News Archives
January 2006
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News Archives |
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January 2006 |
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Zhang Yuan's LITTLE RED FLOWERS Premièred at Sundance (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 30, 2006 |
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Chinese director Zhang Yuan's Little Red Flowers had its world première during the Sundance Film Festival last Monday. Based Kan Shang Qu Hen Mei (literal meaning: Looks Beautiful - The Chinese title is same as the book title) by Beijing writer Wang Shuo, Little Red Flower tells the stories of a group of kindergarteners in Beijing during the early 1960s. The film is co-produced by Marco Müller, the director of Venice Film Festival.
The making of (Click on the numbers below the screen to select.) A party held during Venice International Film Festival.
English title: Little Red Flowers (previously known as: Could Be Beautiful) Chinese title: Kan Shang Qü Hen Mei (literal: Looks Beautiful) Directed by Zhang Yuan, based on a novel by Wang Shuo, written by Ning Dai, Produced by Wang Mo, Jia Zhijie, Li Bolun, Guan Zhonglian and Marco Müller Cinematography by Yang Tao, production design by Huo Tingxiao, sound by Wu Lala, lighting by Wong Chi-Ming Music by Carlo Crivelli, editing by Jacopo Quadri Starring Dong Bowen, Ning Yuanyuan, Chen Manyuan, Li Xiaofeng and Zhao Rui.
Related Story: Trailer: Zhang Yuan's LITTLE RED FLOWERS / KAN SHANG QÜ HEN MEI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 8, 2005 |
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reproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | ||||||||||
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January 2 9, 2006 |
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According to various sources, the war scenes of Golden Armors would be shot on locations in China's Yunnan Province and Hengdian World Studios of Zhejiang Province, because these locations are perfect for such gigantic scenes. He has reached an agreement with the military over borrowing 20,000 men to "fight" for the ancient war. Director Zhang Yimou just came back from the US with a few deals. An American company is commissioned to do the aerial shots of the war scenes and all equipments have to be shipped to China.
Zhang Yimou has also signed a contract with an effect company and the price, counts the largest portion of the overall budget, is "ten times" of what he could get from a mainland Chinese or Hong Kong company. This effect company, which name was not given, is described as "the best in America" and its works include Gladiator and Pearl Harbor. As what I know, the computer effects of Gladiator were done by London based Mill Films and the digital shots in Pearl Harbor were the the works of ILM. Could it be one of them, or a less known company which was involved in the production of both movies? Neither Gladiator nor Pearl Harbor get my favorite CG scenes.
A construction team is redecorating Qing Ming Shang He Tu sector of Hengdian World Studios. This sector contains streets and houses in the architectural style from Song Dynasty (960 -1279). Story of Golden Armors is set in Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). A large number of lavish costumes were also made. An emperor's robe prepared for by Chow Yun-Fat is more expensive than all costumes of Jet Li, Leung Chiu-Wai and Maggie Cheung worn in Hero.
Director Zhang Yimou is known for casting actresses with little or no acting experience, like Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi, as the lead roles and subsequently making them famous. As usual, newcomer is going to be selected from 63 candidates to be the second female lead. Producer Zhang Weiping said she had to have the right look, a distinctive personality and be able to dance.
As original planed for House of Flying Daggers, an action sequence was supposed to take place on a field filled with flowers. The flowers planted on Ukrainian location never grew and the scene had to be shot with some wild flowers. Director Zhang Yimou wants to redo the scene in Golden Armors, with planted golden chrysanthemum flowers, which are metaphoric for golden armors. |
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Feng Xiaogang Has a Few Words to Say about His BANQUET (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 28, 2006 |
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During an interview with a TV program, director Feng Xiaogang reviewed several differences between The Banquet and Hamlet. He said the storyline of The Banquet was similar to that of Hamlet but it would not show any visit from a spirit of the dead. Zhang Ziyi's character was once in love with the crown prince, played by Daniel Wu, and was forced to marry the emperor. When his brother (Ge You) murdered the emperor and took control of his thrown and his young empress, the crown prince begin to revenge.
