‘Twilight’ Box Office records

The pre-Thanksgiving weekend saw the dawn of a hit literary-based franchise in Twilight, instead of the continuation of a literary-based blockbuster series, since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince's departure from the date to next summer. Between the openings of Twilight and Bolt and significant holdovers Quantum of Solace and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, the overall box office was up over the comparable pre-Thanksgiving timeframes from 2007 and 2006. However, it was down from 2005 when Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opened.

Living up to the hype, Twilight wooed a dreamy $69.6 million on approximately 6,000 screens at 3,419 locations, drawing more attendees than Interview with a Vampire's debut to claim the biggest vampire weekend on record. The opening for the $37 million book adaptation ranks as the fifth highest grossing of November, behind the three Harry Potter releases of the month and The Incredibles.

Emblematic of its fervent constituency, Twilight set records for opening weekend front-loadedness (among non-holiday, nationwide releases). More than half of the movie's weekend gross was posted on Friday alone, $36 million, and the Friday-to-Saturday drop was 41 percent, steeper than Sex and the City's 34 percent Friday-to-Saturday drop. According to distributor Summit Entertainment's exit polling, 75 percent of Twilight's audience was female and 55 percent was under 25 years old. The overall grade from moviegoer pollster CinemaScore was an "A-," same as Bolt, further indicating that the movie's gross pattern was driven more by a fan rush than word-of-mouth.

"There was a number thrown around that if everyone who bought the book saw the movie we would open to $50 million," said Richard Fay, President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution for Summit Entertainment. "What is somewhat surprising is that 45 percent [of the audience] was over 25. The young girls who supported the book passed it on to their moms, and we're trying to get the word out to the young boys." Mr. Fay described Twilight's appeal as "a good, clean, Romeo and Juliet love story that young girls—and boys as well—can relate to." "It's not over the top," he added. "It's believable for what it is. It's all about to the uncertainty of maturing and the decisions you have to make."

In a single weekend, Twilight out-grossed Summit's five previous releases combined, and the distributor/production company quickly announced that that the sequel, New Moon, is officially in the works. Summit also generated exposure for two of its upcoming major releases. Attached to Twilight were trailers for the special effects-laden thrillers Push, featuring Chris Evans and Dakota Fanning and opening Feb. 6, and Knowing, directed by Alex Proyas and starring Nicolas Cage, due Mar. 20.

Ranking third behind a deflated Quantum of Solace, Walt Disney Pictures' Bolt dashed in with $26.2 million on around 6,200 screens at 3,651 sites, a solid start considering it's the type of picture that fares well over Thanksgiving and the fact that movies with similar subject matter, like Underdog and Firehouse Dog, have packed much less bite. Despite recalling Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, Bolt had to overcome its story set-up of a lost television dog star. Any hint of Hollywood navel-gazing tends to put a crimp on grosses and it's been years since there was a popular dog drama on TV, hampering credibility. Still, Bolt's opening was slightly higher than Disney's last non-Pixar animated feature, Meet the Robinsons.

"We always looked at this as a ten-day weekend," said Chris LeRoy, Disney's Senior Vice President General Sales Manager. "On Monday, 15 percent of kids will be out of school, and 53 percent by Wednesday." Mr. LeRoy did not believe that the recent release of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa had much impact. "Twilight had more of an effect on us," he said. "It played to 10-14 year-olds as first choice, and I think Bolt will be their choice when they return to theaters over the holiday." Disney's research indicated that 52 percent of the audience was female, 60 percent was under 25, and 75 percent could be counted as parents and their children.

A major part of Bolt's marketing was 3-D. Launched with a record 982 3-D presentations, the picture made an estimated $10.3 million in the format, accounting for 39 percent of the $26.2 million weekend. The 3-D share was higher than Meet the Robinsons but lower than Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Taiwan film Kung Fu Dunk

Mandarian live action adventurous film Kung Fu Dunk is released in February 2008. It was directed by Taiwanese director Chu Yin-Ping and filmed in Taiwan and mainland China. The film is inspired by the Slam Dunk manga and anime series, and was previously titled Slam Dunk. The filming, however, conveyed a strong flavour of Hong Kong films, reminiscent of movies like Shaolin Soccer.

