Father Geek here with Asia-AICN for this week. We have a new reporter on board named Scott Green. He will be adding an ANIME report each Thursday to our column. You can find more of his work on his homepage by Just Clicking Here We all look forward to Scott's regular weekly updates, but for now here's Darius25...

Asia-AICN #34

Greetings everybody. Hope you've had another fine week. We have lots of new info for you this week including some news on Hrithik Roshan's Hollywood offers, the new Ms. World, the 37th Annual Golden Horse Awards and Laro Sa Baga. Unfortunately Pigmon couldn't find any Japanese news this week but don't worry, I'm sure he'll have something for us next week. Now here's the latest from Asia.

INDIA

- Supposedly, Hrithik Roshan has been offered the lead in three Hollywood films at a price of $20 million per film. I personally think that is potentially bullshit as the $20 million sum is REALLY high, especially on the basis of one film - Kaho Naa Pyar Hai (Say You Love Me). Anyway, rumours state that Hrithik has only selected one of the three films as he's pretty much booked solid in Bollywood right now. Right now there's no word if this one film is indeed the Tarsem Singh film we discussed of a few columns back.

- A very big congratulations to Ms. Priyanka Chopra who is now Miss World 2000. It's been barely over a week since her victory and already the model is swarmed with offers from Bollywood. Director Subhash Ghai has already offered her a role in his next movie, opposite Hrithik Roshan. The film will begin shooting after Ghai finishes up Yaadein (Memories) with Roshan, Jackie Shroff and Kareena Kapoor. Also, producer-director Yash Chopra has offered Priyanka a role in his next film, which will star Shahrukh Khan and Uday Chopra. Here's a shot of Priyanka Chopra:

- Sony pictures has snapped the overseas distribution rights to director Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad). The film stars Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol and Kareena Kapoor.

- Singer Lucky Ali will star in one of director Tanuja Chandra's upcoming films. The film will be produced by actress Pooja Bhatt and will be written by her father, director Mahesh Bhatt. The film does not yet have a title.

- More details have been released on actor Anupam Kher's directorial debut. The film will be called Om Jai Jagdish (the names of the main characters). The film will star Anil Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Fardeen Khan in the titular roles and will be produced by Vashu Bhagnani.

- Mohabbatein (Love Affairs)'s Shamita Shetty will star opposite Chandrachur Singh in director Satish Khanna's Mohabbat Ho Gayi Hai Tumse (Falling in Love with You).

- Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas boasts the most expensive set in the history of Bollywood. A massive village is being created amongst the lush greenery in Bombay's Film City Studios. This whole set will cost about 1.1 billion rupees (pretty high for Indian standards). The majority of this will go towards the construction of Aishwarya Rai's home in the film.

- There will be more celebrity editions of Kaun Banega Crorepati (the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire ?) in the coming future. Supposedly, Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee will be the next Bollwood personalities to appear on the show, following the extremely popular appearances of Aamir Khan and Sonali Bendre a couple of months back.

- There was no major release in India last week, but a small independent film was released in a few select locations. The film was famous artist M.F. Hussain's Gaja Gamini (I think it's a name but I could be mistaken) and the film focuses entirely on Madhuri Dixit. The extremely surreal art-film is "a metaphor for a woman named Gaj Gamini, who is suspended in time and space along with a spectrum of characters taken from art, history, music and space". Madhuri plays this woman (presumably) aswell as many other characters such a princess, a poor village girl, a widow, a classical dancer, and a modern woman. The film also features Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Shilpa Shirodkar, Inder Kumar and Shahrukh Khan. From what I've heard, the acting is really great especially by Madhuri Dixit, and the songs are really really slow. The direction is considered ok, but the story is really out there. I might see it in a while (if only for SRK) but I must add that the film is definitely not for everyone's tastes. See Gaja Gamini only if you like slow, arty films with a really weird storyline.

