Jade Dumpling

The Messengers

2006-10-12T18:17:00.000-04:00

"The Messengers" is a horror tale that follows the lives of a family moving into a run-down sunflower farm. As the farm begins to revive after years of disrepair, the family begins to notice uncomfortable and alarming changes in their father's behavior.

This is a Sam Raimi produced film, directed by the Pang Brothers (The Eye, Re-Cycle). This will be Pang bros first English language film. There were some controversy during filming as well. Apparently Raimi was not happy with some of Pang Bros shots and hired Eduardo Rodriguez to reshoot parts of the film. The messengers is due out feb 07.

Le Concile De Pierre

2006-10-12T17:57:00.000-04:00

This is a new Monica Bellucci and Catherine Deneuve french thriller. Bellucci stars as the adoptive mother of Liu-San, a Chinese boy she has raised from infancy. She knows virtually nothing of his true origins which is, of course, the signal for Bad Things to start happening.

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Grind House

2006-10-12T17:41:00.000-04:00

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are each directing a 60-minute horror tale. Rodriguez's part, Planet Terror, will be a zombie movie, while Tarantino's section, Death Proof, will a slasher film. Faux trailers and ads will run between the two pics as an intermission. The films will star Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Marley Shelton, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Naveen Andrews, Michael Biehn, Stacy Ferguson, Jeff Fahey and Michael Parks.

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Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

2006-09-29T12:23:00.000-04:00

As an avid photographer myself, I am very intrigued at this upcoming Diane Arbus biopic. Arbus is considered one of the greatest American photographers of the 20th century, known for creating images that were often bizarre or disturbing. She committed suicide in 1971. The film is directed by Steven Shainberg (Secretary), and features Nicole Kidman as Arbus. Scheduled to release Nov 06.

Website: http://www.furmovie.com/

Occult

2006-09-28T02:33:00.000-04:00

After making Sin City, Rosario Dawson has been inspired to create her own Comic Series - O.C.T. - Occult Crime Taskforce. And now it will be made into a feature, starring non other than Dawson herself.

A Gotham police detective who, after stumbling upon a gruesome and bizarre crime scene, is enlisted for a covert squad that uses black arts and mystical weaponry to hunt down and kill soul-sucking ghouls.

Restless

2006-09-28T02:25:00.000-04:00

Its hard not to get a little excited w. a poster like this.

In Buddhism, it is believed that when the body dies, the soul does not immediately depart. Instead it hovers between worlds undergoing several stages which in most cases lead to rebirth. "Restless" is a fantasy/martial arts melodrama focusing on the 49 days between death and the next world. Due to release this winter in Korea.

Little Children

2006-09-14T17:46:00.000-04:00

A sophmore effort from director Todd Fields, comes "Little Children" based on an acclaimed novel. Little Children centers on a group of young marrieds, whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways. Jennifer Connely, Kate Winslet, & Patrick Wilson heads the cast of this film.

Website & Trailer: http://www.littlechildrenmovie.com/

30 Days of Night

2006-09-13T17:50:00.000-04:00

David Slade's (Hard Candy) next project; a vampire movie based on the horror comic "30 Days of Night." The film will be produced by Sam Raimi. Definitely on my "must see' list for next year.

This is the story of an isolated Alaskan town that is plunged into darkness for a month each year when the sun sinks below the horizon. As the last rays of light fade, the town is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires bent on an uninterrupted orgy of destruction. Only the small town's husband-and-wife Sheriff team stand between the survivors and certain destruction.

Website: production diaries available
http://ghosthousepictures.comingsoon.net/news_article.php?articleid=35

Raimi also recently finished production on another supernatural thriller called "Rise" ; in which a female reporter wakes up in a morgue to find herself a member of the undead. She vows revenge against the sect that put her there and hunts them down. Lucy Liu heads the list of main casts. Will keep an eye on this as well but am not as excited about it as 30 Days.

Website: http://ghosthousepictures.comingsoon.net/films_rise.php

All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

2006-09-13T17:04:00.000-04:00

This new indie horror film goes against the "mallrat stereotype" and instead exposes the real life fears of today's teens. The Weinsteins "Dimension Films" has purchased rights to release the film.

The unattainable Mandy Lane is the most sought-after girl in school. Reclusive and anti-social by choice, Mandy is forced to entertain irritating adolescent advances while attending a weekend excursion with her classmates. But just when she thinks that these pathetic come-ons will be the worst of it, Mandy discovers she is horrifyingly mistaken. As her peers begin getting killed off one by one, it becomes clear that a secret admirer is harbouring some seriously terrifying ulterior motives.

Website: N/A

Cashback

2006-09-13T16:47:00.000-04:00

Originally a short film, it was recently made to a feature length film. The movie takes on a Jeunet style visual, and has been well received at TIFF.

