Asia Pacific Entertainment

LA premiere of Star Trek

2009-05-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

Video from the Los Angeles Premiere of Star Trek on April 30!

Eastern inspiration for your home

2009-04-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to added the influences of the East to your home?

A hand-woven log basket, for example, or Tussar silk drum lamp shades. The East has long inspired the imagination, and your home may also fire up the minds of guests with elegant furnishings from the East.

Lombok Eastern Inspired Living is a premier site for bringing wonderful Asian furniture into your home or office.

The Sunday Times Fast Track 100, a service that ranks the United Kingdom's fastest-growing companies listed Lombok for the third straight year in 2006.

You can browse Lombok's website with ease perusing extensive listings of every possible product needed for home furnishing -- wooden bookcases, coffee tables, wardrobes, laundry baskets -- to name a few.

As if the company's high quality products were not enough, Lombok also is committed as a company to helping preserve the environment.

The company uses reclaimed timber wherever possible and uses only wood that meet the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

SFC is an non-profit NGO that advocates for proper management of the world’s forests. SFI is charitable organisation that promotes sustainable forest management that is independently certified.

Furthermore when you buy a product from Lombok, a percentage is donated to Trees-4-Trees, a non-profit foundation that plants trees in Indonesia.

Lombok also has a unique interest free credit system that you can apply for over the phone or at their store whenever you make purchases over £500. If you purchase more than £2000 worth of goods, you choose between a 6, 12, 18 or 24 month term with no deposit required.

Your privacy and security are of utmost importance to Lombok, and they provide secure credit card transactions and state of the art privacy protection.

Visit Lombok's eastern inspired living site to find all your furniture needs. Click here to visit the exotic East!

Star Trek and Rock Band "Where no one has gone before"

2009-04-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Check out the new press release announcing the link-up between Star Trek (Paramount) and Rock Band (MTV Games).

MTV Games and Paramount Pictures Take STAR TREK

and Rock Band® “Where No Man Has Gone Before”

First-of-its-Kind Promotion to Rock Fans During Month Lead-Up

to the Film’s Release on May 8, 2009

New York, NY, April 1, 2009 – MTV Games and Harmonix’s Rock Band® are joining forces with Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment to celebrate the May 8^th theatrical release of the film STAR TREK from director/producer J.J. Abrams. The first-of-its-kind collaboration will fuse together the massive cultural followings of both STAR TREK and the video game phenomenon Rock Band to engage fans with free music, an in-game battle of the bands, and futuristic avatar creation contest.

Beginning today, fans can register for a 15-day sweepstakes that will give away 500 free

Rock Band Music Store downloads each day from April 7^th through April 21^st for the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360® and PlayStation®Store for PlayStation3.

And if that’s not enough – fans will want to fire up Rock Band 2’s online Battle of the Bands mode to participate in the STAR TREK Ultimate Battle. Bands of three to four players can battle the Rock Band galaxy. The band with the highest score will win a STAR TREK hometown movie screening for their band and their friends. Additionally, twenty randomly selected players will win an awesome STAR TREK/Rock Band prize pack equipped with STAR TREK and Rock Band gear. The Battle of the Bands component will begin on April 20^th and run through April 27^th.

The Rock Band and STAR TREK promotion will culminate when the first-ever avatar creation contest launches on April 27^th. Fans will be asked to create a futuristic avatar in-game and export it to RockBand.com for the community and Harmonix team to judge the winner. The Duke of Gravity will ultimately decide which avatar has what it takes to rock with the Enterprise crew. The winner will be chosen on May 11^th and win "The Future is Now" prize pack including the top of the line Rock Band game accessories.

For more information on Rock Band and STAR TREK’s collaboration, visit www.ROCKBAND.com/StarTrek.

STAR TREK opens in theatres worldwide on Friday, May 8^th.

