This interview was conducted on November 24, 2001 by Southern Daily. It is in this interview, director Zhang Yimou talked about HERO for the first time since the shooting started in August last year.

Click here to read the whole interview

Photos: SINA.COM

Based on the same name novel by Ngai Hong, it tells how Wesley (Andy Lau) helping a blue-blood alien woman (Rosamund Kwan) against the FBI and two secret agents from her own planet. This one is filled with computer effects and gun battles in Hong Kong style.

Hong Kong release date: March 28, 2002

Director: Lau Wai-keung

Producer: Wang Jing

Cast: Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Shu Qi (Hsu Chi)

Production by Jing's Production Ltd.

Presented and distributed by China Star Entertainment Group

Photos: http://www.hkfilms.com

According to Xiaoxiang Morning Post, the author of Wuya (Crow) said Zhang Ziyi has finally committed herself to the movie version of her novel. She said, "Zhang Ziyi told me she finished reading the book with tear in her eyes. She has been fully conquered by the courage and endurance of the heroine Hailun (Helen ?) in the novel."

Wuya is woman writer Jiu Dan's semi-biographic novel, about "the lives of China-born xiaolongnu or little dragon girls who arrive (Singapore) as students but end up as hostesses, mistresses and prostitutes in their pursuit of the good life."*. Though many praise the book for its brazen honesty, others, including many Chinese students have lived in Singapore, say the book is nothing but pure fiction.

* Agence France Presse, Book on Chinese Student Prostitution Ruffles Feathers, August 5, 2001.

Photos: SINA.COM

Beijing Morning News reports Chinese director Zheng Xiaolong is planning a movie version of Giacomo Puccini's classic opera Turandot. He said Zhang Ziyi has volunteered for the role of the ruthless Chinese princess and the movie's investor wants Leonardo DiCapiro to be the exiled European prince. The story will be set in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) when China was ruled by Mongol emperors and when Marco Polo traveled to China (if it really happened). While still working on the script and talking to more investors, Zheng Xiaolong has imaged what the movie would look like - a computer generated City of Dadu (Beijing). In 1998, a live stage performance was held inside the Forbidden City, with Zhang Yimou as the production director.

Eason Chan, Joey Yung and Edison Chen will take the roles originally played by Chow Yun-fat, Cherie Chung and Leslie Cheung.

Under the working title DREAM TEAM (translation), the remake will be shot in France.

The original was directed by John Woo in 1990 and six years later he made a TV version in Canada.

Photos: SINA.COM

When being interviewed by Beijing Times in Shanghai yesterday, Maggie Cheung briefly talked about her future projects.

She said shooting of her next movie (title not given) would probably start in July or August this year in America. In addition, she has confirmed her commitment of another project, in which she and Zhou Xun will play a couple of lesbians. Set in the 1940's Indo-China, this one will be helmed by Chinese born French director Dai Sijie.

Maggie Cheung said she was still attached to MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, and she will not take the leading role. 24 year old Japanese actress Rei kkukawa will take the lead according to some rumor. Steven Spielberg is no longer planning to direct. Instead he will produce it.

Photos: SINA.COM

Due to overwhelming e-mail request, MonkeyPeaches has the following to say:

NO, HERO trailer is not ready and no word has been given on when will it be ready.

The movie will be released during the Christmas worldwide according to an earlier report, but it is not guaranteed.

Last week, a group of Hollywood producers (some of them have produced THE TERMINATOR, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, SCHINDLER'S LIST and APOLLO 13) hold a news conference in Beijing, announcing the upcoming production of the film version of David Farland's fantasy book series THE RUNELORDS (referred as MAGIC STONE in March 21's news report). Shooting will start at the end of the year in various locations including Guilin and Shangri-La (Yes, Shangri-La really exits!), with help from Beijing Xing Mei and Tianjin Film Studios. With a 50 million US dollar budget, they are currently in talk with several directors, including Tsui Hark.

Click here for a short video of the news conference

The Runelords Series

Like Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Runelords is a dark fantasy series set in a medieval-like world written by David Farland. It tells a tale of how young Runelord Gaborn, later the Earth King, struggled to fight the evil forces against him and his people.

The movie will likely be based on the first book The Sum of All Men, unless they want to make all three together, like what happened to Lord of the Rings.

