Michael Copon and Karen David in The Scorpion King 2

HAPAs Michael Copon (Filipino-American father and a German-American mother) and Karen David (half Chinese/Khasi mother and a father from Chennai, India) can be seen in The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. Michael Copon plays Mathayus, while Karen David plays Layla. The two are the central characters in the films. The film is described as how the Legend of the Scorpion King Began. (Sorry, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not in the film.) The movie follows the quest of Mathayus for vengeance against Sargon (UFC Champion Randy Couture). His journey transforms him into the most feared warrior of the ancient world.

Here's more on Michael Copon's character:
As a boy of 13, Mathayus (Michael Copon) witnessed his renowned warrior father murdered by jealous rival, Sargon. Vowing to avenge his father, Mathayus trains hard in the Black Scorpions Academy, growing into a strapping young man and skilled fighter. At age 20, Mathayus graduates and learns Sargon has not only become ruler of Akkad, but has acquired black magical powers that stymie Mathayus' attempt to assassinate him. Convinced that his only hope of defeating Sargon (UFC Champion Randy Couture) is by retrieving a charmed sword from the Underworld, Mathayus embarks on a perilous supernatural odyssey.

Here's more on Karen David's character:
A childhood friend of Mathayus and a tomboyish wannabe-warrior. As a young girl, Layla (Karen David) is forbidden entry into the Black Scorpions Academy because she is female. An independent and feisty spirit, Layla is not content being told what to do, however, and she spends the years training on her own in secrecy. Longin for a life full of adventure Layla leaves her fat suitor at the altar and joins Mathayus on his quest.

Watch The Scorpion King 2 trailer


Interview with Michael Copon and Karen David for The Scorpion King 2

2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival Trailer

San Diego, the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival is coming up running from October 9th through the 16th. So far, they've secure the top Asian American films, along with films from more than 13 countries including the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, India, Singapore, and many other regions around the world!

Here's the list from their site. This list is subject to change.

DRAMATIC NARRATIVE FEATURES
200 Pounds Beauty directed by Yong-Hwa Kim (S. Korea)
Accuracy of Death directed by Masaya Kakei (Japan)
Always: Sunset on Third Street directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Japan)
Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Japan)
An American in China directed by Ron Berrett (U.S./China)
Assembly directed by Feng Xiaogang (China/Hong Kong)
Big Man Japan directed by Hitoshi Matsumoto (Japan)
Black Belt directed by Shunichi Nagasaki (Japan)
Chocolate directed by Prachya Pinkaew (Thailand)
Dance of the Dragon directed by John Radel (Singapore)
Dororo directed by Akihiko Shiota (Japan)
Drawing Paper directed by Sunhee Kim (S. Korea)
The Fish Fall in Love directed by Ali Rafi'I (Iran)
Foster Child (John John) directed by Brilliante Mendoza (Philippines)
Genghis Khan: To The Ends of the Earth directed by Shinichiro Sawai (Japan)
Hellcats directed by Kwon Chil-in (S. Korea)
Kissing Cousins directed by Amyn Kaderali (U.S.)
L: Change The World directed by Hideo Nakata (Japan)
Lovers directed by Carl Zhang (Hong Kong)
Magazine Gap Road directed by Nicholas Chin (Hong Kong)
My Father directed by Dong Hyeuk Hwang (S. Korea/U.S.)
Ocean of Pearls directed by Sarab Neelam (U.S.)
Open City directed by Lee Sang-Gi (S. Korea)
Ping Pong Playa directed by Jessica Yu (U.S.)
Planet B-Boy directed by Benson Lee
Santa Mesa directed by Ron Morales (U.S./Philippines)
Secret directed by Jay Chou (Hong Kong)
Shadows in the Palace directed by Kim Mee-jeung. (S. Korea)
Sleepwalking Through the Mekong directed by John Pirozzi
Slingshot (Tirador) directed by Brilliante Mendoza (Philippines)
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers directed by Wayne Wang (U.S.)
Vexille directed by Fumihiko Sori (Japan)
The White Silk Dress directed by Luu Huynh (Vietnam)
The World Unseen Directed by Shamim Sarif (S. Africa)

FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
Against the Grain: An Artist's Survival Guide to Peru directed by Ann Kaneko (Peru)
A Cricket in the Court of Akbar directed by Andrew Mendelson (U.S./India)
Children of the Stars directed by Rob Aspey
Dirty Hands directed by Harry Kim (U.S./Africa/Japan)
Family Inc. by Emily Ting (U.S./China)
Follow Your Hearts: China's New Youth Movement directed by Duncan Jepson
Hollywood Chinese directed by Arthur Dong (U.S.)
House of Sharing directed by Hein Seok (S. Korea)
The Killing of a Chinese Cookie directed by Derek Shimoda (U.S.)
Meaning of Tea directed by Scott Chamberlin Hoyt (U.S./Japan/India/Morocco)
Mystic Ball directed by Greg Hamilton (Myanmar/Canada)
Oh, Saigon directed by Doan Hoang (U.S./Vietnam)
Passing Poston directed Joe Fox and James Nubile (U.S.)
Please Vote for Me directed Weijun Chen (China/S. Africa/Denmark)
Red Race directed by Chao Gan (China)
Shame directed by Mohammed Naqvi (Pakistan)
Sleepwalking in the Mekong directed by John Pirozzi (Cambodia)
The Story of Spirits directed by Tien Nguyen (U.S./Vietnam)
Wings of Defeat directed by Risa Morimoto (U.S.)
Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown directed by Daisy Lin Shapiro (U.S.)
Under the Skin directed by Billy Burke (U.S./Japan)

SHORT FILMS
364 Cranes directed by Vincent Lin
A Drop of Life directed by Shalini Kantayya
A Passing Rain directed by Myoung Hwa Kim
The Agent directed by David Kim
Aim For The Heart: A Guide to Vampire Defense directed by Fernando Huerto
The Asian Arrow directed by Richard B Quebral
An Immigrant Girl’s Journey directed by Lonny Stevens
Anjali directed by Maya Anand
Bite Me directed by Jason Fong
Blood Debts directed by Roland Nguyen
Bombay Skies directed by Rita Rani
Bookie directed by Bao Tran
The Breakup directed Erica Eng
California King directed by Eli Akira Kauffman
Celebration directed by Rochelle Lozada
Cookies for Sale directed by Wes Kim
Damn the Past! directed by Julie Kang
Dance of a Freebird directed by Ruslan Pak
Dead Man's Hour directed Nathan Kitada
Dear Heidi directed by John Ferrie
Drowning directed Erica Eng
EAT directed by Arvin Chen, Danny Jai Lee, & Jon Maxwell
Escaping the Norm by Glenn Gimutao
Follow the Signs directed by Steve Godwin
Gandhi at the Bat directed by Stephanie Argy
Giving Care directed Clarissa De Los Reyes
I-Hotel directed by Jason Nou
Just directed by Edward Gunawan
Legend directed by Mark Villegas
Kali Ma directed Soman Chainani
Knees directed by Minhyun Park
LibraAmor directed by Steve Ellington
Light My Fire directed Lee Jong-Pil
Light Years directed by Richard Martin
The Little Knave directed by Sarah Naomi Campbell
Little Manila directed by Marissa Aroy
Look Again directed by Jennifer Lin
Mamo's Weeds directed by Akira Boch
Miss Popularity directed by Wayne Yung
Moon Lady directed by Wendy Cheng
My First Crush directed by Rocky Jo
The Oh-Malleys in Daddy's My Mercedes directed by Chil Kong
Passage directed by Angela How
The Postcard directed by Josh Kim
Residue directed by Jared Davis
Save Ron Jr. directed by Michael Yubane (U.S.)
S/he directed by Gina Pei Chai Chen
Smile directed by Julia Kwan
Snap-shot directed by Suel Kim
Souvenirs from Asia directed by Joyce Wong
The State of Sunshine directed by Z. Eric Yang
Sublingual directed by Karen Lin
Tiffin directed by Ai Lene Chor
Timeless directed by Jeffrey Ferrer
The Trident directed by Anurag Mehta
Triple 8 Palace directed by Alexander Ku
Untitled directed by Edward Kim
What Happened on the Fourth Date directed by Vijay Mathew
With Every Breath directed by Lindsey Yung
WIANBU - Comfort Woman directed by James Bang
The Women's Kingdom directed by Xiaoli Zhou
You've Got Male directed by Ryan Kim and Christopher Nguyen

ANIMATION
Abridged directed by Arjun Rihan
Alien Abduction directed by David Han
Against the Grain directed by Kevin Kolodinsky
Apple/Bird & the Bee "Again & Again" directed by Dennis Liu
Awkward directed by Cesar Kuriyama
Battle of the Album Covers directed by Rohitash Rao
Hallucii directed by by Goo Shun Wang
Josie's Lalaland directed by Yibi Hu
Ketchup directed by Wenchung Lu
Magicicada directed by Benett Kim
Meat Days directed by Wen-ming Hsieh
The Mouse Trap directed by Woon Han
Nadal Vs. Alien directed by Tak Hoon Kim
The Possum directed by Chris Choy
Prekisstoric Times directed by Leo Matsuda
Sexy girl and Carpenter directed by Dong Keun Lee
Shooting Star directed by Ryan Chen
Snow Day directed by Kim Hazel
Sports and Diversions directed Bum Lee
Swimming Moon directed Nahomi Maki
Yellow Sticky Notes directed by Jeff Chiba Stearns


2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival Trailer

Michelle Krusiec in Henry Poole Is Here

Michelle Krusiec has a hilarious cameo as a young nurse in Henry Poole Is Here.

