(Thanks to Alexis Moore of Sony Pictures Classics.)

(Thanks to Alexis Moore of Sony Pictures Classics.)

Stephen Chow	Stephen Chow and Leung Siu-Tung.	Stephen Chow and Yuen Wo-Ping.
(TungStarl)

By yesterday, Kung Fu Hustle's box-office revenue has soared to HK$ 60.83 million (US$7.80 million), surpassed the previous record holder Shaolin Soccer by HK$ 30,000. Shaolin Soccer's record was achievement through 84 days and  Kung Fu Hustle' has only been released for 46 days.

It is the same trailer released in December. About the background music in the trailer - the first one is from the original soundtracks and the second one is not. I am glad people from Sony Pictures Classics decided to drop that "Everybody was kung fu fighting" song, which is not part of movie. March 18 is the day picked for the North American release.

L to R: McDull Prince de la Bun, One Nite in Mongkok, A-1, 2046 (Mov3.com, Media Asia, Panorama Entertainment, Block 2 Pictures, Shanghai Film Group Corp.)

Yesterday Hong Kong Film Critic Society announced its pick of the best of 2004. Although Hong Kong film industry only released 60 movies last year, it spent the critics a long time to come out the list. The best film is awarded to McDull Prince de la Bun, an animated sequel about the new adventure of a little pig. Yee Tung-Shing won the title of Best Director for One Nite in Mongkok. Gordon Chan and Chung Kai-Cheong's screenplay for A-1 is selected as  the best. Leung Chiu-Wai was named the Best Actor, after defeating Lau Ching-Wan (Fantasia), Eason Chan (Love Battlefield) and Leung Ka-Fai (A-1 and Dumping - Three ... Extreme). Previously he received the title for Infernal Affairs. However, the tightest competition was for the title of Best Actress. According to local newspaper Sing Pao Daily, there were five actress remained in the race after the first round of ballot - Zhang Ziyi (2046), Bai Ling (Dumping - Three ... Extreme), Teresa Cheung (Colour Blossoms), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Liu Joyin (20 30 40). Among them, Zhang Ziyi and Teresa Cheung were tied as the front runner, and  Zhang Ziyi finally won after five rounds of ballot. This is her first best actress title from the city.

The complete list:

Best Picture: McDull Prince de la Bun

Best Actor: Leung Chiu-Wai (2046)

Best Actress: Zhang Ziyi (2046)

Films Recommended: Dumping - Three ... Extreme, One Nite in Mongkok, Throw Down, Kung Fu Hustle, Love Battlefield, A-1, Colour Blossoms, 2046, Breaking News.

Windows Media: High Low

(Thanks to Alexis Moore of Sony Pictures Classics and "Paul".)

Stephen Chow	Stephen Chow and Leung Siu-Tung.	Stephen Chow and Yuen Wo-Ping.
(TungStarl)

According to variable sources, the film has made 160 million yuans (US$19.33 million) by the third weekend, surpassing Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers as the second all-time top grower, only next to Zhang Yimou's another film Hero (250 million yuans / US$30.21 million). In Hong Kong, it dropped to the second slot with the accumulated revenue of HK$53.40 million (US$6.85 million), after occupied the top slot for two weeks. In Taiwan, it remains at the top after three weeks. The accumulated box-office revenue, of less than ten countries in Asia, has reached US$47 million, with openings in South Korea and Japan yet to come.

More Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle

Stephen Chow	Stephen Chow and Leung Siu-Tung.	Stephen Chow and Yuen Wo-Ping.
(TungStarl)

Kung Fu (Kung Fu Hustle) is continuously making box-office wonder. In the mainland China, the 10-day revenue (Dec. 23 - Jan. 1) crossed the mark of 100 million yuans (US$12.08  million) on the first day of 2005 (Sat.); in Hong Kong, it collected HK$ 46.91 million (US$ 6.03 million) by the 11th day (Dec. 23 - Jan. 2); and in Taiwan, the figure reached TW$ 100 million (US$ 3.15 millions) in 9 days (Dec. 24 - Jan. 1), breaking the previous record of 11 days, set by Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kings.

More Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle

According to Chinese newspaper Nanjing Daily, Stephen Chow's assistant Ngai Dat-Sing said  several scripts were prepared for Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle sequel and shooting would begin after  they made the pick. A series of contests have been held in several Chinese cities for people to show up their tricks. Winners will be given the opportunity to perform in the sequel. (Click here to download a commercial for the contests.)

More Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle

Stephen Chow	Stephen Chow and Leung Siu-Tung.	Stephen Chow and Yuen Wo-Ping.
(TungStarl)

In the mainland China, the three day record (Thur. - Sun.) is approximately

50 million yuans (US$ 6.04 million), breaking the record set by Hero two years ago. It collected more than 10 million yuans (US$ 1.21 million) on opening day (Thur.) and the record doubled on Friday, breaking the single-day record set by Hero (18 million yuans). In the city of Hong Kong, the revenue in the first two days (Thur. and Fri.) reached HK$10,560,770 (US$ 1.36 million) and the three day record (Thur. - Sat.) is roughly HK$ 15 million (US$ 1.93). During the first day (Thur.), it earned HK$ 4.11 million (US$ 0.53 million), ten times more than The Polar Express (opened on the same day) and Shark Tale (opened a week earlier) did. In Taiwan, the opening day record (Fri.) is TW$ 15.4 million (US$ 0.48 million), breaking the Friday record set by The Day After Tomorrow (TW$ 10.0 million) and the Saturday number reached TW$ 25.0 million (US$ 0.78 million), 25% more than the preview record set by Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets. The number should reach TW$ 100 million by Sunday. Kung Fu is also doing very well in Singapore and Malaysia.

Another Chinese film, A World Without Thieves, has earned more than 90 million yuans (US$ 10.87) in the mainland China and HK$ 4.31 million (US$ 0.55 million) in Hong Kong in two weeks. The all-time highest earner in the mainland China is Hero (250 yuans / US$ 30.21million) and this year's champion, so far, is House Of Flying Daggers (150 yuans / US$ 18.12 million).

Follow-Up Report:

According to MovieXclusive.com, Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle ranked No.1 at Singapore's weekend box-office report with SG$1,885,201 (US$ 1.15 million), a new record for the island nation. It is currently occupies the No.7 spot at the All-Time Opening ranking, with SG$1,885,,210.34, surpassing many Hollywood titles like The Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter and The Mummy series.

(Thanks to "Ethan aka 'The One'".)

More Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle

(China Film Group Corp. / HTF / Columbia Tristar Film Distribution International).	(Sina.com)

Leung Siu-Lung started his film career in 1973 and in less than two decades he made over 70 films. In the late 1970's, he turned his interest to TV drama and made over 1000 episodes of TV series in less than a decade. In Hong Kong, he was dubbed one of "The Three Dragons", along with Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. In the mid 1980's, he made a visit to the mainland China and his projects were subsequently banned in Taiwan. Because Taiwan was a major market for Hong Kong's film and TV industry at that time, Leung Siu-Lung was forced to quit acting. In 2000, he went to Beijing and starred in a TV series. In Kung Fu / Kung Hu Hustle, he played Huo Yun Xie Shen (Evil God of Fire and Cloud; called "The Beast" on the official site), a mental kung-fu master, who had a final duel with Sing played by Stephen Chow.

More Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle

The following is a special program aired on China's CCTV. It contains a 40 minute long making-of featurette. The file is huge and the download will be very long but it is worthy.

Click here to download the video.

Note: BitComet is required. Click here to download BitComet first.

More Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle

Stephen Chow's newest CG-enhanced kung-fu comedy - Kung Kung (Kung Fu Hustle) started showing in Chinese cities yesterday. Revenue from midnight screenings is near 10 million yuans (US$ 1.2 million). Yesterday Stephen Chow and company went to Taiwan, which will received its own Kung Fu treatment starting today. At a news conference, a representative from Columbia even announced that the sequel to Kung Fu is definitely coming. Kung Fu is produced by China Film Group Corp., Beijing based Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film Investment Co., Ltd. and the Asian branch of Columbia Pictures.

Click here for details.

This weekend, everybody got see Kung Fu!

Click here for details.

(China Film Group Corp. / HTF / Columbia Tristar Film Distribution International).

For more stills, click here and here.

This is a short video of Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle press conference held yesterday in Hong Kong. It also contains a few behind the scene clips:

(China Film Group Corp. / HTF / Columbia Tristar Film Distribution International)

For more: click

here, here, and  here.

This clip was shown to representatives of potential sponsors and reporters at a press conference in China recently.

Click

here

here

and here.

(Thanks to "Liling Chen".)

For more, click here and here.

Teaser trailer: Kung Fu / Kung Fu Hustle (QuickTime / 0:39)

Click here to download the trailer.

Just ignore the annoying song!

Transcript:

Columbia Pictures proudly presents the highly anticipated new film from internationally acclaimed superstar Stephen Chow. ... "Mister, would you teach us Shaolin soccer?" ... "##!" ... Stephen Chow ... Kung Fu Hustle ... This Christmas ...

(Thanks to Curtis Tsui.)

Stephen Chow  felt very sorry.	Sommo Hung had "nothing to say".	Yuen Wo-Ping will take over the action.
Jiefang Daily	Jiefang Daily	Edko Films

According to Shanghai paper Jiefang Daily, Sammo Hung has resigned from the post of action director yesterday and Yuen Wo-Ping has been called in to fill the blank. Reportedly, Sammo Hung and Stephen Chow have been clashing on the set. Interviewed by Hong Kong media, he talked about everything, from the high temperature to mosquito on the set. He said he would focus on the production of a new movie in the States. Stephen Chow has shown his regret for Sammo Hung's departure. He praised Sammo's work and said his health was a major concern. However, neither one of them admitted there was any clash on-set. Yuen Wo-Ping has returned from the States and is gathering his troops in Hong Kong for the Shanghai trip. Yuen Wo-Ping told Hong Kong's The Sun that Stephen Chow's Star Overseas would arrange everything and according to his assistant, Yuen must return to the States for a Hollywood production by the end of the year.

