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News Archives |
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November 2006 |
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November 30, 2006 |
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Related stories: Another A BATTLE OF WITS Trailer (Sina.com.cn) November 16, 2006 A BATTLE OF WITS Trailers (Sina.com.cn) November 15, 2006 War Tactics from A BATTLE OF WITS (Liu Bangbang's Blog) November 7, 2006 A BATTLE OF WITS Trailer - New (Sina.com.cn) October 24, 2006 A BATTLE OF WITS Stills (G-Film.com) October 22, 2006 Another A BATTLE OF WITS Poster (movieXclusive.com) October 11, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Mid-Term Posters
(...)
October 8, 2006
Official Images from BATTLE OF WITS
(Sina.com) BATTLE OF WITS Production Wrapped Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 14, 2006 BATTLE OF WITS Set Video (Sina.com) November 29, 2005 More Photos from the BATTLE OF WITS Set (Sina.com) November 27, 2005 BATTLE OF WITS Character Photos (Sina.com) November 26, 2005 More Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (Sina.com) November 19, 2005 Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 11, 2005 STRATGE Press Conference in Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 22, 2005Camera Stars Rolling for Andy Lau's STRATAGE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 28, 2005Andy Lau to Star in Two Period Films - STRATAGE and ZHAO ZILONG (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 2, 2005 |
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More Pictures from THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI (Sina.com.cn / TungStar) |
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November 29, 2006 |
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According to a few Chinese newspapers, the production team will begin shooting a scene of Chow Yun-Fat's character blowing up a train. At a small train station in northwestern Chinese province of Gansu, a report spotted a refurbished train with a steam locomotive and two cars and two antique soviet trucks with prop explosives.
Related stories: A Few Singapore Kids for THE BITTER SEA (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 1, 2005 Brendan Fraser to Rescue CHILDREN OF GUANGXI in the War-Torn China (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 19, 2005 Brendan Fraser Reveals More Details of CHILDREN OF GUANGXI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 21, 2005 |
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More Pictures of Stephen Chow's LONG RIVER 7 (Sina.com.cn / CFP) |
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November 29, 2006 |
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Sina.com got a few more pictures about Stephen Chow shooting the birthday party scene for Long River 7 (literal title). Stephen Chow plays a single dad lives at a half-demolished apartment building with his son. His is poor, homeless and can’t even afford buying a toy for his son. One day he finds a strange toy-like device in the trash and gives it to his son. They soon discover it is an alien device with amazing power and the owners want it back badly.
Related stories:
Stephen Chow's LONG RIVER 7 Wrapped
Up
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 17, 2006
The Alien Ship Stephen Chow Built
for LONG RIVER 7
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
November 8, 2006 The Alien Ship Stephen Chow Built for LONG RIVER 7 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 8, 2006 Stephen Chow Gets High for LONG RIVER 7 / A HOPE (Sina.com.cn) October 12, 2006
First Photos of Stephen Chow on
the Set of LONG RIVER 7
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 29,
2006
Stephen Chow's LONG RIVER 7 Now in
Production
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) Stephen Chow Announces LONG RIVER 7, Officially (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 24, 2006Stephen Chow to Launch LONG RIVER 7 This Month (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 20, 2006Stephen Chow Postpones KUNG FU HUSTLE 2 for a Space Adventure (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 16, 2006Stephen Chow to Start Making THE ALIENS Next Month? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2006 |
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WWII Story THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI in Production (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 28, 2006 |
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Tow production stills
taken on the location of The Children of Huang Shi have been
distributed to the Chinese press by the film’s Chinese producer
Cheerland Entertainment Organization. According to Variety, Set in
war-ravaged China during the late 1930s, “Huang Shi” is based on
true events. It’s the story of a young Englishman, George Hogg, who
led 60 orphaned boys on a journey across the Liu Pan Shan mountains
(Liupan Mountains) to safety on the edge of the Mongolian desert.
The real-life George Hogg died from tetanus in 1945, a year after he
escorted the children to safety. Irish-born actor
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
(Mission: Impossible III,
Match Point,
Ride with the Devil)
plays George Hogg and Australian actress
Radha Mitchell (Silent
Hill,
Melinda and Melinda,
Finding Neverland)
plays a nurse helping Hogg. Chow Yun-Fat plays a resistance fighter
who returns to his homeland after the Japanese invasion and Michelle
Yeoh plays village woman.