Lead Story
The film revolves around an orphaned boy called Fang Shi Jie (Jay Chou), who grew up in a kung fu school and becomes a talented basketball player. Shi Jie grew up at the Kung-Fu School. He practiced excellent Kung-Fu and is equipped with good skills. Every morning, he is used as a punchbag in a demonstration by the principal of the school. When he uses shaolin iron vest (iron shirt) technique, as to not feel the principal's punches,the principal makes him stay on the streets for one night without dinner. He demonstrates his incredible accuracy to a down-and-out hustler, Wang Li by throwing cans into a bin almost ten metres away. Wang tells him, that if he can throw a coin into his mouth from twenty metre's away, he would treat him to dinner. They go to a five star French restaurant, where Wang Li's daughter works, and eat leftovers. Li convinces Shi Jie to help them make some money for themsleves. After eating, they go to a Casino owned by one of Wang Li's old friend's son, Brother Hu. There, Shi Jie wins hundreds of dollars playing darts. The resulting fight causes thousands of dollars worth of damage. The next morning, before school starts, Bian Tao, the principal of Fireball University puts the principal of the kung fu school onto his paylist. Then, after a massive beating by Bian Tao's thugs, Shi Jie is expelled. The next night, Shi Jie is once again sitting on the park bench where he met Wang Li, who is still there. On the pretext of helping him search for his family, Wang Li invites him to play basketball at 'First University' as the new star of its basketball team. Meanwhile, Wang Li capitalizes on media interest in Shi-Jie to make money via interviews and news articles.

After joining the basketball team, Shi-Jie finds that Li-Li (Lily) (Charlene Choi) whom he had admired for a long time is the sister of Ting Wei (Bo-Lin Chen), the leader of the basketball team. Shi Jie is desperate to draw her attention. Therefore, he attempts to compete with Xiao Lan (Baron Chen), who is Li-Li's idol.

The competition between Shi Jie and Xiao Lan generates an unstable atmosphere within the team. After Ting Wei counsels Shi Jie, the basketball team becomes more unified. Meanwhile, he helped Shi Jie combine his foundation of Kung-Fu skills into basketball techniques, which in turn brings his skills into full play and helps the team win many rounds of the inter-varsity tournament.

By the time of the finals, the major competitor faced by Shi Jie and his team members is the team led by Li Tian. Li used to be on the First University basketball team alongside Ting Wei and Xiao Lan, but became arrogant and was lured to their competitor's camp. The competing team comprised of players who had been banned from all basketball games in Japan. The competing university also bribed the referee of the final game. Although Wang Li had enlisted the aid of Shi Jie's kung-fu teachers, the opposing team had put in place a number of measures to prevent First University from winning, up to and including injuring First University's star players Shi-Jie, Ting Wei and Xiao Lan. Thus, due to both unscrupulous fouls from the opposing team and the referee's biased decisions and outright interference by punching out the last ball that Shi Jie throws, First University is defeated. Unwilling to admit defeat to such unjust conditions, Shi Jie recalls a technique his first teacher had utilized, and manages to turn back the clock to the time just before Shi Jie is to make his last throw of the game. Given a second chance and instead of trying to make the same last throw which will be interfered by the referee again, Shi Jie decides to pass to Xiao Lan, who in turn dunks it into the basket. Eventually, First University wins fair and square.
After the game Shi Jie discovered that his dad is the richest man in Asia. He later visit the dad, and discover why he was abandoned. His dad insisted him on his trip to London. Later that night Shi Jie decided to stay with Wang li instead, who later insist him of something more than basketball, the Olympics.