About STAR TREK

From director/producer J.J. Abrams (“MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III,” “Fringe,” “Lost” and “Alias”), producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Jeffrey Chernov and screenwriters/executive producers Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (“TRANSFORMERS,” “MI: III”), comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, STAR TREK, featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no one has gone before. Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment Present a Bad Robot Production STAR TREK starring John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy, and based upon “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry. The film’s director of photography is Dan Mindel, ASC; the production designer is Scott Chambliss; the film is edited by Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E.; the costume designer is Michael Kaplan; the visual effects and animation are by Industrial Light & Magic; and the music is by Michael Giacchino. This film has not yet been rated.

About Rock Band

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo. Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 570 songs available through the Rock Band Music Store and 36 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

###

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Worldwide Television Distribution.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

About MTV Games

MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit: www.harmonixmusic.com .

© 2009 Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a MTV Networks company. Rock Band developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. MTV: Music Television, MTV Games and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. Microsoft, Xbox. Xbox 360 and Xbox Live are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo, and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Star Trek sneak peak at Trailer #3

2009-03-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Check out this exclusive sneak peak at the new Star Trek trailer airing tonight!

New Star Trek trailer breaks records

2009-03-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

New Trailer for J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” Breaks All Existing Records With Over 1.8 Million Downloads During First 24 Hours on Apple.com

New Trailer for J.J. Abrams Star Trek Breaks All Existing Records with Over 1.8 Million Downloads During First 24 Hours on Apple.com

Trailer Also Breaks Weekly Download Record With Over Five Million Downloads Since Exclusive Debut on Apple.com/trailers on March 6th

Los Angeles, CA March 11, 2009 – The new trailer for J.J. Abrams Star Trek had more than 1.8 million downloads during its first 24 hours on Apple.com and has gone on to become the most popular HD download ever on the site with more than five million downloads in its first five days. The trailer made its exclusive debut on Apple.com/trailers on March 6th giving fans a sneak peak of this summer’s highly anticipated Star Trek for viewing on their Mac or PC, iPhone or iPod with video.

From J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III, Fringe, Lost and Alias), producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Jeffrey Chernov and screenwriters and executive producers Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (TRANSFORMERS, MI: III) comes a new vision of the greatest adventure of all time, Star Trek, featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no one has gone
before. Star Trek opens nationally on May 8, 2009.

Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment Present a Bad Robot Production Star Trek starring John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zo Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams (Mission Impossible III, Lost, Alias), written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (MI: III, Transformers).

Based upon Star Trek Created by Gene Roddenberry. The film is produced by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. The executive producers are Bryan Burk, Jeffrey Chernov, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. The director of photography is Dan Mindel, ASC. The production designer is Scott Chambliss. The film is edited by Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. The costume designer is Michael Kaplan. The visual effects & animation are by Industrial Light and Magic. The music is by Michael Giacchino. This film has not yet been rated.

###

New Star Trek Trailer for Super Bowl

2009-02-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

Here is the new Star Trek tv spot that aired during the Super Bowl.

"Slumdog Millionaire" is Top Dog at Golden Globes

2009-01-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

"Slumdog Millionaire" topped the heap with four Golden Globe awards on Sunday making it the current favor for the Academy Awards in February.

The picture, a Bombay-based love story about a kid from slums who wins a fortune on a reality game show, won the best drama award, best director (Danny Boyle), best screenwriter( Simon Beaufoy) and best composer (A.R. Rahman).

Jan 12 - "Slumdog Millionaire" won four coveted Golden Globe awards on Sunday (11 January), boosting its chances at the Oscars in February.

guardian.co.uk 'Slumdog Millionaire' is the top dog
Los Angeles Times, CA - 11 hours ago
By winning trophies for best dramatic picture, director, screenplay and score, "Slumdog Millionaire" cemented its place as the awards season's most beloved ...
‘Slumdog Millionaire’: A Triumph For South Asians Everywhere MTV.com
'Slumdog Millionaire,' Kate Winslet Earn Golden Globes Voice of America

New Star Trek Movie Props on Display at this year’s CES Convention in Las Vegas!

