MOVIE REVIEW: THE TWILIGHT SAGA - NEW MOON

ENGLISH - PG13 - 26 November 2009 - Action/Martial Art

Distributor: Summit Entertainment

Running Time: 130 mins.

Director: Chris Weitz

Producers: Mark Morgan, Wyck Godfrey

Writers: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer

Casts: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene

Plot: After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost takes her life, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family. However, a minor accident during the festivities results in Bella's blood being shed, a sight that proves too intense for the Cullens, who decide to leave the town of Forks in Washington, for Bella and Edward's sake. Initially heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living, as well as an even closer friendship with Jacob Black. Danger in different forms awaits.

The Verdict:

Green Tea Bern says:

Whether this is a pure chick flick or just using the vampire to lure in love and blood-thirst does not bother me anymore. Welcome to the perhaps most over-rated movie of the year, watching the trailer gave me a sense of more actions but ended up very disappointing. It was not the novel's fault when it comes to this piece of dull adaptation, but blame it on the transitional stage. The preface to sum it all up - only Twilight Fans will enjoy it!

This continues where we left behind from the first installment, with a new central conflict. While remaining faithful to the original novel, it uses the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob in a brilliant way, manifests into a strong and solid centralized plot to follow. But here's the problem - the story that supposedly can be translated in a fluent-flow ended up been choked by its lazy, sloppy and achingly slow pace. There are too many unnecessary scenes and dragging moments that has made this film 130 minutes long.

The cheesy humour introduced by Chris Weitz works little to make it interesting. It is terribly written dialog, serving cold and lame conversations that even dampened the spirit of enjoying the movie.

For the second movie, the story not only talks about the love triangle but also deals with the pain and agony of growing up as a teenager. However, interestingly, the story deviates by introducing too much of adrenaline-rush and junkie in it. Totally deviated and so wrong!

Besides, the movie is easily predictable. I bet those who have not read the novel yet could guess the outcome. It is not the problem when one has already tells you in hand what is going to happen but take it that it is still too easy to guess what is going to happen. I think the never-ever reader would have know Bella insisted to be with Edward despite been dumped - because she try some adrenaline-junk-act so that Edward can teleport himself back to save her. See!!

The acting skills are still over the place for Stewart while Pattinson proved he can acted better than her. Lautner did much better than both of them by showing more variance of emotions. But the best of all is perhaps Dakota Fanning - cold-hearted while inflict the pain on anyone she likes, she gave the best performance on this film while Michael Sheen as Voulturi's leader Aro made Pattinson looked timid. They stole the show despite a short screentime.

Cinematography and visualization take a step forward and better than the first Twilight. I guess that is the only thing that goes better than the previous one. No more slacky and too CGI-ed vampire flying around but it does not make the movie felt better. Story-wise, I still go for the first one. New Moon is just too dry and only underage girls would love it.

NOTE: I looked at this movie from technical aspect and not trying to be biased!!

THE RATING

STORY - 2.5 stars

CASTS - 3.5 stars

CINEMATOGRAPHY - 3.5 stars

EFFECTS - 3.5 stars

OVERALL - 3.0 stars

Green-Tea-O-Meter: 12.4

COULD JEREMY RENNER A HAWKEYE?

3 years from today, "Marvel's most ambitious superhero movie of all time", according to EO, will get a startled roll out. Again, if these are according to plan, we will see The Avengers, the group of well-known superhero team will be a major blockbuster! Will that happened?

First, we already have studio's commitment. Marvel Entertainment has enlisted that this project will be working on while setting a 2012 release.

Secondly, we already have list of possible line-up on the team. The list - Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury (part of his deal on the role in any Marvel movies with this character on it), Scarlett Johansson (most likely) as Black Widow.

This leaves Captain America and Hawkeye pretty much unfilled. However, Jeremy Renner may well be the best to fit in the role of Hawkeye, the impossible-missed purple tights archer hero.

“I don’t know if I’d be right for Captain America,” said the 38 year old actor, who’d previously been linked with the role of Cap on that there internet. “I met with the Marvel guys, actually, but we didn’t talk about Captain America. But one of the writers, Zak Penn, we’ve become friends over time and he was thinking maybe Hawkeye could be interesting. He sounds like an interesting character.”

"If I was a betting man, I would bet that Hawkeye would probably show up in Thor, and then be in The Avengers,” he added. “But do I know for sure? I can’t say. But I’d love for that to happen. It’d be fun.”

However, the reality is that Renner is not confirmed by any ways that he will be in as Hawkeye. For one thing, Marvel may well be talking to a whole raft of young, blond actors and decide to go in another direction. “No offer has been made,” he confirmed. “I think there’s a little ways from that.”

