THE HUADU CHRONICLES: BLADE OF THE ROSE, aka. As THE TWINS EFFECT 2 (EMP)

April 30, 2004

Click here

Two stills (scroll down)

Official site (Chinese only)

Thanks ot Marie.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS Stills (Golden Screen Cinemas / Malaysia)

April 30, 2004

Click here

Thanks ot Marie and JF.

HERO News 302 - MiramAxe Trailer, QuickTime Format (Yahoo!)

April 30, 2004

Spoilers Alert!

Super Hi
Hi
Mid
Lo

April 30, 2004

Horrors, gangs, cops and comedies...

Click here for 9 movies released in April.

HERO News 301 - MiramAxe's Quentine Tarantino Presented Jet Li's HERO Trailer Online (Yahoo!)

April 29, 2004

Spoilers Alert!

Click here

More Spy Photos From TIAN XIA WU ZEI Location (Gansu Daily)

April 28, 2004

Ge You	You Yong	The gathering place for the gang.
(Gansu Daily)

At a small train station, a gang of thieves had a meeting. Ge You plays their leader and You Yong plays a member of the gang. Andy Lau and Liu Joyin were not at the meeting, because they work alone.

SMMF News 067 - Two Snapshots From SHI MIAN MAI FU (Beijing Youth / Youth Times)

April 27, 2004

Zhang Ziyi and Takeshi Kaneshiro played two fugitives chased by county cops.

More coverage on Shi Mian Mai Fu

April 26, 2004

Click here for the complete nomination list

Sharon Stone And Lui Leung-Wai In PIECE BY PIECE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

April 25, 2004

According to Hong Kong newspaper Oriental Daily, filming of Piece By Piece, a Hong Kong-US co-production based on the "Hong Kong dismembering case", will begin in Hong Kong the coming September. Sharon Stone will play a fictional British investigator working on the case and Hong Kong actor Lui Leung-Wai will play one of three killers. Producers of the film now want Gong Li to play the victim and Zhang Ziyi to play Lui Leung-Wai character's girlfriend, who later testified against three suspects in court. (not much hope on that, though) In 1999 a nightclub dancer was kidnapped by three men and died after being tortured for more than ten days. Her body was dismembered and disposed by three suspects, who were later convicted of several count of charges including "murder by accident" and were sentenced to life in prison.

HERO No Longer "JET LI'S" And INFERNAL AFFAIRS Moved To September (HTX)

April 24, 2004

According to D. Mac (aka "Antibody"), MiramAxe has dropped Jet Li's name from Hero's title and moved Infernal Affairs to September 10 (still limited to New York, Los Angeles and possibly Toronto).

Click here and  here for the original reports.

Thanks to "Paul"

SMMF News 066 - Zhang Ziyi Does Her Split-Kick Again In SHI MIAN MAI FU Stills (Sina.com)

April 24, 2004

Shot in Ukraine, Zhang Ziyi played a girl, from China's Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), kicked two of the county cops dispatched to catch her.

More coverage on Shi Mian Mai Fu

SMMF News 065 - SHI MIAN MAI FU Stills - The Bamboo Forest (Sina.com / TungStar)

April 23, 2004

Zhang Ziyi	Takeshi Kaneshiro	Andy Lau
		Beijing New Picture Film

Producer Zhang Weiping told Chinese paper Business Times that Shi Mian Mai Fu would be released in China on July 16.

More coverage on Shi Mian Mai Fu

Images From The Set Of WU JI / THE PROMISE (Big Star)

April 22, 2004

Cecilia Cheung and Cheng Qian.	Hiroyuki Sanada.	Nicholas Tse
(Big Star)

Click here fore more

Cannes Lineup - 2046, SHI MIAN MAI FU, PASSAGES (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

April 21, 2004

Shi Mian Mai Fu

Passages

Wong Kar-Wai's five years in making futurist romantic fantasy 2046 has become the only Chinese film entered the "Competition" category; Zhang Yimou's second martial-art epic Shi Mian Mai Fu, known as Flying Daggers at Cannes, is among the "Out of Competition" films, and Yang Chao's low budget film Passages, about in a decade ago, a young couple's passages in the fast-changing Chinese society, produced by director Tian Zhuangzhuang made to the "Un Certain Regard" circle. In fact, Wong Kar-Wai might still making the final touch of 2046, and producer Zhang Weiping told Shanghai Youth that Zhang Yimou was still working on the film in Australia. The Cannes jury is headed by Quentin Tarantino and Hong Kong director Tsui Hark is also on board.

