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Judy Reyes, Russell Wong, and Garret Dillahunt in ‘High Potential’ episode 11 (Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)

ABC’s High Potential episode 11’s case of the week involves a deathbed murder confession. An elderly dying man asks his family to record his confession and then claims he murdered his son-in-law, Barry, 10 years ago by pushing him down the stairs.

Lieutenant Selena Soto (Judy Reyes) gets a surprise visit from Lt. Melon (Garret Dillahunt) and another detective, there to brag that they’ve got a confession and closed a cold case. The detectives and Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) watch the action from outside Soto’s office and can only speculate about what’s going on since they brought champagne.

They drop off the champagne, and Soto slams a chair into a desk after they leave. She’s pissed they solved the Bucket Lane murder and that it turned out George Donovan was the murderer. Selena...

Jess Knight's exit from NCIS may be set in stone, with showrunner Binder comparing it to major character departures like Gibbs and Tony. Binder suggests Jess' season 21 arc was carefully planned for a proper sendoff, indicating a firm exit rather than a cliffhanger. Actress Katrina Law hints at Jess Knight's departure, suggesting her character may be moving on to fulfill her full potential elsewhere.

An interview with NCIS co-showrunner Steven D. Binder may have confirmed changes that were set in motion for Special Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) in the NCIS season 21 ending. Jess has been with the Major Case Response Team (McRt) since season 18. She officially joined the NCIS cast for season 19, but the season 21 finale signaled that Knight may leave her current team behind. The exit arc for Jess' character began in season 21, episode 5, "The Plan," when Jess' dad showed up at NCIS Headquarters.

The former NCIS...

The NCIS Season 21 finale is almost at hand. That’s unfortunate news for fans who don’t know about the shortened season.

We only get 10 new episodes of NCIS this spring, even though it feels like the season just began.

Two Hollywood strikes delayed production, forcing CBS to cut the episode order from one of its top shows.

NCIS Season 21 is doing very well in the ratings. That’s the good news. But it may have been eclipsed by another CBS drama.

Tracker is turning in impressive first-season numbers, possibly making the most-watched drama of the 2023-2024 television season.

CBS already ordered a second season from Tracker, with those new episodes airing during the 2024-2025 television season.

New details about the upcoming NCIS season finale

The NCIS Season 21 finale airs on Monday, May 6. That’s a detail the network released a while ago as many of its shows prepare for the long summer hiatus.

The NCIS schedule for Season 21 is already winding down, but CBS also has a special presentation coming up to celebrate the franchise.

To help celebrate the 1,000th episode from the NCIS Universe, CBS and Entertainment Tonight have teamed up for a fan surprise.

On April 15, the NCIS Universe will celebrate its 1,000th episode with a big episode of the original hit drama.

Here is the intriguing synopsis from that April 15 episode, which features a character returning from the past.

Actor Sean Murray (Agent Timothy McGee) also shared a set photo featuring another character who returns for the big night.

Unfortunately, we are also coming up on the May finale episode for NCIS Season 21.

Upcoming NCIS schedule for Season 21

Below is a brief breakdown of the upcoming television schedule for NCIS. Season 21 is already half over, with the episode count cut due to the two Hollywood strikes.

It could come as...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for NCIS Season 21 Episode 5 “The Plan.”] Talk about criminal! The romantic relationship between medical examiner Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) hit a major snag in tonight’s NCIS episode. Earnest Jimmy finally met Knight’s dad, Special Agent in Charge of the Far East Field Office Feng Zhao (Russell Wong), and was devastated to realize the man nicknamed “the Gibbs of the Far East” had never heard of him. Even worse, the uncomfortable moment for the couple, who’ve been dating for about a year, happened in front of the whole team. “That scene where Jimmy comes in with coffee and meets my dad for the first time might be my favorite scene of the season. It was so beautifully awkward, and everybody just knocked it out of the park,” Law told us in our weekly after show NCIS: Case Closed. (To see the entire interview...

Fans of NCIS‘ Jimmy/Jess romance were put through the wronger this week, when the latter’s father paid a visit to D.C.

Special Agent in Charge Feng Zhao (played by Russell Wong) aka “the Gibbs of the Far East” arrived in town after one of the agents from the Yokosuka office that he oversees was seemingly involved in a deadly shooting after escaping a ship explosion.

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The NCIS cast introduces the father of Agent Jessica Knight during the March 25 episode.

Special Agent in Charge Feng Zhao finally appears, with the powerful man set to share screen time with Dr. Jimmy Palmer.

Jimmy and Jessica have been in a relationship for a while now, all while dealing with the complications of working together.

