<![CDATA[io9: street fighter: the legend of chun-li]]> http://tags.lifehacker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/io9.com.png <![CDATA[io9: street fighter: the legend of chun-li]]> http://io9.com/tag/streetfighterthelegendofchunli http://io9.com/tag/streetfighterthelegendofchunli <![CDATA[Kristen Kreuk's New Street Fighter Clips Remind Us Sweet Can't Save Crazy Bad]]> Newly released clips from the Street Fighter DVD show how you make a so-bad-it's-good-movie. Transformers 2 could stand to learn a thing or two from these sequences showing Kristen Kreuk zipping around in her wire harness and delivering justice-filled one-liners.

New Street Fighter clips are coming out to promote the new DVD, reminding us that even though this was a brain-dead production, it was still more entertaining than Transformers. I would put money on Klein's awful nostril flares over any ancient tribal Transformer. I will definitely buy this movie, or maybe watch it on TNT when there's nothing else on. Street Fighter you are a testament to the Best Worst movies that came before you (TimeCop, Deep Impact, Reign of Fire).

Can you imagine if Bay had decided to make Street Fighter instead of phoning in Transformers 2? The exploding punches alone make me yearn for the Bay version, and Bay clearly needs to be reminded of his roots. His bad late night boom-boom epics, that used to taste good with popcorn and booze, have gone South. His next bad movie should go back to basics, like Street Fighter. Witness the greatness:



[via Coming Soon]

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<![CDATA[Spoilery New Vids From BSG, Dragonball, Chuck, Heroes, Reaper And Kyle XY!]]> Chow Yun-Fat shows how much he enjoyed smacking Justin Chatwin in Dragonball. Plus there are new videos of Battlestar, Chuck, Heroes, Reaper and Kyle XY. Smallville season-nine casting! Plus Lost, Chun-Li, Dollhouse, T:SCC and Pushing.


Dragonball Evolution:

Chow Yun-Fat did an interview in Mandarin, and they showed a few new super-brief clips of him kicking Justin Chatwin's ass. It definitely looks like Chow had fun making this film. [DB The Movie]

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li:

Here's how rapper Taboo describes his character, Vega:

He's the one character that you don't know if he's mortal or immortal. In the movie he wears a mask all the time, and he has a claw, and he's in and out. He does his dirty work, and he's gone before you know it, and you're looking to see more. It's a small part, but it's a huge role because it has a legacy and it has an enormous cult following.

[Sci Fi Wire]

Battlestar Galactica:

We already featured some preview pics for Friday's episode, "Someone To Watch Over Me," but here they are in better quality, and with a few new ones. What's going on with Sharon, Hera and Tyrol? And where did Sharon get such a snazzy polka-dot dress? [Dryope via Battlestar_Blog]

And here's the reliably spoilery Canadian trailer for the episode. How many times can sparks fly out of every surface on the CIC before they run out of fuses? [Galactica Sitrep]

Dollhouse:

Here are descriptions for the four episodes after this Friday's:

"Gray Hour": Echo (Eliza Dushku) isn't the only one stealing things when she is imprinted as a safe-cracker whose art heist goes awry after her memory imprint mysteriously vanishes. Plus, Agent Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett) gives Lubov (Enver Gjokaj) an ultimatum.

"True Believer": Imprinted as a blind girl, Echo must infiltrate a heavily guarded cult run by a charismatic leader (guest star Brian Bloom) before a Waco-like tragedy strikes.

"Man on the Street": Agent Ballard's investigation takes a surprising turn when he comes face-to-face and fist-to-fist with Echo for the very first time.

"Echoes": A deadly virus outbreak on a college campus sends Echo back to school where pieces of her past come into focus.

[SpoilerTV]

Lost:

Juliet is not the "major-ish" character who's going to die this season. But Penny has no such assurance, especially since Sonya Walger just scored a role in ABC's Flash Forward. (Although a Lost insider says Walger will "juggle both shows.") Meanwhile, we'll meet two new characters on Lost: Jason, a former soldier with loads of gravitas that makes people want to follow him, and Samuel, a sharky J.R. Ewing-esque businessman who's never happy unless he's taking something over. [EW]

Fionnula Flanagan says we'll learn a lot more about Mrs. Hawking's powers in an upcoming episode, probably 3x14. She says Mrs. Hawking can come and go where she pleases, but won't say whether she's able to control those movements. And she says Mrs. Hawking's spiritual beliefs are not of this planet. Also, Jin and Sun won't reunite until the end of the season. [ E! Online]

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:

Here's info on the last six episodes of the season:

"Ourselves Alone" (March 6): The return of Cameron's (Summer Glau) glitch results in regrettable consequences for everyone, and Riley (Leven Rambin) fears Cameron has discovered her secret.

