The ceremony was held on Sunday evening.
Mabel Cheung’s controversial documentary To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self was named best film at the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa), which also saw Wai Ka Fai’s Detective Vs. Sleuths walk away with best director.
Held on Sunday evening (April 16), the awards ceremony returned to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre for the first time since 2019. It was a star-studded event with a big presence of nominees and guests on the red carpet. Most notable was Michelle Yeoh who recently won the best actress Oscar.
As the first presenter of the night, Yeoh...
Mabel Cheung’s controversial documentary To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self was named best film at the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa), which also saw Wai Ka Fai’s Detective Vs. Sleuths walk away with best director.
Held on Sunday evening (April 16), the awards ceremony returned to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre for the first time since 2019. It was a star-studded event with a big presence of nominees and guests on the red carpet. Most notable was Michelle Yeoh who recently won the best actress Oscar.
As the first presenter of the night, Yeoh...
- 4/17/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car was awarded best feature at this year’s Asian Film Awards (March 12), along with prizes for best editing and best original music. The multiple award-winning Japanese film premiered at Cannes film festival in 2021 and also won the Oscar for Best International Feature last year.
Another Japanese filmmaker, Hirokazu Kore-eda, took best director for Broker, the Korean-language film that has also been on an awards streak since premiering at Cannes film festival last year.
Best actress went to Chinese actress Tang Wei for her role in Korean director Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave, while Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Chiu-wai took best actor for Philip Yung’s Where The Wind Blows and was also presented with the Asian Film Contribution Award. Decision To Leave was also awarded best screenplay, for a script written by Park and Chung Seo-kyung, as well as best production design.
Another Japanese filmmaker, Hirokazu Kore-eda, took best director for Broker, the Korean-language film that has also been on an awards streak since premiering at Cannes film festival last year.
Best actress went to Chinese actress Tang Wei for her role in Korean director Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave, while Hong Kong’s Tony Leung Chiu-wai took best actor for Philip Yung’s Where The Wind Blows and was also presented with the Asian Film Contribution Award. Decision To Leave was also awarded best screenplay, for a script written by Park and Chung Seo-kyung, as well as best production design.
- 3/13/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Decision To Leave’ won three and Hirokazu Kore-eda named best director.
The Asian Film Awards (Afa) celebrated its comeback edition in Hong Kong tonight (March 12) and named Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car best film.
The Japanese film, which premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won best international feature at last year’s Oscars, won a further two awards at the AFAs: best editing for Azusa Yamazaki and best original music by Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave went into the night as the favourite, with a leading 10 nominations for the South Korean film,...
The Asian Film Awards (Afa) celebrated its comeback edition in Hong Kong tonight (March 12) and named Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car best film.
The Japanese film, which premiered at Cannes in 2021 and won best international feature at last year’s Oscars, won a further two awards at the AFAs: best editing for Azusa Yamazaki and best original music by Eiko Ishibashi.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave went into the night as the favourite, with a leading 10 nominations for the South Korean film,...
- 3/12/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The much-decorated Japanese drama “Drive My Car” was named the best film Sunday at the Asian Film Awards, defeating hot favorite “Decision to Leave.”
Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.
“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.
While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.
The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.
Other notable awards went to Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda whose “Broker” debuted at Cannes, but which was largely shunned in his home country.
“Decision to Leave,” which started the evening with ten nominations, was nevertheless rewarded with three awards, best screenplay, best production design and best actress for China’s Tang Wei.
While nominations were geographically diverse, the awards on Sunday skewed heavily towards North East Asia –Japan, Korea and Greater China – to the total exclusion of films from India, Indonesia and The Philippines. Snubs included the exclusion of Indonesia’s “Autobiography” and Happy Salma, both of which have been widely lauded on the festival circuit.
The awards ceremony returned to Hong Kong after detours to Macau and Busan and a Covid hiatus in previous years.
- 3/12/2023
- by Patrick Frater and Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s ‘Drive My Car’ secures eight nods.
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) with 10 nods including best film and best director.
Korean films have secured nominations in every category for the 16th edition of the awards, which will return to Hong Kong for the first time in three years, having been hosted in Busan for two years and not held in 2022.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Korean romantic noir Decision To Leave premiered in Competition at Cannes last May, where Park won best director. As...
Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards (Afa) with 10 nods including best film and best director.
Korean films have secured nominations in every category for the 16th edition of the awards, which will return to Hong Kong for the first time in three years, having been hosted in Busan for two years and not held in 2022.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Korean romantic noir Decision To Leave premiered in Competition at Cannes last May, where Park won best director. As...
- 1/6/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Park Chan-wook’s stylish crime drama Decision to Leave leads the nominations for this year’s Asian Film Awards with a sweeping 10 nods, including Best Director and Best Film.
The film’s impressive nominations haul also includes a Best Screenplay nod and acting nominations for leads Park Hae-il and Tang Wei, as well as below-the-line recognition for Cinematography, Editing, Music, and Production Design.
Decision to Leave follows a detective (Park Hae-il) investigating a man’s death in the mountains when he meets the dead man’s mysterious wife, a suspect in the case, and begins a tangled affair. The film debuted at Cannes where Park won the Best Director prize. Korea has also submitted the film as its entry for the international feature Oscar race.
Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s Drive My Car trails with eight nominations. The epic road movie also debuted at Cannes, but in 2021. Elsewhere, Hirokazu Koreeda...
The film’s impressive nominations haul also includes a Best Screenplay nod and acting nominations for leads Park Hae-il and Tang Wei, as well as below-the-line recognition for Cinematography, Editing, Music, and Production Design.
Decision to Leave follows a detective (Park Hae-il) investigating a man’s death in the mountains when he meets the dead man’s mysterious wife, a suspect in the case, and begins a tangled affair. The film debuted at Cannes where Park won the Best Director prize. Korea has also submitted the film as its entry for the international feature Oscar race.