Here's a picture from Gaja Gamini with Madhuri Dixit and Shahrukh Khan:

- This week's recommendation is yet another Madhuri Dixit drama called Mrityudand (Death Sentence), directed by Prakash Jha. Please disregard the title of the film as all the violence is left until the final 10 mins and there is no supercool action. The film's main focus is on the oppression of women in rural India. Dixit stars as the newly-wedded wife of a contractor who faces prejudice and hostility at every turn in her new village. Because she is a married woman in rural India, she is expected to take shit from everyone around her. She is convinced by her sister-in-law to bear it all but in the end, she finally takes action in her own hands as literally all the women in the village take up arms and "rebel" against the men. Yeah, the film is pretty off-beat, but it's a solid story combined with some very good acting by Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi and Shilpa Shirodkar (all three are in Gaja Gamini, see above). Jha's direction is pretty good for the most parts and the songs are decent if not the best. The film is not really watchable many times, but if you like good dramas, you should give Mrityu Dand a shot.

CHINA/HK

The following was reported by "AccSpy":

- The 37th Annual Golden Horse Awards was held on Dec 2nd in Taipei, Taiwan. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon got 6 awards including Best Picture. All of the other five were technical awards. HK productions also dominated some of the other major categories. Here's the selected list of winners:

Best Picture: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Best Director: Johnnie To - "The Mission"

Best Actor: Francis Ng - "The Mission" (YES! YES! YES! Too bad Ng was in HK shooting his new film with Michelle Reis and could not accept the award by himself. "The Mission"'s co-star Lin Suet was represented Ng to accept the award. Ng told the HK media that he felt like crying for missing this great opportunity, he still thought that he had mistakenly won.)

Best Actress: Maggie Cheung - "In the Mood for Love" (This is Cheung's record-breaking fifth Golden Horse, following her three Best Actress wins and one Best Supporting Actress award.)

Best Supporting Actor: Tai Bo - "Yun Zhuan Shao Zhi Lian" (Though it's a Taiwanese film, Tai Bo is a HK stuntman/actor who appeared in most of Jackie Chan's movies in the 80's)

Best Supporting Actress: Zhao Mei Lin - "Sha He Bei Ge"

Best Newcomer: Yiu Yuet Ming - "Little Cheung"

Best Original Screenplay: Fruit Chan - "Little Cheung"

Best Fight Choreography: Yuen Woo Ping - "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (YEAH BABY - D25)

Best Visual Effect: Leo Lo, Rob Hodgson - "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Best Cinematography: Mark Li Pin Bin, Christopher Doyle - "In the Mood for Love"

Best Costume Design: William Chang - "In the Mood for Love"

Best Editing: Tim Squyros - "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Best Sound Effect: Eugere Gearty - "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Best Original Score: Tan Dun, Yo-Yo Ma"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"

Here are some pictures from the Golden Horse awards:

Best Actress winner Maggie Cheung:

Best Actor winner Francis Ng finally receiving his award two days later:

Best Director winner Johnnie To and Best Actress nominee Sammi Cheng:

Sammi Cheng and Andy Lau:

- Although three new films entered last weekend, "Skyline Cruiser" and "Charlie's Angels" still held the top two positions. Both action flicks collected an estimated $6.2 and $5.5 millions HKD, respectively. Stephen Fung and Sam Lee's "Bio-Cops" enjoyed the highest debut of the week at no.3 with an estimated $1 million HKD gross in the first three days. The low-budgeted horror comedy was rapidly finished and released in order to avoid more major releases in the coming month. "Bedazzled" and "Book of Shadow: Blair Witch 2" debuted in the fourth and fifth place, respectively.

PHILLIPPINES

The following was reported by "AznFob55":

- After seven years, it's time to say farewell to the hit TV sitcom "Oki Doki, Doc" which stars heartthrob Aga Muhlach. The series has seen many changes since its inception, having to add Carmina Villaroel, Roderick Paulate and Charlene Gonzalez to its roster in the latter seasons to replace heavy favorites, Babalu and Claudine Barretto. The sitcom has even spawned a movie which is currently available at your local Filipino store.

- Ara Mina is currently starring in the new Chito Rono film, "Laro Sa Baga", with Carlos Morales.

- The new Star Cinema movie, "Kahit Isang Saglit" (Even For One Moment), is now playing in theaters. The film stars Judy Anne Santos, Leandro Munoz and Piolo Pascual and has been generating some positive buzz.

