MonkeyPeaches's Best Of 2003 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 31, 2004

I finally finished picking the best from 2003.

Click here for detail

(Thanks to Prof. Mike Lyon for his encouragement)

Stars Of THE TWINS EFFECT Posed For Cameras (Sina.com)

January 30, 2004

Click here

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Stills (Darkhorizons.com)

January 29, 2004

Darkhorizons has a few stills from this new Jackie Chan adventure. They appear to be officially released by Disney, the North American distributor.

Click here

Thanks to Mark Singh

No More Martial Art Film From Zhang Yimou (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 28, 2004

Producer Zhang Weiping told Shenyang Today that, after Hero and Shi Mian Mai Fu, director Zhang Yimou would not do any more martial art film. He said Hero was just an experiment and Shi Mian Mai Fu was the real thing. Compared to Hero, Shi Mian Mai Fu gets a more profound theme and a clearer and smoother plot, according to him.

Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen And More Have Joined The Cast Of THE TWINS EFFECT Sequel  (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 27, 2004

Hong Kong's sister newspapers Oriental Daily and The Sun have reveals more names for the sequel -  Donnie Yen, Leung Ka-Fai, local boy band Boy'z, two young actress from the mainland China, Qü Ying and Fan Bingbing, and Taiwanese actor Chen Bo-Lin. Major cast member from the first one, including Charlene Choi and Gillian Chung of girl band the Twins, Edison Chen and Jackie Chan will return. Also, Jackie Chan's son Chan Cho-Ming has already joined the cast. Donnie Yen may return as the action director. A battle between Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen at a water fall is included in the script.

With a budget of US$10 million, the sequel has been named as The Twins Effect 2: The Battle For The Flower Capital (literal title). The story is set in a thousand years ago in a fictional state called Women's Nation, where the exiled prince leads an army of 600 thousand from 16 nations to retake the capital city, the Flower Capital, controlled by the evil lord. I think I smell The Rings Effect.

Set of the Flower Capital, about five football field large, has been under construction in Yunnan Province of southwestern China.

WU JI / THE PROMISE Delayed While Director Chen Kaige Is Searching For New Effect House

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 26, 2004

According to Beijing Times, Chen Kaige has flied to the States for a CG effect company after he found out that the original company, French firm BUF, could not properly handle his vision of effect, the effect with "characteristics of the East". Shooting will begin in March, postponed for a month, in Beijing or Chifeng of the Inner Mongolia.

KILL BILL Vol. 2 Teaser (Yahoo! Movies)

January 25, 2004

Click here

Jackie Chan's Son Cho-Ming Expects His First On-Screen Performance In THE TWINS EFFECT Sequel  (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 24, 2004

According to Hong Kong newspaper The Sun, Chan Cho-Ming, the only son of Jackie Chan will join the cast of the sequel to The Twins Effect. No elements from the original will return, except The Twins and the genre of vampire-slaying. The flick will be set in the ancient time with a brand new story. Shooting is expected to begin next month in Yunnan Province and Guangzhou city. We do not know what role Chan Cho-Ming will play. His father Jackie Chan took a cameo as a veteran vampire-slayer in the first The Twins Effect.

Is MiramAxe Pushing For A Video-Only SHAOLIN SOCCER In North America? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 23, 2004

Beijing based Youth Times has reported that MiramAxe might have planned to push Shaolin Soccer straight to video in North America. Here is the full story according to the paper: Stephen Show sold Shaolin Soccer's North American rights to MiramAxe for a less favorable price. With the low-price strategy, he was betting on an entrance to the Hollywood and MiramAxe financed sequels. Then MiramAxe started to practice its routine tricks (re-editing, dubbing, etc.) on Shaolin Soccer and delayed the release again and again. When Kung Fu (Kung Fu Hustle) was ready for production, Sony, rather than MiramAxe, jumped in as the financier. If Shaolin Soccer was successful in North America, Sony would take the advantage and release Kung Ku. Now MiramAxe, which does not own the rights to Kung Fu, would only release Shaolin Soccer on video, and without a theatrically released Shaolin Soccer, Sony would push Kung Fu straight to video as well. I am not sure how authentic the report is. Can anyone prove it or disprove it?

According to Yahoo! Movies, MiramAxe's newest strategy for Shaolin Soccer is still "to start with LA/NY on March 26th, and then expand from there," and MiramAxe's official Shaolin Soccer site has not been updated for a long time.

Happy Chinese New Year (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 22, 2004

People are resting now, so there is no new today. However, the Monkey has promised to deliver more juicy Peaches to all of you.

Trailer of PROTÉGÉ DE LA ROSE NOIRE by Donnie Yen (Mov3.com)

January 21, 2004

Directed and choreographed by Donnie Yen, Protégé de la Rose Noire, formerly known as Black Rose 3, is "freewheeling riff on the Black Rose Movie of 1992" according to Donnie Yen's official site.

click here for the trailer (QuickTime)

Official site

When To See 2046 - May Day Or Fool's Day (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 20, 2004

As reported earlier this month, 2046 has been scheduled for release during the May Day holiday in the mainland China. Then I received this message from an anonymous reader:

"Just thought you might like to know.  A tentative release date for 2046 in HK has been pencilled in for 1 April 2004 (no joke!).

