http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/printout/0,13675,501030915-483348,00.html
zatohic


Behind the scenes clips of Revolutions
http://filmforce.ign.com/matrix/articles/451/451850p1.html


According to Sina.com, action direct Ching Siu-Tung has suffered from a stabbing wound on location in Ukraine. The accident happened when Ching was directing an action sequence and his left cheek was accidentally stabbing by a sword held by Takeshi Kaneshiro, who is less experienced on handling actions. Ching was sent to a clinic in Lviv and was treated with six stitches. During an earlier accident, Zhang Ziyi's eyebrows got swollen.



http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030929-488846-1,00.html

trailer matrix
http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rv_cmp/revolutions_trailers.html


monkeypeaches
According to China's Tianjin Daily, Zhang Yimou's second martial-art film Shi Mian Mai Fu is currently under production in Lviv of western Ukraine. The mountains outside the town are used to double China. The same location has been featured in Jackie Chan's First Strike during the snowy mountain chasing scene. According to the paper, Zhang Yimou chose to shoot there because "the scenery is beautiful, (the location) is closer to China (closer than the US, New Zealand, Australia, etc.), and the production cost is low (lower than filming in China). However, the tradeoff is the living condition. The mountain hotel they are staying at is constantly running out of power and hot water. Taking cold shower is something everyone has to accept. Feeding an army of over a hundred is quite challenging and quality of everyday meals are just minimum. Everyone, including the big name stars, have to eat whatever available. Takeshi Kaneshiro has stopped calling for delivery because there is no delivery. His notebook computer is the only thing he can use to log onto the net, but the connection is frequently down. Even though, the crew are in good spirit. Action director Ching Siu-Tung had positive words on Zhang Ziyi's handling of wire and other action sequences. Jin Chengwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) has also received a full month sword training prior the shooting. Andy Lau and Anita Mui will join the the production in Beijing following the wrapping up in Ukraine by the end of the year.

According to Hong Kong media, actress Yeung Choi-Nei (Charlie) has been cast to play Jackie Chan's girlfriend in New Police Story. Director Benny Chan said final list the cast would be revealed during a news conference in Hong Kong September 25. This will be Yeung's first big screen performance since 1997. Maggie Cheung, who played Jackie Chan's girlfriend in the first three episodes of the series, has declined showing up for the fourth time. New Police Story would be the first production by JCE (Jackie Chan Emperor), a joint-venture between Jackie Chan and Hong Kong's Emperor Multimedia Group. Shooting will start soon in Hong Kong and "other places".

http://slate.msn.com/id/2088322
quentin tarantino articla

http://filmforce.ign.com/killbill/articles/437/437724p1.html
photos, preview of kill bill

http://filmforce.ign.com/killbill/articles/450/450181p1.html
kill bill


KILL BILL is the only movie (make that two movies) you need to see this year. In a candid interview, the PULP FICTION director tells you why

Thursday, September 18, 2003


It’s the most expensive exploitation movie ever made. The script took a year and a half to write. Lensing the movie extended for 50 weeks. And there are only a handful of digital effects shots in it.

The movie is KILL BILL and it’s writer-director Quentin Tarantino’s long-awaited return to the big screen. Whereas audiences knew what to expect with the summer’s big guns – HULK, TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, MATRIX RELOADED and so on – KILL BILL is likely to slay moviegoers by sheer virtue of underexposure.

“I have to tell you, a lot of people know about KILL BILL and know it’s coming out,” Tarantino says. “The only thing they’ve seen is that trailer, but we put that trailer together while we were shooting the movie. There’s nothing from the second half. It’s mostly from the first half because that’s all we had done. I’m not trying to get high on my own vapors, but people don’t know what they’re going to get into.”

cinescape.com


http://actionadventure.about.com/cs/weeklystories/a/aa082303.htm
what jacki chan is up to

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117892450&categoryid=1625&query=martial&display=martial+&cs=1
warriors of heaven and earth


wu ming action figure
http://store.yahoo.com/artoftoy/zhanyimherje.html

best fight scene
http://www.jetli.com/gfn/countries/uk/

dacascos.com

Mark Dacascos is currently in Kazakhstan, working on the new motion picture, "The Nomad." He is co-starring alongside Jay Hernandez and Jason Scott Lee. The film is directed by Ivan Passer, written and produced by Rustam Ibragimbekov, and also produced by Milos Forman, Ram Bergman, and Pavel Douvidzon. Filming starts this month and is expected to finish up in December. Check back for further details.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/brief_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1962168
Aug. 25, 2003