When art student Ben Willis is dumped by his girlfriend Suzy, he develops insomnia. To pass the long hours of the night, he starts working the late night shift at the local supermarket. There he meets a colorful cast of characters, all of whom have their own `art' in dealing with the boredom of an eight-hour-shift. Ben's art is that he imagines himself stopping time. This way, he can appreciate the artistic beauty of the frozen world and the people inside it - especially Sharon, the quiet checkout girl, who perhaps holds the answer to solving the problem of Ben's insomnia.

Website: N/A.

Baober In Love

2006-09-05T02:19:00.000-04:00

I just got a chance to see Baober this weekend. A very vibrant & inventive film, though not without flaws. It has an "Amelie" feel to it, stylish cam tricks, and rich colors. The story on the other hand could use some work. The film starts at a fast pace then slows to a crawl and loses steam. I do however, applaud the effort put into the film, especially a film coming out of mainland china.

Baober is a beautiful young girl, who is slowly falling apart. She is trying to cope with childhood traumas and hoping for a passionate, romantic future. Liu also dreams of love and is bored with his materialistic life. To relieve boredom he confesses his dreams and uneasiness to his video camera. Baobar finds his video tape and falls for him. She wins his love, and the move in together in an old abandoned factory building. Can Baobar forget her traumas, will they stay in love and live happily ever after?

Recommended: 7/10

El Aura

2006-09-05T01:21:00.000-04:00

This is one stylish & beautifully shot noir thriller from Argentina. A great contribution from director Fabian Bielinsky. A quiet, cynic taxidermist, who suffers epilepsy attacks, is obsessed with committing the perfect crime. He claims that the cops are too stupid to find out about it when it's well executed, and that the robbers are too stupid to execute it the right way; and that he could do it himself relying on his photographic memory and his strategic planning skills. After he is invited on a hunting trip away from his home, an accident gives him the chance of his life: the possibility to commit the perfect crime he has been waiting for.

Highly recommended: 8/10

Website: http://www.uol.com.ar/buenavista/elaura/indexf.htm

Babel

2006-08-31T02:05:00.000-04:00

This film won multiple awards at the recent Cannes festival and has generated alot of positive buzz. I thoroughly enjoyed Alejandro González Iñárritu's "21 Grams", I am looking forward to seeing his latest work. Definitely on my "must see" list for this year.

Two Morrocan boys set out to look after their family's herd of goats. In the silent echoes of the desert, they decide to test a rifle... but the bullet goes farther than they thought it would. In an instant, the lives of four separate groups of strangers on three different continents collide. Caught up in the rising tide of an accident that escalates beyond anyone's control are a vacationing American couple (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett), a rebellious deaf Japanese teenager and her father, and a Mexican nanny who, without permission, takes two American children across the border. None of these strangers will ever meet; in spite of the sudden, unlikely connection between them, they will all remain isolated due to their own inability to communicate meaningfully with anyone around them.

Website & Trailer: http://www.paramountvantage.com/babel/

Calvaire

2006-08-31T01:46:00.000-04:00

This survival horror film comes to us from Belgium. From watching the trailer, it looks like the film has alot of similar elements to some of the more recent horror films in this genre, Wolf Creek & Texas Chainsaw comes to mind. I just hope this film fares better.

Marc Stevens’ world goes profoundly and utterly wrong. When his car breaks down in the middle of the isolated backcountry, he’s forced to seek refuge in a rural inn. Marc is taken in by Bartel, a lonely and psychologically fragile innkeeper who promises to help. But when Marc catches him dismantling his car, he realizes that the innkeeper has other plans for him.

view trailer

Curse of the Golden Flower

2006-08-30T13:21:00.000-04:00

First trailer of Curse of the Golden Flower showned on Sony website. Sony Picture Classic had recently acquired N. American rights to Zhang Yimou's next martial arts epic. Formely known as "City of Golder Armor"; Curse of the Golden Flower is a martial arts drama about an ill-fated romance between an imperial bodyguard and a prince who takes the lovers on a dangerous journey where royal family secrets are revealed. It stars: Chow Yun Fat, & Gong Li and is directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero & House of Flying Daggers). Its due release in the US Dec '06.

View Trailer
http://www.sonyclassics.com/curseofthegoldenflower/

Mushishi

2006-08-23T18:23:00.000-04:00

This is a live adaptation of the popular anime Mushishi. Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (of Akira). A story about a man who wanders around Japan capturing mushi - strange, almost protozoan supernatural creatures - and curing different illnesses that they can cause. Mushishi will show at this year's Venice Film Festival.

