Blood Brothers (2007) Tian tang kou (original title)

Director:

Alexi Tan

Writers:

Alexi Tan (written by) &
Dan Jiang (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 August 2007 (China)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

The days of innocence have passed. They must make their choices like men. But at what costs? Is blood really thicker than water?

Plot:

Set in Shanghai during the 1930s, the story is inspired by John Woo's classic work Bullet in the Head, released in 1990. |

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Movie Set | Chorus Line | Orchestra | Small Town

Cast

Daniel Wu	...	Ah Feng
Ye Liu	...	Da Gang
Qi Shu	...	Lulu (as Shu Qi)
Tony Yang	...	Xiao Hu
Xiaolu Li	...	Su Zhen (as Lulu Li)
Honglei Sun	...	Boss Hong
Chen Chang	...	Mark
Jun Zhao	...	Mei
Dian Lun Zhang	...	Xi Yan (as Zhang Dian Lun)
Jie Gao	...	Boss Chen (as Gao Jie)
Yong Xin Gui	...	Newspaper Boy (as Gui Yong Xin)
Li Qiu Zhang	...	Lulu's Maid (as Zhang Li Qiu)
Ren Yuen Wu	...	Hu's Father (as Wu Ren Yuen)
Xiao Hu Ding	...	Rickshaw Man (as Ding Xiao Hu)
Xiang Hu	...	Young Vietnamese Man (as Hu Xiang)
Zheng Zheng	...	Huang Mao
Yi Heng Shao	...	Crippled Man (as Shao Yi Heng)
Zhen Ying Yao	...	Teacher Chang (as Yao Zhen Ying)
Young Fu Fan	...	Chinese Official (as Fan Yong Fu)
Zhiyong Zhang	...	Waiter (as Zhang Zhi Yong)
Jing Sun	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Sun Jing)
Jing Ni Luo	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Luo Jing Ni)
Yin Wen Pu	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Pu Yin Wen)
Zhao Li	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Li Zhao)
Wen Jia Ji	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Ji Wen Jia)
Min Gui	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Gui Min)
Duo Duo Qian	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Qian Duo Duo)
Lin Ma	...	Tsiao Hong Ying (as Ma Lin)
Yi-Ching Lu	...	Ying (as Lu Xiao Lin)
Jiaolong Sun	...	Scarface (as Sun Jiao Long)
Hai Ruo Wu	...	Club Host (as Wu Hai Ruo)
Chen Yang	...	Butterfly Wu (as Yang Chen)
Yu Hua Wang	...	Anna May Wong (as Wang Yu Hua)
Jian Hua Song	...	Boss Hong's Man (as Song Jian Hua)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Xin-yu Yuan

Directed by
Alexi Tan		(as Yili Chen)

Writing credits
Alexi Tan		(written by) &
Dan Jiang		(written by) (as Jiang Dan) &
Tony Chan		(written by)

Produced by
Terence Chang	....	producer
Hong Tat Cheung	....	associate producer (as Cheung Hong Dat)
Chin-Wen Huang	....	executive producer (as Huang Chin Wen)
Yeh Jufeng	....	co-producer (as Yeh Jufeng)
Stephen Lam	....	associate producer
Roger Lee	....	executive producer
Jamie Luk	....	co-producer
Dai Song	....	executive producer (as Song Dai)
David Tang	....	co-producer
John Woo	....	producer
Cheri Yeung	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Daniel Belardinelli

Cinematography by
Michel Taburiaux		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Long Cheng		(as Cheng Long)

Casting by
Li Guo Duan		(as Duan Li Guo)
Ji Wen Yao		(as Yao Ji Wen)

Production Design by
Alfred Yau		(as Alfred Yau Wai Ming)

Costume Design by
Timmy Yip

Makeup Department
Shou Mao Chen	....	hair assistant (as Chen Shou Mao)
Xiao Li Ding	....	hair stylist assistant (as Ding Xiao Li)
Hong Gao	....	makeup team (as Gao Hong)
Xun Guo	....	makeup artist (as Guo Xun)
Gloria Lam	....	hair stylist (as Lam Wai Lok)
Chun Fei Pu	....	makeup team (as Pu Chun Fei)
Sui Keung Tse	....	hair stylist (as Tse Shui Keung)
Chang Chun Wang	....	makeup team (as Wang Chang Chun)
Wen Yu Wang	....	hair assistant (as Wang Wen Yu)
Quian Jin Xi	....	hair assistant (as Xie Qian Jin)
Lin Xiao	....	makeup team (as Xiao Lin)
Timmy Yip	....	image designer (as Tim Yip)
Bin Yuan	....	first makeup artist (as Yuan Bin)
Rong Zhang	....	makeup team (as Zhang Rong)
Gui Lan Zhong	....	hair assistant (as Zhong Gui Lan)
Zing	....	makeup supervisor: Shu Qi

