PAINTED SKIN Tops Singapore Weekend Box Office

"Painted Skin" tops last weekend’s Singapore box office despite strong competition from Mamma Mia! The Movie. It has earned S$471, 798 (as of 28 September) since its opening last Friday. The power of the supernatural...

It's "Now or Never"

A music video from Walt Disney's upcoming "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" to whet your appetite. Click here to dance with Troy and Gabriella! We sense happy feet....

Wayne Wang Retrospective

Golden Village Pictures is bringing Hollywood Director Wayne Wang to Singapore on October 13 for a "Filmmaking Tutorial for Aspiring Auteur". An informal workshop where participants can ask all the "how-to" questions about indie-filmmaking and a public lecture "From Indie to Commercial and Back Again" on October 11. There will also be daily screenings of Wayne Wang's past works such as "Joy Luck Club", "Smoke" and "Last Holiday" from 9 to 15 October. For more details, visit http://www.gv.com.sg/

Goodbye to a Legend: Paul Newman

U.S. screen legend Paul Newman has died of cancer at the age of 83. Newman appeared in such classic films as "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "The Hustler," "Cool Hand Luke" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and won an Oscar in 1986 for "The Color of Money". He is better known to the younger generation as the voice of Hudson Hornet in the Pixar animated movie "Cars".

The Dark Knight On Blu-ray!

"The Dark Knight" Blu-ray DVD has been announced for release on 9th December. Extras include a Gotham Uncovered documentary, featurettes (Batman Tech: The Incredible Gadgets and Tools, Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight), 6 episodes of Gotham Cable's Premier News Program, galleries (The Joker Cards, Concept Art, Poster Art, Production Stills), trailers and TV spots. A limited edition set with Batpod will also be available. Cool! Hover to DVDactive for more details.

Red Carpet at the Bangkok International Film Festival 2008

A number of leading Asian celebrities arrived for the red carpet on Sep 26, including Leon Lai, Lee Dong Wook, Michael Wong, Makoto, Robin Shou, Andrew Lau, Peter Chan, Ananda Everingham, Fann Wong and HSH Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol MC, accompanied by cast members from 'King Naresuan'. Also, famous actor also a director, Jean-Claude Van Damme, accompanied by Cludia Bassol, renowned producer Roger Corman, Iain Smith and American actor Armand Assante also attended the gala screening.

The Golden Kinnaree Awards Gala will take place on September 28th, 2008 at Aksra Theatre, King Power Complex, HRH Princess Ubolrat Ratchakalya Siriwattana Pannawadi will present the Golden Kinnaree Awards to the winners of the Main Competition and the South East Asian Competition.

KylieX2008 Live In Singapore

After wowing audiences and critics across the UK and Europe with the KylieX2008 Tour which kicked off in Paris in May 2008, Live Nation Asia is excited to announce Kylie Minogue one night only performance
in Singapore Indoor Stadium on 25th November 2008. Tickets: S$100, S$150, S$250, S$375, S$550. Tickets on sale at 9am – Friday 3rd October, 2008 from SISTIC Booking Hotline: (65) 6348-5555. Online Booking: www.sistic.com.sg

Legendary Assassin

The $4m film, "Legendary Assassin" marks the directorial debut of hot action actor Wu Jing (past credits include "Invisible Target" and "Fatal Move") who is co-directing with Li Chung Chi. Wu also heads the cast along with Alex Fong and newcomer Celina Jade. The kick-ass trailer can be view here

STORM RIDER: CLASH OF EVILS

Touted the biggest Chinese animation this year based on Hong Kong’s most influential and popular comic series by Ma Wing Shing. Click here for the poster & teaser trailer...opens 9 October.

THE 24TH SINGAPORE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

Over 20 French films make their debut screening in Singapore during the upcoming 24th Singapore French Film Festival from 3 till 12 October 2008. Films from a wide variety of genres will feature France’s finest actors and directors, as well as award winners and box office hits. Four animated films will also be screened, making this year’s festival a cinematic family affair. The films will be screened at the Alliance Française Theatre, The Picturehouse and The Cathay Cineplex. For more information: http://www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg/

King of California

Academy Award winner Michael Douglas often plays successful business executives and political figures. Think The American President (1995) and Traffic (2000). However did director Mike Cahill manage to turn the established actor into a disheveled, scruffy and unkempt resident of a mental institution?
We check out the indie flick, "King of California" to see whether Michael Douglas deserve some recognition for acting looney.

Connected - Pics from Hong Kong Gala Premiere (19 Sep)

Stephen Chow is 'Hornet's' Kato

According to "The Hollywood Reporter", Stephen Chow is teaming up with "Knocked Up" star Seth Rogen to bring the superhero to the big screen. Chow will not only star in "The Green Hornet" as Kato but also make his American directorial debut. The part of Kato originally stars the late Bruce Lee who happens to be Chow's idol. The Hornet has a June 25, 2010 release date.