This project is now in post-production and the release date in China has been aimed at this fall. The production studios, Beijing based HTF and Hong Kong based Media Asia are thinking about pushing it to next year's Oscar. According to an earlier report, a 20-minute trailer would be shown during the coming Cannes Film Festival and special screening s at Toronto International Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival this September were also planned.
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Opening This Week: January 21 - 27, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 27, 2006 |
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Fictionalized life-story of Chinese martial-art master Huo Yuanjia and the third adventure of McDull the little pig from Hong Kong...
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January 2 6, 2006 |
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Three set of poster designs of the upcoming MA film is released today. Based on the same name comic series, Dragon Tiger Gate tells a story of several youngsters fighting the gangs. The first trailer of this project is also expected to come out this week.
Related Stories: DRAGON TIGER GATE Production Photos from Hong Kong (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 7, 2006DRAGON TIGER GATE Promotional Stills (Beijing Times) October 22, 2005Production of DRAGON TIGER GATE Begins (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 1, 2005 Donnie Yen's DRAGON AND TIGER GATE Will Go into Production This Fall (DonnieYen.net) September 26, 2005
Donnie Yen Preps MEGA DRAGON
AND TIGER / GATE OF DRAGON AND TIGER (MonkeyPeaches
Exclusive)
August 2, 2005
Donnie Yen in Negotiation for MEGA
DRAGON AND TIGER (MonkeyPeaches
Exclusive)
March 27, 2005
Donnie Yen To Helm Film Adaptation Of
Comic Series MEGA DRAGON AND TIGER
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 24, 2003 |
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January 25, 2006 |
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Jet Li's last wushu movie, not his last action movie, is released today in the mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
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January 24, 2006 |
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Zhang Yimou's upcoming historical drama, Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia (literally meaning: Fill the City with Golden Armors) is based on four-act play Thunderstorm, written by Cao Yu in 1933. It tells the story of Zhou family during a summer day.
Zhou Puyuan is a mid-age wealthy mine owner. Thirty years ago, he was in love with a maid named Shi Ping and shortly after she gave birth too their two sons, Zhou Puyu, decided to protect his reputation, expelled Shi Ping and their younger son from his house. Fan Yi is Zhou's second wife and she has a son named Zhou Chong. Zhou Puyuan treats Fan Yi very badly because he cannot forget his first love. Fan Yi had an affair with her stepson Zhou Ping. The affair is over now and Zhou Ping is deeply in love with a maid named Si Feng. Looking for her daughter Si Feng and husband Lu Gui, now both work at Zhou family mansion, Shi Ping makes a surprise visit and meets Zhou Puyuan for the first time in thirty years. Lu Dahai, now leading a miners' strike, comes to Zhou Puyuan's mansion for a talk and clashes with Zhou Ping...
To adapt the play into a movie, Zhang Yimou has shifted the backdrop of the story from the 1930s to Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Zhou Puyuan the mine owner has become the emperor, wich will be played by Chow Yun-Fat and his second wife Fan Yi has become the empress, which will be played by Gong Li. The emperor had two sons with a lower class girl when he was still a prince. He later expelled her from the court before he inherited the power. The older son remains at the palace and the younger son was taken away by the girl. She then married to someone, a rebel leader, khan of a foreign nation, or just an ordinary man. Years later, two brothers finally meet on battlefield. Liu Ye is in negotiation to play the older brother, the prince, and the young actress whose name is not given is up to the role of an imperial bodyguard, the prince's lover and half-sister.
According to a Chinese newspaper, play writer Cao Yu's daughter Wan Fang has approved the script of Golden Armors. She said it was very faithful to the original play, except the ending, which was changed creatively.
Major cast members from Hero and House of Flying Daggers will also be involved in Golden Armors, including action director Ching Siu-Tung, art director Huo Tingxiao, cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding and sound designer Tao Jing. Bill (William) Kong, the powerful film financier behind Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of Flying Dagger and Jet Li's Fearless, is also involved in the project. |
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IN THE NAME OF THE KING Trailers, a Glance of Ching Siu-Tung's Action Direction (DungeonSiege-theMovie.com) |
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January 23, 2006 |
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In the Name of the King is based on the hit action RPG game series Dungeon Siege. Ching was on board as the project's Action Director and Choreographer.
