February 28th, 2007 by dd
From Lost to the frontiers of Space
It was officially announced that Lost creator JJ Abrams will direct Star Trek XI. As a result, casting news is heating up, with all kinds of exciting speculation about where the Enterprise is headed.
IGN claims Matt Damon is talking to Paramount about playing Captain Kirk. He’s long been rumored as Abrams’ first choice for the part. Now that the script is finished and JJ is set to direct, this would be the time to bring him in for a pitch. For the role of Spock, rumor has it that King Kong and Hollywoodland star Adrien Brody is in play. For McCoy, Paramount is talking to Gary Sinise for the role of Doctor “Bones” McCoy.
George Takei, Asian American Pioneering Actor
Those three are supposed to be pretty close to getting cast. IGN also mentions Daniel Dae Kim, who plays Jin on Lost, as a contender for the role of Sulu.
The Dumpling isn’t a Trekkie by any stretch of the imagination but Daniel deserves to be in a role where he gets to speak his native language, English, because apparently the Korean he speaks on Lost is too painful for native speakers to bear.
Posted in Asian American, Film, TV, Daniel Dae Kim, George Takei | 
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February 28th, 2007 by dd
Hong Kong Superstar Andy Lau wants it be known that enough is enough! The latest trend in Chinese cinema has been historical epics but Andy thinks it’s time to move on. “I think there can be fewer of them in the market. We should come up with other topics,'’ Andy Lau said at a press conference to promote his new movie Protege. Protege, about a drug kingpin who prepares for a leadership change, is a good example of an alternative topic. I think every actor should try movies like this, try new topics.
Meanwhile, Mr. Conviction is himself in the midst of shooting three historical epics on China, including the recently released A Battle of Wits about a strategist who helps defend a city under siege.
The veteran actor will also appear in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon based on a battle from the classic Chinese novel Three Kingdoms and has also appeared in House of Flying Daggers.
Lau said the succession of epics was a coincidence. Riiight. Nice save, Andy.[Hindu]
Posted in Hong Kong, China, Film, Andy Lau | No Comments »
February 28th, 2007 by dd
Newly minted Oscar winner William Monahan is reteaming with The Departed players Leonardo DiCaprio and Vertigo Entertainment for another Hong Kong remake, a thriller titled Confessions of Pain for Warner Bros. Pictures, which acquired the rights to the film.
Pain follows two close friends, one a police detective and the other a private detective, who team to investigate the murder of the cop’s father-in-law. As the investigation proceeds, they uncover evidence that shows that nothing is as it appears.
The original, released last year, was created by Alan Mak, Andrew Lau and Felix Chong, the team behind Infernal Affairs, the Hong Kong film on which Oscar winner Departed was based.
Pain is being developed as a starring vehicle for DiCaprio. Monahan, who won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for writing Departed, will adapt. Dan Lin will oversee for Warners. Departed won three other Oscars on Sunday, for best picture, best editing and best director (Martin Scorsese). [HollywoodReporter]
Posted in Hong Kong, Film, Andrew Lau, Alan Mak, Dan Lin, Felix Chong | No Comments »
February 28th, 2007 by dd
One of Michelle Wie’s main goals once she returns from her wrist injury is to win a Professional golf event.
Whether or not that is on the LPGA Tour or the PGA tour seems inconsequential to the 17-year old phenom, but she seems to feed off the negative criticism that is thrown her way from people who think they can tell her who she can or can’t play with.
Try as she may, Wie still hasn’t won an LPGA event and has not made a cut in any PGA Tour event that she has entered, but she wants to do something about that.
She just wants to play, and play well, and she doesn’t care what her critics say about her playing with the men.
Just ask her.
“I think it’s ridiculous for these people to say ‘you shouldn’t even try,’” Wie said in a recent interview. “It’s what life is. I mean, you fail when you compete and if you don’t try, then you don’t even know. Even if I fail, at least I know I tried. I’ll play every tournament the best I can with a great motivation and a great desire, and whatever happens, happens. I’m going to live the way I want to, and whatever people say, they say. I don’t really care.”
