to American audiences as Kato. In spite of considerable interest in Lee, the show was cancelled after only one season.

"The Green Hornet" is set for release June 25, 2010.

Source: Empire

Related post: The Green Hornet Movie Announced

"The Day The Earth Stood Still" Movie Review

Director: Scott Derrickson
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith

Extraterrestrial life has once again landed in America, the only country they ever seem to land in. In "The Day The Earth Stood Still", Keanu Reeves plays an alien visitor (Klaatu) who comes to Earth to warn the world leaders to clean up their act or risk the annihilation of the human race. Klaatu's main intention is to save planet Earth from the environmental damages caused by humans. When he is not allowed to meet the world leaders and instead being held captive and interrogated, he initiates 'the process' to kill us all. One memorable line from the movie is when Klaatu says to Jennifer Connelly's character - "If the earth dies, you die. If the human race dies, the Earth survives". Whoa.

Keanu Reeves is perfect as the emotionless alien Klaatu mainly because he doesn't really need to act much. I'm not sure if its intentional or not but Jaden Smith's character annoyed the hell out of me. Each time his character is on the screen, I feel like going there and slapping him. As with the rest of the cast, they did a good job and I have no complaints whatsoever.

The visual effects in the film are well done and I'm especially impressed by the alien sphere. Ooh... pretty. I know most people are saying that the CG helicopters look fake but hey, they look okay to me.

WARNING! The next paragraph contains major spoiler. If you don't want to know how the movie ends, please skip ahead to the last paragraph instead.

The movie's only flaw is its anti-climatic ending. All of the sudden, Klaatu realises that the human race can change if we try really hard and decides to give us another chance. He then leaves Earth without delivering his eco-friendly message to the world leaders. Klaatu's sudden change of heart feels a little unconvincing to me. We all know that humans are real bastards and we will never change. He should have kill us all when he had the chance.

I haven't watch the 1951 classic so I can't really make a comparison review. On its own, this film is not as awful as what others may have said. I happen to like it but don't get me wrong, this is no masterpiece either. Overall, I find "The Day The Earth Stood Still" pretty decent.

Score: 6/10

"Merantau" Production Blogs

“Merantau" is an upcoming Indonesian martial arts flick due for release April 2009. Written and directed by British filmmaker Gareth Evans the film showcases Silat Harimau, a branch of the martial arts form of Pencak Silat. The film's fight scenes are choreographed by renowned master Edwel Datuk Rajo Gampo Alam.

“Merantau” will introduce to the world Indonesia’s rising action star, Iko Uwais and the martial arts form of Pencak Silat just like what "Ong Bak" did to Tony Jaa and Muay Thai.

I've posted below five production blogs by director Gareth Evan which charts the progress of the film. According to the film's official website, the trailer should arrive by January 2009.

Brand New Trailer For "Wolverine"

The brand new trailer for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is here. The film is directed by Gavin Hood and stars Hugh Jackman, Liev Schrieber, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.i.am, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Daniel Henney and Lynn Collins.

Leading up to the events of "X-Men" (2000), the film tells the story of Wolverine's violent and romantic past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed aka Sabretooth, and the ominous Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances by several legends of the X-Men universe.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" slashes into theatres on May 1, 2009.


Related post: First Trailer For "Wolverine" Premieres December 12

"Ninja Assassin" Stunt Reel

Trailer Addict has posted a stunt reel for the Wachowski brothers' upcoming martial arts film "Ninja Assassin". The stunt reel shows Rain in top physical shape and training swordplay choreography to prepare himself for the fight scenes in the film.

"Ninja Assassin" is directed by James McTeigue and stars South Korean pop idol Rain. The film is produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers. No specific release date has been announced yet as of now.

First Look At "The Proposal"

Here's the first look at Touchstone's new romantic comedy "The Proposal" starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson and Betty White.

Sandra Bullock stars as a book editor, who forces her assistant, played by Ryan Reynolds, to marry her in order to avoid being deported back to Canada. When investigated by the government, she and her assistant are forced to spend the weekend with his parents to sell the lie.