Jade Soturi

2006-08-23T17:53:00.000-04:00

A combination of Chinese & Finnish mythology in one film.

Thousands of years ago in ancient China, a love struck swordhero fights againest destiny. He wanted another chance to be reunited with his loved one and he got that chance, in a far away place and a far away time, in the cold north, in modern Finland.

view trailer

Kung Fu Fighting - Round Up

2006-08-02T17:14:00.000-04:00

A few recent Martial Arts film thats worth a look:

Tom Yum Goong: The High Octane Raw Martial Arts style of Tony Jaa is superb & extremely entertaining. Due to release in the US under "The Protector".

Banlieu 13 aka District B13: from Luc Besson who brought you Transporter 2 & Unleashed, comes one leaping & action filled of a movie.

Sha Po Lang: If you're a martial arts fan, you can't miss this one. As veteran Donnie Yen & Sammo Hung try kick each others ass in this cop thriller. Due to release in the US under the name of "Kill Zone".

The Shadowless Sword: By far the best martial art film to come out of Korea so far. The story is not to die for, but the highly stylized fight scenes will keep you entertained.

Shinobi: Beautifully shot martial arts love story, based on the video game "Shinobi".

Fearless: see my review here

Naboer

2006-08-02T16:21:00.000-04:00

Aka "Next Door". Was well received at the Philadelphia Film Festival. A dark journey through sexual obsession & paranoia. The trailer looks exquisite.

John (Joner) has just been dumped by his girlfriend (Bache-Wigg) when he meets the two young, sexy and very friendly girls (Mosli, Schacht) who live next door. He is invited into their apartment and finds it harder and harder to leave. Perhaps it is impossible?

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His Dark Materials - The Golden Compass

2006-07-31T18:11:00.000-04:00

This is the first installment of author Philip Pullman's best-selling "His Dark Materials" trilogy. The movie has a 150million dollar budget and will begin shooting this Sep '06. Nicole Kidman is in final talks to join onboard.

"The Golden Compass"

Lyra Belaqua, living in Oxford's Jordan College, is not but a young girl living among scholars. Her world may seem diverse, from physical embodiments of souls that take the shape of an animal, but similar with people around you to become friends and enemies. She is thrown into a perilous adventure when she overhears a conversation of an extraordinary microscopic particle, Dust. This particle is said to unite different worlds, and is feared by many who want to destroy it forever. As Lyra is flung into the middle of this horrible struggle, she meets wondrous creatures both big and small, and villains who are not what they seem. Gobblers, that kidnap children, will turn out in the most unexpected places. And a magical compass of gold that will answer any question if one is skilled enough to read it. Lyra's adventure continues throughout these three books, and the first is about to be told.

Benighted

2006-07-31T15:28:00.000-04:00

It is a world much like our own, with one deadly difference: ninety-nine percent of the population is lycanthropic. When the full moon rises, humans transform into lunes, bloodthirsty beasts who cannot be reasoned with or tamed. Those few born unable to change are disparagingly known as barebacks, and live as victims of prejudice and oppression. All too often, they are targets of savage mauling and death by lunes who break the law to roam free on full-moon nights.

Andrew Adamson of Chronicles of Narnia has been hired to direct this Werewolf epic.

The Sword Bearer

2006-07-31T15:12:00.000-04:00

The Russians are coming. They're really catching up quick, at least in the movie special effects dept. Releasing visual delights such as Night Watch, Day Watch. And now a new sci fi action thriller "The Sword Bearer." The trailer looks great.

View trailer

Alice

2006-07-28T18:08:00.000-04:00

A strangely familiar, yet utterly wicked tale. Its the darker video game version of Alice in Wonderland that will be made into film. Sarah Michelle Gellar set to play Alice.

Years after her first experience in Wonderland, Alice (Gellar), now a disturbed young woman mourning the death of her parents, returns to the land of talking animals and the wicked Queen of Hearts.

This film is in pre production. Release TBA 2007

The Other Side

2006-07-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

Keep an eye on this one. Received great reviews recently at the Atlanta Film Festival.

A fast-paced supernatural thriller about Samuel North (Nathan Mobley), who has just been murdered and sent to Hell. There, in "the Pit", two other damned souls on the run help Samuel escape back to the world of the living to be reunited with the girl he loves. But now, Samuel has Hell to pay: the Netherworld has sent 3 Reapers (invincible bounty hunters from Hades) to hunt and kill each of the escaped men. Samuel must solve his own murder and fight for his soul's redemption in order to escape "The Other Side".

Spiderwick Chronicles

2006-07-26T18:11:00.000-04:00

Shooting to begin this fall for the film adaptation of Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's novel "Spiderwick Chronicles". Freddie Highmore of Finding Neverland & Charlie & the Chocolate factory will be part of the main cast.