Investigations are the family business for the Knight family, so Jessica has had a lot to live up to. And Jimmy is keenly aware of this.

The NCIS producers did a great job bringing on someone who could play a strong father figure and command immediate respect.

Feng Zhao is introduced on NCIS Season 21, Episode 5. The episode is called The Plan and debuts on Monday, March 25 at 9/8c.

Who plays Agent Knight’s father on the NCIS cast?

Russell Wong plays Special Agent in Charge Feng Zhao on the NCIS cast.

He might be...

Season 21 of NCIS delves into McGee's family history, adding a personal touch to the procedural show's storyline. With only 10 episodes this season, the writers aim to focus on significant character arcs, including McGee's genealogy exploration. McGee's deep dive into his family tree introduces new dynamics and adds depth to his character, making for an interesting storyline.

Sean Murray teases what to expect from Timothy McGee's upcoming family storyline in NCIS season 21. Despite having only released a handful of episodes due to its delayed premiere, it feels like a lot has already happened in the current year for the police procedural. Nick Torres almost went to prison for murder and was eventually freed from the charge, and then Ducky Mallard died, prompting Michael Weatherly's Tony Dinozzo to return. As NCIS season 21 moves forward, other members of Special Agent Alden Parker's team will be focused on.

In NCIS season 21, episode 5, "The Plan,...

It was this past November — when CBS’ NCIS like most of TV was still on a strikes-extended hiatus — that Sean Murray marked the 20th anniversary of his debut as Special Agent Timothy McGee.

McGee in that span of time has become a husband… a father (to twins, whom apparently no one on the cast can name!)… and a lead agent, in the wake of Tony Dinozzo’s May 2016 departure. And yet there is still at least one more major life event on tap for Tim, when the next NCIS episode reveals a heretofore-unknown relative!

More from TVLineThe Amazing Race Premiere...

Fans of NCIS‘ #KnightInShiningPalmer ‘ship are best advised to enjoy these next few episodes of Season 21, because ominous-sounding “detours and bumps” lie on the horizon.

TVLine was on-set Feb. 21 for the start of filming the NCIS franchise’s 1,000th overall episode, and we of course seized the opportunity to check in with both Katrina Law and Brian Dietzen on what’s ahead for the well-watched procedural’s latest (and unarguably sweetest) workplace romance.

More from TVLineGolden Globes to Continue Airing on CBS With New 5-Year Deal3 Body Problem Creators Alexander Woo, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Explain How They Brought...

It’s been, as Brian Dietzen puts it, “a tough few years” for Dr. Jimmy Palmer on NCIS, but fortunately, his character is also quite often optimistic. “He’s lost his wife. Then, with the shakeup of the team and Gibbs [Mark Harmon] leaving, our team went through some changes. That said, Jimmy’s also fallen in love,” Dietzen tells TV Insider. And like us, he’s a fan of Jimmy’s relationship with Special Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law). “I love doing scenes with Katrina Law. She’s just one of the most terrific actresses, and we tend to play together very, very well.” Their romance is going so well that it’s now time for one of the next steps: meeting the family. Specifically, her father (Russell Wong)—an NCIS agent in the Far East Field Office—is coming for a visit. “Everything doesn’t necessarily go according to plan,...

Novelist Amy Tan and Oscar-winning “Rain Man” screenwriter Ron Bass are on board to deliver a sequel to “The Joy Luck Club,” the 1993 movie that broke new ground for Asian American representation.

The new film, “Joy Luck Club 2,” is set up at Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group, with Ashok and Priya Amritraj producing alongside Tan, Bass and Jeff Kleeman. A director hasn’t been announced yet.

The original “Joy Luck Club,” directed by Wayne Wang, was an epic, multigenerational saga of Chinese and Chinese-American mothers and daughters, whose histories, stories and lives interweave as they navigate life. Club members included characters played by Tsai Chin, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu and Kieu Chinh. The ensemble cast also included Tamlyn Tomita, Rosalind Chao and Russell Wong.

In “Joy Luck Club 2,” the mothers become grandmothers and the daughters become mothers in their own right, introducing a new generation exploring their own relationships with culture,...

Paramount Pictures is beginning development on a sequel to eOne’s Clifford the Big Red Dog.

The live-action family movie based on the 1963 Norman Bridwell children’s classic book, opened on Nov. 10 in theaters and dropped on Paramount+ in homes day and date. The movie has grossed $34.6M stateside to date. Clifford in his first weekend on the studio’s Ott service was the most watched original film to date. No release date has been set yet for the sequel, and it’s yet to be determined whether the film gets a hybrid or exclusive theatrical window.