"Connected" Cast Special Appearance

"CONNECTED" stars Louis Koo, Barbie Hsu aka 'Big S' and director Benny Chan will be in Singapore on 23rd September for a promotional tour. They will make a special appearance at Open Plaza - The atrium@orchard (Level 1, next to Plaza Singapura) at 7:45 pm and also 9pm at Shaw Lido for the gala premiere. By the way, have you drop your entries to win a pair of gala tickets yet? If not, hover right here, time is running out...

Cape No. 7 Coming...

"Cape No. 7" which grossed an estimated NT 60 million (SGD2.66 million) at the box office since its theatrical release is slated for release in Singapore at the end this year. "Cape No. 7" has been selected to represent Taiwan in the next Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The movie stars Taiwan pop singer Van Fan and Chie Tanaka. Watch this space for further developments...

Hulk Wanted

"The Incredible Hulk" will unleash his fury in a single disc edition, a 2-disc edition and a steelbook edition DVD with extras including commentary with director Louis Leterrier & cast. The Angelina Jolie's action movie, "Wanted" on the other hand comes with Behind-the-Scenes featurette. Looks like October will be a busy month for home videos.

Diminishing Memories at the Arts House

DIMINISHING MEMORIES I & II OPEN AT THE ARTS HOUSE FROM 19th September 2008
Screenings will be followed by the director’s Q&A sessions
**The filmmaker will donate her proceeds from the premiere to The Substation and the Asian Film Archive**

Thirty-one-year-old filmmaker Eng Yee Peng is a former resident of Lim Chu Kang before this rural community was uprooted to give way to redevelopment. Gone are the good, old kampong days; and her childhood memories, once fresh, are fading.
Diminishing Memories I & II are two thought-provoking and intimate documentaries, a tribute to Yee Peng’s indelible memories of Lim Chu Kang.
Follow Yee Peng’s personal journey in her attempt to re-capture her lost childhood and her struggle in letting her beloved kampong go. Both films are narrated in Mandarin and subtitled in English, with interviews conducted in Mandarin, English and the Teochew dialect.

Synopsis
Diminishing Memories I (50mins) takes you on a personal journey with Eng Yee Peng, the filmmaker, to recollect her childhood memories of living in Lim Chu Kang, a village that has already died and its spirit dispersed. Find out more about the former Lim Chu Kang community and landscape; with the use of archival photographs, old 16-mm film footage, interviews of former residents, and an animation that will piece together memories of kampong life that is almost unheard of today.

Diminishing Memories II (49mins) Prompted by the Singapore government’s recent announcement of a plan to turn Lim Chu Kang into an agriculture-cum-entertainment attraction, Yee Peng sets out to revisit vestiges of her haunting childhood for the second time. A new film with fresh content on interviews with the new investors and current tenants of Lim Chu Kang, Yee Peng is forced to face the deepest fear in her heart. Find out how she learns to accept the much-changed Lim Chu Kang community and how the evolving times have also altered its spirit.

Trailers & Reviews of the films: http://diminishingmemories.spaces.live.com

Film Screenings:
Fridays (19th September & 3rd October)- 7:30pm
Saturdays (20th September & 4th October)- 4pm, 7:30pm

Venue:
The Arts House, Screening Room
Address: 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
(Nearest MRT- Raffles Place)

Ticket Prices:
S$8.50 Full
S$6.50 Concession (Students & Senior Citizens)

Tickets are available at The Arts House Box Office
Only 75 tickets per screening, book early to avoid disappointment!

Ticket Bookings:
The Arts House Ticketing Hotline: 6332 6919 or email tickets@toph.com.sg
Bulk Bookings: 6332 6912 or email martini@toph.com.sg
The Arts House Website: http://www.theartshouse.com.sg/event_details_2008.php?id=826

Suit Up for Action with Iron Man!

With a local box-office of $3.8 million, suit up for action with Iron Man comes October! The code 3 DVD will come in three editions. The single disc retails at $29.90, the 2-Disc edition with plentiful of extras including deleted scenes, screen test, visual effects, still galaries and many more at $42.90 and a limited mask edition at $69.90. There will be a free Phone Sticker upon purchase of the 1 Disc DVD and Free Fitness voucher as well.

New York New York I Love You

Can't get enough of Paris, je t'aime ? well the producer of that Anthology of Love stories set in Paris is back with another series of love story and this time, the setting will take place in New York.

Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman, the two very well known Hollywood stars will be directing debuts. Can they act as well as they direct? There is only one way to find out and that's keeping an eye out for this film.

and since Love is the main theme, it's likely we might get it by coming Valentine Day or somewhere around that period .... you know, to spread the love around

Tomb Raider on your mobile?

Electronic Arts Inc announced that it has signed an agreement with Eidos Interactive, creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties which sees the exclusive licensing rights from the Eidos catalogue being granted to EA Mobile™. The agreement provides licences to EA across all existing mobile channels and mobile devices for four key titles: Tomb Raider Underworld, Just Cause 2, California Games X and Minesweeper with a future option on the mobile versions of the majority of Eidos videogame properties for a period of three years.

8th Asian Film Symposium

In its 8th year running, the Asian Film Symposium (AFS) has proven itself to be an important and vital regional film programme. Both a film festival and an industry-networking event, AFS has brought together prominent, young filmmaking talents and established curators from Asia to share information, resources and industry experience from their respective territories.

Furthermore, filmmakers whose works were previously featured at AFS have moved on to win awards and make their first feature films. Tan Chui Mui, Malaysian filmmaker for the acclaimed "Love Conquers All", had her short film "A Tree in Tanjung Malim" screened at the 5th AFS. Singapore filmmaker Han Yew Kwang has also moved on to produce two feature films including the successful "Unarmed Combat", a feature-length expansion of his original short film.

8TH ASIAN FILM SYMPOSIUM FILM PROGRAMME
14 Sept Sunday - The Picturehouse
6.30pm – Reception, Opening films "Kawaii" & "Lovers on the Road"

15 Sept Monday - The Substation, Theatre
7.30pm – Director's Talk by Tony Kern and Eng Yee Peng on Marketing & Distributing Documentaries + Screening of "A Month of Hungry Ghosts"

18 Sept Thursday - The Substation, Theatre
7.30pm - S-Express: Singapore and Malaysia

19 Sept Friday - The Substation, Theatre
7.30pm - S-Express: Thailand and Indonesia

20 Sept Saturday - The Substation, Theatre
1.30pm - Producer's Workshop by Kelvin Sng + Screening of "My Blue Heaven" & "Together"
4.30pm - Forum on Film Financing models
7.30pm - S-Express: Chinese 1

21 Sept Sunday - The Substation, Theatre
1.30pm - Medium Length Films: Philippines
4.30pm – Filmmaker's Seminar by HK Filmmaker Angie Chen
7.30pm - S-Express: Chinese 2

22 Sept Monday - The Picturehouse
7pm - Closing films "Summar" & "This Darling Life", Q&A and Reception

More information about the programme can be found here http://www.substation.org/AFS08.html

MIRRORS Preview Contest

For those who are interested to catch "MIRRORS", the new horror thriller starring Kiefer '24' Sutherland. Do drop in your entries in our mailbox and stand to win tickets to a special preview on Tuesday, 16th September 2008, 7pm at Golden Village @ Great World City courtesy of 20th Century Fox. More details here... Act quick because the contest will only run over this weekend!

The Days (歲月) Music Videos

Groove to It!
For a local indie film, it's quite rare to see a soundtrack being created to accompany the movie, but I guess no efforts are being spared in making The Days (歲月) an all-encapsulating experience with its snazzy looking website with downloadable action figures (yes, you'll be floored), online comics, and 3 music videos being produced, which you can also watch here:


《懂》Knowing


《分叉路》Crossroad

And my personal favourite:

《還我自由》My Freedom

The Days opens in cinemas Today!
Open Liao! Faster Run and See!

Related Links
The Days Official Website
Blog Site
Site at Ning.com

Missing You­

InnoForm Media's latest tele-movie "Missing You"­ has commenced filming on 6th September at Kallang Leisure Park. Missing You­ stars MediaCorp Radio Y.E.S 933 DJ Lin Pei Fen, MediaCorp artiste Dasmond Koh, Joshua Ang and veteran actress and host Xu Qiong Fang. "Missing You"­ marks Pei Fen and Qiong Fang's debut tele-movie performance and Joshua's first project after completing his national service (spotted him during my in-camp stint last year and now ORD liao). The tele-movie which is estimated to cost $150 thousand to produce is directed by Lim Kun Hui. Missing You­ is tentatively scheduled for video release on DVD and VCD format in November this year.