"Today is the Day, Part 1 of 2" (March 13): In the first part of a game-changing two-part installment, Jesse (guest star Stephanie Jacobsen) flashes back to a life-altering mission aboard her submarine, the Jimmy Carter. Meanwhile, Sarah (Lena Headey) and John (Thomas Dekker) decide they can't continue living in their house and make plans to leave.

"Last Voyage of the Jimmy Carter, Part 2 of 2" (March 20): The exciting two-parter continues as Jesse's submarine mission in the future takes a fatal turn that has unforeseen consequences for John, Sarah and Derek (Brian Austin Green) in the present. Also, Sarah deals with Cameron, who has become a liability, and John steps up and makes a life-or-death choice.

"To The Lighthouse" (March 27): Fearing for her life, Sarah stashes John in a safe house with the only person she believes she can rely on, Charley Dixon (guest star Dean Winters). Cameron and Derek struggle to work together after she reveals a big secret, and Weaver's (Shirley Manson) entire effort is at risk when John Henry (Garret Dillahunt) is compromised – but by whom?

"Adam Raised A Cain" (April 3)

"Born To Run" (April 10)

[Sarah Connor Society and SpoilerTV]

Kyle XY:

Here's a sneak peek from Monday's episode, "The Tell-Tale Heart":

Heroes:

Apparently that baby that Hiro and Ando were carrying really is "baby Matt," Matt Parkman's kid with his ex, Janice, according to fansite Heroes Television's sources. Baby Matt appears in five episodes, starting in 3x19. And he has a superpower: "when baby Matt gets bad, stuff happens!" (Shoot me now.) And here's a sneak peek from Monday's episode. [Heroes Television]

Chuck:

Here are four clips from Monday's episode, highlighting the scrape-your-eyeballs "supermodel casting couch" subplot. And a few seconds of Adam Baldwin awesomeness. [SpoilerTV]




Life On Mars:

Here's what happens in episode 14, "Coffee Tea Or Annie":

When Valerie Palmer, a Pan Atlantic air hostess turns up dead, Annie volunteers for a dangerous undercover mission, posing as the murdered woman to help solve the second in a possible series of brutal homicides. Annie, Sam and Ray, working one of Valerie's flights covertly, uncover an unlikely suspect. Then, an invitation to a lurid swingers' party leads to an evening full of sensational surprises - not just for Annie and Sam, attending undercover as a couple, but Lieutenant Hunt also arrives with a special guest to mix it up. Juicy sexual escapades bring the swingers' party to a fever pitch, but will the murderer be revealed? Finally, Annie confronts Hunt with the courage of her convictions about her future at the 1-2-5.

And here are some pics from the episode. [SpoilerTV]

Smallville:

All of the show's cast members are back for season nine, with the possible exception of Sam Witwer (Davis Bloome). [EW]

Reaper:

Here's a sneak peak from the season opener!

Pushing Daisies:

EW's Ausiello has seen the final episode, and he says it pits Vivian and Lily against their former synchronized swimming rivals, the Aqua Dolls (Wendy Malick and Nora Dunn). "Inspired silliness ensues." There are Jaws-themed scene transitions, bitchy one-liners, and cameos by Wilson Cruz and Josh Ryan (playing the Aquas' bleach-blond manager.) It's not a totally satisfying end to the series, but Bryan Fuller and co. pieced together a prologue using CG and existing footage. [EW]

True Blood:

Season two strays much further away from the book source material, says Carrie Preston. It's hardly like the book at all. [The Vault]

Additional reporting by Alasdair Wilkins.

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<![CDATA[Kristin Kreuk Talks Chun-Li's Moves, Legs And Sequels]]> Even though Kristin Kreuk's Street Fighter origins story is a realistic approach to the beloved video game, that didn't stop her and Michael Duncan from recreating the game, costumes and all, on their own time.

We got a chance to talk to the delightful Kristin Kreuk about starring in the action-packed video game adaption and origins story Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li. Kreuk spilled about recreating a true-to-the video-game spoof clip with some cast-mates, challenged those that said she's too tiny to be Chun-Li's leg and explained why you won't be hearing her say "yup yup" in this film - but who knows, maybe in the sequel?


Were you nervous taking on this beloved character? Although, surely you've dealt with fan expectations before?

I think the reason I decided to take this character was because of the Spiritual arc of the script, even though in the movie you see her street fighting, for me that was what was appealing, and I thought it was a way to encourage people, in our own little way, to do that in their own lives.


So, when taking on the character, I didn't think of it as "Millions, millions and millions of people love her," but I did go, "Do I want to do another one of these characters?" Because I've done so many, and I know what it's like. I know that people are going to hate me as the choice, and I know that people are going to love me as the choice and I know that it's going to be split. And I don't know how game fans are, but I know how comic-book fans are. So I know how it's so brutal and so amazing at the same time. And I get that, so at least I'm versed in it.