Please don't credit me for this snippet - I work in the film industry and it's not yet for public consumption... just wanted to give you a heads-up, been following your site for a while now)"

Related story:

2046 Aims At A May Day Release After Wrapping Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 8, 2004

What Is Ang Lee Up To - A New Epic Chinese Story (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 19, 2004

Ang Lee and a few others have been on a scouting tour in China for almost a month, according to several Chinese papers. So far they have visited Shanghai, Beijing and the southwestern province of Yunnan. Ang Lee's brother Lee Gang (?) said they had several in hands and they are looking for the writer and partner. What would be Ang Lee's next one -  Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon prequel, Brokeback Mountain, or "an epic story based on a Chinese folklore"?

Update On Chen Kaige's WU JI / THE PROMISE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 18, 2004

Shooting of Wu Ji / The Promise, the fantasy epic set in the underworld of ancient China, will take place in Hengdian World Studios of Zhejiang Province, Shangri-La County and surrounding area of Yunnan Province, Beijing and possibly the Inner Mongolia Region of China, actress and producer Chen Hong told Hangzhou Daily. Director Chen Kaige, cinematographer Peter Pau, action director Dion Lam and over a dozen crewmembers have been scouting locations in Shangri-La since the 8th this month, according to Shenyang Today. The snowy mountains, vast grassland and limestone caves have interested them. Various locations would be used for scenes with different seasons. According to Youth Times, Hong Kong singer actor Nicolas Tse has arrived in Beijing to seal the deal of starring in the film. The cast will also include Cecilia Cheung, Liu Ye, Jang Dong-Kun, Hiroyuki Sanada and Chen Hong.

More coverage on Wu Ji / The Promise

NEW POLICE STORY Shots - Double-Deck Bus Vs. Rubber Ducks (Oriental Daily)

January 17, 2004

Oriental Daily

The sequence is: Nicolas Tse's car is pushed into the sea by a double-deck bus and Jackie Chan come to rescue. After saving all passengers, he pulled Nicolas Tse out of the water. Where did those rubber duck come from? I don't know.

From the official site

Page by EMG

Hong Kong Film Critic Society Awards Announced (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 16, 2004

Hong Kong Film Critic Society just announced its pick of 2003's best:

Best picture: Infernal Affairs II

Best director: Johnny To (PTU)

Best actor: Andy Lau  (Running On Karma)

Best actress: Cecilia Cheung  (Running On Karma)

Films recommended: PTU, Running On Karma, Infernal Affairs III, Lost In Time, Public Toilet, Golden Chicken 2, Colour Of The Truth, The Death Curse, Men Suddenly In Black.

SHI MIAN MAI FU Wrapped Up In Beijing And It May Show Up In Cannes (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 15, 2004

According to Chinese media, filming of Shi Mian Mai Fu (English title: Lovers ?) has ended at Beijing Film Studios yesterday, one week ahead of the schedule. The production began on September 11 last year, the traditional Chinese Mid Autumn Day. Much of the films were shot in Ukraine and some outdoor scenes were made in Youngchuan of southwest China. All interior scenes were made at Beijing Film Studios. Producer Zhang Weiping said today director Zhang Yimou would fly to Australia to work on the post-production, which would take three months to complete. However, a rough cut has already been produced. The producers have been pushing for a première at the coming Cannes Film Festival, which will be held in May.

More coverage on Shi Mian Mai Fu

See Stephen Chow Vs. The Axe Gang In KUNG FU / KUNG FU HUSTLE (Southca.com)

January 15, 2004

The first production still of Kung Fu (English title: Kung Fu Hustle) has been posted on Southca.com.

The new comedy action flick by Hong Kong star Stephen Chow is currently under post-production.

More coverage on the film

SHI MIAN MAI FU Japanese Teaser Trailer (Beijing New Picture / Edko Films / Warner Bros. Pictures Japan /

AMU-san / Takeshi News Diary)

January 14, 2004

Click for larger screen captures Beijing New Picture / Edko Films / Warner Bros. Pictures Japan

Japanese teaser: Shi Mian Mai Fu (Windows Media / 4.17 MB / length: 1:20)

The teaser is edited with footages shot in Ukraine. It features Zhang Ziyi as the blind girl and Takeshi Kaneshiro as a police officer in love with her. About those flowers - they are the work of 80 local farmers over several months. The character shown on the last slide is "mou", which means " to plan, seek, consult or scheme". It is also part of director Zhang Yimou's given name. IMDB has removed the title House Of Flying Daggers from its site (here) and replaced it with Shi Mian Mai Fu, the original title in Chinese, which means "Ambush from ten directions". According to Warner Bros. Pictures Japan, which has set to release it in Japan this summer, the film's English title is Lovers. One more thing - the story is set in China's Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD), not Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) as rumored.