Official festival site

Thanks to Jennifer Gauthier, "Nick" and Frank Audet.

Zhang Ziyi Stars In Japanese Musical OPERETTA TANUKI GOTEN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

April 21, 2004

According to sources from Japan, the Japanese title of the musical Zhang Ziyi is going to star in is Operetta Tanuki Goten or Operetta Raccoon Dog Palace. In the newest version of the classic "Tanuki Goten" musical series, Zhang Ziyi will play the leading role, a Chinese princess, a talented singer and dancer. The film is helmed by veteran Japanese director Seijun Suzuki and the leading man will be 28 year old Japanese actor Jô Odagiri. For her role in the film, Zhang Ziyi took a two week dancing and singing lesson in Japan. Shooting will start soon and the release date in Japan has been aimed at Fall 2005.

TIAN XIA WU ZAI Press Conference (Various)

April 21, 2004

Stars in Tian Xia Wu Zi lined up in front of dozens of cameras during a press conference at Labuleng Monastery of Gansu Province yesterday.

More pictures: A B C D E F G        

Related story:

Shooting Of TIAN XIA WU ZEI Begins (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 15, 2004

Andy Lau And Liu Joyin In TIAN XIA WU ZEI (Gansu Daily)

April 20, 2004

Click here fore more

Related story:

Shooting Of TIAN XIA WU ZEI Begins (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 15, 2004

April 19, 2004

(Image: Beijing New Pictures)

John Woo Is Running For SPY HUNTER? (Latino Review)

April 19, 2004

According to Latino Review, John Woo is running for directing Spy Hunter, based on the classic 1980's video game.

Story by Latino Review

Story by ComingSoon.net

Thanks to Mark Singh.

Andy Lau Arrived In Gansu For TIAN XIA WU ZEI (Gansu Daily)

April 18, 2004

Click here fore more

Andy Lau	Jacky Cheung
TungStar

Click here for more stills

Official site

Videos: teaser trailer, making-of

Stills

Related story:3

JIANG HU Trailer And Stills (Jianghu.com.hk) April 11, 2004

More JIANG HU (Sina.com) April 2, 2004

JIANG HU: Posters And Stills (Sina.com) April 1, 2004

JIANG HU Wrapped Up In Hong Kong (Various) March 14, 2004

INITIAL D's Film Version Set To Begin (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

April 16, 2004

Having been planned for so many years, filming of the big screen adaptation of Japanese manga series Initial D, a story about street car racers, will finally begin this summer. According to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily, Taiwanese singer Jay Chou will play the leading role Takumi Fujiwara, and Anthony Wong will play his father Takumi Fujiawara, the role once belongs to Andy Lau. Edison Chen will play rival racer Ryosuke Takahashi and Shawn Yue will take a brand new role. A Japanese teen actress will play the female lead. The movie is helmed by Infernal Affairs Director Lau Wai Keung.

More on Initial D franchise

Related stories:

April 16, 2004

Shenyang Today has published the first office image of Zhang ZIyi dressing as a singer dancer at "Peony Work", an entertainment complex opened exclusive to men.

(Image: Beijing New Pictures)

Shooting Of TIAN XIA WU ZEI Begins (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

April 15, 2004

Shooting of Tian Xia Wu Zei (literal: No thieves on earth) began yesterday at Labuleng, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in China's Gansu Province. Helmed by China's top comedy director Feng Xiaogang, the film features Andy Lau, Liu Joyin, Ge You, Li Bingbing, Fu Biao and Wang Baoqiang. Tian Xia Wu Zei follows the story of a young migrant worker (Wang Baoqiang), who does not believes there is any thief in the world. He gets onto a train, which also has a gang of thieves on board. Later Andy Lau and Liu Joyin are moved by the migrant worker's naiveness and start protect him from their fellow cons.