Pair lead charge into 'Nomad'

Jason Scott Lee and Jay Hernandez are set to topline the indie historical epic "The Nomad," which is being executive produced by Milos Forman and Ram Bergman. Ivan Passer (HBO's "Stalin") will direct the film from a script by Rustam Ibragimbekov. "Nomad" is set in 18th-century Kazakhstan and tells the story of a boy who is destined to one day unite the three warring tribes of the country. Lee will star as a veteran soldier and master of martial arts who spends his life raising and teaching the destined leader Mansur to lead the Kazakhs to victory and independence. (Chris Gardner)
Jason Scott Lee and Jay Hernandez will star in the historical epic “The Nomad”, an 18th century-set story of a boy who is destined to one day unite the three warring tribes of the country.

http://kzrumors.rampancy.net/
Hollywood Comes To The Kazakh Steppe
truenewstranger than fiction
Myrkhymbay30/08/2003 - 03:25 Having been rebuffed in their attempt to place a center for Kazakh culture next to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, the powers that be got busy trying to find a new way to interject awareness of Kazakhstan into world popular culture. The latest brainstorm? Why, a Hollywood film, of course.

The film, to be titled The Nomad, is eschewing actors of regional or Russian descent, giving roles to actors of Latin or Chinese descent, including Jay Hernandez and Kuno Becker, as well as American-born Ron Yuan and Jason Scott Lee, perhaps best known for his turn as (no relation) Bruce Lee in Bruce Lee: The Dragon Story. Recently Lee's taken to doing a passel of sequels, working on Dracula 2, TimeCop 2, and Dracula 3; but he did voice David in Disney's Lilo and Stitch, and played Mowgli in the live-action version of The Jungle Book, so by the time The Nomad comes out maybe the kids will have remembered him.

The film focuses on a boy, Mansur, in 18th century Kazakhstan who is destined to unite three warring tribes. Lee portrays the martial arts instructor who teaches the boy. Hernandez will play a warrior who is intent on proving himself as the best fighter and the one to lead the Kazakhs.

The government of Kazakhstan is said to be contributing about a million and a half dollars to the production, the cost of which is estimated at between 15 and 30 million in total, depending on where you read it.

The source material was written by Rustam Ibragimbekov, best known (in the West anyway) as the writer for East-West, Barber of Siberia and Burnt by the Sun. Ibragimbekov will also produce.

Ivan Passer (Stalin) will direct and heavy hitter Milos Forman (Valmont, Amadeus) will executive produce along with Ram Bergman.

The project hasn't always sailed smoothly, however. In the summer of 2002, when the estimated cost of the project was 15 million, the Kazakhstani parliament, unhappy with the script, asked if a new one could be found. It's not known if the current shooting script is the original by Ibragimbekov or a rewrite.

Former Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov met with the writers and producers last November, saying that the film "must open the essence of a nomad image, make him bright and familiar, and show how our legendary forefathers-nomads lived." It's not difficult to see the entire production as a PR move to burnish Kazakhstan's image at a time when some who figure prominently in the country's post-independence history are under investigation for bribery.

But in any case, principal photography should have begun already or will soon; various sources cited August or September of 2003 as a start date, and the crew has already been spotted at the usual watering holes in Almaty.

Kung fu News 9/20

monkeypeaches
According to Hong Kong paper Oriental Daily, Diane Lane will join Chow Yun-Fat in Sophie And The Rising Sun, based on the same name novel by Augusta Trobaugh. The tale focuses on the romance between a small town spinster Sophie and her Japanese gardener Oto before and after Pearl Harbor attack. The project, tailored as a vehicle for Chow Yun-Fat, has been in development for at least two years. According to an article by Variety from 2001, the film would be made by Pandora Films. It was developed and penned by Robert Harling, and produced by Wendy Finerman. Also according to Oriental Daily, Chow Yun-Fat has turned down the offer of playing General Li in Michelle Yoeh's Hua Mulan.

