DVD News

As opposed to many recent big-budget Chinese period productions of late, which were made to impress with elaborate sets and dandified costumes, but are ultimately lacking in plot, A Battle Of Wits, while not perfect, is a heartfelt attempt in movie-making. It's brilliantly written, and unpretentious in its presentation by not over-indulging in opulently ornate sets and spotlessly clean, garish and outlandish costumes. Although the director Cheung Chi Leung doesn't dig deep into Mohism, he still tries his best to bring out the message of universal love and peace through the selfless deeds of the Mohist follower protagonist Ge Li, and showing the traumas and tragedies caused by war. A Battle of Wits is about how Ge Li helps defends a tiny State of Liang against the overwhelming troops led by the formidable general from the much larger State of Zhao, in the hope of preventing casualties and massacres. At the same time, he has to face treachery from the politicians of the nation he is defending. Directed by Cheung Chi Leung. Starring Andy Lau, Ahn Sung Ki, Fan Bing Bing Tak Wah, Wang Zhi Wen, Nicky Wu, Zensyo Sakamoto, with cameos from Yu Cheng Hui, Xu Xiang Dong, Chin Siu Ho.

The 2-Disc Special Edition of A Battle of Wits, to be released on 1 Feb,  comes with 86 minutes extras, including teasers and trailers, a making-of featurette, premier clips, interviews with Jacob Cheung, Andy Lau, and Nicky Wu, photo gallery, etc. Available from YesAsia.

 The director's cut of Fearless, directed by Ronny Yu, is now up for grab on January 11. Mastered from HD mother tape and containing 20 minutes of extra footage, this DVD also contains making of featurette, as well as a photo gallery and brief notes on cast and crew. Starring Jet Li, Ngai Sing, Sun Li, Dong Yong, Nakamura Shido. Action by Yuen Wo Ping. Available from YesAsia | HK Flix