“I’m just happy to get considered for big franchise roles like that,” he said. “I’m not [doing the] casting. If they see me that way, right on. If they don’t, I’m ok with it.”

MOVIE REVIEW: NINJA ASSASSIN

ENGLISH - 18SG - 26 November 2009 - Action/Martial Art

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Running Time: 97 mins.

Director: James McTeigue

Producers: Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, Grant Hill

Writers: Matthew Sand, J Michael Straczynski

Casts: Rain, Naomie Harris, Rick Yune, Ben Miles, Sho Kosugi

Plot: Raizo (Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. Haunted by the execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them and prepares to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Mika digs into top-secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune) to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers and must now trust each other to survive and bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

The Verdict:

Green Tea Bern says:

When people thought it is awesome, I lean to the opposite site. The movie, having Rain in it may have been the major factor many to swing in favour but let's face it, all the hypes and expectations were not met in a full scale. It was rather a bit of disappointment and crap. Besides, the Korean heart-throb Rain plays a lead role of a mean and murdering machine that slashes up everything in within his enemy.

Ninja Assassin is a good attempt of making one hell of action. I would think that having a ninja-based story is something pretty interesting. Remember seeing those ninja battle-fight can be very breathtaking? This makes no exception because it lives up to its promise for providing lots of action. But let's just say that this action flick does what it best for - entertaining, intensify story but yet too bloody to be seen and crappy.

Ninja Assassin provides a moderate story-telling where the ninja parts are good but when throwing in international cartel of intelligent agencies in it, this make it whole of a crap. The story of how Raizo raised up in a ninja clan training temple as well as how he ended up fighting his own "father'. Also, revenge and redemption play well for Raizo and Takeshi, the one whom he called brother since young. The complaint is of course when the agency decideed to raid the whole temple and burning it to the ground. The story of making ninja linked with series of international assassinations that worth 100 pounds of gold - it can't get anymore crappier.

Here is an opposite issue that may take a toll. Seeing decapitated limbs, bloody squashing out from the blood vessels and flesh been sliced up, may not be very appetiting for many. Gutsy and disgust, it follows "300" too much and making most of all unoriginal. Also, highlighted here, the use of digital blood, similar as the one in Blood: The Last Vampire, very "300".

Ninja Assassins filled with balance human capitalization and much background story to settle with - a perfect example of providing story and flash backs in styles. However, it pushes its way too far by been overly-serious and at times, it gets very boring. When humours in, it is not an enticing one!

Rain is a great actor. Forgave his lack of English-speaking dialogue in it because he is not yet that fluent in it. If you ignore that, he made Raizo an interesting character. A worth to mention, the legendary Sho Kosugi served an excellent leader of the clan. He is a legend if I can tell you again and again - stern, cold and visionary! The rest of the Europol, CIA and FBI bunches of peoples, they serve no purpose and getting it crappy. Note the number of "crap" I have used.

The cinematography is breathtaking. Thanks to the choreographic visualization that has made V For Vendetta once a great movie, this is none-the-less the same. Actions are coordinated well and coupled with excellent usage of graphic and visual effects, the whole experience of watching it is totally unforgettable.

In short, you may like the action flick but the story suffers a set-back. It is not the best action flick of the year but consider it having among the best in cinematographic. No wired stunts policy and it gambles its way to make it big, only to ended up been crap. Thanks for the ninjas, the movie didn't crumbled totally. Still, it's a crap!

THE RATING

STORY - 2.5 stars

CASTS - 3.0 stars

CINEMATOGRAPHY - 4.0 stars

EFFECTS - 4.0 stars

OVERALL - 3.0 stars

Green-Tea-O-Meter: 12.4

THOR STILL EXPANDING WITH MORE CAST

There is no other movie in the radar that has received so many coverage. Just by counting on the news pertaining to the casting of actors into Kenneth Branagh's Thor has been counted many. You can traced back at here, here, here and here.

The latest into the already swollen star-studed Marvel comic film include Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Stuart Townsend and Jaimie Alexander, is none other than Kat Dennings.

The last you seen her was when she was in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - an indie movie which we in Malaysian had never had chance on seeing it on silver screen.

No words on her role but feel free to speculate. The Marvel's tale of the Viking warrior will start shooting next year. Yet the news of casting role may expanded even more soon, if rumours that Joe Swash might joining the casts is in fact true.

PETER JACKSON TALKS ON TINTIN, THE HOBBIT

Recently, Peter Jackson gave BBC some updates on the status of Steven Spielberg's Tintin and he confirmed that the filming process is complete. The only major problem now is that it will take about two years for the computer animation to be completed. While the production team has set December 23, 2011 as the possible date of release, we certainly hope things will really go according to plan.

"Tintin is great. It’s made. The movie is cut together and now [we] are turning it into a fully-rendered film… So the movie, to some degree, exists in a very rough state," says Jackson.

