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Champions, directed by Tsui Siu Ming, starring Dicky Cheung, Xie Miao, Xu Xiang Dong, Yu Rongguang, Debbie Goh, Priscilla Wong, will be out on DVD on January 22. The movie, about a group of athletes aspiring to participate in the Olympic Games, features various forms of martial arts such as Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw and Tai Chi. Two editions are available for pre-order at YesAsia - 2-disc edition and 2-disc + Soundtrack CD edition, both containing extras like making-of, trailer, promos, etc.

All About Women, a romantic comedy by Tsui Hark, starring Zhou Xun, Zhang Yu Qi, Guey Lun Mei, Alex Fong Chung Sun, Stephen Fung arrives on DVD on January 20. The film revolves around the roller coaster romantic adventures of three women bumbling through love and life. Pre-order at YesAsia.

Wushu - The Young Generation, a coming-of-age wushu movie produced by Jackie Chan and directed by Antony Szeto, starring newcomers like Wang Wen Jie, Liu Feng Chao, Mao Jun Jie, etc, with Sammo Hung lending his support to help groom the next generation, is expected to be out on DVD on January 30. Wushu tells the tale of five friends immersing their lives in learning the disciplines of martial arts with no other thought but to excel. More information on YesAsia.

In 1991, the seven-year old Xie Miao was brought by his parents to Beijing Haiding Centre for Children, in the hope that he'd be a dancer. However, the little Xie Miao, roving his eyes about, peered around.

Then, he spotted through an ajar door, a room with kids wielding spears and broadswords, it was a sight to behold, holding the hyperactive kid spellbound. Against his parents' objection and protests, he signed up for the wushu class next door.

-- Champions --

Champions, a martial arts comedy directed by Tsui Siu Ming, opens in China on October 31. The film features a variety of martial arts: Eagle Claw, Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, Southern Fist, Ditang Fist, Fanzi Fist, Arhat Fist, Tiger Taming Fist, etc, as well as an assortment of weaponry; and appearances by numerous wushu champions.

One notable wushu star in the film is Xu Xiang Dong, who plays An Yong, Chief of Eagle Claw Clan, who goes around challenging everybody initially. As one who stands by the motto "One who remains standing is the winner, one who is lying on the ground the loser.", he organises a martial arts meet to let everyone witness the prowess of his skills.

-- Champions --
The 30m yuan Champions is said to be an actual true blue kungfu film, with backdrop set against 1936 Berlin Olympics where Chinese wushu was showcased out of competition. The poster states that the film features 15 wushu champions, with 15 martial arts styles being exhibited.

Costarring alongside Dicky Cheung is Xie Miao, who having grown up, has been doing kungfu productions like Legend of Shaolin Kungfu. Two other noted martial arts stars are Xu Xiang Dong and Yu Rong Guang, who had previously starred in Tsui Siu Ming's Holy Robe of Shaolin Temple as a Shaolin disciple and a Manchu official sent to take control of Shaolin respectively.

-- Champions --
Trailer for old school martial arts film 《夺标》 Champions (Duo Biao), directed by Tsui Siu Ming, starring Dicky Cheung, Wong Tsui Yu, Debbie Goh, Xie Miao, Yu Rong Guang, Xu Xiang Dong, unveiled at Hundred Flowers Film Festival, is now up at MTime.

Champions is about an underdog wushu athlete played by Dicky Cheung who takes part in a martial arts tournament in order represent China in a martial arts performance at an Olympic Games so as to win the heart of a national sprinter, the girl he's in love with.

Champions, which showcases various schools of martial arts ranging from Praying Mantis Boxing through Eagle Claw to Taichi, is due out in November 2008.

-- Ip Man --

On his blog, Bey Logan mentions meeting Donnie Yen in Shanghai last month while the former was attending Shanghai International Film Festival. He says that Donnie Yen reveals that Sammo Hung, Ip Man's martial arts choreographer, will have a cameo in the film, which is on break now after having wrapped up its Shanghai filming.

The production is currently on a worldwide hunt for a suitable candidate to play young Bruce Lee before completing the last few scenes in Hong Kong where Yip Man, in his late years, takes in the adolescent Bruce Lee as his disciple.

Apart from Ip Man, Bey Logan drops a brief note on Tsui Siu Ming's upcoming wushu movie Champions (《夺标》 Duo Biao) which took part in Shanghai Film Festival. He also took pictures with Tsui Siu Ming and the cast Dicky Cheung, Xu Xiang Dong, Xie Miao.

-- Duo Biao --

《夺标》 Duo Biao's martial arts choreography, which is 70% traditional and 30% innovation, shows the art of attack and defence of traditional Chinese kungfu, while carrying modern elements at the same time. Tsui Siu Ming and his team also dissected every move in the film, in order to spark sufficient interests from the jaded audiences.

3 months before filming, Dicky Cheung was dragged to Hengdian for training, and the director specifically assigned a martial arts expert to watch over him practising Praying Mantis Boxing as well as retraining in wireworks.

However, even martial artists like Xu Xiang Dong and Xie Miao were not spared of training.

-- Duo Biao --

《夺标》 Duo Biao, co-produced by Sundream and Huayi Brothers, directed by Tsui Siu Ming, has wrapped up after over two months of filming. The martial arts film is slated for release this autumn.

Duo Biao is set in 1936 when China sent 69 athletes to take part in Berlin Olympics. At the same time 9 wushu team members also performed there. While China didn't do very well back then, her wushu performance greatly impressed the Westerners. And it was then that Chinese wushu was spread throughout the world.  Tsu Siu Ming hopes to show the spirit and culture of wushu through this film, with emphasis on realistic and detailed portrayal of traditional martial arts.

-- Duo Biao --

A ceremony marking the production of Sundream Pictures' major project of the year, 《夺标》 Duo Biao (Capturing the Cup), a movie on Chinese wushu, sports and Olympics, was held on April 27 in Hengdian. The inauguration kicked off with a lion dance and martial arts performances. Produced by Tsui Siu Ming and Amy Lee Fung Ming, directed by Kong Tao Hoi and Lee Kong Lok, the cast includes Dicky Cheung, Wong Tsui Yu, Debbie Goh, Michael Wai, Eric Li.

Tsui Siu Ming has also specially sought out martial artists Xu Xiang Dong and Yu Rong Guang, both of whom he worked with in Holy Robe of Shaolin Temple, to join the cast. Currently, Tsiu Siu Ming is in negotiations with Jackie Chan to play a cameo role as the arena contest organiser. 2 million yuan were spent building the arena which is expected to be filled up with 4000 extras.