Father Geek here with the latest report for our regular Thursday Asia-AICN Column from Darius25 and AccSpy... Buuuuuut first I have this bit that came directly to Geek Headquarters in Austin...
Hi,
I'm Nelson from Singapore. I have been a faithful reader of your site for quit some time now, so thought I contribute something that I came across at the local cinema.
Was at the local cinema last week, and a poster caught my attention. This movie is '2002' from Hong Kong.
So I went home to check out the web site below, Just Click Here and got the synopsis.
An ingenious supernatural action feature charged with special effects, integrating traditional Chinese spiritual folklore and the latest technology in visual effects, this man-and-ghost duo work together to uphold order of the underworld.
Director: Wilson Yip, Cast : Nicolas Tse, Staphen Fung, Rain Li and Alex Fong
Release Date: December 15, 2001 (Hong Kong)
I think its GHOSTBUSTERS crossed with MATRIX, it will be the second HK movie I'm looking forward to this season after SHAOLIN SOCCER.
Best regards and keep up the good work!!!
NeLsOn Mok
Father Geek back with another report that came to me today...
Hey, this one was an easy one to miss, as I almost did as well. "Battle Royale" came to the Cinematheque in Toronto, November 23 and 24th. This is part of the Fuksaku retrospective that AICN reported about a year ago that was suppose to go to three cities in North America, bringing BR along with it. Well, after literally a year of waiting, I finally got to see this great film in its film glory.
I emphasize "film" because I already bought the Hong Kong dvd when I was there over the summer. After months of looking through the paper everyday to see when the Fukasaku retrospective was playing, I gave up hope. Then I lucked out this friday as I planned to take the hour trip to Toronton to watch any film and found out about BR's 2nd screening (the first one was sold out so the demand gave way to a 2nd one thank god!!). Luckily I got there about half an hour early and tickets were still available (despite the signs saying it was sold out for the day).
I am sooo glad I saw BR on celluloid. It looks simply so much more amazing than cheesy VCD. There is a noticeable difference between the VCD version I own (released about August in Hong Kong) and the version today on film. I'm not sure what the difference is between the original version and the 'special edition' but I did not notice any more violence than there was before (as I've seen the forums here talk about). The version at Cinematheque has longer establishing shots of the island which is really good because I felt the original was rushed a little. Also more of the little shots with what the characters are thinking (sorry, i don't know the technical term, i.e. "you got a crush on someone shuya?"). In addition to these, there are about 2 more scenes showing the military might and longer takes of Kitano before he reads out the daily body counts. The subtitles were changed as well, for the better, but the "you're so cool. You're the coolest girl in the world" line remained. :) Oh, interesting note is that Linda Hoagland did the subtitles, and if I remember correctly she also did the subtitles for "Pulse" by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (aka "Kairo") at TIFF.
So ya, I know this wasn't a BR review in full or anything, it was suppose to be a little news reporting with some BR on the side. Just cuz I never saw anything about the toronto screening on AICN. Hope this is news.
-paranoidrewy
Well, that's it for Father Geek for this week. Now on to Darius and his weekly report...
Asia-AICN
Hey all, we’re back with our 84th column featuring lots of cool news, including info on Akshay Kumar’s upcoming films, director Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad)”, “Humko Tumse Pyar Hai (I Think I Love You)”, “Sex and City” with Sammi Cheng, a new “Swordsman” (not related to the series), and some pics from “Running Out of Time 2”.
Now here’s the latest from Asia.
INDIA
- After directing “Ek Rishtaa – The Bond of Love” and producing the upcoming “Haan… Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya (Yes, I too Have Loved)”, Sunil Darshan will team up again with actor Akshay Kumar for his next directorial venture, “Mere Jeevan Saathi (My Life Partner)”. The film will pair Kumar opposite both Karishma Kapoor (also a Darshan regular) and Amisha Patel. It has already been launched this week and is slated to release around next year’s Diwali period (late Oct – early Nov).