On the other hand, Jackson also spilled more beans on The Hobbit. He mentioned that he was scouting locations in New Zealand before giving this interview to BBC in London. He also ensures that there will be continuity between his film's and Guillermo Del Toro's Hobbit.

"We’re writing the screenplays with him, so in terms of the script, there is continuity. We’re writing Ian McKellen’s dialogue just the same as we did in Lord Of The Rings. But Guillermo, being the director, will obviously take the script and interpret that and shoot his film. So that’ll be interesting to see. That’s actually the reason I wanted him to do it. I felt like I’d be trying to compete with myself and deliberately do things differently, which is not the way I want to work. I want it to be natural."

SOURCE: SlashFilm

FIRST LOOK AT SHREK FOREVER AFTER

The final sequel in the ogre fantsay Shrek will open next year and it will also be the first to be shot in 3-D. Arriving May 21 next year, Shrek Forever After will conclude the Shrek franchise that has started since 2001 with a big bang.

"All that was loved about Shrek in the first film is brought to the final film," promises Bill Damaschke, head of creative production at DreamWorks. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas and Cameron Diaz are back as the voices of Shrek, sidekick Donkey, Puss in Boots and ogress wife Fiona. Newcomers include Kathy Griffin and Kristin Schaal as the witches who hunt ogres and Jon Hamm as the leader of an underground resistance group.

It was reported that the anchor story for the final Shrek movie will be based on the premise of The Brothers Grimm meet It's A Wonderful Life. “Shrek is feeling over-domesticated. He has lost his roar. To regain his ogre mojo, he strikes a deal with Rumpelstiltskin, but the pact goes awry and Shrek must confront what life would be like in Far Far Away if he had never existed. That translates into Donkey being forced into cart-pulling duty, fat and lazy Puss in Boots trading his sword for a pink bow and the underhanded Rumpelstiltskin ruling the kingdom.” - SlashFilm/USAToday

USAToday also premiered two exclusive photos from the movie, as you can see here.

The first trailer of the lack-of-hygiene-ogre-fairy-tale will premiered on December 18th, attached to James Cameron's Avatar. Mike Mitchell (Duke Bigelow, Surviving Christmas, Sky High) will direct the movie.

JOSHUA JACKSON TO STEER UFO

Do you watch Fringe? If you do, you will probably know who Joshua Jackson is. The guy from Dawson Creek and once a star in a horror Shutter (Hollywood version) is continuing his fine run in supernatural related materials. With Fringe on its second season, he is the suitable choice (according to the production team) to headline the movie UFO, an adaptation of the cult-hit British TV series by Gerry Anderson.

Joshua Jackson is set to play the role of Paul Foster, "a test pilot who joins S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization), a covert org built under a Hollywood studio that defends Earth against a race of aliens who have been abducting humans and using the body parts.” - Variety.

The movie will be directed by Matthew Gratzner, a first-time director who previously worked for visual effects supervisor in Iron Man, Shutter Island and The Fountain. Ryan Gaudet and Joseph Kanarek give the script some treatment. Robert Evans will produce.

"Character development is the most critical part of ‘UFO,’ and Joshua’s terrific talent and range is exactly what I need to convey the inner conflict of the character of Paul Foster," says Gratner.

Shooting starts in the spring and more casting news will be heard in the near future.

GUY PEARCE JOINS RABBIT, NIC CAGE AND JONES

Production of The Hungry Rabbit Jumps, a new thriller by Roger Donaldson will be starting in a fortnight time, while the story plot is still unclear. However, the news came in that Guy Pearce has joined in the role line-up of Nicolas Cage and January Jones.

The Hungry Rebbit Jumps will see Nic Cage plays an ordinary guy who turns to a vigilante group to set things right when his wife (January Jones) is assaulted.

So who Pearce is going to be? A few guesses. The leader of the vigilante group? A cop? Or probably the assaulter? Lots of blank minds to be filled.

Donaldson, meanwhile, has proven his tension credentials with Thirteen Days. The screenplay will be written by Robert Tannen and story by Todd Hickey.

BRAD PITT STARTED DARK VOID?

The latest video game that has attracted the Hollywood studio to take into their consideration for movie adaptation is the upcoming unreleased yet, Dark Void. The news is, Brad Pitt is developing the movie project and possibly aiming for a potential starring as well. How weird?

This project file has been sent to Pitt's company, Plan B, and it may or may not have Pitt on the starring role. The most interesting of all is the fact that the video game by Capcom may not be available until coming January and it looks like Plan B is way ahead.

Dark Void is a first-person shooter in which humans try to kill hordes of ravenous star groaties. Pitt may play Will, a cargo pilot who crashes in the Bermuda Triangle and finds himself in a parallel universe where an ever-dwindling band of humans is locked in battle with an ever-growing alien threat. With the aid of some handy weapons and, intriguingly, powers, Will leads the humans in a desperate last battle to avoid becoming lunch.

