6.5.2010 - News

Chinese poster for The Karate Kid

(Xinhua)

Jeff Lau's Fantastic Water Babes opens July 22 (21cn)

Gillian Chung and Alex Fong Lik-Sun

Love in Cosmo poster

Love in Cosmo is a romantic comedy starring Yao Chen (Lurk, Go Lala Go!), Zhu Yuchen and Guo Xiaodong. (Sina)

CRI: Interview: Closer Look at Yao Chen

CRI: Opening of "Triple Tap" Postponed to Early July

This decision to postpone the film's opening was in deference to Jet Li's film "Ocean Heaven," which is scheduled to open in cinemas on June 18. To support Li's efforts to call attention to the situation of autistic children, the entire "Triple Tap" cast and crew decided to postpone the film's opening to boost public awareness about autism, which is the theme of "Ocean Heaven."

No action for Jet Li

The film, slated for a summer release in China, revolves around a cancer-stricken man (Li) who devotes himself to taking care of his autistic son and tries to find a sanctuary for him before he succumbs to cancer.
Taiwanese pop idol Jay Chou, whom Li worked with in 2006's "Fearless", has agreed to sing the film's theme song at his behest.
Li also took a pay cut to appear in the film.
"It is a film that has a budget of just seven million yuan, what acting fees can I ask for," said the action star, who usually demands millions for each film appearance.

Petrina Fung Bo-Bo

Arriving at HKFA

Greeting fans

The Magic Cup (1961)

Child star Petrina Fung Bo-Bo made a special appearance at the Hong Kong Film Archives (HKFA) screening of her film The Magic Cup. She flew in from Malaysia where she now lives. Fung revealed that she plans to begin writing her memoirs in October and that she will contact the other Seven Princesses. (Sina)

Gigi Leung is in Mexico filming a segment for the program One Earth.

Besides staying at a Cancun resort, Gigi will visit a Mayan city and see a Mexical wrestling match.

(Sina)

Memorial to Zhang Ziyi

In Chengdu, a grave and tombstone memorial to Zhang Ziyi was discovered in a park. After some investigation, it was thought to be the result of some promotional marketing by an online game company. The tombstone was professionally made of wood with a portrait of Zhang Ziyi above it and the words, 'Tomb of Internationally Dirty Miss Zhang' and set next to a trash can. The grave was littered with paper money. In addition, business cards, posters and laptop bags led to the belief that this was all the work of an online game company that was co-sponsoring a dance competition. A company executive denied it and said the cards were fake. (Xinhua)

Louis Cha lives, newspaper dispels death hoax

Acclaimed novelist Louis Cha Jin Yong has become the latest victim of a series of death hoaxes that have circulated in the entertainment industry lately.

5.20.2010 - News

Variety: Poetry (Sourth Korea) Latest film from Lee Chang-Dong
A woman takes up writing poems as a means of coping with her difficult grandson and the onset of Alzheimer's -- a description that conveys little hint of the subtle intelligence at work in Lee Chang-dong's quietly haunting new picture. Calmer and less shattering than his masterly psychodrama "Secret Sunshine" (2007), "Poetry" is a deceptively gentle tale with a tender ache at its center, as well as a performance from Yun Jung-hee that lingers long in the memory. http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5496

CRI:Movie Guide: 'Gallants'

Although the story is set in present-day Hong Kong, the film's trailer easily conjures up the Shaw Brothers movies of the 1970s and '80s. The background music is familiar, and text in old-school fonts is deliberately printed from right to left. A cast of '80s stars also adds to the retro feeling.

"Gallants" will open on the Chinese mainland on June 4 without a Mandarin version, unlike most Hong Kong movies, which usually are released in an additional Mandarin version to cater to mainland audiences.

CRI: Chinese Crime Thriller 'Wind Blast' Unveils Trailer, Poster (Previously, Fierce West Wind here)

September 2 release date.

Lam Suet, Huang Yi - Legend is Born

To Yu-Hang - Legend is Born

CRI: 'The Legend Is Born - Ip Man' Set for Release in June

CRI: Jet Li's Father-Son Film Competes in Shanghai

Jet Li's first non-action drama, "Ocean Heaven" [Ocean Paradise], is among the 16 films competing for the top Golden Goblet award at this year's Shanghai International Film Festival, the organizer announced Thursday.

