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Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 Footage

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:21:04 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: 13 Cudgel Monks --

On 9 July, Legend of Shaolin Kungfu director Du Xiao, joined by cast members Bao Guo An, Ji Chun Hua, Xie Miao, Sun Hui Ning, attended a chat organised by Sina, whereby they shared their experiences on the set of the 40-part TV series.

A 12-minute trailer to the upcoming Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2, starring Yuen Biao, Li Yuan, Xie Miao, Leung Kar Yan, Ji Chun Hua, Xu Xiang Dong, Sun Hui Ning, Wu Ma, etc. was also shown then and may now be viewed on Sina.

Based on the trailer, which is interspersed with excerpts from the original from 8th minute onwards, Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 looks to be of bigger scale and even more epic. However, being an unfinished product, it's too early to tell if the martial arts scenes would live up to expectations of the original.

Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 is currently in post-production with a targeted release by early 2009.

Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 Wraps

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:07:44 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

After almost six months of intensive filming, 40-part series Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks has finally wrapped up on June 2. Very few productions today would spend more than 3 months on filming, let alone 6 months. This is a testimony to how meticulous, committed and dedicated the production is, and the amount of time spent on filming the martial arts sequences to ensure quality delivery, just as the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu.

As Li Yuan says on his blog, June 2 is a memorable day for the production, for they completed the final scene on that day, bidding farewell to the days of sweat and blood brushing against the shoulder. It's not easy to produce a great work, and everyone has made lots of sacrifices, physically and emotionally, for Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2. They have worked even harder in Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 in order to give the audience an even more thrilling show.

On looking back, before doing any action scenes, Li Yuan would say, "Brothers, let's do our best, go for it, and strive to get through with one take." For, in a realistically constructed fight scene with full physical contact, each additional take would mean more risk and injuries. In order to reduce the risk, they would put in all their might, from fist to fist contact, to bodily clashes, to bruises and blood, to eventually a mental contest. As the director says, the last man standing would have become a dehydrated skeleton. And the beastly addresses from the martial arts director have become their catchphrase...

Finally, Li Yuan extends his appreciation and thanks to the director Du Xiao, the martial arts director Yuen Bun and Li Cai, and the brothers and sisters who fight alongside with him as well as all the crew. It's because of them they he has matured a lot. Li Yuan is currently resting in his home in Beijing, enjoying a moment of quietness.

Environmental Care is Common Topic of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2's Sun Huining and Jimmy Lin

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:56:44 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --
Jimmy Lin plays a supporting role as Prince Li Shimin in Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2, one who puts the welfare of the populace above everything else. In actual life, Jimmy Lin has been involved in many charity activities.

孙卉凝 Sun Hui Ning, who plays the leading lady Wang Yu Feng, the daughter of Wang Shi Chong (Leung Kar Yan). She's Wang Shi Chong's only child. Beautiful, cold, aloof, intractable. Many years back, Wang Shi Chong sacrificed his wife in order to save his own skin. This has an ill-effect on Wang Yu Feng, resulting in her lack of trust in men.

To make up for his guilt, Wang Shichong especially dotes on her, so, she grows up becoming very wilful, bold and impudent, fears nothing, and does whatever she wants. The only person she trusts and loves single-heartedly is her childhood playmate Zhang Tian Bao (Xie Miao), who, once, saved her from a freezer room at his own expense. However, she's torn between kinship and love as her father is responsible for the deaths of Zhang Tian Bao's entire family.

Sun Huining is a devout Buddhist in real life. Studying Buddhist sutras is perhaps her only hobby, for she can learn many meaningful things and also it has a calming effect. As a vegetarian, she says, "It takes ages before a life is born, why kill for one's own selfish desires? Imagine if you were the animal being killed for food... Let's start a vegetarian diet." Jimmy Lin concurs, "The lives of animals must be respected. We must show love towards the little animals, we should respect life, and treasure resources."

The United Nations reports have stated livestock are top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems. Raising animals for food is a primary cause of land degradation, air pollution, water shortage, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and not least of all, global warming.

Both of them echo similar sentiments on environmental issues, saying that we must do our best to protect the planet. At the behest of Sun Hui Ning to reflect his thinking on environmental care, Jimmy Lin writes, "Love and care for the environment, do it from the heart" and adds that we must not neglect the minor things around us, for every little things that you do count towards helping the planet, this is the responsibility of everyone.

Sina

Cheung Sing Yim Gives Thumbs Up to Legend of Shaolin Kungfu

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:16:18 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --
Cheung Sing Yim, the director of the original Shaolin Temple which launched Jet Li's career and followed up with a remake New Shaolin Temple TV series in 1998 starring Wu Jing, recently paid a visit to the set of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks TV series and met an old acquaintance Ji Chun Hua, who continues to play a villainous role here, this time as Wang Ren Zhe. Both Shaolin Temple and Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 feature a similar setting based loosely on true historical accounts of thirteen Shaolin monks rescuing Tang prince Li Shimin.

While using different forms of expression, both are considered classics, portraying the essence of martial arts. Cheung Sing Yim is especially impressed by the filming technique and approach to the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu and is equally hopeful for the sequel Thirteen Cudgel Monks. Both directors express disapprovals for too much flyings and special effects in today's wuxia films.

Hence, director Du Xiao sets certain goals when making Legend of Shaolin Kungfu, to show something new, to show some cultural aspects, and to show some entertainment, and above all else, to show the most authentic of martial arts and Shaolin culture, to let the audience witness the true values and meaning of Shaolin Kungfu. People Daily

Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Introducing A Few Shaolin Monks

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:16:16 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

Day Dai Tian 戴天 and Sengge Renrou 僧格仁钦 who played enemies of Shaolin Temple in the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu, now join the Shaolin monks in fighting against a corrupt and oppressive regime under Wang Shi Chong (Leung Kar Yan).

