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-- A Chinese Ghost Story --

With Yan Chi Xia being more romantically inclined in Wilson Yip's A Chinese Ghost Story, the onus of demon hunting now falls upon his senior Xiaxue Fenglei, a brand new character introduced in this film, and played by Fan Siu Wong.

Fan Siu Wong says, "Xiaxue Feng Lei is a family man who cares very much for his sister. While he couldn't understand why his junior Yan Chi Xia would be so besotted with demoness Nie Xiao Qian, he is not completely unsympathetic. He may appear aloof and cold but is actually warm-hearted. Our action choreographer is Ma Yuk Sing, his choreography tends towards the aesthetics and mood, so my moves are more ethereal, not as ferocious as in the past."  

 

In this week's release, Flirting Scholar 2 by director Lee Lik Chi, Fan Siu Wong plays a bandit who poses himself as abbot Wuliang. He will be engaging in a battle of wits against Tang Bo Hu and co. But rather than squaring off against Huang Xiao Ming, he has most fights with Zhang Jing Chu's Qiu Xiang, "Initially, it was very hard for me to imagine fighting Zhang Jing Chu. She is usually portrayed as a weak woman in those arthouse films. But she would train whenever she has spare time, and would consult me and the action director on how to do the action better. Our fight is definitely a major showcase in the film."   Sina

-- A Chinese Ghost Story --
Press conference was held on June 1 to mark the production commencement of director's Wilson Yip's version of A Chinese Ghost Story, starring Louis Koo, Liu Yifei, Yu Shao Qun, Fan Siu Wong, Kara Hui, Gong Xin Liang, etc.

Continue reading "Director Wilson Yip Tackles A Chinese Ghost Story from Another Perspective"

Ip Man 2, the highest grossing Chinese film so far in China this year at slightly over 200m yuan, will be available on home video on June 25, 2010. Directed by Wilson Yip, action choreographed by Sammo Hung, and starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Shi Xiao Long, Fan Siu Wong, Huang Xiao Ming, Darren Shahlavi, Lunn Hung, Kent Cheng, etc., the sequel, which is more martial arts oriented, sees Donnie Yen against with Sammo Hung in some of the most exciting martial arts sequences in the recent years.

 

After defending himself against the Japanese army in the first film, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) goes with his family to start anew in Hong Kong. He starts a small martial arts school, recruiting the young and brash Wong Leung (Huang Xiao Ming) as his student. However, Ip finds out the hard way that the Hong Kong martial arts world is controlled by a group of martial arts masters, led by the powerful Master Hung (Sammo Hung). To survive in Hong Kong, Ip not only needs to gain acceptance from the masters, but also from the corrupted British-run police force and an arrogant British boxer (Darren Shahlavi).

 

Blu-ray and 2-disc DVD Editions come with:
● Making Of
● Cast and Crew Interviews
● Deleted Scenes
● Featurette on Four Major Scenes
● Shooting Diary
● Gala Premiere
● Photo Gallery
● Trailers

 

Order from YesAsia: Ip Man 2 Blu-ray | DVD - Standard Edition / Special Edition

Heard that you hurt yourself when filming but still insisted on carrying on? Was it very serious?

Sammo Hung: Yes, I still kept on filming after being injured. You could say it was serious, you could also say it's not serious, did not matter. Darren Shahlavi dared not hit me initially. But I compelled him to strike, but he was still holding back, so the outcome wasn't very good and we kept doing retakes.

 

Continue reading "Sammo Hung Interview on Ip Man 2's Martial Arts Sequences"

At Ip Man 2 press conference on March 23, 2010, Donnie Yen boldly declares, "While there are a handful of Yip Man projects out there, this is the one and only film everyone has actually seen. So, from my standpoint, there is only one Ip Man film - the one I acted in. Yip Man is an otaku who fights very well, the movie's success has nothing to do with Wing Chun (Spring).

Continue reading "Spreading His Fame Across the Galaxy, Ip Man Fends Off Aliens in Third Instalment?"

