MOVIE REVIEW: THE WOLFMAN

THE WOLFMAN (English/18PL)

Genre: Horror
Release Date: 11 February 2010
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Running Time: 102 mins.
Director: Joe Johnston
Producers: Benicio del Toro, Scott Stuber, Rick Yorn, Sean Daniel

Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker, David Self; Curt Siodmak (original screenplay)

Casts: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin
Plot: Set in the late 1880s, this remake of the 1941 Hollywood classic begins with Lawrence Talbot meeting his estranged father following his brother's death. While searching for his brother's murderer, he soon discovers something horrifying - that the murderer is none other than the werewolf himself.

THE VERDICT

The reason why I don't really enjoy this movie is pretty simple. The one may argue the reason behind the unexpected move to push the movie backward from its November 09 release but it becomes crystal clear that the move is pretty much strategy to realize that the creature will suffers with harsh pundits. Yes, indeed those theory is true.

JOLIE OUT FROM WANTED 2 AND GRAVITY

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The production for Mark Millar comic sequel to 2008's Wanted may have take a halt now. The reason is simple, apparently Angelina Jolie has shot down the sequel and instead prefers to star in a space thriller Gravity, planned to be directed by Alfonso Cuaron. Is that true?

Rumors have floating around that Angelina Jolie may have pulled out from the Timur Bekmambetov's sequel. Apparently, it was confirmed by her reps. Because of that, Universal Pictures had forgo a rewrite and decided to shut the project down. However, no official announcement has been made yet regarding the shut down of the project. It was previously reported that Timur Bekmambetov was coming back to direct from a script by Evan Spiliotopoulos, and that James McAvoy was going to return as Wesley Gibson.

After finishing The Tourist, Jolie is now expected to star in Warner Bros.' Gravity, a space thriller to be directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). Cuarón wrote the script with his 28-year-old son, Jonás.

However, latest news from Entertainment Weekly is that Jolie has instead passed out on both of the production. Jolie is currently shooting The Tourist with Johnny Depp in Paris. Her next project is to be determined.

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RUMORS ABOUT SUPERMAN AND THE FLASH

This week the news from DC and Warners keep pouring in. Here is a piece of bi-rumors for you. Well, before you proceed to read on, I warn you once again, these are rumors only.

First, DC long awaited The Flash may have found itself a director. Greg Berlanti has been attached for developing the movie. Previously, Greg has been working on the script for The Green Lantern and that had impressed Warner Bros to cemented him for the director seat. This piece of note is still a "maybe" status.

Another crazy rumors? Prepare to hear this. Christopher Nolan's brother Jonathan Nolan has been tapped to direct The Man Of Steel, which technically implies for Superman. Earlier this week, David Goyer was attached to write Christopher Nolan-produced Superman film but those are still rumors and rumors

Jonathan Nolan wrote the original story for Memento, for which he was nominated for an Academy Awards. He was the credited screenwriter on The Prestige as well as The Dark Knight. He did uncredited touch up work on Terminator Salvation, and has been working with Steven Spielberg on a sci-fi project titled Intersteller. - Slash Film

SOURCES: Empire Online, Slash Film

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TRANSFORMERS 3 GOES RUSSIA

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Michael Bay and his team has been scouting for places for shooting the next mindless entertainment flick - Transfromers 3. While the story has not been clear yet, but Bay insisted that the movie will not go for more and bigger explosions, instead delving into the Transformers' mythos and becoming "darker". Read here.

According to Michael Bay's website, Transformers 3 is set to film in Moscow and Chicago. So it looks like either Red Square or Sears Tower are going to be blown up in full scale? Perhaps, should we follow what Bay has insisted that there will be lesser explosion this time?

With the dynamic duo of Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are not returning for the screen writing board, the job is left to Ehren Kruger to carry on. The sequel will again sees the return of Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf, as well as relatively most of the characters and casts may return. In fact, Tyrese Gibson was one of those earliest to confirm on their return.

So, what's the next story, Bay? 3D? Unicron? Triple-Charger? The USS Enterprise carrier idea?

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JAMIE AND ASHTON SETTING UP COP COMEDY

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Kevin Smith's Cop Out will play out this week and Antoine Fuqua's Brooklyn's Finest will follow on next Friday. Those are the scenario regarding cops movie - whether it is a silly buddy cop partnership or even a serious buddy cop partnership. What ever it is, expect another one as well in the form of Jamie Foxx and Ashton Kutcher.