"The Proposal" is slated to be released on June 12, 2009.

New Movie Poster For "The Unborn"

Empire has uploaded a hot new movie poster for "The Unborn", the upcoming supernatural thriller written and directed by David S. Goyer. If there ever was an award for the best movie poster of all time, I will definitely vote for this one. OMG, I just can't stop looking at the poster. Aargh! Click on the image above to view the larger version.

The film is about a young girl (Odette Yustman) who is tormented by the soul of her unborn twin who seeks to use her death as a gateway for him to reach life. If you haven't check out the movie trailer yet, here it is:

"The Unborn" is set to be released in North America on January 9, 2009 and in Malaysia on March 26, 2009.

Teaser For "Banlieue 13 Ultimatum"

The teaser for the upcoming French action flick "Banlieue 13 Ultimatum" has been released. Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle are back in action in this sequel to 2004's "Banlieue 13" aka "District B13". The film is directed by Patrick Alessandrin and produced by Luc Besson.

As of now, I have no clue what this sequel is actually about but considering how awesome the previous movie was, I really couldn’t care less.

"Banlieue 13 Ultimatum" is due to be released on February 18, 2009.

"The Storm Warriors" Teaser

The new teaser for "The Storm Warriors"(風雲II) is now available online. This highly anticipated sequel to 1998's "The Storm Riders" stars Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok who are returning as Whispering Wind and Striding Cloud respectively. The film also stars Simon Yam, Charlene Choi and Nicholas Tse.

As with the previous installment, "The Storm Warriors" is adapted from the "Fung Wan" comicbook series created by Ma Wing-Shing. The film will focus on two of the most popular story arcs in the comicbook series - 'Japanese Invasion' and 'Death Battle'.

"The Storm Warriors" is currently in post-production and is expected to be released in Hong Kong by December 2009.

Theatrical Trailer For "Chandni Chowk To China"

The new theatrical trailer for "Chandni Chowk To China" is here. The Bollywood film is directed by Nikhil Advani and stars Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Mithun Chakraborty and Hong Kong film veteran Gordon Liu. The film is the first Bollywood film to be shot in China. Judging from the trailer, the movie looks like great big buckets of fun. The idea of mixing Bollywood's musical with Hong Kong's kung fu flick is simply brilliant.

The film is about an cook (played by Akshay Kumar) from Chandni Chowk who is mistaken for the reincarnation of an ancient warrior by the villagers of an oppressed Chinese village. From the hustle-bustle of Chandni Chowk to the hutongs of Beijing, the electric energy of Shanghai and sheer breathtaking Chinese landscapes, "Chandni Chowk To China" chronicles the lunatic adventures of a hapless simpleton cook from Delhi. As he goes to seek his destiny, he finds himself thrown into a crazy world of megalomaniac villains, femme fatales, crazy inventors, Chinese mysticism and outlandish kung fu assassins.

"Chandni Chowk To China" is scheduled for worldwide release on January 16, 2009.

"Dragonball Evolution" International Trailer

The international trailer for "Dragonball Evolution" has been released and is now available online. I have a better impression of the movie now after watching the trailer, but I still think Goku should have been played by an Asian instead. The movie is directed by James Wong and produced by Stephen Chow. Justin Chatwin stars as Goku while Chow Yun-Fat plays Master Roshi.

Fans everywhere have criticised the upcoming "Dragonball" movie adaptation for not being faithful to the source material. 20th Century Fox responded by changing the title of the movie from "Dragonball" to "Dragonball Evolution". There, problem fixed.

"Dragonball Evolution" is adapted from the manga created by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Son Goku from his childhood through middle age as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven mystical objects known as the Dragon Balls. The live-action movie will focus mostly on The King Piccolo Saga.

"Dragonball Evolution" is set for release in Malaysia on March 14, 2009 and in North America on April 8, 2009.


Related post: New "Dragonball" Teaser

"Terminator Salvation" Full Trailer

The much anticipated full trailer for "Terminator Salvation" is finally here. The new installment in the Terminator franchise is directed by McG and stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anton Yelchin, Common, Moon Bloodgood and Michael Ironside.

