Father Geek here with the Asia-AICN report from Darius25, pigmon, and AccSpy. It's a little late through no fault of theirs. Ol'Father Geek was up in New York City walking the canyons of Gotham as well as viewing a test screening of a "roughcut" of the new 100% Asia set ROLLERBALL...
Well, its not quite all in Asia, the opening scene, a thrilling Luge race thru the city streets in heavy traffic (think BULLITT on skateboards), was filmed and set in San Francisco. Everything else is set in the Asia of the near future. This print did NOT have its final Dobie Surround Sound yet, or its score, and some effects were unfinished, and they were still working on the editing we were told on the flight from Austin to NYC in our small 7 seat jet. It was truely a "work in progress" print.
This, as it is now, is a rock solid hard "R" print. Lots of nudity... lots of graphic ultra violence... and those are the very very BEST things about the film as it now stands. The feel of the movie, the plot, the action scenes are NOT at all like those of the original 1975 Jewison film with James Caan, not even close... it concentrates instead on the negative aspects of professional sports today; money worship, me me me-ism, showboating, the lack of loyality of players for their team and the team for the players, ratings battles, non-sport sporting events, etc... all the things that have totally driven Father Geek(a sports nut as a kid)away from watching any of today's professional sports. And from our long conversation on the flight to the Big Apple this was exactly what Director John McTiernan wanted to do, to highlight with this film. He wanted to holdup for public scrutinity the current BAD aspects of pro sports today. Well, this may make for a scathing sociological sports document, buuuuuut it didn't make for a very good motion picture. I agree with virtually all of Harry's comments in his review of this cut of the film, check it all out by Just Clicking Here if you have not read it yet. It's Father Geek's understanding that the film has been pushed back from its August release to late November. If that is indeed the case then maybe they will take the time to be able to correct its problems as pointed out in Harry's detailed review. I certainly hope so because the original is one of my all time favorite sport movies (own it on VHS, DVD, and 16mm) and this COULD be a great prequel for it. Plus John McTiernan is one of my favorite American action directors (ever since 1986's NOMADS), and I hate to see him put a print this muddled before his loyal public.
Now on to Darius25 and the regular Asia-AICN column...
Asia-AICN
Hey all, I hope you've all been well. While our last column was a little
skimpy on news items, we are back with a rather packed one this week
with much info on many new films including an Indian version of "The
Godfather", "Awaara Paagal Deewana (The Drifter, the Fool and the
Lover)", "The Tuxedo", "I'm Looking for Mr. Perfect", "Dead or Alive:
Final" and "Minna No Ie (Everybody's House)". We also have some new pics
from "Maa Tujhe Salaam (A Salute to Mother)", "Shaolin Soccer", "Legend
of Zu", and "Fighting for Love". Now here's the latest from Asia.
INDIA
This, as it is now, is a rock solid hard "R" print. Lots of nudity... lots of graphic ultra violence... and those are the very very BEST things about the film as it now stands. The feel of the movie, the plot, the action scenes are NOT at all like those of the original 1975 Jewison film with James Caan, not even close... it concentrates instead on the negative aspects of professional sports today; money worship, me me me-ism, showboating, the lack of loyality of players for their team and the team for the players, ratings battles, non-sport sporting events, etc... all the things that have totally driven Father Geek(a sports nut as a kid)away from watching any of today's professional sports. And from our long conversation on the flight to the Big Apple this was exactly what Director John McTiernan wanted to do, to highlight with this film. He wanted to holdup for public scrutinity the current BAD aspects of pro sports today. Well, this may make for a scathing sociological sports document, buuuuuut it didn't make for a very good motion picture. I agree with virtually all of Harry's comments in his review of this cut of the film, check it all out by Just Clicking Here if you have not read it yet. It's Father Geek's understanding that the film has been pushed back from its August release to late November. If that is indeed the case then maybe they will take the time to be able to correct its problems as pointed out in Harry's detailed review. I certainly hope so because the original is one of my all time favorite sport movies (own it on VHS, DVD, and 16mm) and this COULD be a great prequel for it. Plus John McTiernan is one of my favorite American action directors (ever since 1986's NOMADS), and I hate to see him put a print this muddled before his loyal public.
Now on to Darius25 and the regular Asia-AICN column...
