yuen woo ping

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Gets An International Trailer

The most recent Netflix trailer for director Yuen Woo-Ping’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny, drew a number of reactions mixing postive with some that were negative, if not critical in some capacity. That said, there are a few points worth throwing out regarding this new follow-up based on Wang Dulu’s Iron/Crane Pentalogy, and with respect to all the things that made Ang Lee’s 2000 predecessor, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the classic that it is today. If you’ve seen the first trailer then you might have an idea on where some of those points lie – be it some of the bad CGI and choice of song to the fact that the film is entirely in English whereas the first film is in Mandarin. It’s all worth discussing for the sake of better filmmaking, but for all intents and purposes, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny appears to […]

Michelle Yeoh Makes A Comeback In The New Trailer For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY!

Lee B. Golden III

The wait is over and the official trailer has finally arrived for director Yuen Woo-Ping’s new movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny. I doubt that the trailer here though parallels any of the aesthetics that made the first film such an award-winning feat, particularly since it was garnered as a foreign film with plenty of deserving accolades. Nonetheless, it is rewarding to finally see this sequel come to fruition after so much hype, even if it is in English. Michelle Yeoh returns as swordswoman “Yu Shu-Lien” on a mission to protect the Green Destiny from the forces of evil. She is rejoined by fellow film familar, action star Donnie Yen as “Silent Wolf” a new entry into the sequel inspired by author Wang Du Lu’s ancient Iron/Crane Pentalogy with a script by John Fusco, and a cast that adds Jason Scott Lee, Eugenia Yuan, Roger Yuan, Harry Shum […]

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: SWORD OF DESTINY Wields A Trailer Tease!

Lee B. Golden III

If you’re pining for more Donnie Yen action post-Ip Man 3D, you won’t have to wait very long. Director Yuen Woo-Ping’s latest directorial offering in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: Sword Of Destiny, is on course for a theatrical and Netflix release in February and the first footage is now available in the form of a trailer teaser. Preceded by a tie-in novel next month from Weinstein Publishing, the film rejoins Yen with returning actress, martial arts star Michelle Yeoh from a script by John Fusco that centers on a band of warriors aimed at protecting the 400-year old blade, The Green Destiny. Other cast members include Harry Shum Jr., Jason Scott Lee, Roger Yuan, Eugenia Yuan and Veronica Ngo and we’ll soon learn a little more about how they all fit into the visual feats aimed at continuing the legacy awarded in director Ang Lee’s 2000 hit film. For […]

ONCE UPON A TIME IN SHANGHAI: A Renewed Kung Fu Tale With A New Face For Kung Fu Fans

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Philip Ng is currently bound for what’s sure to be a breakout role as the legendary marital artist and film star, Bruce Lee in director George Nolfi’s new film, Birth Of The Dragon. In the meantime, Ng has definitely left an impression on fans of the martial arts genre with a career in which he’s worn several hats, including the stunt department. It’s a career that otherwise lined-up a very opportune moment for Ng in the role of the classic Chinese hero, Ma Yongzhen in director Wong Ching-Po’s 2014 film, Once Upon A Time In Shanghai. Ng takes up the role as portrayed in at least two other film adaptations in the last four decades – a gifted martial artist who migrates to the bustling city of Shanghai in the 1930’s where he eventually finds himself in the throes of a notorious gangster Long Qi, played by martial arts […]

It's A War Of Words And Wing Chun In The New Trailer For IP MAN 3

Lee B. Golden III

With the promise of a January 22 release of director Wilson Yip‘s Ip Man 3 in the U.S., folks in Hong Kong and China aren’t too far off with film getting its day a month earlier this Christmas. Alas, this week’s new trailer for the film comes just at the right time, and it may very well just be action star Donnie Yen‘s last foray in kung fu cinema, though time will tell if that changes. For now though, we’re taking it all in. The Ip Man trilogy from the Yip/Yen end of the spectrum has been nothing short of memorable for fans of the action star and its legendary co-stars past and present, even amidst criticisms of its lack of historical correctness in some capacity. Yuen Woo-Ping also joins in on the Wing Chun fun as the film’s action director and for what it’s worth, Ip Man 3 looks […]

