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
Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s “Evil Does Not Exist,” was Sunday evening named as the best picture at the Asian Film Awards.
The 17th edition of the prizes was held at the Xiqu Centre, part of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.
While “Evil Does Not Exist” and Korean blockbuster “12.12: The Day” had dominated the nominations with six each, including those in the best film category, the prizes on Sunday were much more evenly distributed. No title collected more than two prizes.
Outside, crowds failed to be muted by the March drizzle, though VIP guests were given escorts with purple umbrellas.
Filmmaker and industry attendance was also robust. Those spotted on the red carpet and pre-event cocktails included: Lee Yong Kwan (former chair of the Busan film festival), Tom Yoda, Udine festival heads Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, Anthony Chen, Stanley Kwan, Rina Damayanti, Hong Kong distributor Winnie Tsang,...
The 17th edition of the prizes was held at the Xiqu Centre, part of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong.
While “Evil Does Not Exist” and Korean blockbuster “12.12: The Day” had dominated the nominations with six each, including those in the best film category, the prizes on Sunday were much more evenly distributed. No title collected more than two prizes.
Outside, crowds failed to be muted by the March drizzle, though VIP guests were given escorts with purple umbrellas.
Filmmaker and industry attendance was also robust. Those spotted on the red carpet and pre-event cocktails included: Lee Yong Kwan (former chair of the Busan film festival), Tom Yoda, Udine festival heads Sabrina Baracetti and Thomas Bertacche, Anthony Chen, Stanley Kwan, Rina Damayanti, Hong Kong distributor Winnie Tsang,...
- 3/10/2024
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
A total of 35 films from 24 countries and regions have been shortlisted to compete for 16 awards at this year's Asian Film Awards.
Renowned Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi will serve as the Jury President for this year's Awards. As the first Japanese director to hold this position, Kurosawa Kiyoshi is deeply honored. He will lead the Jury and over 200 Voting Members in selecting the winners for this year's Asian Film Awards.
The winners of other Afa awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, Afa Next Generation Award, and Rising Star Award, will be announced later.
The 17th Asian Film Awards Nomination List
Best Film
12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Paradise
Perfect Days (Japan)
Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Director
Kim Sung-soo | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Gu Xiaogang | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
Hamaguchi Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Kore-eda Hirokazu...
Renowned Japanese director Kurosawa Kiyoshi will serve as the Jury President for this year's Awards. As the first Japanese director to hold this position, Kurosawa Kiyoshi is deeply honored. He will lead the Jury and over 200 Voting Members in selecting the winners for this year's Asian Film Awards.
The winners of other Afa awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Excellence in Asian Cinema Award, Afa Next Generation Award, and Rising Star Award, will be announced later.
The 17th Asian Film Awards Nomination List
Best Film
12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Paradise
Perfect Days (Japan)
Snow Leopard (Mainland China)
Best Director
Kim Sung-soo | 12.12: The Day (South Korea)
Gu Xiaogang | Dwelling by the West Lake (Mainland China)
Hamaguchi Ryusuke | Evil Does Not Exist (Japan)
Kore-eda Hirokazu...
- 1/12/2024
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
‘Snow Leopard’, ‘Paradise’, ‘The Goldfinger’ and ‘Godzilla Minus One’ also land multiple nods.
South Korean box office hit 12.12: The Day and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist lead the nominations for the 17th Asian Film Awards, with six nods each including best film.
Also up for best film is Prasanna Vithanage’s Paradise from Sri Lanka-India, Wim Wenders Perfect Days from Japan and Chinese feature Snow Leopard by the late Pema Tseden.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hong Kong on March 10 and will be decided by a...
South Korean box office hit 12.12: The Day and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist lead the nominations for the 17th Asian Film Awards, with six nods each including best film.
Also up for best film is Prasanna Vithanage’s Paradise from Sri Lanka-India, Wim Wenders Perfect Days from Japan and Chinese feature Snow Leopard by the late Pema Tseden.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hong Kong on March 10 and will be decided by a...
