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News Archives |
| November 2004 | |
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Warner Bros. To Make WANDERING WARRIOR A Chinese Harry Potter"? (Coming Soon!) |
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November 29, 2004 |
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According to an article by Comingsoon.net, Warner Bros. just recently optioned Wandering Warrior, a new book by author Da Chen. The studio intends to make it into "an epic Chinese 'Harry Potter'-like project." The book tells a tale of a young boy, deems to be the new emperor, set himself onto a journey to fulfill his destiny.
Click here for the original article by Comingsoon.net.
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November 29, 2004 |
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Luc Besson's Europa Corp. just released a new poster design of Danny The Dog (called Unleashed in the US). Starring Jet Li, Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins. It was made two years ago.
(Thanks to "jetliang".)
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November 28, 2004 |
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November 27, 2004 |
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This clip was shown to representatives of potential sponsors and reporters at a press conference in China recently.
Left: the third poster design exclusively to Hong Kong (China Film Group Corp. / HTF / Columbia Tristar Film Distribution International).
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Opening This Week: November 20 - 26, 2004 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 26, 2004 |
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Two high school kids fight for 300,00 dollars to perform a "mission of glory" and two men fight each other at a championship for revenge...
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SEVEN SWORDS Sells Well Around The World (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 25, 2004 |
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According to Hong Kong media, Tsui Hark's martial-art epic has been selling very well in the international market. At the recent American Film Market, rights of 13 regions were sold, including France, Italy, Thailand, East Europe, Indonesia, the UK and Germany. Production of Seven Swords is currently taking place in China's Xinjiang Region. Two movie sets, occupying an area of four football fields, were built outside Urumchi, the capital of Xinjiang. They contains restaurants, residences, farmlands and animal farms.
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SHI MIAN MAI FU / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS North American Full Trailer (Sony Pictures Classics / Apple.com) |
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November 24, 2004 |
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Full Trailer: Shi Mian Mai Fu / House Of Flying Daggers (1:55)
From Sony Pictures:
QuickTime:
56k
300k
(Thanks to "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us and Alexis Moore from Sony Pictures Classics.)
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November 24, 2004 |
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Official page by Palm Pictures.
(Thanks to the anonymous and "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us.)
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| Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | ||||||
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November 24, 2004 |
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According to Chinese newspaper The Beijing News, two Japanese actors Kiichi Nakai And Shinobu Terajima have just joined Zhang Yimou's Qian Li Zou Dan Ji (literal title: Lone ride over a thousand lis / 1 li equals to 0.31 mile). They will play the son and daughter-in-law of Ken Takakura's character in this US$ 7.2 million Chinese production. Both of them are winners of the 27th Japanese Academy Awards (2004) for their leading performances. Reportedly, Kiichi Nakai is a private pupil of Ken Takakura.
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2046 International Trailer With English Subtitle (Wire9.com) |
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November 24, 2004 |
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Trailer: International Full Trailer (English) (QuickTime / 2:30)
(Thanks to "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us.)
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November 23, 2004 |
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According to Chinese paper Chengdu Evening Post, Jasmine Women's makers have finally found a date for the film - February 9, 2005, the Chinese New Year Day and the leading lady Zhang Ziyi's 26th birthday. The distributor has planned to invite her and some of her fans to watch the film together on that day, in Beijing or Shanghai. Filming of Memoirs Of A Geisha is expected to wrap up by them. (Thanks to "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us for the reminder.)
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Stills: KUNG FU / KUNG FU HUSTLE (Mov.3 / KingNet.com.tw / TungStar) |
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November 22, 2004 |
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SHI MIAN MAI FU / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS European Poster (?) |
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November 21, 2004 |
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This poster is exclusively designed for European market. (thanks to the anonymous)
((Beijing New Pictures Films / Elite Group (2003) Enterprises Inc.)
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November 21, 2004 |
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Based on the same name Japanese manga series and then an anima series, and produced by Hong Kong's Media Asia Group, the big screen adaptation explores the subject of the underground mountain car racing culture of Japan.
Related Stories:
The Making Of INITIAL D Clip
(?)
October 23, 2004
INITIAL D Promotional
Stills
(The New Express) October 4, 2004
INITIAL D Initialized,
Finally
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
July 2, 2004
INITIAL D's Film Version Set
To Begin
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
April 16, 2004
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First Shots From Location Of Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI (New Life) |
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November 20, 2004 |
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Here are the first snapshots taken on the Yunnan location of director Zhang Yimou's Qian Li Zou Dan Ji (literal title: Lone ride over a thousand lis / 1 li equals to 0.31 mile), by a reporter from local newspaper New Life.
More shots: Director Zhang Yimou and Takakura Ken. A crew member was getting the cameras ready. A ceremony to mark the beginning of filming.
