News Archives

  
 

August 2006

  

 

 SHA PO LANG II and PO JUN Are Two Different Films (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)  

 

August 31, 2006

  

(ABBA Movies Co. Ltd.)
 

Sha Po Lang II will be a prequel to Sha Po Lang (called "Kill Zone" in the USA) and all four leads, Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Simon Yam and Wu Jing, will resume their roles in the prequel, producer Paco Wong told Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily. This prequel project is not the same as Po Jun, which will also star Donnie Yen. Wong said shooting would begin right after the coming Chinese New Year early next year. He also said he would make the prequel less brutal and the fight sequences more exiting, as an effort to satisfied the mainland Chinese film administrators. The original Sha Po Lang is not allowed to be shown at mainland Chinese theaters because the Chinese censors are displeased by some brutal scenes of it. Sha Po Lang is about two cops, played by Donnie Yen and Simon Yam, fighting a ruthless crime lord, played by Sammo Hung, and a cold-blooded killer, played by Wu Jing. The prequel will dig deeper into the relationship among them.

 

Related stories:

Donnie Yen and Louis Koo for SHA PO LANG Sequel - PO JUN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 11, 2006

Donnie Yen Talks about SHA PO LANG 2 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 14, 2006

S.P.L. Official Japanese Website and Poster (DonnyYen.net) January 13, 2006

Official S.P.L. Website (ShaPoLangTheMovie.com) November 17, 2005

SPL / SHA PO LANG Trailer No. 2 (DonnieYen.net) August 23, 2005

SPL (SHA PO LANG) Promotional Stills (CinemAsie.com) June 26, 2005

SPL (SHA PO LANG) Trailer (DonnieYen.net) March 18, 2005

Sammo Hung Vs. Donnie Yen In SHA PO LANG (DonnieYen.net) October 31, 2004

More About SHA PO LANG (DonnieYen.us) September 23, 2004

Stills Of SHA PO LANG, A New All-Star Hong Kong Martial-Art Production (DonnieYen.net / hkfilmart.com)

September 11, 2004

  
 

 

 CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER International Teaser (Sony Pictures Classics)  

 

August 30, 2006

  

(Sony Pictures Classics)
 

Sony Pictures Classics has put up a page with an international teaser trailer for Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower, formerly known as The City of Golden Armor. Loosely based on a play by Cao Yu, Curse of the Golden Flower tells the story of an imperial family, which is slowly falling apart from the inside. The page by Sony Pictures Classics shows Chow Yun-Fat as the emperor (right), Gong Li as the empress (mid), Jay Chou as the second oldest prince (2nd from the left) and Qin Junjie as the youngest prince (left). Liu Ye plays the oldest prince, who sits on the right of the emperor, is cut off from the picture.

 

Click here for the teaser. (Thanks to "Marla" of AdmiringGongLi.com)

Downloadable version of the teaser. (Thanks to "Naveen")

Trailer recap:

(Beware of spoilers! Highlight to read.)

"Coming to theaters this Charismas" - this means theaters in both North America and China. Take a closer look - there is a chrysanthemum flower behind the words.

Sony Pictures Classics logo - Sony is releasing it in the entire American continent, except Cuba.

The imperial palace, filled with 250,000 (fake) chrysanthemum flowers and hundreds of imperial guards. The emperor has ordered a grand ceremony on the day of Chong Yang. This scene was shot at a near exact replica of Beijing's Forbidden City, located at Hengdian World Studios.

Empress Gong Li is climbing the stairs with Prince Liu Ye (2nd from the left), Prince Jay Chou (right) and Prince Qin Junjie (left).

Emperor Chow Yun-Fat is sitting at the center of the terrace, slowly opening his eyes. arrogant and mean!

"From Zhang Yimou, director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers" - most people knows him from this two films.

Inside the palace (built inside the largest soundstage of Beijing Film Studios), Prince Liu Ye is backing up while ten golden armor guards are walking toward someone. But who?

Black suit assassins with oversized sickles are coming and Emperor Chow is not even moving! Right, they are the emperor's men.

"Chow Yun-Fat, from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Killer." - Thanks for not mentioning Bulletproof Monk.

A close-up look of Empress Gong - Still gorgeous!

"Gong Li, from Memoirs of A Geisha and Raise the Red Lantern and Miami Vice." - Miami Vice? Quick thinking.

The imperial couple, wearing nothing but gold - lavish costumes.

His Majesty says, "come!" and Prince Chou, in full armor, pulls his sword.

Golden armor guards are clashing with black suit assassins.

Outside, thousands of rebelling soldiers are storming at the palace, while inside, Emperor Chow is fighting Prince Chou - Chow Yun-Fat with sword! Haven't seen that for a while!

Prince Liu Ye is chasing an assassin.

More fight with emperor and his son.

Empress Gong Li is looking back.

Prince Liu Ye is catching up the assassin.

Outside the palace, black suits are striking the rebelling soldiers - multiple wireworks.

A close-up of Li Man, a court maid, who is in love with Prince Liu Ye.

Rebelling soldiers are charging.

Prince Liu Ye is making a punch.

Emperor Chow is raising his head.

Prince Chu is pulling out his sword. Again?

More fight with emperor and his son.

Prince Liu Ye is comforting his girlfriend.

Emperor Chow is now fighting the rebelling pikemen alone.

The palace is under attack! - very interesting siege warfare.

Gong Li - mysterious look.

Chow Yun-Fat - a lion is awakening.

Curse of the Golden Flowers

www.curseofthegoldenflowermovie.com

 

More about Curse of the Golden Flower

  
 

 

 PROTÉGÉ Plot Summary (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)  

 

August 30, 2006

  

(TungStar)
 

Inspired by a number of true stories, Protégé is about drug, how it is produced, how it is trafficked and how it is consumed. According to TungStar, Daniel Wu plays Ah Lik, who has been the protégé and named successor of drug lord Brother Gwan (Andy Lau) for eight years. Gwan, who controls the entire heroin market of Hong Kong, has never told Ah Lik where the drug was manufactured and stored and never let him meet other members of the drug ring. Until one day, Gwan decides to retire and begins telling Ah Lik everything he need to know. Director Yee Tung-Shing is now in Chiang Mai of northern Thailand shooting a scene of Gwan introducing Ah Lik to a local drug cartel.

