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-- 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.

Being set in an imaginary ancient kingdom, Emi Wada created the costumes for Rain of Swords in the Pugilistic World with Ming Dynasty clothing in mind, yet infused them with a modern touch, such as the patchwork for a Michelle Yeoh's outfit. To reflect a more rustic, everyday feel, the clothes were made of hemp, and intentionally left creased.

Continue reading "The Three Assassins of Rain of Swords in the Pugilistic World"

-- Rain of Swords in The Pugilistic World --

428AD, Bodhi, a Southern India prince became a Buddhist monk and set off for China, earning a hallowed reputation as a mystical martial artist. Following his death, his remains mysteriously disappeared.

 

Hundreds of years later, Zhang, a high-ranking court official, is assassinated by Drizzle. Zhang's son Jingxiu, whilst mourning his father's death, is assailed by a group assassins. They leave him for dead, but somehow he survives and escapes their clutches.

Drizzle, a talented warrior herself, finds herself in possession of Bodhi's remains, and begins her quest to return them to their rightful resting place at Yunhe Temple. The Black Stone, a team of deadly assassins who employed Drizzle, are also after the remains and the powerful secret they hold. To hide from The Black Stone, Drizzle undergoes drastic facial surgery and changes her name to Zeng Jing (Michelle Yeoh). She flees to Beijing, where she meets and falls in love with Jiang (Jung Woo Sung), soon to become her husband.

After a confrontation in Beijing, Zeng Jing's identity is uncovered and both she and Jiang must flee for their lives. As Zeng Jing kills off members of the gang while they are on the run, she quickly realises Jiang is actually Jingxiu, and he is seeking to avenge his father's death. This leads to a lethal triangle and a fight to death between our hero Zeng Jing, Jiang and The Black Stone.

The only question remains who will be the last ones standing to uncover the secret of Bodhi's remains?

-- True Legend --

True Legend character posters for Zhao Wen Zhuo, Zhou Xun, Michelle Yeoh, Andy On, Guo Xiao Dong have been unveiled today afternoon, in conjunction with the launch of Sina True Legend sub-site.

 

Jiang Lu Xia, the only one at the event, is playing Tie Ji, who, along with her brother Will Liu, works for Andy On. She is a very mean person with plenty of fight scenes against Zhao Wen Zhuo. Jiang Lu Xia, who has been holding Yuen Wo Ping in high regard since young, indicates that it's the dream of many wushu practitioners to be able to work with Eighth Master.

Continue reading "Jiang Lu Xia Unveils True Legend Character Posters"

-- Rain of Swords in the Pugilistic World --

《剑雨江湖》 Rain of Swords in the Pugilistic World (tentative), co-produced by Lion Rock, Beijing Galloping Horse, Media Asia Films, began production on Nov 3 on Songjiang Soundstage, Shanghai. Attending the lensing ceremony were the producers John Woo, Terence Chang, Peter Lam, Zhong Li Fang, the director Su Chao Bin, and the cast Michelle Yeoh, Jung Woo Sung, Big S Barbie Hsu, Paw Hee Ching, Wang Xue Qi, Shawn Yue.

Continue reading "The Swords Are Pouring All Over The Pugilistic World"

 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"

-- The Sword and the Pugilistic World --

The Sword and the Pugilistic World by John Woo is slated for production in Shanghai end of October. They'd move location to Taiwan in December or January. John Woo and Terence Chang are producing this film with Su Chao Bin directing, Stephen Tung Wai as the action director, and Emi Wada as the costume designer.

In The Sword and the Pugilistic World, Michelle Yeoh plays an assassin wishing to retire from the pugilistic world. She meets a guileless, sanguine guy Jung Woo Sung in a town, settles down with him and hopes to lead a peaceful life. However, due to her possession of some precious artifact, she can't have her cake and eat it.

