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-- Howling Arrow --
Sammo Hung is currently busy with pre-production of 《响箭》 Howling Arrow, a martial arts movie on chivalry, friendship, martial arts sects and bandits. It appears that apart from Sammo Hung, Wu Jing and Aaron Kwok might also be joining the movie. Aaron Kwok would be playing a bandit and would have several clashes against Sammo Hung and Wu Jing. There will also be two main female roles, a princess and a heroine, both of which have a fair bit of fights. Sammo Hung has the intention of casting Zhou Xun but she might be tied up with other projects. Other actresses being considered for the movie include Charlie Yeung, Ruby Lin and Li Bing Bing. Sammo Hung, who will be directing the movie and be responsible for choreographing martial arts scenes, hopes to showcase Chinese martial arts through the film, and will eschew the use of special effects as much as possible. The title Howling Arrow does not refer to a weapon; it refers the sound of the arrow, and is used to indicate the inner conflicts of the main characters, and their concerns. Right now, Sammo Hung is scouting location in Ningxia while Sunbeam's president Tsui Siu Ming is still amending the script. The movie is expected to begin production sometime after the Lunar New Year in mid-February.  Shanghai Youth Daily

-- The Seven Swords --

The Seven Swords celebrates production completion on the evening of May 9 - Pictures: Tom, Tom, Sohu, Sina | Video: Sina

-- Seven Swords at Cannes --

Post-production for Seven Swords has finally been completed. Tsui Hark, who once gave up the hope of meeting the deadline, says that Seven Swords will be holding its grand premiere at 58th Cannes Film Festival after all and Tsui Hark and the various actors, Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Kim So Yeon, Zhang Jing Chu, will be there to promote the film. Tsui Hark said that he did not expect to finish post-production in time. He had been doing post-production in Australia, and feeling that there were many areas that needed alterations, constantly experimented with different musical motifs and different dialogues. Originally, a promo reel was to be screened at Olympia 2 at 12 pm on May 15, 2005.  Fazhi Evening Post

Cast and Crew on Seven Swords

Back in the 1970s, when TVB was making a TV adaptation Liang Yusheng's Jade Bow, Tsui Hark sought hard to direct the TV series, only to be rejected by TVB's powers that be on the grounds that he had never done wuxia before. It had a major impact on Tsui Hark, who has since then set out to produce exemplary wuxia productions.

Tsui Hark says he intends to make Seven Swords China's answer to Lord of the Rings trilogy. He says because of the sheer scope of the novel, a total of six movies will be made, "In Liang Yusheng's original novel, many people die at the very beginning, such as Yang Yun Cong. The development of the story, of The Seven Swords are thus incomplete. So, I thought, firstly, I had to define the skeleton of the characters very clearly, in order to allow ample room for the story.

-- Seven Swords --
According to the production's publicist Miss Bi, The Seven Swords is a reality wuxia whereby Tsui Hark uses seven different swords to tell the trials and tribulations of the pugilistic circle. She reveals that as Wu Yuan Ying, played by Charlie Yeung, is a girl with gamine inclinations, Heavenly Cascade Sword, which Tsui Hark designed for her has a double-headed blade, such that when wielded, the sword will appear ever-changing, while still bearing feminine beauty.

However, Lu Yi is having a tough time, as the role he plays, Han Zhi Bang, being a stable boy who is somewhat unrefined, carries the heaviest sword of all - God Relinquishing Sword, "His sword weighs 20 catties. Although during filming, he would alternate between real and fake swords, he still has to beef up his arms, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to handle this role."

Miss Bi adds, "What strikes me most in The Seven Swords is the attention paid to reality, and the most direct approach to demonstrate this trait is through the clothes. To quote Tsui Hark, how can the ancient people be so inscrutable, after travelling many miles, their clothes are still spotlessly clean, this is impossible. He wants his show be a reflection of reality, and would not compromise reality for the sake of glamour. However, the costumes Sun Hong Lei and Kim So Yeon are wearing would be more garish, as called for by the characters they play."  Business Times

-- New Police Story --

New Police Story, a crime thriller directed by Benny Chan, starring Jackie Chan, Nicholas Tse, Charlie Yeung, Andy On, Liu Kai Chi, Daniel Wu, opens on September 23/24 in Asia. The film is about a group of teens who commits crime in order to attract attention from their parents who are neglecting them. It's up to Jackie Chan, aided by Nicholas Tse, to stop them.