Whenever we write about you and Chun-Li, people always bring up the difference in body types between you and the video game character. Although, I don't really know anyone who's that size. And she is a video game character, after all. Is that hard for you hearing [criticisms about your body type] when you're making a realistic translation of the game?

I actually can't think of any Asian women that fit that body figure - maybe some halfies - but nope, not even close. And it's funny, because my proportions are... Well, I'm small, which is totally fine with me. I think it's more important to have a believable character than somebody who fits what the physical is. It's sort of like going outside in, instead of inside out. And I think inside out is more important.


This is a pretty tormented character. How did you try and understand who Chun-Li is, and did you explore any of the past Street Fighter mythology?

Well I think some of the mythology is there, and Justin [the screenwriter] was on set and I drilled him, because I signed on about a week or two before I left for Thailand. So the character, she's one of those crazy characters with a perfect childhood, which is funny because I'm familiar with this character. She has this wonderful childhood and these great parents who are encouraging of her. And at a very important age, her father is taken away, right in front of her eyes by this really horrible man, and she doesn't know how to deal with that.


And I think there's a shift in her at that point, and she becomes a little angrier and a little wanting things to be different. I honestly think that her mother kills herself after that experience. I mean she dies from cancer, but I think that was a part of why her mom left as well. I mean, I made all this stuff up in my head. But really, her arc is learning to let go not only of her physical attachments but more importantly her emotional attachments as well. Losing her family was so important to her, but [she's] understanding that getting revenge won't change what happened, and that her anger did not make anything better. By doing, that she was blinding herself. When we're driven by emotion, our filters are on.


In the end of the movie, Chun-Li kind of blows off the possible set up for a sequel, does that mean you won't be involved in a possible sequel?

I have no idea what will happen, if they do a sequel, they're going to do whatever they're going to do. I'm signed on, so if they want me I am obligated to be there. But apart from that, it's all up to the producers.

So you have a contract for multiple Street Fighter movies?

I believe it's only one more. I believe so.


So I noticed you did the spinning kick.. but I didn't see the other special moves for your character, or any yup-yupping?

[Laughs] No, there's not going to be any yupping - "Yup yup." It would have been odd. It would have been unintentionally funny. We did some choreography with the side kicks at one point. But we ran out of time to shoot it.


Who was your favorite character to fight with, because you tackle everyone really?

It was fun fighting with Neal [McDonough who plays the evil Bison] because he's such a good fighter and our fight is much more hand-to-hand combat, which I think is more fun than the wire work. The fight with Taboo, who's Vega, was more wire-work-oriented, and he and I didn't fight too much. It was mostly me and his double, or he and my double.


Did you at any point consider putting on the costume and having some fun, I mean no one is in the Street Fighter-wear on set. But just for kicks?

We were actually reading what was online and everyone was saying, "This isn't realistic, it's not like the game." So we thought, we should do something that's just like the game, that would be hilarious. So what we actually did, and I don't know where this footage is. We bought gloves for Michael [Duncan, who plays Balrog], who is the loveliest man. We thought it would be really funny if Chun-Li and Balrog had a fight on the street in the style of Street Fighter, where you fight on a straight line. And we did it! We filmed the whole thing. I wore an Asian mandarin collar, I put my hair in the buns, we went out to the pool and we shot it with the temple in the backdrop by the hotel. And he's in short shorts and the whole kit and caboodle. I do the side kick and I say "spinning bird kick" and we did the whole thing. It's somewhere, I don't know where it is. What we wanted to do is put in all of the power bars and all of the video FX, it was all planned.


So to change gears for a quick second, if Smallville gets another season will you guest star again?

If they go, I don't know. I think that the character is pretty much done, unless it's really necessary, I think that it might...I just think that the show has changed so much that it would be weird to have Lana come back and be all super powered.

Did you get irritated as an actress that after you left, they started hinting at your bigger destiny on the show.

That's a funny question. I've never been asked that before. I haven't thought about it. After I left, I left. It would have been nice to have that development for Lana, not necessarily with superpowers. I would have loved to played her growth earlier.


Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li will be in theaters on February 27th.

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<![CDATA[Pics And Clips From Watchmen, Battlestar, Street Fighter, Lost, Dollhouse & Torchwood!]]> Spoiler invasion! New videos show the contrasting fighting styles of Dr. Manhattan, Chun-Li and Caprica Six. Plus there are revealing pics from Lost, Transformers, Dollhouse and Torchwood, and new scoop on Heroes, Fringe and Dragonball.


Watchmen:

Now that you've seen some actual clips from the movie, here's yet another TV spot. Comedian giggling, giant Dr. Manhattan grabbing someone, and a few other snippets.

