Bill Kong is cautious, vastly experienced and has an impeccable reputation as a key gateway between Hollywood and China to maintain. He is someone far more likely to deadpan than gush.
So, to hear him getting into high gear with a pitch for his bucket list martial arts movie project “The Furious” immediately invites comparison with previous Kong-produced action pictures including Oscar-winner “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Jet Li’s Fearless” or the Zhang Yimou-directed “Hero.”
“I’m going to do an action movie that rocks the world. And to prove that Hong Kong still has something to give the film industry. I want to show that Asian people can still make an action movie that is better than the rest of the world,” Kong tells Variety.
Significantly, “The Furious” is a project made by Hong Kong, rather than made in Hong Kong. Kong’s Edko Films is financing and producing.
So, to hear him getting into high gear with a pitch for his bucket list martial arts movie project “The Furious” immediately invites comparison with previous Kong-produced action pictures including Oscar-winner “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Jet Li’s Fearless” or the Zhang Yimou-directed “Hero.”
“I’m going to do an action movie that rocks the world. And to prove that Hong Kong still has something to give the film industry. I want to show that Asian people can still make an action movie that is better than the rest of the world,” Kong tells Variety.
Significantly, “The Furious” is a project made by Hong Kong, rather than made in Hong Kong. Kong’s Edko Films is financing and producing.
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Former Youplanet Pictures and Rakuten TV executives Adrian Peña and Alex Marin have launched Spanish independent film distribution company Madfer Films.
Based in Barcelona, Madfer Films’ first acquisitions for the Spanish market include Babak Jalali’s comedy-drama Fremont, Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Full River Red and Kristian Mercado’s sci-fi romantic comedy If You Were The Last.
Peña and Marin both worked together at Spanish distributor Youplanet Pictures, which has released films including Academy Award winners Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Whale and Palme d’Or winner Titane. Before Youplanet, the pair also worked at video-on-demand platform Rakuten TV.
Based in Barcelona, Madfer Films’ first acquisitions for the Spanish market include Babak Jalali’s comedy-drama Fremont, Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Full River Red and Kristian Mercado’s sci-fi romantic comedy If You Were The Last.
Peña and Marin both worked together at Spanish distributor Youplanet Pictures, which has released films including Academy Award winners Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Whale and Palme d’Or winner Titane. Before Youplanet, the pair also worked at video-on-demand platform Rakuten TV.
- 4/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Jeonju Jaunt
Korea’s second largest generalist film event the Jeonju International Film Festival has set eight fiction films by first or second-time feature directors, for its main competition.
They are “Cu Li Never Cries,” by Pham Ngoc Lan; “Junkyard Dog,” by Jean-Baptiste Durand, “La Palisiada,” by Philip Sotnychenko; “My Endless Numbered Days,” by Shaun Neo; “Oxygen Station,” by Ivan Tymchenko; “Practice,” by Laurens Perol; “The Major Tones,” by Ingrid Pokropek; and “The Permanent Picture,” by Laura Ferres.
Additionally, two documentary features also compete: “After the Snowmelt,” directed by Lo Yi-Shan and “Kix,” by Balint Revesz and David Mikulan.
The Covid-pandemic continues to affect filmmaking and festival selection, organizers said. “Even films planned to be made beforehand had to extend their production period due to the pandemic, and many works highlighted the limitations of the production environments, such as smaller cast numbers and minimal locations,” said chief programmer Chun Jinsu.
Korea’s second largest generalist film event the Jeonju International Film Festival has set eight fiction films by first or second-time feature directors, for its main competition.
They are “Cu Li Never Cries,” by Pham Ngoc Lan; “Junkyard Dog,” by Jean-Baptiste Durand, “La Palisiada,” by Philip Sotnychenko; “My Endless Numbered Days,” by Shaun Neo; “Oxygen Station,” by Ivan Tymchenko; “Practice,” by Laurens Perol; “The Major Tones,” by Ingrid Pokropek; and “The Permanent Picture,” by Laura Ferres.
Additionally, two documentary features also compete: “After the Snowmelt,” directed by Lo Yi-Shan and “Kix,” by Balint Revesz and David Mikulan.
The Covid-pandemic continues to affect filmmaking and festival selection, organizers said. “Even films planned to be made beforehand had to extend their production period due to the pandemic, and many works highlighted the limitations of the production environments, such as smaller cast numbers and minimal locations,” said chief programmer Chun Jinsu.
- 4/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Whereas his last project “Happy Times”, a blend of comedy and tragedy, garnered favorable reviews but to this day remains one of the director's smaller features, Zhang Yimou's next movie, the wuxia drama “Hero” marked a huge success for its director, both critically and commercially. Even today, “Hero” is one of the fan favorites among the many films by Zhang, and together with such features as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” started a renaissance of the genre, to which the Chinese filmmaker has contributed many other stories, albeit with lesser success. In the 2002 film he tells the story of the founding of China's first dynasty, which resulted in the unification of the country after seven warring states had fought for many years to rule it entirely. Apart from being visually stunning, even by today's standards, “Hero” is a timeless story about the passions of men and how they can manipulate...
- 4/6/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Three-hour sci-fi action epic The Wandering Earth II (2023) was the ninth-highest grossing film worldwide last year, starring Andy Lau, and Wu Jing (Meg 2). A thrilling ride that must be seen to be believed.
Hero (2002) is arriving in a 2-Disc Limited Edition Hardbox featuring both cuts, a modern wuxia classic starring Jet Li from legendary director Zhang Yimou. Packed with extensive special features, this is a visual spectacular not to be missed.
Our final title to announce for June is Zu Warriors (2001), a remake of the 1983 film filled with incredible action sequences from Tsui Hark.
Check out their homepage to check out the special features and pre-order your copy today. ...
Hero (2002) is arriving in a 2-Disc Limited Edition Hardbox featuring both cuts, a modern wuxia classic starring Jet Li from legendary director Zhang Yimou. Packed with extensive special features, this is a visual spectacular not to be missed.
Our final title to announce for June is Zu Warriors (2001), a remake of the 1983 film filled with incredible action sequences from Tsui Hark.
Check out their homepage to check out the special features and pre-order your copy today. ...
- 3/31/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
The Busan International Film Festival (Biff) has postponed the appointment of a festival director to after this year’s edition in October and has detailed who will handle the upcoming 29th edition.
Pak Dosin, who was previously a senior programmer at the festival, has been appointed co-deputy director alongside Kang Seung-ah. The dual leadership approach will be overseen by recently appointed chairperson Park Kwang-su and Ellen Y. D. Kim, who was named director of the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm) earlier this month.
In a statement issued today, the festival said: “After much deliberation, Biff has decided to postpone the...
Pak Dosin, who was previously a senior programmer at the festival, has been appointed co-deputy director alongside Kang Seung-ah. The dual leadership approach will be overseen by recently appointed chairperson Park Kwang-su and Ellen Y. D. Kim, who was named director of the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm) earlier this month.
In a statement issued today, the festival said: “After much deliberation, Biff has decided to postpone the...
- 3/28/2024
- ScreenDaily
Asian Cinema Celebration
Veteran Chinese director Zhang Yimou will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming edition of the Festival of Far East Film in Italy’s Udine (April 24 – May 2). The lineup will include three films by Zhang: his 2023 political thriller “Under the Light” in its competition section; as well as “To Live” and “Raise the Red Lantern” in its restored classics section.
The festival’s total lineup includes 74 films in total – 47 in competition and 28 out of competition) from 11 countries. Events will kick off with a double bill of smash hit mainland Chinese movie “Yolo” and Korean action comedy “Citizen of a Kind.”
Other highlights include “13 Bombs” by Indonesia’s Angga Dwimas Sasongko; “The Goldfinger” by Hong Kong’s Felix Chong; investigative journalism drama “In Broad Daylight,” by Hong Kong’s Lawrence Kan; Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor”; a ten-strong Japanese selection that includes “(Ab)normal Desire,...
