Another picture of Jet Li has been posted on his official site. We can see Jet Li is wearing a different black jacket and standing in front of the entrance of a city or a fortress.

22 set pictures were up on SuperHeroHype.Com. Click here

Thanks to Cass

Dayoo.Com has posted six production stills of HERO, three are never being seen before and the black and white version of the other three has been posted on July 13th.

The website also revealed how the story will be told:

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! HIGHLIGHT TO READ.

Among the seven kingdoms, Qin was the strongest. To stop its aggression, warriors from the other six countries were planning their own plans of assassinating the king of Qin (Chen Daoming). Among them, there were three heroes from the kingdom of Zhao, Can Jian (Leung Chiu-Wai), Fei Xue (Maggie Cheung) and Ru Yue (Zhang Ziyi). But they were killed by a mysterious swordsman who had no  name (Jet Li). (Note: earlier report including words from Zhang Ziyi herself suggest Ru Yue survived.) The king called the swordsman to his palace to thank him personally. When he finally approached the king up to a distance of ten steps, he started to tell the king a story, a very true story... Once the swordsman finished the story, he pulled out his sword...

SPOILERS END.

Yesterday, director Zhang Yimou was awarded with the 13th annual Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize. At the award ceremony, he said his films (including HERO) are influenced by Kurosawa Akira, the legendary Japanese director who made RASHOMON, THE SEVEN SAMURAI, THE SHADOW WARRIOR and RAN. He also highly praised the work of Emi Wada, the costume designer, who also worked in RAN. He said all fibers used to make the costumes were dyed by her own hands with dyes purchased from Britain and Japan. Onetime Zhang Yimou asked her for a kind of red color fiber, then within a month she made over 100 red colors for him to choose.

When being asked about HERO's odds of getting a few Oscars, Zhang Yimou said, "I like Ang Lee's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. Generally speaking, he explored the overseas market for Chinese films. No doubt, HERO got financed because of him. Since the beginning of the shooting, HERO has drawn so much attention and has become an excellent combination of stars and backstage talents. For the commitment to the investors, I have to succeed. But whether (HERO) can make it to the Oscar, I am not sure, because CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON was a miracle (for getting four Oscars). History can never be repeated and I am not expecting another miracle either."

Zhang Yimou's latest film HAPPY TIMES has performed very well in the US. During the first week of release (started last Friday), it has managed to earn $34,575 with just six locales, averaging $5,763 per theater.

More production photos of THE TOUCH were up on Sina.Com. Click here

Starting today, THE TOUCH will be shown in the mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. At about 28 theaters in 28 Chinese cities, the first screening will start at 0 o'clock Beijing Time. THE TOUCH will arrive in Taiwan and Thailand in about two weeks.

The teaser of SHANGHAI KNIGHTS is finally online.

Click here

Yahoo! Movie just posted ten production stills and the trailer we have already seen. Click here

This British action flick, directed by Ronny Yu (THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR 1 & 2) and staring Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle, will be released in North America October 25th.

Someone from the Chinese distributor of THE TOUCH told Shanghai Youth that Miramax has promised to release the movie in North America by the end of December in order to make it eligible for bidding the Oscar. Michelle Yeoh, director Peter Pau and producer Thomas Chung are hoping THE TOUCH can repeat CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON's Oscar triumph.

Many people, including Jason Powell, have asked me to comment on the report posted on AICN on July 25. The one wrote the report, only known as "The Devil's Halo", probably works for Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia or knows someone working for Columbia, because all titles being mentions in the report are somehow attached to Columbia Pictures.

KUNG FU COLLEGE - Stephen Chow is working on his next project, which will be another kung-fu plus comedy and will be set in the 1950's. According to his manager Tin Kai-Man, shooting is expect to begin early next year and will be released by the end of that year. They are still working on the script and Tin Kai-Man has refused to say more. No word on the title and if KUNG FU COLLEGE is the English title being pre-picked, I would say: change it!

