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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

What makes Green Dragon in 14 Blades different?
Donnie Yen: The character Green Dragon is something I've never tried before, for this person is neither good nor evil. I have done two similar roles before, one was Once Upon a Time in China, but it wasn't fully fleshed out. Initially, I didn't have confidence to bring out something fresh in this character, but director Daniel Lee told me to approach it from a villainous angle, then I started getting a hang of it. Personally, I'm completely different from Green Dragon, so I find this character very novel, for it's the exact opposite of my real life.

Continue reading "Donnie Yen 14 Blades Interview: Looking Forward to Working with Tony Jaa"

With True Legend's release date drawing nearer, more and more videos and stills from the film are surfacing. The gala premiere will be held in Beijing on January 31, possibly attended by some Hollywood personages. In addition, True Legend, as well as Little Big Soldier, will get a special screening at 60th Berlin International Film Festival in February.

Continue reading "True Legend: More Images, Footages, and Yet More Yuen Wo Ping Pep Talk"

-- True Legend --
In True Legend, Andy On takes on the role of a cold, callous, vicious, power-hungry and anaemic-looking Yuan Lie, Zhou Xun's brother, and Zhao Wen Zhuo's god-brother who sells him out. He dabbles in a very dark kungfu, and coupled with his Witch-hazel Jade Armour, which is sewn onto his body, grants him immunity against weapons and normal attacks.

However, the Witch-hazel Jade Armour, specially crafted by a makeup artist from Thailand, was very cumbersome and uncomfortable to be put on, taking 2-3 hours in makeup, and requiring touching up every now and then in between takes, and needs another 1 hour to remove.

Andy On recollects that when he did his first film, Black Mask 2, Yuen Wo Ping was the martial arts director. Yuen Wo Ping was very unsatisfied with his performance in action scenes at that time, often giving him very severe dressing-downs. Andy On says that he wasn't very sensible back then, and really hated Yuen Wo Ping, but in their second collaboration, both had grown out of it, and Andy On had also improved quite a bit.

He was pretty curious about Yuen Wo Ping's nickname as Eighth Master and asked a friend in Hong Kong, if it was because he was the eighth child. His friend told him in Cantonese, eight relates to troublesome. However, he found Yuen Wo Ping to be rather adorable on the set in True Legend.

Andy On learned much from Zhao Wen Zhuo, who gave him tips on protecting himself from injuries when shooting action scenes. And he was very impressed with Zhou Xun's acting, who was able to help him get into his character.

 

Video: Forging Andy On's Armour   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"

A 3D montage from True Legend whereby Zhao Wen Zhuo challenges his imagined opponent in order to elevate his martial arts skill was shown for the first time at a press conference in Beijing on December 20, attended by director Yuen Wo Ping, the cast Zhou Xun, Jiang Lu Xia and Will Liu. Post-production took over 10 months in order to create the fight scenes in 3D, done painstakingly layer by layer, frame by frame by Menfond Electronic Art and over 100 digital artists. Yuen Wo Ping says that to shoot the 3D action scenes, two cameras had to be set up, and he tried to devise moves that aren't too fanciful, such that the action could be seen distinctly, for maximum 3D visual impact.

Continue reading "True Legend in 3D - Partially"

-- True Legend --

Images of Zhao Wen Zhuo, Zhou Xun, Leung Kar Yan (as Beggar Su's father), Jiang Lu Xia, Andy On in True Legend from Sina

 

 

-- 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"

 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"

-- Don Quixote --

Don Quixote, China's first 3D wuxia film with a runtime of 100 minutes, budgeted at 70m yuan, produced by Filmko, directed by Ah Gan, is expected to begin production in Chang'an later this month.  

 

Professional crews are being hired from US and Germany to help in shooting the live-action film entirely in 3D, as opposed to Yuen Wo Ping's True Legend, scheduled for early 2010 release, in which only action scenes are in 3D. Xiong Xin Xin, who provides the action direction, finds filming of action scenes in 3D to be very challenging.

Towards the end of last month, they have already begun filming the trailer at the cost of 3m yuan, with all 40 shots revolving around a manmade volcano crater measuring 14 square km that took 3 months to build. Guo Tao, Huang Bo, Liu Hua would star in the film. Guo Tao will portray the Chinese version of Don Quixote.

The film will be set against the backdrop of ancient Chang'an, whereby knighthood spirit of the original novel is being altered into a more wuxia-esque kind of chivalry.  Beijing Youth Daily