Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Theatrical Trailer For "The Karate Kid" Remake


The trailer for the upcoming remake "The Karate Kid" has been released by Columbia Pictures. The remake of the 1984 classic of the same name is directed by Harald Zwart and stars Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith and Taraji P. Henson.

The trailer looks surprisingly good, but I strongly feel that the film should not be called "The Karate Kid" if the characters in the film are not using karate. As it is very clear from the trailer that they are practicing kung fu, shouldn't the film be named "The Kung Fu Kid" instead? However, I believe the film is mainly targeted towards the general American audience and unfortunately, they don't really know the difference between Japanese karate and Chinese kung fu. Oh, well...

Official Synopsis:
12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's (Taraji P. Henson) latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying - and the feeling is mutual - but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts the "karate kid" on the floor with ease. With no friends on the strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but to the maintenance man Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who is secretly a kung fu master. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realises that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

"The Karate Kid" is scheduled for release in the US on June 11, 2010.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

New Red Band Trailer For "Kick Ass"



Lionsgate has released a new red band trailer for the upcoming superhero film "Kick-Ass", featuring Hitgirl (Chloe Moretz). Check out the awesome trailer above.

"Kick-Ass" is based on the comic-book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. The film tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski, who decides to take his obsession with comic-books as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name (Kick-Ass), assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There's only one problem: He has absolutely no superpowers.

His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes (an 11 year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl and her father, Big Daddy) and forges a friendship with another fledgling superhero, Red Mist.

The film and is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Nicolas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz.

"Kick-Ass" is scheduled for release in the US on April 16, 2010.


Related posts:
New "Kick-Ass" Character Posters
New Teaser Trailer For "Kick-Ass"
Four "Kick-Ass" Character Posters Released

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Trailer For "Knight & Day"



The trailer for the upcoming action comedy film "Knight & Day" released by 20th Century Fox. The film is directed by James Mangold and stars Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Maggie Grace, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Marc Blucas, Viola Davis and Olivier Martinez.

Tom Cruise plays a secret agent who goes on a blind date with unlucky-in-love Cameron Diaz, and ends up pulling her into a journey to protect a powerful battery that holds the key to an infinite power source.

"Knight & Day" is scheduled for release in the US on July 2, 2010.

"Valentine's Day" Theatrical Trailer


Here's the theatrical trailer for the upcoming romantic comedy film "Valentine's Day". The film follows the intertwining storylines of a group of Los Angelinos as they find their way through romance over the course of one Valentine's Day.

Directed by veteran filmmaker Gary Marshall, the film features a star-studded ensemble cast including Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Carter Jenkins, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts and Bryce Robinson.

"Valentine's Day" is scheduled for release in the US on February 12, 2010.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

New "Kick-Ass" Character Posters


Four new character posters for the upcoming superhero film "Kick-Ass" have been released and this time around, we get to have a better look at the characters Red Mist and Big Daddy (As some of you may recall, the posters which were unveiled early last month only feature the characters' backs).

"Kick-Ass" is based on the comic-book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. The film tells the story of average teenager Dave Lizewski, who decides to take his obsession with comic-books as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name (Kick-Ass), assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There's only one problem: He has absolutely no superpowers.

His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes (an 11 year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl and her father, Big Daddy) and forges a friendship with another fledgling superhero, Red Mist.

Please click on the images below to enlarge them.





The film and is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Nicolas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz.

"Kick-Ass" is scheduled for release in the US on April 16, 2010.

Related posts:
New Teaser Trailer For "Kick-Ass"
Four "Kick-Ass" Character Posters Released

Finally, The "Iron Man 2" Trailer Is Here



The first trailer for Jon Favreau's upcoming "Iron Man 2" is now online, and I highly recommend you to check it out as it is totally awesome.

The film stars Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson.

"Iron Man 2" is scheduled for release in Malaysia on April 30, 2010.


Related posts:
Brand New "Iron Man 2" Posters
War Machine Unveiled In New "Iron Man 2" Poster

Second Trailer For "Clash Of The Titans"



Warner Bros. has released the second trailer for the upcoming fantasy film, "Clash of the Titans. The film is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Izabella Miko, Mads Mikkelsen, Jason Flemyng, Alexa Davalos and Danny Huston.

The film is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name, itself loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus.

"Clash of the Titans" is scheduled for release in the US on March 26, 2010.

