Kristen Stewart will not be a Bollywood Bella

Contrary to recent reports, Kristen Stewart is not Bollywood bound to star in Paani.

Speculation was mounting after it was ‘revealed’ that Paani’s director Shekhar Kapur had offered the Twilight star the role and she had supposedly accepted.

Bollywood movie fans were said to be excited at the prospect of K-Stew starring opposite Hrithik Rishan in a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ style story, but this will not happen.

Stewart’s rep told celebrity gossip website Gossip Cop, “She is not set to star in this movie.”

Kristen is concentrating on promoting rock biopic The Runaways and her summer schedule will be filled with press appearances for Twilight Eclipse.

She will then go on to work on Twilight Breaking Dawn, which is believed to be going into production this winter.

Sandra Bullock decides not to return home

Sandra Bullock reportedly has no plan to return to the home where she lived with hubby Jesse James while the man who cheated on her is still there.

The Oscar-winning actress, who has avoided the public glare for the past two weeks, has no intention of sleeping at their home while James is there and so she has moved out, it has been reported.

"Sandra is such a classy woman.... To have her husband cheating on her and cheating with so many women, it's just something she doesn't deserve," The New York Post quoted an insider as telling RadarOnline.com.

The site also reported that Bullock, 45, is currently staying at her Hollywood Hills home, which she bought before she married James nearly five years ago.

The source added: "She has always conducted herself with dignity.

"A lot of people never understood her attraction to James, but she was loyal to him. And not only did he cheat, but he cheated with these women that just make you shake your head. Not that it matters anyway — the only thing that matters is [that] he cheated."

Bullock has been avoiding the public glare after allegations of James, 40, romping with tattoo model Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee emerged nearly two weeks ago.

Spider-Man star James Franco eyes PhD

Spider-Man star James Franco has been accepted into the prestigious Yale University, where the actor will study for his doctorate.

The actor has already done a film-making course from New York University, and also took writing classes at Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts diploma, reports The Daily Express.

A representative has confirmed that Franco was accepted into Yale, in Connecticut.

He will begin courses for his PhD in September if he accepts his place, according to the esteemed institution's student newspaper The Yale Herald.

James Cameron eyes Australia for next film

Hollywood director James Cameron is set to make Australia his next stop to oversee his ongoing film project after the phenomenal success of Avatar.

The Oscar-winner is presently involved with the $30-million psychological thriller Sanctum that is being shot in Gold Coast.

The Titanic filmmaker, serving as executive producer, praised Australian director Alister Grierson for his talent with the lens.

"I am actually coming down to the set in a couple of weeks, and I am going to stay there through the underwater shoot," Herald Sun quoted Cameron as saying.

"They are doing great. Alister Grierson is a really talented director – his first film was Kokoda. I would be proud if that was my third film," he added.

Shahid to play Tom Cruise 'Top Gun' role

Shahid Kapoor, as Tom Cruise did in 1986 with Top Gun, is all set to wear a uniform and take to the skies in Mausam — his father Pankaj Kapoor’s directorial debut. Pankaj, who felt Shahid needs a change of image after playing roles like an aimless student in Ishq Vishq, a gangster-social activist in Kaminey, a struggling dancer in Chance Pe Dance and an entrepreneur before that in Jab We Met and Vivah, decided a uniformed soldier’s role would give his son a mature man’s image.

According to a source, the uniform has virtually been written into the script. Pankaj first toyed with the idea of making Shahid an Army officer. Then it was decided to cast him as an Air Force pilot. The last real big star to play an Air Force pilot in Hindi cinema was Rajesh Khanna in Shakti Samanta’s 1969 hit Aradhana, which itself was a copy of the 1946 Hollywood film To Each His Own.

Shahid’s role is being modelled on the lines of Tom Cruise’s from Top Gun, in which the actor played a Navy pilot training in the US Navy Fighter Weapons School known in the Pentagon as ‘Topgun’. The film was a super hit and had great music and songs apart from scintillating dogfights in mid-air and other action.

Shahid is taking the film seriously and has decided to train for the role after the release of Chance Pe Dance. Permission is being sought to make the film at the Air Force Academy in Dindigul, outside Hyderabad, much in the manner Top Gun was actually shot at the US Navy school in Miramar, California.