Related Stories: Ching Siu-Tung Joins DUNGEON SIEGE (DungeonSiege-theMovie.com) July 4, 2005 Statham & Sobieski Enter Dungeon Siege (ComingSoon.net) |
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January 22, 2006 |
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This year's Berlin International Film Festival will be held from February 9 to 19 and the complete program will be available by next month.
In competition: Isabella by Pang Ho-cheung, Hong Kong Invisible Waves, by Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Netherlands / Thailand / Hong Kong / South Korea
Out of competition: Wu Ji (The Promise) by Chen Kaige, mainland China / Hong Kong / USA
Kinderfilmfest:
Panorama:
Shisso (Dead Run) by Sabu,
Japan: Kinderfilmfest:
Mizu no Hana (Water Flower) by Yusuke Kinoshita, Japan
Kinderfilmfest Short Films
14plus: Wo Men Lia (You and Me) by Ma Liwen, China
Kamataki by Claude Gagnon, Canada / Japan
Forum:
Nine classic genre films from the 1950s and 1960s by the Japanese master director Nakagawa Nobuo. |
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Rumor: Andy Lau and Maggie Cheung May Take JUSTICE BY ONE'S OWN HAND (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 21, 2006 |
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According to Shanghai Youth Daily, Hong Kong director Wong Jing is putting his script of Ti Tian Xing Dao (literal meaning: Justice by One's Own Hand) and he is asking Andy Lau and Maggie Cheung to play the leads. Wong said Ti Tian Xing Dao, which was expected to go into production in March, was a fast paced suspense movie, in which Lau and Cheung's characters were separately drawn into a mysterious incident and later worked together to uncover the truth. This would be the first time Andy Lau and Maggie Cheung working in the same movie since Mongkok Carmen was made fifteen years ago, by Wong Kar-Wai.
Update: Sina.com reports that both Andy Lau and Maggie Cheung has denied being involved in the project. |
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January 21, 2006 |
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McDull, the Alumni is the third installment the McDull series, about a little pig from Hong Kong.
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Breaking News: Jet Li Will Continue Doing Action Movies Jet Li's FEARLESS Premièred in Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 20, 2006 |
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Breaking News: During an interview with Chinese newspaper Nanfang Daily, Jet Li said he would no longer making any more wushu movie because, what he wanted to say about wushu through movies had all been said. There was nothing more to say about wushu, in another word, he could no longer show wushu on a higher level. But, he would continue doing action movies and kung fu movies. His words were misinterpreted by the media. He said action, kung fu and wushu were three different concepts. His The Tai-Chi Master was a movie about a man reaching a new state through wushu. Action movies, as well as kung fu movies, only took the form of wushu.
A press conference was held in Beijing at 10 am today and Jet Li donated 500,000 yuans (US$62 thousands) from the proceed to "Sunshine in Your Heart Project" run by Red Cross Society of China. the film was premièred tonight at Beijing's Oriental Plaza. (Thanks to Jet Liang.)
Title photo: (L to R) Dong Yong, the young actress played Jet Li's daughter, producer Chui Po-Chu, Sun Li, Collin Chou, action director Yuen Wo-Ping, director Ronny Yu, Jet Li and Guo Changjiang, Vice-Chairman of Red Cross Society of China.
From the press conference: clips snapshots
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Opening This Week: January 14 - 20, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 20, 2006 |
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A young lady unable to stop shopping is seeking help from a shrink who is unable to make choices, and six stories occur at a bar in Hong Kong...
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British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Nomination List (BAFTA.co.uk) |
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January 19, 2006 |
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Ang Lee's cowboy love story Brokeback Mountain received nominations in nine categories, including film, direction, actor in a leading role, actor in a supporting role, music, cinematography and editing. Memoirs of A Geisha, a tale about the east told in the west, is nominated to compete for six awards, including actress in a leading role (Zhang Ziyi), music, cinematography, production design, costume design and make up & hair. Stephen Chow's comedy actioner Kung Fu Hustle is listed in the category of film not in the English language.