Related stories:

PROTÉGÉ Press Conference Photos from Hong Kong (Sina.com.cn / OriSun.com) August 4, 2006

PROTÉGÉ Production Photos (Oriental Daily / The Hong Kong Sun) August 3, 2006

Andy Lau as a Drug Lord in PROTÉGÉ (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 12, 2006

Andy Lau Gets PROTÉGÉ, Heads to BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 18, 2006

Peter Chan Talks Future Projects - PROTÉGÉ, BLOOD BROTHER Remake and More of THE EYE Series (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 13, 2006

  
 

 

 THE PAINTED VEIL Release Dates (...)  

 

August 30, 2006

  

(Warner Independent Pictures)
 

Warner Brothers has announced The Painted Veil will be released in NY and LA on December 15 this year under the banner of Warner Independent Pictures. Warner's Chinese branch, Warner China Film HG Corp., which co-produced this film in China, has also said it will release it in Chinese theaters a few weeks ahead of the US release date. However, this period drama still needs the approval of Chinese film censors. Also, it is very likely that only a dubbed version of the film will be released in China (Ellen Eliasoph from Warner China Film HG Corp. says both original and dubbed versions will be released in China). Based on the same name novel by W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil tells a woman (Naomi Watts), whose husband (Edward Norton) ignores her in favor of his medical research, begins a journey of self-discovery while fighting a cholera epidemic with her husband in China. It also stars Anthony Wong and Xiao Yu.


Related stories:

THE PAINTED VEIL Posters (Sina.com) June 11, 2006

THE PAINTED VEIL Set Photo: Naomi Watts (Sina.com) October 29, 2005

Clip: Edward Norton Talks about THE PAINTED VEIL (Sina.com) October 9, 2005

Stills: THE PAINTED VEIL (Sina.com) October 1, 2005

Wong Chau-Sang Joints THE PAINTED VEIL Remake and Jiang Wen's THE SUN RISES AGAIN

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 13, 2005

THE PAINTED VEIL Remake Will Go into Production this Month in Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 3, 2005

  
 

 

 John Woo Singed RED CLIFF Deal with China Film Group (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)  

 

August 29, 2006

  

John Woo (back-middle), Han Sanping (front-left) and Terrence Chang (front-right).

(Sina.com.cn)

(More shots: A B)
 

Yesterday John Woo and producer Terrence Chang's Lion Rock Production signed a deal with China Film Group, headed by Han Sanping, over jointly producing historical war drama The Battle of  Red Cliff. Asian Union Film and Media has dropped out of the film project and has begun pushing for a TV version of the same subject. The battle occurred in A.D. 208, during the final days of China's Han Dynasty. In the battle fought by over one million soldiers, two warlords, Liu Bei and Sun Quan, set up an alliance and defeated the army led by invading warlord Cao Cao from the north. In Red Cliff, on the southern bank of Long River (Yangtze River), the allied force launched a surprise attack and torched Cao Cao's mighty fleet and camps on the northern bank. The movie is based on classic Chinese novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Set construction has already begun in Yi County (Hebei Province), about 120 km southwest of Beijing and about 1000 km north of the real Red Cliff. A local reservoir will be used to double for Long River. Works on costumes, miniatures and special effects  have also started since February. Four US-based effect companies have been selected to do the CG shots. For the war epic, Woo will set up six units to shoot different scenes simultaneously. John Woo said the cast only has three members, Chow Yun-Fat, Leung Chiu-Wai and Taiwanese supermodel Lin Chi-Ling. Casting of other role will be finalized once the script is done. Lion Rock covers up to 70% of the film's total budget, which is over US$50 million, and the rest of the cost is shared by several Chinese investors. Production will begin by March next year.

 

More about The Battle of Red Cliff

  
 

 

 Stephen Chow's LONG RIVER 7 Now in Production (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)  

 

August 28, 2006

  

(Xinhua News Agency)
 

Shooting of Stephen Chow's Long River 7 (literal title) just began yesterday at an elementary school in Ningbo City of eastern China, according to local newspaper Xian Dai Jin Bo. Due to some very successful security measure, the paper did not get anything about the actual filming except a few pictures of the school before the filming and several young actors arriving the location by bus. Long River, called Yangtze River in the lower reach, is China's longest and world's third longest river. "Long River 7" is actually referring to a Chinese satellite, inspired by China's Shenzhou manned space program.

 

More pictures: A  B

  
 

 

 THE BANQUET Making-of Clips (TheBanquetTheMovie.com)  

 

August 27, 2006

  

(H. Brothers)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The official website, by Hong Kong's Media Asia, has been updated with a series of making-of videos.

 

More about The Banquet

  
 

 

 ROGUE Shots (Lions Gate Entertainment)  

 

August 26, 2006

  

(Lions Gate Entertainment)
 

A promotional still with Jet Li, released by Lions Gate Entertainment,  looks almost identical to the box cover of Li's Fist of Legend. Click here for another shot with Jason Statham. (Thanks to Jet Liang of jetlicn.com.)

 

Related stories:

Rogue set visit reports: A B C (RottenTomatoes.com)

Jet Li Talks about ROGUE (Joblo.com) April 29, 2006

Set Report about Jet Li's ROGUE (ComingSoon.net) April 21, 2006

Jet Li Photos from ROGUE Set (AmouaRose.com) April 6, 2006

Pics from Jet Li's ROGUE (JoBlo.com) May 12, 2006

Will Jet Li Reunite with Jason Stantham in ROGUE? (Production Weekly) January 19, 2006

  
 

 

 Opening This Week: August 19 - 25 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)  

 

August 25, 2006

  
Don't Love the Stranger

(Yen Ping Films)

A woman shrink establishes a dangerous relationship with wealthy man, who is the sole suspect for a murder...

 

Click here for detail

  
 

 

THE BANQUET: Three More Final Posters (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 24, 2006

  

Zhang Ziyi

Zhou Xun and

Daniel Wu

Zhang Ziyi

and Danel Wu
(H. Brothers)

More about The Banquet

 		 
 

 

Stephen Chow Announces LONG RIVER 7, Officially (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 24, 2006

  
(Sina.com.cn)  
   

It is official - Stephen Chow's next project will be Long River 7 (literal title) as announced at a press conference today in Beijing. This US$20 million sci-fi project will go into production later this month. Stephen Chow refused to reveal the story but vaguely said something about alien and dinosaur. He also said the title "Long River 7" is actually referring to a Chinese satellite, inspired by China's Shenzhou manned space program. The mission of Shenzhou 6 has completed last year and Shenzhou 7 is set to launch in 2008, a year after the scheduled release of Long River 7. Chow said it would have more CG effects than any movie he had done and he promised there would be something new to see. Little known young actress Zhang Yuqi is picked as the female lead and Lam Chi-Chung plays the second male character, a kung fu master.

