Chinese title

Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia

 

Literal title

Fill the City with

Golden Armors

 

English title

Curse of

the Golden Flower

 

Working English title

The City of

Golden Armor

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Won for Its Art Direction and Costume Design (...)

 

 

February 19, 2007

 
 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Last week, American Art Directors Guild decided to present the annual award for Excellence in Production Design for a Period Film to Curse of the Golden Flower's art director Huo Tingxiao, the man who were also involved in the production of Zhang Yimous's Hero and House of the Flying Dagger.

 

This week, American Costume Designers Guild picked Yee Chung-Man's work in Curse of the Golden Flower as last year's best in a period film. Congratulations to Yee, who has worked in over a dozen Hong Kong productions, like Peace Hotel, Tokyo Raider, Golden Chicken, Perhaps Love and the Ci Ma remake (aka. This Violent Land). This award may help him a little bit at the coming Oscar.

 

Art Directors Guild official website

Costume Designers Guild official website

 

Art directors honor trio - Top prizes go to 'Flower,' 'Labyrinth,' 'Casino', by Laura Repstad, Variety

Costume designers pick 'Flower' - 'Labyrinth,' 'Queen' win guild awards, by Eric Stitt, Variety

 
 

     
   
     
     

 

The Oscar Nomination (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)  

 

January 23, 2007  

(Beijing New Picture Film Co, Li Li Er.)

Curse of Golden Flowers is nominated for Best Costume Design. Congratulations to Yee Chung-Man (Ci Ma, Perhaps Love, Comrades: Almost  a Love Story, A Terracotta Warrior). The film is not in Best Foreign Language list, as as Volver.

Ruby Yang and Thomas Lonnon's The Blood of Yingzhou District is nominated for "Documentary Short". It follows the story of a little boy named Gao Jun, from Yingzhou, Anhui Province of eastern China. He is one of 75,000 so-called AIDS Orphans now living in China. His parents died after being infected with HIV through blood seller. After he was rejected by his relatives, he was sent to live with two foster parents, who were also HIV positive. A year after, his HIV symptom appeared and he had to take medication made for adults because medication for children was hard to find in China. His foster parents could not afford his medical expense and he had to move to a another foster family.

 

The nomination list.

 
 

 

Monkeypeaches' The Best of 2006 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

December 31, 2006  

Best of 2006

The year of 2006 is about to be over and the time to tell you my list of best Chinese language movies released in the year. Most people of world have never seen most of movies I am about to say. Also, the ranking does not means one is absolutely better than the others. Here we go:

 

 

 

1. Curse of the Golden Flower

 

An emperor runs his family like a clock. He orders his wide, whom he never loved, to take one dose of medicine for each hour she is awake, even though she is not ill. His favorite son, the crown prince, the only child he had with his deceased ex-wife, seems only interested in having an affair with his stepmother and a court maid. The middle prince, who loves his mother more than his father, is the best candidate for inheriting the empire. The emperor knows that. He would pass the job to his second son, but not before killing his mother, who is planning something very big. Zhang Yimou carefully tells us a story of how a family, already rots from the inside, collapses in just one night. What more can we ask for if Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li are on the screen together and Zhang Yimou turns the best from his brain into a vision wonder, which could suffocate your mind?

 

 

2. Crazy Stone

 

A precious stone is discovered in a toilet of a practically bankrupted craft factory. The factory's security chief, who is very upset about not becoming a cop, is assigned to guard the stone, which will be auctioned to save the factory, the only source of income for many people. Three thieves, who have never made much out of their crimes, see the stone as their chance of getting rich for real. A greedy real estate developer, who would like to collect the factory, hires a professional thief to steal the stone. 30 year old Ning Hao wrote and directed this probably most entertaining comedy ever comes out of China. This extravaganza is a real surprise, a movie fan made for other movie fans. Sure people may find it similar to a Guy Ritchie movie. But it is so enjoyable - so what? Nobody would think about that one day a movie can expose so many social problems in today's China in such a hilarious way. Millions of ordinary Chinese have enjoyed the movie. Even the premier ordered a private screen to get to know the misery of the bottom of the working class.

 

 

3. Exiled

 

Four hitmen arrive in Macao to meet the fifth man now quietly lives with wife. It turns out five of them once worked together in another job years ago in Hong Kong. Now they get together and each one has a mind of his own.  Director Johnnie To is the man, maybe in only man (besides John Woo), who is capable of telling interesting stories about criminals, really really cool criminals and Exiled is really safe to be considered as another success story in Johnnie To's career. This one will probably never reach your local theaters. When you are searching it either in a DVD store or a web vendor, remember: make sure you get the Hong Kong version. The mainland Chinese version is really a shame.

 

 

4. Still Life

 

In a city is gradually flooded after the gigantic Three Georges Dam is built, a man arrives to look for his ex-"wife" he "purchased" and their 16 year old daughter and a woman arrives to look for his husband who has not contacted her for two years. The man finally meets his ex-wife and they decide to get married again and the woman asks for a devoice after realizing his husband is now living with another woman. Still Life surprisingly joined the competition of this year's Venice International Film Festival when the festival had already begun and several days later surprisingly captured the Golden Lion. A dam is being built and a town built over two thousand years ago  disappears under water. Millions of people lose their homes and move to their new homes far away. Countless people are making a few hundred a month by turning their town into rubbles and a few others make millions by building a new town at high ground. Many great ironies could be found in this movie, if you could stand the slow drama.

