12.27.2011 - News [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

This post was produced by Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver: http://yellowcranestower.blogspot.com


FBA: Magic to Win review
Lame college fantasy involving a girls' volleyball team and battling "magicians".

FBA: A Big Deal review

Unoriginal get-rich-quick New Year comedy hobbled by a clumsily written script. 

CRI: Flowers of War review

Does the film deserve the commotion it has caused?

CF: "The Flowers of War:" A Special Case for China's Film Industry

CF:From Art House to Box Office
Director Xu Jinglei is exploring less experimental and more commercial territory.

"Dear Enemy" poster (Sina)

CF: "Drug War" Holds Promo Event in Tianjin

Huang Yi, Sun Honglei (Sina-gallery)

CF: "Hyperspace Rescue" Trailer Released
Hyperspace Rescue is the only film about "time travel" that integrates a large number of elements such as Hong Kong and mainland humour.
Director Chi Chung Lam also helped make the films "Shaolin Soccer" and "Kung Fu". He's confident the film will be a hit at the box office. (Sina-gallery)

CF: First Promotional Trailer of "I Do" Released
The movie is now in post-production and will be released on February 14 in time for the Valentine's Day slot.

FBA: Flowers widens lead on Swords - Box Office News

CRI: Actress Zhou Xun Tries on Directing

The trailer of "Five Demon Traps" features actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai as a demon killer.

CF: Tony Leung in Zhou Xun's Micro Movie

The movie will hit the national screens on January 12.

CRI: Top Singers Gather for Feng's Movie Concert

Hosted by Huayi Brothers, a concert of songs from prestigious Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's movies will be held on January 3, 2012.

"Glory Days" cast attend a publicity event in Chuxiong, Yunnan Province. The film is a tribute to old Hong Kong films. Kara Hui, Michael Miu, Ray Liu and the rest of the cast joined to make a new classic giving a salute to Hong Kong's past.

Co-director Eric Tsang

Xiong Xin-Xin

Felix Wong, Ni Hongjie, Max Mok

Rose Chan, Gigi Leung, Ni Hongjie

Rose Chan demonstrates "Blocking the Devil's Kiss" (Sina), 2

"Wanted" posters showing Nick Cheung appeared on the streets of Hong Kong on Christmas Eve.

The posters were to promote the Roy Chow film "Nightfall" co-starring Simon Yam.

(Sina)

The year in review: Pop Stop

TaipeiTimes: Worst-case scenarios
The Golden Shrimp Awards name and shame Taiwan’s greatest cinematic blunders

Just Call Me Nobody won the Golden Shrimp Worst Film of the Year Award.

A1: Jet Li to focus on combating injustice, (CF)
CF: Jet Li Jack of Many Trades, Master of Kungfu
A1: Laughing Gor gets serious
Laughing Gor was the only person who wasn't laughing at the recent 44th TVB Anniversary Awards on Dec 5.

MSN: Benny Chan has yet to donate
...when Josephine Siao -- veteran actress and founder of the End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation -- was questioned about Benny's donation at a recent event, she said, "I've been waiting for someone to ask me about this. I heard that the media had placed him under tremendous pressure."

"We welcome any donation from kind souls. In truth, there are many perpetrators who have not been caught. If each of them makes a donation, we'll be rich. I hope Benny can help to drive this moment," she added, when probed if the foundation had received the actor's donation.

Josephine Siao Fong Fong

Foundation president, Josephine Siao thanks Stanley Ho's 3rd wife for 10 consecutive years of support.

(UDN), (Sina)

MSN: Lynn Hung shows up at Aaron Kwok’s concert

MSN: Aaron Kwok to spend Christmas Eve with Lynn Hung?