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Shooting Of Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI Begins Today (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 19, 2004 |
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Shooting of director Zhang Yimou's Qian Li Zou Dan Ji (literal title: Lone ride over a thousand lis / 1 li equals to 0.31 mile) begins today in Lijiang region of China's southwestern province Yunnan.
Photos: (L) director Zhang Yimou (R) Japanese actor Takakura Ken
Related Stories: Production Of Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI Is Set To Begin (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 14, 2004 Japanese Vet Actor Takakura Ken Joins Zhang Yimou's Upcoming Feature? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 25, 2004
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Opening This Week: November 13 - 19, 2004 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 19, 2004 |
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Two identical twin brothers, separated when their parents divorced. After their reunion, they decide to switch identities, Troubles! One brother finds out he becomes a Thai gang leader, whose life is in grave danger, and the other brother, temporarily paralyzed in Hong Kong after a car accident, discovers he has some unusually relationship with another man...
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Shu Qi Takes Three Roles In Hou Hsiao-Hsien's ZUI HAO DE SHI GUANG (TungStar) |
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November 18, 2004 |
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Production of Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien's new film Zui Hao De Shi Guang (literal title: The Best of Times) was announced yesterday at a new conference. In this film, Shu Qi will play three roles in different time periods - a geisha, a billiards player and a girl from present days.
Click here for more photos of the news conference.
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Johnnie To Touched The Gang Subject With HEI SHE HUI (TungStar) |
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November 17, 2004 |
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Shooting of Hei She Hui (literal title: Dark Society) has began last Thursday in Hong Kong. According to an earlier report, story of the flick is about a Hong Kong crime family choosing the new leader. Cast includes Leung Ka-Fai, Simon Yan, Luis Koo, Cheung Ka-Fai, Andy On and Cherrie Ying.
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A Brief Look At The Shuhe Location Of Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI (Shuhe Tour) |
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November 16, 2004 |
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The town of Shuhe located in Lijiang County of China's southwestern Yunnan Province.
For more photos: click here and
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Feng Xiaogang Transforms Hamlet To NIGHT BANQUET (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 15, 2004 |
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Chinese director Feng Xiaogang is getting ready to make Ye Yan (literal title: Night Banquet), based on or inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Set in China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), Night Banquet will tell a revenge story of a member of the imperial family. The production studio HTF has put names of many stars on its wish list - Ge You, Gong Li, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Fan Bingbing and Jang Dong-Kun. In addition, the studio might invite Yuen Wo-Ping to handle the action of the film. Feng Xiaogang was the most successful director for comedy and in recent years, he has shifted his interest to much serious subjects. Shooting of this US $1000 million project will start early next year the release date is set at the Chinese New Year (Spring) of 2006. Columbia Pictures' Asian branch might also be involved in the production.
Related Story: A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Trailer (Sina.com) November 4, 2004
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Production Of Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI Is Set To Begin (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 14, 2004 |
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Chinese director Zhang Yimou's Qian Li Zou Dan Ji will go into production next Friday. The film will mark the first cooperation between Zhang Yimou and veteran Japanese actor Ken Takakura and reportedly, this will be Ken's last. Set in the 1920's, Qian Li Zou Dan Ji tells a story of a Japanese man (Takakura Ken), accompanies his dying son to learn the local opera in China's Yunnan, where they meets a local girl. The girl will be played by Jiang Wen, a graduate student from Beijing Film Academy. Literally, Qian Li Zou Dan Ji means "lone ride over a thousand lis" (1 "li" equals to 0.31 mile). Just like the title of Zhang's last film, Shi Mian Mai Fu (English title: House Of Flying Daggers), which means "ambushed from ten sides", Qian Li Zou Dan Ji has a metaphor meaning as well. The film is budgeted at US$ 7.2 million, much smaller than Zhang's last two films, Hero and House Of Flying Daggers. Shooting will take place in Lijiang, Yunnan Province of southwestern China.
Related Story: Japanese Vet Actor Takakura Ken Joins Zhang Yimou's Upcoming Feature? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 25, 2004
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SHI MIAN MAI FU / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS North American Teaser Poster (Sony Pictures Classics) |
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November 13, 2004 |
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The one-sheet was first shown at the film's premiere at AFI Festival (click here).
(Thanks to Alexis from Sony Pictures Classics and Eric Lavallée from IONCINEMA.com.)
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Another Spy Report From MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Set (Darkhorizons.com) |
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November 13, 2004 |
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Bluenose Kitty, just filed his/her second spy report from the set of Memoirs Of Geisha: click here.
Also, Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre. got some trivial bits: Click here.
(Thanks to "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us.)
More about Memoirs Of A Geisha.
