IMPEDIUS

Internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director John Woo(Paycheck, Mission Impossible 2) is back and this time with an epic war movie based on the story of the Romance Of The Three Kingdoms. Yes folks, yet another chinese war movie this year. And like the previous ones, Red Cliff too has an all star cast with the most noticeable, Tony Leung(’Lust, Caution’, Infernal Affairs) and Takeshi Kaneshiro(Sweet Rain: Shinigami no seido aka Accuracy Of Death). A must watch for fans of war movies and also The Romance Of Three Kingdoms. - impedius

release date: 10th July, 2008

director: John Woo

writer: Khan Chan, Cheng Kuo

starring: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Wei Zhao, Chen Chang, Shido Nakamura, Fengyi Zhang

studio: China Film Group

genre: Action, Adventure, Drama

official site: http://redcliff.meiah.com/

rating: U

runtime: 2 Hours 20 Minutes

From the acclaimed director of “Mission: Impossible II,” “Face/Off” and “The Killers,” comes a dazzling, visionary epic based on the legendary Battle of Red Cliff, in which a force of fifty thousand defeated an army of nearly one million.

In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minister Cao Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale, led by the Prime Minister, himself. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance. Numerous battles of strength and wit ensued, both on land and on water, eventually culminating in the battle of Red Cliff. During the battle, two thousand ships were burned, and the course of Chinese history was changed forever.

official trailer

official trailer 2

special 9 minutes trailer

reference:

Battle Of Red Cliffs as explained in wikipedia

Here are some current chart toppers around the world.

Hancock - #1 in US, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong

Hana yori dango: Fainaru/Boys Over Flowers: Final - #1 in Japan

I remember the days when the Taiwanese boy band group F4 was such a phenomenon in Asia. They were also famous for a major hit tv series called Meteor Garden. Little that I know that both F4 and Meteor Garden was based on a popular japanese manga/anime series called Boys Over Flowers. Hana yori dango: Fainaru/Boys Over Flowers: Final is a movie showcasing the final chapter of this manga/anime series. - impedius

release date: 28 June 2008 (Japan) No scheduled release in Malaysian cinemas yet.

director: Yasuharu Ishii

writer: Takayuki Takuma

starring: Mao Inoue, Jun Matsumoto, Shun Oguri, Shota Matsuda   , Tsuyoshi Abe, Aki Nishihara, Nicholas Dombrovskis

genre: Drama

official site: http://www.hanadan-final.jp/

rating: U

If you’re not familiar with “Boys Over Flowers: Final,” the movie is based off the top selling manga “Hana Yori Dango” written by Kamio Yoko. Yoko’s “Hana Yori Dango” went on to sell 5.8 million copies. That comic book was then turned into the super popular television drama “Boys Over Flowers” in 2005 and then a second season “Boys Over Flowers 2” appeared in 2007. There’s also an anime version of the comic, a prior Japanese live action television drama, and a Taiwanese drama (Meteor Garden) based off the comic and its spin-off F4.

The story itself in “Hanna Yori Dango” (Boys Over Flowers) is a Cinderella like story centered around the elite high school, Eitoku Academy. All of the students at Eitoku Academy come from super rich families, except one student named Tsukushi Makino. The school is ruled by four students known as the F4 (Flower Four). One day, Tsukushi Makino stands up to the F4 in defense of her friend and then becomes the target of the F4. But, Tsukushi Makino also secretly harbors a crush on one of the F4 members, while the group’s leader suddenly falls for the defiant Tsukushi as well.

In “Boys Over Flowers: Final” the movie is set 4 years later, when these students are about to graduate from their university. The movie was also filmed in various locations like Las Vegas, Nevada and in Hong Kong. The film features popular Japanese actors Mao Inoue (Makino Tsukushi), Jun Matsumoto (Doumyouji Tsukasa), Shun Oguri (Hanazawa Rui), Shota Matsuda (Soujiroh Nishikado), and Tsuyoshi Abe (Akira Mimasaka).

