There’s a beautiful scene in Jia Zhangke’s 2004 film The World in which the protagonist, Tao, crosses paths with an industrial worker nicknamed Little Sister on the rooftop of an unfinished building. They chat aimlessly beneath towering spires of exposed rebar until a massive plane soars overhead, drowning out their voices. “Tao, who flies on those planes?” he asks, to which she responds, “Who knows…I don’t know anybody who’s ever been on a plane.”
It’s this precise contrast of stasis and flux, of the sublime and the quotidian, of simple personal dreams swallowed up by massive national ambitions, that characterizes Liu Jian’s newest feature, Art College 1994. Jia also lends his voice to one of its characters: Gu Yongqing, a “roving artist abroad” who speaks of “the mysterious power of art” during a visiting lecture at the titular art college. This is Liu’s third animated feature film,...
It’s this precise contrast of stasis and flux, of the sublime and the quotidian, of simple personal dreams swallowed up by massive national ambitions, that characterizes Liu Jian’s newest feature, Art College 1994. Jia also lends his voice to one of its characters: Gu Yongqing, a “roving artist abroad” who speaks of “the mysterious power of art” during a visiting lecture at the titular art college. This is Liu’s third animated feature film,...
- 4/21/2024
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slant Magazine
Ridley Scott’s historical epic “Napoleon” was cruelly defeated at the mainland Chinese box office, where it opened in only fifth place on its opening weekend.
Chinese crime thriller “Across the Furious Sea” headed the mainland China charts for a second weekend, earning $20.0 million (RMB142 million), according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
“Napoleon” earned just $2.8 million ($19.6 million) in China, according to the firm whose figures are generally considered as final, not estimates.
The film earned generally mixed to positive reviews, but only a middling score of 6.6 out of 10 from users of the Douban movie fan site. But it appears that Chinese audiences found the travails of an ancient French emperor to be too much of a specialist topic. Ticketing firm and data provider, Maoyan showed that “Napoleon’s” viewers in China were two thirds male. It also forecasts that the film will end up with final revenues short of $5 million.
Chinese crime thriller “Across the Furious Sea” headed the mainland China charts for a second weekend, earning $20.0 million (RMB142 million), according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway.
“Napoleon” earned just $2.8 million ($19.6 million) in China, according to the firm whose figures are generally considered as final, not estimates.
The film earned generally mixed to positive reviews, but only a middling score of 6.6 out of 10 from users of the Douban movie fan site. But it appears that Chinese audiences found the travails of an ancient French emperor to be too much of a specialist topic. Ticketing firm and data provider, Maoyan showed that “Napoleon’s” viewers in China were two thirds male. It also forecasts that the film will end up with final revenues short of $5 million.
- 12/4/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
China’s nationwide annual box office passed the symbolic $7 billion and Rmb 50 billion marks in recent days, confirming a decent, but still incomplete recovery of the theatrical cinema industry.
According to consultancy Artisan Gateway, the running box office total to Nov. 26 was $7.15 billion. That is a 79% rebound compared with 2022, when much of the year was wiped out by strict anti-covid restrictions. But it is 15% below pre-covid performance in 2019.
The weak economy may be having an impact, but the inconsistent supply of audience-friendly films is also likely a factor. Clustering around peak holiday periods continues to be the prevailing pattern and distributors have recently postponed the release of at least one major title until February’s 2024 Chinese New Year season.
Revenues over the latest weekend were $52.3 million, powered by an all-new top five and a good opening from “Across the Furious Sea,” a crime thriller starring Huang Bo and Zhou Xun.
According to consultancy Artisan Gateway, the running box office total to Nov. 26 was $7.15 billion. That is a 79% rebound compared with 2022, when much of the year was wiped out by strict anti-covid restrictions. But it is 15% below pre-covid performance in 2019.
The weak economy may be having an impact, but the inconsistent supply of audience-friendly films is also likely a factor. Clustering around peak holiday periods continues to be the prevailing pattern and distributors have recently postponed the release of at least one major title until February’s 2024 Chinese New Year season.
Revenues over the latest weekend were $52.3 million, powered by an all-new top five and a good opening from “Across the Furious Sea,” a crime thriller starring Huang Bo and Zhou Xun.
- 11/27/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Local crime thriller Across the Furious Sea, directed and co-written by Cao Baoping, dominated China’s box office over the weekend with a $24.7 million two-day opening kicking off Saturday. The film’s strong start continues a recent market trend of Chinese moviegoers favoring well-told local crime stories.
But it was another weekend of struggle for Hollywood filmmaking in China. Disney Animation’s Wish opened in fifth place with only $3.5 million in ticket revenue, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Lionsgate’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, meanwhile, plummeted in its second frame, earning a little under $1 million. Disney’s The Marvels likewise continued its decline, slipping off of China’s top 10 list for the weekend (the film’s total sits at $16 million and it is unlikely to earn much more — making for an all-time low for an MCU tentpole).
Across the Furious Sea marks a long-coming culmination for Cao,...
But it was another weekend of struggle for Hollywood filmmaking in China. Disney Animation’s Wish opened in fifth place with only $3.5 million in ticket revenue, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Lionsgate’s prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, meanwhile, plummeted in its second frame, earning a little under $1 million. Disney’s The Marvels likewise continued its decline, slipping off of China’s top 10 list for the weekend (the film’s total sits at $16 million and it is unlikely to earn much more — making for an all-time low for an MCU tentpole).
Across the Furious Sea marks a long-coming culmination for Cao,...
- 11/27/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Similar to his other films, Wuershan’s Creation of the Gods 1: Kingdom of Storms begins with a narration about how the world came to be. The world had no shape at the beginning of time. The mighty god Pangu transformed his body into the sun, the moon, the mountains, and the rivers. Another god, Nuwa, made people out of clay, and her spirit gave them life. When Nuwa died, she hid a powerful artifact that held the secret of creation. This artifact was called the “Fengshen Bang” and could turn humans and monsters into gods. The immortals of Kunlun were trusted to guard it. This artifact could only be opened by the king of all realms when it was absolutely necessary. Sadly, the current king of the realms was a despicable evil.
Spoilers Ahead
Why Does Yin Shou Order the Construction of Pyres?
As generations came and went, Yin...
Spoilers Ahead
Why Does Yin Shou Order the Construction of Pyres?
As generations came and went, Yin...
- 11/20/2023
- by Rishabh Shandilya
- Film Fugitives
Exclusive: Stars Collective, a Los Angeles-based film finance and mentorship arm, has announced the launch of Stars Asian International Film Festival – a new capsule film showcase to take place in Los Angeles November 12-16.
The festival, which will include a dozen feature selections celebrating Asian cinema, will spotlight a broad range of exceptional films by Asian filmmakers, including a Xiaogang Feng Retrospective which will run from the 9th to the 16th. Kicking off the festival will be the Opening Ceremony on November 12th; the StarS Summit held at the Petersen Automotive Museum on November 13th; followed by the StarS Gala, in collaboration with Women In Film (Wif) on November 14th at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion; and concluding with the Closing Gala at the Los Angeles Theatre on November 16th.
