News Archives
February 2006
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News Archives |
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February 2006 |
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February 28, 2006 |
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Zhang Yimou is a master of colors and the color he has chosen for the film is gold. In fact, virtually everything in the movie is in gold color - costumes, palaces, vehicles, weapons, armors and even armors for horses. It is an golden empire about to collapse.
Related stories: THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Opening Ceremony (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 24, 2006Spy Photos of THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set (Sina.com) February 23, 2006A Star Will Born in THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 22, 2006THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Shooting Begins Tomorrow (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 21, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS in Lavish Preproduction (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 18, 2006Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 13, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005
Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li
Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
August 5, 2005
Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and
Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
June 27,
2005 |
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Director Jia Zhangke Is Running Three Projects (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 27, 2006 |
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During an online chat last week, Chinese director Jia Zhangke said he was working on three projects at the same time. The first one is San Xia Hao Ren (literal: Decent People of the Three Gorges). A drama about a man and a woman who went travel to the Three Gorges area of China's Long River (Yangtze River). The man was a miner, whose "wife" he purchased was rescued by the police and 16 years later, he left home and found her. They fell in love and decided to get married for real. The woman is a nurse, who traveled to the Three Gorges to search for her husband. After she found out that her husband was no longer the man she knew, she decided to devoice him. Post-production is expected to end sometime this year and no release day is given. Jia's second project is a documentary titled Dong (literal: East), which is about a traveling story of painter Liu Xiaodong. Filming of the documentary in the Three Gorges had completed before San Xia Hao Ren was launched. Jia is now working on the filming in Bangkok. Jia's third project, a new drama titled Ci Qing Shi Dai (literal: The Age of Tattoo) would go into production by the end of this year. It is based on the same name novel by Su Tong and is about a story of several teenage gangsters in a small Southern Chinese town during the final years of the Cultural Revolution (1966 - 1976). The only cast member now confirmed is Zhao Tao, the only female lead in all movies Jia has made. Belongs to a group called "The Sixth Generation Chinese Directors", Jia Zhangke is known for telling stories of ordinary working class people in the drastically changing society. At the 35th Rotterdam International Film Festival, young Chinese director Han Jie's Walking on the Wild Side (Chinese title: Lai the Kid) won one of three VPRO Tiger Awards. It is about three young men on the run while believing they just committed a murder. This film is produced by Jia Zhangke. |
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Hong Kong's Isabella Leung to Star in Spanish Flick (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 26, 2006 |
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According to Hong Kong newspaper Oriental Daily and the Hong Kong Sun, 17 year old Hong Kong actress Isabella Leung will star in an untitled actioner by a Spanish director, who was identified as "Gernan". I could not find the profile for any Spanish director called "Gernan", so this could be a misspell. The story is about a martial-artist (Kenneth Tsang) and his four disciples hunting some treasure. Shooting will carried out in Spain and Shanghai. Leung was cast while attending the world première of his new movie Isabella.
Update: the name of the Spanish director is Germán Monzó (click here for more). Back in early 1980s, he starred in Wheel on Meals along with Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. (Thanks to Tomas W. Rubio.) |
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JASMINE WOMEN and THE MUSIC BOX Both Set for April Release in China (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 25, 2006 |
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Beijing-based Polybona Film Distributing Co. recently decided to release Jasmine Women (Chinese title: Jasmine Blossoms) in China and Singapore by mid-April. Meanwhile Shanghai Film Group Corp. has also announced that The Music Box (Chinese title: The Barber) would be premièred on April 10, the one year death anniversary of the film's director Chen Yifei.
Jasmine Women was shot in 2003, by cinematographer and second time director Hou Yong. It tells an epic three-part story of four generations of women members of a Shanghai family. In 2004, Jasmine Women won the Grand Jury Prize at the 7th Shanghai International Film Festival and for her role in the film Zhang Ziyi was named the Best Actress of the 13th Golden Rooster Awards of China. Four shareholders of the film began fighting for the distribution right two years ago and the conflict was not resolved until earlier this year.
