Tian tang kou (2007)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Alexi Tan

Writers:

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

Release Date:

16 August 2007 (China)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance

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. |

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)

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)
Lin Xiao	....	makeup team (as Xiao Lin)
Quian Jin Xi	....	hair assistant (as Xie Qian Jin)
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)
Zhi Yao Lin	....	art assistant (as Lin Zhi Yao)
Rui Yong Li	....	props man (as Li Rui Yong)
Yong Fa Li	....	props master (as Li Yong Fa)
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)
Dorian Huang	....	digital film restoration: 2D
Tony Hu	....	digital intermediate supervisor
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
Sergei 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
• Sil-Metropol Organization
• Lion Rock Productions
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (co-production)

Distributors

• First Look International (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Innoform Media (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• SPO (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 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)
• 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. Ltd.  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:

Blood Brothers (International: English 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:

Taiwan | China

Language:

Mandarin | English | French

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

Company:

CMC Entertainment

Soundtrack:

Tian Tang Kou

A Nutshell Review: Blood Brothers

Inspired by John Woo's Bullet in the Head, Blood Brothers ventures into the tried and tested boys in the hood gangland story about honour and comradeship, only to find out that there's a little more to girls, gangs and guns. The movie looks great with beautiful sets, costumes, props, but there was a general sense of being emotionally empty beneath the shiny looking veneer.

I always thought the cinematic 1930s Shanghai resembled the Capone era of Chicago, with gangland chiefs ruling the streets, and beautiful molls being the damsels in distress, carving a living out of singing in the dance halls, waiting for their anti-hero in that smart suit and fedora hair, totting a tommy and mowing down opponents without batting an eyelid. Blood Brothers transports us back to the era of the Shanghai Bund, with brothers Gang (Liu Ye), Hu (Tony Yang) and best friend Feng (Daniel Wu) looking toward the big city for an opportunity to carve a name for themselves. Leaving their village to pursue their dream, little do they know that their friendship will be put under severe tests when greed, power and ambition, or the lack thereof, come into play, and challenge the very notion of blood being thicker than water.

However, despite big names in the production, what I found to be primarily lacking, is that you don't feel for the brotherhood and camaraderie between Gang, Hu and Feng, which I thought was extremely crucial if we were to care about what will happen to the trio - a reluctant soul yearning for home, a brawn over brains type muscleman whose ambition knows no bounds, and one who turned to the bottle because he can't live up to expectations. Time is indeed set aside in the beginning as a prompter, but it's a case of too little too late, with the narrative being caught up with bringing the audience to the glitz and glamour of the Paradise nightclub. Here, the blood brothers three get involved with yet another power playing trio - Boss Hong (Sun Honglei), his number one enforcer and brother Mark (Chang Chen), and the moll of the movie, the sultry cabaret singer Lulu (Shu Qi), and as the story unfolds and entangle all our casts together into a web of complex relationships, it is when the plot starts to thicken and get slightly interesting, only again to be exposed for its one- dimensional treatment.

Which is a pity, given the potential of how things could have been played out. Even the ironic audacity of having the devilish characters storm into Paradise and unleash hell with guns ablazing, in attempts to reach a crescendo, ended up being a tad too bland. Perhaps the same-old treatment given to familiar themes and scenarios bore little fruit, despite a change in setting and a power cast. You just know what will happen, and they happen like clockwork. And it seemed that Blood Brothers was perpetually plagued by the clumsy romantic angles that don't serve much purpose or to contribute any depth to the characters involved.

Despite the weak material, the cast did prove to be charismatic enough to hold your attention throughout, which is a good thing. Shu Qi lends her voice and sings in the movie, Chang Chen broods with a degree of suaveness, Daniel was found to be struggling with Mandarin, Sun Honglei was being really menacing, Tony Yang as the naive follower, and Liu Ye's steely gaze and demeanour will make you think twice should you want to cross his character. There were plenty of close up shots of their facial expressions in Blood Brothers, and this pretty left much of the bea utiful sets and costumes being left unseen.

What I found wanting though, was the editing and cinematography. It was quite jarring to see the 180 degree rule broken so obviously, and bringing so much attention to itself. For the first time in many years, I was actually slightly disoriented when watching a scene, when it particularly liked to cross the line and back again, and move back and forth when characters are conversing, or that sudden swing of action brings us to the other side of it all. For once, I would have begged for the camera to stay where it should be, and stay still for that matter.

I would love to have loved Blood Brothers for its high production values. However, the way the story is developed, and while trying hard to evoke equal emotions as the material it got inspired by, just left a bad aftertaste that it was trying just too damn hard to please.