Friday, December 18, 2009

"Alice In Wonderland" International Trailer



The international trailer for Tim Burton's "Alice In Wonderland" has been released. The film is an adaptation of Lewis Carroll's books 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass'. The film stars Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter and Crispin Glover.

Alice, now 19 years old, returns to Wonderland, a place she visited 10 years before, yet doesn't remember. She then reunites with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course the Mad Hatter and embarks on a fantastical journey to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.

"Alice In Wonderland" is scheduled for release in the US on March 5, 2010.

New Trailer For Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood"



The trailer for Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" is now online. The film stars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt, Matthew MacFadyen and Danny Huston.

It is late 12th century England and Sir Robin Hood of Locksley, Earl of Huntington, (Russell Crowe) has returned to his North English village after fighting in the Third Crusade. Upon arrival, the nobleman and his servant discover the oppression caused by the new Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen). Sir Robin uses his intelligence and military skills to free his home village from tyranny and corruption in England, by taking back what is rightfully his, and by taking back what rightfully is theirs, to restore justice and happiness to England. Robin must also win the affection of the recently widowed Lady Marian (Cate Blanchett) while leading his Merry Men of Sherwood Forest to victory and fairness.

"Robin Hood" is scheduled for release in the US on May 14, 2010.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Sneak Peek At "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"



The DVD and Blu-ray release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" contains a sneak peek at "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". The video includes brief introductions from David Yates and David Heyman, as well as behind the scenes footage and a teaser trailer to the film.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will be split into a two-part movie. Part I will arrive on November 19, 2010 while Part II is scheduled for release on July 15, 2011.

Brand New "Iron Man 2" Posters


Two new posters for the upcoming superhero film, "Iron Man 2" has been released over the past week. The first poster features Robert Downey Jr. in the Mark IV armour, while the second poster shows Mickey Rourke as Whiplash. Please click on the images above to enlarge them.

The sequel is again directed by Jon Favreau and stars Robert Downey, Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson.

"Iron Man 2" is scheduled for release in the US on May 7, 2010.


Related posts: War Machine Unveiled In New "Iron Man 2" Poster

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Music Video From "The Storm Warriors"



Here's the music video from "The Storm Warriors". The film opened in all cinemas across Malaysia last Thursday but I have yet to see it as I was out of town. Anyway, I just got back to Kuala Lumpur today and am planning to watch the film within the next few days.

"The Storm Warriors" is a sequel to the 1998's "The Storm Riders" and 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'.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

War Machine Unveiled In New "Iron Man 2" Poster


A new poster for the upcoming superhero film, "Iron Man 2" has been released. The poster shows War Machine standing behind the Mark IV armour. Awesome stuff!

The War Machine suit will be worn by James Rhodes (portrayed by Terrence Howard in the previous film). After a contract dispute, the part of Rhodes was recast and Don Cheadle was selected for the role instead.

The sequel is again directed by Jon Favreau and stars Robert Downey, Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson.

Friday, November 27, 2009

"Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" Movie Review


Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Cast: Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Neal McDonough, Robin Shou, Moon Bloodgood, Josie Ho, Taboo, Michael Clarke Duncan


When "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" was released early this year, I was curious about the film but eventually did not watch it due to the overwhelmingly bad reviews I read everywhere. Anyway, I got kinda bored recently and I thought "Hey, how bad could this movie be?". And so, I watched the film and ended up regretting doing it. I wish I could get back the 90 minutes I wasted watching this pile of crap.

I don't even know where to begin in describing how awful this film is. But I can say that the main highlights are Chris Klein's overacting and Neal McDonough's character speaking one of the worst lines in the history of films, which is "Your father has been the milk of my business. But even milk has an expiration date." WTF?

However, the film's only redeemable quality is the fight choreography, which is quite decent. Well, that is to be expected as the fights were choreographed by Hong Kong stunt veteran Dion Lam. But unfortunately, this is not enough to save the movie.

In short, "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" is one of the worst film I've watched this year. So, please do yourself a favour and stay away from this film. Instead, spend your 90 minutes doing something else more worthwhile.


Score: 3/10

Thursday, November 26, 2009

How To Rip A DVD


I'm not sure if I should post this here as this is rather technical but eh, what the hell...

Most people would like to back up their DVD movies to a PC but don't really know how. I have compiled below a short guide on how to rip and convert videos from a DVD to AVI files which can be stored on a PC's hard drive.