A1: Fan Bingbing fights elopement rumours

Fan Bingbing, 30, went to court last week to battle claims that she eloped with the 65-year-old actor Wang Xueqi, and she appears to be winning the war.
MSN: Zhang Xinyu reacts to online verbal attacks
Despite the endless rumours, Xinyu's career did not seem to be affected. The model is currently in the midst of filming Legend of Yue Fei and had made an appearance at a new car launch in Suzhou, China yesterday morning. She was said to have made a whopping six-figure paycheck, for a mere 20-minute appearance.
A1: Hong Kong remembers 'Black Christmas' of 1941

12.14.2011 - News [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

This post was produced by Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver: http://yellowcranestower.blogspot.com [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)


TimeOutHK: Magic to Win review

Raymond Wong's little inside joke

CF: Film "My Way" Promoted in Seoul

Fan Bingbing and South Korean actor Jang Dong-gun attend a press conference to promote the film "My Way" in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Dec. 13, 2011.

Fan Bingbing

In October, Huo Siyan wore the same dress to the Beijing Sleepwalker 3D premiere

Fan Bingbing, Jang Dong-gun at the premiere

  (cri-gallery), 2, 3, 4

CF: Still Shots of "Flying Swords of the Dragon Gate 3D" Released
The makers of the upcoming martial arts blockbuster, "Flying Swords of the Dragon Gate 3D", recently released a collection of still shots featuring the leading roles in the film.


And in-the-news Viann Zhang Xinyu attended the Beijing premiere of "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D". She plays a concubine in the film.

Li Yuchun, Chen Kun, Viann Zhang Xinyu

(Sina)

On to Guangzhou, Dec. 13

Chen Kun, Guei Lun-Mei

Sweet smile says the capion. Who's to disagree?

(Sina-gallery)

Close up look at a masked Louis Fan Siu-Wong 

Li Yuchun

Zhou Xun

(Sina), 2, 3, 4

Ni Ni in black and white at the Beijing premiere of "The Flowers of War"

(Sina)

 CF: "City of Life and Death": Best Foreign Language Film in LA

CRI: Book Marks the Making of 'Flowers of War'

A press conference has been held in Beijing to promote the publishing of a book entitled "The Days We Have Together", which consists of articles written by 91 members of the production team behind Zhang Yimou's film "The Flowers of War". [In English, I've read elsewhere.]
CRI: China Offers Its Own Digital IMAX System, DMAX

Twins will party down Christmas Eve at Harbour City for the Hong Kong Leukemia Foundation

They'll be singing and dancing to countdown to Christmas (Sina)

NPR: And You Thought The Tiger Mother Was Tough
Wolf Dad, as he's been nicknamed, wrote a book that was originally titled Beat Them Into Peking University. It was later changed to the not-quite-as-catchy So, Brothers and Sisters of Peking University.

SGYahoo: Gigi Lai is worth HK$4mil, for comeback

MSN: Aarif Lee’s driving license suspended

Aarif appeared calm during the trial, although he fumbled through his answers when he was questioned in court.

MSN: Ron Ng’s after-party lies exposed

Viann Zhang Xinyu (Source)

MSN: Xiao Bin Bin ties the knot in a lavish banquet

His two adorable sons, Xiao Xiao Bin and Mini Bin, doubled up as page boys and the family of four made their grand appearance on the red carpet together.

Faye Wong in Chengdu (Dec.9)

(Sina-slideshow)

See ewaffle's: Faye Wong concert in Chengdu

12.13.2011 - News [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

This post was produced by Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver: http://yellowcranestower.blogspot.com



THR: The Flowers of War review
The Bottom Line: An unconvincing yarn of hookers, convent girls and a phony priest during the Nanjing massacre.

ScreenDaily: The Flowers of War review, (HKMDB)
Bale is a tad hammy as the self-interested American who finds his heroic streak, but the supporting actors are all luminous.

Variety: The Flowers of War review

Zhang Yimou's great gift for stories of resilient women serves him well in this uniquely harrowing account of the rape of Nanjing.

THR: 'Flowers of War' Director Zhang Yimou Reveals Steven Spielberg's Role in Casting Christian Bale

"I asked Steven Spielberg, who is a friend, to read the English script and recommend actors," Zhang said at a press conference following the premiere.

Flowers' female lead, newcomer Ni Ni, put herself out on a limb when asked if she felt a steamy scene between her character and Bale's was necessary, as in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution -- which had its sex scenes removed and earned a two-year industry ban for actress Tang Wei. 

