5.24.2010 - News

IndieWire: Hong Sangsoo Tops Un Certain Regard
The new film by Hong Sangsoo, “Ha Ha Ha”, won the top prize for a film in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section tonight in France.
IndieWire: Impenetrable Fantasy: “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives”
Palme d’Or Winner
THR: Q&A: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
CRI: Two 2010 Cannes Awards Go to Asian Films

CRI: "Shanghai" to Premiere on June 10
Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom will bring his international cast - including actor John Cusack, Chinese-born Singaporean actress Gong Li, Hong Kong action star Chow Yun-fat and Japanese "Batman Begins" actor Ken Watanabe - to the opening ceremony to promote the film.
CRI: Lu Chuan onboard 'Shanghai, I Love You'
Chinese fans of the 2009 romantic movie "New York, I Love You" will soon be able to enjoy a similar film set in one of their own cities - Shanghai.
CRI: First Trailer of Film "Driverless" [Unmanned] Released
Director Zhang stated that this movie is an updated version of his 1997 film "Spicy Love Soup". It deals with several relationship issues, including the infamous seven year itch, reuniting with a first love, one night stands, an old husband with a young wife, and extramarital affairs.

Guei Lun-Mei plays a clown in Jet Li's Ocean Paradise (21cn)

More confirmation being sought for these next two items:
Zhang Ziyi to star and co-produce 3D Mulan? According to a Sing Tao Daily report, a listing was spotted in Cannes promotional material for a film called 'Mulan: The Woman Warrior of Legend' a US co-production including Zhang Ziyi's name as one of the producers. Charles Russell (Scorpion King, Mask) is listed as director. (Sina), (cri)

Martial arts actor, director Frankie Chan Fan-Kei is reportedly planning a film adapted from the classic Shaw Brothers The 14 Amazons. The film will be a joint production by Xian Film Studio and Shanghai Film Group among others with U$$20 million budget. A December 2010 launch in Inner Mongolia is scheduled. Andy Lau, Fan Bingbing, Siqin Gaowa and Michelle Yeoh are attached while Jaycee Chan and Yu Shaoqun are also invited. (Sina), (mtime)

CRI: Ang Lee Featured on 'DGA Quarterly' Cover

Raymond Yip Wai-Man presented Lost on Journey in Wuhan

 

Huang Xiaolei, Xu Zheng (Sina)

Fan Bingbing - Cannes Closing Ceremony

Li Fei-er (Chongqing Blues) Cannes Closing Ceremony

Wang Xueqi, Fan Bingbing

Fan Bingbing, Wang Xueqi, Li Fei-Er, Zi Yi

(Sina), (Zimbio)

CRI: 'Dragon' Queen Spits Fire in Style
Actress Qin Hailu has been making a name for herself (and not a good one) by criticizing fellow thespian Fan Bingbing, who wore a "dragon gown" for the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival last week.

On her micro-blog (China's version of Twitter) Qin claimed Fan demonstrated her overweening ambition by wearing the impressive dress at the French film event. The implication was that Fan was positioning herself as China's leading lady by wearing the typically Chinese creation on international stage.

CRI: Movie Fans Seeking Good Luck for Premiere at Cannes Film Festival

How you, too, can walk the red carpet at Cannes

BRITISH FIRMS' FURY AS 2012 OLYMPICS PROMO FILM IS MADE IN CHINA

Anthony Wong and his 13 year-old son at the premiere of the musical Chicago

Anthony's son does not want to follow in his father's footsteps. Rather, he wants to become a plastic surgeon.

(Sina), 2, 3

Anthony Wong

The last episode of the TV series Secret History of Imperial Concubine Yang airs tonight.

(Sina)

Global Times: The Dior incident and the mysteriously-familiar woman

Betty Sun Li turned away

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

4.7.2010 - News

THR: Ex
Bottom Line: Competent but unremarkable, derivative romantic drama offers nothing new to the genre in Asia.

Gillian Chung

Ex - Gillian Chung, William Chan Wai-Ting, Michelle Wai

HKIFF Closing Film press conference

(Sina), 2

CRI: "Monga" To Be Shot into Chinese Mainland Version

Monga actors bring down the house in rowdy action scene

Lin Miaoke, Charlie Yeung - 37

CF: "37" Makes its Debut in HKIFF

Variety: Secret Reunion (South Korea)
The Korean buddy-cop movie gets a North/South political veneer.