 

 

5. Jasmine Women

 

In the 1930's Mo dreams about becoming a movie star and becomes the mistress of a studio manager. But an unplanned daughter makes ends her dream. In the 1950s, Li has a caring husband and an adopted daughter but Li's mind is slowly losing control. In the 1980s, Hua is pregnant but her husband decides to leave her for another woman. Cinematographer Hou Yong made his second directorial work. This is not an epic story about how China changes in the 20th Century but a small drama about four generations of women in an ordinary Shanghai family. Zhang Ziyi and Joan Chen, two great actresses, really make the movie work.

 

 

6. Courthouse on the Horseback

 

A judge, who almost reaches the age of retirement, a secretary, who is about to lose her job because of a newly introduced regulation, a young man, who just graduated from a law school. They travels to remote mountain villages to solve civil disputes. In the end, the young man runs away with his bride, the secretary finally retires and the judge continues the journey alone. Director Liu Jie makes a rare look at the life of the minority people living in remote mountains of southwestern China with this quiet and touching little drama shot in documentary style.

 

 

 

 

7. Little Red Flowers

 

A kindergarten in the 1960s Beijing, a young boy shows up and making himself fitting in is probably the biggest challenge he has ever faced. Director Zhang Yuan presented us an innocent story about the world of the kindergarteners, based on the semi-biographical novel by Beijing writer Wang Shuo. This is not a movie for kids, but rather something for the grownup to relive their childhood.

 

 

8. After This Our Exile

 

A gambling addicted father is the real trouble for his family of three. Mother decides to leave but the son wants to stay with his father, who has never recovered from his problems and turns his son to thief. After being silent for 17 years, Hong Kong New Wave director Patrick Tam makes a triumph return with his truly sad story, which is inspired by a true story Tam discovered in the 1990s.

 

 

 

 

9. Confession of Pain

 

A senior cop's father-in-law is brutally murdered and all evidences point to two jobless men. But his wife believes in something else and to get into the bottom of the truth, she hires a private detective, some once working for the senior cop. Andrew Lau and Alan Mak  tell a story of gradually unfolding the unspeakable sad stories of two men, which in some sense, surpassed what they achieved with the Infernal Affairs trilogy.

 

 

 

 

10. Dog Bite Dog

 

A Cambodian young cold-blooded killer comes to Hong Kong to kill a local judge's wife and a redneck cop is in charge of solving the case. Two men clash and their struggle turns into a brutal game raw killing. Director Soi CHEANG makes sure this movie extremely violent while keeping the gory scenes as realistic as possible. This is not a movie everyone would enjoy but is definitely something some people will talk about years later.

 

The runner-up:

2 Become 1,
A Battle of Wits,
Dragon Tiger Gate,
Dreams May Come,
Election 2: Harmony Is a Virtue,
Fearless,
Feel It, Say It,
I'll Call You,
Isabella,
Karmic Mahjong,
Luxury Car,
McDull, the Alumni,
One Foot of the Ground,
Perpetual Motion,
Rob-B-Hood,
The Banquet,
The Contract ,
The Forest Ranger,
The Knot ,
The Road,
The Shoe Fairy,
You and Me,
Yuan Ming Yuan.

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co., Focus Films, Milkyway Images, Xstream Pictures, Poly Hua Yi, China Film Group, Vision Films, Ar Port, Inc.)

 
 

 

Review: CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

December 21, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

With a cast of the best Chinese actors, a crew of the best from the trade and 45 million American dollars, director has made sure every frame people see on the big screen deserves every penny they paid at the box-office counter. Curse of the Golden Flower, Zhang Yimou’s the third multi-multi million dollar historical drama, is a lavish feast of colors, gold especially, and a emotional drama about how a rotten royal family collapses in just one night.

 

Bare this in mind, it is not fair to thumb down the film just because the production design is overwhelming and it is not fair to disappoint just because martial-art is not as big as in Zhang’s Hero and House of Flying Daggers, and it is also not fair to dismiss the drama as a Shakespearean-like soap just because the reviewer fails to catch the deeper layer of the story.

 

The story took place in an autumn during China’s Tang Dynasty during a period called “Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms” (907 – 1125); or it doesn’t matter, because it is based on Lei Yü (Thunderstorm), a play Cao Yü written in early 1930s and was about a story took place in early 1930s China.

 

Emperor Ping, played by the amazing Chow Yun-Fat, is a quiet but menacing ruler, who is never tolerant anyone or anything of his empire fails to run like a clock according to the rule he set. His gigantic palace compound is lavishly decorated with gold and precious stones. He orders everyone from his family, including himself to wear chokingly lavish golden robes everyday. But just like what Zhang Yimou said in one of his interviews, “Gold and jade on the outside, rot and decay on the inside”, the imperial family is in the final stage of cancer and each member is either twisted or corrupted.