Here's the synopsis for Henry Poole Is Here

Luke Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Old School), Academy Award® nominee Adriana Barraza (Babel) and Radha Mitchell (Finding Neverland) star in a modern day fable about the unexpected wonders of the everyday from director Mark Pellington (U2 3D, The Mothman Prophesies). Henry Poole is Here tells the funny, poignant and uplifting story of a disillusioned man who attempts to hide from life in a rundown suburban tract home only to discover he cannot escape the forces of hope.

Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) just wants to disappear. Shattered by circumstances beyond his control, he offers full price on a cookie cutter house in a drab, middle-class, L.A. neighborhood through his perky realtor Meg (Cheryl Hines). But just as he settles in to his indulgent isolation with a case of vodka and all the junk food he can eat, his neighbor, a well-meaning busybody named Esperanza (Adriana Barraza), drops by with a plate of homemade tamales and a whole lot of questions.

Despite his desire for solitude, Henry can’t help noticing Dawn (Radha Mitchell), the beautiful young divorcée next door and her daughter Millie (Morgan Lily), an eight-year-old amateur spy who hasn’t spoken a word since her parents’ break-up. Henry’s self-imposed exile is shattered when Esperanza discovers a mysterious stain on Henry’s stucco wall that is seen to have miraculous powers. She begins leading pilgrimages to the “holy site” and invites church officials, including her pastor, Father Salizar (George Lopez), to inspect the apparition.

Although Henry remains skeptical, he finds himself gradually drawn back towards life, especially after his silent friendship with Millie brings him closer to Dawn. As news of the apparition spreads throughout the neighborhood and his feelings for Dawn grow, Henry realizes his plan to live out his days in quiet desperation is going to be much harder than he ever imagined.

Henry Poole Is Here trailer

2008 Asian Film Festival of Dallas

Just like the soaring temperatures that hit the metroplex this time every year, moviegoers can once again look forward to screaming-hot movie options at the 7th Annual Asian Film Festival of Dallas, scheduled from August 14th – 21st, 2008 at Landmark’s Magnolia Theater. With more than 40 films to choose from, movie fans can beat the heat with 8 days of film from 10 countries, including Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines. The Asian Film Festival of Dallas is more than just a film festival – it’s a combination of cinema and cultural experiences that help spread the importance of diversity among Asian Internationals, Asian-Americans and other groups in our community. With entries that range from traditional and lyrical beauty to the bleeding edge of modern film expression, the AFFD is proud to once again offer a fiery palette of movie options to Dallas enthusiasts. Many of these films are currently making the festival circuit, and more still have been imported directly from other countries. Either way, this may be your only option to see many of these on the big screen, before they gain a US distributor!

This year’s festival will open with “PING PONG PLAYA,“ the latest film from JESSICA YU, Academy-Award winning director of BREATHING LESSONS and IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, who will be in attendance with lead actor JIMMY TSAI. The Centerpience Film is "The Assembly" based on a true story of one man's journey in search of truth and honor in the aftermath of one of the bloodiest battles in the Chinese Civil War. The Closing Night Film is the much-anticipated satire “BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL,“ the directorial debut of Asian cult film hero TAK SAKAGUCHI (VERSUS, DEATH TRANCE), who will also be in attendance.

This should be an interesting documentary since the Olympics are taking place in Beijing.
Watch Boomtown Beijing trailer

Sulu poster for Star Trek movie released

Paramount Pictures revealed four new posters for Star Trek at VegasCon '08. In this round of releases, we catch a glimpse of John Cho as Sulu. Also the Star trek movie teaser was recently released as well.

Star trek movie teaser

Lucy Liu in Watching the Detectives

Love can shake up your life in the most surprising ways in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, "Watching the Detectives". Lucy Liu (Cashmere Mafia, Charlie's Angels, Lucky Number Slevin) and Cillian Murphy (The Dark Knight, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Red Eye) team up for this modern and twist-filled take on the familiar love story of boy-meets-girl.