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Sony Pictures Classics Acquired THE WHITE COUNTESS (Sony Pictures Classics) |
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November 13, 2004 |
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Set in Shanghai in the late 1930s, this is the story of the relationship between a disillusioned former US diplomat and a refugee White Russian countess reduced to a sordid life in the city's bars. Set in Shanghai in the late 1930s, this is the story of the relationship between a disillusioned former US diplomat and a refugee White Russian countess reduced to a sordid life in the city's bars.
Official site by Sony Pictures Classics.
Related Stories:
First Look At James Ivory
THE WHITE COUNTESS Filming In Shanghai
(Sina.com)
October 17, 2004
THE WHITE COUNTESS
Holds Press Conference In Shanghai
(Various)
October 8, 2004
(Thanks to "Paul".)
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Opening This Week: November 6 - 12, 2004 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 12, 2004 |
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Two girls had relationship with the same man and after they find out about it, a secret plan of revenge is under way...
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John Woo Talks About BATTLE OF RED CLIFF (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 11, 2004 |
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Yesterday John Woo received an honorary degree of Doctor of Social sciences at at Hong Kong Baptist University. At the ceremony, he said the production of Battle Of Red Cliff would start in China in 2006, though the script was still not ready. From the gigantic project, Woo would cast some of his old friends like Chow Yun-Fat, Leung Chiu-Wai and David Chiang.
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Jet Li To Portray Martial-Art Legend Huo Yuanjia (JetLi.com) |
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November 10, 2004 |
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Jet Li has announced, through his official site (JetLi.com), he would play the legendary martial art master Huo Yuanjia (1869-1910) in an untitled film with director Ronny Yu. Jet Li played Huo's pupil Chen Zhen, a fictional character, in Fist Of Legend, which was a remake of Bruce Lee's Fist Of Fury. Shooting of the untitled project will take place in China from March to July. Click here for detail.
Jet Li is also calling for anyone who practices martial arts to join the project (click here) I guess the film might feature scenes of some sort of international championship.
(Thanks to Walter Fajardo and Mark Singh.)
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Leung Chiu-Wai Becomes SEOUL RAIDER (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 9, 2004 |
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According to Hong Kong media, shooting of Seoul Raider (?) just began in South Korea yesterday. It has been set up as a follow-up to Tokyo Raider made four years ago but only Leung Chiu-Wai and director Jingle Ma return to the sequel. The cast also included Shu Qi, Richie Ren and several Korean stars. The production company, Hong Kong's Media Asia Group, intents to make the Raider series a James Bond type franchise.
At a ceremony marked the beginning of the shooting, Leung Chiu-Wai said he would take the title role in Wong Kar-Wai's biopic of Bruce Lee's martial-art tutor Ye Wen but the production would not start until 2008. For something sooner, in June he would do an Infernal Affairs type film, again, with Andy Lau.
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Ang Lee Or Peter Chan - Who Would Direct MEI LANFANG (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 8, 2004 |
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According to Beijing Youth Daily, Columbia Pictures and Japanese TV network NHK would collectively pump over US$ 10 million into the biopic of Peking opera artist Mei Lanfang (1894-1961). For the choice of director, Columbia recommended Ang Lee and NHK was in favor of Hong Kong director Peter Chan (Three - Going Home, Comrades: Almost A Love Story).
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November 7, 2004 |
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The Chinese language poster and a small collection of stills.
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Gong Li Is Not Involved In THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 6, 2004 |
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An earlier report said Gong Li spent five weeks to make her portion of The Lady From Shanghai. But according to Wong Kar-Wai, she was not involved in the film. Wong told the Hong Kong Sun that he suspected the reporter who wrote the original story confused this film with Eros. Gong Li did spent five weeks to work on Wong's segment, The Hand. Shooting of Wong / Kidman film will begin next march in Shanghai. The North American rights of the film has been sold and Wong is currently in talk with six distributors for the international rights.
Related Stories:
Wong Kar-Wai Begins Filming
THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI With Gong Li
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
October 19, 2004
Wong Kar-Wai Still
Gets No Story For THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI
(MonkeyPeaches
Exclusive)
October 3, 2004
The Wong Kidman Project
Now Has A Title - THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI
(MonkeyPeaches
Exclusive)
September 28, 2004
Update on The Wong
Kar-Wai / Nicole Kidman Project
(AICN)
September 21, 2004
Director Wong Kar-Wai To Work
With Nicole Kidman
(Various)
September 19,
2003 |
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MiramAxe Will Release THE LEGEND OF ZU Next August? (Hollywood Stock Exchange) |
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November 6, 2004 |
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According to D.Mac (aka "Antibody") from Hollywood Stock Exchange, MiramAxe has scheduled a nationwide release (US and Canada) for The Legend Of Zu (known as Zu Warriors in MiramAxe territories) on August 19, 2005. Don't be too excited because the studio is notorious for not keeping its word. MiramAxe brought the rights of the film two years ago and has locked it inside its vault ever since.