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves sucked into a dark fairy tale world, full of faeries and other creatures.

The Darkness

2006-07-26T17:21:00.000-04:00

Popular Top Cow comic book "The Darkness" has been greenlit to be made into a feature film. The Pang Brother's (The Eye, & most recently Re-Cycle) will direct the movie. A video game version of this comic is also set to release with the next gen video game consoles. In "The Darkness," mafia hitman Jackie Estacado discovers he is the heir to a formidable mystical force called the Darkness and he is the only one who can stop a supernatural power bent on enslaving humanity. Look for this release early 2007.

Daybreakers

2006-07-25T22:24:00.000-04:00

And we are blessed with yet another Vampire feature. This time coming from down under Australia. The Spierig brothers of "Undead" has been chosen to direct this gem. Creature design will be created by the award winning Weta Workshop (LOTR). No word yet release schedule.. Can't wait!!

Vampirism has spread like a plague in ten short years and only 5% of the population remains human, an endangered species being hunted and farmed for their precious life-source. Two brothers, one who believes in the Vampire Cause, and the other who still mourns his lost humanity, are on opposing sides of the fight. The two must ultimately face-off in a deathly struggle that brings the key to saving the human race and salvation to a dying vampire population.

First concept art from "Day Breakers"

Moscow Zero

2006-07-25T21:24:00.000-04:00

A new psychological horror flick w. Val Kilmer & Vincent Gallow. Haven't heard too much about it, but it looks interesting. Kilmer plays the head of a group of Muscovites who live in the city's underground. Oksana Akinshina "who replaced Alicia Silverstone", plays Lyuba, another underground dweller; Gallo's character leads a rescue team in search of a Russian anthropologist who's disappeared beneath the underground system. They discover an eerie multilevel system of caves and catacombs. The $10 million psychological horror began shooting last December in Moscow, Spain and the UK.

view trailer at the main website; warning trailer 1 contains spoilers.
http://www.moscowzero.com/moscow.htm

300

2006-07-25T21:09:00.000-04:00

Based on the epic graphic novel by Frank Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy

Bunch of new production journals added to the 300 website.
http://300themovie.warnerbros.com/

The teaser trailer was recently shown at comic-con, and the concensus was that it kicked major ass. For the rest of us we'll have to wait a little while longer to view it, and it could be a while since the movie is not schedule to release til '07. In the meantime, enjoy these jawdropping posters.

Arsene Lupin

2006-07-21T18:21:00.000-04:00

I totally forgot about this little gem. The french came out with this cool feature a couple of year ago. Based on a french comic, "Arsene Lupin" is equivalent to let say a sherlock holmes figure. The movie does have major plot holes, but it is entertaining at the very least.

The Adventures Of Arsene Lupin sees the eponymous hero (Romain Duris) as a dashing jewel thief, liberating high society gals from their sparklers. Arsene has a jolly old time of it until he rescues femme fatale Josephine (Francophile Kristin Scott Thomas) from certain death. As a result, he's sucked into a sinister royalist plot to uncover hidden treasure and restore the French monarchy in what's an uneven, but gutsy adventure. There's also a hint of witchcraft to spice things up as Josephine weaves her feminine magic across Arsene's heart, binding him to her cause. It's then a race against time to uncover the three crucifixes that will reveal the location of the loot.

Currently this movie is only available in R3. If you're one of the lucky ones who have a video store that carries international movie, I strongly recommend you check this one out.

The Woods

2006-07-21T16:18:00.000-04:00

Still no word on release date for "The Woods". But I'm guessing it will probably be sometime in October. I would be very disappointed if this movie does not get released this year. The reason for the delay has been legal issues due to studio mergers & acquisition. Sony has picked up the rights for it now, and we're just waiting for the release.

Sypnosis: A psychological horror story that begins when a neglected teenager, named Heather, is dropped off by her parents at a remote all-girls boarding school deep in the forest. Watched over by sinister headmistress Ms. Traverse and her staff, Heather is tormented by her classmates and is desperate to go home. But when students start disappearing and she begins to have horrifying visions, Heather realizes that things at school are not quite what they seem. She only knows there's something out there in the woods--and it won't be letting her leave anytime soon.

View Trailer

Witch Hunters

2006-07-21T16:12:00.001-04:00

Variety reports that director Dave Meyers (The Hitcher) and writer Joe Ballarini have been hired to take on Witch Hunters for New Regency. Kopelson Entertainment will produce Witch Hunters, which the trade claims "is a Pirates of the Caribbean type pic set in the world of witchcraft and black magic." This movie is slated for a 2007 release.