Roger Spottiswoode (The
6th Day,
Tomorrow Never Dies,
Hiroshima)
is directing the project with the script penned by
Jane Hawksley. The project's
producers include Arthur Cohn (Les
Choristes,
One Day in September,
Central Station),
Martin Hagemann (Old Love,
The Flying Scotsman,
Creep),
Peter Loehr (Air,
Sunflower,
Shower),
Wieland Schulz-Keil (Sister
Smile,
The Cat's Meow,
Twister)
and Jonathan Shteinman (Like
Minds,
The Night We Called It a Day,
Rabbit-Proof Fence). In June last year, Brendan Fraser announced he would play the lead character in the project, once titled The Bitter Sea, which would go into production in November 2005. Fraser later quit the project for some reason unknown and the filming did not begin until the 13th this month. The production is currently taking place at China's northwestern Gansu Province, where the story occurs. More filming will be done at Hengdian World Studios of eastern China, Shanghai and Melbourne Australia. This Chinese-Australian-German production is aiming at a worldwide release in 2008.
(Thanks to "Mighty Ganesha"s contribution to this story.)
Related stories: A Few Singapore Kids for THE BITTER SEA (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) Brendan Fraser to Rescue CHILDREN OF GUANGXI in the War-Torn China (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 19, 2005 Brendan Fraser Reveals More Details of CHILDREN OF GUANGXI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 21, 2005 |
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November 28, 2006 |
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This video shows a scene of a communist-led Liberation Army troop mobilizing on a muddy road. The quality is very bad and I suspect it was actually shot with a cell phone. Story of The Assembly (Chinese literal title: The Assembly Call) is set in 1947, right in the middle of the bloody Chinese civil war. A company from the communist-led army was assigned with a suicide mission – stopping the enemy advance by all costs. They were told they would be able to withdraw once they heard the assembly call. But the call never came and everyone, except the company leader, died. Years later, the sole survivor begins to search for the truth and collect evident to prove that his men all died as real heroes.
Related stories: A Few Singapore Kids for THE BITTER SEA (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 1, 2005 Brendan Fraser to Rescue CHILDREN OF GUANGXI in the War-Torn China (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 19, 2005 Brendan Fraser Reveals More Details of CHILDREN OF GUANGXI (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 21, 2005 |
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PTU Sequel Filming in Hong Kong Streets (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 27, 2006 |
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Johnnie To has begun shooting the sequel to his stylish thriller PTU since October. The original PTU tells a complicated one-night story involving cops from various departments, crooks from various streets and a cop's missing gun. Simon Yam and Maggie Siu resume their roles as Ho, head of PTU (Police Tactical Unit) , and Officer Kat. Rumor says this may not be the only sequel. |
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Props Burnt Before Feng Xiaogang Launches His War for THE ASSEMBLY (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 27, 2006 |
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A large number of props made for Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's US$10 million war drama, The Assembly, just burnt in South Korea, according to someone from the production studio Beijing H. Brothers. They several hundreds of dummy corpses and an unknown number of prop fire arms and artilleries. A Korean company, which was also involved in the production of Korea War epic Taegukgi Hwinalrimyeo (aka. Tae Gi: The Brotherhood of War) was contracted to make these props and these props accidentally caught on fire. The Korean company has promised to start remaking these props and make the delivery in about a month. The burnt props actually took it nearly three months to make. Feng originally planed to shoot snowy war scene by the end of this month and without these props, the shooting would probably have to be rescheduled.Story of The Assembly (Chinese literal title: The Assembly Call) is set in 1947, right in the middle of the bloody Chinese civil war. A company from the communist-led army was assigned with a suicide mission – stopping the enemy advance by all costs and they were told they would be able to withdraw once they heard the assembly call. But the call never came and everyone, except the company leader, died. Years later, the sole survivor begins to search for the truth and collect evident to prove that his men all died as real heroes.
Related stories:
Pictures from a Muddy Location of
Feng Xiaogang's THE ASSEMBLY
(Sina.com.cn) November 20,
2006
Spy Photos from the Set of Feng
Xiaogang's THE ASSEMBLY
(...) October
31, 2006
More Detail on Feng Xiaogang's THE
ASSEMBLY CALL
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
Feng Xiaogang to Blow an ASSEMBLY
CALL for a WWII Epic
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 26, 2006 |
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A millennium old little town called Xinchang, just outside of Shanghai City, has been used to double for the 1930s/40s Shanghai.