GOLDEN ZENITH - Zhang Ziyi is currently working on PURPLE BUTTERFLY and as what I know this is the only project she is attached with. However PURPLE BUTTERFLY is only the literal title and possibly GOLDEN ZENITH is the official English title of the film. I am hoping it is not. However GOLDEN ZENITH could be one of so many projects have drown her attention.

SO CLOSE 2 - This is the first report on Columbia Pictures talking about a sequel of SO CLOSE. However, calling back all three female leads and director Corey Yuen could be somewhat difficult because they all have their own busy schedules. SO CLOSE is financed by Columbia Pictures and is scheduled to be released this fall.

WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH - Same as HEROES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Possibly, Columbia Pictures has replaced "HEROES" with "WARRIORS" to avoid any confusion with Zhang Yimou's HERO. This is another Chinese production financed by Columbia Pictures and the post-production will end in September. A world-wide released will happen sometime next year.

THE MISSING GUN - This mainland Chinese film has already been released in China in May. Columbia Pictures will distribute it in North America with no release date confirmed.

MONKEY KING - Columbia Pictures is planning a big screen adoption of the classic Chinese novel Xi You Ji (Journey to the West) with Hong Kong actor Cheung Wai-Kin (Dicky) attached to play the Monkey King. Cheung said the Columbia Pictures will spend at least HK$60 million (US$7.7 million) on it. An unidentified "well-known" Chinese director is currently in talk to helm the film. Cheung said he wanted the movie being made from Chinese perspective. The Hallmark production THE LOST EMPIRE, which is partially based on the novel, really pissed him off. The TV adoption of the novel staring Cheung Wai-Kin will soon be shown in Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan.

NO THIEVES - If I were right, the literal title of the movie is NO THIEVES UNDER HEAVEN. This project, with director Fen Xiaogang and Stephen Chow attached with, is now dead or at least in coma.

UNDERWEAR GODFATHER (YAKUZA SIDE STORY) - Sounds like a Japanese production.

VERY VERY STORY - My guess is this is the English title of STORY OF FIRST LOVE being produced by Hsu Li-kong, one of the producers of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. It is set during the World War 2 and tells a story of a young Chinese girl falling in love with her French music professor. Hsu has been working on the project for two years and when he showed the script to Ang Lee, the answer he got is "Interesting but I don't have time". Then Hsu picked Yin Chi, whom he has worked with on YE BEN, to direct the film. Shooting is expected to begin in Paris and Shanghai this fall. Release date is set in September next year. Ang Lee may be listed as one of the producers, but only in name.

Beijing's Morning Post reports Oliver Stone has made a short trip to Beijing yesterday. He said his next movie would be partially shot in Dunhuang region of the northeast part of China. According to a Variety's report on July 24, Oliver Stone has planned to start his Alexander biopic on October 16 with Colin Farrell. With breathtaking scenery of desert, mountains and the Yardang ridges, Dunhuang has received the visits of HERO and THE TOUCH last year. We know the mighty army of Alexander the Great never reached China, but Dunhuang's scenery could be used to double many lands he conquered. Oliver Stone will soon go back to China to scout locations. If everything goes according to plan, Oliver Stone may win the race of making an Alexander the Great biopic the first. Director Baz Luhrmann (MOULIN ROUGE) and producer Dino De Laurentiis (HANNIBAL) are hoping to start shooting their version of the Great biopic in January, with backup from Universal, 20th Century Fox and Mohammed VI, king of Morocco. Martin Scorsese (GANGS OF NEW YORK) had announced his Alexander with Leonardo DiCaprio a while ago, but somehow the project is temporarily on hold. While in Beijing, Oliver Stone has also discussed the possibility of making a movie about people's life in China adopted from a novel. He has flied to Thailand today. Another Vietnam War movie?