Brokeback Mountain Film - Diana Ossana / James Schamus The David Lean Award for achievement in Direction - Ang Lee
Adapted Screenplay
- Larry McMurtry / Diana Ossana Actor in a Supporting Role - Jake Gyllenhaal
Actress in a Supporting Role
- Michelle Williams
Cinematography - Rodrigo
Prieto
Actress in a Leading Role - Ziyi Zhang The Anthony Asquith Award for Achievement in Film Music - John Williams
Cinematography - Dion
Beebe Costume Design - Colleen Atwood
Make up & Hair - Noriko
Watanabe / Kate Biscoe / Lyndell Quiyou / Kelvin R Trahan Kung Fu Hustle Film Not in the English Language - Stephen Chow / Chui Po Chu / Jeff Lau
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Leung Chiu-Wai Might Portray Peking Opera Legend Mei Lanfang in Director Stanley Kwan's Next (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 19, 2006 |
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Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan plans to do a biopic of master Peking opera player Mei Lanfang and he thinks Leung Chiu-Wai is the only choice for the lead role. Kwan told a Chinese newspaper that Leung Chiu-Wai was very excited about the project and considered the role as his next milestone of his career. To play the role properly, Leung has to learn Peking opera from scratch. Kwan is also aware that mainland Chinese director Ding Yinnan is also planning his Mei Lanfang project. He said he would tell the story of Mei Lanfang through the eyes of other people, and he would be described as a man being watched and admired. Shooting is expected to begin next year with an undetermined budget.
Currently Leung Chiu Wai is attached to lead in Wong Kar-Wai's biopic of Ye Wen, the mast of Bruce Lee. However, Wong is busy on finalized The Lady From Shanghai with Nicole Kidman and the Ye Wen project has yet scheduled. Stanley Kwan is best known for his acclaimed dramas like Rouge, The Actress, Red Rose White Rose and Lan Yu. His latest work, Everlasting Regret, fails at the box-office and Kwan is criticized for miss-casting and miss-handing a subject he is not familiar with. Famous for playing women's roles on stage, Mei Lanfang (1894 - 1961) has been praised as the greatest Peking opera artist in the 20th Century. |
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(Production Weekly) | |||
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January 19, 2006 |
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The latest edition of Production Weekly Online reports Jet Li will play an elusive and brutal killer, who is chased by a cop named Jack Crawford played by Jason Stantham, Li's co-star in The One. It will be helmed by hip-hop video director Philip Atwell and choreographed by Li's longtime partner Coery Yuen. Shooting will begin in March on location in Vancouver.
However, Rogue has yet been listed on Jet Li's official site, JetLi.com and Jet Li has neither confirmed it nor denied it. Mark, the webmaster of JetLi.com has refused to provide any confirmation, but he said on the forum of JetLi.com that though Fearless was publicized as Jet Li's last martial-art film, Li might still do Rogue, because the latter would be an action film not a martial-art film.
(Thanks to Walter D. Fajardo for the tip.) |
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(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | |||
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January 19, 2006 |
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Daisy is the first major co-production between the film industries of Hong Kong and South Korea. It is helmed by Hong Kong director Andrew Lau (Initial D, Infernal Affairs Trilogy) with a cast mainly filled with stars from South Korea. Set and shot entirely in the Netherlands, Daisy tells a story of the inevitable showdown between a detective (Jung Woo-Sung) and a killer (Lee Sung-Jae) who fall in love with the same woman, Daisy (Joen Ji-Hyun). The cast also includes Simon Yam, who is best known for being a regular in Johnny To's movies. The script is penned by Korean director Kwak Jeo-Yong (Windstruck, My Sassy Girl) and the music is done by Japanese composer Umebayashi Shigeru (2046, House of Flying Daggers, In the Mood for Love). According to Hong Kong's The Sun, The film will be premiered in Seoul February 23 and starting next week, three leads will take an 8-day promo tour in Hong Kong, the mainland China and Taiwan. Andrew Lau is currently directing his first Hollywood project The Flock, with Richard Gere and Claire Danes.
The trailer is available on the official Korean site and here. |
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(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | |||
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January 18, 2006 |
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The official Taiwanese website of Jet Li's Fearless (click here) is up and running (Thanks to Jet Liang). The full trailer is now available on the official website (click here), according to "Mark", the webmaster (click here for detail). (thanks to Daniel Zelter).