Director Su Chao Bin says that while the story sounds hackneyed, he hopes to inject something new, and shoot something redolent of wuxia spirit.

He adds that Barbie Hsu, who's training for the Gu Long style wuxia film, is playing the 2nd most important female role, an assassin. She will have many fight scenes. Kelly Lin will play an important role, but won't have as much screen time. John Woo's daughter Angeles Woo, who's trained in fencing, cameos as yet another assassin.  Min Sheng Daily

-- The Sword and The Pugilistic World --

At the closing ceremony of Shanghai Film Festival on June 21, Michelle Yeoh denies that she is shunning the action genre as age catches up with the 47-year-old actress, "It's very thrilling and fun doing action films. I'm getting stronger, and won't be affected by age. Be it action or arthouse film, what I choose depends very much on the script and the director."

Often, she would also assume producing duties. But to her, it's more relaxing being an actress, "As producer, you would see your money gone every minute, and have to worry if anyone is sick, or even if their family members are sick."

Michelle Yeoh reveals that she would be joining producer Terance Chang and director John Woo's wuxia film The Sword and The Pugilistic World (tentative) this September. While she and John Woo have known each other for years, this is their first collaboration, "It's been a while since I returned to Mainland for filming."  Netease, Sina

-- True Legend --

From the looks of the simply awesome teaser trailer (2009-06-17, First Glimpse) just added to True Legend Official Site, the kungfu film by Yuen Wo Ping, starring Zhao Wen Zhuo, Zhou Xun, Andy On, Michelle Yeoh, Jiang Lu Xia, Cung Le, Sylvester Turkoy, is set to raise the bar for martial arts films.

 

The director's diary has a new entry (2009-06-07, North Star Mountain) on Zhou Xun hauling the badly injured Zhao Wen Zhuo on a stretcher over the hills and having to do tough chores like chopping the wood and fetching water and filming of heartbreaking scenes on Mt North Star.

 

Actual release date has not been announced, but due to the scale of the film, post-production would take around 1 year or so and True Legend won't be out till at least December.

 

Michelle Yeoh would possibly be starring alongside Andy Lau in Lady Warriors of Yang Family: Military Order Stands Absolute (tentative) directed by Frankie Chan in December.

Days in Shaolin

Many kids have the tendency to swap pointers with their friends after watching martial arts films or TV series.

That 蒋璐霞 Jiang Lu Xia, 23, walks the path of wushu is also on the account of these works.

"When I was very young, my father loved martial arts shows, and I would watch them with him. While I hadn't had the slightest inklings of the mechanics, I was envious of those people on the screen who could fly. Then, I made up my mind, I must train this, so that I could soar to school every day," recounts Jiang Lu Xia in her interview. Continue reading "Interview: Jiang Lu Xia Yearns to Fly Like in the Movies"

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"

-- Hua Mu Lan --
Since a few years back, Stanley Tong and Michelle Yeoh had announced their intentions to film live action versions of Hua Mu Lan, but for whatever reasons, neither versions have come into being.

 

And now, Jingle Ma intends to shoot his version of Mulan in Hong Kong in February 2009, possibly starring Singapore singer Stefanie Sun Yan Zi and Louis Koo. The budget is around 50m yuan, and the film is being produced by Mainland film companies. Stefanie Sun's friend says that they are in negotiations, but nothing is finalised yet.

Disney, which made the hit animation Mulan in 1998, is also planning a live adaptation, budgeted at US$120m. Script was being written two years back. They hope to cast Zhang Ziyi and Donnie Yen in the leading roles, and hope to get Johnnie To to direct.

Johnnie To, having other commitments, would only be available towards the end of 2009. He says that he hasn't decided if he'd take up the offer.

Donnie Yen says that last year, he was indeed being approached to play General Li Guang alongside Zhang Ziyi , but hasn't heard any further word from them. He does not have any idea on when it'd begin production, but looks forward to it, nevertheless.  Lianhe Wanbao