Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” is Japan’s highest grossing domestic movie in 2008, while “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” tops the international list.
Jackie Chan has confirmed that he will star in the remake of box office hit “The Karate Kid”. The popular actor will star as a karate master who helps a teenager to stand up to high school bullies.
The role (known as Mr Miyagi) was original played by late Pat Morita in the 1984 film, which earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
The teenage protagonist (by Ralph Macchio in 1984) will be played by Jaden Smith, Will Smith’s son.
The remake is a co-production between Columbia Pictures and state-run China Film Group; filming is scheduled to start in Beijing this summer.
The Mr Miyagi role was a classic… it’s a tough one for Jackie (or anyone else) to emulate. I have a feeling though, that they would switch the film from karate to Chinese martial arts oriented instead… “The Kungfu Kid” perhaps?
Hollywood star Keanu Reeves has confirmed taking the role of Spike Spiegel in the live action adaptation of acclaimed Japanese anime series “Cowboy Bebop”.
No news about the remainder of the main cast and production schedule… hope that there’s finally a good Japanese anime adaptation from Hollywood.
The Japanese official trailer for “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li”, starring Kristin Kreuk, Neal McDonough, Chris Klein, Michael Clarke Duncan, Taboo Nawasha, Robin Shou and Moon Bloodgood etc…
It seems like an ok action movie if you don’t know much Street Fighter; but if you are a SF fan… you are likely to curse upside down about this.
It’s odd that they are making a movie about Chun Li but not showing much of SF elements in the film; people wouldn’t have guess that it’s a SF trailer if it’s not for the movie title… the characters and fights are just way off from the original gaming series.
The Legend of Chun Li will premier on February 27th in US and a day later in Japan.
Movie trailer of “Dragonball Evolution”, a Hollywood live adaptation of the popular Japanese anime-manga which is going to premier in March 2009… [via Japanprobe]
From a neutral point of view, the trailer doesn’t look too bad for those who don’t have much clue about the original Dragon Ball… but the DB’s fans are likely to hate this trailer/movie; it just couldn’t reflect the essence of the original work.
Hong Kong actor-director Stephen Chow is going to direct and star in the movie version of “The Green Hornet”, announced Columbia Pictures.
Canadian comedian Seth Rogen will co-write the movie and star as the main character; and Stephen Chow will star as Kato, Green Hornet’s sidekick which was played by legendary martial arts star Bruce Lee in the TV adaptation in 1960s.
The Green Hornet and Kato, played by Van Williams and Bruce Lee in 1960s TV series
It’s said that the movie will be more comedic than the original versions (comic, radio and TV)… but I have doubts over the making of this movie regardless. It just doesn’t click for me, and I don’t think the young generations could relate to the characters.
The Green Hornet is scheduled to premier in Summer 2010.
According to iF Magazine, Hollywood producer Erwin Stoff is working with 20th Century Fox to develop a live-action film adapted from popular Japanese anime “Cowboy Bebop”. [via Shrine]
Seems like Hollywood are really into making live action movies adapted from Japanese anime recently… first there was “Speed Racer”, then the “Dragon Ball” and now “Cowboy Bebop”. I wonder if the Hollywood film makers are really short of ideas or whatever… hmmm, writers’ strike perhaps.
I don’t really like the idea of adapting Japanese anime to live action movies… but if it’s becoming a trend, Cowboy Bebop is probably one of those few anime that should look great in live because of the real-to-life characters.
There are rumours that Keanu Reeves will be involved, but the speculations are probably based on the fact that Stoff is Reeves’ agent. Not many details are available yet… the production is still in early stage obviously.
Was checking some info on Dragonball (the movie)… as it was originally scheduled to release this summer; didn’t realise that it was postponed to April 2009.
Scanned image of Shōnen Jump, the Japanese magazine that published the original manga… featuring some introduction about the cast and characters (via Dbthemovie)
Dragonball movie is starring Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Emmy Rossum, Chow Yun Fat, Joon Park and Eriko Tamura etc.
The movie created some hype when it was announced last year that Hong Kong star Stephen Chow, a renowned DB fan, would be working with Twentieth Century Fox to produce a live movie adapted from the popular Japanese anime and manga.
The initial buzz was not all positive though, as lots of the Dragon Ball fans are worried that the movie would spoil the original work. Judging from some recent developments, it seems that their worry are not entirely baseless.
I won’t say that I am a huge fan of Dragon Ball, but it was one of the first Japanese manga that I read… and I do like it. Hope that the movie will at least be watchable.