The news about a Clifford sequel comes in the wake of Paramount greenlighting a sequel to Paw Patrol: The Movie, that movie grossing $130.1M worldwide and buzzed to be a profitable title for the Melrose lot, even with a day and date release stategy on Paramount+ in the U.S.

Clifford the Big Red Dog...

Clifford the Big Red Dog was spotted just outside of Metro Detroit in Allen Park, Michigan taking a break from promoting his new film, Clifford the Big Red Dog. The large red pooch was seen relaxing near the world’s largest tire.

Clifford the Big Red Dog takes a break from promoting his film, next to the world’s largest tire, the Uniroyal tire located on I-94 in Allen Park, Michigan!

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple.

"People don't like things that are different." Paramount Pictures has debuted the second official trailer for their live-action Clifford the Big Red Dog movie, based on the classic Scholastic book series by Norman Bridwell. The first trailer arrived in the summer and was made fun of by almost everyone, mostly because the giant red dog look so odd. Technically this is a "hybrid" movie because Clifford is actually entirely CGI, though they did use a giant maquette on set during filming. A girl's love for a tiny puppy named Clifford makes the dog grow to an enormous size. Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey then set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Clifford the Big Red Dog features Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, Russell Wong and John Cleese as Mr.

Owing to concerns about the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 and the impact it may have on theatrical revenues, Paramount has pulled its upcoming family film “Clifford the Big Red Dog” from its release schedule, TheWrap has confirmed.

The film was originally set for Sept. 17. But given that the situation with Covid-19 remains uncertain as large numbers of unvaccinated people directly aid the spread of the disease, Paramount will be making a decision on the film’s new release date at a later time.

Reps for Paramount didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Delta variant, which is more infectious than the original strain of Covid-19, is now themost common version of the virus in the U.S. and is a major factor, along with politically motivated resistance to vaccinations, in rising infection rates in 47 states. Los Angeles County officials reinstituted a mask mandate in...

Darby Camp and Jack Whitehall star in Clifford The Big Red Dog from Paramount Pictures. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures.

Catch the brand new trailer for Clifford The Big Red Dog, coming to the Big screen September 17.

When middle-schooler Emily Elizabeth (Darby Camp) meets a magical animal rescuer (John Cleese) who gifts her a little, red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a giant ten-foot hound in her small New York City apartment. While her single mom (Sienna Guillory) is away for business, Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey (Jack Whitehall) set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Based on the beloved Scholastic book character, Clifford will teach the world how to love big!

Stars Jack Whitehall, Darby Camp, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, Russell Wong and John Cleese.

"Heroes don't get bigger than this!" Paramount Pictures has released an official trailer for their live-action Clifford the Big Red Dog movie, adapted from the classic Scholastic book series by Norman Bridwell. Technically this is a "hybrid" movie because Clifford is actually entirely CGI, though they did use a creepy maquette thing on set during filming. A girl's love for a tiny puppy named Clifford makes the dog grow to an enormous size. Emily and her fun but impulsive uncle Casey set out on an adventure that will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat as our heroes take a bite out of the Big Apple. Clifford the Big Red Dog stars Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, Tony Hale, Sienna Guillory, David Alan Grier, Russell Wong and John Cleese as Mr. Bridwell. Thankfully this doesn't look as bad as it could, but it also doesn't look that great. There's not much of a...

While we got a first look at “Clifford The Big Red Dog” — which horrified some because of its blood-red color and kaiju size — the first full trailer for the live-action film shows just how impractical having a pet of that size in New York would be.

This trailer shows Clifford playing with another dog and accidentally licking it up into its mouth before spitting it back out. It also shows Clifford chasing giant inflatable balls in which people in the park are rolling around inside for exercise, only for Clifford to proudly knock them across Central Park and carry the deflated shells back to his humans.

“This dog is killing me,” Clifford’s owner (played by Jack Whitehall) says in the trailer.

The first full trailer for “Clifford The Big Red Dog” also gives a look at some of the film’s co-stars, including Kenan Thompson, Tony Hale and John Cleese.

Last week, I got to interview Devon Sawa about his role in the film Escape Plan: The Extractors. We delved into the role and his experiences, his upcoming films, and I got to gush a bit about my childhood crush on him. It was a great time. Check out the interview below:

Jessica Fisher: Hi, I’m Jessica Fisher from GeekTyrant, and I just have to say that twelve year old me is beside herself right now. I’m a big fan from way back., especially Now and Then.

Devon Sawa: Thank you so much. And you know what? That’s exactly how twelve year old me felt filming this movie with Sylvester Stallone. Not that I’m anything like Stallone. What I’m trying to say is thank you.