 

Title photos:

Left - (L to R): Zhang Yuqi, Stephen Chow and Lam Chi-Chung.

Right - (L to R): Lam Chi-Chung, ?, Han Sanping (president to China Film Group), Zhang Yuqi, Stephen Chow, ?, ?, ?.

 

Click here for more photos.

 

Related stories:

Stephen Chow Postpones KUNG FU HUSTLE 2 for a Space Adventure (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 16, 2006

Stephen Chow to Start Making THE ALIENS Next Month? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2006

  
 

 

Rob Minkoff Got to Direct the Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 24, 2006

  
(WB, ?)
 

Looks like Peter Jackson is not attached to the Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project (aka. The J&J Project). Disappointed? Relieved? According to Chinese newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily, Han Sanping, president of China Film Group, which is expected to co-produce the project, just said the movie would be directed by Rob Minkoff (The Haunted Mansion, Stuart Little 2, Stuart Little, The Lion King). The J&J Project is about a New York kid travels to the ancient China to rescue the Monkey King and to learn the true meaning of Kung Fu. This project, in which Jackie Chan and Jet Li will work together for the first time ever, It is primary a kid movie so Minkoff sounds like a perfect choice.

 

Related stories:

The Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project to Be Directed by Peter Jackson? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 12, 2006

Rumored Plot of the Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 9, 2006

The Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project Will Tell a Journey to the West-Inspired Story? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

Jackie Chan's Update on the Long-Awaited Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project (AP) August 1, 2006

  
 

 

Toronto International Film Festival Line-up (tiffg.ca)

  

 

August 24, 2006

  

 

CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA

 
(Laurel Films)
 

Summer Palace / Yi He Yuan

 

Mainland Chinese director Lou Ye's unique view on the drastically changing Chinese society in the 1980s and 1990s through the eyes of two young lovers. Premičred at Cannes Film Festival in May, one of the candidate bidding for the Golden Palm, Summer Palace is now outlawed in its home country China for not passing the censorship review.

 

Written and directed by LOU Ye; starring HAO Lei, GUO Xiaodong, BAI Xueyun, CUI Lin, DUAN Long, HU Ling, LE Chi, ZHANG Xianmin.

 

More about Summer Palace.

 

 

DISCOVERY

 
(Han Culture)
 

Bliss / Fu Sheng / The Bitter Life (literal title)


Written and directed by Beijing-born Sheng Zhimin, Bliss is a new low-budget drama about the struggling life of a lower working-class family in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing. Bliss has been picked up by festivals in Busan, South Korea and  Locarno, Switzerland.

 

Written by FENG Xiaogang, SHENG Hexuan, Tai An-PING CHIU; directed by FENG Xiaogang; starring ZHANG Ziyi, GE You, Daniel WU, ZHOU Xun, HUANG Xiaoming, MA Jingwu.

 

Stills: A B C

 

 

 

GALA PRESENTATIONS

 
(H. Brothers)

The Banquet / Ye Yan / The Night Banquet (literal title)

 

Heavyweight Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's Hamlet-inspired period drama will make its North American premičre in Toronto and its European premičre in Venice in September.

 

Written and directed by LOU Ye; starring HAO Lei, GUO Xiaodong, BAI Xueyun, CUI Lin, DUAN Long, HU Ling, LE Chi, ZHANG Xianmin.

 

More about The Banquet

 

 


 MOZART'S VISIONARY CINEMA: NEW CROWNED HOPE

 
(Fortissimo Films)

I Don't Want to Sleep Alone / Hei Yanquan / Dark Eye Sockets (literal title)

 

Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang's another abnormal erotic film to be premičred in both Toronto and Venice.

 

Directed by TSAI Ming-Liang; starring LEE Kang-Sheng, CHEN Siang-Chyi, Norman BIN Atun.

 

More about I Don't Want to Sleep Alone.


 

 

 

 

REAL TO REEL

 
(?)

Dong

 

Chinese director Jia Zhangke's documentary Dong, about artist Liu Xiaodong's journey to The Three Gorges of China and Thailand. This documentary will also be screen at Venice Festival.

 



 

 

 


SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

 
(Media Asia)
 

Exiled / Fang ˇ Zhu / Freed, Expelled

 

Hong Kong director Johnnie To's follow-up to his acclaimed The Mission, which is also set for a premičre in Venice.

 

Directed by Johnnie TO; starring Anthony WONG, Francis NG, Nick CHEUNG, Richie JEN, Josie HO.

 

Related stories:

EXILED Poster Design (Media Asia) February 16, 2006

Johnny To Makes EXILED, a Sequel to THE MISSION of His (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 3, 2006

 

 
(?)
 

The Postmodern Life of My Aunt / Yi Ma De Hou Xian Dai Sheng Huo

 

Hong Kong woman director Ann Hui's story about two senior citizens mid-life romance.

 

Written by  Ann HUI, LI Qiang, YAN Yan (novel); CHOW Yun-Fat, SIQIN Gaowa, ZHAO Wei, Lisa LU, SHI Ke.

 

Related stories:

THE AUNT'S POSTMODERN LIFE Press Conference (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 20, 2005

First Location Photos of THE AUNT'S POSTMODERN LIFE (SIna.com / Nanfang Daily) December 7, 2005

More Secrets about THE AUNT'S POSTMODERN LIFE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 11, 2005

Chow Yun-Fat Boards Ann Hui's THE AUNT'S POSTMODERN LIFE (Screen Daily) July 20, 200

 

VANGUARD
 
(Milkyway Image)
 

Election / Hei She Hui / The Dark Society (literal title)

 

Johnnie To's gruesome gangster drama and its sequel will be shown at Toronto back-to-back.

 

Directed by Johnnie TO; written by YAU Nai-Hoi, YIP Tin-Shing; starring Simon YAM, LEUNG Fa-Fai, Louis KOO, Nick CHEUNG, LAM Suet, LAM Ka-Tung, WANG Tian-Lin, Maggie SIU.