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Hong Kong Film Critics Society Announced Its List of the Best of 2005 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 17, 2006 |
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Hong Kong Film Critics Society Society announced its list of the best of 2005 yesterday. Johnny To's gang drama Election wins the best film and the best director awards. Writer director Wong Jing is named the best screenwriter for his crime drama Black and White. Hong Kong regular Leung Ka-Fai wins the tile of best actor for Everlasting Regret, beating his own performance in Election by one vote. Mainland Chinese actress Zhou Xun is chosen as the best actress for his leading role in Perhaps Love.
Best film: ElectionBest director: Johnny To (Election) Best screenwriter: Wong Jing ( Black and White)Best actor: Leung Ka-Fai ( Everlasting Regret)Best actress: Zhou Xun (Perhaps Love) Films recommended: Perhaps Love, Seven Swords, Home Sweet Home, S.P.L., Black and White, Everlasting Regret, Initial D, Crazy N'the City.
Related Stories: (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 18, 2005Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Announced (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 16, 2004 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 26, 2002 |
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Ang Lee's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Collected Four Golden Globes (...) |
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January 16, 2006 |
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Brokeback Mountain wins in the categories of Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay - Motion Picture and Best Original Song - Motion Picture, while loses in three other categories.
Happy New Year to you too, Mr. Ang Lee!
Related Story: Golden Globe Coverage by Yahoo! News Venice Golden Lion Goes to BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, Hail to Ang Lee (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 10, 2005 |
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January 16, 2006 |
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According to Superhero Hype!, former professional soccer player-turned-actor Vinnie Jones (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) has been listed to play an unspecified role in Rush Hour 3. He recently played Juggernaut in X-Men 3 directed by Brett Ratner, who is also the director of all three Rush Hour projects. This second sequel had stalled for about years until last November, New Line finally agreed to pay Chris Tucker 20 million plus 20% of the gross, 25% more than Jackie Chan would get. Jackie Chan has said he was not happy about the franchise but he would do it because his fans loved it. He has also criticized Chris Tucker for making unreasonable demand, which was the main reason the sequel not being finalized for so many years.
Related Stories: New Line... REAALLLLY Wants to make RUSH HOUR 3!!! (AICN) November 21, 2005RUSH HOUR 3 Stalled Again (Variety) May 30, 2005RUSH HOUR 3 Gets Ready for Production (Variety) May 6, 2005Jackie Chan Talks - 80 DAYS, PINK PANTHER, RUSH HOUR 3, NEW POLICE STORY, THE MYTH... (About.com) June 13, 2004Seagal And Ekin Cheng In RUSH HOUR 3? (Kungfucinema.com) June 1, 2004Jackie Chan Enters The Third RUSH HOUR In August (Associated Press) February 2, 2004Jackie Chan Will Do More POLICE STORY And RUSH HOUR Sequel (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 17, 2003 |
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PROJECT BB Is Under Way in Hong Kong (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 16, 2006 |
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Jackie Chan, Louis Koo, Gao Yuanyuan and a baby named Matthew showed up at a bus station in Hong Kong's busy Central District. The scene starts with Jackie Chan and Louis Koo getting onto a bus. Then they saw Gao Yuanyuan, Jackie Chan's girlfriend, was standing on the other side of the street, holding the baby they kidnapped. They got off and was nearly run over by a movie bus while trying to reach the baby.
More shots: Jackie Chan, Gao Yuanyuan and baby Matthew. Jackie Chan kissed Louis Koo by "accident." |
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January 16, 2006 |
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The latest issue of China Screen magazine contains a multi-page report of Jet Li's Fearless. Now a scan of the the report is available here. (Thanks to Jet Liang.)
Spoiler: Jet Li in exile (NEW)
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US Dates for BREAKING NEWS, KEKEXILI and RIDING ALONE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES (...) |
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January 15, 2006 |
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Breaking News (Jan. 27, 2006 / limited / Palm Pictures): Palm Pictures acquired the rights to Johnnie To's Breaking News in 2004 and planned a theatrical release sometime in 2005 followed by a DVD release on the Palm Pictures label later in 2004. Now the theatrical released is set for January 27, 2006.
Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (date to be determined / Limited / Samuel Goldwyn Films): Sony Pictures was the co-producer of Chinese film Kekexili: Mountain Patrol. Sony's strategic alliance with Beijing-based HTF, the film's principal producer, is over now and the US rights have been passed to Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Ridding Alone for Thousands of Miles : (date to be determined / Limited / Sony Pictures Classics): Sony has been distributing Zhang Yimou's movies for many years and it is not a surprise to know Zhang's latest work being handled by Sony.
(Thanks to P Y Kong and Daniel Zelter.) |
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Another Movie Pushes Shanghai to the Near Future - ULTRAVIOLET (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 15, 2006 |
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Ultraviolet is set in the near future, but the futuristic city featured in the sci-fi actioner, starring Milla Jovovich, is actually Shanghai with some CG modification. Skyscrapers constructed in the past decade and low production cost have made Shanghai very attractive to studios around the world. In the low budget sci-fi drama Code 46, the modernized Pudong District of the city is described as the Shanghai in the future and in Michelle Yeoh's superheroine flick Silver Hawk, Shanghai becomes a fictional city in the near future. The upcoming Mission: Impossible 3 is also partially shot in Shanghai. In the trailer released in December, we can see Tom Cruise, or a double of him, leaping off the top of Bank of China Tower.
Title image: Behind Milla Jovovich - (L to R) Bank of China Tower, Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Jin Mao Tower.
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BATTLE OF WITS Production Wrapped Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 14, 2006 |
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The principal shooting of war epic Battle of Wits just completed yesterday in China's Hebei Province. Based on Japanese comic series Stratége, Battle of Wits tells a story of how a man, played by Andy Lau, helps defending the state of Liang against a much stronger neighboring state. It was mainly shot at a huge set compounds built for a TV series in Yi County of Hebei Province, with several additional sets constructed specifically for the movie. Budgeted at US$16 million, Battle of Wits is produced by Beijing-based H. Brothers, Hong Kong-based Sundream Motion Pictures Ltd., Seoul-based Boram Entertainment Inc. and Tokyo-based Comstock Ltd.
Top: On the set - (L to R) the King of Liang (Wang Zhiwen), Ge Li (Andy Lau) and director Jacob Cheung. More production stills: A B C D (NEW) Clip: set visit (NEW)
Related Stories: (Sina.com) November 29, 2005More Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (Sina.com) November 19, 2005 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 11, 2005 STRATÉGE Press Conference in Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 22, 2005Camera Stars Rolling for Andy Lau's STRATÉGE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 28, 2005Andy Lau to Star in Two Period Films - STRATÉGE and ZHAO ZILONG (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 2, 2005 |
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January 13, 2006 |
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According to newspaper The Beijing News, director Ronny Yu just reduced the length of Jet Li's Fearless from 143 minutes to 103 minutes, to speed up the pacing of the movie. The subplot with Michelle Yeoh has been deleted. In the original cut, the story of Jet Li's character, Huo Yuanjia, is told by Miss Yang, an Olympic official. In the early part of the movie, Huo Yuanjia is in exile in a Thai village. To safe a boy from being punished for stealing an ox, he is forced into a match with a local boxer, played by Somluck Kamsing, former Olympic featherweight boxing champion (1996) from Thailand. Unfortunately, the sequence was also deleted. Ronny Yu made the cut after audiences from an internal screening criticized the film for being too slow and the Olympic sub-story being too irrelevant to the main plot. Jet Li has personally apologized to Michelle Yeoh for eliminating her from the movie and she has said she could understand the reason of director Ronny Yu's decision.
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January 13, 2006 |
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S.P.L. won the Viewers' Choice Award at the 6th Tokyo FILMeX International Film Festival last year. The Japanese release date is set for March 4.
Click here for the official Japanese site.
(Thanks to "Kington".)
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Opening This Week: January 7 - 13, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 13, 2006 |
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Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 12, 2006 |
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According to several Chinese newspapers, the Chinese title of Zhang Yimou's upcoming martial-art epic is Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia, which literally means The City Filled with Golden Armors. It is still unknown whether the current English title, Autumn Remembrance, will be kept or not. Producer Zhang Weiping said the production would begin early next month in a tourist spot called "Heavenly Pit" near the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing. Zhang said the story was loosely based on the play Lei Yu (The Thunderstorm) by Cao Yu. It is set in the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907) and is about a power struggle involving the emperor, the empress and a general. It will feature several large war scenes, which would be shot with tens thousands of real people rather than CG extras. Zhang said the budget was about US$ 44.6 millions, which would make it the most expensive Chinese movie project. The cast Includes Chow Yun-Fat, who will play the emperor, Gong Li and a young actress whose name was not given. |
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January 12, 2006 |
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Click here for more stills (Thanks to Jet Liang.)