Deadman

2006-07-21T15:42:00.000-04:00

Guillermo del Toro will develop the comic to film adaptation of the cult DC Comics superhero "Deadman". Deadman is the ghost of a circus acrobat named Boston Brand, who was murdered during a trapeze performance. His spirit was granted the power by a Hindu goddess to possess any living being in order to find his killer. In the ensuing search, Brand finds himself obliged to help others.

THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES

2006-07-21T15:32:00.000-04:00

I was awed to catch a glimpse of the imageries in “THE PIANO TUNER OF EARTHQUAKES”. Built as a poetic, sci fi. Due to premiere in the upcoming fantastic fest.

Sypnosis: On the eve of her wedding beautiful opera singer Malvina Van Stille (Amira Casar) is myster-iously killed and abducted away from her fiancé, a famous conductor, and taken to a fantasyisland ruled by the malevolent Dr Droz (Gottfried John).The piano tuner Filiberto (Sarachu) arrives to repair Droz’s strange collection of automata, hebears an uncanny resemblance to Malvina’s fiancé. Passions and memories are stirred in theliving dead Malvina and Filiberto tries to rescue her, but Droz has plans to include Filiberto in hisplans... and trap him within his perverse universe.

Hostel 2

2006-07-18T17:21:00.000-04:00

Yes, Lionsgate Film is set to release part deux this coming January. The sequel focuses on three girls who are studying in Italy for the summer and they get lured back to a lot of familiar places. It turns out that the Slovakian stopover is actually part of a chain and you'll see the ins and outs of the whole organization and how they get people and kill them. "Hostel 2" starts immediately where the first film left off.

Black Book

2006-07-18T17:08:00.000-04:00

Black Book aka Zwartboek is Paul Verhoeven's next project. Black Book is a war thriller set during the 1940s, is the story of a German Jewish girl who narrowly survives the war in Holland, but in the last days of the hostilities has to discover who betrayed her family. I haven't heard too much else about it, but I am intrigued to check this out when it comes out. Release date expected later this year.

Nomad

2006-07-18T16:41:00.000-04:00

The Weinstein Brothers has acquired rights to this historical epic. The movie will be produced by Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) & Ram Bergman (Brick). Jason Scott Lee will head the cast of this feature.

Sypnosis: set in 18th-century Kazakhstan and tells the story of a boy who is destined to one day unite the three warring tribes of the country. Lee will star as a veteran soldier and master of martial arts who spends his life raising and teaching the destined leader Mansur to lead the Kazakhs to victory and independence.

Release date: TBA 2006/2007

Perfect Creature

2006-07-18T16:17:00.000-04:00

Yippie, another vampire movie. This time coming out of New Zealand. The big buzz is that the special effects will be created by the people who did a little movie a couple of years ago called "The Lord of the Rings".

Casting is in the works. Douglas Ray Scott is set to play the lead. Saffron Burrows & Jonathan Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point) are in talks for the co-lead & villain part.

Synopsis: In a world where humans and vampires co-exist, a human cop and vampire cop team up to stop a rogue vampire intent on starting a war between the two races. The pic portrays a world where vampires protect humans from viral and DNA mutants until one vampire begins to prey on humans.

Paris, je t'aime

2006-07-18T15:51:00.000-04:00

This feature is a colaboration of sort, underlining various styles of moviemaking. 20 filmmakers were invited create a 5min segment on the lifestyle and encounters of neighborhood Paris.

The director roster includes: Gus Van Sant, Tom Tykwer, Wes Craven, Christopher Doyle, Alexander Payne, The Coen Brothers, Walter Salles

The cast includes: Natalie Portman, Juliette Binoche, William Dafoe, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Steve Buschemi, Elijah Woods.

Release date: TBA 2006

The Fountain

2006-07-17T14:41:00.000-04:00

CHUD has a first review of Darren Aronofsky's "The Fountain". Click here to read the review. And it is a very good one indeed. Aronofsky's other notable works includes: "PI" & "Requiem for a Dream".

Sypnosis: Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world

Blood: The Last Vampire

2006-07-12T22:35:00.000-04:00

Variety has confirmed that Bill Kong, producer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero is set to produce a live action version of the anime feature “Blood: The Last Vampire.” The live action adaptation will be directed by Ronny Yu (Fearless) and it will be in English.

Sypnosis: Japan, 1966. Saya is part of a secret team destroying daemons. She is sent undercover as a student at the Yokota Air Base in Fussa-shi, Tokyo, just before Halloween. She discovers that two of her classmates are vampires in disguise just as they are preparing to attack the school nurse; meanwhile, her colleagues have discovered another vampire acting as a bartender in the local red-light district. A spectacular battle ensues.

This sounds promising. Pre Production starts this summer.