Veteran Chinese director Zhang Yimou will be presented with a lifetime achievement award at the upcoming edition of the Festival of Far East Film in Italy’s Udine (April 24 – May 2). The lineup will include three films by Zhang: his 2023 political thriller “Under the Light” in its competition section; as well as “To Live” and “Raise the Red Lantern” in its restored classics section.
The festival’s total lineup includes 74 films in total – 47 in competition and 28 out of competition) from 11 countries. Events will kick off with a double bill of smash hit mainland Chinese movie “Yolo” and Korean action comedy “Citizen of a Kind.”
Other highlights include “13 Bombs” by Indonesia’s Angga Dwimas Sasongko; “The Goldfinger” by Hong Kong’s Felix Chong; investigative journalism drama “In Broad Daylight,” by Hong Kong’s Lawrence Kan; Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor”; a ten-strong Japanese selection that includes “(Ab)normal Desire,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Let's begin by talking about the numbers of the Far East Film Festival 26. This year the Feff community will be able to watch 75 films from 11 countries. More precisely, 15 world premieres (including those of restored classics), 24 international premieres, 19 European premieres and 13 Italian premieres. Expected in Udine from 24 April to 2 May, in the historic headquarters of the Teatro Nuovo and in the spaces of the Visionario, the Far East Film Festival 26 will give life to a 9-day long full immersion and it will colour the heart of the city with Asia (there are over 100 thematic events scheduled). A real feast of cinema.
The Opening Night on Wednesday 24 April will travel between China and South Korea with two international premieres. The task of opening the curtain will fall to “Yolo”, the blockbuster that bears the signature of famous comedy star Jia Ling (here in the double role of director and protagonist). It is...
The Opening Night on Wednesday 24 April will travel between China and South Korea with two international premieres. The task of opening the curtain will fall to “Yolo”, the blockbuster that bears the signature of famous comedy star Jia Ling (here in the double role of director and protagonist). It is...
- 3/27/2024
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Hong Kong’s Eye Catcher Global (Ecg) will expand into industry screenings and add Asian new director awards for its 2024 edition, following last year’s inaugural event that focused on international pitching.
The second edition is scheduled to run June 20-23 at Soho House in Hong Kong. The new Industry Screening programme will curate up to eight independent film projects from Asia. All will be works-in-progress, with at least a first-cut available for international and local industry delegates to view.
Julien Rejl, artistic director of Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, will attend the event as jury president of two new awards created...
The second edition is scheduled to run June 20-23 at Soho House in Hong Kong. The new Industry Screening programme will curate up to eight independent film projects from Asia. All will be works-in-progress, with at least a first-cut available for international and local industry delegates to view.
Julien Rejl, artistic director of Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, will attend the event as jury president of two new awards created...
- 3/27/2024
- ScreenDaily
Zhang Yimou is set to receive the Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Far East Film Festival (Feff).
The auteur, a key figure in China’s Fifth Generation of filmmakers, is best known for his films Raise the Red Lantern, Red Sorghum, To Live, Hero and House of the Flying Daggers, and was also directed the memorable opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Also receiving the coveted Golden Mulberry at the 26th edition of Feff is Taiwanese producer Chiu Fu-sheng. Chiu, a legendary figure in the Asian film industry, is known for his collaborations with auteur filmmakers including Hou Hsiao-hsien, producing A City of Sadness (1989) and The Puppetmaster (1993) and Zhang, producing both Raise the Red Lantern and To Live (1994). Zhang’s 2023 film Under the Light will also compete in the main competition at Feff.
Feff, the respected Italian festival that takes place in the northern city of Udine,...
The auteur, a key figure in China’s Fifth Generation of filmmakers, is best known for his films Raise the Red Lantern, Red Sorghum, To Live, Hero and House of the Flying Daggers, and was also directed the memorable opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Also receiving the coveted Golden Mulberry at the 26th edition of Feff is Taiwanese producer Chiu Fu-sheng. Chiu, a legendary figure in the Asian film industry, is known for his collaborations with auteur filmmakers including Hou Hsiao-hsien, producing A City of Sadness (1989) and The Puppetmaster (1993) and Zhang, producing both Raise the Red Lantern and To Live (1994). Zhang’s 2023 film Under the Light will also compete in the main competition at Feff.
Feff, the respected Italian festival that takes place in the northern city of Udine,...
- 3/26/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Far East Film Festival (Feff) in Italy’s Udine has unveiled the full line-up for its 26th edition, which will honour Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou with an honorary award and world premiere restored versions of his Raise The Red Lantern and To Live.
Running April 24 to May 2, the festival will open with a double bill: Chinese box office hit Yolo and South Korean action-comedy Citizen Of A Kind.
Yolo dominated this year’s Lunar New Year releases, grossing $484m in China, and is directed by Jia Ling, who stars as an unemployed woman in her 30s whose life is...
Running April 24 to May 2, the festival will open with a double bill: Chinese box office hit Yolo and South Korean action-comedy Citizen Of A Kind.
Yolo dominated this year’s Lunar New Year releases, grossing $484m in China, and is directed by Jia Ling, who stars as an unemployed woman in her 30s whose life is...
- 3/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
Shreyom Ghosh’s “The Vampire of Sheung Shui” is unique in that it is a Hong Kong-set horror-comedy with a protagonist of Indian origin.
It has been selected for the 22nd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), the project market that operates concurrently with FilMart.
Written by D.F.W. Buckingham (“Finding Love in Sisters”), the film will follow Lokesh, a slacker in his 30s, living with orthodox Jain parents in a sleepy Hong Kong suburb, waiting to take over the family jewellery store and move to the U.K. after selling it. When his father announces his retirement, Lokesh must show that he can be responsible and adhere to the values of his family’s traditions or lose the store to his annoying cousin. The problem is that Lokesh is turning into a bloodthirsty vampire. Now he must find a way to survive on blood without hurting people, while also...
It has been selected for the 22nd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), the project market that operates concurrently with FilMart.
Written by D.F.W. Buckingham (“Finding Love in Sisters”), the film will follow Lokesh, a slacker in his 30s, living with orthodox Jain parents in a sleepy Hong Kong suburb, waiting to take over the family jewellery store and move to the U.K. after selling it. When his father announces his retirement, Lokesh must show that he can be responsible and adhere to the values of his family’s traditions or lose the store to his annoying cousin. The problem is that Lokesh is turning into a bloodthirsty vampire. Now he must find a way to survive on blood without hurting people, while also...
- 3/12/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
China’s unprecedented economic and social transformation in the latter part of the 20th century has been picked over in dozens of movies by filmmakers ranging from Jia Zhangke and Zhang Yimou to Wang Xiaoshuai. But with more than one billion people affected by China’s transformation, there is no shortage of personal stories and no end of ways to tell the tale.
Sophomore filmmaker Huo Meng trains his eye on one of those stories in his second film, “The Wind Is Unstoppable,” which he is just finishing off.
Huo burst onto the indie scene in 2018 with his debut feature, “Crossing the Border — Zhaoguan,” which travelled to the Pingyao and Berlin festivals and the Golden Rooster Awards. He will present ”The Wind Is Unstoppable” as a work-in-progress at the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum.
China’s cycle of rural upheaval, new order, re-location and tough regulation, such as the one-child policy,...
Sophomore filmmaker Huo Meng trains his eye on one of those stories in his second film, “The Wind Is Unstoppable,” which he is just finishing off.
Huo burst onto the indie scene in 2018 with his debut feature, “Crossing the Border — Zhaoguan,” which travelled to the Pingyao and Berlin festivals and the Golden Rooster Awards. He will present ”The Wind Is Unstoppable” as a work-in-progress at the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum.