Yuen: MIRACLE FIGHTERS Remake Will Be Entirely New, Will Redefine Wuxia

Lee B. Golden III

Following our report on Tuesday, new reports are now lending at least one update worth noting in regards to the upcoming Kung Fu classic remake, Miracle Fighters. Tsui Hark is producing with Master Yuen Woo-Ping back at the helm and remaking the Kung Fu comedy which released in 1982 as his seventh directorial offering following an early career in film. As things stand now, the new film will reportedly tell an entirely new story, derivative from its original plot which sees two bickering Taoist sorcerors training a young desciple who wishes to pursue vengeance against the Emperor in a contest of magic. Film Business Asia writes of Yuen who reportedly says that “if the original film was meant to present an alternative form of wuxia film, the new film intends to redefine it.”. So essentially this won’t be a remake, but a reboot which means plenty of potential changes. It could still […]

Everyone Fights Back In The New U.S. Trailer For IP MAN 3

Lee B. Golden III

And like sweet nectar, it’s the small things in life that mean so much. The latest trailer for Ip Man 3 lends but a smidget of the action and drama that ensues, but packs it all in a collage of shots host to Danny Chan as the legendary younger Bruce Lee, along with Max Zhang, Thai action actor Simon Kuke, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, and international action star Donnie Yen in the title role. Chalk this up as another on the wishlist, folks! It’s coming to North America on January 22, 2016 theatrically following its Christmas release in Asia. Wilson Yip directs with choreography by the one and only Master Yuen Woo Ping and his team. Watch the trailer below!

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Yuen Woo-Ping And Tsui Hark To Remake Kung Fu Classic, MIRACLE FIGHTERS

Lee B. Golden III

If Hollywood and the industry throughout can remake classic TV, film and comic book properties, then China and Hong Kong can dip into its own history of titles to explore all the same. Action legend and auteur Tsui Hark has been doing so off-and-on with his latest, director Derek Yee’s Sword Master, which has been making the rounds at the American Film Market with Distribution Workshop. As such, and now in the good graces of the team led by legendary action savant, Master Yuen Woo-Ping, a remake of Master Yuen‘s 1982 kung fu comedy classic, Miracle Fighters is now on the way with casting currently pending. The film was his seventh directorial offering following a brewing early film career in the sixties and is one of a trilogy with the first, set in the Qing dynasty where a forbidden marriage ensues an epic hunt for a general who kidnaps and accidentally […]

Mike Tyson Challenges Donnie Yen To A Fist Fight In The New IP MAN 3 Teaser

Lee B. Golden III

For all intents and purposes, a film franchise like Ip Man isn’t something to end lightly on. Keep this in mind while lead action star Donnie Yen has already since well-informed his fanbase that this might be his last gung-fu gig and thus promising his latest, Ip Man 3, will be his biggest and best yet. Yes, he’s trying to hype a movie and there’s nothing wrong there, although we can only hope that brewing expectations will be met accordingly, and five long years after such a stellar sequel pitting Yen opposite actor and action legends Sammo Hung and the now late Darren Shahlavi. Alas, the latter of December between Christmas and the new year is when we witness the forthcoming finale with Yen returning, along with Max Zhang and former heavyweight boxing champion-turned-actor Mike Tyson starring. Wilson Yip is back to direct the third as he did for the […]

Johnnie To Headlines Alongside List Of Acclaimed Directors For An Eight-Part Hong Kong History Epic

Lee B. Golden III

It’s imaginable to be excited these days if you’re a fan of acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To. The Triangle and Blind Detective helmer is already the prime subject of a remake effort over at Sony for his 2009 crime pic, Vengeance these days, although if a wee bit of Hong Kong history and some martial arts are your preference these days, then you’re in luck. Word from Twitchfilm states that To will be heading an 8-part anthology ensemble project, focusing on Hong Kong’s history within the last seven decades, with each portion attributed to seven other legendary directors, namely reuniting with fellow Triangle co-helmers Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam, in addition to attaching Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, John Woo, Sammo Hung and Yuen Woo-Ping. The project is reportedly one of three newly announced titles in development under To‘s watch, including a new crime pic with Drug War star Louis […]

[UPDATED] Shankar's I Releases Today In India. Check Out The Spectaculer Trailer!

