Movie Box Review

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The world's first IMAX 3D epic FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) exceeded 340 million RMB in the Mainland box office since its release.  The IMAX 3D box office also reached 30 million.  The film company not only arranged for 14 screens to show the Mandarin version but also on 2 IMAX 3D screens on its second week of release.

Tsui Hark said that FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE was a challenge of Chinese film production.  "Because many always thought that Chinese 3D production was poor, after we received the investment he found a crew that was passionate about movies to fulfill this goal."  This film in the Mainland received critical and commercial success, as the film has broken even Tsui Hark could relax.  Tsui Hark said that he spent a lot of time and effort on this production.  In order to achieve international quality, he hired AVATAR 3D visual effect director Chuck Comisky to be the film's 3D production consultation in hopes of exploring a new age for Chinese 3D film.

FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE not only caught attention as director Tsui Hark's exploration of the wuxia world with new film technology but also Tsui Hark's reunion with Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) after 14 years.  Lee Nin Kit admitted that he took the role not only because his trust in Tsui Hark but also 3D.  This was his first 3D wuxia film, in which he participated with a mentality of exploring, understanding and learning.  He was also very curious what kind of experience the 3D wuxia world would bring to the audience.

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Making her first wuxia film, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen worked with director Tsui Hark, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Kwai Lun-Mei and Chris Lee Yuchun.  Under such a strong ensemble, Siu Huen had to perform with an effort.  At first she regretted that she did not have any action scene, but seeing how tough each actor fought, she could not help but consider herself lucky.

Being able to work with her idol Director Tsui Har, Siu Huen felt very pleased.  She also did all the preparation to welcome the challenge.  However as for being assigned to play a gentle character, Siu Huen at first was completely lost.  "At first I thought why would I play this character?  Yet when I saw how pretty the costume was, I worked hard to play this fragile character.  After working with the director, I felt he was like a big kid.  He was not a modern person, but a hero.  I didn't know what he was thinking, he made people feel that he was beyond their grasp and without certainty.  Thus during the shoot she was also very nervous.  Actually all those gave people space to imagine.  The director wanted to give people a pleasant surprise!  Actually making wuxia film felt great.  This time was a Chinese traditional subject that merged martial arts and 3D into one.  The mix was very modern.'

Siu Huen even admitted that at first when she learned that she would make this wuxia film she regretted that she did not have any chance to show her skills.  Yet during the production, she witnessed how tough every actor fought and felt very lucky.  "In the film he had the protection of many masters.  I had more scenes with Zhou Xun.  I remembered on a desert shoot, the sandstorm was so strong I couldn't even open my eyes.  Yet we had to keep working.  Thus everyone's eyes were filled with sand and tears......when I saw all the action scenes of the other actors, I felt bad for them but I also thought they were a lot of fun."  Rarely making movies, Siu Huen said that each time she made a film she hoped to bring something fresh.  Like a vacation she could be in touch with different things.  The most memorable for her in FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATES (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) was the relationship with Zhou Xun.  "In a farewell scene with Zhou Xun, I had to play a feeling that I didn't agree with her leaving.  After the shoot, everyone said that this scene had quite a feeling.  I was very happy to hear that."

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The Tsui Hark directed 3D wu xia epic FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) was released yesterday.  Originally the Hong Kong release was to be the Cantonese version, but because earlier during the professional screening film critics, directors and viewers all would like to watch the original Mandarin version.  The film company in accordance to the audience demand released the Mandarin version starting today.  The Mandarin version will have Chen Kun and Chris Lee Yuchun's real voices.  Lee Yuchun joked, "In one scene Kwai Lun-Mei and I fought over Brother Kun, I in particular got to slap him.  That slap was especially loud.  With my real voice I believe it would be very realistic."

The film's six leads Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Chen Kun, Lee Yuchun and Mavis Fan Hiu Huen all stated that this film was the most difficult.  Several beauties all became "wind eating beauties".  Zhou Xun said, "The shoot took place under below freezing temperature.  Even my hands and the sand under my feet were frozen.  My head and ears ached.  Sand storms also kept appearing at the location.  As soon as cameras rolled, the wind making equipment blew.  I couldn't even open my eyes."  Chen Kun and Lee Yuchun in the film had the most fight scenes and every time they wielded their weapon they ate sand.  Although they suffered "abuses" at the hands of Tsui Hark, everyone still appreciated him.  Chen Kun said, "this time I played both the good guy and the bad guy at the same time, I felt like I had a personality split.  I also had to fight with Big Brother Lee Nin Kit.  Although it was tough the director very patiently displayed the actors' potential.  We truly both loved and hated him."

