Here is the transcript of a Jet Li interview with Talk Asia, an Asian programming by CNN:

Click here (Yes, the interview is almost 6 month old) (Thanks to Ardent Quach)

The following is a little bit spoiling:

During an interview with an unidentified TV medium, Jet Li said, "actually the Americans only treat me as a hamburger, not a dinner."

Tianjin Daily reports the release of the extended version in China has been pushed back to next month. Near 20 minutes will be added back to the 98-minute theatrical version, which has been and will be shown around the world. According to someone from Face Audio & Video Production Co. Ltd., what will be added back includes some subplots, fight scenes and dialogues which could help the audiences to better understand the story and the history background. This is actually not an extended version but the original cut director Zhang Yimou wanted us to see. But, MiramAxe asked Zhang Yimou to trim it to 98 minute long. As the result, some reviewers have criticized the film for having a weak story. Because of SARS, the extended footage has been locked up in Hong Kong ever since. As the theatrical version, the extended version will also be available on DVD-5, DVD-9 and VCD (No video tape).

Teaser Trailer: The Medallion (QuickTime / 342KB)

More coverage on THE MEDALLION

Not much news today, just a picture of Donnie Yen, the action director, and Gillian Chung, one of the The Twins.

THE TWINS EFFECT Official Site

SHAOLIN SOCCER: faces of Stephen Chow and Zhao Wei are digitally altered so much, which made them hardly recognizable. The skyscrapers on the back are not from the film.

(Thanks to "Paul")

THE MEDALLION: Lee Evans is left out, but Claire Forlani stays.

Both films will be released in North America the coming August - SHAOLIN SOCCER on the 8th and THE MEDALLION on the 15th.

More coverage on SHAOLIN SOCCER

More coverage on THE MEDALLION

According to Screen Daily, the one acquired the North and South American distribution rights of the film is Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, which handles all video distribution for the media giant.

THE TWINS EFFECT Official Site

Thanks to "Paul"

Photos: Oriental Daily, Sing Pao

According to Hong Kong media, Columbia acquired the film's North American distribution rights and Universal will release it in some European countries, including UK, France, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain. Two deals in combine have made EMG, the film's production company, US$ million richer, which makes the film the most expensive Hong Kong production in the international market. Donnie Yen's choreography and Jackie Chan's cameo are two selling points of the film. The Japanese distributor is exploring the possibility of producing comic books and animation series based on the film. A proposed promo tour in the States and Europe is under discussion.

THE TWINS EFFECT Official Site

According to reputable French movie site CineMovies, MiramAxe has planned to release HERO in North America on October 31 and in France on October 29. The site also says length of the film will be 2 hours, but I do not believe so. Click here for the HERO page from CineMovies.com

Thanks to Nathan Layman

According to Sichuan Daily, July 25 is the day PURPLE BUTTERFLY being released in Chinese theaters. The released was pushed back from May for SARS factor and avoiding head-on with Hollywood blockbusters like DAREDEVIL and THE MATRIX RELOADED.

Zhang Ziyi and Leung Chiu-Wai did a scene in a small street. Click here and here for photos of fans on the other side of the street. (Sina.com)		Leung Chiu-Wai arrived. (Oriental Daily)	Fashion model Eva Wong plays a small role in the film. (The Sun)

Production of 2046 continues in Macao but Zhang Ziyi has done her  share in the city last night (see the first two pictures). According to Sina.com, the scene is about: two of them having a dinner, walking in the street and complaining about something of their own. The other two pictures were taken on a set the day before.

Premiere Magazine has posted a long interview with Stephen Chow, at the dawn of the North American general release of his SHAOLIN SOCCER (MiramAxe Version). A full release has been scheduled starting August 8. 

Click here for the interview (Thanks to "Bad Link")

Click here for more coverage on SHAOLIN SOCCER

Click here for review collection by Rotten Tomatoes

Photo: i-Cable

According to Oriental Daily, filming of 2046 has restarted in Macao yesterday. Fans and reporters started waiting outside the set since morning, but Leung Chiu-Wai and Zhang Ziyi did not arrive until midnight. They dressed like people from 1960's, walked into the heavily set. The entrance was shielded by a giant black sheet and the set was patrolled by cops and security guards.