Script Review: KILL BILL (Positive, Massive Spoilers) by Sebastian Haselbeck

Thanks to Sebastian Haselbeck

During an interview conduced by China's New Daily, screenwriter / director Lee Gang (?), the younger brother of Ang Lee, said "Ang Lee is very likely not going to direct the CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON prequel and he will probably just executive produce it." He said after the "Family Trilogy" (PUSHING HANDS, THE WEDDING BANQUET, EAST DRINK MAN WOMAN), Ang Lee's each movie was his one more attempt of trying a brand new subject.

This is a report done by NetandTV.Com on the première of the remake of XIAO CHENG ZHI CHUN (SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN). It shows director Tian Zhuangzhuang and Wei Wei, the leading lady in the original.

Video: Première, film clips and behind-the-scene

Script Review: KILL BILL (Positive, Major Spoilers) by Spongebob Durden

Reviews (Rotten Tomatoes)

Official Site (SONY)

For more information, visit the special section of HAPPY TIMES

Director Tian Zhuangzhuang's first feature film in nearly a decade, XIAO CHENG ZHI CHUN (SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN), has been released in China today. The film is a remake of the 1948's same name classic by director Fei Mu.

In a small town, housewife Zhou Yuwen and her husband Dai Liyan lived in normal but boring life. Dai Liyan was suffering from severe depression, after lost his family fortune during the war. When a young doctor, Zhang Zhichen, old friend of Dai Liyan and ex-lover of Zhou Yuwen, came to visit them, the young couple's life could never be the same. Meanwhile, Dai Liyan's younger sister Dai Xiu started to fall in love with the charming doctor.

Tian Zhuangzhuang is known his works ON THE HUNTING GROUND (1984), THE HORSE THIEF (1986) and THE BLUE KITE (1993).

For more information, visit the special section of SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN

Review: THE TUXEDO (Positive, Minor Spoilers) by Darkwind

The one really came out of nowhere and is moving faster than all other Jackie Chan projects in development, TITANIUM RAIN, BELLBOY, RUSH HOUR 3, NOSEBLEED...

According to Paramount Pictures, the film will be "executive produced by Jackie Chan's longtime Hong Kong based managers, Willie Chan and Solon So. Legendary producer Edward Saxon ('Silence of the Lambs', 'Philadelphia'), has also joined the project."  Principal shooting will start in Prague this October..

The original news release by Paramount Pictures

Note: the report of Paramount Pictures announcing the project at a news conference in Montréal with Jackie Chan in attendance is false. Thanks to Marie M for the correction.

Really nothing new. Everything from the dairy has been said in Jackie Chan's diary posted on his own website and the video clip has already been shown on Entertainment Tonight. Jackie Chan is doing a much better job on promoting the movie than Disney is. (Note: the movie is produced by Disney)

Click here for the official site

Shooting of the new feminine action movie NAKED WEAPON is currently underway in Hong Kong. We do not know much about the story. However, it is a sorted of sequel of NAKED KILLER even though no one from the original returns, therefore this one should have the same gene - feminism, a little bit lesbianism, and lots of actions. Action director of HERO, Ching Siu-Tung (Tony), helms this film produced by Wong Jing. Two leading roles are filled by Maggie Q and Anya. The cast also include Wu Yin-cho (Daniel), Emily Lo and Li Fei (playing a female killer). What really unusual it the movie is made completed in English and will have a worldwide release starting the end of this year.

Thanks to Cass for the photo

Photo: The Sun (Hong Kong)

Related Report:

Wong Jing Holding NAKED WEAPON (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 13, 2002

This over four minute long video contains scenes mostly we have never seen before:

THE TOUCH Video (clip and behind-the-scene) (Windows Media) - if the link does not work, try again.

And, here are a few statistics of the movie:

- Scenes contain special effects: 900+

- Scenes shot with wires: 11 minutes

- Scenes with martial art fight: less than 15 minutes

- Origins of the cast: 12 countries

- Production cost: US$20 million

- Cost covered: US$14 million (by selling distribution rights and loyalties)

Photo: SINA.COM

Not much today except an on-location snapshot of Nakamura Tôru, who plays a Japanese secret police.