- 1/12/2024
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest feature, Evil Does Not Exist, and the period action pic 12.12: The Day, from Korea, lead the nominations at this year’s Asian Film Awards.
Both films received six nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness), and Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North). Released on November 22, the film sailed past the 12 million admissions mark at the Korean box office over the Christmas holiday period, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2023 in the market.
Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist — which debuted out of Venice — follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live...
Both films received six nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Directed by Kim Sung-soo, whose credits include Asura: The City Of Madness and The Flu, 12.12: The Day is set against the backdrop of the real-life military coup of 1979, which resulted in an eight-year military junta in South Korea. The cast includes Hwang Jung-min (The Wailing), Jung Woo-sung (Asura: The City Of Madness), and Lee Sung-min (The Spy Gone North). Released on November 22, the film sailed past the 12 million admissions mark at the Korean box office over the Christmas holiday period, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2023 in the market.
Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist — which debuted out of Venice — follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live...
- 1/12/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
“Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms,” the first part of Wuershan’s big-budget “Fengshen Trilogy,” topped the mainland China box office for the second weekend and expanded its week-on-week haul by 35%.
‘Barbie’ also showed signs of resilience in a market where it opened a week earlier in a disappointing fifth place.
“Creation of the Gods I” grossed $57.6 million. according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That compares with $42.6 million in it opening frame and after 11 days in Chinese theaters, it has earned $156 million. Also, unlike its first weekend, “Creation of the Gods” was the winner on each day between Friday and Sunday.
The “Fengshen Trilogy” set out to be a mega scale blending of history, folklore and mythology from more than 3,000 years ago, that would be China’s answer to both “Lord of the Rings” and “Iron Man.” It counts of Barrie Osborne (“Lord of the Rings...
‘Barbie’ also showed signs of resilience in a market where it opened a week earlier in a disappointing fifth place.
“Creation of the Gods I” grossed $57.6 million. according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. That compares with $42.6 million in it opening frame and after 11 days in Chinese theaters, it has earned $156 million. Also, unlike its first weekend, “Creation of the Gods” was the winner on each day between Friday and Sunday.
The “Fengshen Trilogy” set out to be a mega scale blending of history, folklore and mythology from more than 3,000 years ago, that would be China’s answer to both “Lord of the Rings” and “Iron Man.” It counts of Barrie Osborne (“Lord of the Rings...
- 7/31/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Despite its global box office dominance, “Top Gun: Maverick” never had a wide release in China due to its unreserved celebration of American military might. Ironically, that propagandistic streak is what would have probably made the Tom Cruise blockbuster a hit with Chinese audiences; it has many of the same elements that have defined the country's recent string of slick actioners designed first and foremost to stir up nationalism. So, it was no surprise when China's own answer to the jet pilot phenomenon, “Born to Fly”, wrapped production last May, the same month that “Top Gun” hit cineplexes. More unexpected was the announcement later in the year that the release had been postponed, with speculation being that the studio was worried about negative comparisons to its American equivalent. Now, more than half a year later, the finished product has finally been unveiled. Early box office numbers have been great, but...
- 5/7/2023
- by Henry McKeand
- AsianMoviePulse
CineAsia UK has debuted the UK trailer for ‘Born To Fly.’
Lei Yu and a group of elite aviators undergo rigorous training to be recognised as official test pilots. Led by the experienced Commander Zhang, they are tasked with testing the latest fighter jets. As they soar to new heights, the unexpected happens when the engine fails and catches fire, causing the aircraft to spiral out of control. Despite facing near-death situations repeatedly, they persevere and gather crucial data under extreme circumstances. However, with the deadline for delivery of the fighter jet quickly approaching, their
challenges become increasingly difficult. Will they be able to triumph over adversity and successfully complete their mission?
