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News Archives |
| January 2005 | |
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| Filming of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Wrapped Up in Tokyo (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | ||
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January 31, 2005 |
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A press conference was held in Tokyo today, marking the end of the four month long production. Director Rob Marshall and majority of the cast shows up at the conference, except the female lead Zhang Ziyi who, according to Sina.com, was doing an advertising shoot away in Romania. The highly anticipated movie will have a world-wide release in December 2005. In Japan, Memoirs of a Geisha will be distributed under the title of Sayuri, same as the title of the Japanese edition of the original book. The production in Japan was collaborated by local studio Shochiku.
Title photo: (L to R) an unidentified producer, director Rob Marshall, Gong Li (Hatsumomo), Kaori Momoi (Okiya Mother), Michelle Yeoh (Mameha), Ken Watanabe (The Chairman), Koji Yakusho (Nobu), Youki Kudoh (Pumpkin), Suzuka Ohgo (Young Sayuri), producer Douglas Wick.
Related Story: 'Memoirs of a Geisha' wraps up filming in Japan, by Chris Betros, Japan Today
More about Memoirs Of A Geisha.
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Even More UNLEASHED / DANNY THE DOG Stuffs (Rogue Pictures / Europa Corp) |
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January 30, 2005 |
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Interview:
Silvio Simac
TV show: video screen captures
(Thanks to "jetliang" of JetLiang.com.)
More about Unleashed / Danny the Dog.
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More UNLEASHED / DANNY THE DOG Stuffs (Rogue Pictures / Europa Corp) |
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January 29, 2005 |
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44 stills / promotional photos
French trailer and 6 video clips. (Thanks to Jet Li Online)
More about Unleashed / Danny the Dog.
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Rogue Pictures UNLEASHED Its DANNY THE DOG Trailer (Rogue Pictures) |
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January 28, 2005 |
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(Thanks to "jetliang" of JetLiang.com.)
More about Unleashed / Danny the Dog.
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Opening This Week: January 22 - 28, 2005 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 28, 2005 |
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A mother and daughter obsessed by ballet and a girl's life is depicted in 22 short stories.
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KUNG FU / KUNG FU HUSTLE US Trailer in QuickTime (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 27, 2005 |
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It is the same trailer released in December. About the background music in the trailer - the first one is from the original soundtracks and second one is not. I am glad people from Sony Pictures Classics decided to drop that "Everybody was kung fu fighting" song, which is not part of movie. March 18 is the day picked for the North American release.
QuickTime: High Low (Thanks to Alexis Moore of Sony Pictures Classics.)
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| More SEOUL RAIDERS Behind-the-Scene Video (Sina.com) | ||
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January 26, 2005 |
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Actually, they look more like South Korean travel guide:
Related Stories: SEOUL RAIDERS Stills (Sina.com) January 20, 2005 SEOUL RAIDERS Posters (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 23, 2004
SEOUL RAIDER Location Photos
And Videos
(Sina.com)
December 18, 2004
Leung Chiu-Wai Becomes SEOUL
RAIDER
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
November 9, 2004
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Maggie Cheung Nominated For Les César du Cinéma of France (LesCesarduCinema.com) |
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January 25, 2005 |
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For her performance in Clean, Maggie Cheung has been nominated for Meilleure Actrice (Best Actress). Other contenders in the same category are Emmanuelle Devos (Rois et Reine), Yolande Moreau (Quand la Mer Monte), Audrey Tautou (Un Long Dimanche de Fiançailles) and Karin Viard (Le Rôle de Sa Vie). The same role has already gained her the Prix d'Interprétation Féminine at last year's Festival de Cannes.
Click here for the complete list.
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SHI MIAN MAI FU / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS' Cinematography Nominated For The Oscar (Oscar.com) |
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January 25, 2005 |
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Cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding's work for House of Flying Daggers has been nominated for the coming Oscar. Sharing the same category with The Aviator, gets 11 nominations in fact, House of Flying Daggers' chance of winning is very slim. Ten years ago, director Zhang Yimou's another film Shanghai Triad was also nominated for that year's Oscar in the same category.
