Movie Box Review

With almost 200 actors from three lands on both sides of the straits, the Emperor Motion Picture BEGINNING OF THE GREAT REVIVAL two nights ago held its premiere at the Beijing Olympic Center. Actors Chow Yun Fat, Liu Ye, Fan Bingbing and others dressed up for the occasion. Over ten actors were cut from the film, among them Tang Wei's cut caught the most attention. Director Huang Jianxin honestly said that right now there were too many rumors and he did not want to explain. Ultimately the scenes were cut mainly in consideration of the film's completeness, the audience's viewing requirements and habits.

Fat Gor brought Fat Soh Jasmine Tan to Beijing to attend the premiere. Also in attendances were Liu Ye, Fan Bingbing, John Woo (Ng Yu Sum), Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen) and others. Fat Gor played Yuan Shikai in the film and had many scenes with Zhao Benshan who played Duan Qirui and Feng Gong who played Feng Guozhang. He said on the set he constantly had to hold back laughter in front of Zhao Benshan and Feng Gong because when their backs faced the cameras they would try to make him laugh. This experience also his most memorable from the shoot.

Due to all the stars, some inevitably were cut from the film. According to director Huang Jianxin, over ten actors' scenes were cut. Many were top actors but he did not want to reveal who. Currently the media only knew Tang Wei was one of them. Huang Jianxin stated, "Tang Wei played Tao Yi whose role originally was not much. For some reason, there have been too many rumors. I don't want to explain them right now. Ultimately when the cuts were made, the primary consideration was the film's completeness and the audience's demand and habit. I express my deepest apologies to actors whose scenes were cut."

Reportedly due to BEGINNING's June release, TRANSFORMERS DARK OF THE MOON had to postpone its release to the end of July. Huang Jianxin said that BEGINNING's release date was set in December and had nothing to do with import film schedules.

Fan Bingbing said that she felt a lot of pressure from working with so many experienced actors. When asked whether Ng Yu Sum's scene remained, director Han Sanping stated, "It's still there." Liu Ye at a Shanghai press conference yesterday revealed that in order to bring the

character to life, he had late night snacks to gain 10 pounds and joked that salary was at a daily rate. Since his role was more important, he should make more than co-star Fat Gor.

FOUNDING OF A PARTY gathered 200 stars. Other than the master male stars, many female stars also participated. They included Fan Bingbing and AngelaBaby. Fan Bingbing in the film played Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu's Empress Dowager Longyu. In the film Fan Bingbing's look was filled of dominance, even as Yuan Shikai Chow Yun Fat had to kneel in front of her. Bingbing pointed out that this was the first time she played a powerful figure in a film, thus before the shoot she worried that she could not handle it. Luckily, after the make up artist applied make up, the result was very satisfactory. Even the crew said that her look was full of classic flavor and pleasant surprise.

Baby in the film was lucky enough to play Xiao Fengxian and had many scenes with the Andy Lau Tak Wa played Cai E. Baby said that as a film industry new comer, at first when the director asked her to perform in FOUNDING OF A PARTY she was already flattered. She herself admired Lau Tak Wa a lot, she could never imagine that she would have a chance to act with him. She was both nervous and excited. Lau Tak Wa praised this co-star and said, "In one farewell scene at the train station, we needed to express a reluctant to part feeling. When the director yelled 'action', she immediately got into her character and broke down in tears. I was very touched in the scene." Zhou Xun in the film played Wang Huiwu. She wore a big pair of glasses and looked very old fashioned. After the costume fitting she actually liked this look and thought it was very cute; in addition, Dong Jie, Bai Bing, Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen) and others took part in the film.

Fan Bingbing yesterday with Korean star Jang Dong-Gun and Japanese actor Joe Odagiri attended the Korean film MY WAY global press conference. The film investment reportedly reached 3 billion won, the highest in Korean film history. MY director Kang Je-Gyu praised Fan Bingbing at the event pointed out that in the film although she had no make up and was even covered in dirt, she did not complain at all and won the enthusiastic admiration of th team. Seeing two hunks Jang Dong-Gun and Joe Odagiri again, Fan Bingbing said that they praised each other as attractive. Because during the shoot they were all covered in dirt, they never saw each other's normal looks. Yesterday she finally saw Jang Dong-Gun in his most handsome. She continued, "After making the film I returned home, all my female friends were envious that I could work with Jang Dong-Gun!" Fan Bingbing said that she did not have too many real friends in the business and said that every actor was rather lonely. She too enjoyed staying home by herself.

Li Bingbing yesterday left to promote the film SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN in Cannes. While Li Bingbing spoke with reporters at the Beijing airport. Many travelers surrounded her to ask for autographs and photos and took Li Bingbing 20 minutes to get 100 meters. Li Bingbing did not appear on the opening ceremony red carpet reportedly in order to avoid Fan Bingbing's thunder. Li Bingbing's manager explained that this year the film festival sponsors invited their spokespeople Gong Li, Li Bingbing and Fan Bingbing to walk the red carpet. Even Zhang Ziyi whose contract already ended was invited. However because producer Wendi Deng Murdoch would hope the SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN team to be able to appear as a group, thus Li Bingbing, Gianna Jun Ji-Hyun and MGM boss would arrived Sunday morning. Zhang Ziyi declined because she needed to promote her new film LOVE FOR LIFE (JUI OI) on a ten city national tour.