Synopsis
Neil (Cillian Murphy) works in a vintage video store and wishes his life could be as exciting as the movies he watches night and day. Enter Violet (Lucy Liu), a real-life femme fatale who brings enough adventure into Neil's world to make him think he has suddenly stepped into one of his favorite movies. Being with Violet might just turn out to be a lot of fun - if he lives through it.

Buy Watching the Detectives DVD

Watching the Detectives trailer

George Takei in Ninja Cheerleaders

Marketing around this movie has centered around George Takei, since no one knows who the other three main characters are Trishelle Cannatella from MTV's Real World), Ginny Weirick, and Maitland McConnell. Watch this movie at your own risk.

April, Courtney and Monica are three beautiful, intelligent and tough college freshmen. They are finishing their first semester at Los Lomas Malas community college, the armpit of community college’s. They must do well on finals to gain entrance to an Ivy League University, cheer at the big game and rescue their Sensei (George Takei), who has been kidnapped by the mob, all by midnight so they can compete in the all-city strip off with the hopes of winning college money. All the while, dodging nosy cops, keeping their parents at bay, dealing with a perverted coach and smiling, talking or fighting their way through a slew of odd characters.

Buy Ninja Cheerleaders DVD

George Takei as Hiroshi in Ninja Cheerleaders


Ninja Cheerleaders teaser

Bobby Lee and Dr. Ken in Pineapple Express

Bobby Lee and Dr. Ken Jeong have roles as part of the Asian crime syndicate in the movie Pineapple Express. The members of the Kims of Comedy have small roles in the film, but funny in their cameos. Previously, Dr. Ken worked with Seth Rogen in the movie Knocked Up.

Pineapple Express synopsis

Lazy stoner Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver (James Franco): to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop (Rosie Perez) and the city's most dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole), he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him. And it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they're not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia; incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to kill them both. All aboard the Pineapple Express.

Pineapple Express Trailer

Leonardo Nam in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Leonardo Nam reprises his role as Brian McBrian in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. His love interest is Tibby (Amber Tamblyn). From the trailer, Leonardo Nam and Amber Tamblyn look to get intimate with each other. Here's more on the film: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Synopsis

Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Alexis Bledel reunite onscreen this summer as the lifelong best friends audiences fell in love with four years ago.

Based on Ann Brashares best-selling series of novels about four young women who share an unbreakable bond through the unpredictable events of their lives, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” catches up with Tibby, Carmen, Bridget and Lena in the months following their first year of college. Having been apart all year, their plans for the summer will take them even further along separate paths as each continues to experience the freedom, love, choices and challenging life lessons that mark their individual journeys toward adulthood. Now, it will take more than a hurried note or even a treasured pair of pants passed back and forth among them to keep their lives connected.

Feeling displaced at home with her mother expecting a new baby, and disappointed that her friends opted to spend the summer away, Carmen (America Ferrera) accepts a chance invitation to work backstage at a theater festival in Vermont. There, she surprisingly finds herself thrust into the spotlight for the very first time and simultaneously becomes the focus of the play’s handsome young leading man.

Tibby (Amber Tamblyn), meanwhile, remains in New York City to wrap an NYU film project while cautiously taking her relationship with Brian McBrian (Leonardo Nam, reprising his role from the first film) to the next level. When an unexpected crisis complicates everything, she must finally face her fear of getting close if she wants to let love in.


Bridget (Blake Lively), still struggling with the loss of her mother and questions about her past, travels to Turkey for an archaeological dig before realizing that the truths she needs to uncover are buried closer to home.

And Lena (Alexis Bledel), separated from first love Kostos (Michael Rady) and studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, meets a free-spirited fellow art student (Jesse Williams) who forces her to choose between holding on to her memories or mending her heart and pursuing an exciting new love.

For Tibby, Carmen, Bridget and Lena, communication was always as easy as breathing. Now, new priorities and rapid changes make it harder for them to keep in touch. Messages are sometimes missed… or misunderstood. But when it matters most, they will still reach out to those who know them best. Finding a way to share their experiences as they always have, with heart and humor, they will come to value more than ever the immeasurable power of their friendship.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 teaser


The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 trailer

Ninja Assassin behind the scenes

Here's a followup to the post about Rain in Ninja Assassin. German footage of Ninja Assassin behind the scenes surfaced over the weekend. One sequence shows Rain fighting about 10-15 other ninjas. Also Rain talks about the various martial arts used in the film. Enjoy the footage.