Sengge Renrou comes from Mongolia and is a champion Mongolian wrestler. Here, he plays Nine Catties, a stable boy to Cheng Yao Jin. A crude, straightforward and trusting person, he doesn't seek to rise up in ranks, but just wishes for a stable life and to serve Cheng Yao Jin loyally. Being one of immense strength, he uses an unusual weapon - a big piece of log.

Continue reading "Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Introducing A Few Shaolin Monks"

Photos from Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:38:12 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

Filming of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks is nearing completion. Pan Yuan Jia has posted videos of his two fighting scenes on his blog. Also, there's a news report at Youtube. Finally, various photos, a few of which are high resolution, have been released by cast members Li Yuan, Sun Hui Ning, Leung Kar Yan, Li Chong.

Leung Kar Yan Sets the Benchmark with Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:58:35 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

Tan Zong (Yuen Biao), as a grandmaster of martial arts, is the chief martial arts instructor in Shaolin Temple. As much as Wang Shi Chong (Leung Kar Yan) worries about the pugilistic fraternity forming an alliance to revolt against him and thus issues a ban on martial arts practice, he also tries to recruit top martial arts exponents to consolidate his powers. Here, he is trying to invite Tan Zong to work for him, but before that, he sets up a Wooden Bench Formation to test him. Legend of Shaolin 2 Blog

Four Martial Arts Veterans of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:10:10 -0400

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --

Yuen Biao is playing Tan Zong, one who is responsible for assembling 12 other monks to form Thirteen Cudgel Monks to deal with Wang Shi Chong. He is expert in 72 Peerless Arts of Shaolin, his skills unfathomable, having reached the state of union of Zen and Kungfu. He is pensive, collected, and doesn't exhibit his emotions. He has the bearings of a grandmaster of his times, caring for the affairs of the world.

Leung Kar Yan plays the antagonist Wang Shi Chong, a cunning, greedy, vicious, merciless general of Sui who later usurps the throne. He throws his weight about in the court and oppresses the populace. He bans martial arts practice in order to forestall any future threats.

Continue reading "Four Martial Arts Veterans of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2"

Zhao Wen Zhuo Lands Lead Role on Hollywood Project

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:39:12 -0400

-- Tai Chi and Hollywood Project --

Zhao Wen Zhuo says that it's by chance that he got to work with TVB on "Tai Chi", "Once, in Beijing, I met producer Tommy Leung. We talked about Tai Chi, and he had the intention to shoot a drama serial concerning it. Later, he showed me the synopsis. Perhaps it's because I have been training in Taichi since young, I was very keen."

He says that after having read the entire script, he was happy with it, saying that the story was well written and within logic. And it would also introduce Tai Chi to the audience. Perhaps, it's the dreams of countless actors to enter Hollywood, and now, Zhao Wen Zhuo gets such a chance. He says that the movie would begin production in Beijing in September. It's a martial arts movie and he'd be playing the lead role. And he has spent over a year in US studying English to prepare himself.

Zhao Wen Zhuo has already settled down, having married Mainland actress/Peking Opera performer Zhang Dan Lu, who now take cares of the family fulltime, in the previous year. He says that having a family gives him a motivation, that he can only succeed, and cannot afford failures. Currently, Zhao Wen Zhuo has two kids, one son and one daughter. 67.com

Li Yuan: Have Talent, Will Shine

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:03:52 -0400

Have Perseverance, Will Succeed

李渊 Li Yuan was born on August 7, 1982 in Shangdong to an impecunious peasant family of over 10 members, at the time when Jet Li's Shaolin Temple took the nation by storm. Growing up being a fan of martial arts films, Li Yuan started formal training in martial arts at the age of 12. When he was in primary 4, he made a bold decision to quit school in order to learn wushu. He was subsequently punished by his parents. But on considering that he wasn't doing very well in his academic studies, Li Yuan's parents finally relented.

Li Yuan was raised mostly by his wushu champion brother 李炳雷 Li Bing Lei, who also teaches him martial arts. Li Bing Lei is 8 years his senior. Li Yuan was brought up under very strict upbringing, and he matured earlier than most people. In his youth, he got only one rest day on Lunar New Year; on other days, he would train for four to five hours daily. There were times when thoughts of skiving did occur to Li Yuan, but on thinking of how hard his parents were toiling in the fields in his hometown, even in bitter winters, Li Yuan cast aside all weariness.

Continue reading "Li Yuan: Have Talent, Will Shine"

Zhao Wen Zhuo Promotes "Tai Chi"

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:54:23 -0400

-- Tai Chi --
Zhao Wen Zhuo is in Hong Kong for three days to promote "Tai Chi", which began airing last month. On March 8, Zhao Wen Zhuo and his costars Raymond Lam and Melissa Ng turn up at a shopping mall for a publicity event. Zhao Wen Zhuo does a solo display of Tai Chi, followed by a group performance.

Zhao Wen Zhuo reveals that he'd be doing a Hollywood, China and Hong Kong co-production sometime after the Olympics 2008 in August. He spent a year taking English lessons and went for audition last year. Photos: Sina

Shao Lin Warriors Trailers

nospam@example.com (Scoops Guild) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:12:35 -0500

-- Shaolin Warriors (Shaolin Temple: Monks and Marines) --

This soap opera is executive produced by Shaolin abbot Shi Yongxing, directed by Raymond Lee, stars Sammo Hung, Cui Lin, Timmy Hung, Jeanette Aw, Li Man, Christopher Lee, and features real-life Shaolin monks merely as extras rather than the leading roles. Costumes for the monks are a bit outlandish. Perhaps it's the quality of the trailer but this doesn't look very promising, except for Sammo Hung.

The 10-minute trailer :Sina