Fan Bingbing's "magic crane dress" stole the show at the opening ceremony, Li Bingbing thought it was good. They both were Chinese and brought gory to Chinese film, they did not need to compare with each other as each person had her own style. In recent years the outside cared more about female star's fashion on the red carpet than the movies. Li Bingbing said that anyone would want to show the world her most beautiful side. Red carpet beauty contest was important, but all the preparation was made for even more international friends to see Chinese films. She also hoped that even more Chinese actors would reach the great world stage. Li Bingbing at the Cannes Film Festival will attend the SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN party red party and China Night.

Fan Bingbing walked the red carept for her film MY WAY in Cannes.

courtesy of mingpao.com

Jimmy Wang Yu attracted even Quentin Tarantino to Cannes

Creating a dramatic film box office miracle in the Mainland, BUDDHA MOUNTAIN actor Chen Bo-Lin on the 2nd promoted in Zhengzhou, Hebei and praised his co-star Fan Bingbing as professional and serious.

Chen Bo-Lin rose to fame due to the film BLUE GATE CROSSING. Years later he and Fan Bingbing performed an older woman, young man romance in BUDDHA MOUNTAIN. In the film they turned from friends to lovers and had a rather long kiss scene, they were also intimate on the grass and gradually sunk into water to express the intimate feeling of a couple. Chen Bo-Lin was asked about his co-star Fan Bingbing. He said that she gave a very independent and bold impression to people. Working with Fan Bingbing was very pleasant. He also praised her as professional and serious.

Fan Bingbing earlier attended her starring and invested film BUDDHA MOUNTAIN premiere. She praised that this film was very different from the recent Chinese film types and the audience would like it. She hoped for it to easily have over 100 million at the box office. Yet art films have mostly been critical but not commercial hits. She said, "This isn't an art film, but a piece of art. We aren't worried!" Although she said BUDDHA MOUNTAIN was not an art film, Fan Bingbing honestly said that her favorite was art film. Its position differed from commercial films, thus so far she still would make art films.

The film BUDDHA MOUNTAIN two nights ago held a theme song music video press conference in Beijing. Director Li Yu, actors Fan Bingbing, Chen Bo-Lin, and song writer Mavis Fan Hiu Huen attended together. The lyrics write Han Han was absent due to a car race.

Li Yu said that this music video was a work of fate. A group of young friends who passionately set it up because their love for film. She personally directed the music video, Bingbing and Chen Bo-Lin starred. Bingbing even volunteered to sing. Fan Hiu Huen said that Bingbing's

performance in BUDDHA was very surprisingly beautiful to her. Han Han's lyrics also touched her so this song went very smoothly for her. Later she would like to sing this song as well.

Bingbing said that after this time the trio would be called Fan Fan Han, she hoped that everyone would support her. Speaking of the experience of singing this song, Bingbing honestly said, "Indeed I didn't sound as good as Fan Hiu Huen, but during the performance I was very focused and relaxed. Instead I was not nervous at all; Han Han's lyrics and Fan Hiu Huen's music need round after round of feeling to truly grasp this song's real meaning. I would let myself feel young and perform it again. That feeling is 'madness'." In the music video, Bo-Lin and Bingbing had to shoot in the water together. How was his underwater abilities? He only said, "Being able to make such a special music video with friends who like this film indeed was very fun, the shoot also brought me back to the initial condition of the film production."

Director Stanley Kwai Kam Peng plays to adapt novelist Han Han's work HIS KINGDOM into a film and has been working on the script. Reportedly Mainland star Fan Bingbing has been ousted due to "differences" with the character image, as popular Taiwan star Kwai Lun-Mei will team up with Juno Mak Chun Lung as a couple.

Director Kwan Kam Peng has always had unique eyes as he successfully bought the rights to the red hot Mainland novelist Han Han's work HIS KINGDOM. He has been working hard to adapt it into a screenplay. Reportedly the film will focus on the male lead's romantic relationships with the two female leads. Reportedly the female characters were originally confirmed to be top Mainland star Fan Bingbing and UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE's innocent star Zhou Dongyu, but because Bingbing looked differently from the character in the novel she finally was dropped. The film company began to look for a new actress and finally Taiwan star Kwai Lun-Mei with her fresh image will team with Hong Kong representative Juno Mak Chun Lung who is close to her age.

Kwan Kam Peng said, "I have met with Fan Bingbing, but unfortunately she wasn't right. (Kwai Lun-Mei and Mak Chun Lung will star?) Actually everything is in very initial stages, I don't have anything that I can reveal yet." Mak Chun Lung through his manager admitted that both parties have had "very initial contact" but the film company would have the details.