The Music Box was painter Chen Yifei's fourth film. Principal shooting began in November 2002. Just one month later, Jiiang Wen, the male lead walked away from the set and shooting was immediately put on hold. Two full years later, in February 2005, principal shooting resumed with a new male lead, Chen Kun. Director Chen Yifei died suddenly on April 20, just one week shy of the scheduled wrapping day and the film was completed by director Wu Siyuan. The Music Box is about a young Chinese barber's courage for love in war and turmoil from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Related Stories: Monkeypeaches' Most Anticipated Films of 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 1, 2006Leung Chiu-Wai Appointed For A BARBER'S MUSIC BOX / LI FA SHI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 29, 2003 Chen Yifei Halts MUSIC BOX For Leung Chiu-Wai (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) May 4, 2003 |
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THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Opening Ceremony (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 24, 2006 |
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A small ceremony was held on the set of The City of Golden Armor, marking the beginning of the principal production. All major cast members, excluding Jay Chou, attended the ceremony.
Related stories: THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Shooting Begins Tomorrow (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 21, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS in Lavish Preproduction (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 18, 2006Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 13, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005
Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li
Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
August 5, 2005
Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and
Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
June 27,
2005 |
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FEARLESS Official Japanese and Korean Site (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 24, 2006 |
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Images: Jet Li attended Fearless press conference in Seoul - A B C
(Thanks to Jet Liang.) |
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February 23, 2006 |
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A reporter infiltrated into the biggest soundstage of Beijing Film Studios and took these photos, which showed the interior of an imperial palace.
Click here for more spy photos.
Clip: A small opening ceremony (new)
Related stories: THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Shooting Begins Tomorrow (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 21, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS in Lavish Preproduction (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 18, 2006Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 13, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005
Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li
Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
August 5, 2005
Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and
Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
June 27,
2005 |
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Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 23, 2006 |
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Winners of the 12th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards were announced yesterday at a small ceremony in Hong Kong.
Best Film: Election Best Director: Johnny To (Election) Best Screenwriter: Wong Jing (Colour of Truth / Colour of the Loyalty) Best Actor: Leung Kar-Fai (Everlasting Regret) Best Actress: Zhou Xun (Perhaps Love) Recommended Films: Seven Swords, Colour of Truth / Colour of the Loyalty, Crazy N' the City, Initial D, S.P.L., Home Sweet Home, Perhaps Love, Everlasting Regret |
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Hong Kong Actor Tung Piu Passed Away at Age of 73 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 23, 2006 |
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Hong Kong actor Tung Piu (Bill Tung) died yesterday of lung failure. In fact, acting was only a hobby of his and his life was closely related to horses. Born at a Hong Kong stable in 1933, Tung Piu began to ride at 9 and became a jockey at 12. Like his father and grandfather, he was also an excellent horse trainer. In 1967, Tung began hosting horse-race shows for local TV and radio stations. In the 1970, he began taking cameo roles in film and TV series and by late 1990s he had appeared in over 60 movies and hundreds hours of TV shows. The police chiefs in Jackie Chan's Project A sequel and Police Story series were the most noticeable roles he played. |
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A Star Will Born in THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 22, 2006 |
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Beijing New Picture Film Co. has revealed the identity of the last major cast member of Zhang Yimou's The City of Golden Armor, 17 year old Li Man, and her photo has appeared on Sina.com. She will play character who falls in love with the older prince. Li is currently a student at Beijing Drama Academy, the same school both Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi attended. Zhang Yimou is known for casting young women with little acting experience and making them household names instantly.