David Farland is a full-time sci-fi and fantasy novelist, whose works includes several books from the Star Wars series and The Mummy Chronicles (under his real name Dave Wolverton).

Book I:

The Sum of All Men

Book II:

Brotherhood of the Wolf

Book III:

Wizardborn

Guilin

Guilin is located in Guangxi Region of Southwest China. Filled with karst or limestone mountains, it is a very popular tourist destination in Asia. Under millions millions years of erosion by water, the limestone ground has transformed to countless small mountains and caves, creating a kind of scenery called karst (named after Kras region in the former Yugoslavia).

Shangri-La

In his novel Lost Horizon published in 1933, James Hilton described a mythical utopia in Tibet called Shangri-La. Four years later it was adopted to the big screen by producer director Frank Capra. In recent years, several scholars have concluded James Hilton's Shangri-La was created based on a National Geographic article on Diqing region in Yunnan Province, east of Tibet. Last year, Zhongdian County, the capital of Diqing, has changed its name to Shangri-La. (Shangri-La was originated from local Tibetan language, meaning "Sun and Moon in the Heart", which was originated from Moonlight Town and Sunlight Town, built from the Tang to Song Dynasty (618 - 1279))

China's Xi'an Film Studio and an American studios have planned to make BILL'S CURSE (translation) with ten million US dollars and they want to cast both Jet Li and Zhang Ziyi.

In addition, both studios have agreed to make another untitled movie with five million Us dollars.

SONY Pictures, the first US studios entered Asian filming market, has shown interest of financing big screen version of two novels, BAI LU YUAN (WHITE DEAR PLAIN) by Chen Zhongshi and NA HAN (CALL TO ARMS) by Lu Xun.

Photos: SINA.COM

The same studios made SHURAYUKI-HIME, the blade fight thriller, has planned to make a sequel and Donnie Yen will return as the action director. Because of a project signed with Miramax, Donnie has turned down the offer of playing a role in the sequel. He is choreography is also wanted for a Japanese version of CHARLIE'S ANGELS.

Meanwhile, BLADE II with Donnie Yen as the action choreographer and Snowman, is doing very well during the first week of release, bringing in 33.1 million dollars in North America.
Photo: DonnieYen.com

Internationally acclaimed director Don Tyler (Donald Sutherland) was making a historical drama in Beijing but was "fired" by the studio boss Tony (Paul Mazursky). Hardly ht, Tyler slipped into a coma. Yo Yo (Ge You), a down-to-his-luck cameraman hired to document Tyler's work, decided to organize a "comedy funeral" based on Tyler's "final wish". Along with Tyler's assistance Lucy (Rosamund Kwan) and his old buddy Louis (Ying Da), they started to look for sponsors to pay for the funeral. Countless businesses jumped in and the funeral was about to be turned into a world-wide advertising event ...   

Trailer: Small Large

Wong Faye's Music Video: Small Large

Interview 3 - Rosamund Kwan: Small Large

The Official Site

The first one contains the entire rooftop chasing scene; the second one is the fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi inside Yu Hsu LIen's house, lasted several seconds; and the third one is the scene right after the rooftop chasing scene, lasted several more seconds.

Photos: Yahoo!

This year Arc Light will produce three more installments of the project, THE BLUE GATE, telling a story about sexual identity and anxiety among Taipei's high school students (Yi Chih-yen directing); PIGEON, about how a young boy and a mid-age man bumped into each other and discovered something missing from their life (Hsu Hsaio-ming directing); and a one directed by Jia Zhangke. In addition, two more projects are one the raw.

Founded in 1996, Arc Light Films is headed by Peggy Chiao, a long-term film critic turn producer.

Photos: Taipei Times

Photos: SINA.COM

Photos: SINA.COM

Hong Kong media report Andy Lau is currently under intensive training to prepare for his upcoming movie under the working title KUNG-FU MAN AND WOMAN (translation). For three four hours a day and three days a week, Andy Lau is practicing martial art under the direction from his master.

The film will be directed by Lau Wai-Keung (Andrew), who made FUNG WAN (THE STORM RIDERS), CHUNG WA YING HUNG (A MAN CALLED HERO), and KUEN SUN (THE AVENGING FIST).

The rumor that Zhao Wei will co-star in this kung-fu flick was dismissed by Andy Lau.