Directed by Liu Xiaoshi, the film stars Wang Yibo, Hu Jun, Yu Shi with a special appearance from Zhou Dongyu.
Also in trailers – Rip-roaring trailer evolves for ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’
Trinity CineAsia presents Born to Fly...
Lei Yu and a group of elite aviators undergo rigorous training to be recognised as official test pilots. Led by the experienced Commander Zhang, they are tasked with testing the latest fighter jets. As they soar to new heights, the unexpected happens when the engine fails and catches fire, causing the aircraft to spiral out of control. Despite facing near-death situations repeatedly, they persevere and gather crucial data under extreme circumstances. However, with the deadline for delivery of the fighter jet quickly approaching, their
challenges become increasingly difficult. Will they be able to triumph over adversity and successfully complete their mission?
Directed by Liu Xiaoshi, the film stars Wang Yibo, Hu Jun, Yu Shi with a special appearance from Zhou Dongyu.
Also in trailers – Rip-roaring trailer evolves for ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’
Trinity CineAsia presents Born to Fly...
- 5/2/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In lieu of any real plot, the film centres on political pep talks and jingoism, making it more foreign policy document than flyboy blockbuster
The pilots in this so-called Chinese Top Gun are mostly top in the sense that they are in selfless support of China’s frontline troops thanks to the emerging technological superiority of the People’s Republic (which would have made for a less snappy title). Another in China’s seemingly never-ending line of propagandistic, government-backed action films, this is only distinguished in dunderheaded patriotism from its American 80s and 90s equivalents by its absence of any functioning sense of humour.
It’s about the country’s next-generation fighter pilots, but the plot is last-generation: promising flyboy Lei Yu (Wang Yibo) is plucked from his unit by veteran Zhang Ting (Hu Jun) to join the elite outfit trying to get “limit data” at high-altitude from the new stealth planes.
The pilots in this so-called Chinese Top Gun are mostly top in the sense that they are in selfless support of China’s frontline troops thanks to the emerging technological superiority of the People’s Republic (which would have made for a less snappy title). Another in China’s seemingly never-ending line of propagandistic, government-backed action films, this is only distinguished in dunderheaded patriotism from its American 80s and 90s equivalents by its absence of any functioning sense of humour.
It’s about the country’s next-generation fighter pilots, but the plot is last-generation: promising flyboy Lei Yu (Wang Yibo) is plucked from his unit by veteran Zhang Ting (Hu Jun) to join the elite outfit trying to get “limit data” at high-altitude from the new stealth planes.
- 5/1/2023
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Third installment of of Bona's “China Victory Trilogy,” a series intended as “a gift to the Communist Party for its centenary, “Hidden Blade”, however, strays far away from the previous two installments, as it mostly follows noir, extremely stylized paths while the propaganda, although still present, is quite toned down.
Hidden Blade is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
With the initial scenes taking place in the ‘present', the story then makes an intense flashback to November 1937, the day after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, moves to the intense bombings of Guangzhou that lasted for about a year, and then settles in Shanghai until August 1945. It is in the last setting the majority of the story unfolds, where we are introduced to the main characters. Mr He is the director of counter espionage for the Japanese authorities in the area, but in reality he is a double agent...
Hidden Blade is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
With the initial scenes taking place in the ‘present', the story then makes an intense flashback to November 1937, the day after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, moves to the intense bombings of Guangzhou that lasted for about a year, and then settles in Shanghai until August 1945. It is in the last setting the majority of the story unfolds, where we are introduced to the main characters. Mr He is the director of counter espionage for the Japanese authorities in the area, but in reality he is a double agent...
- 4/22/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Trinity CineAsia has acquired rights to Chinese tentpole action movie “Born to Fly,” and will release the film in cinemas in the U.K. and Ireland.