Related stories: THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Shooting Begins Tomorrow (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 21, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS in Lavish Preproduction (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 18, 2006Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 13, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005
Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li
Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
August 5, 2005
Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and
Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
June 27,
2005 |
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THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Shooting Begins Tomorrow (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 21, 2006 |
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In a letter sent to the Chinese media today, Beijing New Picture Film Co. has revealed that shooting of this film will begin tomorrow at Beijing Film Studios. The first scene will be made at a palace interior built inside a soundstage. Both Chow Yun-Fat, playing the emperor, and Gong Li, playing the empress, will be in the scene. Chow Yun-Fat arrived in Beijing yesterday with a very nicely trimmed beard. Click here for a picture of Chow Yun-Fat at Beijing Capital Airport yesterday (Taken by Oriental Morning Post). According to IMDB, this film's English title is The City of Golden Armor and its Chinese title remains as Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia (To Fill the City with Golden Armors). If I were to pick an English title for it, I would simply called it "Golden". Any thought?
Related stories: Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 13, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 2 9, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005
Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li
Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
August 5, 2005
Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and
Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece?
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
June 27,
2005 |
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February 20, 2006 |
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According to a note dropped to Aintitcool.com, director Ang Lee told a Spanish newspaper that he was producing the film version of Marvel Comics series of The Hands of Shang-Chi. About three years ago, we heard the news that Yuen Wo-Ping joined the project as the director and then everything went quiet until now. The character of Shang-Chi was created in 1971 when Bruce Lee was becoming popular in the States. The film will tell the story of Shang-Chi, a young martial-art master, who must battle a dangerous criminal, his own father. In the original comic series, Shang-Chi's father was Fu Manchu, a character racially created by the Hollywood in the early 20th Century.
Click here for the story by AICN. Related Story: Yuen Wo-Ping To Direct HANDS OF SHANG CHI, A Marvel Comics Adaptation (Hollywood.com) April 16, 2002 |
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Ang Lee's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Sweeps BAFTA with Four Wins (BAFTA.co.uk) |
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February 20, 2006 |
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Ang Lee's little love story Brokeback Mountain has become the biggest winner of British Academy of Film and Television Arts party last night, by collecting four awards - Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay (by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana), Best Director for Ang Lee and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Jake Gyllenhaal. Three time BAFTA nominee Zhang Ziyi loses her bid for the Best Actress. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2001, Best Actress for House of Flying Daggers last year and Best Actress for Memories of a Geisha this year. Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle also fails to become the best Film Not in the English Language.
Click here for the complete winners' list. Related stories: Ang Lee's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Receives Eight Oscar Nominations (Oscar.com) January 31, 2006British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Nomination List (BAFTA.co.uk) January 19, 2006Ang Lee's BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Collected Four Golden Globes (...) January 16, 2006 |
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John Woo's THE BATTLE OF RED CLIFF May Go into Production This Fall (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 19, 2006 |
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Production of John Woo's ambitious epic war story The Battle of Red Cliff is expected to begin this September. According to this project's Chinese partner Poly Huayi Media, shooting will be done entirely in the mainland China and possible locations include Beijing, Dali region of Hubei Province, Red Cliff of Hubei Province and Hengdian World Studios of Zhejiang Province. Yuen Wo-Ping has basically agreed to take the responsibility of action director. Actors like Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins, The Last Samurai), Leung Chiu-Wai (2046, Infernal Affairs) and Colin Chou (Fearless, The Matrix Reloaded) are in talk to play some of major roles. Mainland Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu (Seven Swords, Peacock) and Taiwan-born ex-supermodel Lin Chiling are rumored to join the cast.
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February 19, 2006 |
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Jet Li's Fearless is going to get a treatment of wide release in North America, according to D. Mac (aka. "Antibody") and BoxOfficeMojo.com. Focus Features, which owns the rights for North American market, has planned to released it on August 4th (updated) this year through its genre division, Rouge Pictures. Fearless tells a largely fictitious life-story of a real person, Chinese martial-art master Huo Yuanjia, who became a symbol of nationalism at the turn of the 20th Century. Fearless is believed to be Jet Li's last of wu shu movies, i.e. movies with deep philosophical meanings, but Jet Li has promised to continue making more kung fu movies, i.e. movies only shows martial-art on the big screen for entertainment purpose.