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The Tsui Hark directed first 3D Chinese wuxia film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) was based on the 1992 film NEW DRAGON GATE INN (SUN LUNG MOON HAT JANG) and starred Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Chris Lee Yuchun and Mavis Fan Hiu Huen.  The cast aside from Kit Jai did not have any martial art background.  With the 3D production, the difficulties could be imagined.  No wonder Chen Kun described this film as the toughest in his ten year film career.

Chen Kun and Fan Hiu Huen earlier met reporters together.  When talking about the film, Chen Kun admitted, "This was the toughest film in my ten year career.  The weather was the coldest, the condition was the worst, the director was the most demonic, the character was the hardest to play.  With the 3D effects, action had to be complete and couldn't be edited.  (Would you make the sequel?)  If it would be made then I would, after all my relationship with Old Master is great."  Fan Hiu Huen said that although the film was shot under horrible weather, everyone was very united and very close.  They even formed the Dragon Gate Alumni Association.

Since the shoot was so tough, was he injured?  Chen Kun said, "Anyone who wasn't injured seemed to not have been a part of this film.  Thus everyone more or less was injured.  I fell from a horse."  Fan Hiu Huen was not injured.  She said, "I played a very fragile woman and didn't need to fight too much."  However due to the desert shoot, sandstorm occurred nearby.  With the cement and corn starch used to create the effect, her eyes, skins and airways all suffered.  She said, "Everyday when I got back and washed my face it was like sanding paste.  Everyday I needed facial therapy.  When delivering my lines I would keep eating sand, but the director did not yell cut and demanded for the performance to continue.  The performance went from sound to silence."

Chen Kun in the film had fight scenes with everyone, the most memorable of which of course was the fight with "Kung Fu Emperor" Kit Jai because Kit Jai fought the best.  With a kung fu new comer like him, even if Kit Jai was better he still had frequent bad takes.  Chen Kun said, "Although Brother Kit was the Kung Fu Emperor, I took 30 takes and he still kept my company."  Later he apologized to Brother Kit.  Speaking of the romantic scenes in the film, Fan Hiu Huen advertised, "The romantic scenes are very exciting, with real and fake ones and everyone has a motive.  it's not just relationships between men and women, but a little same sex relationship.  Because women in the martial art world would often wear a male disguise, ambiguous identities were very normal."  Chen Kun said that everyone's face was filled with frost in the severe weather.  Their faces were so frozen that they could not move.  Thus emotional scenes were particularly painful.

Boss Yu Dong, Zhou Xun

Tsui Hark, Shi Nansun

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The world's first 3D wu xia film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP 3D) two nights ago held its premiere in Macau.  Director Tsui Hark and the cast including Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Chris Lee Yuchun, and Kwai Lun-Mei walked the red carpet together.  Lead actors Lee Nin Kit and Chen Kun both wore black suits.  Lee Nin Kit had a pair of sunglasses and was full of star power.  Lead actresses Zhou Xun and Lee Yuchun appeared in blue and red, but they could not rival guest Candy Yu On On's fire.

With a lot of performance experience Lee Yuchun and Chen Kun fought over the new comer title.  Lee Yuchun said that she was the newest among the cast, but Chen Kun said that he was a 3D film new comer.  Lee Yuchun pointed out that working with a group of experienced actors was stressful for her, but fortunately she learned a lot during the process.  She thought while making a movie her body had to handle a lot, which was very different from singing.  In the film she had to wield a 30 catty Guan Blade.  After every training her arms would be very tired.  Later she even discovered that she had "little mice" in her arms.  In the film Lee Yuchun fought with Mavis Fan Hiu Huen for Chen Kun, finally Lee Yuchun ended up with him.  Would Yuchun fight for someone she likes in real life?  She said that she has always been more passive.  This time she played the character in the film.

How many points would Chen Kun give Lee Yuchun?  Chen Kun praised this new comer for being a pleasant surprise for everyone.  However he joked that once he and the crew watched Yuchun sing on television and thought that she looked very handsome when she sang.  They could not help but sent her praises via text messages.  When Yuchun returned to the set he thought she was completely different.  Chen Kun also said that he already saw FLYING in the Beijing premiere and described it as "shocking".

