Feng Xiaogang's "The Assembly" wins biennial Chinese audience film awards

Source: chinadaily(xinhua)

"The Assembly," a warfare film by Chinese director Feng Xiaogang became the biggest winner at the 29th Full Blossom biennial awards given by the audiences in China's northeast seaport of Dalian on Saturday evening.

The movie won the Best Feature Film after beating the strongest opponent "The Knot," and helped Feng, Zhang Hanyu and Deng Chao got the Best Director, Best Leading Actor and Best Supporting Actor awards respectively.

The awards were voted by a 101-member jury representing 2.6 million audiences who decided the nomination list at the closing ceremony of the 17th China Golden Rooster and Full Blossom Festival.

"The Assembly" features a Chinese military company commander who devoted his entire life during the civil war in the 1940s to redeeming the honor of fellow soldiers, who are declared missing in action.

The film has raked in 270 million yuan (about 40 million U.S. dollars) of box office, becoming the third bankable Chinese film, following John Woo's "Red Cliff" and Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower."

In a survey published by the China Film Association last December, 86 percent of Chinese audiences gave a high rating to "The Assembly".

In the most suspensive competition of the Best Director award, Feng Xiaogang defeated Ning Hao and Yin Li, becoming the Best Director winner with "The Assembly."

Zhang Hanyu, a rising cinematic tough guy, picked up Best Leading Actor for his role in the film, defeating strong opponents including kung fu star Jet Li and rising star Chen Kun.

Zhang, who had played only minor supporting roles in Feng's previous films, was obscure in China until "The Assembly."

"The Knot," a movie about love separated by the Taiwan Strait but lasted 60 years, won the Best Feature Film at the 12th Huabiao Awards, the governmental film prize in 2007, the Best Feature Filmat the 26th Golden Rooster awards given by scholars in 2007, but failed to fulfill a myth undertake the three main domestic film awards.

The movie and "Invisible Wings" got the Outstanding Feature Films, inferior to the Best Feature Film award.

Taiwan heart-throb singer Jay Chou got a cold shoulder after the organizer China Film Association announced that the producer of Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower" decided to quit the competition of the outstanding movies but keep the right of Jay to vie for the Best Supporting Actor, the only nomination the movie landed, on Wednesday when the film festival opened, which became the first-ever embarrassment of 64-year-old Full Blossom awards encountered.

Li Bingbing was awarded the Best Leading Actress with "The Knots" after defeating Hsu Vivian with the same movie, which also gave Taiwan film veteran Ah Lei Gua the Best Supporting Actress award.

The Best New Artist award was given to armless girl Lei Qingyao with her outstanding performance in "Invisible Wings."

Ninety-year-old Chen Qiang, a veteran supporting actor and 89-year-old Yuan Naichen, a veteran director of dubbed films, won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Audiences go 'Wild' at box office

Source: Variety

Warner Bros. pic wins weekend with $32.5 mil

Warner Bros.' "Where the Wild Things Are" topped the domestic box office in a wild and woolly October weekend that saw a number of films thrive, driving ticket sales up as much as 40% over the same frame last year.

The Spike Jonze-helmed "Wild Things," based on Maurice Sendak's children's classic book, played more like an adult movie than a family pic, grossing an estimated $32.5 million from 3,735 theaters. Overture Films saw its biggest opening yet with Jamie Foxx-Gerard Butler starrer "Law Abiding Citizen," which took an estimated $21.3 million from 2,890 to place No. 2.

Sony/Screen Gems' "The Stepfather," the weekend's third nationwide opener, bowed to an estimated $12.3 million from 2,734 to place No. 5 behind Paramount's sleeper hit "Paranormal Activity" and Universal laffer "Couples Retreat."

"Paranormal Activity" took the No. 3 spot with $20.2 million as it expanded to 760 theaters in its fourth weekend, posting a 155% uptick and a boffo per-screen average of $26,530. Par's micro-budgeted pic has cumed an estimated $33.7 million, and the studio plans to expand to some 1,800 locations starting next weekend.

"Couples Retreat" dipped a respectable 48% in its second sesh to an estimated $17.9 million from 3,009.