Review:

When it comes to leaping tall buildings, Superman ain't got nothing on action hero Jackie Chan. He runs up vertical walls. He jumps over fences. At one point in this thoroughly entertaining fifth instalment of the wildly successful Police Story series, he even runs down the side of a skyscraper. Yes, this is 'Vintage Jackie Chan', as the poster declares. For once, a movie lives up to the marketing hype. This is the classic Chan formula that once ruled the Chinese New Year box-office market with an iron fist. There are lots of nicely choreographed fights and eye-popping stunts that rely on the performers' athleticism instead of CGI frenzy. The result is an action-packed, snappily paced rollercoaster ride with the requisite thrills and spills.  Straits Times >>More<<

Related stories:
Jackie Chan blazes Beijing with New Police Story China View

Stars promote New Police Story China View

Back to good old-fashioned action Electric New Paper

A Moment with Nicholas Tse The Star

Hong Kong Premiere Photos Sina

-- The Seven Swords --

Tsui Hark's TV adaptation of Seven Swords of Mt Tian has already raised doubts and furore over its fidelity to the original, but he is taking his far-fetched imagination even further with The Seven Swords movie hexalogy, though the basic principles remain. The first instalment is barely reminiscent of the original novel. What Tsui Hark sets his sights upon are how the Seven Swords are forged and the story and background behind each Sword.

In the novel, Chu Zhao Nan has already turned into a baddie, but in the first movie, Chu Zhao Nan, played by Donnie Yen, is still a goodie. Tsui Hark has consulted the novel's author Liang Yusheng, who has read the script, on this, and Liang Yusheng is very accommodating to the major surgery Tsui Hark has performed, "The presentation of a film is vastly different from a novel and it's not unusual for changes to be made."

-- Seven Swords Begins Production --
The Seven Swords film has begun production quietly in Xinjiang's Tiechanggou on Aug 31 morning, one day ahead of schedule. Tsui Hark and part of the cast arrived in Xinjiang on Aug 30. As the cast-members who have already arrived were ready and to expedite filming, Tsui Hark brought forward the production date. Filming will take three to four months, after which six months will be spent doing post-production in Australia.  Xinjiang City Daily

-- Seven Swords The Movie Press Conference --

Photos of Tsui Hark, Liu Chia Liang, actors Lu Yi, Leon Lai, Sun Hong Lei and actresses Charlie Yeung and Kim So Yeon at the press conference: Sina, Sohu, Tom. Seven Swords will begin shooting on September 1, 2004.

Interview Videos (Netease; In Mandarin; Real Video)

Seven Swords Beijing Press Conference At around 25th minute are footages of Tsui Hark scouting locations in Xinjiang, a horse-riding and swordplay training session, and a real-time preview of the online RPG game.

Tsui Hark, Liu Chia Liang
Kim So Yeon In Korean with Mandarin translation
Lu Yi and Sun Hong Lei
Charlie Yeung

-- Seven Swords Press Conference -- 
Press conference for the movie version of Seven Swords of Mt Tian will be held in Beijing at 13.30pm (GMT + 8hrs) on August 29 and will be beamed live on the web by Sina Entertainment. Liu Chia Liang, Charlie Yeung, Leon Lai and Lu Yi are expected to be present.  Sina Ent

The event will also be broadcast through Netease, and live transcript, in Chinese, will be made available with installation of Popo software. Run Popo, register as a member and login to Distinguished Guest Chat Room (嘉宾聊天室), the third icon, which is a microphone, on the left and choose Seven Swords of Mt Tian 《七剑下天山》.

Questions or comments for the production may be left at this Sina page.