2009-01-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY · 7 JANUARY · 2009

New Star Trek Movie Props on Display at this year’s CES Convention in Las Vegas!

Lenovo, one of the marketing partners on STAR TREK, will be displaying three original props from the upcoming feature film at this years CES Convention in Las Vegas. Included in this display are Kirk’s Communicator, Uhura’s Communications Unit and Bones’ Medical Tricorder.

Visitors can view these props in front of the AquaKnox restaurant at the Venetian Hotel starting tonight at 6pm (Wednesday, January 7th) through midnight (12am) on Friday, January 9th.

Star Trek to release at IMAX theatres

2008-12-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a press release from IMAX and Paramount announcing that the new "Star Trek" film will be released simultaneously in a limited number of IMSX theaters on May 8, 2009.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES’ STAR TREK TO BE RELEASED AS IMAX® MOVIE MAY 8, 2009

Category: News

J.J. Abrams Vision of the Greatest Space Adventure of All Time to Run in Select IMAX Theatres

LOS ANGELES, CA, December 12, 2008 Paramount Pictures and IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that Star Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III, “Lost” and “Alias), will be simultaneously released to both IMAX and conventional theatres worldwide on May 8, 2009. Star Trek, which chronicles the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members, will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Paramount Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theatres worldwide.

Star Trek is one of the worlds most successful science fiction entertainment series and media franchises. Created by Gene Roddenberry, the Star Trek phenomenon has lead to six television series, ten feature films, dozens of computer and video games, hundreds of novels and fan stories, as well as a themed attraction in Las Vegas. Star Trek has also inspired a following of millions of Trekkies of all ages that span across the globe.

Were excited to share the enhanced IMAX version of this film with the millions of dedicated fans who have been anticipating this release since production began, said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman, Paramount Pictures. The IMAX Experience adds that extra level of excitement to an already action-packed film, giving moviegoers a premium event at the multiplex.

Added J.J. Abrams, Im thrilled that audiences will be able to experience this new, epic world of Star Trek with an incredible cast and mind-blowing visual effects on what is, obviously, the most remarkable film format in the world.

Star Trek combines top Hollywood story-telling talent with space exploration, and each is very conducive to The IMAX Experience, said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. Expanding our relationship with Paramount Pictures to include this film strengthens our 2009 slate, and with the continuing rollout of digital IMAX theatre systems, we will be able to offer the fan-base more locations to experience the epic first journey of the USS Enterprise in the most immersive way.

Both Star Trek and IMAX have taken audiences to far away places they would normally not be able to go, and in this case, its space the final frontier, added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. J.J. Abrams has created a powerful movie that has fans worldwide feverishly anticipating its release. We are thrilled to partner with Paramount Pictures to bring J.J.S exciting vision of this incredible space adventure to IMAX screens.

From director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci (“Transformers,” “MI: III”) comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, “Star Trek,” featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before. Star Trek explores the early Starfleet careers of future Enterprise officers Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Amanda Grayson (Winona Ryder), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), McCoy (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekhov (Anton Yelchin). A Romulan, Nero (Eric Bana), and a much older Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are influences, as well as Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood), the first captain of the USS Enterprise.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the worlds leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in immersive motion picture technologies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the worlds best movie presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX DMR, technology. IMAX DMR is the Companys groundbreaking digital re-mastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. IMAXs renowned projectors display crystal-clear images on the worlds biggest screens, and the IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2008, there were 320 IMAX theatres operating in 42 countries.

IMAX, IMAX 3D, IMAX DMR, IMAX, MPX, and The IMAX Experience are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com.

Slumdog Millionaire picks up 4 Golden Glove nominations

2008-12-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

"Slumdog Millionaire" garnered four Golden Globe nominations including best picture -- an extraordinary feat for a movie that has had only a very limited release.