China’s cycle of rural upheaval, new order, re-location and tough regulation, such as the one-child policy,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Dune 2” launched in mainland China cinemas this weekend with a solid $19.9 million three-day haul. That put it in second place, narrowly behind holdover crime-drama “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon.”
Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway, showed that “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” earned $21.3 million (RMB151 million) between Friday and Sunday, for a 10-day cumulative of $54.1 million (RMB384 million). “Dune 2” managed RMB142 million.
Many Hollywood titles have struggled in China over the past three years, especially franchise titles. But “Dune 2” with its particularly spectacular visuals looks to have escaped the rut.
Giant screen provider Imax, which has nearly 800 screens in the Middle Kingdom, reported that some $6.5 million of the film’s opening weekend was earned at its venues. That was nearly a third of its opening total in China.
Local cinema ticketing firm Maoyan has increased its predictions for “Dune 2’s” performance in China.
Data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway, showed that “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” earned $21.3 million (RMB151 million) between Friday and Sunday, for a 10-day cumulative of $54.1 million (RMB384 million). “Dune 2” managed RMB142 million.
Many Hollywood titles have struggled in China over the past three years, especially franchise titles. But “Dune 2” with its particularly spectacular visuals looks to have escaped the rut.
Giant screen provider Imax, which has nearly 800 screens in the Middle Kingdom, reported that some $6.5 million of the film’s opening weekend was earned at its venues. That was nearly a third of its opening total in China.
Local cinema ticketing firm Maoyan has increased its predictions for “Dune 2’s” performance in China.
- 3/11/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
As Filmart gets underway, Hong Kong’s major production companies, including Edko Films, Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp), Media Asia, One Cool Group and Universe Entertainment, will be unveiling their new titles in enormous booths at the front of the trade show floor, some of which will be as elaborate as film sets.
Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. Emp has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes a trio of action films starring Louis Koo and produced by Soi Cheang.
But behind all the glamour, stars and action,...
Many of the films they are launching are big-budget Hong Kong-China co-productions, featuring top Hong Kong stars and directors, and aimed at audiences in both China and Hong Kong. Emp has Derek Kwok’s Raging Havoc, starring Andy Lau and Nicholas Tse; Mandarin Motion Pictures has The Prosecutor, starring and directed by Donnie Yen; and Media Asia is launching four new titles headed by Behind The Scene, produced by Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau. One Cool’s slate includes a trio of action films starring Louis Koo and produced by Soi Cheang.
But behind all the glamour, stars and action,...
- 3/11/2024
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist was named best film at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Sunday evening (March 10).
The Japanese drama, which premiered in competition at Venice where it won five awards including the grand jury prize, also picked up best original music for composer Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
While Hamaguchi was not at the ceremony, held in the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, the top prize was accepted in-person by Ishibashi, cinematographer Yoshio Kitagawa and co-editor Azusa Yamzaki – presented by...
The Japanese drama, which premiered in competition at Venice where it won five awards including the grand jury prize, also picked up best original music for composer Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
While Hamaguchi was not at the ceremony, held in the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, the top prize was accepted in-person by Ishibashi, cinematographer Yoshio Kitagawa and co-editor Azusa Yamzaki – presented by...
- 3/10/2024
- ScreenDaily
Oscar winner Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s formalist arthouse drama Evil Does Not Exist won the best film prize Sunday night at the Asia Film Awards in Hong Kong.
The Japanese film industry had a big night overall at the 17th edition of the awards ceremony, which was hosted this year in Hong Kong’s gleaming new Xiqu Centre, part of the city’s $2.7 billion West Kowloon Cultural District development. Japanese festival favorite Hirokazu Kore-eda won best director for his mystery drama Monster, while the great Koji Yakusho took best actor for Wim Wender’s moving minimalist drama Perfect Days. Hamaguchi’s chief collaborator on Evil Does Not Exist, Eiko Ishibashi, won best music and the Kaiju critical and commercial sensation Godzilla Minus One claimed both best visual effects and best sound.
In many ways, it was Zhang Yimou’s night, however. The venerated Chinese director took the stage twice, once to...
The Japanese film industry had a big night overall at the 17th edition of the awards ceremony, which was hosted this year in Hong Kong’s gleaming new Xiqu Centre, part of the city’s $2.7 billion West Kowloon Cultural District development. Japanese festival favorite Hirokazu Kore-eda won best director for his mystery drama Monster, while the great Koji Yakusho took best actor for Wim Wender’s moving minimalist drama Perfect Days. Hamaguchi’s chief collaborator on Evil Does Not Exist, Eiko Ishibashi, won best music and the Kaiju critical and commercial sensation Godzilla Minus One claimed both best visual effects and best sound.
In many ways, it was Zhang Yimou’s night, however. The venerated Chinese director took the stage twice, once to...
- 3/10/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist won Best Film at the Asian Film Awards (AFAs) this evening in Hong Kong. Scroll down for the full list of winners.
This is the second year running that a film helmed by Hamaguchi has picked up the award. He won the top prize last year with Drive My Car. This year, however, the director was not in attendance to accept the award due to what he described as “work commitments” in a video message played at the top of the ceremony.
Evil Does Not Exist, which also picked up an award for original music, debuted at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. The film follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. A plan to construct a glamping site near Takumi’s house,...
This is the second year running that a film helmed by Hamaguchi has picked up the award. He won the top prize last year with Drive My Car. This year, however, the director was not in attendance to accept the award due to what he described as “work commitments” in a video message played at the top of the ceremony.
Evil Does Not Exist, which also picked up an award for original music, debuted at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. The film follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. A plan to construct a glamping site near Takumi’s house,...
- 3/10/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Veteran Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou will receive both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Highest-Grossing Asian Film Award for his last feature Full River Red at this week’s Asian Film Awards.
The Asian Film Awards body has said the two awards are a “testament to Zhang’s extraordinary achievements but also to his continued success.” He was last feted by the awards body in 2021 when he picked up best director for One Second. In 2010 he was also handed the Asian Film Contribution Award.
Widely credited as one of the central figures of China’s Fifth Generation Cinema, Zhang made his directorial debut with Red Sorghum (1987). Since then, he has tackled a wide range of film genres in work like The Story of Qiu Ju (1992), To Live (1994), The Road Home (1999), House of Flying Daggers (2004), The Great Wall (2016) and Cliff Walkers (2021). Full River Red was released during the 2023 Chinese New Year...
The Asian Film Awards body has said the two awards are a “testament to Zhang’s extraordinary achievements but also to his continued success.” He was last feted by the awards body in 2021 when he picked up best director for One Second. In 2010 he was also handed the Asian Film Contribution Award.
Widely credited as one of the central figures of China’s Fifth Generation Cinema, Zhang made his directorial debut with Red Sorghum (1987). Since then, he has tackled a wide range of film genres in work like The Story of Qiu Ju (1992), To Live (1994), The Road Home (1999), House of Flying Daggers (2004), The Great Wall (2016) and Cliff Walkers (2021). Full River Red was released during the 2023 Chinese New Year...
- 3/7/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou is to be feted with two honours at the Asian Film Awards on Sunday (March 10) in recognition of his career and recent box office success.
Zhang will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Highest-Grossing Asian Film Award for Full River Red, which made $667m worldwide according to ticketing agency Maoyan following its release in January last year.
It marks a return to AFAs for the director, who won the Asian Film Contribution Award at in 2010 and best director in 2021 for One Second.
“Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful...
Zhang will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2023 Highest-Grossing Asian Film Award for Full River Red, which made $667m worldwide according to ticketing agency Maoyan following its release in January last year.
It marks a return to AFAs for the director, who won the Asian Film Contribution Award at in 2010 and best director in 2021 for One Second.
“Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful...