Japanese filmmaker Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s Drive My Car trails with eight nominations. The epic road movie also debuted at Cannes, but in 2021. Elsewhere, Hirokazu Koreeda...
- 1/6/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
“Anita,” the biopic of the late Canto-pop queen Anita Mui, led the race of the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night with five awards, including recognitions for the film’s actors and technical achievements. But the best film and best director awards went to action thriller “Raging Fire” directed by the late Benny Chan.
Sunday’s event, which was postponed from its original schedule in April, was the first in-person edition of the awards ceremony after two years of Covid hiatus — the 2020 edition was held online and 2021 was suspended.
The number of films released in Hong Kong has dramatically dropped over the past years as cinemas were forced to close doors for prolonged periods under the government’s Covid measures. As a result, this year’s event was a double edition taking in films released in both 2020 and 2021.
As the first Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony held in...
Sunday’s event, which was postponed from its original schedule in April, was the first in-person edition of the awards ceremony after two years of Covid hiatus — the 2020 edition was held online and 2021 was suspended.
The number of films released in Hong Kong has dramatically dropped over the past years as cinemas were forced to close doors for prolonged periods under the government’s Covid measures. As a result, this year’s event was a double edition taking in films released in both 2020 and 2021.
As the first Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony held in...
- 7/18/2022
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Other big winners were biopic ’Anita’ and noir thriller ’Limbo’.
Action thriller Raging Fire has won best film and best director for the late Benny Chan at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa). Other big winners were biopic Anita and noir thriller Limbo.
The event took place last night (July 17) as the Hkfa’s first in-person ceremony since 2019 and was well attended by stars and leading film industry figures.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Raging Fire, in which Donnie Yen plays a cop who clashes with a former protege, marked the final film of veteran director Chan,...
Action thriller Raging Fire has won best film and best director for the late Benny Chan at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa). Other big winners were biopic Anita and noir thriller Limbo.
The event took place last night (July 17) as the Hkfa’s first in-person ceremony since 2019 and was well attended by stars and leading film industry figures.
Scroll down for full list of winners
Raging Fire, in which Donnie Yen plays a cop who clashes with a former protege, marked the final film of veteran director Chan,...
- 7/18/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Raging Fire, starring and produced by Donnie Yen, was awarded best film and best director for late action maestro Benny Chan at the Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa) on Sunday night. The ceremony took place at Kowloon Bay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, the first time it had been held as a fully-fledged, in-person event since 2019.
Produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, Raging Fire was a rare pandemic-era hit in Hong Kong and China last year, and lauded as a welcome throwback to old school Hong Kong-style action movies. The film took four awards in total, also including best editing (Curran Pang) and best action choreography.
Benny Chan, one of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed action directors, was diagnosed with cancer while making the film, leading to Yen taking over during post-production. In a moving moment during the Hkfa ceremony, Hong Kong...
Produced by Emperor Motion Pictures, Raging Fire was a rare pandemic-era hit in Hong Kong and China last year, and lauded as a welcome throwback to old school Hong Kong-style action movies. The film took four awards in total, also including best editing (Curran Pang) and best action choreography.
Benny Chan, one of Hong Kong’s most acclaimed action directors, was diagnosed with cancer while making the film, leading to Yen taking over during post-production. In a moving moment during the Hkfa ceremony, Hong Kong...
- 7/17/2022
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Other contenders include biopic ‘Anita’, ‘Drifting’ and ‘Raging Fire’, the final thriller by the late Benny Chan.
Soi Cheang’s crime thriller Limbo leads the pack for the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa) with 14 nominations, as the event prepares to return as an in-person ceremony following last year’s cancellation as a result of the pandemic.
The black and white crime noir, which premiered in Berlinale Special in 2021, secured nods including best film, best director and for actors Lam Ka Tung[/link], Cya Liu and Fish Liew. The thriller centres on a veteran detective and rookie copy who team up to catch a serial killer.
Soi Cheang’s crime thriller Limbo leads the pack for the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards (Hkfa) with 14 nominations, as the event prepares to return as an in-person ceremony following last year’s cancellation as a result of the pandemic.
The black and white crime noir, which premiered in Berlinale Special in 2021, secured nods including best film, best director and for actors Lam Ka Tung[/link], Cya Liu and Fish Liew. The thriller centres on a veteran detective and rookie copy who team up to catch a serial killer.
- 2/16/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The short life and brilliant career of Hong Kong singer, actress and social activist Anita Mui is celebrated in the middling biopic “Anita,” starring 31-year-old model Louise Wong in her film debut. This handsomely decorated and lushly filmed portrait nails the look and electric atmosphere in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry during its 1980s and ’90s heyday but only fitfully captures the sassy energy and fearless spirit that made Mui an adored figure who became known as the “Madonna of the East” and the “Daughter of Hong Kong.” Archival footage of Mui sprinkled throughout the film highlights the difference.
“Anita” joins a long list of productions about Mui (Miu Yim-fong), who died from cervical cancer in Dec. 2003 at the age of 40. Among these are the lengthy Chinese TV series “Anita Mui Fei” (2007) and “Dearest Anita” (2019), a fact-based drama inspired by members of the Mui Nation online fan club. This big-budget...
“Anita” joins a long list of productions about Mui (Miu Yim-fong), who died from cervical cancer in Dec. 2003 at the age of 40. Among these are the lengthy Chinese TV series “Anita Mui Fei” (2007) and “Dearest Anita” (2019), a fact-based drama inspired by members of the Mui Nation online fan club. This big-budget...
- 10/14/2021
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese romantic crime drama “Better Days” directed by Hong Kong’s Derek Tsang, scooped eight awards at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, including best film, best director, best screenplay and best actress. Critically acclaimed elderly gay drama “Suk Suk” took the best actor and best supporting actress awards, organizers announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Winners, however, were unable to give acceptance speeches on stage as the awards ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic. The results were announced instead via a 25-minute live streaming event hosted by awards chairman Derek Yee.