Streets On Fire, a Black List (scripts that Hollywood loved but did not get produced) in 2009, written by Justin Britt-Gibson is another one of those that will features a by-the-book Chicago cop (Foxx) who struggles to keep his anger issues under control when he teams up with a cocky, arrogant partner (Kutcher) and they instantly hate each other. But then they’re forced to work together to take down a gang of killers who turn out to be corrupt fellow walkers of the Thin Blue Line.

Ashton Kutcher is producing the film via his own company but there is no director attached yet. So, anyone up for another cop buddy comedy? Well, in fact this will be another anticipated partnership between Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Foxx.

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EMMERICH GOES ON WITH ANONYMOUS

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In a strange coincidence, Roland Emmerich has a film on his hand which swayed away all or any stereotyping about him. No more world destroy this time and no more CGI. Instead, Anonymous; will sees the director playing with live action and William Shakespeare.

Anonymous will set the story or rather the controversy surrounding Shakespeare's authorship. For the past 100 years or so, a theory and perhaps more questions have poured in that speculated that Shakespeare's plays were indeed was written by Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.

According to an interview with Empire Online:
“We have Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Elizabeth; David Thewlis as William Cecil, old and young; and Rhys Ifans as The Earl Of Oxford. It’s a true English cast and I’m really proud of it. There’s 12 main characters and 20 or 30 other characters, and each of the characters is really good.” - Roland Emmerich

He then continued by saying, “It’s a mix of a lot of things: it’s an historical thriller because it’s about who will succeed Queen Elizabeth and the struggle of the people who want to have a hand in it. It’s the Tudors on one side and the Cecils on the other, and in between [the two] is the Queen. Through that story we tell how the plays written by the Earl of Oxford ended up labelled 'William Shakespeare'.”

Shooting will start this spring in Germany. Well, after all, this is not the type of movie we can expect from Emmerich himself.

WHO IS UP FOR CAPTAIN AMERICA?

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The First Avenger: Captain America may be shooting in the coming months and it has been postulated that someone need to fill in the shoe. Marvel and director Joe Johnston have been lining up several contender for the role of Captain America, a somehow crucial role for a bigger project in sight - The Avenger.

Several has been called in for screen test, including John Krasinski (Leatherheads), Scott Porter (TV's Friday Night Lights) and Mike Vogel (Cloverfield). In the coming days, expect to see Michael Cassidy (TV's Smallville) and Patrick Flueger (Brothers) as well for a test. Names like Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy) and Jensen Ackles (TV's Supernatural) are among to be called on too but may have scheduling clashes.

However, there are chances that all those on the list may not be confirmed to step into the role. As far as been concerned, Joe and Marvel are still keeping options open.

SOURCES: Heat Vision, Empire Online

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WHO'S RUNNING ON PARANORMAL ACTIIVITY 2 NOW?

When Paranormal Activity 2 was announced for October 22 this year, the skeptical mind of me says that this is not right at all. The Paranormal Activity for me was a little bit shocking and a little bit exciting, not really to the standard of horror I was expecting, yet I still enjoy it nevertheless. Perhaps as a horror genre, this would have been great. You can read my review here.

However, Paramount announcement for the possible directors really get me back on the track for expecting more. This, according to the LA Times, are the shortlisted directors currently under consideration by the studio for the sequel.

First, Brad Anderson

What horror he did: The Machinist (2004); Session 9 (2001); Fringe TV series

The Machinist featuring Christian Bale in his most anorexia form ever. That one was a pretty good. Then, you have Session 9, a psychological horror film released in 2001 and garnered mostly positive reviews - about some asbestos, old asylum and old mental hospital.

Second, Greg McLean

What horror he did: Wolf Creek (2005); Rogue (2007)

The Aussie was famous for his Wolf Creek - a serial killer loosely based on the Backpacker murders in 1990s. For that the film was nominated for seven AFI awards (Australian Oscar).

Third, Brian DePalma

What horror he did: Mission Impossible (1996); Snake Eyes (1998); The Black Dahlia (2006); The Untouchables (1987); Sisters (1973); Dressed To Kill (1980); Blow Out (1981)

I must be freaking out on hearing his name. The master of cinematography that has his own canted angle shot, split-screen uniqueness and 360-degree camera pan on film-making.