Asia-AICN
Hey all, I hope you've all been well. While our last column was a little
skimpy on news items, we are back with a rather packed one this week
with much info on many new films including an Indian version of "The
Godfather", "Awaara Paagal Deewana (The Drifter, the Fool and the
Lover)", "The Tuxedo", "I'm Looking for Mr. Perfect", "Dead or Alive:
Final" and "Minna No Ie (Everybody's House)". We also have some new pics
from "Maa Tujhe Salaam (A Salute to Mother)", "Shaolin Soccer", "Legend
of Zu", and "Fighting for Love". Now here's the latest from Asia.
INDIA
Now on to Darius25 and the regular Asia-AICN column...
Asia-AICN
Hey all, I hope you've all been well. While our last column was a little
skimpy on news items, we are back with a rather packed one this week
with much info on many new films including an Indian version of "The
Godfather", "Awaara Paagal Deewana (The Drifter, the Fool and the
Lover)", "The Tuxedo", "I'm Looking for Mr. Perfect", "Dead or Alive:
Final" and "Minna No Ie (Everybody's House)". We also have some new pics
from "Maa Tujhe Salaam (A Salute to Mother)", "Shaolin Soccer", "Legend
of Zu", and "Fighting for Love". Now here's the latest from Asia.
INDIA
Hey all, I hope you've all been well. While our last column was a little
skimpy on news items, we are back with a rather packed one this week
with much info on many new films including an Indian version of "The
Godfather", "Awaara Paagal Deewana (The Drifter, the Fool and the
Lover)", "The Tuxedo", "I'm Looking for Mr. Perfect", "Dead or Alive:
Final" and "Minna No Ie (Everybody's House)". We also have some new pics
from "Maa Tujhe Salaam (A Salute to Mother)", "Shaolin Soccer", "Legend
of Zu", and "Fighting for Love". Now here's the latest from Asia.
INDIA
INDIA
- I just knew this was eventually coming!! Director Mahesh Manjrekar, not over his obsession with gangster films, has revealed that he is currently writing an Indian version of "The Godfather" - now here's the shocker - for the Bachchan clan!!!! Now I can see Amitabh Bachchan playing the Brando role but Abhishek as Al Pacino?????? This is way, way, way too farfetched. Was Sanjay Dutt not available?? Anyway, Manjrekar wants this to be a big-budget mega-starrer so expect the who's who of Bollywood to show up in bit roles. Sanjay Dutt will have a role in the film, my guess would probably be the James Caan role while Dharmendra and Jeetendra are expected to appear aswell.
- Twinkle Khanna has opted out of director Vikram Bhatt's "Awaara Paagal Deewana (The Drifter, the Fool, and the Lover)". The reason given was the tired old scheduling conflict excuse and her decision to leave the film is rather odd, given that her husband (Akshay Kumar) plays one of the leads. The producers are now looking for another actress to be paired opposite Kumar. The action-comedy also features Sunil Shetty, Aftaab Shivdasani, Preeto Jhangiani, Paresh Rawal, and Jackie Shroff. Shooting is about to commence shortly and the film will be releasing sometime in the spring.
- Producer Rikku Rakesh Naath has signed director Satish Kaushik for his next home-production. The film will star Rikku's son, Karan Naath, who makes his debut tomorrow in "Paagalpan (Craziness)".
- While his first release doesn't hit the screens till tomorrow, Karan Naath has also been signed for another film. He will now play the title character in director Raman Kumar's "Athlete". Naath is the only one signed so far because the film is still in the early stages of pre-production as the director is currently busy touching up the screenplay for Anupam Kher's "Om Jai Jagdish".
- Actor Jackie Shroff has signed K. Shashilaal Nair to direct for his next home-production in which he will play the lead once again. Nandita Das and Sushmita Sen have been signed as the leading ladies while Jackie is looking for another major actor to appear in the film.
- Some new stills have appeared from the sets of director Tinu Verma's "Maa Tujhe Salaam (A Salute to Mother)". The patriotic action-film stars Sunny Deol, Tabu and Arbaaz Khan. It is about the recent attack on the Indian region of Kargil by Pakistan.
Here's a (not-so) patriotic pic of Sunny Deol (warning: the pic features the blatant overuse of Indian flag-waving): Just Click
Here's a pic of Director Tinu Verma and Sunny Deol: Click Here
Sunny Deol again, drinking coffee while looking really pissed off!!: Click
CHINA / HK
Here is the weekly report from AccSpy:
- Jackie Chan will start filming "The Tuxedo" from September in Toronto, Canada. The film is produced by Dreamworks and is expected to finish shooting before next February.