Dressed in black tie, Yee appeared to be sitting in a dimly lit VIP cinema among the awards statuettes, yet to be presented to the recipients. He said despite the cancellation of the star-studded awards ceremony, organizers kept the polling going and received 1,675 votes from industry practitioners, about 57% of registered voters.
“Better Days” was yanked by mainland...
Winners, however, were unable to give acceptance speeches on stage as the awards ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic. The results were announced instead via a 25-minute live streaming event hosted by awards chairman Derek Yee.
Dressed in black tie, Yee appeared to be sitting in a dimly lit VIP cinema among the awards statuettes, yet to be presented to the recipients. He said despite the cancellation of the star-studded awards ceremony, organizers kept the polling going and received 1,675 votes from industry practitioners, about 57% of registered voters.
“Better Days” was yanked by mainland...
- 5/6/2020
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Derek Tsang’s school bullying drama won eight awards including best film and best director.
Derek Tsang’s Better Days bagged eight prizes including best film and best director at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, which were live streamed on social media as the Covid-19 coronavirus forced organisers to scrap the physical ceremony.
Better Days, a mainland China-set drama about school bullying, also won best actress for Zhou Dongyu’s performance and best new performer for Jackson Yee. The film, produced by Goodfellas Pictures and We Pictures, also won awards for best screenplay, best cinematography, best costume & make-up design and best song.
Derek Tsang’s Better Days bagged eight prizes including best film and best director at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, which were live streamed on social media as the Covid-19 coronavirus forced organisers to scrap the physical ceremony.
Better Days, a mainland China-set drama about school bullying, also won best actress for Zhou Dongyu’s performance and best new performer for Jackson Yee. The film, produced by Goodfellas Pictures and We Pictures, also won awards for best screenplay, best cinematography, best costume & make-up design and best song.
- 5/6/2020
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The full list of nominations for the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards has been revealed. However, the dates are still unknown; the mid-April event in fact, will be probably postponed due to the Covid-19 (a.k.a. coronavirus). So for now let’s just have a look at the nominees.
This year’s edition sees Derek Tsang Kwok-Cheung’s “Better Days” leading the competition with an amazing 12 nominations, followed at close range by Heiward Mak’s “Fagara” with 11 nominations and Wong Hing-Fan’s “I’m Livin’ It” with 10. Moreover, Wilson Yip’s “Ip Man 4: The Finale” bagged 9 nominations, including Best Director and Best Action Choreography.
Read the full list of nominations below:
Better Days by Derek Tsang
Best Film
Better Days by Derek Tsang
Suk Suk by Ray Yeung
Fagara by Heiward Mak
I’m Livin’ It by Wong Hing-fan
The New King Of Comedy by Stephen Chow
Best...
This year’s edition sees Derek Tsang Kwok-Cheung’s “Better Days” leading the competition with an amazing 12 nominations, followed at close range by Heiward Mak’s “Fagara” with 11 nominations and Wong Hing-Fan’s “I’m Livin’ It” with 10. Moreover, Wilson Yip’s “Ip Man 4: The Finale” bagged 9 nominations, including Best Director and Best Action Choreography.
Read the full list of nominations below:
Better Days by Derek Tsang
Best Film
Better Days by Derek Tsang
Suk Suk by Ray Yeung
Fagara by Heiward Mak
I’m Livin’ It by Wong Hing-fan
The New King Of Comedy by Stephen Chow
Best...
- 2/14/2020
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Trivisa scoops five awards including best film, while Mad World takes best new ditrector prize.Scroll Down For Full List Of Winners
Hong Kong’s new wave of filmmakers scored big at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, where films from first-time directors walked off with most of the major prizes.
Johnnie To-produced crime drama Trivisa (pictured) was the big winner of the night, scooping five awards including best film and best director for its three first-time co-directors - Jevons Au, Frank Hui and Vicky Wong. The film, about a trio of notorious gangsters, also won best actor for Gordon Lam’s performance, best screenplay and best editing.
Wong Chun’s Mad World, also a first-time effort, picked up three awards, including best new director, best supporting actor for Eric Tsang’s performance and best supporting actress for Elaine Jin. The film tells the story of a former stockbroker living with his father (Tsang...
Hong Kong’s new wave of filmmakers scored big at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, where films from first-time directors walked off with most of the major prizes.
Johnnie To-produced crime drama Trivisa (pictured) was the big winner of the night, scooping five awards including best film and best director for its three first-time co-directors - Jevons Au, Frank Hui and Vicky Wong. The film, about a trio of notorious gangsters, also won best actor for Gordon Lam’s performance, best screenplay and best editing.
Wong Chun’s Mad World, also a first-time effort, picked up three awards, including best new director, best supporting actor for Eric Tsang’s performance and best supporting actress for Elaine Jin. The film tells the story of a former stockbroker living with his father (Tsang...
- 4/10/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Action star Donnie Yen, director Teddy Chen and actress Michelle Bai to attend London Film Festival premiere.
The 58th BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19) is to host the world premiere of Kung Fu Jungle (Yi Ge Ren de Wu Lin), attended by director Teddy Chen, action super star Donnie Yen (Ip Man) and actress Michelle Bai.
The film has been added to the festival’s Thrill selection and will screen premiere on Oct 12 at the Empire Leicester Square Cinema.
Yen plays Hahou, a former martial arts instructor, imprisoned after accidentally slaying an opponent. But when a vicious killer (Wang Baoqiang) starts targeting martial arts masters, the instructor offers to help a police inspector (Charlie Young) in return for his freedom. Bai plays the woman loved by Hahou who is threatened by the killer.
Lff director Clare Stewart described the film as “a breathtaking thrill-ride” and said she was “honoured” that the festival had been chosen by [link...
