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
We’ve gathered all videos/short films made using the recently announced Sony CineAlta Burano. Watch those videos to get the most accurate impression regarding this new and fascinating piece of motion picture camera, or should we say— CineAltaB (the promotion name of Burano used in China).
BTS of ‘Original’. The Sony CineAlta Burano. Picture: Sony Sony Burano: Venice imagery in a ‘FX9 package’
The Sony CineAlta Burnao was introduced yesterday. Y.M.Cinema was invited to Sony’s facility at the famous Pinewood Studios to try and test the camera. From the first minute, we saw that the Burano is a unique piece of motion picture camera, that was meticulously engineered to grant solo shooters the privilege of using a high-end cinema camera. You can think of it as a hybridization between FX9 to Venice 2. It owns all the features professional indie filmmakers seek, without compromising on image quality...
BTS of ‘Original’. The Sony CineAlta Burano. Picture: Sony Sony Burano: Venice imagery in a ‘FX9 package’
The Sony CineAlta Burnao was introduced yesterday. Y.M.Cinema was invited to Sony’s facility at the famous Pinewood Studios to try and test the camera. From the first minute, we saw that the Burano is a unique piece of motion picture camera, that was meticulously engineered to grant solo shooters the privilege of using a high-end cinema camera. You can think of it as a hybridization between FX9 to Venice 2. It owns all the features professional indie filmmakers seek, without compromising on image quality...
- 9/14/2023
- by Yossy Mendelovich
- YMCinema
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 Udine Far East Film Festival
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
“Full River Red” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
- 4/30/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
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 released in North American theatres by Niu Vision Media
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
Full River Red is released in North American theatres by Niu Vision Media
Set in the Southern Song Dynasty and five years after heroic general Yue Fei was executed by prime minister Qin Hui,...
- 3/26/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Murder, treachery and political intrigue are the juicy ingredients of Zhang Yimou’s “Full River Red,” an entertaining if overlong mystery-comedy set in the narrow passageways and dark chambers of a Song dynasty military compound in 1146. With a twist-packed plot to match its labyrinthine location, Zhang’s fast-paced film motors along nicely as an engaging “Knives Out”-style whodunnit before stumbling a little in the protracted final act. A Lunar New Year smash hit in China, “Full River Red” will be released on 150 North American screens by specialty distributor Niu Vision Media on March 17.
The biggest commercial success of Zhang’s distinguished 35-year career, “Full River Red” has already grossed a whopping $671 million at home since Jan. 22. The 157-minute blockbuster continues the string of hits he’s delivered since big-budget international co-production misfire “The Great Wall” in 2016. Much less ornately decorated and colorfully photographed than Zhang’s famous wuxia epics...
The biggest commercial success of Zhang’s distinguished 35-year career, “Full River Red” has already grossed a whopping $671 million at home since Jan. 22. The 157-minute blockbuster continues the string of hits he’s delivered since big-budget international co-production misfire “The Great Wall” in 2016. Much less ornately decorated and colorfully photographed than Zhang’s famous wuxia epics...
- 3/14/2023
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
After a rather eventful path to the international audience, after its pulling from the 69th Berlin International Film Festival for “technical difficulties encountered during post-production” and a score of rumors regarding extensive cuts, “One Second” finally found its place in festivals and cinemas in 2020, winning a number of awards all over the world.
The story is set in 1975 and revolves around two misfits. One is a nameless fugitive who has just escaped a prison near Dunhuang, a remote desert town, in a desperate effort to see the 1964 propaganda epic “Heroic Sons and Daughters, “ where his alienated daughter makes a brief appearance. Despite his struggle, he misses the screening and just watches a motorbike taking the reels to the next town, without knowing which or how far it is. Even more to his disappointment and surprise, he witnesses a rather dirty-looking girl stealing the film and running off to the darkness,...
The story is set in 1975 and revolves around two misfits. One is a nameless fugitive who has just escaped a prison near Dunhuang, a remote desert town, in a desperate effort to see the 1964 propaganda epic “Heroic Sons and Daughters, “ where his alienated daughter makes a brief appearance. Despite his struggle, he misses the screening and just watches a motorbike taking the reels to the next town, without knowing which or how far it is. Even more to his disappointment and surprise, he witnesses a rather dirty-looking girl stealing the film and running off to the darkness,...
