Variety Asia Online - Asia entertainment news from Variety

Finance/Film/Casinos/Macau
ESun remains under hostile assault Media Asia's parent company restrained from issuing new shares as hedge fund stakes out large position. Read More >>

korea/box office
	Sex proves potent force at Korean box office "Flower" and "Scandal" dominate charts, Hollywood studio releases fall short. Read More >>

China/Internet/regulation
	China clamps down on Internet sex search Google, Baidu among 19 major sites accused of spreading porn. Crackdown comes as Zhang Ziyi intimate pics spread. Read More >>

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

HK/Film/Finance

HAF redefines selection
Na, Lam, Wei make the cut as mart balances commercial and art-house projects.
Read More >>

japan/film

"Departures" to arrive in North America
Japan's foreign-language Oscar hopeful finds Stateside distributor.
Read More >>

japan/media/jobs

Sony refuses comment on rumored job cuts
Japan giant registered losses due to slow sales of electronic products.
Read More >>

japan/film

Hollywood heavyweights to boost "Ponyo" release
Wide release planned by veteran trio for American release of Miyazaki toon.
Read More >>

hong kong/film

"CJ7" takes top spot in 2008
Stephen Chow's fantasy pic scores at HK box office, overall growth in Chinese-language film grosses.
Read More >>

japan/film/festivals

Tokyo Fest/TIFFCOM set dates for 2009
Japanese film festival to unspool in October.
Read More >>

singapore/tv

Starhub taps Tan for COO position
Internet veteran takes reins at Singapore cable operator.
Read More >>

hong kong/festivals

"Shinjuku Incident" to open HKIFF
Jackie Chan's Yakuza thriller set for world premiere at Hong Kong fest.
Read More >>

japan/film

Majors look to Japan for projects
Studios partnering on remakes of American hits to lure back straying audiences.
Read More >>

china/piracy

11 nabbed in huge Chinese anti-piracy bust
Lengthy jail terms imposed on members of $2 billion software counterfeiting ring.
Read More >>

china/legit

Beijing raises curtains on huge theater complex
32 theater development hopes to rival London's West End and New York's Broadway.
Read More >>

hong kong/tv

Hong Kong watches ongoing real-life TV drama
Money, politics and incompetence behind recent broadcasting debacles.
Read More >>

hong kong/box office

"Crook" steals Hong Kong's New Year box office
Robust audience numbers also ring in the year for "Ong Bak 2," "Mei Lan Fang."
Read More >>

taiwan/tv

Demonstrators rally against Taiwan TV interference
Protestors claim ruling political party aims to take over public broadcaster.
Read More >>

china/film

Xinhua Finance Media leaves advertising business
Mainland media conglomerate to focus on sport and entertainment sectors.
Read More >>

china/box office

A prosperous 2008 for Mainland box office
8 Chinese-language films pass milestone at charts, takings for the year up 27%.
Read More >>

china/internet

LeTV announces $15 millon investment in original content
Chinese video portal plans slate of sci-fi movies for online distribution.
Read More >>

asian/box office

Local heroes, toons dominate Christmas B.O. in Asia
"Ip Man" and "Overspeed" jostle with "Madagascar 2" for top spots.
Read More >>

film/reviews

"Indian Cinemas: From North to South"
Documentary that looks beyond Bollywood to the major and separate film industries spread out across India.
Read More >>

films/reviews

"Burma VJ"
Hardhitting documentary about underground journalists who risked their lives documenting Burma's 2007 uprising.
Read More >>

films/reviews

"The Clone Returns Home"
Enigmatic Japanese sci-fi film about wayward clones recalls Tartovsky's Solaris.
Read More >>