Sequel
It has been widely reported that the sequel is on the way, and production has begun.

Kung Fu Dunk Official Trailer

Korean War based 'Gran Torino' (2008) film

Gran Torino is an upcoming drama film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. Eastwood stars as a racist Korean War veteran who catches a Hmong boy trying to steal his 1972 Gran Torino. The film features a predominantly Hmong cast and will be released in 2008 in North America with a scheduled limited release for December 17, and a wider, theatrical release on January 16, 2009.

Story

Walt Kowalski (Eastwood), a racist Korean War veteran, becomes increasingly unhappy at the influx of Hmong people to his neighborhood. After he catches Tao (Vang), a teenage Hmong neighbor, attempting to steal his vintage Gran Torino car as part of a gang initiation, the boy is forced by the gang to work for Kowalski in penance. Estranged from his children and grandchildren, and having just lost his wife, Kowalski gradually becomes friendly with Tao and his family, learning about Hmong culture. He steadily loses his racist façade and attempts to protect Tao and his sister Sue (Her) from the gang.

Chinese blockbuster hit Painted Skin (Wa Pai)

Painted Skin is a 2008 Chinese-Hong Kong film starring Donni Yen, Qi Yuwu, Zhou Xun, Zhao Wei, Sun Li and Chen Kun. It was directed by Gordon Chan.

Story
Though the story is based mainly on a supernatural premise, it is more of a love story rather than a ghost/horror film. It is based on Pu Songling's classic novel, Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. Zhou Xun starrs Xiao Wei, a fox spirit (huli jing) that feasts on human hearts in order to maintain her lovely, youthful appearance. When General Wang Sheng (Chen Kun) 'rescues' her from a band of bandits and brings her home, trouble brews as the demon falls in love with the general, who is married to Pei Rong (Zhao Wei).

Another (older) love triangle is present, between the general's brother Pang Yong (Donnie Yen), the general, and his wife. Pei Rong asks Pang Yong for help as she suspects Xiao Wei for what she really is. Pang Yong is aided by an inexperienced 'demon buster', Xia Bing (Betty Sun). Hints of a developing relationship between Xia Bing and Pang Yong are there, although this is never really explored. Another subplot revolves around Xiao Wei's lizard demon ally (Qi Yuwu) who has unreciprocated feelings for her and helps her get all the human hearts she needs.

Painted Skin (Wa Pai) official korean trailer

Upcoming Malaysian film ‘Cicakman 2 - Planet Hitam’

Cicakman 2 - Planet Hitam (Cicakman 2 - Black Planet) is a film sequel of Cicak-Man that will be released in 11 December 2008 by KRU Studios with collaboration with Grand Brilliance Sdn. Bhd.
Still directed by Yusry Abdul Halim with script by the director and Meor Shariman, this action-comedy will see the return of the cast from the first movie and new characters will be introduced.
Story
The evil Professor Klon (Aznil Nawawi) is back. This time, not only to overthrow the government and become the President of Metrofulus, but also to control the world's supply of fresh water through his ingenious plan; "Black Planet". When our blue planet has only 72 hours before turning black, Cicakman (Saiful Apek) comes to rescue.
But much to his surprise he face his old enemies; Ginger Boys, who return even more powerful as spiritual form as Ginger Ghosts (Adlin Aman Ramlie & AC Mizal). In addition, he is now faced with Professor Klon's hired assassin; Rrama (Tamara Bleszynski), an assassin who derives pleasure in killing as if it were a pure art form. As the situation starts taking a downward spiral, even a super hero needs help. But help appears in the most unexpected forms, including Danny (Yusry Abd Halim) his demised best friend, a powerful feng shui master, Miss Chee (Louisa Chong) and an unlikely party.
Apart from his heavy responsibilities to save the world, he also has his own personal dilemmas to address; that is Hairi vs Cicakman. He has to resolve his personal feelings towards Tania Fasha Sandha), who is seeking the true identity of Cicakman and he also has to choose whether to sacrifice his own life or save Iman (Sharifah Amani), Danny's blind sister.

