4.4.2011 - News

A1: Jackie Chan, Asian stars raise funds for Japan (CNA)


CRI: Chinese Film 'Warring States' to Open in N. America

Jing Tian in  battle (Sina)

CRI: Leon Lai, Zhang Hanyu Invited for 'Banquet' (White Vengeance)

Variety: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart review
A tightly plotted, frequently funny fantasy-world take on romantic rivalry.

Sacrifice review (HK)
The source material of “Sacrifice” is a true story that happened in ancient China, known to everybody in the country as “The Orphan of Zhao Family.” ...To put it simply: any director who gets to make a film about this story had better hope not to screw it up. Alas, Palm d’Or-winning Chinese auteur Chen Kaige sort of did with his latest epic saga, which, after a majestic first half, degrades into an awkward, confusing soap opera in the end.

Variety: China Lion roars into North America
China Lion CEO Milt Barlow said: "The best of Chinese cinema will now be available to North American audiences -- not only through day-and-date theatrical with our partners AMC, but also through new platforms including iTunes, Xbox, Netflix and cable VOD."

Stills from crime scene in The Detective 2, opening April 29.

(Sina)

Patrick Tse, Nicholas Tse

Nicholas Tse recently hosted a housewarming party for his post-production company. (Sina)

Sister Jennifer posted some family photos on weibo

Jennifer Tse, Nicholas Tse

Nicholas and Jennifer

Lucas and Nicholas (Xinhua)

TV alert: Action director/actor Tiger Chen joins Andrew Zimmern on the Travel Channel for an episode on Chengdu cuisine. His mom, a former opera performer, shows off her skills in the kitchen. And the piece on Chef Yu's Family Kitchen was pretty impressive, too. (TravelChannel)

Tiger Chen and stunt team (CelebrityTwitter)

CNA: Jackie Chan to donate entire fortune to charity, leaves nothing to son

Chan, who already willed half his fortune to charity, expressed Thursday that his son will get nothing after he passes away.

MSN: A-Mei says goodbye to old love with tattoo
The Taiwanese singer recently got some new inkMSN: Richard Chang said to have met drama director
Selina Jen’s fiancé requested a face-to-face apology

MSN: Selina Jen breaks down (CNA)

Her Apr 1 wedding was postponed due to an on-set accident

Qingming Festival: A fashionable send-off for Shanghai’s dead (CNNGo)

[iPad 2s are popular this year, too] iPad 2 sold out in the afterlife as Chinese pray for the dead
Burning an iPad 2 is the hot new trend in Chinese death rituals

3.30.2011 - News

Alan Tang (Sina)

MSN: Alan Tang dies in his sleep
Actor and director Alan Tang, who's often known as one of the "big brothers" in Hong Kong showbiz, passed away yesterday, after suffering a stroke in the middle of the night.
HKStandard: Entertainment giant Tang found dead at home
Tang rose to fame after starring in the Cantonese movie Student Prince in 1963, after which he went on to make 63 films. (Sina), (Xinhua)

Eery, as it comes on the heels of yesterday's Twitter hoax about Jackie Chan's death by heart attack.] (Sina)

Death report a hoax (Sina)

THR: Don't Go Breaking My Heart review
The Bottom Line
A calculated female wish-fulfillment romance with a touch of "Rear Window" irony.

AP: Oscar winner Ruby Yang sees boom in Chinese documentaries
Yang, who edited the feature films "Xiu Xiu, The Sent Down Girl" and "Autumn in New York," both directed by actress Joan Chen, said she next plans to make short films about Chinese activists and also hopes to direct a feature film.

WSJ: ‘Sex and Zen’ Lives Again, in 3-D

CRI: Karen Mok, Leon Dai Promote Urban Love Drama

The film uses four separate stories to explore different aspects of love. It will be released on April 8.