So, what say you? With October 22 a pretty much concrete date, can they made it on time.

RENO REVIEW: INVICTUS

INVICTUS (English/U)

Genre: Drama/History/Sports/Biography
Release Date: 4 March 2010
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Running Time: 133 mins.
Director: Clint Eastwood
Producers: Clint Eastwood, Lori McCreary, Robert Lorenz, Mace Neufeld

Writer: Anthony Peckham (screenplay); John Carlin (Book)

Casts: Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman
Plot: The film tells the inspiring story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country through universal language of sport. Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship.

THE VERDICT

Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar. Hm… A political movie? Not really. A sport movie? Not exactly. A perfect blend of politics and sport. I would say yes. Clint Eastwood exceeded my expectation here by delivering such a nice piece of movie, that I think the most inspirational movie of the year 2009.

FRESH NEWS ON ZOOLANDER 2

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The first Zoolander, landed back in 2001 as a comedy film was so good bad that it was banned and never released in Malaysia. But the sequel is here. It looks like Derek Zoolander and his Blue Steel might actually be back with Deadline Hollywood reporting that Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder, Iron Man 2) will team up with Ben Stiller for a follow-up.

Paramount Pictures has set Theroux to write and direct the sequel.

In case you don't recall anything about the movie, Zoolander number one revolves around fashion mogul Jacobim Mugatu (Will Ferrell) is charged by the fashion industry to find a male fashion model who can be brainwashed in order to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia at an upcoming fashion show in order to retain cheap child labor in that country. Mugatu, with help from model agent Maury Ballstein (Jerry Stiller), selects for the task the dim-witted but good-natured Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), formerly the top male fashion model in the world but displaced by the up-and-coming Hansel (Owen Wilson) at the latest VH1 Fashion Awards.

No official words on the casting yet but Stiller is of course on track back while the studio is also hoping to rope in Owen Wilson to reprise his role as Hansel. There are words that Jonah Hill maybe playing as a villain as well.

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THE CROODS WITH VOICE TALENTS IN

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Dreamworks new CG animation about a group of caveman comedy has signed two stars in. The Croods may be considering itself lucky because two superheroes are voicing the movie. One is Deadpool aka Ryan Reynolds and two; Ghost Rider aka Nicolas Cage.

According to Variety, Cage is set to voice the role Crug, "a staunch traditionalist forced to lead his family beyond their comfortable usual haunts when an earthquake shakes things up."

On the other end, Reynolds is set to voice "yet-to-be-named" nomad whom "Crug meet up during their journey, that has a little bit more advanced ideas and thoughts than Crug is and ends up charming the clan, particularly Crug’s daughter. Trouble, naturally, follows."

Dreamworks is aiming to set this cavern picture set for 3D by March 2012. At the meantime, you may need some lesson on how to train the dragons first before going back in time of the cavern.

DAVID GOYER WRITES NEW SUPERMAN?

It looks like Warner Bros is really into a new Superman flick. The studio has already mobilizing a team of experts to get the job done and according to the Latino Review, David Goyer (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) has been hired by Legendary Pictures and DC Entertainment to write a script that does not have to reboot the Clark Kent's franchise.

The news come in time following the inclusion of Christopher Nolan as a mentor to oversee the new Superman project, albeit not necessary that he has to direct. It was understood that the new project is currently entitled The Man Of Steel.

According to the source too, Goyer's vision of Superman may be based on drawing from John Byrne's acclaimed run on the comics while we may be able to expect more fun and another round of Lex Luthor and Braniac.

However, Goyer's involvement is still not a locked in yet. The status now is that he will only help out on the script and he is in negotiation to take the job. Good luck!!

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

Want some taste of horror with four blade claws by Freddy Kruger? Yes, the remake for the Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street has finally has a trailer that I can branded it as official.

Directed by Samuel Bayer and produced by Michael Bay and his Platinum Dune company, Jackie Eale Haley stars as Freddy Kruger, reprising the role from Robert Englund.

Here is the trailer we found from FilmSchoolRejects: (Nope, I did not found one on Trailer Addict yet).