Ninja Assassin behind the scenes Part 1


Ninja Assassin behind the scenes Part 2

Kathleen Luong In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Vietnamese American actress and model Kathleen Luong plays Min Cheung in the film "In Search of a Midnight Kiss". Katie Luong stepped on the acting scene over ten years ago. Luong was born in Vietnam and grew up in Orange County which allowed her to enter the acting scene at a young age. Her film credits include a leading role in the short Lead; co-starring roles in Hunger, a film set for release later this year; Color Blind, a short currently on the festival circuit and Spirits, a Vietnamese horror film.

Luong’s supporting film roles include Missing Brendan starring Adam Brody, Edward Asner and Illeana Douglas; 8 Days, a short written and directed by comedian Dane Cook; Green Dragon starring Patrick Swayze and Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker; Dead Man on Campus directed by Alan Chon (“The Real World”) and starring Tom Everett Scott, Mark Paul Gosselaar and Linda Cardellini and 2 Days in the Valley starring Jeff Daniels, Teri Hatcher, James Spader and Academy Award winner Charlize Theron.

On the small screen Luong has taken on supporting roles in “Threat Matrix”, “JAG”, “The Magnificent Seven” and “Baywatch”.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss synopsis

From emerging, award-winning filmmaker Alex Holdridge and the producer of BEFORE SUNRISE and DAZED AND CONFUSED, IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS is a funny and bittersweet look at love, sex, and modern romance. With an unsold script, no concrete plans, and a love life reduced to getting caught in compromising positions (alone!), a twenty-nine-year aspiring writer, Wilson (Scoot McNairy) just had the worst year of his life. That is until his best friend, Jacob (Brian Matthew McGuire), browbeats him into posting a personal ad for New Year's Eve on Craig's List. When Vivian (Sara Simmonds), a sexy, sarcastic, and seemingly blind-date-from-hell responds, the two strangers embark on an unexpected, chaotic, and hilariously awkward journey through the black-and-white streets of Los Angeles hoping to meet the right one before the stroke of midnight.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss trailer

Nancy Wu in Frozen River

We spotted Nancy Wu in the film Frozen River. She plays Chen Li in the film. Nancy Wu is also the voice of Nana on Three Delivery and had a small role in West 32nd.

Here's synopsis for Frozen River

Frozen River is the story of Ray Eddy (Melissa Leo), an upstate New York trailer mom, who smuggles illegal immigrants from Canada into the United States over a Mohawk Indian Reservation. Normally a timid and reserved woman, Ray begins smuggling illegal immigrants as the only way to keep her family together after her husband takes off with the family’s down-payment for their new doublewide dream home. In order to make the money in time, Ray teams up with a Mohawk smuggler, Lila Littlewolf, and the two begin making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence River carrying illegal Chinese and Pakistani immigrants in the trunk of Ray’s Dodge Spirit. At the onset, Ray and Lila’s partnership seems doomed to failure as Lila normally doesn’t “work with whites,” but Lila’s eagerness to get her baby son back from her mother-in-law who has “stolen” him, lead Lila and Ray into an uneasy partnership.

Frozen River trailer

The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

There has been lots of buzz for The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor for the past few months. We posted the teaser and the theatrical trailer including behind the scenes footage. The movie has an Olympics tie-in with The Mummy Olympics Commercial. The cast even made and appearance at The Mummy Panel at Comic-Con. The wait it over. Catch The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in theaters opening today.

Synopsis

The blockbuster global "Mummy" franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the adventure series, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick O'Connell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas. Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex (newcomer Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah). And this time, the O'Connells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service.

Doomed by a double-crossing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) to spend eternity in suspended animation, China's ruthless Dragon Emperor and his 10,000 warriors have lain forgotten for eons, entombed in clay as a vast, silent terra cotta army. But when dashing adventurer Alex O'Connell is tricked into awakening the ruler from eternal slumber, the reckless young archaeologist must seek the help of the only people who know more than he does about taking down the undead: his parents.

As the monarch roars back to life, our heroes find his quest for world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Striding the Far East with unimaginable supernatural powers, the Emperor Mummy will rouse his legion as an unstoppable, otherworldly force...unless the O'Connells can stop him first.

The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor trailer

Midnight Meat Train directed by Ryuhei Kitamura

Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura, known for films such as Versus and Azumi, directs Clive Barker's The Midnight Meat Train. This film marks Kitamura's American filmmaking debut. Kitamura spent a long time looking for his first American movie project, having read nearly 50 scripts over the last five years.

In 2006, Kitamura’s manager set up a meeting with Lakeshore Entertainment’s Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi. Lucchesi told Kitamura they were doing a movie of The Midnight Meat Train and asked if he was familiar with it. “Of course I knew it,” Kitamura says. “It was Clive Barker! I read this original novel exactly twenty years ago, the first Clive Barker book published in Japan, back in 1987. I got the book on the first day it came out and read it. I just loved it.” Kitamura still owns the twenty-year-old Japanese first edition.

