jacky heung

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100 YARDS Review: A Crackling Clash Of Martial Fists And Fervor From Xu Haofeng And Xu Junfeng

100 Yards was screened and reviewed for the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, upon virtual invitation. Well Go USA is releasing the film in theaters and on Digital on Friday, November 8. It’s been wild having to wait this long before the film markets picked up on something (or anything) attached to the name of author and filmmaker Xu Haofeng. The man best known for whipping out some of the most artful and concentrated martial arts features to hit screens for well over a decade was all but a blip after landing back on radar with 2015’s The Final Master, when trailers arose for his 2017 actioner, The Hidden Sword, followed by stills and posters in 2019 for “Shi Yan Juan Tian Ya.” Both incumbent period flicks deserved better rollouts they were never given for reasons unbeknownst to this critic, and so it remains to be seen if either of those movies will ever […]

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100 YARDS: You Better Believe This Movie Finally Has A U.S. Trailer And Release Date!

Ladies and gets… you’re about to witness one of the sharpest, most diabolically entertaining and thrilling martial arts movie experiences of your life. It’s 100 Yards, the latest period action drama from co-directors Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng, and starring Jacky Heung and Andy On, and it finally has an official trailer with a theatrical U.S.release date set from Well Go USA. In volatile 1920s Tianjin, a mere decade after China’s last imperial dynasty was overthrown, a clandestine martial arts circle arose to deter crime and maintain peace between rival martial arts schools. But after a renowned master dies and names his apprentice—rather than his son—as his successor, he unwittingly kicks off a fierce power struggle that will bring the entire city to the brink of chaos. You’re welcome to read my review from its International Premiere at TIFF last year for obligatory feedback but I loved the shit out […]

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100 YARDS: Check Out The Official Festival Trailer For The New Martial Arts Drama Coming To Toronto

Martial arts period drama 100 Yards has been acquired by Well Go USA. The film will release in 2024 following its festival run, which includes an upcoming centerpiece premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall. 100 Yards previously screened in Shanghai back in June. Set in 1920s Tianjin, northern China, the film stars Jacky Heung and Andy On, and tells of the son of a martial arts master and his most talented apprentice, and their fight to take over a prominent martial arts academy. As the story goes, rather than obey the rule of settling disputes behind closed doors, they take their fight to the street. Also starring are Bea Hayden Kuo, Tang Shiyi and Li Yuan, and also marks a reunion with martial arts choreographer Duncan Leung and The Grandmaster co-writer Xu Haofeng, who co-directs the new period martial arts flick with Xu Junfeng. “100 Yards masterfully […]

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100 YARDS Reveals New Look At Jacky Heung In The Official Sales Art For Upcoming Martial Arts Drama

If it helps us stay sane for a little while longer, then yes, perhaps I’ll share the sales key art for 100 Yards, the latest martial arts drama from directing duo Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng which, until recently, only had a regional Mandarin-language title. Fortissimo Films shared the ink on its website as the latest piece of imagery following several stills that have made the rounds in the past year and spotlighting leading men Jacky Heung (Chasing Dream) and Andy On (Ride On). 1920s Tianjin, northern China. The son of a martial arts master and his most talented apprentice fight to take over a prominent martial arts academy. But rather than obey the rule of settling disputes behind closed doors, they take their fight to the street. The film is also produced by Heung and co-stars Taiwanese actor Bea Hayden Kuo (Kung Fu Monster), Tang Shiyi (The Day We […]

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100 YARDS: Fortissimo Signals World Sales For New Wuxia Action Drama Ahead Of Cannes Market

It’s only been a year since we last heard anything on Men Qian Bao Di, but if it feels longer, you’re not alone. Director Xu Haofeng has been an enigma for me as hampered as I am by the language barrier between me and spoken Chinese dialects, but I’m awful glad that other cogs in this vast machine of cinema marketeering are working hard to help proliferate things a bit. For this, we get 100 Yards, the latest from Xu and co-director Xu Junfeng with reports of its upcoming world sales launch at the upcoming Cannes market via Fortissimo Films, excluding North America and Southeast Asia. According to Michael Rosser at Screendaily, the film, which stars Jacky Heung (Chasing Dream) and Andy On (Ride On), has already scored presales with Splendid Film acquiring rights in Germany. As Rosser notes, 100 Yards takes place in “1920s Tianjin, northern China, and centres […]

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Jacky Heung Steals The Lens In A New Still Promo For Xu Haofeng’s Latest Collaborative Martial Arts Period Drama

Several stills have already begun making the rounds for Men Qian Baodi (a.k.a. A Treasure In Front Of The Door), the latest from filmmaker Xu Haofeng and co-director Xu Junfeng. Some of these can be seen with additional stills from the film as well as a bit of dialog from actor Jacky Heung who stars among the line-up, all well-knit in a photo promo which you can view above. Production wrapped in the first week of March with a cast that also lists Andy On, Bea Hayden, Shiyi Tang and Zhao Zheng. The film itself takes place in 1920 and centers on the aftermath of the death of a Tianjin martial arts museum curator, whose eldest disciple steps up and takes his pre-ordained place. When his controversial practices compel the community to summon the late curator’s son to claim what is his, a new rivalry for a new era in […]

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NYAFF XIX Review: CHASING DREAM Is A Spry Redemption Tale Full Of Budding Romance And Bloody Knuckles