Could this be a return for Brad Pitt into an action role? Green Tea Movie heard that Pitt and Reliance BIG Entertainment, the Indian company throwing tons of cash at movie projects at the moment.

SOURCES: The Hollywood Reporter

MOVIE REVIEW: MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT

>

ENGLISH - PG13 - 29 October 2009 - Science Fiction/Action/Adventure

Distributor: Sony Pictures
Running Time: 111 mins.
Director: Kenny Ortega
Producers: Paul Gongaware, Randy Phillips
Writers: -
Casts: Michael Jackson, Kenny Ortega, Orianthi Panagaris
Plot: Michael Jackson's This Is It" offers Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning summer 2009 in London's O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June 2009, the film is drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show.

The Verdict:

Green Tea Bern says:
WARNING!! SPOILERS AHEAD AND SUPER LONG POST

Can I even called this a movie? No. But it is a surprise move that I am doubt if even MJ's dying wish is to let the audience to watch this piece of so-called documentary. Fine, as always, we love to make money out of dead people. Away of those controversial but the most important is that the audiences will be happy because this movie is supposedly the substitute for his canceled world tour that will happen from 2009 to 2010.

The movie opened with a few interviews but then the moment we are waiting for, the emergence of MJ himself. He is seen in this documentary conducting a rehearsal that will eventually would have been what we will see int he concert. I would again prefer not to call it a movie but instead a highly entertaining and inspiring story about making a concert works, with much effort to make in a hell good one.

There is no essential story-telling in this one. MJ's This Is It caters only the whole process of planning a comeback concert. There is no plot to follow but you just eventually sit back and relax, enjoy those radical, body-shaking and inspiring tunes from the legend himself. Did I tell you that this is nothing but a collection of live music videos and some soul-searching journey embedded in the man himself?

Yes. The greatest of all is perhaps the cinematography works. I am sure the fans will love it more than anyone else in this world. Songs with cheeky dance moves, amazing and breathtaking stage direction, and awesome effects, are all enough to define the man himself.

There is nothing much for me to talk about this movie. But here is a thing, it is not a commercial movie with backbone story but it makes my whole experience been blown away. If you miss this flick in theater, don't worry, you will have a chance when the DVD home entertainment version is made available.

THE RATING...

STORY - 4.5 stars

CASTS - 4.0 stars

CINEMATOGRAPHY - 4.5 stars

EFFECTS - 4.5 stars

Overall - 4.5 stars

Green-Tea-O-Meter: 17.4

CHRIS WEITZ DOES GARDENING

This week, he anchored The Twilight Saga: New Moon to a unprecedented mammoth opening on the US Box Office with a US$ 140.7 million in the pocket on the first three days. The excitement is still warm but Chris Weitz has already sitting down to possibly taking the helm role for the next project, The Gardener, with Summit Entertainment.

The Gardener will sees Chris Weitz changing his sight from fantasy to more sort of realistic drama. His last two films are The Golden Compass and of course New Moon.

According to Variety, The Gardener tells about a Mexican gardener who lives in Los Angeles and takes measures to protect his son. First guess is a drama, but it maybe a comedy, thriller or rom-com, but nobody can assure of its genre.

Eric Eason wrote the screenplay while no casting news yet. Weitz aims to start this project by Spring 2010.

NEW MOON IS THIRD HIGHEST

Yesterday, Green Tea Movie reported a double record strike for the latest in The Twilight Saga, when New Moon posted an astonishing US$ 72.7 million on its first day receipt intake to become the highest opening day ever, beating The Dark Knight's previous US$ 67.2 M. To top of that record, its midnight gross of $ 26.3 million also flatted out Harry Potter 6's gross of record $ 22.2 million, also a new record.

With the falling been expected at a huge plunge, New Moon is still able to withstand and enjoys a better than industrial expectation when it is estimated to have grossed $140.7 million, the third in the history of opening weekend. The number shows that unlike The Dark Knight, New Moon is pretty front-loaded. Therefore, New Moon is not expected to beat the ultimate record held by the cape crusader.

Next week gross may see even larger fall for the vampire flick. The question now is how much longer New Moon can hold up with chances of crossing over the $300 million mark is still a possible.

Adding in the impressive record, the foreign gross was also impressive. From 25 territories outside United States, New Moon raked in US$ 118 million, a combined US$ 258.7 million worldwide. The first week international take slightly ahead of US$ 100.5 million of 2012 on its second weekend.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon ranked third behind The Dark Knight ($ 158.4M) and Spider-Man 3 ($ 151.1M) but ahead of POTC: Dead Man's Chest ($ 135.6M) and Shrek The Third ($ 121.6M).