Of Merger, Acquisition and Distribution

EMI Music and Warner Music Group Corp announced today a new marketing and distribution partnership in South East Asia, building on the companies’ existing relationship in India, the Middle East and North Africa. Under the multi-year license agreement, Warner Music Group will market and distribute EMI’s worldwide repertoire in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Thailand. WMG will serve as the exclusive local physical and digital distributor of all EMI Music releases. EMI will continue to develop global digital partnerships which will include these territories. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Postmodern Life of My Aunt

From this week onwards, in addition to the usual batch of current release movies and DVDs, we will also be introducing some little unseen gems to our dear readers. First up, "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt" starring Siqin Gaowa, Chow Yun Fat and Zhao Wei. This Ann Hui directed, Made-in-China tragicomedy won the Best Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards. For something that explores the modern values and views of life of the Chinese society, hunt down this title for a change of taste.

Money No Enough 2 Got Legs

It's into the 6th week and still going strong. At last count, "Money No Enough 2" has accumulated $4 million plus at the box-office beating even "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" the past weekend to place 2nd while "12 Lotus" is still struggling to reach $1 million. A misfire at the Royston's camp this time. Jack & Company on the other hand should be busy counting the dollars.

Best Film for 65th Venice Film Festival

"The Wrestler" directed by Darren Aronofsky won the GOLDEN LION for Best Film this year at the 65th Venice Film Fest. The film centers on Randy "The Ram" Robinson played by Mickey Rourke, a 1980s-era star pro wrestler who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. Aronofsky's last theatrical release was "The Fountain" which bomb big-time. We hope "The Wrestler" do better at the box-office this time.

Song Hye-kyo filming in Singapore!

Fans of Song Hye-kyo! Guess who is in town?

The Korean Beauty who starred in films like "My Girl & I" & "Hwang Jin Yi" and the popular Korean Drama series "Full House" & "All-In" is in town to film another drama series.

It had been reported that she will be in town for two weeks to film two episodes of her new drama series"Their World". Keep a look out for her as she had already been spotted in a Korean restaurant downtown.

R-A-W-K Your World

Catch the most rocking Disney Channel Original Movie - CAMP ROCK this Sunday (7th Sept) 7.30pm only on Disney Channel!

Listen out for the CAMP ROCK soundtrack featuring Jonas Brothers, which includes "This Is Me", "Play My Music" and "We Rock" - Come on, rock our world!

ERIC KHOO’S MY MAGIC IS SINGAPORE’S SUBMISSION

Highly anticipated local feature film, MY MAGIC directed by award-winning Eric Khoo has been chosen by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC) as Singapore's official entry to the Academy for Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' Best Foreign Language Film Award. The story about a complex relationship between a father and son addresses issues of love, life, family ties, redemption and magic. The nominees for the 81st Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be announced on 22 January 2009 with the awards ceremony to be held on 22 February 2009 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. MY MAGIC produced by Zhao Wei Films will be opening in Singapore on 26th September.

Cut to the Chase

"The Chaser", a Korean crime thriller directed by Na Hong-jin which turned out to be a surprising hit in the slump-laden Korean film industry earlier this year will open here on 25 September. The thriller has received many positive reviews, remember to judge for yourself later this month.

Get Your Soundtrack Autographed!

As much as we love our soundtrack albums, we are still waiting for the day when composers would take a trip down to Singapore to have them autographed. But come this Saturday, "12 Lotus" will be thanking everyone for their kind support with a "12 Lotus" soundtrack autograph session. Other than a splendid performance by the movie cast and singers from the OST, you could also get their autographs on your "12 Lotus" soundtrack lyrics booklet! In the movie, Royston teams up with the Queen of Getais Liu Ling Ling, talented actors Qi Yu Wu and Mindee Ong, while for the music, Royston works with Eric Ng, following suit the success of "881".

In the OST, Eric Ng applies the formula of modernized music arrangement in Chinese pop music onto the Hokkien songs. The result of the new improvised sound of these Hokkien songs is what Eric affectionately refers to as “Hip Hokk”.

Want to get your OST signed? Details of the "12 Lotus" movie promotion & soundtrack autograph session are here:

Date: 6th September, Saturday
Time: 2pm
Venue: Jurong Point (Centre Stage)

Also, read our reviews of the "12 Lotus" and "881" soundtracks.

DVD...DVD...DVD...DVD...DVD...

This week we go a bit indie, a bit frenchy and a bit local. First up, a serious little-known drama "Little Fish" which you’d expect to see stellar performances from its cast including Cate Blanchett. Next a 2007 French picture which tells the story of playwright cum actor "Molière". Lastly, our local actress/host Kym Ng hams it up as a tai tai in the underrated "Gone Shopping". Happy watching..

The Good, The Bad & The Weird

Further to our earlier post, Korea's highest grossing film released in 2008, "The Good, The Bad & The Weird" has secured a release date of 13 November here. The exciting action-comedy is about three Korean out-laws in 1930's Manchuria and their dealings with the Japanese army and Chinese & Russian bandits. Sounds like we will have a romping good time.