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-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks --
Cheung Sing Yim, the director of the original Shaolin Temple which launched Jet Li's career and followed up with a remake New Shaolin Temple TV series in 1998 starring Wu Jing, recently paid a visit to the set of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2: Thirteen Cudgel Monks TV series and met an old acquaintance Ji Chun Hua, who continues to play a villainous role here, this time as Wang Ren Zhe. Both Shaolin Temple and Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 2 feature a similar setting based loosely on true historical accounts of thirteen Shaolin monks rescuing Tang prince Li Shimin.

While using different forms of expression, both are considered classics, portraying the essence of martial arts. Cheung Sing Yim is especially impressed by the filming technique and approach to the first Legend of Shaolin Kungfu and is equally hopeful for the sequel Thirteen Cudgel Monks. Both directors express disapprovals for too much flyings and special effects in today's wuxia films.

Hence, director Du Xiao sets certain goals when making Legend of Shaolin Kungfu, to show something new, to show some cultural aspects, and to show some entertainment, and above all else, to show the most authentic of martial arts and Shaolin culture, to let the audience witness the true values and meaning of Shaolin Kungfu.  People Daily

-- 27th Hong Kong Film Awards --

The 27th Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony was held on April 13 Evening. Jet Li receives Best Actor award for his excellent performance in Warlords, which sweeps through the event with seven other wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visuals, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Effects.

Jet Li says that he does not intend to thank director Peter Chan, for had the latter told him earlier that he'd win an award doing drama roles, he would not have done over 20 years of action films. He also expresses gratitude to the panel and his fans. He says there are too many people he'd like to thank, the scriptwriter, the director, his mother and father, his wushu mentor Wu Bin, Shaolin Temple's director Cheung Sing Yim...

Best Screenplay goes to Au Kin Yee and Wai Kar Fai for Mad Detective. Donnie Yen wins Best Action Direction for his fresh and bold choreography for Flash Point. Lydia Shum, who passed away in February, was honoured posthumously with Professional Spirit Award.  Sina

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Cudgel Monks -- 

Yuen Biao is playing Tan Zong, one who is responsible for assembling 12 other monks to form Thirteen Cudgel Monks to deal with Wang Shi Chong. He is expert in 72 Peerless Arts of Shaolin, his skills unfathomable, having reached the state of union of Zen and Kungfu. He is pensive, collected, and doesn't exhibit his emotions. He has the bearings of a grandmaster of his times, caring for the affairs of the world.

Leung Kar Yan plays the antagonist Wang Shi Chong, a cunning, greedy, vicious, merciless general of Sui who later usurps the throne. He throws his weight about in the court and oppresses the populace. He bans martial arts practice in order to forestall any future threats.

Xie Miao and Yaqi Talk about Legend of Shaolin Kungfu

《少林寺传奇》 A Legend of Shaolin Kungfu TV series, a trilogy directed by 都晓 Du Xiao, consists of  《乱世英雄》 Heroes in Troubled Times, 《十三棍僧救唐王》 Thirteen Warrior Monks and Prince Li Shimin, and  《十八小铜人》 Eighteen Arhats. A Legend of Shaolin Kung Fu I: Heroes in Troubled in Times is currently being aired in China to great success and high viewership ratings while the second part Thirteen Warrior Monks has begun production since January 2008.

It features an impressive cast consisting of veteran actors like 鲍国安 Bao Guo An, 午马 Wu Ma, 郭达 Guo Da, 王刚 Wang Gang, 吴京安 Wu Jing An, etc. and most importantly, large number of martial artists such as 计春华 Ji Chun Hua, 于承惠Yu Cheng Hui, 李渊 Li Yuan, 叶剑卫 Ye Jian Wei, 谢苗Xie Miao, 陈佳佳 Chen Jia Jia, 王雪 Wang Xue, 郭辉Guo Hui, 袁新东 Yuan Xin Dong, 阴海龙 Yin Hai Long, 刘子威 Liu Zi Wei etc. for the main leads and their opponents to deliver martial arts sequences that are jaw-droppingly realistic, beautiful, yet without being too violent, as choreographed by  程小东 Tony Ching Siu Tung. To add more colour to the series, 孙卉凝 Sun Hui Ning, 法提麦·雅琦 Yaqi Fatima, 乔乔 Qiao Qiao are invited to play the leading ladies.

