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-- Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame --  

The trailer for Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, directed by Tsui Hark, action directed by Sammo Hung, starring Andy Lau, Carina Lau, Li Bing Bing, Tony Leung Ka Fai, has just been posted on Sina. 

 

Even before the film is released, Huayi Brothers is already in the process of planning the script for Detective Dee 2, which might possibly be a prequel instead, focusing on Di Ren Jie's salad days.

 

This is confirmed by Tsui Hark, "This year marks the 25th anniversary of Film Workshop and Detective Dee and the Mystery of Phantom Flame is Film Workshop's 50th production. I have not done any wuxia films in 5 years, and in this film, I'm fortifying my original wuxia heritage, and by combining suspenseful drama that is full of twists with perfect action, I hope my return to my roots would be approved by movie-goers. I have not thought of doing how many more Detective Dee sequels, but this will definitely become a franchise, so as to let this famous detective penetrate everyone's heart so deeply."

 

In the film, Empress Wu Zetian's coronation is threatened due to a spate of strange murders of the court officials. So, she summons Detective Dee, who is in exile, back to help solve the mysteries. Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame opens on September 23, 2010.

 

Update: An English subbed trailer, shown at Cannes Film Festival, has just appeared on Sina and Youtube.

Continue reading "Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame Trailer"

-- Future X-Cops --

After its release was pushed back from February 2010, Future X-Cops is finally opening on March 30, 2010 in China and the production has been going on a series on publicity events. Both Andy Lau and Barbie Hsu were worried about that the quality of the special effects initially, but their fears were allayed after watching the film at a test screening.

Following the death of his wife Fan Bing Bing on a mission, Andy Lau travels back in time with his daughter Xu Jiao and teams up with Barbie Hsu to protect Fan Siu Wong and his gang from assassinating the scientist whose green invention would drastically affect the income of an oil conglomerate.

Wong Jing's other film, Beauty on Duty, starring Charlene Choi, Fan Siu Wong, Lu Yi, Sandra Ng, is scheduled for release 2 days later, on April 1, 2010.  Sina

Continue reading "Future X-Cops Opens on March 10, 2010"

In a magazine interview, Nicholas Tse speaks of his villainous role in Shaolin: In Shaolin, I have always been following brother Andy Lau, he's my boss, but I want to kill my boss, for I find him too outdated, he hesitates too much, is too conservative. In each era, you would always have to remove away any obstructions in front of you, before you yourself could move up. He is my boss, he is always ordering me around, so when could I become the boss? So, I get rid of him, by enlisting the help of my master Xiong Xin Xin.

Continue reading "Nicholas Tse Revels in Playing the Treacherous Warlord in Shaolin"

-- Shaolin --

While the film by director Benny Chan is currently undergoing production for close to three months, they already have had a full length 2 minutes teaser trailer, released, in time for Hong Kong Filmart.

 

It offers a look around of the set of Shaolin Temple, glimpses of the cast Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Wu Jing, Yu Hai, Xing Yu, Fan Bing Bing, etc. in action, as well as a healthy dosage of predominantly Seven-star Boxing training scenes, one of which is led by Wu Jing, and fight sequences. Talk about speed and efficiency. 

 

Sadly, even till today, it seems Chinese/Hong Kong filmmakers still show little concerns for the animals, in particularly, the horses, when making films, the most common of which is the tripping and felling of horses galloping at high speed. Even in this production funded by Shaolin Temple, that advocates non-violence, the horses weren't spared the agonies.

 

In this case, as the trailer shows, an awning came crashing down upon the horses, that weren't anticipating, unlike human stuntmen, the dangers they would be in. Surely, wouldn't it be highly risky, pernicious and painful to have such a huge structure falling on our own heads, as well as the risk of debris getting into our eyes? Were there any safety measures taken? Were there any forms of protection gear or guards? Just as we don't want any harm to come our ways, we must treat animals, who are here to help us, bless us, and beautify our world, with kindness, care and respect.

 

Teaser Trailer: Sina / Youtube | Download

Continue reading "Shaolin Teaser Trailer"

Over 10 million yuan and around 4 months were spent on building the 1:1 life-size replica of Shaolin Temple in Yanshi, Yongkang. Some structures or props of the new Shaolin Temple were actually built larger for ease of filming or to impart a more numinous feel, such as the towering giant Buddha statue.

Continue reading "Shaolin: Andy Lau Teams up with Wu Jing, Xing Yu and Yu Shao Qun Against Nicholas Tse and Xiong Xin Xin"

-- Shaolin --
Here are some early mages of director Benny Chan and action director Corey Yuen, as well as cast members Andy Lau, Wu Jing, Xing Yu and Nicholas Tse rehearsing on the set of Shaolin in Hengdian, courtesy of Netease and Sina.

 

 

It appears that both Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse are warlords initially, while Wu Jing is originally a monk. Though this is likely to change drastically as the film progresses, with the former becoming monks while the latter turns into a treacherous warlord. Yu Hai, 68, is playing the Shaolin abbot, Wu Jing's mentor. Jackie Chan would soon be joining the production for his cameo as a Shaolin chef with concealed skills.

 

-- Shaolin --
Having completed his week-long stint at Shaolin Temple training for the film Shaolin, Wu Jing has left on January 26 and returned to the set of Tempest of Westerly Winds, which has two more action scenes to go, to resume filming.

 

The executive working for Shaolin Temple says Wu Jing left him a very deep impression, is very professional and dedicated, has excellent driving skills, and is really multi-talented: diving, horse-riding, car racing, driving boat. He is very warm person and was very obliging to the kids at Shaolin requesting for a photo session, as well as fans at the hotel he was staying.

