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10 articles from 2009

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New 十月圍城 (Bodyguards and Assassins) Trailer = Action Orgasm

24 November 2009 10:32 PM, PST | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

Oh mommy.

First one to set the mood, second one to tell a story, third one... I haven't seen it. But the fourth trailer is certainly for the action fan who's been asking himself if Hong Kong still has it, and it should answer the question pretty explicitly. Of course the action takes center stage, but the Hk replica set is truly stunning both in detail and artistry.

Releasing on December 18, the film is set in 1905 Hong Kong, as a group of bodyguards attempt to protect Sun Yat-Sen from an onslaught of, well, assassins. Directed by Teddy Chen, this bad boy stars a who's who of Chinese cinema, from Leon Lai to Donnie Yen, Eric Tsang, Fan Bingbing, Hu Jun, Nicholas Tse, Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka-Fai and even Jacky Cheung (cameo, I suppose?). The $23 million action blockbuster did well at the recent Afm, selling to the UK, Canada, Middle East and Korea. »

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Forever Enthralled sent to Oscars by China.

28 September 2009 12:26 AM, PDT | Movie Jungle | See recent Movie Jungle news »

"Forever Enthralled" has been selected by The People's Republic of China to represent the country's Oscar bid at the next Academy Awards, China's Film Bureau announced on Saturday. Chen Kaige's ("Farewell My Concubine") biopic of China's famous Peking opera performer Mei Lanfang stars Leon Lai as well as Zhang Ziyi. It is a co-production of CHina Film Group as well as China Magnetics Corp. Co. The film marks Chen's third representation of China at the Oscars, the others being "Farewell My Concubine" and "The Promise." »

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More detail on Dante Lam’s Out Of Leash

18 September 2009 3:25 AM, PDT | 24framespersecond.net | See recent 24FramesPerSecond news »

They do love a good cop thriller in Hong Kong and it seems local helmer Dante Lam loves directing them, as his next film after the recent hits ‘Beast Stalker’ and ‘Sniper’ will again be a police action-thriller called Out Of Leash (English working title) aka Fire Dragon (Chinese title). Leash stars Leon Lai and Richie Jen - working alongside co-star Michelle Ye - as two cops, one of whom is being investigated by Internal Affairs, for the suspected murder of a hooker. The suspect man must head into Hong Kong’s seedy underworld, to enlist the help of a local narc to prove his innocence. Sounds great, but once Lam has finished with this he can finally get onto the project we are really waiting for. His remake (along with veteran producer Peter Chan) of the Shaw Brothers’ martial arts movie classic, about a team of deadly assassins The Flying Guillotine. »

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DVD Playhouse--August 2009

10 August 2009 2:25 AM, PDT | The Hollywood Interview | See recent The Hollywood Interview news »

DVD Playhouse—August 2009

By

Allen Gardner

Watchmen—Director’S Cut (Warner Bros.) Director Zack Snyder’s film of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ landmark graphic novel is as worthy an adaptation of a great book that has ever been filmed. In an alternative version of the year 1985, Richard Nixon is serving his third term as President and super heroes have been outlawed by a congressional act, in spite of the fact that two of the most high-profile “masks,” Dr. Manhattan (Billy Cruddup) and The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) helped the U.S. win the Vietnam War. When The Comedian is found murdered, many former heroes become concerned that a conspiracy is afoot to assassinate retired costumed crime fighters. Former masks Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman) and still-operating Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley, in an Oscar-worthy turn) launch an investigation of their own, all while the Pentagon’s “Doomsday »

- The Hollywood Interview.com

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Teaser Trailer & Poster for Bodyguards and Assassins

15 July 2009 6:57 AM, PDT | Affenheimtheater | See recent Affenheimtheater news »

This Teaser Trailer for Bodyguards and Assassins (aka Dark October) isn’t exacly brand new but since I haven’t seen it on any niche news site and I noticed that I haven’t typed a single word on director Teddy Chan and producer Peter Chan’s latest project I thought I should post it anyway.

The film is set on October 15th 1905 with the father of the Chinese Revolution, Dr. Sun Yat-sen visiting Hong Kong for negotiations. During his one-day stay, forces from the collapsing Qing Dynasty send out assassins to get rid of the politician and only the brave bodyguards coming from the streets of Hong Kong can prevent it…

[See post to watch Flash video] Like in (or maybe because of) Jian Guo Da Ye (The Great Cause of China’s Foundation/Founding of the Nation), Peter Chan managed to lure in a truck load of stars like Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Eric Tsang, »

- Ulrik

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“Bodyguards And Assassins” + “Punitive Homicide” – Teddy Chen interview - Filmart-haf 2009

7 July 2009 4:59 AM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

Formerly known as “Dark October”, the very long-gestating “Bodyguards and Assassins” is becoming reality, and is definitely one of the most exciting and expected Hong Kong / Chinese action movie to be released in South East Asia next year. Just before the beginning of the shooting, director Teddy Chen (“Downtown Torpedoes”, “Purple Storm”...)  announced this huge project officially at the Hong Kong Filmart in March 2009, with his producer Peter Chan (“The Warlords”) and one big part of his amazing cast (Donnie Yen, Tony Leung Kar-fai, Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, Hu Jun, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bing-bing, Leon Lai, and Wang Po-chieh). At the same time, Teddy Chen also announced at the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing forum (Haf) his next project, the thriller “Punitive Homicide”.