Premise-wise; Freddy Krueger returns in “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” a contemporary reimagining of the horror classic. A group of suburban teenagers share one common bond: they are all being stalked by Freddy Krueger, a horribly disfigured killer who hunts them in their dreams. As long as they stay awake, they can protect on another…but when they sleep, there is no escape.

The dream-wave-killer will arrive on theaters on April 30.

UPDATE: The previous embedded video from MySpace is found to be crashing the Firefox. So I changed it to the Youtube style. Still no activity over Trailer Addict!!

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MATT DAMON WILL GO FOR KENNEDY

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Deadline Hollywood and Empire Online have reported that Gary Ross has attached Matt Damon to a film about John F Kennedy's younger brother Robert. The planned biopic will be based on Evan Thomas' Kennedy biography His Life and Steven Knight has agreed to work on the adaptation script while he is also working on The Lost Symbol.

In 1968, following his second major landslide victory in the California primary and regarded as the front runner for Democratic in the Presidential residence, he addressed his supporters in the early morning hours of June 5, 1968, in a ballroom at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. However, shortly after that, he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Christian Palestinian-American (who felt betrayed by Kennedy's support for Israel in the June 1967 Six-Day War) which had begun exactly one year before the assassination. Robert F Kennedy or RFK was regarded as one of the most famous US politician who never been able to step into the White House.

Ross has set up a deal with New Regency and Damon is most likely to play the title role if he inked the contract. This will follow Damon's portrayal of a real life person following rugby captain Francois Pienaar in Invictus and Mark Whitacre in The Informant!

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FREIDA PINTO JOINS WAR OF THE GODS

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2010 is a year where we will have several movies pertaining to the Greek mythology. With Percy Jackson and Clash Of The Titans hitting the cinemas, Universal is rolling in its own Greek deities project. War Of The Gods, a project developed around the same time as Titans has already had a director, in the form of Tarsem Singh, the highly acclaim director that has created many successful music videos.

The latest news is that Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto has joined the casting. She will join the likes of Henry Cavill who was already on board as Theseus, who must lead his men into battle against the ancient, immortal Greek gods to destroy evil and defeat the Titans so mankind can be saved. Pinto will play Phaedra, an oracle priestess who joins our hero on his quest.

Shooting for the film will start this April. However, the title may not be the same at the end of the day. A check at IMDB, the title Dawn Of War was given. According to the report, the movie will use mixed reality equipment, the plan is to prepare studio scenes showing the manifest exploits of the mythic hero Theseus.

SOURCE: Empire Online

SPEEDY GONZALES NOW A CG HYBRID MOVIE

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There are yet many other cartoons that require some royal treatment of converting it into a fancy silver screen form. Now, the Mexican fastest mouse will get the opportunity to become what now a feature film. Heat Vision Blog reports that Speedy Gonzales (the andale andale rodent that runs so fast that none can catch him) will getting a big screen adaptation in the form of CG/Live-action hybrid.

George Lopez, recently seen in the mega-stars romantic-comedy, Valentine's Day will provide voice for the rodent. Jerry Weintraub, Lopez and his wife, Anne will all produce the movie.

“We wanted to make sure that it was not the Speedy of the 1950s - the racist Speedy," Anne Lopez tells the Heat Vision Blog. "Speedy's going to be a misunderstood boy who comes from a family that works in a very meticulous setting, and he's a little too fast for what they do. He makes a mess of that. So he has to go out in the world to find what he's good at."

Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow will write the script and rendering their previous effort in adapting Garfield into big screen too, this could be something to think about.

According to Empire Online: "Despite the racial issues, Speedy himself has a long history – he debuted back in the ‘50s as part of the Looney Tunes ensemble, quickly establishing himself as nemesis for Sylvester. He even starred in an Oscar winning short in 1955."

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THE KARATE KID NEW TRAILER

First of all, I don't understand why this is a remake. The Karate Kid was such a cult back in the 80's - directed by John G Avildsen and starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. it is a martial arts film that follows an underdog who goes all the way to become a karate champ.

Flash forward to 2010, a remake was made under Sony Pictures and again, it's a remake that I will never understand. First, it's a kung fu film - not karate. Secondly, it took place in China and not some neighbourhood in the United States or in Japan.

