Korean actress Jang Jin Young passed away of stomach cancer on September 1, 2009 at the age of 35. One of Korea's most well-known stars, she succumbed to the disease after a one-year battle, and less than two months after getting married. Jang was laid to rest on September 4.

Starting her entertainment career as a model and Miss Korea contestant, Jang Jin Young appeared in several TV dramas in the mid-90s before making her film debut in Ghost in Love in 1998. After eye-catching turns in The Foul King and Siren, she took on her first starring role as a battered wife in Sorum, which won her Best Actress at the Blue Dragon Awards. She went on to star in varied films like Over the Rainbow (2002), Blue Swallow (2005), and Between Love and Hate (2006), and picked up a second Blue Dragon Best Actress award for Singles in 2003. Jang Jin Young's last work was the 2007 SBS drama Lobbyist.

Text / Sanwei

After a string of Hollywood movies, Jet Li finally returns to China for an unprecedented move in his 27-year career. For the first time, Jet Li will star in a film that doesn't require the martial arts king to tap into his action skills!

The film, poetically named Ocean Paradise, was announced at a press conference held recently in Beijing. According to the writer-director Xue Xiaolu, she sees in Li a tender quality that was rarely explored in his previous films, and she believes he has the acting muscles to pull off a fully dramatic role. The Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor plays the loving dad of an autistic boy portrayed by young actor Wen Zhang (from TV drama Struggle). Their relationship forms the backbone of the touching story, and Li admits to being moved to tears while reading the script.

The father-son duo has a charming co-star in Taiwan actress Guey Lun Mei (Secret), who plays a circus clown. Talents behind the scenes include world-famous cinematographer Christopher Doyle and Academy Award-nominated production designer Hai Chung Man. The film is currently being shot in Qingdao, China, and should be out in cinemas next spring.

In recent years Li has devoted a great deal of time to his One Foundation, and he even took a one-year hiatus from acting in order to concentrate on his charity work. Now he is coming back to filmmaking in full force. Fans can see him on the big screen again soon in the historical epic The Founding of a Republic, in which he has a cameo role. He is also rumored to appear alongside Andy Lau in a remake of his debut film The Shaolin Temple (1982).

Text / dian

Organized by China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, the biennial Huabiao Awards is considered one of the top events in Chinese Cinema. The 13th edition took place in Beijing on August 29, dishing out dozens of awards in a star-studded ceremony.

Coming out on top was the Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang biopic Forever Enthralled directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Chen Kaige. It swept five major awards: Excellent Drama Film, Director, Actress (for Zhang Ziyi), Male New Actor (for Yu Shaoqun), and Technical Excellence, narrowly outshining fellow Mainland Cinema big shot Feng Xiaogang's war epic The Assembly, which won Excellent Drama Film, Director, Actor (for Zhang Hanyu), and Film Score.

This year, new categories were created for Chinese filmmakers based outside Mainland China. Excellent Director went to John Woo (Red Cliff), Excellent Actor was Donnie Yen (Ip Man), and Excellent Actress Shu Qi (If You are the One).

The importance of the Huabiao Awards is reflected in the line-up of VIPs attending the ceremony. Besides the aforementioned winners, other notable names like Zhang Yimou, Chow Yun Fat, Stephen Chow, Wong Kar Wai, Jackie Chan, Jiang Wen, Peter Chan, Vicki Zhao, Zhou Xun, Xu Jinglei, Ge You, Vivian Hsu, Carina Lau, and Raymond Wong were there to pick up or present prizes.

Text / dian

K-pop's 2009 battle of the rookies has belonged to the girls with the debuts of 2NE1, 4Minute, and T-ara in quick succession over the summer, and the fight is far from over. Though embroiled in a much-publicized legal dispute with three members of Dong Bang Shin Ki, idol-making juggernaut SM Entertainment has some good news to offer as they're debuting their latest creation in September, girl group f(x).