- 3/7/2024
- ScreenDaily
Veteran mainland Chinese director Zhang Yimou is to be honored twice over at the Asian Film Awards ceremony on Sunday. He will be presented with a lifetime achievement award and a separate prize for directing the highest-grossing Asian film of 2023.
“These two awards are not only a testament to Zhang’s extraordinary achievements, but also to his continued success, having won the Asian film contribution award at the 4th AFAs in 2010 and the best director award at the 15th Asian Film Awards in 2021 for ‘One Second’,” Afa organizers said.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen filmmaking as my lifelong profession. Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful to everyone who appreciates my films [..] I will keep learning and strive to surpass myself. Always having anticipations for the future, I hope that my best film will be my next one,” said Zhang in a prepared statement.
“These two awards are not only a testament to Zhang’s extraordinary achievements, but also to his continued success, having won the Asian film contribution award at the 4th AFAs in 2010 and the best director award at the 15th Asian Film Awards in 2021 for ‘One Second’,” Afa organizers said.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen filmmaking as my lifelong profession. Having been in the industry for over four decades, I am grateful to everyone who appreciates my films [..] I will keep learning and strive to surpass myself. Always having anticipations for the future, I hope that my best film will be my next one,” said Zhang in a prepared statement.
- 3/7/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwanese-produced crime action film “The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” opened on top of the mainland China box office over the weekend, ahead of a quartet of holdover titles from Lunar New Year. Sony’s ‘Madame Web’ and a rereleased “Dune” also opened, but they failed to penetrate the top five.
“The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” earned $16.2 million (RMB115 million), according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Other than the Lunar New Year titles, that represented the highest opening by any new film in China this year. But it was not entirely a convincing performance. It came in only narrowly ahead of “Article 20,” the Zhang Yimou-directed crime comedy drama that has been in cinemas for four weeks now.
Directed by Hong Kong’s Wong Ching-po and starring Ethan Juan, the films tells the story of a gangster who discovers, first that he has cancer and...
“The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon” earned $16.2 million (RMB115 million), according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Other than the Lunar New Year titles, that represented the highest opening by any new film in China this year. But it was not entirely a convincing performance. It came in only narrowly ahead of “Article 20,” the Zhang Yimou-directed crime comedy drama that has been in cinemas for four weeks now.
Directed by Hong Kong’s Wong Ching-po and starring Ethan Juan, the films tells the story of a gangster who discovers, first that he has cancer and...
- 3/5/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Taiwanese black comedy thriller The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon brought some fresh momentum to China’s theatrical box office over the weekend, beating four local blockbusters that had dominated the market since the Lunar New Year holiday kicked off early last month. The hit crime movie, which was released in Taiwan last October, earned a healthy $16.2 million from its mainland China debut.
Zhang Yimou’s Article 20 came in a close second with $16 million, which lifted its cumulative score to a whopping $320.1 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The other Chinese holiday tentpoles also continued to do solid business. Han Han’s race car-driving sequel Pegasus 2 earned $14.4 million in its fourth frame for a total of $457.5 million, followed by children’s animation Boonie Bears: Time Twist at $8.7 million ($267.7 million in total) and Jia Ling’s heartwarming comedy Yolo with $8 million ($478.2 million).
The five Chinese films were miles...
Zhang Yimou’s Article 20 came in a close second with $16 million, which lifted its cumulative score to a whopping $320.1 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The other Chinese holiday tentpoles also continued to do solid business. Han Han’s race car-driving sequel Pegasus 2 earned $14.4 million in its fourth frame for a total of $457.5 million, followed by children’s animation Boonie Bears: Time Twist at $8.7 million ($267.7 million in total) and Jia Ling’s heartwarming comedy Yolo with $8 million ($478.2 million).
The five Chinese films were miles...
- 3/4/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Matt Damon’s filmography boasts credits that illustrate the actor’s bankable stature. But one endeavor that often gets overlooked, presumably because of the reception it received pre- and post-release, was Zhang Yimou’s The Great Wall. Looking back on the project, the Oppenheimer alum acknowledged discerning early on that the movie may be a disaster. And disaster it was—if you consider its box office performance and critics’ evaluations, at least.
Matt Damon in The Great Wall (2016)
It wasn’t just that, though. Leading up to the film’s release, the implications of Damon’s inclusion in a premise set in medieval China, where he starred as a European mercenary warrior who joins forces with the Chinese to help combat an alien threat, was not treated lightly. Accusations faulted the initiative for utilizing the ‘white savior trope’ and ‘whitewashing.’
Of course, those are arguments that characterize many Hollywood endeavors.
Matt Damon in The Great Wall (2016)
It wasn’t just that, though. Leading up to the film’s release, the implications of Damon’s inclusion in a premise set in medieval China, where he starred as a European mercenary warrior who joins forces with the Chinese to help combat an alien threat, was not treated lightly. Accusations faulted the initiative for utilizing the ‘white savior trope’ and ‘whitewashing.’
Of course, those are arguments that characterize many Hollywood endeavors.
- 2/28/2024
- by Debdipta Bhattacharya
- FandomWire
Worldwide box office February 23-25 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world)Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Article 20 (various) $39.2m $288.6m $39.2m $288.6m 4 2. Pegasus 2 (various) $34.9m $433.2m $34.7m $431.6m 4 3. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To The Hashira Training (various) $28.5m $41.7m $17m $30.1m 57 4. Bob Marley: One Love (Paramount) $28.5m $120.5m $15m $49.4m 60 5. Yolo (various) $24.7m $463.2m $24.7m $463.2m 1 6. Boonie Bears: Time Twist (various) $21.9m $256.9m $21.9m $256.9m 1 7. Exhuma (Showbox) $16.7m $16.7m $16.7m $16.7m 1 8. Madame Web (Sony) $16.5m $77.4m $10.5m $42m 65 9. Migration (Universal) $7.8m $268.7m $4.8m $148.3m 80 10. Wonka (Paramount) $7.7m $617.2m $5.2m $402.7m 72 Worldwide...
- 2/26/2024
- ScreenDaily
The four strongest Chinese titles that launched over the Lunar New Year holidays continued to dominate the mainland China and global office charts for a third successive weekend, albeit with a change of order that put Zhang Yimou’s “Article 20” in top spot.
Global box office tracking service ComScore showed “Article 20,” “Pegasus 2,” “Yolo” and “Boonie Bears: Time Twist” as ranking first, second, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the world over the latest weekend.
Within mainland China, the quartet’s numbers were sufficiently solid that the year-to-date aggregate is now closely comparable to 2023’s. And, even in their third week, the four were many miles ahead of the top newcomer, “Argylle.”
China data, provided by consultancy Artisan Gateway, showed “Article 20” earned $40.1 million (RMB285 million) between Friday and Sunday. Having placed fourth on opening and third in its second weekend, the latest weekend win means that the gaps between the cumulative...
Global box office tracking service ComScore showed “Article 20,” “Pegasus 2,” “Yolo” and “Boonie Bears: Time Twist” as ranking first, second, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the world over the latest weekend.
Within mainland China, the quartet’s numbers were sufficiently solid that the year-to-date aggregate is now closely comparable to 2023’s. And, even in their third week, the four were many miles ahead of the top newcomer, “Argylle.”
China data, provided by consultancy Artisan Gateway, showed “Article 20” earned $40.1 million (RMB285 million) between Friday and Sunday. Having placed fourth on opening and third in its second weekend, the latest weekend win means that the gaps between the cumulative...
- 2/26/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Andy Lau starrer The Movie Emperor and romantic drama Viva La Vida have had their releases cut short in China amid stiff competition, while Yolo and Pegasus 2 are among four local breakout hits that contributed to a record-breaking $1.1bn box office over Chinese New Year.
Satirical comedy The Movie Emperor earned just $11.1m (RMB80m) after one week following its release on the first day of Chinese New Year (February 10), which also saw the opening of a string of hot local titles.