April 15, 2004

Zhang ZIyi and Takeshi Kaneshiro enjoyed a short break on location of Ukrainian countryside.

(Image: sina.com)

Anthony Minghella To Make Fairytale THE FIREWORK-MAKERS' DAUGHTER In China (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

April 14, 2004

According to Chinese paper Chengdu Economic Daily, writer producer and director Anthony Minghella went to Hengdian World Studios to scout locations for his upcoming project The Firework-Maker's Daughter. Based on the same name children's book by Aussie writer Philip Pullman, it tells a fairytale set "in a country far to the east", where "Chulak and his talking white elephant Hamlet help Lila seek the Royal Sulphur from the sacred volcano so that she can become a master maker of fireworks like her father." It is still unknown which role he would play in the project, director or producer. Along with Renee Zellweger, Anthony Minghella attended the Beijing première of Cold Mountain on Monday, and at Hengdian World Studios, he visited director Chen Kaige and his wife actress Chen Hong on the set of Wu Ji / The Promise which is currently under filming. This afternoon, he has flown to Yunnan Province of southwest China to continue his scouting job.

April 13, 2004

A Tribute to Kung Fu Movies

The Rule of Lau

April 13, 2004

According to Chinese media, filming of 2046 has wrapped up (it's not the first time to hear that) and director Wong Kar-Wai is reaching the end of the post-production. Four years ago, Wong Kar-Wai sent an unfinished film called In The Mood For Love to Cannes and still grabbed two awards. Will he do it again?  

April 12, 2004

American producer Peter Loehr is making preparation for Judge Dee, based on the same name novel series. Written by Dutch diplomat Robert Hans van Gulik, Judge Dee is a series of fictions about the real person, Dee, or Di Renjie, from China's Tang Dynasty. John McTiemen is set to direct the big screen adaptation, which will be shot at Hengdian World Studios. Peter Loehr told Shanghai based newspaper Jiefang Daily that he had three criteria to whoever would play Judge Dee - Chinese, young and speaking fluent English. Since 1998, Peter Lowhr and his Imar Film have produced a series of films with Chinese director Zhang Yang, including Xizao and Quitting. Their latest work is Sunflower, starring Joan Chen and Sun Haiying, currently under production in Beijing.

Peter Loehr said producers from Hollywood have found a few Chinese subjects very attractive - Sun Zi's Art of War, Niu Lang and Zhi Nü (by Disney), Genghis Khan, Generals of the Yang Family and Journey to the West. In addition, two more Chinese films have to added to Hollywood's list of remake - Lou Ye's Suzhou River and Rouge (the remake will feature an American guy traveling to Shanghai and finding the spirit of a dead Chinese girl).

April 11, 2004

From the official site:

Videos: teaser trailer, making-of

Stills

Official site

Related stories:

More JIANG HU (Sina.com) April 2, 2004

JIANG HU: Posters And Stills (Sina.com) April 1, 2004

JIANG HU Wrapped Up In Hong Kong (Various) February 14, 2004

WU JI / THE PROMISE Set - Blue/Green Screen (Hangzhou Daily)

April 10, 2004

Hangzhou Daily

From the set at Hengdian World Studios.

More cover on Wu Ji / The Promise

April 9, 2004

Click here for the site with a teaser trailer, a description on the plot, major characters and the crew.

Thanks to Marie M for reminding me.

(image: EMP)

April 8, 2004

Click here

Thanks to Kushi.

April 8, 2004

Soccer Goodness Vs. Cineplex Evil - The Fun and the Faithless, by Armond White (New York Press)

What America Thinks of Shaolin Soccer, by Mark Pollard (Kung Fu Cinema)

More

Thanks to L.C.

April 8, 2004

"John Woo has optioned Nintendo's best-selling video game franchise "Metroid" for the big screen," said The Hollywood Reporter. He will produce it and has the option to direct.

Original report by The Hollywood Reporter

Report by Reuter

Thanks to L.C. and Mark Singh.