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

"Terminator Salvation" is scheduled for release in North America on May 22, 2009 and in Malaysia on May 28, 2009.

Related post: "Terminator Salvation" Concept Art

"Transformers 2" Teaser Coming in February 2009

Michael Bay has updated his own personal blog with news about the teaser poster and teaser trailer for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". Here's what the director had to say:

Hey everyone. Back from Egypt and Jordan – we had a wonderful shoot over there. I will miss the crew they were an amazing bunch of people and a lot of fun.

I'm stuck in the edit room up to my eye balls - also finished producing Friday the 13th and The Unborn - coming out the after the new year. Our Trailer for Transformer you have been asking about - First there will be a teaser poster soon after the new year, and the teaser trailer will be out either in the theaters early Feb. or on the Superbowl. Cannot decide yet. I'm going to release some set stills on this site in a few weeks. I'll keep you informed. Going back to do more selects now from my portable avid that I take home from work. It's late, see you.

Michael

Source: Michael Bay's News Blog

"The Dark Knight" Returns To Theatres

According to IESB.net, Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing “The Dark Knight” back to theatres and IMAX on January 23, 2009, giving audiences one more chance to see the film on the big screen. The film will re-open nationwide in North America, it was announced by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “‘The Dark Knight’ is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

Originally released on July 18, 2008, “The Dark Knight” broke virtually every possible box office record to become the top-grossing film of 2008 and the second-highest grossing movie of all time in North America with $530,258,989. With this re-release, it may be possible for "The Dark Knight" to overtake "Titanic" as the highest grossing movie of all time in North America.

Source: IESB.net


Related post: For Your Consideration: "The Dark Knight"

"Ip Man 2" Announced

"Ip Man" is yet to be released but already a sequel has been planned. When launching its soundtrack recently, Raymond Wong announced the plan to shoot "Ip Man 2" next year. In the sequel, having migrated to Hong Kong and opening a martial arts school, Yip Man's four major disciples will be introduced. Yip Man would openly teach Wing Chun to the public and eventually spread it across the world.

They're thinking of doing a worldwide talent scout for a suitable candidate to play Bruce Lee, Yip Man's most celebrated disciple. Donnie Yen says that both he and Wilson Yip have a separate candidate in mind, and they're debating over whether to look for one with solid martial arts foundation or looks, "In terms of looks, Danny Chan bears the closest resemblance. But we won't necessarily approach him. Perhaps, we would consider one with similar background and demeanour."

"Ip Man" is adapted from the life story of Yip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. The film is scheduled for release in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore on December 18, 2008 and in China on December 19, 2008.

Source: Wu-Jing.org


Related posts:
Brand New Trailer For "Ip Man"
"Ip Man" Shooting Diary
Donnie Yen is "Ip Man"

Frank Miller Talks About "Sin City 2"

While promoting his upcoming film, "The Spirit", Frank Miller spoke to IGN and he said that the highly-anticipated "Sin City 2" is finally moving forward and might be ready to shoot early next year.

"Sin City 2 is written," Miller said. "It's mainly a matter of working out the details of the production. I'm hoping to do it with Robert Rodriguez again in the same circumstances that we did the first one, and we could be shooting as soon as April."

Miller wrote the original graphic novels that "Sin City" was based on, and co-directed the film with Robert Rodriguez.

Source: IGN

New "Friday The 13th" Trailer

The new trailer for the "Friday the 13th" remake is now online. This will be a reboot of the "Friday the 13th" film series and is directed by Marcus Nispel, and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. Nispel also helmed the 2003 remake of Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," while Shannon and Swift wrote the screenplay for "Freddy vs. Jason". The film stars Derek Mears as Jason Voorhees, with Jared Padalecki and Amanda Righetti portraying the male and female leads, respectively.

"Friday The 13th" is scheduled for release on Friday, February 13, 2009.

First Look at "Public Enemies"

Empire has posted two exclusive images taken from Michael Mann's "Public Enemies". "Public Enemies" is a film adaptation of Bryan Burrough's book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34. Please click on the image above to view the larger version.