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

The emperor’s wife, Empress Phoenix, played by the gorgeously gorgeous Gong Li, has been ill for many year, at least that’s what has been claimed by the emperor, who seems more interested in being a pharmacist than a ruler. For decades, the emperor is forcing his wife to drink one dose of medicine each hour, even those he hates it. There has never been love or anything remotely similar to love in between them. She was the princess of the King of Liang and married Ping purely for political purpose. Phoenix is have a secret affair with Prince Wan (Liu Ye), the Crown Prince and the emperor’s first born, who has felt sick about his relationship with his stepmom and turned his attention to a cute court maid Jiang Chan (Li Man), daughter of the imperial doctor (Ni Dahong). Wan is the emperor’s favorite son, maybe because his mother was dead when he was very young. Wan has no interest of the throne and the emperor knows the one right for the job is actually Prince Jie (played by super-diva Jay Chou), the mid-son of the imperial family, who loves his birth mother Phoenix and hates everything the emperor has done. The emperor has his plan – he would pass the power to his second son, but before doing so, he would kill his mother first. But of cause, the Empress has her own plan. This only cover about the first half hour of the movie, just in case you think the story is complicated enough. There are more to come – who is the imperial doctor’s wife (Chen Jin) and why does she work for the empress, why phoenix keeps making embroidered chrysanthemum despite her deteriorating health, and what the youngest Prince Cheng (Qin Junjie) have in mind? You need to see the movie to get the answers.

 

Chow Yun-Fat is badder than ever in the film and having been in the business for three decades, he is on the top of his career, even better than what he did in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. His trip to the Hollywood is regretfully a failure. Neither Replacement Killer nor Bulletproof Monk offers him any role more than cheap reproduction of roles he played in John Woo’s classics. I don’t really expect anything from Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End. What he plays is deemed to be something one-dimension stereotypical.

 

We have waited more than a decade to see Gong Li working again with Zhang Yimou. The waiting is worth every second of her screen time. At the age of 41, she is dead on portraying a desperate housewife crashed bit by bit by her sick-minded husband. Her performance in Memoirs of the Geisha is good but restricted, her part in Miami Vice is nothing more than a joke, and what about Lady Murasaki in Hannibal Rising? No I don’t think so.

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Curse of the Golden Flower is only the second movie for Jay Chou stars in but and he has proved he could act other than singing. Liu Ye must be the favorite man for playing some with a weak mind. He was wasted in The Promise last year, but his time, he did his part just right. Chen Jin and Ni Dahong, as skilled actors, and Li Man and Qin Junjie, as new to the industry, played all made their small parts memorable.

 

The set, I just have to say something about the set. The palaces you will see in the movie, may look so unreal, but are actually part of a near full-scale replica of Beijing’s The Forbidden City, built in Hengdian World Studios. The palace interior was built inside Beijing Film Studios. The imperial post was built in the bottom of a place called “Heavenly Pit” near Chongqing city. Contrary to what he did for Hero, designer Huo Tingxiao made the set lavishly suffocating.

 

Zhang Yimou has push game of color into a new level and the cinematography Zhao Xiaoding’s (House of Flying Daggers, Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles) made these colors alive. Costumer Yee Chung-Man (Perhaps Love, Comrades: Almost a Love Story) perfectly transferred Zhang Yimou’s idea of “golden armor” (as in the original Chinese title) to the real thing. Ching Siu-Tung returned as the action director. The fight sequences are no longer in slow-motion and seem lasting forever. They are short, quick and effective.

 

Curse of the Golden Flower is like a scaled-up remake of Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern. You should always remind yourself, while watching it – don’t just simply blown away by the colors, the actions and the overly exposed women’s chest (women did dressed like that at that time), otherwise you will miss many layers of the nicely written and carefully told story.

 

- MP

 
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Reviews (...)

 

 

December 19, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Moriarty of AICN, John Li of movieXclusive.com and J-Skell all love this film. There reviews cannot be found at RottenTomatoes..

 

 

Review by Moriarty of Aintitcool.com.

Review by John Li of movieXclusive.com. (Thanks to Ethan Teo.)

Review by J-Skell.

 
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER's First Weekend Revenue: US$12.3 millions (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

December 18, 2006

 

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

96 million yuans (US$12.3 millions), that was how much the Chinese paid in the past weekend to see Zhang Yimou's latest mega-budget historical epic, Curse of the Golden Flower, according to Beijing New Picture Film Co., which co-produced the film. This unbelievably high number more than doubles the old record (US$6.04 millions), set by Hero, Zhang's first mega budget historical drama, released four years ago. Zhang Weiping, president of Beijing New Picture Film Co., said many people went to see the movie because of good words of mouth. He is predicting another good performance during the second weekend because many theaters in China will run overnight screenings at the Christmas Eve. The movie is already shown on most screens in the country and number of such screens is on the rise. But it is still hard to tell weather the revenue from the domestic box-office will cover the US$45 millions spent on making it. Starting next week, the film will be released in the rest of Asia and North America.

 
 

 

Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN FLOWER Is CURSED TO Break A Money Record (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

December 16, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

The flower might be cursed, but the movie is not, at least not in China. According to Beijing New Picture Film Co., which co-produced Zhang Yimou's latest mega budget historical epic Curse of the Golden Flower, the film collected over 15 million yuans (US$1.92 millions) at the opening night (Thursday) in China, a new record of the country. The number would be much higher if the release on Thursday were not "limited." The movie is now shown on most screens in China, from as early as eight in the morning to as late as twelve in the evening. However, the first night revenue only recovered a very small percentage of the US$45 millions spent on making it.

 

 

 

 
 

 

Opening This Week:  December 9 - 15 (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

December 15, 2006

 
Curse of the Golden Flower Still Life

(Beijing New Picture Film Co., Xstream Pictures.)

Story of an imperial family rots from within, a man looks for the woman he once lived with and a woman looks the man she no longer love...

