hanyu zhang

IMPASSE: Zhang Yimou’s Chilling New Spy Thriller Gets A Trailer For Its April Release

Director Zhang Yimou has several more films in the pipeline going forward, firstly with period espionage thriller, Impasse now set for an April 30 mainland release. The newest trailer is out as well since the film’s delay last year so we can now expect some movement as the year progresses, theaters slowly reopen with safety conditions and sales pick up at the markets. In 1932, the Japanese military has built a fortress for inhumane medical experiments. However, one man – Wang Ziyang – manages to escape the fortress alive. Chinese intelligence forms a task force to intercept Wang for information about the fortress. But when the puppet government learns of the mission, they use any means necessary to stop the team from finding their man. Emperor Motion Pictures is handling international sales. Impasse stars Zhang Yi, Zhang Hanyu, Qin Hailu, and Zhu Yawen.

THE CAPTAIN Review: Andrew Lau’s Latest Weathers A Turbulent Take-Off For A Riveting Tale Of Teamwork

Lee B. Golden III

The Captain, the latest in ripped-from-the-headlines feature films pre-empted by real-life events of peril, takes firmly to its patriotic tropes as much as it does to the roaring skies above. It’s about as by-the-numbers as you would expect from a film of its kind whilst achieving its own usual highs and lows, and where its many strengths stem from its central focus on the crux of the film. It’s 2018 and a plane bound for Lhasa is set to take off from Chongqing. Director Andrew Lau’s primary introduction reveals tried-and-tested air force veteran and Sichuan Airlines pilot, Captain Liu (Zhang Hanyu), before diving right into the well-oiled machinized inner-workings of the airport and aircrew itself – from the weather analysis right down to the flight attendants. Much of the in-betweens of the film for a little over a half hour focus on growing some of the more interpersonal story arcs […]

THE CAPTAIN Salutes UK & ROI With Release From Cine Asia

Lee B. Golden III

With Well Go USA’s own release in tow, Cine Asia is lining up its UK/ROI release of Andrew Lau’s new ripped-from-the-headlines high altitude thriller, The Captain. From critically acclaimed director Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs trilogy) comes The Captain, a thrilling new epic based on an incredible true story. In May 2018, during a normal flight aboard Sichuan Airlines, the cockpit windshield shattered while flying 30,000 feet above the Tibetan Plateau. With a co-pilot fighting for his life and passengers in panic and losing consciousness, the plane’s heroic captain (Zhang Hanyu, Operation Red Sea, Operation Mekong) defied all odds and successfully landed the plane in one of the most miraculous emergency landings in Chinese aviation history. What he achieved under pressure is revered to this day. Charged with suspense and stunning action, and visual effects from the team behind Monster Hunt and Hero, The Captain is a true epic and a […]

THE CAPTAIN Takes To U.S. Screens October 4!

Lee B. Golden III

It was last week when Well Go USA publicly acquired the rights to Andrew Lau’s true survival tale, The Captain. That film is now poised for a select release beginning October 4 and us folks here in the states now have a trailer to help get settled. Hanyu Zhang leads the way for what is being billed as “Lau’s cinematic portrayal of the most miraculous emergency landing in the contemporary history of Chinese aviation”. The Captain is based on an incident that occurred on a Monday morning in May 2018 when a Sichuan Airlines flight from Chongqing to Lhasa spiraled into chaos after the windshiled cockpit collapsed, leaving the occupants to endure low pressure at high altitudes over the Tibetan Plateau as Captain Liu Chuanjian took charge and fought through fearsome odds to bring everyone home. Also starring are Jiang Du and Qin Li!

THE LEGEND HUNTERS: The Mojin Saga Continues With Its First Poster

Lee B. Golden III

The first official artwork for The Legend Hunters has arrived, directed by Li Yi Fan and Simon West. It’s the project formerly known as Mojin X – the big giveaway being it stars Celina Jade as reported last October. Also starring are Hanyu Zhang and Jiang Wu, following suit with the on-going Mojin franchise. Story, plot and release date are all unknown, so I’ll be sure to update as soon as possible on these. Hat tip to Asian Film Strike for this find.