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Opening This Week: November 18 - 24 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 24, 2006 |
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A story of how one man helps a small city defeat an invading army of 100,000 men.
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August 23, 2006 |
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Click here for eight stills of Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi.
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November 23, 2006 |
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Click here for eight stills of Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi.
Related stories: CONFESSION OF PAIN Stuffs (...) November 16, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Character Posters (Sina.com.cn) October 25, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Teaser Trailer (Sina.com.cn) October 24, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Stills - 2 (...) October 21, 2006
CONFESSION OF PAIN Stills
(...)
October 16, 2006
More Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF
PAIN
(The Hong Kong
Sun)
Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi Did More
Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF PAIN
(...)
CONFESSION OF PAIN Production Photos
from Hong Kong Streets
(OriSun.com)
CONFESSION OF PAIN Official Plot
Description
(Media Asia)
CONFESSION OF PAIN / THE WOUNDED
CITY's New Plot
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
Takeshi Kaneshiro in THE WOUNDED
CITY / CONFESSION OF PAIN
(...)
THE WOUNDED CITY Becomes CONFESSION
OF PAIN in English
(MovieXclusive.com)
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 |
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November 23, 2006 |
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Related stories: THE PAINTED VEIL Chinese Poster (Sina.com.cn) November 15, 2006 Stills: THE PAINTED VEIL (Sina.com.cn) November 14, 2006 THE PAINTED VEIL Release Dates (...) August 30, 2006 THE PAINTED VEIL Posters (Sina.com) June 11, 2006THE 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 |
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November 22, 2006 |
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Related stories: CONFESSION OF PAIN Character Posters (Sina.com.cn) October 25, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Teaser Trailer (Sina.com.cn) October 24, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Stills - 2 (...) October 21, 2006
CONFESSION OF PAIN Stills
(...)
October 16, 2006
More Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF
PAIN
(The Hong Kong
Sun)
Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi Did More
Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF PAIN
(...)
CONFESSION OF PAIN Production Photos
from Hong Kong Streets
(OriSun.com)
CONFESSION OF PAIN Official Plot
Description
(Media Asia)
CONFESSION OF PAIN / THE WOUNDED
CITY's New Plot
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
Takeshi Kaneshiro in THE WOUNDED
CITY / CONFESSION OF PAIN
(...)
THE WOUNDED CITY Becomes CONFESSION
OF PAIN in English
(MovieXclusive.com)
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 |
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CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER One-Sheet and the Final Trailer by Sony (Sony Pictures Classics) |
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November 21, 2006 |
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Final Trailer (Quicktime) The official website by Sony..
(Thanks to
Twitch and
IONCINEMA!.)
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November 20, 2006 |
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Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai recently announced his new project titled Zuo You (Left Right). Inspired by a true story, Left Right tells a devoiced couple discover their daughter is about to die from blood cancer. They have to born another child together and use the baby's umbilical cord blood to save their daughter. But they have already happily remarried. The cast includes Zhang Jiayi, Liu Weiwei, Yu Nan, Tian Yuan and Cheng Taishen. Shooting will start later this month in Beijing and will only last about a month. The production studio has planned to premiere the film at the coming Cannes Film Festival in May next year.
Just turned 40 this year, Wang Xiaoshuai is one of the most active figure among China's Sixth Generation Directors. He graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 1989 and spent the next two years without work. He stayed at the dying Fujian Film Studio during the following two years without making one single movie. In 1993, he returned to Beijing and made his first film The Days, a low budget film shot in black and white and late became a favorite in multiple international festivals. He then made Suicides (1994) and Frozen (1996), which are praised at various festivals and ignored in China. In 1996, he directed Ruan's Song (aka. So Close to Paradise), his first film financed by the state. After being reedited and turned back several times, the film was finally approved by the Chinese government in 1999 and was shown at that year's Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, he presented his second state finance project, The House. In 2000, he made Beijing Bicycle, which won Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival the year after. However, the film was immediately banned in China for failing to get the official approval. In 2002 he made one segment of Jeonjaeng Geu Ihu and in 2003 he made Drifters. His latest completed film, Shanghai Drams (slightly re-edited by the Chinese censorship authority) won the Grand Jury Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Like many other Sixth Generation Directors in China, Wang's movies are all telling stories of the working class people in modern day China in documentary style.