 

Related stories:

HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (aka. ELECTION 2) Trailer (G-Film.com) March 28, 2006

ELECTION's Mandarin Trailer (G-Film.com) October 27, 2005

Cannes Contender: ELECTION - Film Clip and Director Johnnie To Interview (Sina.com) May 19, 2005

Cannes Contender: ELECTION by Johnnie To (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) May 15, 2005

 

 

(Milkyway Image)
 

Election 2: Harmony Is Virtue / Hei She Hui Zhi Yi He Wei Gui /

The Dark Society: Harmony Is Virtue (literal title)

 

Directed by Johnnie TO; written by YAU Nai-Hoi, YIP Tin-Shing; starring Louis KOO, Simon YAM, CHAN Siu-Pang, Mark CHENG, Cheung Mo-Hau, Nick CHEUNG, CHEUNG Siu-Fai, LAM Ka-Tung, LAM Suet, Andy ON, PAN Yue-Tong, TAM Ping-Man, WANG Tian-Lin, YOU Yong.

 

Related stories:

HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (aka. ELECTION 2) Trailer (G-Film.com) March 28, 2006

ELECTION Sequel HARMONY IS A VIRTUE Premiered at Hong Kong International Film Festival

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 12, 2006
 Review: HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (aka. ELECTION 2) and FEARLESS (Kaiju Shakedown) April 5, 2006

ELECTION 2 and RE-CYCLE Premičre in Cannes (...) May 27, 2006

French Posters of ELECTION Series and SILK (ARP Selection) May 3, 2006

Reviews: ELECTION 2: HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (The Hollywood Reporter / Variety) May 2, 2006

 

Also from Asia:

Title From Director
CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA
The Bet Collector  Philippines Jeffrey Jeturian 
A Few Days Later...  Iran Niki Karimi 
Hula Girls  Japan Lee Sang-il 
Mainline  Iran Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, Mohsen Abdolvahab 
Offside  Iran Jafar Panahi 
Rain Dogs  Malaysia Ho Yuhang 
Times and Winds  Turkey Reha Erdem 
To Get to Heaven First You Have to Die  Tajikistan / Russia / France / Germany / Switzerland  Djamshed Usmonov 
Twilight Dancers  Philippines Mel Chionglo 
 
DISCOVERY
Family Ties  South Korea Kim Tae-yong 
A Grave-Keeper's Tale  India Chitra Palekar 
King and the Clown  South Korea Lee Jun-ik 
Vanaja  India / USA Rajnesh Domalpalli 
 
GALA PRESENTATIONS
Never Say Goodbye  India Karan Johar 
 
MIDNIGHT MADNESS
The Host  South Korea Bong Joon-ho 
 
MOZART'S VISIONARY CINEMA: NEW CROWNED HOPE
Half Moon  Iran Bahman Ghobadi 
Opera Jawa  Indonesia Garin Nugroho 
Syndromes and a Century  Thailand Apichatpong Weerasethakul 
 
REAL TO REEL
A Cry in the Dark  India Haobam Paban Kumar 
Iran: Une Révolution cinématographique  Iran / France Nader Takmil Homayoun 
Sari's Mother  Iraq / USA James Longley 
Yokohama Mary  Japan Takayuki Nakamura 
 
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
The Fall  India / UK /USA Tarsem Singh 
HANA  Japan Hirokazu Kore-eda 
Kabul Express  India   Kabir Khan 
The Namesake  India / USA Mira Nair 
Woman on the Beach  South Korea Hong Sang-soo 
 
VANGUARD
Jade Warrior  Finland / China / Netherlands / Estonia Antti-Jussi Annila 
 
VISIONS
Big Bang Love, Juvenile A  Japan Takashi Miike 
The Bug Master  Japan Katsuhiro Otomo 
Climates  Turkey Nuri Bilge Ceylan 
In Between Days  USA So Yong Kim 
Invisible Waves  Thailand Pen-ek Ratanaruang 
Takva - A Man's Fear of God  Turkey Özer Kiziltan 
Time  Japan / South Korea Kim Ki-duk 
 
WAVELENGTHS
Ema ?Emaki II  Japan Takashi Ishida 
In This House  Lebanon Akram Zaatari 
Roads of Kiarostami  Iran Abbas Kiarostami 
Tsuioku  Japan Yuiko Matsuyama 

 

The complete film list.

  
 

 

Pang Brothers' THE MESSENGERS Is Reshot (BloodyDisgusting.com)

  

 

August 23, 2006

  

The brother is now working on Time to Kill with Nicholas Cage(OriSun.com)

BloodyDisgusting.com reports Pang brothers' English-language directorial début The Messenger has been reshot. Reportedly, someone was not happy about what Pang brothers did a while ago and ordered the reshoot with an anonymous director. BloodyDisgusting.com doesn't mention what exactly has been reshot, except Sam Raimi, whose Ghost House produced the horror flick, was happy about the result of the reshoot. The Messenger is about an ominous darkness invades a seemingly serene sunflower farm in North Dakota, and the Solomon family is torn apart by suspicion, mayhem and murder.

 

Click here for the report by BloodyDisgusting.com. (Thanks to "Mary".)

  
 

 

THE BANQUET: Two Final Posters (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 23, 2006

  

 

Ge You
(H. Brothers)

Beijing-based studio H. Brothers just released two designs of the final poster series.

 

More about The Banquet

 		 
 

 

THE BANQUET Press Conference with Scores and Clips (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 22, 2006

  
 

Shooting of Slam Dunk will not be put into production until March next year,  Taiwan's Chang-Hong Channel Film & Video Co. and Shanghai Film Group still held a press conference to publicly announced the basketball-related project yesterday in Shanghai.

 

The cast includes Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou (Curse of the Golden Flower, Initial D), Chen Bo-Lin, Chen Chuhe, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang. The talents behind the camera are director Chu Yin-Ping (Yin Xiao Jun, Expect a Miracle), action director Ching Siu-Tung (Curse of the Golden Flower, House of Flying Daggers, Hero, New Dragon Inn), cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding (Curse of the Golden Flower, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, House of Flying Daggers, Hero), art director Yee Chung-Man (Perhaps Love, Comrades: Almost a Love Story, A Terracotta Warrior), costume designer Shirley Chan (Kung Fu Hustle, Jasmine Women, Fong Sai-Yuk), sound designer Du Duu-Chih (Silk, Three Times, The Wayward Cloud, 2046, Yi Yi) and editor Chen Po-Wen (The Strait Story, Let's Love Hong Kong, How High Is the Mountain?).