Described as "Asia's Pop Dance Group", f(x) is formed by five members: 22-year-old Chinese talent Victoria who starred in the music videos of SHINee's "Noona Is So Pretty" and Super Junior M's U; 16-year-old Luna; 16-year-old Chinese-American rapper Amber; 15-year-old Sulli, who appeared in Seo Dong Yo, Ba:Bo, and Punch Lady; and 14-year-old Krystal, who is the younger sister of Girls' Generation's Jessica and the leading lady in SHINee's Juliette music video. The use of a variable for the group's name alludes to the members' varied talents and ability to succeed in Korea and overseas. In addition, the "f " stands for "flower", and the "x" refers to the female chromosome. f(x) will hold a showcase debut on September 2, and unveil their debut single LACHATA.

Just so there are some Y chromosomes in the mix, Cube Entertainment is also unveiling their new boy band B2ST in September. B2ST, which stands for "Boys 2 Search the Top", features many familiar faces in its six-member lineup including AJ, who debuted as a solo artist earlier this year; SO-1 (Jang Hyun Seung), the eliminated sixth member from Big Bang's pre-debut reality program; Yoon Doo Joon, one of the eliminated JYP trainees from 2AM and 2PM's pre-debut reality program Mnet Hot Blood; and former Xing member Poppin' Dragon. B2ST currently has a reality documentary program airing on MTV Korea, and will reportedly debut with a new version of AJ's solo single Dancing Shoes in mid-September.

Text / Sanwei

Popular Hong Kong movie villain Shing Fui On, a.k.a. "Dai Sor", died of nasopharyngeal cancer on August 27. He was 54.

Shing had been battling with the disease since being diagnosed with it in 2004. The prolific character actor had more than 300 movies to his name since his debut in 1975, mostly playing gangsters and at times goofy thugs. He came to fame with his role "Dai Sor" (Big Silly) in Ringo Lam's Prison on Fire (1987), and the character's nickname stuck with him, establishing his comic villain image.

Shing was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards twice, first with The Law Enforcer in 1987, and then with Stars & Roses in 1990. His only leading man vehicle was The Blue Jean Monster (1991) in which he played an undead cop. Besides being an actor, "Dai Sor" also ran for public office in 2003, but he lost out in the election for a seat in the District Council. His last film was the Pang Brothers thriller The Detective (2007).

Text / dian

Blockbuster disaster movie Haeundae has become the fifth Korean film to cross the ten million admissions milestone. Joining The Host, Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War, King and The Clown, and Silmido in Korea's top five all-time domestic grossers, Haeundae opened in Korea on July 23 and took its tsunami straight to the box office, hitting the one million mark in only four days. The Hollywood-style big-budget disaster movie reached the ten million mark in its fifth week of release.

Helmed by Sex is Zero and My Boss, My Hero director Yoon Je Kyun, Haeundae is about Korea getting struck by a massive tsunami. The film's title refers to its ground zero, the popular Haeundae Beach located in southern port city Busan. An all-star ensemble cast that includes Sol Kyung Gu, Park Joong Hoon, Ha Ji Woon, Uhm Jung Hwa, and Lee Min Ki play the different people - from Park Joong Hoon's geologist to Lee Min Ki's lifeguard - who are swept into the film's human drama and thrilling battle for survival.

Having conquered the Korean box office, Haeundae is opening in China to high expectations on August 25. The film's distribution rights have been sold to many other regions including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, United Kingdom, and Germany.

Text / Sanwei

Typhoon Morakot devastated Taiwan on August 8, triggering serious floods and mudslides in the mid- and southern regions of the island, with hundreds losing their lives and thousands losing their homes. In response, the Hong Kong entertainment industry, spearheaded by the Performing Artistes Guild, organized the "Artistes 88 Fund Raising Campaign". Held on August 17 at the Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo, the event gathered support from various media outlets and artists from both sides of the strait, and was broadcast to 200 million viewers worldwide.