John Woo’s MANHUNT Hails The ‘Return Of The Maestro’ In The New International Teaser Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

It was back in 2010 when acclaimed Asian action auteur, John Woo, received the Golden Lion for Career Achievement in Venice. It was also right around when he had completed the 2008/09 war epic, Red Cliff, nearly fifteen years following a post-Hong Kong crossover career into Hollywood that saw him directing a litany of titles that continue to pale in comparison to Woo’s glory days of heroic bloodshed and bullet ballet crime thrillers like A Better Tomorrow and Hard Boiled. It’s an era that fans have never forgotten. It is also one that stands as the perpetual driving force for Woo’s latest return to form, Manhunt, hailing from Media Asia this week in an ambitious remake effort inspired by Sato Junya’s 1976 film adaptation of Nishimura Juko’s earlier novel, “Hot Pursuit” which has Zhang Hanyu (Operation Mekong) leading the cast opposite Fukuyama Masaharu Fukuyama (Like Father, Like Son), and actresses […]

John Woo's MANHUNT Begins Principal Photography!

Lee B. Golden III

It’s a great time to be a John Woo fan if you’ve been nostaligic in recent time. As per the hype, expect his return to glory with the new cinematic re-adaptation, Manhunt which is now underway in Osaka, Japan and scheduled through October this year. Screendaily writes of the confirmed cast with actor Hanyu Zhang and Fukuyama Masaharu leading, based on Sato Junya’s 1976 film adaptation of Nishimura Juko’s earlier novel, “Hot Pursuit”, in which a lawyer must set out to clear his name after being framed and wrongfully accused of robbery, rape and multiple murders. Producers Chan Hing Kai (A Better Tomorrow) and Gordon Chan (Painted Skin) wrote the script with Zhang and Fukuyama joined by actresses Ha Ji-Won and Qi Wei. The ensemble cast rounds out with a list of seasoned and upcoming faces like actor Kurata Yasuaki (So Close) Kunimura Jun (Kill Bill, The Wailing) and Takenaka Naoto (Gonin Saga, […]

Review: THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN (2014)

Lee B. Golden III

SYNOPSIS: Tsui Hark’s thrilling adaptation of Qu Bo’s beloved adventure novel stars Tony LEUNG Ka-fai as a ruthless bandit, ruling the lands of Northeast China from his fortress on Tiger Mountain. A captain of the Liberation Army (LIN Gengxin) launches a counter-insurgency against the dictator with a skilled investigator (ZHANG Hanyu) sent to destroy the gang from the inside. REVIEW: It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Tsui Hark film, and to be honest, I haven’t had the luxury of seeing all of them. However, I will speak on the handful of films I have seen with his name attached, and his is a vision I am entirely charmed by when it comes to truly epic, adventurous storytelling. This time, he introduces us to at least one other aspect of history that not many of us are not exposed to, and here thanks in large part to late author […]

New Posters And Trailer Arrive For Tsui Hark's THE TAKING OF TIGER MOUNTAIN 3D

Lee B. Golden III

The promotional campaign has been a slow and steady one throughout the year for director Tsui Hark‘s latest offering, The Taking Of Tiger Mountain 3D. This week however, Bona Film Group is picking things up with a promotional blitz for the epic period actioner, packaged with new trailer and a flurry of new character posters to boot. The film bares roots in history as late author Qu Bo’s 1957 debut short novel prior to becoming a popular Beijing opera during the 1960s, all based on a real-life event that took place in 1946 during the Chinese Civil War about a hero Communist soldier who infiltrates a gang of bandits. It’s a story of war, strategy and intrigue, and for our dear legendary director, that also means epic gun battles on skiis, Mexican standoffs, a dash of romance, and yes, maybe even a 3D tiger, but who’s complaining? The Taking Of […]