My Blueberry Nights

2006-07-12T18:23:00.000-04:00

And the list gets bigger for the cast of "My Blueberry Nights", Wong Kar Wai's upcoming project.
The roster includes: Norah Jones, Jude Law, Kevin Spacey, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, & Ed Harris. This will be Wong Kar Wai’s first English language film. This will also be Norah Jones screen debut. Shooting will begin this summer in NYC.

Sypnosis: A shopkeeper fall for a mysterious female client who eats blueberry pies. Jones stars as a young woman who travels across America to find the true meaning of love, encountering offbeat characters along the way.

Stardust

2006-07-11T16:48:00.000-04:00

Holy Mother of $%*! Behold.

Matthew Vaughn's (Layer Cake) next project: “Stardust”.
Cast includes: Robert Deniro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Vinnie Jones, Sienna Miller, Claire Danes, Ruper Everett.

Sypnosis: In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm.

The movie is scheduled to release Mar '07

Stay Tuned!

Review: The Hills Have Eyes

2006-07-10T14:54:00.000-04:00

There have been plenty recent efforts that have tried to replicate the gritty flavor of '70s horror (Wolf Creek, The Devil's Rejects) but they've really just been exploitative pretenders under the misguided belief that gruelling equals effective. Alexandre Aja (of Haute Tension) however, has done it. Moreover, he's taken Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes and improved on it in every conceivable way.

An all-American family looking for a shortcut to California for a holiday is directed down a back road that is quite literally a dead end. When their vehicle's tires blow, what seems like an unfortunate accident becomes a horrifying nightmare - it was actually a trap! The initial attack on the family is jaw-droppingly brutal and as uncompromising as Craven’s original. One at a time, these horrible sub-humans emerge from their hiding places to torture & kill the family. Aja then revels in the payback but, more alarmingly, he makes us revel in it. Each successive act of retribution that they undertake becomes more and more satisfying and triumphant until we emerge, bruised and exhausted but strangely exhilarated.

The Hills Have Eyes 2006 will delight horror fans and terrify general audiences in all the ways a good horror film should. It's smart, stylish and inventive, capitalizing on the strengths of the original and building on thirty years of cinematic evolution in all the ways a good remake should.

Highly Recommended
Score: 7.5/10

View Trailer

Review: Fearless

2006-07-10T13:07:00.000-04:00

Based on a true story of Huo Yuanjia founder of the Jingwu Sports Federation; A fighter, who represents Chinese martial arts to a nation; A man, who fought his way out of darkness and into history. Billed as Li's final martial arts film.

The first hour is entertaining and fascinating, as we're introduced to Huo Yuanjia and we witness his rise in the martial arts world, complete with plenty of exhilarating fight sequences. Choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping serves them up with appropriate doses of grace and brutality. After Huo's downfall, however, things get a bit less developed. His path from fallen man to rebuilt hero seems far too simple. The final half of the film is structured in a rushed and perfunctory manner. Time is made for the pivotal fight sequences, such as the one between Huo Yuanjia and hulking boxer O'Brien (Nathan Jones), who offers to take on all "Sick Men of Asia" in the ring. However, some details are given almost no focus, such as Huo's founding of the Jingwu Sports Federation, which happens nearly overnight. In no time at all, Huo is back on top of the martial arts world, with many devoted followers and fame extending across Asia. His mucho-hyped battle with Japanese fighter Tanaka (Shido Nakamura) is also a bit mystifying, as Tanaka barely qualifies as a character worthy of such focus.

All in all, Jet Li's much anticipated Fearless is a solid and entertaining action drama that rises above a pedestrian screenplay and a few narrative omissions thanks to its potent themes, exhilarating martial arts sequences, and classy production values.

Highly Recommended
Score: 7/10

View Trailer

Review: Wonderful Days aka Sky Blue

2006-07-10T12:42:00.000-04:00

In 2042, a disaster threatens all life on Earth. Fleeing from the disaster to an island in the Pacific one group of people set up the city of Ecoban to ensure their survival. When other refugees come to the shores of Ecoban, the citizens of the city deny them entry interested only in maintaining their own life style and purity. One hundred years later, the citizens of Ecoban and the descendants of the refugees, the Marrians, have settled into an uneasy coexistence. A terrorist attack on the pollution-fueled Delos energy system of Ecoban begins to signal the end of the status quo.

This is one gorgeous animation. The film is beautifully put together on a technical level. It uses a combination of 3D animation, 2D animation, and even a small bit of live action. The characters are distinctly hand drawn and beautifully flawed, compared to the infinitely detailed computer generated backgrounds, and bridging these two elements we find beautiful miniature models that have this amazing organic quality. Unfortunately, at the core of Wonderful Days is a rather trite love-triangle plot that threatens to reduce main characters into scowling paper cut-outs. Particularly disappointing is the character of (beautifully drawn) Jay, who sets out as the narrator of the film, but ultimately turns into a dewy-eyed pretty girl bouncing off like a pinball between two snarling competitors for her affection.