CRI: All-Star 'Party' Due out June 15

The 140-minute film features A-list actors fleshing out a long list of historical figures, among them Chow Yun-Fat (as Yuan Shikai), Chen Kun (as Zhou Enlai), Chang Chen (as Chiang Kai-shek), Dong Jie (as Soong Ching-ling), Andy Lau (as Cai E), and Tang Wei (as Tao Yi).

Compared to the film "The Founding of a Republic", Han's 2009 extravaganza which also featured a similar cast scale, the co-director said that the new film would be "much better" in terms of plots and scenes.

Carina Lau, Kate Moss and Vivian Chow appeared for a ribbon-cutting event for French brand Longchamp in Hong Kong.

Kate Moss left after ten minutes and did not stay for the champagne toasting ceremony

Meanwhile, Vivian Chow's husband raised eyebrows when he was spotted dining with a young woman that was a Charlene Choi look-a-like.

(Sina), (Xinhua-gallery)

MSN: Andy Lau pays respects to his parents-in-law

A1: Why Andy Lau still lives with his parents

He elaborated that he often walked around dressed in a singlet and shorts in his house, and because of this his parents found it hard to invite friends over. His parents have told him more than once that they would like to have "space" away from him. (RazorTV video)

CNA: A-Mei suffer's eye injury, denies dating bartender

Kelly Lin, Chris Young

CNA: Kelly Lin weds American-Chinese beau Chris Young

While Shu Qi did not say much, her wedding card spoke volumes of her thoughts on her best friend’s nuptials.
"I really can't bear to let you spend the rest of your life with another person.
"You must know that I am holding back tears and putting up with the pain to leave you in the hands of someone who loves you even more," wrote the actress, who took three flights from her filming location just to attend Lin's wedding.

Before flying back to Shenzhen, Shu Qi reminded the groom of "wives rules", to help wash Lei-Lei's (Kelly) underwear, sweep, mop, cook, to greet her every morning; and if Lei-Lei is cold at night, to keep her warm. Chris replied, Yes, sir! But isn't underwear machine washable?

(Sina)

CNA: Judee Tan and Joanna Dong: Papaya Sisters from very different trees

"881 The Musical" sees Tan playing Yan Yan, the loud Papaya Sister who is a bit of a delinquent, with co-star Dong taking on the role of Min Min, the gentler of the two.

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

3.27.2011 - News

THR: Antoine Fuqua to Direct Chinese Concubine Love Story (Exclusive)
The as-yet-untitled film will tell the tragic love story between imperial consort Yang, one of the four famed beauties of ancient China, and 8th century Emperor Xuanzong, the longest reigning monarch of the Tang Dynasty, who ascended to the throne at the summit of the dynasty's power and influence.

Louis Koo and Gao Yuanyuan attend the Shanghai premiere of Don't Go Breaking My Heart

Gao Yuanyuan

Louis Koo

Lucky draw

(Sina)

Vonnie Lui Hoi-Yan, speaking at a promotion with Hayama Go (Yip Shan-Ho) for 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy, did not rule out doing another Category III pictures in the future.

.(Xinhua)

Ming Pao Weekly cover for 8th anniversary of Leslie Cheung's death.

The issue includes an account by Alfred Mok (Mok Wah-Ping) of his lunch with Leslie on the day of his suicide.

From Days of Being Wild (!)

(Xinhua)

Takeshi Kaneshiro in Australia shooting a beverage advert

(Xinhua)

Sammi Cheng, Andy Hui, Joey Yung, Denise Ho, Miriam Yeung, Raymond Lam and others attended the IFPI Hong Kong Record Sales Award ceremony. Fortunately, both Sammi and Andy received awards.

Sammi Cheng

Raymond Lam (left)

(Sina-slideshow)

3.25.2011 - News

  

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ICRC (Red Cross), IFRC (Red Cross/Red Crescent)

CRI: HK Entertainers to Raise Fund for Quake Victims

It's been confirmed that Hong Kong artists will hold a three-hour charity concert titled "311 Love beyond Borders" to raise funds for victims of Japan's massive earthquake and tsunami.

