Asian Entertainment News & Celebrity Gossip

A mini press conference was held in Cannes on Sunday for another Chinese movie about the Three Kingdoms period set in 220-265 A.D.,titled with “Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon.”

China’s portal website Sina.com reports that an official poster and three stills were released featuring lead actors Andy Lau, Maggie Q and Sammo Hung.

With a budget approaching 25 million US dollars, the project is based on “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, a vast 600-year-old novel by Luo Guanzhong that ranks as one of China’s four most important pieces of literature.

The novel also provides source material for John Woo’s upcoming movie “Battle of Red Cliff.” Read the rest of this entry »

As DaDump reported to you yesterday, Chow Yun-fat and John Woo didn’t harbor any grudges for Chow leaving the cast of Red Cliff at the last moment. Now the movie publicist is announcing that Chow has tentatively agreed to return to Woo’s new Chinese epic.

John Woo must be wondering: will the musical chairs ever end? That’s because the film has gone through a dizzying and embarrassing round of casting changes before a single reel has been shot.

At the outset, the two big stars of “Red Cliff,” about an ancient Chinese battle, were Chow and former Cannes best actor winner Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who were slated to play the general Zhou Yu and strategist Zhuge Liang.

Leung first dropped out, saying “Red Cliff” came too closely to his last movie and was replaced by Taiwanese-Japanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro. Then Chow followed, saying he got the movie’s script late, an allegation Woo’s producer has disputed.

In the first unexpected development, Leung, sympathetic to Woo’s predicament, agreed to return to the movie to take Chow’s old role as general Zhou. Now Chow wants back in too, after a round of negative press that has given the impression that the Hong Kong actor was behaving like a prima donna.

Confused yet? Find out more about this continuing saga that is already infinitely more entertaining than any script can come up with! Read the rest of this entry »

Can you feel the love in the air tonight…

Chow Yun-fat’s last-minute pullout from John Woo’s new Chinese historical epic, Red Cliff, threatened to split up one of Hong Kong cinema’s most famous partnerships.

But Woo says although Chow’s withdrawal from Red Cliff was a heavy blow, he still considers him a friend.

“At the time, I felt a rather great sense of defeat. I felt at a loss,” says Woo. “Even though we couldn’t work together under the circumstances, he’s still one of the actors I admire the most, and my good friend.”

Just because Woo made Chow’s career with iconic films like The Killer and A Better Tomorrow doesn’t mean Chow owes him anything. As evidence that all is well, both were seen shopping together, sharing a gelato and getting manicures in downtown Mong Kok over the weekend.

Director John Woo led his star-studded crew from “The Battle of Red Cliff” to meet with the media for the first time on Thursday.

Most members from the film’s star-heavy cast, including Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Chang Chen, Chiling Lin, and Zhao Wei, showed up at the press conference in Beijing to talk about their characters in the film.

The historical epic film keeps making headlines as filming encounters its own twists and turns.

At first, Cannes-winning actor Tony Leung announced his quitting before shooting had started in mid April, but later he returned to take on the role dropped by another Hong Kong big name, Chow Yun-Fat.

Chow Yun-Fat was reported to have left the cast just one day after shooting had begun, citing what reports describe as “various reasons.”

Besides its star-studded cast, the production team, led by John Woo and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” art director Timmy Yip, are also keeping movie-goers tantalized. [Cri]

He’s baaaack….

If the film is half as good as the behind the scenes goings on of the upcoming The Battle of Red Cliff, then this is going to be one heck of a film!

In the ongoing game of cinematic musical chairs, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, who quit director John Woo’s “The Battle of Red Cliff” last month, will rejoin the $70 million production following co-star Chow Yun-Fat’s sudden departure earlier this week, producer Terence Chang said on Thursday.

Leung previously was cast in the role of Zhuge Liang, but quit in March due to scheduling conflicts only to be replaced by actor Takeshi Kaneshiro.

“Leung’s one of the best actors working in Chinese cinema today, I’m so glad that he’s coming back to the production,” said producer Terence Chang. Asked if the film’s shooting schedule had been affected by the rapid series of cast changes Chang said, “Nothing is affected because we have so many characters in the story and it’s so complicated, one actor will not affect the production.”