More than 300 artists participated, including Eric Tsang, Alan Tam, Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai, and Sammi Cheng from Hong Kong; Sylvia Chang, Harlem Yu, Richie Jen, David Tao, Jam Hsiao, and Tsai Chin from Taiwan; and Liu Xuan, Zhang Guoli, Xu Jinglei, and Anson Hu from Mainland China. The stars held hands and sang the theme song Tao Tao Qian Li Xin in a chorus to kick off the 4-hour charity show, which raised over HK$50 million that will be handed over to the victims in Taiwan via the Hong Kong Red Cross.

Taiwan herself has seen several similar fundraising functions, and the biggest one was the "Spread the Love" charity marathon organized by CTV and CTiTV on August 14. The 7-hour show took place on the studio lot used by the One Million Star talent search program, and was emceed by top variety show hosts Matilda Tao, Chang Fei, Hu Gua, Jacky Wu, and Chang Hsiao Yen. Over 500 artists came to perform and call for donations, including Jet Li, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Leehom Wang, Shu Qi, David Tao, Tsai Chin, Jody Chiang, Elva Hsiao, Show Luo, Sodagreen, Nicky Wu, Angela Chang, and Crowd Lu, raising more than NT$500 million in the end.

Text / dian

Kung fu god Bruce Lee is no less influential more than thirty years after his departure, seeing that Hollywood studios are mining his classics for remakes, while several Chinese films in the works have written him in as either the central or side character. All these projects are faced with one major challenge, though, and that is to find a suitable actor for the role.

Kung Fu Hustle star and well-known Bruce Lee admirer Stephen Chow was originally the director and co-star of the highly anticipated movie adaptation of The Green Hornet. In the 1960s television version, Lee played the heroic sidekick Kato, whom Chow was slated to play in the remake. However, citing creative differences, Chow eventually quit the job, and Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo was once speculated to be his fill-in. Columbia Pictures later put all rumors to rest by announcing that the production has brought in Taiwan superstar Jay Chou as the replacement. A self-proclaimed Bruce Lee fan, Jay is said to have impressed the new director Michel Gondry for being "incredibly unique and charming".

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. has tapped Korean superstar Rain, who not long ago received martial arts training in order to star in the studio's upcoming actioner Ninja Assassin, to be the new Bruce Lee in a remake of his 1973 classic Enter the Dragon. Now known as Awaken the Dragon, the new version trades the tournament-on-an-island setting for an underground fight club, and changes the hero's background from a Shaolin monk to an FBI agent. Director Kurt Sutter (TV's The Shield) claims his noir-style update is more Raging Bull than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and he intends to depict the brutality of Shaolin kung fu.

On the Chinese front, filmmakers apparently prefer unknowns to big names. Jay Chou was once linked to Ip Man 2 to play the kung fu icon in his younger days, but the film, which has just begun lensing in China, has instead chosen a 10-year-old newcomer as the young Bruce Lee and future disciple of Ip Man. Also, a biopic project authorized by Lee's family vows to offer the most accurate portrayal of Lee's real-life stories, and the first film in the proposed trilogy will get a newcomer to play the legend in his teens.

Text / dian

Many familiar Korean stars are unveiling debut albums in the coming weeks. The most anticipated release is naturally Big Bang leader G-Dragon's first solo album, which was originally scheduled for April, but got delayed in the midst of the group's Japan activities. A new release date has been set for G-Dragon's solo debut, and it's his 21st birthday, August 18. Incidentally, Big Bang's major debut Japanese album is coming out a day later on August 19.

Dropping on the same day as G-Dragon's solo album is the debut release of powerhouse songwriter and former YG Entertainment producer Brave Brothers, who's behind K-pop hits like Son Dam Bi's Crazy and Bad Boy, and Big Bang's own Last Farewell. Many names have been thrown around as featured artists for his single album Attitude, including Lee Min Woo, Son Dam Bi, and 4Minute's Hyun A.