Nevertheless, it is still intriguing to see what the movie can pull out. Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith (Will Smith's beloved son) star in this remake of The Karate Kid, scheduled for June 11 release.

I still prefer they called this movie something else, like The Kung Fu Kid or The Not-So-Karate Kid.

HAILEE STEINFELD IN FOR TRUE GRIT REMAKE

This is a fast pace Western film that need to go as fast as possible in terms of production. Well, seriously the film will only start shooting in Santa Fe, New Mexico coming this March and April. On standard for Hollywood, it usually takes a year or so for post-production but for The Coen Brother's Western film, True Grit, the movie will be released this Christmas, just in time for next year's Oscar scoop.

Forget about rushing, the movie which is a remake of 1969's original and based on the novel by Charles Portis, True Grit has already scored several high class actors - Jeff Bridges who was fresh from his nomination and the front-runner to win the Best Actor in a fortnight time, will be cast to play marshal Reuben J Cogburn. Well, that role has some similarity to his recent Oscar-nominated performance in Crazy Hearts - drunken (again). John Wayne originally played the role in 1969 film.

The other casts include Matt Damon as the ranger La Beouf, Josh Brolin as the stone-cold killer Tom Chaney. Perhaps the most interesting character has to be the role of 14-year-old Mattie Ross (originally by Kim Darby). Hailee Steinfeld, a relatively unknown was chosen among the 15,000 hopefuls for the role.

For those who are not familiar with the plot, the Portis’ novel is narrated in the first person by Mattie Ross, a thrifty, churchgoing spinster distinguished by a rare independence and strength of mind. As an old woman in the year 1928, she tells the story of her adventures many years earlier, in 1873, when, at the age of fourteen, she undertook a quest to avenge her father’s death at the hands of a drifter named Tom Chaney.

This is going to be interesting and from time to time, the Coen Brothers have never failed to impress us with their eccentric films like O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country For Old Men, A Serious Man and many more.

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IAN McSHANE JOINS ON PIRATES 4

Ian McShane with his popular swearing session on HBO's Deadwood. Now he was casted by Rob Marshall to star opposite Johnny Depp in the upcoming Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. I have to admit, even the scheduled shooting will only start this summer, I am beginning to feel the hype and anticipation now.

If he really was casted, that will probably means that McShane will nailed down the role of Blackbeard, the movie's villain. Starring opposite Jack Sparrow (by Depp of course), both will be facing off against each other for their quest to locate the Fountain Of Youth.

With Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush already on board, director Rob Marshall is slowly paving way for the ship to sail as he prepares for the production work soon. The movie is set for a tentative releasing date of May 20, 2011.

So, Hawaii...here they come!!

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RETREAT IS NOW OFFICIAL WITH NEWTON, ISAACS AND TENNANT

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Jason Isaacs, Thandie Newton and David Tennant have all signed up to star in the upcoming psychological thriller Retreat. The film will be the debut directorial by Carl Tibbetts.

In Retreat, Jason Isaacs and Thandie Newton play as a couple who are trying to work on their strain relationship during their holiday in a remote island. However, the arrival of a man (David Tennant) in an awful shabby state and on military uniform, who warns them about a deadly virus loose on the mainland sparked some chaotic situation.

According to the Empire Online and Screen Daily - “It reminded me of Dead Calm when I first read it. Only better,” producer Gary Sinyor tells Screen Daily. “It’s got a similar sexual tension but the battle of wits between the characters and plot twists are constantly surprising. We’re delighted to have secured three of the UK’s most powerful actors.”

Besides directing, Tibbetts also wrote the script with Janice Hallett and the project will be placed under Magnet Films. Another UK production!! Shooting starts this May in Canada.

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KEVIN JAMES JOINS HOWARD'S LATEST COMEDY

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Your Cheating Heart, a new comedy that embodies an unique partnership. Ron Howard will direct, while Kevin James and Vince Vaughn will play roles in the infidelity-buddy comedy. That is one partnership that comes out from the Deadline Hollywood.

The movie's plot deals about "Vaughn’s character will be tortured (morally and emotionally, mind – this doesn’t have Jack Bauer in it) when he spots James’ wife with another man. Should he tell his pal about the sighting and possibly ruin his life?" - Empire Online

Brian Grazer will produce from a script by Allan Loeb. Shooting will start this spring (soon) in Chicago.