Avatar beauty Zoe Saldana in hot photoshoot

Avatar actress Zoe Saldana has won more admirers after shooting for a hot magazine photoshoot.

The 31-year-old, known as the computer-generated warrior Neytiri in James Cameron's latest blockbuster, posed for Complex magazine.

"Neytiri is blue, she's 9ft tall and she has bigger **** than I do," News of the World quoted the star as saying.

"But it's me - my face, my facial muscles, my expressions. And Jim captured that," she added.

Review: Magnificent Anime Wonder

Film: Avatar (U/A)
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez
Director: James Cameron


It took him 12 years (after Titanic)and many dreams to create this technological marvel and the long wait, I must say,was definitely worth it! Cameron kept himself occupied in the intervening years with underwater explorations, lending his name to several other movie productions, while nurturing this baby to completion. His coming back to the helm, as director with Avatar, is definitely a moment worth rejoicing. The story is basically a reverse of the aliens invading earth plot

Avatar, set in year 2154 has earthlings as the aliens invading a lush, beautiful and serene Pandora, a planet several light years away from Earth, hoping to mine it for its rich deposits of unobtanium - a much sought after energy source mineral that sells at several thousand dollars per kilo, on Earth. A paralysed Marine veteran confined to a wheelchair, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), who was not supposed to be part of the Avatar project, is roped inwhen his scientist twin brother is killed. To add teeth to the story, there's a scientist Dr Grace (Sigourney Weaver) researching the planet and its species and the usual warriors led by Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who are looking for all-out massacre while Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribbisi) retains the guiding influence. Matters are further complicated by the developing relationship between a fierce Na'vi beauty Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and the virtualised Jake Sully.

The movie kicks off with glimpses of intergalactic spaceships, weightless crew members and avatars floating in liquid-filled cylinders. The story has shades of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, dollops of philosophy, spiritualism and psycho-babble thrown in for added measure, but these elements never really get the full-on treatment. They are just relegated to the backburner, while the narrative gets fuelled into a brilliant fire by some astounding visuals of breathtaking majesty.

As a viewer, you are bound to be completely entranced by the technique that the story itself is almost rendered redundant. The detailing is exquisitely layered while the background story development is wonderfully crisp and believable. The Na'vi speak, the creatures inhabiting the planet, the flora and fauna, the history of the race, are all remarkably entrenched within the narrative. Not for a minute do you doubt the veracity of such a unique world. Even James Horner's background score and Leona Lewis' 'I See You' lends romance to the visual grandeur.

The technological transitions are seamlessly incorporated - live-action, CGI backdrops, animation, performance capture and post-production effects conjure up imagery that makes every frame look even more beautiful and exciting than the previous one. The 3D imagery has incredible depth and finesse and the action especially when seen on Imax 3D renders close-in experiences like never before. This is by far the most expensive, technically ambitious and superbly realized film ever made. James Cameron's creation simply boggles the mind with its amazing virtuosity and unalloyed beauty. He must be congratulated for having pulled it off so splendidly!

Rush is one 3-D Avatar Bangalore city had not seen

Director James Cameron's 1998 film Titanic bagged 11 Oscars; with science-fiction epic Avatar, set for release in city theatres this Friday, will he score even better? That's the question Bangaloreans are asking, as they queue for tickets. Multiplexes and theatres in the city have been flooded with advance booking requests.

Vishal Vikram, manager, Priya Village Roadshow (PVR) said, "About 75% of the tickets have been booked till the weekend. For paid reviews, the tickets are already completely sold out. We are installing a three-dimensional screen only for the gold class; so the cost of tickets in that class will be higher -- Rs700 each for a weekday, and Rs1,000 for the weekend." Other screens at the PVR will be playing the movie on the two-dimensional screen, and you can watch the film there at Rs250 on a weekday and Rs450 on a weekend.

Owner of Urvashi theatre, Amit Gowda, said, "We have already sold 4,500 tickets for Avatar. We've received a tremendous response, and tickets here will cost Rs200-Rs250, and the tickets will come with some freebies too -- popcorn and coke."