 

Click here for detail

 

 
 

 

More CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Stuffs (Sina.com.cn)

 

 

December 12, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

Videos:

Chow Yun-Fat as the Emperor

 
 

 

More CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Stuffs (Sina.com.cn)

 

 

December 11, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Videos:

The stars

The extras

The medicine

The props

Chow Yun-Fat

 

 

 
 

 

More CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Stuffs (Sina.com.cn)

 

 

December 9, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

 

 
 

 

More CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Posters (...)

 

 

December 7, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

More CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Reviews and Videos (...)

 

 

November 18, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Michael Guillén 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

 

Behind-the-scene videos: A B

 

 
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Reviews (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

November 12, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

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.

 

However, Kirk Honeycutt 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.

 
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWERS Hong Kong Posters (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

November 9, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Views on the Set of Zhang Yimou's THE CURSE OF GOLDEN FLOWER (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

October 11, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Picture on the left shows a partial bird view of a near full-scale replica of Beijing's The Forbidden City, located at Hengdian World Studios. It was redressed from the film.

 

Picture on the right shows an interior set built at Beijing Film Studios.

 

 
 

 

Both CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER and THE BANQUET Got the Oscar Tickets (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

September 27, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

The Chinese press reports that, according to an insider, Zhang Yimou's third period epic Curse of the Golden Flower has been officially selected by the authority to compete for the Best Foreign Language award of next year's Oscar. The anonymous insider claimed that some good words of mouth from people who saw the film actually helped the film to get the nomination. A few other titles were also up to the nomination but were not strong enough to defeat Golden Flower. The Banquet, Feng Xiaogang's Hamlet inspired historically drama, which has a story setup very similar to that of Golden Flower, received mixed/negative reviews both at home and overseas; The Road, Zhang Jiarui's drama about a bus drive and a ticket-seller's friendship / love story in the 1960/70's, also failed to draw a strong support; and the production studio of  Curiosity Kills the Cat, a modern day urban psychological thriller by Zhang Yibao, basically used the bidding for the nomination as a publicity stunt for the low budget flick, which will open next month in China.

 

During the past two decades, more than half dozen movies by Zhang Yimou were sent to bid for the award. Three of them made to the final round, Judou, Raise the Red Lanterns and Hero, but Zhang had never won once.  Curse of the Golden Flower will be released this December in Asia and in North America, by Sony Pictures Classics.

 

Update: according to Sina.com.cn, Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet has been selected to bid for the Best Foreign Language award, representing Hong Kong. The Banquet is actually jointly produced by Beijing-based H. Brothers (Huayi Brothers) and Hong Kong-based Media Asia. This nomination, if was real, would upset many native Hong Kongers, who would prefer to nominate a movie directed and starred by local talents. Many other Hong Kong made Oscar hopefuls, like Johnnie To's Election 2 and Exiled, were also produced by Media Asia, which produces more box-office hits than any other local studio.

 

More about The Banquet

 
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Gets Positive Reviews at Home International Teaser

(MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

September 21, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

A week-long Oscar qualification run for Zhang Yimou's third martial-art epic Curse of the Golden Flowers has began secretly yesterday at a movie theater in Beijing. This is for making it qualified for competing for the Best Foreign Langue Film category of next year's Oscar, and Sony Pictures Classics is scheduled to release it in North America in December, which would make it qualified for other categories. According to several Chinese newspapers, Beijingers who have seen the film are almost overwhelmingly praising this US$45 million historical drama. According to some of them, Curse of the Golden Flowers shows lavish designs and beautiful cinematography, and above all, a nicely written story presented by a first class cast at a true epic level. When Zhang Yimou's Hero came out about four years ago, reviews at home were shapely divided. The criticizers of the film said it generally had no story. Then Zhang made House of Flying Daggers, a attempt of telling an story, which turned out disappointed most Chinese viewers. Then Chen Kaige's shot his own epic The Promise, which was basically a junkie mess. Earlier this month, The Banquet, a big budget historical drama by another influential Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, best known for directing comedies about ordinary people, was release and got a mixed review both at home and overseas.

 

Recently release stills: A B

 
 

 

Third CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER International Teaser (Sina.com.cn)  

 

September 19, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Sina.com.cn just exclusively released the third trailer for Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower, which is the first one specifically made for Chinese speakers.

 

Click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trailer transcript:

The oldest Prince: What do you mean by that?

The second oldest prince:  Then keeps embroidering chrysanthemum flowers.

The queen: Chrysanthemum is your father's favorite.

The emperor: What else do you want?

The queen: I'ill tell you everything!

The second oldest prince: Why would my father do this?

The queen: (He) has to!

The emperor: You're crazy!

The oldest prince: You madman!

The minister: What didn't you tell me?

The emperor: Now you're satisfied?

The queen: ???

The emperor: What else you are not satisfied?

The oldest prince: Something horrible will happen to ???!

The queen: Show yourself!

???: You dare!

The emperor: Out!

A lavish palace, where an unspeakable secret is hiding.

Something horrific is about to erupt.

Some of the top Chinese stars work together for the first time.

???: Daughter!

 

 

 
 

 

Second CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER International Teaser (Apple.com  / Sina.com.cn)  

 

September 1, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

Sina.com.cn and Apple.com have both posted anther teaser trailer for Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower. It looks more intense and more exciting than the first one. Also, it shows a few shots of black suit assassins attacking the post houses, which are missing from the first teaser.