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THE BANQUET Wrapped up with a Banquet (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 11, 2006 |
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The four month long principal shooting of Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet just ended last Friday with a "banquet" at Beijing's Peace Hotel. Director Feng Xiaogang said he would begin working on the lengthy post-production, including spending five months on creating the CG effects with Technicolor's Toronto-based visual effects team. The film would be released in China this October. A 20-minute trailer will be shown during the coming Cannes Film Festival and special screening at Toronto International Film Festival and Venice International Film Festival this September is also planned.
From the "banquet": video clip snapshots 1 snapshots 2
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January 10, 2006 |
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Taiwan born singer Jay Chou spent two days to write this untitled theme song. The original soundtracks of Fearless, including this song, will be released on January 21. The movie will be released in the mainland China and Hong Kong January 26 and in Taiwan two days after.
Click here for the theme song recorded from a Taiwanese radio station.
(Thanks to Jet Liang.)
Left: Jet Li and Jay Chou attended a press conference last Friday to promote the theme song. |
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Third McDull Movie, McDULL, THE ALUMNI Is Ready for Release (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 9, 2006 |
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Hong Kong director Peter Chan's Applause Pictures and Ruddy Morgan Organization, jointly owned by Andre Morgan and Al Ruddy, have finished production of McDull, the Alumni, the third adventure of McDull, the little pig from Hong Kong. Unlike the first two movies of the series, this one is not a pure animation, but a mixture of animation and live-action. In the beginning of the movie, a group of robbers break into the International Financial Centre in the Central of Hong Kong and hold dozens hostages at an advising company. In fact, everyone involved in the hostage situation graduated from the same kindergarten. They just don't know it yet. Designed as a holiday movie for this year's Chinese New Year (January 29), 38 stars from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland China were cast to play the grownup of the animated kindergarteners.
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January 8, 2006 |
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China Education Television (CETV) is airing a special report series on the making of Fearless, a semi-biopic of master Huo Yuanjia, by Jet Li.
Here is the online version of the first part of the report.
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DRAGON TIGER GATE Production Photos from Hong Kong (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 7, 2006 |
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Filming at Hengdian World Studios of China's eastern Zhejiang Province has just ended and the production team is working in Hong Kong for the remaining principal shooting. Several shots showing a hotel scene with Donnie Yen's character Wang Xiaohu and his girlfriend, played by mainland Chinese actress Li Xiaoran, are released today.
Related Stories: DRAGON TIGER GATE Promotional Stills (Beijing Times) October 22, 2005 Production of DRAGON TIGER GATE Begins (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 1, 2005
Donnie Yen's DRAGON AND TIGER GATE
Will Go into Production This Fall
(DonnieYen.net) September 26, 2005
Donnie Yen Preps MEGA DRAGON AND
TIGER / GATE OF DRAGON AND TIGER (MonkeyPeaches
Exclusive)
August 2, 2005
Donnie Yen in Negotiation for MEGA
DRAGON AND TIGER (MonkeyPeaches
Exclusive)
March 27, 2005
Donnie Yen To Helm Film Adaptation Of
Comic Series MEGA DRAGON AND TIGER
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 24, 2003 |
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Opening This Week: December 31, 2005 - January 6, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 6, 2006 |
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January 5, 2006 |
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This teaser poster only shows Zhang Ziyi, who plays the young empress, standing in front of a door. This poster was originally photographed from a sharp angle. (Click here for the original photo at HelloZiyi.us)
Related Stories: Set of THE BANQUET Revealed (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 24, 2005BANQUET Spy Photos (HelloZiyi.us) November 5, 2005Set Photos of THE BANQUET (Sina.com) November 9, 2005THE (NIGHT) BANQUET Press Conference (Sina.com) October 29, 2005Shooting of YE YAN / THE NIGHT BANQUET Continues (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 26, 2005
More Shots from the Opening
Ceremony of Feng Xiaogang's YE YAN / THE NIGHT BANQUET
(Sohu.com) September 25, 2005
Feng Xiaogang's YE YAN / THE NIGHT
BANQUET Held Opening Ceremony in Beijing
(Sina.com)
The Creation of YE YAN / THE