CRI: 'The Flowers of War' Debuts in Beijing

Ni Ni at Beijing premiere (Sina)

ScreenDaily: Magic to Win review, (HKMDB)

The comedy is broad and physical and the sometime confusing narrative takes a long time to gel.

Movie Review: 'White Vengeance' (CRI)
We Chinese are weird, weird people. We always expect something extra out of what we do. And that extra is a big deal. For example, when ancient historians wrote history, they were not content with just recording exactly what had happened, so they embellished it to show off their literary talent. The result is that we now read these historical records as literature - good literature though - without knowing for sure what exactly happened.
Another example: When we watch a movie, we not only expect it to be entertaining, but also want it to be educational. If it's a historical film, we want it to reflect history as it was, although there is no way of ascertaining which version is the true one, because the historical records are more literary than realistic.

CRI:  Tsui Hark Premieres His 3-D 'Dragon Gate'
Director Tsui Hark led the star-studded cast of his new 3-D martial-arts film "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" in promoting the movie's premiere Monday in Beijing.

Mavis Fan, Zhou Xun - Still (Sina)

Li Yuchun, Tsui Hark, Chen Kun, Guei Lun-Mei

Shanghai premiere (Dec.13)

(Sina-gallery)

FBA: The battle after Seediq Bale

How do the various versions of the film differ?

CF: 'Love' to Highlight Next Year's Valentine's Day
MSN: Ethan Ruan and Vicki Zhao talk ‘Love’
Featuring a star-studded cast that comprises of Vicki Zhao, Ethan Ruan, Eddie Peng, Mark Chao, Shu Qi, Ivy Chen and Amber Kuo, Love tells of four different love stories based on different themes

CF: "Chinese Zodiac" Eyes IMAX

The first promotional trailer revealing the concept behind the upcoming movie "Chinese Zodiac", co-produced by JCE Entertainment Ltd., Huayi Brothers and Emperor Mothion Pictures, was released on December 12. 

Accompanied by a rapid and fierce rhythm, and presented in a chilling style, the trailer provides glimpses of thrilling gun battles, parachute dives, car races and ferocious dogfight combat scenes; declaring that the authentic Jackie Chan kung fu movie is back.

CF: Microfilms in a Micro Age

FBA: Chinese group (Bona Film Group) raises stakes in English-lang film 

Yu confirmed that Wong Kar-wai's long awaited The Grandmasters, once scheduled to be part of this year's Christmas crush, is still some months away from being ready. "It will be released some time between next summer and Christmas 2012."

CF: Bai Baihe in Pure and Fresh Look
Bai Baihe, lead actress of the hit romance film, 'Love is not Blind', recently poses for a photo shoot to cover a Japanese style magazine in pure and fresh look

Viann Zhang Xinyu

MSN: Zhang Xinyu 's intimate photos leaked

Boyfriend actor Ron Ng declined to comment on [Viann] Zhang Xinyu’s photos with her ex-boyfriend.

A number of intimate photos of Chinese model-actress was leaked and circulated online since yesterday.

A1: Actor Ron Ng clears up photo scandal with Viann Zhang

HK actor Ron Ng has stepped forward to explain why a photo of model-actress Viann Zhang [No Liar, No Cry] lounging in a bed was published on his micro-blog.

Ng also side-stepped queries on whether Zhang had deliberately posted the photo on his blog, saying that he "never bothered about that".
Reports have been speculating on whether Zhang's motivation could have been to promote herself as a newcomer.
CRI:  Edison Chen Apologizes for Recent Photo Scandal

Charmaine Sheh: Benny Chan learnt a big lesson

MSN: Did Hannah Quinlivan go for plastic surgery?

MSN: Hannah Quinlivan to release pictorial next year

The young model had been left red-faced at the event after falling on her butt during the show.
Decked in a long red dress with plunging neckline, Hannah was reportedly worried about wearing a pair of 15-inch heels for the show.
MSN: Vivian Chow spotted at the gynaecologist
The Hong Kong actress is said to be making preparations for a ‘Dragon baby’

SGYahoo: Maggie Shiu's secret marriage

Shiu, who appeared smiling radiantly at a promotional event yesterday in Hong Kong, promised that she will explain the matter next time, which is taken to mean that she is silently admitting her marriage.