STEP 1: RIP THE DVD


  1. Download DVD Decrypter from here and install it on your PC.
  2. Launch DVD Decrypter.
  3. On the menu bar, click on Tools > Settings
  4. Go to the IFO Mode tab.
  5. Under Options, set File Splitting to None > Ok
  6. On the menu bar, click on Mode > IFO
  7. Insert the DVD you want to rip.
  8. A PGC (ProGram Chain) list will appear on the right. By default, DVD Decrypter will select the video on the DVD with the longest running time (which is usually the main movie).
  9. If your DVD has multiple audio streams and subtitles, go to the Stream Processing tab.
  10. Check the Enable Stream Processing box.
  11. Uncheck whichever audio and subtitle streams don't want to be included in the output.
  12. Start ripping by clicking on the large DVD button on the bottom left. By default, the DVD will be ripped to C:\DVD Label\Video_DTS\

STEP 2: CONVERT THE RIPPED FILE TO AVI

  1. Download Auto Gordian Knot (AutoGK) from here and install it on your PC.
  2. Launch AutoGK.
  3. Locate and select the IFO file which was ripped from the DVD as the input.
  4. Select a folder to save the output to.
  5. Select the appropriate audio track. Audio streams that were removed in DVD Decrypter earlier will still appear here, even though they won't contain any data.
  6. Select the appropriate subtitle track. Subtitle streams that were removed in DVD Decrypter earlier will still appear here.
  7. Under Select output size, set Target quality to 100%. You can decrease the percentage of the output's quality to reduce the file size, but it is not recommended to set it below 75%.
  8. Click on Add Job > Start
The conversion process should take between two to three hours to complete, so be patient. I usually do the video conversion during night time right before going to bed. Once the conversion process completes, you will have an AVI video file of your DVD movie.

International Trailer For "Toy Story 3"



The international trailer for the upcoming computer-animated film "Toy Story 3" is now online. The international trailer is similar to the previous trailer, but opens with footage from the previous installments.

The film is directed by Lee Unkrich and features most of the original voice cast, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head, and Jodi Benson as Barbie. Slinky Dog's voice artist Jim Varney has passed away in 2000 due to lung cancer.

The third chapter of the "Toy Story" trilogy tells the story of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang who are left at a day-care centre when their now teenage owner, Andy, leaves for college.

"Toy Story 3" is scheduled for release in the US on June 18, 2010.


Related post: New Movie Trailer For "Toy Story 3"

Sunday, November 15, 2009

New Teaser Trailer For "Kick-Ass"



The teaser trailer for the upcoming superhero film "Kick-Ass" is now online. Check out the embedded video above.

"Kick-Ass" is based on the comic-book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. and is first published on April 2008. The film is about Dave Lizewski, a high school student and comic-book fanboy, who decides to become a real-life superhero and fight crime, even though he has no powers or training.

The film is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Nicolas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz.

"Kick-Ass" is scheduled for release in the US on April 16, 2010.

Friday, November 13, 2009

New Trailer For "Clash Of The Titans"



Warner Bros. has released the trailer for the upcoming fantasy film, "Clash of the Titans. The film is directed by Louis Leterrier and stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Izabella Miko, Mads Mikkelsen, Jason Flemyng, Alexa Davalos and Danny Huston.

The film is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name, itself loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus.

"Clash of the Titans" is scheduled for release in the US on March 26, 2010.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Four "Kick-Ass" Character Posters Released


IGN has posted four exclusive character posters for the upcoming superhero film "Kick-Ass". Head on over to IGN now to view these sweet-looking posters. And according the film's official website, the movie trailer will debut in another 11 days. Woohoo, I can't wait.

"Kick-Ass" is based on the comic-book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. and is first published on April 2008. The plot of "Kick-Ass" is about Dave Lizewski, who is a high school student and comic-book fanboy. Inspired by his interest in comic-books, Lizewski decides to become a super-hero and fight crime, even though he has no powers or training.

The film is directed by Matthew Vaughn and stars Nicolas Cage, Lyndsy Fonseca, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz.

"Kick-Ass" is scheduled for release in the US on April 16, 2010.


Official website: www.iamkick-ass.com

Saturday, November 7, 2009

New Trailer For "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time"



The trailer for the upcoming film "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" has been released and it is surprisingly good. The film is based on the 2003 video game of the same name. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley and Alfred Molina.

