10.13.2010 - News

Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le!
Congratulations to the Chilean miners and their rescuers for a job well done! Hope all continues to go well and the rescue concludes successfully.


FBA: The Old Donkey (老驢頭) China (5/10)
Strikingly shot peasant drama is cramped by slow, arty direction.

THR: The Red Eagle review (Thailand)

Latest film from director of Tears of the Black Tiger

FBA: Double Edge sells western to the West (Treasure Hunter)
"We're thrilled to the bone that our deal includes a widespread theatrical release in urban USA."

CRI: Lackluster Opening for Hundred Flowers Festival

Simon Yam, Anita Yuen and Peter Ho were among the few famous faces at the opening show.

CRI: 'Amazing' Trailer Released

THR: Movie posters on display in Beijing

Chinese film ads dating back to 1917 part of 10-day exhibit

THR: THR's Maggie Lee honored by press

Also receiving the award was Darcy Paquet, founder of Koreanfilm.org and correspondent for Screen International. Paquet founded his website in 1999. Originally from the U.S. state of Massachusetts, he has lived in Korea since 1997.

THR: New Currents filmmakers cautiously optimistic 

Directors face hurdles for Asian independent cinema

In Hong Kong, filmmakers are eagerly eyeing the mainland. Derek Tsang, who co-directed the romantic omnibus “Lover’s Discourse” with Jimmy Wan, sees the surrounding province of Guangdong as a huge market where Cantonese is used. “Over there we can have our own Cantonese version screening,” he said. \

Zhou Dongyu

Zhou Dongyu, Shawn Dou Xiao

The two stars of Under the Hawthorn Tree attended a film discusssion forum meeting with students at Hong Kong's Baptist University. Besides talking about the film, Zhou Dongyu said that she regretted not being able to visit Disneyland this time due to her heavy publicity schedule. (Sina)

Liu Hua and Guo Tao celebrate at the premiere on Don Quixote

(Sina)

Charlene Choi

 

Charlene Choi promoting her new CD Beauty Remains. Gossip circulating the Hong Kong tabloids is suggesting Charlene's relationship with William Chan Wai-Ting began while he was still dating AngelaBaby and Charlene was not yet divorced from husband Ronald Cheng. Reportedly, the pair had a secret flat in Hung Hom going back over a year. Angelababy posted a message on her weibo, "Do you really believe they have only been dating three months?" which was later deleted. For her part, Charlene posted yesterday on her weibo that she was very tired, going to bed early and preparing for the next day's gossip. Today, "Sleep .. tomorrow will be better! Remember the words I said today "

Tabloid photos 

(Xinhua-gallery), 2, (Sina)

Faye Wong - Harper's Bazaar

(Xinhua-gallery)

Leon Lai under fire for ignoring injured motorcyclist, (Xinhua-related photo)

CRI: Actor Liu Ye Becomes a Father

CRI: Rock Records' 30th Anniversary Gala

HKStandard: 'Hard to accept'

The Philippine leadership has been told to show some backbone as Hong Kong's government declared itself "disappointed" by the response to the killing of eight tourists.

1.2.2010 - News

Francis Ng arrested for causing bodily harm

(Nextmedia)

Wife injured

Injured male customer

Francis Ng was arrested New Year's Day in an alteracation at a bakery. He was coming to his wife's aid who got into an argument with a clerk. While shopping for bread, Francis' wife told the clerk to to stop sweeping the floor since she was stirring up dust onto the bread. A foul-mouthed customer verbally abused her and when Francis entered the shop a chaotic melee ensued. (Sina) Additional photos  (Thanks, to Fan for pointing out the story.)

Audience back to the cinema

Interview: Law Kar-Ying (HK Magazine)

The Treasure Hunter review (HK Magazine)
Chou’s lack of acting skills, however, is hardly the main reason this massive pile of crap masquerading as a film is a flop. This high-budget adventure-esque film by Taiwanese director Kevin Chu has gotta be one of the worst we have seen in a while.

New York, I Love You (HK Magazine)

Upcoming (HK Magazine)

Black Ransom
(Hong Kong) Cheung Bo-man, an elite police officer who sunk into depression after the murder of his wife, is sent to investigate the violent crimes of triad leaders. The triads can predict what the police will do, however, because the gang is formed with ex-policemen. Directed by Keung Kwok-man. Starring Simon Yam and Michael Miu. Opens Jan 7.