 

The second teaser:

HD version by Apple.com  (Thanks to "Marla" of AdmiringGongLi.com)

Low-res. version by Sina.com.cn

 

Click here for the first teaser.

 
 

 

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

 
 

 

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.

 
 

 

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER's Day Set for North America (Box Office Mojo)

 

 

July 25, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Box Office Mojo reports Curse of Golden Flower will be released on Friday December 22, probably with a limited scale. This should make the film qualified for next year's Oscar. A simultaneous release in China (mainland) and Hong Kong, on the same day or the day before, has been planned.

 

(Thanks to "Mary".)

 
 

 

More CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER Production Photos (Sina.com.cn)

 

 

July 18, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Beijing New Picture Film Co. has released more pictures taken on the set of Curse of the Golden Flower. The first three pictures show director Zhang Yimou working with Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li; and the last one shows Gong Li, as the queen, with two young princes (Liu Ye on the right and Qin Junjie). Still in post-production, this film will be put under a week-long screening in Shenyang city of the northeast China, to make it qualified for the Best Foreign Language Film category of next year's Oscar. Previously, Zhang Yimou has three films being nominated for the award but he has yet win once. According to producer Zhang Weiping, Sony Pictures Classics will release it in North America this December to make it qualified for other categories of the Oscar. Another period epic, The Banquet, is also eyeing at the coming Oscar, especially the award for the Best Foreign Language Film. Despite many promoting efforts, producers of The Banquet, Beijing-based H. Brothers and Hong Kong-based Media Asia, have yet secure a distributor in North America.

 

More about Curse of the Golden Flower

 
 

 

THE CURSE OF GOLDEN FLOWER - The Imperial Family Shot (Sina.com)

 

 

July 6, 2006

 

 
(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

The first promotional stills of The Curse of Golden Flower is now available on Sina.com. Beijing New Picture Film Co. has submitted an application for representing China to compete for the Best Foreign Language Film of next year's Oscar. Another historical epic The Banquet is also aiming at getting the nomination.

 

Top-left: The imperial family - (left to right): the youngest prince (Qin Junjie), the second oldest prince (Jay Chou), the empress (Gong Li), the emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) and the oldest prince (Liu Ye).

Top-right: The emperor.

Bottom-left: The emperor forces his wife to drink a bow of medicine to show that he is in charge of everything.

Bottom-right: The second oldest prince rises against his father.

 

Update: Hong Kong's Sing Pao Daily has another shot with Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li.

 

 
 

 

More shots from THE CURSE OF GOLDEN FLOWER Location (Nanfang Metropolis Daily)

 

 

July 1, 2006

 

(Nanfang Metropolis Daily)

Click here for more

 

 
 

 

Sony Pictures Classics Acquired Zhang Yimou's CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (Movie City News)

 

 

June 26, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Sony Picture Classics just announced, through a press release, that it had acquired the North American and Latin American rights to Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower, previously known as The City of Golden Armor. This should not be a surprise, since Sony has been the distributor for almost all films by Zhang Yimou. Included in the press release article, there is an oversimplified description of the plot -  "the volatile balance of power between the King (Chow Yun Fat) and the Queen (Gong Li) and his three sons, which entails betrayal, deceit and passion, pitting King against Queen and father against sons." Currently still being shot in China, the release date for Asia and the continent of America are undetermined.

 

Click here for the press release article (Thanks to "Marla" of AdmiringGongLi.com)

 
 

 

A Closer Look at the Assassins of Zhang Yimou's THE CURSE OF GOLDEN FLOWER (...)

 

 

June 23, 2006

 

(?)

During the shooting at "The Heavenly Pit" near Chongqing City, six cave explorers and volunteer rescuers from the local "Outdoor Club" were hired to double for the imperial assassins. The cape explores took a few pictures of them at work and distributed them to Chongqing Morning Post and Sina.com. Their costumes are consists of four layers of clothing and body armors made of ox hide, which makes them looked overweighed. Their weapons are oversized sickles, quick and effective for making kills, supposedly. They spent two full days to repeatedly lowing themselves from the cliff for shots only would only last for a few seconds.

 

More pictures: A B

 
 

 

THE CURSE OF GOLDEN FLOWER Production Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

June 17, 2006

 

A platform atop of a pole for a group wire scene.

Several stuntmen trying out

the wires.

Crewmembers assembling

an imperial cart.

An imperial cart escorted by soldiers.

(Chongqing Economic Daily)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shooting of Zhang Yimou's The Curse of Golden Flower, previously known as The City of Golden Armor, has restarted at Wulong County's "Heavenly Pit" for four days. A post is built at the bottom of a naturally formed funnel. According to local newspaper Chongqing Economic Daily, the plot is that the emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) sends dozens of assassins to kill his second oldest son (Jay Chou), who has risen against his father. At the center of the courtyard, there is a platform built atop of a steel pole and dozens wire connect the pole with nearby cliffs. In the first shot, about two dozen assassins slid down to the center of the post while fighting with someone, assumedly a stunt double for Jay Chou. Painting in blue, the platform and the pole will be digitally removed during the post-production. In the second shot, six assassins stood on the side of a cliff, getting ready for their attack. In another scene, the empress (Gong Li) arrives at the post along with her maid (Li Man) and a minister (Ni Dahong).