Stephen Chow has been talking to Jiefang Daily. He said shooting of KUNG FU (KUNG FU HUSTLE) will last at least four month in Shanghai and all CG effects would be done overseas. Sony, financed the film, will decide when we will see it and according to Stephen Chow, this will not happen until the coming Chinese New Year, at least.

Stephen Chow with an axe wired in the air.	Stephen Chow was tortured along with a big guy.                                        Jiefang Daily

Photographer from Shanghai's Jiefang Daily has snapped more shots on the set of Stephen Chow's KUNG FU (KUNG FU HUSTLE). This time the shooting took place inside an old factory house at the northeast corner of the city and lasted two full nights. The scene is something like Stephen Chow's character and a big guy getting caught by the bad guys, probably the Axe Gang, and being rescued later.

More shots: A, B, C, D, E, F, G

(Left) Shooting under way at the multi-million set.

(Right) Office of a community center. The sign shows "Pig Cage Walled City Community Welfare Society / Public Security Squad / Fire Squad) - looks like the set was modeled after Kowloon Walled City of Hong Kong.

Other Shots:

Stephen Chow entering the set.

Sammo Hung leaving the set.

Sammo Hung thinking about getting some foot massage at the hotel he stays in.

Stephen Chow entering the hotel he stays in.

A crewmember painting a outdoor sign.

Shanghai's Jiefang Daily just posted picture (left) taken inside the set of KUNG FU / KUNG FU HUSTLE. It shows the interior of an old apartment building from the 1940's. The is also a street built next to the apartment, which is not shown. Picture on the right is the exterior of the set. According to the paper, Stephen Chow is thinking about blowing the set up after the shooting wrapped up or even including the destruction in the story. Based on what we know so far, this is where Stephen Chow's character lives.

Sina.com posted three snapshots taken at the heavily guided backlot of Shanghai Film Studio. The first one is the overall view of the set; the second one shows Stephen Chow, half-naked and bearded; and the third one shows action director Sammo Hung walking out of the set. He said shooting of fight scenes has not started yet  because the actors still need more practice.

Sina.com just posted the first spy photo taken on the set of Stephen Chow's new comedy action KUNG FU / KUNG FU HUSTLE. Stephen Chow (left) is talking to director Feng Xiaogang (not directing this time), who is making a cameo appearance as a gang leader. The face over Stephen Chow's left shoulder is the representative from Columbia Pictures. The photo was taken at the backlot of Shanghai Film Studio.

Related Story:

Stephen Chow's KUNG FU Starts Rolling In Shanghai June 28, 2003

Jiefang Daily reports both names are kept as the project's working titles for now. Stephen Chow just finished his six-day trip to Shanghai. According to the paper, Stephen Chow visited several locations in Shanghai, including the Shanghai Film Studio backlot in the town of Chedun, which has hosted many film and TV productions including PURPLE BUTTERFLY, MO LI HUA KAI (JASMINES BLOOM) and MiramAxe production THE GREAT RAID. City scenes of the old Shanghai has been recreated on the backlot, which will be used to double Hong Kong from the 1950's. While in Shanghai, Stephen Chow also met Sammo Hung, the film's action director. Stephen Chow's assistant Tin Kai-man, told the paper the film will be "absolutely different from SHAOLIN SOCCER" but he refused to say any further. Tin played Iron Jacket in SHAOLIN SOCCER and will take another small role this time. Chinese director Feng Xiaogang (BIG SHOT'S FUNERAL), who worked together in an iced tea commercial, may take one or more than one cameos in the film. Zhao Wei, Mui the steamed bun cook from SHAOLIN SOCCER may also return, but not as the female lead and Stephen Chow has yet decide who should be the female lead. Stephen Chow will fly back to Shanghai next week.

Set in the 1950's Hong Kong and a few other places in the mainland China, Stephen Chow is playing some nobody who is dreaming about becoming a kung fu master. He travels around, meets many masters, and eventually becomes a master of his own.

MiramAxe has announced a wide released of a chopped and disfigured SHAOLIN SOCCER in North America on August 8, 2003, two years after the film's initial release in Asia.

According to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily, Sammo Hung has been brought on board as the action director of KUNG FU, the upcoming comedy action by actor/director/screenwriter Steven Chow. Construction of the set of the 1950's Hong Kong will start next month in Shanghai. But he has yet found the female lead after months of searching.

From an unknown source: Columbia is tossing $20 million US into Stephen Chow's next project, a film about a young mean's search for the true masters of martial-art. Sammo Hung will be the action director and the shooting will start in May. But Stephen Chow told Hong Kong's The Sun that there were many unsolved problems about his next project, including script problem and casting problem, and he had never stopped communicating with the American.