A two-part production based on a decisive battle fought in China’s Three Kingdoms period (220-280AD), the film is Woo’s first Chinese language film after more than a decade. [HollywoodReporter]

Back in the day when egos didn’t get in the way….

Peek-a-boo, right behind you…

Fans of Hong Kong actor Tony Leung won’t be able to see him in the upcoming Battle of Red Cliffs or Chi Bi as the star has decided to step back from the lead in the film.

Chinese web portal Sina.com says the film’s director John Woo confirmed the Cannes Best Actor winner gave up playing Zhu-Ge Liang, a legendary military strategist in the ancient Three Kingdoms period, in the film.

Tony Leung has reportedly said the plot was attractive, but the six-month-long shoot was longer than he expected.

Rumors say the star may take the break to concentrate on his relationship with fellow actress Carina Lau. Some suspect he wants to take a rest after finishing shooting Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution.

No comments were available from Tony Leung’s agent.

In the wake of the star’s withdrawal, heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro has been confirmed to take on the role and join the star-heavy cast, including Chow Yun-Fat, Taiwan supermodel Chiling Lin, and mainland actress Vicki Zhao. Battle of Red Cliffs will begin shooting later this month, and is slated to premiere next year. [Cri]

Director John Woo says his new film depicting an ancient Chinese battle has been frustrated by his inability to shoot at China’s largest river, the Yangtze, having instead to rely on special effects to create a similar backdrop.

Woo’s upcoming movie, “Battle of Red Cliff“, is based on a war of the same name in 208 A.D. that determined the geography of the Three Kingdoms period, when China had three separate rulers.

He also recently announced that Andy Lau would not star in the film because of the star’s compact schedule but that Andy is an excellent actor who he hopes to cooperate with next time.

The Hollywood director confirmed that the five leading roles would go to Chow Yun-Fat, Cannes best actor winner Tony Leung, Chang Chen and Taiwan supermodel Lin Chi-Ling. Taiwan actor Collin Chou will replace Andy Lau to play the famous general Zhao Zilong.

“Battle of Red Cliff'’ marks Hong Kong native Woo’s return to Chinese-language cinema after moving to Hollywood, where his credits include “Broken Arrow‘’, “Face/Off‘’ and “Mission: Impossible II‘’.

Best Feature Film
After This Our Exile, Hong Kong

Best Short Film
The Secret In The Wind, Taiwan

Best Documentary
My Football Summer, Taiwan

Best Director
Peter CHAN Ho Sun, Perhaps Love, Hong Kong / Taiwan

Best Leading Actor
KWOK Fu Shing, After This Our Exile, Hong Kong

Best Leading Actress
ZHOU Xun, Perhaps Love, Hong Kong / China

Best Supporting Actor
GOUM Ian Iskandar, After This Our Exile, Hong Kong

Best Supporting Actress
Nikki SHIE, Reflections

Best New Performer
Bryant CHANG, Eternal Summer, Taiwan

Best Original Screenplay
NING Hao, Crazy Stone, China / Hong Kong

Best Screenplay Adaptation
NING Dai, ZHANG Yuan, Little Red Flowers, China

Best Cinematography
Peter PAU, Perhaps Love, Hong Kong / China

Best Visual Effects
FOO Sing Choong, Silk, Taiwan

Best Art Direction
Tim YIP, The Banquet, China / Hong Kong

Best Makeup & Costume Design
Tim YIP, The Banquet, China / Hong Kong

Best Action Choreography
LING Chun Pong, WONG Chi Wai, Exiled, Hong Kong

Best Original Film Score
LIM Giong, Do Over, Taiwan

Best Original Film Song
Crossroad (from Perhaps Love)
Lyric: Chris SHUM, Song: Leon KO, Singer: Takeshi Kaneshiro, ZHOU Xun

Best Film Editing
CHEN Po Wen, Liu Chun-hsiu, Do Over, Taiwan

Best Sound Effect
TU Du Chi,GUO Li Chi,KE Yi Jun, Amour- Legende, Taiwan

Formoz Film Award
Do Over, Top Film Company, Leader Entertainment Company Ltd.

Formoz Filmmaker Award
KUO Lichi

Lifetime Achievement Award
Cheng Tzu-Fu (Taiwanese movie poster artist)

Best Feature Film Chosen by the Audience
Exiled Read the rest of this entry »