Jf: Of course! Do you still get a lot of women approach you who were young fans of yours.

"What's going down?" Lionsgate has debuted the first teaser trailer for action sequel Escape Plan: The Extractors, the third movie in the Escape Plan series. Same as the second movie, Escape Plan 3 is being released direct-to-vod/DVD continuing the action-heist-prison break movie series which first started with Escape Plan in 2013 (directed by Mikael Håfström; this one did actually open in theaters). I don't know how they keep convincing him to come back, but Sylvester Stallone stars again as Ray Breslin, the masterful prison escape artist / "security expert", who gets really upset when his girlfriend is kidnapped. The plot also involves a Hong Kong tech mogul's daughter being taken, and so Breslin gets his old team back to get them out and home safely. Also starring Dave Bautista, Jaime King, Harry Shum Jr., Devon Sawa, Daniel Bernhardt, Malese Jow, Curtis Jackson, and Russell Wong. I couldn't care any less about this series.

Sony Crackle has set Thursday, February 21 for the Season 2 premiere of crime drama series The Oath, created by Joe Halpin and executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The network also released first-look images from the second season (see above and below).

The Oath explores a world of gangs made up of those sworn to protect and defend. Shedding light on corrupt and secret societies nearly impossible to join, only the chosen few make the cut—and once inside, members do what they must to shield each other from enemies who attack from both outside and within their own ranks. The sophomore season picks up with the Ravens attempting to free themselves from their debt to the cartel. Themes including redemption and the meaning of family are examined in season two pushing the characters to find a new path, conquer their inner demons and giving them one last chance to...

Stars: Brandon Routh, Russell Wong, Yuqi Zhang, Bernice Liu, Sunny Wang, Mengjie Jiang, Xiangyu Dai, Vincent M. Ward, Kaiwi Lyman, Bobby Tonelli, Yonglin Yu, Siyu Lu, Tim Parrish, Natasha Lloyd, Tazito Garcia | Written by Vincent Zhou, Peter Cameron | Directed by Vincent Zhou

When one of the first lines in the film is “if anything goes wrong this could be the next Titanic” you know you’re in for the next Titanic… Whether thats a disaster within the film, or the disaster of a film, depends entirely on your penchant for the genre and gloriously over the top productions which feature an international cast hamming it up in 70s disaster movie fashion!

An English-language, Malaysian-filmed sci-fi thriller, Lost in the Pacific sees group of VIP elite passengers (the types of which wouldn’t be out of place in the likes of Airport ’77 or The Poseidon Adventure: a pop star, a former boxer,...

Stars: Steven Seagal, Russell Wong, Jemma Dallender, Mircea Drambareanu, Sergiu Costache, Ghassan Bouz, Andrei Stanciu | Written and Directed by Keoni Waxman

In his latest direct to DVD effort, Contract to Kill, Steven Seagal stars as Harmon, a CIA/DEA enforcer investigating Arab terrorists captured in Mexico. With his team: FBI agent Zara, and spy-drone pilot Sharp, he flies to Istanbul and uncovers a brutal plot by Islamic extremists – who plan to use Sonora drug-smuggling routes to bring deadly weapons, and leaders, into the U.S. To prevent an attack on America, Harmon must turn these two savage forces against one another before his time, and his luck, run out.

Yes, we’re back on the Steven Seagal bandwagon, with yet another film that, once again, sees writer/director Keoni Waxman working with Segal to craft another slice of direct to DVD action. In fact, if my maths is correct, Contract to Kill...

The war on terror not only needs fearless leaders, but also a dependable support team of agents who are willing to take any extreme effort necessary to stop their country’s brutal enemies. The courageous American protagonists in the new action film, ‘Contract to Kill,’ who are portrayed by Steven Seagal, Jemma Dallender and Russell Wong, are operatives who are hired to take out an elusive terrorist. The trio repeatedly puts themselves in danger in order to block an extremist group’s plot to bring harm into their country. Lionsgate will release ‘Contract to Kill‘ in theaters and on VOD tomorrow. The drama was written, directed and produced by Keoni Waxman, who [ Read More ]

The post Interview: Russell Wong Talks Contract to Kill (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.

Among Steven Seagal’s dubious achievements in the last decade are his recently granted Russian citizenship and this trailer for Contract To Kill, which is not, as you might expect, a straight-to-dvd release. No, Contract To Kill—not to be confused with Hard To Kill, which also starred Seagal—will have a proper theatrical release but will also be available on iTunes (in case your local cineplex isn’t screening it). The subject of Seagal’s latest film is virtually the same as all the other, triptych-titled works. The sluggish martial arts star plays a CIA/DEA agent named John Harmon, who teams up with Russell Wong and a beautiful distraction (Jemma Dallender) to investigate Muslim terrorists.