Highest-grossing pic during the comparable weekend last year was "Max Payne," which bowed to $17.6 million. Overall, the frame's top 10 films earned a collective gross of $126.9 million. The same weekend last year topped out at near $80 million.

At the specialty box office, Sundance winner "The Maid" opened in one theater to an estimated $18,418. Among holdovers, Sony Pictures Classics' "An Education" grossed $266,044 as it expanded to 19 theaters in its soph sesh, for a per-location average of $14,002 and cume of $504,974.

Focus Features' "A Serious Man," from the Coen brothers, enjoyed a healthy expansion in its third frame, grossing an estimated $860,257 at 82 for a location average of $10,491 and cume of $1.9 million.

At the international box office, Disney/Pixar's "Up" won the weekend, grossing $27.9 million from 4,500 playdates in 24 territories, bringing the toon's overseas cume to $295.8 million. Frame's haul was led by a stellar Brit soph sesh of $9 million.

"Up's" perf is a testament to the enduring playability of family pics, but whether Jonze's "Wild Things" can gain the same traction with younger auds remains a question mark.

Jonze, who began shooting "Wild Things" in 2006, went through several versions of the film before finalizing the pic's darker feel. Warner prexy of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said positive reviews so far, combined with potential awards appeal, has helped garner support among its broad audience.

"Spike has done an incredible job with the movie," Fellman said. "I think we have an interesting film that should play well through the next few weeks."

Although pic's rated PG, 43% of the aud was over age 18, while only 27% were families. Tellingly, "Wild Things" saw only a 2% uptick from Friday to Saturday; family titles usually see big gains on Saturday.

With an estimated $75 million budget paid partly by Village Roadshow (50%) and Legendary Pictures (25%), the movie has been aggressively marketed by Warner to an older set, including fanboys ("Wild Things" got a big plug at Comic-Con). Those moves appear to have paid off. Friday's haul of $12.1 million included $700,000 in midnight shows, while the 145 Imax engagements turned in $3.1 million for the weekend -- 10% of the total opening.

While Warner is no doubt breathing a sign of relief at the successful bow of "Wild Things," Overture and the Film Department scored an important victory with "Law Abiding Citizen."

Overture's previous highest opener was "Righteous Kill" with $16.3 million.

Par's "Paranormal Activity" -- like "Where the Wild Things Are" -- is something of an oddball success story. Film, bought primarily for remake rights, is benefiting from an intense viral marketing campaign and word of mouth. Pic began with only a midnight run but has now expanded into other dayparts based on demand.

Last week's frame topper, Universal's "Couples Retreat" declined 48% for a cume of $63.3 million.

Sony's 3D toon "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" dropped 30% in its fifth frame with $8.1 million at 3,037 playdates, while the studio's other holdover, "Zombieland," took in $7.8 million at 3,171, declining 47% in its third frame.

"Cloudy" has cumed $108.3 million, becoming Sony Animation's first title to surpass $100 million.

Disney's 3D double bill "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" grossed $3 million at 1,489, pushing cume to $28.6 million. The Mouse extended the toons' slated two-week run until the launch of Robert Zemeckis' 3D title "A Christmas Carol" on Nov. 2.

Among new specialty openers, Vivendi's "New York, I Love You" grossed $372,107 as it opened in 119 theaters for a per-screen average of $3,127. Apparition's "Black Dynamite" opened to a per-location average of $2,014 as it grossed an estimated $140,986 from 70 playdates.

Holdover "Coco Before Chanel" continues to see strong returns. The Sony Classics release grossed an estimated $311,955 from 54 in its fourth frame for a per-location average of $5,777.

Roadside Attractions' release of the Chris Rock co-produced docu "Good Hair" took in an estimated $437,000 at 174 playdates for a theater average of $2,511. Cume is $1.8 million.

Lionsgate's sports docu "More Than a Game," about NBA star LeBron James, expanded from 44 to 107 engagements, grossing $207,508 in its third frame for a per-location average of $1,939 and cume of $605,465.

