chen kuan tai

NYAFF 2022 Review: LEGENDARY IN ACTION!, An Uplifting, Timely Ode To The Enduring Spirit Of Hong Kong Cinema

Films about filmmaking are always a welcome feat for consumers and festival audiences, both narrative features and documentaries alike. Screwball comedies like Bowfinger and Tropic Thunder, Jarod Crooks’ martial arts romp, Indie Guys, and even Soushi Matsumoto’s It’s A Summer Film! are among those that come to mind. Leave it now to co-helmers Li Ho and actor Justin Cheung as they make headway for their own outing with Legendary In Action!, serving as a humble profile of wuxia and Hong Kong cinema following the city’s sociopolitical unrest from 2019 and onward. Joining Cheung on screen are actresses Wiyona Yeung, Harriet Yeung and Buber Mak, and actors Jiro Lee and Lam Yiu-sing who each play a role in the events that arise in this newest artful drama from the far East now making the festival rounds globally.

THE HIDDEN SWORD: Swords And Secrets Clash In The Stylish Trailer For Xu Haofeng’s New Martial Arts Epic

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker and novelist, The Final Master helmer Xu Haofeng’s body of work is a catalog of fantastic and comprehensive martial arts cinema. His latest, The Hidden Sword aims to add to the succession with the consistency of the acclaimed helmer’s own added touch having worn multiple hats on set for his own previous work.

Legendary kung fu cinema star, actor Chen Kuan Tai (Iron Monkey, Dragon Tiger Gate), reunites with our director for another offering inspired by his own literary work, setting in 1930’s China where an elderly sword maker’s skillset continues to attract the embattled, war-ridden outside world that once forced him and his family into hiding.

A date is still pending for the film following Screendaily’s report in May of its acquisition by Distribution Workshop. Chen is joined by Huang Jue and Geng Le, actressses Summer Xu Qing and Chen Xia, and in reunion with fellow Xu cohort, The Final Master co-star, actor Zhang Aoyue.

The official trailer is now running in full view of fans this week. Check it out!

Distribution Workshop Nabs International Sales For Martial Arts Drama, THE HIDDEN BLADE

Lee B. Golden III

Hong Kong outlet Distribution Workshop is on hand for buyers at Cannes with its own package as events kick off this week. Their slate currently includes a few martial arts titles one of which hails the return of acclaimed novelist and filmmaker Xu Haofeng with the new movie, The Hidden Blade.

Legendary kung fu cinema star, actor Chen Kuan Tai (Iron Monkey, Dragon Tiger Gate), reunites with our director for another offering inspired by Xu’s own literary work, sets in 1930’s China where an elderly sword maker’s skillset continues to attract the embattled, war-ridden outside world that once forced him and his family into hiding. The actor is joined by actress Jessie Li, and in reunion with fellow Xu cohort, actor Zhang Aoyue following the 2015 martial arts period drama, The Final Master, which won Best Action Choreography at the Golden Horse Awards that year.

The other title housed currently at Distribution Workshop is Yuen Woo-Ping’s Ten Thousand Faces Of Dunjia which opens in China later this year. (Screendaily)