Kung Fu Panda

Dreamworks is planning a sequel to its most successful movie ever, the smash hit Kung Fu Panda. Dreamworks chief executive, Jeffrey Katzenberg has been quoted as saying,  “We’ve started conversations about it, and I think in the next 30 or 60 days, we’ll be able to talk completely about that.”

Kung Fu Panda  made $560 million (£299 million) in global ticket sales, overtaking the Shrek movies.

Kung Fu Panda, for those who have not watched the movie, is the story of a clumsy but endearing panda, Po, who works in his family’s noodle shop and dreams of being a Kung Fu master. Po has to fulfill an ancient prophecy and gets to learn Kung Fu under Master Shifu, along with his idols, Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey. Po gets a chance to face his fears and be a real Kung Fu master when he has to take on the dangerous snow leopard Tai Lung.

The voiceovers in Kung Fu Panda are provided by Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Dan Fogler, Michael Clarke Duncan, Wayne Knight, and James Hong.

Kung Fu Panda was directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Apart from Kung Fu Panda 2, Dreamworks plans to make two more Madagascar sequels after Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, which will be released in November 2008 in the US and December 2008 in the UK. All the Madagascar sequels will be made in 3-D.

Superman remake as a superhero with dark shades

Considering the last Superman movie, Superman Returns, was as flat and unidimensional as they come, a more flesh-and-blood characterisation would be welcome, provided the potrayal of “darkness” does not degenerate into a sob story a la Spiderman 3 where one is disgusted at the sight of a sniveling Spiderman. As a Spiderman fan, I clearly remember him as a sarcastic, sometimes flippant character operating with wits as much as muscle. Does trying to understand how superheroes are made and what defines their personalities mean martyrish soliloquies?

Do we want to see a picture featuring a weepy Superman? Or an angsty one?

The other point I want to make is why does the plumbing of a character necessarily mean that it would be dark? Do superheroes have to be angsty to turn into beings with great power and responsibility? I would love to see a movie that presents Superman as a person, not a cardboard character. What shapes Superman’s morality? How does Superman reconcile it with the unconscious destruction his immense strength can cause? I don’t think Superman has too much angst about that in the first place. I don’t think he even realises it.

Yes, Superman loses his home in Krypton and his father, and is lonely on earth despite having a wife and family because he is different. How on earth are there going to present this as dark? I can understand that Spiderman has reason to be angsty (Spiderman 3 still sucks) and  Batman has issues to resolves, but Superman? On the main, Superman is a good boy. He is a pretty upbeat dude. Superman does not waste too much time being sorry for himself. If there is work to be to be done, dark or not, he does it. Sorted!

I am not saying that there cannot be a realistic, gritty interpretation of the comic; heaven knows, Superman Returns could have done with some reality and less special effects that go nowhere.

Superman does have many characters that can be explored, some dark, some grey, but to decide it’s going to be a dark, broody take just because The Dark Knight, and before that Batman Begins, works is just formulaic cinema.

The Indian media has reported that Patel claims Jennifer Aniston has been roped in to play the female lead. In the next breath, the reports say that Jennifer Anistion, who was “moved to tears” when she heard the story, wants to see the script. I assume when you say an actor has been roped in to play a role, he or she has accepted the role instead of wanting to look at the script for the first time. That too a script that is not ready yet. Patel has been quoted as saying, “Now she wants me to give her the full script which we’re working on.” So, the script is not in place but Jennifer Aniston has been roped in. Nice.

Patel then asserts that he is “considering” Brad Pitt and Keanu Reeves for the two male lead roles. I don’t want to snigger but Patel is considering Brad Pitt for a role, which is not even there on paper, when even top directors in Hollywood say they would like to work with Pitt, and consider themselves lucky to get him to sign on the dotted line.

Note: There is no mention of any directors that are being considered. I have this terrible feeling that Patel would probably produce, write, and direct the movie, that is if it ever takes off.

This is not to take away from Khamoshi in any way. It is a wonderfully sensitive and subtle movie, and I hate to think of what would happen to it in Patel’s hands. He is already talking about major changes. God save us from enthusiastic, amateur wannabe filmmakers with deep pockets.

Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors poster

Warner Bros are in battle mode because of an upcoming Bollywood flick, Hari Puttar: A comedy of terrors. The studio has sued the makers of Hari Puttar for infringement of intellectual property rights and asked for a stay on the film’s release.

It is understandable that Warner Bros is jittery about Harry Potter’s property rights, but in this case they seem to be just paranoid. Because, at first look, Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors has nothing to do with Harry Potter.

The only connection Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors has with Harry Potter is that Hari puttar in India is a play on the words Harry Potter and is a common graffiti line found on T-shirts, mugs, and such like. Hari, itself is a generic Hindu Indian name and puttar is an endearing  way of addressing a son. Puttar is a common noun, like tyke, son, or boy.

