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Directed by Teddy Chan and co-produced by Peter Chan, Bodyguards and Assassins brings together an awe-inspiring all-star cast for a thrilling retelling of a brief but significant moment in modern Chinese history. Inspired by true events, Bodyguards and Assassins revolves around Sun Yat-sen's visit to Hong Kong in 1906, and the brave bodyguards who protect him from an assassination attempt.

Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Nicholas Tse, Wang Xueqi, Wang Bo Chieh, NBA basketball player Mengke Bate-er, and Chris Lee portray eight heroes from different walks of life who rise to the occasion in Hong Kong's finest hour. Hu Jun plays the leader of the Qing assassins, while Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, and Fan Bingbing take supporting roles. Zhang Hanyu, Jacky Cheung, and Michelle Reis also make key cameo appearances.

Pre-order on YesAsia: Blu-ray / DVD

-- 14 Blades --
A newer 14 Blades trailer has been posted 3 weeks back on Youtube, showing the promising action in more coherence and detail.

Also, there's a behind-the-scenes footage of forest battle (non-IMAX version) on Sohu, which shows, based on some elements of the action, Donnie Yen having some input in the choreography by Ku Huen Chiu, and also how he sprained his leg as he grabbed and gyrated to throw off his opponent.

And finally, some images of Vicki Zhao in the film from Sina.

14 Blades' release date has been brought forward by a week to Feb 4, 2010.

In the meantime, Bodyguards and Assassins is doing very well in China, having crossed the 200m yuan boundary in 12 days and Peter Chan is planning a TV version of the film, providing more background on the characters.

While promoting Bodyguards and Assassins in Shanghai on December 9, producers Peter Chan and Yu Dong gave their thanks to Donnie Yen for helping the film wrap up successfully, returning to the set after filming had ended to re-enact a fight scene without taking extra pay. They also presented Donnie Yen with a film print of the parkour fight scene, that Donnie Yen, working with Cung Le and his longstanding team of 17 stuntmen, choreographed.

-- Bodyguards & Assassins --

After an hour of drama, the major battle finally commences following a speech by Tony Leung Ka Fai as he addresses the patriots Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Bate'er, Li Yu Chun, Leon Lai, etc who are protecting Dr Sun Yat Sen from assassins led by Hu Jun, "Come what may, no matter how many lives are lost, you must hold out for 1 hr. This 1 hr is the hopes of millions of our comrades."

More images on Sina

Trailer: Sina

Bodyguards and Assassins trailer: Sina

The trailer promises 60 minutes of non-stop action in the film as several patriots from all walks of life band together to protect Dr Sun Yat Sen from assassinations. Opens on Dec 18, 2009.  

In an interview with Rama's Screen, Cung Le describes Donnie Yen as a very kind, generous but intense person while Cung Le himself was a very focused and intense person, and brought just as many ideas to the set.  

He reveals that he told Donnie Yen that he was not satisfied with their fight scene which they spent around 16 days on. While Donnie Yen echoed the same sentiments, he kept quiet initially out of respect for the action director.

However, two months later, the production recalled Cung Le, and he and Donnie Yen worked together to re-shoot their fight scene. While they only had 4 days as Cung Le had other commitments, they raced against the clock, worked 24 hours, and managed to get things done, in a much better way. 

-- Bodyguards and Assassins --

Two teaser trailers, one of which is Cannes promotional footage, and a detailed brochure may be found on Cinema Popular's film listing page.

 Bodyguards and Assassins, directed by Teddy Chan, stars Donnie Yen, Hu Jun, Fan Bing Bing, Nicolas Tse, Tong Leung Kar Fai, Xing Yu, Philip Ng, Cung Le, Wang Wen Jie, etc., is about a group of volunteers from all walks of life coming together to protect Sun Yat Sen from assassination when he was in Hong Kong.

According to a publicist, Michelle Reis would be making a brief appearance in the film, as someone who plays a pivotal role in the life of the Beggar.

Bodyguards and Assassins, which began production in late April, is wrapping up soon and is due for release on December 18, 2009.

Despite the global economic meltdown, which affected the film market adversely, with over 10% drop in number of registered buyers to under 2000 at 62 Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13 to May 24, 2009, Chinese films have been selling very well. Each film is sold from upwards of several US$100 thousands to a few millions.

Generally, action films and special effects laden films are the most popular. Hua Mu Lan (Jingle Ma), Little Big Soldier (Ding Sheng), Bodyguards and Assassins (Teddy Chan) are the top three best sellers, while Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction (Jeffrey Lau) was the first to be sold to US - in the first week. Ip Man and its sequel Ip Man 2 (Wilson Yip), Storm Warriors (Oxide Pang), and Tracing Shadow (Francis Ng, Marco Mak) are doing admirably too.  Fazhi Evening News, Sina

-- Bodyguards and Assassins --
At today's press conference for Bodyguards and Assassins (formerly Dark October), a movie on a group of people protecting Sun Yat Sen against assassination when he was in Hong Kong to raise funds on October 15, 1905, the cast was formally announced.

-- Dark October --
Dark October, produced by Peter Chan, is slated for production in March. Director Teddy Chan was planning the film back in 2004 when the investor committed suicide resulting in the production being stalled. With Peter Chan stepping in, financing for the 1.5m yuan film has been secured. The cast is likely to include Chow Yun Fatt and Donnie Yen, and perhaps Lau Ching Wan, Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Aaron Kwok, Ji Jin Hee, Kwon Sang Woo.

In Dark October, Sun Yat Sen (Chow Yun Fatt) heads to Hong Kong to raise funds for uprising activities. Learning of assassination attempt by the Manchu government, the businessman (Leon Lai) in Hong Kong who is responsible for receiving Sun Yat Sen hires elite bodyguards (Donnie Yen et al.) to protect him, eventually escorting him back to Guangzhou safely.  Sina, Dalian News