For a more uncanny musical debut, do-all actress Ku Hye Sun, who is signed with YG Entertainment, is releasing a new-age instrumental album in the end of August. Since her breakout performance in Boys Over Flowers, Ku Hye Sun has been busy with everything from publishing a novel to holding an art exhibition to writing and directing her own short film. Adding songwriting to her list of talents, she composed all of the album's tracks, and invited famous musicians to play them. Ku's songs are also expected to be used in her upcoming directorial feature.

Popular actor Lee Min Ki from Spring of Dalja and Hauendae is also making the jump to music with his debut mini-album No Kidding, which hits shelves on August 11. The actor-turned-singer collaborated with local and foreign producers like French electronica musicians Kid Loco and Popular Computer and Korean bands Skrew Attack and One-Two.

Text / Sanwei

Hong Kong pop singer/actress Gillian Chung suffered a huge blow to her career after the sex photo scandal early 2008, and she has been absent from the big screen ever since, either because her movie was shelved (The Fantastic Water Babes) or her scenes were cut (Forever Enthralled, W.). Now the Twins starlet has taken another step towards a cinematic comeback, playing her first major post-scandal movie role in Babes director Jeff Lau's new fantasy comedy Yue Guang Bao He.

Currently shooting in Guangzhou, China, Lau's film is said to be akin in tone to his The Eagle Shooting Heroes , parodying John Woo's epic Red Cliff while also borrowing plot elements from his own works like A Chinese Odyssey and Timeless Romance. Again exploring the theme of time travel, Yue Guang Bao He is about a guy who slips back in time to the Three Kingdoms Era of ancient China, along with certain characters from the movies Kung Fu Hustle, CJ7, and Crazy Stone. The picture stars Ronald Cheng, Alex Fong Lik Sun, and Betty Sun of Lau's latest film Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg, along with a huge supporting cast of Hong Kong and Mainland stars, plus A Chinese Odyssey actresses Athena Chu and Ada Choi reprising their popular roles. Playing side characters are Eric Tsang, Sandra Ng, Gigi Leung, Stephy Tang, Kenny Bee, Yuen Biao, Lam Suet, Patrick Tam, Guo Degang, Guo Tao, Huang Bo, and several of Stephen Chow's frequent co-stars. It is reported that Gillian plays the princess warrior Sun Shangxiang, famously portrayed by Vicki Zhao in Red Cliff.

However, even though Gillian's scenes have been shot, they are not guaranteed to make the final cut, as after the news of her participation leaked, the production company revealed that they may have to resort to the scissors to avoid trouble when they submit the film to the Chinese censors.

Text / dian

Singer-songwriter YUI will sing the theme song for the talked about new movie Kaiji that brings together Death Note stars Fujiwara Tatsuya and Matsuyama Kenichi. YUI's upcoming single It's All too much will be the theme song, and Never say die will be featured as an inserted song. The double A-side single is scheduled for release in October; the film will open on October 10.

Helmed by Sato Toya, Kaiji revolves around Fujiwara's Ito Kaiji, who leads a life in poverty and debt and tries to change his destiny in an all-deciding gamble. The film is based on the manga Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji (a.k.a. "Ultimate Survivor Kaiji") by Fukumoto Nobuyuki which started serialization in 1996. The series turned into a bestseller with accumulated sales of over 13 million, and won Fukumoto a Kodansha Manga Award. Besides Fujiwara and Matsuyama, Kaiji's cast also includes Amami Yuki, Kagawa Teruyuki, Yamamoto Taro, Matsuo Suzuki, and Sato Kei.

Text / Snoopy

The official lineup for the 66th Venice Film Festival was announced on July 30. Twenty-three films will be competing for the Golden Lion, including Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore's opening film Baaria. The shortlist this year is dominated by European and American films, with a handful of Asian and Middle Eastern features in the mix. Two-time Golden Lion winner Ang Lee will preside over the main jury.

