'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.