Sunday, July 30, 2006

MEDIA ASIA ENTERS VENICE FILM FEST

Media Asia Films has always been synonymous with quality Chinese films, and this year it is proud to present two tentpole movies at the upcoming Venice Film Festival and both are being selected in Official Selections – Johnnie To’s Exiled in competition and Feng Xiaogang’s The Banquet in out-of-competition. Both films feature stellar cast and crew that will surely grace the red carpet in Venice, including director Feng with his “Banquet” cast of Ziyi Zhang, Ge You, Daniel Wu and Zhou Xun, as well as Johnnie To leading his “Exiled” cast of Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, Francis Ng and Josie Ho.

Director To has been a regular guest at the festival circuit, and he felt honored upon receiving the news. He wished the Hong Kong cinema would transcend the Asian market, and there would be more quality works from the local filmmakers. The director also wanted to express his gratitude towards three parties – Mr. Peter Lam, chairman of Media Asia, for investing in this film; the cast members for their extended patience; and Mr. Davide Croff, president of Venice film fest for his support of Exiled.

As Exiled is in competition, its cast is also poised to compete in the acting categories. Everyone is undoubtedly exhilarated about this. “It’s unlikely to win if everyone has a chance,” joked star Anthony Wong. “But we’ll be there simply to complement Johnnie To!

“I’m really happy for Johnnie To,” echoed co-star Simon Yam. “It’s not easy to enter an international festival. As this is an ensemble film, I hope all six cast members would win, just like in Cannes this year!”

The film’s female lead Josie Ho literally screamed out of joy when she heard the news. “I remembered when I went to Venice last time, I could only walk on the peripheral of that red carpet. But I managed to sneak in and take a picture on the carpet. I almost saw Tom Cruise when the security guard hushed me away! But this time I can finally walk on it with pride.” Josie said she would immediately share this exciting news with her family. “This is my first time working with director To. He’s not as frightening as I expected! I’m really grateful that he has taught me to see things from different perspectives, and not just from the actor’s point-of-view.”

Amidst her busy schedule and the promotion of her latest album, Josie insisted on adding one more crucial task: “I have to pick the most gorgeous gown to walk on the Venice red carpet!”

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Exclusive! Kan Lume's Solos

Remember this article where moviexclusive.com had the privilege of interviewing up and coming local director Kan Lume, and I quote from the interview article

"The other is a lower budgeted (S$30K) independent film, made with the European festivals in mind. The subject matter deals with the exploration of human sexuality and chances are that it might be banned in Singapore. While not intended for the purpose of sensationalism, Kan felt that the European market might be more ready for it, and that they are hungry for material from South East Asia."

I got the rare opportunity to attend a closed-door screening of Kan Lume's Solos this evening at the Substation. However, it's a rough cut preview so to speak, thus don't expect a review of it here just yet. The sound's not done up, and the music's absent too. But from what I watched, it stays very true to the quote above.

The subject matter is indeed an exploration of sexuality, and in my opinion, if it is screened here, an R21 rating would be the minimum, given (and I hate to use this word) provocative scenes which will raise eyebrows. There's an easily recognizable star in one of the leading roles, and this film, if it gets to be screened here, will probably create a new buzz in the local filmmaking scene.

Keep you eyes and ears peeled!

Friday, July 21, 2006

Xclusive Photos of Shawn Yue

Hong Kong Super Star Shawn Yue was in town yesterday to promote his latest film, Dragon Tiger Gate and you can read the exclusive report here.

And Fans of Shawn Yue who can't get enough of his pictures, here are some of the his pictures that we were not able to squeeze into the report.






Monday, July 17, 2006

What If You Could Live Forever?


Finally, the poster to the long-awaited Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz is unveiled.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Pirates of the Caribbean Set Pictures

Contributed by our friend and reader Keevo, here are some pics from the set of PoTC 2&3!

I tell you, the ships are a beauty!





Monday, July 10, 2006

MEDIA ASIA’S EVENT FILM CONFESSION OF PAIN






Presented by Hong Kong’s Media Asia Films, Japan’s Avex and Beijing’s Polybona Films, Confession of Pain is heralded as Asia’s event movie of 2006. Armed with a production budget of US$10m, the award-winning directing duo of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, plus a steamy and stellar cast with Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Shu Qu, Xu Jinglei and Chapman To, Confession of Pain is destined to be a cinematic behemoth.