Two Chinese films are in the running for the top prize, Peony Pavilion director Yonfan's Prince of Tears and Shamo director Soi Cheang's Accident. Yonfan's first film in five years, Prince of Tears is set in 1950s Taiwan during the White Terror period when the military violently persecuted suspected communists. Starring Fan Chih Wei, Joseph Chang, Terri Kwan, and Zhu Xuan, the film revolves around the intertwined lives and romances of the protagonists in the midst of the political chaos. Produced by Johnnie To and starring Louis Koo and Richie Jen, Accident is about a hitman who carefully choreographs his kills to look like accidents, but he starts to lose his cool and his mind after a botched mission. Also in competition is Japanese cult director Tsukamoto Shinya's English-language Tetsuo The Bullet Man, the third film in his cyberpunk series.

The Orrizonti/Horizons section includes four Mainland China films. Du Haibin, whose Umbrella was nominated in the same category two years ago, returns to Venice with 1428, a documentary about victims of the Sichuan earthquake. The other Chinese nominations are writer Guo Xiaolu's documentary Once Upon A Time Proletarian: 12 Tales of a Country, Sixth Generation director Guan Hu's rural comedy Cow starring Crazy Stone funnyman Huang Bo, and Liu Jie's Judge starring Mei Ting. Bui Thac Chuyen's Adrift (Vietnam), Pepe Diokno's Engkwentro (Philippines), and Amit Dutta The Man's Woman and Other Stories (India) are also screening in this section.

The closing film of the festival will be the Chinese anthology Chengdu, I Love You helmed by Hong Kong director Fruit Chan, Korean director Hur Jin Ho, and Mainland China rocker Cui Jian. Featuring the cast of Jung Woo Sung, Gao Yuanyuan, Anya, Guo Tao, Sitar Tan, and Huang Xuan, the film unrolls three love stories set in Chengdu in 1976, 2008, and 2029.

The 66th Venice Film Festival will be held from September 2 to 12, 2009.

Text / Sanwei

Hong Kong screen goddess Michelle Reis will grace the silver screen again after an absence of six years. The popular actress, now a married woman, has turned down many acting roles since starring in Miss Du Shi Niang in 2003. But when offered a cameo role in Bodyguards and Assassins by producer Peter Chan, who first approached her 10 years ago when the project started, she accepted right away. According to Chan, Reis plays a small but pivotal part that would change the destiny of a beggar played by her former rumored beau, Canto-pop king Leon Lai.

The debut release from Chan's new production outfit Cinema Popular, Bodyguards and Assassins is shaping up to be the Chinese movie of the year. The big-budget movie is under the direction of Teddy Chen (The Accidental Spy), and has been making headlines thanks to its star-studded cast that keeps getting brighter by the day. Besides Lai and Reis, the exciting ensemble also includes Donnie Yen, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Simon Yam, Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang, Hu Jun, Wang Xueqi, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Yun, Wang Bo Chieh, singer Chris Lee, and basketball star Mengke Bateer.

The historical action drama is set a century ago in Hong Kong. Sun Yat Sen lands in the then British Colony to raise funds for his anti-Qing revolutionary cause. The Qing Government sends a squad of assassins to get him, and in response, the revolutionary movement hires several kung fu bodyguards to protect the man that represents the hope of the nation. The production splashed HK$43 million to construct a 1:1 scale set of Central District circa 1905 for the shoot. Principal photography just wrapped this week, and the film is set to storm box offices in December, as the producers aim to score RMB400 million in Mainland China alone!

Text / dian

Dong Bang Shin Ki's Hero Jae Joong recently made his acting debut in the forthcoming Heaven's Postman from the Korea-Japan Telecinema Project, making him the first TVXQ member to jump to acting. He'll have plenty of company soon though as bandmates U-Know Yun Ho and Max Chang Min were recently cast in new TV dramas.

Leader Yun Ho is pairing up with Who Are You?'s Go Ara in the upcoming MBC sports drama Heading to the Ground. Directed by Ruler of Your Own World director Park Sung Soo, the fall mini-series stars Yun Ho as an aspiring soccer player with a mean kick and great passion for the game. Go Ara plays a sports agent and the daughter of a soccer team owner. They meet, fight, and fall in love during their quest to prove themselves in the competitive world of professional soccer. Heading to the Ground also co-stars Lee Yoon Ji from Dae Wang Sejong and Lee Sang Hoon from The Scale of Providence. The drama has already started filming, and is slated to begin broadcast on September 9.

