Thursday, April 14, 2011

4.14.2011 - News

THR: Bieber Entertainment Enterprises Purchases Screen Rights to 'Chinese General'
Two competing Two-Gun Cohen films in the works.
Last month, director Doug Liman and producers Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman joined forces with Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production to produce a competing drama about Two-Gun Cohen
FBA: Second project shoots at Two Gun Cohen
"The Chinese General tells the dramatic and exciting story of how Morris Cohen's career became interwoven in the lives of the most important players in the formation of modern-day China," said Bieber and Duband. Cohen was also a close, trusted friend and protector of Sun's wife Soong Ching Ling.

Variety: The Dragon Pearl review
An admirable attempt to blend Western blockbuster tropes with Chinese motifs, "The Dragon Pearl" lacks fire but is respectful enough not to camp it up despite its broad tone.


Let us begin with Vonnie Lui’s breasts: they are impressively huge, in 3D, and honoured with the kind of extreme close-up shot that was never offered the face of the semi-famous model/actress.
As hard as this might be to believe, sex is often best experienced in person. That, however, isn’t exactly stopping any Hongkonger from downloading Japanese porn, at will.
Hayama was shocked when he checked out 1991’s Sex and Zen as part of his professional due diligence.
After I watched the DVD, I thought to myself: I must say no [to the offer]!” he says, alternating between a boyish grin and embarrassed chuckle. “This is not a love story at all!” He exclaims. “This is totally a porno!”
CNNGo: Hiro Hayama: 'I should have asked for more money'
You have to shave first, but the hair grows back within two days and it still hurts when you pull the tape off. In the end I just pulled the hairs out. It was so painful.
THR: No 'Sex' for Imax, but '3D Zen' Film Eyes Sequel
The producers were eager to launch the 3D romp in Imax theatres when the film began production, but after a long negotiation, they found that it was not meant to be. “Imax has rejected our film because of the subject matter and content,” Shiu Jr. said, “but for our premiere in Taiwan, we will show the film in an Imax 3D theatre using their 3D screening equipment.”
Leni Lan Yan

Suo Yukiko

Vonnie Lui Hoi-Yan, Taiwan premiere (Apr.13) (Sina), 2

FBA: Ecstasy enjoys explosive launch in HK, Taiwan
SG: "3D Sex" finally opens
AFP: 'World's first 3D porn film' opens in Hong Kong
College student Yan Shek, 21, was also among the first to see the movie in a morning screening. The 113-minute film has been rated Category III in Hong Kong, which bars anyone under 18 from watching it.
"We are very curious," she said. "It is the first time to see an X-rated film in the cinema. It should be very interesting."
Excited fan, Hong Kong
Leni Lan Yan, Jason Yiu Luk-Ming (Sina)



CF: "Rest On Your Shoulder" Promotes in Beijing
CF: 13 Female Leads' Images of "Nanjing Heroes"

South Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo will join hands with Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung for a Chinese romantic film, "All About Love"("Zai Shuo Yi Ci Wo Ai Ni"), according to Yonhap News Agency. Cecilia is reportedly being paid 10 million yuan for her role. (Xinhua)
CF: "Bladesman" Releases New Poster

Zhang Yuan has been quietly shooting a sequel to his Beijing Bastards, tentatively called "Youth". The cast includes hot young actors, Duan Bowen (Law of Attraction), Lin Xinyun (Little Red Flowers, Dada's Dance) and Lu Yu-Lai (Peacock).
Zhang Yuan (Sina)

