It looks like Chow Yun-fat’s departure from John Woo’s The Battle Of Red Cliff isn’t affecting the movie as much as some in the industry thought it would. Producer Terence Chang said, “Nothing is affected because we have so many characters in the story and it’s so complicated that one actor (leaving) will not affect the production.”

All these ins and outs are confusing me

I bet Terence is, however, breathing a sigh of relief after hearing that Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (pictured above) has decided to join the cast. Tony himself had earlier left the production because of scheduling conflicts and his role was given to Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Terence refused to say if Tony was rehired to replace CYF’s role of Zhou Yu. He did, however say that “(Tony) is one of the best actors working in Chinese cinema today. I’m glad he’s coming back to the production.” Tony joins the shoot in Hebei, just outside Beijing, next week

You're nothing without me. Nothing I say!

Kirsten Dunst, star of Spider-man 3, sure does not believe in modesty.

The actress recently told Entertainment Weekly that if another Spider-man sequel is being planned, it better include the original director and cast (i.e. HER!) or else the film will fail.

"It'd be a big flop without me, Tobey (Maguire) and (director) Sam (Raimi)," the actress who plays Mary-Jane Watson said. "It would really not be the smartest move. But they already know that."

Talk about being full of herself. Honey, the name of the movie is SPIDER-MAN, not MARY-JANE. So, please know that you are dispensable! Mm-hmm.

If there is going to be a Spider-Man 4 movie in the future, shouldn’t Tobey Maguire reprise his web-slinging role?

It's not right if another actor plays the superhero. Tobey is Spiderman

The actor told Men’s Journal in its May issue, that he isn’t sure if he’d return if there was a fourth part. “I appreciate movies from a standpoint of entertainment and distraction, I love when people make movies that help raise awareness … I don’t really have a lot of formed ideas (about reprising the role). I might do another Spider-Man movie – I don’t know,” he said in the interview.

Spider-Man 3 opens in cinemas here early May.

The secret's out, hottie Shia's in the next Indiana Jones movie

Cutie Shia LaBeouf has just landed a role alongside Harrison Ford in the fourth installment of Indiana Jones, scheduled for release in May 2008.

News on the casting and production of Indiana Jones 4 has been a well-kept secret until producer George Lucas let it slip on a radio show that Shia would join the family. This led to director Steven Spielberg posting a statement on the film’s official website saying, “Shia’s talent has impressed not only his audiences throughout his young career but the directors, producers and fellow actors who have worked with him in his television career and now his film career.”

Shia, in an interview said he was aware of Internet chatter that he would have a role in the next Indiana Jones flick, but there was no confirmation till recently. In the film’s official website Shia says, “To be cast in an Indiana Jones film is like grabbing the brass ring and holding on for the ride. I'll do my best to meet the high standards that Steven, George, and Harrison have set and I can't wait to take that giant step in front of the Indy cameras.”

What role Shia will be playing in the Indiana Jones movie is still hush-hush, but nothing will remains a secret on the Net for long.

This is a break-out year for Shia; you’d remember him in Keanu Reeves’ Constantine two years back. Apart from his latest movie Disturbia, a high-teck teen version of Rear Window playing in American cinemas now, Shia also provides the voice of one of the penguins in the animated movie Surf’s Up, scheduled to open here in June and this Summer he stars in the highly-anticipated movie Transformers.

Keep your eyes on Galaxie magazine for an interview on this up-an-coming 20 year old actor.

I see The X-Files 2 on the horizon!

Don’t be fooled by recent reports that say Julianne Moore is taking Gillian Anderson’s place on The X-Files movie sequel. That piece of news is an April Fool’s Day joke by Moviehole.net! Both David Duchovny and Ms. Anderson will reprise their roles as Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully respectively. Also on board for the movie project are X-Files creator Chris Carter and writer Frank Spotnitz. The first X-Files movie was released in 1998. According to various sources, number two will not continue the alien conspiracy mythology but will be a stand-alone supernatural thriller. Ah, I remember well all the clever, witty episodes and frighteningly freaky stuff they did during the nine years the show was on TV. Hopefully, this movie will recapture the spark the series had during its best years.

NO!!! WHY???

Why must Hollywood continue to dig up the past? Why must movie fans be made to endure that dreaded curse, known in certain circles as The Remake?

Honey, I'm not so sure everything will be OK.

Psycho! Get Carter! The Italian Job! The Manchurian Candidate! The Wicker Man! The Omen! And now... Straw Dogs!

Yes, it appears that Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 classic, about a quiet American (Dustin Hoffman) and his beautiful English wife (Susan George) being harassed by inhabitants of a rural English town, is going to be re-shot. The deed is set to be done by Rod Lurie, director of The Contender, the upcoming Resurrecting The Champ and creator of TV series Commander In Chief. But that’s not the worst thing.

No, the worst thing is that it seems that the action is going to be Americanised and updated. I’m guessing they’re gonna get someone like Ben Affleck to star in it.

Oh, the horror! Oh, I feel unwell!

Don’t you learn? In horror movies, you don’t go out at night!

My favourite movie genres have to be thrillers, murder mysteries and horror. I also see a lot of B-graded movies, but we’ll discuss that another day. What is it with horror movies that, even though we’re scared silly of it, we will pay money to watch it?

It’s an adrenaline rush for some, I suppose. I had my adrenaline fix on Thursday. I previewed THE REAPING starring Hilary Swank as a skeptic of religious phenomena who is called to investigate strange happenings in Haven, Louisiana where the residents believe a child is responsible for what appears to be the 10 plagues from the Bible.

I don’t usually put much stock in Hollywood horror movies. They are so gung-ho with their special effects that the word ‘horror’ is completely lost to them. But I have to admit that THE REAPING isn’t bad at all. It has a predictable storyline and you’re able to figure out when you need to duck under your jacket, but the twist to the story isn’t half bad. It got an “Ohhh, I see” and a raised eyebrow from me, and that’s saying a lot.

So, if you’re into horror flicks try THE REAPING for a dose of adrenaline rush.

Calling all fans of Sex And The City... good news guys! It seems that we will be able to watch the fabulous four on the big screen after all. We have heard plans for the movie version ever since the HBO series ended in 2004 but the project was halted when Kim Catrall, who plays the slutty Samantha Jones, pulled out.  

Anyone seen my shoes?

Now,  the project has been revived and it seems that the ladies -- Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie), Kristin Davis (Charlotte), Cynthia Nixon (Miranda) and Kim -- have signed on the dotted line for the movie version. The Manolo Blahnik frenzy begins again!

HQ, HQ, we can't shoot Will. We don't know who he is.

 Here are some other classic blunders: 

From a war movie: “Incoming missile. Duck!” Translation, “Itik!” 

From a drama: “I hate you, period.” Translation, “Saya benci awak, haid.” 

From a sci-fi movie: “Shoot at will.” Translation: “Tembak Will” 

From a teen drama: “She’s one cool cat.” Translation, “Kucing tu sejuk.” 

From a war movie: “Fire!” (as in shoot). Translation, “Api!”