In the end, "Wonderful Days" is wonderful to look at. Check it out if you want to see some brilliant & striking visual art works, but that’s as far as your expectation should reflect.

Recommended
Score: 6/10

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Perfume

2006-07-07T15:34:00.000-04:00

This one is high on my must see list for 2006. From the director of Run Lola Run, Tom Tykwer; comes Parfum Die Geschichte eines Morders, aka Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.

Sypnosis: Based on the bestselling novel by Patrick Süskind, Perfume is a terrifying story of murder and obsession set in 18th-century France. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, born with no smell, develops a superior olfactory sense, which he uses to create the world's finest perfumes. His work, however, takes a dark turn as he searches for the ultimate scent.

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Review: V for Vendetta

2006-07-06T13:41:00.000-04:00

The futuristic tale unfolds in a Great Britain that's a fascist state. A freedom fighter known as V (Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressive society. He rescues a young woman (Portman) from the secret police, and she becomes his unlikely ally. Though behind the mask throughout the movie, Hugo Weaving gave a stellar performance, by voice alone. And Natalie Portman was the perfect balance as Evey.

Yes, this storyline has strikingly resonant political undercurrents, which might strike too-biased ideological notes for some viewers. As a whole, the themes are subtle and clever, but there are razor sharp points along the way, and as the story sweeps to a nicely controlled finale, it becomes edgy and deeply provocative, lingering in our minds and forcing us to think about terrorism from the other side of the coin--namely, the terrorism that gave us "liberty" to begin with.

Highly Recommended
Score: 9/10

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Re-Cycle

2006-07-05T16:23:00.000-04:00

Acclaim Thai directors the Pang Brothers of "The Eye", are back with a new ultra stylish horror flick "Re-Cycle". Its been described as Alice in Wonderland meets Silent Hill. The trailer looks magnificent. It opens this month in Asia.

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Full Quicktime (large file, will take a few min to download)

Teaser WMV

The Banquet

2006-07-05T15:35:00.000-04:00

Sypnosis: When her brother-in-law ascends the throne after the King’s death, the Queen agrees to marry him in order to protect her stepson. Convinced that his uncle has murdered his father, the Prince decides to return to the palace and take revenge. Everything culminates in a night banquet where all hell will break loose.

The movie is scheduled to release in Asia this fall.

Newest Trailer

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"Meg" - the 100,000 pound prehistoric shark

2006-07-05T15:07:00.000-04:00

Sypnosis: Based on Steve Alten's 1997 bestseller of the same name, 'Meg' concerns palaeontologist Jonas Taylor's efforts to stop the Carcharodon Megalodon, an 80-foot shark that is terrorising the coast of California. This movie is due release next year to coincide with the special anniversary dvd boxset release of Jaws.

Review: Silent Hill

2006-07-05T13:56:00.000-04:00

Sharon is a little girl who sleepwalks and has seizures; lately they've been getting worse. She keeps mentioning the same thing in her trances: Silent Hill. Over the protests of her husband, Sharon's mother (Rose) flees with her child. She ends up driving and crashes. She wakes up in the eerie and deserted town of Silent Hill. Sharon is gone. It's soon clear the town is not like any place she's ever been. It's inhabited by a variety of creatures and a living darkness that descends and literally transforms everything it touches. The human inhabitants - the ones who are left - are trapped and fighting a losing battle against the Darkness. Joined by a cop named Cybil, who was pulled in with her, Rose searches for her little girl while learning the history of Silent Hill.

Silent Hill is one of the best video game to movie adaptation to hit the big screen. After seeing such dissappointing titles as Doom, Resident Evil, & Tomb Raider, watching Silent Hill was a refreshing change. Australian Radha Mitchell gives a fine performance, as a mother who will risk everything to save her daughter. The visuals in the movie are absolutely stunning. The production design is outstanding, with the sets and lighting creating an atmosphere of dread and foreboding that will have you cowering with fear. Add to it great line up of characters; from maniac miners to scalpel welding zombie nurses, each is more terrifying than the last but the one that will scare you senseless is the relentless pyramid masked, sword wielding madman that is totally unstoppable. Fans of the game will rejoice as they see Rose and Officer Bennett running for their lives after been chased by these fiendish, horrific apparitions.