TVXQ's youngest member Chang Min is also reportedly taking the leading role in the new drama "Paradise Meadow" co-produced by SM Entertainment and Samhwa Networks. This youth melodrama from the writers of Coffee Prince and Into the Sunlight is supposedly going to start shooting in Jeju in late August, and be aired at the end of the year. No other casting details have been revealed yet.

Text / Sanwei

Due to great fan request, a third film in the blockbuster Umizaru franchise was announced last summer. The production recently revealed more cast and plot details about Umizaru 3, which is slated for a 2010 release.

Based on the popular manga by Sato Shuho, Umizaru revolves around the high-seas thrills and romance of Coast Guard rescue diver Senzaki Daisuke, played by Ito Hideaki. The first Umizaru feature was released in 2004 to modest success, but it was actually the spin-off 2005 Fuji TV drama that turned Umizaru into a massive hit. In 2006 silver-screen sequel Limit of Love: Umizaru pulled in over 7 billion yen at the box office to become the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film of the year.

Again directed by Hasumi Eiichiro and produced by Usui Hirotsugu, the highly anticipated third film sees Senzaki, now an experienced rescue diver, tying the knot with his girlfriend played by Kato Ai, and becoming a father. Senzaki and his team are sent out on a dangerous rescue mission when there is an accident during an international undersea oil drilling. Rookies' Sato Ryuta will return as a diver, and rising star Miura Shohei from Gokusen has been added to the cast.

Text / Sanwei

In Korea summer is the hottest time for horror films. After Chaw and A Blood Pledge, two more anticipated horror films are hitting Korean theaters in August. Nam Sang Mi, who starred in The Ghost (a.k.a Dead Friend) five years ago, returns to the genre in Living Death which opens on August 13. Written and directed by first-time director Lee Yong Joo, the horror thriller sees Nam Sang Mi trying to save her missing demon-possessed little sister, played by child actress Sim Eun Kyung from Hansel and Gretel, who is connected to a mysterious string of neighborhood deaths. Also co-starring Ryoo Seung Yong, Living Death has been attracting a lot of buzz as it is Nam's first film in four years.

Coming out a week later on August 20, Yoga from Whispering Stairs director Yoon Jae Yeon explores the ugly side of the pursuit of beauty. Taking a break from her usual romantic offerings, popular actress Eugene leads a beautiful lineup of actresses that includes Wishing Stairs' Park Han Byul, Forever the Moment's Jo Eun Ji, Red Eye's Kim Hye Na, and Memento Mori's Lee Yeong Jin. The five girls are all enrolled at a mysterious yoga center that promises eternal beauty to one student after a week of intense training - if they abide by the center's rules including breaking contact with the outside world. As the week wears on, strange things begin to happen, and it becomes increasingly clear that there is something very wrong with the yoga center and its young trainer, played by Beautiful's Cha Soo Yeon.

Text / Sanwei

In the aftermath of Hong Kong's sex photo scandal last year, Stephen Fung's film Jump, which starred photographer-cum-actor Edison Chen, was banned by the Chinese censors board SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television), and the release has been put on hold since. While Edison's other new movie, The Sniper, is still without a release date in Mainland China, Jump opted to jettison Edison in order to see the light of the day. The production spent an extra HK$3 million to re-shoot all of Edison's scenes with Singapore actor Leon Jay Williams (My Lucky Star) in his place earlier this year. The new version has finally got the permission of SARFT to screen in China according to the Mainland media, so an announcement of the film's release can be expected soon.

Jump is Stephen Fung's third feature film as a director after Enter the Phoenix (2004) and House of Fury (2005). The musical comedy, financed by Columbia Pictures and produced by Stephen Chow, is about a farming village girl (Kitty Zhang of CJ7) who goes to Shanghai to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. Originally Edison played the male lead as a cool, young entrepreneur, but like scandal victim Gillian Chung's fate in Forever Enthralled, his scenes all ended up on the cutting room floor.