- 7/13/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Another classy Chinese action thriller whose dazzling style seems to take place in a deliberate narrative void, Cliff Walkers (previously titled Impasse) marks leading Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s first foray into the espionage genre. Following on the heels of his censorship-plagued One Second, which was abruptly withdrawn from the 2019 Berlin Film Festival and only came out in China last November, the new film would seem to the naked eye to have nothing for the censors to object to; in fact, it is dedicated to “the heroes of the Revolution.” What foreign audiences will take away is not the negligible storyline but a visually entrancing parade of attractive actors in a pleasingly fluid spy-counterspy dance.
Though bound to make most of its millions domestically, aided by its well-known cast, Cliff Walkers is being released day-and-date in China and the U.S. on April 30. Having one big English-language co-production under his belt — the Matt Damon-starring,...
Though bound to make most of its millions domestically, aided by its well-known cast, Cliff Walkers is being released day-and-date in China and the U.S. on April 30. Having one big English-language co-production under his belt — the Matt Damon-starring,...
- 4/27/2021
- by Deborah Young
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Camerimage, the festival in Toruń, Poland dedicated to the art of cinematography, handed out its prestigious Frog prizes this evening. The big winner was “Joker” cinematographer Lawrence Sher, who won the top prize, the Golden Frog, in addition to the Audience Prize. The Bronze Frog was awarded to “The Painted Bird” Dp Vladimír Smutný, while “The Two Popes” Dp César Charlone won the Silver Frog. A full list of winners at the end of this article.
Now in its 27th year, Camerimage has become homecoming week for cinematographers from around the globe, with a vast number of the best DPs, past and present, in attendance. From an awards perspective — considering cinematographers nominate their colleagues — it’s hard to overestimate the value of DPs presenting their work and discussing their craft with their tight-knit community during the week-long celebration.
Sher — whose “Joker” screened early in the fest, and has been in...
Now in its 27th year, Camerimage has become homecoming week for cinematographers from around the globe, with a vast number of the best DPs, past and present, in attendance. From an awards perspective — considering cinematographers nominate their colleagues — it’s hard to overestimate the value of DPs presenting their work and discussing their craft with their tight-knit community during the week-long celebration.
Sher — whose “Joker” screened early in the fest, and has been in...
- 11/16/2019
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Camerimage, the Polish film festival dedicated to the art of cinematography, has become homecoming week for directors of photography from around the globe. And while Camerimage organizers say they have no interest in the American awards season, cinematographers nominate cinematographers for the Oscars — and the 13 films that compete for the Golden Frog for Best Cinematography have become a predictor of the Academy’s Best Cinematography nominees.
The Camerimage 2019 Main Competition includes: “Ford v Ferrari” (Dp Phedon Papamichael), “The Irishman” (Dp Rodrigo Prieto), “Joker” (Dp Lawrence Sher), “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (Dp Adam Newport-Berra), “Motherless Brooklyn” (Dp Dick Pope), “The Two Popes” (Dp César Charlone), “The Painted Bird” (Dp Vladimír Smutný), “An Officer and a Spy” (Dp Paweł Edelman), “Never Look Away” (Dp Caleb Deschanel), “Mr. Jones” (Dp Tomasz Naumiuk), “Shadow” (Dp Xiaoding Zhao), “Bolden” (Dp Neal Norton), and “Amundsen” (Dp Paal Ulvik Rokseth).
IndieWire has confirmed that...
The Camerimage 2019 Main Competition includes: “Ford v Ferrari” (Dp Phedon Papamichael), “The Irishman” (Dp Rodrigo Prieto), “Joker” (Dp Lawrence Sher), “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (Dp Adam Newport-Berra), “Motherless Brooklyn” (Dp Dick Pope), “The Two Popes” (Dp César Charlone), “The Painted Bird” (Dp Vladimír Smutný), “An Officer and a Spy” (Dp Paweł Edelman), “Never Look Away” (Dp Caleb Deschanel), “Mr. Jones” (Dp Tomasz Naumiuk), “Shadow” (Dp Xiaoding Zhao), “Bolden” (Dp Neal Norton), and “Amundsen” (Dp Paal Ulvik Rokseth).
IndieWire has confirmed that...
- 10/21/2019
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
It is a time of turmoil for “a great walled city” (any resemblance to China is completely not coincidental) in some undefined long-ago era. Three clans fight for control of the territory; two team up to defeat the third. Then a warrior for one of these last dynasties standing, the Yan, severely wounds the Commander (Deng Chao) of their rivals, the Pei. They now own the city. The Pei military higher-ups want war. Their king (Ryan Zheng), who is definitely paranoid and may or may not also be batshit crazy,...
- 5/2/2019
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Author: Emily Breen
There are precious few things in this world which cannot be improved by a measure of silliness – and Zhang Yimou’s not entirely historically accurate story of a legendary alien battle at The Great Wall of China is no exception. In combining his trademark gravity defying fight sequences with thousands of green blooded CGI monsters, Zhang has contrarily crafted a very beautiful and wildly expensive B-Movie.