Kitamura expands, “I think this is one of the most gory, bloodiest movies ever made. It is a scary movie, but it’s not just about death. It’s about the great relationship between Leon and Maya, which is why I’m doing this. I’m not interested in just showing the blood and gore and splatter; there are too many movies like that. I need story and character and relationship, and this script had all that. So I tried to build that unique vision with my crew, my cast, my producers. I think that is how I put a little bit of my own blood into my film. Technically-speaking, since day one we’ve been not to have a single shot in the movie looks like something else. Everything should be something you’ve never seen before -- the angles, the lenses, the camerawork, the look -- everything should be something original.”

Midnight Meat Train synopsis

Next stop…death.

When Leon Kaufman’s (Bradley Cooper) latest body of work – a collection of provocative, nighttime studies of the city and its inhabitants – earns the struggling photographer interest from prominent art gallerist Susan Hoff (Brooke Shields), she propels him to get grittier and show the darker side of humanity for his upcoming debut at her downtown art space.

Believing he’s finally on track for success, Leon’s obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of serial killer Mahogany (Vinnie Jones), the subway murderer who stalks late-night commuters – ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways imaginable.

With his concerned girlfriend Maya (Leslie Bibb) fearing for his life, Leon’s relentless fascination with Mahogany lures him further and further into the bowels of the subways and ultimately into an abyss of pure evil – inadvertently pulling Maya right along with him.

Midnight Meat Train trailer

Keanu Reeves in Cowboy Bebop?

Rumor is that Fox is developing a live-action Cowboy Bebop movie based on the anime series of the same name. The role of Spike Spiegel is to be played by Keanu Reeves. As of now, there is no writer or director on this project yet.

Watch opening theme song of Cowboy Bebop

The Mummy 3 interview

Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, Luke Ford and Isabella Leong talk about their respective roles in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li talk about working with director Rob Cohen, while Isabella Leong calls for the "yeti." The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor opens tomorrow.

The Mummy 3 interview

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay DVD release

Harold and Kumar's latest adventure in now on DVD.

Here's the synopsis
America's favorite pothead pals, Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn), return with an uproariously un-PC sequel that skewers everything from racial prejudice to the president of the United States. HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY picks up shortly after the first film, cult favorite HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, as the boys plan an impromptu trip to the Mecca of Marijuana: Amsterdam. There, Harold will unite with the love of his life and Kumar will achieve cannabis bliss. The two soon find themselves in hot water when Kumar sneaks a bong onto the flight and is mistaken for a bomb-wielding terrorist. Indeed, after a run-in with racist Homeland Security agent Ron Fox (Rob Corddry of THE DAILY SHOW), the two land in the hottest water of all: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After escaping from prison and fleeing back to the U.S., the two set out across country to get help from Harold's politically connected former classmate, who is also marrying the girl that Kumar let get away. Along this oddball odyssey they will encounter incestuous rednecks, the KKK, gun-toting prostitutes, and a drugged-out Neil Patrick Harris (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER). But when the ex-classmate turns the two over to the authorities, Harold and Kumar must use their wits--plus a dash of luck and a dose of humility--to earn their freedom, win back their respective loves, and save their friendship.

Buy Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay DVD

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay trailer

The Mummy Panel at Comic-Con

The cast of The Mummy : Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was present at Comic-Con. Asian actors were there in full force with Isabella Leong, Michelle Yeoh, and Jet Li. Isabella Leong make her Hollywood debut in this film. She learned both English and martial arts for her role. Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li battle each other in what is labeled "The fight that all of Asia has been waiting for." Jet Li said he didn't need to do too much. With all the special effects in the film, most of his shots were done with motion capture.

The Mummy Panel at Comic-Con Part 1


The Mummy Panel at Comic-Con Part 2


The Mummy Panel at Comic-Con Part 3

Marigold DVD release

In a "bouncy Bollywood meets Hollywood romantic comedy" (BBC Films), Ali Larter stars as feisty B-list actress Marigold Lexton, who, stranded and broke in Goa, India, after financing flops on her low-budget film, lands a role in a musical to pay her way home. Eager to prove herself, she seeks famed choreographer Prem Rajput's (Bollywood superstar Salman Khan) guidance, and a whirlwind romance begins…until Marigold discovers Prem holds a powerful, inescapable past—and a future that holds no place for her.

Buy Marigold DVD

Marigold trailer

Adventures of Johnny Tao DVD release

Look for Chris Yen (Black Rose Academy) and James Hong (Balls of Fury, Bladerunner) in the Adventures of Johnny Tao.

