3.28.2011 - News

FBA: Don't Go Breaking My Heart review (6/10)
An entertaining but shallow rom-com from Johnnie To that doesn't really engage the emotions.

Movie preview: '3D Sex and Zen' is all about abstinence (CNNGo)
Soft porn in 3D leaves us with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. The wholesome kind

It's all naughty good fun and there isn't a single boring scene. From the moment the first pair of jiggly 3D breasts appears -- prompting the male audience members to collectively gasp -- through to the fight scenes with 3D daggers thrown at the audience, this is 3D movie magic at its low-brow erotic best.

Feng Xiaogang is in Chongqing to prepare for his upcoming film (Wen Gu 1942). Shu Qi, Betty Sun Li and Jiang Wenli are expected to be joining the cast. Feng visited the General Stillwell Museum, the general's war time residence in Chongqing. He also inspected the Botanical Gardens and the many old foreign embassy buildings. (Sina)

Training Day' Director to Tell Chinese Love Story
Ancient Chinese beauty Yang Guifei will be the protagonist of American director Antoine Fuqua's new film.

New Deadly Will poster

Guo Tao, Han Xue camp horror comedy resembles a Republican era Sherlock Holmes story involving a bizarre murder.

(Sina), 2, 3

Simon Yam's latest film is generating online controversy. With the release of The Man Behind the Courtyard House, netizens are posting opinions such as this one, "[The film] tests the water is too bold for the first time, many areas are not in line with the habit of domestic films, including the shooting style, narrative structure of these macro aspects people have to try to figure out viewing the process of reasoning. And although the plot of the film, after carefully pondering the idea is reasonable, but somewhat incompatible with the logic of ordinary people."

 However, there are opposite views too, "the film has a lot of innovation, whether temporarily or not mature, this spirit to be encouraged. And the innovative effects of the film did not live up to the expectations of the audience, the kind of shock is very enjoyable audio-visual stimulation. especially the large-scale plot is very hot, they can bring the audience's emotions. and the film itself is able to mobilize the audience thinking, along with the advancement of all branches of the film appears interwoven stories, characters relations are complicated, the vital need for the audience slowly into the role of scrutiny, is a test of logical reasoning ability is also a kind of exercise. you can say [Courtyard] is the rare movie IQ. " (Sina)

CNA:  Hong Kong stars sing for relief in Japan

More than a hundred Hong Kong celebrities will come together on 1 April at a Jackie Chan-organised charity concert in a bid to raise donations for the earthquake, tsunami and radiation relief efforts in Japan, according to Chinese media reports.

CRI: A Dream of Red Mansions

CRI's Tom McGregor reviews "A Dream of Red Mansions" ("Hong Lou Meng"), a masterpiece in Chinese literature

MSN: Wang Xiaofei slapped Barbie Hsu on wedding day?

A netizen allegedly witnessed the heated exchange
Chen Chao Yang, CEO of Sohu.com, who is currently being sued by Barbie and Xiaofei for the live broadcast of their wedding, was also present at the wedding.
CNA: Barbie Hsu warns errant wedding guest, Chinese CEO refuses to apologise

Wang Xiao Fei: I really regret inviting Mr Zhang to my wedding

Taiwan media in particular criticised Hsu for her perceived favouritism towards the Chinese media and even speculated that she had been bribed, resulting in a call among Taiwan media outlets to shut her out of the Taiwan media completely.

CNA: Show Luo: "I want to hold a massive wedding!"

CRI: Kelly Lin to Hold Wedding Ceremony in Maldives

MSN: Kelly Lin to wed today at the Maldives 

Kelly Lin's guests water house

(Sina), 2, (Xinhua)

Shu Qi

Kelly's good friend, Shu Qi, posted photos from the Malidives on her weibo

(Xinhua)

MSN: Pan Shuang Shuang’s past exposed

MSN; Andy Hui and Sammi Cheng teased by good friends

When the reporters told Sammi, netizens are calling Andy 'Pig Trotter On', she replied: "Am I Ox Tongue Man then?"

A1: Wang Lee Hom wins 6 Astro awards

3.24.2011 - News

AP Interview: 'Farewell My Concubine' director denies he traded artistic integrity for success
Chen [Kaige] said "Sacrifice" will be released in the U.S. in the second half of the year. Its Japanese release, originally scheduled for May, will likely be delayed by the recent earthquake and tsunami.