 

It's certainly worth noting that Yu Hai and Xiong Xin Xin are involved in Shaolin as well. Jackie Chan is joining the production after Lunar New Year. Xiong Xin Xin mentions having a great time fighting Andy Lau several days ago, who lives up to his name as the role model in the industry. Despite not having formal wushu training, Andy Lau compares favourably to the stunt professionals, due to his hard work and effort.

-- Shaolin --

As opposed the bustling press conference (that was rather rowdy and disorganised due to huge turnout) held last October, Shaolin has begun production very quietly in Hengdian in the beginning of this month. Benny Chan is keeping a low profile as usual, and Shaolin's sets are off-limits to anyone, with tight security being implemented, as some reporters snooping around, fishing for information found out. Majority of  scenes revolving around Shaolin Temple will be filmed on the custom-built set; only a handful of scenes will be shot on actual Shaolin Temple.

Apart from previously announced cast Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Wu Jing, Fan Bing Bing, Xing Yu, Yu Shao Qun, Liang Jing Ke, et al., Yu Hai and Xiong Xin Xin are also joining the production. Shooting takes around 4 to 5 months, and the film is tentatively scheduled for year-end/next Chinese New year release.

-- Shaolin --
As Shaolin is about to go into production later this month, the cast are receiving training in either Hong Kong or Mainland. Since two months back, Andy Lau has been training under martial arts directors Corey Yuen and Yuen Tak, as well as watching videos to learn the basics of Shaolin Fist.

Recently, Reverend Yongzhi and his disciple Xing Yu (aka 延能 Yan Neng) arrived in Hong Kong to give the cast specialised training. Andy Lau has been learning Seven-Star Fist under both of them, Reverend Yongzhi's fist is quick and powerful, and he is very fastidious about each movement and footwork, while Andy Lau is working very hard on it, practising each and every stance repeatedly and mindfully. Apart from martial arts training, Andy Lau, who meditates 45 minutes daily, also went to Shaolin Temple for a three-day retreat earlier on, hoping to understand the meaning of Zen and martial arts as one, in preparation for his role in Shaolin.

Andy Lau, whose earnest attitude influences his colleagues to train with him, says, "I have never tried meditating in the temple, studying scriptures and doing not doing, I didn't even have my handphone with me, thinking of nothing, purifying my thoughts. Actually, it's possible to talk nothing for three days, I felt more at ease and free. The true meaning of Shaolin kungfu is not limited to the kungfu per se, but also relates to the cultivation of one's mind, to reach the state of union of Zen and martial arts, gaining a deeper realisation of martial spirit."

Reverend Yongzhi, who rarely takes in any disciples, and has never taught anyone else outside the premises of Shaolin Temple, is making an exception for the film Shaolin, "I hope this new Shaolin film will propagate the real meaning of Shaolin martial arts. Shaolin kungfu is not simply about fighting, it also encompasses autogenous, infinity, understanding of Self, this is the meaning of Zen and martial arts as one. It's an affinity for Andy Lau to have the chance to pick up Shaolin kungfu."  

Aside from Andy Lau, director Benny Chan reveals that Wu Jing and Yu Shao Qun would be learning Joint-lock Techniques and Sticky Hands respectively, while Nicholas Tse gets a unique set of skills specially devised for the film. However, as the three of them are busy filming in Mainland, missing the chance to be coached personally by Reverend Yong Zhi, Corey Yuen and Yuen Tak will record his movements and pass the instructions to them later. Benny Chan has also gone to Shaolin Temple with the assistant director several months back to meditate, to experience firsthand the spiritual practice of Shaolin martial arts.  Netease

  

Video: Andy Lau Training in Seven Star Fist   Sina

At the pre-production press conference (video) at the famed Shaolin Temple on Mt Song on October 22, it was announced that apart from Emperor Motion Pictures and Shaolin Cultural Communication, China Film Group, Huayi Brothers and Henan TV are also co-producing the kungfu epic, Shaolin, budgeted at close to 200 million yuan. Continue reading "Benny Chan Narrates A New Story of Shaolin"

Future X-Cops trailer: Sina

 

Andy Lau travels back in time and teams up with Barbie Hsu to stop a group of cyborg assassins, led by Fan Siu Wong, hired to bump a scientist whose green inventions in the future would threaten the profits of oil companies. Opens on Dec 20, 2009
 

 

 

-- New Shaolin Temple --  
Rumours have been floating around for some time regarding who is set to star in Hong Kong veteran director Benny Chan’s upcoming - all star cast laden - martial arts epic Shaolin. Well now it seems most of the talent has signed on the dotted line and it’s quite the who's who of A-list Action stars. Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse and Wu Jing!! are confirmed, with that added plus of a cameo appearance by none other than Jackie Chan. Soooold!
 
 This movie is not be a remake or sequel to Jet Li’s 80s classic Shaolin Temple. Rather, it is an entirely new story, written by Alan Yuen, that is set in early 1900s Republican period. Shot in a real Shaolin Temple it will also feature real life Shaolin monks in the supporting cast using exotic Shaolin kung-fu. Filming is due to start this December, and is expected to be completed by April 2010.
 
 Synopsis: China is plunged into strife as feuding warlords try to expand their power by warring over neighboring lands. Fuelled by his success on the battlefield, young and arrogant Hao Jie sneers at Shaolin's masters when he beats one of them in a duel. But the pride comes before a fall. When his own family is wiped out by a rival warlord, Hao Jie is forced to take refuge with the monks. As the civil unrest spreads and the people suffer, Hao Jie and the Shaolin masters are forced to take a fiery stand against the evil warlords. They launch a daring plan or rescue and escape. 24FramesPerSecond, via Maz