Forever Yam Kim-fai
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Cantonese opera icon Yam Kim-fai’s death, Hong Kong Film Archive is presenting a special program, screening twelve of her titles, including films where she played male roles. $30 from www.urbtix.hk, 2734-9009. Through Jan 2, 2010. Cinema, Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd., Sai Wan Ho, www.filmarchive.gov.hk.

The Eagle Knight and the Crimson Girl
(Hong Kong, 1960) Yam’s rare appearance in martial arts films, and an early example of the kung fu comedy that would later characterize the 1980s. Sat, Jan 2, 2:30pm.

Phoenix Terrace
(Hong Kong, 1961) This Chinese New Year release features Yam as a feeble son ill-treated by his mean stepmother. Yam embodies the suffering through both acting and singing. Sat, Jan 2, 5pm.

Lin Chi-Ling sang the Treasure Hunter theme song at a TVBS sponsored New Year's Eve party in Taipei. Rainie Yang and others also performed. HD slide show (Sina)

Jackie Chan, Yao Ming promote Shanghai Expo in U.S.

Chinese Floats to Make Debut on New Year's Day Rose Parade

(cri.cn)

Top models walk out on top show due to over-the-top heels

12.31.2009 - News

THR: Storm Warriors review
Bottom Line: A martial arts fantasy with advanced 3D effects and two-dimensional characters.

Betty Sun Li in Jeff Lau's Once Upon A Chinese Classic

Ronald Cheng (right) (Sina)

The Treasure Hunter

This Chinese so-called blockbuster easily wears the crown as the worst film of the year, with its cheap sets and amateurish action sequences and visual effects that rip off Western treasure-hunt flicks.

Taipei Times: FILM REVIEW: Treasure hunting is a dreary affair

Chinese film 2009

We cannot help but be cautious that China's film industry is repeating what destroyed Hong Kong's film industry in the late 1990s: blind investment, neglect of film quality and the quest for cash and competition. Hong Kong director and producer Tung-Shing Yee sighed at the premiere of Overheard, stating that the Hong Kong film industry was officially dead. Chinese filmmakers need to be on guard so that we too are not mourning the death of the Chinese film industry in a few years time.

Worst 10 Chinese films of 2009

1. Wind Warriors (feng yun 2)

2. Gasp (qi chuan xu xu)
3. Looking for Jackie (xun zhao cheng long)
4. On His Majesty's Secret Service (da nei mi tan ling ling gou)
5. My Fair Gentleman (yao tiao shen shi)
6. Radish Warrior (jue jiang de luo bo)
7. Copycat (dao ban mao)
8. Mulan (hua mu lan)
9. The Warrior and the Wolf (lang zai ji)
10. Wheat (mai tian)

Best 10 Chinese films of 2009
1. The Message (feng sheng)
2. Weaving Girl (fang zhi gu niang)
3. Sophie's Revenge (fei chang wan mei)
4. Bodyguards and Assassins (shi yue wei cheng)
5. Overheard (qie ting feng yun)
6. Red River (hong he)
7. The Founding of a Republic (jian guo da ye)
8. Cow (dou niu)
9. A Simple Noodle Story (san qiang pai an jing qi)
10. Gao Xing (gao xing)

Top 10 movies 2009
(A different list)

Taipei Times: Pop Stop

Cherie Chung Denies Remarriage Rumour

49-year old Cherie Chong was said to have walked out of her sadness of losing of her husband and is planning to marry a Singaporean businessman next year. However, Cherie personally denies to this issue with her best friend Sylvia Chang exclaiming that it's all a misunderstanding.

Cherie Chung said to be marrying S'porean businessman

With the appearance of Mr L, her friends noted that her gloomy days are over. She has a smile across her face more regularly. However, being in love did not make her conscious of her weight and reporters claimed that she seemed at least 60kg.

Pop star Eva Huang Shengyi promotes new album in Shanghai

Sammi Cheng and guest Gigi Leung share a kiss on stage

Sammi, Gigi

Sammi, Jacky Cheung

(Xinhua)

CRI: Edison Chen: Why Am I The Bad Guy?
Edison Chen accepted an interview with "GQ" magazine and mentioned about the sex scandal again.