North American Trailer: The Legend Of Zu / Zu Warriors (QuickTime)
(Thanks to "Paul".)
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Opening This Week: October 30 - November 5, 2004 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 5, 2004 |
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A store clerk loses himself in the virtual game world, a policeman loses himself in the mastermind of an international terrorist, and a young girl loses herself in a photo of a dead girl...
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First Spy Report From MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Set (Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre) |
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November 4, 2004 |
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Someone calling him/herself Bluenose Kitty, who just worked on the Thousand Oaks set of Memoirs Of Geisha for two days, sent a spy report to Michelle Yeoh Web Theatre. The spy gives us a fairly detail description of the set of "Kyoto from the 1920s-1930's period" and a few scenes with Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li. Click here.
(Thanks to "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us.)
More about Memoirs Of A Geisha.
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November 4, 2004 |
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Trailer: A World Without Thieves (Windows Media)
Andy Lau and Liu Joyin play a young couple who choose stealing as their life. When they meet a young boy who brings his saving home and naively believes he lives in a world without thieves, they starts to protect him from a gang of ruthless thieves...
Related Stories: Filming Of TIAN XIA WU ZEI / A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES Wrapped Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 22, 2004 More Spy Photos From TIAN XIA WU ZEI Location (Gansu Daily) April 28, 2004 TIAN XIA WU ZEI Press Conference (Various) April 21, 2004Andy Lau And Liu Joyin In TIAN XIA WU ZEI (Gansu Daily) April 20, 2004 Andy Lau Arrived In Gansu For TIAN XIA WU ZEI (Gansu Daily) April 18, 2004 Shooting Of TIAN XIA WU ZEI Begins (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 15, 2004 Andy Lau And Ge You Join Feng Xiaogang's New Comedy TIAN XIA WU ZEI? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 6, 2004Stephen Chiu And Feng Xiaogang May Join Force On TIAN XIA WU ZEI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 12, 2002
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Taiwan's 41st Golden Horse Awards Nomination (2004 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival) |
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November 3, 2004 |
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Nomination list for Taiwan's 41st Golden Horse Awards has been announced today. 2046 received eight nominations, The Moon Also Rises and New Police Story each received six nominations and Kekexili, Breaking News and Splendid Float each received five nominations.
Click here for the complete list.
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SEVEN SWORDS Location Photo: Donnie Yen And Charlie Yeung (DonnieYen.net / Oriental Daily) |
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November 3, 2004 |
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Chow Yun-Fat Lands The Title Role In SNOW WHITE AND SEVEN Monks? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 3, 2004 |
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Chinese newspaper Chengdu Economics Daily reported that, according to a source from Beijing, Yuen Wo-Ping just picked Chow Yun-Fat as the leading man in his upcoming Snow White adaptation. Beijing Film Studios collaborated the production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill, both had Yuen Wo-Ping as the action director. Could it be the source from Beijing? Anyway, it could be just a rumor.
Related Story: Disney Is Tipping Yuen Wo-Ping With Kung Fu Snow White (Variety / Reuters) September 20, 2002
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November 2, 2004 |
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According to Total Film magazine, Quentin Tarantino's next project will be "another kung fu that’s gonna blow your asses off." It will be an homage to the 1970's low budget Hong Kong kung-fu genre. He said, “the next movie will be in Mandarin! I enjoyed shooting all the Japanese stuff in Kill Bill, so much so that this whole film will be entirely in Mandarin. If you’re not up to watching it with subtitles I really want to do a full-on dubbed version. Maybe shooting two Kill Bill movies has spoiled me but f&*k it – sue me!” (Thanks to the anonymous reader.)
According to a report last year, Quentin Tarantino was planning a remake of Shaw Brothers classic The Thirty-Sixth Chamber Of Shaolin, and he even got the backing from Shaw Brothers. The leading man in the film, Liu Chia-Hui played the head of Crazy 88 in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Pei Mei in Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Will this be the Chinese language kung-fu flick Tarantino was talking about?
Related Story: Quentin Tarantino Wants To Remake THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN With Shaw Brothers (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October, 2003
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SEVEN SWORDS Location Photo: Leon Lai And Charlie Yeung (Star Daily) |
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November 1, 2004 |
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Beijing based Star Daily posted a photo taken on the Xinjiang location of Tsui Hark's Seven Swords. It shows Leon Lai (left, playing Yang Yuncong) and Charlie Yeung (right, playing Wu Yuanying) Both of them are holding the double-blade sword belongs to Wu Yuanying.
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