Shooting will start next month.

Photos: SINA.COM

After a long negotiation, Hollywood studio Intermedia Film has finally defeated Miramax to nab the remake right of Johnnie To's THE MISSION for about 640 thousand US dollars. Not much! Isn't it? According to Johnnie To, Intermedia will throw 40 to 50 million onto it and no one has been cast. Christopher Mcquarrie, the screenwriter of THE USUAL SUSPECTS, has started working on the script long before the deal was sealed. No word on when the shooting will start and when it will be released.

THE MISSION is a masterly crafted crime thriller about five ex-triad members being given a mission to protect a big boss from being assassinated.

Intermedia Film Official Site

Photos: Oriental Daily

Here are two videos of Zhang Ziyi. The first one was recorded in last year (probably December) on the set for her Vogue Taiwan photo shots, in which she briefly talked about her experience with HERO. The second one was recorded on February 28 when she was honored as the Goodwill Ambassador of Tibet Development Fund. Click images to watch the videos.

The following is the transcript of the first video:

Hello, everyone! I am Zhang Ziyi. Haven't seen you for a long time.

Zhang Ziyi Rumors:

Perhaps some are real and some are not. I prefer this way to chat with people face to face, to let the audiences see me only through a TV screen. Sometimes, I was very mad about those fabricated rumors, but tried to think about it again, perhaps they were just seasonings of life. Maybe (they are something) every entertainer will encounter. I think, slowly, be happy or be angry, I will have a very normal attitude to deal with them.

HEROic Experience:

Spent five months with HERO to watch Maggie Cheung, to watch Leung Chiu-wai, and to watch Jet Li, I feel I have attended a very precious class. So, ... hope I can learn something.

Leon Lai:

I went to Hong Kong for his concert, then we had a dinners and a chat. Because he is from Beijing too, I felt it was so hard to meet someone from your hometown in a strange land. We just talked about our memories of Beijing. So the root will never change.

WU YA (CROW)?

My friends wanted to say this (rumor) was so loud. But no one has ever talked to me and invited me to join. Not even today. So I think it was the studio's misunderstanding or some kind of behavior of them.

(note: this CROW is not related to the same name Hollywood franchise)

How to Manage Money

I don't have much to buy. Just buying clothing, but many times they are provided by sponsors. Then , eh ... (reporter: all the money you earned was given to your mom) Right, all the money is in my mother's place. Don't know how much and (I) never ask.

Goes to the Hollywood?

Not for me. (In there) I can't find fried source noodle (a popular Beijing local dish). (Laugh) Actually I think the working environment is just for to work there not for to live there. I just go there to ... eh ... work. I feel I cannot leave Beijing and cannot leave China. I hope the priority of my career in the future will be in China.

Plan for 2002

There are several projects for next year (2002) are still in talk. But I think next year will make me very ... eh .. very excited and ... very motivated.

Photos: NetandTV.com

Columbia has yet to announce the release date.

Cast: Jiang Wen (Captain Li Zai), Kiichi Nakai (Raisei, the Japanese cop), Vicky Zhao (Wen Zhu), Wang Xueqi (Head Bandit), Zhao Wei (Wen Zhu, the general's daughter).

Crew: He Ping (director and screenwriter), Zhao Fei (cinematographer), Teng Jie (art director)

Send in yours, scoops, previews, reviews, fan scripts, fan arts, audios, videos, ... Anything!

monkeypeaches@yahoo.com

SO CLOSE (VIRTUAL TWILIGHT) Trailer (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 20, 2002

One of the first Asian flicks produced by Columbia, SO CLOSE will be released this summer. Directed by Corey Yuen and co-produced by Jet Li, this one has been labeled as the Hong Kong version of CHARLIE'S ANGELS, although it is not a remake of the either the original TV series or the movie. Shu Qi (Hsu Chi) and Zhao Wei played two sisters who are fighting an evil IT corporation and themselves are chased by an undercover cop played by Karen Mok.

Trailer (QuickTime)   Small (5MB)    Large (8MB)

Official Site

Photo: SINA.COM and Ming Pao

Leung Chiu-wai Joints Tsui Hark's SWORD OF THE THIRD MASTER (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 20, 2002

Hong Kong's The Sun reports Leung Chiu-wai has jointed the cast, along with Leslie Cheung, Korean actor Song Seoung Heon and Lam Ga-yan. This one will cost 20 million US dollar to make and  the three male leads together will collective more than 2.5 million from it. Both Columbia and Miramax have bid eight million for the North American distribution right.