The 58th BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8-19) is to host the world premiere of Kung Fu Jungle (Yi Ge Ren de Wu Lin), attended by director Teddy Chen, action super star Donnie Yen (Ip Man) and actress Michelle Bai.
The film has been added to the festival’s Thrill selection and will screen premiere on Oct 12 at the Empire Leicester Square Cinema.
Yen plays Hahou, a former martial arts instructor, imprisoned after accidentally slaying an opponent. But when a vicious killer (Wang Baoqiang) starts targeting martial arts masters, the instructor offers to help a police inspector (Charlie Young) in return for his freedom. Bai plays the woman loved by Hahou who is threatened by the killer.
Lff director Clare Stewart described the film as “a breathtaking thrill-ride” and said she was “honoured” that the festival had been chosen by [link...
- 9/16/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards is expected to be a hell of a show with some great films going head to head. Leading the way with nominations is The Grand Master with 14, followed by Unbeatable (Dante Lam).
There were complaints last year, that the show didn’t live up to expectations, mainly due to the fact the movie Cold Wars, won nearly every award. Best actor award see the likes of these guys going head to head, Tony Leung (The Grandmaster), Louis Koo (The White Storm) and also Anthony Wong (Ip Man: The Final Fight).
Take a look at the list and comment who you think will win. The winners will be announced on April 13.
Best Film:
- The Grandmaster
- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
- The Way We Dance
- The White Storm
- Unbeatable
Best Director:
- Wong Kar Wai (The Grandmaster)
- Johnnie To...
There were complaints last year, that the show didn’t live up to expectations, mainly due to the fact the movie Cold Wars, won nearly every award. Best actor award see the likes of these guys going head to head, Tony Leung (The Grandmaster), Louis Koo (The White Storm) and also Anthony Wong (Ip Man: The Final Fight).
Take a look at the list and comment who you think will win. The winners will be announced on April 13.
Best Film:
- The Grandmaster
- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
- The Way We Dance
- The White Storm
- Unbeatable
Best Director:
- Wong Kar Wai (The Grandmaster)
- Johnnie To...
- 2/7/2014
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Most people first heard about Andrew Lau when Martin Scorsese remade his Infernal Affairs as The Departed, which nabbed Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture. While those same people may not hear about him anymore, he’s still getting behind the camera, most recently directing Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen. His latest project has even commenced production, with THR telling us about the film.
Called The Guillotines, it’s a “period actioner” produced by Peter Chan Ho-sun, who recently put his name on films like The Warlords and Wu Xia. Centering on “the emperor’s covert assassination squad,” it stars Huang Xiaoming, Ethan Juan, Shawn Yue, and Boran Jing, with acclaimed action choreographer Lee Tat-chiu and costume designer Dora Ng also on board.
It seems as if period action films have been making something of a comeback in the world of Asian cinema — don’t...
Called The Guillotines, it’s a “period actioner” produced by Peter Chan Ho-sun, who recently put his name on films like The Warlords and Wu Xia. Centering on “the emperor’s covert assassination squad,” it stars Huang Xiaoming, Ethan Juan, Shawn Yue, and Boran Jing, with acclaimed action choreographer Lee Tat-chiu and costume designer Dora Ng also on board.
It seems as if period action films have been making something of a comeback in the world of Asian cinema — don’t...
- 9/7/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Cannes is in full swing at TWC has announced in a press release that they’ve acquired Wu Xia, the new film by Donnie Yen, and in typical Weinstein fashion, they’re retitling the film to Dragon. Ugh. Let’s hope they don’t cut the film either as they have notoriously done in prior martial arts acquisitions like Iron Monkey.
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from We Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic Dragon (Wu Xia). TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France. The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the Us.
Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia’s most celebrated filmmakers,
his critical and...
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from We Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic Dragon (Wu Xia). TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France. The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the Us.
Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia’s most celebrated filmmakers,
his critical and...
- 5/12/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
TWC Acquires Peter Ho-sun Chan.S Martial Arts, Film Noir Epic, Dragon (Wu Xia), Which Premieres At Cannes On May 14Th
International Superstars Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tang Wei Co-Star in Action-Packed Tale of Crime, Family and Redemption
Studio Acquires Distribution Rights for the World Outside of Asia
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from We Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic Dragon (Wu Xia). TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France. The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year.s Cannes Film Festival. A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the Us.
Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia.s most celebrated filmmakers, his critical and box office hits include award winning The Warlords, which he produced and directed,...
International Superstars Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tang Wei Co-Star in Action-Packed Tale of Crime, Family and Redemption
Studio Acquires Distribution Rights for the World Outside of Asia
The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from We Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic Dragon (Wu Xia). TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France. The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year.s Cannes Film Festival. A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the Us.
Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia.s most celebrated filmmakers, his critical and box office hits include award winning The Warlords, which he produced and directed,...
- 5/11/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Golden Horse Awards were held last night. They're often thought of as the Chinese Oscars because the tradition goes back the furthest and honors a wide pool of Chinese language films from multiple countries (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, etcetera). Though neither Monga, Taiwan's submission for Oscar's Foreign Language Film competition, nor Aftershock (China's submission), were nominated for Best Picture they both had multiple nominations .
Monga, a popular youth crime drama we've mentioned before, won Best Actor for 28 year old Ethan Ruan (left), who amusingly brought a cardboard cutout of his co-star who was not nominated. And yes he brought the cutout with him onstage when he won. He said...
Woo! Sorry, I brought my buddy along. [mimicing his co-star] 'Hi everyone. I'm Mark Chao'...to big laughs from the crowd.
Here's the Best Actor presentation. The clips begin at 2:25 after Li BingBing and Tony Leung Ka Fai (yes,...
Monga, a popular youth crime drama we've mentioned before, won Best Actor for 28 year old Ethan Ruan (left), who amusingly brought a cardboard cutout of his co-star who was not nominated. And yes he brought the cutout with him onstage when he won. He said...