William (Matt Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are soldiers for hire, wandering the wilds of China in search of a source of black powder – gunpowder – to sell to the highest bidder upon their return to the west. When their group is ambushed late one night William’s mercenary training ensures the pair’s safety and grants them a gory and unusual get-out-of-certain-death-free card as they stumble across a secret army preparing for the fight of their lives.
Our introduction to Commander...
There are precious few things in this world which cannot be improved by a measure of silliness – and Zhang Yimou’s not entirely historically accurate story of a legendary alien battle at The Great Wall of China is no exception. In combining his trademark gravity defying fight sequences with thousands of green blooded CGI monsters, Zhang has contrarily crafted a very beautiful and wildly expensive B-Movie.
William (Matt Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are soldiers for hire, wandering the wilds of China in search of a source of black powder – gunpowder – to sell to the highest bidder upon their return to the west. When their group is ambushed late one night William’s mercenary training ensures the pair’s safety and grants them a gory and unusual get-out-of-certain-death-free card as they stumble across a secret army preparing for the fight of their lives.
Our introduction to Commander...
- 2/17/2017
- by Emily Breen
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Director: Zhao Lin Shan. Review: Adam Wing. An epic tale of love, power and betrayal, The Assassins is another big screen account of the life and times of Cao Cao. Forgive us for lacking excitement over here, Cao Cao has appeared in more films than Samuel L. Jackson, though I'm pretty sure his box office success pales by comparison; he wouldn't quite cut it with a purple lightsaber either. In the early era of the Chinese Han Dynasty, Prime Minister Cao Cao (Chow Yun Fat) ventured to the east and savagely defeated China's greatest warrior, Lv Bu. He terrified every warlord in the country and crowned himself King of Wei. Meanwhile, young lovers Mu Shun (Tamaki Hiroshi) and Ling Jv (Crystal Liu Yi Fei) were taken from a prison camp to a hidden tomb where they spent five cruel years being trained as assassins for a secret mission. The Assassins...
- 9/16/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star Chow Yun Fat returns in The Assassins, an epic tale of love, power and betrayal. This historical tale of political intrigue and doomed romance boasts the visual talents of cinematographer Zhao Xiao Ding, a regular collaborator of Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers). The DVD and Blu-Ray release includes featurettes, deleted scenes, a music video and behind-the scenes chats with the cast. You can pick up a copy in U.K. stores from 9 September 2013. Synopsis: In the early era of the Chinese Han Dynasty, Prime Minister Cao Cao (Chow Yun Fat) ventured to the east and savagely defeated China's greatest warrior Lv Bu, terrifying every warlord across the country before crowning himself the king of Wei. Meanwhile, young lovers Mu Shun (Tamaki Hiroshi) and Ling Jv (Crystal Liu Yi Fei) were taken from a prison camp to a hidden tomb where they spent five cruel...
- 9/2/2013
- 24framespersecond.net
For viewers still smarting at Chow Yun Fat having dropped out of John Woo’s epic “Red Cliff” comes “The Assassins”, finally offering fans the chance to see the actor playing legendary Three Kingdoms personage Cao Cao. Marking the debut of former advertising director Zhao Lin Shan, the film also boasts the visual talents of Zhao Xiao Ding, a regular collaborator of Zhang Yimou who was nominated for an Oscar for his stunning work on “House of Flying Daggers”. In addition to Chow Yun Fat, the film features an impressive cast that also includes Crystal Liu (“The Four”), Alec Su (“The Message”), Ni Dahong (“A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop”), Annie Yi (“My Kingdom”) and Japanese actor Tamaki Hiroshi (“Nodame Cantabile”) as the various other players in the complex plot. The film is set some time after the events of “Red Cliff” during the Eastern Han Dynasty, with...
- 1/22/2013
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
It's great to see Zhang Yimou return to more dramatic fare after the bonkers Blood Simple remake (read our review: Zhang Yimou's Blood Simple ). 13 Flowers Of Nanjing certainly counts as 'dramatic'. The film stars Christian Bale as an American priest trapped in Nanjing during the infamous invasion of Nanjing in 1937.
If you've never read up on this atrocious period of history then you must. Also see Tun Fei Mou's hideous and unrelentingly bleak film, Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre, if you've got a strong stomach. Obviously Zhang Yimou will deliver a more measured affair, but this chapter in Chinese history is appalling beyond belief. There's also an excellent HBO documentary on this subject matter.