So call her a LOSER, a CHOKER, a SELL OUT… doesn’t matter. She’s still richer as a teenager than you’ll ever be in your whole life. Who’s laughing now, sucka! [AllHeadlineNews]
Posted in Asian American, Sports, Michelle Wie | No Comments »
February 28th, 2007 by dd
Lost regular Daniel Dae Kim reveals his late-in-life decision to become an actor did not sit well with his parents. In fact, the Korean-American heartthrob admits they freaked out “for a little while. I was in college, and I was going to be an attorney, so this was a major career change for me. And my dad’s a doctor who wanted me to follow in his footsteps, so being an actor was the furthest thing from his mind.” Now that the show’s a worldwide hit, “I’m happy to say they’re proud of what’s happened,” reports Kim. “My dad even tries to give me career advice every once in a while. I’ll talk to him about a potential project and that I’m in discussions for this particular role, and he’ll ask me questions like `Well, how much are they paying?’ and `What are the accommodations like?’ I get a kick out of that. I love it that he cares.”
Meanwhile, according to him, this season of Lost, “My character is going to start speaking more English, which I’m thrilled about,” says Kim. “He’s going to be taking some serious English lessons, and in the episodes coming up, he’ll start to learn quickly.” [DailyNews]
Posted in Korea, Asian American, TV, Daniel Dae Kim | No Comments »
February 27th, 2007 by dd
Lucy Liu at the 2007 Vanity Fair Oscar Party looking like a life-size Oscar-ette.
Posted in Asian American, Film, TV, Lucy Liu | No Comments »
February 27th, 2007 by dd
Well, not exactly…
Chinese actress Chen Xiaoyu has joined a Buddhist temple in China. Known for her role as Lin Daiyu in the TV soap opera Dream of the Red Mansion, an adaptation of the Chinese Qing Dynasty literary classic, Chen did not pursue an acting career after this role. She disappeared from public view for several years until re-catching people’s attention, this time, as a successful businesswoman and billionaire in advertising.
So unlike the US pop princess, Chen is seeking enlightenment whereas Britney shaved off her head and secluded herself because she has the crazies and is rehabbing from drugs, alcohol and stress. If you look closely, you can see the difference between Chen and Brit in their eyes. Don’t take my word for it, check it out yourself.
Britney Spears is not a happy camper
Posted in China, TV | No Comments »
February 27th, 2007 by dd
The Dumpling commends Lisa Ling for leaving The View to pursue “harder” news over at National Geographic. She shows up every so on Oprah to tell the world about the plights of the underreported and the less fortunate. You sometimes forget the girl has a smile or anything other than cargo pants and a dirt stained shirt.
So it was refreshing to see Lisa all decked out on the red carpet hob nobbing with the stars. But when it came time to interview Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts, Lisa came out swinging with some pretty lame questions. The Australian best friends looked stumped and had trouble coming up with an answer that didn’t make them look as stupid as the question they were asked. I’m not sure the audience really cares who took longer to get ready but, hey, at least you looked “purty”, Lisa.
Posted in Asian American, TV, Lisa Ling | No Comments »
February 27th, 2007 by dd
That better be an Oscar statue you’re hiding down there, honey…
Click on “Read the Article” to see larger version of the thumbnails… Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in China, Film, Zhang Ziyi | No Comments »
February 27th, 2007 by dd
Rinko Kikuchi missed out on an Oscar to Jennifer Hudson but did not fail to impress in Chanel on the red carpet. She’ll have a bright future in film and is currently signed on to perform in The Brothers Bloom alongside Oscar winners Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz.
To see more pics of Rinko, Click on “Read the Article”
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Posted in Japan, Film, Rinko Kikuchi | No Comments »