Production
The shooting that took place in Penang, Gua Tempurung, Kampar, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, and Kuala Lumpur costs 2.5 million Ringgit. The costume used in the sequel is higher in quality than the prequel as well as the price cost RM 50 thousand per set while in the prequel the costume used costs only RM 20 thousand per set.
Cast
Saiful Apek as Cicak-Man/Hairi
Fasha Sandha as Tania
Aznil Nawawi as Profesor Klon
Tamara Bleszynski as Rrama
Adlin Aman Ramlie as Ginger Ghost 1
AC Mizal as Ginger Ghost 2
Sharifah Amani as Iman
Louisa Chong as Miss Chee
Linda Onn as Amarr
Yusry Abdul Halim as Danny
Aziz M. Osman as Fulus News Boss
Julia Ziegler as Kindergarten teacher
Edry Abdul Halim as Robber 1
Munir (Phyne Ballerz) as Robber 2
Ridzuan Hashim as Bakar
Jalaluddin Hassan as President Ramlan
Azwan Ali as Neighbour 1
Dee as Neighbour 2
Julie Dahlan as Neighbour 3
Fahrin Ahmad as Cameraman
Hafidzuddin Fazil as Chief fireman
Nadia Mustafar as Woman at supermarket 1
Mak Jah as Woman at supermarket 1
Zack Taipan as Japanese guy

Release
The film was first released at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival on October 5, 2008 as world premiere for superheroes in Asia segment. Other two sessions was held on October 7 at the festival. In Malaysia, the film will be released on 11 December 2008 with the goal by the producer of a million tickets sold compared to 670 thousand tickets sold for Cicak Man.
Soundtrack
Dafi - Lemah
Pianka - Mau Yang Besar
Tyco - Planet Hitam
Edry - Sumpah Takkan Cari Yang Lain
Anita Sarawak - Ular
Flava - Berhenti Mencinta
Adam - Jika Tak Kerna Kamu
Yusry & Melly Goeslaw - Dibius Cinta

‘Cicakman 2 - Planet Hitam’ Official Trailer

Saw 5 Official Trailer

Aba: The Story Of Prince Pandukabhaya” (Sri Lanka)

'ABÁ' is the high-budget Sinhalese film directed by Jackson Anthony, based on the historical legend of King Pandukabhaya which took place in Sri Lanka more than 2400 years ago. It was released in Sri Lanka on 8th of August, 2008. Plans are being made to screen this film in several other countries including China, Italy and Australia.

The Legend of King Pandukabhaya
The title “Aba” is derived from “Pandu Aba”, another name for the title character. This famous Sinhalese legend is extravagantly portrayed in ‘Mahavamsa’ (the most comprehensive chronicle of the history of Sri Lanka) written during the 5th Cent. AD by Mahanama thero. Although it has been difficult to specify the time period in which King Pandukabhaya ruled, it can be inferred from the chronicles that he ruled over 2300 years back. A brief description of the legend as related in Mahavamsa is given below.After Prince Vijaya, an outcast of India, who came ashore in Sri Lanka in 543 B.C. and settled in the island, died, Panduvasudeva became the king. Bhaddakachchana, a Shakya Princess, was brought down from India as his queen consort. At length, the monarchs had ten sons and one daughter. The daughter was called Ummada Chitra because of her exceeding beauty. The soothsayers foretold that the son of Princess Chitra would destroy his uncles and wrest the kingdom for himself. Therefore, the brothers decided to kill their sister but the elder brother Abhaya persuaded them to keep her in a chamber built upon a single tower (called ‘Ektamgeya’) which was accessible only through a door from the king’s bedchamber. In the meantime Bhaddakachchana’s brothers established settlements around the island. Dighagamini, the son of Digayu, one of these brothers was appointed to serve the court of the king at Upatissagama. Dighagamini heard of Chitra and fell in love with her. By means of a stratagem he visited the chamber and Chitra conceived a child. Hearing this, the uncles decided to kill the child if he were to be male but Chitra exchanged babies with another woman whose child was a girl. Afterwards Chitra’s son, Pandukabhaya, grew up in a village called Doramandalawa (Dwaramandala). When he was seven, the uncles discovered the boy’s existence and started to kill all the boys of his age. Somehow he escaped death and later on he grew up under the tutelage of a Brahmin named Pandula. Having attained youth he killed all the uncles except Abhaya and became the first King of Anuradhapura marrying Swarnapali and ruled for 70 years.