Woo! Sorry, I brought my buddy along. [mimicing his co-star] 'Hi everyone. I'm Mark Chao'...to big laughs from the crowd.
Here's the Best Actor presentation. The clips begin at 2:25 after Li BingBing and Tony Leung Ka Fai (yes,...
- 11/21/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Best film: Bodyguards and Assassins Best Asian film: Departures (Japan) Best director: Teddy Chen, Bodyguards and Assassins Best new director: Cheung King-wai, Kj: Music and Life Best actor: Simon Yam, Echoes of the Rainbow Best actress: Wai Ying-Hong, At the End of Daybreak Best supporting actor: Nicholas Tse, Bodyguards and Assassins Best supporting actress: Michelle Ye, Accident Best new performer: Aarif Lee, Echoes of the Rainbow Best screenplay: Alex Law, Echoes of the Rainbow Best cinematographer: Arthur Wong, Bodyguards and Assassins Best film editing: Kong Chi-leung, Chan Chi-wai, Overheard Best art direction: Ken Mak, Bodyguards and Assassins Best costume and makeup design: Dora Ng, Bodyguards and Assassins Best action choreography: Stephen Tung, Lee Tat-chiu, Bodyguards [...]...
- 4/19/2010
- by Irene Young
- Alt Film Guide
SAN FRANCISCO -- Director Peter Ho-Sun Chan gets an "A" for ambition with his visually ravishing if overloaded romantic musical extravaganza Perhaps Love, in which Bollywood meets Bob Fosse. However, like its gorgeous leads -- Sun Na (Zhou Xun) and Lin Jian Dong (Takeshi Kaneshiro), former lovers who play actors that meet 10 years later on the set of a movie musical -- the film, a love story/triangle that journeys back and forth through time, is stunningly beautiful to look at but ultimately more flash than substance.
With a powerhouse pan-Asian cast that includes heartthrob Kaneshiro (whose popularity extends to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan), Hong King singing sensation Jacky Cheung and Korean TV star Ji Jin-hee as well as high production values, Chan's first film in nine years could easily become a big hit in Asia but may be a harder sell in the U.S., where Bollywood is still an acquired taste.
While it borrows the backstage romance of Moulin Rouge, the opulence of The Phantom of the Opera and strives to be compared to All That Jazz and Chicago, Perhaps Love has neither the witty edge of Kander and Ebb nor the steam heat of Fosse. More to the point, it lacks a memorable score -- one would be hard-pressed to remember a single song after the credits roll -- and the lavish dance numbers designed by Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan are a feast for the eyes but short on sizzle.
Chan, who started out as an assistant for John Woo, packs his scenes full of performers and artifice. There's a recurrent circus motif, and at least one dramatic climax occurs midair on the trapeze, but he delivers more impact with simplicity. The scenes of stark, poetic imagery, far from the madding crowd, are poignant. In one touching flashback, the young lovers, who will torture each other later in life, share a cozy meal in their dank basement apartment. In another, the couple embraces as they sit alone on the surface of a frozen lake and, at dawn, Kaneshiro runs down a deserted city street. Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) provided lush, vibrant cinematography. Veteran lenser Christopher Doyle shot the Beijing sequences.
The film achieves an aura of enchantment with the help of sumptuous production design by Yee Chung Man, Chan's longtime collaborator, and Dora Ng's exquisite, whimsical costumes, which add to the dreamy, fairy-tale ambiance. But the sublime reverie often is too interrupted by the excesses of a complicated plot that is difficult to follow and even tougher to explain. It's sometimes hard to tell whether we're in the past or present reality, and the movie within a movie conceit, while executed with technical finesse, clutters the narrative and disrupts the audience's ability to bond with story or characters.
PERHAPS LOVE
Astro/Shaw (BHD) Ltd., Television Broadcasts Ltd., Stellar Megamedia Group Ltd. present
in association with Stellar Mega Film (Beijing) Ltd., Shanghai Film Group Corp., China Film Co-production Corp.
A Ruddy Morgan/Applause Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Screenwriters: Aubrey Lam, Raymond To
Producers: Andre Morgan, Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Executive producers: Andre Morgan, Qin Hong, Re Zhong Lun
Directors of photography: Peter Pau, Christopher Doyle
Production designer: Yee Chung Man
Music: Peter Lam & Leon Ko
Costume designer: Dora Ng
Editors: Wenders Li, Kong Chi Leung
Cast:
Lin Jian Dong: Takeshi Kaneshiro
Sun Na: Zhou Xun
Nie Wen: Jacky Cheung
Montage: Ji Jin-hee
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 105 minutes...
With a powerhouse pan-Asian cast that includes heartthrob Kaneshiro (whose popularity extends to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan), Hong King singing sensation Jacky Cheung and Korean TV star Ji Jin-hee as well as high production values, Chan's first film in nine years could easily become a big hit in Asia but may be a harder sell in the U.S., where Bollywood is still an acquired taste.
While it borrows the backstage romance of Moulin Rouge, the opulence of The Phantom of the Opera and strives to be compared to All That Jazz and Chicago, Perhaps Love has neither the witty edge of Kander and Ebb nor the steam heat of Fosse. More to the point, it lacks a memorable score -- one would be hard-pressed to remember a single song after the credits roll -- and the lavish dance numbers designed by Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan are a feast for the eyes but short on sizzle.
Chan, who started out as an assistant for John Woo, packs his scenes full of performers and artifice. There's a recurrent circus motif, and at least one dramatic climax occurs midair on the trapeze, but he delivers more impact with simplicity. The scenes of stark, poetic imagery, far from the madding crowd, are poignant. In one touching flashback, the young lovers, who will torture each other later in life, share a cozy meal in their dank basement apartment. In another, the couple embraces as they sit alone on the surface of a frozen lake and, at dawn, Kaneshiro runs down a deserted city street. Peter Pau (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) provided lush, vibrant cinematography. Veteran lenser Christopher Doyle shot the Beijing sequences.