From the website of Hong Kong's TVB:

(Left) Kar (Seann William Scott).

(Mid) Kar and Bad Girl (James King).

(Right) Kar and The Monk (Chow Yun-Fat) running in the street. This is a close-up of a pictures previousely posted on this site (May 23, 2002).

photos: TVB.Com

According to Taiwan's United News, Miramax has decided to finance THE TOUCH sequel, which is currently at the script-writing stage. In the sequel, Michelle Yoeh's character and her team will fight the bad guys over a precious diamond, again in China . Michelle Yeoh told this paper this US$20 million dollar movie would cost a Hollywood studio 60 to 70 million to make. Her next project, HUA MULAN, has also received money offer about US$30 million from another studio.

Hong Kong media report shooting of WU WEN XING ZHE, a new cop/gang drama from director Lau Wai-Keung, will start by the end of this month. Andy Lau will played a cop going undercover as a gang member and Leung Chiu-Wai will play some bad cop. This is the first time they work together in eleven years. Wong Chau-sang (Anthony) will also have a role in the movie, probably a crime boss or something like that. The fourth male and the female leading roles remain uncast.

The production company is looking for two teens who looks like Leung and Lau to play the younger version of them. With a budget of HK$ 40 million (The movie will be produced by Base Production and distributed by Media Asia during the coming Christmas.

Photos: SINA.COM

According to Greg's Previews, the Miramax has pushed the North American release SHAOLIN SOCCER to the first quarter of 2003. Just not very long ago, Miramax announced to release it in Los Angles and New York on August 30 and then gradually expand to other cities. The application submitted to MPAA is indeed for SHAOLIN SOCCER not KUNG FU SOCCER.

Greg's Preview on SHAOLIN SOCCER

With less than two weeks away from release, a new poster has been revealed, featuring four leads Michelle Yeoh, Ben Chaplin, Richard Roxburgh and Brandon Chang. Meanwhile the official site  just had another round of update. New features include two shots of giant outdoor billboards and three small sample of the soundtrack, each is attached with a nice slideshow.

Almost a year ago, Michelle launched a worldwide contest to choose the right girl to play the younger version of her character. Now we finally know who actually won. According to Hong Kong media, she is 20 year old Zuo Xiaoqing from China's Hunan Province. Have been practicing rhythmic gymnastics since young and once a national champion, she is perfect for the role, an acrobat in the movie.

A note was sent to Aintitcool.com claiming there would be a woman Hulk, died short-after hulked due to too much gamma radiation. First Hulk father, then Hulk rat, and now a Hulk girl?

Click here for the original report

12 pictures are up on Super Hero Hype:

Click here

Thanks to Cass

Jackie Chan's diary has been updated through June 23.

Click here

Script Review: KILL BILL (Positive, Minor Spoilers) by Honest Abe

The 7th Annual Hong Kong Film Festival is current held at Washington D.C. Though there is no new film, the festival is worth checking out.

Official Site    

Another on-location photo of the fight scene with Jet Li and Maggie Cheung has been posted today. This scene was filmed last year in Dunhuang region of Gansu Province.

Chinese Business View reports HERO has been shown to people from Miramax a while ago and got a generally positive response. But somehow the production companies decided to make it "better", mainly on "time length of sequences and how to depict characters". According to an anonymous crewmember, such kind of modification is "normal" and everything should be done within a month. I say: to avoid Miramax chopping and HERO and reassembling it into a Frankenstein monster, you have to do something yourself.

Four snapshots ( A B C D) are posted on the site of Jackie Chan Official UK Club and there is a fifth picture (E), taken by China News Agency on the same location. The first shot (A) showing a British army officer holding a golden box with a horribly designed dragon on top of it. Don't try to tell me that is the Chinese Imperial Seal, or I will say "the Hollywood just can't get anything right".     