Guei Lun-Mei's pole dance scene was, regrettably, deleted

Wen Zhang, Guei Lun-Mei - Ocean Paradise

(HunanTV)

CRI: Will Smith to Promote 'Karate Kid' in China with Family: Report

(May 18) Jeff Lau's Fantastic Water Babes began its publicity tour in Changsha, Hunan. A July 9 release is planned.

Jeff Lau, Alex Fong Lik-Sun, Gillian Choi, Stephen Fung

Gillian Chung

Jeff Lau

 

Stephen Fung, Alex Fong

(HunanTV)

Jiang Wen is busy in Cannes promoting Let the Bullets Fly

(Xinhua)

CNNGo: Complete guide to the best Hong Kong movie experiences

[I'm guessing the Fanling Theatre is the one that's often seen in the old Connie Chan films.]

THR: Bangkok cinemas burned by rioters
Multiplexes, classic theater destroyed by arsonists
The classic Siam Theater nearby was gutted by fire. The 1,000-seat, single-screen cinema opened in the 1960s, and was considered a Bangkok landmark, especially among film fans.

The fires were sure to slow the boxoffice of Tony Jaa's newest martial arts release, "Ong Bak 3," released May 5.

Wang Xueqi

Wang Xueqi, lead actor in Chongqing Blues, missed the Cannes red carpet due to problems obtaining a visa. He is hoping to join the rest of the cast and crew before the closing ceremony and also get in some sightseeing. In 1998, he won the Special Grand Jury Prize at the Montreal Film Festival for Sun Bird a film that he co-directed. It's also reported that the crew has been asked to stay in Cannes, a hint and usual indicator that the film may collect a prize or two. (HunanTV), 2

Andy On Chi-Kit's birthday

Andy On, Donnie Yen

Cast and crew conspired to surprise Andy On with two large birthday cakes on the set of Felix Chong and Andy Mak's Guan Yun Chang (Lost Bladesman) (Sina)

Sammi Cheng gets a (temporary) tattoo for a cause

July 7 (7.7) is MSF (Doctors Without Borders) 2010 Day

Sammi is donating part of her album royalties as Action Ambassador for MSF

(Sina)

Fan Bingbing, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele of Chopard

 
Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele is the co-president of luxury watch and jewelry brand Chopard. Chopard redesigned Cannes' highest award the Golden Palm (Palme d'Or) in 1998. (Sina)

Quintus Tse a charm for dad Nicholas

5.18.2010 - News

Screen Daily: Fortune Star sells package deals

• Hong Kong-based Fortune Star, owned by regional broadcaster Star, has sold two separate packages of library titles to Thailand’s EVS Entertainment and Media International Pictures (MIP) for the Middle East.
• EVS has taken 29 titles including My Father Is A Hero and Hitman, both starring Jet Li; Johnnie To’s Running Out Of Time, and Tsui Hark’s The Legend of Zu. MIP acquired 20 titles including Jackie Chan’s City Hunter, John Woo’s Bullet In The Head and Hitman.
• Fortune Star recently expanded its portfolio by adding more than 100 titles acquired from Hong Kong-based production company China Star Group.

Takeshi Kitano

Hollywood Reporter

"Outrage" a bona fide yakuza film
As violent, amoral and misanthropic as a Jacobean play, "Outrage" is Takeshi Kitano's first yakuza flick since "Brother" (2000). (Cannes press conference - audio, photos)
Takeshi Kitano unleashes "Outrage" at Cannes

"Puff" a lively sketch of Hong Kong smoking culture

A eulogy to lung pollution, "Love in a Puff" makes sharing a pack of cigarettes look sexier than sharing a bed as it chronicles how two chain smokers fall in love over a week in the wake of a government crackdown on tobacco in Hong Kong.

"I Wish I Knew" offers mosaic view of Shanghai

"I Wish I Knew," Jia Zhangke's documentary on Shanghai, commissioned to commemorate the World Expo taking place in the city this month, is a patchwork quilt with too many fabrics and patterns.

Screen Daily: Toei plans 3D version of cult thriller Battle Royale
The 3D version of the original will be ready for market screenings in October and released in Japan on November 20. Like the original, the 3D version will have an R-15 rating in Japan.

Cartoon reaction to films like Don Quixote rushing to join 3D bandwagon.

