Sony Pictures Classics is handing wuxia fans an encore presentation with Ang Lee’s decorated 2000 release, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in theaters everywhere on February 17. The studio made the announcement several days ago via social media and a brand-new trailer which you can view at the bottom of the page.
Ten years in the making, director Felix Chong finally comes full circle with Project Gutenberg. The campaign has already begun in signature fashion with its earliest teaser brandishing an iconic tribute to one of starring actor Chow Yun-Fat’s most memorable scenes.
Overheard trilogy co-helmer Felix Chong is currently in production with new big budget action thriller, Project Gutenberg. International sales agent Distribution Workshop are shopping the film at Cannes whilst having nabbed a raft of release deals throughout Asia.
Chong wrote the script which sees Aaron Kwok as a member of a notorious money counterfeiting gang extradited from Thailand by Hong Kong police who are looking to bring down the gang whose leader will be played by Kwok’s fellow Cold War 2 cohort, actor Chow Yun-Fat. Rounding out the cast are Dick Liu Kai Chi, Zhang Jingchu and Catherine Chau who plays the lead detective with locations slated for Hong Kong, China, Canada and Thailand.
Project Gutenberg, previously titled Unparalleled, is a Hong Kong/China co-prod. between Pop Movies and Bona Film Group. Kwok’s next outing will be in Soi Cheang’s The Monkey King 3 in time for the Chinese New Year. (Variety)
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker John Woo is quite expressive nowadays regarding his hopes of reinvigorating his old partnership with fellow film legend Tsui Hark, years after lighting the Hong Kong action genre for the world to see with the 1986 smash hit, A Better Tomorrow. Two more films within that franchise followed apart as the two parted ways years later (with the Korean remake of the first film arriving in 2010), and with Woo wanting to build that bridge, it would certainly revive the glory days for fans longing to see another masterpiece from the famous duo.
Fortunately such admirers also happen to represent 181-year old Swiss watch brand and manufacturers, Jaeger-LeCoultre who took to this year’s events at the 17th annual Shanghai International Film Festival to auction off their products to help fund the 4K restoration of up to nine classic Chinese films since the two parties partnered in 2011. And low and behold, the next film on their roster happens to be A Better Tomorrow. “A Better Tomorrow is the film that embodies my most honest emotion,” says Woo. “It symbolizes a precious chapter of memory, not only for me, but also for all viewers who love it. For me the most valuable part of the film is the enchanting performance by all the actors.”.
The 4K digital augmentation will include a complete frame-by-frame repair of any nixes, scratches and any other damages to the original footage. One can only hope that such a version will see its way to other screens beyond borders.
Both Woo and Hark have films bowing in cinemas this December, with Woo’s latest epic romantic drama, The Crossing, and Hark‘s new 3D epic, The Taking Of Tiger Mountain. Woo is also preparing the IMAX production of his two-part World War II epic, Flying Tigers, while Hark preps to meet attending fans this August at New York City’s Museum Of The Moving Image for a celebratory retrospective attributed to season Hong Kong cinema thesp, actor Patrick Lung Kong (better known as the main villain from the 1997 Jet Li action thriller, Black Mask) who will also attend; The event will also host its own special screening of A Better Tomorrow, which stars Chow Yun-Fat, Ti Lung, Waise Lee and late actor Leslie Cheung.
H/T: China Daily via City On Fire
Continuing the trend of filming in exotic locales in and around Asia, writer and director Wong Jing is expected to return with a second offering of his revitalized spin on the God Of Gamblers franchise with the production of From Vegas To Macau 2. Apparently, the first film which released in January beat commercial expectations despite mixed reviews, and will now ante up the production with a larger budget for a 3D shoot that will take place in Thailand, Mainland Macau and Hong Kong.
From Vegas To Macau 2 is tentatively set for the next Chinese Lunar New Year in February 2015 and will once again feature actor Chow Yun-Fat reprising his lead role along with newly added cast members, award-winning actress Nick Cheung (Unbeatable) and Carina Lau (Young Detective Dee). Actor Nicholas Tse will also reportedly be reprising his role in the Wong Jing sequel before relocating this August to film scenes for the Yuen Woo-Ping production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny with Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen.
There is no official word yet on whether or not Jing will move forward on officially revisiting the original God Of Gamblers franchise with new films, although producer Andrew Lau already affirmed his interest several months ago.
Stick around and place your bets!
H/T: Hong Kong Film Net
Ahead of the upcoming January 30, 2014 release for writer and director Wong Jing’s new film, The Man From Macau, FilmSmash delivered a fresh, small batch of character posters which are now viral. Chow Yun-Fat is featured as he leads the film’s return to its God Of Gamblers glory days with new faces added to this high-flying, comedic action adventure as our heroes team up to take down a money-laundering crimeboss in a high stakes game between good and evil.
The Man From Macau (a.k.a. From Vegas To Macau) also stars Nicholas Tse, Chapman To, Annie Wu and Jing Tian, with Kimmy Tong, Benz Hui, Max Zhang, Philip Ng, Sammy Sum and Natalie Meng rounding out the cast.
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