FBA: Golden age forecast for China business (Nasdaq: Bona)

CRI: 'Hawthorn Tree' Girl to Lead Stanley Kwan's Film
Zhou Dongyu, the starlet in Zhang Yimou's drama "Under the Hawthorn Tree", has been cast as a lead for Stanley Kwan's upcoming romantic film, "Ta De Guo" ("His Kingdom"), according to the Guangzhou Daily.

CRI: Liu Ye Promotes 'He-Man' Premiere
Chinese actor Liu Ye, who has portrayed a Forrest Gump-like character in the action-crime film "The Underdog Knight" and its sequel, says he'd like to continue the role as long as he can.

Liu Ye, Zhang Zilin 

(Sina)

The Man in the Courtyard House

Now a psychological crime drama? 

(Sina), 2

Law of Attraction poster - Rainbow edition

(Sina)

The sequel to Ang Lee's Eat Drink, Man Woman will feature Blue Lan, Huo Siyan and Rose Kuei (Gua Ah-Lei) it was announced this week in Hong Kong. Taiwanese filmmaker Tsao Jui-yuan (Love’s Lone Flower, 2005) will direct the $3m (RMB20m) drama which, like the original, centers on an old master chef and the love stories of his three daughters.This time, the chef is a mainland Chinese chef based in Hangzhou City in East China [played by Kenneth Tsang]. Shooting will start in Hangzhou on April 6 and will shift to Taipei starting in early May. The film should open in Taiwan and the mainland in Nov. (ScreenDaily)

Blue Lan 

Huo Siyan, Blue Lan

(Sina), 2

Mo Xiaoqi, Harlem Yu

Mo Xiaoqi (Monica Mok)

Mo Xiaoqi and Harlem Yu costar with Eason Chan and Rene Liu in Mr. and Mrs. Single

(Sina)

Former Olympic diver Tian Liang

Tian Liang plays Liu Ye's autistic brother in Beautiful Life

 (Sina)

MSN: Wang Xiaofei: Make a wish for our daughter
The Chinese millionaire’s words at the wedding fuelled yet another round of pregnancy rumours

CNA: Barbie Hsu's celebrity wedding guests mobbed by reporters at airport

The journalists had been restless since yesterday when they lost the scoop to Hsu's wedding guests, who gave a virtual 'live telecast' of the event with their camera phones and micro-blog posts. (Xinhua)

MSN: Vic Chou and Ady An did not attend Barbie Hsu’s wedding

MSN: Gaile Lok rumoured to be pregnant again

Gaile Lok at a recent spring/summer fashion show in HK

(Xinhua-gallery)

MSN: Raymond Lam rumoured to have proposed to girlfriend, CNA: Raymond Lam lied about breakup?
A1: Raymond Lam's ex Mavis Pan is married
According to a netizen, she wed a Caucasian man known only as John in 2009, and their relationship got started with the help of Malaysian singer-songwriter, Eric Moo. (Related article)

Mavis Pan Shuang Shuang, John and his son

(Xinhua)

HKStandard: Mansion comes back to life in name of people

The building has been featured in several films and TV series over the years. In Enter the Dragon, it can be seen both on the black and white composite photo used to represent Han's Island during Lee's briefing with Braithewaite, and as a long shot as Lee enters Han's island. (Wikipedia)

3.23.2011 - News

ScreenDaily: Forever (SG) review
The film poses the question whether Joey’s relentless drive to snag the man of her dreams will succeed despite the almost stalker-like behaviour.

Variety: Fortune Teller review

Xu Tong's 157-minute docu concerns a badly crippled fortuneteller with a severely impaired wife, driven from pillar to post by police crackdowns. If the central figure, Li Baicheng, were any less oddly charismatic, the film might register only as an exhaustive case history on the marginalization of the poor and disabled under Chinese capitalism. Yet Li maintains a remarkable level of equanimity, as Xu's camera becomes a kind of companion to whom he confides his thoughts.

Variety: The Piano in a Factory review

Stylish "The Piano in a Factory" offers fitful entertainment value but little narrative cohesion or momentum, playing like a series of disconnected setpieces in search of context. Chinese writer-director Zhang Meng's sophomore feature (following 2007's "Lucky Dog") centers on a humble musician's attempt to hold onto his music-prodigy daughter by securing her a piano by hook or by crook. Melancholic comedy demonstrates considerable flair for camera movement and use of music, but is too fragmentary to realize its crowdpleasing goal. Film Movement plans a limited U.S. theatrical run this summer, simultaneous with VOD release.