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li:

Here are some new official images showing more of Kristen Kreuk in action. [Cinemablend]

And here are a whopping five clips:

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen:

Here are a couple of new poster images, including a better look at the Fallen. [Transformers Live]

Dragonball: Evolution:

Justin Chatwin says Chow Yun-Fat embodied the character of Roshi with a lot of comedy and is "wacky" in the movie.[DB The Movie]

Battlestar Galactica:

Woot. Here are a couple of scenes from Friday's episode. Way to state the obvious, President Roslin!


Dollhouse:

Here are some new promo pics from episode three, which I'm guessing is the one where Echo becomes the backup singer for a pop star who's in danger, or who just needs a mentally programmed backup singer. Plus here are a few new poster images. [Dollhouse Fans]

Doctor Who:

We mentioned the other day that awesome audio producers Big Finish were planning on doing a series of audio stories based on the "lost season" of 1985, when the show was placed on hiatus and a bunch of scripts were scrapped. Now, here are more details. Irish writer Michael Feeney Callan says he had a two-part story called "The Children Of January," featuring a new race of runaway bee people called the Z'ros, who were outcasts from a dawning "parallel universe" civilization that was abandoned. That script may get included in the Big Finish season.

But the much-dreaded Pip and Jane Baker story "Gallifrey" wasn't developed at all, so it may not wind up in the new restored season. On the other hand, Christopher Bidmead's "In The Hollows Of Time" (aka "Pinacotecha") is a possibility. It takes place on a museum planet that stores "special times and places in the universe." [Den Of Geek]

Torchwood:

Here are some new (to me) set pics from the forthcoming "Children Of Earth." [AV Forums]

Lost:

And here are some set pics from episode 5x08, "LaFleur," in which Sawyer decides he and the others must tell a big lie, in order to survive. [The ODI]

In episode 10, "He's Our You," Juliet works at the Dharma motor pool and Kate joins her. And "Roger Workman Linus" makes an appearance. [SpoilersLost]

Also, there are set reports and awesome pics from some filming in the mechanics' area of Othersville for episode 5x13. Jack, Kate, Daniel and Paul Edwards were there, wearing khaki Dharma jumpsuits, along with a couple of khaki-clad Dharma "redshirts" named Casey and Elmer. Jack and friends are chased by Radzinsky (wearing a black Dharma jumpsuit) plus two black-clad thugs (identified as Thug #1 and Thug #2 on their trailers.) Radzinsky and his thugs exchange gunfire with Jack and friends, but then Jack's gang jumps in a jeep and drives off. There's also debris from an explosion at one of the Dharma houses. More pics at the links. [The ODI and Hawaii Weblog]

Fringe:

Episode 17 will be called "Bad Dreams," and will be written and directed by Akiva Goldsman, writer of I Robot, Batman And Robin, A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code. [Fringe Television]

Heroes:

Next week (as you've probably gathered) Parkman uses his non-painting-related powers to interrogate HRG. Plus our heroes learn the truth about Daphne's "death." And the next city that's in danger of blowing up soon is Washington, D.C. [E! Online]

Additional reporting by Alasdair Wilkins.

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<![CDATA[Spoilery Pics From Wolverine, Chun-Li, BSG, Sarah Connor and Fringe!]]> New pictures of Wolverine and Chun-Li showcase more of the sexiness. On the other hand, new BSG and Sarah Connor pics open up the future. More Lost WTFage, plus video of Tricia Helfer filming Chuck.


Wolverine:

Here's a new one-sheet plus a couple of other images that are supposedly new (but which look awfully familiar to me.) Stabby claws! [Sci Fi Wire and L.A. Times]

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li:

A few new images show Chun-Li in some of her quiet moments, plus maybe that book she's looking at has something to do with her quest. [Celebutopia]

Battlestar Galactica:

Do Adama, Tigh, Baltar, Tyrol, Starbuck and Apollo all survive the uprising? See for yourself with this collection of promo pics from the next half dozen episodes, including John Hodgman as a doctor, and Starbuck's new piano playing pal Slick. Sorry about the watermarks. We'll try and get them without watermarks ASAP. [Jeebs83 and Battlestar Blog]

And here's the Canadian promo for Friday's episode, showing more Adama badassery. [Battlestar Blog]

We'll see more developments in the dynamic of Adama flirting with martial law, and Adama and Roslin's relationship eroding the line between civilian and military authority, in the next few episodes. Also, things will continue to get worse and worse for our heroes, says writer Mark Verheiden. [Chicago Tribune]

Lost:

The official synopsis for episode 5x06, "316," shouldn't surprise anyone: "The members of Oceanic 6 discover how to get back to the island, but not all of them want to return." [The ODI]