The trailer features Seagal puffing out his lines in between halfheartedly chopping guys in the neck, but remember—this is just another day at the office for him and his character. Speaking of...

"I want to pick my own team, I want my own gear, and I need a jet." Lionsgate has debuted a trailer for a new action movie starring Steven Seagal, and if you've seen any of his other recent work, you know what to expect with this (which means - not much). Contract to Kill stars Seagal as a CIA enforcer investigating Arab terrorists captured in Mexico. His team includes actors Russell Wong and Jemma Dallender, and they're chasing after Ghassan Bouz as Abdul Raouf. This looks like a very low-rent Mission Impossible-meets-The Expendables, with all the typical cliches you'd expect. Including the "Islamic terrorists are our worst enemy" trope. This looks pretty awful, I'm surprised it's being released in theaters at all. Have a look. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Keoni Waxman's Contract to Kill, in high def from Apple: In this international action-thriller, Steven Seagal stars as Harmon,...

By Shenaz Treasury

Dear Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Anil Ambani,

I am writing to You specifically because you are the most powerful and influential Men in our country.

I am writing to you as a woman who grew up in a middle class family in Mumbai.

I am writing to You for Help!

My parents may not like me saying this. I apologize to them if they are reading but this is Not My Shame. It’s Thier Shame.

My first experience with the opposite sex, was when I was just 13 and groped by a man (never saw his face but will never forget his hand) while walking in the vegetable market with my mom. She had just given me the worst haircut and as an angry teenager I was upset at her and was lagging behind as she walked ahead.

Has Nicolas Hoult moved on to ... Riley Keough?!

Say it ain't so!

Looks like the rumors that X-Men: Days of Future Past co-stars and real-life adorable couple Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult are hitting a rough patch in their rekindled romance have picked up full steam again, with Page Six reporting that Hoult was spotted "snuggling up" to model/actress Riley Keough at No. 8's "Philo Prom" party in New York City Wednesday.

Related: Nicholas Hoult on What Makes J. Law So 'Special'

"They were sitting arm-in-arm in a booth with Adam Lambert and Charl Brown," Page Six quotes a source.

The pair "looked cozy," the eyewitness adds.

However, it could be that the two are just close co-stars, having worked together in the highly anticipated Mad Max: Fury Road.

Hoult, 24, and Lawrence, 23, began dating in 2011 after meeting on the set of X-Men: First Class, but broke up in January 2013, reportedly because Hoult was uncomfortable with Lawrence's...

A new horror series is getting ready to make its way to the Far East via HBO Asia, and we have your first details right here faster than you can say "Grace." Well... honestly, you did say that pretty quickly, but we were a bit faster. Doesn't matter though as everyone wins.

According to Variety, HBO Asia is to kick off its second original production with “Grace,” a contemporary horror mini-series. Production begins next week in association with Singapore-based producer Infocus Asia and with the financial support of Singapore’s Media Development Authority.

The four-part hour-long horror mini-series in English and Mandarin is about a father’s mistake which condemns his family to unspeakable horror. Set in present day urban Asia, “Grace” examines the Asian concepts of family, sacrifice, and vengeance.

It will be directed by Tony Tilse, who co-directed the 10-part 1960s detective series “Serangoon Road,” which last year...

HBO Asia is set to begin production on its second Singapore-set original mini-series, Grace. The project stars American actor Russell Wong (What Women Want; HBO Asia’s Serangoon Road) as Roy Chan, a loving but unfaithful husband, who makes a mistake that "condemns his family to unspeakable horror." Photos: 2014's New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows The show is set in present day Asia and is said to examine the region's cultural values of concepts of family, sacrifice and vengeance. Singaporean veteran actress Constance Song (Point Of Entry; The Ultimatum) plays Roy Chan's wife, Angela Chan, while Pamelyn Chee

read more...

Jennifer Lawrence’s strapless Dior gown was a controversial choice during the Jan. 12 Golden Globe Awards — so much so that several impostors took to the Internet to mock her black and white look.

Jennifer Lawrence, 23, was a big winner at the Jan. 12 Golden Globes, but the jury is still out on her choice of attire. Many Internet users — some famous, some not — mocked her getup in some inspired tweets and Instagrams, and we’ve gathered some of the best copycats below.