Global Chinese Kungfu Jubilee 2007

Sohu, 13 October 2007

Global Chinese Kungfu Jubilee, organised by Shenzhen Satellite TV, Shaolin Culture, TVB, China Wushu Association, was held at Shenzhen Bao-an Stadium on the October 12 evening and was graced by various luminaries in the film industry who's involved in martial arts productions. The evening kicked off with red carpet walk by Jackie Chan, wuxia novelist Jin Yong, Liu Chia Liang, Ching Siu Ting. Cheung Sing Yim, Peter Pau, Yuen Biao, Cheng Pei Pei, Anthena Chu, Jay Leung, Josie Ho, David Chiang, Gordon Liu, Wu Jing, Tony Jaa, Yasuaki Kurata etc.

-- Master of Taichi DVD --

Wu Jing's tour-de-force, Master of Tai Chi, has been re-released recently by Tai Seng on shortened edition DVD that comes complete with English subtitles and dub. Master of Taichi is loosely based on the life of Yang Lu Chan, the founder of Yang Style Tai Chi, on the trials he goes through in order to study Chen Style Tai Chi, his encounter with the Manchurian royalty as well as his matches against the legendary Dong Hai Chuan. Yuen Wo Ping and Chueng Sing Yim direct this TV series of incredible martial arts sequences that comprises of multitudes of wushu stars like Yu Hai, Wang Qun, Billy Chow, Kara Hui, Xu Xiang Dong, Tan Qiao, Kou Zhan Wen...

The DVD is now available at YesAsia.

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian 2 --

40 episodes Seven Swords of Mt Tian 《七剑下天山》 TV series, currently in post-production, is set for release in October, says Ciwen Digital's president Ma Zhong Jun. Seven Swords of Mt Tian 2, the final and concluding chapter to the 2-part wuxia saga, is slated to begin production by early 2006. The first draft of the script has been completed, and based on Tsui Hark's intention, there will be at least 30 episodes. The original crew, Tsui Hark, Cheung Sing Yim, Cheung Chi Leung, etc, will continue to work on Seven Swords of Mt Tian 2, which relates to the second generation Swordmasters. Whether the original cast-members such as Zhao Wen Zhuo and Ada Choi, etc, whose characters become supporting roles in the sequel, will return is contingent upon their schedule.  Nanfang City Daily

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian --

When Tsui Hark went ahead with his adaptation for the Seven Swords of Mt Tian, many new elements were introduced, including four brand new characters that will be cameoed by the key production members. Callous, Vicious, Devious and Shameless, known collectively as The Four Perils of the Underworld, are being played respectively by martial arts director Yuen Bun, director Clarence Fok, a production manager, and producer Wang Yong.

Among The Four Perils, Callous possesses the most sublime skills and hence, the choice for Yuen Bun, who hails from the same Peking opera troupe as Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Yuen Wah et al. To commemorate his first role in a TV series, Tsui Hark has crafted a special weapon for Yuen Bun, a weapon that only Yuen Bun is able to wield. The character Wang Yong is playing always carries a rose in the hand and is often ridiculed by others due to his flowery behaviour.  Business Times

On December 2, novelist Liang Yusheng, who is over 80 years of age, was appointed by Hong Kong's Lingnan University to be its Honorary Professor. He received congratulations from both the movie and TV productions of The Seven Swords, as well as from many of his fans. He said that he won't be publishing any new works and for the time being, would not be revising his past wuxia novels. He expressed confidence in both adaptations of Seven Swords of Mt Tian.

While he has not been in direct contact with Tsui Hark, he has, since pre-production stages, a very thorough knowledge of the progress of both productions, as his close friend Cheung Sing Yim and him often keep touch with each other, keeping him updated of the filming status. In the meantime, plans are being made to proceed with the shooting of the second half of Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV series as well as the second instalment of The Seven Swords film hexaology sometime next year.  Chengdu Daily

-- Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV Series --

On October 30, Xu Xiang Dong, under the accompaniment on producer Wang Yong and chief director Cheung Sing Yim, discharged himself from the hospital after 5 days, walking on crutches. According to the doctor's advice, he would need two weeks before he could walk normally and nearly half a year before recovering fully, and won't be able to shoot some scenes. Wang Yong indicated that they would imitate what Tsui Hark had done in Once Upon a Time in China when Jet Li was badly injured by making the action scenes more fanciful, in order to give the impression that it was Jet Li fighting when in fact, he was being doubled.

It seems that the role that Xu Xiang Dong is playing might actually be Prince Duo Duo's master Qi Zhen Jun, a heretic top-notch swordsman, while General Niu Gu Lu is being played by another martial artist Sun Jian Kui. Xu Xiang Dong inadvertently revealed that based on its content, each episode would be named after a movie or TV series such as New Dragon Inn for the scene where Xu Xiang Dong hurt himself accidentally. Other names include Tangerine Turns Red, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Ten-Sided Ambush (House of Flying Daggers) etc.  Chengdu Daily