Disney dominated the international B.O. thanks to "Up," with help from "G-Force" and "Surrogates."

The Mouse saw solid biz from "G-Force" with $12.5 million at 3,255 in 44 markets -- driven by a first-place $4.2 million German launch. "G-Force" foreign cume is $128 million, $10 million ahead of the domestic total, with China, Japan and South Korea still to open.

"Surrogates" added $3.9 million at 2,715 in 31 markets for a foreign cume of $46.9 million.

U's "Couples Retreat" added to last week's early bows in Australia and New Zealand with openings in the U.K., Russia and Ukraine, with an estimated $6.8 million from 926 playdates. Pic performed well in the U.K. with $3 million, placing second to "Up."

Sony's holdover "The Ugly Truth" earned $8.8 million on 2,305 screens in 63 markets, opening in Spain with $3 million behind last week's topper in that territory, "Agora," which earned $4.4 million.

"Cloudy" continued to perform well overseas, with $3.7 million on 1,810 in 35 markets, bringing its international cume to $35. 4 million.

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Enter the Dragon

Company: Warner Bros.
Runtime: 102 Minutes (1 Hr. 42 Min.)
Martial Arts Action
Region 1
My Rating: **** out of *****
Rated: R

Do note it will contain scenes mention in the DVD from me.


This movie was to be quite the one to look into when it’s all about Bruce Lee. Which seeing his martial arts portray as it starts when he was given a mission by visiting to a mysterious island in a tournament. Where he must meets w/ Han who is the man that runs the island w/ corruption in drugs, prositutes, tournament & women died from OD in Heroin. But Bruce Lee does have to be in the tournament in order to get closer to Han. As he won’t go alone since there would be others joining in to prove themselves and win the tournament. Since Bruce does meet w/ an important person who has done some undercover role during her time.

Not w/o saying that this movie has a lot of fighting w/ simple melee weapons that doesn’t include guns. According to the story which Han forbids having guns to appear on the island. As he gotten some bad experience as well could be on the hunt for assassins. Han does seem to be a strange guy who simply enjoy seeing anybody who fights goes down in defeat or death. Kien Shih playing as Han doesn’t speak any English which in the movie you notice that somebody else doing the speaking. While that leaves him to match his mouth movements w/ the lines he is doing.

There is a small appearance of Jackie Chan who made an uncredited role as being Han’s henchman who gets a neck snapped by Bruce off-screen. Also in the story which Bruce reason for coming to the island is against Roper who being the responsible of making Bruce’s sister to cause suicide. Overall the movie was pretty good seeing how much fights really connect and there were moments that were decent. Like in the fighting scene during William vs. Han which shows women were being in a 70’s theme w/ face painted and also tattoo style art as well.

I give this movie a **** out of ***** and knowing that if you get a special edition 25th anniversary DVD which you get a bonus of 3 minutes footage. For IMO it didn’t seem much w/ at least 5 minutes or more would be better suited & the disc is dual-sided. Which it does leave in problems of smudges or dusts when you get most of the stuff (Movie & many special features) on one side. I really am disappointed w/ the U.S. trailers to be less than decent when it is almost the same w/ the introductions of the characters/actors. As those gets a one star reduction and it’s still a great movie as if you do like martial arts fighting and/or Bruce Lee? Then get this title!

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Article: A look back at Jarhead

The owner of the Blog had mentioned to me that he had never gotten a chance to see this movie. So I wanted to write a spotlight on it. Jarhead is one of my favorite movies, and one of few that I never get tired of watching. Mostly because of it's realism in how it depicts a making and breaking of a Soldier during the first Gulf War. Let's take a look back at the 2005 film, Jarhead.
Directed: Sam Mendes
Produced by: Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher
Written by: Timothy Lam (screenplay), Anthony Swofford (Book, based on a true story by Swofford)
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Lucas Black, Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper
Music by: Thomas Newman
Cinematography by: Roger Deakins
Editing by: walter Murch
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release date(s): November 4, 2005 (US)
Running time: 123 mins
Country: United States
Language: English, Arabic
Budget: 72 Million
Gross Revenue 97 Million

Jarhead is one of those films that I can't quite break down into sections and score. So I will give my opinon on it. Jarhead is known as the "Platoon" for the newer generation, and I'd have to agree. What Platoon did for the previous generation in giving them insight on the Vietnam war, Jarhead gives the viewer a personal look at the first gulf war through the eyes of Anthony Swofford.