 

More pictures: A B C D E F

 
 

 

TV Special: A Coup in THE CURSE OF GOLDEN FLOWER (Sina.com)

 

 

June 7, 2006

 

(Getty Image)

Another short TV report by China's CCTV is posted at Sina.com. It shows the shooting of a coup lead by the second oldest prince, played by singer Jay Chou. A remote-controlled "flying camera" leased from the States was used for several aerial shots.

 

Click here for the clip.

 

 
 

 

Latest on CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER: The Set of Imperial Post (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

June 4, 2006

 

(Chongqing Morning Post)

According to Chongqing Morning Post, filming of Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower, previously known as The City of Golden Armor, will begin at the set of an imperial post later this month. The set is built at the bottom of a naturally formed funnel called "Heavenly Pit" in Wulong County, near the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing. The post is designed in the architectural style of China's Tang Dynasty. In the center of the courtyard, there is a steel pole attached with dozens steel cables connected to the cliffs sounding the post. Purpose of the steel pole and steel cable is known. The newspaper reports that the production company has signed an agreement with the local authority about how to protect the natural environment.

 

More photos of the set: A B

 
 

 

More Spy Photos from THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set (Sina.com)

 

 

May 18, 2006

 

Chow Yun-Fat (R) and Ni Dahong (R).

Gong Li.

The three princes: (L to R)

Jay Chou, Liu Ye and Qin Junjie.

Director Zhang Yimou (L) and Lou Ye (R).

(Getty Image)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

A Coup in THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR (Sina.com)

 

 

May 18, 2006

 

(Getty Image)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the night scene, the second oldest prince (Jay Chou) leads his golden armor soldiers break into his father's palace. Over a thousand military men and civilian extras participated in the shooting Hengdian World Studios.

 

More: The coup scene Director Zhang Yimou (2nd fromt the left) Maids of the imperial palace

Soldiers camping outside of the set

 
 

 

Zhang Yimou's THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Financed by Standard Chartered Bank (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

May 14, 2006

 

(Edko Films)

According to Screen Daily, Bill (William) Kong, one of the producers of The City of Golden Armor, now marketed under the new English title Curse of the Golden Flower, just signed a financing deal with Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, one of the biggest local banks, listed on both the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the London Stock Exchange. Size of the deal is not revealed in the Screen Daily story, but according to an anonymous e-mail sent to several Chinese newspapers, the line of credit is US$10 millions. According to the Screen Daily story, the cost of this project has reached US$45 million, a new record for Chinese film industry.

 

This is not the first a Zhang Yimou movie receiving financing from a foreign bank. Kong told Screen Daily that in the past he had helped acquiring credit for Zhang's Hero and House of Flying Daggers from US and European banks, such as French-based Natexis Banques Populaires. Kong said this was "a significant milestone for Hong Kong, China and the whole of Asia entertainment industry" and "an Asian filmmaker, local bank financing provides an alternate mean to funding movies that have historically been financed by private investors only." In recent years, the Chinese film industry has produced many multi-million dollar projects and none of them are financed by domestic banks, which are generally incompetent of handling risk.

 

(Thanks to "Marla" of AdmiringGongLi.com for the Screen Daily story.)

 

Title image: Director Zhang Yimou (L) and producer Zhang Weiping on the set at Hengdian World Studio.

 
 

 

More Spy Photos from THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set (Sina.com)

 

 

May 11 2006

 

(CFP)

Left: (L to R) director Zhang Yimou, Gong Li, a crewmember and Liu Ye.

Right: The courtyard filled with fake flowers.

 

Click here for more.

 

 
 

 

Shooting of THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Restarts at Hengdian World Studios (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

May 10 2006

 

Gong Li

Chrysanthemum flowers
(China News Agency, Chutian Metropolis Daily)

Production of Zhang Yimou's upcoming historical epic The City of Golden Armor just restarted this Monday at Hengdian World Studios.  The full-scale replica of major structures of Beijing's Forbidden City has been modified to look like a palace from a different time. A giant courtyard have been filled with about 250000 fake chrysanthemum flowers. Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li, who are playing the emperor and the empress, have shown up yesterday to rehearse the scene of some ceremony. The same courtyard will also host a battle scene between soldiers of two princes, played by Liu Ye and Jay Chow.

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Adopts New English Title? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

May 8 2006

 

(Sina.com)

Curse of the Golden Flower may have been adopted as the new English title for Zhang Yimou's new film, previously known as The City of Golden Armor. The new title was probably recommended by Focus Features, which just helped reselling the film to 13 European territories. Focus Features will being selling the film at the Cannes market, which will open next week. The producers are hoping the deals for the rights of other countries, especially the US, can be sealed soon.

 

Focus zooms in on Zhang - pic pre-sold at Berlin mart to 13 Euro territories

by Adam Dawtrey, Variety

 

(Thanks to "Marla" of AdmiringGongLi.com.)

 
 

 

Zhang Yimou Showcases His THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR to the Americans (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

April 30, 2006

 

Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone were invited to the set.