A rouge prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time - a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" is scheduled for release in the US on May 28, 2010.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

First Look At "The A-Team"


Alright, folks. Here's the first official production photo from the upcoming movie based on "The A-Team" television series. This photo was actually released two weeks ago but I' was just too damn lazy to post it here. Please click on the photo above to enlarge it.

The film is directed by Joe Carnahan and stars Liam Neeson as Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith, Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as Sgt. B.A. Baracus and Sharlto Copley as Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock.

"The A-Team" is scheduled for release in the US on June 11, 2010.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

New Trailer For "Avatar"



The new trailer for James Cameron's upcoming science fiction epic "Avatar" has been released and it is absolutely amazing. Check out the embedded video above. The film stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi and Michelle Rodriguez.

Jake Sully, a former Marine who was paralyzed from the waist down in combat is selected to participate in the Avatar program, which will give him a healthy body. Jake travels to Pandora, a distant planet and home to a humanoid race called the Na’vi. Standing three meters tall, with tails and sparkling blue skin, the Na’vi live in harmony with their unspoiled world. As humans encroach deeper into Pandora's forests in search of valuable minerals, the Na’vi unleash their formidable warrior abilities to defend their threatened existence.

"Avatar" is scheduled for release on December 18, 2009.

Friday, October 30, 2009

First Look At "Ip Man 2"

SINA.com.HK has posted some new photos from the upcoming martial arts biographical film "Ip Man 2". Head over to SINA.com.HK for more of these photos.

The film is directed by Wilson Yip and stars Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Lam Ka-Tung, Sammo Hung, Fan Siu-Wong, Huang Xiaoming and Kent Cheng.

"Ip Man 2" will pick up where its predecessor left off with Ip Man leaving Foshan and relocating to Hong Kong in 1949. The story will follow Ip Man’s early years in Hong Kong where he sets up his own school to teach Wing Chun.

Sammo Hung, the martial arts choreographer of the first film, will be stepping in front of the camera for the sequel as a 'Hung Gar' style master who develops a rivalry with Ip Man. 'Hung Gar' is a southern Chinese martial art whose most famous practitioner was folk hero Wong Fei Hung.

"Ip Man 2" is due for release in Hong Kong sometime next year.

Source: SINA.com.HK


Related posts:
Production Of "Ip Man 2" Begins
Donnie Yen Will Fight Sammo Hung In "Ip Man 2"

Second Trailer For "Sherlock Holmes"



The second trailer for Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" is now available online. The film stars Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong.

In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous characters, the film sends Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Jude Law) on their latest challenge. Revealing fighting skills as lethal as his legendary intellect, Holmes will battle as never before to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy all of England.

"Sherlock Homes" is scheduled for released in the US on Christmas Day, 2009.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Second Trailer for "The Wolfman"



The second trailer for the upcoming horror film "The Wolfman" has been released. The remake of the 1941 classic is directed by Joe Johnston and stars Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving and Geraldine Chaplin.

Benicio del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, a nobleman who returns to his family estate after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father (Anthony Hopkins) , Talbot sets out to find his brother... and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself.

"The Wolfman" is scheduled for release in the US on February 12, 2010.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Teaser Trailer: "14 Blades"



The official teaser trailer for Daniel Lee's upcoming martial arts film "14 Blades" has been released. The film stars Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Wu Chun, Qi Yuwu and Sammo Hung.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Emperor of China possessed one weapon greater than all others, the Imperial Guards, an elite force of assassins recruited from street orphans. Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Imperial Guards were masters of the 14 Blades - 8 for torture, 5 for killing, and the last blade being reserved for suicide if a mission fails. Above the law, with a license to kill, the Imperial Guards devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone. Green Dragon (Donnie Yen) who is part the Imperial Guards, grows weary of all the killings and politics, so he resigns. Yet he knows too much about their organisation to simply walk away and becomes a target of his former comrades who are now under the command of scheming court officials.

"14 Blades" is scheduled for release in Hong Kong on February 2010.

Monday, October 19, 2009

OMG! The Second Trailer For "The Storm Warriors" Is Here!

The second trailer for "The Storm Warriors" (風雲II) is now online. The trailer features new footage from the film and we finally get to see Wind in his evil form. Whoa!

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

"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 scheduled for release in Hong Kong on December, 2009.


