5.24.2012 - News [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

FBA: An Inaccurate Memoir review
Actor Huang Xiaoming shines in a quirky, blackly comic tale of bandit heroes during WW2.

Part western, part martial arts homage, part Sino-Japanese resistance drama riff, An Inaccurate Memoir is a bustling mixture of genre references and colourful characters that ultimately celebrates the heroism of unnamed "ordinary people" (its Chinese title).

John Woo Has Cancer?

According to authoritative sources, the reason John Woo has postponed the filming of "Love and Let Love" (formerly "Pacific Steamer"), starring Chang Chen, Zhang Ziyi and Song Hye-Kyo, is that while preparing for production in April the director was hospitalized for laryngeal cancer in the US. According to previous rumours, Woo had surgery for a heart ailment or pancreatic cancer. Producer Terence Chang did not return calls from reporters but according to a friend Woo did not have heart problems. Woo is currently recuperating in the US and he is optimistic that Woo will begin working again by the end of the year. Speaking of the remake of "The Killer", to be directed by Lee Jae-Han (John H. Lee), Chang said that Nicolas Cage and James Franco are being considered but not yet confirmed.(Sina)

FBA: Yeoh stirred by CJ Cooktales

Production is now underway in Thailand on Cooktales, an English-language drama about food and family set in Singapore.
The much-delayed film is directed by South Korea's Gina Kim and stars Asian superstar Michelle Yeoh.

CF: Jiang Wen to Shoot "Gone With The Bullets"
Leading Chinese filmmaker Jiang Wen is likely to reunite with Gong Li in his latest directorial project, Gone With The Bullets
CF: Jiang Wen's "Gone With The Bullets" Releases Posters at Cannes
Jiang Wen's latest project, sequel to the 2010 blockbuster "Let the Bullets Fly," released two posters at Cannes International Film Festival. The movie, titiled "Gone with the Bullets," is expected to start shooting between September and October this year and the release date is set for late 2013.

(Sina)

CF: Latest Pics Unveil the Holy Land of Wu Dang at Cannes

Partial cast of "Wu Dang"

Yang Mi

Fan Siu-Wong

Dennis To Yu-Hang

Vincent Zhao

Xu Jiao

Father and daughter, Vincent Zhao and Xu Jiao

(Sina-gallery)

CF: Cannes Planning Surprise Screening Of Non-Fest Films
Wong Kar Wai's "The Grandmasters" may be included

A Wong Kar-Wai microfilm "Deja Vu", sponsored by Chivas Regal, had its world premiere at Cannes May 18 and stars Chang Chen and supermodel Du Juan.  It will premiere in China June 15. (Sina)

CF: Cecilia Cheung Promotes "Dangerous Liaisons" at Cannes

Today is Cecilia Cheung's 32nd birthday (Sina), 2

CF: "The Bounty" Plans Summer Release

The film, featuring Fiona Sit and Chapman To and directed by Fung Chi Keung, is slated to screen in the summer on the mainland.

CF: Babara Wong Set her Foot in Mainland wih"9090"
CF: New Trailer of Chen Kaige's "Caught in the Web"
A1/AFP: 'Monkey' to go West again as cinema power shifts East
CNA: Anthony Wong blasts "unprofessional" Chinese production teams

(Sina)

Zhang Jingchu starting on "I Trust You"

Zhang Jingchu is in Rome to begin shooting "I Trust You" an Italian film about global food safety. Filming will also take place in China and Hong Kong. (Sina), 2

TaipeiTimes: Pop Stop
Edison Chen, Leni Lan, et al
The big news this week is Lau Ding-sing’s private photo collection. The Apple Daily reported that the wealthy Hong Kong businessman claims to have 100,000 photos of partially dressed and fully nude male celebrities.

SGYahoo: Aaron Kwok not changing plans for marriage
A1: Michelle Yeoh delighted with 'Datuk Seri' title
MSN: Edison Chen invited Joyce Wu to his hotel, SGYahoo
There seems to be no end to Edison Chen's philandering ways as his provocative text messages to Chinese actress Joyce Wu came to light recently.

Joyce Wu Sifan 

(21cn)

MSN: Edison Chen denies hitting the paparazzi

5.16.2012 - News [Roast Pork Sliced From A Rusty Cleaver] (飲水思源)

Variety: Nightfall review
Gut-wrenching violence, classical music, daddy issues and Lolita complexes are grist for director Roy Chow Hin Yeung's grisly mill in "Nightfall," a Hong Kong thriller with a strong noirish flavor that stops short of lurid, thanks to the seasoned cast's solid perfs.

FBA: Woo boards Beast, THR

John WOO will direct Day of the Beast, a remake of SUZUKI Seijun's yakuza classic Youth of the Beast (1963).