The film was unveiled yesterday with the Asian press conference. The chief executives from the film companies, directors Lau and Mak with scriptwriter Felix Chong, and the star-studded cast all graced the scene in front of hundreds of the press across Asia. The two male leads, Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro, were both seen in stylish leather coats, while actress Shu Qi wowed the crowd with a sexy low-cut dress, and Xu Jinglei in an equally stunning gown.

In Confession of Pain, Leung plays a seasoned detective named Hei, while Kaneshiro is his former partner turned private investigator Bong, who is street-smart and alcoholic. The two friends team up in a gruesome murder case that gradually digs out the skeletons in their closets. Bong loses his joie de vivre but later entangled with the happy-go-lucky Feng (Shu Qi), while Hei is spinning a dangerous web unbeknownst to his newly wedded wife Susan (Xu Jinglei). Every step of their journey takes them closer and closer to one another, until a shocking denouement in which no stone is left unturned and no one can escape unscathed.

When discussing his character, Tony Leung stated that he would shed his melancholy screen persona this time. “My character may appear to be a villain, but he has an intriguing background story!” Rumor had it that the actor complained to director Andrew Lau over his screen time against co-star Kaneshiro, Tony Leung laughed and said mutual agreement had been reached in pre-production, and he had been personally closed to the director, so there would not be any argument. “It’s always comfortable to be in an Andrew Lau film,” said Leung.

Confession of Pain also reunites Leung and Kaneshiro on screen 12 years after Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express. Leung was elated to work with his co-star again, as he found Kaneshiro to be an extremely charismatic and seasoned actor, yet there wasn’t any appropriate project for them till now.

Kaneshiro was also eager to collaborate with Tony Leung, as they were never in the same scene during Chungking Express. He mused at the coincidence that he also played a cop in the Wong Kar-wai film and Andrew Lau was one of the cinematographers. So this time was both a familiar and refreshing experience to him. A reporter commented on the actor’s volatility when choosing projects, Kaneshiro simply smiled and said, “my principle is always to look for a great script, great co-actors and director. And I’ve found them all in Confession of Pain.”

As for Shu Qi, she confessed that she had no idea how to play her character at the beginning, except that it required her to be idyllic. When being asked if there would be any intimate scene with Kaneshiro, the actress indeed revealed her idyllic nature. “I’m really looking forward to that as well. I’ve already bribed the directors to arrange a passionate scene for us.” “Takeshi also did the same!” Andrew Lau jokingly replied. Kaneshiro didn’t understand it at first, but he laughed heartily upon hearing from his interpreter.

From the phenomenal Infernal Affairs trilogy to the manga-adapted Initial D, the multiple award-winning trio – formed by directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, with scriptwriter Felix Chong – has proved time and again of their cinematic aesthetics and commercial judgment. With crème de la crème from every production aspect, Confession of Pain will undoubtedly take the Asian theatres by storm.


Monday, July 03, 2006

GV Multiplex offers Soccer Fans Midnight Movie Treats For Just $2


In conjunction with the live screening of FIFA
World Cup 2006 Quarterfinal and Final matches at the Open Atrium at Plaza
Singapura, Golden Village Multiplex will show one movie before each live
screening matches starting 5 July, 2006.

Venue: GV Plaza Singapura, Cinema 4

Date: 5 July 2006, Wednesday
Movie: GOAL! at 12.00 a.m.
Match starts: 3.00 a.m.

Date: 6 July 2006, Thursday
Movie: Zoolander at 12.30 a.m.
Match starts: 3.00 a.m.

Date: 9 July 2006, Sunday
Movie: Bend it like Beckham at 12.00 a.m.
Match starts: 3.00 a.m.

Date: 10 July 2006, Monday
Movie: Slither at around 11.00 p.m.
Match starts: 2.00 a.m.

Tickets for the above screenings are priced at only $2 each. One can also
enjoy free flow of 20oz coke and 50oz popcorn for just $4 during these
screenings.

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