CNA: TVB GM Stephen Chan resigns

Chan explained that he had already planned to resign for some time, in order to embark on an overseas study tour and gain new experiences.
MSN: Netizens blast Vanness Wu for lack of respect towards God
After a tree-lighting ceremony, the singer uploaded a picture of himself at the toilet urinal on to his microblog, and was condemned by netizens for his blasphemous deed

Responding to the outburst, the singer's manager Katie explained that Vanness thought that the plants in the toilet were special, so he asked a staff member to help him take the picture.

SGYahoo: Sun Feifei's wardrobe malfunction

Sun Fei-Fei's clothing ripped off onstage; the show goes on

Sun Fei Fei walked away from a photo session on the red carpet without realising that TV host Fang Ling was stepping on her dress. Some netizens said her look of suprise looked too fake. This has led to speculation that this was all a publicity stunt. A1: More photos, and a gallery of wardrobe malfunctions:

 

China Lion Announces its Chinese New Year Slate and 2-for-1 Tickets [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

This post was produced by Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver: http://yellowcranestower.blogspot.com

A tip of the Rusty Cleaver to Valerie for passing this along! 

   

Moviegoers can get 2-for-1 tickets on China Lion’s December 9th release of ‘Magic to Win’

North American poster

China Lion Film Distribution announced release dates for two of its planned Chinese New Year’s releases, The Viral Factor, starring Jay Chou and Nicolas Tse, and Alls Well That Ends Well (2012), starring Donnie Yen and Louis Koo. The Viral Factor will open on January 20th, 2012, while Alls Well That Ends Well (2012) will release on January 27th, 2012, throughout North America. In addition, China Lion announced that its next release, Magic to Win, will have a special 2-for-1 ticket promotion that allows moviegoers to print a voucher from their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/chinalionfilm or their website www.chinalionentertainment.com entitling them to a 50 percent discount off two tickets for the December 9th release.

The Viral Factor stars international superstar Jay Chou as an ex-government agent whose involvement in a kidnap rescue mission leads to a meet-up with his corrupt and wanted brother (played by award-winning actor Nicholas Tse). The film is directed by Dante Lam, who previously helmed The Beast Stalker and co-directed the cult classic Beast Cops. The film will open day-and-date on January 20th with Hong Kong.

Alls Well That Ends Well (2012) is a continuation of the popular Hong Kong romantic comedy series that debuted in 1992 and has had six previous installments. The story revolves around different couples experiencing love and heartbreak in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The film stars Chapman To, Donnie Yen, Kelly Chen, Louis Koo, Lynn Hung, Raymond Wong and Sandra Ng. The film series is a Chinese New Year tradition for audiences and China Lion celebrates by releasing for Year of the Dragon celebrations on January 27th, 2012.

China Lion will also be offering a 2-for-1 ticket promotion for its December 9th release Magic To Win via its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/chinalionfilm and via its website www.chinalionentertainment.com. By going to China Lion’s Facebook page and “Liking” it, moviegoers will be able to print a voucher that can be presented at participating AMC Theatre box offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Toronto allowing them to purchase two tickets for the price of one (restrictions apply, please see China Lion’s Facebook page or its website for details). The contemporary adventure fantasy film stars Wu Jing, Raymond Wong and Wu Chun and revolves around a college student who accidentally inherits a wizard’s powers – only to be caught up in a fight to save the universe. The film will be playing exclusively at the AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 in Los Angeles, the AMC Empire 25 in New York, the AMC Loews Metreon 16 in San Francisco and the AMC Kennedy Commons 20 in Toronto.

Magic to Win - Hong Kong Premiere [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

This post was produced by Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver: http://yellowcranestower.blogspot.com

(Nov. 27)   "Magic to Win" held a charity benefit premiere with a carnival theme for the premiere in Hong Kong.

Wu Chun

Louis Koo

Karena Ng

Wu Jing

Louis Koo, Raymond Wong, Tonny, Wu Jing, Wu Chen

Louis Koo

Tonny

(Sina), 2, 3