THR: Shaw Studios Announces Seven-Film Slate for 2011

TVB favorite and multi-hyphenate Eric Tsang is producing four titles, including cop thriller Fatal Connections with director Herman Yau, the first among the titles to go into production. He will also produce The Three Wise Guys, a Chinese vampire academy comedy for this summer where he reunites with his I Love HK director Chung Shue-kai; Jiang-hu Yi (tentative title), an original epic about Hong Kong triads before the handover in 1997, with director Daniel Chan; and Hunt for Love, co-directing with his protégé Heiward Mak on the original story by media personality/writerMichelle Lo...

THR: Censorship a Political, Economic Concern for Producers, Panel Says

Nansun Shi, the executive director of Film Workshop, said that demand for Asian co-production is actually declining as foreign producers now want to make a film in China on their own.
“There are a lot of investors, but nobody knows who is who,” she added.
FBA: The coproduction conundrum

THR: Filmart Market Off to a Hot Start

THR: Mixed Results for Chinese Entertainment Firms Following IPOs
FBA: HAF favours edgy films
The 9th Hong Kong Asia Film Financing Forum presented six prizes this afternoon, 23 March, including the newly launched Chinese Script Development Fund.
FBA:Beautiful life heads to USA
Media Asia closed a deal on Andrew Lau's film A Beautiful Life for North America, Australia and New Zealand with new distributor China Lion.

FBA: In like a Lion

Only some six months back Chinese films began getting day-and-date releases in North America thanks to the establishment of a new distribution concern China Lion Films and the participation of AMC, the US's second largest film exhibition group. 
CRI: Trailer Released for Zhang Ziyi's New Film
A new trailer has been released for the AIDS-themed film "Till Death Do Us Part"

Poster for comedy thriller Deadly Will

(Sina)

A document found by the media  revealed that Zhou Dongyu was born in 1991, not 1992 as listed on her blog. (Xinhua) Zhou Dongyu is reportedly signed to Stanley Kwan's My Kingdom. Fan Bingbing had been considered earlier but deemed not a good match for the character. (Sina)

Yang Mi, Jordan Chan at the Mysterious Island press conference

(Sina)

Shu Qi has a bit of fun with herself on her weibo, even admits to pimples, muscle aches and foot pain.

Beautiful Life with Liu Ye (Xinhua)

Zhao Wei

At an appearance in Shanghai for HSBC, Zhao Wei said that she would work on her delayed graduate film for Beijing Film Academy in September after finishing Painted Skin 2 and Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.
(Xinhua), (Xinhua-gallery)

The Man Behind the Courtyard House starring Simon Yam has been toned down for both sexy and violent scenes prior to its release according to a media report. The film was previewed yesterday in Guangzhou. Pre-release publicity teased a suspenseful thriller and bloody violence, including Simon Yam committing homicide by hammering a nail into a man's brain. The film has spent four months in review and revision and the end result left the crew surprised. Also, a Cantonese version is planned for release in Guangdong area audiences. (21cn), (Sina), 2

Director Huang Jianxin, in an interview at Filmart, denied earlier reports that all of Tang Wei's scenes had been deleted from The Founding of a Party. He admitted that many scenes were cut to get the 3 hour film down to 2 hours. (Sina)

CRI: Barbie Hsu Donates Money from Wedding to Quake Victims
MSN: Barbie Hsu to donate cash gifts to Japan quake victims
CNA: Barbie Hsu "super willing" to be Wang Xiao Fei's wife
MSN: Barbie Hsu says “I do!” (Xinhua-gallery)

CNA: Edison Chen hid "like an illegal immigrant" after sex photo scandal
MSN: Raymond Lam spotted entering hotel room with female host

3.22.2011 - News

FBA: Celestial unveils My Kingdom
A tale of fame, love and revenge, the film is the story of two orphans adopted into an opera troupe at the end of the 19th century. They are trained in Peking Opera and martial arts and become sensations in Shanghai.
FBA: To and Wai again Romancing with Media Asia
The film is shooting in Shangri-la in China's Yunnan province and stars Louis Koo as a superstar dumped by his girlfriend, played by Gao Yuanyuan. He flies off to Shangri-la to seek peace, but falls in love with another character played by Sammi Cheng).
FBA: Mei Ah gives Palace royal treatment
The film, a co-production between Mei Ah, Hunan etv Culture Media and Huanrui Century Film is based on the hit 2010 television series of the same name, and revolves around a time-travelling female scientist during the Qing dynasty. Separately, Mei Ah also launched Mysterious Island starring Hong Kong stalwart Jordan Chan

FBA: Boonmee claims AFA crown

FBA: Mayday film plays in a third dimension

Production is underway on Mayday 3DNA, a 3-D film starring popular alternative rock band Mayday
THR: China's Top Rocker Cui Jian Set to Get 3D Concert Film
Producer of "U2 3D" to bring Chinese rocker's symphonic show to life.

