The Happenings

-- The Kingdom and The Beauty --

Donnie Yen is heading to Beijing on July 1 to take part in the production of 《江山美人》The Kingdom and The Beauty (tentative), directed by Tony Ching Siu Tung and produced by Peter Chan, art directed by Hai Chung Man. Donnie Yen plays a general who is the childhood friend of the princess, played by Kelly Chen Hui Ling, who has been training in horse-riding and swordplay to prepare for the film with wuxia setting. However, she later falls for Leon Lai, who seems to be already attached to another production. Donnie Yen says that this movie will succeed the martial arts style of his previous movies. Ching Siu Tung says that the film title will be changed as its plot is totally different from Li Han Hsiang's The Kingdom and The Beauty, which was about king's relationship with a commoner he met at an inn.  Sina

-- Talking With Jet Li --

Q: Jackie mentioned you in his diary and talked about how long it took for the two of you to be able to work together. How do you feel about finally getting a chance to work with Jackie?

A: It has been thirty years since I first saw Jackie in Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow. It was about 1978 or 1979. When I saw him, I thought Jackie was fabulous and very cool. I first met him in 1985 and we became friends. In 1994, he told me a story idea that he had for a movie. That was the first time we talked about making a movie together, but in the end it didn’t work out. In 2000 I had dinner with Jackie in America and we talked again about making a movie together. We were so close to succeeding at that time because the production company had already paid a million dollars to the screenwriter to write a script. However, that also never happened...  JackieChan.com >>More<<

-- Talking With Collin Chou --

Collin Chou has been in the movie business since the age of 12 and has acted in such blockbuster films as Fearless, The Matrix Revolutions, and The Matrix Reloaded, among many others. Collin plays the character of the Jade War Lord in Jackie's latest movie, The Forbidden Kingdom. We met with Collin at his hotel at Hengdian Studios recently and had a lovely talk with this charming, gracious, and humble man who is dedicated to improving himself both professionally and personally.  JackieChan.com >>More<<

-- Dragon Tiger Gate TV series --

《龙虎门》 Dragon Tiger Clan TV series was announced at Shanghai Film Festival. Production for this 40 part series will begin later this year. Fan Siu Wong and Hong Kong Changquan (Longfist) champion To Yu Hang, 26, who are starring in it,  put up a martial arts demonstration on the stage as part of promotion. Apart from celebrities from the region, the production is also looking to cast newcomers who are skilled in martial arts and acting, one of whom will get the chance to play Tiger Wang.  Sina, QQ | Photos: Sina, TOM

-- Duo Shuai --

Dennis Law says that he'd be making a martial arts film 《夺帅》 Duo Shuai (tentative, Seize the Leader/Flag) in July. The cast includes Sammo Hung, Tien Niu, Simon Yam, Wu Jing, Danny Lee, Maggie Shiu and Jacky Heung. Plenty of weapon fights are expected in this triad movie. TOM

-- Forbidden Kingdom --

Between Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who is the better fighter? "Definitely Brother Jackie Chan is better," Jet Li told the media. "My acting fee for The Forbidden Kingdom is just one-tenth of his." But Jackie Chan's answer, in a post on his blog, was Jet Li. The two gongfu kings have been in China since last month making their first movie together, the Hollywood production The Forbidden Kingdom. Yesterday, they held court at a press conference in Hengdian, eastern China.

Both Jackie Chan, 53, and Jet Li, 44, said their on-screen duels were the most enjoyable ones they had shot in more than a decade, reported Sina. Jackie Chan said, "Just one fight scene would take 12 days to shoot. Before a shoot, we would say to each other, let's be slower, slower. Once the fighting started, we couldn't control ourselves, we would fight faster and faster." Their duels went by in such a quick blur, the playback had to be set a a lower speed so the moves could be seen, said Jet Li. Even Yuen Wo Ping said that they were too fast.

Jackie Chan, a Peking opera student-turned-stuntman-turned-actor, also said on his blog that with martial arts champion Jet Li, he felt the rush he used to have fighting with actors Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, who were trained in the same Peking opera school.

The Forbidden Kingdom is about an American teenager's journey to ancient mythical China. Chinese actresses Liu Yifei and Li Bingbing co-star in it. Yesterday, drector Rob Minkoff declined to confirm talk that the movie is the first of a trilogy. Li Bingbing gave the game away, however. Asked about her character, she said: "Can't tell too much. We have to shoot a sequel."   Straits Times

Plot:

An American kid Jason (Michael Angarano) who accidentally acquires the golden cudgel travels through time to ancient China. There, he learns of a prophecy: Someone from the West would return the golden cudgel to the owner and release the Monkey God Sun Wu Kong, who has been imprisoned for 500 years by Jade Warlord (Ngai Sing) who is under Jade Emperor. Along the way, Jason meets three persons who travel with and protect him: Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), a master of Drunken Fist, Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), who is ever ready for vengeance, and Silent Monk (Jet Li), who is reticent, mysterious yet powerful. They are being hunted by assassins led by White Hair Demoness (Li Bing Bing), who is sent by Jade War Lord.  Sina