Donnie Yen, Huang Xiaoming, Lynn Xiong

Beijing press conference to launch website for Ip Man 2

Sik Siu-Lung (Shaolin Popey)

Gallery (Xinhua)

Jet Li brought small gifts and bottled water to drought stricken Yunnan, in addition to helping build a water storage project.

(Xinhua)

Marry Maggie Cheung in the afterlife!

China Hush: Extraordinary offerings on Qingming (Ching Ming) Day
Tony Leung hands it to Carina Lau
TV personality May Fung dishes on celebrities on last episode of Be My Guest
Nicholas Tse does not want gifted son to go into showbiz

4.6.2010 - News

Variety: Harmony (South Korea)

The production of  the Wong Jing-directed "Aladdina" ("Allah's Magic Lamp") featuring Louis Koo and Twins has been postponed. According to Wong Jing, it is due to a conflict of scheduling with the cast, but it is rumored that an investor in China Film Group, an auto brand, has withdrawn. The film was slated to begin shooting in Chengdu this month. (Xinhua)

CRI: 'Angry' Lin Chi-Ling on Set of Japanese TV Drama

Chrissie Chau shows off her behind-the-ear tattoo while promoting a theme song for an online game

(Sina), 2

Meng Yao - Beauty and the 7 Beasts

Chrissie Chau, Tina Ti Na's successor?

In other Chrissie Chau news, Chrissie is slated to star in the stage version of the Tina Ti Na 1970 classic film Lucky Seven. Remade a few years ago by Wong Jing as Beauty and the 7 Beasts with 'Jing Girl' Meng Yao, the 'plot' revolves around seven horny guys trying their best to bed a beautiful girl. Tina Ti Na also starred in a sequel Lucky Seven Strikes Again. [Both are highly recommended. Imagine the Rat Pack and Marilyn Monroe (am I dating myself here?).] Chrissie promises sexy costumes but the limit will be bra and panties with gauze for sexy effect. Producer Yeung Shiu-Hung said the play had been in planning for three months. (Sina)

Sammi Cheng: The Queen of Cantopop is back!

She made headlines last year for her battle with depression and notorious mood swings on set, but Sammi Cheng has since stepped out of her past, and appeared only happier and stronger than before...

2.16.2010 - News

THR: The Actresses (South Korea)
Bottom Line: A witty actresses' ensemble piece disguised as a documentary.
Variety: Amphetamine
Beautifully lit and shot (by Pang Ho-cheung's regular d.p., Charlie Lam), but archly written and played, "Amphetamine" will be a downer for any except gay male auds in search of some lusciously lensed softcore porn.
Variety: 72 Tenants of Prosperity
No fewer than 174 famous faces show up in the patchy Cantonese comedy “72 Tenants of Prosperity,” the latest reworking of a 1945 Shanghai play. All but eliminating the rotten landlords and corrupt officials who made life hell for downtrodden tenants in the original, this third pic-version is moderately chucklesome but sorely lacks the triumph-of-the-underdog factor that’s galvanized auds over the years.

THR: True Legend
Set in 1961 China – “a turbulent time,” according to the opening title - True Legend quickly dispenses with history lessons to deliver dark intensity and kung fu fighting sequences from the master of wuxia himself, Yuen Woo-ping.

THR: Echoes of the Rainbow

Alex Law and Mabel Cheung change roles for this bittersweet family saga which mixes nostalgia for the Hong Kong of 1969 with reflections on the transience of life, fortune and happiness.

Buzz Chung - Echoes of the Rainbow (THR)

Simon Yam

Sandra Ng, Simon Yam

THR: Kao joins "Snow Flower"
CSI star to play lead in 19th century love story

Jordan Chan marries Cherrie Ying in Las Vegas wedding
Due to his Jordan's weak English, the 42-year-old misread his vows saying, "You are my best wife" instead of "You are my best friend, my wife", tickling his bride and guests with his minor slipup at his wedding ceremony.
When it was Cherrie's turn, the Taiwan-born actress amused her guests just as much as her groom did and started to rattle her vows in a string of fluent Cantonese, "The whole world does not understand you, I will do my best to understand you. The whole world leaves you, I will never leave you. I know you're still a little kid, but you have a heart of gold. Don't worry. I will take care of you." [ Awww!]

