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-- Seven Swordsmen TV Series DVD with English Subtitles --

Taiseng is releasing the epic wuxia adaptation Seven Swordsmen TV series on DVD that includes English subtitles. Those finding the movie version disjointed or felt too rushed in some parts will appreciate the details in the TV version, which has a more coherent feel. It also features a more dynamic, ethnic soundtrack, and great audio and visuals. While boasting a cast of top martial artists from Mainland, save for a rare few scenes, the fights aren't especially worth lauding thanks to the quirky-editings. 

In Seven Swordsmen, Tsui Hark sets forth to to provide a logical explanation to the events before the original Liang Yu Sheng novel Seven Swords of Mt Tian, telling how The Seven Swords are formed, introducing new characters and fresh plotlines of scintillating intrigues and twists. He also explores the complex inner world of Chu Zhao Nan, whose ideals, beliefs and pride get shattered time and again once he sets foot onto the mundane world, which results in his change.

 In this wuxia saga set in 17th century China, the Manchurians have taken over the country from the Ming dynasty rulers. As the new Ching government begins a crackdown on martial arts practitioners, seven kung fu masters, each of whom carry a sword that represents one of the seven states of being, must struggle to keep their art and themselves alive. Based on the classic martial arts novel by renowned novelist Liang yusheng, Seven Swords is an epic story of love betrayal, friendship, heroism and masterful swordplay.

Directed by Jacob Cheung Chi Leung, Clarence Fok Yiu Leung. Cast includes Zhao Wen Zhuo, Yu Cheng-Hui, Xu Xiang Dong, Ji Chun-Hua, Qiao Zhen Yu, Sang Wei-Lin, Sun Jian Kui, Ada Choi, Li Xiao Ran, Wang Li Kun, Edell Ai Dai, Ray Lui, Wang Xue Bing, Leung Kar Yan...

Seven Swordsmen DVD ships on May 19 and maybe ordered from YesAsia.

-- 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

-- 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 --

Both the movie and TV adaptations of Seven Swords of Mt Tian are slated to conclude filming at Chengdu's Xilin Snow Mountain, Sichuan in late December. Some publicity events might also be organised there as well. Author of the novel, Liang Yusheng, will personally show up and intends to hold a talk on wuxia or a Seven Swords discussion at a Sichuan university. Producer of the TV series Wang Yong says that they plan to spend 5 days doing Seven Swords skiing scene at Xilin Snow Mountain. If the amount of snow is insufficient, the relevant authorities at the holiday resort there will use snowmakers to ensure that the production goes on smoothly.  Chengdu Daily

When Return of Condor Heroes' producer Zhang Jizhong, who insisted on getting wushu master Yu Cheng Hui for the role of Eastern Heretic Huang Yao Shi, failed, he sought help from executive producer Ma Zhong Jun, who went to Hengdian to talk Wang Yong into letting go of Yu Cheng Hui. Wang Yong said that Return of Condor Heroes has already spent huge sums building outdoor sets in Zhejiang, and the delay of the actor for Huang Yaoshi would stymie the progress of the production.

As both Return of Condor Heroes 《神雕侠侣》 and Seven Swords of Mt Tian are big-budget extravaganzas financed by Ma Zhong Jun, thinking of the overall picture, Wang Yong had no choice but to acquiesce. Yu Cheng Hui, who was given for 4-day leave, has flown to Yandang Mountain to lend his help to Return of Condor Heroes. It may be just four days, but this has resulted in quite a substantial loss for Seven Swords of Mt Tian as Yu Cheng Hui has a very important role in it as Fu Qing Zu. Director Clarence Fok has to arrange for other scenes to be shot first.  Yantai Daily

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.

-- 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 of Mt Tian --

As Seven Swords of Mt Tian TV series is about to begin production this Saturday at the foot of Mt Tian, Ciwen Digital's President Ma Zhong Jun shed some light on the project. He said the first 36 episodes of Seven would be filmed first. Each episode is budgeted at 1 million yuan.

Tsui Hark, Cheung Sing Yim, Cheung Chi Leung and Clarence Fok would work hand in hand on this work. Zhao Wen Zhuo, Sang Wei Lin, Ji Chun Hua, Wang Xue Bing, Qiao Zhen Yu, Wang Li Kun and Yu Cheng Hui will play the first Seven Swordmasters. Other cast members include Ada Choi, and Ray Lui. Liu Ye and Guo Jin An will play cameo roles.