Highly Recommended
Score: 7/10

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Review: The Descent

2006-06-30T23:57:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you put a group of women in a dark hole? One really scary thrill ride of a movie. Neil Marshall superbly showcased the claustrophobic darkness in his deep underground thriller. The all female cast really brings out a new emotional & psychological quality to the film. I commend the movie for not rushing the story to get a cheap scare, as it so happens too many time in horror film. The movie slowly builds with its character development & journey, that is then rewarded with the first encounter. And when the action starts, your heart will be pumping non stop.

Highly Recommended
Score: 7/10

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Sunshine

2006-06-30T17:22:00.000-04:00

I'm totally excited about Danny Boyle's next psychological sci fi thriller project "Sunshine". There's snippets of a production trailer and video diary, along with still images from the set on their website, see bottom of this page.

The Sun is dying, and mankind is dying with it. Our last hope: a spaceship and a crew of eight men and women. They carry a device which will breathe new life into the star. But deep into their voyage, out of radio contact with Earth, their mission is starting to unravel. Soon the crew are fighting not only for their lives, but their sanity.

The cast includes: Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Chris Evans.

Here's an early production trailer
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Review: The Proposition

2006-06-30T10:51:00.000-04:00

Two brothers from the wanted "Burns Gang" has been captured by british soldiers. One of the brother, Charlie (Guy Pearce) has been offered a proposition. Kill his older brother before christmas, and he along with his younger brother Mikey will be granted a pardon. If he does not, Mikey will be hanged.

This extraordinary film explores the elliptical nature of class, race, colonization and family. It's not an easy access film. It's violent and the motivation of the characters is sometimes oblique. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful, the filmmaker really did a great job capturing the raw bleak environment of the desert.

The only drawback I feel is that this movie was way too short for its own good. There are so many great characters, I just wished the movie would have showcase more with each. For ex. I would have liked to have seen more of the bounty hunter character played exquisitely by John Hurt.

In the end, despite its savagery this is a superbly poetic and original film, one of the year’s best. Showcasing the talents of writer-director team Nick Cave and John Hillcoat. It's a strange, unsettling film, ultimately quite moving, it's impossible not to respond to it strongly.

Highly Recommended
Score: 8/10

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Arthur et les Minimoys

2006-06-29T18:35:00.000-04:00

Luc Besson goes CG animation. Featuring voice over by: David Bowie, Madonna, Freddie Highmore, Mia Farrow, & Snoop Dog.

Story: Ten-year-old Arthur, in a bid to save his grandfather's house from being demolished, goes looking for some much-fabled hidden treasure in the land of the Minimoys, a tiny people living in harmony with nature.

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Storm

2006-06-29T18:22:00.000-04:00

No there are no Xmen here. This film comes by way of Sweden. The trailer just looks amazing. But not sure how the movie will be. If I get my hands on it, I will post a review. If you've seen it let me know if its worth a look.

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PAN'S LABYRINTH

2006-06-29T18:08:00.000-04:00

New high res - full extended trailer up

PAN'S LABYRINTH is a fanciful and chilling story set against the backdrop of a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father; a military officer tasked with ridding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With post-war repression at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her world through a fable of her own creation.

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The Last Love Song On This Little Planet

2006-06-29T17:38:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting import from Japan. "The Last Love Song On This Little Planet" is based on a very popular Manga Anime. It tells the story of quiet, introverted high school girl Chise, who is madly in love with Shuji, a confident, arrogant athlete. They both go to the same high school in Hokkaido, but it takes Chise all of her courage to tell Shuji about her feelings for him. The two hit it off and form a strong, loving bond, which only intensifies when war breaks out in Japan.
But Chise has a secret, one so dark, so terrible that it may threaten not only her relationship with Shuji, but also her life, his life and the future of the entire country. Chise is no ordinary girl. She is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction, a genetically engineered cyborg built specifically for military use. When she goes into battle she strikes fear in everyone around her, including her own troops. On the battlefield she has been dubbed the "Goddess Of Death" and with good reason. Starring Maeda Aki (Battle Royale) and Kubozuka Shunsuke (Hibi), Saishu Heiki Kanojo is a dark, angst-ridden exploration into the very troubled mind of a seemingly innocent girl, handed the power to destroy the world.

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The Green Hornet

2006-06-29T17:26:00.000-04:00

Hey, hollywood lets get the ball rollin. No definitive scripts or plans yet for the Green Hornet. But this little french production company did a little sampling of what the movie could be. Really good stuff, they even used real professional fight coreographers from The Transporter & District B13. Must see.

View trailer here:

http://lefrelonvert-court.com/index.php?page=ghmedium

Renaissance Trailer

2006-06-29T16:57:00.000-04:00

Stylish futuristic anime film. Featuring voice of the next James Bond, Daniel Craig. The trailer is absolutely gorgeous.

US Trailer

View trailer here:
http://www.renaissance-lefilm.com/accueil.htm