- http://lunapark6.com/

official teaser

official trailer

reference:

Boys Over Flowers as explained in wikipedia

How does it feel to be living in an underground city for the rest of your life? I’m sure you want to know what is happening above. Thus, I’m eager to watch the adventure of two kids escaping such a city called the City Of Ember, which is what this movie is about. Something tells me that I’ll be enjoying this movie just like how I enjoyed The Spiderwick Chronicles. - impedius

release date: October 10th, 2008(US) November 27th, 2008(Malaysia)

director: Gil Kenan

writer: Caroline Thompson

starring: Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Martin Landau, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Toby Jones, Mary Kay Place

studio: 20th Century Fox

genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

official site: http://www.cityofember.com/

rating: U

For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember’s once powerful generator is failing… and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city’s existence, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever.

official trailer

HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY (eng)
(Action)

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (eng)
(Action / Adventure / Fantasy)

WAR OF THE DRAGONS (eng)
(Action / Fantasy)

Nicholas Cage stars in this movie as an individual knowing the disasters that will happen in the future. Hmm… I think this is like Nicholas Cage’s 2nd movie about knowing what happens in the future. Anybody remember Next? I haven’t watched Next but I reckon Knowing, which is directed Alex Proyas(I, Robot) is worth a watch. Keep a lookout on this one peeps. - impedius

release date: March 20th, 2009

director: Alex Proyas

writer: Ryne Pearson, Stiles White, Juliet Snowden, Stuart Hazeldine, Alex Proyas

starring: Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury

studio: Summit Entertainment

genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

official site: to be available

rating: to be available

In 1958, as part of the dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students is asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. But one of the students, a mysterious girl who seems to hear whispered voices, fills her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers instead.

Fast forward 50 years to the present: A new generation of students examines the contents of the time capsule and the girl’s cryptic message ends up in the hands of young Caleb Myles. But it is Caleb’s father, professor Ted Myles (Nicolas Cage), who makes the startling discovery that the encoded message predicts with pinpoint accuracy the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years. As Ted further unravels the document’s secrets, he realizes it foretells three additional events-the last of which hints at destruction on a global scale and seems to somehow involve Ted and his son.

When Ted’s attempts to alert the authorities fall on deaf ears, he takes it upon himself to try to prevent more destruction from taking place.

This gripping supernatural thriller charts one man’s faltering steps towards belief in the ultimate order of the universe even as he finds himself surrounded by mounting chaos. With the reluctant help of Diana Whelan (Rose Byrne) and Abby, the daughter and granddaughter of the now-deceased author of the cryptic prophecies, Ted’s increasingly desperate efforts take him on a heart-pounding race against time until he finds himself facing the ultimate disaster-and the ultimate sacrifice.

official trailer

A remake of the 1951 classic, The Day The Earth Stood Still stars Keanu Reeves(Street Kings, Constantine) and Jennifer Connelly(Blood Diamond, Hulk). Another movie about earth in the midst of destruction and i’m eager to find out what happens. Interesting storyline and you can never really go wrong with Keanu. - impedius

release date: December 12th, 2008

director: Scott Derrickson

writer: David Scarpa

starring: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates

studio: 20th Century Fox

genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller

official site: to be available

rating: to be available

“The Day the Earth Stood Still” is 20th Century Fox’s contemporary reinvention of its 1951 classic. Keanu Reeves portrays Klaatu, an alien whose arrival on our planet triggers a global upheaval. As governments and scientists race to unravel the mystery behind the visitor’s appearance, a woman (Jennifer Connelly) and her young stepson get caught up in his mission - and come to understand the ramifications of his being a self-described “friend to the Earth.”

official teaser

reference:

The Day The Earth Stood Still(1951 version) as explained in wikipedia

Featuring Zaf & Lah from local vocal group VE, Aku Bukan Untukmu(originally performed by Rossa) simply hits the spot as the theme song for the movie Sepi.

Aku Bukan Untukmu - performed by Zaf & Lah

reference:

Sepi

A modern fantasy tale about the war between humans and an overwhelming army of undead mutants. Looks different from anything I’ve seen before and stars my favourite actors Ron Perlman(Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Alien: Resurrection) and Thomas Jane(The Mist, The Punisher), I’ll be heading to the cinema for this movie. - impedius

release date: To Be Announced 2009

director: Simon Hunter

writer: Philip Eisner, Ross Jameson

starring: Christopher Adamson, Devon Aoki, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Georgina Berriman, Jacqui Chan, Tim Clark, Dez Drummond, Christopher Dunne, Allan Arthur Fielding, Christopher Fosh, Benno Fürmann, Nicholas Gecks, Mark Holloway, Thomas Jane, Scott Joseph, Farhan Khan, Shauna Macdonald, John Malkovich, Luis Miguel, Neji Nejah, Andrew Nixon, Ron Perlman, Sean Pertwee, Raf Richard, Serge Soric, Steve Toussaint, Curtis Walker, Anna Walton, Tom Wu

studio: Voltage Pictures

genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

official site: http://www.mutantchroniclesthemovie.com/

rating: to be available

Earth’s natural resources have been exhausted by mankind and battle rages between the soldiers of four leading Corporations: the Capitol, Bauhaus, Mishima and Imperial.