The film failed to show up in other categories, including Best Foreign Language Film. The cinematographer for it was Lü Yue. Zhang Yimou's Jü Dou, Raise the Red Lantern and Hero have been nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film previously.
Click here for the complete list.
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| Hong Kong's The 10th Golden Bauhinina Awards Nomination (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | ||||||||||||
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January 25, 2005 |
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Hong Kong Film Critics Associated has released the nomination list for the 10th Golden Bauhinia Awards yesterday. Stephen Chow's comedy action Kung Fu Hustle received six nominations and local production One Nite in Mongkok gets five. Wong Kar-Wai's 2046, A World without Thieves from the mainland China and 20, 30, 40, co-production between Taiwan and Hong Kong, each has four nominations. Winners will be announced next month.
Click here for the complete list.
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| SEOUL RAIDERS Trails Plus Behind-The-Scene Video (Sina.com) | |
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January 24, 2005 |
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Related Stories: SEOUL RAIDERS Posters (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 23, 2004
SEOUL RAIDER Location Photos
And Videos
(Sina.com)
December 18, 2004
Leung Chiu-Wai Becomes SEOUL
RAIDER
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
November 9, 2004
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| Early Artwork for John Woo's SPY HUNTER (Latino Review) | |
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January 22, 2005 |
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Latino Review has four CG images created during the pre-production of John Woo's Spy Hunter. According to Dark Horizons' explanation, "these images were made by an effects company in order to try and get the contract to do CG for the film. They give you an idea of the major battle at the end of the movie between the Rock's car and the bad guys vehicles."
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Correction On Jet Li's Huo Yuanjia Biopic (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 22, 2005 |
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The project's line producer Liu Erdong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Legend of Zu) has dismissed the report suggesting Japanese actress Noriko Sakai being cast as the female lead. He told Beijing Youth Daily that Jet Li was still the only one on the list. In fact, they were still doing casting and scouting locations. Even the script needed a final touch. Liu said the Chinese Film Bureau had pre-approved the project and it still needed to go through a series of application processes.
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Opening This Week: January 15 - 21, 2005 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 21, 2005 |
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Three bored men run a remote post, a comedian tricked into a bet, a young scholar meets two dead girls, a single mother famous for her Hannan Chicken Rice, and a group of total strangers clash at a cocktail party...
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| First Official Image of Zhang Yimou's QIAN LI ZOU DAN JI (Sina.com) | ||
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January 20, 2005 |
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It does not feature any scene from the film but rather shows director Zhang Yimou (right) and Takakura Ken (left) walking together.
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| SEOUL RAIDERS Stills (Sina.com) | |
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January 20, 2005 |
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A few stills from Jingle Ma's Seoul Raiders have bee released. A follow-up to Tokyo Raiders, It tells a story about a cop (Leung Chiu-Wai), teams up with a thief (Shu Qi) to hunt down a professional criminal (Richie Jen) over a printing plate, which could be used for making counterfeit bills.
Related Stories: SEOUL RAIDERS Posters (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 23, 2004
SEOUL RAIDER Location Photos
And Videos
(Sina.com)
December 18, 2004
Leung Chiu-Wai Becomes SEOUL
RAIDER
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
November 9, 2004
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| MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA Photo (Entertainment Weekly / HelloZiyi.us) | |
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January 19, 2005 |
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Why geishas are respected as artists in
Japan? Click
here
and
here. (Thanks to "Chris" from HelloZiyi.us.)
More about Memoirs Of A Geisha.