Related posts:
New Movie Posters For "The Storm Warriors"
Full Trailer For "The Storm Warriors"
3 New "The Storm Warriors" Posters

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Movie Review: "Fanboys"


Director: Kyle Newman
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Christopher Marquette, Kristen Bell


A short time ago in a galaxy not so far, far away... the story of "Fanboys" takes place in 1998 and a group of friends eagerly await the release of "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace". They decide to undertake a road trip across the country to break into George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch and steal an early print of the film. Their reason: one of them is suffering from cancer and wishes to see the film before his death.

"Fanboys" is basically a road trip movie with a "Star Wars" theme. Just like most road trip movies, you have a group of friends driving across America and getting involved in all sorts of funny situation along the way before finally arriving at their destination.

However, what makes this film different and entertaining is that it is full of references, spoofs and cameo appearances related to the Star Wars universe. The more you know about "Star Wars", the more you'll enjoy "Fanboys".

Overall, if you're a "Star Wars" fan, you will not be disappointed by "Fanboys". If you're a "Star Trek" fan, please don't watch this film because you will get offended.


Score: 8/10

8-Minute Long Featurette For "Bodyguards and Assassins"



Here's an 8-minute long featurette for Teddy Chen's "Bodyguards and Assassins" (十月围城). The film features an all-star cast including Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Li Yuchun, Wang Xueqi, Hu Jun, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Eric Tsang, Fan Bingbing and Zhou Yun.

The story is a fictional account of an assassination attempt on Chinese revolutionary Dr. Sun Yat-sen when he visited Hong Kong on October 1905 and the efforts of a group of martial artists to protect him.

"Bodyguards and Assassins" is scheduled for release in Hong Kong on December 18, 2009.


Related post: Movie Trailer: "Bodyguards and Assassins"

Movie Trailer: "Assault Girls"



The official website for Mamoru Oshii's upcoming film "Assault Girls" has uploaded the full theatrical trailer. The live-action film stars Meisa Kuroki, Rinko Kikuchi and Hinako Saeki.

In the aftermath of global thermonuclear war, the Earth’s surface has been turned into a desert battlefield. Three beautiful female hunters: Gray (Meisa Kuroki), Lucifer (Rinko Kikuchi), and Colonel (Hinako Saeki) traverse the barren landscape armed with powerful assault rifles to fight a group of deadly sand-dwelling monsters called “sunakujira” (sand whales).

"Assault Girls" is scheduled for release in Japan on December 19, 2009.


Official website: http://assault-girls.nifty.com/

Behind The Scenes Featurette: "King of Fighters"


I came across this behind the scenes featurette for the upcoming film "King of Fighters" on YouTube. The film is based on the of the video game series of the same name. Check out the embedded video below.

The movie is directed by Gordon Chan and stars Sean Faris as Kyo Kusanagi, Will Yun Lee as Iori Yagami, Ray Park as Rugal Bernstein, Françoise Yip as Chizuru Kagura, Hiro Kanagawa as Saisyu Kusanagi, Monique Ganderton as Mature, Maggie Q as Mai Shiranui, David Leitch as Terry Bogard, Sam Hargrave as Ryo Sakazaki and Bernice Liu as Vice.



"King Of Fighters" is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release sometime next year.


Related posts:
Ray Park Talks "King of Fighters"
MovieSet Exclusive: "King Of Fighters"

Saturday, October 10, 2009

New Movie Trailer For "Toy Story 3"




Pixar/Walt Disney has released a full trailer for the upcoming computer-animated film "Toy Story 3". The film is directed by Lee Unkrich and features most of the original voice cast, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head, and Jodi Benson as Barbie. Slinky Dog's voice artist Jim Varney has passed away in 2000 due to lung cancer.

The third chapter of the "Toy Story" trilogy tells the story of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang who are left at a day-care centre when their now teenage owner, Andy, leaves for college.

"Toy Story 3" is scheduled for release in the US on June 18, 2010.


Related post:
"Toy Story 3" Teaser Is Online

Movie Trailer: "Tooth Fairy"



This trailer came out sometime last week but I was just too lazy to post it here. Anyway, check out the trailer for Michael Lembeck's comedy film "Tooth Fairy" above. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews, Billy Crystal and Brandon T. Jackson.

When a pro hockey player, nicknamed the Tooth Fairy for his ability to knock out other players' teeth, dashes the hopes of a young boy, he is ordered to serve two weeks of hard labor as one of the real Tooth Fairy.

"Tooth Fairy" is scheduled for release in the US on January 22, 2010.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Movie Trailer #2: "Shutter Island"



The second trailer for Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island" has been released by Paramount Pictures. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Michelle Williams, Jackie Earle Haley and Max von Sydow.