IDRIS ELBA JOINED THE BIG CAST OF THOR

The news in relation to the casting of Kenneth Branagh's Thor seems keep incoming as the shooting day drew nearer. Last week, The Warriors Three in the form of Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson and Tadanobu Asano were casted. Now Idris Elba will be joining in as Heimdall.

"Heimdall, the brother of Sif (Jamie Alexander) and the guardian of Asgard, who stands sentry on the "rainbow bridge" Bifrost, the only way in or out of Chez Odin." - EO

" He's super-strong and super-fast, and has super-senses that allow him to hear Earth from Asgard. He wears excellent armour, and likes an edged weapon, especially his enchanted sword that allows him to assume mortal form." - EO

Heimdall is the god character. I am not good with the mythology world of Thor so I might get indeed very blind by the time the movie is released. Once again, the characters are filled one by one but who's next on the list?

NOW I WANT SANTA WARS?

What was your reaction upon watching School Of Rock? Upbeat children that comes out from their royal-like life to adapt something musical but not always been associated with. While rich kids go for classical one, this bunch does rock music.

Now attention turned to the writer, Mike White. The news from Variety came in that he has signed to write Santa Wars, an incredible story of rival professional Santas that is, it turns out, based on a true story.

"Yes, it's all about the discord and bitter disagreement that developed between the two founders of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, who first formed the Santa union and then tore it apart, with the original board of directors largely expelled. Mix all this amid accusations of un-Santa-like behaviour between members, and the establishment of a rival Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas." - EO

Scott Rudin, who also worked on School of Rock, is producing.

SAM WORTHINGTON ATTACHED TO THE CRIME

Sam Worthington is heading back to the future again. After the so-so performance in 2018 setting Terminator Salvation and the upcoming futuristic Avatar, he has been attached to star in yet another future-setting movie. This time is called The Last Days of American Crime.

Set in the not-too distant future, The Last Days of American Crime involves the U.S. government's plans to secretly broadcast a signal that makes it impossible for anyone to knowingly commit unlawful acts.

The movie will be based on an adaptation from Rick Remender's comic book of the same name. The comic book will hit bookshelves beginning December 2009 bi-monthly issued in a three part. Barry Levine and Michael Schwarz are set to produce the silver-screen version.

News provided by Variety.

RECORD BREAKER FOR NEW MOON

According to the Box Office Guru, The Twilight Saga: New Moon has smashed two box office record on Friday with a stunning $ 72.7 million in estimated ticket sales, according to the distributor Summit. The stunning number includes $ 26.3 million in post-midnight sales on late Thursday.

With those figures, New Moon easily smashed the record held by The Dark Knight's opening day ($ 67.2M) and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince's midnight gross ($22.2M). With that much of amount, however, may not enough to generate a monstrous opening weekend record considering that the movie is most highly front-loaded.

The saga, if follows what last year's Twilight did (plunged 41% on Saturday and further 42% on Sunday, with Friday's making roughly half of the weekend gross), New Moon may ended up only having in $130-$140 million, or maybe even lesser this time. However, with critical panning the movie with a low 29% approval rating where the fans won't mind of it at all at Rotten Tomatoes.

Anyway, be sure to check back on Monday morning for latest gross by the record-breaking New Moon.

MORE TALKING ANIMALS FOR EDDIE MURPHY?

Apparently so. Paramount Pictures, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Empire Online, are looking for writers for Beverly Hills Cop 4 and also attaching Murphy to The Misadventures of Fluffy.

Fluffy sounds silly but not when you have already heard that the misadventures of animal talkings may be developed for all-grown ups and slapped with a hard R-rating. Sam Pitman and Adam Cole-Kelly (behind Tyler Perry's mooted The Diversification of Noah Miller) are currently writing the script, which is reportedly a social buddy-comedy a la Trading Places, about a journey across New York. Featuring talking animals.

Eddie Murphy over the years has proofed to be the biggest miss on the Hollywood, no thanks to his Nash Pluto, Meet Dave and Imagine That. It may sounds weird to have another round of comedic animal talking again and it is also a risky one as well. Fear not, there's still Shrek Forever After and A Thousand Words to fall back on.

THE MASTER OF 47 RONIN

47 Ronin, a movie project that will involve the supercold Keanu Reeves has attached a director now. The project had been talked for so long, which is under Universal Pictures care, about 18th century samurai epic.

The director name is Carl Erik Rinsch, whom of course people are start to wondering who this guy is? Well, a first-timer landed with such an epic, he is the director for various ads for Lexus, BMW and Mercedes. Rinsch is also the name that has been linked to the prequel of Alien until Sir Ridley Scott was persuaded to do it himself.