“We are thrilled to launch the Stars Asian International Film Festival. This festival embodies our commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of Asian cinema,...
The festival, which will include a dozen feature selections celebrating Asian cinema, will spotlight a broad range of exceptional films by Asian filmmakers, including a Xiaogang Feng Retrospective which will run from the 9th to the 16th. Kicking off the festival will be the Opening Ceremony on November 12th; the StarS Summit held at the Petersen Automotive Museum on November 13th; followed by the StarS Gala, in collaboration with Women In Film (Wif) on November 14th at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion; and concluding with the Closing Gala at the Los Angeles Theatre on November 16th.
“We are thrilled to launch the Stars Asian International Film Festival. This festival embodies our commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of Asian cinema,...
- 11/6/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
There can be a debate when it comes to adaptations of literature: Is it best to have read the source material or not? Reading it gives you an understanding of character and context so are not confused by any cinematic shorthand that presumes your understanding. Yet, coming in without that knowledge also removes any images that have formed in your head and so you base everything purely on what is presented to you on screen. “Creation of the Gods: Kingdom of Storms” is part one of a trilogy based on the classic work “Investiture of the Gods” written in the Ming Dynasty by Xu Zhonglin. With the second and third parts to follow, Well Go USA are bringing the opening chapter to the west and introducing the tale to a largely unfamiliar (Including this reviewer) audience.
Creation of the Gods: Kingdom of Storms is released from WellGo USA
Prince Yin...
Creation of the Gods: Kingdom of Storms is released from WellGo USA
Prince Yin...
- 10/7/2023
- by Ben Stykuc
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Trinity CineAsia has acquired Chinese fantasy epic Creation Of The Gods I: Kingdom Of Storms for multiple territories, including the UK, Ireland, France and Spain.
Highlight Entertainment Co is handling international sales on the film, the first installment in a planned trilogy, which opened in China in late July and became a big hit, grossing more than $400M and still running.
Directed by leading Chinese filmmaker Wu Ershan (Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is based on Chinese classic ‘Investiture Of The Gods’ (Fengshen Bang) and tells the story of an epic battle between humans, immortals and monsters during the overthrow of King Zhou at the end of the Shang Dynasty.
The cast is headed by Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, Huang Bo, Yu Shi, Chen Muchi and Naran. Lead producers on the film include Du Yang, Luo Shanshan, Wu Erhan and Yan Xuefeng.
The film is being released theatrically...
Highlight Entertainment Co is handling international sales on the film, the first installment in a planned trilogy, which opened in China in late July and became a big hit, grossing more than $400M and still running.
Directed by leading Chinese filmmaker Wu Ershan (Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is based on Chinese classic ‘Investiture Of The Gods’ (Fengshen Bang) and tells the story of an epic battle between humans, immortals and monsters during the overthrow of King Zhou at the end of the Shang Dynasty.
The cast is headed by Kris Phillips, Li Xuejian, Huang Bo, Yu Shi, Chen Muchi and Naran. Lead producers on the film include Du Yang, Luo Shanshan, Wu Erhan and Yan Xuefeng.
The film is being released theatrically...
- 9/20/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to fantasy epic Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, one of China’s biggest films of the year.
Directed by Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is the first installment in the planned Fengshen Trilogy, a three-part feature adaptation of the classic Chinese novel by Xu Zhonglin. It stars Kris Phillips (The Monkey King 2), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Born to Fly), Chen Muchi, Ci Sha and acclaimed newcomer Naran.
Among the Beijing film industry’s top-earning titles this summer, Kingdom of Storms has earned $375 million in China and remains on release.
Well Go will put the film out in North American theaters Sept. 22, with special Imax preview showings available in select locations Sept. 20.
The first installment of the trilogy’s legendary tale — which...
Directed by Wuershan (Painted Skin: The Resurrection, Mojin: The Lost Legend), the film is the first installment in the planned Fengshen Trilogy, a three-part feature adaptation of the classic Chinese novel by Xu Zhonglin. It stars Kris Phillips (The Monkey King 2), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Born to Fly), Chen Muchi, Ci Sha and acclaimed newcomer Naran.
Among the Beijing film industry’s top-earning titles this summer, Kingdom of Storms has earned $375 million in China and remains on release.
Well Go will put the film out in North American theaters Sept. 22, with special Imax preview showings available in select locations Sept. 20.
The first installment of the trilogy’s legendary tale — which...
- 9/8/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chinese crime action film “No More Bets” headed the mainland China box office for the fourth consecutive weekend, cementing its place as one of the biggest films in the world this year.
Between Friday and Sunday, it earned $33.5 million (RMB241 million), according to data from specialist consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Global data provider Comscore ranked that as the third highest performance of the weekend anywhere in the world, narrowly behind “Barbie’s” $35.3 million.
The latest increment advanced “No More Bets’” cumulative score to $469 million (RMB3.37 billion).
“Papa,” a comedy about parental efforts to improve their son’s education, held an unchanged second place in its second week. It earned $14.9 million over the weekend, a 37% week-on-week decline that gives it a 10-day cumulative of $59.2 million. The film is produced by comedian Huang Bo, who also stars. Huang appears in two of this year’s other hits, “Creation of the Gods” and “One and Only.
Between Friday and Sunday, it earned $33.5 million (RMB241 million), according to data from specialist consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. Global data provider Comscore ranked that as the third highest performance of the weekend anywhere in the world, narrowly behind “Barbie’s” $35.3 million.
The latest increment advanced “No More Bets’” cumulative score to $469 million (RMB3.37 billion).
“Papa,” a comedy about parental efforts to improve their son’s education, held an unchanged second place in its second week. It earned $14.9 million over the weekend, a 37% week-on-week decline that gives it a 10-day cumulative of $59.2 million. The film is produced by comedian Huang Bo, who also stars. Huang appears in two of this year’s other hits, “Creation of the Gods” and “One and Only.
- 8/28/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Lei Dali (Huang Bo) is forced to get involved in the fierce competition for the promotion of his son, Lei Mi (Shan Yuhao), to primary school to give him a better start in life. His mother, Liu Zhenzhen (Yan Ni), has been trying her best but it's just far too difficult to achieve as a single parent. Dali decides to spend all of his money to buy a house in the school district and the new living arrangements soon see tensions mounting. However, he quickly begins to realize that the essence of “fighting children” is “fighting parents”.
- 8/15/2023
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Australian Film Television and Radio School
Australia’s leading screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful Sydney campus and a deep pool of industry lecturers and close ties with the Australian film community. Notable alumni include multi-Oscar nominee Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, plus a slew of esteemed craftspeople like Margaret Sixel (editing on Mad Max: Fury Road), David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay Oscar nominee for The Favourite).
Beijing Film Academy
The USC of the world’s second-largest film industry, China’s most prestigious film school offers its graduates a wealth of industry ties to some of the country’s most prominent working actors and directors. Bfa also now has an undergraduate film program taught in English.