 

Title photos:

Left - (L to R): Chen Chuhe, Jay Chou, Chen Bo-lin.

Mid - (L to R): Ren Zhonglun (president of Shanghai Film Group), Wu Dun (Chang-Hong Channel Film & Video Co.), director Chu Yin-Ping, action director Ching Siu-Tung.

Right - The cast and crew.

 

Related story:

Jay Chou to Do a SLAM DUNK with Yao Ming (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 30, 2006

  
 

 

THE TOKYO TRIAL - Third Trailer (Sina.com.cn)

  

 

August 22, 2006

  

(Shanghai Film Group Corp)

Sina.com.cn is hosting another trailer of Judgment at Tokyo (formerly known as. Judgment at Tokyo / The International Military Tribunal Far East), titled "Emotion."

 

Click here for the trailer.

 

Related stories:

Trailer: JUDGMENT AT TOKYO (Sina.com) March 19, 2006

Stills: the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Sina.com) July 21, 2005

  
 

 

THE BANQUET Press Conference with Scores and Clips (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 21, 2006

  

Soundtrack cover design. (H. Brothers)

A press conference was held last night in Beijing to promote the The Banquet's soundtracks by composer Tan Dun (Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).

 

Clips:

An unidentified piece of music with a clips from the movie.

"Desire" with the theater fight sequence between the crown prince and a gang of assassins, choreographed by Yuen Wo-Ping.

The theme song ("I Repay Love with All I Have") performed by Zhang Liangying.

"The Song of Yue People" performed by Tenger

Pictures from the press conference: A B C D E F

 

More about The Banquet

 		 
 

 

Jackie Chan Might Do OPERATION CONDOR 3 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 21, 2006

  

(?)
 

Jackie Chan is now thinking about doing the third installment of his Operation Condor series, according to a reporter from Chinese Business View, who has been talking to "a friend of Jackie Chan". Chan co-wrote and directed the Long Xiong Hu Di (aka. Operation Condor 2: The Armour of God) in 1987 and four years later he co-wrote and directed a sequel Operation Condor with the same character. For the third one, Chan will once again be the co-writer and director. He has also asked Frankie Chan, the second unit director in the previous two flicks, to work for him again. Jackie Chan is now looking for actors, writers and producing partner in the mainland China. Production would begin after the Jackie Chan / Jet Li project wraps up.

 

The friend of Jackie Chan said the Zhang Yimou / Jackie Chan project was also well in progress. He said a script was originally given to Jackie Chan to direct and later Chan passed the director's seat to Zhang Yimou. The story will be set in the 1980s and Jackie Chan will be the lead. Shooting would start once Zhang Yimou finishing the opening and closing ceremonies of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

 

Related stories:

Zhang Yimou Might Unite Jackie Chan and Jet Li in his Fourth Martial Art Film (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 17, 2005

Jackie Chan Confirmed His Appearance in Zhang Yimou's New Martial Art Film (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

July 6, 2005

Jackie Chan Doing Operation Condor III And Sun Tzu's Art of War (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) May 30, 2001

  
 

 

Stephen Chow to Launch LONG RIVER 7 This Month (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 20, 2006

  

(H. Brothers)
 

Stephen Chow will start making a new movie Long River 7(literal working title) in the Chinese city of Ningbo later this month, according to several Chinese newspapers. Long River, called Yangtze River in the lower reach, is the longest river in China and the third longest river in the world. It is unlikely that "Long River 7" is related to the river and it might be the name of a spacecraft, inspired by China's Shenzhou spacecrafts. An earlier report says Chow will play an astronaut who meets an alien boy and a female robot. This plot description is not confirmed but a spokesperson from Chow's Star Overseas says the movie will be a comedy with a little bit sci-fi and Chow's character will fall in love with a girl played by newcomer Zhang Yuqi. Lam Chi-Chung, who played Chow's sidekick in Kung Fu Hustle, will be the second male lead. Many others from Kung Fu Hustle, like Chan Kwok-Kwan, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Wah and Tian Kai-Man, might join the cast as well. A press conference will be held in Beijing the coming Thursday and we will know more about the movie by then.

 

Related stories:

Stephen Chow Postpones KUNG FU HUSTLE 2 for a Space Adventure (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 16, 2006

Stephen Chow to Start Making THE ALIENS Next Month? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2006

  
 

 

Shu Qi Returns to MY WIFE IS A GANGSTER 3 (Oriental Daily / The Hong Kong Sun)

  

 

August 19, 2006

  

(OriSun.com)
 

Shu Qi temporarily leaves Confession of Pain and returns to the shooting of South Korean production My Wife Is a Gangster 3. Yesterday he was spotted doing a rooftop fight scene in Hong Kong. In the scene, Shu held a Japanese/Korean sword and killed a baddie with a series of swings. This would never happen in real life because the baddie is played by master Ken Lo (Rush Hour, My Faster Is a Hero, Drunken Master 2, Operation Condor, Project A 2). The cast also includes another Hong Kong legend Ti Lung (Drunken Master 2, A Better Tomorrow, Chi Ma, New One-Armed Swordsman). It has been scheduled for a release in South Korea this September and the shooting is still not wrapped up after it started in May. Originally Zhang Ziyi, who cameoed in the last sequel, was considered to play the lead, but after she turned the offer down, the role went to Shu Qi.  

 

Shu Qi photos taken at the Korean location in June.

  
 

 

More Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF PAIN (The Hong Kong Sun)

  

 

August 19, 2006

  

Leung Chiu-Wai Takeshi Kaneshiro
(OriSun.com)
 

More winter scenes, more winter costumes and more sweet.

 

Related stories:

CONFESSION OF PAIN Production Photos from Hong Kong Streets (OriSun.com) August 10, 2006

CONFESSION OF PAIN Official Plot Description (Media Asia) July 25, 2006

CONFESSION OF PAIN / THE WOUNDED CITY's New Plot (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 10, 2006

Takeshi Kaneshiro in THE WOUNDED CITY / CONFESSION OF PAIN (...) July 4, 2006

THE WOUNDED CITY Becomes CONFESSION OF PAIN in English (MovieXclusive.com) July 3, 2006

THE WOUNDED CITY Is BEHIND THE SIN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 2, 2006

THE WOUNDED CITY in Production (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 29, 2006

Leung Chiu-Wai to Reunite with INFERNAL AFFAIRS Directors in THE WOUNDED CITY (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 16, 2006

  
 

 

New York Film Festival Line Up (NYFF 2006)

  

 

August 19, 2006

  

(OriSun.com, ICreative)
 

New York Film Festival 2006 (Sept. 29 - Oct. 15) line-up has been announced this week:

 

Wu Qingyuan / The Go Master - Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang's long-awaited biopic of Wu Qingyuan, master of weiqi (called "go" in Japanese pronunciation) will hold its world premičre at the festival. Weiqi is an ancient Chinese board game, which is also popular in Japan and is misstated as a Japanese game by the film's publicist.