Zhou Xun

Zhou Xun is on featured on the cover of France's Le Point (Viewpoint) which focuses 80 pages on China's rise as the new Asian power. Le Point is similar to the US Newsweek. (Sina)

CRI: Michelle Reis Looks Ravishing in Red

CRI: Ode to Cheongsam

Take a look at China's notable stars dressed in gorgeously vying Cheongsams and see who looks the best.

Anita Mui's brother mourned his sister's passing yesterday on the 6th anniversary of the singer's death. (Sina)

Chinese Web Users Doubt Director's Info on 'Avatar'

(Elsewhere James Cameron has been accused of plagiarizing from Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky and Totoro.)

12.24.2009 - News

Hot Summer Days Poster (HunanTV)

(J)Aaay!

CRI: Treasure Hunters Jay and Chi-Ling in HK HD Slide show (13) (Sina)
Lin Chi-ling On Her Guards Against Men Yet Worries of Not Being Loved

NYTimes: Reimagining a Pivotal Year in China
Big, star-studded ensemble casts with their many egos are notoriously difficult to handle, and for Teddy Chen, the director of the Chinese blockbuster “Bodyguards and Assassins,” it was no different...

Mr. Chen said the inspiration for the script came from the 1973 movie “The Bodyguard,” directed by his father, Tung Man Chan. “It was just a hard-core action movie,” said Mr. Chan, who recalls going to his father’s film set as a child. But while the original film focused on a couple of characters, the new one incorporates a broader cast.

While the new version is still a fast-paced action movie, Mr. Chan believes it is closer to a disaster film in its structure. It’s reminiscent of “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Towering Inferno” or “Titanic,” he said, in that “the first half of the film is spent presenting the various characters who are going to be summoned to the task, while the second half is about the disaster” or the attempted assassination of Sun Yat-sen and how the characters deal with it.

CCTV: "Bodyguards and Assassins" sweeps big screen
Cast members promote movie "Bodyguards and Assassins"

Tony Leung Kar-Fai, Fan Bingbing

Taipei (Sina)

Lee Lik-Chi, Zhang Jingchu, Huang Xiaoming

(HunanTV)

Flirting Scholar cast send Christmas greetings, HD slide show (7)(Sina)


Top 10 movies of this holiday season in China

CRI: Ink-splashed 'Zhang Ziyi' in Trouble ?

CRI: Comedian Zhao Benshan to Create Pop Band

Have a Merry Christmas! (Xinhua)

Treasure Hunter - Chen Daoming

(HunanTV)

Treasure Hunter Stars - Promo Stills

Jay Chou

Lin Chi-Ling

A series of modern stills were released featuring Jay Chou and Lin Chi-Ling. Due to their being busy shooting other films, the pair have not been able to promote Treasure Hunter. (HunanTV)

11.12.2009 - News

[Note to readers: News and Movie updates will be on a reduced frequency and less regular schedule going forward.  In other words, the site will be even less comprehensive than ever. Call it the Limited Edition! ]

CRI: Zhang Yimou Passes as Singer-Songwriter
The director of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony has written a song called "I'm Just Fictional" ("Wo Zhi Shi Ge Chuan Shuo") for the soundtrack of his new movie, "Amazing Tales: Three Guns".

CRI: Director Jiang Wen's Special Letters

Director Jiang Wen revealed his secret to pool over two of China's most in-demand leading men - Chow Yun-fat and Ge You - in his upcoming film "Let the Bullets Fly."

CRI: GQ Cover Boy Jiang Wen

The November issue of the newly-launched Chinese edition of the men's style magazine "GQ" highlights Chinese director/actor Jiang Wen and his new film "Let the Bullets Fly".

CRI: Funnyman Zhou Libo Joins Classic Comedy Sequel

Shanghai's homegrown star comic Zhou Libo will make his silver screen debut in the upcoming sequel of 1990s classic comedy 'Flirting Scholar'.

Variety: he Sword With No Name (South Korea)

Jackie Chan wishes to make film in Cambodia
Movie star Jackie Chan to give lecture in Cambodia

Newlyweds Leon Lai and Gaile Lok will spend Christmas apart this year

Jacky Cheung

Anita Yuen

Filming for House of 72 Tenants has begun.

(Sina)

All's Well Ends Well 2010 - Sandra Ng, Louis Koo

(Sina)

New Treasure Hunter posters

(Sina)

Poker King opens in Mainland Nov.27

(Sina)