Kwai Lun-Mei this time in the film played a tough character.  Some said that she originally wanted to play Fan Hiu Huen's gentler character.  Kwai Lun_Mei denied that and said that she wanted to try different characters.  She joked that perhaps the director saw STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN) and thought that she could play tough too.  In the film she had many action scenes, which were the greatest challenges in her career because she had to wield many large weapons.  Did she want to shake off that pristine image with this film?  She said that it was not deliberate, as she took roles naturally.

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The Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) and Zhou Xun starred 3D film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) yesterday held a press conference and premiere in Macau.  Director Tsui Hark led the cast to appear at the event.  Zhang Yimou earlier locked in reporters to prevent them from covering Tsui Hark and Johnnie To Kei Fung's new film promotions.  Tsui Hark yesterday said that the society stressed harmony but he could not understand why the film industry would be so explosive.  FLYING's selling point was the Mainland's first 3D film.  Yesterday the cast gathered in Macau to promote.  Lee Nin Kit led Zhou Xun, Kwai Lun-Mei and others to the event.  Director Tsui Hark said that he would be able to bring 3D film into a new territory.  He ambitiously said, "I hope Chinese film can head toward the entire world!"

Speaking of the competition, Zhang Yimou's FLOWERS OF WAR was accused of trapping the media at its event with a buffet to drive out Tsui Hark and To Kei Fung's new films.  Tsui Hark said, "I feel very honored to be in the same period as Zhang Yimou, but I feel the society stresses harmony.  I don't know why this industry is so explosive!"  In addition, many behind the scene said Tsui Hark the Devil because he forced actors to train hard for fight scenes.  Tsui Hark responded, "Actually I am worse than the Devil.  Although I can use stunt doubles, I hope the use of 3D can be gratifying visually so I arranged for the actors to personally perform."

Speaking of many 3D films appearing overseas but this was only the first for the Mainland, Tsui Hark believed that the nation will catch and will continue to make 3D films.  He said, "I am looking at scripts right now."  As for Lee Nin Kit's rumored 100 million in salary, he had no comment.  He only said, "I don't know.  You have to ask Boss Yu Dong.  Since I started production late I only took half the salary."

Speaking of the 100 million, Lee Nin Kit asked the media where they heard it from.  He said, "This is just a rumor that goes back and forth."  As for charging international superstar salary, he replied, "U.S. dollar is losing value, RMB is on the rise."  Once he said that he would focus on charity, Lee Nin Kit hoped that the cultural broadcast would be a part of charity.  He said, "Thus I would promote with Tai Chi, I wish for health and happiness for everyone."  How will he spend the Christmas holiday?  He admitted that he will rest.  Speaking of the crew calling Tsui Hark the Devil, Lee Nin Kit spoke up for his friend.  He said, "I have worked with Tsui Hark for years. Film production of course requires real kung fu.  Some people now are comfortable with modern films so they are not used to wu xia films."  Zhou Xun stressed that this was her first wu xia film and injury was inevitable for her.  She said, "With action scenes everyday, I had to be careful and take care of my body.  (With your character's similarities to Invincible Asia did you study Brigitte Lin?)  Although I have seen it, I didn't study it because mine is an all new character."  Clashing with her own film THE GREAT MAGICIAN (DAI MOR SHOOK SI) head on, Zhou Xun said, "Many people ask, but I am  neither worried nor scared.  Good box office is good for the actors too."

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Mavis Fan, Kwai Lun-Mei, Chen Kun, Chris Lee, Zhou Xun

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The Tsui Hark directed film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) two days ago held a press conference in Beijing and the premiere at night.  Zhang Xinyu who posted her own bed photo on boyfriend Ron Ng Chek Hei's microblog did not attend the press conference but did walk the red carpet at the premiere.  Today she will come to Hong Kong for the Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (NGOR OI HK 2012 HEI GA SEUNG GA) for a three day shoot and will be the target of the media.

Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) revealed that Zhou Xun had 50 bad takes for one scene, which kept everyone from dinner.  Zhou Xun admitted that she indeed ran into her most disastrous day.  "I have never had over 40 bad takes, at the time I truly was down as my self confidence was completely damaged.  However later after Lee Nin Kit saw the scene he said that even professional stuntman would need over 40 takes for this scene.  His comfort made me feel better."  Although the film will be released on the same day in the Mainland as Zhang Yimou's FLOWERS OF WAR, but Tsui Hark and Lee Nin Kit did not care about internal struggle but cared about the two film's international influence; Tsui Hark even encouraged viewers to see FLOWERS.