NIGHT BANQUET
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
September 15, 2005
Feng Xiaogang’s Epic YE YAN / THE
NIGHT BANQUET Ready for Production
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
August 31, 2005
Cast List for Feng Xiaogang's THE
NIGHT BANQUET Announced
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
July 19, 2005
Andy Lau to Star in Two Period Films
- STRATÉGE and ZHAO ZILONG
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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Update on THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, the Wong Kar-Wai / Nicole Kidman Project (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 4, 2006 |
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According to an unidentified source from Taiwan, the post of cinematographer of the movie now belongs to Darius Khondji (The Interpreter, Panic Room, Se7ven), rather than Wong Kar-Wai's regular Christopher Doyle, and Wong another regular William Chang is still in charge of the production design. The story will be set in the chaotic 1930s and shooting will take place in northern China, Russia and Europe. Kidman will play a woman involved in a dangerous romance with Chinese spy. Before the shooting can start, which has been scheduled at some time after the coming Chinese New Year, Wong Kar-Wai needs to complete the script, pick locations and finalized Kidman's insurance.
Related Stories: Wong Kar-Wai's THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI is a Remake of Orson Welles Classic? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 8, 2005 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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Johnny To Makes EXILED, a Sequel to THE MISSION of His (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 3, 2006 |
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More than six years after he made the highly appraised The Mission, director Johnny To called back most major stars from the film, Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Suet Lam and Roy Cheung, to make Exiled, a sequel. The story is set several years after with the quiet life of one of the five bodyguards is distorted by the unexpected visit of his former comrades. Two of them are assigned to silence him and the other two intend to stop the mission. The cast also include Richie Ren, Nick Cheung and Josie Ho. Shooting has already begun last November in Macao.
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Jackie Chan Engages in Baby-Kidnapping PROJECT BB (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 2, 2006 |
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Shooting of Jackie Chan's new movie Project BB (literal title) has already started. In the comedy action by New Police Story director Benny Chan, Jackie Chan plays a gambling-addicted thief who, alone with two other crooks (Michael Hui and Louis Koo), kidnapped the infant grandson of the richest woman in town (On-On Yu). The original plan was to hand over the baby to a gang leader (Zhang Tielin) for some quick cash, but the middle man is unexpected detained by the police and three kidnappers have to deal with the baby by themselves. Somehow, the little hostage warms their hearts and they decide to do the right thing against the order of the gang leader. Also in the cast, Gao Yuanyuan from Shanghai Dreams plays Jackie Chan's on-screen girlfriend and Cherrie Ying plays the baby's mother. The original plan of casting Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao and Eric Tsang has been scrapped.
Project BB press conference last Friday in Hong Kong: video clip snapshots |
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FEARLESS Poster and Stills: Jet Li vs. Shidou Nakamura (G-film.com / Sina.com / QQ.com) |
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January 2, 2006 |
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Professional Kabuki player Shidou Nakamura portrayed Japanese sword master Anno Tanaka, who challenges Jet Li's character Hou Yuanjia at the arena.
Click here and here for more stills.
A trailer with clips of Jet Li earlier on-screen performances
(Thanks to Jet Liang.) |
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Donnie Yen Looks to Join DAISY SCARLETT: SEMPER OCCULTUS (Moviehole.nt) |
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January 2, 2006 |
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According to Moviehole.net, Donnie Yen might serve as the 2nd unit director and choreographer in the Daisy Scarlett: Semper Occultus project, a female 007 type of action from Britain.
Related Story: Jet Li May Do SEMPER OCCULTUS With Luc Besson And Jason Statham (Moviehole.net) February 20, 2004 |
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Monkeypeaches' Most Anticipated Films of 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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January 1, 2006 |
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What to know what will come out this year and what will be made this year?
Click here (LINK FIXED) |
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