What I liked the most about Jarhead was how honest it was. It showed you the making of a soldier, but not only that, it showed you the degeneration of a soldier's mind when immersed into a battle situation for the first time. Swofford  begins to have urges to kill or at the very least fire his rifle. And with the slow pace of the war for the ground soldiers, it left Swofford and his fellow soldiers going stir crazy, with nothing to do but wonder about their loved ones, and when they would actually get to fight.

The movie proves how difficult it can be for a soldier to adjust back into normal life after being abroad, and paints a realistic picture of a soldier better than most modern war movies.

Swofford's (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) narrative throughout the movie is also a highlight of the movie, it gives you a feeling of angst and at times confustion, and gives you an idea of Swofford's state of mind throughout the movie. Gyllenhaal does a perfect job of not only playing the roll of the real life Anthony Swofford, but also gives a good job narrating the movie.

I score this movie a perfect 50 for it's realistic depiction, it's impressive narrative, and it's general enjoyment. I would highly recommend this move to buy!

Overall score: 50 out of 50
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Ian Somerhalder steps into "Cradlewood"

By Siewaun
Reference: hollywoodreporter

"The Vampire Diaries" and "Lost" star Ian Somerhalder has been cast in the lead role in the romantic gothic fairy tale "Cradlewood", in which Harry Weinmann will be directing. Weinmann also wrote the original story of the movie.

The story revolves around an Australian woman by the name of Beck (Emma Lung) who lives with her boyfriend Josh (Somerhalder) at the family home of Cradlewood. Josh is heir to a family fortune that according to legend, are tied up with a demon. The family legend tells of a pact made with a demon in which whenever a boy is born into the family, the father dies.

The script was written by Stephen Sewell "The Boys" and John Paul Chapple "Bathroy". Producers are Michel Shane "Catch Me If You Can" and David Redman "Strange Bedfellows". Anthony Romano, Shana Levine and Dean Murphy are executive producing.

Shooting starts next year in Melbourne, Australia.

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Chris Messina to star in "Devil"

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

According to Variety, Chris Messina ("Julie and Julia", "Vicky Cristina Barcelona") has been cast by Universal Pictures to star in M. Night Shyamalan produced horror thriller "Devil".

Shyamalan is producing the movie with Sam Mercer, who previously produced movie such as The Sixth Sense, Van Helsing, The Happening and The Last Airbender.

John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle who previously directed "Quarantine" will be directing the movie from the script written by Brian Nelson. Nelson previously co-wrote vampire movie "30 Days of Night".

The movie which is based on story by Shyamalan will begin production 26th October in Toronto.

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Roman Polanski to finish "The Ghost" in jail

By Siewaun
Reference: Reuters

Director Roman Polanski will finish his "The Ghost" project in the Swiss jail where he is challenging extradition to the United States.

76 years old Polanski was arrested in Zurich last month on a U.S. arrest warrant to face sentencing on a 1977 charge of having unlawful sex with a 13 year-old girl.

"The Ghost," script writer Robert Harris told The Times newspaper in London that Polanski intends to finish the movie in time for its planned premiere at the Berlin film festival in February.

Harris was quoted as saying,"He (Polanski) can make his wishes known from his cell. I don't think he can make phone calls, but he can communicate".

"What people think of the film is another matter. Whether the film can rise above the circumstances in which the director now finds himself I don't know. We will test to the upper limits the notion that there's no such thing as bad publicity", said Harris.

Polanski was giving instructions about the film score and other decisions from jail.

Harris added,"It is a nightmare looming that the director might be in jail at the time (of the film's release) but we will just have to cope with this as the situation develops. I'm sure he would want the film to go ahead, having worked on it for two years".