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FOX BRINGS IN FOURTH REALM SERIES

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20th Century Fox has bought up the rights for John Twelve Hawk's book series, collectively known as Fourth Realm Trilogy. The news came after the studio successfully rolled Avatar in and now decided to take another sci-fi franchise. Watchmen co-writer Alex Tse is set to adapt them.

The first of the series, The Traveller (2006) tells life in a dystopian, Big Brother-alike America where a secret organisation is aiming to control the populace via invasive, ever—present observation. Naturally there are those rebelling against the new world order, including a near-extinct group of people known as Travellers, who can project their spirits into other dimensions and their protectors, called Harlequins.

The author himself, like JD Salinger, is very much a reclusive who prefers to stay away from contact with the public and largely preferring to deal with others using his agents and publishers. With The Traveler been the first that follows with The Dark River and The Golden City, we hope Alex Tse can pull out something from this.

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STEPHEN CHOW WITH HIS TAI-CHI?

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This is perhaps the first piece of news coming out from the desk of the movie site in the oriental. Channel News Asia reported that the rumour has now goes on that Stephen Chow will follow Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle and abandoned tenure on The Green Hornet with a remake of Bruce Lee's Way Of The Dragon. Not exactly a same remake, but at least it was believed to have scooped in the similar elements into the new one.

The movie was the one which Chow has announced last year following his departure form The Green Hornet. The movie is currently titled Tai Chi, will be an action-packed comedy with Jack Black and Anne Hathaway set to star. Rolling for shooting will commence this June and this could mark Chow first directorial and casting in Hollywood.

1972's Way of the Dragon was Bruce Lee's own directorial and writing - the story involves Lee travelling to Rome to protect a restaurant and its staff from the vengeance of Mafia. That sounds too serious but mind you that Chow's version will be one comedy to be expected. According to Channel News Asia, in this movie - Chow will play a Chinese migrant in the US who works as a dishwasher in Chinatown and hides his skills as a Tai Chi master. He is forced to stand up to gangsters who oppress his fellow migrants and later gets invited to start martial arts schools to share his knowledge.

More news will be up soon, I hope! However, the only major setback is that Columbia Picture, having been cooperate with Chow with his 2008's CJ7 has pulled out from the project.

THE HURT LOCKER SWEEPS THE BAFTAs 2010

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It set to be a two horse race between The Hurt Locker and Avatar again. Well, the night at BAFTA Awards - the premier annual British films award ala Oscar style has sprung another advantage for the Iraq War theme flick over the environmental-sci-fi flick.

The Hurt Locker and Avatar were locked at eight nominations a piece but it was the former who scooped the top prize. Ouch! That was another blow for the ex-husband as the ex-wife continue the recent form to scoop in the Best Director and Best Film awards.

The acting categories were dominated by the British actor, Colin Firth and British actress, the young and rising Carey Mulligan. Purely a home ground luck! No surprises on the supporting role categories nevertheless.

Other technical awards were again either The Hurt Locker or Avatar. It was however still difficult to determine if the momentum carried by The Hurt Locker will be really transformed into a real Best Picture win at the upcoming Academy Awards in a fortnight time. I still bet my money and hope for it to win.

Needless to say, check out the list of winners from last night's BAFTA awards:

BEST FILM

The Hurt Locker

BEST DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

* Neill Blomkamp lost

BEST ACTOR

Colin Firth - A Single Man

BEST ACTRESS

Carey Mulligan - An Education

BEST ANIMATED FILM

Pete Docter - Up

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Hurt Locker

* District 9 lost

Go after the jump for more

LEO GOES PRISONER

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Last year, Prisoners, the hot Black List script by Aaron Guzikowski was been fast on heel for shooting this year. At one point, Bryan Singer was attached to direct, bringing in Hugh Jackman to lead the cast as well. However, later Antoine Fuqua replaced Singer but has then since dropped out.

Deadline Hollywood latest news on the hot property suggests that Leonardo DiCaprio is interested in taking one of the lead roles as previously also been associated to the acts like Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and/or Hugh Jackman. However, Leo's commitment to the movie is pretty much depends on who is the director.