Nicknamed China’s response to Hollywood hit “Top Gun,” the Chinese film follows Lei Yu and a group of elite aviators who undergo rigorous training to be recognised as official test pilots. Led by the experienced Commander Zhang, they are tasked with testing the latest fighter jets. As they soar to new heights, the unexpected happens when the engine fails and catches fire, causing the aircraft to spiral out of control. Despite facing multiple near-death situations, they persevere and gather crucial data under extreme circumstances. But the deadline for delivery of the new plane is approaching.
The film is being released in mainland China on 28 April, in time for the May Day holiday that is one of the three most important seasons in the releasing calendar.
Nicknamed China’s response to Hollywood hit “Top Gun,” the Chinese film follows Lei Yu and a group of elite aviators who undergo rigorous training to be recognised as official test pilots. Led by the experienced Commander Zhang, they are tasked with testing the latest fighter jets. As they soar to new heights, the unexpected happens when the engine fails and catches fire, causing the aircraft to spiral out of control. Despite facing multiple near-death situations, they persevere and gather crucial data under extreme circumstances. But the deadline for delivery of the new plane is approaching.
The film is being released in mainland China on 28 April, in time for the May Day holiday that is one of the three most important seasons in the releasing calendar.
- 4/21/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
"If you're afraid, it's not too late to leave." Well Go USA has revealed an official US trailer for the Chinese action movie titled Born to Fly, made by a first-time filmmaker named Liu Xiaoshi. The original Chinese title translates to King of the Sky, so this Born to Fly is the new US release title for it. The story of a special operations team headed by elite pilots, being ordered to test new fighter jets. Test flight after test flight, they continue to challenge the sky and the limits of themselves. After a threat arises mid-air, an elite test pilot is forced to test his own physical and psychological limits in order to survive. The film stars Wang Yibo, Hu Jun, Yu Shi, and Zhou Dongyu. They don't say it but this is so clearly China's attempt at Top Gun, with so many similar shots and plot beats, though...
- 4/4/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Drama stars Hu Ge, from Diao Yinan’s 2019 Cannes Competition title ’The Wild Goose Lake’.
Beijing-based Rediance has acquired worldwide rights to Chinese director Liu Jiayin’s All Ears, a drama starring Hu Ge and executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Cao Baoping.
Rediance will launch sales on the feature at the European Film Market (EFM) this week.
Hu, from Diao Yinan’s 2019 Cannes Competition title The Wild Goose Lake, plays a mediocre screenwriter who turns to writing eulogies to make ends meet. As he listens to the life stories of the ordinary deceased people from their families, he finds a new footing in life.
Beijing-based Rediance has acquired worldwide rights to Chinese director Liu Jiayin’s All Ears, a drama starring Hu Ge and executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Cao Baoping.
Rediance will launch sales on the feature at the European Film Market (EFM) this week.
Hu, from Diao Yinan’s 2019 Cannes Competition title The Wild Goose Lake, plays a mediocre screenwriter who turns to writing eulogies to make ends meet. As he listens to the life stories of the ordinary deceased people from their families, he finds a new footing in life.
- 2/16/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Third installment of of Bona’s “China Victory Trilogy,” a series intended as “a gift to the Communist Party for its centenary, “Hidden Blade”, however, strays far away from the previous two installments, as it mostly follows noir, extremely stylized paths while the propaganda, although still present, is quite toned down.
Hidden Blade will screen exclusively on theaters starting February 17, courtesy of Wellgo USA
With the initial scenes taking place in the ‘present’, the story then makes an intense flashback to November 1937, the day after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, moves to the intense bombings of Guangzhou that lasted for about a year, and then settles in Shanghai until August 1945. It is in the last setting the majority of the story unfolds, where we are introduced to the main characters. Mr He is the director of counter espionage for the Japanese authorities in the area, but in reality he...
Hidden Blade will screen exclusively on theaters starting February 17, courtesy of Wellgo USA
With the initial scenes taking place in the ‘present’, the story then makes an intense flashback to November 1937, the day after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, moves to the intense bombings of Guangzhou that lasted for about a year, and then settles in Shanghai until August 1945. It is in the last setting the majority of the story unfolds, where we are introduced to the main characters. Mr He is the director of counter espionage for the Japanese authorities in the area, but in reality he...