Australia’s leading screen arts and broadcast school benefits from a beautiful Sydney campus and a deep pool of industry lecturers and close ties with the Australian film community. Notable alumni include multi-Oscar nominee Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Phillip Noyce (The Quiet American) and Black Widow filmmaker Cate Shortland, plus a slew of esteemed craftspeople like Margaret Sixel (editing on Mad Max: Fury Road), David White (sound editing for Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrew Lesnie (cinematography for The Lord of the Rings) and Tony McNamara (best original screenplay Oscar nominee for The Favourite).
Beijing Film Academy
The USC of the world’s second-largest film industry, China’s most prestigious film school offers its graduates a wealth of industry ties to some of the country’s most prominent working actors and directors. Bfa also now has an undergraduate film program taught in English.
- 8/11/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski, Alex Ritman, Scott Roxborough and Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“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
After King Yin Shou (Fei Xiang) of the Shang Dynasty colludes with the tyrannical and unscrupulous fox demon Daji (Na Ran), he triggers the wrath of heaven. Jiang Ziya (Huang Bo), an immortal from Kunlun, comes down from the mountains with the “God Sealing List” to find a commoner to save the world. Ji Fa (Yu Yosh), the son of Xi Bohou, discovers the true nature of Yin Shou and rebels against the dynasty. As all the forces of the world are in a state of flux, the first signs of change are revealed.
- 7/14/2023
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
The quote that opens Chinese director Liu Jian’s shaggy but amiable new animated feature is instructive. “To live, to err, to fall, to triumph, to recreate life out of life” is a passage from James Joyce’s “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,” and indeed, Liu was himself at art college as a young man in the early ’90s, when and where “Art College 1994” is, unsurprisingly, set. The quasi-memoir feel to the movie does have its charm — it’s always a kick to see animation techniques applied not to extravagant flights of fancy but to slices of real, ordinary life — but it’s also its chief flaw. In re-creating life out of life, Liu is quite successful; whether he makes it into drama is another question. Like its characters, “Art College 1994” gives the impression of having just too much time on its hands.
Liu...
Liu...
- 2/25/2023
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Art College 1994, a deadpan slice of comic-sad social realism from Chinese animator Liu Jian (Have a Nice Day), offers reassuring evidence that although cultural specificities can shape artistic traditions — and fashion and tastes fluctuate — art students are basically all the same and always have been: slovenly, idealistic, and prone to pretentious waffle, especially when lubricated with alcohol. But also, at least based on the evidence of the characters here, reasonably endearing with their guileless dreams of making meaningful work in a world where it sometimes feels like everything has been done. Mind you, others just want to meet romantic partners, make money somehow and maybe go abroad someday.
There’s a sense that this gently meandering, sketchbook-like work is aware of its own cinematic precedents. It certainly seems to suffer from an anxiety of influence as it tries to carve out a space for itself somewhere in the region of Eric Rohmer wistful romances,...
There’s a sense that this gently meandering, sketchbook-like work is aware of its own cinematic precedents. It certainly seems to suffer from an anxiety of influence as it tries to carve out a space for itself somewhere in the region of Eric Rohmer wistful romances,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sales agency Memento Intl. has unveiled the first clip and poster from Liu Jian’s Berlin competition title “Art College 1994,” which world premieres on Feb. 24.
The film is a portrait of youth set on the campus of the Chinese Southern Academy of Arts in the early 1990s. Against the backdrop of reforms opening China to the Western world, a group of college students live in full swing as they take their first steps into adulthood, where love and friendships are intertwined with artistic pursuits, ideals and ambitions. Caught between tradition and modernity, they now have to choose who they want to become.
It is the director’s third animation feature after 2010’s “Piercing I” and “Have a Nice Day,” which premiered in competition at the Berlinale in 2017, and quickly built a cult following. “Have a Nice Day” was also honored with the best animated feature award at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.
The film is a portrait of youth set on the campus of the Chinese Southern Academy of Arts in the early 1990s. Against the backdrop of reforms opening China to the Western world, a group of college students live in full swing as they take their first steps into adulthood, where love and friendships are intertwined with artistic pursuits, ideals and ambitions. Caught between tradition and modernity, they now have to choose who they want to become.
It is the director’s third animation feature after 2010’s “Piercing I” and “Have a Nice Day,” which premiered in competition at the Berlinale in 2017, and quickly built a cult following. “Have a Nice Day” was also honored with the best animated feature award at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.
- 2/20/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
On January 23, 2020, Wuhan was put on lockdown in the face of the sudden epidemic. Xue Xiao-lu, director of “Finding Mr Right” focuses on what happened during the time, through four stories of people from all steps of the social ladder, through an approach, though, that is quite romanticized. Let us take things from the beginning though.
Embrace Again is screening at Asian Pop Up Cinema
A Yong is a courier transferring goods for hospitals, and a volunteer who tries to organize the whole service against many odds, in the process neglecting his son, who still considers him a kind of a hero, and his wife, who is quite frustrated with his choice. Wu Ge delivers food through her motorcycle, which is what eventually gets her acquainted with piano teacher Ye Zi Yang, when she carries him in her motorcycle, and nurse-in-training Xia Xiao, both of which eventually become good friends with her.
Embrace Again is screening at Asian Pop Up Cinema
A Yong is a courier transferring goods for hospitals, and a volunteer who tries to organize the whole service against many odds, in the process neglecting his son, who still considers him a kind of a hero, and his wife, who is quite frustrated with his choice. Wu Ge delivers food through her motorcycle, which is what eventually gets her acquainted with piano teacher Ye Zi Yang, when she carries him in her motorcycle, and nurse-in-training Xia Xiao, both of which eventually become good friends with her.
- 9/11/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Click here to read the full article.
Hong Kong crime thriller Detective vs. Sleuths surged to the top of China’s box office in its second weekend of release, earning 18.4 million. Chinese hitmaker Chen Sicheng’s much anticipated sci-fi comedy Mozart From Space, meanwhile, made a disappointing start in second place, taking 16.6 million.
Slipping just 20 percent from its opening frame, Detective vs. Sleuths has earned 58.8 million since its opening July 8. With the summer holiday now underway, ticketing app Maoyan projects the film to finish with a healthy 110 million haul.
Produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, the film tells the story of a police detective (Sean Lau) pushed into retirement because of a mental breakdown who begins his own investigation into a string of crimes perpetrated by a serial killer known as “The Sleuth.” The film is directed by Ka-Fai Wai, best known as the writer of Johnnie To’s Hong Kong crime classic,...
Hong Kong crime thriller Detective vs. Sleuths surged to the top of China’s box office in its second weekend of release, earning 18.4 million. Chinese hitmaker Chen Sicheng’s much anticipated sci-fi comedy Mozart From Space, meanwhile, made a disappointing start in second place, taking 16.6 million.
Slipping just 20 percent from its opening frame, Detective vs. Sleuths has earned 58.8 million since its opening July 8. With the summer holiday now underway, ticketing app Maoyan projects the film to finish with a healthy 110 million haul.
Produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, the film tells the story of a police detective (Sean Lau) pushed into retirement because of a mental breakdown who begins his own investigation into a string of crimes perpetrated by a serial killer known as “The Sleuth.” The film is directed by Ka-Fai Wai, best known as the writer of Johnnie To’s Hong Kong crime classic,...