- Akshay Kumar has also been signed as one of the leading heroes for director Anil Sharma’s next film. After the SUPER success of “Gadar (Mutiny)”, Sharma will now make a war film titled “Ab Tumhara Hawale Watan Saathiyon (You Have My Land)”. Despite its cheesy title, the film looks really promising as it also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan as the leads. Now the question is how big of a role Akshay would get if these two giants are in the film aswell… Further casting has yet to be made and you can expect one or two more stars to join in soon. The film will be out sometime in 2003.
- The chances of everyone seeing Karan Johar’s highly anticipated “Kabhi Khushi Khabhie Gham (Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad)” are really high now as it will be the most widely-distributed Bollywood film (in the overseas market). More than 650 prints will be in circulation from Dec. 14, a majority of which will go to theatres in England and then North America. The director is said to be extremely nervous regarding the fate of his film, mainly due to the rather large budget (of its cast) and the fact that it’s been a poor year for Indian cinema, box-office wise”. It is highly doubtful that the film will be a flop but just hope that the story doesn’t out be a dud like Subhash Khai’s latest debacle “Yaadein (Memories)”. “K3G” (the abbreviated title of the film) boasts an all star cast (you already know this) including Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Jaya Bachchan, and Kareena Kapoors. Numerous other stars are slated to make cameos in the film including atleast 3 more biggies.
- Producer Bunty Soorma will make his directorial debut with “Humko Tumse Pyar Hai (I Think I Love You), which will be produced by Soorma himself along with his producing partners, Ali and Kareem Morani. This will be the trio’s first film (as sole-producers) in 5 years, after “Raja Hindustani”. The producers have roped in Bobby Deol, Amisha Patel and Arjun Rampal for the lead roles. It will be launched this Friday with a song recording and principal photography will commence shortly after that. It will be releasing sometime next Fall.
CHINA / HK
Here’s the latest report from “AccSpy”:
- Sammi Cheng will star in director Stanley Kwan's new spicy urban comedy "Sex & City", while Nicholas Tse is in talks to join aswell. Kwan's latest film "Lan Yu" just grabbed 11 nominations in Golden Horse Awards. The film is expected to start filming in January.
- With the highest grossing film in HK ("Shaolin Soccer") under its wing, HK's Universe Studio will collaborate with Hollywood's Warner Brothers Studio for a $40-million period drama titled "Swordman" next year. The Japanese-Samurai-goes-to-China film will be directed by Dante Lam ("Jiang Hu: The triad Zone") and Takeshi "Onimusha" Kaneshiro is in talks to star. The film is expected to shoot in August. Before that Universe will finance numerous of smaller budget films, including a romance starring Michelle Reis and Nicholas Tse, a buddy comedy starring Nicholas Tse and Eason Chan and another comedy starring Francis Ng, Louis Koo and Joey Yung.
- On the other hand, rumors suggested that Takeshi Kaneshiro is the latest star to join the talk-of-the-town movie "Hero". Give me one single reason to not look forward to this film!!
- Lau Ching Wan and Louis Koo, fresh from the blockbuster "La Brassiere", will be regrouped to design the ultimate baby products in the follow-up comedy from the same creative team for Chinastar Studio. This time Cecilia Cheung will join the force and the film will be filmed early next year and be released during the summer holidays.
- "Running out of Time 2" was shooting on location in Vancouver, Canada last week. Here’s some more pics from this highly-anticipated sequel being released at Christmas.
A bike-chasing scene between the two leads was shot in the studio. This street set is entirely built indoors, an exceptional situation for HK movies, budget-wise: Go Here
A wet Ekin Cheng (not as nasty as it sounds) Click
- "The Score" is the new no.1 movie in HK last weekend with $1.5 million grossing in four days. Nick Cheung and Michelle Reis' romantic fantasy "Every Dog has his Date" debuted second with less than $ 1 million. Stephen Fung's horror flick "Shadow" landed at no.3, "Calmi Cuori Appassionati" was at no.4, "Dummy Mummy without a Baby" fell 4 steps to no.5, "Legally Blonde" and the hot from 11 nominations film "Lan Yu" debuted at sixth and seventh.