Chinese producer Huanxi Media issued a statement on social media to say it would be pulled from...
Satirical comedy The Movie Emperor earned just $11.1m (RMB80m) after one week following its release on the first day of Chinese New Year (February 10), which also saw the opening of a string of hot local titles.
Chinese producer Huanxi Media issued a statement on social media to say it would be pulled from...
- 2/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
Worldwide box office February 16-18 RankFilm (distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Yolo (various) $84.4m $402.4m $84.4m $402.4m 1 2. Pegasus 2 (various) $79.2m $358.1m $78.86m $357m 3 3. Article 20 (various) $68.4m $206m $68.4m $206m 1 4. Bob Marley: One Love (Paramount) $56.7m $74.6m $29m $29m 48 5. Boonie Bears: Time Twist (various) $50.5m $207.7m $50.5m $207.7m 1 6. Madame Web (Sony)
$40.9m $49.1m $25,7m $25.7m 62 7. Haikyu!! The Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump (various)
$15,2m $15.2m $15.2m $15.2m 1 8. Wonka (Warner Bros)
$11.2m $254.8m $7m $395.1m 75 9. Migration (Universal) $10.7m $254.8m $7m $140m 6 10. Anyone But You (Sony) $10.2m $188.9m $7.8m $104.2m 44 Paramount celebrates...
$40.9m $49.1m $25,7m $25.7m 62 7. Haikyu!! The Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump (various)
$15,2m $15.2m $15.2m $15.2m 1 8. Wonka (Warner Bros)
$11.2m $254.8m $7m $395.1m 75 9. Migration (Universal) $10.7m $254.8m $7m $140m 6 10. Anyone But You (Sony) $10.2m $188.9m $7.8m $104.2m 44 Paramount celebrates...
- 2/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Four Chinese films dominated the mainland China and global box office charts over the latest weekend. “Yolo,” a comedy drama about weight loss and self-discovery, was crowned as the top earning film worldwide for a second weekend running.
“Yolo” took $86.5 million (RMB614 million) between Friday and Sunday, giving it a 9-day cumulative total of $402 million (RMB2.85 million), according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
The second film by Jia Ling, who previously directed 2021 Lunar New Year smash hit “Hi, Mom”, “Yolo” released on Saturday, Feb. 10 and has retained the number one position since the second day of the Chinese New Year holidays, staying narrowly ahead of racing comedy “Pegasus 2.”
Over the latest weekend “Pegasus 2” earned $80.6 million, giving it a running total of $356 million.
“Article 20,” the Zhang Yimou-directed legal comedy, improved significantly. It climbed up one place to third in the Chinese and global weekend charts and earned $70.2 million over the weekend.
“Yolo” took $86.5 million (RMB614 million) between Friday and Sunday, giving it a 9-day cumulative total of $402 million (RMB2.85 million), according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway.
The second film by Jia Ling, who previously directed 2021 Lunar New Year smash hit “Hi, Mom”, “Yolo” released on Saturday, Feb. 10 and has retained the number one position since the second day of the Chinese New Year holidays, staying narrowly ahead of racing comedy “Pegasus 2.”
Over the latest weekend “Pegasus 2” earned $80.6 million, giving it a running total of $356 million.
“Article 20,” the Zhang Yimou-directed legal comedy, improved significantly. It climbed up one place to third in the Chinese and global weekend charts and earned $70.2 million over the weekend.
- 2/19/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
On Saturday, audiences in Berlin will see the world premiere of “Above the Dust,” a Chinese-made drama that plays somewhat incongruously in the Generation Kplus section, which screens films for or about children. Whether the film plays again, and where, is moot.
The film’s director Wang Xiaoshuai, a three-time winner of Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale, is taking a considerable personal risk going ahead with the screening in the absence of approval from the mainland Chinese authorities.
With a young teen boy as the protagonist, the film depicts a hardscrabble family in a village in northwest China in 2009. While their neighbors slowly migrate to the city, the boy’s parents dig up the arid land in search of family heirlooms. Communicating with the ghost of his grandfather, the boy learns about the 1950s reforms that transferred peasant-owned land to the government and about the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
The film’s director Wang Xiaoshuai, a three-time winner of Silver Bear awards at the Berlinale, is taking a considerable personal risk going ahead with the screening in the absence of approval from the mainland Chinese authorities.
With a young teen boy as the protagonist, the film depicts a hardscrabble family in a village in northwest China in 2009. While their neighbors slowly migrate to the city, the boy’s parents dig up the arid land in search of family heirlooms. Communicating with the ghost of his grandfather, the boy learns about the 1950s reforms that transferred peasant-owned land to the government and about the disastrous Great Leap Forward.
- 2/17/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“The last thing I hate is that life always forces us to keep moving forwards.”
In the aftermath of the New York Film Festival, reporter Vincent Canby wrote an article about the films of the festival he aptly named “Why Some Films Don't Travel Well”. Works such as Zhang Yimou's “Red Sorghum”, Andrei Konchalovsky's “Asya's Happiness” and Hou Hsiao-Hsien's “Daughter of the Nile” are mostly relevant thanks to their “sociology factor” Canby begins his article, an aspect that these works are and have been applauded for around the world while as films themselves they are not that interesting. Hou Hsiao-Hien, one of the most popular directors of Taiwanese New Cinema along with Edward Yang, was still trying to find a cinematic language for his films, one which strongly resembled the works of Yasujiro Ozu in terms of style and content, the sense of resignation, as he writes...
In the aftermath of the New York Film Festival, reporter Vincent Canby wrote an article about the films of the festival he aptly named “Why Some Films Don't Travel Well”. Works such as Zhang Yimou's “Red Sorghum”, Andrei Konchalovsky's “Asya's Happiness” and Hou Hsiao-Hsien's “Daughter of the Nile” are mostly relevant thanks to their “sociology factor” Canby begins his article, an aspect that these works are and have been applauded for around the world while as films themselves they are not that interesting. Hou Hsiao-Hien, one of the most popular directors of Taiwanese New Cinema along with Edward Yang, was still trying to find a cinematic language for his films, one which strongly resembled the works of Yasujiro Ozu in terms of style and content, the sense of resignation, as he writes...
- 2/13/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Worldwide box office February 2-4 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. Yolo (various) $110.4m $110.4m $110.4m $110.4m 1 2. Pegasus 2 (various) $104.6m $104.6m $104.6m $104.6m 3 3. Boonie Bears: Time Twist (various) $60.8m $60.8m $60.8m $60.8m 1 4. Article 20 (various)
$46.6m $46.6m $46.6m $46.6m 1 5. Argylle (Universal) $15.9m $60.1m $9.4m $31.3m 82 6. Anyone But You (Sony) $12.4m $170.1m $9.7m $90m 51 7. Wonka (Warner Bros) 11.6m $587.5m $8.5m $382.3m 75 8. Migration (Universal) $9.7m $235.2m $6.7m $125.0m 80 9. The Movie Emperor (various) $7.9m $7.9m $7.9m $7.9m 6 10. Poor Things (Disney) $7.7m $81.2m $6.6m $50.9m 44
Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates.
China wins top four spots in...
$46.6m $46.6m $46.6m $46.6m 1 5. Argylle (Universal) $15.9m $60.1m $9.4m $31.3m 82 6. Anyone But You (Sony) $12.4m $170.1m $9.7m $90m 51 7. Wonka (Warner Bros) 11.6m $587.5m $8.5m $382.3m 75 8. Migration (Universal) $9.7m $235.2m $6.7m $125.0m 80 9. The Movie Emperor (various) $7.9m $7.9m $7.9m $7.9m 6 10. Poor Things (Disney) $7.7m $81.2m $6.6m $50.9m 44
Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates.
China wins top four spots in...
