3.1.2011 - News

Variety: Mr. and Mrs. Incredible review

Even spliced superheroes have to deal with everyday problems in the lighter-than-air Hong Kong romantic comedy "Mr. & Mrs. Incredible."

FBA: Mr. and Mrs. Incredible review (5/10)

Costume tale of two retired super-heroes lacks enough bounce and wit to succeed as a New Year action comedy.

FBA: What Women Want review (8/10)

Andy Lau and Gong Li shine in an improved remake of the US rom-com.

THR: Live Academy Awards Broadcast Unseen by One of Hollywood's Biggest Markets: China

CRI: Exclusive Interview with Zhang Weiping

We talked to Zhang Weiping, producer of Zhang Yimou's new film "Nanjing Heroes" on Feb. 28, 2011, after the news of Christian Bale, male lead of Zhang's film, won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

13 Women in Jinling renamed Nanjing Heroes (Sina)

CRI: China Mulls Rule on Embedded Ads in Film

FBA: Huayi has high hopes for hefty slate

Felix Chong and Alan Mak introduced the cast for Overheard 2 at at press conference

Louis Koo, Michelle Ye

Michelle Ye

Lau Ching-Wan, Louis Koo, Daniel Wu

Huang Yi and Lau Ching-Wan will play husband and wife

(Sina), 2, 3, Update: (Sina-slide show)

Overheard 2 press conference photos (Xinhua)

Stills of Jordan Chan in Chinese-Australian production Dragon Pearl

(Sina)

Andy Lau, Deanie Ip - Miss Peach media set visit

Real life Lee Yam-Lam portrayed by Andy

Actress Wang Fuli, Ann Hui, Yu Man-Si (host of Good Morning Hong Kong)

Mainland actress Wang Fuli plays Andy's mother

Deanie Ip, Andy Lau

Ann Hui

(Sina), (Sina-slide show), (qq)

Huang Yi - Lock Destination (J-10 Sortie) (Sina)

No room for the Golden Broom?

Feng Xiangong responded scathingly in his micro blog that the judges were "shrewd bastards" who should get a "golden abacus award" - implying they were opportunists taking advantage of others' celebrity status.

Sammi Cheng was Gigi Leung's surprise guest performer at her Hong Kong concert. Chapman To and Charlie Young lent their support with their attendance, too. (Xinhua)

Lin Chi-Ling in Hong Kong for Longines

Pakho Chau

(Sina-slide show)

Chloe Fall-Winter Fashion Show in Shanghai

Qi Qi, "Prince" Simon Yam,  Chen Ran

 

Simon Yam and actress Chen Ran

(Sina-slide show)

CRI: Zhang Ziyi at Milan Fashion Week (Sina) (Xinhua)

Did Li Ka-Shing reject Isabella as daughter-in-law or did Isabella reject marriage? Also in play, a $5M breakup fee. (Sina)

Mandy Lieu denies being Richard Li's new Cinderella (Sina)

MSN; Isabella Leong’s shocking split from Richard Li
CNA: Isabella Leong announces split from tycoon Richard Li
MSN: Isabelle Leong to make showbiz comeback?
A1: The many women in Richard Li's life
A1: Hong Kong billionaire's break-up to cost $4.9 million

MSN: Cecilia Cheung and son’s first movie gig together
CNA: Richie Ren narrowly escapes being blinded
MSN: Wu Chun to leave HIM International
MSN: Selina Jen receives S$2 mil compensation for filming accident
In an interview last month, Selina's fiancé Richard Chang let on that he was not satisfied with the compensation amount.

MSN: Barbie Hsu to be neighbours with Vicki Zhao

CNA: Eason Chan once saw shrink to deal with inner neat freak

A1: Actor Mike He is a kissing expert

China uses whistles, water, police on protests
Near Shanghai's People's Square, uniformed police blew whistles nonstop and shouted at people to keep moving, though about 200 people — a combination of onlookers and quiet sympathizers who formed a larger crowd than a week ago — braved the shrill noise. In Beijing, trucks normally used to water the streets drove repeatedly up the busy commercial shopping district spraying water and keeping crowds pressed to the edges.  China's jasmine revolution: police but no protesters line streets of Beijing (GuardianUK)

What Women Want - Hong Kong Premiere

Chen Daming's What Women Want premiered in Hong Kong on Valentine's Day.

Andy Lau

Yuan Li

Andy Lau, Yuan Li

(Sina)

2.4.2011 - News

Variety: What Women Want review
Asian superstars Gong Li and Andy Lau spark together, but the script rarely produces fireworks in "What Women Want," a straightforward remake of Paramount's 2000 money-spinner.

Forbes: A New Studio System

Stellar Megamedia Group aiming for vertical integration

"Nobody could have guessed where we are today five years ago," says Peter Chan, a star Hong Kong director who is working with Stellar to market his films in China...

Sir Run Run Shaw attending the annual TVB Lunar New Year broadcast

Liza Wang (Sina)

Onimusha 3 - Takeshi Kaneshiro action figure

(From Derek Kwok's weibo)

(ToyWizard)

Or, if you prefer, Donnie Yen from Legend of the Fist

Still have money left from your haul of hong baos? Buy the whole lot!

MSN: Donnie Yen’s wife rumoured to be pregnant
Later, his wife Cecilia Wang denied she was pregnant in a phone interview. She explained that she went to see the doctor due to an eye infection.