The film achieves an aura of enchantment with the help of sumptuous production design by Yee Chung Man, Chan's longtime collaborator, and Dora Ng's exquisite, whimsical costumes, which add to the dreamy, fairy-tale ambiance. But the sublime reverie often is too interrupted by the excesses of a complicated plot that is difficult to follow and even tougher to explain. It's sometimes hard to tell whether we're in the past or present reality, and the movie within a movie conceit, while executed with technical finesse, clutters the narrative and disrupts the audience's ability to bond with story or characters.
PERHAPS LOVE
Astro/Shaw (BHD) Ltd., Television Broadcasts Ltd., Stellar Megamedia Group Ltd. present
in association with Stellar Mega Film (Beijing) Ltd., Shanghai Film Group Corp., China Film Co-production Corp.
A Ruddy Morgan/Applause Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Screenwriters: Aubrey Lam, Raymond To
Producers: Andre Morgan, Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Executive producers: Andre Morgan, Qin Hong, Re Zhong Lun
Directors of photography: Peter Pau, Christopher Doyle
Production designer: Yee Chung Man
Music: Peter Lam & Leon Ko
Costume designer: Dora Ng
Editors: Wenders Li, Kong Chi Leung
Cast:
Lin Jian Dong: Takeshi Kaneshiro
Sun Na: Zhou Xun
Nie Wen: Jacky Cheung
Montage: Ji Jin-hee
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 105 minutes...
HONG KONG -- Perhaps Love, China's first musical in more than three decades, led the winners' list with six awards at the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards on Saturday night though it saw the best film and director nods go to Johnnie To's Election. Love, a collaboration between Hollywood-based Ruddy Morgan Organization and HK's Applause Pictures, took the awards for best actress (Zhou Xun), best cinematography (Peter Pau), best costume and make-up (Yee Chung-man and Dora Ng), best art direction (Yee Chung-man and Wong Ping-yiu), best original film score (Peter Kam and Leon Ko) and best original song (Perhaps Love). Director Peter Chan, however, lost out to To in the best director category for the latter's gritty triad expose Election, which also earned the best film prize for To's Milkyway Image and China Star.
- 4/10/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HONG KONG -- Perhaps Love, China's first musical in more than three decades, led the winners' list with six awards at the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards on Saturday night though it saw the best film and director nods go to Johnnie To's Election. Love, a collaboration between Hollywood-based Ruddy Morgan Organization and HK's Applause Pictures, took the awards for best actress (Zhou Xun), best cinematography (Peter Pau), best costume and make-up (Yee Chung-man and Dora Ng), best art direction (Yee Chung-man and Wong Ping-yiu), best original film score (Peter Kam and Leon Ko) and best original song (Perhaps Love). Director Peter Chan, however, lost out to To in the best director category for the latter's gritty triad expose Election, which also earned the best film prize for To's Milkyway Image and China Star.
- 4/10/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opened
Friday, Jan. 20
(China, Hong Kong, Singapore)
HONG KONG -- For Chinese New Year, Michelle Yeoh returns to the big screen in Asia as a crime-fighting masked heroine in the action-packed "Silver Hawk". Unfortunately, what's criminal is the picture's uninspired ordinariness.
In cinema-savvy Hong Kong, the lackluster presentation has resulted in lukewarm boxoffice. But its prospects are bound to be better in less sophisticated markets. Yeoh's adventure vehicle from last year, "The Touch", experienced a similar fate, underwhelming critics and audiences in Hong Kong but becoming a big hit in Mainland China.
Drawing heavily on comic book elements, the former Bond girl now prances around in a silver cape, mask and knee-high boots -- not to mention the matching metallic-toned hot pants. By day, she's a mild-mannered, successful businesswoman named LuLu Wong. When in need, though, it is Silver Hawk who shows up on a sleek motorcycle to exert some expert kung fu on the bad guys.
The relatively inane story -- something about a madman who kidnaps a scientist, blackmails a Japanese telecom boss and uses mobile phones to control people's minds -- trips over its clumsy dialogue in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Awkwardly written exposition is delivered with more emphasis on pronunciation than conviction. In addition, the villain, played by Luke Goss, appears to have stolen the Morpheus wardrobe right off the "Matrix" lot.
Silver Hawk herself is like a female cyber Batman, except the complex psychological characterization in Tim Burton's film has been replaced by the cornball style of the '60s TV series. What the filmmakers forgot is that the heroine's life outside her caped costume is just as significant to the story.
Taiwan star Richie Jen appears as a police inspector who is also a childhood friend of Silver Hawk. Clearly, he is meant to be the romantic interest but comes off more as comic foil. The only other actor of note is Michael Jai White ("Spawn"), who, partnered with Chinese actress Li Bing Bing as a pair of mercenary thugs, fights great but has little else to do. Too bad, because those two make a more intriguing couple than the leads.
Hong Kong helmer Jingle Ma is a competent director of action, but he loves his slo-mo shots a little too much. There's a couple of unusual battle setups -- one involving bungee chords and the other hockey sticks and skates -- that give the fight sequences a different look, but there's no rhyme or reason for these things as fighting weapons or tactical tools. One of the most hyped elements of the movie is a motorcycle jump made by Yeoh across a section of the Great Wall. While it might make for a terrific promotional stunt, Ma's cameras aren't in the right places to best capture the spectacle.
But "Silver Hawk"'s biggest flaw is an utterly pedestrian script that shows little initiative or imagination. Sometimes, even basic logic is missing: The bad guy's mind-controlling cell phones are launched and marketed, and hundreds of thousands of units are sold in the span of, oh, two days?
With apologies to Ridley Scott, let's call this one "Silver Hawk Down".
SILVER HAWK
Han Entertainment and Tianjin Film Studio
in affiliation with China Film Co-operation Corp.