Wang Xiaoshaui has also announced a poster designing contest for Left Right. Please submit your design to zuoyouwxs2006@sina.com for a chance to win 10,000 yuans (US$1,250). |
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November 20, 2006 |
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Here are the two teaser poster designs for Protege, featuring an unblossoming and a blossoming opium. The tagline printed on the poster is "Every truth about drugs."
Related stories: PROT蒅?Teaser Trailer (Film Unlimited) October 20, 2006 PROT蒅?Production Photos (Oriental Daily / The Hong Kong Sun) August 3, 2006PROT蒅?Press Conference Photos from Hong Kong (Sina.com.cn / OriSun.com) August 4, 2006PROT蒅?Plot Summary (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 30, 2006Andy Lau as a Drug Lord in PROT蒅?/font> (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 12, 2006 Andy Lau Gets PROT蒅?Heads to BOARDING GATE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 18, 2006 Peter Chan Talks Future Projects - PROT蒅?BLOOD BROTHER Remake and More of THE EYE Series(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 13, 2006 |
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Pictures from a Muddy Location of Feng Xiaogang's THE ASSEMBLY (Sina.com.cn) |
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November 20, 2006 |
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Sina.com has acquired three photos of the shooting of Feng Xiaogang's US$10 million war drama The Assembly, taken in Zhejiang Province of eastern China. It is a scene of a communist-lead troop mobilizing on a muddy road. The leaves serve as natural camouflage against enemy planes.
Related stories:
Spy Photos from the Set of Feng
Xiaogang's THE ASSEMBLY
(...) October
31, 2006
More Detail on Feng Xiaogang's THE ASSEMBLY CALL
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
Feng Xiaogang to Blow an ASSEMBLY
CALL for a WWII Epic
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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Ang Lee Begins Shooting LUST, CAUTION in Shanghai (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 19, 2006 |
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Shooting of Ang Lee's Lust, Caution has restarted in Shanghai after wrapping up in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The locations include an antique apartment building (Chongqing), a small town called Nanhui (to double for the old Shanghai) and several university campuses. Two real Shanghai streets (Nanjing Rd. W. and Shannxi Rd.) are partially rebuilt inside Shanghai Film Studios in Chedun, adjacent to the replicated Nanjing Rd. E. built in the 1990s. The newly constructed "streets" are about 800 meters in total and contains 13 structures. Construction is expected to end soon.
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November 18, 2006 |
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Michael Guill閚 said The Curse of Golden Flower was Yimou's most accomplished in the wuxia genre. Click here
Jules Brenner, from Cinema Signals, disliked it, sort of. Click here
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November 18, 2006 |
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Related stories: THE PAINTED VEIL Chinese Poster (Sina.com.cn) November 15, 2006 Stills: THE PAINTED VEIL (Sina.com.cn) November 14, 2006 THE PAINTED VEIL Release Dates (...) August 30, 2006 THE PAINTED VEIL Posters (Sina.com) June 11, 2006THE 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 |
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Stephen Chow's LONG RIVER 7 Wrapped Up (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 17, 2006 |
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Stephen Chow just wrapped up the principal shooting of his latest project Long River 7 (literal) in eastern Chinese city Ningbo. Shooting of more scenes have been snorted by undercover photographers. The first one is about Stephen Chow being sent to a local hospital after he somehow plunged to death; the second one is about his little son (played by a girl named Xu Jiao) crying with his teach played by Zhang Yuqi; and the third one, also the last sense to be shot, is about a birthday party for his son.