Monish Nipani, unit manager, INOX, said, "About 95% of the first-day shows are booked; 80% of the tickets are already booked for the weekend shows. We will have one 3-D screen; cost of the tickets there will range from Rs120-350. We will also be providing a special glasses to our viewers. These will be sterilised and packed. We will be collecting Rs200 as a refundable advance for the use of these glasses, just to ensure their safety."

Amit Gowda, owner of Urvashi theatre, said, "For the first time, we will be getting the 3D screen from the US; we will also be providing what are called 'active shutter glasses' with the LCD crystalline glass, which will prevent bacteria from entering the eye. We are equipped to sterilize the glasses after each use."

Gowda added that at Urvashi, booking for the film opened on Tuesday, and nearly 30% of the tickets have already been sold for the first three days.

"We will be charging Rs100 extra for the 3D glasses," he said.

Don't let Avatar leave you poorer. Watch out that you return the special glasses you are provided for the 3-D effect in good shape. You might end up paying much more than the price of the ticket for a damaged pair of glasses--theatres are planning to impose a
fine of Rs2,500 for any damage. Urvashi theatre is even equipped with a device to identify the extent of damage.

The film will soon play in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu at city theatres. Meanwhile, it has already been nominated for four categories of the Golden Globe awards.

Taylor Swift eyes Hollywood career

Taylor Swift hopes to land bigger roles in Hollywood after her cameo in new movie Valentine's Day.

The singer shares the screen with real life 'boyfriend' Taylor Lautner in the film.

"It's a small role, but it's something I'm really excited about. I'd love to explore the possibility of maybe going down that path (acting)," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

Avatar premier: stars gather at Hollywood Boulevard

Hundreds of fans gathered at the Hollywood Boulevard Wednesday to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars at the opening of the most-awaited sci-fi project, Avatar.

Avatar, which is set to hit cinemas Friday, is a 3-D motion picture strongly acclaimed by its critics.

Hollywood stars gathered at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, in the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Directed by James Cameron
, of Titanic fame, the movie had an enormous budget of $310 million!

Cameron considers himself an innovative storyteller
Cameron, who has been called a visionary, was accompanied by his wife Suzy Amis. He talked to the reporters for half an hour after which the film was scheduled to screen.

The director believed the success of the film will be due to the emerging technologies and the storyline, which he considers to be innovative.

“I'm a techno geek and I love the innovative processes, but I never put that before telling a story,” said the 55-year-old.

“I spent a lot of time in the writing; I spent a lot of time thinking about the characters. I love working with the actors finding the characters. I love the casting process, finding the actors that will bring those characters to life,” he added.

The cast
The 3-D film is expected to take cinema to newer levels. The whole cast came to support it.

Sam Worthington came with girlfriend Natalie Mark, while Sigourney Weaver, who plays Dr. Grace Augustine, came with Giovanni Ribisi.

Zoe Saldana, Michelle Rodriguez, Bill Paxton and Tom Arnold, also came to support the movie. Esteemed Fox co-Chairmen Jim Giannopoulos and Tom Rothman were also seen.

The story
The story of the multi-million project is centered around Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) who is wounded in combat on Earth. He is selected to participate in the Avatar program, which could enable him to walk again.

Jake travels to Pandora, an extraterrestrial planet filled with incredible life forms. Pandora is also where the Navis (a race stronger than humans) live.

When the humans attack them, the Navis’--who are otherwise peaceful--harmony is disturbed.

Jake, however, falls in love with a young Navi girl, Neytiri, and thus gets caught in the battle to save his planet.

The term Avatar is a Sanskrit word which means “descent” or “form of oneself”.

'American Idol' creator to launch 'If I Can Dream'

"American Idol" creator Simon Fuller has a new project: a Web-based series that also will explore the desire of ordinary people to become Hollywood stars.

Fuller's "If I Can Dream," which is being billed as the first of "a new generation of post-reality entertainment," will document the story of five young people who dream of success in Hollywood. The show will allow viewers to interact with the individuals and narrative in real time, and will be seen live 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.ificandream.com.

The series is scheduled to launch multiple platforms including online, radio, TV and mobile handsets early next year.

Taylor Swift was unlucky in love at school

Taylor Swift has revealed that she was unlucky in love with boys at school.

The Love Story hitmaker, who admits her songs are laced with feelings of rejection from her days at high school in Nashville, Tennessee, said that she used to give her crushes advice on gifts for their girlfriends.