(Beijing New Picture Films)

Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone and representatives of eight US film distributors have been invited to the set of The City of Golden Armor at Beijing Film Studios. Photos and videos of Zhang Yimou meeting with Spielberg and Stone have been distributed to the media. According to Shanghai newspaper Jiefang Daily, Zhang Yimou's partner producer Zhang Weiping said they were trying to make a sale to the Americans. Since Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, action movies set in the ancient China have become quite popular. Zhang Yimou quickly made Hero and House of Flying Daggers, to bank on such trend. Then came Chen Kaige's The Promise. The movie was exhibited at a lavish party last May in Cannes and the Weinstein brothers picked up the distribution rights after they watched an 11 minute promo reel. In December, while concluded the movie was not strong enough to desire a full nationwide release in North America, which was insisted by Chen Kaige, the brothers returned their purchase to Chen. The movie was later picked up by Warnor Independent Picture, which has arranged a limited release of it in North America. The incident has suddenly made the sales of other Chinese period actioners somewhat difficult and Zhang Yimou has to try a lot harder to sell his new movie to an American distributor for a good price.

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set Photos (Sian.com)

 

 

April 19, 2006

 
Chrysanthemum flowers Columns of the imperial palaces Siege vehicles
(Sina.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A replica of Beijing's Forbidden City, located at Hengdian World Studios, is undergoing a major modification to make it look like a different imperial residence from a different time.

 

More photos:

A newly constructed round-shape building: A B

Walls added to the set: A B

Columns covered with carvings: A B C

About 600000 gold color chrysanthemum flowers will be used during the filming: A

"Passage for visitors": A

 
 

 

The Third THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Press Conference (Sina.com)

 

 

April 17, 2006

 

Director Zhang Yimou (L) and actor Liu Ye (R). (Sina.com)

The third press conference of The City of Golden Armor was held this morning in Beijing. Director Zhang Yimou and five cast members, Liu Ye, Li Man, Chen Jin, Qin Junjie and Ni Dahong, attended the press conference. Some Furniture and props made for the set of  "the imperial pharmacy" were displayed on the stage.

 

Photos: Li Man (the maid)  Chen Jin (ex mistress of the emperor) 

Qin Junjie (the youngest prince)  Ni Dahong (the minister)

The press conference was hosted by popular comedian Guo Degang

  

Clips

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set Photos (Sina.com)

 

 

April 13, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

Construction of the set of an imperial palace is almost done at Hengdian World Studios.

 

Click here for more photos.

 

 
 

 

Video: THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set (Sina.com)

 

 

April 11, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

Set of an imperial post has been built at a place called "Heavenly Pit" near China's southeastern city of Chongqing. Filming of The City of Golden Armor, Zhang Yimou's third martial-art epic is currently underway inside Beijing Film Studios.

 

Click here for the video clip.

 

 

 

 
 

 

Jay Chou Had His Own THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Press Conference (Sina.com)

 

 

March 21, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

The second press conference was held for Jay Chou this morning at Beijing Film Studios. Other attendants include director Zhang Yimou, cinematographer Zhao Xiaoding, costume designer Yee Chung-Man and sound recordist Tao Jing.

 

Clips: A B C

 

Left: director Zhang Yimou (L), Jay Chou (M) and Yee Chung-Man.

 

More snapshots.

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set Photos (Sina.com)

 

 

March 18, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

 

These are taken at Hengdian World Studios. The photo on the left shows the a round shape structure being built; and the photo on the right shows some movable set piece. Shooting at Beijing Film Studios will end this month.

 

More about The City of Golden Armor

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Spy Photos (Sina.com / China News Agency)

 

 

March 13, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

 

Shooting of Zhang Yimou's The City of Golden Armor continues at the biggest soundstage of Beijing Film Studios. Several photographers hid inside an nearby apartment building to take pictures of anyone showing up and occasionally they sneaked into the soundstage to take quick shots.

 

More shots: A B C

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Press Conference (Sina.com)

 

 

March 11, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

A press conference was held this morning at Beijing Film Academy.

 

From the press conference:

Video (click the numbers below the screen to select.)

Photos

 

 

 
 

 

One More THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Design Sketches (Sina.com)

 

 

March 10, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

This is a design sketch for a courtesan, played by Li Man, the young actress making her big screen d閎ut in the Zhang Yimou's film.

 

 
 

 

Video: THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set under Construction (Chongqing Economic Times / Sina.com)

 

 

March 8, 2006

 

(Chongqing Economic Times)

This short video was taken at Hengdian World Studios, where full-scale replicas of all major buildings of Beijing's Forbidden City are faithfully built. Workers are building additional structures designed specifically for the movie, including a wall and a round-shape structure. The terrace and the round-shape structure will be covered with gold color chrysanthemum flowers for shooting a fight scene.

 

Click here for the video.

 
 

     
   
     
     

 

Two More THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Design Sketches (Sina.com)

 

 

March 7, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Two more character design sketches have been released during the weekend.

 

Left: the younger prince (Qin Junjie)

Right: the minister (Ni Dahong)

 
 

 

More THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Design Sketches (Sina.com / The Beijing News)

 

 

March 5, 2006

 

(Top-left) The older prince (Liu Ye).

(Top-mid) The older prince's birth mother (Chen Jin)

(Top-right and lower-left) The general (Jay Chou).(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

 

 

The Beijing News (a newspaper) has posted three more character design sketches.

 

Design sketches

Building parts: A B C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set Videos (Sina.com)

 

 

March 2, 2006

 

Zhang Yimou and Oliver Stone.
(?)

Video 1: Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li and the costumes.

Video 2: The set visited by Oliver Stone.

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Design Sketches (Sina.com)

 

 

February 28, 2006

 
(Left) Chow Yun-Fat as the emperor.
(Mid) Gong Li as the empress.
(Top) The imperial army.