Synopsis:
13 Flowers of Nanjing is set in 1937 in Nanjing, China during Sino-Japanese War, where a few brave refugees find sanctuary in a Church compound. The group, thrown together by the terrible chaos of war, risks...
If you've never read up on this atrocious period of history then you must. Also see Tun Fei Mou's hideous and unrelentingly bleak film, Black Sun: The Nanking Massacre, if you've got a strong stomach. Obviously Zhang Yimou will deliver a more measured affair, but this chapter in Chinese history is appalling beyond belief. There's also an excellent HBO documentary on this subject matter.
Synopsis:
13 Flowers of Nanjing is set in 1937 in Nanjing, China during Sino-Japanese War, where a few brave refugees find sanctuary in a Church compound. The group, thrown together by the terrible chaos of war, risks...
- 4/19/2011
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Cinematography and its significance is an aspect of film that is usually overlooked by your average movie goer. Often times when a director is know for consistently maintaining a certain style it is due in part to the cinematographers contribution. Like film editors, cinematographers take a back seat to directors when it comes to the public’s perception of each of their significances. Although it is ultimately the directors medium, the cinematographer guides the tone and feel of the film by controlling the aesthetics. This is of course excluding art direction, wardrobe and set design. A beautifully constructed sequence arrests your attention with such command and power, while still displaying a subtle eloquence. This display of the mastery of film is often referred to as something “cinematic”. In that moment it is film declaring “I am what I am.” The cinematographer plays an instrumental role is deciding what that declaration is going to convey.
- 6/30/2010
- by Jordan Collins
- The Film Stage
American Cinematographer – the official magazine of the American Society of Cinematographers – just published a ranking of the best shot films for the 1998 to 2008 decade, and Amélie tops the list.
I initially thought the selections were chosen specifically by members of the Asc, but I learned that it was actually an open process; in short, the magazine asked its subscribers all over the world to nominate 10 films released between 1998 and 2008, that they believed had the best cinematography; the 50 most popular choices were then posted on the Asc website, with the rest of the public free to vote/rank the 50 finalists. Reportedly, more than 17,000 people around the world participated.
And, as already stated, Amélie was ranked in the top spot most consistently. I haven’t watched Amélie in years, but I’d certainly throw it up there on my list of one of the best shot films from 1998 to 2008. Will it be my #1? I don’t know.
I initially thought the selections were chosen specifically by members of the Asc, but I learned that it was actually an open process; in short, the magazine asked its subscribers all over the world to nominate 10 films released between 1998 and 2008, that they believed had the best cinematography; the 50 most popular choices were then posted on the Asc website, with the rest of the public free to vote/rank the 50 finalists. Reportedly, more than 17,000 people around the world participated.
And, as already stated, Amélie was ranked in the top spot most consistently. I haven’t watched Amélie in years, but I’d certainly throw it up there on my list of one of the best shot films from 1998 to 2008. Will it be my #1? I don’t know.
- 6/29/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
The latest big rumor surrounding Hollywood remakes connects horror movie director Sam Raimi and the Oscar nominated Chinese film House of Flying Daggers. I’m afraid so, folks. Industry magazine Production Weekly listed a House of Flying Daggers remake in their December issue with Raimi set to produce alongside Josh Donen (The Quick and the Dead, Drag Me to Hell) and Ryan Carroll (Toolbox Murders). The original film, released in 2004 and directed by Yimou Zhang, was nominated for an Oscar in 2005 for Achievement in Cinematography under the film’s Director of Photography Xiaoding Zhao. The film was also nominated in the 2005 Golden Globe category for Best Foreign Film. With [...]...
- 2/25/2009
- by Tessa
- ShockYa
- Quick Links The Departed United 93 Half Nelson Pretty ironic the Boston Society of Film Critics would be such big fans of The Departed (wicked obvious, no?). The film received top honors in the 25th aniversary of the Bsfc Awards. Their most recent winners of the past have been Brokeback Mounatin (2005), Sideways (2004), and Mystic River (2003). Formed in an attempt to showcase "Boston's unique critical perspective heard on a national and international level by awarding commendations to the best of the year's films and filmmakers," the Bsfc also really liked the indie underdogs United 93 and Half Nelson. Here are the complete list of 2006 winners: Best Picture: The Departed United 93, runner-up Best Director: Martin Scorsese, The Departed Paul Greengrass, United 93, runner-up Best Actor: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson, runner-up Best Actress: Helen Mirren, The Queen Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal, runner-up Best Supporting Actor: Mark Wahlberg,
- 12/11/2006
- IONCINEMA.com
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