6.28.2010 - News

Lessons from 'The Karate Kid' -- Japan out, America down, China on the rise

Meat Grinder (Thailand)

Imagine Joerg Buttgereit's early movies remade by Wong Kar Wai and you're halfway there.

Pic introduces its title character -- plump, middle-aged Buss (Mai Charoenpura) -- when a young guy from the country arrives to meet his fiancee, Aoi, who's been working at Buss' noodle shop. Buss tells him Aoi ran off with her husband; after inviting him in, she chops off one of his legs, nails him to the floor by his fingers and then stuffs him, still alive, with herbs...Original Thai title roughly means "Carve Before Tasting."  (Variety) Now available on DVD. ;D

THR: China media regulator cited for misuse of funds
SARFT named China's second-most corrupt agency

• On Monday, an online chart illustrating the annual audit and naming SARFT -- and the No. 1 and No. 3 offenders, the State Bureau of Survey and Mapping and the Ministry of Culture -- had disappeared from the China Daily's Web site, apparently nixed by censors.
• SARFT and the Ministry of Culture both already are under international pressure to loosen their control of the import and distribution of cultural content. The pressure comes largely from the Motion Picture Association and the World Trade Organization, which in November ruled China was in violation of free trade.

Shu Qi and Aaron Kwok in City Under Siege

(Sina)

CJ7 The Cartoon posters

Movie opens July 9

(Xinhua)

Stephen Chow

Stephen Chow and Xu Jiao have been quietly filming commercials for CJ7: The Cartoon.

While in Changsha, Hunan Chow reportedly visited Mao Zedong's former home.

(Xinhua)

Edison Chen is Disney-friendly

Edison Chen's Clot and Disney collaborate in Shanghai on a new line of clothing.

Commerce makes for strange bedfellows.

(Xinhua), (Sina)

Looking like they just stepped out of an advert, Michelle Reis and her husband were spotted hand in hand in Macau celebrating her 40th birthday. (Xinhua)

Chrissie Chau

Attending a breast cancer self examination event Chrissie called the Book Fair banning by the Trade Development Council hypocritical. She said she considered appealing the ban but softened her stand.

(Sina), 2, 3, (Xinhua)

Gillian Chung's appearance was 'disappeared' from the popular Changsha, Hunan TV program 'Happy Camp' broadcast. The program which also featured fellow Fantastic Water Babes' Jeff Lau, Stephen Fung and Alex Fong Lik-Sun deleted all references to Gillian. Taped earlier, all traces of her were eliminated according to reports despite official previews saying that Gillian would appear for a few minutes. According to  those involved in the taping Gillian introduced the film plot, and performed a dance. There was no mention of the 'photo-gate' incident so the reason for her removal were not clear. A call to Hunan TV's chief editor was not returned. (Xinhua)

Cecilia Cheung spotted at the Hong Kong International Airport heading to Shanghai

(Xinhua), (Sina)

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai posted a photo showing his 48th birthday celebration at home.

Wife Carina Lau was recently implicated in a developing real estate scandal in Chongqing.

(Xinhua)

Adrien Brody, Zhang Ziyi - Los Angeles

(Xinhua)

6.22.2010 - News

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Guei Lun-Mei's sexy pole dancer scene was cut from Ocean Heaven

(Xinhua)

HKMagazine: Break Up Club

The real heroes of this film are the two leads—Jaycee Chan and Fiona Sit, regardless of whether they were an actual real-life item before (as the tabloids claim), they are the one of the most convincing on-screen couples we’ve seen in a long time...Who would have thought frigging Jackie Chan’s son would turn out to be a bit of an actor after all?

Variety: Once a Gangster
The directing bow of "Infernal Affairs" scribe Felix Chong, "Once a Gangster" covers familiar Hong Kong genre turf, but does so with a wacky comedic eye, if less overall success. Centered around a mild restaurateur with mob connections who's forced to head a Kowloon Triad, the script shows brief flashes of wit and intelligence, and plays hit-and-run with local genre conventions in a way that will amuse Asiaphiles but leave others scratching their heads. http://hkmdb.com/news/?p=5620
FBA: The Karate Kid (功夫夢) (5/10)(Chinese version)
Beijing-set remake of the 1984 film looks lush but is dramatically bland and culturally problematical.

Wong Kar-Wai's Grand Master is said to have completed filming and now entered the editing phase. Ultimately, Brigitte Lin did not make a comeback appearance. Zhang Ziyi's role is said to be that of a female killer. Zhao Benshan and Song Hye-Kyo also appear. A Lunar New Year opening is still anticipated despite some delays. It will compete against 4 powerhouse films: Chen Kaige's Zhao's Orphan, Zhang Yimou's Love Under the Hawthorn Tree, Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly and Feng Xiaogang's You Are the One 2. (Sina)

First look: 'The Green Hornet' trailer (THR)
CRI: Jay Chou in 'Green Hornet' Trailer
A new trailer for "The Green Hornet" has offered an early peek at how Jay Chou passes as the Green Hornet's sidekick.