Chinese New Year fireworks burn down 5-star hotel in Shenyang

Seems to be a new tradition

Trailer for Promise, a Canadian-Chinese film opening Feb.19
Promise- official website (Thanks, Brian)

2.3.2011 - News

Gillian Chung (Sina)

LATimes: Chinese remake of 'What Women Want'
Andy Lau and Gong Li are appealing leads, but this Chinese-language carbon copy doesn't find a distinctive voice.

Literary feud in China puts book in limbo in Canada
Zhang Ling, author of Aftershock novel, accused of plagiarism in Gold Mountain Blues. [9.19.2010]

Rosemary Vandenbroucke (WJ)

US court accepts plea deal for model that includes paying for damages to landmark arch
The more serious charge of drug possession is schedule to be heard on the 9th. (Sina)

MSN: Jackie Chan publicly picks on son’s singing chops
MSN: Carina Lau believes she will grow old with Tony Leung
MSN: Ethan Ruan's neighbour's noise complaints

2.2.2011 - News

THR: What Women Want
Asian box office luminaries Andy Lau and Gong Li add some spice to this shiny but uninspired Chinese remake.

Opening Feb. 3 (Sina)

Under the Influence poster

The film is a comedy about social problems and features Chen Peisi, Vivian Wu and Kristy Yang. Zhu Shimao directs and plays the lead. [I've seen some older 90's era Chen Peisi films so it's good to see him back again.]

(Sina)

Quick Take: I Love Hong Kong
FBA: Rose War of Nana (6/10)
Local but likable rom-com is a good vehicle for TV host-actress Xie Na.

FBA: HKIFF readies trio of tributes
Jia Zhangke, Abbas Kiarostami, Kwai Chh-Hung featured in retrospectives

Sex and Zen at the market

CNNGo: So-bad-they're-good items at the Chinese New Year market

From blow-up boobs to Angry Birds, finding craptacular products at the annual Victoria Park market is one way to ensure your year can only get better.

MSN: Carina Lau and Cecilia Cheung promote latest movie

MSN: Michelle Reis already in hospital

MSN: Selina Jen’s compensation settled

CNNGo: Bunny faces and Canto-pop ensure we won't be bored during Chinese New Year

Zoe Li: How I came to dread Chinese New Year (CNNGo)

Teresa Teng dolls set to become collector items (CNNGo)

1.31.2011 - News

ScreenDaily: What Women Want
This Chinese production features palpable chemistry between stars Andy Lau and Gong Li, but director Chen Daming’s film, like the original, is a great commercial hook in search of an equally clever story. (hkmdbnews)

"Ip Man 2": China's anti-Western kung fu phenomenon (Salon)
Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster" is now playing in New York and Los Angeles, with wider North American release to follow.

FBA: Fantôme, où es-tu? (2/10)
Lame ghost-cum-gender mish-mash that squanders its potential.

Check out Valerie's My Ever-Changing Moods: Francis Ng 2010 In Review on beyondasiaphilia

2010 was a busy year for Francis Ng...

Time: As Its Box Office Booms, Chinese Cinema Makes a 3-D Push

GlobalTimes: My own movie
Much influenced by American sitcom-classic Friends, which had a huge fan base in China, My Own Swordsman centers on six characters whose relationships intertwine through friendship, family and romance, and is set in a hostel being managed in ancient China. With the same cast, director and screenwriter, the film version continues the initial's stories, while injecting today's social including house purchase and relocation, family finances and the "marriage crisis."

GlobalTimes: First trailer of Buddha Mountain lives up to advance hype

GlobalTimes: Animating audiences

With winter vacation meaning there's a nation of children who need entertaining, three Chinese animation films are filling in this traditionally peak-time for box-office family fun: Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf (January 21), Old Master Q and Little Ocean Tiger (January 27) and Little Big Panda (February 3) are all scheduled for cinemas over the next four weeks.

(Sina), 2

Poster for Mr. and Mrs. Incredible

Opening Feb. 3

Louis Koo, Sandra Ng

(Sina)

I Love Hong Kong poster

Opening Jan. 31

Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Sandra Ng

Eric Tsang, Aarif Lee

(Sina), 2 3 4

Eva Jin Yimeng (Sophie's Revenge) is preparing for multiple Hollywood projects.

(Sina)

Charlene Choi at the Harbour City chocolate exhibition

(Sina-slideshow)

Chrissie Chau taped a song for ATV's Spring Festival broadcast. Other guests include George Lam, Kay Tse and Hins Cheung. (Sina)

GlobalTimes: Publishing tycoon books divorce in New Year season
Yao Chen's divorce a case of Julia Roberts-Benjamin Bratt?

Yao Chen, Ling Xiaosu (Sina)

CNA: Cecilia Cheung saves woman from committing suicide
All's well ends well, indeed
CNA: Charlene Choi on her divorce: "This is not something to celebrate."
"I may not make enough to eat delicacies ever day, but I can earn enough for three square meals every day".

MSN: Sammi Cheng received stitches for head injury

MSN: Jay Chou suspected of shirking military duties

MSN: Mark Chao dropped from 'Black and White' promotional trail in Japan
Recently, the director's cut of Black & White DVD was released in Hong Kong. Every single copy was snapped up in a mere four minutes.

China red-faced after footage of new fighter 'was from Top Gun'
The footage showcasing the J-10 fighter, which showed an air-to-air missile destroying another jet, was aired last week during the main evening broadcast of the state-sponsored channel China Central Television.

HKStandard: See you in court

Oldham said Ho had been coerced into reconciling with family members on live television on Wednesday, with the wheelchair-bound Ho struggling to read a giant cue card.