The singer, recently linked to Twilight hunk Taylor Lautner, still remembers her bad luck with boys during her formative years.

"I used to say I had a condition called girl-next-door-itis. I'd always be really good friends with the guy and then he'd ask me what to get his girlfriend for Valentine's Day and I'd hide my feelings and smile and give him great ideas," Contactmusic quoted Swift as saying.

Hollywood Christmas Parade reveals the small town in L.A.

On the Sunday night after Thanksgiving, a parade ran down Hollywood Boulevard, as it had many Thanksgiving weekends before that. This year, and in some other years past, it was called the Hollywood Christmas Parade, but growing up here I knew it as the Santa Claus Lane Parade. Gene Autry, the singing cowboy and media mini-magnate, wrote a song about it: "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)."

You can see it, time-shifted on television tonight, and again on Christmas Eve, in an edited program with additional musical performances -- shot pre-parade and at the Grove's Christmas tree lighting -- airing nationally on MyNetwork as “The 2009 Hollywood Christmas Parade/Live Positively Presented by Coca-Cola.” (Coke had six floats in the parade, spaced like commercials.) Soap star Susan Lucci was the grand marshal.

There is a certain magic in turning a street from its usual traffic. It promises something special, a departure from daily business: a holiday, a party. On that Sunday night, floodlights shone from high upon the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel down to where a boulevard-wide red carpet ran the long block west from Highland Avenue, past Grauman's Chinese Theatre to the north and the El Capitan on the south. For $35 you could buy a grandstand seat there; otherwise there were 2 1/2 miles of free curbside along the route, which ran east to Vine Street, south to Sunset Boulevard and back west and north to approximately where it started. The evening was unseasonably warm and pleasant; it was a nice night to be outside with people.

Although the parade did have something of a star-studded golden age, when Hollywood the place and Hollywood the industry were more congruent than they are now, among big-name holiday parades it has for a while been something of an underachiever. Apart from sitting city officials, it relies on second- and third-tier celebrities to fill the slowly driven classic convertibles that alternate with the marching bands, big balloons, equestrian troops and floats. It nearly died in 2007, when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, its longtime producer, decided it was too much of a money-losing proposition to continue; City Hall stepped in to keep it afloat. But its modesty is part of its charm: It remains fundamentally a local, community event; indeed, its appeal is rooted in the romantic notion of Hollywood as an extraordinary ordinary place just going about its business.

I sat in the bleachers for a while, but it was hard to get into the spirit of things there, with the distracting patter of the hosts coming through the loudspeakers -- "These toys soldiers are often made of wood," co-host Erik Estrada said of a Macy's-style balloon, "but obviously not in this case" -- even while the bands played. And so I left the stands and went back around to the street.

Crowded only in spots, the pavement was easy to navigate, and Hollywood went about its business, wearing a Santa hat and snap-on elf ears. Paradoxically, the decline in the Christmas Parade's fortunes inversely mirrors the area's ongoing makeover into a Times Square-style retail theme park. But the sanitizing aspirations of the burghers have not yet conquered the random bumptiousness of the boulevard, with its smoke shops, tattoo parlors and flashy underwear stores; if you turned your eyes from the street to the sidewalk, there was a parade there too.

A tall man dressed as Jesus, drinking coffee from a takeout cup, posed for pictures with passersby, like the Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson clones who gather with the Elmos and Spidermen in front of the Chinese Theatre. Portable grills served Mexican food; cotton candy vendors worked the crowd. The Scientologists, who have made their Winter Wonderland diorama a holiday fixture, set up loudspeakers and, before the parade, presented singing children and peppered the vicinity with quotations from Chairman Ron's "nonreligious" "The Way to Happiness." (Galaxy Press, which publishes Hubbard's pulp fiction, had a float in the parade as well.) Shaggy-haired buskers played guitars in front of a smoke shop; teenagers passed cigarettes.

As time passed, and I walked farther from the grandstand, the parade grew increasingly diffuse -- I suppose because of the start-and-stop around the grandstand for TV interviews, the space between floats and bands and celebrity-carrying antique cars became greater and greater down the road. Minutes passed when there would be nothing on the street at all -- you might have popped in to have a tattoo between floats. If you had stumbled upon the boulevard then, you might easily have thought that people on one side had gathered expressly to stare at people staring back from the other, as across a river.