CF: Promotional Posters of Kung Fu Drama "Wu Dang" Out

The Chinese martial-arts film "Wu Dang" is set to debut at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival

Vincent Zhao

Yang Mi (Sina)

CF: Cast and Crew Promote "Lacuna" in Beijing

As a part of the "Four plus One" project produced by Pang Ho-Cheung, the movie tells a comedic story, which is set in Beijing, about a man and woman who can't remember the night after a drinking binge. In that one night, they lose a company car and 300,000 yuan in cash, and then the two trace back their steps to try to figure out what happened. 

Zhang Jingchu with an alpaca in "Lacuna" 

Pang Ho-Cheung, Zhang Jingchu, Shawn Yue

Shawn Yue shares a whiff of alpaca with Zhang Jingchu

An alpaca, a cat and a frog provide important clues to discovering what happened that drunken night.

"Lacuna" posters

(Sina), 2, 3, 4

CF: Jia Zhangke, He Ping Help Promote "11 Flowers" in Beijing

"11 Flowers" revolves around the memory of an 11-year-old boy who witnesses a murder and attempts to catch the criminal. 

CF: "Love is Pyjamas" To Start Shooting
Producer and actor Wong Bak-Ming, director Vincent Kok and actors Raymond Lam, Ronald Cheng, Teresa Mo, Lynn Hung and Karena Ng attended the event.

Director Vincent Kok

Raymond Wong

Ronald Cheng, Karena Ng (Sina), 2, 3

CRI:  Release Date Announced for "Re Ai Dao"

The film features actors from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Francis Ng, Simon Yam, Zhang Zhen (Chang Chen), Song Jia, Chen Chong (Joan Chen) and Janice Man.

The film depicts a series of comical incidents which occur between 3 pairs of lovers on an island named Re Ai Dao, or Hot Love Island. The couples experience a number of misunderstandings and setbacks in pursuit of a happy ending. [Filmed back in 2010, it might be a hint that the film's a stinker.]

Francis Ng and Song Jia play husband and wife

Simon Yam

Francis Ng

Joan Chen, Simon Yam

 (Sina), 2, 3, 4

CF: "Painted Skin 2" Set to Release in 2D and 3D Formats

CF: How Actress Zhou Xun Turns into a Fox Demon in "Painted Skin 2"

(Sina)

CF: Intimate Zhou Xun and Vicki Zhao in "Painted Skin 2"

CF: Chen Kun - A Tough General in "Painted Skin 2"

The production side of the fantasy movie "Painted Skin 2" released a batch of still photos featuring actor Chen Kun in the movie

Chen Kun (Sina)

CF: Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing to Attend Cannes' Film China Night

Jackie Chan, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Xun and Gu Changwei are expected to be present at the film event, along with other popular Chinese actors such as Yang Mi, Tong Dawei and Feng Shaofeng. 

CF: Fan Bingbing Arrives at Cannes in Freakish Style

CF: Yang Mi Takes a Romantic Stroll with her Boyfriend at Cannes

Youku Micro Movie "Walker" to Screen at Cannes

The 25-minute "Walker", directed by Tsai Ming-liang, has been one of the most hotly debated movies on Youku since it debuted in late April, receiving nearly 20,000 comments so far.

FBA: News Corp buys 20% of Bona Film, THR

TaipeiTimes: Pop Stop

CNA: Andy Lau confirms birth of baby girl in pensive message to fans
Andy Lau: Yes, I'm a dad now
MSN: Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung to be business partners?
Even though their divorce will be finalised this month, the pair’s shared love for food might see them forming a new kind of partnership

MSN: Nicholas Tse’s family of four celebrates Quintus Tse’s birthday
In other related news, Nicholas appeared on last week's episode of America's Next Top Model where he left a deep impression on the contestants

MSN: Miriam Yeung worried about premature birth
MSN: Are Aaron Kwok and Lynn Hung finally getting married?
Rumour has it that the couple will be tying the knot next month to bring good luck to the actress’ family

4.22.2011 - News

THE WARRING STATES officially opens today here in the US via AMC Theatres, as well as various other countries. So be sure to catch it and support the latest film from China Lion Film Distribution. Okay, The Warring States sounds like it might be a vanity production, albeit star-laced, but still...

(Xinhua), 2

FBA: The Lost Bladesman review (6/10)
Serviceable costume action drama that's just about held together by its starpower.

CF: Latest Photos of "Till Death Do Us Part"
CF: Feng's Banquet
"White Vengeance," the next likely blockbuster from director Daniel Lee, unveiled its cast at a press conference in Beijing Tuesday, with William Feng [Feng Shao-feng] selected to play the main role of Xiang Yu,
CRI: Feng Xiaogang's Next Film to Begin Shooting in Oct.
China's entertainment group, Huayi Brothers, announced Thursday that director Feng Xiaogang's next film would be "Memory of 1942".Chinese director Feng says next disaster pic set against 1942 drought that killed 3 million
Feng Xiaogang announced in a live webcast on Chinese portal Sina.com on Thursday that he will adapt Liu Zhenyun's 1993 novel called "Remembering 1942." Liu's work examines the suffering in China's Henan province when the then-ruling Nationalist Party was preoccupied with a Japanese invasion.
THR: Shanghai Film Festival Launches Mobile Film Competition
Organizers of the first mobile phone film competition at The 14th Shanghai International Film Festival will accept submissions until April 30 and announce the final selections in mid-May, offering the winners in June more than $15,300 in cash prizes.

