Movie Notes: Lucy Liu Leaving 'Ally'

July 17 -- Usually it's the boyfriends who don't stick around on Ally McBeal.

The feisty Ling reportedly is marching her attitude out of Ally's Bostonlaw firm, so actress Lucy Liu can concentrate on her movie career. Liu is expected to appear in just four episodes of the Fox series next season.

"I am especially grateful to David [E. Kelley] for giving me this incredible opportunity and for making it possible for me to do the other projects I've been able to do over the past two years," Liu said in a statement through her publicist.

Her budding film career has included a role alongside Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore in Charlie's Angels.

Cruise's New Cruz

Tom Cruise is apparently ready to consider a new romance.

The actor, who has split from wife Nicole Kidman, brought actress Penelope Cruz as his date to his 39th birthday party.

Cruz starred with Matt Damon in All The Pretty Horses and met Cruise on the set of the upcoming movie Vanilla Sky from director Cameron Crowe.

Pearl Harbor's Da Bomb … in Japan

The Japanese are apparently welcoming Disney's version of the Pearl Harbor attack.

The Ben Affleck drama, which was initially criticized for its portrayal of the Asian military, is proving it has appeal in the country that bombed the Hawaiian military base on Dec. 7, 1941.

The movie opened for wide release in Japan over the weekend, taking in roughly $7 million. That makes it the biggest opening yet for Buena Vista International (which, like ABCNEWS.com, is owned by the Walt Disney Co.) in the Asian country.

ABCNEWS Radio and ABCNEWS.com's Nancy Chandross contributed to this report.