- The Film Academy of the Philippines has chosen the critically-raved "Anak" (Child) as the country's representative at the Oscars. The picture stars heavy-hitter Vilma Santos and the quintessential Claudine Barretto.

- As reported earlier, Rica Peralejo will go to the "dark side" with her new film Balahibong Pusa" (Cat Fur). She also has a new television series in developed, "Subic Bay", which also contains a very sexy theme. Here's a picture of Rica:

ANIME REPORT

Scott Green's new regular addition to our column:

Z.O.E. Anime in the Works

According to the Gaming Intelligence Agency http://www.thegia.com an anime series based on the highly anticipated mecha basedPlayStation 2 game, Zone of Enders (Z.O.E) is currently in the works in Japan. Few details about the series have been released, but the creative forces behind the game, Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear series, Snatcher) as producer, Noriaki Okamura (Tokimeki Memorial) as director, and Nobuyoshi Nishimura (Gundam X) as character designer seem to indicate that it would lend itself well to an animate series. The game story is the well trodden one for mecha anime. Aa angst filled teenagers (in this case 14 year old Leo) who is brought by destiny to pilot a giant robot (living on a Jupiter colony he is caught in an attack on the colony by the "Enders", and stumbles across an abandoned mech.

Speed Racer Coming to DVD

Pioneer has announced the upcoming release of Speed Racer: The Movie on DVD. It will feature audia commentary by Peter Fernandez (Speed) and Corinne Orr (Trixie), a Speed Racer Trivia Game and Music Video and Mach 5 Features. Audio will be in Dolby Digital 5.1 and presumably English only. The 80 minute feature was originally the three episode "Mammoth Car" story. The release is scheduled or February 27th.

Samurai X: The Motion Picture For US Home Video Release

ADV films is set to released Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin in Japan): the Movie on VHS, and DVD in the US on March 27th. The movie is one Samurai X's three anime incarnations. In Japan Rurouni Kenshin anime consisted of a 95 episode television series, a four episode OAV (direct to video release), and this movie. Each is based on the manga (comic) series by the same name, but do not mesh perfectly with each other. The television series is currently being released in the US by Media Blasters. The OAV (which has been released as two DVD or VHS cassettes), and movie are being released by ADVFilms.

During the period of upheaval, and civil war in the late 1860's, leading to Japan's Meji era, there was a feminine looking, but incredibly adept swordsman who served ruthless and fearing political assassin, and later bodyguard known as the Hitokiro Battousai (which translates to Drawn Sword Assassin/Mankiller). Since those days the swordsman, Himura Kenshin disavowed killing by taking up a reversed edge swords, and a life of wondering, protecting others. The television series, and the majority of the manga pick up on Kenshin life story after he has been wondering for ten years, and settles with a group of people in a dojo (school). The story focuses on trials he faces that test his skill, resolves, and vow never to kill again.

The movie, released in Japan as Requiem for the Ishin Shishi, tells the story the impact of one of Kenshin's missions as the Hitokiri Battousai effecting his new life and friends. In terms of content, and animation style the movie is more similar to the stylized, and exaggerated atmosphere of the television series, than the OAVs. The OAVs, which tell the story of Kenshin's childhood, and days as the Hitokiri Battousai, are grittier, and more mature than other incarnations. The violence, and gore are more pronounced, and the animation uses a more realistic style in character design, and backgrounds.

Second You're Under Arrest

A second season of the anime series You're Under Arrest (Taiho Shichau Zo) is current is production to air on Japan's TBS network this spring. The series follows the mostly humorous, but sometimes-dramatic lives of two Japanese policewomen, the rational, and mechanically inclined Kobayakawa Miyuki, and the impulsive and strong Tsujimoto Natsumi. The manga (comic) series by Fujishima Kosuke's (best known for Oh! My Goddess) has already spawned has been an OAV (direct to video release), theatrical movie and one season of a television. The movie, which veered more to the more towards intense drama and action than the normally light hearted OAV and television series will debut on Japanese television December 30th.