The film is set during The Great Depression with the focus on FBI agent Melvin Purvis' attempt to stop criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and Pretty Boy Floyd. Christian Bale will play FBI agent Purvis, Johnny Depp will play Dillinger, and Marion Cotillard will play Dillinger's girlfriend Billie Frechette. The film also stars Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, David Wenham, Leelee Sobieski and Emilie de Ravin, with Billy Crudup as the legendary J. Edgar Hoover.

"Public Enemies" is scheduled for release on July 1st, 2009.


Source: Empire

The Stories Behind Hollywood Studio Logos

Whenever you watch a movie, have you ever wondered what the studio logo at the beginning is all about? Take the DreamWorks logo above for example. What's up anyway with the boy fishing on a crescent moon? Shouldn't he be at home doing his homework? And what does SKG stand for? Well, wonder no more because Neatorama has put together an excellent post about film studio logos and the history behind them. Do check out the post, its pretty informative and covers most of the major Hollywood studios except for Universal and Disney.


Source: Neatorama

Domestic Trailer For "Che"

Yahoo! Movies has added a domestic trailer for Steven Soderbergh's new biopic on the life of Argentine revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara starring Benicio Del Toro.

The film will be released in two parts, with the first part titled "The Argentine" which covers the Cuban revolution, depicting how Guevara and other revolutionaries under the leadership of Fidel Castro, toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.

The second part is titled "Guerilla" and it relates Guevara's attempt to foment revolution in Bolivia, leading to his capture and execution on October 9, 1967.

Both films were screened together at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, as a four hour motion picture simply titled "Che". IFC Films acquired the North American rights to "Che" and will release it on December 12, 2008 in New York City and Los Angeles in order to qualify for the Academy Awards.


Related post: New "Che" Trailer

"Star Wars" vs. "Star Trek"

It’s a debate that has been going on for decades between geeks. "Star Wars" vs. "Star Trek" — Who would win? Finally, this YouTube video gives us an answer. So get ready to boldly go to a galaxy far, far away. Its Darth Vader vs. Captain Jean-Luc Picard!

Source: /Film

"He's Just Not That Into You" Full Trailer

The full trailer for the new romantic comedy "He's Just Not That Into You" has just gone online. The movie is based on the self-help book of the same name by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo and stars Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long, Jennifer Connelly, Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Connolly, and Bradley Cooper.

The plot chronicles the romantic misadventures of several individuals in their twenties and thirties. At the core of these multiple stories is Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin), a young woman who repeatedly misinterprets the signs that men give her about their level of interest in her. The more experienced and romantically successful Alex (Justin Long), the manager of a bar, advises her on how to understand men.

Other plotlines include married couple Janine (Jennifer Connelly) and Ben (Bradley Cooper), who are going through a rough patch—leading him to flirt with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), an aspiring singer. Anna, in turn, is dating Connor (Kevin Connolly), but is clearly less into him than he is into her. The final major plot arc is Neil (Ben Affleck) and Beth's (Jennifer Aniston) story. They have cohabited for several years, but break up when Beth desires to get married and Neil refuses.

"He's Just Not That Into You" is scheduled for release in North America on February 6, 2009 and in Malaysia on April 9, 2009.

First Trailer For "Wolverine" Premieres December 12

20th Century Fox has confirmed that the first trailer for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" will be shown in theatres on Friday, December 12, before "The Day The Earth Stood Still". The trailer will likely debut online sometime shortly thereafter.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is directed by Gavin Hood and stars Hugh Jackman, Liev Schrieber, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.i.am, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Daniel Henney and Lynn Collins.

Leading up to the events of "X-Men" (2000), the film tells the story of Wolverine's violent and romantic past, his complex relationship with Victor Creed aka Sabretooth, and the ominous Weapon X program. Along the way, Wolverine encounters many mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances by several legends of the X-Men universe.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" slashes into theatres on May 1, 2009.