Aba: film synopsis

By the fifth century BC, the Yakshas, among the ancient peoples of the island of Lanka, had seized overall power. They were however subdued by the Sinha Clan who arrived from North India. The defeated Yakshas thereafter launched insurrection after insurrection against the Sinha Clan.Vijaya was the first to defeat the Yakshas. His nephew, Panduwasdeva, a Prince, who arrived from India, succeeded him. It was from the North East of India also that his consort-to-be, Princess Bhadrakachchana of the Royal line of the Shakya Clan came.Paduwasdeva chose as his seat of power, the City of Upatissa, located north of Anuradhapura. Bhadrakchchayana bore him ten sons and finally a beautiful daughter, Chitra. The Royal Astrologers, perusing her horoscope, articulated a horrifying prophecy. They predicted that a son born to Chitra would slay his ten uncles and assume the throne.The ten princess, complete in their faith in the prophesy, plotted to murder their sister. Chitra thwarted their efforts. Finally, she was imprisoned in a tower where she could not encounter any man...

Controversy
Although Mahavamsa is the largest source of knowledge about the history of Sri Lanka, some of its content might have been subjected to favoritism and exaggeration. As the writer of the foregoing chronicle might have been in favor of India, now these early legends are being subject to controversy. Vijaya is portrayed in Mahavamsa as the forefather of the Sinhalese, who married the Yakkha queen Kuveni who betrayed her people over to Vijaya. But it is evident from the fact that there existed a city called Sirisavattu in the island where Yakkhas lived at the time, that a civilization had prevailed in the island before Vijaya arrived. Although the chronicler portrays the Yakkhas as devils, now it is widely believed that Yakkhas were one of the major tribes in the island at that time. This fact shakes Vijaya’s position in the history of Sri Lanka. It is possible that the chronicler, who could have been biased towards India, preferred to consider Vijaya and his retinue as the first Sinhalese community rather than accepting the fact that Vijaya was a conqueror. If that is true, from that time onwards Sri Lanka witnessed a foreign rule. However, a circle of historians have now formulated the hypothesis that the father of King Pandukabhaya was a native tribesman. This hypothesis is used to explain the fact that it was King Pandukabhaya who destroyed the foreign invaders and brought back independence to the island. The synopsis of ABA is not identical to the story in Mahavamsa. It will merge historical events with imaginary ones to create the atmosphere gathering around the life of young Pandukabhaya who was protected by various people. It will portray the bravery and tact of those who were bound to protect Pandukabhaya. However, ABA is expected to bring forward a more reasonable, clear picture of the legend of King Pandukabhaya. In doing so, it will also capture ancient Sinhalese traditions and folklore to create a vivid background for the film.

Other Detailes
Country: Sri Lanka

Production Company: Mandakini Creations (Pvt) Ltd.

Genre: Drama/ History

Director: Jackson Anthony

Starring: Sajitha Anuttara, Malini Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Sriyantha Mendis, Sabitha Perera, Saumya Liyanage, Daulani Anuradha, Vasantha Moragoda, Neil Alles, Bimal Jayakody

Duration: NA

Date of release: 8th August, 2008

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“Aba: The Story Of Prince Pandukabhaya” Official Trailer