Related stories: The Alien Ship Stephen Chow Built for LONG RIVER 7 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 8, 2006 Stephen Chow Gets High for LONG RIVER 7 / A HOPE (Sina.com.cn) October 12, 2006
First Photos of Stephen Chow on
the Set of LONG RIVER 7
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 29,
2006
Stephen Chow's LONG RIVER 7 Now in
Production
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) Stephen Chow Announces LONG RIVER 7, Officially (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 24, 2006Stephen Chow to Launch LONG RIVER 7 This Month (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 20, 2006Stephen Chow Postpones KUNG FU HUSTLE 2 for a Space Adventure (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) April 16, 2006Stephen Chow to Start Making THE ALIENS Next Month? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2006 |
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SHA PO LANG Follow-Up CITY WITHOUT MERCY (aka. PO JUN) in Production (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 17, 2006 |
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After Sha Po Lang and Dragon Tiger Gate Screen action star Donnie Yen and director Wilson Yip have teamed up for the third time to make City Without Mercy (Po Jun), as a follow-up to Sha Po Lang. It is not Sha Po Lang 2 because, reportedly, the sequel rights have already been taken by Sammo Hung.
Set in Macao in the late 1990s, City without Mercy tells a brand new story not related to Sha Po Lang. Donnie Yen plays a hardened cop leading his men to fight a local gang run by three ruthless sworn brothers. They are played by veteran Hong Kong star Ray Lui, Collin Chou from The Matrix sequels and Shi Xingyu, a real Shaolin monk who played the tall Coolie in Kung Fu Hustle. Luis Koo plays another cop undercover as a bodyguard of the three bothers. Koo's identity is exposed and is rescued by Yen, who is about to arrest three brothers. Over one night, everyone who can testify against three brothers are dead, except Koo. Koo's girlfriend (Fan Bingbing) is kidnapped by three brother and Yen is ordered to be arrested for breaking the regulations. Yen and Koo have no choice but to fight back. The cast also include Kent Cheng (playing a senior cop) and Xu Qing (playing Yen's new supervisor).
Budgeted as about US$8 million by Hong Kong-based Mandarin Films and Beijing-based Poly Bona, City without Mercy is set to be available by the coming May Day in Hong Kong and the mainland China.
(Thanks to "Day", "mary" and Kington Jiang.)
Related Story: Donnie Yen Talks about SHA PO LANG 2 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) March 14, 2006 |
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Opening This Week: November 11 - 17 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 17, 2006 |
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A wealthy bachelor suddenly gets a six year old son and a young detective plans to take two crime bosses at once...
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November 16, 2006 |
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Singapore-based movieXclusive.com got a detail plot description of Confession of Pain (Chinese title: The Wounded City), a thriller starring Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Xu Jinglei and Shu Qi. (Thanks to Ethan Teo.)
The poster shown on the left reminds me of Infernal Affairs. Of cause, both Confession of Pain and the Infernal Affairs trilogy were directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak.
Official website. (Thanks to "Mary" and Kaiju Shakedown.)
Related stories: CONFESSION OF PAIN Character Posters (Sina.com.cn) October 25, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Teaser Trailer (Sina.com.cn) October 24, 2006 CONFESSION OF PAIN Stills - 2 (...) October 21, 2006
CONFESSION OF PAIN Stills
(...)
October 16, 2006
More Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF
PAIN
(The Hong Kong
Sun)
Takeshi Kaneshiro and Shu Qi Did More
Winter Scenes for CONFESSION OF PAIN
(...)
CONFESSION OF PAIN Production Photos
from Hong Kong Streets
(OriSun.com)
CONFESSION OF PAIN Official Plot
Description
(Media Asia)
CONFESSION OF PAIN / THE WOUNDED
CITY's New Plot
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
Takeshi Kaneshiro in THE WOUNDED
CITY / CONFESSION OF PAIN
(...)
THE WOUNDED CITY Becomes CONFESSION
OF PAIN in English
(MovieXclusive.com)
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 |
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November 16, 2006 |
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Click here.
Related stories:
War Tactics from A BATTLE OF WITS
(Liu Bangbang's Blog)
November 7, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Trailer - New
(Sina.com.cn)
October 24, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Stills
(G-Film.com) October
22, 2006 Another A BATTLE OF WITS Poster (movieXclusive.com) October 11, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Mid-Term Posters
(...)