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"Everything Must Go", says Will Ferrell

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Commercials director Dan Rush's feature directorial debut, "Everything Must Go", has found his leading man in Will Ferrell. Rush wrote the movie screenplay based on Raymond Carver short story.

The low-budget indie romantic comedy will have Ferrell starring as a man who got kicked out of his house and his personal belongings threw out on the front lawn after losing his job. He spends the next four days attempting to sell them.

Producers of the movie are Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey of Temple Hill Productions.

Bowen was reported as saying, "Will is one of the best at making an audience sympathize with a character's ordeal, and the blending and comedy in this script will show a side of him that we haven't really seen before".

The movie is expected to cost less than $10 million to make. And production is scheduled to start in March.

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Cast announced for 'From Prada to Nada'

By Siewaun
Reference: Variety

Cast for 'From Prada to Nada', a Latina version of Jane Austen’s classic novel "Sense and Sensibility" set in modern-day Los Angeles, was announced.

Camilla Belle (When A Stranger Calls, 10,000 BC, Push)and Alexa Vega (Spy Kids 1,2 and 3) will be starring alongside Adriana Barraza (Babel, Drag Me to Hell, Amores Perros), Wilmer Valderrama (That 70’s Show) and Kuno Becker (Goal!).

Two sisters, one a beauty and the other a law student of totally opposite attitude in life had to leave their luxurious home with the death of their father.Without money or option,they move in with their great aunt aurelia whose home is in the latino centric boyle heights neighbourhood

"Woman on Top" director Fina Torres is set to direct from the script which she co-wrote with Luis Alfaro.

Odd Lot, Lionsgate and Videocine are production, financing and distribution partners on the film. Gigi Pritzker and Linda McDonough of Odd Lot's will be producing along with Rossana Arau and Gary Gilbert.

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Article: What makes a good movie?

What makes a good movie? I mean a really good movie? Well, here is my take on what a movie needs to be great. Most times it's just a script change, other times it needs to be a total overhaul of pre-production: Change of director, actors, and crew. But most times? All it takes to make a movie great, is just a really great actor. Inside we'll talk about what factors a movie needs to be a great film.

A method Actor:
When I watched The Dark Knight, I thought it was going to be a bittersweet occasion, knowing that Heath Ledger had recently passed away. But when I went to see it, it wasn't bittersweet at all. Not because I was any less sad about him dying, but because when I saw Heath ledger, I did see him at all, I saw The Joker.This was because Heath had explored Method acting, a style of acting very rarely seen. Method acting calls for a higher degree of discipline that most in the acting world cant and/or wont live up to.Daniel Day-Lewis is a very good example of a method actor. Another good example would be Wesley Snipes in the Blade films, who remained in character between takes. Method acting may be complicated and sometimes dangerous but it offers the viewer a better depth of character.

Saying rather than acting:
Movies while always scripted are far too scripted today. Meaning the actors don't act their parts but rather say their lines in a dull and unflattering fashion. A good example would be the film The Final Destination.The idea of a movie is not to identify with the actor but with the character only, this can be especially difficult if your a top ranking actor like Angelina Jolie. Despite her acting chops, the fact that her face and look is so well known makes it hard for you to forget that it's Angelina Jolie when she's playing a part. Which is why big stars often have problems playing the parts of comic book or video game characters.

A movie Make:
The biggest thing an actor needs to do is research what he or she is playing. If it's a cop, then research, spend some months with a force. If your playing a deranged character, then you need to study that. And once you have, immerse yourself in it. Think of it not as a movie but as something that is actually happening. realism is what makes a movie great, but if you have a bunch of actors talking at each other, and without any kind of emotion then what you have is a big mess.

However, most times it's not the actor at all. Most of the time a script can kill a movie entirely. If the script is bad then it doesn't matter how good the actor is or whether or not he or she is a method actor, the movie will still be bad because of the writing. I think a good movie relies on 4 things: Story, Script, Chemistry, and Music. Having even one wrong, can kill a movie.

Having all those ingredients however, can make a perfect movie. But it all boils down in the end, to how serious an actor takes his or her job. It's easy to tell the ones who do it for the passion, and the ones who do it for any other reason....
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