Wu-Jing.org

Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction (Oct 2, 2009)

In this romantic action comedy directed and written by Jeffrey Lau, Alex Fong, the newly invented android with emotions and reasoning ability being, gets planted in a remote town, under the charge of sheriff Hu Jun, to test its functionalities. Being a "perfect human", Alex Fong soon becomes the town's idol, with Sun Li falling for him. But he's forbidden by his programme codes to fall in love. Soon, Hun Jun and Alex Fong are sent to track down Wu Jing, an android seeking independence and questioning the orders of his creator. With box-office takings of 50m yuan, the film was better received in China than Hong Kong.

Order

YesAsia: Blu-ray, DVD | Related products: Soundtrack CD, Making-of Documentary Book

HKFlix: Blu-ray, DVD

When did you start work on Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg?
Yuen Tak: In August 2008. Had been discussing with the director, he said he wanted to shoot a film on robots, but the martial arts scenes must be oriental. I found it very interesting, to me, it's something somewhat new.

-- Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg --

Gala premiere for Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg was held in Beijing on August 12, attended by producer Zhuo Guo Shun, producer/director Jeff Lau cast members Hu Jun, Sun Li, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Wu Jing, Gan Wei, Eric Tsang, etc. This romantic comedy that takes place in 2046 explores the relationships and conflicts between AI robots and humans.

-- Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg --

Kungfu Cyborg, directed by Jeff Lau, starring Alex Fong, Hu Jun, Sun Li, Wu Jing, Ronald Cheng, Gan Wei, is a comedy exploring the intricate relations between humans and AI robots and the latter's abilities to think independently, opens on August 20.

Final Theatrical trailer: View / Download

"Cyborg" teaser: View

Making of Tai Chi robot K-88: View / Download

-- Light-transcending Pandora's Box --

Light-transcending Pandora's Box, a 60m yuan budgeted madcap comedy directed by Jeffrey Lau, has been in production since July 1 and is expected to wrap up by end of August. The film is about some fool acquiring Pandaro's Box by chance and ended up, along with an assortment of characters from a few other films, right in the middle of a war of the Three Kingdoms.

According to Eric Tsang, while Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction is one times as "lowbrow" as Eagle Shooting Hero, Light-transcending Pandora's Box is three times as "lowbrow" as Kungfu Cyborg. Speaking of which, release date for Kungfu Cyborg has been pushed back by a week to August 20, 2009 to allow more time for post-production as the number of CGI shots has been increased by 100 to 400.

While Law Kar Ying said about being invited to reprise the role of Tripitaka a few months back, he was hesitant as he didn't want to repeat this role unless he could top it, and it had to be significantly different. So far, it remains uncertain if Law Kaw King has joined Pandora's Box, and he's currently filming 14 Blades starring Donnie Yen and Vicki Zhao, playing an evil eunuch.

Ronald Cheng and Sun Li are playing the lead roles in Light-transcending Pandora's Box and they are joined by various Chinese and Hong Kong celebrities including veteran artistes Eric Tsang, Sandra Ng, Kenny Bee, Bruce Liang, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu; a number of indispensable comedian extras Johnny Kong Yeuk Sing, Tin Kai Man, Lam Tze Chung, Lee Kin Yan; from Mainland are Guo De Gang, Yu Rong Guang, Huang Bo, Guo Tao, Wang Xue Bing, Sha Yi; from Hong Kong arrives Alex Fong, Fan Siu Wong, Danny Chan Kwok Kwan, Marco Ngai, Patrick Tam, Edmond Leung; and it's being complemented and adorned by female artistes Athena Chu, Gigi Leung, Betty Huang Yi, Ada Choi, Xu Jiao...   Xinhua Daily

Despite the global economic meltdown, which affected the film market adversely, with over 10% drop in number of registered buyers to under 2000 at 62 Cannes Film Festival, running from May 13 to May 24, 2009, Chinese films have been selling very well. Each film is sold from upwards of several US$100 thousands to a few millions.

Generally, action films and special effects laden films are the most popular. Hua Mu Lan (Jingle Ma), Little Big Soldier (Ding Sheng), Bodyguards and Assassins (Teddy Chan) are the top three best sellers, while Kungfu Cyborg: Metallic Attraction (Jeffrey Lau) was the first to be sold to US - in the first week. Ip Man and its sequel Ip Man 2 (Wilson Yip), Storm Warriors (Oxide Pang), and Tracing Shadow (Francis Ng, Marco Mak) are doing admirably too.  Fazhi Evening News, Sina

-- Kungfu Cyborg --

At a press conference in Beijing on April 29, director Jeffrey Lau announces that Metallic Attraction: Kungfu Cyborg is opening in theatres on August 13 this year.

A new teaser trailer has also been unveiled and is now on Sina. A total of 4 different versions of trailers will be published and this one shows, among other things, a robot, K-88 (Wu Jing), doing all kind of chores for humans. The next version will be on romance while the 4th version comes with completed effects.

-- Kungfu Cyborg --

Sina has just posted Kungfu Cyborg English trailer (Chinese version|Download) that was shown at HKIFF. According to Jeffrey Lau, the film is still in post-production and what was shown in this trailer (meant for private screening) is but half-finished - in particular, the special effects; The finished product will be even more visually arresting.

This romantic action comedy is directed by Jeff Lau, and stars Hu Jun, Alex Fong, Sun Li, Wu Jing (whose birthday is on April 3), Ronald Cheng, Gan Wei, Eric Tsang, Law Kar Ying. Kung Fu Cyborg is scheduled for release this summer.

Hu Jun 胡军 as Da Chun 大春
When the director came to me, he said, "I'm going to change your image, something out of character for you." After going through the script I find this character very interesting, it's really something I've never endeavoured before, it's half-human, half-robot.

While he's still a human, he's a cop. After becoming a cyborg, he has fighting scenes, and his appearance changes too. But, he's never a tough guy.

《机器侠》 Robot/Kungfu Cyborg Attraction (tentative)
Producers: Zhuo Shun Guo, Jeffrey Lau
Director: Jeffrey Lau
Screenplay: Jeffrey Lau
Action Director: Yuen Tak
Cinematographer: Fung Yuen Man
Music: Raymond Wong Ying Wah, Ronald Cheng
Sound Effects: Kinson Tsang
Artistic Producer: Bill Liu
Art Director: Lau King Ping
Costume Design: Zhao Zhi Ying
Editing: Angie Lam
Principal photography: Dec 2008 to Feb 2009
Expected Release: Summer/Late 2009

Budget: 100m yuan
Cast: Hu Jun, Sun Li, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Wu Jing, Ronald Cheng, Gan Wei, Li Jian Ren, Eric Tsang, Law Kar Ying, Stephy Tang

Plot:

God created Man in his own image; Man creates robot in his own image. Just as man doubts God, does robot not doubt man?