In any case, the lack of event didn't seem to bother anyone. A parade is defined not only by the paraders but by the people the paraders pass, and they did not seem particularly restless. It was a nice evening, and they had already decided they had nowhere better to be. Once in a while something would happen -- a big balloon would float by, a high school band would pass, smiling their serious smiles, or a car would crawl by carrying someone you might have heard of, waving at the crowd, maybe getting a reaction, maybe not, and pass back into the night like a dream.

I had walked to Sunset and Vine by the time Santa Claus caught up with me, after a long gap in the parade, riding the last of the Coca-Cola floats -- you could tell it was him coming by the police cars that flanked the float, lights flashing. A woman next to me said as he passed, "That was kind of a weak float for Santa," and she was right. But kids around us cried his name.

Regardless of what came by, or what didn't, the street itself had been transformed -- not even decorated, as in many Christmases past, but changed by a shift of purpose that made it for a few hours a common possession, a people's park.

Hollywood Eyes Record $10 Bln Box Office for 2009

Film box offices were poised on Wednesday to eclipse 2007's record $9.68 billion in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales with Hollywood eyeing more than $10 billion this year as audiences flocked to theaters during the recession.

Movie studios began the year with January crossing the $1 billion mark for the first time ever, and box offices this month are counting on help from highly anticipated films such as "Avatar," "Sherlock Holmes" and "It's Complicated."

So far, moviegoers had snapped up $9.67 billion worth of tickets at domestic -- U.S. and Canadian -- box offices through Tuesday, said tracking firm Hollywood.com Box Office.

The firm said 2007's record was expected to be surpassed on Wednesday, as Hollywood reaps returns during a recession that, as in past downturns, has seen consumers showing up in theaters for relatively cheap entertainment.

Last year's domestic box office came in at $9.63 billion.

"The global economy is taking a major hit, and when these conglomerates that own movie studios are having a tough time, it's at least one bright spot in the equation," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Hollywood.com Box Office. "People are still, in 2009, going to the movies in big numbers."

For the entire year, Hollywood.com Box Office expects movie ticket spending in the United States and Canada to hit $10.6 billion.

The year has been helped by major releases such as "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the year's biggest hit with $402 million in domestic ticket sales, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo.

At No. 2, so far, was "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which made $301 million. Also, vampire romance "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" had the third biggest movie opening of all time for the United States and Canada.

Surprise hits have included Paramount Pictures' "Paranormal Activity" raking in $107 million. Warner Bros. put out two unexpected smashes, "The Hangover" ($277 million) and "The Blind Side" ($131 million and still counting.)

Bollywood's Big B 'deeply humbled' in Dubai

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan said on Wednesday he was "deeply humbled" as the Dubai International Film Festival honoured him with a lifetime achievement award.

“It is a wonderful recognition ... and I am deeply humbled by it," said Bachchan, whose 40-year career in the world's largest film industry has won him several accolades.

Bachchan, 67, in Dubai for the spectacle, said he had no plans for the Arabic film industry as yet but was open to fresh ideas and talent.

Despite an alarming debt crisis, Dubai's sixth international film festival rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday with a mix of Bollywood, Hollywood and Arab celebrities. The fest will feature 168 films from 55 countries, with some being shown for the first time.

Bollywood film ‘Black’, in which Bachchan plays a teacher taking care of a challenged student, will also be screened at the festival.

The star, who has acted in more than 180 films, told reporters that the secret of his "undying energy" was chyawanprash, an ancient Ayurvedic herbal preparation - a sticky, brown, edidle paste - used across India to boost health.

Bachchan, who does not like the term Bollywood to describe India's film industry, said the moniker "was phrased by some eager journalist to please his boss ... but now has gone into the Oxford dictionary" and become a part of history.

"We are happy doing what we do in India," he added.

'Ninja Assassin' misses the target

Humorless, preposterous, and soaked in blood, "Ninja Assassin" turns out to be thinly-plotted schlock from a team of pedigree filmmakers who should have known better.