Love, music and brutal pound-for-pound action go hand-in-hand in Johnnie To‘s latest romantic action drama, Chasing Dream. The casting of Jacky Heung and Keru Wang brings a festive entry into a tale layered with action and sprinkles of romance and interwoven drama, as we meet Tiger, an MMA legend in the making, and Cuckoo, a ringside cheerleader. After a failed attempt to escape the arena, both characters stumble upon each other in a chance meeting that finds the elusive Cuckoo caught in the clutches of Tiger’s manager, gangster and loanshark Gao Qiang (Bin Zi). Tiger, who is in Gao’s camp, decides to put Cuckoo to work in order to help pay off her debts, and it soon turns into an opportunity for reprisal when Cuckoo she spots her ex-boyfriend-cum-music superstar Qu Fengfeng (Ma Xiachui) in a commercial launching the next talent search for a hit program called The Perfect Diva. […]

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CHASING DREAM: Don’t Miss The First Teaser For Johnnie To’s New Thriller

It’s interesting that I’m just off of Takashi Miike’s First Love and now the re-emergence of director Johnnie To (Don’t Go Breaking My Heart films, Mad Detective, Three) is back and bringing some of those same True Romance feels with his latest film, Chasing Dream. Actor Jacky Heung makes his latest lead outing having come a long way since his acting debut in Jet Li’s inspired martial arts biopic, Fearless. He joins actress Keru Wang from multi-award winning period drama, Youth, for the story of a MMA champion hopeful and an aspiring singer who share the common goal of helping each other out of their respective debts. The official teaser arrived online this week (hat tip to Subway Cinema via First Showing) ahead of its November 8 release. Three years since Johnnie To directed cop thriller Three, while it might have been awesome to see him circulate a bit at […]

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ON THAT NIGHT…WHILE WE DREAM Brings Martial Arts Stardom Together In The First Official Shortfilm Trailer

At around this time next week, expect to hear more from the rumblings in China with Alibaba bigwig, Jack Ma, and his latest filmic musings with a kung fu line-up of big-name stars and athletes. We now have the first official trailer announcing On That Night…While We Dream, aptly hailed on poster art with the characters, Gong Shu Dao, a martial arts prose meaning Guard And Defense. A celebration of Chinese culture via martial arts is the reported goal of the new shortfilm project filmed in late Summer – a personal one at that for Ma, a disciple himself of a 19th generation Master descendant of Chens’ Taiji. That goal now reaches closer with a promo that highlights some of the work from our cast with footage from Gordon Chan’s Call Of Heroes, Donnie Yen as Ip Man, Tony Jaa in The Protector 2 and Ma’s Taijizen International founding partner […]

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GONG SHU DAO: Asian Film Giants Line-Up For A Celebration Of Kung Fu And Culture In The Latest Banner

It’s not everyday someone can get more than a handful of major Asian film stars and celebrated athletes in the same room to make movie history. Alibaba executive chairman and founder Jack Ma just happens to be the man who can do just that and the power he wields has since been on full display with the latest banner reveal for upcoming ten minute shortfilm, Gong Shou Dao. Action legend Jet Li forwarded the artwork via his official website and social media branches, featuring himself with Ma and a who’s who of film and sports headliners ahead of its promotion on November 11 during Alibaba’s Global Shopping Festival. The title itself (clearly advanced from its previous Master theme) takes its influences from Taiji, Kung Fu, and Martial Arts – the former notably being a paramount focus of Li’s own shared health and lifestyle  platform with Ma at TaijiZen.com. “We all have […]

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[UPDATED] LEAGUE OF GODS Soars Online With A Final Trailer And Music Video

I suppose it’s a matter of time now before we learn of a wider release for Koan Hui’s latest, League Of Gods. The film opens in Asia this Friday and much to the avail of Jet Li fans despite his role unlikely being written for action. Still though, you get all the spectacle and majesty you could possibly want for as long as this film’s been developed as another milestone step forward for China’s growth into more VFX-heavy cinema. An imaginary time zone parallel to the Shang Dynasty, 1000 BC: The kingdom is in trouble. The autocratic King Zhou (Tony Leung Ka Fai 梁家辉), entranced by his favourite concubine Daji (Fan Bingbing 范冰冰) who is a vixen spirit in disguise, oppresses the people and banishes all opposition. A band of rebellious warriors from the Ji clan unites allied forces to overthrow the tyrant. Amongst them is Ji Lei (Jacky Heung […]

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Now With English Subs, The Latest Trailer For LEAGUE OF GODS!

Chances are you’ve already seen one version of the latest trailer for Koan Hui and Vernie Yeung’s League Of Gods. That said, English subs are always awesome and you can view this one below with all the context you need. SYNOPSIS: In an imaginary time zone parallel to the Shang Dynasty, 1000 BC: The kingdom is in trouble. The autocratic King Zhou (Tony Leung Ka Fai), who is entranced by his favourite concubine Daji (Fan Bingbing), a vixen spirit in disguise, oppresses the people and banishes all opposition. A band of rebellious warriors from the Ji clan unites allied forces to overthrow the tyrant. Amongst them is Ji Lei (Jacky Heung), an orphan of the Wing Tribe who was rescued as a child by the powerful wizard Jiang (Jet Li) on the fateful day of his Wing initiation into adulthood when his parents were massacred by the tyrant.   Haunted by […]

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RUNNING ON KARMA 2 Is In The Works!

Well, with regard to anyone’s desire to see actor Andy Lau in a prosthetic muscle body suit, I leave that to the viewer. At any rate though, fans of the multi-award winning and nominated 2003 flick, Running On Karma, can finally look forward to a 3D sequel releasing next year with Lau set to return. Yahoo! Singapore forwarded the news citing murmurs from Hong Kong presses of Lau‘s return as the film currently remains in development. The first film, opposite actress Ceilia Chung, showcased Lau in the role of Biggie, a fallen Buddhist monk who forces himself to come to terms with his past and his ability Karmic abilities whilst protecting rookie cop from ruthless killer. While the details are still being finalized, directing and producing duo Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai are returning to the project which will also foresee Mainland actress Gao Yuanyuan replacing Chung with actor […]

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