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-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3 --

After over 7 months of intensive and gruelling filming, Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3: Heroes of the Great Desert, directed by Du Xiao, has successfully wrapped up in late April 2010. Following the tradition of Legend of Shaolin Kungfu series, the final instalment features various martial artists as Shaolin monks, including Li Yuan, Xu Peng Jun, Xie Miao, (who was simultaneously filming a kungfu comedy Fist Club 《拳馆》 with Kou Zhan Wen in April), Xu Ming Hu, Cao Jun, etc.

 

Veteran martial artists like Yuen Wah, Gordon Liu, Xu Xiang Dong, Sammo Hung, etc are specially hired to take on villainous roles, to ensure that both sides are evenly matched, rewarding the audiences with numerous authentic and intricate fights. Sammo Hung is playing the final villain Wan Shou Shan. In addition, veteran actor Bao Guo An, the wonderful abbot from the first instalment, is back, by popular demand. Rounding up the cast are Sun Hui Ning, Yuuki Moami, Ji Chun Hua and Wang Zhi Gang.

Here are some pics from the blogs of Xu Ming Hu, Xie Miao, Li Yuan and Xu Peng Jun:

Continue reading "It's a Wrap for Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3"

True Legend marks Yuen Wo Ping's first film as a director in a decade and also puts Zhao Wen Zhuo back on the map of the film industry, even if the film is not completely a success at box office.

 

Tracing the ups and downs of the life of Beggar Su, from his heydays, through his downfall, to his return and creation of Drunken Fist, there are plentiful exquisitely choreographed martial arts sequences that don't stint on length, as we've come to expect from maestro Yuen Wo Ping, most notable of which is the showdown between Zhao Wen Zhuo and Andy On.

 

The film also stars Zhou Xun, Jiang Lu Xia, Guo Xiao Dong plus cameos by Michelle Yeoh, Leung Kar Yan, Gordon Liu, David Carradine, Yan Ni, Feng Xiao Gang, etc.

Order True Legend DVD from YesAsia | HK Flix

-- True Legend --
 There are only two scenes - Thousand-Buddha Cliff and Thousand-Snake Cavern - in True Legend which are in 3D, clocking around 20 minutes in all. Both use different 3D-technologies and finale between Zhao Wen Zhuo and Andy On in the Thousand-Snake Cavern is significantly better, with clearer, more palpable images and 3D effects, as well as better fighting.
 
 The Thousand-Buddha Cliff is an imagined place which sees Beggar Su (Zhao Wen Zhuo) raising his martial arts skills under the guidance of Whitebeard (Gordon Liu) and through his sparring with Lord of Martial Arts. It's rather jarring watching this scene as the audience have to keep putting on and removing the 3D lenses as it's interrupted occasionally by other scenes, which are in 2D.
 
 But why is the film not in full 3D? Director Yuen Wo Ping explains, "Producing a 3D film consumes lots of human resources as well as material resources. It already took over 100 digital artists slogging day and night for over half a year to create these two 3D fight scenes. Initially, I had hoped to make this a full 3D film, but the budget was really astronomical, requiring US$200m to 300m, and the post-production would take 5 years. So, I picked the two most important action scenes to be in 3D."
 
 Alternatively, Yuen Wo Ping might take a leaf out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' book, which was shot in 2D, but converted to 3D at US$5m per film or US$10m for both parts.
 
 The script, written by Du Zhi Lang, follows the tried and tested forumla typical of kungfu films, and is said to bear close resemblance to Fearless that she also wrote: From Su Can's arrogant beginning to being badly beaten, demoralised and thrown into Yellow River, through his healing in a paradise-like place and elevation of his level of martial arts, to his return to fight the villain plus foreigner challengers. Still, Yuen Wo Ping finds the script to be pretty good, as Beggar Su's emotions are handled very well, and it has great character development, like how Beggar Su gradually becomes a great master.  Netease, Sina

-- True Legend --

 Sina has just released another trailer for Yuen Wo Ping's True Legend, starring Zhao Wen Zhuo, Zhou Xun, Andy On, Jiang Lu Xia, with cameos by Michelle Yeoh, Gordon Liu, David Carradine, Feng Xiao Gang (as a slippery pickpocket who twists words with his warped logic to get out of sticky situations when caught), etc. on. It shows more actions, but in bits and pieces.