Source: ComingSoon.net

Dolph Lundgren Might Join "The Expendables"

At the premiere of "Transporter 3", Sylvester Stallone revealed to Review Nation that he’s pretty close in getting Dolph Lundgren to join his upcoming action flick, "The Expendables". Stallone will be writing, directing and starring in the movie which he calls a 'homecoming of tough guys', alongside Jet Li and Jason Statham. If only Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean Claude Van Damme and Bruce Willis were to sign on as well, this will be the greatest action movie ever.

"The Expendables" is about a team of mercenaries who are sent to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator.

Filming is expected to start on February 2009 in Costa Rica.

For Your Consideration: "The Dark Knight"

With the Oscar season approaching, Warner Bros has started promoting "The Dark Knight" with three 'For Your Consideration' advertisements. The three advertisements promotes the film for the Best Picture nomination, Christian Bale for Best Actor and Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Actor respectively. Click on the pictures above to view larger versions.

Source: Cinema Blend

Latest Trailer For "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"

The official UK site has added a new international trailer for David Fincher's latest film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton.

Adapted from the 1922 story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, and follows a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" opens in North America on Christmas Day, 2008 and in Malaysia on February 12, 2009.

Brand New Trailer For "Ip Man"

The official website of "Ip Man" has uploaded a brand new trailer with English subtitles. It looks really impressive and check out the scene where Donnie Yen punches a guy to the floor! Now I really can't wait to see the movie. Is it December yet?

"Ip Man" is adapted from the life story of Yip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. This movie will be the first important record of the master's life. Yip's persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. "Ip Man" is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking - and it represent a new peak in Hong Kong’s wushu movies.

"Ip Man" is scheduled for release in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore on December 18, 2008 and in China on December 19, 2008.

Related posts:
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First Look At "Coweb"

Kung Fu Cinema recently published an article about the upcoming film "Coweb" which will mark action director/stuntman Xiong Xin-xin's directorial debut. According to Xiong, the film's leading lady, newcomer Jiang Lu-xia, is doing what virtually no other female stunt actress has done before, performing all her own stunts.

"Coweb" marks a new chapter in Xiong’s career as he steps into the director’s role determined to bring back the authentic fighting action that he had once helped create in Hong Kong action films. It is a desire shared by many of the Hong Kong stuntmen and choreographers of his generation and Xiong is in the unique position of making it a reality in an era when audiences have begun looking elsewhere for impressive Asian action. Xiong is certainly in the fighting spirit when comparing his efforts to what Thailand action filmmakers have produced most recently.

“I saw "Chocolate" while we were still shooting and there is nothing to compare. It’s only because they are both action girls,” said Xiong in reference to Prachya Pinkaew’s new martial arts actioner starring female newcomer JeeJa Yanin. “In Chocolate you see a lot of double[s] and it’s always only one kick. It won’t be like that in mine!”

"Coweb" stars Jiang Lu-xia, Sam Lee, Kane Kosugi, and Eddie Cheung. Based off a screenplay by Chan Wing-sun, it’s produced by Joe Ma and Chan Shu-chi.

Source: Kung Fu Cinema

Full Trailer For "Coraline"

The new full trailer for "Coraline" has just been released. This film is an animated stop-motion fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman's novella of the same name. It is directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and features the voices of Dakota Fanning, Ian McShane, Teri Hatcher and Keith David.

The film tells the story of a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who unlocks a mysterious door in her new home in Ashland, Oregon, and enters into an adventure in a parallel reality. On the surface, this other world eerily mimics her own life—though much more fantastical. In it, Coraline encounters such off-kilter inhabitants as the morbidly funny Miss Forcible (Jennifer Saunders) and Miss Spink (Dawn French), and a counterfeit mother—who attempts to keep her. Ultimately, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home.

"Coraline" is scheduled to be released in North America on February 6, 2009 and in Malaysia on March 19, 2009.

"The Wrestler" Trailer Is Here

The new trailer for "The Wrestler" is here. The upcoming film is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Mickey Rourke, Ernest Miller, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood.