URL for live broadcast of the event at Netease: rtsp://202.108.34.60:554/encoder/7swords.rm

URL for live broadcast of the event at Sina: http://vipchat.sina.com.cn/vip/new/3/vsimple.html

-- Seven Swords --

The movie version of Seven Swords of Mt Tian 《七剑下天山》 comes in six instalments, and Tsui Hark has already completed all the scripts. The first instalment, to be filmed this September, is estimated to cost US$12 million and slated for release next summer. The cast includes Leon Lai, Song Seung Hun, Charlie Yeung Choi Nei, Liu Chia Liang, Dai Li Jun, etc.

Tsui Hark said that he's going to change Charlie Yeung's image, "In the past, she has been acting as decorous girls, but now, I will let her be someone tough, savage and extreme." (Seems that Charlie Yeung will play Flying Red Shawl in the movie.) He explained his reason for choosing Leon Lai, "I saw him in Legend of Flying Fox years ago, we shall see whether we can bring out something different in him."

Tsui Hark said in the movie, there is a tale behind each swordsmaster and their sword, all of them possessing distinct personalities. Song Sueng Hun carries Gallivanting Dragon Sword, it is of extraordinary sharpness, like its owner's pro-activeness and quick-wittedness. Lu Yi is equipped with God Relinquishing Sword, it's very, very heavy, and when wielded, the sword tends to lead and control the owner, only by learning how to let go can the user master the essence of the sword. When Charlie Yeung brandishes her Heavenly Cascade Sword, she often injures herself due to lack of confidence, just as she isn't capable of handling love, and often ends up hurting herself emotionally.  Dayoo Daily

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

Beijing Ciwen Oriental Digital Film and TV Production's President Ma Zhong Jun made confirmation with the press that Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV series will commence production officially in August. He said Producer Tsui Hark will put all attention on the TV series before shooting the movie, which is being put on hold temporarily. Ma Zhong Jun also said Seven Swords of Mt Tian has a colossal screenplay team and Wu Jiu Xi and Liu Yu Zhu are but part of the team.  The Beijing News

Ray Lui (Lu Liang Wei), famous for his role as Zhan Zhao in Justice Bao series, indicated in an interview that he will join Seven Swords of Mt Tian serial as the duke who is all out to eliminate the Seven Swordmasters. (It appears to be Prince Duo Duo or perhaps Wu San Gui.)  Henan Press

TV version will start production in around 10 August 2004. A press conference will be held on 28 July, with the attendance of major cast members, Zhao Wen Zhuo, Ada Choi, etc, who are arriving in Xinjiang in late July. The Xinjiang recruitment drive, organised in collaboration with Xinjiang City Daily, is also coming to an end. Last Saturday(17 July), Sang Wei Lin, one of the lead actors, had already come to Xinjiang, to role play with the nominees and candidates.

The movie version of Seven Swords of Mt Tian will begin production in September or October, with Leon Lai and Charlie Yeung playing the leads. The other movie cast-members have yet to be finalised.  Xinjiang City Daily

-- Seven Swords--

Compiling from a multitude of different media reports on separate issues, except for Charlie Yeung, a pall of uncertainty hangs over the cast members of Seven Swords of Mt Tian movie. Andy Lau faces dilemma as his other commitment with Johnnie To is also to be shot in September, clashing with Seven Swords of Mt Tian. When asked, Andy gave vague replies.

More forthcoming was Tony Leung, who said despite his eagerness, he was, unfortunately, unable to take up the movie offer, as he already had an agreement with director Guan Jin Peng, which again conflicts with Seven Swords of Mt Tian. However, he was quick to add that, given his passion for wuxia, all it takes is one word from Tsui Hark, and he would gladly join Dragon Inn 2, which is in pre-production, without hesitation.

Meanwhile Tsui Hark has sent coaches to train Charlie Yeung and Leon Lai. Charlie Yeung, who's involved in various charitable activities, indicated that she would be teaming up with Korean actor Song Seung Hun (aka Song Seung-heon) when she attended the press conference of World Wildlife Fund for Dolphin as the ambassador. On being asked if she would need to brush up with her Korean, she smiled, saying, she had already met him and they communicated with each other in English.