The film is about two U.S. marshals who investigate the disappearance of a patient from a hospital for the criminally insane on an island in Massachusetts. They run into trouble when a hurricane hits and an inmate riot traps them on the island.

"Shutter Island" is scheduled for release in the US on February 19, 2010 and in Malaysia on February 25, 2010.

5 Minute Clip From "2012"



Columbia Pictures has released a five-minute clip from Roland Emmerich's disaster film "2012". The film stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Woody Harrelson.

A global cataclysm occurs which leads to the end of the world and has survivors struggling for their lives. The film explores the idea of a global doomsday event coinciding with the end of the Mayan Calendar on December 21, 2012.

"2012" is scheduled to be released on November 13, 2009.


Related post: Theatrical Trailer For "2012"

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Ray Park Talks "King of Fighters"



MovieSet has a new video featuring Ray Park talking about his upcoming movie "King Of Fighters". The movie is based on the video games series of the same name.

The movie is directed by Gordon Chan and stars Sean Faris as Kyo Kusanagi, Will Yun Lee as Iori Yagami, Ray Park as Rugal Bernstein, Françoise Yip as Chizuru Kagura, Hiro Kanagawa as Saisyu Kusanagi, Monique Ganderton as Mature, Maggie Q as Mai Shiranui, David Leitch as Terry Bogard, Sam Hargrave as Ryo Sakazaki and Bernice Liu as Vice.

"King Of Fighters" is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release sometime next year.

Source: MovieSet

New Photos From "The Green Hornet"


Splash News has posted some photos of Seth Rogen and Jay Chou in costume on the set of the upcoming superhero film "The Green Hornet". Head over to Splash News for more photos.

The film is an adaptation of the radio and television series of the same name. The film also stars Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward James Olmos, David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson.

"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.

"The Green Hornet" is set for release in the US on December 17, 2010.

Source: Splash News


Related posts:
Jay Chou Cast As Kato In "The Green Hornet"
Stephen Chow Drops Out Of "The Green Hornet"
Stephen Chow Not Directing "The Green Hornet"

Movie Trailer #2: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"



The second trailer for Wes Anderson's animated film "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is now online. The film is based on Roald Dahl's book of the same name and features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Jarvis Cocker, Owen Wilson and Willem Dafoe.

The story is about Mr. Fox and his family who live under a hill, along with Badger, Rabbit, and Weasel. Every night, Mr. Fox steals a meal from one of the three crooked farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean. One day, the farmers band together and plan to kill Mr. Fox.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" is scheduled for release in the US on November 13, 2009 and in Malaysia on November 19, 2009.


Related posts:
Behind The Scenes Featurette: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Movie Trailer: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Teaser Trailer: "A Nightmare on Elm Street"



The first teaser trailer for the remake of the classic slasher film "A Nightmare on Elm Street" has appeared online. The upcoming horror film is directed by Samuel Bayer and stars Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy and Thomas Dekker.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" is scheduled for release in the US on April 30, 2010.

Movie Review: "The Beast Stalker"


Director: Dante Lam
Cast: Nicholas Tse, Nick Cheung, Zhang Jingchu, Miao Pu, Liu Kai-Chi, Philip Keung


"The Beast Stalker" opens with Sergeant Tong (Nicholas Tse) in a car chase with wanted criminal, Cheung Yat-Tung (Philip Keung), but the pursuit ends in a car crash involving four vehicles. Recovering from the crash, Tong is still able to stop Cheung by firing at his escaping vehicle. However, at the same time, he unintentionally shoots a young girl, daughter of public prosecutor, Ann Ko (Zhang Jingchu). The young girl later dies from the bullet wounds.

Three months later, Cheung is about to stand trial and the case's prosecutor is none other that Ann Ko. What are the odds? Cheung's men then hires Hung (Nick Cheung) to kidnap Ann's other daughter, Ling to blackmail her into dropping the case. Tong witnessed Ling being kidnapped and will stop at nothing to save her to redeem himself. A cat-and-mouse game between Tong and Hung ensues.

In my opinion, "The Beast Stalker" is among the best films to come out of Hong Kong last year, together with "Ip Man" and "Red Cliff". The action sequences in the film are pretty solid and tense. Credits also have to be given to director Dante Lam for balancing the action sequences with equally effective character moments. The character development allows the audience to feel and understand what motivates the characters to do what they are doing.

