6.14.2010 - News

Ten arrested after Chinese film director Yan Po attacked, stabbed with knife

Li Xiaoran - Beijing airport

Li Xiaoran returned to Beijing yesterday afternoon and wrote that director Yan Po had regained consciousness after surgery for his wounds. Posting on her blog, she thanked Lu Chuan, Yao Chen, Zhang Yang, Liu Ye, Chen Kun, Gao Yuanyuan and others for their support. (Xinhua), (Sina)

Variety: Dream Home
Cutthroat real-estate prices ask for bloody countermeasures in "Dream Home," Pang Ho-cheung's deliciously dark take on the dog-eat-dog Hong Kong housing market. High-concept splatter pic is another slickly produced, femme-driven item from local multihyphenate Pang (aka Edmond Pang), with its intricate editing and dash of capitalist critique adding some gloss and a hint of topicality to the blood-soaked proceedings.
http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5595

CRI: The 'Shanghai' Glamor
Gong Li and John Cusack promotes the WWII thriller "Shanghai" during the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival.
CRI: John Cusack Amiable and Talented, Says Gong Li

"CJ7" Releases Its 2nd Trailer
"Love In A Puff" To Be Shown on Chinese Mainland

Actress-director Charlie Young, jury member of the Asian New Talent Awards

CRI: Asian New Talent Awards Jury Debuts
THR: China's young directors in spotlight at SIFF
Panel reveals difference of opinion on working with newbies

“Young Chinese directors are very lucky now,” said hit-making producer Bill Kong (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), mentor to many a young director and backer of a few of the biggest Chinese films ever to sell overseas. “You can rest assured that there will always be a market at home that is highly diversified.”

Wen Zhang, Jet Li, Xue Xiaolu, Guei Lun-Mei (Ocean Heaven)

Huang Xiaoming, Zhang Jingchu

Law Kar-Ying

CRI: Shanghai Film Fest Opening Red Carpet (photo gallery), Kick off

Huang Xiaoming

Zhang Jingchu

Huang Xiaoming and Zhang Jingchu met with college student and promoted Flirting Scholar 2 at a nearby university in Shanghai (Xinhua)

Wang Qianyuan

Wang Qianyuan, Qin Hailu promote Steel Piano (Steel Guitar)[The Piano in a Factory] in Shanghai

Qin Hailu, director Zhang Meng, Wang Qianyuan

(Sina), 2

Behind the Shanghai scenes: Donnie Yen vs Jet Li? It's being reported that Donnie Yen's earlier press conference for Fist of Legend was cancelled to accommodate Jet Li and the Ocean Heaven press conference. Both sides' reps denied it, saying it was the work of the organizing committee. Jet's peeps defended him saying how could he be jealous of Donnie Yen and also reminded the press of his charitable works. Perhaps it was a case of resentment. In 2007, the two refused to appear together in a 'Kung Fu Stars' program. Later, Donnie Yen had criticized Jet Li's Fearless at Beijing University and one implied that the other was a 'clown' [unclear which was which]. (Xinhua)

In January, we reported on Hong Kong's subway pole dancer. Now, Nanjing's Subway Steel Pole Sister has surfaced, and has subsequently been arrested after three performances. (ESWN)

Andrew Lin's Special Effects for Dream Home

Andrew Lin posted photos of some of the grisly special effects and make up that he created for Dream Home.

Last year, My buddy Conroy chan asked me to help him with his film "Dream Home"doing Special effects make-up. The first slasher film ever made in Hong Kong. The movie is out in Hong Kong cinemas right now. Please go check it out. If you do not have a strong stomach, don't forget to bring a vomit bag with you. Yeah, it's pretty nasty. (AnD)

Andrew Lin

Derek Tsang

5.14.2010 - News

Variety: Chongqing Blues
An irreparable father-son bond triggers a study in bleak cityscapes and pervasive intergenerational malaise in “Chongqing Blues.” Initially as glum as its title would suggest, Wang Xiaoshuai’s poignant if plodding ninth feature — which follows an absentee father trying to glean information about the dead son he never knew — eventually opens up with a handful of quietly affecting moments, but elsewhere bogs down in psychodramatic flashbacks that ultimately sentimentalize as much as they clarify. http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5453

Screen Daily: Chongqing Blues

A strong performance by Wang Xueqi as the father provides emotional ballast but fails to make up for the glacial pacing of the drama; and although there are some effective emotional tugs and an evocative use of the film’s dirty industrial city setting, the audience’s investment in the slowbuild structure is never paid back in full. http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5456

THR: Wang Xiaoshuai returns to Cannes
CRI: "Chongqing Blues" Screened at Cannes Film Festival

Fan Bingbing

Li Lingyu, Zi Yi Cannes red carpet

(Xinhua)

Fan Bingbing in dress from Elie Saab for film's premiere (Sina), 2

He Yumeng

Be sure to check out ewaffle's take on the premiere's red carpet.

CNNGo: Josie Ho in Dream Home: Incredibly gruesome must-see slasher film

Jeon Do-Yeon - Cannes (Sina)

Screen Daily: The Housemaid (South Korea)

Tasty, full of black humour, but finally upended by the mannerist games it plays so ably, erotic thrillerThe Housemaid is a smart but shallow remake of Kim Ki-young’s cult 1960 Korean movie of the same name.
THR: The Housemaid
Bottom Line: An operatic, sensuous social satire that dares to be different from the original classic.

Screen Daily: Sandcastle (Singapore)

Sandcastle marks a quietly assured debut feature from writer/director Boo Junfeng. The blending of guilty family secrets and the ghosts of Singapore’s recent past create an involving narrative that is related with tenderhearted understatement.

