Shyamalan blasts Disney in new book

M. Night Shyamalan, whose name alone brings monetary success to his films, lashed out at his old studio in a new book published next month.

Shyamalan left Disney, where he made all his successful films including The SIxth Sense, Signs and The Village, after disagreement over his new film Lady in the Water with the studio's producers.


M. Night Shyamalan, publicity photo.

A meeting with Disney execs in Philadelphia last February left Shyamalan in tears, and in the book he is particularly harsh on his former mentor Nina Jacobson.

The eerie film director bolted to Warner Brothers which is releasing Lady in the Water on July 21.

'Death Note' tops 'Da Vinci' for Japan box office

Death Note based on a popular manga comic topped The Da Vinci Code at the Japanese box office with US$4.13 million in its first two days.

Starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, the film tells the story of boy genius Raito Yagami, who can kill anyone he wants simply by writing their name in a notebook.

A second movie in the series is due to open in November, while Nippon Television Network plans an animated version.

Experts were surprised though that the movie was able to knock out The Da Vinci Code which has been going strong since its opening. The latter movie topped the world box office for the fifth straight week.

The Da Vinci Code has reportedly earned about US$680 million.

Keanu Reeves ready to tie knot?

Matrix star Keanu Reeves reportedly inspired by tales of marital bliss from The Lake House co-star Sandra Bullock has proposed to girlfriend Claire Forlani, according to news reports.

Forlani, who co-stars in Meet Joe Black, has been dating Reeves for three years. She grew up in London and moved to the United States at the age of 20.

Reeves reportedly popped the question at Wolfgang Puck's new Hollywood restarurant Cut.


Actor Keanu Reeves leaves the backstage area at the O2 Wireless Festival 2006 in Hyde Park in central London June 21, 2006. REUTERS/Leon Neal (BRITAIN) from Yahoo News.

Samsara finally opens in India

Pan Nalin's award-winning film Samsara is due for release on June 23 long after the movie debuted in 2001.

The film's controversial plot is centered around a monk in Ladakh, but the director is relatively unknown in India and there are no big stars in the movie.

Samsara though won the Paris-based Indian director 30 awards at film festivals worldwide.

Nalin's next pic Valley of Flowers deals with the subject of reincarnation and does sport some big Bollywoood names -- Naseeruddin Shah and Milind Soman.

South Korea scores World Cup draw against France

South Korea moved a bit closer to the final 16 of the World Cup after a come-from-behind draw with France on Sunday.

Semi-finalists in 2002, the South Koreans have four points in Group G. Switzerland meets Togo on Monday, and the final group matches will pit South Korea against the Swiss and France versus Togo.

France is in danger of elimination in the first round for the second straight time in World Cup competition.


South Korea's Cho Won-hee, right, and Chung Kyung-ho train in Leverkusen for the World Cup soccer tournament, June 19, 2006. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon photo from Yahoo News.

Tiger Woods fails to make cut for first time in career

Coming off the longest layoff of his career, Tiger Woods failed to make the first cut for the first time as a pro at the U.S. Open on Friday.

Wood said he may play at the Western Open in early July as a tuneup for the British Open.


Tiger Woods on the green during the first round of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club on Friday, June 16, 2006, in Mamaroneck, N.Y. AP Photo/Charles Krupa from Yahoo News.

World Cup: South Korea to play France on Sunday

South Korea may again be Asia's hope for the World Cup.

In 2002, South Korea finished third overall, the best Asian performance. This year they again look like Asia's hot team and are set to go against France on Sunday.


The South Korean soccer team during a training session with Dutch-born head coach Dick Advocaat in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2006. South Korea plays at the FIFA World Cup in Group A with Germany, Costa Rica and Ecuador. They will face the French national team on Sunday. AP Photo/Martin Meissner from Yahoo News.

Tiger Woods prepares for return

Tiger Woods will play for the first time since his father's death in May when he starts the first round of the 106th United States Open at Winged Foot tomorrow.

The last time he played was at the Masters tournament more than two months ago.