And now for something a bit more surprising! The show was filming a scene that takes place off the island (at a taco stand near a Chuck E Cheese, in fact) where Miles is grabbed by two men and hustled into a van. One of the men has a Swan logo on his jumpsuit. Miles, off island? Being kidnapped by the Dharma Initiative? (And also: is Chuck E Cheese no longer a safe space?) [The ODI]

It looks like we'll be seeing more of that blue carpet van, in episode 5x13 or thereabouts. [Hawaii Weblog]

Also, a source claims that in episode 5x16, Ms. Hawking gives Jack an item that must return to the island along with Locke — plus an item relating to Jack's grandfather, which is one of a pair. [Spoilers Lost]

There will be a "little more Jacob stuff" this season, but you won't have all your Jacob questions answered this year, say producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof. But there will be tons and tons of the "romantic quadrangle." [USA Today via Doc Arzt]

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:

What happens in episode 2x15, "Desert Cantos"? Apparently, our heroes search for answers at a funeral. Here's the description:

Sarah, John, Cameron and Derek investigate the company town connected to the destroyed factory while Weaver sends her own man into town in search of a potential survivor.

And here are some promo pics. I love Summer Glau's idea of funeral wear. [Sarah Connor Society and SpoilerTV]

Fringe:

Episode 1x16 will be called "Unleashed." And here are some photos from episode 1x14, "Ability." [Fringe Television]

We'll get total closure of the John Scott storyline in February's episodes, promised actor Mark Valley. We'll learn who he's been working for, and the truth of his feelings for Olivia. And he'll probably appear both in the flesh and in Olivia's "dreamscape." [Sci Fi Wire]

Chuck:

Here's your first glimpse of Tricia Helfer filming her guest spot, where she kills a bunch of people.

And here are some cast interviews about tonight's big episode:



Heroes:

Ellen Greene may be returning as Sylar's mom for May sweeps. [Heroes Spoilers]

Ali Larter had a live chat with the fans. She's eager to return to Heroes for season four, she says, and she's "extremely happy" with the ideas the writers are batting around for next season. Also, she has no scenes with Sylar in "Fugitives," and it sounds like she doesn't spend much time with Claire either. And there's no resolution to the dangling "third sister" storyline. [The ODI]

It sounds like after the show's friendly mutants escape from Super-Gitmo, they develop a plan to get back at the U.S. government, as well as Homeland Security head Nathan Petrelli. (Does Nathan have literally a new job every week? I want to send Tom Zarek to make fun of him, like he did the job-hopping Lee Adama.) Our heroes will have to "take the government down," says Hayden Panettiere. Also, the gang will have to work together more. [TV Guide]

Supernatural:

Star Jared Padalecki says a big development is coming, relating to Sam's ability to send demons back to Hell with a wave of his hand, and his relationship with Ruby. We're going to see Sam get very dark, and possibly flirt with the dark side, says Padalecki, although he's not sure about specifics. [Sci Fi Wire]

Life On Mars:

Were you excited by last Wednesday's episode of this time-stranded cop show? If so, then rejoice. We'll be seeing more of Detective Nunzio, Gene Hunt's rival, in a future episode. Also, Gene's daughter Maria will be around for the next few episodes, so we can explore her hot affair with Sam. And for those of you who'd actually like some resolution of last year's cliffhanger, apparently we will soon learn what's in the basement. [Zap2It]

Additional reporting by Alasdair Wilkins.

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<![CDATA[Dollhouse Makeover Pics, A Smallville Comeback, And Chun-Li's Villains]]> A spicy new featurette explains the complexity and drama behind Street Fighter. Plus there are new Lost and Heroes clips, and tons of Dollhouse, Doctor Who, Dragonball and Terminator pics. And Smallville script pages. Spoilers!


Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li:

In this new featurette from IGN, screenwriter Justin Marks explains the thought process behind the new Fighter film, and why it focuses on Chun-Li. [IGN]

Dragonball Evolution:

The new issue of the American Shonen Jump magazine includes a spread about Dragonball. Goku lives a pretty normal teenage life, fighting off bullies and learning martial arts from his grandfather, until he learns he's destined for something far greater. And then he embarks on a quest to discover his true powers and stop Lord Piccolo (James Marsters) and his world-domination plan. Also, Bulma has to fend off Yamcha's advances. I love how the magazine says "anticipation is at 70 percent and building!" Even the hype-mongers can't quite muster up 75 percent. [DBtheMovie]

Lost:

And here are some clips from Wednesday's episode. One of the two Dharma guys in the first episode is someone we've actually seen before. [E! Online]



Also, in episode 5x13, we'll meet Howard, a fiftysomething blue-collar guy who's lonely and has a hard time admitting his love for his son. He goes to extreme lengths to bond with his son at last, in a couple of nice scenes. [SpoilersLost]