-- Ip Man 2 --

More awesome goodness between Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen that director Wilson Yip declares as another martial arts classic:

 

Continue reading "Ip Man 2 Trailer"

-- Ip Man 2 --
Wilson Yip, who reveals that Ip Man 2's martial arts scenes are the results of Sammo Hung's painstaking effort, describes the duel between Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung as his most unforgettable scene in the film, "Big Brother Sammo Hung's choreography is truly outstanding, I love it very much. And it's not just fighting, for there is a little drama there as well. Sammo Hung, who can't wait to step onto the arena, is asked by Donnie Yen just before the duel if it's more important to determine the winner or having a meal with family?"

Wilson Yip indicates that in order to highlight the characteristics of Wing Chun in this challenge,  whereby Donnie Yen has to win three duels consecutively on the table within the burning time of a joss stick, Sammo Hung specially picked Monkey Fist and Eight Trigram Palm, to compete against Wing Chun, before Sammo Hung himself takes on Donnie Yen using Hung Gar.

 

Lo Meng would employ Monkey Fist's agile moves and leaps to test the waters of Wing Chun's attacks and feigns, while Fung Hak On, using Eight Trigram Palm's seemingly slow but fast movements, circles and clings around the opponent, striking at the most opportune moment. As the other two masters step down, Sammo Hung, the fastest fatty fighter, makes use of Hung Gar's powerful and aggressive moves to counter Wing Chun chain punch, fighting fire with fire.

 

Under such exquisite choreography, the counters between the various forms of martial arts and Wing Chun allow the audience to get a better appreciation of the finer points of wushu. To make it more challenging and precarious, and for heightened visuals as well as adding a touch of wushu vibrancy, Sammo Hung chose a confined space - the top of a 20-seat round table - to be their arena.

 

To sum up, Wilson Yip says that what Ip Man displays through the fights is a kind of forbearance, "武 (Wu) is made up of 止 (cessation) and 戈 (dagger-axe). The spirit of Chinese wushu is to stop fighting, rather than picking up a fight. The pursuit of the highest realm of wushu is not merely about winning or losing. That Ip Man gaining an edge over his opponent is not because of his desire to determine the winner, nor to defeat yet another opponent, it's not about physical victory, but rather it's on another level - winning without waging war."

 

2nd teaser trailer: Youku

It had long been the wish of Sin Kwok Lam, a longtime martial arts practitioner and shrewd businessman and capitalist who is a major player in Hong Kong financial sector and has even published a controversial book on big corporations swallowing up small firms last year, to bring the account of his grandmaster Yip Man to screen, but he couldn't find any filmmakers willing enough to take the risk as Yip Man was little known. Continue reading "And thus, Ip Man, The Legend, is Born"

-- Ip Man 2 --
Ip Man 2 has wrapped up production on November 8. While everyone is eagerly looking forward to the match between Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen, but perhaps because the recent surgery and health conditions, Sammo Hung regrets not getting enough kicks out of it, "Although I'm the martial arts choreographer, our moves were all rather regulated, being confined by the script. So, I made a pact with Donnie Yen to have a rematch next year if the opportunity arises."

Wilson Yip reveals that there is another martial arts exponent in the film, "He has been Donnie Yen's fan since he was a kid. He wouldn't have imagined getting the chance to spar against his idol after ten years."

With no intention of revealing who he is and what role he plays, Wilson Yip tantalises, keeping it a mystery, "I can only say that he fights even more vehemently than Sammo Hung."  Beijing Times

《叶问前传》 Ip Man the Prequel (tentative) has begun production in Hong Kong on November 7. Herman Yau is directing this film, produced by Sin Kwok Lam. Ip Chun serves as the film's advisor and will cameo as Yip Man's second mentor Leung Bik. Under invitation from Foshan government, 2/3 of the scenes from Ip Man the Prequel will be shot on location in Foshan, including the original village Ip Man lived in.

Continue reading "Ip Man the Prequel Begins Filming"

Whether it is fuelled by the success Wilson Yip's Ip Man or not, Wing Chun is fast becoming a popular kungfu onscreen, with many Wing Chun-themed movies being produced.

Continue reading "Wing Chun Extends Its Wings Across Chinese Cinema"

 As Ip Man 2 is wrapping up soon, the press was finally granted visit to the set in Songjiang Studio, Shanghai on October 28, when the gripping duel between two of the best martial arts stars Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen was being filmed. Continue reading " Ip Man 2: Sammo Hung Vs Donnie Yen Round 2"