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Zhang Yimou is a master of colors and the color he has chosen for the film is gold. In fact, virtually everything in the movie is in gold color - costumes, palaces, vehicles, weapons, armors and even armors for horses. It is an golden empire about to collapse.

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Opening Ceremony (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

February 24, 2006

 
(L to R): Director Zhang Yimou, Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Chen Jin, Liu Ye, Qin Junjie, Li Man and Ni Dahong (?). Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li.

(CETV)

A small ceremony was held on the set of The City of Golden Armor, marking the beginning of the principal production. All major cast members, excluding Jay Chou, attended the ceremony.

 

Clip here for a TV report.

 
 

 

Spy Photos of THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Set (Sina.com)

 

 

February 23, 2006

 

(Sina.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A reporter infiltrated into the biggest soundstage of Beijing Film Studios and took these photos, which showed the interior of an imperial palace.

 

Click here for more spy photos.

 

Clip: A small opening ceremony (new)

 
 

 

A Star Will Born in THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

February 22, 2006

 

(Beijing New Picture Film Co.)

Beijing New Picture Film Co. has revealed the identity of the last major cast member of Zhang Yimou's The City of Golden Armor, 17 year old Li Man, and her photo has appeared on Sina.com. She will play character who falls in love with the older prince. Li is currently a student at Beijing Drama Academy, the same school both Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi attended. Zhang Yimou is known for casting young women with little acting experience and making them household names instantly.

 
 

 

THE CITY OF GOLDEN ARMOR Shooting Begins Tomorrow (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

February 21, 2006

 

Zhang Yimou Chow Yun-Fat Gong Li
(Block 2 Pictures / Shanghai Film Group Corp.,?)

In a letter sent to the Chinese media today, Beijing New Picture Film Co. has revealed that shooting of this film will begin tomorrow at Beijing Film Studios. The first scene will be made at a palace interior built inside a soundstage. Both Chow Yun-Fat, playing the emperor, and Gong Li, playing the empress, will be in the scene. Chow Yun-Fat arrived in Beijing yesterday with a very nicely trimmed beard. Click here for a picture of Chow Yun-Fat at Beijing Capital Airport yesterday (Taken by Oriental Morning Post). According to IMDB, this film's English title is The City of Golden Armor and its Chinese title remains as Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia (To Fill the City with Golden Armors). If I were to pick an English title for it, I would simply called it "Golden". Any thought?

 
 

 

GOLDEN ARMORS in Lavish Preproduction (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

February 18, 2006

 

The courtyard in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hengdian World Studios. (HengdianWorld.com)

A Tang Dynasty post built for the movie. (Chongqing Morning Post) More: A B

According to several Chinese newspapers, there are about 3000 workers are now working on the preparation of the movie at Hengdian World Studios. Some big scenes will be shot at the sector which contains full-scale replicas of all major buildings of Beijing's Forbidden City. Certain level of modifications on these building are needed because the Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace compound during the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, was built in the 14th Century and the story of the movie occurred during the Tang Dynasty (7th - 9th Century). The architectural styles of these two periods are different. Three walls decorated with large numbers of frescoes are in construction and at the center of the courtyard in front of the replicated Hall of Supreme Harmony, a large size and round shape stage is being built. About 3 million gold color  chrysanthemum flowers and about 1.1fake chrysanthemum flowers have been ordered to fill the replicated Forbidden City. The production team has promised to properly dispose these flowers after the shooting is done. They will be put for other uses, which will cause no harm to the environment. About 20,000 suits of armors have been manufactured for the imperial soldiers and horses. The art department built four combat vehicles, each of which is 6 meters long and 2 meters wide. Number of such vehicles will be increased to 40 through CG effect. In this historical epic, Chow Yun-Fat will play the Emperor, Gong Li will play the Empress, Liu Ye will play the older prince Yuanxiang, Jay Chow will play the younger prince Yuanchao and an unidentified young actress will play Jiang E. Shooting will begin next Monday or Tuesday inside a soundstage at Beijing Film Studios.

 
 

 

Singer Jay Chou Joins Zhang Yimou's GOLDEN ARMORS? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

 

 

February 13, 2006

 

(Media Asia)

According to Shanghai Youth Daily, Taiwan-born singer Jay Chou has been cast to play a supporting role in Zhang Yimou's upcoming period epic Golden Armors (Fill the City with Golden Armors). Reportedly, he will play the son of the emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) and the empress (Gong Li). Jay Chou just had his acting d閎ut last year in the silver screen version of Japanese comic series Initial D.

 

Related stories:

 
 

 

More News Updates

 

 

   

GOLDEN ARMORS Preproduction Update (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 29, 2006

GOLDEN ARMORS Plot Speculation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 24, 2006

Update on Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) January 12, 2006

Zhang Yimou Will Return to Hengdian World Studios for AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) December 10, 2005

Set Design for Zhang Yimou's AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) November 18, 2005

Zhang Yimou / Chow Yun-Fat / Gong Li Project - AUTUMN REMEMBRANCE? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) August 5, 2005

Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li for his Third Martial-Art Piece? (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive) June 27, 2005

 
     

     
   

 

Cast

CHOW Yun-Fat

The emperor

 

GONG Li

The empress

 

Jay CHOU

The second oldest prince
 

LIU Ye

The oldest prince

 

CHEN Jin

?

 

LI Man

?
 

QIN Junjie

The younger prince

 

NI Dahong

The minister