 

Election 2: Harmony Is Virtue / Triad Election - Johnnie To's follow-up to his Election from last year with make its first appearance in the US during the festival. For whatever reason, it has been attached, by Tartan Films USA, with a rather stereotypical title Triad Election in the US. The film will be shown at Toronto International Festival first with the original title. Remstar Distribution is responsible for the Canadian release. (Thanks to "Mary"' for her input.)

 

Click here for the complete lineup list.

 

(Thanks to "Mary", Kaiju Shakedown and Twitch.)

 

Related stories:

Director Tian Zhuangzhuang Begins Making Weiqi Master WU QINGYUAN's Biopic (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 18, 2004

HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (aka. ELECTION 2) Trailer (G-Film.com) March 28, 2006

ELECTION Sequel HARMONY IS A VIRTUE Premiered at Hong Kong International Film Festival

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 12, 2006

Review: HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (aka. ELECTION 2) and FEARLESS (Kaiju Shakedown) April 5, 2006

ELECTION 2 and RE-CYCLE Premičre in Cannes (...) May 27, 2006

French Posters of ELECTION Series and SILK (ARP Selection) May 3, 2006

Reviews: ELECTION 2: HARMONY IS A VIRTUE (The Hollywood Reporter / Variety) May 2, 2006

  
 

 

THE BANQUET Poster for Venezia 2006 (Media Asia)

  

 

August 19 2006

  

(Media Asia)

The official website of Hong Kong's Media Asia has been updated with a one-sheet probably designed for the Venice International Film Festival coming this September. It showed Zhang Ziyi as Empress Wan (middle), Ge You as Emperor Li (left), Daniel Ng as crown prince Wu Luan (2nd from the right) and Zhou Xun as Qin Nü (right), who is in love with the crown prince.

 

(Thanks to Twitch for the poster.)

 

Go to the official website of Media Asia for more The Banquet related news with photos and stills.

 

More about The Banquet

 

  
 

 

Memphis Location Repot on Wong Kar-Wai's MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS (AICN)

  

 

August 18, 2006

  

(?)
 

AICN has a report on the My Blueberry Nights' shooting at a Memphis restaurant. Since the shooting started in June, Wong and the production team have also been in NYC, Ely (Nevada), Caliente (Nevada) and Niagara Falls (Ontario). It is reportedly that Kevin Spacey has quit the project and his role now belongs to David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck).

 

Click here for the report on AICN.

 

Title photo: Wong Kar-Wai and Rachel Weisz on the NYC set.

 

 

Related stories:

MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS Production Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 25, 2006

Shots from MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS' NYC Location (Sina.com) June 25, 2006

MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS Filming Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 24, 2006

Ed Harris and Kevin Spacey May Join Wong Kar-Wai's MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

June 5, 2006

Billboard of Wong Kar-Wai's MY BLUEBERRY Nights on Display In Cannes (Hollywood Elsewhere) May 22, 2006

Wong Kar-Wai Gives Update on MY BLUEBERRY NIGHT (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 22, 2006

Update on Wong Kar-Wai's THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI AND the Katrina Project (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 14, 2006

Wong Kar-Wai Will Do Hurricane Katrina Inspired Movie (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 5, 2006

  
 

 

Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi Did More Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF PAIN (...)

  

 

August 18, 2006

  

(OriSun.com, ICreative)
 

Last night Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi put on heavy jackets for a winter night scene in Confession of Pain (aka. The Wounded City) in Hong Kong. Kaneshiro plays a private detective who was once a cop and Shu plays a girl having an affair with him.

 

More snapshots by ICreative, Oriental Daily and The Hong Kong Sun: A B C

 

Related stories:

CONFESSION OF PAIN Production Photos from Hong Kong Streets (OriSun.com) August 10, 2006

CONFESSION OF PAIN Official Plot Description (Media Asia) July 25, 2006

CONFESSION OF PAIN / THE WOUNDED CITY's New Plot (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 10, 2006

Takeshi Kaneshiro in THE WOUNDED CITY / CONFESSION OF PAIN (...) July 4, 2006

THE WOUNDED CITY Becomes CONFESSION OF PAIN in English (MovieXclusive.com) July 3, 2006

THE WOUNDED CITY Is BEHIND THE SIN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 2, 2006

THE WOUNDED CITY in Production (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 29, 2006

Leung Chiu-Wai to Reunite with INFERNAL AFFAIRS Directors in THE WOUNDED CITY (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 16, 2006

  
 

 

Opening This Week: August 5 - 11 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 18, 2006

  

The 601st

Phone Number

Dog Bite Dog

Love

@first Note

Say Goodbye

...Luisa

An ordinary girl and a pop star are tired together by a phone number, a cold-blood hitman struggles to survive a cop's brutal chase, a story about several music loving youngsters, and a sweet love story about a young man a girl he met online...

 

Click here for detail

  
 

 

JUDGMENT AT TOKYO - Second Trailer (Sina.com.cn)

  

 

August 17, 2006

  

(Shanghai Film Group Corp)
 

Sina.com.cn is hosting a new trailer of Judgment at Tokyo, a Chinese-made courtroom drama based on "The Tokyo Trial", at which dozens WWII Japanese leaders were tried and sentenced. The new trailer is titled "The Court" and might be the first of a series. While the Chinese literal title of the movie is Judgment at Tokyo, the English title remains as the lengthy "The International Military Tribunal Far East."

 

Click here for the trailer.

 

 

 

Related stories:

Trailer: JUDGMENT AT TOKYO (Sina.com) March 19, 2006

Stills: the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Sina.com) July 21, 2005

  
 

 

YUAN MING YUAN Trailer and Stills (Sina.com.cn)

  

 

August 16, 2006

  

(Beijing Science and Education Film Studios.)

