Wu-Jing.org

In the wake of Sichuan earthquake, rendering thousands dead or buried, buildings destroyed, roads blocked, with survivors facing shortage of food and water supply, various Chinese celebrities have made donations and expressed their concerns for victims of the disaster. Wu Jing, currently filming in Hong Kong, is also worried about the safety of everyone, including his fans in the affected areas, hoping that they are fine, and tide over the calamity soon.

Jackie Chan and Emperor Entertainment's chairman Albert Yeung jointly donated 10m yuan. Jet Li's One Foundation sent 1m yuan immediately, and also started fund-raising activities for further relief efforts, collecting around 18.6m yuan so far. Jet Li is heading to the disaster areas on May 16 to render his help. Various other celebrities, including Donnie Yen, Gillian Chung, Charlene Choi, Nicholas Tse, Zhang Guo Li, Zhang Ting, Eva Huang Sheng Yi, Andy Lau, Vicky Zhao Wei, Ruby Lin, etc. also chipped in 100 thousand to 300 thousand yuan each. 
 

Less than 2 weeks ago, Myanmar was devastated by cyclone. With one catastrophe following another, could these be early warnings of Earth being devoured?

Donations can be made via One Foundation. You may also find some links at Celina Jade's Blog.  Sina, Ningbo News.

-- Iron Mask --
The much anticipated Yuen Wo Ping film Iron Mask/Iron Monkey sequel is slated to begin production in July. The budget is around 150m yuan and funding comes from Europe and Mainland. Yuen Woo Ping intends to create Iron Mask a Chinese version of Batman and introduce the film to Europe and US. The film will feature a fair amount of martial arts scenes and special effects.

However, what's not so promising is that Louis Koo and Shawn Yue are expected to play the lead roles. While good in their own right and thy have done some decent action scenes, neither is an actual martial artist. Even those approached prior to this were non-martial artists - Chow Yun Fat, Jay Chow, Andy Lau - though they didn't eventually take up this project.

Set in Republican period in the early 1900s, Louis Koo plays a police constable by day, but when night falls, he dons a mask (which could imply frequent doubling) and goes about relieving the rich of their coffers so as to relieve the poverty-stricken, and even teams up with his disciple Shawn Yue against a very powerful, devious merchant. Being fan of Batman, Louis Koo is very happy to accept this role.  Information Times

-- Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon --

In Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon directed by Daniel Lee, Andy Lau plays the title character Zhao Zilong, Ti Lung plays Guan Yu, Pu Cun Xin plays Zhuge Liang while Maggie Q and Sammo Hung are playing fictitious characters Cao Ying and Luo Ping An respectively.

Cao Ying is fashioned after Cao Cao's grandson-in-law, gender-bent and moulded into Cao Cao's granddaughter, one who excels in horse-riding and martial arts. She views Zhao Zilong as Cao family's greatest enemy and the battle between them is inevitable. Luo Ping An was originally Zhang Fei, but as to why the change, Sammo Hung retorts, "I'm so handsome, how could I act as Zhang Fei?"

-- Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon --

Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, set for release on April 3 in Asia, is directed by Daniel Lee, and stars Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, who also works as the martial arts director, and Maggie Q, Andy On. Trailers may be found at Yahoo Taiwan and Tudou.

Peter Chan: Man of War

The Straits Times, December 12, 2007
by Boon Chan    

Peter Chan's battle strategy to steer his new film from conventional period epics is to portray the gritty reality of 1850 China amid civil war.

A top drawer cast, a big-name director, a period epic with pulse-racing action sequences. The description applies equally to any number of films including Hero, Curse of the Golden Flower, and the upcoming Red Cliff and Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon. But this is filmmaker Peter Chan's The Warlords, a tale of three sworn brothers set against the tumultuous backdrop of epic battles and political intrigue.

-- Thangka --

Director Cheung Chi Leung is working on preproduction of in a wuxia movie 《唐卡》 Thangka. Thangka refers to a type of Buddhist painting or embroidery that can be rolled up and transported easily. Concerned about the difficulties of moving Buddha statues across highlands as she's married off to Tibetan King Songtsän Gampo, Tang Princess Wencheng had them painted instead. Written by Liu Heng Dan, the film tells of a pugilist being arranged as a stand-in for Princess Wencheng by Emperor Li Shimin in order to protect her from assassination as she travels to a foreign land. Cheung Chi Leung hopes to get Andy Lau and Tang Wei to star in Thangka. Set-building has already begun, and filming, which begins sometime in 2008, is expected to take several months in Tibet.  Nanfang Daily

-- Iron Monkey Sequel --

One of the projects said to be revealed at Cannes Films Festival was Iron Monkey sequel/remake (or Man in Iron Mask), to be directed by Yuen Wo Ping. Andy Lau is expected to play one of the 2 male leads in this romantic kung fu film, while the female lead might go to Jeon Do Yeon or another Korean actress. Yuen Wo Ping has been preparing for this HK$300 million work since the completion of Fearless and is very particular about the martial arts sequences.

Iron Monkey sequel will be set in Manchu dynasty, and will employ new filming techniques that Yuen Wo Ping picked up in Hollywood. There might be generous amount of special effects in this movie which might imitate some Spiderman movements, such as scaling the walls in order to break into the mansions of the rich and help the impoverished. Other possible Yuen Wo Ping projects include 《侠女》 (Heroine/A Touch of Zen) and 《擂台》 (The Arena).  Shanghai Afternoon Post

-- Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon --
Filming of Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon will begin on 8 March in Dunhuang. Daniel Lee directs this US$25m film, which is based on Romance of Three Kingdoms and co-produced by Chinese and Korean studios. Sammo Hung will be the martial arts choreographer as well as playing the role of one of the main characters Zhang Fei. Andy Lau plays the lead role Zhao Yun.  Shanghai 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 Blood Brothers --

Peter Chan's version of The Blood Brothers starring Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro is expected to begin production on Dec 1. The 200 million yuan movie, inspired by one of the Four Greatest Cases of Manchu Dynasty, deals with how three blood brothers turn against each other over a woman. Jet Li plays Ma Xin Yi, who covets Huang Zong's (Andy Lau) wife and plots against him, while Takeshi plays Zhang Wen Xiang who avenges Huang Zong's death by assassinating Ma.  Netease

-- Romance of Three Kingdoms --

A press conference for Three Kingdoms - Resurrection of the Dragon was held on October 15 at Pusan Film Festival in Korea. The US$25m film, jointly produced by China and Korea, will be directed by Daniel Lee, with Sammo Hung as the martial arts choreographer. Andy Lau, Sammo Hung and vegetarian actress Maggie Q will play general Zhao Yun, general Zhang Fei and warlord Cao Cao's granddaughter respectively, and Leon Lai is rumoured to play Zhou Yu. The three hour film revolves around the character Zhao Yun. Filming begins in around March 2007 with a planned 2008 release.  New Express | Photos: TOM