October 8, 2006
Official Images from BATTLE OF WITS
(Sina.com)
BATTLE OF WITS Production Wrapped Up
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
January 14, 2006 BATTLE OF WITS Set Video (Sina.com) November 29, 2005 More Photos from the BATTLE OF WITS Set (Sina.com) November 27, 2005 BATTLE OF WITS Character Photos (Sina.com) November 26, 2005 More Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (Sina.com) November 19, 2005 Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 11, 2005 STRATGE Press Conference in Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 22, 2005Camera Stars Rolling for Andy Lau's STRATAGE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 28, 2005Andy Lau to Star in Two Period Films - STRATAGE and ZHAO ZILONG (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 2, 2005 |
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November 15, 2006 |
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Related stories: THE PAINTED VEIL Release Dates (...) August 30, 2006 THE PAINTED VEIL Posters (Sina.com) June 11, 2006THE 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
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November 15, 2006 |
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Related stories:
War Tactics from A BATTLE OF WITS
(Liu Bangbang's Blog)
November 7, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Trailer - New
(Sina.com.cn)
October 24, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Stills
(G-Film.com) October
22, 2006 Another A BATTLE OF WITS Poster (movieXclusive.com) October 11, 2006
A BATTLE OF WITS Mid-Term Posters
(...)
October 8, 2006
Official Images from BATTLE OF WITS
(Sina.com)
BATTLE OF WITS Production Wrapped Up
(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)
January 14, 2006 BATTLE OF WITS Set Video (Sina.com) November 29, 2005 More Photos from the BATTLE OF WITS Set (Sina.com) November 27, 2005 BATTLE OF WITS Character Photos (Sina.com) November 26, 2005 More Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (Sina.com) November 19, 2005 Set Photos of BATTLE OF WITS (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 11, 2005 STRATGE Press Conference in Beijing (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) October 22, 2005Camera Stars Rolling for Andy Lau's STRATAGE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 28, 2005Andy Lau to Star in Two Period Films - STRATAGE and ZHAO ZILONG (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) July 2, 2005 |
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November 15, 2006 |
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Thanks to Twitch.
Update: Trailer by Sina.com. (Thanks Twitch.)
Related Story: John Returns Home to Produce GATE TO HEAVEN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) May 24, 2006 |
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November 14, 2006 |
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Sina.com managed to get a few stills of The Painted Veil, shot entirely in China.
Related stories: THE PAINTED VEIL Release Dates (...) August 30, 2006 THE PAINTED VEIL Posters (Sina.com) June 11, 2006THE 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 |
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John Woo Produced BLOOD, BROTHERS Meets the Press (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 13, 2006 |
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Blood, Brothers (Chinese literal title: Gate to Heaven) a new crime drama was officially introduced at a press conference held yesterday in Beijing. It is a remake of John Woo’s classic Bullet in the Head, released in 1990 and starred Leung Chiu-Wai, Waise Lee and Jacky Cheung). Story of the original Bullet in the Head, set in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, tells three close friends who are profiting from the war and the war is also testing their friendship in the hard way. The remake is produced by John Woo and his long-time partner Terence Chang. It is helmed by Alexi Tan, who is best known for directing commercials in Taiwan. Its English title is “Blood, Brothers” but I think the original Chinese title, “Gate to Heaven” or “Gate of Heaven” sounds better. Story of the new one, set in Shanghai in the 1930s, gets a more complicated relationship among the three best friends. The cast include Chang Chen, Daniel Wu, Shu Qi, Liu Ye, Song Honglei, Tony Yang and Li Xiaolu. Shooting in and around Shanghai has begun for about two months.
Trailer (in poor quality)
Related Story: John Returns Home to Produce GATE TO HEAVEN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) May 24, 2006 |
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CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Reviews (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 12, 2006 |
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Mighty Ganesha just sent me a review of Zhang Yimou's epic film Curse of the Golden Flower, after getting very excited for attending a screening of the film in New York last Friday:
Curse of the Golden Flower is a direct response to audiences who may've felt disappointed by the relative smallness of scope of director Zhang Yimou’s 2005 film, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, and even 2004’s House of Flying Daggers, in comparison to 2002’s internationally-acclaimed epic, Hero. People have been anxiously awaiting another martial arts blockbuster from Yimou. With Curse of the Golden Flower, Yimou was given what is reportedly the largest budget for a Chinese film, and the result is absolutely spectacular.