Lee B. Golden III

UPDATE: A previous version of this article stated Yuen Woo-Ping directed the action. H/T to reader Josh Hurtado for issuing the correction! Director Shankar Shanmugam‘s latest film is out as of today in the form of the new romantic fantasy action flick, I, and basically it’s Bollywood as Bollywood gets. The latest trailer below really flexes its muscles with every shot as epic as the one after it, loaded with eye-popping imagery, illustrious costume design and stunt sequences courtesy of coordinators Peter Ming and Alfred Hsing, all delivered in usual epic fashion. The film is available in Tamil, Telugu, Malayam and all major Indian languages, and will be the first to be dubbed in Chinese upon its release. I is produced by V. Ravichandran under his Aascar Films banner with actor Vikram and actress Amy Jackson starring. H/T: American Bazaar

THE GRANDMASTER 3D Re-Release Issues New Posters And A Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Aside from all its accolades, director Wong Kar Wai‘s most recent kung fu epic, The Grandmaster, is probably the most lauded by critics for the tedious approach its helmer has taken to bring about a perfect version, of which there have already been several in the past year or so. Nontheless, Wong took it upon himself earlier this year to take the film back under the knife once more for a 3D conversion announced earlier this year in the hopes of creating a more streamlined and cohesive film, one that will likely be much more shorter than its original Chinese release. Alas, the newly 3D-converted film will be getting a 111-minute duration with some newer footage for its China audience beginning on January 8, 2015. SYNOPSIS (from TWC): Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, THE GRANDMASTER is an epic action feature inspired by the life and times of the […]

Well Go USA Grants A Full Trailer For The U.S. Release Of ONCE UPON A TIME IN SHANGHAI

Lee B. Golden III

CraveOnline has exclusively unveiled the latest trailer for Well Go USA’s upcoming release of Once Upon A Time In Shanghai. The film has had its share of mixed reviews but still fares pretty well among fans of legendary action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping whose 2012 promo for the film featuring lead action star Philip Ng was all there was to show for the film’s existence before it was finally released theatrically in Asia this year. The film is a cinematic reinterpretation of the classic lead character, Ma Wing-Jing in Shaw classics like The Boxer From Shangtung and director Corey Yuen’s 1997 actioner, Hero, now with lead actor Ng inheriting the character for the new generation. It’s a milestone move for Ng whose lucrative career in stunts and some small and big roles have finally led to a project this major prior to acting and providing choreography for Taiwanese helmer Joe […]

[UPDATED] CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: THE GREEN LEGEND Set For IMAX/Netflix Release, Date Confirmed

Lee B. Golden III

*A previous version of this article did not include the new pictures until 5:56am EST Michelle Yeoh (left) and Zhang Ziyi (right) in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Well, this is new indeed. The news is just breaking at the moment, but apparently director Yuen Woo Ping‘s latest return to the Iron/Crane universe with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Legend may not be distributed in regular 2D theaters. Instead, the film will be making its official groundbreaking day-and-date debut on IMAX screens and on Netflix on August 28, 2015. The film will be the first original movie to stream from Netflix in a new deal with The Weinstein Company as per the growing business relationship between the two companies for first-run film content and other programs. Nevermind that the film will be in entirely in English, but it looks like TWC is putting its money where its mouth […]

THE GRANDMASTER Will Get A 3D Re-Release This October

Lee B. Golden III

Fun fact: martial arts action auteur Yuen Woo-Ping is awesome, a given fact for any martial arts action cinema fan familiar with his name and stellar credits, most notably the long-awaited release of director Wong Kar-Wai‘s biopictoral martial arts action romance epic, The Grandmaster. Starring actor Tony Leung in the prolific role of late martial arts pugilist and Wing Chun master, Ip Man, the film is Wong‘s most expensive project to date, following an arduous production between its announcement in 2008 and its installment of three different versions for China and Hong Kong, its premiere at the 63rd annual Berlin International Film Festival and finally in North America between January and August 2013. The film has been the recipient of dozens of awards and nominations ever since, and has been the subject of a 3D conversion by Vancouver-based top-tier Hollywood conversion company, Gener8 Media Corp. in conjuntion with distribution by […]

Harry Shum Jr. Will Defend Legendary Weaponry In CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON 2!