Variety: Bedevilled (South Korea)

A young mother understandably wants to get off a remote island filled with violent and misogynistic miscreants and slave-driving old hags in "Bedevilled," a confused genre hodgepodge that marks the feature debut of Kim Ki-duk's former assistant director Jang Cheol-soo. Part limpid study of city-country contrasts, part one-sickle-kills-all revenge fantasy, Jang's film drifts from one genre to another without ever fully coming into its own.

Taipei Times: Taipei Exchanges

‘Taipei Exchanges’ juxtaposes capitalism against a more idealistic way of life in the form of two sisters, one practical, the other utopian.

THR: Jackie Chan plans turbo-charged slate

Eight films and two TV dramas in the works

First up for Chan himself is the martial arts film "Drunken Master 1945." Though neither a remake nor sequel to Chan's 1978 hit "Drunken Master," the new film is intended to capture the martial arts spirit that the earlier film also celebrated.

Beginning in August, Steve Woo will direct "The Break-Up Artist," a Chinese Mandarin-language romantic comedy about a young woman who runs an agency that helps couples break up.

Jackie Chan a ruthless boss?

Ken Lo, William Duen Wai-Lun sacked with little compensation; Xinhua, 2

Zhao Benshan as a river pirate in "Laughter of the Water Margins"

Director is Chu Yen-Ping (TreasureHunter)

(Sina)

Ning Hao's No Man's Land too dark?

 (Xinhua)

Former Olympic diver Tian Liang has joined the cast of Andrew Lau's love story Beautiful Life

Beautiful Life stars Shu Qi, Liu Ye (file photo)

(HunanTV)

CRI: Tsui Hark's 3-D Animation "Animen" to Hit Cinemas on Children's Day, (Sina)
Opening in China, Europe and US simultaneously [update: This is actually a film by someone with a name similar to Tsui Hark's ]

Rumor Mill:  Previously, Edko announced that Tsui Hark would remake a 3D version of New Dragon Inn. No cast has been announced yet. Earlier rumors has Gui Lun-Mei and Ethan Ruan as Tsui Hark's favorite candidates. A current rumor from an 'insider' on the micro-blogosphere has Jet Li, Li Yuchun and Zhou Xun in the new love triangle with filming to begin in September. (HunanTV)

Taipei Times: Pop Stop - Mother's Day

Huang Yi and her cat

Practicing her piano (Photos from micro-blog)

CRI: Gigi Leung Breaks up with French Boyfriend, Channel NewsAsia

Gigi Leung breaks up with French boyfriend of four years

Dream Home - Hong Kong Premiere

(May 5) Friends and cast gathered for the Hong Kong premiere of Oxide Pang's Dream Home.

Nicholas Tse

Ekin Cheng

Andrew Lin, Daniel Wu

Michael Wong

Juno Mak

Edmond Leung

Conroy Chan

Josie Ho

Josie Ho, Conroy Chan

(Sina)

5.3.2010 - News

Screen Daily: Dream Home
Social commentary and the slasher genre make for interesting bedfellows in Dream Home, director Pang Ho-cheung’s blood-spattered look at the excesses of the Hong Kong housing market.

http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5406

Tang Wei and Teresa Teng (inset)

Tang Wei in Teresa Teng biography?
Taiwan media reports that Ang Lee has a reached an agreement to film singer Teresa Teng's biography. May 8th marks the 15th anniversary of the iconic singer's death in Thailand from an asthma attack. It is reported that co-investors and the Teng family has signed a formal schedule and Tang Wei has been 'locked', meeting the approval of the family. But Tang Wei's agent declares that they have not been in contact with the Teng family. In addition, Ang Lee is preparing to start filming The Life of Pi in the fall but the investor has indicated a willingness to meet the director's schedule. (Xinhua), (Nownews)
CRI: Tang Wei to Play Teresa Teng '

Charlene Choi does not rule out working with ex-hubby in future
CRI: Zhou Xun Promotes Low-Carbon Living
Elva Hsiao admits to eyelid procedure

4.30.2010 - News

Charlene Choi

Li Bingbing

New Triple Tap posters feature Charlene Choi and Li Bingbing

(Sina)

Taipei Times: Ip Man 2
Taipei Times: Let the Wind Carry Me (documentary)
Mark Ping-bing Lee's unique sensibility has shaped the look of Taiwanese cinema for more than two decades. Now he finds himself on the other end of the camera.
THR: Dream Home

Bottom Line: A satire on real estate speculation crossed with a slasher film that drowns any social relevance in pools of blood and entrails.

CRI: "Ma Wen's Battle" Releases Trailer

This film touches on the complex and twisted relationships between husband and wife, ex-couple and even parents and children. Strange and awkward situations fueled by these difficult relationships make up this urban family dark comedy.

CRI: Ang Lee's New Film Attempts 3D

Taiwan director Ang Lee wants to shoot Canadian writer Yann Martel's renowned novel "Life of Pi" in 3D. Filming is set to begin this August, qq.com reports.
CRI: Shanghai Int'l Film Festival Releases Poster

Nicholas Tse offered 10million yuan movie deal

Shu Qi has indeed dropped out of Feng Xiaogang's sequel to If You Are the One due to a schedule conflict with Andrew Lau's Beautiful Life. (HunanTV)

Guo Degang - Three Smiles

Yao Di

The Love of Three Smiles opens May 7. (Sina)

Daneil Lam, Ekin Cheng, Elanne Kwong

Producer Daneil Lam Siu-Ming invested in a beauty company in Jordan

(Sina)

Rosamund Kwan, queen of property market?

Vivian Hsu shooting a body gel advert on the streets of Hong Kong

(Sina), (Xinhua)