The is a remake of a 1977

classic (US title DEATH DUEL) and is produced by Erh Tung-sheng, who played the third master in the original. Shooting was originally scheduled for March but has been postponed to September because they tried to bring Japanese actor Yutaka Takenouchi on board and they are still looking for another female lead. Production will be done in Yinchuan Region, Wuxi City (possibility inside the CCTV Film & TV Studios) and Hengdian Film & TV City.

Photo: SINA.COM and The Sun (Kong Kong)

SHAOLIN SOCCER Japanese Trailer (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 20, 2002

SHAOLIN SOCCER will be released in Japan in May and Stephen Chow has flew to Japan for the promotion.

Trailer

QuickTime   Small    Medium    Large

Real            Small    Medium    Large

Official Japanese Site

Photo: Official Japanese Site

DRUNKEN MONKEY Videos (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 19, 2002

Here are two videos of the opening ceremony of the shooting of DRUNKEN MONKEY made by NetandTV.com. Click the images to watch (Windows Media).

Liu Chia-liang's comment on actors he has worked with:

Jackie Chan - "He is risking his life and playing it very dangerously. His moves are excellent and funny."

Sammo Hung - "His body is fat but he can really turn somersaults!"

Jet Li - "What he is playing is wushu, not kung-fu."

Andy Lau - "He can mimic (the moves) instantly and can play it whenever you ask him to play. He is smart. He can sing and dance very well. His moves look like dance. Very beautiful."

Chow Yun-fat - "He worked very hard. When I asked him to fight, he just spend his sleep time to practice."

Thanks to Elhcay                                                                                                                                                                                      Photos: NetandTV.com

7th Golden Bauhinia Awards By Hong Kong Film Critics' Association (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 17, 2002

photo: HKFCA

Official Site

Top Ten Chinese Language Films

Top Ten Foreign Language Films

SHAOLIN SOCCER (Hong Kong)

Le FABULEUX DESTIN d'AMÉLIE POULAIN (AMÉLIE) (France)

LAN YU (Hong Kong)

Billy Elliot (U.K.)

MY LIFE AS McDULL (Hong Kong)

Spirited Away (Japan)

Fulltime Killer (Hong Kong)

THE STRAIGHT STORY (USA)

VISIBLE SECRET (Hong Kong)

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (USA)

From the Queen to the Chief Executive (Hong Kong)

Shrek (USA)

YI YI (Taiwan)

Happy End (Korea)

Peony Pavilion (hong Kong)

Moulin Rouge (USA)

Shower (Mainland China)

Apocalypse Now Redux (USA)

LOVE ON A DIET (Hong Kong)

Memento (USA)

Quentin Tarantino Talks About KILL BILL And Himself (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 16, 2002

On March 6, Quentin Tarantino traveled to Beijing to make preparation of the shooting of KILL BILL which will start in June. Two days later he left for Shanghai to meet Liu Kia-liang, who has started working on DRUNKEN MONKEY. The following is the translation of an exclusive interview conducted by Beijing Youth and its sister paper Beijing Today.

Quentin Tarantino talked about how Shaw Brothers kung-fu movies and Italian westerns influenced his life, how painful it is to wrote the script, how he works with cast and crew from China and Japan, how he waited Uma Thurman to have her baby, so and so. 

The interview was translated from English to Chinese and back to English again, therefore something might be lost along the translation. But I have tried to restore Quentin Tarantino's original words.

Click here to read the interview                                                                                Photo: SINA.COM

Zhang Ziyi May Join NO THIEVES ON EARTH (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

March 16, 2002

TIAN XIA WU ZEI is a very short novel written by Zhao Benfu. It tells a

The first cooperation of Feng Xiaogang and Stephen Chow, China's two top comedy-makers, is highly anticipated by the media and one of China's top comedians Ge You has signed on. Will Zhang Ziyi say yes and which role wil she play? A thief or the cop?
Photos: SINA.COM

Photos: la Biennale di Venezia, AsianDB and 3Continents.com