- 7/18/2022
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hong Kong-produced crime action film “Detective Vs Sleuths” took top honors at the mainland China box office in its second weekend of release. New release title, ‘Mozart From Space” came in a disappointing second.
“Detective Vs Sleuths” earned 18.4 million (RMB123 million) between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was only a 20 drop compared with its opening weekend and advances it to a 10-day cumulative of 58.8 million.
The film involves Wai Ka-fai, a writer-director who is also a longtime Johnnie To collaborator, re-team with actor Sean Lau (aka Lau Ching-wan), the star of 2007’s “Mad Detective.” The tale sees Lau as a retired and stressed-out former cop on the trail of a serial killer, who appears to be tidying up loose ends in a series of cold cases.
“Mozart From Space” opened with 16.6 million (RMB111 million). The film is a sci-fi comedy about an alien who...
“Detective Vs Sleuths” earned 18.4 million (RMB123 million) between Friday and Sunday, according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was only a 20 drop compared with its opening weekend and advances it to a 10-day cumulative of 58.8 million.
The film involves Wai Ka-fai, a writer-director who is also a longtime Johnnie To collaborator, re-team with actor Sean Lau (aka Lau Ching-wan), the star of 2007’s “Mad Detective.” The tale sees Lau as a retired and stressed-out former cop on the trail of a serial killer, who appears to be tidying up loose ends in a series of cold cases.
“Mozart From Space” opened with 16.6 million (RMB111 million). The film is a sci-fi comedy about an alien who...
- 7/18/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Sonia Yuan, who stars in Japan’s first Best Picture Oscar nominee Drive My Car, has signed with Artist International Group for management.
The film from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, which adapted a 2014 short story by Haruki Murakami, has broken out as a phenomenon over the course of the 2021-22 awards season, also garnering Oscar noms for Best International Feature, Director and Adapted Screenplay, among many other accolades. It centers on Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director who, after his wife’s unexpected death, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima. There, he begins to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind.
Yuan plays Janice Chang, the English- and Mandarin-speaking female protagonist of the Chekov play that Kafuku is putting on. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last summer and will be available for streaming on HBO Max...
The film from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, which adapted a 2014 short story by Haruki Murakami, has broken out as a phenomenon over the course of the 2021-22 awards season, also garnering Oscar noms for Best International Feature, Director and Adapted Screenplay, among many other accolades. It centers on Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director who, after his wife’s unexpected death, receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima. There, he begins to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind.
Yuan plays Janice Chang, the English- and Mandarin-speaking female protagonist of the Chekov play that Kafuku is putting on. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last summer and will be available for streaming on HBO Max...
- 2/22/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The psychological dynamics of social interaction are sardonically at play in the skillful survivalist black comedy The Island. Filmmaker Bo Huang, known mainly as a decorated Chinese actor/comedian mostly in comedies in his country, makes his sumptuous directorial debut with this cynically observant shipwreck showcase that echoes Lord of the Flies meets The Office by way of hapless cutthroat capitalists trapped in a morality play. Huang concocts a contemplative hybrid of action, romance, and suspense armed with unassuming, biting wit. The Island shines a notable spotlight on the plight of the human condition under duress in all its corrosive, uncertainty, and societal impishness. Indeed, Huang's stinging freshwater farce definitely stays afloat in all its darkened levity. The Island pretty much sets its workplace politics on its...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/25/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Bo Huang’s “The Island” makes one thing abundantly clear: Mainstream American comedies are playing things way too safe when compared to the rest of the world. The overstuffed, underwritten, swing-for-the-fences kind of farce is already a massive hit in its native China (after just two weeks in release it’s now the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year), and no disrespect to delightful Hollywood offerings like “Blockers” — or even semi-decent attempts like “I Feel Pretty” — but it’s basically impossible to imagine a major domestic studio releasing anything like this.
“The Island” is a 132-minute comedy that opens with a massive special effects sequence before segueing into a frenzied social commentary that’s part “Lost,” part Stanford Prison Experiment, and part college philosophy course. Oh, and the movie also makes room for a love story, a meteorite, and a long scene where people get kicked in the groin in slow-motion...
“The Island” is a 132-minute comedy that opens with a massive special effects sequence before segueing into a frenzied social commentary that’s part “Lost,” part Stanford Prison Experiment, and part college philosophy course. Oh, and the movie also makes room for a love story, a meteorite, and a long scene where people get kicked in the groin in slow-motion...
- 8/24/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The concept of memory and its connection to reality is a theme that has produced cinematic masterpieces, with Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” being one of the most prominent sample. Taiwanese director Leste Chen tackles this theme by adding scifi and crime thriller elements.
“Aroused by Gymnopedies” will screen at the New York Asian Film Festival, that will be on June 30 to July 16
The story takes place in 2025, when the erasing of undesired memories and feelings has become a trend. Jiang Feng is an author on the verge of divorcing his wife, Zhang Daichen.. In order to leave the painful memories of their marriage behind, he decides to erase them. After the procedure, he is given a device that can reinstate his memories, if he ever regrets his decision. However, the technology of the memory-erase dictates that in the case of reinstating, one has 72 hours to decide whether he will keep or erase his memories permanently.
“Aroused by Gymnopedies” will screen at the New York Asian Film Festival, that will be on June 30 to July 16
The story takes place in 2025, when the erasing of undesired memories and feelings has become a trend. Jiang Feng is an author on the verge of divorcing his wife, Zhang Daichen.. In order to leave the painful memories of their marriage behind, he decides to erase them. After the procedure, he is given a device that can reinstate his memories, if he ever regrets his decision. However, the technology of the memory-erase dictates that in the case of reinstating, one has 72 hours to decide whether he will keep or erase his memories permanently.
- 6/29/2017
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Jury headed by Cristian Mungiu selects winners.
Pedicab, directed by the Philippines’ Paolo Villaluna, won best film at the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Golden Goblet awards on Sunday night.
The film (pictured) follows a diverse group of people travelling by pedicab from Manila to the perceived paradise of their home province.
The Golden Goblets jury, headed by Cristian Mungiu, awarded the grand jury prize to Yellow, from Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Taghizad’h, which also picked up best actress for Sareh Bayat’s performance.
Best director went to Polish filmmaker Maciej Pieprzyca for I Am A Killer, while China’s Huang Bo won best actor for his role in Cai Shang-jun’s The Conformist. Russian director Ivan Bolotnikov’s Kharms was awarded best screenplay (Bolotnikov) and best DoP (Sandor Berkeshi).
Romania’s Fault Condition won the award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, while best documentary went to Germany’s When Paul Came Over The Sea – Journal Of An Encounter...
Pedicab, directed by the Philippines’ Paolo Villaluna, won best film at the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Golden Goblet awards on Sunday night.
The film (pictured) follows a diverse group of people travelling by pedicab from Manila to the perceived paradise of their home province.
The Golden Goblets jury, headed by Cristian Mungiu, awarded the grand jury prize to Yellow, from Iranian filmmaker Mostafa Taghizad’h, which also picked up best actress for Sareh Bayat’s performance.