At the premiere of REIGN OF FIRE, producer Roger Birnbaum, also responsible for both SHANGHAI KNIGHTS, said shooting of SHANGHAI KNIGHTS had been wrapped up on July 6 and Jackie Chan even called him, saying the movie "is the best film he has ever worked on" and "the action on this is the best."

Click here for the original article on About.com

Chen Kaige's latest film HE NI ZAI YI QI (I AM WITH YOU) has received very goods reviews from people have seen it. It is called a story about life of ordinary people and love among them, touching, moving and refreshing. Production companies have tripled the budget for post-production to further polish it. Chen Kaige and his wife, producer and female lead of the film, has been working on the post-production in Japan since May. The film has been aimed at September released in China. Distribution in Europe, Japan and Korea is currently in negotiation.

Inspired by a true story, it is Chen Kaige's first film set in modern China since his 1987's HAI ZI WANG (KING OF THE CHILDREN). It tells a story of young boy Xiao Chun, born in an ordinary working class family and has developed violin talent. To look for the best violin teacher, his father takes him to Beijing. While lives in the big city, Xiao Chun formed a very unusual bounded with Li Li, a nightclub girl living next door...

The official SHANGHAI KNIGHTS website has been updated with a redesigned logo and an online game. You can play Jackie Chan to kick some bad ass!

Official site

Three HERO production photos have been posted on New Daily, an affiliate paper of Tianjin Daily's. These photos were given by one of the production companies, probably Beijing based New Picture. According to the paper, cinematographer Christopher Doyle called the movie "real images floating in colors" and composer Tan Dun called it an "eye candy". Also according to the paper, HERO cost US$30 million to make, not US$17 million as previously reported.

A report on HULK has been posted on Aintitcool.com.

Click here

Thanks to Cass

According to reports from various sources, Zhang Yimou just finished a rough cut of HERO, which is about two hour long. Southern City reports many people who saw the rough cut have thrown some very good words on itand said HERO was a new height of Zhang Yimou's career. Someone from Beijing based New Picture, one of the production companies of the film, told New Daily that, as a martial art movie, HERO had two major breakthroughs. The first breakthrough is the story is no long just about revenge but more about course of history and fate of nations; and the second breakthrough is that the movie is made with pure aestheticism, which is very close to the true spirit of wuxia. Zhang Yimou is artificially creating the beauty of gestures and movement when designing fight scenes.

Everyday, Zhang Yimou stays in Beijing and receives status reports of the post-production sent electronically from overseas. The post-production will be completed by September or October and Zhang Yimou will travel to this overseas country to make the final cut himself. HERO may be shown at the the 59th Venice International Film Festival, which will be held from August 29 to September 8, but it will not compete for any award because of time constrain. No word on whether HERO will make it to this year's Toronto International Film Festival, which will be held from September 5 to 14. Since the beginning, Hong Kong's Elite Films, which financed the film, has already had an eye on the Oscar.

According to New Picture, another HERO is indeed in planning, but it will not be a sequel, rather another story about heroes in the ancient time.

Photo: SINA.COM

BRNS.COM just posted a review of FLYING DRAGON, LEAPING TIGER, the movie which reportedly will be handled by Miramax.

Review: FLYING DRAGON, LEAPING TIGER (Slightly Positive, 6/10, major spoilers) by YTSL

The 6th installment of Jackie Chan's diary with two on-location video clips has been added to the official site. Official site

Video clips

The 25th Asian American International Film Festival will be held from July 19 to 27 in New York City. Many movies we have heard of or never heard of will be shown, including FULLTIME KILLER, QUITTING (ZUO TIAN), MUSA (Zhang Ziyi staring), THE PRINCESS BLADE (SHURAYUKI HIME - with Donnie Yen as the action director), SHAOLIN SOCCER (US première - not sure which version will be shown but according to the official site, it is 100 minute long)...