"Ronin, as you probably learned at the movies, are masterless samurai, and the story of the 47 Ronin, one of Japan's key national legends, concerns the vengeance of the titular group after their feudal lord is forced to commit ritual suicide, following an assault on a corrupt court official. The story is recounted in John Frankenheimer's Ronin to explain the title, and has been filmed at least half a dozen times before" - EO

Wanted scripter Chris Morgan will type the screenplay. He utterly promised that the movie - 47 Ronin - would be an epic-style to the max - Lord of the Rings-type high fantasy and Gladiator-type battle scenes.

Meanwhile, a cartoon maestro Frank Miller's Ronin, about a 13th century samurai transported to future New York, is also in the works.

HAS THOR FINDS HIS WARRIOR THREE?

Here is another rumour and this news is not quite been affirmed yet, so yes, treat it as a rumour.

The latest update on Thor has that the casting of three companion warriors to Thor. With filming on Kenneth Branagh's Thor set to begin in January, Variety initially reported that Stuart Townsend, Ray Stevenson and Japanese star Tadanobu Asano have signed on to play Thor’s loyal friends and back-up muscle, the Warriors Three. Not soon before the article has disappeared.

Remember the post I had couple of months ago regarding the casts of the movie Thor? The list is still stand as it is with the inclusion of Anthony Hopkins and Stellan Skarsgard perhaps.

"The Warriors Three – Fandral the Dashing, Volstagg The Valiant, and Hogun The Grim – are Asgardian Gods (original Marvel creations not drawn from Norse mythology) who have accompanied Thor on many an adventure since their creation, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, in 1965." - EO

"EO rumoured that Townsend (as Dorian Gray in The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen) will play Fandral, Ray Stevenson (The Punisher: War Zone) as Volstagg and Tadanobu Asano as Hogun."

RYAN REYNOLDS GETTING BUSIER THAN EVER WITH TMI

Mr Johanssen aka Ryan Reynolds' schedule has been getting more uptight with his involvement in a new Universal romantic-comedy - TMI: Too Much Information. The comedy will follow up after his Green Lantern project. So where does Deadpool and Motorcade or possibly the cross-dress will be fitting in then?

TMI, will see Reynolds will co-star with Anna Faris. The pitch is that, while honesty is the best policy in a relationship, revealing Too Much Information isn't necessarily sensible.

So, now Reynolds has a rotation in his projects? This year we seen him in Wolverine and then The Proposal. Looks like it will be Green Lantern and following that, TMI, the similar pattern as well?

The script is by Kirsten Smith (10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde) and Marc Klein (A Good Year), and the project is being set up at Universal, with Reynolds as an executive producer. There's no director attached yet.

SPIDER-MAN 4 RUMOUR MAY BE FALSE

Rumours has sparkled last week, claiming that Rachel McAdams had been cast in Spider-Man 4 as Black Cat. News earlier came when Sam Raimi has called for casting of a new lead actress for the newer Spider-Man movie, claiming it was possible that role was Black Cat. Romola Garai (Amazing Grace) had auditioned for the role apparently but considering Rachel McAdams may as well be auditioned as well.

Responding to the rumours that she has been casted for Spider-Man 4 for Black Cat, McAdams tells Entertainment Weekly - “That’s a total rumor, I have to say. I was hanging out in Toronto the other day and someone came up to me and said, ‘I just heard you’re doing Spider-Man 4.‘ And I said, ‘Really? No one told me!’ It’s not true."

However, Green Tea Movie will remain to mark this rumour as "maybe" false. Sam Raimi insisted that a new female lead character is confirmed for Spider-Man 4 recently. I am not sure if it is still Black Cat or on some rumours claimed the character is the daughter of the new man in charge of the Daily Bugle, who just happens to be one of Spidey’s new villains.

Seriously, this casting rumours has now gone too far. Perhaps 'maybe" and 'maybe" it is - no confirmation until further notice.

SOURCE: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY and SLASH FILM

JOE WRIGHT TO STEP INTO THRILLER

Joe Wright has all these while making names with costumed Oscar nominated flicks like Pride & Prejudice and Atonement. Although lately, his The Soloist did not drumming in the same percussion as the former two, it is still interesting to see what is his next project.

Some may alrady know (not reported in Green Tea Movie) that his supposed next Indian Summer was dropped off of making due to budget problem. Well, it seems that he has new attachment on. Taking into a pretty different direction is Hanna, an action-adventure thriller story about a teenage assassin.

EO and The Hollywood Reporter describe the movie as "Hanna is a 14 year-old Eastern European girl who has been raised to become a "cold-blooded killing machine". She finds a new life when she "connects" with a French family, and in particular befriends their daughter, but her father soon pulls her back into his world. She learns then that she was "bred as a killer in a CIA prison camp" (which shouldn't have come as much surprise given her previous training) and then tries to fight her way to freedom and a normal life."