Text / dian

The seventies sci-fi anime Space Battleship Yamato, also known in the West as Space Cruiser Yamato and Star Blazers, is returning with both a new animated film and a live-action feature. The classic space opera is set in the distant future when Earth is on its last leg due to alien attacks, and mankind's last hope lies in Space Battleship Yamato and its tenacious crew. Popular throughout the seventies and eighties, the franchise spawned three television seasons and five theatrical films, the last of which, Final Yamato, was released in 1983.

Twenty-six years later, producer Nishizaki Yoshinobu revives the franchise with the new animated film Yamato: Rebirth (a.k.a. Uchu Senkan Yamato: Fukkatsu-hen), scheduled to open in December this year. Set in 2220, 17 years after the events of Final Yamato, the film again calls on Space Battleship Yamato to defend Earth's population as a black hole expands towards the planet and a massive migration mission begins. Extensive CGI is being used for the space battle scenes. Yamato: Rebirth has a strong focus on environmental themes and the damage that humans have inflicted to Earth.

Ishiguro Noboru, one of the animation and episode directors for the original series, also recently announced that a live-action adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato is in the works. SMAP superstar Kimura Takuya has been confirmed for the leading role of Susumu Kodai.

Text / Sanwei

After The Forbidden Kingdom, Jackie Chan will again teach martial arts to another American boy! It has long been rumored that Jackie will star in a remake of the 1984 hit film Karate Kid, and it's now confirmed that he plays the master to the kid played by 11-year-old Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Day the Earth Stood Still), son of Hollywood superstar Will Smith.

The original, an inspirational story about a Western kid learning karate from a Japanese master, was massively popular at the box office and spawned several sequels. Directed by Harald Zwart (Agent Cody Banks), the updated version trades karate for kung fu and is logically retitled Kung Fu Kid. The co-production from Columbia Pictures and China Film Group has just started shooting in Beijing and principal photography is expected to last three months. Will Smith takes on producing duties, whereas Jackie sports a moustache for his role of Mr. Han, a Chinese janitor who passes on his kung fu skills to Jaden's bullied boy Dre, who has just moved to China with his single mom played by Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

Text / dian

The 11th Taipei Film Festival came to a close on July 12. Popular actor-director Leon Dai's No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti won the Grand Prize, as well as Best Actor for Chen Win Pin, Best Supporting Actor for Lin Chih Ju, and the Media's Choice Award. Based on real-life events, No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti, Dai's second directorial effort after 2002's Twenty Something Taipei, is shot in black and white, and follows an impoverished father's great efforts to keep his daughter.

Chung Mong Hong was awarded Best Director and Best Script for his neo-noir black comedy Parking, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Peggy Tseng, who played a Mainland prostitute in the film, won Best New Talent. The festival's opening film, Cheng Yu Chieh's coming-of-age drama Yang Yang, also picked up multiple awards including Special Jury Prize, Best Music, and Best Actress for Sandrine Pinna. Another youth film starring Pinna, Miao Miao, was recognized for Best Editing and Best Cinematography. Lou Yi An's ensemble urban allegory A Place Of One's Own took the remaining prizes: Audience Choice's Award, Best Art Direction, and Best Supporting Actress for Lu Yi Ching.

In the Non-Narrative Feature categories, Chiang Hsiu Chiung's Golden Horse-winning short Hopscotch added another accolade, the Jury Prize. Other winners include Lai Meng Jie's Panic House (Best Short Film), Lu Wen Chung's Ketchup (Best Animation Short), Liu Soung's Yellow Sheep River (Best Documentary), and Teen Patron (Documentary Special Prize).

The 2009 Taipei Film Festival was held from June 26 to July 12. Hong Kong director Ann Hui headed the festival's nine-member jury which included Taiwan directors En Chen and Wan Jen and award-winning actress Lu Hsiao Fen.

Text / Sanwei