The Warring States is no longer The Warring States (Sina)
The article from Chengdu notes: 1. Director Jin Chen, on the subversion of the classic Sun Bin (Sun Honglei), he says that there are only 180 words in the history book about Sun Bin, the rest is only speculation. Sun Bin was not a perfect person. Jin Chen decided that Sun Bin in real life was a silly character. 2. Sun Honglei's portrayal has been accused of imitation Ge You in Let the Bullets Fly. Thus, his previous remarks about admitting to his poor performance. Sun Honglei has been suffering from kidney stones during the publicity tour for the film. 3. Francis Ng was asked why all his 'northern' i.e., mainland, films are lousy. Ng countered, did you think Wind Blast was bad? Maybe the choice of directors and cast did not meet the audience expectations. He only admits a horror movie was really bad. He dares not make anymore horror films. 4. 22 year-old Jing Tian's prominence has viewers saying the film should be called "Jing Tian and The Story of Three Men". It is suggested that her boyfriend, the son of a wealthy coal mine owner in Shanxi, has pressured the producers to highlight the actress. Jing Tian admitted as much saying she was unaware of it and apologized to the three male leads. However, she cleverly noted that actor Yu Shaoqun was an unknown among stars in Mei Lanfang/Forever Enthralled.
In addition, yesterday, rumours said that Sun Honglei and Francis Ng were given a 12 and 6 million yuan acting fee, respectively, by the boyfriend. (Sina)

New interpretations of a classic story
Sun Honglei (Sina)

Francis Ng, Sun Honglei and Jing Tian taped an appearance on the popular Hunan TV program Happy Camp earlier this month.





Peter Chan is rushing to complete post-production in time for the Cannes Film Festival. Presenting it at Cannes leaves him two months less to work on the final cut. The rough cut has been finished but special effects, sound, etc is still incomplete. 

Donnie Yen - Hidden
Tang Wei - Warm
Takeshi Kaneshiro - Secretive

Jimmy Wang Yu - Kill (Sina)



Liu Yifei

Louis Koo

The release of A Chinese Fairy Tale has been moved up 4 days to April 19. This announcement was made after the April 13 premiere in Beijing. Louis Koo's rendition of the song "Dao" was recorded but ultimately deleted. (Sina), 2

Stills from The Detective 2 featuring Patrick Tam Yiu-Ming


Patrick Tam, Liu Kai-Chi


Shu Qi with Liu Ye's son
Shu Qi went out to celebrate in Beijing after the premiere press conference for A Beautiful Life. Shu Qi's birthday is April 16th so it was thought to be an early birthday party, too. Andrew Lau, Liu Ye and his wife, Ding Sheng, Tian Liang, Shawn Yue and others also attended.
Andrew Lau, Liu Ye and wife Anais Martane, Qin Hong (Stellar Media Group CEO)

Yoyo Mung and Ekin Cheng in Europe. 

The article notes Yoyo's double chin but Ekin's not looking too sharp himself. Media speculation has Yoyo and Ekin getting secretly married. 
Earlier this month, they celebrated Andrew Lau's 51st birthday


CNNGo: Edison Chen: 'I want to succeed'
MSN: Raymond Lam pleads for Pan Shuang Shuang to stop
"Mavis Pan should back off!"
Tavia Yeung Yi has joined the Mavis Pan Shuang Shuang-bashing, as the ugly drama of her photo sex scandal with Raymond escalates.
Online buzz indicate that the Raymond-Mavis saga has overshadowed Isabella Leong and Richard Li's split under intense public scrutiny, not to mention the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards(HKFA) which will take place this Sunday, 17 April 2011.MSN: Charmaine Sheh rumoured to sign contract with Huayi Brothers
CNA: Taiwan b-list actress blows whistle on prostitution ring
According to a police officer, the authorities had discovered detailed records of the website's transactions during their raid.
The records showed that 'Zhang' had a clientèle of over 30,000 men and women, including some prominent figures in business, politics and the entertainment industry. (Sina)

Newlywed Kelly Lin is reportedly 3 months pregnant according to Taiwan media reports. The couple reportedly bought a love nest recently in Taiwan.

Chinese food comes to China?
Panda Express eyes the mainland Chinese market, but are local palates ready for American Chinese food
CNNGo: Why do Chinese hate kung pao chicken (and foreigners love it)?
A plate of cultural difference lies behind one of China's most popular dishes

2 comments:

Glenn, kenixfan said...

"but are local palates ready for American Chinese food" should read:

"but are local palates ready for bad American Chinese food".

dleedlee said...

"but are local palates ready for bad American Chinese food".

Isn't that redundant? ;D

Okay, I'm no gourmet, though I'll settle for being a gourmand.

Also, updated post with another link to a related article I saw on CNNGo earlier. Bon appetit/Sik !