Best director went to Polish filmmaker Maciej Pieprzyca for I Am A Killer, while China’s Huang Bo won best actor for his role in Cai Shang-jun’s The Conformist. Russian director Ivan Bolotnikov’s Kharms was awarded best screenplay (Bolotnikov) and best DoP (Sandor Berkeshi).
Romania’s Fault Condition won the award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, while best documentary went to Germany’s When Paul Came Over The Sea – Journal Of An Encounter...
- 6/26/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
There is a thrilling selection of Chinese-language titles at Filmart this year. Liz Shackleton picks out some of the most promising.
With very few Hong Kong or mainland Chinese sellers making the journey to this year’s European Film Market in Berlin, Filmart offers a chance for buyers to catch up with the Chinese-language titles that will be rolled out in the region for the rest of the year.
After serving up the biggest film of the Chinese New Year holiday — Kung Fu Yoga, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Stanley Tong — China’s Sparkle Roll Media has launched a Hong Kong-based sales arm that is selling Ding Sheng’s reboot of the A Better Tomorrow series.
Other high-profile action titles new to market include Distribution Workshop’s Extraordinary Mission, from the creative teams behind the Infernal Affairs and Overheard series, and Huayi Brothers’ crime drama Explosion, starring Duan Yihong.
Previously announced...
With very few Hong Kong or mainland Chinese sellers making the journey to this year’s European Film Market in Berlin, Filmart offers a chance for buyers to catch up with the Chinese-language titles that will be rolled out in the region for the rest of the year.
After serving up the biggest film of the Chinese New Year holiday — Kung Fu Yoga, starring Jackie Chan and directed by Stanley Tong — China’s Sparkle Roll Media has launched a Hong Kong-based sales arm that is selling Ding Sheng’s reboot of the A Better Tomorrow series.
Other high-profile action titles new to market include Distribution Workshop’s Extraordinary Mission, from the creative teams behind the Infernal Affairs and Overheard series, and Huayi Brothers’ crime drama Explosion, starring Duan Yihong.
Previously announced...
- 3/13/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Superstar Huang Bo teams up with director Leste Chan for the upcoming sci-fi mystery crime thriller Battle of Memories. Based on the recently released trailer, Battle of Memories boasts thumping action and impressive production values to go along the film’s intense story line.
Huang Bo (of The Chef, The Actor, The Scoundrel (2013), Journey to the West (2013) and Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015) fame) plays Jiang Feng. Feng is a renowned novelist who is coming out of a failed marriage. After the divorce, he decides to go under the operating table to erase a decade worth of his bitter memories. But when Feng gets second thoughts and tries to retrieve his wiped memories, he inadvertently uploads a memory from a vicious murderer. Set in 2019, Battle of Memories unravels as Feng grapples with his identity and sanity while finding himself inside the mind of a serial killer. According to ChinaDaily, director Leste...
Huang Bo (of The Chef, The Actor, The Scoundrel (2013), Journey to the West (2013) and Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015) fame) plays Jiang Feng. Feng is a renowned novelist who is coming out of a failed marriage. After the divorce, he decides to go under the operating table to erase a decade worth of his bitter memories. But when Feng gets second thoughts and tries to retrieve his wiped memories, he inadvertently uploads a memory from a vicious murderer. Set in 2019, Battle of Memories unravels as Feng grapples with his identity and sanity while finding himself inside the mind of a serial killer. According to ChinaDaily, director Leste...
- 11/25/2016
- by Ella Palileo
- AsianMoviePulse
Huang Bo takes the lead role in Battle Of Memories, the latest effort from The Great Hypnotist director Leste Chen and the result appears to be something unusual for mainland China - a slick scifi thriller in a nation where local censorship and content laws make science fiction a generally tricky proposition. With a starting point similar to Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Battle Of Memories revolves around a famous novelist who opts to cope with his recent divorce by having a decade of his memory wiped. But when he has second thoughts and tries to recover those lost memories he instead finds himself in the mind of a serial killer. Production values here are fantastic - which should be no surprise as backers...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 11/21/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Exclusive: Chinese outfit is launching sales at Cannes.
Beijing-based Wanda Pictures is launching sales on two big-budget productions in Cannes – Leste Chen’s $20m Battle Of Memories and Pan An Zi’s $14m For A Few Bullets.
A follow-up to Chen’s 2014 psychological thriller The Great Hypnotist, Battle Of Memories tells the story of a famous novelist who recovers from a painful divorce by having a decade of his memory wiped. But when he tries to recover the lost memories, he finds himself in the mind of a serial killer.
Huang Bo, Xu Jinglei, Yang Zishan and Duan Yihong head the cast of the film, which recently wrapped in Thailand and is being lined up for Chinese release in December. Tina Shi produced the film, with De Warrenne Pictures’ Tom Waller on board as co-producer.
Set in the 1930s, For A Few Bullets is a comedy western about a professional thief who teams up with a special...
Beijing-based Wanda Pictures is launching sales on two big-budget productions in Cannes – Leste Chen’s $20m Battle Of Memories and Pan An Zi’s $14m For A Few Bullets.
A follow-up to Chen’s 2014 psychological thriller The Great Hypnotist, Battle Of Memories tells the story of a famous novelist who recovers from a painful divorce by having a decade of his memory wiped. But when he tries to recover the lost memories, he finds himself in the mind of a serial killer.
Huang Bo, Xu Jinglei, Yang Zishan and Duan Yihong head the cast of the film, which recently wrapped in Thailand and is being lined up for Chinese release in December. Tina Shi produced the film, with De Warrenne Pictures’ Tom Waller on board as co-producer.
Set in the 1930s, For A Few Bullets is a comedy western about a professional thief who teams up with a special...
- 5/11/2016
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Mojin: The Lost Legend Chinese Fantasy Adventure Mixes Indiana Jones, The Mummy and Tomb RaiderAction73%Story63%Special Effects56%2016-04-2264%Overall ScoreReader Rating: (3 Votes)66%
When I was given an opportunity to watch Well Go USA’s Mojin: The Lost Legend, I couldn’t pass it up. In a time when movies are either kill a la kill or love stories, it can be quite hard to find to one with a sense of wonderment and inspiration to entice the thrill-seeker in us. No need to fret adventurers because your time has come again. Mojin returns the adventure lost in cinema today with bursts of imagination and thrilling inspiration.
This unique yet familiar tale of modern day tomb raiders takes us along on a whirlwind journey of fun, fantasy and friendship. From the beginning of the story, Mojin gets the heart thumping by opening up right in the middle of the first escapade.
When I was given an opportunity to watch Well Go USA’s Mojin: The Lost Legend, I couldn’t pass it up. In a time when movies are either kill a la kill or love stories, it can be quite hard to find to one with a sense of wonderment and inspiration to entice the thrill-seeker in us. No need to fret adventurers because your time has come again. Mojin returns the adventure lost in cinema today with bursts of imagination and thrilling inspiration.
This unique yet familiar tale of modern day tomb raiders takes us along on a whirlwind journey of fun, fantasy and friendship. From the beginning of the story, Mojin gets the heart thumping by opening up right in the middle of the first escapade.
