Movie News Page 1117

Taking too much concern on its sex scene, Chinese censors have delayed the release of "Memoirs of a Geisha" for the second time. The drama flick, which was originally slated to debut in Beijing on January 9, was delayed until February10th.

Explaining on the fact, a Sony Pictures executive confirmed censorship was the issue and that a few seconds of footage had to be cut. By now, the film isn't on the China Film Group's distribution schedule and no new release date has been announced.

Kim Raver is joining Ben Stiller and Carla Gugino to enjoy the "Night at the Museum." The 20th Century Fox project is of family comedy genre which Shawn Levy about to direct.

Centers on a goodhearted but bumbling security guard (Stiller) who works at a natural history museum, where he accidentally trips an ancient curse that causes the creatures on display to come to life, the film will shoot in Vancouver and is slated for a holiday release this year.

Following Elisabeth Shue stepping down from "The Number 23" due to the fact that she's pregnant, Virginia Madsen is currently in talks to secure her role. If only the deal is reached, the actress will then play the role of Jim Carrey's wife in the psychological thriller from director Joel Schumacher.

New Line Cinema reportedly has previously talked to Aussie actress Nicole Kidman to replace Shue. Unfortunately, a deal was never reached because of scheduling conflicts. Thus, with Madsen concerns to star in, the film will keep its shooting schedule still for Monday Jan 23rd in Los Angeles.

Not intended to becoming so, movie star Jason Statham is said to topline the upcoming action-thriller "Rogue (2006)." Co-stars Jet Li in the title role, the film will have Philip Atwell to direct and Corey Yuen to choreograph and direct as well.

As of the story, "Rogue (2006)" centers on Jack Crawford (Statham), whose partner Tom Lone and Lone's family are killed by an assassin for the Chang crime family. Crawford becomes obsessed with finding the elusive and brutal killer, Rogue (Li).

Hollywood's speculation finally is answered. Ending the much talk about the identity of Vespa Lynd, 007's love interest in the highly anticipated "Casino Royale," the name of Rose Byrne comes up.

In recent publication, the Aussie actress reportedly is poised to become Daniel Craig's first ever James Bond girl. Apart from numbers of famous names, including Sienna Miller, Rachael Stirling and Natasha Henstridge, that have been linked with the movie, Byrne's spokesperson insisted "it's fairly certain" the actress will be cast.

The "Desperate Housewives" apparently isn't sound that bad at the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards. At the bash thrown Monday January 16th, the ABC hit series took home its second consecutive Golden Globe trophy for Best Comedy Series.

In the meantime, ABC also won the Best Drama Series award for its "Lost." Geena Davis, in chain, took home the Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama award for "Commander In Chief" and Hugh Laurie won the Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama prize for "House."

Numbers of movie stars joining Christina Ricci and Reese Witherspoon for the upcoming "Penelope." They are Catherine O'Hara, Peter Dinklage, James McAvoy and Richard E. Grant.

A romantic fable directed by Mark Palansky from a script by Leslie Caveny, "Penelope" tells the story of a young woman born with the face of a pig who must break a family curse and find true love in the process.

"Walk the Line" yes scored great at the 63rd annual Golden Globe awards held Monday January 16th. Though, the cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain" scored greater than the drama genre, won 4 awards. What an achievement.

Not only "Brokeback Mountain" secured the Best Motion Picture - Drama award, but also it took home the Best Director - Motion Picture honor for its director Ang Lee. Also it nabbed the Best Screenplay - Motion Picture thanks to Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, and Best Original Song - Motion Picture for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" as well.

Moviegoers will in the near future enjoy a new film presented by Walden Media as the studio has acquired the rights to Isabel Allende's trilogy featuring young adventurer Alexander Cold, a series of books that marked the famed author's first foray into young adult literature.

The first one on work is "City of the Beasts." Set to be produced by Barrie Osborne, the adventure fantasy flick will be adapted from Allende's novel and co-produced by David Rothenberg.

While the Christmas season has ended, Michelle Trachtenberg is joining the likes of Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Katie Cassidy and Oliver Hudson, to celebrate the "Black Christmas." Trachtenberg is said to topline the horror remake, which is worked on by filmmaking team James Wong and Glen Morgan.

Of horror thriller genre, "Black Christmas" is about a killer who terrorizes a sorority house with phone calls before he begins to murder various sorority sisters during the holiday break. Shooting will start at the end of this month in Vancouver with a release date slated for Christmas 2006. Wong and Morgan are producing, with Morgan writing and directing.

Hollywood has on Monday January 16th celebrated one of its biggest parties of the year, the 63rd annual Golden Globe Awards. That being so, following more than a month of critics' picks and nominations, "Walk the Line" comes up as the big winner at the prominent event, taking home 3 awards all at once.

The drama genre wins the awards for Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy category, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Reese Witherspoon, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy for Joaquin Phoenix. In the meantime, great actor Anthony Hopkins is handed the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

This movie awards season will see "Capote" and "Syriana" competing one another to secure the University of Southern California's 17th annual Scripter Award, which honors the year's best film adaptation of a book, novella or short story, and is the only award that honors both the author and screenwriter.

The writers of both films reportedly have received an equal number of votes in the Scripter selection committee balloting. Thus, a runoff vote will be held to determine this year's winning film, which final results to be made public Wednesday Jan 18. And as the winner has been revealed, the award will then be presented on February 11 during a black-tie dinner.

The North America box office for Weekend of January 13, 2006 has a new champion. It's the college basketball saga "Glory Road" which reigning the top position, sold about $13.5 million worth of tickets in the Friday-to-Sunday period. No. 2 also is won by a new release, "Last Holiday" with $13 million, while the animated tale "Hoodwinked" is at 3rd with $12.2 million.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" in the meantime falls two places to No. 4 scoring $10.1 million, followed then by last week champ "Hostel" at No. 5 with $9.6 million. The No. 6 position is secured by comedy flick "Fun with Dick and Jane" taking in $8. 6 million, ahead of "King Kong" at 7th with $7.3 million.

While Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan have confirmed their going to reunite for the highly anticipated "Rush Hour 3," Vinnie Jones reportedly is still in talks to star in.

The former professional soccer player is about to reunite with Brett Retner who's in hand to direct. In the meantime, Jeff Nathanson also is back for the project.

Latin beauty Jennifer Lopez reportedly will topline the forthcoming comedy flick "Bridge and Tunnel." The actress is slated to portray a stock trader who relies on a suburban teen who day-trades on his home PC.

As New Line Cinema busy looking for the male lead, Mickey Liddell has been set to executive produce. With a production scheduled to begin in late spring, Tribeca's Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro are producing, and Greg Berlanti is in hand directing.