Shi mian mai fu
monkey peaches
First of all, the title - Shi means "ten", Mian means "direction(s)" and Mai Fu means "ambush". Together, it means "ambush from ten directions." There is a story behind the phrase. In 206 A.D., the mighty Qin Dynasty created by the First Emperor (the king in Hero) fell. Two warlords, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were set to settle who would be the new ruler of China. After four years' bloodshed, Xiang Yu and his troops were encircled by Liu Bang at Gaixia. Facing enemies from ten directions, Xiang Yu lost hope of escaping and committed suicide. Liu Bang later became the first emperor of Han Dynasty. A music piece titled Shi Mian Mai Fu and with the subject of the battle, was composed by an anonymous musician during 16th Century or earlier. It is usually performed by pipa, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument. In the movie, Zhang Ziyi plays a blind entertainer. Her character might be a pipaist or a dancer. The title may also imply the film has a suspense story.

An emergency meeting among director Zhang Yimou, producer Zhang Weiping and producer William (Bill) Kong was held and the agreement reached during the meeting is that Anita Mui will not be replaced and her scenes will remain unchanged, Zhang Weiping told Beijing Youth yesterday. He has also confirmed Anita Mui had never been part of the filming now under way in Ukraine. She will only go to locations in Beijing and Sichuan Province in November. Zhang Weiping and Willim Kong produced Zhang Yimou's first martial-art film Hero. William Kong is also one of the producers of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Wujing
-- The Return of Charlie Yeung --

Charlie Yeung is returning to movie industry and has agreed to appear in Tsui Hark's Initial D as well as Seven Swords of Mt Tian for no more than HK$ 1.2 million for both works. She used to command HK$ 0.8 to 0.9 million per film at the heights of her career. Initial D will be shot first and location scouting in China and Japan is already underway. When contacted, a representative from Film Workshop declined comment, saying that everything would be announced at the appropriate time. Jiangan City Daily



Various movie-makers have has expressed keen interest in working with Charlie Yeung as she prepares to make her comeback. Charlie Yeung hopes that she will not serve as a mere decorative ornament in her new movies. She would like have the chance to develop and demonstrate her acting skills. Jackie Chan is collaborating with Emperor Multimedia Group on New Police Story, to be shot with a budget of HK$ 80 million. As Maggie Cheung is in the midst of shooting Wong Kar Wai's 2046, she won't star in the movie. Thus, director Benny Chan has the script amended from Jackie Chan's wife to girlfriend. Charlie Yeung has been offered New Police Story's leading female role as Jackie Chan's girlfriend for HK$ 1.6 million. In addition, there would scenes in the movie showing the actress' inner feelings. Charlie Yeung's manager explained that they were in talks about the role but nothing was settled yet. Jackie Chan's company said that the outcome would be announced on 25 September. Takung Po, Nanfang City Daily

36th Chamber of Southern Shaolin --
Shooting of 36th Chamber of Southern Shaolin has been pushed back to October (tentatively on 4 October). The crew has already arrived at Hengdian to do preparation works. Currently, Wu Jing is quietly in production of an unannounced project and is expected to join 36th Chamber of Southern Shaolin in October. Hengdian Orient Hollywood


photos
anna and shaolin, comedy
http://dailynews.dayoo.com/content/2003-09/07/content_1212923.htm

A press conference for action comedy Anna and Shaolin (tentative English title) was held on 5 September at Shenzhen's Bao-an Sports Stadium. Miriam Yeung plays a fighter from Japan who has bags of tricks and warped thinking up her sleeve, and represents her father in Pugilistic Supremacy Meet, an event sponsored by a fast-talking, unscrupulous salesman Ekin Cheng to boost sales of the health drink he is selling. This is the first time Miriam Yeung is involved in a heavyweight action movie, and she followed a very strict regimen under action director Tung Wai to prepare herself for the role. Miriam Yeung, pointing at the three words Divine Dragon Fist emblazoned on her warrior uniform, said, "This is the name of the style I use to fight with the various kungfu experts. I have never learned Tae Kwan Do. This is the first time I am playing a fighter, and also the first time I bash men. I have never hit any man before." She has been very careful and has never been injured so far. But her body has been aching all over. The cast includes Japanese martial arts master Yasuaki Kurata and ex-Shaw Brothers film star Lo Meng. Anna and Shaolin is tentatively set for this Christmas/New Year release.