The script was written by Seth Lochhead and David Farr, and has had a lot of buzz around it, with Danny Boyle and Alfonso Cuaron also interested at one point.

SOURCE: EMPIRE ONLINE and THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

IT'S 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER NOW BUT ON STRANGER TIDES TO MOVE ON

In this piece of blog article, we have good and bad news. We start off with the bad one first.

Captain Nemo will not set sail for a journey, at least not in the near future yet. Disney's literal epic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo will not be adapted for a movie version. Not even the director whom had been attached to it, McG can saved it.

The movie becomes the first casualties following Dick Cook's departure as the president of the Disney studio. Titles like Tron Legacy (due next year) and John Carter of Mars are spared but not the family-friendly adaptation of Jules Verne classic.

It has been highly publicized that the Captain Nemo will be a follow-up for McG's directorial following Terminator Salvation, due to begin shooting next month and among other profilic rumours have Will Smith as Captain Nemo.

The update for the project is currently "on hold' and it won't be sailing ahead "for now". Instead, this give McG a chance to redeem something for his next possible movie - Terminator 5. However, the franchise is still in limbo over ownership as been mentioned in Green Tea Movie before pertaining the rights for the franchise holder. McG is also been attached to Dead Spy Running, a Stephen Gaghan script being set up at Warners, and an unnamed NBC comedy with Larry Charles.

On the other end, the pier-mate at Disney dock, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is set to move now. Unlike Captain Nemo whom has been asked to hold onto his adventure, Captain Jack Sparrow may find himself to embark a new adventure very soon.

The latest news has that Rob Marshall has confirmed that he will helm the fourth Sparrow's adventure. As been described before, On Starnger Tides will be a cross-over between the elements from original POTC trilogy with a novel of same name (On Stranger Tides), setting on a journey to search for the elixir from the Fountain of Youth.

SOURCE: Slash Film, Empire Online and Variety

EDWARD WOODWARD - R.I.P.

Edward Woodward, the star of many movies like The Wicker Man, Callan, Hot Fuzz and TV classic Equalizer has passed away at the age 0f 79. His agent, Janet Glass, has confirmed that Woodward passed away, surrounded by his family, at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, following a long illness. He was surrounded by his family.

Woodward is truly a talented actor. His ever famous movie will probably be the 1973 thriller The Wicker Man. Many critics have cited the final scene in The Wicker Man as one of the greatest visual shots in cinema history.

Woodward played the title role in the 1980 Australian biographical film drama Breaker Morant, which was highly acclaimed and his presence brought the film worldwide attention. Woodward also had a supporting role in the 2007 action comedy Hot Fuzz. His last lead film role was that of the Reverend Frederick Densham in A Congregation of Ghosts; the story of an eccentric vicar who is said to have alienated his congregation and preached to cardboard cut-outs.

For more about Edward Woodward, please visit:

1. Wikipedia
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8362616.stm
3. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/tv-world-mourns-equalizer-star-edward-woodward-14564659.html
4. http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/16112009/5/edward-woodward-dies-0.html

LEONA LEWIS TO SING THEME FOR AVATAR

Avatar will be releasing next month in a global mega-scale. The money is a risky things to do since the mega-budgeted flick will need more than $400 million to cover up its whole production cost.

Fear not, James Cameron has asked Leona Lewis to sing for the theme of the movie. The sci-fi epic in the form of Avatar has definitely getting a boost now, similar to what Adam Lambert's Time For Miracles has done to the movie 2012.

The title track, I See You (Theme From Avatar) will be feature on the Avatar soundtrack, due to release on December 14. James Horner will be conducting the theme and music in the movie, which marked their (Horner and Cameron) third collaboration after Aliens and Titanic. Of course, the last time they collaborated, a mega hits by Celine Dion, "My Heart Will Go On" was a award-winning song.

"Lewis is shooting the video for the song now, under the auspices of Jake Nava. Will she be going blue for it?" - EO

Chris Hewitt of EO commented, "But, what with this and Adam Lambert’s Time For Miracles on Roland Emmerich’s 2012, we hope that this signals the return of a grand old movie tradition that we had thought forever lost: the impossibly grandiose end credits song with emotionally vague titles"

Okay, I'm eager to listen to this piece!!

REMAKING EXORCIST?

You may have or may have not watch the original Exorcist film. The nauseating original classic of horror back in 1973 has been a cult culture but now William Peter Blatty, author of the original novel The Exorcist and its screenplay, is talking about the remake in TV mini-series form.

Would it be the same as the original? Blatty answered, "But I might have it my way in the near future, inasmuch as I've written an Exorcist miniseries script that not only faithfully includes all the main elements of the novel, but also some rather spooky new material and scenes, as well as a totally new (and perhaps much more satisfying) ending. I've also updated it."