A new documentary about Yuan Ming Yuan (Garden of Perfect Brightness) is scheduled for a theatrical release in China later this month. Build from early 18th Century to early 19th Century at the northwest side of Beijing, Yuan Ming Yuan was a 350 hectare (the size of over 144 football fields in combine) imperial Chinese garden looted and torched by a British-French troop in 1860. The production company, Beijing Science and Education Film Studios made 35 minute 3-D animated footages to recreate the park and hired hundreds of actors to retell the stories of the park no longer exist.

 

Trailer   Stills: A B

  
 

 

RAPE OF NANKING Adaptation Reassumed (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 15, 2006

  

(Amazon.com)

At the dawn of the 61st anniversary of the end of the Second World War, China's Jiangsu Cultural Industry Group just reassumed their plan of adapting Iris Chang's book The Rape of Nanking with US-based Viridian Entertainment. Li Xiangmin, president of Jiangsu Cultural Industry Group, said according to a signed agreement, the project's US$25 million cost would be shared by his company, Viridian Entertainment and the British Government. Shooting is expected to begin by the end of this year or early next year and to be released a year after. Li has also said their cast wish list included Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. However, it is confirmed that at least Zhang Ziyi has not been contacted by the production.

 

Related stories:

China unveils plans for Japanese war atrocity film, Reuters (Thanks to Nick Cai.)

Hollywood to Tell a Rape of Nanking Story (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 1, 2006

  
 

 

Zhang Yimou and Steven Spielberg Are Pushed for Collaborating on Journey to the West (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 15, 2006

  

(Beijing New Picture Films)

Producer Zhang Weiping, a long-time working partner of director Zhang Yimou, just told Sina.com that Zhang and Steven Spielberg had agreed to make a movie together and this movie would probably be based on Classic Chinese fantasy novel Journey to the West. Both Zhang and Spielberg have been enlisted for producing the opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Zhang Yimou has decided to suspend moviemaking until the Olympic is over. According to a report back in June, Steven Spielberg showed interest in developing several China-related projects, including adapting Journey to the West. Zhang Weiping is very excited by the idea and so far it still remains as an idea.

 

Update: Producer Zhang Weiping just told Beijing's Star Daily that the press has miss-understood what he said. He means if Zhang Yimou and Steven Spielberg were doing a movie, they should pick an Eastern subject such as Journey to the West.

 

Update: Steven Spielberg's office has also confirmed that they have no plan of doing Journey to the West. Click here for detail. (Thanks to Steven Awalt, Editor of SpielbergFilms.com.)

 

Related story:

Steven Spielberg Interested in Journey to the West (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 6, 2006

  
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER - Another Two Productions Stills (Sina.com.cn)

  

 

August 14, 2006

  
(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Left: Empress Gong Li with three princes - the oldest (Liu Ye, 2nd from the left), the second oldest (Jay Chou, right) and the youngest (Qin Junjie, 1st from the left).

Right: The Empress and the second oldest princes.

 

More about Curse of the Golden Flower

 		 
 

 

Hong Kong's 11th Golden Bauhinia Awards (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 13, 2006

  

(HKFCA.)

The award ceremony of Hong Kong's 11th Golden Bauhinia Awards has been held tonight. Among 16 categories decided by HKFCA, Perhaps Love gets 6. However the top award Best Film is given to Election.

 

Stars showed up for the nominee announcement ceremony: photos video clip

 

Official HKFCA website

 

 

 

By HKFCA:  
   

Best film: Election

Best director: Peter CHAN - Perhaps Love
Other nominees: Other nominees:

Crazy N' the City

PANG Ho-Cheung (Isabella

Perhaps Love

 Benny CHAN (Divergence

Isabella

Johnnie TO (Election

Initial D

James YUEN (Crazy N' the City
 

 

Best actor: Simon YAM (Election)

Best actress: ZHOU Xun (Perhaps Love)
Other nominees: Other nominees:

Chapman TO (Isabella)

Karena LAM (Home Sweet Home)

Eason CHAN (Crazy N' the City)

 Cecilia CHEUNG (The Promise)
LEUNG Ka-Fai (Everlasting Regret)

Angelica LEE (Re-Cycle)

Andy LAU (Wait 'Til You're Older)

Isabella LEONG (Isabella)
 

 

Best supporting actor: Anthony WONG (Initial D)

Best supporting actress: Teresa MO (2 Young)
Other nominees: Other nominees:

Chapman TO (Moonlight in Tokyo)

Paula TSUI (Shopaholics)

LAM Ka-Tung (Election)

ZHANG Jingchu (Seven Swords)

LAU Siu-Ming (Re-Cycle)

Kara HUI (Crazy N' the City)

Nick CHEUNG (Election 2)

Maggie SIU (Election)
 

 

Best new actor / actress: Isabella LEONG (Isabella)

Best screenwriter(s): YAU Nai-Hoi and YIP Tin-Shing

Other nominees: (Election) / James YUEN, Jessica FONG and LO Yiu-Fai
Fiona SIT (2 Young) (Crazy N' the City)
TSANG Nga-Ji (Re-Cycle) Other nominees:

PAN Yue-Tong (Election 2)

 YAU Nai-Hoi and YIP Tin-Shing (Election 2)
Jay CHOU (Initial D) Ivy HO (Divergence)
 

CHEUNG Chi-Kwong and Susan CHAN (Wait 'Til You're

 

 Older)
   
Best cinematography: Peter PAU (Perhaps Love) Best art direction: YEE Chung-Man and Pater WONG
   (Perhaps Love)
   
Best film editing: WONG Hoi (Initial D) Best original film music: Peter KAM and Leon KO (Perhaps Love)
   
Best original film song: Peter KAM (Perhaps Love) Best sound design: Kinson TSANG (Initial D)
   
Best idea for a film: Re-Cycle Outstanding achievement award: YU Mo-Wan (film historian)
   
   
By online voters:  
   
Most popular film: Perhaps Love Most popular actor: Andy LAU
   
Most popular actress: Angelica LEE  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related stories:

Hong Kong's 11th Golden Bauhinia Awards Nomination List (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 28, 2006

Hong Kong's 11th Golden Bauhinia Awards Short List - Best Actor, 10 Ten Chinese / Foreign Language Films

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 20, 2006

Hong Kong's The 10th Golden Bauhinia Awards (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 6, 2005

Hong Kong's The 9th Golden Bauhinia Awards (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 28, 2004

The 8th Hong Kong Golden Bauhinia Awards (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) February 30, 2003

7th Golden Bauhinia Awards By Hong Kong Film Critics' Association (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 17, 2002

  
 

 

The Jackie Chan / Jet Li Project to Be Directed by Peter Jackson? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 12, 2006

  
(WB, ?)