But one can’t blame Warner Bros for being suspicious because Hari Puttar in the West would be pronounced as Harry Putter (note: Putter as in Put and not Pot), whereas Hari in Hindi is pronounced as ‘Hurry’. Ditto for Puttar. The syllable Pu in Hindi is pronounced as poo and not  like, say, paw. And the syllable tar is pronounced as “thar” with a rolling r. So the pronunciation is “pootharr” and not “pottah.” Har, Har.

Hari Puttar with his mother in Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors

Hari Potter: A Comedy of Terrors is the story of a 10-year-old boy Hari Prasad Dhoonda, affectionately called Hari puttar by his parents. Hari and his family move to the UK, where his father Prof. Dhoonda is assigned a hush-hush defense project. The professor keep a chip containing sensitive data in a secure place in his home. When Hari’s Uncle, DK, and his four kids come to visit the Dhoondas, Hari feels neglected and seeks refuge in an imaginary friend, Funtoon (animated character).

Hari Puttar and Tuk Tuk

The Dhoonda and DK family plan to go for a vacation but forget to take Hari and his little cousin Tuk Tuk along. The two kids are left alone at home, when a Don sends two burglars to filch the chip. The intrepid Hari and Tuk Tuk have the adventure of their life when they take on the burglars to protect the chip.

Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors will be released on September 12, 2008 in theatres across India. Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors has been produced by Lucky Kohli, Munish Purii, and A P Parigi. Hari Puttar has been directed by Lucky Kohli and Rajesh Bajaj, under the Mirchi Movies banner. The movie stars Zain Khan as Hari Puttar, Sweeny Khara as Tuk Tuk, Sarika as Hari’s mother, Jackie Shroff as DK, and Vijay Raaz and Saurabh Shukla as the bumbling burglars.

The two burglars in Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors

Hari Puttar has a peppy soundtrack that includes the title track ‘Hari Puttar’, ‘Tutaris,’ and ‘Hari Puttar is a Dude.’

Mirchi Movies’ earlier flick, Being Cyrus, was critically appreciated and a moderate hit at the box office, a first for an English language, Bollywood film.

2008 Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series winner and nominations

Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock

Alec Baldwin is the 2008 Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor? In a Comedy Series for his role as a suave network executive, Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock. Alec Baldwin is the winner of the 2007 Golden Globe award and the 2006 and 2007 SAG award for the same role.

Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk

Tony Shalhoub has received a 2008 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor? In a Comedy Series for his role as Adrian Monk in the sitcom Monk. Tony Shahloub is the winner of the 2003, 2005, and 2006 Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Lee Pace as Ned, Pushing Daisies

Lee Pace is the 2008 Emmy Award Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Ned in the series Pushing Daisies.

Steve Carell as Michael Scott, The Office

Steve Carell has received a 2008 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Michael Scott in The Office. The Get Smart and Little Miss Sunshine actor is also the winner of the 2006 Golden Globe award for the role of Michael Scott. Steve Carell has been nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2006 and 2007 as well.

Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, Two And A Half Men

Charlie Sheen is the 2008 Emmy Award nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Charlie Harper in the sitcom Two and A Half Men.

2008 Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress? In a Comedy Series winner and nominees

Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, 30 Rock

Tina Fey is the 2008 Emmy award Best Actress in a Comedy Series nominee for 30 Rock. Tina Fey is the creator of the 30 Rock series and plays Liz Lemon whose character is based on her own personality.

Christina Applegate as Samantha Newly, Samantha Who?

Christina Applegate has been nominated for the 2008 Emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Christina plays Samantha “Sam” Newly  in the sitcom Samantha Who? She has earlier played the role of Kelly Bundy in the series Married…with children.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Julia Louia-Dreyfus has been nominated for the 2008 Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for The New Adventures of Old Christine. Julia plays Christine Campbell, a woman who gets embroiled in a complex situation when her husband leaves her for a younger Christine. Julia is the winner of the 2006 Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress? In a Comedy Series for the role of Christine Campbell and the 1996 Emmy award for her role as Elain    e in the hit sitcom Seinfeld.

America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Ugly Betty

America Ferrera is the winner of the 2007 Emmy award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy series. America has been nominated for the 2008 Emmy Award for the same role. America is also the winner of the 2007 Golden Globe and 2007 SAG award.

Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin, Weeds

In Weeds, Mary-Louise Parker, the nominee for the 2008 Emmy award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series plays a widowed mother of two kids who fends for herself by selling drugs. Mary-Louise Parker has won the Best Actress Golden Globe award for her role in Weeds in 2006.

AngelinaJolie has edged out Tom Cruise in the spy thriller Edwin A. Salt. The movie that is slated to release in 2010, is about a CIA agent on the run, after being accused of being a Russian sleeper spy set to assasinate the American president.

Not a very novel idea, but it should be interesting to watch Jolie step into traditional male territory. There have been women spies no doubt in Hollywood; Great Garbo, Marlene Dietrich both played Mata Hari in the 1930s. Mata Hari, a dancer in Paris, became a German agent but was executed shortly. She was sexy, glamorous but not a very effective spy, since it didn’t take too long to catch and execute her.