(Thanks to PY Kong.)
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ISABELLA Captured a Silver Bear at Berlinale (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 18, 2006 |
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Hong Kong director Edmond Pang (aka. Ping Ho-Cheung)'s stylish comedy Isabella has been rewarded with a Silver Bear for Best Film Music and mainland Chinese director Zhang Yuan's kindergarten drama Little Red Flowers has received the Prix Art et Essai by Confédération internationale des Cinémas d'Art et Essai (CICAE). Isabella tells how a lonely cop tries to make up to his daughter he abandoned years ago and now suddenly shows up. Composer Peter Kam has created scores for over two dozen titles productions, including Perhaps Love, One Night in Mongkok and Lost in Time. Little Red Flowers follows a young boy's story of straggling to fit into a little society at a kindergarten in the 1960's Beijing. Isabella had the world premiere at Berlinale and Little Red Flowers has also been shown at the Sundance Film Festival. Neither film has been officially released anywhere around the world.
Related Stories: Review: Isabella, by Derek Elley, Variety Trailer: Isabella Review: Little Red Flowers, by Derek Elley, Variety Zhang Yuan's LITTLE RED FLOWERS Premièred at Sundance (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 30, 2006Trailer: Zhang Yuan's LITTLE RED FLOWERS / KAN SHANG QÜ HEN MEI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 8, 2005
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reproduction (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | |||||
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February 18, 2006 |
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According to several Chinese newspapers, there are about 3000 workers are now working on the preparation of the movie at Hengdian World Studios. Some big scenes will be shot at the sector which contains full-scale replicas of all major buildings of Beijing's Forbidden City. Certain level of modifications on these building are needed because the Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace compound during the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, was built in the 14th Century and the story of the movie occurred during the Tang Dynasty (7th - 9th Century). The architectural styles of these two periods are different. Three walls decorated with large numbers of frescoes are in construction and at the center of the courtyard in front of the replicated Hall of Supreme Harmony, a large size and round shape stage is being built. About 3 million gold color chrysanthemum flowers and about 1.1fake chrysanthemum flowers have been ordered to fill the replicated Forbidden City. The production team has promised to properly dispose these flowers after the shooting is done. They will be put for other uses, which will cause no harm to the environment. About 20,000 suits of armors have been manufactured for the imperial soldiers and horses. The art department built four combat vehicles, each of which is 6 meters long and 2 meters wide. Number of such vehicles will be increased to 40 through CG effect. In this historical epic, Chow Yun-Fat will play the Emperor, Gong Li will play the Empress, Liu Ye will play the older prince Yuanxiang, Jay Chow will play the younger prince Yuanchao and an unidentified young actress will play Jiang E. Shooting will begin next Monday or Tuesday inside a soundstage at Beijing Film Studios.
Related stories: Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 13, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 5, 2005 Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2005 |
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Opening This Week: February 11 - 17, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 17, 2006 |
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A romance started with a tablet of aspirin, a wrongfully accused man explores his afterlife, a super intelligent kid escapes a lab he calls home, a young man has to face the fact that his fiancée only has one week to live, and a young lady was told that her destiny is to become a kung fu master...
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February 16, 2006 |
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Two hit men are sent to Macao to execute a man and two other men arrive the city to stop them. It turns out that five of them worked together in the same mission several years ago in Hong Kong. This is the setup of Exiled, by which Johnny To intends to tell more stories of the characters he created for The Mission.