- 2/11/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Taipei- and Hong Kong-based sales agency Distribution Workshop heads to Berlin with a rich slate that includes one of the mainland Chinese hits from the recent Lunar New Year season and an anticipated supernatural horror film from Taiwan. The company will present to buyers in person at Berlin’s European Film Market next week.
Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and pop star turned actor Wang Yibo, Huang Lei and Zhou Xun, “Hidden Blade” is a lusciously presented espionage story that runs from the 1920s to the period Second Sino-Chinese War. It is directed by Cheng Er, who previously directed 2017’s “The Wasted Times.”
(Wang and Zhou also both appear in “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” a Chinese short film by Zhang Dalei that plays in next week’s Berlin short film competition.)
As nationalist, Communist and Japanese factions fan out across China and Japanese-occupied Manchuria, the narrative sees espionage agencies operating behind enemy lines,...
Starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and pop star turned actor Wang Yibo, Huang Lei and Zhou Xun, “Hidden Blade” is a lusciously presented espionage story that runs from the 1920s to the period Second Sino-Chinese War. It is directed by Cheng Er, who previously directed 2017’s “The Wasted Times.”
(Wang and Zhou also both appear in “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” a Chinese short film by Zhang Dalei that plays in next week’s Berlin short film competition.)
As nationalist, Communist and Japanese factions fan out across China and Japanese-occupied Manchuria, the narrative sees espionage agencies operating behind enemy lines,...
- 2/6/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Taipei-based international sales company Distribution Workshop will be selling Lunar New Year hit Hidden Blade, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, and Wong Ching-po’s highly-anticipated new film, The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon, at the upcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.
Directed by Cheng Er, Hidden Blade is a spy thriller set in Shanghai during the Second World War, and also stars Wang Yibo (Born To Fly) and Zhou Xun (Our Time Will Come).
The 45m production has so far grossed 116.6M since its release over the Lunar New Year holidays on January 22, according to figures from Artisan Gateway.
The film is the third installment in the “China Victory Trilogy” produced by Beijing-based Bona Film Group, following Chinese Doctors and The Battle At Lake Changjin. Cheng Er is known for crime dramas such as Lethal Hostage (2012) and The Wasted Times (2016).
The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon is produced by Lee Lieh,...
Directed by Cheng Er, Hidden Blade is a spy thriller set in Shanghai during the Second World War, and also stars Wang Yibo (Born To Fly) and Zhou Xun (Our Time Will Come).
The 45m production has so far grossed 116.6M since its release over the Lunar New Year holidays on January 22, according to figures from Artisan Gateway.
The film is the third installment in the “China Victory Trilogy” produced by Beijing-based Bona Film Group, following Chinese Doctors and The Battle At Lake Changjin. Cheng Er is known for crime dramas such as Lethal Hostage (2012) and The Wasted Times (2016).
The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon is produced by Lee Lieh,...
- 2/6/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
"Extraordinary courage can change history." Well Go USA has revealed yet another official US trailer for Hidden Blade, a WWII Chinese spy thriller from filmmaker Cheng Er. This one already opened in China in January, and is landing in US theaters starting in February in a few more weeks. The film follows the story of a group of underground workers who risked their lives to send intelligence and defend the motherland, set after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor when the Wang Jingwei regime declared war on Britain & America. During World War II, at the height of their war of resistance against Japan, a group of courageous citizens develops a top-secret underground espionage network at great peril to their own lives. Actor Tony Leung headlines Hidden Blade, along with Wang Yibo, Hiroyuki Mori, Chengpeng Dong, Zhou Xun, Eric Wang, and Huang Lei. I like how both of these trailers below feature no dialogue,...