The DRAGON cast due to the production formed the "Dragon Gate Alumni Association", which included Master Chen Chen Kun, Big Silly Zhou Zhou Xun, Big Brother Li Lee Nin Kit and Big Cannon Kwai Kwai Lun-Mei.  Zhou Xun joked that originally she was the president but because Lee Nin Kit's kung fu was too amazing, she had to give up here seat.  When asked if Tsui Hark joined them, what nickname would they give him?  Chen Kun said, "Big Strange Tsui, Old Strange Tsui, Demon Tsui."

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The 3D wuxia epic FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) yesterday held a press conference in Beijing.  Five actors Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Chen Kun, Chris Lee Yuchun, Kwai Lun-Mei, and Mavis Fan Hiu Huen reunited for the first time after the film wrapped at the end of last year.  They discussed the relationships between the characters in the film.  Rarely having on screen romances, Lee Nin Kit this time caught the eyes of Zhou Xun and Fan Hiu Huen and had ambiguous relationships.  Zhou Xun described her character's feeling for Lee Nin Kit with "deeply buried true love", while Fan Hiu Huen stated that she "respects and admires" Lee Nin Kit.

Director Tsui Hark joked that he owed Lee Yuchun a relationship.  This time in the film Lee Yuchun had a tangling relationship with Chen Kun, but Kwai Lun-Mei fell in love at first sight of him.  In one scene Lee Yuchun and Kwai Lun-Mei fought out of jealousy for Chen Kun.

The event's bright spot was Bona film industry group chief Yu Dong and Lee Nin Kit's joint appearance.  With the upcoming holidays, Yu Dong announced that the film promotion had "three no" principles: no fighting back, no back talking and no ticket price increase to ensure the public audience's viewing rights.  Yu Dong even revealed that Lee Nin Kit recently received the United Nations' Pyramide con Mami award.  Lee Nin Kit thanked everyone for supporting and caring about him.

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In order to make China's first 3D wu xia film FLYING SWORDS OF THE DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), director Tsui Hark arranged for the cast Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen, Chris Lee Yuchun and others to take over half a year of martial art training.  Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) and action director Corey Yuen Kwai worked together to create an uniuqe "Flying Sword Fighting Force".

Zhou Xun recalled the days of the shoot and was impressed with herself.  "Without those eight movies of martial art training, I think I really couldn't fight."  Yet speaking of the multiple layers of costumes, Zhou Xun revealed something embarrassing.  "Usually the crew helped me with my costume, but for one scene Master (Tsui Hark) asked me to remove layer after layer of clothing without any care then put them back on again.  I was in trouble, how would I remember the order?  I could only ask the wardrobe team to teach me how to remove that multiple layer costume.  I still had to remember my lines!  It was very awkward."  During the entire special training, Fan Hiu Huen admitted that she benefited a lot; even thanked to director Tsui Hark's arrangement she returned to someone who was healthy both inside and outside.  She seriously said, "I basically am someone who des zero exercise, and I don't sleep until the morning.  Yet after over half a year of special training my entire life habit was structured anew.  Now I am used to early to bed and early to rise, and I fell in love with exercising.  Even my friends can't believe how healthy I am and everyone jokes that I finally re-evaluated myself and live anew, ha ha......"

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The Tsui Hark directed, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Chris Lee Yuchun, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen starred 3D wuxia film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) will be released this Christmas.  For the first wuxia film Zhou Xun and Chen Kun suffered during the shoot.  Even the king of kung fu Lee Nin Kit succumbed to the 3D wuxia film special effects and complained that it was the most memorable martial art action experience in his career.

Lee Nin Kit said, "With previous film productions, people who have acted for years like us only had to stab in the general direction of the camera once and it's OK.  For 3D productions, the target is a small circle.  As long as it's a little off, the effect has no way to appear.  In the past the scene would only take one stab, now it has to take a dozen or so times because the difficulty has increased."