Related story: Johnny To Makes EXILED, a Sequel to THE MISSION of His (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 3, 2006 |
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February 15, 2006 |
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This image shows a large portion of the teaser poster appeared at the Berlin International Film Festival. It shows a lady walking in a street alone. Some kind of menu is written on the window glass and a bullet hole is visible on the right. The elevated rail line makes it looks more like a street in New York or Chicago, rather than Shanghai. Story of Lady from Shanghai is set at multiple locations around the world and Shanghai is only one of several cities to be featured in the film. Part of the URL of the official site is also reveal on the poster - www.ladyfromshanghai.com. Also according to World Entertainment News Network, Rachel Weisz just said that she would play a pregnant woman in the film and she would not have to "hide her bump". (click here) Since Lady from Shanghai has already been postponed to next year, her pregnancy will not be a matter any more. |
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Update on Wong Kar-Wai's THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI AND the Katrina Project (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 14, 2006 |
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Wong Kar-Wai has decided to postpone the production of The Lady from Shanghai to 2007 and shift his focus on the hurricane Katrina project. A teaser poster of The Lady from Shanghai has appeared during the Berlin Film Festival. Someone from a French distribution company said Wong had difficulty of casting the right leading man to work with Nicole Kidman. For the Katrina project, singer Norah Jones was mentioned as the choice for female lead and the rumor of Adrian Brody playing the male lead was denied.
Related stories: |
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Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 13, 2006 |
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According to Shanghai Youth Daily, Taiwan-born singer Jay Chou has been cast to play a supporting role in Zhang Yimou's upcoming period epic Golden Armors (Fill the City with Golden Armors). Reportedly, he will play the son of the emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) and the empress (Gong Li). Jay Chou just had his acting début last year in the silver screen version of Japanese comic series Initial D.
Related stories: GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 5, 2005 Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2005 |
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THE PROMISE / WU JI Premièred in Berlin (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 13, 2006 |
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Chen Kaige's fantasy flick Wu Ji / The Premise's European première was held yesterday in Berlin. It was screened out of competition at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival.
Snapshots: the première The press conference
Warner Independent Pictures (WiP) has picked up the North American rights to the movie, dumped by The Weinstein Co. last December. WiP has planned a May release of the 102 minute version, which was edited from the original 121 minute version by The Weinstein Co. (Thanks to PY Kong.)
Wu Ji / The Promise official French website (Thanks to Eric Driutti.)
Related stories: Warner Independent nabs rights to Chen's 'Promise', by Adam Dawtrey, Variety (Berlinale.de) February 2, 2006Berlin Film Festival Program, Partial (Berlinale.de) January 22, 2006 |
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February 12, 2006 |
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The featurette has been shown at the Berlin International Film Festival. It contains several shots from the film and interviews with director Feng Xiaogang, production designer Tim Yip, composer Tan Dun, action director Yuen Wo-Ping and cast member Zhang Ziyi and Daniel Wu.
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Alec Baldwin to Hunt Japanese War Criminals in THE FORBIDDEN CITY (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 12, 2006 |
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The pre-production thriller The Forbidden City (working title) was officially announced during a press conference held last Friday in Beijing. Jointly produced by Merlin Media (Beijing), US producer Pieter Kroonenburg's company and UK-based The 8th Workshop (?), The Forbidden City will tell a story of the Chinese and the American working together to capture Japanese war criminals in 1949. American poet and Tai-Chi instructor Don Ethan Miller penned the script based on an "American novel" only known as "The Last Minister" in Chinese. Produced by Pieter Kroonenburg, The Forbidden City will be helmed by Russian-born director Andrei Konchalovsky (House of Fools, Runaway Train). Alec Baldwin is believed to have agreed to take the lead role. South Korean stars Lee Yeon-Ae, Jun Ji-Hyun or son ye jin have been contacted for to playing the female lead. Several mainland Chinese actors, including Sun Honglei and Xia Yu, are currently in negotiation to join the cast. The US$15 million movie will be shot entirely in China but only one scene will be made inside the Forbidden City. Shooting is expected to begin this May and release days around the world are aimed at 2007. |