Frédéric Ambroisine: You’ve just announced at the Filmart what’s probably the biggest movie of you career?

Teddy Chen: Yes. It’s called “Bodyguards and Assassins »

- Fred Ambroisine

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Promo for Bodyguards And Assassins *Update*

22 May 2009 6:54 AM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

[Updated with extended promo shown at Cannes that contains plenty of actual footage.]

Exactly a week ago at the Hong Kong Filmart, a press conference was held for Teddy Chan’s period piece Bodyguards and Assassins (formerly Dark October), a film that deals with a group of people protecting revolutionary leader Sun Yat Sen against an assassination attempt in October of 1905.  When Todd attended the event, he broke the news on a full scale replica of old Hong Kong being recreated in mainland China.  A promo video on Youtube takes us inside the city with footage of the set in the early building stages and a walk through of a virtual streets in 3D.  The all-star cast will include Donnie Yen (Gambler), Wang Xue Qi (Tycoon), Eric Tsang, (Police Man) Tony Leung Kar Fai (Revolutionary), Fan Bing Bing (Concubine), Wang Po-Chieh (Heir), Simon Yam (Fugitive), Hu Jun (Assassin),  Zhou Yun (Fiancee), Nicholas Tse (Rickshaw Man) and Leon Lai (Beggar). 

The film is set to begin production in April. »

- Al Young

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International Poster and Character Banners for Bodyguards And Assassins

13 May 2009 1:56 PM, PDT | Twitch | See recent Twitch news »

On the eve of the 62nd Cannes film festival, the international poster and 11 character banners for Teddy Chan’s Bodyguards and Assassins has been unveiled via Sina.com.  The all-star cast feature on the character banner include Donnie Yen (The Gambler), Nicholas Tse (The Rickshaw Man), Tony Leung Kar Fai (The Revolutionary), Leon Lai (The Beggar), Wang Xue Qi (The Tycoon), Li Yuchun (The Diva), Hu Jun (The Assassin), Fan Bing Bing (The Concubine), Eric Tsang (The Police Man), Wang Po-Chieh (The Heir) and Zhou Yun (The Fiancee) but the banner for Simon Yam (The Fugitive) is missing. 

Filming is currently in progress with the release date schedule on December 18th.

»

- Al Young

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An Empress And The Warriors hits R2 DVD

9 March 2009 3:23 AM, PDT | 24framespersecond.net | See recent 24FramesPerSecond news »

Action superstar Donnie Yen dons his armour once again, to follow the lead of Cantonese Pop icon Kelly Chen in Tony Ching Siu Tung's Big budget epic An Empress and the Warriors. Tung who previously handled the action for Zhang Yimou's "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers" manages to create a lavish old school action (with a touch of romance) pic, that is a true feast for the eyes. Yan Feier (Kelly Chen) is thrust into the role of empress when her father the King is viciously murdered by his own nephew, Wu Ba (Guo Xiao Dong). His treachery unknown to Feier, Wu Ba plots to gain control of the kingdom for himself. Meanwhile, Feier turns to legendary warrior Brother Hu (Donnie Yen) to instruct her in the ways of warfare. But Wu sends assassins after Feier, and she's poisoned by an assassin's dart before being lost in the woods. »

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An Empress And The Warriors - Trailer

1 March 2009 2:33 AM, PST | Latemag.com/film | See recent LateFilmFull news »

Veteran Hong Kong director Tony Siu-Tung Ching (director of classic "A Chinese Ghost Story" and the "Swordsman" trilogy and the action choreographer for "Curse Of The Golden Flower", "Hero" and "House Of Flying Daggers") makes a dazzling return to vintage form with the epic, An Empress And The Warriors, starring Donnie Yen (Flashpoint; Dragon Tiger Gate; Seven Swords; Hero), Kelly Chen (the Infernal Affairs trilogy; Tokyo Raiders) and Leon Lai (Seven Swords; Infernal Affairs 3).

 

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tags: world cinema

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- Leigh

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2009 | 2008 | 2007

10 articles from 2009

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