Michelle Yeoh's SILVER HAWK's Asian Premièred In Beijing (Sina.com)

January 13, 2004

Silver Hawk, the futuristic super-heroine action has been premiered in Beijing today.

From the press conference prior to the premiere:

Photos: click here, here and here

Video (Windows Media): Hi Lo

Official site (in Chinese) stills 1, stills 2, poster 1, poster 2, wallpaper

Title photo: (from right to left) director Jingle Ma, Li Bingbing, Michelle Yeoh, kids to play young Michelle Yeoh and young Richie Ren, Richie Ren and Brandon Chang. (sina.com)

SHI MIAN MAI FU's Production In Yongchuan Wrapped Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 12, 2004

According to Beijing based Youth Times, filming in the bamboo forest of Youngchuan has ended. Director Zhang Yimou and Zhang Ziyi returned to Beijing yesterday. The cast and crew will take a break for a few days and then finish the remaining scenes at a few  soundstages of Beijing Film Studios.

Will KILL BILL Vol. 2 Cannibalize HERO? (Various)

January 11, 2004

According to Variety, MiramAxe just pushed Kill Bill Vol. 2's North American release to April 16, the day has been given to Hero for a while. Reportedly, MiramAxe will present it at the Cannes Film Festival. According to Yahoo! Movie, MiramAxe plans to show Hero in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon approach, i.e. releasing in LA and NY (possibly in  Toronto as well) first and then gradually expanding to other cities. So far, no evidence shows a new day has been picked for Hero, but it would not be a total surprise if MiramAxe pushed it back again. Will MiramAxe release two films, belongs to the same genre according to same criterion, on the same day? Will Hero benefited from Vol. 2 or will Vol.2 actually kill Hero?

Kill Bill: Teaser trailer and  TV clip (Japanese), stills (Thanks to Mark Singh, "L.C." Clint Morris)

XANDA Trailers (CNAVE.com)

January 10, 2004

Produced by Tsui Hark and played by real life sanda fighters:

Trailer 1 (Windows Media / 8.85 MB / 3:34)

Trailer 2 (Windows Media / 7.51 MB / 2:58)

Trailer 3 (Windows Media / 8.49 MB / 3:20)

Set Of Chen Kaige's WU JI / THE PROMISE Takes Shape (Sina.com)

January 9, 2004

John Woo Talks About His Upcoming - THE DIVIDE, RAINBOW 6, LOST IN SPACE...

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 9, 2004

While promoting Paycheck in Hong Kong, John Woo has been talking to the local medai about his upcoming projects. According to The Sun, The Divide, the long-awaited project with Chow Yun-Fat about the constructing of America's transcontinental railway, is not coming out any time soon. After changing the writer three times, the script is still not ready. Woo said the script of musical Rainbow 6 was done and he would do Lost In Space, a series, for Warner Brothers in February next year. Other jobs waiting for him to do include a film with Japanese veteran actor Ken Takakura, more projects with Lion Rock, a game for Sage and Sony, and a big screen adaptation of classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

2046 Aims At A May Day Release After Wrapping Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 8, 2004

Beijing Evening News reports 2046's four year long production has finally wrapped up in Shanghai. According to Beijing based movie theater chain Xin Ying Lian, a release around May Day holiday has been scheduled. 

Chen Kaige's WU JI / THE PROMISE Is A Story About The Underworld (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 7, 2004

According to Shanghai Youth, director Chen Kaige's Wu Ji / The Promise is an epic story about "promise, betrayal, nations and love". In the film set in the underworld of the  ancient China, Cecilia Cheung plays a princess (sort of), Liu Ye plays a ghost and Jang Dong-Kun plays a slave. The cast also includes Nicholas Tse, Hiroyuki Sanada and Chen Hong, Chen Kaige's wife and a producer of the project.

Related stories:

Set Construction Started For Chen Kaige's WU JI / THE PROMISE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 28, 2003

Cecilia Cheung And Hiroyuki Sanada Board Cheng Kaige's WU JI / THE PROMISE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 24, 2003

More Candidates For Chen Kaige's THE PROMISE / WU JI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 17, 2003

Andy Lau And Ge You Join Feng Xiaogang's New Comedy TIAN XIA WU ZEI? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 6, 2004

According the Chinese media, Andy Lau and Ge You has agreed to star in director
Feng Xiaogang's new film Tian Xia Wu Zei (literal title: No Thief on Earth). Andy Lau will play a hi-tech thief and Ge You will take a supporting role. Also, Taiwanese actress Liu Ruo-Ying is interested in playing a woman thief.

January 5, 2004

Producer Zhang Weiping told Shenyang Today that the script alteration had competed. Anita Mui was supposed to play a considerable minor role which was vital for the plot development. Now three remaining starts, especially Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro, have to share the weight left by Anita Mui. Additional scenes will be filming according to the new script.

Wong Kar-Wai Uses A Kimura Takuya Looklike To Finish 2046? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

January 4, 2004