Zhou Xun also suffered.  Not only did she have to handle highly difficult stunts but also suffered from the weather; from the coldest October she froze until January.  Over the four months she could only wear flimsy costumes.  On the screen she was a mighty heroine, off the screen she was an ailing beauty who was the only one who knew her pain.  Chen Kun in the film had many fights, one of which required him to dive from 30 feet above.  At the same time for camera accuracy, Chen Kun dove over 30 times for one shot.

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Tsui Hark and Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) two days ago held a Beijing University forum to promote their 3D wu xia film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP).  Lee Nin Kit who everyone referred to as "Boss Jie" sentimentally said, "When Tsui Hark saw me on the set and called me Kit Jai, all of the emotions came back."  Lee Nin Kit not only revealed the origins of the "No Shadow Kick" and Tsui Hark's action designs but also said that he and Tsui Hark discussed over 20 years of perfect fights.  After the 3D production, the perfect action finally took shape.

At the event, they also revealed secrets.  Lee Nin Kit said that they have actually known each other for over 20 years, but have not worked together for 20 years.  When they saw each other they had a relationship that was beyond description.  When the official shoot began, Tsui Hark suddenly called him "Kit Jai" and he could not be more moved.  "Now everyone calls me Boss Jie, only he would call me Kit Jai.  I immediately felt like we went back to when I first met him.  The chemistry from working together before gradually returned."

In the eyes of many, Tsui Hark was film industry giant who stuck to his own style and dared to innovate.  Sometimes people would think his ideas were mad.  Lee Nin Kit said, "Madness and madman only differ by a few letters, but successful madness can lead a trend."  Tsui Hark is the classic example of successful madness.

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The Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Eva Huang Shengyi, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and Raymond Lam Fung starred THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET) since opening in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia with US$16 million defeated THE SMURFS to top last week's International Box Office chart.  The period was from September 29 to October 2, excluding North America.  This was the 12th time that Lee Nin Kit has topped the international box office chart.

The film will open in Japan, South Korea, Western Europe and North America.  Earlier the release company Juli announced that the sequel will begin production at the end of the year or early next year.  The sequel will be in 3D and the budget will exceed the previous film.  The company has already invited Lee Nin Kit to join the cast.

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Ching Siu Tung, Eva Huang, Jet Li, Charlene Choi, Yang Zi courtesy of takungpao.com

The Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Eva Huang Shengyi and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin starred THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUEN) two nights ago held a premiere in Causeway Bay.

Lee Nin Kit did not accept any media interview only did a brief question and answer segment with the host.  Director Ching Siu Tung pointed out, THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE was the most difficult
fight film for Lee Nin Kit in the past ten years.  Lee Nin Kit said that this time was not considered difficult.  He joked, "Attending promotions to me is even more difficult."  Ching Siu Tung also said that every actor
worked on this film until they got sick due to the dozen or so degree below zero Celsius climate.  he said, "We still used the wind machine to create the drifting feeling!"  Ah Sa also admitted that working in the water in the chilly winter without any protective clothing was very tough, luckily the director prepared ginger tea for them to keep warm.

Ah Sa revealed that when she went shoe shopping she ran into "Big Beauty" Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) and Ti Lung's wife Tao Man Ming.  She said, "I asked them for their opinions.  Mrs. Ti Lung thought the shoes were pretty."

Ah Sa joked that every time she went clothes shopping she ran into "guiding light".  Last time in Venice she saw Deanie Ip Tak Han.  This time she ran into Lam Ching Ha for the first time.  As for her impression, she said, "I feel she is very well maintained."

Huang Shengyi dressed provocatively two nights ago.  She admitted that she did not use any tape and took the chance to urge the media not to keep staring at her chest.  She revealed that next month she will again
come to Hong Kong for an action comedy.

Shengyi said, "For this movie I have already trained over two months in martial arts, thus with another action film I don't need to practice more."  Shengyi revealed that she also did not need to practice earlier for a martial art performance in a commercial.  Thus she got her return for all her hard work.  Shengyi also pointed out that SORCERER was the most difficult because thus she learned a lot of action techniques.  She hoped to have more chances to work on action films in the future.  She said, "Kung fu films sell better and have more overseas market."

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The Tsui Hark directed FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) will be released in Christmas but the costumes of key actors like Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Chris Lee Yuchun, Kwai Lun-Mei have already been unveiled.  Chen Kun's "the prettiest and the most vicious" Yu Huatian finally showed his true face.  In his flowing white costume he looked rather elegant.