Here's the synopsis for Adventures of Johnny Tao

A Kung Fu Fable... Johnny Dow (Matthew Twining) struggles to make a living at his small town gas station by charging motorists to see the electric guitar used by his late father (Jason London), a one-hit-rock and roll wonder. Legend has it that the Guitar, carved in the shape of a dragon's head, was made in part from an ancient spear his father found in the crater of a shooting star. When Johnny's friend, Eddie (Matt Mullins), stumbles upon the other half of the spear he releases an ancient demon that takes over his body, hungry for power and destruction. Mika (Chris Yen), a beautiful Chinese warrior who holds the secret to fighting Eddie and his army of kung-fu, sugar-craving warriors, reveals to Johnny that the only way to stop the evil spirit is to use the first half of the spear - the dragon on Johnny's guitar! Together, Johnny and Mika set out to fight Eddie and his army, reunite the two halves of the spear, restore peace to the town, and - of course - save the world!

Buy Adventures of Johnny Tao DVD

Adventures of Johnny Tao trailer

Harold and Kumar 3

With Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay out tomorrow, news is that director/writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg will comeback for a third film in the franchise. Both John Cho and Kal Penn are expected to return since Mandate Pictures has options on both for the third installment. (FYI - Mandate also produced "Juno".) The Harold and Kumar franchise has been gaining momentum. The first film earned $18 million domestically in 2004 and generated more than $30 million on DVD. Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, which cost $12 million, earned $14.9 million its opening weekend before topping out at $38 million. DVD sales for the sequel are expected to be higher than the first.

Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay Trailer

Dr. Ken makes cameo in Step Brothers

Dr. Ken make a cameo appearance in Will Ferrell's Step Brothers. He plays an Employment Agent in the film. We wonder if he will steal the scene like his role as a doctor in Knocked up.

This is what Ken Jeong needs to deal with as an employment agent (note: this clip is not safe for work)

Ping Pong Playa picked up by IFC

IFC Films has picked up U.S. theatrical rights to Jessica Yu's Asian American-themed comedy "Ping Pong Playa." The film is the narrative debut for documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu ("Protagonist," the Oscar-winning short "Breathing Lessons") and co-written with Jimmy Tsai. It premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival and screened in the Asian American film festival circuit for most of 2008. IFC will start distribbuting the film in select theaters starting September 5. So look for this film at a theater near you soon.

Ping Pong Playa Trailer

Samurai Girl coming to ABC Family

Samurai Girl continues in the tradition of Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior and Mulan. Disney/ABC may have found a niche for Asian female warriors. If the target audience for these films eats it up, Disney/ABC will continue to produce them.

Synopsis for Samurai Girl
Based on a series of popular young-adult novels, “Samurai Girl” follows the journey of 19-year-old Heaven, the sheltered adopted daughter of one of Japan’s wealthiest and most powerful families. Protected and watched over at all times by her loving but enigmatic father, Heaven is raised in opulent but confined surroundings, with every detail of her life tended to and extravagantly provided for in the tradition of Japan’s hierarchal society. But when Heaven finds herself in San Francisco for her arranged wedding to the son of one of her father’s business associates, she has no idea that her protected life is about to be shattered and that her past is linked to an ancient secret prophecy which both good and evil forces will fight to the death to control.

THE CAST:
Jamie Chung as Heaven Kogo
Brendan Fehr as Jake Stanton
Saige Thompson as Cheryl
Kyle Labine as Otto
Anthony Brandon Wong as Tasuke Kogo
Steven Brand as Severin
Kenneth Choi as Sato
Stacy Keibler as Linda




You can catch some of the cast of Samurai Girl on Friday, July 25 at Comic-Con in San Diego.
Noon–1pm: "Samural Girl" Q&A panel with stars Jamie Chung, Brendan Fehr, Stacy Keibler, executive producers Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, and co-executive producer Luke McMullen. (Room 2) 1:30-2:30 PM: "Samural Girl" autograph session in booth #3913.