Believe it or not - according to Beijing-based Star Daily, Peter Jackson's name is mentioned as the choice of the director for the untitled Jackie Chan / Jet Li (The J&J Project). This means either Jackson has already agreed to get involved or the producers have tried talked him into it. Star Daily claims it got the news from an anonymous insider. The paper also reports Jet Li has been offered with US$9 million to play the main villain in the movie.

 		 
 

 

BANGKOK DANGEROUS Remake / TIME TO KILL Officially in Production Today (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 12, 2006

  
(OriSun.com)

According to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily, the Pang Brothers, Oxide Pang and Danny Pang, have officially begun remaking their own  Bangkok Dangerous in Bangkok. The remake is either called  Time to Kill or Bangkok Dangerous, according to different sources. Nicolas Cage's Saturn Films brought the remake rights of the original Thai production a while ago. In the new movie, "Cage will play a cold-blooded hit man who heads to Bangkok to pull off four jobs, and winds up falling in love with a local girl and bonding with his errand boy." Charlie Yeung will play the local deaf-mute woman (In Bangkok Dangerous, the hitman is deaf-mute).

 

Title photo: from a party yesterday in Bangkok - (L to R) Danny Pang, Mr. and  Mrs. Nicolas Cage, Charlie Yeung and Oxide Pang.

 

Related stories:

Charlie Yeung to Join Nicholas Cage in Pang Brothers BANGKOK DANGEROUS Remake / TIME TO KILL

  
 

 

THE BANQUET Collectable Posters (Sina.com.cn)

  

 

August 11, 2006

  

 

(H. Brothers)

Studio H. Brothers has released the design of four "collectable posters" for The Banquet. It does not say where the posters would be available. In China, quantity of each poster is usually very low and they are only supplied to movie theaters. Collectors usually get posters from theaters or movie distributors.

 

Click here and here for larger size of these posters.

 

 

 

 

Related stories:

Latest Casting Update on Olivier Assayas' BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 27, 2006

Simon Yam Turns down BOARDING GATE for To / Tsui / Lam Jigsaw Project (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

June 29, 2006

New Rumor: Simon Yam and Kelly Lin Approaching Olivier Assayas BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 23, 2006

Andy Lau Gets PROTÉGÉ, Heads to BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 18, 2006

  
 

 

Olivier Assayas' BOARDING GATE Spotted in Hong Kong Streets (OriSun.com)

  

 

August 11, 2006

  

 

Olivier Assayas with Kelly Lin

Olivier Assayas  with Asia Argento

Carl Ng with Asia Argento

(OriSun.com)

Shooting of Olivier Assayas' Boarding Gate has restart in Hong Kong for several days. Yesterday the production was spotted in the a few busy streets of Hong Kong. The thriller focuses on an Italian woman lives in London (Asia Argento), who has a passionate affair with a former financial big gun (Michael Madsen). She also had a second lover, a contract killer (Ng) who has to kill the big gun and the contract killer’s wife (Lin) is behind the scenes, pulling the strings. A long list of Hong Kong big names were previously associated with the role of the contract killer, like Leung Ka-Fai, Leung Chou-Wai (both named Tony), Andy Lau and Simon Yam. 

 

 

Related stories:

Latest Casting Update on Olivier Assayas' BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 27, 2006

Simon Yam Turns down BOARDING GATE for To / Tsui / Lam Jigsaw Project (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

June 29, 2006

New Rumor: Simon Yam and Kelly Lin Approaching Olivier Assayas BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 23, 2006

Andy Lau Gets PROTÉGÉ, Heads to BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 18, 2006

  
 

 

Donnie Yen and Louis Koo for SHA PO LANG Sequel - PO JUN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 11, 2006

  

 

Donnie Yen

 Louis Koo

(Mandarin Films, ?)
 

The Sha Po Lang (SPL) sequel, Po Jun (named after what "Po" stands for), will go into production in Macao by late September, according to a few Chinese newspapers. By the way, Sha Po Lang has been re-titled Kill Zone for the DVD release in the US. Wilson Yip will return as the director and Donnie Yen will return as the choreographer and the lead. Shao Po Lang's story is set in Hong Kong at the dawn of its returning to China in 1997 and Po Jun's story is set in Macao during the final days of Portugal's rule (it was returned to China in 1999). The story and characters of Po Jun are all brand new. The sequel, or an anti-sequel sequel, is inspired by real cases of corrupt Macao cops working for local gangs in the late 1990s. Those are the darkest days in Macao's history. A large number of cops joined the gangs and the police was powerless to stop the crime wave. Many gang members are still serving their times for what they did during those days.

 

Donnie Yen will play a senior cop, returning to Macao after completing a training course in Portugal, and Louis Koo will play his best friend, helping him to fight for justice. Koo recently provided the Cantonese voice for the main villain in Dragon Tiger Gate, the latest collaboration of Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen. Their arch-enemies are a gang leader and a master fighter serves as his right-hand man. These two roles have not been cast but the master fighter shall be played by a real martial-artist. Two mainland Chinese actresses will play the girlfriends of Donnie Yen and the gang leader's characters. Produced by Hong Kong's Mandarin Films and Beijing-based PolyBona Films, Po Jun will be made with US$8 million, surpassing the cost of Sha Po Lang, which was US$6.4 million.

 

Note: according to ancient Chinese Taoist texts, "Qi Sha", "Po Jun" and "Tan Lang" (as "Sha", "Po" and "Lang" in short), are three stars representing destruction, struggle and greed. Once persons who are born associated with these stars met, whey would have the power to either destroy the existing world or to create a new world. "Po Jun" represents struggle and literally, it roughly means "defeating enemy troops."

  
 

 

Opening This Week: August 5 - 11 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 11, 2006

  
(China Film Group)

As the recent Cannes winner begins, a country schoolteacher travels to the city of Wuhan to look for his only son. He teams up with an old policeman, who also lost his own son. But the schoolteacher does not that his son is already dead during a carjack and the man being responsible for his death is the boyfriend of the schoolteacher's daughter....

 

Click here for detail

  
 

 

Feng Xiaogang to Blow an ASSEMBLY CALL for a WWII Epic (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

  

 

August 10, 2006