A Mythical Films production
Credits:
Director: Jingle Ma
Screenwriter: Susan Chan
Producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Gao Feng Jun
Executive producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Han Hong Fei, John Chong
Director of photography: Jingle Ma, Chan Chi-ying
Music: Peter Kam
Production designer: Yee Chung-man
Costume designers: Dora Ng, Connie Au Yeung
Action director: Ailen Sit
Editor: Kong Chi-leung
Cast:
LuLu Wong/Silver Hawk: Michelle Yeoh
Rich Man: Richie Jen Hsien-chi
Alexander Wolfe: Luke Goss
Kit: Brandon Chang
Morris: Michael Jai White
Jane: Li Bing Bing
Professor Ho Chung: Chen Da-ming
Running time -- 99 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Friday, Jan. 20
(China, Hong Kong, Singapore)
HONG KONG -- For Chinese New Year, Michelle Yeoh returns to the big screen in Asia as a crime-fighting masked heroine in the action-packed "Silver Hawk". Unfortunately, what's criminal is the picture's uninspired ordinariness.
In cinema-savvy Hong Kong, the lackluster presentation has resulted in lukewarm boxoffice. But its prospects are bound to be better in less sophisticated markets. Yeoh's adventure vehicle from last year, "The Touch", experienced a similar fate, underwhelming critics and audiences in Hong Kong but becoming a big hit in Mainland China.
Drawing heavily on comic book elements, the former Bond girl now prances around in a silver cape, mask and knee-high boots -- not to mention the matching metallic-toned hot pants. By day, she's a mild-mannered, successful businesswoman named LuLu Wong. When in need, though, it is Silver Hawk who shows up on a sleek motorcycle to exert some expert kung fu on the bad guys.
The relatively inane story -- something about a madman who kidnaps a scientist, blackmails a Japanese telecom boss and uses mobile phones to control people's minds -- trips over its clumsy dialogue in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Awkwardly written exposition is delivered with more emphasis on pronunciation than conviction. In addition, the villain, played by Luke Goss, appears to have stolen the Morpheus wardrobe right off the "Matrix" lot.
Silver Hawk herself is like a female cyber Batman, except the complex psychological characterization in Tim Burton's film has been replaced by the cornball style of the '60s TV series. What the filmmakers forgot is that the heroine's life outside her caped costume is just as significant to the story.
Taiwan star Richie Jen appears as a police inspector who is also a childhood friend of Silver Hawk. Clearly, he is meant to be the romantic interest but comes off more as comic foil. The only other actor of note is Michael Jai White ("Spawn"), who, partnered with Chinese actress Li Bing Bing as a pair of mercenary thugs, fights great but has little else to do. Too bad, because those two make a more intriguing couple than the leads.
Hong Kong helmer Jingle Ma is a competent director of action, but he loves his slo-mo shots a little too much. There's a couple of unusual battle setups -- one involving bungee chords and the other hockey sticks and skates -- that give the fight sequences a different look, but there's no rhyme or reason for these things as fighting weapons or tactical tools. One of the most hyped elements of the movie is a motorcycle jump made by Yeoh across a section of the Great Wall. While it might make for a terrific promotional stunt, Ma's cameras aren't in the right places to best capture the spectacle.
But "Silver Hawk"'s biggest flaw is an utterly pedestrian script that shows little initiative or imagination. Sometimes, even basic logic is missing: The bad guy's mind-controlling cell phones are launched and marketed, and hundreds of thousands of units are sold in the span of, oh, two days?
With apologies to Ridley Scott, let's call this one "Silver Hawk Down".
SILVER HAWK
Han Entertainment and Tianjin Film Studio
in affiliation with China Film Co-operation Corp.
A Mythical Films production
Credits:
Director: Jingle Ma
Screenwriter: Susan Chan
Producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Gao Feng Jun
Executive producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Han Hong Fei, John Chong
Director of photography: Jingle Ma, Chan Chi-ying
Music: Peter Kam
Production designer: Yee Chung-man
Costume designers: Dora Ng, Connie Au Yeung
Action director: Ailen Sit
Editor: Kong Chi-leung
Cast:
LuLu Wong/Silver Hawk: Michelle Yeoh
Rich Man: Richie Jen Hsien-chi
Alexander Wolfe: Luke Goss
Kit: Brandon Chang
Morris: Michael Jai White
Jane: Li Bing Bing
Professor Ho Chung: Chen Da-ming
Running time -- 99 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Opened
Friday, Jan. 20
(China, Hong Kong, Singapore)
HONG KONG -- For Chinese New Year, Michelle Yeoh returns to the big screen in Asia as a crime-fighting masked heroine in the action-packed "Silver Hawk". Unfortunately, what's criminal is the picture's uninspired ordinariness.
In cinema-savvy Hong Kong, the lackluster presentation has resulted in lukewarm boxoffice. But its prospects are bound to be better in less sophisticated markets. Yeoh's adventure vehicle from last year, "The Touch", experienced a similar fate, underwhelming critics and audiences in Hong Kong but becoming a big hit in Mainland China.
Drawing heavily on comic book elements, the former Bond girl now prances around in a silver cape, mask and knee-high boots -- not to mention the matching metallic-toned hot pants. By day, she's a mild-mannered, successful businesswoman named LuLu Wong. When in need, though, it is Silver Hawk who shows up on a sleek motorcycle to exert some expert kung fu on the bad guys.
The relatively inane story -- something about a madman who kidnaps a scientist, blackmails a Japanese telecom boss and uses mobile phones to control people's minds -- trips over its clumsy dialogue in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Awkwardly written exposition is delivered with more emphasis on pronunciation than conviction. In addition, the villain, played by Luke Goss, appears to have stolen the Morpheus wardrobe right off the "Matrix" lot.
Silver Hawk herself is like a female cyber Batman, except the complex psychological characterization in Tim Burton's film has been replaced by the cornball style of the '60s TV series. What the filmmakers forgot is that the heroine's life outside her caped costume is just as significant to the story.