Watch the preview for Samurai Girl

Rain in Ninja Assassin

This is a new picture from the set of Ninja Assassin featuring Rain. The bloodied and ripped Rain co-stars along with Sung Kang and Rick Yune in Ninja Assassin. the film is targeted for a January 16, 2009 release

Watch fan cam footage of Rain on the set of Ninja Assassin

Big Dreams Little Tokyo DVD release

Boyd (Dave Boyle), a self-proclaimed businessman convinced he's Japanese, and his roommate Jerome (Jayson Watabe), a sluggish but affable Japanese-American sumo wrestler, have big dreams for themselves. Together, the two travel door-to-door by tandem bike, giving flyers and sales pitches to anyone who listens...but Boyd's Japanese clients aren't buying his "Translation Services," and no one will give Jerome--a paltry 200 pounds--a chance in the ring. When they meet Mai (Rachel Morihiro), who is unfazed by their oddities and offers a hand, Boyd and Jerome discover that in a world where cultural identity is seldom what it seems, there's a place for everyone. The movie also stars Drew Knight, James Kyson Lee, Michael Yama and Pepe Serna.

Buy Big Dreams Little Tokyo DVD

Big Dreams Little Tokyo trailer

Boycott 21 DVD

The DVD for 21 gets released today. Continue to boycott 21, since "The main characters of Bringing Down the House are Jeff Ma and Mike Aponte, former real-life MIT students who are both Asian American men. Jeff Ma is played by Jim Sturgess, Mike Aponte is played by Jacob Pitts, and John Chang is played by Kevin Spacey." Asian roles all got white-washed. Later in the casting process, a couple supporting characters who were Asians were added including Aaron Yoo as "Choi" and Liza Lapira as "Kianna."

Aaron Yoo talks 21


Liza Lapira talks 21

Twin Daggers DVD release

In the 1930s, a famous Los Angeles underworld hitman Scholar (Rhett Giles) and a band of trained assassins are hired by the exotic and beautiful Kay (Coco Su) to avenge her parents' death by the hands of her equally stunning twin sister. Traveling to Shanghai Scholar finds the twin sister Sue (Coco Su) has taken over the family fortunes and lifestyle. He finds himself falling for his target. Instead of killing her, he chooses to save her from his fellow assassins (Veronica ,Joey Covington, Vasilios Elovalis) by taking them out one-by-one. Torn between his commitment to his paying client and his romantic feelings for her sister Scholar enters into a dangerous liaison with both unable to trust either one and unable to let them go. In a moment of truth Scholar finds that Kay and Sue are not as he perceived and instead are one in the same. He had been set up by this woman to honor her family. Come to find out Scholar had killed her parents when she was a teenager and she had spent her life savings seeking revenge and restoring her family's honor. Culminating in a spectacular martial arts battle between the twins and the assassins hired to kill them TWIN DAGGERS is an intricate and stunning movie that delivers one surprise twist after another. The film is directed by Kuen-Hou Chen.

Buy Twin Daggers DVD


Twin Daggers trailer

Remembering Bruce Lee

Actor and martial arts legend Bruce Lee was remembered this past weekend all around the world. Fans marked the 35th anniversary of the death of Bruce Lee, who died July 20, 1973 at the age of 32 from swelling of the brain.

From Hong Kong to the USA, fans remembered Bruce Lee in their own way. In Hong Kong, where Lee grew up, an exhibit opened Friday featuring 800 items about the late action star, including movie posters, magazine covers and books. Headlining the opening ceremony was Danny Chan, who plays Lee in the China Central Television series "Legend of Bruce Lee". Also Hong Kong fans are trying to convert his HK residence from a by-the-hour love motel into a 25,000-square-foot museum, complete with library, cinema and martial arts center.

In Seattle, discussions are developing about building a three story $50 million Bruce Lee Action Museum. Why Seattle? Although Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco and lived in Hong Kong, he moved to Seattle after family friends, Ping and Ruby Chow, said he could work at their restaurant. While in Seattle, he trained in Chinatown and studied philosophy at the University of Washington. He also took classes with Linda Emery, who eventually became his wife. Their first date was at the Space Needle restaurant. The two were married on Aug. 17, 1964 at the Seattle Congregational Church. Seattle holds a lot of memories for the rest of the Lee's family.

Watch this news report about Bruce Lee


Lost Interview with Bruce Lee

Edison Chen and Chin Han in The Dark Night

"The Dark Night" is predicted to be one of the biggest hits this summer and possibly break some box office records. It picks up where Batman Begins left off. The film has been heavily hyped from Heath Ledger's death to Edison Chen's photo scandal. When the Edison's sex photos were released earlier this year, many rumors floated around that his scenes in "The Dark Night" would be cut. Well, that's not the case. His scene/line is very short and you will probably miss it if you are not paying attention. Edison does however share the scene with Morgan Freeman. An Asian with a bigger role in the film is Singapore's Chin Han. He plays Lau, an unscrupulous greedy bad guy. Chin Han did some of his own stunts and since he's a bad guy, he gets his ass kicked by Batman.

The Dark Night Trailer


Interview with Chin Han and footage of his scene in The Dark Night