Colton Haynes & More Mock Jennifer Lawrence’s Dress Leonardo DiCaprio Vagina Joke

Colton Haynes is a huge J-Law fan, so we doubt he meant any harm when he posted his hilarious version of Jen’s Dior gown on his Instagram page. He also made her Taylor Swift photobomb face, letting everyone know it was all in good fun. “#GoldenGlobes were a blast,” he wrote.

Countless Twitter users also noticed...

Warner Bros/courtesy Everett C Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows, from left: Noomi Rapace, Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”

The next new “Sherlock Holmes” movie is out, and if you loved the first film, it’s more of what you loved — more slam-bang Victorian action, more whimsically anachronistic dialogue, more sly homoerotic innuendo and of course, more Robert Downey Jr. doing what he does best, which is to say, upend every convention...

Snow Flower & The Secret Fan is released on 04 November 2011 on Blu-ray and DVD. We have 3 copies of the DVD to give away courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Inspired by the bestselling novel Snow Flower And The Secret Fan by Lisa See, the film is a timeless portrait of female friendship. In 19th-century China, seven-year-old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong – or “old sames” – bound together for eternity. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan.

In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong’s descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. Drawing on the lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection,...

Release Date: Nov. 1, 2011

Price: DVD $29.99, Blu-ray $39.99

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Bingbing Li embraces life in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

Director Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club) weaves a contemporary tale with an old-world fable in the historical period drama Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, based on Lisa See’s best-selling novel of the same name.

The film follows two girls growing up in 19th century China, Lily (Bingbing Li, The Forbidden Kingdom) and Snow Flower (Gianna Jun, My Sassy Girl). They are brought together in a “Laotong” friendship — a lifelong bond between two women who rely on each other for companionship and comfort.

Amid the civil unrest and gender discrimination of the era, the pair deals with life’s hardships together until they are separated by marriage and childbirth. But the sworn sisters continue to communicate through the secret Chinese language of “nushu,” hiding their...

Directed by: Wayne Wang

Written by: Angela Workman, Ron Bass and Michael K. Ray

Starring: Gianna Jun, Li Bing Bing, Vivian Wu, Jiang Wu, Russell Wong, Coco Chiang, Jingyun Hu and Archie Kao

Inspired by the best-selling novel by Lisa See, this drama from the director of “The Joy Luck Club” spans centuries. In 19th-century China, 7-year-olds Snow Flower and Lily are matched as “laotong” — lifelong sisters. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by writing in a secret language in the folds of a white silk fan. Decades later in present-day Shanghai, the laotongs’ descendents struggle to maintain their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives and an ever-changing city. To save their relationship, they look to the past and the story of their ancestral connection hidden in the folds of an antique white silk fan. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures,...

Directed by: Wayne Wang

Written by: Angela Workman, Ron Bass and Michael K. Ray

Starring: Gianna Jun, Li Bing Bing, Vivian Wu, Jiang Wu, Russell Wong, Coco Chiang, Jingyun Hu and Archie Kao

Inspired by the best-selling novel by Lisa See, this drama from the director of “The Joy Luck Club” spans centuries. In 19th-century China, 7-year-olds Snow Flower and Lily are matched as “laotong” — lifelong sisters. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by writing in a secret language in the folds of a white silk fan. Decades later in present-day Shanghai, the laotongs’ descendents struggle to maintain their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives and an ever-changing city. To save their relationship, they look to the past and the story of their ancestral connection hidden in the folds of an antique white silk fan. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Photo courtesy Fox Searchlight Pictures,...

“What Women Want” is a Chinese remake of the 2000 Hollywood romantic comedy of the same name, with megastars Andy Lau and Gong Li taking the roles played by Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt in the original. The film, one of the few to actually market itself as an Eastern remake, was fittingly written and directed by a Chinese American in Chen Daming, who previously helmed the comedy “One Foot off the Ground” and the recent Chinese animation “The Dreams of Jinsha”. While the film obviously belongs to its leading couple, it also boasts a photogenic supporting cast that includes former idol Benny Chen (“Just Call Me Nobody”), TV actress Yuan Li (“The Bronze Teeth”), Hu Jing (“Drink Drank Drunk”), Anya (“Naked Weapon”), and American actor Russell Wong (“The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”). Shifting the action from Chicago to Beijing, the film follows the plot of the original pretty closely,...

It’s another packed week of DVD and Blu-ray releases, here’s the rundown of what’s available to buy from today, March 28th 2011.