This is a film that will be held up as a benchmark of artistic achievement in motion pictures for years to come. Yimou’s cinematographer, Zhao Xiading, production designer Huo Tingxiao, and costumer, Yee Chung Man, have much to be proud of. The glowing rainbow palette of colours that saturate the interiors of the palace and the carpet of royal yellow flowers filling the entire vast courtyard are practically blinding. The kingdom represented here is immaculate and prosperous. The Royal Family is bedecked in layer upon layer of exquisite beaded silk robes and decked out in gold and ivory jewels from head to toe. They are cocooned in unmitigated and palpable luxury. But such beauty and sumptuous riches can't detract from the fact that what runs through these opulent halls is pure venom. It is a gorgeous backdrop that houses a nest of brilliant vipers all seemingly poised to strike at each other, while aiming to present a united and powerful front to the entire country. Curse of the Golden Flower is an exercise in deceit, betrayal, manipulation, rebellion, and murder.
The film takes place in the 10th century, during the Later Tang Dynasty. Prince Jai, the 2nd son of the royal family, returns home shortly before the annual Chong Yang Festival, which is, in part, a celebration of family gathering. While the Prince’s return from military battle is cause for outward joy and a very public tightening of family bonds, almost nothing is as idyllic as it seems. There is the mystery of the increasing illness of the Empress and the golden chrysanthemums she embroiders obsessively. There is the restlessness of the Crown Prince Wan, who is the son of the Emperor’s deceased first wife, and his entanglement with Chen, the beautiful daughter of the trusted Imperial Physician. Prince Jai’s concern for his mother’s failing health, and his suspicions about the remedies that might be the cause of her sickness. His complex relationship with his father, the Emperor, is one of love and rivalry, with the Emperor challenging Prince Jai’s ambitions. The third and youngest son, Prince Yu, craves only the admiration of his father. The story of the Emperor himself is one of ambitious beginnings; he was not born royal, and he readily demonstrates the iron will it took to win his crown.
To my knowledge, Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li have never starred in a film together prior to Curse of the Golden Flower. The combination of the two is a revelation for the acting world. The only things brighter than the colours in this film are the pure electric sparks between the Emperor and his Empress. I wished they'd had more scenes together. I was mesmerized by their chemistry and intensity. Gong Li - who radiates a regal presence while standing around doing nothing - has found a role that takes that sublime poise, tears it into shreds and throws it back together again. Her Empress is equal parts Lady Macbeth, Phaedra, and Madame Mao, yet somehow you actually feel great sympathy for this glorious monster. It is a credit to Yimou’s skill in bringing out amazing and unexpected performance in his actors that you see Chow Yun Fat as you have never seen him before. His Emperor is all pride, cunning, and ruthlessness. Yimou takes Chow’s world-famous beatific smile and gives it a completely new and unexpected meaning.
One of the most powerful scenes in the film occurs when the Emperor metes out a particularly cruel comeuppance to someone who has crossed him. The scene is already shocking for its harshness and violence, but turns absolutely chilling when Chow’s Emperor breaks into laughter while inflicting the punishment.
The younger actors, Jay Chou (Prince Jai), Liu Ye (Crown Prince Wan), Qin Junjie (Prince Yu), and Li Man (Chen) are all remarkable. They are able to instantly and realistically express the sudden change of emotions and intentions that spiral throughout the film. Liu Ye, in particular, gives a very touching performance as the dutiful Crown Prince, portraying devotion to his family and his secret beloved, as well as the bewilderment, heartbreak and betrayal at the circle of events that eventually threaten to consume him. He carries the heart of the film. It is commendable to all involved that none of the characters come off as one-dimensional.
Curse of the Golden Flower is based on a 1934 Chinese play named “Thunderstorm” written by dramatist Cao Yu. The many twists and jaw-dropping denouements could easily have come from any of the Greek tragedies. It initially presents a score of questions and keeps the viewer guessing - nothing and no one is black or white - but once the answers are revealed; there is no less sense of surprise. Right down the phenomenal score by Shigeru Umebayashi (In the Mood for Love, Hero), the film’s tone is operatic. While I'm sure many will expect and focus on the film’s breathtaking action sequences, the emotion and drama of the storyline is no less gripping. Curse of the Golden Flower fulfills on every level.