Andy Lau sends New Year greetings after completing New Shaolin Temple.

Wishes everyone is happy, in harmony and lends a helping hand those in need.

(Sina)

Wan Chi-Keung, former footballer and actor, passed away this morning after a long bout with  nasopharyngeal cancer.(Sina)

Michelle Yim (Mai Suet), his longtime girlfriend, reportedly married Wan Chi-Keung shortly before his death. Previously, she had been accused of misappropriating HK$2M in medical funds raised by friends like Alan Tam and Natalis Chan. (Sina) (2)

2.15.2010 - News

Growing pains of China's animation movie

Chop Socky Chooks: Volume One

Screen Daily: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop (A Simple Noodle Story)

Playing more like a slapstick version of the Coen brothers’ classic Blood Simple than a remake, Zhang Yimou’s latest moves the action back a few hundred years and switches location to the spectacularYellow Earth landscapes of Northern China.
Variety: A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop

For the record, pic's international version is four minutes shorter than that released in China and Hong Kong.
Chinese remake of Coen brothers classic screens in Berlin

Screen Daily: Au Revoir Taipei

Asian-American director Arvin Chen’s boy-meets-girl romance coasts along on sheer goofy sweetness. A brightly-coloured Before Sunrise in Taiwanese screwball sauce with just a pinch ofUmbrellas Of Cherbourg thrown in, it does little except charm, seduce and mildly amuse. But it does so with enough grace and storytelling skill to keep most audiences hooked though to the end, even though the sugar-rush wears off pretty soon after leaving the cinema.

Variety: Monga (Taiwan)

It's the kind of larger-spanned movie that Taiwan should be attempting if the island's industry is ever to get back on its feet again. Niu's gamble looks to be repaid -- at least locally -- with "Monga" strong-arming a brawny $1.6 million in its first week since bowing Feb. 5.

Variety: The Actresses (South Korea)

Six movie stars -- playing themselves -- gather for a Vogue photo shoot in a Seoul studio in "The Actresses," a talky but involving fakumentary that continually plays with the thin dividing line between reality and fiction. Hardly the catfight it's expected to be, this cheekiest outing yet from writer-director E J-yong is a funny, sometimes surprisingly touching exploration of the role of actresses in South Korea's still socially proscribed film world, though considerable knowledge of local showbiz and the thesps themselves is necessary to get the most from the movie. Asia-friendly fests should extend invites to these broads.

Variety: I'm In Trouble (South Korea)

Korean Academy of Film Arts alum So Sang-min makes a promising feature debut with "I'm in Trouble!," a charmingly modest talking-eating-drinking movie -- carved from the same rockface as helmers like Hong Sang-soo, Emmanuel Mouret and Woody Allen -- in which a bunch of likable, indecisive losers endlessly repeat the same emotional mistakes.

Taipei Times: You might as well live

Based on a novel by one of Japan’s most acclaimed fiction writers of the 20th century, ‘Villon’s Wife’ possesses a cinematic presence rarely achieved by literary adaptations

All's Well Ends Well Too 2010

Ronald Cheng, Raymond Wong, Louis Koo, Sandra Ng

Raymond Wong

Sandra Ng

Ronald Cheng, Louis Koo
(Xinhua)

Jacky Cheung

Jacky Cheung promoting his new CD Private Corner on a TV program

(Xinhua)

Chrissie Chau

Chrissie Chau will celebrate Valentine's Day with boyfriend Avis
(Sina)

Liza Wang, Law Kar-Ying

(Sina)

AngelaBaby

James Parry, AngelaBaby (Sina)

Donnie Yen (Sina)

Rainie Yang (Sina)

Faye Wong - CCTV Spring Gala Festival

(Sina) (36)

CRI: Faye Wong, Tigers Are Highlights of CCTV Spring Festival Gala

Donnie Yen: I'm good in bedroom kungfu

Sandra Ng has no time to go online

Jackie Chan backs Vivian Hsu's Jap comeback

Zhang Ziyi - Chinese art of reveling in another's pain

Taipei Times: Pop Stop

With so many in Taiwan’s celebrity firmament embroiled in scandals over the past few years, 2010 may turn out to be the year when some turn to religion to change their evil ways. But don’t count on it.

Shannon Lee at Hollywood Madame Tussauds

(Sina)