In recent times, Halle Balle in Die Another Day, and Jennifer Garner in the hit TV series Alias, were more of the tough but sexy spies.

But, Edwin A. Salt, as the title indicates, was written with a male agent in mind. It would be very interesting to see how the script is rewritten for Angelina Jolie, who is extremely comfortable in action roles.

Edwin A. Salt will be directed by Philip Noyce, who directed Angelina Jolie in Bone Collector, and is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Sunil Perkash. Tom Cruise, who has been part of the project for a long time, backed off, reportedly, over remuneration issues.

Angelina Jolie, who gave birth to twins in July 2008, was last seen in the action-thriller Wanted.

Angelina Jolie is also rumored to be part of Atlas Shrugged based on Ayn Rand’s novel of the same name. Jolie will play Dagny Taggart, a railroad heiress battling to keep her father’s company on track. It is rumored that Brad Pitt was have an important role in the movie, while casting is still on for the role of John Galt.

Atlas Shrugged will be directed and scripted by Randall Wallace, who will also script Jolie’s forthcoming flick The Mercenary: Love and Honor. It is not confirmed whether Jolie will work in Edwin A. Salt before or after Atlas Shrugged and The Mercenary: Love and Honor.

It has now commenced with Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law playing different physical personas of a single character.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantasy flick directed and written by Terry Gilliam. It has been co-written by Charles McKeown. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus revolves arounds a traveling theatre troupe led by Christopher Plummer. Plummer has an Imaginarium, which can take audiences through a magical mirror, and choose between light and dark.

But Dr Parnassus has dark dealings with the devil, a bet that gives him immortality. Later Dr. Parnassus renegotiates with the devil and asks for youth in exchange of his firstborn on his or her’s 16th birthday. The tale is about how Dr. Parnassus saves his daughter with the help of some crazy characters. The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus also stars Tom Waits (as Mr. Nick or the devil), Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law as Tony, and Lily Cole as Dr. Parnassus’ daughter Valentina.

After the death of Heath Ledger, filming was suspended for a while. But with the casting of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law as physical manifestations of Heath Ledger’s character, shooting commenced in March 2008.

So, those who thought that The Dark Knight was the last in which Heath Ledger would be seen on screen, can rest assured that Ledger would be still part of the movie. The producers have said that they will not change or edit Heath’s final performance, as a tribute to him.

Inglorious Bastards is produced by Weinstein Co. and Universal. Filming will start in October 2008.

A bit like Alistair McLean’s Guns of Navarone, Force Ten from Navarone, and Where Eagles Dare, Inglorious Bastards in about a bunch of  ragatag soldiers, sent to take down Nazi soldiers. The prisoner-turned-soldiers, led by Brad Pitt, disrupt the Nazi war machine by brutally decimating Nazi soldiers. Meanwhile, a French-Jewish girl, who runs a movie theatre, wants to avenge the death of her parents at Nazi hands.

Nastassja Kinski plays a reigning German movie star, while Simon Pegg plays a British Lieutenant. David Krumholtz and B.J. Novak will play Brad Pitt’s gang members. Eli Roth has been cast as Seargent Donnie Donowitz.

Inglorious Bastards has been scripted by Tarantino in as early as 2002. Tarantino was not satisfied with the script, despite multiple changes. The project was put on hold, while Tarantino went on to make Kill Bill and Grindhouse.

Inglorious Bastards will be set in France, with dialogues in French and Germans, though subtitles will be used.

What can be a better de-motivational poster?

Angelina’s baby girl was named after her mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, who died in January 2007 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Angelia Jolie gave birth to the twins on the night of July 12, 2008, at the Lenval hospital in Nice, southern France. Angelina Jolie has checked into the seafront Santa Maria maternity clinic for a rest period before she gave birth.

Jolie, 33, is expected to give birth to the twins sometime in the second week of July 2008. Some reports have said that Angelina’s babies are not due before August 2008.

Dr. Michel Sussman, who delivered the twins, said that the mother and babies were doing fine. He added that Knox Leon weighed over 5 pounds while Vivienne Marcheline weighed five pounds.

Brad Pitt was present during the caesarean, which had been conducted earlier than planned because of medical reasons, that Dr. Sussman did not elaborate upon.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, already have four kids, sons Maddox and Pax, and daughters Zahara, and Shiloh, their biological daughter. In 2002, Angelina Jolie adopted Maddox from Cambodia when he was seven-months old. Three years later, Angelina adopted six-month-old  Zahara. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had their biological daugher, Shiloh, in 2006. The surnames of all the children were changed to Jolie-Pitt in 2006.

The babies have barely been born but the photo frenzy has reached fever pitch. While it’s not clear whether it is People magazine or Hello! magazine who will bag the exclusive photo rights, but it is expected that they may have to shell out to the tune of $15 - 20 million.

In 2006, People magazine paid $4.1 million for the North American rights, of baby Shiloh’s first photos, while Hello! paid $3.5 million for the international rights.

Like last time, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are expected to donated the sales profits to an undisclosed charity.