The action is directed by Tony Ching Siu-Tung (A Better Tomorrow 2, Heroic Trio, Shaolin Soccer). It happens suddenly and at whiplash speed. While it didn't feel the least bit gratuitous, there is a brutality here that I have never seen in Yimou’s previous films. Many of the sequences put me in the mind of some of the better moments of Tsui Hark’s great actioners in their energy and relentlessness. There is very little of the lyrical, dreamlike movements of the fight scenes in Hero, the fighting in Curse of the Golden Flower packs a punch.
A word about the sheer volume of background actors in this film, I have never seen anything like it. It is de rigueur for directors to turn to their CGI special effects wizards for scenes requiring vast numbers of extras. In Curse of the Golden Flower, the number of actors portraying servants inside the royal household alone was impressive, but for the film’s climax, Yimou reportedly recruited a background cast of over 1,000 to convey the viciousness of battle, and the despair of fighting against impossible odds no matter how dear the cost. The use of flying camera angles perfectly captured the destruction and the astounding amount of actors employed for this scene.
Curse of the Golden Flower is a huge artistic milestone for Zhang Yimou, and a tremendous showing by all of the actors. I was amazed. I hope this remarkable film receives its due, and is fondly remembered by the members of the Academy come February.
from The Hollywood Reporter claims it is "a disappointing misfire from a great director." Click here. (Thanks to the anonymous contributor.)
Robert Koehler of Variety calls it "Zhang Yimou's strangest and most troubled film. Click here
Mike Goodridge of Screen Daily says it is "one of the most sumptuous and almost absurdly opulent spectacles on screen in recent memory." Click here.
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Trailer: Zhang Yang's Black Comedy AIR (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 11, 2006 |
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Chinese director Zhang Yang ( Sunflower, Quitting, Shower, Spicy Love Soup) just wrapped up the principal shooting of black comedy Air (Chinese literal title: Falling Leaves Return to the Root). Inspired by a real story, Air is a road movie about a migrant worker traveling thousands of miles to send the corpse of his dead friend home. He meets many interesting people along road. On a bus, he tries to protect everyone from being robbed. He wins the robbers' respect but is kicked off the bus because bus passengers discover there is a dead man on bus. Some steals his money and he dresses his dead friend as a homeless to beg for money. He attends someone's funeral to get a free meal. A hooker is asked by him to give his decomposing dead friend a makeover. A landslide blocks his way and he did his best to help the villagers and becomes a local hero. When he finally reach the end his the journey, he finds out his dead friend's village has already been flooded to make a reservoir. Zhao Benshan (Happy Times), the most famous grass root comedy in China plays the migrant worker Zhao. The cast includes many well-known TV and movie stars, like Song Dandan (House of Flying Daggers), Guo Degang, Sun Haiying (Sunflower), Wu Ma (Shaw Bros' star), Hu Jun (Everlasting Regret, Infernal Affairs 2, Lan Yu), Xia Yu (The Painted Veil, Waiting Alone, In the Head of the Sun) and Guo Tao (Carzy Stone). This black comedy will be released in China early next year and will also show up at the coming Berlin Film Festival.Stills |
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Opening This Week: November 4 - 10 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 10, 2006 |
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A shrink is haunted by his dead wife, several housewives start learning belly dance, and four teenagers enjoy biking on a mountain road...
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November 9, 2006 |
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The Set of Ang Lee's LUST, CAUTION (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 8, 2006 |
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Part of Nanjing Road West of Shanghai is under construction inside Shanghai Film Studios (the Chedun location). The set includes several streets and replica of many historical building from the 1930s / 40s Shanghai, adjacent to existing buildings designed to recreate the old Shanghai. Lust, Caution. |
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The Alien Ship Stephen Chow Built for LONG RIVER 7 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) |
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November 8, 2006 |
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A prop alien ship (Just don't laugh. Its a comedy, you know.) has been spotted in Chinese city of Ningbo, where Stephen Chow is current making his latest movie Long River 7 (aka. A Hope). A Chinese newspaper has revealed more plot details on the latest flick by Stephen Chow. He plays a single dad and a part-time construction worker. He is fired by his boss, a contractor played by Lam Chi-Chung, without getting paid. He can't afford to buy toy for his son and instead he gave him something he found in the trash. It is actually an alien device with great power.
Related stories: Stephen Chow Gets High for LONG RIVER 7 / A HOPE (Sina.com.cn) October 12, 2006 First Photos of Stephen Chow on the Set of LONG RIVER 7 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) September 29, 2006 |