Check out these links for detail:

Official Site (Asian CineVision)

Asia Society

Two photos are posted today. The one on Australia Site (click here) shows Jet Li fighting with someone  (looks like Leung Chiu-wai). The other photo posted on China Site (click here) is another portrait of Jet Li.

Even with more than fifty security personnel hunting down photographers, half dozen men and women surrounding Zhang Ziyi, and a big red umbrella blocking her face, two reporters from Hong Kong's The Sun and Ching Pao still successfully took a few snapshots of Zhang Ziyi.  These pictures were taken on the set inside Shanghai Film Studios' production facility. According to someone working inside, PURPLE BUTTERFLY is a major break-through of her acting career. She will have lots of acting and lots of room to explore her role. Being harassed by the press everyday, they have decided to hold a news conference by the end of July.

Photos: StarEastNet.Com and The Sun (Hong Kong)

Variety and Comingsoon.net report Paramount has picked AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, financed by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz's Walden Media. Frank Coraci (THE WEDDING SINGER, THE WATERBOY) will helm this movie, written by Michael D. Weiss and David Titcher. In this so far the wildest interpretation of the same name book by French sci-fi literature pioneer Jules Verne, Jackie Chan's character will be the focus of the film, who is "teaching Fogg (a London inventor) to open his mind to the different cultures he encounters en route to winning his bet" of traveling around the world within 80 days. The role of Fogg has yet to be cast. Jackie Chan told Richard Cooper from Screen Power, the official Jackie Chan magazine, the shooting will start in October in Prague.

Variety Report

ComingSoon.net Report

Thanks to Lisa C, Cass Fung and Marie M

Two photos are posted today. The one on South Africa Site (click here) shows approximately one thousand solders forming a giant square in the desert. When they are filming in Dunhuang region last year, soldiers of an entire battalion from the Paramilitary Police Force were mobilized to play their predecessors from the 3rd Century B.C. The other photo posted on Taiwan Site (click here) is a very nicely shot portrait of Jet Li.

FORMULA 51, formerly known as THE 51st STATE, will have limited release in North American staring October 25. Samuel L. Jackie played a chemist traveling to Britain to sell the new drug he invented and formed an unexpected alliance with a Brit played by Robert Carlyle.

Beijing's Star Daily reports Chinese star Gong Li has signed up to play the opposite side of Pierce Brosnan in LAWS OF ATTRACTION. The project, just announced over a month ago, was written by Aline Brosh McKenna (THREE TO TANGO) and Karey Kirkpatrick (THE LITTLE VAMPIRE, CHICKEN RUN, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH), and was storied by David T. Friendly (BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE, DOCTOR DOLITTLE), one of the producers. The movie is also co-produced by Pierce Brosnan himself. We know nothing about the story except it would be another piece of action. Shooting is expected to start this fall. However, Gong Li has yet confirmed this report.

Photo: SINA.COM

According to Greg's Preview, former UpComingMovies.com, a SHANGHAI KNIGHTS trailer, most likely just a teaser, will be attached to REIGN OF FIRE staring this Friday. Ask the manager of your local theater first, because the trailer may not be attacked to every print of the movie. This has happened many many times.

Thanks to Cass

In one shot of the train station scene did two days ago, Li Bingbing's character was fatally shot and fell off a moving car. According to Times Business and Chengdu Economics Daily, after Li Bingbing, soaped with fake blood, fell of the car, one of the car's wheel run over her left foot. Zhang Ziyi immediately jumped off the car and helped her to get up. Shooting was halted while crewmembers were looking for ice to cold down her wound. Zhang Ziyi even suggested to buy some stick ice cream instead . Director Lou Ye wanted to send her to the hospital but she refused. Earlier, when she was making a running scene with Zhang Ziyi, an extra accidentally stepped on her right foot and chopped off one third of the nail on her right big toe. After finishing a few more shots, she went back to Shanghai directly because she was about to continue working on TV series HUA YANG NIAN HUA right next day. Director of the series has already suspended the production to allow Li Bingbing's feet being examed. Fortunately, her left foot bones are not broken and more examinations are expected.