"The day Rain did his first scene in 'Speed Racer,' the Wachowski brothers called me and said 'This guy is unbelievable. He's a natural, our dream come true.' We began to plan 'Ninja Assassin' immediately afterward," producer Joel Silver said in an earlier interview.

Unfortunately for "world star" Rain, what was to be his breakout film falls way short of what "Enter the Dragon" was for Bruce Lee. No doubt, that was what the Wachowski Brothers were aiming to do by gambling on someone who was a relative unknown in the Western world.

Rain plays Raizo, one of the world's deadliest assassins trained by the Ozunu Clan -- an underground band of killers that has remained hidden for generations by posing as a mythical organization.

Robbed of his childhood, Raizo is transformed into a merciless Katana-wielding killing machine. Breaking free from their mountain lair, he plans to exact revenge on the clan for killing his first love.

In his quest for revenge, he gets help from a Europol agent Mika Coretti -- played by Naomi Harris -- who stumbles upon a money trail connecting a slew of high profile political assassinations around the world committed by the Ozunu.

As she begins to uncover the truth behind the murders, she too, becomes their target and is saved by Raizo when assassins emerge to kill her in Berlin.

By now, plots like these have become the silver screen version of painting-by-numbers in the same manner as Tom Clancy inspired techno-thriller novels.

But the plot does have all of the makings of a straightforward pulp action thriller, as its opening set-piece suggests it would be. In it Raizo ambushes a gang of Yakuza members, with heads and limbs severed and buckets of blood everywhere.

The level of over-the-top ultra-violence established through this opener is unfortunately juxtaposed with a serious tone devoid of much irony.

The film is not a nod to pulpy B-grade kung-fu genre of the 70s, nor is it a polished action flick geared towards a mainstream audience. Instead it's stuck in the middle ground, in an area unlikely to appeal to fans of either genre.

When production on the film was announced, anticipation was high, as it was written and being produced by the makers of The Matrix trilogy, with directing duties falling on James McTiegue, the veteran director who scored both a critical hit and modest box office success with 2005's V for Vendetta.

But it seems somewhere down the line the creative vision of the producers and the director clashed, without either camp realizing.

Perhaps they realized during post-production they had a potential turkey on their hands -- the film's marketing has focused on Rain and the physical transformation he underwent during six months of grueling training with the stunt and fight team that trained the actors in the film, "300."

And the result is there on the screen. The 28-year-old actor is shown sans shirt as if he's allergic to fabric except for a leather jacket.

He's ripped. His female fans will love him -- as long as they don't get too squeamish from seeing all the blood.

He does a decent job with the few lines he has throughout the 98-minute running time.

The verdict is still out on whether this will be his breakthrough role and it will be interesting to see if his star power alone will be able to generate enough revenue in Asia to warrant future high-profile roles.

Rain's ninja role draws inspiration from Lee, Chan

South Korean pop star Rain says he drew inspiration from fellow Asian stars who successfully crossed over to Hollywood when he prepared for his first leading role in an American film.

"I watched a lot of action films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to create a different, unique character in the movie," the 27-year-old actor-singer said Monday at a press conference in his home country to promote "Ninja Assassin."

Jeong Ji-hoon, who goes by his stage name Rain, was first recognized in the region for his singing and slick dance moves. He first gained exposure in the West when Stephen Colbert parodied one of his music videos on his show, "The Colbert Report," in May 2007, which led to a second spoof — a "dance-off" with the U.S. comedian. He made his Hollywood debut alongside Emile Hirsch in Andy and Larry Wachowski's 2008 thriller "Speed Racer."

In "Ninja Assassin," Rain plays an orphan adopted and trained into a deadly assassin by the secret society Ozunu Clan, only to turn against it when he finds out that the group's leader executed his friend.

"Speed Racer" posted mediocre box office numbers and all eyes are on whether Rain can carry "Ninja Assassin," which will hit theaters on Nov. 25.

The South Korean star said for now, he's just glad if he can pave the way for more Asian faces in Hollywood.

"I hope the movie reaches the No. 1 at the box office, but regardless of the numbers, it will open doors for more opportunities in Hollywood not only for myself but for other Asian actors," he said.

"Ninja Assassin" director James McTeigue said in a press statement the Wachowski Brothers, best known for "The Matrix" trilogy, eagerly recommended Rain to him.