Chen Kun played the villain Yu Huatian in rather extravagant costumes.  The simple looking white costume was made with Thai silk and hidden embroidery.  Chen Kun also had the most costumes among the cast, the most extravagant of which exceeded any female character's.  In addition he not only had many costumes but also luck with the ladies.  Basically every woman in the film including Zhou Xun, Lee Yuchun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen and Zhang Xinyu all had connections to him.  Chen Kun joked, "During the shoot because of the numerous pretty costumes the female leads often ganged up on me and thought I had enough for a solo fashion show."  Reportedly this white scholar look mainly was used in the desert battle with Lee Nin Kit.  Because the shoot took place in the chilly winter, the costume material was excessive high class and light, under the category 7 northern wind in the desert and the wind machine, Chen Kun was shivering.

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THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET) earlier held an official press conference and global premiere in Venice.  Executive producer Yang Zi, director Ching Siu Tung, actors Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Eva Huang Sheng Yi, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and others appeared.

Lee Nin Kit said that he and director Ching Siu Tung have worked together for over 20 years.  He said, "I trust him very much, whatever he lets me do I do."

A reporters asked whether merging so many special effects with martial art action was difficult.  Ching Siu Tung confidently said, "I have over 20 years of professional experience and created many kung fu films, I too hope to make a movie that has both special effects and action."  At the same time, he never worried that the Western viewers would not understand it.  "The most special part of the East is kung fu, the most special part of the West is special effect.  With my global film language, Western viewers shouldn't have any problem."

Speaking of THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE's Jinshan flood feeling like the foreign film 2012, Ching Siu Tung said that several million U.S. dollar worth of special effect production was already an enormous investment, yet in comparison to the tens of millions that Hollywood spent a gap would be certain.  He said, "So I treated movies like 2012 and LORD OF THE RINGS as imaginary enemies.  We gave our best effort, at least overseas we won't embarrass ourselves."

Deanie Ip made an appearance in support and Ah Sa was touched

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courtesy of mingpao.com

Jet Li, Eva Huang, Charlene Choi, Ching Siu Tung

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SHEH CHUEN SHUET) held its global premiere on September 3 at the Venice Film Festival.  Executive producer Yang Zi, director Ching Siu Tung, stars Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Eva Huang Shengyi and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin attended.  With his first appearance at an international film festival, Lee Nin Kit attracted many overseas fans.  After the press conference, many foreign media lined up for this kung fu emperor's autograph.

Director Ching Siu Tung honestly said that the audience of the entire world would be able to understand THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE.  "This is a Chinese folk story that also has a lot of special effects and action."  With his years of action film experience, "overseas sickness" would not appear overseas.  He even revealed that the international version was half a hour shorter so the story could focus more on the White Snake, Hui Sin, Green Snake, Nung Yung, and Fahai.  In the September 29 Asian release, Hui Sin's marriage proposal would be added and some existing animal characters would become human in the form of guest stars like Jiang Wu, Miriam Yeung Chin Wa, Chapman To Man Jat, Sonija Kwok Sin Nei and others to add to the story's entertainment value.  Ching Siu Tung participated in his first Venice Film Festival and did not only enjoy the Water city's scenery and the Mediterranean cuisine, but also more direct understanding of European film festivals.  He thought that the Venice Film Festival paid a lot of attention to the film genre during its film selection.

Walking on the Venice red carpet for the first time, Huang Shengyi repeatedly said it felt great and hoped that everyone would be able to experience the Chinese culture through her fashion.  Huang Shengyi even
introduced the Dzi Bead that she wore.  "Dzi Bead like diamond and other gems is a treasure with collectible value."  Playing Fahai, Lee Nin Kit has worked with Ching Siu Tung for years.  He trusted the director very
much.  "Whatever he lets me do, I do."  Reporters also asked him about his One Foundation and whether he would unify it with martial arts, which Lee Nin Kit honestly said that would be very hard.  "Martial art is a
profession, the One Foundation is my non profit organization.  Although it has made some strides, we still need to keep working hard."  Playing Green Snake, Choi Cheuk Yin said that the director guided her on the set through mimicking the snake's movement.  However when she saw a man made such gestures she could not help but laugh.  Yang Zi revealed that the film's current overseas advanced sales have been very ideal and already set the best sales performance of a Chinese films overseas in recent years.  It has always broken even.  With the distribution's guaranteed minimum accounting and online copyright, the film has already made its cost back.