The first You're Under Arrest television series is due to be released in the US by AniMeigo, who released the OAV. The dubbing will be done by Coastal Carolina Studios, whose work on the OAV is regarded as one of the finest English dubbing of an anime series. ADV Films has acquired the domestic rights to the You're Under Arrest movie, and plan to release it on VHS, DVD, and possibly theatrically, but have not commented on the movie since its acquisition.

Studio Ghibli News

The following news items were brought up on Nausicaa.net's Hayao Miyazaki Discussion Group. Studio Ghibli is the renowned creative force behind the anime works of Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service). The next Miyazaki feature to receive a domestic release under the Disney/Ghibli agreement was Laputa: Castle in the Sky (to be released domestically as "Castle in the Sky"). After the successful home video release of Kiki's Delivery Service work was done on Laputa. James Van Der Beek, Anna Paquin , Mark Hamill, Cloris Leachman, and Mandy Patinkin were chosen to do dub work on the feature. The original music for the movie will be replace by new score from Jo Hisaishi, writer of the original score. There was talk of a theatrical release, and Miramax showed the movie February 4th at the New York International Children's Film Festival. The current word is that Miramax is considering a theatrical run of the movie a difficult, and is leaning towards the direct to video treatment Kiki's Delivery Service received. Laputa will be released on DVD in Japan in June 2002.

Nausicaa will be theatrically released in Korea on December 16. This is the first time that a Ghibli film is to be released in Korean theaters. "My Neighbor the Yamadas" the most recent Ghibli film, is most likely to be released in France in next spring. "My Neighbors the Yamadas" was Ghibli's first100% digitally processed animated film, giving the film a watercolor look.

In Japan, the trailer of "Sen to Chihiro" [Ghibli's current project] (30 seconds) will be shown in theaters (Toho franchise), starting on December 16th. Princess Mononoke stamps will not be issued as part of a previously announced commemorative stamp project since Ghibli did not agree to the project. It was the mistake on the part of the Postal Agency to publicize the project before getting Ghibli's consent.

Cardcaptors Movie US Bound?

An update to the FAQ on official Cardcaptors http://www.clowbook.com/ web site by Nelvana, the company that dubbed the series, indicates that the first Cardcaptors movie may be released domestically FAQ on their site with the following information: "There will be a Cardcaptors movie in North America, but the timing still hasn't been decided. Any Announcements regarding plans for Cardcaptors movie will be posted at our website. Register and stay tuned." Cardcaptors (Card Captor Sakura in Japan) is the cute tale of a girl who accidentally releases magical Clow Cards, and must re-capture them. She is aided by the guardian beast Cerberus, who in his current incarnation "Kero-chan" is an ill-tempered, what looks to be, flying stuff lion. The Cardcaptors anime series is based on the manga (comic) by the female artist team CLAMP, whose shoujo (girl's) series are best known for their distinctive and much admired character designs, and unique plot twists. Their other work include ! X, and Magic Knights Rayearth.

Slayers Try DVD Box Set Coming

Central Park Media has released announced the released date for the DVD box set collection of the third, and so far final Slayers television season, Slayers Try. Slayers is a sword and sorcery series that mixes action stories, and humor stories, focusing around the young, chaotic mage Lina Inverse (voiced by voice acting super star Megumi Hayashibara, also known for Rei of Evangelion, and female Ranma among many other roles), and her dull whitted swordsman companion Gourry. As the seasons progress the series gained popularity in Japan, and its cast and budget grew, culminating in Slayers Try, the best animated, and most plot driven of the series' run. As well as the three television series there have been a number of Slayers movies, and OAVs (direct to video releases), detailing Lina's adventures before the first television series, when her traveling companion, and rival was the busty Naga, The White Serpent. The first two seasons of Slayers (Slayers, and Slayers Next) have already been released as DVD box set by Central Park Media. ADV Films as released the first Slayers Movie (Slayers: The Motion Picture), and OAV (Book of Spell) on DVD, and plans to release the next two movies (Slayers Return, and Slayers Great) at some point in the future.

That's about it for this week. Remember, if you have information regarding any film industry in Asia, please contact our Asia-AICN offices . See you all next week.

- Darius25