http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080106/TV/tv-times00003.html Top Hollywood hits at 'New Olympia'
Following 'Shooter', box office hit 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age', 2007 film sequel to the film eight Academy award nominated Elizabeth will be released at New Olympia theatre Maradana. Starting from January 18, the film directed by Indian born Hollywood filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and based on events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England will be released. Kapur has a number of internationally famed films both Hollywood and Bollywood including Masoom (1983) Mr. India (1987), Bandit Queen (1994), Elizabeth (1998) and The Four Feathers (2002) under his tag. Written by William Nicholson and Michael Hirst and produced by Working Title Films, the film has music composed by Craig Armstrong and A. R. Rahman. The film opens in 1585; Roman Catholic Spain is the most powerful country in Europe, with King Philip II on his throne. Seeing Protestant England as a threat as well as in retaliation for England's constant piracy of Spanish ships, Philip intends to make war on his long-time enemy in order to take over the land that is now England and add it to what is already Spain, making his daughter Isabella Queen of England. 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' will be followed by 'American Gangster' a crime film written by Steve Zaillian and directed by Ridley Scott. The film stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The film portrays Frank Lucas, a real-life heroin kingpin from Harlem who smuggled heroin into the US on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War. Crowe portrays Richie Roberts, a detective attempting to bring down Lucas' drug empire. Released on November 2, as of December 14, 2007, the film grossed $127,709,335 in the United States and $52,092,072 in other territories for a worldwide total of $179,801,407. According to the management of the New Olympia theatre, arrangements have been made to facilitate simultaneous- world wide release getting across to the patrons and that the New Olympia in the future will be the best to view latest films available. In order to do this, with the future line up of latest films, it has planned to play any given movie for a maximum of 3 weeks. "Doing this will give the regular cinema patron a better choice of the latest film," a spokesman for the theatre said. -- regards, Vithur A.R.RAHMAN - THE ABODE OF DIVINE MUSIC