Tentatively titled Stereo Symphony On the New Long March, the roughly 75-minute film will feature footage shot around two New Year’s 2010 concerts Cui gave in December at Beijing’s outdoor Workers' Stadium cut together with interviews with the rock legend and his fans.

THR: Raymond Wong Takes on Chinese History in 'Saving General Young' (Yang Family Generals)

Yet comedy will come before tragedy for Pegasus, as Wong reawakens his Happy Ghost franchise of the 1980s CinemaCity heyday for the Chinese audience, now renamed Magic to Win. Wong’s Ip Man director Wilson Yip is at the helm, and Edmond Wong again on the screenplay. In fact, the whole crew from Ip Man will return for this CGI-heavy US$10 million update, with Wong reprising the role of the motivational high school teacher, this time possessing not supernatural powers nor a Chinese vampire-style past life but magic instead.

THR: '3D Sex & Zen: Extreme Ecstasy' Makes the Cut for Singapore

A little less sex was just what the censor ordered for Singapore.

Three minutes of footage depicting group sex has been left on the cutting floor for the South Korean edition.

The Hong Kong theatrical version of the period sex romp is set and approved for release on April 14 at 118 minutes, but a full 129-minute director’s cut has been made. The producers will decide whether to release it in Hong Kong cinemas depending on public demand and local censors, or on DVD; European distributors can choose between the two versions.

THR: Huayi's Diversion Focuses on 'Tai Chi' As First Project

Tai Chi was originally slated as a martial arts drama tracing the life story of 19th century tai chi master Yang Lu-chan, with Jet Li confirmed as the lead and Stephen Fung at the helm.

But the colorful life of the founder of the Yang school of tai chi proved too eventful for the producers, who decided to spread the biography into a three-part series. Part one will detail the master’s young life from age 17 through 25, with an as yet-unconfirmed young Chinese actor in the lead. Li will take part in the second installment, and an older actor will portray the martial artist’s later years in the third.

Also in the pipeline for the boutique label is another remake of the John Woo classic, A Better Tomorrow, of which both Fung and Wu have been dedicated fans.  

CRI:  Stars Return to 'Painted Skin 2
This time, Wuershan, director of the film "Dao Jian Xiao", or "The Butcher, the Chef and the Swordsman", has taken over the directorial reins from Gordon Chan with Chen Kuo-fu as executive producer.

CRI: Xu Jinglei to Film New Project on Old Theme

The new project is said to be an updated version of her highly-acclaimed film, "Go Lala Go!" about romance and survival in the office, which she directed and acted in last year. The new flick is likely to be the last project which would feature her acting and directing in tandem.

THR:  Quattro Hong Kong 2: Film Review, 2

The Bottom Line
Frequently charming, diverse collection of shorts that speaks to the city like few films have in recent years

ScreenDaily: Hi, Fidelity review, 2

Marking the screen return of 1980s movie actress Pat Ha (An Amorous Woman Of Tang Dynasty, My Name Ain’t Suzie), this directorial effort by Calvin Poon - a Cantopop lyricist, football commentator, screenwriter and one-time film director (1986’s Kiss Me Goodbye) - starts out as a character drama centred around three unhappily married middle-aged Hong Kong women, but gradually turns into full-on B-movie mode.

THR: It's a Great, Great World: Film Review

The Bottom Line
Nostalgic, feel-good stories set in an amusement park is only periodically amusing.

"It’s a Great, Great World" dramatizes a few individuals who made a living in a Singaporean amusement park with 40 years’ history.

Hotel Black Cat: Film Review

Hsu’s narrative structure is symptomatic of many new generation Taiwan filmmakers whose feature length ventures are thinly disguised amalgams of shorts. Its lack of one strong lead story will weaken its impression on buyers and audiences alike, limiting commercial prospects to short spells of semi-arthouse release domestically.