April 7, 2004

According to Chinese paper Yan Zhao Metropolis Daily, producer Zhang Weiping said Columbia Pictures have been given the rights to the film for North America and, possibly, other English speaking countries. Few years ago, Columbia run a very successful global campaign for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It also presented two other films by director Zhang Yimou's - Not One Less and The Road Home. Columbia will very like show it under the banner of Sony Pictures Classics. Zhang is still regretting offering MiramAxe the rights to Hero. He said they were cheated by "the fat guy".

Shooting Of WU JI / THE PROMISE Restarted At Hengdian World Studios Yesterday

(Contemporary Gold / Hangzhou Daily)

April 7, 2004

Contemporary Gold / phtographed by Chen Mei	Hangzhou Daily

The scene looks like a showdown between the emperor, played by Cheng Qian, and the rebel force led by the evil Duke of the North, played by Nicholas Tse.

Click here and here for more shots.

More cover on Wu Ji / The Promise

April 6, 2004

Sina.com

During a press conference, for promoting a brand of sports beverage, in Beijing, Jet Li has commented on how Hero is treated by MiramAxe. He said looked like the US release date had yet to be decided on and the title change (from Hero to Jet Li's Hero) is also somewhat baseless. He was not optimistic about how well Hero would do in the States, because looked like every Chinese (outside of China) got a copy of Hero DVD and that would count for at least US$10 million box-office loss. He, again, denied that he wanted to be a monk and again expressed his wish of making A Monk In New York. He said he was getting closer and closer to actually making it and he had been talking to a director whose name he preferred not to reveal.

April 6, 2004

Sina.com

Click here for more

More cover on Wu Ji / The Promise

April 5, 2004

Beijing New Pictures / Sina.com (photographed by Bai Xiaoyan)

Producer Zhang Weiping told a few Chinese papers that the film would finally be done  and be sent to Chinese Film Bureau to be reviewed in ten days. He also said a grand première would be held at Worker's Stadium of Beijing on July 10.

April 5, 2004

Shaolin Soccer made US$37,000 at 6 theaters during the past weekend. (click here) Average gross for each theater is US$6,166. It was not a bad start and not not highly successful either. Will it go wider this weekend? By the way, it is subed not dubbed, though still chopped.

Thanks to Daniel Zelter and CP

April 4, 2004

Hero trailer would be shown prior to the Kill Bill Vol. 2 première on April 8, Dede Nickerson, one of the film's associate producers and MiramAxe's Asia consultant, told a few Chinese newspapers. She said Shaolin Soccer was released in a few selected North American cities, only because Stephen Chow could not show up to promote his film and the same theory also applied to Hero. She was very confident that Hero would made at least US$ 30 million at 1000 North American theaters. (Hero has already made at least US$ 30 million in the mainland China at 300 theaters.) According her, director Zhang Yimou and several major stars of the film will do a 10 city promo tour this summer in North America. MiramAxe, she said, is now re-doing the subtitle (to make it more accurate or to make it more...?) She had also shown some interest in the rights to Zhang Yimou's Shi Mian Mai Fu (producer Zhang Weiping has already said 'no more business with MiramAxe'.) and Chen Kaige's Wu Ji / The Promise. Golden Dragon (?), a new Disney flick she is producing will be shot at Hengdian World Studios this October. Cinematographer Peter Pau and Yuen Wo-Ping, both are from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, have been invited to join the project and set construction has already begun.

April 3, 2004

Nanjing Daily

Set construction at Hengdian World Studios of Zhejiang Province. Filming at Beijing Film Studios just wrapped up and will restart on the set.

April 2, 2004

According to News Askew, director Kevin Smith said Jet Li was being sought for the role of Kato (right, he was in and out of the project some million years ago) or if a female version Kato was more favorable, Zhang Yiyi would the favorite.

Report by Moviehole.net

Thanks to DK.

Follow-up report: some clarification (SuperHero Hype!)

Click here for more stills

Official site (Thanks to Daniela)

April 2, 2004

Click here here here.

Thanks to Mark Singh and Dian Bueter.

TungStar

Click here for more

Related story:

JIANG HU Wrapped Up In Hong Kong (Various) March 14, 2004

April 1, 2004

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Anne Hathaway and Randy Quaid are joining Ang Lee's cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" for Focus Features."

Click here for the original story by The Hollywood Reporter

Thanks to Mark Singh.