Lee B. Golden III

Harry Shum Jr. as Kuai Liang in Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2 Production has commensed on director and action auteur Yuen Woo-Ping‘s new film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny, and a cast is now assembling that so far includes returning sequel actress Michelle Yeoh and actors Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse. Production is tentatively expected to last through November this year, and as we move forward, the film is still making announcements on who will officially star, aside from leaving a few names of interest that are otherwise worth mentioning. We still don’t yet have official word on mixed martial arts superstar and actor Cung Le’s possible talks for a role in the film following a press video in late June. However, at least one other name has been likely added to the cast in the form of actor Jason Scott Lee, known for his memorable performance […]

KILL BILL: THE WHOLE BLOODY AFFAIR Is Coming In 2015!

Lee B. Golden III

If you attended San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, you might have come across director Quentin Tarantino making the rounds to promote his Django Unchained/Zorro crossover comic. In light of this and other news, it turns out the retro cinema throwback visionary auteur best known for his work on cult hits like Resevoir Dogs, Jackie Brown and the incomparable Pulp Fiction is currently doing business with The Weinstein Company to theatrically a longer verison of his two-part martial arts spaghett-western kunoichi smash hit, Kill Bill. The new edition to be dubbed Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, has been in the works since 2008 following its pre-emptive Cannes screening prior to its two-part split in 2003, with other versions of the first film more violent in other territories than in the U.S. (seriously, if you own the Japanese DVD like I do, you know what I mean). The complete version […]

[UPDATED] ‘The Rebel’ Helmer Charlie Nguyen To Direct The Action For CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON: THE GREEN DESTINYt

Lee B. Golden III

Update: As it turns out, Nguyen will only be serving as co-producer and second-unit director, NOT action choreographer, following a Facebook post by Nguyen correcting tge matter, according to Twitch. Stay tuned for more updates, or at least until I learn Vietnamese. 🙂 While the domestic government-enforced ban and unceremonious leakage of Vietnamese filmmaker Charlie Nguyen‘s 2013 action vehicle, Bui Doi Cho Lon, left a huge hole for martial arts cinema fans last year, it appears the action will no less continue for The Rebel helmer who is said flown to New Zealand to over see action director duties for the production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: The Green Destiny. Nguyen reportedly comes into the production after wrapping principal photography for the upcoming comedy titled Let Hoi Decide, as legendary action director Master Yuen Woo Ping has decided to extend action and fight choreography duties to Nguyen roughly a year […]

Pre-Production Begins For Yuen's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON 2

Lee B. Golden III

Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh engage a sisterly clash of swords and will in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). Well, it’s been a little over a year since it was reported that The Weinstein Company secured the rights to late Chinese author Wang Du Lu’s Crane/Iron pentalogy which inspired director Ang Lee’s 2000 award-winning Chinese-language wuxia epic, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Needless to say, it was a hit, and fourteen years later, the film is finally getting a sequel in the form of a prequel titled Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2: The Green Destiny. This month, there’s more movement now being made for the film as pre-production has officially kicked off with plans to film most of the movie in New Zealand, courtesy of Auckland-based Iron Knight productions with the remainder of the film to be shot in China. The film is being directed by legendary action master […]

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Film Of The Week: MAN OF TAI CHI (2013)

Lee B. Golden III

SYNOPSIS: In bustling Beijing, China, ambitious young “Tiger” Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. Though most associate Tai Chi with peaceful, yoga-like movements, Tiger has perfected the ancient art and started to make a name for himself in the prestigious Wulin Wang martial arts championship. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, police investigator, Suen Jing-Si (Karen Mok), who works for the organized crime unit OCTB, has run into a wall in her pursuit of Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves). Donaka is a powerful Hong Kong businessmen who runs a secret underground fighting ring, where cold hard cash is made by defeating one’s opponent in a no-holds barred fight privately broadcast to wealthy patrons. Looking for a new “star,” Donaka tries to lure Tiger with the promise of easy money. […]