(Sina)

Alex Fong Chung-San (Xinhua)

Alex Fong, Zhang Yu, Qin Lan, Li Chen (Sina)

CRI: China's Classic Love Film to Have Sequel

A sequel to the 1980 Chinese film "Romance on Lushan Mountain", which heralded the rebirth of the country's romantic movie genre, is on the cards, M1905.com reports.

The sequel, provisionally titled "Romance on Lushan Mountain 2010", continues the story, focusing on a love triangle involving the children of the characters in the 1980 film.Qin Lan, Li Chen and Alex Fong Chung-Sun will star in the sequel. Actress-turned-director Zhang Yu will also reprise her original role.

CRI: Film on Tangshan Quake to Screen in July
Feng Xiaogang's new film "Aftershock", which reflects the Tangshan earthquake in 1976, will be released on July 22. Release date moved up.

Pace Wu plays a Taoist nun in Reign of Assassins

(Sina)

Fierce West Wind - Francis Ng

Wu Jing

Xia Yu

A 90 second teaser trailer was screened at Cannes and received high praise. "Not Supermen, but real men!"  No plot could be determined, but director Gao Qunshu's film is described as Hollywood-style hardcore action film full of high testosterone. Overseas studio and media interest in the film was high. Producer Peggy Chiao said the teaser was meant to give a quick flavor for the characters but not to reveal the story line. Veteran Hollywood reporters Stephen Cremin, Patrick Frater and Derek Elley were impressed by the development and progress of the Chinese action genre and felt the film was more Hollywood-like than Hong Kong-style.

(ifeng), (Sina) (Thanks, to Valerie)

Ocean Paradise - Jet Li and Wen Zhang play father and son

(cri)

Fan Bingbing wearing Elie Saab, she was dubbed the Eastern Swan Princess by local media

 

Red carpet for Biutiful from director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

(Sina), (Zimbio)

CRI: Fan Bingbing: The Swan Princess from China

Cannes cast portrait session (Zimbio)

Best Dressed Of The Week – Fan Bingbing In Elie Saab Couture & Dragon Robe By Laurence Hsu

4.5.2010 - News

CF: Tao Hong Fulfills Her Promise
[Death Dowry] tells the story of a poverty-stricken woman who travels to a new place with her mentally retarded son to seek a living. After suffering a number of difficulties, she meets a man who changes her fate.
Taipei Times: Au Revoir Taipei
Variety: To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey
Hollywood's postwar Asian superstar, Nancy Kwan, acts as tour guide around her personal and professional history in the solid if pedestrian docu "To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey."

CRI: Cast of "Ocean Heaven" (formerly Ocean Paradise) Attend Autism Awareness Day Event in Beijing
The movie is about the relationship between a terminally ill man played by [Jet] Li and his autistic adolescent son played by rising actor Wen Zhang. Actress Kwai Lun-Mei stars in the film as a clown who performs at the aquarium and meets the father and son.

Actress, director Jiang Wenli 

John Woo

Stanley Tong

Gu Changwei, John Woo, Jiang Wenli, Woo's wife, Jiang Wen

CRI: Jiang Wenli's Film Draws Star-Studded Audience

Chinese actress Jiang Wenli on Sunday invited her celebrity friends for a special screening of her directorial debut film, "Lan". (Sina)

CRI: Echoes of the Rainbow stills

Sandra Ng, Simon Yam

A celebration banquet was held in Tsimshatsui by the cast and crew of Echoes of the Rainbow

(Sina)

Chrissie Chau attending screening of Barbara Wong's Break Up Club

(Sina)

Karen Mok was one of many stars to help Andrew Lau celebrate his 50th birthday in Sai Kung yesterday.

(Sina)

Andy Lau gets emotional at Southwest drought relief fundraiser in Beijing 

(Sina)

ESWN: Gigi Leung Microblog Post Censored

CRI: Jackie Chan Records Song for Those Affected by Drought

Zhang Ziyi was not invited to Harper's Bazaar's upcoming Charity Night in Shanghai. On the invitees list were celebrities John Woo, Lin Chi-Ling, Zhang Hanyu, Carina Lau and many others. The eighth annual gala will be held on Apr.25 the eve of the opening of the Shanghai World Expo. (Xinhua)

CRI: Pop Queen Faye Wong to Start Concert Tour In Oct

Taipei Times: Pop Stop

Carina Lau desperate trying to get pregnant

Eason Chan spotted with unknown female companion

Andy Lau: "no regrets" having kept his 24-year romance a secret

1970s screen siren Cleopatra Wong looking to film a movie