Actors Dev Patel (L) and Anil Kapoor are shown in a scene from director Danny Boyle's film "Slumdog Millionaire" in this undated publicity photograph. The film received a Golden Globe nomination as best motion picture drama as nominations were announced in Beverly Hills December 11, 2008. The Golden Globe Awards, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will be held January 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills. REUTERS/Ishika Mohan/Fox Searchlight/Handout

Thu Dec 11, 9:12 AM ET

The movie was destined for video when it was purchased by Fox Searchlight and shown in select theaters.

A windfall for 'Slumdog Millionaire'
Los Angeles Times, CA - 2 hours ago
By John Horn For a movie that once looked like it might never make it into theaters, "Slumdog Millionaire" continued its remarkable ascendancy Thursday, ...

Trio at top of Golden Globes film noms Hollywood Reporter
Slumdog nominated for best film at Golden Globes Daily News & Analysis

"Slumdog Millionaire" wins pre-Oscar award

2008-12-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

"Slumdog Millionaire" won best film in New York from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, one of the indicators of favorites for the Academy Awards in February.

The plot revolves around a young man from the slums of Mumbai who enters a game show to attract his love interest's attention.

The Fox Searchlight film is directed by Danny Boyle and stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto.

Official trailer for Slumdog Millionaire

Inside Slumdog: Up close with Dev Patel

Director Danny Boyle on destiny in Slumdog Millionaire

BBC News
'Slumdog Millionaire' gets pre-Oscars award
AFP - 56 minutes ago
NEW YORK (AFP) — "Slumdog Millionaire" won Oscars momentum Thursday with a best film award in New York from the National Board of Review. ...
National Board: `Slumdog' is 2008's best film The Associated Press
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Takes National Board of Review Best Film Kudos RopeofSilicon.com
Slumdog Millionaire : fete of the fests Times of India

Columbia, Motown to remake "The Last Dragon"

2008-11-30T05:55:00.000-08:00

A remake of the 1980s Motown kung fu classic "The Last Dragon" is in the works with Samuel L. Jackson playing the role of bad guy Sho'nuff.

Kerry Gordy, son of the original producer, Berry Gordy, will share production duties with RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan and John Davis (1984). Dallas Jackson will write the screenplay, which will follow the plot of the first movie with modifications to appeal to today's young audience.

Columbia Pictures and Motown Entertainment are co-producing the remake.

Clip from the original "The Last Dragon"

New Star Trek posters: Uhura and Nero

2008-11-22T07:10:00.000-08:00

New posters released for the Star Trek prequel.

Uhura played by Zoe Saldana.

Nero, a Romulan villain played by Eric Bana.

Amazon.com Widgets

New tv spot for Star Trek prequel

2008-11-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

Check out the new TV spot for the Star Trek movie due out in May 2009.

Amazon.com Widgets

John Cho cast as Sulu in new Star Trek prequel

2008-11-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

"Harold and Kumar" star John Cho has a big spot in the eagerly-awaited Star Trek prequel due for release in May 2009.

In fact, Cho who plays the role of Sulu in the movie has lead credits in the new trailer that has been released with the Bond flick "Quantum of Solace."

Star Trek traces the early years of the original series characters who face a Romulan threat.

The Star Trek franchise has long been noted for its diverse casting and progressive portrayal of different races, women and "aliens" in the future. Although some stereotypes exist, particularly in the earlier series and movies, it was often ahead of the rest of the industry on this issue.

Crew member of the new Star Trek prequel including John Cho as Sulu (second from right). Chris Pine plays Capt. Kirk and Zoë Saldana is cast as Lt. Uhura.

The new bridge of the Enterprise. Zachary Quinto, of "Heroes" fame plays Spock.

J.J. Abrams, who recently directed "Cloverfield," was at the helm for the new Trek film.