CRI: Interview with Wang Xiaoshuai, Director of "Chongqing Blues"
CRI: "I Wish I Knew" Hits Cinemas on July 2
CRI: Cecilia Cheung in "The Wandering Songstress"
CF: Wang Luodan Lands New Role by 'Eavesdropping'
"Driverless" actress Wang Luodan says she got her role in the film thanks to an eavesdropping experience.

CF: Stills of Aaron Kwok's Thrilling Appearance in "City Under Siege" Released

Kwok plays a circus clown who accidentally inhales a chemical gas while treasure hunting on a mountain. The gas left by the Japanese army in World War II turns him into a giant, mutated Orc-like creature from the movie "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

FBA: Shanghai festival reveals cash crisis

FBA: Golden Horse heads for Taoyuan

This year’s Golden Horse Awards Ceremony will shift to Taoyuan County and be held on 20 Nov 2010.

Vivian Hsu, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Ma Ju-Lung

Vivian Hsu

 

(Sina-slide show)

Charlene Choi - Shanghai (June 20)

Charlene Choi was is Shanghai to promote her new Mandarin album 'As a Sa'. She said Twins was not disbanding and the duo would release an album next year. (Sina-slideshow), 2

HK actress Charlene Choi tired of comedies
Charlene Choi revealed that she is tired of doing comedies and hopes to some day do a romantic tragedy, reported Chinese media.
"A lot of people approach me to do comedies and I generally don't turn them down, but I hope a director will ask me to do a romantic tragedy," she said during a promotional event for her new film "Jade Pearl" - yet another comedy - in Shanghai on Sunday.

"In almost every film, the director asked me to dress like a man," Choi lamented. "Maybe I just look like one."
Edison Chen to make comeback by October
Controversial Hong Kong actor Edison Chen has announced his plans to return to the music scene by October. He revealed this in an interview with Sina after performing John Lennon's Imagine at Hong Kong rapper duo Fama's recent concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
Sammi Cheng spotted with ex-squeeze
Sammi Cheng and Andy Hui have fuelled more speculation that they are back together, after they flew back from Taipei together.
Hui, 42, who was the first to be seen in the arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday, was adamant that he had gone to Taiwan for business - to get a director for a new music video, he told Ming Pao Daily News.

Lin Chi-Ling to take acting classes after series failure

Lin Chiling expressed her disappointment over the dismal ratings of her Japanese drama serial "Moonlight Lovers" and revealed that she hopes to take some acting classes next year, reported Chinese media.
Speaking to reporters while attending the high-profile Royal Ascot horse races in the UK, Lin was evasive and said, "Could we not talk about the ratings (of "Moonlight Lovers")? Frankly, I am a little depressed at the moment."
SG: Cecilia Cheung plans return for mom
One month after giving birth to her second son, Cecilia was reported to be on the prowl for opportunities to resume her acting career. Cecilia is believed to need to supplement her mother's expenses.
It was reported that Stephen was offering Cecilia the leading role for the upcoming sequel to his widely-successful King of Comedy, a 1999 comedy in which Cecilia's turn as a club girl propelled her to fame.
Stephen Chow is the second director who has approached Cecilia for movie roles - director Derek Tung had previously indicated his interest in casting both Cecilia and her son Lucas in a movie.

SG: Michelle Reis' 40th birthday 'surprise'

Michelle Reis was celebrating her 40th birthday at a restaurant with husband Julian Hui, billionaire and son of Hong Kong's shipping and property tycoon Hui Sai Fun, when she ran into her old flame, Joseph Lau...Just the day before Michelle had put up a picture of her in a bikini on the Web, apparently in a bid to dispel rumours of her pregnancy.

Michelle Reis' 40th birthday

SG: Andy Hui and Sammi Cheng continues to evade rumours

Jean Todt, Michelle Yeoh - Moscow

June 19, Montblanc Moscow White Nights Festival (Xinhua)

Huang Xiaoming Harbour City appearance for UNICEF (Sina)

The Karate Kid - Beijing Premiere Part 2

More photos of celebrity guests at The Karate Kid Beijing premiere and launch of Jackie's Yiu Lai International Cinemas.

Jackie Chan

Li Bingbing, Jackie Chan

Li Bingbing

Director Harald Zwart and wife

Frankie Chan Fan-Kei

Yu Rong Guang

Lin Peng

Lin Peng

Lin Peng

Li Xiaolu

Li Xiaolu

Qin Hailu

Wilson Chen Bo Lin

Stanley Tong

Model Zhang Xin

Will Smith, Jackie Chan

(Xinhua), 2

The Karate Kid - Beijing Premiere

(June 16) The mainland premiere of The Karate Kid was held in Beijing in the first of Jackie Chan's new chain of theaters, Yao Lai International Cinemas. First day box office was donated to disaster relief. (Sina), 2, 3

Jackie Chan

Will Smith, Jade Smith, Jackie, Li Bingbing

Will Smith and family

Will Smith

Drunken Master

Jackie, Jaden