Nicholas Tse's portrayal of Sergeant Tong, a cop who is filled with pain and guilt is remarkably effective and believable. However, I felt that he may have overacted a tiny little bit at times. Nick Cheung proves that he is more suitable playing darker characters. His portrayal of the kidnapper/hitman Hung is both menacing and sympathetic at the same time. I felt that his character is the most interesting in the entire film. He is neither good nor evil, and is simply doing what he does to earn money to look after his bedridden wife.

One complaint I have the way the film reveals how everyone is connected to each other. The coincidence that ties all the characters together is highly questionable and IMHO will only happen in a movie. But that's just me nitpicking.

But overall, "The Beast Stalker" is a tense and satisfying police thriller and has all the elements of a well-made film. Recommended if you're a fan of Hong Kong films.


Score: 8/10

Sunday, September 27, 2009

More Featurettes Of Isaac Florentine’s "Ninja"


Two more behind-the-scenes featurettes of Isaac Florentine’s upcoming martial arts film"Ninja" is now online. The film stars Scott Adkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Mika Hijii, Todd Jensen and Togo Igawa.

"Ninja" is about a westerner named Casey, studying Ninjutsu in Japan, who is asked by the Sensei to return to New York to protect the legendary Yoroi Bitsu, an armored chest that contains the weapons of the last Koga Ninja.





"Ninja" is scheduled for release in Malaysia on October 22, 2009. There is still no word on a US release date.


Related posts:
7 Minute Featurette Of Isaac Florentine’s "Ninja"
Behind The Scenes Featurettes: Isaac Florentine’s "Ninja"

Sunday, September 20, 2009

New Trailer For "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"



Here's the new trailer for the upcoming film "The Twilight Saga: New Moon". The film is directed by Chris Weitz and stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

In the second installment of Stephenie Meyer's phenomenally successful Twilight series, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of - only to find herself in greater peril than ever before.

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is scheduled for release in the US on November 20, 2009.


Official website: www.newmoonthemovie.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Movie Trailer: "A Christmas Carol"



The trailer for Robert Zemeckis' "A Christmas Carol" has been released. The film is produced through the process of performance capture, a technique Zemeckis used in his two previous films "The Polar Express" and "Beowulf".

The film is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 story of the same name and features the voices of Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Cary Elwes, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins and Robin Wright Penn.

"A Christmas Carol" is scheduled for release in the US on November 6, 2009.

7 Minute Featurette Of Isaac Florentine’s "Ninja"



A new behind-the-scenes featurette for Isaac Florentine’s upcoming martial arts flick "Ninja" has been released online. The film stars Scott Adkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Mika Hijii, Todd Jensen and Togo Igawa.

"Ninja" is about a westerner named Casey, studying Ninjutsu in Japan, who is asked by the Sensei to return to New York to protect the legendary Yoroi Bitsu, an armored chest that contains the weapons of the last Koga Ninja.

"Ninja" is scheduled for release in Malaysia on October 22, 2009. There is still no word on a US release date.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Widescreen vs Fullscreen



I came across this video in www.slashfilm.com and thought I should share it with you guys. I know there's a lot of people out there who still doesn't know the difference between widescreen and fullscreen movies and I hope the video above will help to clear things out.

Teaser Trailer: "Confucius"



The teaser trailer for Mei Hu's upcoming biopic on Chinese philosopher Confucius has hit the web. The trailer does not have any dialogue but is absolutely beautiful to watch. The film, simply titled "Confucius", stars Chow Yun-Fat, Xun Zhou, Yi Lu and Lu Yao.

Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC) was an ancient Chinese philosopher whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced the Chinese, as well as those in other Asian countries.

"Confucius" is expected to be released in spring 2010.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Movie Trailer: "Defendor"



The theatrical trailer for Peter Stebbings' "Defendor" is now online. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Elias Koteas and Sandra Oh.

The film is about Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), a delusional man who patrols the streets at night as the superhero Defendor. He does not have any powers and fights crime with his courage, determination, and uh, lime juice.

"Defendor" is expected to be released later this year.

Behind The Scenes Featurettes: Isaac Florentine’s "Ninja"


Five behind-the-scenes featurettes for Isaac Florentine’s upcoming martial arts flick "Ninja" has been released on YouTube. Each featurette reveals new footage from the film as well as interviews with cast members and the director. The film stars Scott Adkins, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Mika Hijii, Todd Jensen and Togo Igawa.