- Another Jackie Chan update - it seems that the he will now star in the two films he's producing next year - "Operation Condor 3" and "The Art of War". The Art of War will be HK's most expensive film to date, with the planned budget exceeding $75 million USD. The film is still in the premilinary stages right now so I wouldn't line up for it yet. "Operation Condor 3" will start shooting in India early next year and production details are still being planned. It is rumoured that this new film might feature actor Ekin Cheng and also Indian actor Akshay Kumar. I will let you know more about these two films once more info is released.
- Director Ringo Lam ("Full Contact", "City on Fire") will direct "I'm Looking for Mr. Perfect" for Chinastar Studios. Shu Qi is in talks to star.
- Already predicted as the biggest HK movie of this summer, Stephen Chow's "Shaolin Soccer" has already been scheduled a winter release in North America according to Apple Daily. Here's some info. and pics from the would-be summer blockbuster.
"Soccer-kung-fu" is invented in the movie: Go Here Now
Here's another pic of the same: Click Here
And yet another one: Go Right Here
Stephen Chow, in front of a green background to use his character's secret weapon, the "Tiger Shoot": Click Right Here
Team Shaolin's biggest enemy, the brutal Team Devil: Just Click Now -
Some recent stills were also released from Tsui Hark's highly anticipated "Legend of Zu". Here's a bunch of them featuring Ekin Cheng and Cecilia Cheung.
Ekin, look familiar?: Go Here
Cecilia: Just Click
Ekin and Cecilia: Click Here
- Director Ann Hui's controversial horror film, "Visible Secret", ate up a stunning $3.7 million HKD in just three days. The film, starring Shu Qi and Eason Chan, enjoyed a similar performance as the Japanese horror flick "The Ring" two years ago which ended up grabbing $30 million HKD that summer. Ann Hui's last film, HKFA best picture winner "Ordinary Heroes", collected less then $1 million HKD during its theatrical run. "Dr. T & Women" debuted at no.2 with $1.3 million while "Cop Shop Babes" fell to no.3. Louis Koo and Daniel Wu suffered a disappointing debut with "Born Wild" opening at no.4 with just $0.6 million while "Valentine" and "One Night at McCool's" debuted at no. 5 and no.6, respectively. This weekend, Tony Leung Chiu-wai will unfold his comedic side in "Fighting for Love", directed by Joe Ma (the Feel 100% series) and also starring Sammi Cheng, the film will be sure to have a hard fight for the no.1 spot with the unexpectedly successful "Visible Secret". Here's some pics from the sets of the film:
Chow lai-kei and Tony: Click
Sammi and Tony: Click Here
It looks like Tony enjoyed making out with both girls in the film. Here's a pic of him with Sammi: Just Click Here
And here he is with Lai-kei: Click Now
JAPAN
Pigmon is back this week with lots of cool Japanese news for you. Enjoy:
- The new poster design for "Godzilla, King Gidorah, Mothra: All Monsters Attack!" is now up on the official website at http://www.godzilla.co.jp. Rumours state that Toei is making a short Godzilla anime to play with the new film. The anime short will be targeted towards younger viewers and will feature a cutesy battle between Godzilla and a hamster!
- Kihachi Okamoto is making a new movie for the first time in 6 years. "Jo Ta To Ya Jo Roku" is a samurai movie based on the 60's TV series. The main characters in the film will be played by Hiroyuki Sanada ("East Meets West") and Kyoka Suzuki ("Satorare").
- Hisako Matsui ("Yukie") is currently shooting her new film, "Inori Ume" about an Alzheimer's patient who discovers a new talent, painting, in order to deal with the disease. Harada Mieko plays the main role in the film.
- Takashi Miike's new film will be "Dead Or Alive: Final". It will be a low-budget Kung-Fu flick set in the near future and produced by Jackie Chan. The film will soon start production in Hong Kong and then Macao. Meanwhile, Miike's next two films - "Tengoku Kara Kita Otoko Tachi" and "Katakuri Ke No Kohuku"- are ready to release in Japan.
- I just saw the wonderful film by director Koki Mitani, "Minna No Ie (Everybody's House)" , and found it to be one of the best contemporary Japanese comedies in years. The film is about a young couple's attempt to build a house which results in a hilarious feud between the wife's mother (a traditional carpenter) and a modern architect hired to design the place. The film features a lot of Japanese humour, but it isn't too complicated for a Western audience. It played to rave reviews in England during "Japan Week" and will be released in over 15 countries early next year.