Machete (DVD/Blu-ray)

A bad-ass, star-studded action-thriller from Robert Rodriguez (Desperado), Machete is an over-the-top homage to 1970′s exploitation movies, starring Danny Trejo as a Mexican Federale seeking revenge against a vicious drug lord (Steven Seagal), a ruthless vigilante (Don Johnson) and a power-mad politician (Robert De Niro). He is helped by a savvy immigration agent (Jessica Alba), revolutionary She (Michelle Rodriguez) and by his brother, a priest (Cheech Marin), and finds solace with a drug addict (Lindsay Lohan) along the way. Review.

Wake Wood (DVD)

Still grieving the death of their only child, Alice, a young couple relocate to the remote town of Wake Wood where they stumble on a group of villagers practising Pagan rituals. They soon learn that this ritual has the power to bring back the dead,...

Fists Of Rage

Stars: Jason Barry, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Russell Wong, Linda Park, Masakatsu Funaki, Joanna Pacula | Written by Larry Felix Jr. | Directed by David Worth

Former childhood friends Ray (Wong) and Gabriel (Barry) return to their old neighbourhood after spending time in prison and Iraq respectively. When Gabriel refuses to participate in Ray’s illegal fights, Ray retaliates by taking out his anger of Gabriel’s friends and family. Realising it’s either fight or die Gabriel must put the pairs old friendship aside in a bloody war to take back the streets and the neighbourhood.

Also known as Honor, Fists of Rage has taken a whopping 5 years to reach these shores! Was it worth the wait? In a word, yes! Directed by David Worth, whose name you may recognise from films such classic action movies as Kickboxer, Lady Dragon and American Tigers, the film is an old-school martial...

Revolver Entertainment have announced the forthcoming UK DVD release of Fists Of Rage – a mixed martial arts action drama from David Worth, the director of Kickboxer, which explodes onto UK DVD on March 28th. I’ve seen the film (look out for my review this weekend) and its everything you could possibly want in a straight to DVD action flick from the guys behind Kickboxer and Bloodsport…

Two street warriors come to understand that not every battle is fought for money or power in this gritty urban action thriller featuring Jason Barry (Titanic), Russell Wong (Romeo Must Die), and ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper (WWE Legend).

When street gangs clash with the local police in a series of bloody battles, neighbourhood friends Raymond (Wong) and Gabriel (Barry) are forced to choose sides. In the ensuing brutality, Raymond is plunged into the cold confines of prison as Gabriel is forced to fight a vicious war on foreign soil.

Revolver Entertainment have announced the forthcoming DVD release of Fists Of Rage – a mixed martial arts action drama from David Worth, the director of Kickboxer; and the producer of Bloodsport. The film explodes onto UK DVD on March 28th 2011!

Two street warriors come to understand that not every battle is fought for money or power in this gritty urban action thriller featuring Jason Barry (Titanic), Russell Wong (Romeo Must Die), and ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper (WWE Legend).

When street gangs clash with the local police in a series of bloody battles, neighbourhood friends Raymond (Wong) and Gabriel (Barry) are forced to choose sides. In the ensuing brutality, Raymond is plunged into the cold confines of prison as Gabriel is forced to fight a vicious war on foreign soil. Later, when Raymond and Gabriel arrive back in their old neighbourhood, the two soldiers put their survival skills to the ultimate test as...

Andy Lau as Mel Gibson and Gong Li as Helen Hunt, with Russell Wong as, er, whoever the other guy was that comes between them in the original Hollywood version. The Chinese remake of “What a Woman Want” starring Lau and Li has shown up to read your minds with a Chinese trailer that, curiously, features English voiceover. I honestly don’t know how that works, since the rest of the trailer is (mostly) in Chinese. The premise remains the same as the Hollywood version: After an accident, a chauvinistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking. The film is also going by the title of “I know a Woman’s Heart” (at least on IMDb.com), and is directed by Chen Daming. If you’re in China or parts of Asia, look for it in theaters on Valentines Day, February 14, 2010. function getVideo() { var so = new SWFObject("http://cdn.

James MacArthur, who played Danno in the original 'Hawaii Five-0' -- the role now played by Scott Caan on the CBS remake -- died this morning. He was 72. The actor's agent, Richard Lewis, told the Associated Press that MacArthur died of "natural causes" in Florida, however, no other details have been given.

MacArthur was most famous for his role as Detective Danny "Danno" Williams on 'Hawaii Five-0,' which often ended episodes with the phrase "Book 'em, Danno." He was in all 11 seasons of the show, 1968 to 1980, as well as the 1997 pilot for a revamped 'Hawaii Five-0' starring Gary Busey (if you can imagine that), Russell Wong, and Steven Flynn. He played the same character, but Danno had become governor of Hawaii.

Over four decades, MacArthur racked up roles in movies and television. He starred in the 1960 version of 'Swiss Family Robinson,...