"The day that Rain did his first scene in 'Speed Racer,' the Wachowski brothers called me and said, 'This guy is unbelievable.' And we began to plan 'Ninja Assassin' immediately," McTeigue said. The Wachowski brothers produced "Ninja Assassin."

Rain was equally grateful to the Wachowskis, saying Monday meeting them was "one of the life-changing experiences in my life."

Documentary Puts Old Hollywood Pros in Spotlight

Documentaries have been made about such below-the-line Hollywood talent as stunt performers and cinematographers so it's only fitting that one finally got made about production designers.

Daniel Raim's "Something's Gonna Live" is absolutely infused with profound admiration and respect for the people who can make real or imagined worlds come alive. Although the focus is on Hollywood, "Something's Gonna Live" is a natural for festivals everywhere and should be a useful, if not essential, teaching tool in any cinema course.

Rain did make an Oscar-nominated short doc, "The Man on Lincoln Nose," about his professor at the American Film Institute, Robert Boyle, who worked with Hitchcock as a designer on "The Birds" and "North by Northwest" among hundreds of credits. In fact, Boyle still teaches at the AFI -- at age 100!

When Raim located footage of an interview he conducted with famed cinematographer Conrad Hall not long before his passing, footage he believed lost, he decided to embark on a feature about the men -- and indeed they are all men -- who played such a vital role in the Golden Age of the studio system. Good thing he did for only two of the men he focuses on are still with us -- Boyle and cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

Raim's approach is to stage reunions of these "old farts," as they like to call themselves, so they can reminisce. Boyle re-visits Paramount Studios with his pals Henry Bumstead ("To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Sting") and Albert Nozaki ("The War of the Worlds," "The Commandments"). Or Boyle and Harold Michelson ("Star Trek: The Motion Picture," "Catch-22") journey to Bodega Bay north of San Francisco where they worked on "The Birds" together.

Hall attends a film revival with Boyle, then in a later exchange reflects on the demise of the storytelling art in current movies. He says he hopes for a "renaissance" in cinema, although one he doesn't expect to live long enough to see.

Burglary Gang Found Doors Unlocked at Celeb Homes

While some Hollywood stars are vigilant about guarding their private lives, others are apparently leaving doors wide open.

Suspects in the teen burglary gang – who allegedly made off with more than $3 million in jewelry, clothes and other luxury goods from the homes of Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Megan Fox and at least five other celebrities – gained entry to the homes mainly by finding doors unlocked, according to a search warrant released in the case.

The stars' security was lax in other ways: At Lohan's residence, the suspects broke in by prying open a window using a screwdriver, the documents say. The gang allegedly used basic internet research to figure out where celebrities lived, when they weren't in town, and then watched the homes for the opportune moment to break in.

Recovered Loot
The search warrant shows that suspect Nicholas Prugo, 18, confessed to pulling off the crimes and implicated a list of other suspects including Rachel Lee, 19, whom he said was the "driving force" behind the crime spree. Lee wanted to "own the designer wardrobes of the Hollywood celebrities she admired," the document states.

The search warrant also says that Prugo and Lee broke into Paris Hilton and Rachel Bilson's homes several times.

The burglary victims include Orlando Bloom, Audrina Patridge, Brian Austin Green, and Ashley Tisdale. Some $2 million in stolen goods has since been recovered, but police said much more has yet to be found.

Other suspects are Diana Tamayo, 19, Alexis Neiers, 18, Courtney Ames, 18, Roy Lopez, 27, and Jonathan Ajar, 27. An attorney for Lee hasn't returned calls for comment. Sean Erenstoft, an attorney for Prugo, stated his client's role in the crimes was limited, while lawyer Jeffery Rubenstein said he believes his client, Neiers, will be cleared of all charges.

Aishwarya Rai grabs the 9th place

It’s been more than a decade that she won the crown. But this former Miss World is still literally reigning the world!

The popular International Harpers and Queen magazine had listed 100 beautiful women and among them was our Aishwarya Rai Bachchan! Not only that! She has taken the ninth rank in the list, reports say.

Meanwhile, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie is said to be topping the list, followed by Supermodel Christy Turlington. Among other beauties, Queen Rania of Jordan has also found her place in the chart.