Photos: SINA.COM and Nanjing Morning News

Jackie Chan's diary has been updated through June 16 and he wrote his own review on SPIDER-MAN.

Click here

The same yardang ridges in Gansu Province's Dunhuang region were featured in both HERO and THE TOUCH. Yardang is a kind of  ridge formed by wind erosion and it was named after Yardang region of the former Yugoslavia. Dunhuang's Yardang ridges were called "Devil City" by the locals. The local government just opened the area as a tourist attraction. A cement road was built by the local government specifically for these two movies. On the official THE TOUCH website, Yardang is mistaken for name of the desert and the name is misspelled as Yadan (Yadan is Chinese pronunciation of Yardang).

Today's photo is a close-up shot of Jet Li.

Click here

These three pictures were secretly taken by Jin Jin from Nanjing Morning News at Nanjing North Train Station which was doubled for the old Shanghai Train Station.

Reportedly, director Lou Ye picked this over a hundred-year-old and soon be decommissioned train station because it looked very old and not because he wanted to save money. In fact, lots of money was spent on leasing the station, building the overline bridge and fences, and hiring 1,400 extras. The production will move back to Shanghai tomorrow.

Someone working very closely with director Zhang Yimou and prefers to remain anonymous told a reporter that the post-production of HERO would soon be wrapped up. He said editing has already completed ast month in Australia and dubbing as well as sound mixing will end in two months. This means HERO will have enough time to show up at this year's Toronto International Film Festival in September, if they indeed have such plan. Two years ago, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON had its North American début at the festival.

He also said under lobbying from the investor, Zhang Yimou's next project would be another martial art film. About ten days ago, several people from the art department have gone to Xinjiang in the northeast region of China to scout locations. Shooting of this untitled movie will start in the coming winter or spring. Hope this is not just another rumor.

Quentin Tarantino told Harry Knowles from AICN that the one playing Go Go Yubari was Chiaki Kuriyama not Aki Maeda. Three shots of The 5,6,7,8 on the set was posted on AICN.

Click here

A large scene was shot at Pukou Train station of Nanjing, the old capital of China northeast of Shanghai. Hundred of extras, including 19 foreigners, were hired for the scene. The train station, with a temporary overline bridge built by the crew, was used to double the old Shanghai train station. Zhang Ziyi had her hair curved and was wearing a dark brown coat made of plastic sheet. According to Jinling Evening News, Ding Hui, played by Zhang Ziyi, went to the train station to pick up a killer, but under some kind of chaos, she accidentally killed a girl played by Li Bingbing, who was there to meet her boyfriend Sima, played by Liu Ye. An unidentified crewmember told Chengdu Economics Daily it was much cheaper to shoot the scene there than to do it in Shanghai. Shooting in Nanjing will wrap up tomorrow.

An article featured on Calgary Sun has given us a few insights of SHANGHAI KNIGHTS' filming in Calgary, where SHANGHAI NOON was shot, and how Jackie Chan feel about returning to Canada's cow town.

Click here

Thanks to Marie M and Cass

The second round of SHANGHAI KNIGHTS snap shots is up on the official Jackie Chan site now.

Click here

Two pictures taken on locations of HERO have been posted today. The one posted on Japan site (click here) shows a stone dragon in front of the Hall of Unification of the king's palace compound inside Hengdian Film and TV City. The one posted on Russia site (click here) shows Jet Li playing his sword in front of a group of foot soldiers on location of Dunhuang region. The fourth photo on Russia site shows the Crescent Lake in Dunhuang, which was not used during the filming.

François Tissandier from Cinemasie.com, a French language site dedicated to Asian cinemas, just sent me a very detailed report of the all cuts and alterations of what Miramax did to the original based on the French version (Cantonese with French subtitle) he saw at a press screening in Paris two days ago.

