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The Not So Crooked Crooks

After graduating from a sports university, majoring in Sanda, Xia Yu (video) entered illegal matches to make quick cash because of what Charlie Yeung, the girl he loves, said, "You've got money? Then you may like me." But being a loyal friend with a simple mind, he was swindled by someone and killed the cheat in one strike.

On December 9, gala premiere of the romantic comedy All About Women was held in Beijing, attended by the director Tsui Hark and cast members Zhou Xun, Gui Lun Mei, Zhang Yu Qi, Stephen Fung, Eddie Peng etc.

In the film, Zhou Xun is an antiquated doctor who petrifies upon contact with any man. Kwai Lun Mei plays a rock band singer who has violent inclinations, and often hallucinates about having a perfect boyfriend. Zhang Yu Qi is a self-centred entrepreneur who doesn't believe in having a boyfriend.

-- Champions --

Champions, a martial arts comedy directed by Tsui Siu Ming, opens in China on October 31. The film features a variety of martial arts: Eagle Claw, Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, Southern Fist, Ditang Fist, Fanzi Fist, Arhat Fist, Tiger Taming Fist, etc, as well as an assortment of weaponry; and appearances by numerous wushu champions.

One notable wushu star in the film is Xu Xiang Dong, who plays An Yong, Chief of Eagle Claw Clan, who goes around challenging everybody initially. As one who stands by the motto "One who remains standing is the winner, one who is lying on the ground the loser.", he organises a martial arts meet to let everyone witness the prowess of his skills.

The Bund, May 6, 2008
Li Jun

The world's foremost martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo Ping is often called Eighth Master. However, among his siblings, he's the eldest brother. How did he come to be known as Eighth Master within the entertainment circle?. Yuen Wo Ping explains, this is because when he joined the film industry in the stunt profession when he was over ten years old, there were 8 sworn brothers then, and he was the youngest.

-- Missing --
Missing gala premiere was held in Beijing yesterday, graced by Tsui Hark, Guo Xiao Dong and Angelica Lee Sinjie, while Isabella Leong was unable to attend.

Missing, which starts with horror and suspense high on shock factor that has the audience screaming, and changes drastically, with a purposeful mismatch in look and feel, into romance in the last 20 minutes that the audience finds a bit slow yet heartbreaking, is about a marriage proposal underwater that goes awry as the would-be groom Guo Xiao Dong goes missing while the would-be bride Angelica Lee loses part of her ROM, RAM, harddisk, memory card and suffers from mental breakdown. Missing opens in theatres in Asia on June 12.

-- 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.

Have Perseverance, Will Succeed

李渊 Li Yuan was born on August 7, 1982 in Shangdong to an impecunious peasant family of over 10 members, at the time when Jet Li's Shaolin Temple took the nation by storm. Growing up being a fan of martial arts films, Li Yuan started formal training in martial arts at the age of 12. When he was in primary 4, he made a bold decision to quit school in order to learn wushu. He was subsequently punished by his parents. But on considering that he wasn't doing very well in his academic studies, Li Yuan's parents finally relented.

Li Yuan was raised mostly by his wushu champion brother 李炳雷 Li Bing Lei, who also teaches him martial arts. Li Bing Lei is 8 years his senior. Li Yuan was brought up under very strict upbringing, and he matured earlier than most people. In his youth, he got only one rest day on Lunar New Year; on other days, he would train for four to five hours daily. There were times when thoughts of skiving did occur to Li Yuan, but on thinking of how hard his parents were toiling in the fields in his hometown, even in bitter winters, Li Yuan cast aside all weariness.

-- Seven Swords 2 --

Sun Hong Lei reveals that Seven Swords 2 film is still an on-going project and Tsui Hark has been working on the script. He estimates that production might possibly begins next year. Charlie Yeung, who's invited, along with Sun Hong Lei, to a ribbon cutting ceremony, would not say anything about the script other. She believes Tsui Hark would give her a role that would be a delightful surprise. On the hand, Ciwen Pictures, the studio behind the TV version of Seven Swordsmen, is putting the TV sequel on hold due to high costs involved as well as the audience's declining interest on ancient series.

Tsui Hark had recently completed filming of Missing, a mystery about one of a couple gone missing at an ancient underwater ruins off Yonaguni Island. He also has several other projects ahead including 《女人不坏》 She Ain't Mean, which is a somewhat modern version of Peking Opera Blues, and Di Ren Jie. In addition, he has just acquired the rights to Jing Xu Feng's suspense novel 《天眼》 Divine Eye which deals with cracking of an enigmatic case in the recent 100 years.  Chengdu Evening News

-- Project D --
Huayi Brothers is investing US$20m on a movie based on Judge Di Ren Jie of Tang Dynasty. The movie with a working title of Project D, will be directed by Tsui Hark, produced by Chen Kuo Fu and written by Zhang Jia Lu. While Tsui Hark's wish of making Journey to the West, with intention of having Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia shaving her head to play Tripitaka, has yet to be realised, his research into Tang Dynasty led him to stories relating to real life character Di Ren Jie. This sparked his interest on the person and hence the film Project D. Tsui Hark had mentioned in December 2005 that Di Ren Jie would be his main focus after completing Seven Swords.

Di Ren Jie was a prime minister in Tang Dynasty when Wu Ze Tian was the female ruler. When he held office at the Board of Justice for a year, he cracked all cases left over by the previous officer, leaving no more grievances and appeals from the people unresolved, a testament to his wise, upright and just character. Shi Nan Sun says that Tsui Hark is designing Di Ren Jie as a detective in the movie. The cast has not been determined. Production may begin in March 2008.  Beijing Youth Daily