So who is going to direct? Not confirmed but Blatty replied, "Billy Friedkin has agreed to direct". Of course, Billy Friedkin is the original director as well, but the revelation is not unfound yet since Fredkin may not know anything about the new project at all.

Wow...another attempt of making so much about Exorcist? Did you remember how many Exorcist installments we have seen over the years? So, could remaking Exorcist into a TV mini-series will work?

DEATH RACE 2 CASTING BEGINS

Death Race 2: Frankenstein Lives, the sequel to last year's action-prisoner-mate-game is recruting. The a-la carte alike of Gamer, only that Death Race proved to be much better than the Butler's trash - is now looking for anyone interested in stepping tinto Jason Statham's shoes.

The plot devise; "Newly arrived at Terminal Island, a prison for the most unredeemable [sic] of convicts, Carl 'Luke' Lucas must prove his mettle in a race to the death". Initial talk Frankenstein Lives may be a prequel, a set-up to the origin of Frankenstein before Jason Statham taking him over.

Here are the description of the several characters lined up for Death Race 2:

• Carl 'Luke' Lucas - right-hand man to a notorious mobster for twelve years, given life-imprisonment for killing a cop in a botched bank robbery. He's offered a deal by the DA if he turns state's evidence, but opts to take his chances behind bars.
• September Jones - eye-poppingly gorgeous model turned journalist who comes up with the Death Race concept when her Gladiators-type show starts to plummet in the ratings.
• Douglas Weyland - the owner of the TV network is one Douglas Weyland, of the Weyland Corporation.

Paul WS Anderson will produce theupcoming installment with Jeremy Bolt (The Resident Evils, Pandorum) and Mike Elliott (War). Tony Giglio will write the script.

BRIAN COX AS THE DWARF?

There is a sound rumour around this few days as EO, Variety, Ain't It Cool and Slash Film have all reported casting rumour for Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro's The Hobbit. Brian Cox is apparently "a major contender" for the role of the dwarf.

In case you have not read The Hobbit before, there are 13 dwarves in the book - Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin (Gimli's dad), Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori and Thorin Oakenshield.

The role of Thorin seems likely. "He fights alongside Gandalf in the goblin tunnels and dies a heroic death at the Battle of the Five Armies. But he's also a bit annoying and rubbish: getting himself captured before anyone else at Mirkwood, making serious diplomatic gaffes at Laketown and throwing a big strop when Bilbo nicks the Arkenstone." - according to EO, refering to the character Thorin.

The other dwarf is likely to be Balin. Balin's tomb was the focus in The Fellowship of the Ring.

For the record, The Hobbit has yet to announce for any casting calls yet. So, Cox in it, is still a rumour after all.

TRAILERS FOR DATE NIGHT AND MORE

DATE NIGHT
20th Century Fox

Comedy king and queen, Steve Carrell and Tina Fey will team up as a couple who had a misfortune night out when they are out for one simple and regular dinner.

"Claire and Phil Foster (Tina Fey and Steve Carell) are a suburban couple slogging through their daily lives and marriage. Even their "date nights" of dinner and a movie have become routine. To reignite the marital spark, they visit a trendy Manhattan bistro, where a case of mistaken identity hurtles them through the city at breakneck speeds, into non-stop adventure. Remembering what made them so special together, Phil and Claire take on a couple of corrupt cops, a top-level mobster—and a crazed cabbie—as their date becomes a night they'll never forget."

Co-starring Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Mila Kunis and many more, the Date Night opened in April 9 next year!!




GROWN UPS
Sony Pictures

Adam Sandler comes back for another round of laughter following failure to launch Funny People last August. This time, Sandler will now recruiting an army of comedian - Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, all together in one movie.

Grown Ups tells the story of "Five best friends (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade) and former teammates reunite years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With their wives (Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, and Maya Rudolph) and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend together at the lake house where they celebrated their championship years earlier. Picking up where they left off, they discover why growing older doesn't mean growing up."

EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES
CBS Film

Brandon Fraiser and Harrison Ford will team up in this drama that based on a real life story of John Crowley, "a man who defied conventional wisdom and great odds, and risked his family's future to pursue a cure for his children's life threatening disease. From his working class roots, John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) has finally begun to taste success in corporate America. Supported by his beautiful wife Aileen (Keri Russell) and their three children, John is on the fast track. But just as his career is taking off, Crowley walks away from it all when his two youngest children, Megan and Patrick, are diagnosed with a fatal disease. With Aileen by his side, harnessing all of his skill and determination, Crowley teams up with a brilliant, but unappreciated and unconventional scientist, Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford)."

This movie will serve as a resurrection for CBS Films, who previously been active from 1951 before become partly defunct in 1981.

The movie will out on January 22, 2010.