- 4/21/2016
- by CoolHappyMe P
- AsianMoviePulse
Star-studded (Shu Qi, Chen Kun, Angelababy and Huang Bo) film Mojin: The Lost Legend debuts on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD May 3 from Well Go USA Entertainment.
This action adventure fantasy thriller is based on #1 best-selling novel series, Ghost Blows out the Light. It is directed by Wuershan whose previous films include Painted Skin: The Resurrection.
Shu Qi in Mojin
The synopsis of the film follows three retired tomb raiders lured back to the scene by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess. They eventually learn that what she really wants is to possess a famed artifact known as the Equinox Flower that allegedly has the power to raise the dead.
The released products will be adorned with some never before seen bonus features including behind the scenes, making of featurette, and special interviews with Chen Kun and Huang Bo.
This action adventure fantasy thriller is based on #1 best-selling novel series, Ghost Blows out the Light. It is directed by Wuershan whose previous films include Painted Skin: The Resurrection.
Shu Qi in Mojin
The synopsis of the film follows three retired tomb raiders lured back to the scene by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess. They eventually learn that what she really wants is to possess a famed artifact known as the Equinox Flower that allegedly has the power to raise the dead.
The released products will be adorned with some never before seen bonus features including behind the scenes, making of featurette, and special interviews with Chen Kun and Huang Bo.
- 3/26/2016
- by Stellarise
- AsianMoviePulse
Plot At the beginning of the 1990s, famous tomb explorer Hu Bayi decided to retire to Manhattan with his fiancée Shirley Yang. But before his wedding, Bayi discovers his first love Ding Sitian, who had supposedly died 20 years ago, is actually still alive. They’re lured back to their original vocation by a mysterious, businesswoman/cult leader Ying Caihong who wants them to find the ancient tomb of a Mongolian princess. They eventually learn that what she really wants is to possess a famed artifact known as the Equinox Flower that allegedly has the power to raise the dead. Director : Wu Ershan Genre : Action, Horror, Thriller, Adventure, Fantasy Starring : Angelababy,Shu Qi, Huang Bo , Chen Kun, Xia Yu, Liu Xiaoqing Trailer...
- 1/18/2016
- by The Tiger
- AsianMoviePulse
Star Wars: The Force Awakens has easily broken the Australian all time top grossing weekend record taking more than $27 million at the box office.
The Disney/Lucas Films epic beat previous record holder, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ($18.3 million) by almost $10 million off the .back of record breaking pre-sales after an enormous build up, according to Rentrak estimates.
Shown on 313 screens, the film took 9.4 million on its opening day. On Friday it raked in $5.1 million, while Saturday and Sunday both delivered upwards of $6 million at the box office.
A Hoyts' spokesperson told If the film had surpassed the previous opening day record, held by the final instalment of Harry Potter, by 33 per cent.
However, the all time box office record of $115 million, held by James Cameron's Avatar, is still a long way off.
The impact of Disney's monolithic release on competing tentpole films Hunger Games: Mockingjay...
The Disney/Lucas Films epic beat previous record holder, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ($18.3 million) by almost $10 million off the .back of record breaking pre-sales after an enormous build up, according to Rentrak estimates.
Shown on 313 screens, the film took 9.4 million on its opening day. On Friday it raked in $5.1 million, while Saturday and Sunday both delivered upwards of $6 million at the box office.
A Hoyts' spokesperson told If the film had surpassed the previous opening day record, held by the final instalment of Harry Potter, by 33 per cent.
However, the all time box office record of $115 million, held by James Cameron's Avatar, is still a long way off.
The impact of Disney's monolithic release on competing tentpole films Hunger Games: Mockingjay...
- 12/21/2015
- by Brian Karlovsky
- IF.com.au
Releasing in North American theaters this weekend is Mojin: The Lost Legend, the latest film from Wuershan, director of Painted Skin: The Resurrection. While the Painted Skin sequel was a bit overwrought and tragic for its own good, it looked pretty great on screen. This time around, Wuershan seems to have kept that visual magic and added a bit of levity to this action comedy adventure film starring Shu Qi, Angelababy, and Huang Bo.Some people have a special gift. They're able to travel between the realms of the Living and the Dead...and Tomb Raiding can mean Big Business.Welcome to the world of the Mojin.Based on the #1 Bestselling series of novels and starring Shu Qi, Chen Kun, Angelababy, and Huang Bo, Mojin: The Lost Legend pits a trio...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 12/17/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Mark Osborne’s animation will be released in China on October 16.
The Little Prince, Mark Osborne’s animation that is an adaptation of the well-known Antoine de Saint-Exupery novel, has set its Chinese release date and voice cast.
Production outfit Fundamental Films has set Huang Bo (Journey To The West) as the voice of The Pilot and Zhou Xun (Cloud Atlas) as The Rose. The voice cast is completed by Huang Yici, Huang Lei, Hu Haiquan, Ma Tianyu, Yi Yangqianxi, Wang Zijian, Xiao Ke, Yuan Quan, and Zhang Yi.
The original English voice cast included Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, James Franco, Paul Rudd and Ricky Gervais.
The film, which premiered in Cannes this year, will have its Chinese premiere on October 13, with Osborne attending alongside the cast.
It will then open nationwide on October 16 in both 2D and 3D.
The Little Prince, Mark Osborne’s animation that is an adaptation of the well-known Antoine de Saint-Exupery novel, has set its Chinese release date and voice cast.
Production outfit Fundamental Films has set Huang Bo (Journey To The West) as the voice of The Pilot and Zhou Xun (Cloud Atlas) as The Rose. The voice cast is completed by Huang Yici, Huang Lei, Hu Haiquan, Ma Tianyu, Yi Yangqianxi, Wang Zijian, Xiao Ke, Yuan Quan, and Zhang Yi.
The original English voice cast included Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, James Franco, Paul Rudd and Ricky Gervais.
The film, which premiered in Cannes this year, will have its Chinese premiere on October 13, with Osborne attending alongside the cast.
It will then open nationwide on October 16 in both 2D and 3D.
- 9/11/2015
- ScreenDaily
Neil Armfield.s Holding the Man, Simon Stone.s The Daughter, Jeremy Sims. Last Cab to Darwin and Jen Peedom.s feature doc Sherpa will have their world premieres at the Sydney Film Festival.
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
The festival program unveiled today includes 33 world premieres (including 22 shorts) and 135 Australian premieres (with 18 shorts) among 251 titles from 68 countries.
Among the other premieres will be Daina Reid.s The Secret River, Ruby Entertainment's. ABC-tv miniseries starring Oliver Jackson Cohen and Sarah Snook, and three Oz docs, Marc Eberle.s The Cambodian Space Project — Not Easy Rock .n. Roll, Steve Thomas. Freedom Stories and Lisa Nicol.s Wide Open Sky.
Festival director Nashen Moodley boasted. this year.s event will be far larger than 2014's when 183 films from 47 countries were screened, including 15 world premieres. The expansion is possible in part due to the addition of two new screening venues in Newtown and Liverpool.
As previously announced, Brendan Cowell...