NPR: 'Til Death Do Us Part' Tackles AIDS In Rural China (Life is a Miracle)
Director Gu Changwei is praising the all-star cast he assembled in his first film in four years, a drama exploring how AIDS impacts a rural Chinese village.

HKIFF Press Conference photos

Aaron Kwok, Zhang Ziyi

Aaron Kwok

Aaron Kwok, Zhang Ziyi, Jiang Wenli, Gu Changwei

 Zhang Ziyi

(Sina-slide show), 2

White Vengeance (lit. Banquet at Hongmen)

Directed by Daniel Lee, the poster features the seven main characters.

(Sina)

Liu Kai-Chi is back for Detective 2 (lit. B+ Detective)

(Sina)

Andrew Lau

Andrew Lau confirmed that Beautiful Life received a name change to "No Longer Leave You Alone" at FilMart today. The title now matches the theme song of the same name. Shu Qi demonstrated her calligraphy skills and wrote the new title by brush in Lau's studio.

(Sina), (Xinhua)

MSN: Raymond Lam sheds light on relationship with model
According to Raymond, Shuang Shuang likes to take sexy photos. He added, "[I] told her to not take so much [sexy photos] initially. No one likes to have his own girlfriend expose herself."MSN: Andy Hui hopes for a future with Sammi Cheng
The Hong Kong singer tells how the pair reconciledMSN: Barbie Hsu’s father to give her away at wedding
CRI: Stars Leave for Barbie Hsu's Wedding
CRI: A Wedding in the Limelight

(Sina-slide show)

11.18.2010 - News

Variety: Ge You emerging as China's most bankable thesp

FBA: Bona files for stock market listing
THR: China's Bona Film Group Files IPO

• Bona, which no longer is connected to China's military, counts among its private competitors Huayi Brothers Media, which raised $176 million on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in October 2009 and Enlight Media, a Beijing based TV company turned movie studio.
• Bona, in fact, has government ties of its own, having merged in November 2003 with the China Poly Group, a business wing of the People's Liberation Army, to form PolyBona Film Distribution, the company's former English name
• Bona's U.S. IPO filing follows close on the heels of the filings for U.S. public listings by China's two largest online video sharing web sites, Youku with the New York Stock Exchange and Tudou on the Nasdaq.

CRI: 'My Own Swordsman' Trailer Available

Director Shang Jing has reunited the original cast to continue his parody of social issues through the stories of everyday life in a small inn.

Andy Lau and Gong Li attend the trailer premiere event for What Women Want in Beijing (Nov. 18)

Director Chen Daming

(Sina), 2

(Nov.17) Peter Chan, Sandra Ng and Vincent Kok of Mr. and Mrs Incredible collaborated with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to promote winter holiday tourism and  shopping. A 3D animated short film featured characters named 'Hong-Hong' and 'Kong-Kong'. Peter Chan, jokingly, announced the release date for Mr. and Mrs. Incredible as January 32, 2011, meaning the day after January 31st.

Peter Chan

Director Vincent Kok

Sandra Ng, Peter Chan, Vincent Kok

Sandra Ng, Peter Chan

(Sina)

Li Qin (Dream of the Red Mansions) plays Blue Phoenix in Mr.and Mrs. Incredible

(Sina)

Let the Bullet posters outlining the characters

(Sina)

Wang Xueqi in Chen Kaige's Sacrifice

(Sina)

Founding of a Party

Wang Leehom

Daniel Wu

Qin Lan, Bai Bing

(Sina)

MSN: Lin Chi-ling's secret plans to be a director

MSN: Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei are married

The Taiwanese actress and her millionaire boyfriend registered their marriage in Beijing on Tuesday, and will hold their wedding in March. [Rumors of her pregnancy _may_ prove to be unfounded. :D]

Barbie Hsu weds boyfriend Wang Xiao Fei

Hsu may have called Wang her "husband" in her statement, however, due to regulations governing cross–strait marriages; they are not legally husband and wife yet. 

Barbie's Big $weep

Netizens are gleefully flaming the 34-year-old, calling her everything from "evil woman" and "gold-digger" to "more disgusting than a rat" and "Big quot; (a play on Hsu's official nickname Big S). The cause of such outrage?

(Xinhua)

Fala Chen denies causing boyfriend's divorce
MSN: Selina Jen is ready for skin grafting