Dollhouse:

Here are a bunch of promo stills from the first episode, "Ghost." Echo gets programmed to be a fancy hostage negotiator to help a businessman who's daughter has been kidnapped, and at some point her fellow mind-wiped "Active," Sierra, has to jump in and help her. [Celebutopia]

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:

And here are some pics from the next episode, "The Good Wound," in which Sarah forces a doctor at gunpoint to treat her gunshot wound. And she sees Kyle Reese. Meanwhile, the following two episodes are called "Desert Cantos" and "Some Must Watch, While Some Must Sleep." [Fox and Sarah Connor Society]

Doctor Who:

More set photos. The show was filming a scene where a nervous-looking Michelle Ryan gets on the bus, followed by the Doctor, who flashes his psychic paper at the driver and then sits next to Ryan. All praise to Scooty for the photos. [Life, Doctor Who & Combom]

Heroes:

There's a new extended promo for the first episode of the "Fugitives" storyline, plus four clips and a new behind-the-scenes video. Apparently Hiro is now training Ando to be a superhero, since Hiro lost his own powers. And Daphne and Matt are trying to settle down as a normal couple. [Heroes Television]


Smallville:

Lex is back! Well, sort of. Some new casting pages from episode 8x18, "Eternal," have turned up. Mostly they deal with the adventures of Young Davis in 1989. He gets caged and brought to Luthor's mansion, where they stick needles in him. He kills Young Lex's pet canary, but Lex doesn't realize, so the two of them play together. At one point, Lex opens a silver box that contains a meteor, and the green radiation upsets Young Davis. Then suddenly a Luthor aide drags Davis away and drops him off on a Metropolis street with just $20. Meanwhile, Tess is in hospital, and bitches out a guard who failed to stop some kind of rampaging monster. Also, Clark and Chloe investigated a trashed truck. [SpoilerTV]

Additional reporting by Alasdair Wilkins.

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<![CDATA[Iron Man 2's Villain Speaks, And Battlestar Overwhelms Your Dradis]]> It's our last chance for BSG premiere spoilers, and Ronald Moore has shared a doozy. Plus Iron Man 2 villainy and Terminator Salvation's ending. Plus Dragonball, Chun-Li, Lost, Sarah Connor, Fringe, Heroes and Smallville.


Iron Man 2:

So what's the deal with Justin Hammer, the "money guy" that Sam Rockwell plays in the sequel? "He takes over all the weapons stuff after Tony's left," says Rockwell. And not only does he take over Tony's abandoned weapons businesses, he may actually take over Stark Industries itself. [IGN]

Terminator Salvation:

So the ending of Terminator 4 — the one which will piss off a bunch of people, but doesn't necessarily involve John Connor being replaced with a machine? What exactly is that ending, anyway? McG offers another hint: "It’s an elliptical ending that will keep people guessing." What does the word "elliptical" mean in this context? Your guess is probably way better than mine. [Movies Online]

Dragonball Evolution:

A new Bulma pic. At least she's well armed. [DBTheMovie]

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li:

So what happens in your movie, Kristin Kreuk?

It's very simple in the sense that she lives with her father and her mother and goes on this quest. And she finds a master who helps her let go of her anger and continue her quest. And eventually she goes after the man who took her father and finds her father again. And the whole journey, until the end of the film, gets you to the point where you can see how she becomes the Chun-Li in the video game.

Makes perfect sense to me. [Sci Fi Wire]

Battlestar Galactica:

The final scene of tonight's episode will reveal the identity of the final Cylon — and Ron Moore says some people will hate the choice. (Others will love it, though.) Learning who the final Cylon is won't answer all the questions about this person's relationship to the other Cylons, or the show's mythology. Starbuck questions whether she's alive or dead, human or Cylon, and she has a meltdown. The final scene the crew filmed involves Starbuck, Apollo, Sharon, Helo, Baltar and Six in some kind of massive gunfight. [TV Guide via SpoilerTV]

Also, the "thirteenth tribe" turns out not to be what anyone expected. And at one point — as seen in the trailers — Roslin burns the prophecy of Pythia. Admiral Adama contemplates ending it all, but first he and Tigh have it out with guns and Scotch. People make lots of mistakes, sometimes for the best reasons. And the Cylons themselves turn out to be different than we'd believed. [L.A. Times]

British broadcaster Sky One posted two dozen pictures from the episode, a few of which we've seen before — but some of which may be intensely spoilery. [Sky, Thanks Mark]

Meanwhile, Sci Fi uploaded seven new clips to its YouWillKnowTheTruth site, and here they are as embeds:







Plus a couple more pics. [Multiple Verses]

Lost:

It won't take as long as you expect for Jack to convince the other Oceanic Five to return to the island with him and their dead friend, says Matthew Fox. Desmond's mental ability to move through time and space makes him a "wild card," say producers. We'll learn what Sawyer said to Kate before jumping out of that helicopter. And the show definitely won't end with a copout ending, that it all happened in a snow globe, or it was all in the dog's mind, or that it was in a snowglobe in the dog's mind. [USA Today]

One more new sneak peek:

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:

Episode 2x20 will introduce Detective Sykes, an LAPD detective assigned to a high-profile case, who keeps his cards close to his chest. [SpoilerTV]

Fringe:

Here are two more photos from the next episode, "Bound." [Fringe Television]

And here's the official press release for the following episode, "No-Brainer":

A COMPUTER SCIENTIST-TURNED-SERIAL KILLER HAS DISCOVERED AN UNCONVENTIONAL METHOD TO KILL PEOPLE ON "FRINGE" TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, ON FOX. Olivia, Walter and Peter are called in to investigate the death of a car salesman who was found in a pool of "goo," exactly like another man across the country. When Walter discovers that the "goo" is brain matter, the trio tries to figure out how the killer can liquefy human brains. As the deaths pile up, the investigation reveals a common thread linking the victims together in an unthinkable manner. Meanwhile, Olivia is horrified when the case places a loved one in harm's way.

[Fringe Television]

Heroes:

A casting call for episode 3x22 reveals a few characters: FBI agent Donner heads up a top-secret operation, and he's got two agents with him. Alena Mihalov is a Russian former escort (with a heart of gold) who's now being taken care of by a former client with whom she fell in love. There's a funny, amiable, Japanese truck driver with a pure Texas accent. [The ODI]

Smallville:

In episode 8x14, "Requiem," an explosion at LuthorCorp injures Ollie and kills all the company's board members. [SpoilerTV]

Batman: The Brave And The Bold:

A few sneak peeks from tonight's episode, co-starring Dead Man (Michael Rosenbaum). (Plus Kamandi, the last boy on Earth!)



Wonder Woman:

So you know the new direct-to-DVD animated movie retells Wondy's origin, but how does it deal with all that Greek mythology stuff? Let producer Bruce Timm explain:

Her character has distinct roots in classic Greek mythology, so we really played that up. The movie actually starts with a fairly long, epic battle that takes place in ancient times. It's swords and sorcery, die-hard Amazon warriors versus monsters and barbarians.

And here are a couple new images: Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor fight when they first meet. And Queen Hippolyta and Artemis prepare for battle with Ares' forces. [Warner Bros.]

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<![CDATA[Monsters, The Rock, And Adults Trapped In Teen Bodies Flood Movie Theaters]]> A monster from Big Man Japan is giving us the old eye-testicle wink, and we're lovin' it. The LA Times has a spread of new movie pics out, and we've picked the best.


Big Man Japan
A nobody who moonlights as a giant superhero has to battle all sorts of beasties but also has to deal with a growing mob of superhero haters, and an Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather. BMJ will be out in March.

Pandorum

The amazing, astounding, fantastic Ben Foster is stranded on a spacecraft with his coworker Dennis Quaid — and there's something aboard that wants them dead. Release date is September 4.

The Princess and the Frog

Hooray for old timey animation! Disney returns to the princess animations with a New Orleans set Princess in the Frog fairytale out December 25.

Push


It's like Heroes, the movie. Everyone has a brain power in Push, be they Movers or Sniffers (sadly, no Shakers) The powered film comes out February 6.

Crank: High Voltage

Wow Crank 2 just got a whole lot more insane. Will they be stop motion animating Jason Statham, but huge? God, I hope so. Crank 2 is out April 17.

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li


Kristin Kreuk masters the high-kicks, in her own Chun-Li Street Fighter origins story, due out February 27.

17 Again


Matthew Perry gets shrunk back down to the age of 17, and injected into his own teen's high school, to try and "fix" his crumbling family. That's in theaters April 17.

Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian


Bill Hader and Amy Adams join the museum cast as General Custer and Amelia Earhart (or rather, the wax figures of these historical figures that come to life after the museum closes). Museum 2 is out on May 22.

Fanboys


A group of serious fans try and break into George Lucas' Skywalker ranch, and mayhem ensues, on February 6.

Coraline


Neil Gaiman's story about a young girl who visits an alternate world comes to life in breathtaking 3D stop-motion animation, out February 6.

2012


John Cusack cools his heels while the wold ends around him, in one terrible natural disaster after another, in 2012. It's out on July 10.

Knowing


Nicolas Cage uncovers a time capsule that details in numbers when everything awful will happen on Earth. Knowing will be released on March 20.

They Came From Upstairs


Ashley Tisdale and her family have an awesome spring break, before an alien invasion happens. Or maybe after, it's hard to tell. Either way, we'll find out on July 31.