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JASMINE WOMEN May Finally Hit Theaters This Year (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 11, 2006 |
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Chinese movie Jasmine Women (aka. Mo Li Hua Kai / Jasmine Flowers / Jasmine Blossoms), starring Zhang Ziyi and Joan Chen, may finally be released some time this year, according to newspaper The Beijing News. Jasmine Women was shot in 2003, by cinematographer and second time director Hou Yong, and due to some conflict of interest among rights owners, the film's domestic and international releases have been put on hold for more than two years. In 2004, Jasmine Women won the Grand Jury Prize at the 7th Shanghai International Film Festival and for her role in the film Zhang Ziyi was named the Best Actress of the 13th Golden Rooster Awards of China. Beijing-based Poly Bona Films has promised to release it in the mainland China this year. This three year old film will not get a straight-to-video treatment, largely thanks to Zhang Ziyi's growing popularity. Sales in other parts of Asia are almost done. It will be released in Hong Kong this April and in South Korea and Japan this September. At the current Berlin International Film Festival, a special promotion has been carried out by Arclight Films. A screening will be held tomorrow at Berlin's CineStar. (click here and here for detail) Another Chinese title being promoted by the company is The Road. Jasmine Women tells an epic three-part story of four generations of women members of a Shanghai family. In the 1930s episode, Zhang Ziyi plays Mo and Joan Chen plays her mother; in the 1950s episode, Zhang Ziyi plays Mo's daughter, Li, and Joan Chen plays the mid-age Mo; and in the 1980s episode, Zhang Ziyi plays Li's adopted daughter, Hua and Joan Chen plays the old-age Mo. Together, "Mo Li Hua" means "jasmine flower" and "Mo Li Hua Kai" means "jasmine flower blossoms".
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Opening This Week: February 4 - 10, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 10, 2006 |
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A ticket-seller and a driver who have worked on the same bus for three decades, a young housewife who decides to try her luck on the big screen, a Chinese man and a Korean woman who fall in love on the dancing floor, a 60 year old woman who accomplishes his 35 year old mentally challenged son to a small train station...
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The 25th Hong Kong Film Awards Nomination, Partial List (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 9, 2006 |
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The list with nominees for the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards was released yesterday. Peter Chan's musical Perhaps Love and Tsui Hark's martial-art epic Seven Swords both received 11 nods. Johnny To's gangster drama Election and Andrew Lau / Alan Mak's comic adaptation Initial D each has 10 nominations. Stanley Kwan's period drama Everlasting Regret has nominations in 6 categories, including all 4 acting categories. Mainland Chinese director Chen Kaige's fantasy flick The Promise picks up nominations in 5 technical categories. The award ceremony will be held April 8.
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SEVEN SWORDS Sequel in Production Later This Year (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 9, 2006 |
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Shanghai newspaper Jiefang Daily reports the sequel to Seven Swords will begin by the end of this year. The original Seven Swords, was based on the first two chapters of Liang Yu-Sheng's wuxia novel Seven Swords Leave Mt. Heaven. Director Tsui Hark has planned to adapt the book into seven movies. Seven Swords has been criticized for telling a story without any focus but Tsui said that was because the movie was only the beginning of a complex story. In the first movie, seven swords masters saved hundreds of villagers from being massacred by mercenaries of the new dynasty. In the rest of the series, seven sword masters fight their way to Beijing to meet the emperor and only find out the young monarch has no real power and is tired of being a puppet ruler. |
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DRAGON TIGER GATE Official Site Launched (DragonTigerGateMovie.com) |
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February 8, 2006 |
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Hong Kong's Mandarin Films has launched the official site of Donnie Yen's new martial-art film Dragon Tiger Gate. Now it is only available in traditional Chinese. Click here.