- 5/6/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
The long, punishing arm of China's censorship board still hangs heavy over the career of mainland filmmaker Ning Hao. The once-exciting auteur turns in another safe, audience-friendly offering with Breakup Buddies, suggesting his penance for the acerbic No Man's Land is still far from paid.Since his breakout feature Crazy Stone in 2006, a low budget heist comedy that achieved improbable success at the Chinese box office and made a star of comedian Huang Bo, writer-director Ning Hao was set to become one of the most essential filmmakers at work on the mainland. Blending multi-strand narratives involving petty criminals and low-lifes with cutting black humour and a frenetic pace and energy, his follow-up Crazy Racer fulfilled that promise and proved successful in a number of territories. However,...
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[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/29/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Based on multiple true story accounts of child abduction in mainland China, Peter Chan's latest film Dearest is definitely not an easy watch. It follows a divorced couple in Shenzhen, the father Tian Wenjun (comedic actor Huang Bo) and mother Lu Xiaojuan (Hao Lei) who have different days of custody over their son Tian Peng. The father works in a slummy district in a modest market stall while his ex-wife, now remarried is taken care of by her wealthy husband. One day Peng plays with the local children in the market. He is distracted by his mother's car and runs after her; he separates from the children and is suddenly and shockingly snatched by a faceless stranger. What follows is heartbreak after heartbreak as Tian...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 10/16/2014
- Screen Anarchy
★★★★☆
The taking of a beloved child is the nightmarish scenario at the centre of Thai filmmaker Peter Chan's effective melodrama, Dearest (2014), competing in the London Film Festival's Official Competition. China is painfully stricken by people trafficking, a fact that's at the forefront of Tian Wen-jun (Huang Bo) and Lu Xiao-juan (Hao Lei) minds when their three-year-old son disappears one day. Designed to tug firmly on the heartstrings, what follows is an intense account of their soul-crushing search that soon broadens into a desultory, but far more interesting examination into the consequences of such events. It's just another bustling day in Shenzhen when Lu Xiao Juan brings her son back to his father's shop.
The taking of a beloved child is the nightmarish scenario at the centre of Thai filmmaker Peter Chan's effective melodrama, Dearest (2014), competing in the London Film Festival's Official Competition. China is painfully stricken by people trafficking, a fact that's at the forefront of Tian Wen-jun (Huang Bo) and Lu Xiao-juan (Hao Lei) minds when their three-year-old son disappears one day. Designed to tug firmly on the heartstrings, what follows is an intense account of their soul-crushing search that soon broadens into a desultory, but far more interesting examination into the consequences of such events. It's just another bustling day in Shenzhen when Lu Xiao Juan brings her son back to his father's shop.
- 10/15/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
The Weinstein Company opened St. Vincent on a traditional platform and it appears to have reaped rewards from that old-school approach with a solid debut in a very crowded box office weekend for limited releases.
The film by Theodore Melfi grossed over $121K in four New York and L.A. theaters this weekend after opening the Hamptons International Film Festival Thursday. For the weekend, the Bill Murray comedy averaged more than $30K and boasts the weekend’s highest per-theater average. The film led a huge pack of new openers that included festival heavy-hitters such as Sundance winners Whiplash and documentary The Overnighters as well as the faith-centered Meet The Mormons and Christian Mingle The Movie.
TWC said that St. Vincent had a 67% jump from Friday to Saturday. TWC picked up the film in the script stage for a reported $13 million. Heading into the weekend, the company said it was capitalizing...
The film by Theodore Melfi grossed over $121K in four New York and L.A. theaters this weekend after opening the Hamptons International Film Festival Thursday. For the weekend, the Bill Murray comedy averaged more than $30K and boasts the weekend’s highest per-theater average. The film led a huge pack of new openers that included festival heavy-hitters such as Sundance winners Whiplash and documentary The Overnighters as well as the faith-centered Meet The Mormons and Christian Mingle The Movie.
TWC said that St. Vincent had a 67% jump from Friday to Saturday. TWC picked up the film in the script stage for a reported $13 million. Heading into the weekend, the company said it was capitalizing...
- 10/12/2014
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline
3Rd Update, Monday, 3:25Pm Pt: The majors — Fox, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros. — have updated their weekend estimates which are now reflected throughout the story. Some dips from what was originally reported yesterday among Sony and Paramount’s titles, but nothing too earth-shattering. While Gone Girl barely notched No. 1 with roughly $400K more than Annabelle stateside, $37.5M to $37.1M respectively; their spread at the overseas B.O. is wider in their weekend takes with the David Fincher film grabbing $24.5M and The Conjuring spinoff taking $20.7M for the weekend. However, Annabelle has a leg up on Gone Girl since it opened in Russia last weekend, hence the horror film’s total cume is $23.6M, $887K short of Gone Girl’s foreign take. Next weekend, the spooky doll film and the missing chick pic will pull each other’s hair in France and Spain where they bow against each other.
- 10/6/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
It.s hardly the ideal date movie but David Fincher.s lacerating portrait of a marriage gone sour drove ticket sales at Australian cinemas last weekend.
Starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike and based on Gillian Flynn.s best-selling novel, Gone Girl grabbed $4.7 million from Thursday to Sunday according to Rentrak.s estimates and $5 million with previews.
Pro-rata, that.s more potent than the Us 3-day bow of $US37.5 million, where the Fox film had to fight off a strong challenge from fellow debutante Annabelle.
The horror movie produced by James Wan, who directed the 2013 hit The Conjuring, fetched $US37.1 million in the Us, an unusually big opening for the genre, and a solid $1.9 million in Australia.
Here The Maze Runner continued to run hard, taking nearly $2 million in its third weekend (off 34%), propelling its takings to $12.8 million.
Despite mostly withering reviews, Dracula Untold, the origin story of the man who became Dracula,...
Starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike and based on Gillian Flynn.s best-selling novel, Gone Girl grabbed $4.7 million from Thursday to Sunday according to Rentrak.s estimates and $5 million with previews.
Pro-rata, that.s more potent than the Us 3-day bow of $US37.5 million, where the Fox film had to fight off a strong challenge from fellow debutante Annabelle.
The horror movie produced by James Wan, who directed the 2013 hit The Conjuring, fetched $US37.1 million in the Us, an unusually big opening for the genre, and a solid $1.9 million in Australia.
Here The Maze Runner continued to run hard, taking nearly $2 million in its third weekend (off 34%), propelling its takings to $12.8 million.
Despite mostly withering reviews, Dracula Untold, the origin story of the man who became Dracula,...