Race to Witch Mountain


Dang teens and their alien abilities to move things with their minds. This reboot of a an old Disney classic is released on March 13.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince


The magic boys and girls are back in school, and ready for the fight to end all fights, yet again. Harry is out on July 17.

Cirque du Freak


John C. Reilly is a vampire who runs a circus with Salma Hayek, and your chances of seeing Hayek do something sexy are pretty much guaranteed. There is no release date yet.

More pics at the link. [L.A. Times]

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<![CDATA[Watch Bison Make Chun-Li Cry, In English Street Fighter Trailer]]> Thighs up, Chun-Li — you're totally going to kick everyone's ass because this is your movie. The new English-language trailer proves this Street Fighter movie is all about girl power. So dry your eyes, Chun-Li!

I'm really pretty creeped out with Neal McDonough playing the bad guy, especially when he makes Kristin Kreuk cry. Big girls don't cry, KK.

Street Fighter, Chun-Li style, tells the back story of how Chunny came to be a fighter on the street. I think a murder and some orphaning may have been involved. But I'm not sold on this movie until they show me some electric monsters. Until then, tide yourself over with some stills of other video game cast members who aren't green monsters.

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li comes out February 27.

[IGN]

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<![CDATA[Street Fighter The Legend Of Chun-Li Poster Is "Nice"]]> Sheesh, the new Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li doesn't want to use the movie's greatest asset, Kristen Kreuk. The new heads-in-bodies poster leaves much to be desired. Come on, where's the leg?

Ms. Kreuk, who is by all accounts a gorgeous young thing, has been repeatedly washed out and photo shopped to her detriment throughout most of the Street Fighter marketing. How do you make such a gorgeous girl look so plain?

Forget that she doesn't have the yup-yup power thighs we all have come to treasure, she's a looker. Yet this movie insists on making her look like hell. Calling this poster "nice" is the best I can do.

And now this poster, it's sad to say but I do not have high expectations for Balrog, Bison and Vega. The Jean-Claude Van Damme film from the 90s is much more exciting, despite the fact that people LOVE Chun-Li.

Also where is Blanka? I know this is Chun-Li's origins story, but let's appeal to the marketplace here: I want to see monsters and thighs.

Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li will be out February 27, 2009.

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<![CDATA[Kristin Kreuk Shares Details Behind The Making Of Chun-Li's Power Thighs]]> The lovely Kristin Kreuk took a minute to explain the tragic backstory behind her character in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li before she was a yup-yupping, butt-kicking bad ass.

In an interview with Sci Fi Wire Kreuk explained that her character remains pretty true to the Chun-Li history:

"It's about the character Chun-Li. It's her origin story from when she was a little girl. She loses both of her parents. Her father is taken away. She doesn't know that, and she goes on a revenge journey and then eventually finds a teacher, a master to help her overcome her emotional attachments to getting her revenge so that she can actually see a greater good, and then go forth and fight from there."

Kreuk continues on explaining how she went through massive training with Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation, Journeyman), who plays an Interpol agent. But sadly, most of the sword scenes ended up on the cutting room floor, and there's no mention of squats or leg presses. Surely Ms. Kruek has to know what sort of insane inspection her legs are going to be under for taking on the tree trunk-limbed character Chun Li.

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<![CDATA[Kristin Kreuk Lets Her Chun-Li Legs Fly, Yuuup Yup!]]> Workin' the pole to her advantage, Chun Li yup yups some deadly power kicks straight into the faces of her assailants, in the new live-action Street Fighter movie. Kotaku got their hands on a few new action stills from Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, showing our main lady kicking some ass with her infamous meaty gams.

The film is an origin story for Chun-Li, with roles for the whole Street Fighter gang — hopefully including green monster man Blanka! The video-game adaptation will hit theaters February 27, 2009.

Check out the rest of the images over at video game site Kotaku. But while your here enjoy the Chun-Li Yup Yup love rap, with lyrics by Turbo.

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<![CDATA[Street Fighter Poster Does The Impossible: Uglies Up Kristin Kreuk]]> The live action Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun Li movie team has managed to accomplish the impossible. The new posters for the big action video game movie not only make the main character sexy-kicking-legs-for-days Chun Li look like a pasty albino but also manage to present the gorgeous Kristin Kreuk photoshopped beyond all recognition. If hottie Smallville alum Kreuk as the title character is the number one selling point in a movie, tell me why they would make her look like something found underneath a rock in a cave? I dread to think what they have install for Bison.

This poster is the Japanese model. I truly hope that when there are more stills leaked from this movie that Chun Li at least looks like a human. Oh and where are her little accessories?

The US release date is set for February 27, 2009

[Street Fighter The Movie]

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