Harvey Fierstein, Douglas Hodge, and Kelsey Grammer/Photo credit: Walter McBride for BroadwayWorld.com

Following this assortment of carefully-selected news items, interested readers can find a refreshing pic of a hot man in underwear. Yes, we're serious.

BroadwayWorld.com was at the start of rehearsals for La Cage Aux Folles, and has pictures of the big, fancy books being handed out to all the stars. Most of the pictures are better than what I chose, but I liked the monkey on Harvey's phone. They also have a list of the Cagelles with an out actor or two. The New York Times has a great review on The Tempermentals (and a nice shirtless picture of Michael Urie) and what it means to gay theater. h/t cufflinksandtie The latest edition of False Witness: The Michele Bachman Story comic is available for purchase, and it's all about the gays. Even if...

It’s time to dust off your badge, ready your best Jack Lord, “Book ‘em, Dano,” impression and start humming the infamous theme song as criminals of Hawaii now have more to fear than Dog: The Bounty Hunter, as CBS has announced that it’s bringing back the second-longest-running criminal drama, Hawaii Five-o.

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, who brought us Fringe and Star Trek, along with CSI: NY executive producer Peter Lenkov will produce the show for CBS Television Studios with CBS committing to a pilot after hearing a pitch from Kurtzman, Orci and Lenkov last Thursday.

Fans of Fringe need not worry that their favorite science fiction show will go the way of Alias and Lost when J.J Abrams found new projects to focus his attention (Lost has since recovered) as Lenkov will be penning the script with Kurtzman and Orci supervising. Should the show be picked up,...

This week sees a couple of golden oldies trotted out alongside the customary summertime family fun, docs on science both good and bad, and another lesson from the Tony Scott school of flash-bang filmmaking.

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"Betty Blue: The Director's Cut"

Having inspired everything from ardent film student party chatter to the pure cinematic showmanship of Luc Besson, Jean-Jacques Beineix's 1986 Oscar-nominated romantic drama has a legacy that reaches far and wide. This new print of Beineix's definitive 1991 cut of his oh so artsy tale of an aspiring writer Zorg (Jean-Hugues Anglade), his wild, volatile muse Betty (Béatrice Dalle) and her gradual descent into self-destruction contains more than an hour of additional footage that stretches out Betty's madness and embellishes it with such antics as Zorg's cross-dressing crime spree. In French with subtitles.

Opens in New York.

[Updated with new poster and much higher quality trailer.]

Thanapon Maliwan’s The Sanctuary is a film that we’ve been tracking here for a good while now. Maliwan rose to attention as one of the directors in the Pechpanna Productions stable, the Thai action outfit where both Panna Rittikrai and Tony Jaa got their starts, Maliwan directing both Jaa and his mentor is at least one early pre-Ong Bak film together. And then there’s star Mike B, a Thai stunt man who was one of the key stunt performers in Ong Bak who Maliwan has been grooming for stardom for a little while.

This particular project began life as Dead End before finance troubles forced it to be suspended for a while and Maliwan and Mike B went off and made inconsistent action-comedy Brave instead. That project out of the way the materials from Dead End were reworked and redeveloped and the project re-launched as The Sanctuary...

Walter Hamada, Jonathan Hung and Chris Fenton, formerly of MBST Entertainment, have departed the company and set up a new management/production company, H2F Entertainment. Among them, the trio rep 43 writers, 10 directors and 10 actors, including writers Greg Coolidge (Sorority Boys), Chris Morgan (Cellular), Matt Allen and Caleb Wilson (Four Christmases), Michael Weiss (Around the World in 80 Days), Ed Horowitz (Exit Wounds), the Wheat brothers (Pitch Black) and Gregg Rossen and Brian Sawyer (Diesel Debutante); writer-directors Ryan Shiraki (Home of Phobia), Rob McKittrick (Son of the Mask), Peter Cohen (Whipped), Tony Vitale (Kiss Me Guido) and John Patterson (The Sopranos); and actors Lucas Black, Ryan Pinkston, Brooke D'Orsay, Russell Wong, Sam Huntington and Josh Coxx. The company also reps Pacesetter Pictures International and Dreamwave Prods. The Beverly Hills-based H2F also is attached to produce The Ryan Pinkston Thing for MTV Networks, HSI's Waiting and Inner Circle, to be directed by Paul Street and starring Hayden Christensen and Robert Duvall. Hamada was a vp production at Columbia Pictures before joining MBST more than four years ago. Hung started his industry career at Chris Lee Prods. before moving on to management. He spent 2 1/2 years at MBST. Fenton previously worked as an agent at WMA for seven years before moving to MBST.