Production Management
Janet Chan	....	production manager
Louis Wong	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Cheng	....	first assistant director
Lin Li	....	third assistant director (as Li Lin)
Xiang Li	....	second assistant director (as Li Xiang)
Yue Shi	....	assistant director (as Shi Yue)
Zhen Rui Wang	....	location assistant director (as Wang Zhen Rui)

Art Department
Jian Yue Cha	....	props man (as Cha Jian Yue)
Zong Lin Chen	....	props man (as Chen Zong Lin)
Benny Cheung	....	art assistant
De Li Fang	....	props man (as Fang De Li)
Jian Hua Fu	....	props man (as Fu Jiang Hua)
Xiu Guo	....	art assistant (as Guo Xiu)
Rui Yong Li	....	props man (as Li Rui Yong)
Yong Fa Li	....	props master (as Li Yong Fa)
Zhi Yao Lin	....	art assistant (as Lin Zhi Yao)
Shu Kuan Mei	....	props man (as Mei Shu Kuan)
Bang Xi Shen	....	props man (as Sheng Bang Xi)
Kang Wan Tang	....	props man (as Tang Kang Wan)
Shi Hua Tang	....	props man (as Tang Shi Hua)
Chau Yee Tsang	....	props man (as Tsang Chau Yee)
Quan Wang	....	props man (as Wang Quan)
Tza-On Wong	....	props master (as Wong Tza On)
Zheng Ming Yao	....	head property master (as Yao Zheng Ming)
Yue Rong Yu	....	props man (as Yu Yue Rong)
Kai Ying Zhang	....	art assistant (as Zhang Kai Ying)
Cheng Ming Zhou	....	props man (as Zhou Cheng Ming)
Yue You Zhu	....	props man (as Zhu Yue You)

Sound Department
Martin Richard Chappell	....	supervising sound editor (as Martin Chappell)
Jiajin Lu	....	sound recordist (as Lu Jia Jin)

Visual Effects by
Wen Ping Chang	....	revival (as Chang Wen Ping)
Linus Cheng	....	2D Inferno animator
Dorian Huang	....	revival

Stunts
Philip Kwok	....	action choreography
Wing-Cheong Poon	....	explosive stunts (as Poon Wing Cheong)
Jacky Yeung	....	assistant to action director
Jacky Yeung	....	stunt coordinator
Wei Yuan Zhu	....	explosive stunts (as Zhu Wei Yuan)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hon Zon Chan	....	first assistant gaffer (as Chan Hon Zon)
Lai Hung Choi	....	gaffer: second unit (as Tsoi Lai Hung)
Bin Diao	....	lighting technician (as Diao Bin)
Guo Hua Diao	....	lighting technician (as Diao Guo Hua)
Jia Ni Du	....	interpreter: gaffer
Ying Han Ge	....	dolly grip (as Ge Ying Han)
Junming Gong	....	film loader (as Gong Jun Ming)
Wai Kiu Lau	....	still photographer (as Lau Wai Kiu)
Jinyang Liu	....	video assist recordist
Kok Keung Mok	....	lighting technician (as Mok Kok Keung)
Feng Ling Qian	....	lighting technician (as Qian Feng Ling)
Wing Shya	....	still photographer
Rodolphe Soucaret	....	focus puller: first unit
Jian Guo Tang	....	lighting technician (as Tang Jian Guo)
Jian Dong Wang	....	assistant camera
Jianjun Wang	....	focus puller: second unit (as Wang Jian Jun)
Ying Wang	....	assistant camera (as Wang Ying)
Chi Ming Wong	....	gaffer (as Wong Chi Ming)
Man Bun Wong	....	lighting technician (as Wong Man Bun)
Cai Xu	....	lighting technician (as Xu Cai)

Casting Department
Yao Jun	....	assistant to casting director
Tyler Stokes	....	assistant to casting director

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sally Cheng	....	assistant costume designer
Jelly Chung	....	assistant costume designer
Huan Fang	....	wardrobe (as Fang Huan)
Mabel Kwan	....	wardrobe master (as Mable Kwan)
Ceilen Lau	....	wardrobe
Xue Qun Liu	....	wardrobe (as Liu Xue Qun)
Lin Wang	....	costume assistant (as Wang Lin)

Editorial Department
Cine Chang	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Rex Chang	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Chien Ping Chen	....	on-line editor: avid (as Chen Chien Ping)
Mei Yuan Chen	....	film timer (as Chen Mei Yuan)
Monique Chen	....	negative conforming
Miao Rung Chiang	....	negative conforming (as Chiang Miao Rung)
Sze Yi Chu	....	digital intermediate video colorist (as Chu Szu Yi)
Tony Hu	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Dorian Huang	....	digital film restoration: 2D
Chang Hsien Lee	....	on-line editor: avid (as Lee Chang Hsien)
Chu Szu Yi	....	film recording operator