Photos: Laung Chiu-Wai and Zhang Ziyi. (Oriental Daily / Jiefang Daily)

According to India Times, Jackie Chan will be shooting his next big budget in India, making one of his wishes come true. Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh productions will co-produce the US$60 million project and assist the entire production in India. Locations have been chosen include West Bengal and the city of Jaipur. (Thanks to Sanjeev)

Also according to Hong Kong's Sing Pao, much of the movies will be made in India because this country is the best place for a subject involving Buddhism. Filming will also takes place in the mainland China and Hong Kong. I suspect the project is TIME BREAKER, formerly known as TITANIUM RAIN.  Shooting will start as early as August once Jackie Chan is done with AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. According to Reuters TV, Jackie Chan "will play an intrepid adventurer a la Indiana Jones who gets transported back to a previous life when he goes after a valuable treasure."

The news is a little bit late, but Ching Sui-Tung was nominated for Best Action in a Foreign Film, but lost the bid to Roland Leyer for his work for German film WILDE ENGEL.

Click here for more

Wong Kar-Wai is speeding up the production of 2046 in order to make a delivery during the Chinese National Day on October 1, a manager from Shanghai Film Studio, which is assisting 2046's production in Shanghai, told Nanfang Daily. Will the film, after more than four years in production, finally come out? That is the question.

Christopher Doyle, the cinematographer of 2046, has been talking to an Australian paper recently. He said the story of 2046 starts like this:

A writer checks into a clock hotel and meets a prostitute staying at Room 2046. Then he starts writing a story filled with all kind of fantasies, based what happened at Room 2046...

The Room 2046 is also in director Wong Kar-Wai's previews film IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE.

COLOUR OF THE TRUTH (Chinese title: BLACK AND WHITE FOREST), is sharing the same format with INFERNAL AFFAIRS, a mega hit in 2002. Police officer Wong Geung is set to arrest crime boss Mang Chiu, but Mang Chiu is tipped off by Chat Hei, Wong Geung's fellow colleague. A rooftop showdown with the three ends up with bloodshed. Chat Hei and Mang Chiu are killed. Chat Hei is declared died in line of duty and Wong Geung still knows nothing about Chat Hei's secret deal with Mang Chiu. Chat Hei's son Ho Lok thinks Wong Geung killed his father and wants to take vengeance on him, while Mang Chiu's son has gradually learned the rule of playing on both sides of the law...

Directed by Wong Jing, Mak Ji-Sin; Starring Anthony Wong, Chan Siu-Cheung; Special appearance by Lau Ching-Wan, Francis Ng; Hong Kong release date: June 20, 2003

More stills: A, B, C

This review practically gives away the whole story from the beginning to the end.

Script review: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (early draft), by Sanney Leung

Thanks to Sanney Fan

Based on evidences we know so far, the pirated version of HULK available on several websites is a work-in-progress, with unfinished CG works, sound effects and music scores. A bootlegged video downloaded from the Internet does not equal to a film intended for viewing inside a movie theater, and a few comments on a mutilated unfinished product does not equal to a review on a product what the makers want us to see and hear. With respect to the filmmakers as well as yourself, PLEASE DO NOT DOWNLOAD AND/OR WATCH ANY PIRATED COPY OF THE FILM. There is no justification for such activity.

According to Shenyang Today, Hong Kong action star Andy Lau has officially signed up to play the leading role in Zhang Yimou's next martial-art film, said Zhang Weiping, producer and long-time partner of Zhang Yimou. He said Zhang Yimou is current giving a few final touch on the script and the shooting would start by the end of the year. Meanwhile, according to Hong Kong media, Andy Lau said working with Zhang Yimou was the most he wanted. But he did not say he would be in Zhang Yimou's next film. According to an earlier report by Beijing Times, Zhang Ziyi has already been cast for the untitled project. Rumor indicates she will play a blind swordswoman. The film will not be HERO's sequel and according to some other rumor, the story will be set in Han Dynasty, the one after Qin Dynasty, which was established by The First Emperor, The King in HERO.

Photos: Sina.com