Sina has released yet another bunch of stills from True Legend, this time containing a few images of Gordon Liu. Gordon Liu plays the role of Whitebeard, a mischievous elderly who is a doyen of martial arts. Seeing through Zhao Wen Zhuo's heart, he helps him gain deeper understanding of the essence of martial arts, pushing him to new heights. 

 

Continue reading "Gordon Liu in True Legend and Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3"

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3 --
As with the first, Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3 is divided into a few story arcs. In each arc, director Du Xiao is taking great pains in casting, hiring such top veteran martial arts stars as Yuen Wah, Yuen Biao, Gordon Liu from Hong Kong, "I want to let the 8 monks keep fighting from beginning to the end, and their opponents will be these martial arts exponents." Continue reading "Yuen Wah Goes Against The Monks in Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3"

Yuen Wah is playing Little Zhuge, one who is highly skilled, and also a very humorous person. Yuen Wah says that he has a sunny disposition, and he doesn't let anything unhappy affects him. As such, he hopes to cheers up the audience with this character. Yuen Wah describes his character as a minor villain, one who often overrates himself and does many foolish things.

Continue reading "Meeting Yuen Wah and Ji Chun Hua On Legend of Shaolin Kungfu 3: Heroes of the Great Desert"

 Press conference for True Legend was held on October 19 afternoon with the trailer being screened and the director Yuen Wo Ping and cast Zhao Wen Zhuo, Andy On and Guo Xiao Dong showing up. Zhou Xun was unable to attend but recorded her speech in advance. Also in the film are Jiang Lu Xia, Michelle Yeoh, Cung Le, Gordon Liu, etc. Continue reading "True Legend Trailer Unveiled at Beijing Press Conference"

 -- Blood Relations --
《血缘》 Blood Relations (tentative), an action-packed martial arts film directed by Leung Kar Yan, has just begun production recently in Xi-an and is expected to take three months to shoot. The film reunites Leung Kar Yan with Gordon Liu. It also stars Leung Kar Yan's son Leung Ho Yee, Yin Dan Dan, Wu Tian Ze. Continue reading "Action Star Leung Kar Yan Directs Blood Relations"

On November 2, Sunday afternoon, a press conference for 《苏乞儿》 True Legend, directed by Yuen Wo Ping, was held in Beijing. The cast for the film includes Zhao Wen Zhuo, Zhou Xun, Gordon Liu, Michelle Yeoh, Guo Xiao Dong, Andy On, Jay Chow, Will Liu, etc.

 

True Legend official site, containing production diary, character designs, concept arts, stills, videos, news, etc. was made known, and a short behind-the-scene footage was shown. Doubts were raised by the reporters concerning Jay Chow playing a martial arts doyen responsible for raising Beggar Su's skills since he lacks martial arts and acting ability.

Continue reading "Yuen Wo Ping Unveils True Legend"

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.

Continue reading "Global Chinese Kungfu Awards 2007"

-- Interview with Gordon Liu on Talk Asia --
 AR: Gordon, welcome to Talk Asia. Now you're been famous in this part of the world for many many years now, but you only recently came to international attention in "Kill Bill." Tell us how that came about.
 GL: I've actually been in the film industry for 30 years. Till this day, I'm very grateful that I was a part of "36th Chamber of Shaolin" by Shaw Studios Productions and just as grateful that I was in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill." Actually, I've always felt quite nostalgic about the 70's kung fu movies, but the problem is that the times have changed. Most of the youth nowadays don't have much interest in kung fu movies so in recent years, I've primarily been involved in more modern films.  CNN >>More<<