- 2/12/2024
- ScreenDaily
Four Chinese films dominated the global box office charts over the weekend, with combined takings of $350 million earned over just two days.
And, as North America watched the Super Bowl instead, the weekend’s top Hollywood title, “Argylle” earned just $15.9 million worldwide.
Chinese titles eschewed their usual Friday release pattern and opened on Saturday, the first official day of the Lunar New Year holiday period in China and much of Asia.
Female-directed comedy drama “Yolo,” earned $113 million (RMB802 million), according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was narrowly ahead of car-racing comedy “Pegasus 2,” which earned RMB758 million or $107 million and was the bigger title on Saturday. “Yolo” is poised to release in international markets in the future, having recently been acquired by Sony.
In third place, both in China and worldwide, Chinese animation film “Boonie Bears: Time Twist” earned a stunning RMB443 million or $62.4 million. “Article 20,” a Zhang Yimou...
And, as North America watched the Super Bowl instead, the weekend’s top Hollywood title, “Argylle” earned just $15.9 million worldwide.
Chinese titles eschewed their usual Friday release pattern and opened on Saturday, the first official day of the Lunar New Year holiday period in China and much of Asia.
Female-directed comedy drama “Yolo,” earned $113 million (RMB802 million), according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was narrowly ahead of car-racing comedy “Pegasus 2,” which earned RMB758 million or $107 million and was the bigger title on Saturday. “Yolo” is poised to release in international markets in the future, having recently been acquired by Sony.
In third place, both in China and worldwide, Chinese animation film “Boonie Bears: Time Twist” earned a stunning RMB443 million or $62.4 million. “Article 20,” a Zhang Yimou...
- 2/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The international box office was generally muted this weekend, save for in China which ushered in the Year of the Dragon on Saturday, and with it the lucrative Chinese New Year moviegoing period. According to early figures from Maoyan, the first two days of Spring Festival 2024 amassed Rmb 2.44B ($339M), just a touch below the comparable days in 2023.
Although Maoyan’s Pegasus 2 was tops on Saturday, the first day of the holiday, ultimately it was the Jia Ling Cfg/Alibaba inspirational film Yolo that won the weekend with an estimated Rmb 804M ($112M/comScore has it slightly lower at $110.4M) across the two-day stretch. IMAX accounted for $3.6M of that. It often happens that the day-one winner is overtaken on day two.
An adaptation of the 2014 Japanese movie 100 Yen Love, Yolo (aka You Only Live Once) centers on Le Ying (Jia), an unemployed woman in her 30s who still...
Although Maoyan’s Pegasus 2 was tops on Saturday, the first day of the holiday, ultimately it was the Jia Ling Cfg/Alibaba inspirational film Yolo that won the weekend with an estimated Rmb 804M ($112M/comScore has it slightly lower at $110.4M) across the two-day stretch. IMAX accounted for $3.6M of that. It often happens that the day-one winner is overtaken on day two.
An adaptation of the 2014 Japanese movie 100 Yen Love, Yolo (aka You Only Live Once) centers on Le Ying (Jia), an unemployed woman in her 30s who still...
- 2/11/2024
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Eight Chinese-language films release simultaneously this weekend in mainland China and will vie for a slice of the Lunar New Year holiday box office business.
The week-long nationwide holiday period has in recent years become the most lucrative season for cinemas, and key films stake out their slot in the release calendar months or years in advance.
The new Chinese films all debut on Saturday (Friday is the normal day for releases in China) and should have an unchallenged two weeks on screen. But if the new Chinese films don’t perform well, there is already a string of new Hollywood releases queuing up for screen time, starting with “Argylle” on Feb. 23.
The week-long holiday this year officially runs Feb. 10-17, but employers are encouraged to give workers time off on Friday, Feb. 9 as well, ostensibly giving city dwellers time to return to their native villages and family seats in...
The week-long nationwide holiday period has in recent years become the most lucrative season for cinemas, and key films stake out their slot in the release calendar months or years in advance.
The new Chinese films all debut on Saturday (Friday is the normal day for releases in China) and should have an unchallenged two weeks on screen. But if the new Chinese films don’t perform well, there is already a string of new Hollywood releases queuing up for screen time, starting with “Argylle” on Feb. 23.
The week-long holiday this year officially runs Feb. 10-17, but employers are encouraged to give workers time off on Friday, Feb. 9 as well, ostensibly giving city dwellers time to return to their native villages and family seats in...
- 2/7/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
“Dune” and “Oppenheimer” will both enjoy a return to cinemas in mainland China next month.
They head a fleet of Hollywood titles aiming for renewed success in the world’s second-largest theatrical box office market – albeit after the Chinese New Year holiday period has prioritized local titles.
Mainland China’s film market is heavily controlled by authorities, which use a variety of methods including script approvals and censorship, to regulate the content arriving on screens and manage the market’s orderly development. The import of foreign film titles into China is additionally controlled through import permits and distribution quotas, though these currently appear to be loosening in an attempt to revive a sector which last year was 15% below 2019 levels, despite tens of thousands of new cinema screens coming on stream.
Part of the 2023 problem for Chinese cinemas may have been the collapse to less than 15% market share of Hollywood in a territory that U.
They head a fleet of Hollywood titles aiming for renewed success in the world’s second-largest theatrical box office market – albeit after the Chinese New Year holiday period has prioritized local titles.
Mainland China’s film market is heavily controlled by authorities, which use a variety of methods including script approvals and censorship, to regulate the content arriving on screens and manage the market’s orderly development. The import of foreign film titles into China is additionally controlled through import permits and distribution quotas, though these currently appear to be loosening in an attempt to revive a sector which last year was 15% below 2019 levels, despite tens of thousands of new cinema screens coming on stream.
Part of the 2023 problem for Chinese cinemas may have been the collapse to less than 15% market share of Hollywood in a territory that U.
- 2/6/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese director Zhang Yimou is a superstar and there is no mistaking that when watching his latest film Full River Red. It's an almost impossibly lush film in its production values, with money bleeding off of the screen in every shot. In previous outings, he used this to experiment with whatever tickled his fancy at that moment, be it color as a narrative tool in Hero or digital multidirectional sound in House of Flying Daggers. His Shadow (reviewed here) made every shot look like a painting in black, white and red while keeping a realistic aesthetic. Which brings the question: what is he trying out this time? His latest film dumps us straight into a political cesspool. The setting is a fortress with a large...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/31/2024
- Screen Anarchy
Who can understand how difficult this year has been? Ever since taking up a temporary position at the Municipal Procuratorate, Han Ming (Lei Jiayin) has suffered a series of misfortunes. His son Han Yuchen (Liu Yaowen) has beaten up the school director's (Zhang Yi) son and is refusing to apologise. Feeling indignant, his wife Li Maojuan (Ma Li) then attacks the school director and actually succeeds. Han Ming constantly has disagreements with his colleague Lu Lingling (Gao Ye), and their legal case has been delayed indefinitely. In another related matter, Hao Xiuping (Zhao Liying) is forced into a desperate and extremely critical situation. As the battle between love and law unfolds, as career and family continue to hang in the balance, Han Ming decides to risk everything to pursue fairness and justice on his own terms … [Source: Translated from Douban]
This Zhang Yimou dramedy marks another collaboration with Lei Jiayin who has featured in...
This Zhang Yimou dramedy marks another collaboration with Lei Jiayin who has featured in...
- 1/30/2024
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
It seems that the commercial value of Asian films, both of the past (for the most part) and of the current ones, is having an impact also on physical media, with a number of established and newer companies releasing even more movies from the region in 2023. At the same time, the competition seems to up the quality of releases which keep getting better and better, to the joy of collectors, a number of which are definitely among the writers of Asian Movie Pulse.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2023, in no particular order.