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Hong Kong Film Critic Society Awards Announced (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 18, 2005 |
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Yesterday Hong Kong Film Critic Society announced its pick of the best of 2004. Although Hong Kong film industry only released 60 movies last year, it spent the critics a long time to come out the list. The best film is awarded to McDull Prince de la Bun, an animated sequel about the new adventure of a little pig. Yee Tung-Shing won the title of Best Director for One Nite in Mongkok. Gordon Chan and Chung Kai-Cheong's screenplay for A-1 is selected as the best. Leung Chiu-Wai was named the Best Actor, after defeating Lau Ching-Wan (Fantasia), Eason Chan (Love Battlefield) and Leung Ka-Fai (A-1 and Dumping - Three ... Extreme). Previously he received the title for Infernal Affairs. However, the tightest competition was for the title of Best Actress. According to local newspaper Sing Pao Daily, there were five actress remained in the race after the first round of ballot - Zhang Ziyi (2046), Bai Ling (Dumping - Three ... Extreme), Teresa Cheung (Colour Blossoms), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Liu Joyin (20 30 40). Among them, Zhang Ziyi and Teresa Cheung were tied as the front runner, and Zhang Ziyi finally won after five rounds of ballot. This is her first best actress title from the city.
The complete list: Best Picture: McDull Prince de la Bun Best Director: Yee Tung-Shing (One Nite in Mongkok) Best Screenwriters: Gordon Chan and Chung Kai-Cheong (A-1) Best Actor: Leung Chiu-Wai (2046) Best Actress: Zhang Ziyi (2046) Films Recommended: Dumping - Three ... Extreme, One Nite in Mongkok, Throw Down, Kung Fu Hustle, Love Battlefield, A-1, Colour Blossoms, 2046, Breaking News.
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SHI MIAN MAI FU / HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS Receives Nine BAFTA Nominations (BAFTA) |
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January 18, 2005 |
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The nominations are: Film not in the English Language Actress in a Leading Role (Zhang Ziyi) Cinematography (Zhao Xiaoding) Editing (Cheng Long) Production Design (Huo Tingxiao) Costume Design (Emi Wada) Sound Achievement in Special Visual Effects Make Up & Hair (Kwan Lee-Na, Yang Xiaohai, Chau Siu-Mui)
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Update On Jet Li's Huo Yuanjia Biopic (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 17, 2005 |
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According to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily and The Sun, Director Ronny Yu has brought Yuen Wo-Ping on board to take care of the action. Japanese actress Noriko Sakai has been cast for the love interest of Jet Li's character, the legendary martial-art master Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910). The cast will include actors from Hong Kong, the mainland China, Japan, South Korea and the US. Several days ago, members of many wushu schools and sports teams attended a casting event held at a hotel in Beijing. As a co-producer, Columbia Pictures will invest about US$19 million into the project, which will go into production in March.
Huo Yuanjia (1868-1910) is known for promoting martial-art and patriotic spirit in China when the country was suffering from corruption and foreign invasion. In Fist of Legend, Jet Li played Chen Zhen, a fictional student of Huo Yuanjia, the role also played by Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury. Ronny Yu is famous for Hong Kong films like The Bride with White Hair series and his Hollywood projects include Bride of Chucky and Freddy Vs. Jason. Yuen Wo-Ping choreographed the action for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Matrix series and Kill Bill series. His Kung Fu Hustle is currently smashing the box offices in Asia and his Danny the Dog / Unleashed, starring Jet Li, will be released in France February 2.
Jet Li To Portray Martial-Art Legend Huo Yuanjia (JetLi.com) November 10, 2004
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KUNG FU / KUNG FU HUSTLE US Trailer (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 17, 2005 |
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(Thanks to Alexis Moore of Sony Pictures Classics and "Paul".)
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Chow Yun-Fat Is Growing Beard For PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Sequels (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 16, 2005 |
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According to a picture taken by a Hong Kong tabloid Sudden Weekly, Chow Yun-Fat is, currently in Hong Kong, growing beard for his role, a Chinese pirate leader. Reported he was asked to get more muscular and he did not need to loss weight.
Related Story: Chow Yun-Fat Might Join Two PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Sequels (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