"The Wrestler" centered on Randy "Ram" Robinson (Mickey Rourke), a professional wrestler from the 1980s who is forced to retire after a heart attack threatens to kill him the next time he wrestles. He takes a job at a deli, attempts to form a relationship with an aging stripper (Marisa Tomei) and does his best to reconcile with his estranged daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). However, he is drawn to the prospect of a rematch with his old wrestling nemesis the Ayatollah (Ernest Miller), even though the fight may cost him his life.

The film's plot may sound a little too similar to Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky Balboa" (2006) but already every critic and member of the public who has seen the film has started buzzing about an Oscar for Rourke's performance. Hmm...very interesting. But I thought wrestling is fake? Oops, did I just say that out loud?

"The Wrestler" will be released in North America on December 17, 2008.

New "Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans" Poster

Here's the new movie poster for the upcoming "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans". It lacks one key element which was the main feature in the posters of the previous two installments: Kate Beckinsale. Instead of her, we get Bill Nighy sitting on his throne staring menacingly back at you. I hope they have a different version of the movie poster with Rhona Mitra in a tight catsuit. Oh,well...

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" is a prequel set prior to "Underworld" (2003) and will trace the origins of the centuries old war between the Death Dealers (vampires) and Lycans (werewolves).

"Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans" is scheduled for release January 23, 2009.


Related post: "Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans" Trailer

First Look At "Astro Boy"

The teaser trailer for the new animated feature "Astro Boy" is now online. The animated film features the voices of Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Bill Nighy, and Matt Lucas. Personally, I'm not really looking forward to watch this. Do we really need an "Astro Boy" remake? Why can't Hollywood leave classic animes alone?

"Astro Boy" tells the story of a powerful robot boy created by a brilliant scientist in the image of the son he has lost. Our hero journeys to find acceptance in the human world, and ultimately discovers true friendship as he uses his incredible powers to help others and save Metro City from destruction. 'Astro Boy" was created by the Osamu Tezuka, who is often reputed as the "god of manga" in Japan.

"Astro Boy" is scheduled for release on October 23, 2009.

Latest "The Spirit" Movie Poster

The latest movie poster for "The Spirit" has hit the net, and it takes the close-up stills used in earlier publicity materials and puts them together in a cityscape montage with Gabriel Macht's Spirit striding through them. And in case you missed the trailer that was released some time ago, here it is:

Adapted from the legendary comic strip, The Spirit is a classic action-adventure-romance told by genre-twister Frank Miller (creator of 300 and Sin CIity). It is the story of a former rookie cop who returns mysteriously from the dead as The Spirit (Gabriel Macht) to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His arch-enemy, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) has a different mission: he's going to wipe out Spirit's beloved city as he pursues his own version of immortality. The Spirit tracks this cold-hearted killer from Central City's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront ... all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill our masked crusader.

"The Spirit" opens on Christmas Day, 2008.

"Star Trek" Full Trailer

It's finally here, folks. The official full-length trailer for J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" is now available online. The trailer was first shown before "Quantum of Solace" upon its US release on November 14, 2008. The music in the trailer is really awesome and we get to see Lieutenant Uhura undress. Woohoo!

This is the eleventh Star Trek film and features the main characters of the original Star Trek series, who are portrayed by a new cast. It follows James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) enrolling at Starfleet Academy, his first meeting with Spock (Zachary Quinto), and their battles with Romulans from the future, who are interfering with history.

"Star Trek" warp-speeds into theatres on May 8, 2009.

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Latest "Harry Potter" Trailer

The official site has released a new trailer for the next Harry Potter film "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.

In "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", Harry obtains a Potions book which used to be belong to the very mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Harry finds that the Half-Blood Prince's ancient scribbles are written along the margins of almost every page, giving Harry advice on how to improve greatly on his Potions work, and also teaching him a few helpful (and dangerous) spells along the way. Amidst this, Harry is starting private lessons with Professor Dumbledore, during which Harry learns the dark secrets of Voldemort's past, hoping that they could use these secrets to find a way to defeat him. In the end, Harry and Dumbledore discover the horrible dark magic that Voldemort has been able to use, leading to a startling revelation.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is scheduled for release on July 17, 2009.