1. The Katsuhito Ishii Collection (Third Window Films)
Over the course of his career Japanese auteur Katsuhito Ishii has gained not only popularity among the festival crowd but a loyal group of fans, which all the more understandable when watching his works, that are now gathered in one comprehensive boxset thanks to Third Window.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2023, in no particular order.
1. The Katsuhito Ishii Collection (Third Window Films)
Over the course of his career Japanese auteur Katsuhito Ishii has gained not only popularity among the festival crowd but a loyal group of fans, which all the more understandable when watching his works, that are now gathered in one comprehensive boxset thanks to Third Window.
- 12/21/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
It seems Hollywood’s “sequel-itis” has reached China’s box office too.
Despite the country’s dramatic overnight removal of Covid restrictions in December 2022 and film imports quickly restarting with the triumphant debut of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Hollywood’s new normal in the Middle Kingdom bears little resemblance to its pre-pandemic status.
During the three-year disruption of 2020-22, caused by the pandemic and soured U.S.-China diplomatic relations, few Hollywood films — and no Marvel titles — made their way onto Chinese screens.
But if Hollywood studios read the $240 million-grossing “Avatar 2” feeding frenzy as a sign that pent-up Chinese demand for their sequels and superheroes slate might continue throughout 2023, they were sorely disappointed.
In the world’s second-largest box office territory, with a cume to date of $7.3 billion, the market share for all imported films in China has crashed, standing at less than 15% at the beginning of December.
Despite the country’s dramatic overnight removal of Covid restrictions in December 2022 and film imports quickly restarting with the triumphant debut of “Avatar: The Way of Water,” Hollywood’s new normal in the Middle Kingdom bears little resemblance to its pre-pandemic status.
During the three-year disruption of 2020-22, caused by the pandemic and soured U.S.-China diplomatic relations, few Hollywood films — and no Marvel titles — made their way onto Chinese screens.
But if Hollywood studios read the $240 million-grossing “Avatar 2” feeding frenzy as a sign that pent-up Chinese demand for their sequels and superheroes slate might continue throughout 2023, they were sorely disappointed.
In the world’s second-largest box office territory, with a cume to date of $7.3 billion, the market share for all imported films in China has crashed, standing at less than 15% at the beginning of December.
- 12/21/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with action franchise smash John Wick: Chapter 4. The fourth installment in the Chad Stahelski-directed series was penned by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch (based on characters created by Derek Kolstad) in their first turn with Baba Yaga — even if the titular revenge artist, played by Keanu Reeves, speaks only 380 words of dialogue.
From Lionsgate/Thunder Road Films/87 Eleven, John Wick: Chapter 4 sees the ex-hitman uncover a path to defeating crime lord council The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe, and forces that turn old friends into foes.
The film is the highest-grossing of the franchise at over $440 million in global box office, and in May pushed the four-title series across the $1 biillon mark worldwide. It is also the...
From Lionsgate/Thunder Road Films/87 Eleven, John Wick: Chapter 4 sees the ex-hitman uncover a path to defeating crime lord council The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe, and forces that turn old friends into foes.
The film is the highest-grossing of the franchise at over $440 million in global box office, and in May pushed the four-title series across the $1 biillon mark worldwide. It is also the...
- 12/8/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Clockwise from top left: It Lives Inside (Neon), Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Sony Pictures Releasing), The Matrix Resurrections (Warner Bros. Pictures)Image: The A.V. Club
For the holiday season, Hulu is adding some genre favorites and promising new movies to its library. The streaming platform in December welcomes...
For the holiday season, Hulu is adding some genre favorites and promising new movies to its library. The streaming platform in December welcomes...
- 11/30/2023
- by Robert DeSalvo
- avclub.com
Rotterdam Film Festival Sets ‘Head South’ As Opening Film
Jonathan Ogilvie’s post-punk, coming-of-age comedy Head South has been announced as the opening picture of the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), running from January 25 to February 4. The festival has also teased a handful of early selections. They include Indian filmmaker Ishan Shukla’s dystopian, sci-fi animation Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust and U.S. director Billy Woodberry’s biodoc Mário, about African independence activist Mário de Andrade, which will both world premiere. Further confirmations include European premieres for Amanda Kramer’s So Unreal and Ann Hui’s Elegies as well as Omar Hilal’s Voy! Voy! Voy!, which is Egypt’s Oscar entry this year. The festival will unveil its full line-up on December 18.
Paul Schrader To Be Feted At Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Avellino Festival
U.S. director and screenwriter Paul Schrader will be honored with a Lifetime...
Jonathan Ogilvie’s post-punk, coming-of-age comedy Head South has been announced as the opening picture of the 53rd International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), running from January 25 to February 4. The festival has also teased a handful of early selections. They include Indian filmmaker Ishan Shukla’s dystopian, sci-fi animation Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust and U.S. director Billy Woodberry’s biodoc Mário, about African independence activist Mário de Andrade, which will both world premiere. Further confirmations include European premieres for Amanda Kramer’s So Unreal and Ann Hui’s Elegies as well as Omar Hilal’s Voy! Voy! Voy!, which is Egypt’s Oscar entry this year. The festival will unveil its full line-up on December 18.
Paul Schrader To Be Feted At Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Avellino Festival
U.S. director and screenwriter Paul Schrader will be honored with a Lifetime...
- 11/23/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Lionsgate’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes opened at China’s movie box office in third place over the weekend, losing to two holdover local films and earning just $4.6 million. It’s just the latest disappointing performance by a U.S. franchise film in the market.
Songbirds & Snakes has earned low to middling social scores from Chinese audiences, and ticketing app Maoyan projects it will total only about $7 million by the end of its run.
Songbirds & Snakes opens eight years after the last Hunger Games title played in theaters and 12 years after the first film hit the big screen. The previous four Hunger Games films, based on Suzanne Collins’ dystopian YA novels and starring Jennifer Lawrence, all performed considerably better in China than the new title. The Hunger Games (2012) earned a total of $27 million, while The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) took $28 million, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1...
Songbirds & Snakes has earned low to middling social scores from Chinese audiences, and ticketing app Maoyan projects it will total only about $7 million by the end of its run.
Songbirds & Snakes opens eight years after the last Hunger Games title played in theaters and 12 years after the first film hit the big screen. The previous four Hunger Games films, based on Suzanne Collins’ dystopian YA novels and starring Jennifer Lawrence, all performed considerably better in China than the new title. The Hunger Games (2012) earned a total of $27 million, while The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) took $28 million, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1...
- 11/20/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spoiler Alert: This post contains details from the plot of John Wick: Chapter 4.
At the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, director-producer Chad Stahelski and producer Erica Lee appeared to be putting the franchise to rest, as John Wick (Keanu Reeves) took a bullet to the gut in a duel, seemingly succumbing to his injuries. That being said, is there any way the hero of this franchise could be resurrected, as has been done with action heroes of films like Netflix’s Extraction?
“You never know,” Stahelski teased Saturday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event. “Keanu’s hard to kill.”
“Never say never,” added Lee, in a conversation moderated by Justin Kroll, also featuring supervising sound editor Mark Stoeckinger.
Related: Deadline Contenders Film Los Angeles Arrivals and Panels Gallery: Cillian Murphy, Taraji P. Henson, Annette Bening, Bradley Cooper and More
In all seriousness, though, Stahelski said, the pair are...
At the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, director-producer Chad Stahelski and producer Erica Lee appeared to be putting the franchise to rest, as John Wick (Keanu Reeves) took a bullet to the gut in a duel, seemingly succumbing to his injuries. That being said, is there any way the hero of this franchise could be resurrected, as has been done with action heroes of films like Netflix’s Extraction?
“You never know,” Stahelski teased Saturday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event. “Keanu’s hard to kill.”
“Never say never,” added Lee, in a conversation moderated by Justin Kroll, also featuring supervising sound editor Mark Stoeckinger.
