The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman - Character Inspirations

Chopper, Liu Xiaoye - modeled after a wild boar, elderly child

House of a Thousand Flowers Madam, Dong Lifan wearing a tigress coat - Tang Dynasty figurine

Eunuch Liu, besides Batman's The Joker and The Penguin, a clownish version of Empress Wu. Others have likened him to Jabba the Hut.

Eight Course Master, Mi Dan - Yoda, Kung Fu Panda's noodle shop owner Ping

(Sina)

3.15.2011 - News

 Pray for more rescues and reunions in the wake of the Sendai Earthquake.

2.16.2011 - News

THR: Day-and-Date Release Planned in U.S., China for Jackie Chan's '1911' (Berlin)
A September/October release is planned. (Sina)

(BeyondHollywood)

March 17

Ando Masanobu

The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman will get a simultaneous multi-national release on Mar. 17 that includes North America, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. (Sina)

WSJ: "The Killer": Remaking a John Woo classic 2
Mr. Woo, who is one of the producers of the remake, says of Mr. Lee: "I like the way he expresses a feeling or emotion through powerful visual language" and that his vision is "faithful to the spirit of the original movie."

THR:  Annapurna Productions Takes Wong Kar Wai's 'Grandmasters' for North America (Berlin)
Megan Ellison is in final negotiations to pick up the rights and to make a significant financial commitment to the movie.
CRI: Mainland Box Office Top 10 (Feb. 7-13, 2011)

CRI: Chinese Film Wins Top Prize at Vesoul Festival
"Addicted to Love" ("Lao Na") won three awards at the 17th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, including the highest Golden Cyclo Award.
The film, directed by Liu Hao, features a Chinese retiree, Old Pop, who lives in Beijing with his extended family. One day, he meets his first love accidentally. In spite of their children's reluctance, the two start meeting in secret. Discovering his first love has Alzheimer, Old Pop plays little games with her to exercise her mind.

THR: Bleak Night review (South Korea)
Downbeat, compellingly believable saga of high-school friendships gone fatally sour.

MSN: Lin Chi-ling directs her first documentary

Lin Chiling's directorial debut to premiere on YouTube

Lin's production crew reportedly nicknamed her "The Gentlest Director in History" as she was always courteous to her crew members on the set and gave her orders in her trademark 'baby doll' voice.

"Still In Time To Say I Love You" will premiere on YouTube on March 1.

(Xinhua)

Chow Yun-Fat has finished his scenes for The Monkey King 

A summer 2012 release is planned

(Sina)

Chow Yun-Fat as the Jade Emperor

Kelly Lin as Guanyin

(Sina), 2

Together poster

Chen Xiaodong (Daniel Chan), Ni Dahong

Ni Dahong stars in the mine diaster film, Together (lit. Survival Day), opening Mar. 4.

The production created an underground "maze of death" 200 meters long with 18 bends and 30 intersections.

 (Sina), 2, 3, 4

The Man Behind the Courtyard House stills

Simon Yam

Zhang Jingchu

(Sina), 2

 

CRI: Play 'Red Rose White Rose' Staged in Singapore

WSJ: Stanley Ho Files New Lawsuit (RTHK)

1.13.2010 - News

THR: Let the Bullets Fly
A rollicking Chinese western directed with cinematic gumption.

THR: Ip Man 2

A smashing martial arts extravaganza dented by crude nationalism. [Look for a theatrical release in the US this month.]

THR: Sacrifice
A classical historical drama of grand passions and humanity.

Variety: The Green Hornet

Michel Gondry's "The Green Hornet" reinvents the retro vigilante, delivering the goods for a punchy 3D breakout.

CNN: China's Woody Allen on turning a disaster into a hit
Film director Feng Xiaogang may have made China's biggest box office hit, the disaster movie, "Aftershock", but he built his reputation in comedies, comparing himself to American director, Woody Allen.

FBA: Lion and Fox run together on Butcher

THR: 'The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman' Gets March U.S. Bow

Fox International Productions and China Lion Film Distribution said Wednesday they will release the Mandarin-language martial arts film The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman on March 17 in North America, Australia and New Zealand, simultaneously with its premiere in China.

THR: Chinese Delegation Touring Hollywood in Search of Box-Office Success
Five Chinese film veterans and ambitious newcomers are seeking to hire Hollywood help to achieve their goal: exportable movies.

CRI: Daniel Wu, Gao Yuanyuan Promote New Film (Don't Go Breaking My Heart/Single Men and Women)

CRI: Stanley Kwan to Put Han Han's Novel on Big Screen
CRI: Jiang Wen Plays Cao Cao in New Film (Lost Bladesman)
(Sina-gallery)

Fan Bingbing

Fan Bingbing's first foreign film has been released in France this week. The all-English language film, Stretch, is directed by Charles de Meaux and required Fan to cram to learn English. This is the same production that David Carradine was shooting in Thailand when he died. (Xinhua)

Li Yuchun, Andrew Lau

(Jan.12) Andrew Lau directed and co-starred with Li Yuchun in a 15-minute musical film called 'Prologue'. The premiere event was held in Beijing with screenings planned for Chengdu, Changsha, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Lau praised Li as a 'female version of Jay Chou'. (Sina)

Videos: Making of Shaolin (8) (YouTube) (Thanks, to Valerie)

MSN: Aaron Kwok denies his engagement with Lynn Hung
MSN: Selina Jen to return home for Lunar New Year
The S.H.E member will host a media conference to thank the people who showed concern for her during the ordeal

MSN: Overworked Jolin Tsai spotted with receding hairline

SG: Chinese pop diva Faye Wong to come out with new album soon (?)

The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman - Kitty Zhang Yuqi

(Sina-slide show)

11.3.2010 - News

The Butcher, The Chef and The Swordsman poster

Kitty Zhang Yuqi edition

Ando Masanobu edition

(Xinhua), (Sina)

FBA: Wong's Grandmasters joins Wild Bunch
It has been tentatively positioned for release at Chinese New Year in late-Jan or early-Feb 2011. However, other recent press reports suggest that shooting will continue in early 2011.

Adjusting to pace of Wong Kar-Wai

Tony Leung goes jogging

Song Hye-Kyo plays badmington

Song Hye-Kyo, Zhang Ziyi

Lunar New Year release deemed optimistic (Xinhua), (Sina)

WSJ: China Art Star Yue Minjun Goes Celluloid

Alexi Tan's Color Me Love features work of contemporary artist

Song Jia and Francis Ng play a couple in Love Island

(Xinhua), (Sina-slide show)

Jaycee Chan

Jaycee Chan in The 1911 Revolution (Xinhai Revolution)

(Xinhua)

Angelababy fashion shoot for an Italian brand

(Xinhua)

Simon Yam and wife, Qi Qi

(Sina)

FBA: Three charges against Stephen Chan are dropped

MSN: Rumours rife on Wang Xiaofei’s past
The Chinese millionaire who is engaged to Taiwanese actress, Barbie Hsu, is alleged of being a wife-beater who deserted his wife and kids

MSN: Cecilia Cheung to star opposite Aaron Kwok and Chow Yun-fat

Jay Chou's talkshow debut suffers low ratings

Viewers complained that Chou did very little hosting in the first episode of show, with most of the work being done by his guest, fellow Taiwan singer and experienced television host Show Luo.

Selina Jen's music label demands explanation for accident