THR: Jackie Chan, Hong Kong Stars Set Japan Charity Concert

The group has recorded the song "Succmb Not to Sorrow" which is based on a Japanese poem and serves as the theme for the concert. (Xinhua)

(Sina-slideshow)

Japan live blog: More than 27,000 dead, missing (CNN)
Breach suspected at troubled Japanese power plant (Yahoo)

3.21.2011 - News

WSJ: HK Film Industry Reaches Out to Japan
FBA: HK festival gets underway
CRI: 35th HK Int'l Film Festival Opens

Don't Go Breaking My Heart cast

Larisa, Daniel Wu, Gao Yuanyuan, Wa Ka-Fai, Louis Koo, JJ Jia

Festival Ambassador Miriam Yeung

Kara Hui

(Xinhua-gallery)

Gao Yuanyuan (Sina)

KoreaTimes: Hong Kong's urban exoticism caught on film
Moreover, the movie [Don't Go Breaking My Heart] offers an incisive look into the unique cityscape of Hong Kong and the people who inhabit it, which pave the way for more universal themes of love and the nature of modern-day relationships.

THR: Doug Liman to Direct Story of Sun Yat-sen's Bodyguard

Bourne Identity director Doug Liman and producers Rob Reiner and Alan Greisman are joining forces with Beijing Galloping Horse Film & TV Production for a 1920s drama about Two-Gun Cohen, the British bodyguard to Sun Yat-sen, leader of the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty.

FBA: Angel Wings brings romance to FilMart

Law of Attraction explores four stages of love

Director Zhang states, "No one needs another shallow love story between impossible people. There are already far too many of these instantly forgettable movies on mainland cinema screens."

FBA: Emperor slate delivers five fold attractions

THR: Hong Kong Star Tony Leung Chiu-wai Reuniting With Director Derek Yee in 'Great Magician'

Emperor is also launching The Beast Stalker director Dante Lam's The Viral Factor, a US$17 million action thriller about a super virus that takes place around the world. Starring Jay Chou (Green Hornet), Nicholas Tse (Bodyguards and Assassins) and Andy On (True Legend), the project is in preproduction with location shooting planned in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Jordan.

FBA: CAR drives into North America

Los Angeles-based distributor and producer Ko Mori and LA-based film producer Tim Kwok have launched Cinema Asia Releasing, a North American distributor dedicated to films from Asia.

ScreenDaily: Quattro Hong Kong 2 review, 2

Each of the films is distinctive and challenging with each offering a fresh and thoughtful view of modern-day Hong Kong.

Variety: Almost Perfect review, 2 (Kelly Hu, Edison Chen)

"Almost Perfect" starts out as a romantic comedy, then gradually wends its way toward a more serious treatment of family dysfunction.

Deng Chao is featured in a photo spread in Harper's Bazaar

(Sina-slideshow)

CRI: Actress Yao Chen Admits to New Love

Yao Chen has admitted she is in a new relationship with cinematographer Cao Yu following her divorce with ex-husband and fellow actor Ling Xiaosu. (Xinhua)

Jane Zhang performed at the CBA All-Star Game in Beijing (Mar.20) 

(Xinhua)

MSN: Barbie Hsu’s wedding shrouded in secrecy

Barbie Hsu's charter flight to Sanya, Hainan arrived with family and wedding guests. (Xinhua-gallery)

MSN: Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung’s wedding photos revealed

Cecilia's manager believed that the photos were uploaded to Facebook by the Filipino wedding photographer, before they got reposted to other online sites. The manager also criticised the photographer for lacking professionalism and that they are considering legal action against him.
MSN: Raymond Lam likes taking photos of ex?
The Hong Kong actor’s ex-girlfriend hinted so when interviewed recently

CNA: Raymond Lam on 'bedroom photos' fallout: "I will pick myself up"