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2 BECOME 1 Poster Stirs Controversy in Hong Kong (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 7, 2006 |
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The original poster of 2 Become I, a Hong Kong movie takes on the subject of women's breast cancer, has been denied being displayed in Hong Kong's subway system. The poster shows a computer altered photography of a woman's upper torso. MTR Corporation, which runs Hong Kong's subway system, concluded the poster was not suitable for the public and banned it from all subway stations, which were traditionally the most important locations for displaying movie posters in the city. Posters with a more traditional design, showing portraits of two leads are now in display in the subway system. However, reaction to the breasts version in the mainland China is quite different. The Chinese Film Bureau, which is in charge of movie censorship, has praised the design for its social value. The film's mainland Chinese distributor, Beijing Poly Bona Films, intents to use the breasts design in various promotional materials but the main poster design is stills the portrait version. Adapted from woman writer Sai Sai's novel Mourning for Breasts (literal title), 2 Become 1 ( Chinese title: Born as Pair) was written by veteran screenwriter Ivy Ho. It was directed by Law Wing-Cheong and produced by Johnny To. 2 Become 1 tells an elementary school teacher (Miriam Yeung) discovers she has breast cancer and seeks counseling from a doctor (Richie Ren). |
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Mainland Chinese Director Wang Binglin Died (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 7, 2006 |
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Born in 1949, Wang Binglin is best know for writing and directing the first two installments of The Father and the Son, the most popular comedy series in the mainland China during the 1980s. Wang graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 1966 and was assigned to work for Beijing Film Studios. From 1982 to his dead, he wrote dozens of scripts for movies and TV series and directed most of them personally. |
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February 6, 2006 |
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Related Stories: PROJECT BB Is Under Way in Hong Kong (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 16, 2006Jackie Chan Engages in Baby-Kidnapping PROJECT BB (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 2, 2006 |
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Wong Kar-Wai Will Do Hurricane Katrina Inspired Movie (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 5, 2006 |
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Hong Kong's Apple Daily reports that Wong Kar-Wai is planning to make a drama based on moving true events in New Orleans when the city was attacked by hurricane Katrina last year. Wong is hoping to cast Adrian Brody as the leading man but Brody will not make the commitment before reading the final script, which Wong is still working on. Wong just completed a location scout in and around New Orleans but producers of the film concluded that the damage in New Orleans was still too severe and decided to shoot the $50 million project largely in New York with a small number of shots to be made in the real New Orleans. Wong Kar-Wai is famous for shooting movies with briefly written scripts or even no script at all. He is also known for finalizing movie projects at painfully low speeds. He spent almost five years on the production and post-production of his last movie, 2046. Wong Kar-Wai is still attached to make The Lady from Shanghai with Nicole Kidman and a biopic of Ye Wen, Bruce Lee's trainer, with Leung Chou-Wai. |
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February 4, 2006 |
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Shooting of Jackie Chan's baby-napping movie Project BB continues in Hong Kong. In this particular scene, Jackie Chan and his sidekick are chased by members of more than one gangs. Actors involved in the scene also include Ken Lo, Hayama Go and the little baby. Filming will not wrap up until next month with more "big scenes" to shoot.
Click here for more photos from the location.
Related Stories: PROJECT BB Is Under Way in Hong Kong (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 16, 2006Jackie Chan Engages in Baby-Kidnapping PROJECT BB (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 2, 2006 |
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Opening This Week: January 28 - February. 3, 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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February 3, 2006 |
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A young boy has to rebuild his self-esteem through a race...
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February 2, 2006 |
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The complete schedule of this year's Berlin International Film Festival is now available at the official site.
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Returns to HUSTLE in July, According to Yue Qiu (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) | ||||
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February 1, 2006 |
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Yue Qiu, who played the landlady in Kung Fu Hustle, said shooting of the sequel would begin in July, according to some newspaper in China. She said the project was very well on track and the rumor about Stephen Chow's next project, in which he plays an astronaut helping an alien kid returning home, was completely bogus. There has been many rumors about the sequel and few of them are confirmed true. Stephen Chow has rarely talked about about the developing of the sequel project.
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