Related Post: New "Harry Potter" Teaser Is Here

Second "Watchmen" Trailer Is Here

The second trailer for "Watchmen" is here and it is really awesome. This trailer got me wanting more and I can't wait for the movie to be released. My favourite quote from the trailer - "The world will look up and shout 'Save us'. And I'll whisper 'No'."

In a gritty and alternate 1985 America, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown. However, after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, an investigation is initiated. The retired superheroes reunite and set out to prevent their own destruction with an extra mission to watch over humanity. In the course of doing so, they unwittingly discover a deeper and far more diabolical plot.

"Watchmen" is scheduled for release March 6, 2009.


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"Ip Man" Shooting Diary

The official website of "Ip Man" has recently uploaded a shooting diary of the movie. It is actually a collection of footages from the film and behind the scene videos. Check it out to see Donnie Yen in action kicking some behinds.

"Ip Man" is adapted from the life story of Yip Man, the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu (master) of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. This movie will be the first important record of the master's life. Yip's persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. "Ip Man" is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking - and it represent a new peak in Hong Kong’s wushu movies.

"Ip Man" is scheduled for release in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore on December 18, 2008.

Related post: Donnie Yen is "Ip Man"

New Trailer For "The Day The Earth Stood Still"

20th Century Fox has made available a new international trailer for their sci-fi extravaganza "The Day The Earth Stood Still". Check it out to see for yourself how awesome it is.

A remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic about a humanoid alien named Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) who arrives on Earth accompanied by an indestructible, heavily armed robot and a warning to world leaders that their continued aggression will lead to annihilation by species watching from afar.

"The Day The Earth Stood Still" is scheduled for release December 12, 2008.


Related post: "The Day The Earth Stood Still" 5 Minutes Trailer

The World Ends On "2012"

The teaser trailer for "2012" is now available online. It is an upcoming post-apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Roland Emmerich. The film has an ensemble cast, including John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Woody Harrelson.

"2012" revolves a family who goes on vacation in December 2012, just as the ancient Mayan calendar is coming to a close. Over the decades, many have interpreted the completion of the Mayan calendar to mean there will be a major change in world order. Some prophesied that the world will end when the ancient calendar ends on Dec. 21, 2012. If the human civilisation really is gonna end on 2012, then I'll get to save one year off my car loan. Cool!

"2012" is scheduled to be released on July 10, 2009.

Six New "Watchmen" Character Posters

From left: The Comedian, Dr. Manhattan and Nite-Owl II


From left: Ozymandias, Rorschach and Silk Spectre II

Comingsoon.net has posted six brand spanking new character posters from "Watchmen". Click here to view the posters in full size. The posters look really awesome and my favourite is of course the one with Silk Spectre II. Can anyone guess why?

A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, "Watchmen" is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who is watching the watchmen?

Source: Comingsoon.net


Related post: New "Watchmen" Trailer Released

First Look At The New U.S.S. Enterprise

Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at the new U.S.S. Enterprise from J.J. Abrams upcoming reboot of "Star Trek".

Abrams explained that he wanted to take the original TV series Enterprise and the movie franchise Enterprise and fuse them together into a new yet familiar Enterprise. His ambition was a ship that felt very realistic, that could "stand up" to today's f/x standards—and beyond. "If you're going to do Star Trek there are many things you cannot change. The Enterprise is a visual touchstone for so many people. So if you're going to do the Enterprise, it better look like the Enterprise, because otherwise, what are you doing?"

Fans will get to see more of the new Enterprise when the first trailer arrives this Friday, attached to "Quantum of Solace".

"Star Trek" warp-speeds into theatres on May 8, 2009.

Source: Entertainment Weekly


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"Terminator Salvation" Concept Arts

io9 has posted several awesome concept art from the upcoming "Terminator Salvation". The new installment in the Terminator franchise is directed by McG and stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anton Yelchin, Common, Moon Bloodgood and Michael Ironside. Click here to view more production art from next summer's blockbuster.

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

"Terminator Salvation" is scheduled for release in North America on May 22, 2009.

Source: io9