THR: China's Phoenix New Media plans U.S. IPO Worth up to $200 mln
The company, which traces its roots to Hong Kong-based Mandarin-language TV network Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Ltd. -- one of whose major shareholders is a News Corp.

Change of plans

John Woo's "1949" (aka "Pacific Steamer") which ran aground due to copyright issues may be restarted and begin production in the autumn of this year. If so, this would push back his Flying Tigers film to 2012. Announced in May 2008, plans were scuttled for "1949" in March 2009 after a dispute over copyrights surfaced; Chang Chen and Song Hye-Kyo (Reign of Assassins) were initially cast. Recently, a company in Zhejiang obtained the rights and made agreements to collaborate with Lion Rock's Terence Chang and John Woo. In addition, Flying Tigers is rumoured to be financially underfunded. (Sina)

 March 13, 2009: John Woo to Film Chinese Sunken Titanic

The Detective 2 has escaped the censors scissors. Oxide Pang's latest film has managed to avoid the fate of earlier Hong Kong film like Election, Election 2, The Mad Detective, Protege, Running on Karma, etc, through a combination of timing and talent.

(Sina)

A Sentimental Story with Huang Xiaoming and Angelababy

A Sentimental Story, directed by Gao Qunshu (Wind Blast) is filming in the high altitudes of Shangri-La in Yunnan. Huang Xiaoming has an English teacher accompanying him so he can practice his English. The story involves a young policewoman trying to recover national treasures. (Xinhua)

Louis Fan Siu-Wong uses one-armed style in A Chinese Fairy Tale (Sina)

CF: Zhou Xun Graces "ADStyle" Magzine
TaipeiTimes: Pop Stop
Lin Chi-Ling, Mavis Pan, and Taiwan prostitution ring

An inside look at the late Anita Mui's residence which her estate is giving up 7 years after her death. The reason is that due to litigation (with her mother) the cost of administering her estate has exceeded 10M yuan. In addition, Mui's mother receives 1.2M per month for living expenses and 107,000 per month for the lease of the residence.

(Xinhua-gallery)

A1: Donnie Yen throws surprise birthday party for wife
Hong Kong action superstar Donnie Yen held a million-dollar birthday party for wife Cecilia Wang recently.

(Xinhua-gallery)

Edison Chen held a press conference for his new album "Confusion" in Beijing at the International Gallery of Exhibition last night.

(Xinhua-gallery)

MSN: Lynn Hung said to have brain tumour?
The Hong Kong actress clarified that she was only suffering from gastritis
MSN: Kenny Bee asks ex-wife Teresa Cheung to move on
MSN: Selina Jen tours the Taipei International Flora Expo

(Xinhua)

CDT: Tiananmen Confucius Statue Relocated
Third day of Shanghai strike threatens China exports
Striking truck drivers protested for a third day on Friday in Shanghai's main harbor district amid heavy police presence and signs the action has already started to curb exports from the world's busiest container port.

1.15.2011 - News

Poster for 23rd Harbin Film Festival (Sina)

Speaking in Harbin, John Woo said that he expects Daniel Wu, Huang Bo and Liu Ye to play major roles in his upcoming Flying Tigers film. The film will feature five Chinese and five US pilots. Nicholas Cage and John Travolta have been named as possible cast members. Three US actresses will play nurses as well as Chinese actresses portraying guerillas and nurses. One of the roles will be played by his daughter. (Sina) (Xinhua)

The dormant production of the biography of Robert Ripley, of Believe It or Not fame, has been revived according to Hollywood reports. The original cast featuring Jim Carrey and Gong Li remain intact. Director Tim Burton has been replaced by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorrceror's Stone). (Sina), (sohu)

Recent photos posted on Weibo suggest an upcoming action collaboration between Wang Baoqiang, Tony Ching Siu-Tung, Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. Wang studied marital arts at the Shaolin Temple as a youth before going to Beijing at age 14 to find fame and fortune in the movie business. He was inspired after seeing Jet Li's Shaolin Temple in his village when he was 8 years old.

Wang Baoqiang, Tony Ching Siu-Tung

Wang Baoqiang, Tony Ching Siu-Tung, Wai Ka-Fai, Johnnie To

(Sina)

Tang Wei on cover of February Cosmopolitan

(Sina)

Video: Western mom vs. Chinese mom: who wins? (NextMedia)