Tiger Woods walks off the 18th tee after a practice round at the Winged Foot Golf Club in New York on June 14, 2006. AP photo from Yahoo News.

Woods told the press that he had a hard time getting back on the golf course for practice because of the memories it brought back of his father. But as he continued, he found that he "always had a smile" on his face remembering the lessons his father taught him through "the game of golf."

This is not the first time Woods has come back from a long idle period. After knee surgery in 2002 and last winter, he took long breaks but was able to come back fresh and win.

Ang Lee casts spy thriller in Taiwan

Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee was in Taipei last week casting his new film Lust, Caution scheduled to start shooting in September.


Film director Ang Lee in Taipei on January 19, 2006. AP photo from Yahoo News.

According to his younger brother Lee Kang, the elder Ang met with Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun, who won the best actress title at the last Hong Kong Film Awards.

Based on a novel by late author Eileen Chang, Lust, Caution, the film is set in Shanghai during World War II.

Lee will shoot the film in Taipei and Hong Kong.

China pulls Da Vinci Code

China pulled The Da Vinci Code from theaters in an apparent business move to make room for local films.

Despite protests from China's Catholic Church, the country permitted the movie's release, which predated even the 'official' premiere at the Cannes film festival.


A scene from 'The Da Vinci Code' which is still going strong in international markets. Reuters photo from Yahoo News.

Da Vinci Code is now Sony's biggest international money-maker ever pulling in close to $600 million in global box office sales, despite the growing number of countries banning the movie.

In Japan and more than a dozen European countries, Da Vinci Code still leads the charts in ticket sales.


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Michelle Wie set for busy summer schedule

Young golfing sensation Michelle Wie is out of school for summer and ready to play on a professional schedule starting this week at Bulle Rock.


16-year-old Michelle Wie throws out ceremonial pitch to start American League Baseball season on June 6, 2006 at Baltimore, Maryland. Reuters photo from Yahoo News.

The 16-year-old failed to become the first woman to qualify for the U.S. Open, but is setting her sights instead on performing in the LPGA Championship.

Wie has six tournaments scheduled this summer.

She will play in the McDonald`s LPGA Championship,the U.S. Women`s Open on June 29, and then head to the Women`s World Match Play Championship. Then she's off to the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour, followed by the Evian Masters and Women`s British Open.

Michelle Wie already makes more money than the best players on the LPGA tour.

China plans Bruce Lee movie to coincide with Olympics

China's official broadcaster CCTV is set to make a 40 episode television series on the life of martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

Scheduled to debut in 2008 in conjunction with the Beijing Olympic Games, the series will target a global audience.

A number of popular Chinese actors are competing to play the martial arts superstar in The Legend of Bruce Lee.


Tourists walk past a bronze statue of Bruce Lee in Hong Kong. AFP photo from Yahoo News.



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Wang Chao wins sideline Cannes award

The movie Luxury Car by Chinese director Wang Chao won the main sideline competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

The film about about encounters between a prostitute and her family won the "Un Certain Regard" award of the festival.


Wang Chao won the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes for 'Luxury Car'. 2004 AFP file photo from Yahoo News.

Wang Chao will receive EUR5,000 ($6,500) in prize money and a three-month screenwriting residency.

He returned to China sunburned after relaxing at the Cannes beaches without using suntan lotion.


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Tamil Nadu bans Da Vinci Code

Tamil Nadu became the fourth Indian state to ban the movie The Da Vinci Code following Nagaland, Gujarat and Goa.

Christians, who form a significant minority in the South Indian state, staged protests at the capital Chennai on Wednesday.


Police officers patrol in front of a Mumbai theater showing 'The Da Vinci Code'. AFP photo from Yahoo News.

"The screening of the film may lead to demonstrations and disturb peace in the state," said an admistratation statement released Wednesday night.

Christians make up less than two percent of India's entire population but constitute the majority or large minorities in some states.

The Da Vinci Code opened to full houses in New Delhi last weekend. Some opponents say the movie mixes in "New Age" beliefs with traditional Christian doctrine, including some aspects of the "Divine Feminine" often linked popularly with Indian culture.



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