Prisoners' plot involves a father taking the law into his own hands and kidnapping the man he believes to be responsible for the disappearance of his daughter and her best friend, with the soundbite description of choice still being the identity crisis of "Mystic River meets Taken". - plot taken from Empire Online

The script was picked up by Alcon Entertainment. However, the bad news is that the project will not likely to start soon.

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ANOTHER TV SPOT FOR THE LAST AIRBENDER

M Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender just can't stop releasing itself another teaser. This time, it premiered during the television spot for the ongoing Winter's Olympic. I have to say that this in contrast to the previous films by Shyamalan which deals about thriller and horror thriller, this escape-away-from-all-of-those-bullshit by adapting the ever famous cartoon from the Nickelodeon's favourite elementary-benders, is by right gaining a lot of impact and momentum now.

No doubt, it will be interesting to see this movie, provided by a strong plot in the cartoon series and a runaway genre from the usual Shyamalan. It is a gamble but it will be interesting to see. See the latest trailer spot.

Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the live-action feature film is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. The Fire Nation is waging a ruthless, oppressive war against the other three nations. The film’s hero, the reluctant young Aang (Noah Ringer), is the “Last Airbender” — the Avatar who, according to prophecy, has the ability to manipulate all of the elements and bring all the nations together. Aided by a protective teenage Waterbender named Katara (Nicola Peltz) and her bull-headed brother Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world. Dev Patel plays the Fire Nation’s evil prince Zuko. Exiled from the Fire Nation by his father, Zuko is sent to capture the Avatar in order to restore his honor and right to the throne.

SOURCES: SlashFilm

DAMON AND AFFLECK TEAMS UP FOR SEX SCANDAL

It has been long since we last seen both of them together. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck were gorgeous together when they headlined Good Will Hunting, a self-written and self-starring Oscar-nominated indie that forever change their life after that. Well, that was thirteen years ago.

New words have that both of them will return to do a movie together. Deadline Hollywood is reporting that the two will engage in Warner Bros production that based on a real-life tale of baseball pitcher's wife swapping that took the baseball world a stun in 1973. The project is currently known as The Trade, revolving around a pair of New York Yankees players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich who in 1973, announced during spring training that they were in wife-switching and even as went as far as involving the children and pets as well. So the two friends had simply traded partners!!

Shocking!! The situation worked well for Fritz Peterson who married Susanne Kekich and they are still together till this day. However, Mike Kekich and Marilyn Peterson have since split.

The Trade has been written and stalled over the years at the hand of Dave Mandel (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) due to life rights and other issues. Now the issues resolved and he was still willing to crank out the script provided he still had some spare time. Indeed it was now available for a greenlight.

Ben Affleck may direct and star as Peterson with Damon possibly playing Kekich. This will be his third directorial after Gone Baby Gone and recently completed Warner Bros The Town.

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MOVIE REVIEW: AN EDUCATION

AN EDUCATION (English/N/A)

Genre: Drama
Release Date: N/A
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Running Time: 95 mins.
Director: Lone Scherfig
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Douglas Hansen<>

Writer: Nick Hornby, Lynn Barber

Casts: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Emma Thompson, Dominic Cooper, Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina, Rosamund Pike
Plot: In the early 1960's, sixteen year old Jenny Mellor lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. On her father's wishes, everything that Jenny does is in the sole pursuit of being accepted into Oxford, as he wants her to have a better life than he. Jenny is bright, pretty, hard working but also naturally gifted. The only problems her father may perceive in her life is her issue with learning Latin, and her dating a boy named Graham, who is nice but socially awkward. Jenny's life changes after she meets David Goldman, a man over twice her age. David goes out of his way to show Jenny and her family that his interest in her is not improper and that he wants solely to expose her to cultural activities which she enjoys. Jenny quickly gets accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny and Helen, have shown her, and Jenny and David's relationship does move into becoming a romantic one. However, Jenny slowly learns more about David, and by association Danny and Helen, and specifically how they make their money. Jenny has to decide if what she learns about them and leading such a life is worth forgoing her plans of higher eduction at Oxford

THE VERDICT

The one and only British movie that makes it into the Best Picture nomination like all these previous years. I never understand British films and the fact that I only understand Danny Boyle's winner Slumdog Millionaire last year was truly astonishing fact that I have to swallow. The Slumdog was different, a value of human nature and instinct with a bold plot that conceptual acceptable; An education runs in a different direction.