Fan Bingbing and Chen Bo-Lin worked on the music video for the BUDDHA MOUNTAIN theme song. Bingbing and Bo-Lin held hands in the water. Bingbing at first was so nervous that she did not dare to go into the water. Bo-Lin played her bodyguard and protected her. They had to be romantic in the water. Bingbing honestly said that she was not a strong swimmer, after getting in the water she only remembered to keep swimming ahead and forgot the romance. She even had the greater challenge of opening her mouth to sing in the water, which to her was a highly difficult move.

The theme song originally was a duet with Bingbing and Bo-Lin, but he turned it down. Bingbing said that both she and the director tried to persuade Bo-Lin to sing the duet but he insisted against it. Bo-Lin explained that he was not suitable for singing and would rather honestly act.

Fan Bingbing in the new film BUDDHA MOUNTAIN played a wild and rebellious bar singer. In the film she performed Mavis Fan Hiu Huen's WAR, privately Bingbing also admired Fan Hiu Huen a lot. Thus Bingbing had the inspiration of inviting Fan Hiu Huen to create a theme song for the film and discussed it with director Li Yu. Fan Hiu Huen quickly agreed. After watching the film she was filled with inspiration and worked the song in the short time. Li Yu's friend Han Han after hearing the new music related to it and rapidly wrote lyrics for the new song. Finally Fan Bingbing performed the theme song as the trio's collaboration came to fruition! Today Bingbing will work on the theme song music video with lead actor Chen Bo-Lin. The music video will be released later this month.

Yu Shaoqun

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Andy Lau Tak Wa has always avoided questions about his wife Chu Lai Sin. Lately Wa Jai was accused of talking about his family while promoting in Beijing; yesterday he promoted his new film SHAOLIN (SUN SIU LUM JI) at Kowloon Bay and continued to decline to respond about

his family. He stressed that he did not talk about his family anywhere. Speaking of Jim Chim Shui Man turning his theme song into a homophonic dirty song. Wa Jai did not mind as long as viewers enjoyed it. However he stressed that he would not sing dirty songs.

Wa Jai, director Benny Chan Muk Sing yesterday promoted the upcoming release SHAOLIN. He and Mainland Shaolin monks demonstrated poses. Wa Jai also played games with many female fans. Fans were enthusiastic as they fought for the chance to be on stage and pose for

pictures with Wa Jai.

Lau Tak Wa after completing his concert has not seen any official time off. Recently he was busy with promoting the new film all over. Because the primary promotional responsibility lay with him, Wa Jai said, "Earlier I went to Singapore, Taiwan, the Mainland had Fan Bingbing and

(Nicholas Tse) Ting Fung. Tomorrow's premiere will also have Ting Fung." Wa Jai pointed out that SHAOLIN originally was scheduled for a Christmas release, but due to many film releases and cinema issues, it was switched to the Lunar New Year. He also said, "I originally wanted to rest three weeks, but now I predict that I can only rest for three or four days starting the Lunar New Year's Eve. In the New Year I will have to work on (Ann) Hui On Wa's new film." Has his family complained about how busy he has been? He continued to decline to talk. "Be nice! Actually every Lunar New Year I have been off, only this year I won't. (Are your family used to it?) They are used to it. I don't know how to answer, I don't want to keep talking about this!" Reporters honestly said that he talked about his family earlier in Beijing and showed favoritism. Wa Jai said, "You can make up stuff too, people who know me know I really didn't talk. That was an advertising event, and I was only asked about my past 30 years and the future. I only said I want to spend it with my family. (Your wife is family too.) OK! You can write that. I told everyone everywhere that I won't talk. Because I have to take care of three places on both sides of the straits (media) it's tougher!"

In addition, recently Chim Shui Man had a little fun with his song and turned the lyrics into foul language homonyms for his stand up comedy concert. Wa Jai did not mind and said that as long as it made people happy he was fine. However, he did not know about his lyrics being changed. Wa Jai said, "Actually I can accept it, it's just vulgar. (Would you sing dirty song?) It's very hard to answer, it's not good as long as it has foul language! He has a social responsibility and knows how to control it!"

Speaking of Kelly's in vitro pregnancy, Wa Jai took the chance to congratulate her. Would he be interested in trying in vitro pregnancy? He awkwardly said, "Don't ask me about this, I am working very hard. Let it be!"

Winner of Best Artistic Contribution and Best Actress at last year's Tokyo International Film Festival, BUDDHA MOUNTAIN two days ago held a press conference in Beijing. Director Li Yu and leads Fan Bingbing, Chen Bo-Lin and others attended. The film will be officially released on March 4. In the 30 second trailer was Fan Bingbing and Chen Bo-Lin kiss scene. Li Yu and Bingbing received commemorative gifts from the producer. The former received a new take board, while Bingbing received a crystal apple. She with APPLE won a Europe Asian Film Festival Best Actress. Bingbing emotionally said, "With the opportunity from APPLE, I wouldn't have the success of BUDDHA MOUNTAIN. This is an apple that is worthy of my collection."

Li Yu spoke about working with Bingbing again after APPLE. What changed the most about her? Li Yu said that Bingbing's performance was more and more mature and although she was more and more famous she still took risks with her acting.

courtesy of takungpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com