Hyphen Magazine
New Star Trek Trailer Offers Just a Glimpse of John Cho
Hyphen Magazine, CA - Nov 17, 2008
John Cho takes on the role of Sulu in the new Star Trek, which has has been lauded over the years as a forward-thinking show that had diverse casts ...
Star Trek trailer is released - first contact is a smashing success. Film Threat

Amazon.com Widgets

Japan Prime Minister attends Tokyo film fest

2008-10-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso appeared at the Tokyo International Film Festival on Saturday.

Fifteen films will screen in the competition section for the coveted Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix. A green carpet welcome highlighted an environmental theme for the festival this year.

Sat Oct 18, 11:42 AM ET. US actor Jon Voight, head of the board of judges, and other judges including Japanese actress Fumi Dan (L) attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival. The nine-day festival opened with an environmental theme as filmmakers from around the world greeted Japanese movie fans on a ceremonial "green carpet. "(AFP/Toshifumi Kitamura)

Sat Oct 18, 7:35 AM ET
Chinese-born film director John Woo, center, speaks as Hong Kong actor Tony Leung , right, and Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro listen during the opening event of the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival Saturday, Oct. 18. 2008 in Tokyo.

(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

The festival opened with "Red Cliff," a Chinese epic directed by John Woo and will close with Pixar's animated entry "Wall-E."

Reuters

Tokyo film fest looks for spotlight

Report

Bollywood comes to Hollywood in "Kambakht Ishq"

2008-10-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Sajid Nadiadwala is filming the Bollywood film Kambakht Ishq on location at the beach in Venice, California.

The film has signed on Hollywood stars including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Superman Returns star Brandon Routh, and Bond girl Denise Richards for appearances in the film.

Buzz18 India
Akshay teaches ‘Superman’ to fly
Times of India, India - Oct 3, 2008
It’s amazing, for a film with a name like Kambakht Ishq, he’s packed it with some of the biggest action stars in the business. ...
Superman in Bollywood? Buzz18 India

NDTV.com
Stallone to be at Kambakht Ishq's premiere
NDTV.com, India - Oct 10, 2008
Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has hit it off so well with Sylvester Stallone while shooting for Kambakht Ishq that he has convinced the Rocky star to attend the ...

Indian actors Kareena Kapoor (C) and Akshay Kumar (white shirt) perform during the filming of the Bollywood production "Kambakht Ishq" in Venice October 10, 2008. Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been signed for the Hindi film, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Denise Richards. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri (ITALY)
Actors perform during the filming of the Bollywood production "Kambakht Ishq" in Venice October 10, 2008. Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been signed for the Hindi film, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Denise Richards. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri (ITALY)
Indian actors Kareena Kapoor (C) and Akshay Kumar (L) perform during the filming of the Bollywood production "Kambakht Ishq" in Venice October 10, 2008. Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been signed for the Hindi film, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Denise Richards. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri (ITALY)
Indian actors Kareena Kapoor (2nd R) and Akshay Kumar (C) perform during the filming of the Bollywood production "Kambakht Ishq" in Venice October 10, 2008. Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been signed for the Hindi film, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Denise Richards. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri (ITALY)
Indian actress Kareena Kapoor (L) performs during the filming of the Bollywood production "Kambakht Ishq" in Venice October 10, 2008. Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone has been signed for the Hindi film, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Denise Richards. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri (ITALY)

US missile kills 21 -- Pakistan

2008-10-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

Pakistan said a U.S. missile struck within its borders killing 21 people including 16 foreigners.

Tribesmen near the border with Afghanistan claimed to have fired at two NATO "gunships" on Friday, and to have downed two US drones on Thursday. There was no independent confirmation of these claims. Some tribal groups along the border have set up anti-aircraft artillery along the border to guard against NATO incursions.