- 2/2/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
China’s Lunar New Year box office got off to a solid start Sunday despite ongoing concerns over the Covid wave sweeping the country. An especially strong and diverse slate of local holiday blockbusters is giving the Chinese film industry the boost it so desperately needs after a prolonged period of market damage during last year’s lockdowns.
Frank Guo’s big-budget sci-fi spectacle The Wandering Earth 2, starring Wu Jing and Andy Lau, rocketed to the front of the pack with a 69.7 million opening day, according to data from tracking firm Artisan Gateway. But Chinese filmmaking legend Zhang Yimou’s latest feature, Full River Red, a period comedy thriller, was close behind with a strong 59.3 million start. Both films have been enthusiastically received— Full River Red has social scores of 9.6 on Maoyan, 9.5 on Alibaba’s Tao Piao Piao app and 8 from Douban, while Wandering Earth 2 sits at 9.4, 9.7 and 8.3, respectively — suggesting that a close,...
Frank Guo’s big-budget sci-fi spectacle The Wandering Earth 2, starring Wu Jing and Andy Lau, rocketed to the front of the pack with a 69.7 million opening day, according to data from tracking firm Artisan Gateway. But Chinese filmmaking legend Zhang Yimou’s latest feature, Full River Red, a period comedy thriller, was close behind with a strong 59.3 million start. Both films have been enthusiastically received— Full River Red has social scores of 9.6 on Maoyan, 9.5 on Alibaba’s Tao Piao Piao app and 8 from Douban, while Wandering Earth 2 sits at 9.4, 9.7 and 8.3, respectively — suggesting that a close,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Titles include ‘Full River Red’, ‘Hidden Blade’ and ‘Wandering Earth 2’.
Wandering Earth 2, Full River Red and Hidden Blade are leading the box office race for Chinese New Year since tickets went on sale last weekend, with stars Shen Teng, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Wu Jing set to slug it out in cinemas across China.
Seven local films have been cleared for release during the highly coveted and crowded festive season, with all but one opening on January 22, the first day of the lunar new year. Since ticket sales began on Saturday (January 14), the total presale is approaching 51.6m (RMB350m) at time of press,...
Wandering Earth 2, Full River Red and Hidden Blade are leading the box office race for Chinese New Year since tickets went on sale last weekend, with stars Shen Teng, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Wu Jing set to slug it out in cinemas across China.
Seven local films have been cleared for release during the highly coveted and crowded festive season, with all but one opening on January 22, the first day of the lunar new year. Since ticket sales began on Saturday (January 14), the total presale is approaching 51.6m (RMB350m) at time of press,...
- 1/19/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Cheng Er’s last feature film was the rather gorgeous looking and expertly directed “The Wasted Times” back in 2016, which had an all-star cast that included Tadanobu Asano, Zhang Ziyi and Ge You. He follows that up with the rather blandly named “Hidden Blade” (previously called “Anonymous”), which recently released a spate of trailers for us to enjoy.
Synopsis
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The following day, the Wang False Government followed Japan’s declaration of war against Britain and the United States, and Japan symbolically occupied all of Shanghai. With the outbreak of the Pacific War, the situation of China’s war effort changed completely. Members of the Chinese Communist Party underground risked sending out information to break the peace between Japan and Chiang and to defend the motherland.
Shot with just as much beauty as “The Wasted Times” was, Cheng Er has assembled yet...
Synopsis
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The following day, the Wang False Government followed Japan’s declaration of war against Britain and the United States, and Japan symbolically occupied all of Shanghai. With the outbreak of the Pacific War, the situation of China’s war effort changed completely. Members of the Chinese Communist Party underground risked sending out information to break the peace between Japan and Chiang and to defend the motherland.
Shot with just as much beauty as “The Wasted Times” was, Cheng Er has assembled yet...
- 1/11/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has been given permission to extend its current run in mainland Chinese cinemas beyond the 30-day theatrical period normally granted to Hollywood films imported into the country.