This film is not to be confused with James McTeigue's upcoming "Ninja Assassin" starring South Korean pop star Rain.

"Ninja" is about a westerner named Casey, studying Ninjutsu in Japan, who is asked by the Sensei to return to New York to protect the legendary Yoroi Bitsu, an armored chest that contains the weapons of the last Koga Ninja. Check out the embedded videos below:-











"Ninja" is scheduled for release in Malaysia on October 22, 2009. There is still no word on a US release date.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Behind The Scenes Featurette: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"



A brand new behind the scenes featurette for Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr. Fox" has just been released by Apple and it shows us just how freaking hard it is to make a stop-motion animation film.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" is based on Roald Dahl's book of the same name and features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Jarvis Cocker, Owen Wilson and Willem Dafoe.

The film is about Mr. Fox and his family who live under a hill, along with Badger, Rabbit, and Weasel. Every night, Mr. Fox steals a meal from one of the three crooked farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean. One day, the three farmers decided to band together to kill Mr. Fox and his family.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" is scheduled for release in the US on November 13, 2009 and in Malaysia on November 19, 2009.


Related post: Movie Trailer: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Disney To Acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 Billion


Disney has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in cash and stock. This deal will give Disney ownership of more than 5,000 of Marvel characters, such as Spider-Man, Iron Man and the X-Men.

“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Robert A. Iger, chief executive of Disney said in a statement announcing the deal.

This is one of the Disney's largest acquisitions in recent history since buying Pixar for $7.4 billion in 2006.

Reactions from Marvel fans are mostly mixed. Some expressed excitement while others condemned the purchase of Marvel by the family-friendly Disney.

Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief Joe Quesada reassured comics fans about the deal by tweeting this in Twitter:-

"If you’re familiar with the Disney/Pixar relationship, then you’ll understand why this is a new dawn for Marvel and the comics industry”.


Source: Disney Press Release

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Movie Review: "JCVD"


Director: Mabrouk El Mechri
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, François Damiens, Zinedine Soualem


"JCVD" is unlike any movie Jean-Claude Van Damme has ever starred in before. The film is a fictional biopic where Van Damme plays himself and is portrayed as a down-and-out action star. He is out of money, his agent cannot find him a decent production and he just lost the child custody battle for his daughter. He then returns to his hometown of Brussels, Belgium where he is caught in the middle of a post office heist. Due to a series of misunderstandings, the police believes that Van Damme is the one responsible for heist.

This is by far the most fascinating Van Damme film I've ever watched. The film successfully combines comedy with drama and features very little action. In fact, the only action in the film is the 3-minutes-long opening scene which was captured in a single shot.

The film's highlight is Van Damme's acting ability. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Van Damme can actually act! Some may argue that he is not really acting because he is only playing himself, but in this film we get to see another side of Van Damme we've never seen before. One particular scene to look out for is when Van Damme breaks down as he prays to God and looks back on his life's accomplishments. It also helps that the film's dialogue is in Van Damme's native language of French, which allows him to act more naturally. For his performance in this film, Van Damme was nominated for Best Actor alongside Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke at the 2008 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. Impressive.

"JCVD" is funny, heartfelt and unconventional. This film reinvents Jean-Claude Van Damme and proves that he can act. I highly recommend it.

Score: 8.5/10


Related post: Jean-Claude Van Damme Is Back!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

100 Years Of Movie Visual Effects



Someone made this video compilation to show the incredible moments in the history of movie visual effects to a classroom full of fifth graders. The movies included in the video clip are:-

* 1900 - The Enchanted Drawing
* 1903 - The Great Train Robbery
* 1923 - The Ten Commandments (Silent)
* 1927 - Sunrise
* 1933 - King Kong
* 1939 - The Wizard of Oz
* 1940 - The Thief of Baghdad
* 1954 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
* 1956 - Forbidden Planet
* 1963 - Jason and the Argonauts
* 1964 - Mary Poppins
* 1977 - Star Wars
* 1982 - Tron
* 1985 - Back to the Future
* 1988 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit
* 1989 - The Abyss
* 1991 - Terminator 2: Judgment Day
* 1992 - The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
* 1993 - Jurassic Park
* 2004 - Spider-Man 2
* 2005 - King Kong
* 2006 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
* 2007 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
* 2007 - The Golden Compass
* 2008 - The Spiderwick Chronicles
* 2008 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button