Mitch Hunter and Nathan Rooker, battle hardened Capitol soldiers, fight a desperate battle against a Bauhaus advance. When an errant shell destroys an ancient stone seal, they find themselves facing a new enemy: hideous necrmutants, with boneblades that grow from their arms. Mithc barely manages to escape. Nathan does not.

The mutants multiply by millions and they destroy all before them. The Corporations’ leader, Constantine, is about to abandon the planet and leave countless innocents to their desperate fate, when he is approached by Brother Samuel, leader of the Brotherhood, and ancient monastic order

Samuel is keep of the Chronicles, a book that prophesies both the rise of the Mutants, and the ‘Deliverer’ that will destroy them. Samuel believes he is that Deliverer destined to journey deep into the earth and destroy the source of the mutant scourge.

He manages to recruit Mitch, along with a handful of like-minded soldiers: Steiner, honor bound Bauhaus officer; sword wielding Severian; street fighter El Jesus; fearless beauty Duval; and stoic warrior Juba.

“Mutant Chronicle” follows Mitch and Samuel’s mission to venture into the very heart of the darkness in an attempt to save the planet from marauding hordes of deathless mutants.

official teaser

War Of the Dragons is directed and written by Hyung-rae Shim, who is hailed as the George Lucas of Asia. Honestly and no offense to Hyung-rae Shim, the special effects shown in the trailer doesn’t seem to be eye-popping. The trailer also gives you the impression that the movie is B-grade. In other words, it doesn’t seem like its meant for the cinema. To make matters worse, this movie has been out for almost a year everywhere else and the dvd version is already out. I have no idea why is it shown in Malaysian cinemas this month. I’ll watch it when its shown in my tv movie channel instead. - impedius

release date: September 14th, 2007(US)   July 10th, 2008(Malaysia)

director: Hyung-rae Shim

writer: Hyung-rae Shim

starring: Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster, Aimee Garcia, Craig Robinson

studio: Freestyle Releasing

genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

official site: http://dragon-wars.com/

rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and creature action

They’ve made our world their battleground

The story begins with Ethan Kendrick, a TV reporter. While investigating a disaster that occurred at the Seven Palms Resort, he notices that the ground is turned up all around and forklifts have been tumbled over. It looks like a hurricane has gone by. Ethan notices the FBI investigator dusting off a specimen with a brush. It looks like a giant dinosaur fossil or scale. He videotapes it on his Handycam.

Back at CGNN Headquarters in downtown, Ethan examines the image of the scale. While he is looking at his computer screen, he has a flashback to when he was a boy. At an antique shop with his father, young Ethan meets a man named Jack. The old man tells him a story about giant serpents called Imoogi, a story that most have presumed to be merely a legend.

Five hundred years ago in ancient Korea, a baby girl was born with a gift called the Yuh Yi Joo. The Yuh Yi Joo will completely form inside her by the time she turns twenty. An Imoogi who possesses it can transform itself into a dragon. An old monk and his disciple are the only two who believe this legend and try to protect the Yuh Yi Joo bearing girl. Haram, the warrior who is charged with protecting her falls in love with her. Instead of sacrificing her to the Imoogi, the two lovers plunge to their deaths. Jack tells young Ethan that he is the old monk re-incarnated and that Ethan is the warrior. The old man tells Ethan he must find a girl named Sarah, who bears the mark of a dragon on her shoulder. He is to take her to the Grand Cave on her twentieth birthday.

Ethan searches for this mysterious woman named Sarah. Meanwhile, the Evil Imoogi, named Buraki has appeared in Los Angeles with its army of foot soldiers and beasts. The FBI also connect the disaster and the scale to Sarah. They are all looking for Sarah .

Ethan must protect Sarah from the Imoogi and save the city from total destruction. Ethan must ultimately choose between love and destiny.

official trailer