Such decisions are in the gift of the government regulators that oversee the sector and which have blocked Disney’s Marvel movies from playing in China for more than three years.
A spokesman for Disney in Asia confirmed to Variety that it has been informed of an additional 30 days of play for “Avatar 2.” Non-governmental sources have told Variety that the DreamWorks animation-produced “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” has also been granted an extension, though specifics were unavailable.
Such extensions are far from unprecedented and appear to be granted when a longer run could be viewed as beneficial to Chinese cinema operators or to a Chinese investor or co-producer.
What makes the “Avatar 2” and...
Such decisions are in the gift of the government regulators that oversee the sector and which have blocked Disney’s Marvel movies from playing in China for more than three years.
A spokesman for Disney in Asia confirmed to Variety that it has been informed of an additional 30 days of play for “Avatar 2.” Non-governmental sources have told Variety that the DreamWorks animation-produced “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” has also been granted an extension, though specifics were unavailable.
Such extensions are far from unprecedented and appear to be granted when a longer run could be viewed as beneficial to Chinese cinema operators or to a Chinese investor or co-producer.
What makes the “Avatar 2” and...
- 1/10/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water has continued to make solid gains at China’s box office, even in the face of a catastrophic wave of Covid-19 infections. The Disney tentpole added 16.5 million in its fourth weekend, nudging its total to 189.4 million, according to data from Artisan Gateway.
After some wild swings in early forecasting, leading Chinese ticketing app Maoyan now projects Avatar 2 to top out at 222 million (Rmb 1.51 billion). That’s the most of any Hollywood film of the pandemic era (Universal’s Jurassic World: Dominion sits in second place with 157.6 million), as well as an improvement upon the 202 million that the first Avatar film earned in China way back in 2009.
But the ongoing Covid outbreak’s toll on the sequel’s earnings is starkly apparent when you consider that China has more than 10 times as many movie screens today than it did in 2009, and that...
After some wild swings in early forecasting, leading Chinese ticketing app Maoyan now projects Avatar 2 to top out at 222 million (Rmb 1.51 billion). That’s the most of any Hollywood film of the pandemic era (Universal’s Jurassic World: Dominion sits in second place with 157.6 million), as well as an improvement upon the 202 million that the first Avatar film earned in China way back in 2009.
But the ongoing Covid outbreak’s toll on the sequel’s earnings is starkly apparent when you consider that China has more than 10 times as many movie screens today than it did in 2009, and that...
- 1/9/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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The country’s most daring and promising young fighter pilot takes part in a top-secret testing program for the military’s most advanced fighter jets. Logline sound familiar? With hot young Chinese test pilots and heart-stopping aerial acrobatics, Born to Fly was supposed to be China’s answer to Top Gun: Maverick. The wildly anticipated action flick stars Wang Yibo, a pop star turned actor (think China’s Harry Styles), and was written and directed by Liu Xiaoshi, who cut his teeth making popular promotional videos for the Chinese military. Produced in full cooperation with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force — much as Maverick was with the U.S. Navy — the film showcases China’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, the J-20.
So, when Born to Fly was officially scheduled for release on Sept. 30, the day before China’s National Day holiday, many...
The country’s most daring and promising young fighter pilot takes part in a top-secret testing program for the military’s most advanced fighter jets. Logline sound familiar? With hot young Chinese test pilots and heart-stopping aerial acrobatics, Born to Fly was supposed to be China’s answer to Top Gun: Maverick. The wildly anticipated action flick stars Wang Yibo, a pop star turned actor (think China’s Harry Styles), and was written and directed by Liu Xiaoshi, who cut his teeth making popular promotional videos for the Chinese military. Produced in full cooperation with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force — much as Maverick was with the U.S. Navy — the film showcases China’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, the J-20.
So, when Born to Fly was officially scheduled for release on Sept. 30, the day before China’s National Day holiday, many...
- 12/22/2022
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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