- 10/6/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Ning Hao is comedy gold in China. His road-trip chuckle-fest Breakup Buddies just shot to the top of the international box office chart with a weekend take of $38 million in China, pushing the film's nine-day total to a whopping $93 million. A tale of a recently divorced man and his best friend who set off on a series of misadventures, Breakup Buddies reunites actors Xu Zheng and Huang Bo in their first movie together since megahit Lost in Thailand, which grossed nearly $200 million in China in 2012. Ning has done it before. His 2005 dramedy
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- 10/6/2014
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chinese road-trip comedy Breakup Buddies shot to the top of the international box office chart with a weekend take of $38 million in China, pushing the film's nine-day total to a staggering $93 million, according to Rentrak. From director Ning Hao, Breakup Buddies follows a recently divorced man and his best friend who set off on a series of misadventures. It reteams actors Xu Zheng and Huang Bo in their first movie together since megahit Lost in Thailand, which grossed nearly $200 million in China in 2012. Read more Toronto: 'Breakup Buddies' Director on the Absurdity of Modern
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- 10/5/2014
- by Pamela McClintock
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Foreign films and a doc scored well in the Specialty arena this weekend. That isn’t something I get to write very often but it’s a pleasure when it happens. China Lion‘s Breakup Buddies, Tribeca Film‘s music doc Nas: Time Is Illmatic and Bollywood heavyweight Bang Bang all pulled in solid numbers when they debuted this weekend among U.S. speciality films.
By contrast, the weekend’s most notable U.S. indie debut, Jason Reitman‘s Men, Women & Children, took a dive in its first limited runs, while Radius-twc’s music documentary Keep On Keepin’ On again lived up to its name, gathering momentum in its third week.
That so-so start came even though Paramount seemingly did everything right for Men, Women & Children after a premiere at Toronto. The company created a marketing campaign that targeted both social networking-savvy young audiences and the traditional movie-going crowd. The...
By contrast, the weekend’s most notable U.S. indie debut, Jason Reitman‘s Men, Women & Children, took a dive in its first limited runs, while Radius-twc’s music documentary Keep On Keepin’ On again lived up to its name, gathering momentum in its third week.
That so-so start came even though Paramount seemingly did everything right for Men, Women & Children after a premiere at Toronto. The company created a marketing campaign that targeted both social networking-savvy young audiences and the traditional movie-going crowd. The...
- 10/5/2014
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline
Just by averting his eyes while muttering "Mr. Cock Boom," Chinese comedian Huang Bo justifies his status as a record-breaking mega-star in Breakup Buddies, a tone-deaf buddy comedy that's like 10 by way of Due Date. As Geng Hao, an embittered divorcee questing for rebound sex with help from boorish wingman Hao Yi (Xu Zheng), Huang (Lost in Thailand) makes a flimsy part engaging, even when he's using that obnoxious dating-website screen-name to get laid. Geng's story is only fitfully involving since his adventures in lady-killing are either crass or sappy. Geng at first tries and then decides not to bed a girl half his age, but only after Hao Yi baldly explains "the shadow effect," a trite self-help philosophy that serves as the film's thematic takeaway: "Now yo...
- 10/1/2014
- Village Voice
With China‘s National Day holiday officially kicking off Wednesday, the Middle Kingdom box office is poised for an extra boost thanks to today’s timely release of Breakup Buddies. The comedy is a sort of follow-up to smash hit Lost In Thailand. That film was key to a surge in local box office at the end of 2012 and made headlines around the globe. Breakup Buddies, which is particularly racy as far as Chinese movies go (check out the trailer above), has the added cachet of releasing in the U.S. later this week. China Lion picked up the film for North America and Australia/New Zealand ahead of its Toronto Film Festival premiere and will send it out in those markets at the end of this week. Im Global acquired the rights before Toronto and is handling it internationally.
The film stars Xu Zheng and Huang Bo and is...
The film stars Xu Zheng and Huang Bo and is...
- 9/30/2014
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline
Hong Kong director Peter Chan's Dearest, a child kidnapping drama based on a true story, topped the box office charts in mainland China this week, taking $15.8 million in its first four days on release. Dearest had 125,275 screenings and 2.93 million admissions in the week to Sept. 28, according to calculations by the research body Entgroup, around one third of total screenings last week. The drama features Zhao Wei, Tong Dawei, Huang Bo and Hao Lei. StudioCanal's Non-Stop was in second place in the world's second-biggest film market, taking another $7.44 million to
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- 9/30/2014
- by Clifford Coonan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Distributor picks up comedy for Us and Australia/Nz from Im Global.
China Lion Film Distribution has picked up Xu Zheng-Huang Bo starrer Breakup Buddies at Toronto from Im Global for North America and Australia/New Zealand.
Ning Hao directs the Mandarin-language comedy which reunites Xu Zheng and Huang Bo in their first comedy since Chinese hit Lost in Thailand.
The film, which co-stars Zhou Dongyu, charts the road trip of two friends trying to forget their troubles after one is divorced.
The film will be released on October 2 in Australia and New Zealand and October 3 in the United States and Canada.
Producers include Injo Films Limited, Beijing Asian Union Culture & Media Investment, Ltd., Beijing Galloping Horse Film Co. Ltd., China Film Co. Ltd., Beijing Shine Land Culture, Beijing Talent International Film Company Limited, Beijing Skywheel Entertainment Co. Ltd. and HuangBo Studio. ...
China Lion Film Distribution has picked up Xu Zheng-Huang Bo starrer Breakup Buddies at Toronto from Im Global for North America and Australia/New Zealand.
Ning Hao directs the Mandarin-language comedy which reunites Xu Zheng and Huang Bo in their first comedy since Chinese hit Lost in Thailand.
The film, which co-stars Zhou Dongyu, charts the road trip of two friends trying to forget their troubles after one is divorced.
The film will be released on October 2 in Australia and New Zealand and October 3 in the United States and Canada.
Producers include Injo Films Limited, Beijing Asian Union Culture & Media Investment, Ltd., Beijing Galloping Horse Film Co. Ltd., China Film Co. Ltd., Beijing Shine Land Culture, Beijing Talent International Film Company Limited, Beijing Skywheel Entertainment Co. Ltd. and HuangBo Studio. ...
- 9/6/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Chinese child abduction film to screen in Toronto following world premiere in Venice.
Paris-based Versatile has acquired international sales on Peter Ho-Sun Chan’s child abduction drama Dearest ahead of a Special Presentation screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14).
“It’s gives us great pleasure to be working with an Asian film by a director with such a strong international reputation and track record,” said Boye.
The deal was sealed at the Venice Film Festival (Aug 27 - Sept 6) where the film was given a high profile Out of Competition world premiere in the presence of the director and key cast last week (Aug 28).
“We’ve been interested in the film for some time and wanted to meet the makers in person in Venice to seal the deal,” said Versatile co-chief Pape Boye.
Boye and Versatile co-chief Violaine Pichon brokered the deal with Chan and Katherine Lee of We Distribution Limited, the sales arm...
Paris-based Versatile has acquired international sales on Peter Ho-Sun Chan’s child abduction drama Dearest ahead of a Special Presentation screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 4-14).
“It’s gives us great pleasure to be working with an Asian film by a director with such a strong international reputation and track record,” said Boye.
The deal was sealed at the Venice Film Festival (Aug 27 - Sept 6) where the film was given a high profile Out of Competition world premiere in the presence of the director and key cast last week (Aug 28).
“We’ve been interested in the film for some time and wanted to meet the makers in person in Venice to seal the deal,” said Versatile co-chief Pape Boye.
Boye and Versatile co-chief Violaine Pichon brokered the deal with Chan and Katherine Lee of We Distribution Limited, the sales arm...
- 9/2/2014
- ScreenDaily
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