Click here to read the report

The original plan is to release the movie simultaneously in Asia and North America this summer. But now only people in the East and Southeast Asia (except Japan, South Korea and a few other countries) can take the thrill-ride on August 1. Yesterday Michelle Yeoh told Hong Kong media it was because in America promotion for a movie usually started three to four month prior to the release date but the movie was not done yet at that time (three to four month ago). So (the North American release date) might be pushed to next summer (by Miramax). She also said Miramax had asked her to make a sequel of it and they had already started to work on the script. However, Michelle Yeoh is more interested in making HUA MULAN first (not related to the Disney animation MULAN though both of them are based on the same Chinese folklore).

The official site has posted the final piece of the "Making the movie" section, the release trailer and a behind-the-scene video.

The Official Site

Release Trailer:     Quick Time   Windows Media  

Taiwan's Mun Sang Poh reports Hsu Feng has announced in Shanghai that she would indeed produce a remake of her martial art classic HSIA NU (XIA NÜ / A TOUCH OF ZEN) and the only candidate for the role she had played in the original is Zhang Ziyi. Zhang Ziyi has reportedly expressed her respect to the original while on her way to a new location of PURPLE BUTTERFLY in Nanjing. She said the movie was a classic and the martial art shown in it was very special - a kind of "jumping" style. Hsu Feng is currently expecting to meet Zhang Ziyi for the first time and her partner Li Bi-hua is currently working on the script.

Website of the Jackie Chan official UK Fan Club just posted three exclusive photos of Jackie Chan taken in Czech Republic, including one with the stunt car used during the filming.

Thanks to Lisa C

China's New Daily reports KILL BILL's production in Beijing has been very slow and the producer even  suggested Quentin Tarantino to delete some scenes. They just find out making some actions scenes was harder than expected and needed more time to complete.

Besides the dubbed English version, some theaters will be luckily enough to show the original Cantonese version with English subtitle (still not sure whether it is the Disney's cut or not). Stephen Chow will fly to America to promote his movie in late August or early September. So far, this movie has become a big hit in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

Stephen Chow is planning his next comedy kung-fu action (probably not the SHAOLIN SOCCER sequel) with bigger budget, more CG effects, more newcomers, and of cause, more Stephen Chow's directing and acting.

Michelle Yeoh's THE TOUCH will be premiered on July 29 in Hong Kong and the official opening day has been set on August 1 (for Hong Kong and most likely the mainland China and Taiwan.)

Tons of stuffs have been added to the official site, including stills and production photos, diary of filming in Qingdao, description and pictures of set designs, contest to win ticket of the Hong Kong première and massage board.  

29 production photos taken in London are now available from WireImage.com. Click here

Don't get too excited yet, because you have to pay to view the full size of these photos.

Thanks to Marie M and Cass

Karen Ansel from Australian effect house Mobus has told us a little detail on the CG HULK while being interviewed for his involvement in MIB2.

Click here

Thanks to Cass

Today's shot shows director Zhang Yimou standing on one of many steps of the king's palace compound. It was taken in Hengdian Film & TV City.

Click here

Related report 

HERO News 61 - Rehearsal At The King's Palaces (Hengdian) April 19, 2002

The UK shooting has wrapped up on June 30, barely one week after Jackie Chan arrived in London, and he has flown to Calgary yesterday. UK Locations include "London's Greenwich and The Strand, also Hertfordshire's Waltham Cross." They will not stay in Calgary for too long because the filming will "wrap completely in a week."

Thanks to and Lisa C

According to Yahoo!, Disney's version of SHAOLIN SOCCER will be released in Los Angeles and New York on August 30 and "expand wider at later dates (first scheduled for April 5th, 2002, and then sometime in early 2003)"

Yahoo's SHAOLIN SOCCER page

Thanks to and Cass

Finally they showed another photo of the set. According to the official Jet Li site, it shows "a red chamber in the king's palace".

Click here to see the picture