Taiwan star Richie Jen appears as a police inspector who is also a childhood friend of Silver Hawk. Clearly, he is meant to be the romantic interest but comes off more as comic foil. The only other actor of note is Michael Jai White ("Spawn"), who, partnered with Chinese actress Li Bing Bing as a pair of mercenary thugs, fights great but has little else to do. Too bad, because those two make a more intriguing couple than the leads.
Hong Kong helmer Jingle Ma is a competent director of action, but he loves his slo-mo shots a little too much. There's a couple of unusual battle setups -- one involving bungee chords and the other hockey sticks and skates -- that give the fight sequences a different look, but there's no rhyme or reason for these things as fighting weapons or tactical tools. One of the most hyped elements of the movie is a motorcycle jump made by Yeoh across a section of the Great Wall. While it might make for a terrific promotional stunt, Ma's cameras aren't in the right places to best capture the spectacle.
But "Silver Hawk"'s biggest flaw is an utterly pedestrian script that shows little initiative or imagination. Sometimes, even basic logic is missing: The bad guy's mind-controlling cell phones are launched and marketed, and hundreds of thousands of units are sold in the span of, oh, two days?
With apologies to Ridley Scott, let's call this one "Silver Hawk Down".
SILVER HAWK
Han Entertainment and Tianjin Film Studio
in affiliation with China Film Co-operation Corp.
A Mythical Films production
Credits:
Director: Jingle Ma
Screenwriter: Susan Chan
Producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Gao Feng Jun
Executive producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Han Hong Fei, John Chong
Director of photography: Jingle Ma, Chan Chi-ying
Music: Peter Kam
Production designer: Yee Chung-man
Costume designers: Dora Ng, Connie Au Yeung
Action director: Ailen Sit
Editor: Kong Chi-leung
Cast:
LuLu Wong/Silver Hawk: Michelle Yeoh
Rich Man: Richie Jen Hsien-chi
Alexander Wolfe: Luke Goss
Kit: Brandon Chang
Morris: Michael Jai White
Jane: Li Bing Bing
Professor Ho Chung: Chen Da-ming
Running time -- 99 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Friday, Jan. 20
(China, Hong Kong, Singapore)
HONG KONG -- For Chinese New Year, Michelle Yeoh returns to the big screen in Asia as a crime-fighting masked heroine in the action-packed "Silver Hawk". Unfortunately, what's criminal is the picture's uninspired ordinariness.
In cinema-savvy Hong Kong, the lackluster presentation has resulted in lukewarm boxoffice. But its prospects are bound to be better in less sophisticated markets. Yeoh's adventure vehicle from last year, "The Touch", experienced a similar fate, underwhelming critics and audiences in Hong Kong but becoming a big hit in Mainland China.
Drawing heavily on comic book elements, the former Bond girl now prances around in a silver cape, mask and knee-high boots -- not to mention the matching metallic-toned hot pants. By day, she's a mild-mannered, successful businesswoman named LuLu Wong. When in need, though, it is Silver Hawk who shows up on a sleek motorcycle to exert some expert kung fu on the bad guys.
The relatively inane story -- something about a madman who kidnaps a scientist, blackmails a Japanese telecom boss and uses mobile phones to control people's minds -- trips over its clumsy dialogue in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Awkwardly written exposition is delivered with more emphasis on pronunciation than conviction. In addition, the villain, played by Luke Goss, appears to have stolen the Morpheus wardrobe right off the "Matrix" lot.
Silver Hawk herself is like a female cyber Batman, except the complex psychological characterization in Tim Burton's film has been replaced by the cornball style of the '60s TV series. What the filmmakers forgot is that the heroine's life outside her caped costume is just as significant to the story.
Taiwan star Richie Jen appears as a police inspector who is also a childhood friend of Silver Hawk. Clearly, he is meant to be the romantic interest but comes off more as comic foil. The only other actor of note is Michael Jai White ("Spawn"), who, partnered with Chinese actress Li Bing Bing as a pair of mercenary thugs, fights great but has little else to do. Too bad, because those two make a more intriguing couple than the leads.
Hong Kong helmer Jingle Ma is a competent director of action, but he loves his slo-mo shots a little too much. There's a couple of unusual battle setups -- one involving bungee chords and the other hockey sticks and skates -- that give the fight sequences a different look, but there's no rhyme or reason for these things as fighting weapons or tactical tools. One of the most hyped elements of the movie is a motorcycle jump made by Yeoh across a section of the Great Wall. While it might make for a terrific promotional stunt, Ma's cameras aren't in the right places to best capture the spectacle.
But "Silver Hawk"'s biggest flaw is an utterly pedestrian script that shows little initiative or imagination. Sometimes, even basic logic is missing: The bad guy's mind-controlling cell phones are launched and marketed, and hundreds of thousands of units are sold in the span of, oh, two days?
With apologies to Ridley Scott, let's call this one "Silver Hawk Down".
SILVER HAWK
Han Entertainment and Tianjin Film Studio
in affiliation with China Film Co-operation Corp.
A Mythical Films production
Credits:
Director: Jingle Ma
Screenwriter: Susan Chan
Producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Gao Feng Jun
Executive producers: Michelle Yeoh, Thomas Chung, Han Hong Fei, John Chong
Director of photography: Jingle Ma, Chan Chi-ying
Music: Peter Kam
Production designer: Yee Chung-man
Costume designers: Dora Ng, Connie Au Yeung
Action director: Ailen Sit
Editor: Kong Chi-leung
Cast:
LuLu Wong/Silver Hawk: Michelle Yeoh
Rich Man: Richie Jen Hsien-chi
Alexander Wolfe: Luke Goss
Kit: Brandon Chang
Morris: Michael Jai White
Jane: Li Bing Bing
Professor Ho Chung: Chen Da-ming
Running time -- 99 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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