Washington Post
US missile strike kills 21 - Pakistani TV report
Reuters India, India - 4 hours ago
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A US missile strike in a Pakistani tribal region known as a haven for Taliban and al Qaeda fighters killed up to 21 people, ...
Missile strike in Pakistan kills five: officials Hindustan Times
Pakistan military says US strike was in Afghanistan Reuters South Africa
US missile attack in Pakistan kills at least nine Reuters Canada

Map of Pakistan locating North Waziristan, where a missile strike by suspected US spy drone killed at least four people, according to security officials Wednesday. (AFP)

Ang Lee to direct Woodstock comedy

2008-10-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

Director Ang Lee's will film a new comedy centered around the Woodstock concert according to Hollywood sources.

The film will be based on the book "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life," by Elliot Tiber, who played a key role in organizing the huge concert.

MTV.com
Ang Lee ‘Woodstock’ Film Aims To Be A Mind-Altering Experience
MTV.com - Sep 24, 2008
... Hidden Dragon” and “Brokeback Mountain,” so it’s even more impressive when you think about the fact that Ang Lee’s next flick is about Woodstock.

Exclusive: Clip from "The Rebel"

2008-09-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

Here's an exclusive clip from "The Rebel" (read review here).

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Review: "The Rebel"

2008-09-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

The film "The Rebel" available on DVD starting on Sept. 30 is the highest grossing Vietnamese film ever, and it does deliver quality action and drama-packed entertainment.

Released by Genius Products and The Weinstein Company, The Rebel follows the encounter and eventual pairing of two characters from different sides of the fight against French colonization in Vietnam.

Johnny Nguyen does a good job in the male lead role were he is pitted against Dustin Nguyen who steals the show with an excellent portrayal of a hardened, ruthless Vietnamese agent working for the French colonial government. The three main characters all share the same fate of having mothers who suffered harshly as a result of colonization.

Actress Ngo Thanh Van plays the daughter of the rebel commander who is herself an insurgent and is particularly riveting early in the film.

The martial arts action in this flick is top quality with a lot of unique moves not seen in typical kung fu films of Chinese origin. All three lead roles do well in the fight scenes, and in the many blazing gun battles.

Some of the camera work highlights well the lush landscape of Vietnam particularly when the action moves out into the rebel strongholds in the rain forest.

For those that like actions movies, there is plenty here mixed in with good drama, suspense and some food for thought. It may be a bit to gory for those turned off by violent scenes though. What is particularly interesting about the story line is how the thought processes of those Vietnamese who collaborated with the French is examined. In one case, a Francophile eager to emulate French progress and invested by his father with a deep respect for law and order, becomes enlightened by the iniquities of the colonizers. In another, collaboration is simply a means of replacing the oppressor by adopting an even more ruthless approach.

The two disc DVD includes commentary by the three lead actors and Asian cinema expert Bey Logan on the first disc along with the film itself. On the second disc, are exclusive interviews with Johnny Nguyen, Veronica Ngo and Dustin Nguyen. Also included on this disc are a martial arts demo by Johnny, a deleted scene, a documentary on the making of the film and a behind-the-scenes gallery.

Synopsis:

Set in Vietnam in the 1920s, anti-French rebels band together to fight an epic battle against foreign occupation.

Special Features:

· Commentary By Stars Johnny Tri Nguyen, Veronica Ngo, Dustin Nguyen & Asian Cinema Expert Bey Logan

· Empty Hand, Noble Heart: An Exclusive Interview With Leading Man Johnny Tri Nguyen

· Cry For Freedom: An Exclusive Interview With Leading Lady Veronica Ngo

· The Dark Destroyer: An Exclusive Interview With Leading Protagonist Dustin Nguyen

· One Man Army: A Martial Arts Demonstration By Johnny Nguyen

· Iron Jacket: A Deleted Scene From The Preview Cut Of The Rebel

· The Rebel: An Original Making Of Featurette

· Behind-The-Scenes Gallery

· Trailer Gallery

Basics

Price: $24.95

Street Date: September 30, 2008

Pre-book: August 19, 2008

Catalog Number: 81282

Rating: R

Run Time: 103 minutes

Languages: English Dolby 5.1, and Vietnamese Dolby 5.1, Vietnamese DTS

Subtitles: English and Spanish

Closed Captioned

"The Rebel" set for DVD release

2008-09-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

"The Rebel," the highest-grossing Vietnamese film ever is set for release on DVD on Sept. 30.