Music Department
Marina Dubovskova	....	orchestra contractor
Bob Parsons	....	orchestrator
Sergey Skripka	....	conductor: The Russian State Symphony
Oscar Zambrano	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Guo Qiang Zhu	....	transportation (as Zhu Guo Qiang)

Other crew
Jacqueline Chan	....	corporate accountant
Stephen Chan	....	location accountant
Jian Chen	....	location assistant (as Chen Jian)
Pei Chi Chen	....	accountant (as Chen Pei Chi)
Pei Chi Chen	....	finance (as Chen Pei Chi)
Sharon Chen	....	accountant
Sharon Chen	....	finance
Jessica Chuang	....	business affairs
Jessica Chuang	....	legal affairs
Nie Chunsheng	....	assistant to director (as Nie Chun Sheng)
Wei Min Du	....	bookkeeping assistant (as Du Wei Min)
Alice Ho	....	business affairs
Alice Ho	....	legal affairs
Isabella Ho	....	marketing assistant
Fanny Lee	....	continuity
Franny Lee	....	legal affairs
Peggy Lee	....	financial manager
Roger Lee	....	financial controller
Joseph Liao	....	marketing supervisor
Hua Dong Pan	....	dance teacher (as Pan Hua Dong)
Tyler Stokes	....	assistant: Alexi Tan
Yi Tang	....	stand-in (as Tang Yi)
Hua Wang	....	office assistant (as Wang Hua)
Hua Wang	....	production assistant (as Wang Hua)
Liu Lian Wang	....	tea lady (as Wang Liu Lian)
Dong Lai Wei	....	location manager (as Wei Dong Lai)
Ryan Wong	....	making-of
Ming Ying Wu	....	financial manager
Chen Yang	....	stand-in (as Yang Chen)
Liu Yang	....	assistant to executive producer (as Yang Liu)
Nikki Yang	....	marketing assistant
Zhen Ying Yao	....	dance teacher (as Yao Zhen Ying)
Garson Yu	....	title designer: main titles (as Garson Yu at Yu + Co.)
Jia Jia Zhu	....	office assistant (as Zhu Jia Jia)

Production Companies

• CMC Entertainment (presents)
• Sil-Metropole Organisation (presents)
• Lion Rock Productions (production)
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (in collaboration with)

Distributors

• First Look International (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Innoform Media (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• SPO (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Falcon Films (2007) (Lebanon) (all media) (Middle East)
• Golden Scene (2007) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Maximum Film Distribution (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Seville Pictures (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
• United King Films (2007) (Israel) (all media)

Special Effects

• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• yU+Co.  main title design
• CineDigit  avid post production
• Soundfirm Beijing Co.  sound studio
• Showreel Film Facilities  sound mixing
• Mosfilm  orchestra recording
• Ramblin Man Music  music mixing
• Taipei Motion Picture  digital intermediate post-production
• Shanghai Film Laboratory  film laboratory
• Fortissimo Films  world sales
• Taipei Motion Picture  film laboratory

Also Known As:

"Tian tang kou" - Hong Kong (original title)
"Gate to Heaven" - Hong Kong (English title) (literal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence

Runtime:

Canada:95 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Hong Kong | Taiwan | China

Language:

Mandarin | French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:14A | USA:R | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16

Company:

CMC Entertainment

Soundtrack:

Tian Tang Kou

Epic look tries to conceal a small scale story

Three friends from the sticks go to Shanghai and become gangsters in around the Paradise club. As time goes on and they climb up the ladder they find their relationships tested.

Replace Shanghai with Chicago or New York and you'd have an Oscar nominated film for the art direction and costuming. This is a great looking 1930's gangster film moved to China and its a joy to behold. Its one of those movies you'd like to use as a moving piece of art on the wall.

Unfortunately the script is really lacking. Dialog is sparse and not very colorful. Its almost bland retread dialog and it takes the edge off things. the characters are less then thrilling. The look the part but they don't have much beyond the look to carry them. Worse is the plot line which is a tad been there done that, but also really lacks any real action. yes there are some beatings and shootings but nothing really large scale until the final half hour, or rather the final shoot out. There is no real action to lift these characters up and put them into a a heroic or anti-heroic pantheon- there is nothing that makes them larger than life. It could be argued that the film that looks this good, opulent and often epic, but is ultimately a small scale story over inflated. had this been filmed less grandly it would have played differently-probably better-since we would not have been waiting for something epic to happen. This isn't to diminish the final shoot out which has a very high level of "Hong Kong Cool" its just that the 90 minutes that proceed it are undeserving of the pay off.

Worth a look on cable or as a borrow, but not something I'd search out (or watch again) (Just a question-how many Chinese films over the last decade or so all are called Blood Brothers in English?)