Related: Deadline Contenders Film Los Angeles Arrivals and Panels Gallery: Cillian Murphy, Taraji P. Henson, Annette Bening, Bradley Cooper and More
In all seriousness, though, Stahelski said, the pair are...
- 11/19/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The Cinema Heritage festival announces the 9 films in the International Competition after more than 500 films were viewed. Costa Gavras and Cristian Mungiu will be the guests of honour on the closing night.
Eva Peydro, Barbara Lorey de Lacharrière and Philip Cheah, who make up the Selection Committee for the first edition of the Cinema Heritage festival, have viewed 500 films from 56 different countries and are presenting the finalists.
The International Competition comprises 9 films:
– The Winter Within by Aamir Bashir India, France, Qatar / 2022 / Paris Premiere
– The Echo by Tatiana Huezo Mexico, Germany / 2023 / French premiere
– Muyeres by Marta Lallana Spain / 2023 / Paris Premiere
– Behind The Haystacks by Asimina Proedrou Greece, Germany, Macedonia / 2022 / French premiere
– The Promised Land by Nikolaj Arcel Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany / 2023 / French premiere
– Lubo by Giorgio Diritti Italy, Switzerland / 2023 /French premiere
– The Land Where Winds Stood Still by Ardak Amirkulov Kazakhstan / 2023 / French premiere
– Esimde (This Is What I Remember) by Aktan Arym Kubat...
Eva Peydro, Barbara Lorey de Lacharrière and Philip Cheah, who make up the Selection Committee for the first edition of the Cinema Heritage festival, have viewed 500 films from 56 different countries and are presenting the finalists.
The International Competition comprises 9 films:
– The Winter Within by Aamir Bashir India, France, Qatar / 2022 / Paris Premiere
– The Echo by Tatiana Huezo Mexico, Germany / 2023 / French premiere
– Muyeres by Marta Lallana Spain / 2023 / Paris Premiere
– Behind The Haystacks by Asimina Proedrou Greece, Germany, Macedonia / 2022 / French premiere
– The Promised Land by Nikolaj Arcel Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany / 2023 / French premiere
– Lubo by Giorgio Diritti Italy, Switzerland / 2023 /French premiere
– The Land Where Winds Stood Still by Ardak Amirkulov Kazakhstan / 2023 / French premiere
– Esimde (This Is What I Remember) by Aktan Arym Kubat...
- 11/16/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Ringing Korea’S Grand Bell
“Concrete Utopia,” South Korea’s Oscar contender, was Wednesday named best film at the country’s annual Grand Bell Awards. It also won prizes for best actor, best supporting actress, art direction, sound mixing and visual effects. A disaster movie set in a devastated Seoul, it makes an unusual Academy Awards selection, but has gained high praise from reviewers. Variety this week said the film felt like “’Earthquake’ crossed with ‘Lord of the Flies’.”
The Grand Bell’s best director award nevertheless went to Ryoo Seung-wan for “Smugglers,” while Ahn Tae-jin took the best new director award for “The Night Owl.”
In the other half of the event, Disney+’s “Moving” was named best series, earning Han Hyo-joo the best series actress award to boot.
The Grand Bell Awards, aka Daejong Film Awards, are organized by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea.
Cineasia Honors
The...
“Concrete Utopia,” South Korea’s Oscar contender, was Wednesday named best film at the country’s annual Grand Bell Awards. It also won prizes for best actor, best supporting actress, art direction, sound mixing and visual effects. A disaster movie set in a devastated Seoul, it makes an unusual Academy Awards selection, but has gained high praise from reviewers. Variety this week said the film felt like “’Earthquake’ crossed with ‘Lord of the Flies’.”
The Grand Bell’s best director award nevertheless went to Ryoo Seung-wan for “Smugglers,” while Ahn Tae-jin took the best new director award for “The Night Owl.”
In the other half of the event, Disney+’s “Moving” was named best series, earning Han Hyo-joo the best series actress award to boot.
The Grand Bell Awards, aka Daejong Film Awards, are organized by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea.
Cineasia Honors
The...
- 11/16/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Zhang Yimou is undoubtedly one of the foremost names in Mainland Chinese cinema, one of the first names that would come up in a discussion on cinema from the country and one that is synonymous with quality mainstream works that range from period pieces painted on the largest canvas, to small, personal human dramas and everything in between. Despite working on large scale productions, he manages to frequently put out quality features that boast of big-name star-casts and top-drawer production values that never lose out in showcasing his superior storytelling abilities, making him a darling of the audiences and critics alike, both of who look forward for his newest works, including the latest, “Full River Red” with great anticipation.
Full River Red is screening at Five Flavours
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui, “Full River Red...
Full River Red is screening at Five Flavours
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui, “Full River Red...
- 11/15/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The Marvels‘ disappointing start at the North American box office over the weekend — $47 million, a record low for a Marvel Studios release — is adding to analysts’ concerns that superhero fatigue is an urgent and growing problem for the major studios. But in China, filmgoers have been snubbing America’s caped crusaders for far longer — and The Marvels only marks a fresh low.
The Marvels opened to just $11.5 million in China, losing the three-day weekend to holdover local crime thriller Who’s the Suspect, which earned $11.7 million. Including Thursday night previews, The Marvels‘ four-day total creeps up to $11.8 million, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
MCU releases have been underperforming in China since the pandemic, but The Marvels‘ face-plant is particularly striking. Back in 2019, Brie Larson’s franchise starter Captain Marvel opened to $89.3 million on its way to a strong $154 million China total. According to current projections, The Marvels will be lucky to top $20 million.
The Marvels opened to just $11.5 million in China, losing the three-day weekend to holdover local crime thriller Who’s the Suspect, which earned $11.7 million. Including Thursday night previews, The Marvels‘ four-day total creeps up to $11.8 million, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
MCU releases have been underperforming in China since the pandemic, but The Marvels‘ face-plant is particularly striking. Back in 2019, Brie Larson’s franchise starter Captain Marvel opened to $89.3 million on its way to a strong $154 million China total. According to current projections, The Marvels will be lucky to top $20 million.
- 11/13/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the new ‘Blue Eye Samurai’ trailer, a hero vows vengeance.
The second trailer for the forthcoming Blue Eye Samurai animated show, set to premiere on Netflix on November 3, 2023, has been released.
Blue Eye Samurai | Official Trailer
The latest trailer for Blue Eye Samurai, a new adult animated epic, looks at themes of identity, social stigma, and revenge against a vibrant background of Edo-period Japan.
The official trailer for Blue Eye Samurai gives us the same feeling as watching a Japanese or Chinese film – the cloud of arrows in the air at one point reminds us of Zhang Yimou’s masterpiece Hero.
Another element is the extreme violence imposed in simple blows, the focus required for trained warriors to master their art, and the stunning landscapes that stay with you long after you finish watching. It’s no surprise that Japanese and other cinematic masterpieces inspire Blue Eye Samurai.
Also...
The second trailer for the forthcoming Blue Eye Samurai animated show, set to premiere on Netflix on November 3, 2023, has been released.
Blue Eye Samurai | Official Trailer
The latest trailer for Blue Eye Samurai, a new adult animated epic, looks at themes of identity, social stigma, and revenge against a vibrant background of Edo-period Japan.
The official trailer for Blue Eye Samurai gives us the same feeling as watching a Japanese or Chinese film – the cloud of arrows in the air at one point reminds us of Zhang Yimou’s masterpiece Hero.
Another element is the extreme violence imposed in simple blows, the focus required for trained warriors to master their art, and the stunning landscapes that stay with you long after you finish watching. It’s no surprise that Japanese and other cinematic masterpieces inspire Blue Eye Samurai.
Also...
- 11/1/2023
- by Mantisha
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
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