Here's the official press release.

“A highly entertaining mix of martial arts and historical drama”

- Variety

SANTA MONICA, CA – Suspense, romance and action ignite when the Vietnamese box office smash THE REBEL charges onto 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION DVD
September 30^th from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company under the Dragon Dynasty label. Celebrated as the highest grossing Vietnamese film ever made,
THE REBEL stars contemporary Asian superstars Johnny Nguyen (The Protector), Dustin Nguyen (“21 Jump Street,” Finishing the Game) and Vietnamese pop star/actress Ngo Thanh Van. Set in Vietnam in the 1920s during the long-standing French colonization, rebel forces emerge to disrupt the foreign control as the French employ elite Vietnamese agents to destroy them. “So badass it hurts…but it hurts so good,” (Film Threat), THE REBEL is “an achievement of martial arts ability anchored in an intriguing tale of politics, power and betrayal” (Pop Journalism). THE REBEL
2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION DVD includes extensive and exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus features (see below for details) and will be available for the suggested retail price of $24.95.

Box art and stills from The Rebel, which will be available with both English and Spanish subtitles. A review is forthcoming.

Asians flourish at Venice Film Festival

2008-08-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Five of the 21 films in the Venice film festival are from Asia this year.

The group is led by Japanese director Takeshi Kitano's "Achilles and the Tortoise," in which Kitano himself plays the lead role of an fame-aspiring artist.

Last year, Chinese director Ang Lee won the top Golden Lion award for "Lust, Caution," repeating a performance from two years earlier when he also won the top prize for "Brokeback Mountain."

guardian.co.uk

Asia on the march at Venice film festival
AFP - 3 hours ago
VENICE, Italy (AFP) — An inscrutable geisha, a diehard triad, an eccentric Japanese artist -- they are all here at the Venice film festival, ...

Kitano examines cruel art in Venice entry The Associated Press
New Japanese Film Lampoons "Cruel" Art World ARTINFO
Kitano takes oddball look at world of art Reuters

Woo's "Red Cliff" opens strong in Asia

2008-07-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

John Woo's new film "Red Cliff" is playing in theaters across Asia in the first film to recreate the famous Battle of Chibi in 208 A.D. China.

The 140-minute epic will be released in a shortened version in the West.

Costing $80 million, the film spectacular is the most expensive ever for a Chinese language movie.

Tue Jul 8, 3:29 AM ET

From Left to Right, Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro, Hong Kong director John Woo, Taiwanese actor Chang Chen, Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling, and Hong Kong actor Tony Leung pose for photographs during a press conference for their new film 'Red Cliff' in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, July 8, 2008.

(AP Photo/Wally Santana)

"Love Story 2050": Bollywood in sci-fi

2008-07-04T13:12:00.001-07:00

The $12 million flick "Love Story 2050" will be India's "first real sci-fi film" according to its director.

Although frequently sourced for animation and special effects, India has long preferred melodramas to science fiction action. The new movie starring Priyanka Chopra will feature androids and flying cars.

IBNLive.com
Bollywood goes sci-fi with 'Love Story 2050'
Reuters India, India - 1 hour ago
By Shilpa Jamkhandikar MUMBAI (Reuters) - A new Bollywood romance based on the premise of time travel is being seen as the Indian film industry's first ...
Bollywood movie, but SA the real star Advertiser Adelaide
Bollywood can't do without 'love'! Rediff
Priyanka is a complete romantic Oneindia