Studio: Universe Entertainment Producer: Chan Hing-Ka

Screenplay: Chan Hing-Ka, Lam Shuk Yin Director: Raymond Yip Wai-Man
Martial Arts Director: Tung Wei
Cast: Miriam Yeung, Ekin Cheng, Yasuaki Kurata, Lo Meng, Denise Ho Wan-See, Wong You-Nam, Hui Siu-Hung



Plot:
Ah Jian is a sales executive who faces retrenchment during the economic downturn. His only chance of retaining his job is through a health drink Yibaojian. After racking his brains, he decides to promote this brand of health drink by sponsoring the Pugilistic Supremacy Meet. His client accepts the deal and agrees to fork out HK$200 million, out of which a cash reward of HK$50 million goes to the winner.



As Ah Jian starts to organise the meet, he is met with skepticism from various sects. As all kungfu originates from Shaolin Temple, Ah Jian believes that as long as Shaolin participates, the rest of the sects will follow suit. He goes to Shaolin Temple, but the abbot, Zhi Kong, is unwilling to attend. So Ah Jian persuades two little monks Shi Xuwei and Shi Xuhuai to go Hong Kong with him. With Shaolin's participation, all other sects immediately join in, and the response is overwhelming. A studio from Hollywood even sends its staff here to scout for new kungfu stars. Even the air, sea and land military forces from America hope the winner would be their coach. And now, the Pugilistic Supremacy Meet become the focal point of the world.



The ambitious Ah Jian, in order to heighten the drama of the meet, journeys to Japan to invite Arhat Kungfu Centre's founder. Arhat was a Shaolin Monk who left for Japan and got married and settled down there. He set up a martial arts centre in the name of Shaolin, but Shaolin refuses to acknowledge it. Ah Jian convinces Arhat to who send his daughter Anna to the meet to gain back his pride. Anna is a modern girl who cares nothing about glory, but on hearing the chance of becoming a Hollywood action star, she changes her tune. At the meet are representatives from various martial arts sect, including The Way of Tyrannical Fist from USA. The Way of Tyrannical Fist is a set of internal and external martial arts, invented by an an American university based on scientific formulae, that pushes one's physical abilities to the extremes... Yangcheng Evening News, Anhui News | Photos: Dayoo Daily


Bai Ling interview
http://romanticmovies.about.com/cs/theworldoftomorrow/a/bailingstarwar3_p.htm

New pics of kill bill
http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=16140

http://www.indiewire.com/onthescene/onthescene_030908vff.html
zatoichi

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/moviemania/news/0,3946,IndexMovieManiaNews,00.html?
Takeshi Kaneshiro

wu-jing

-- Kung Fu Girls --

Kung Fu Girls opens in Guangzhou on 11 September. It will be released in Hong Kong and Taiwan in November. Shot in Suzhou and Taiwan, it was directed by Wang Ming Ya and stars Anita Yuen, Chen Kun, Lin Yi Cheng, Huang Xiang-Yi, An Yi-Xuan, Sun Li-Ting. Kung Fu Girls is about four girls, who under their record company's arrangement, receive training in Karate, singing and dancing. However, mishaps happen at the press conference. So, off they go to Mt Wutai for stricter training. Unfortunately, the group is disbanded on returning and they return to their normal lives, and a series of events is sparked off among each of them. Anita Yuen plays the manager of the the four girls and Chen Kun their coach. Guangzhou Daily, Nangfang City Daily
http://www.g-film.com/hb/hqhbshow.asp?id=1650




Kungfu Hustle --

Yuen Wo Ping arrived in Shanghai to join the production of Kung Fu Hustle in late August, substituting Sammo Hung, who tendered his resignation in early August. Apart from that, Kungfu Hustle is also aided by two pugilists, Bruce Leung Siu Lung and Yuen Wah, who play important parts in the action comedy. Shooting of action scenes was shelved after Sammo Hung left and will be resumed this month. The first thing Yuen Wo Ping did on arriving at the set was to understand the situation, and make some amendments to the martial arts scenes. Yuen Wo Ping is reportedly even more demanding and the manner he works on the choreography is somewhat different from Sammo Hung. Shanghai Afternoon Post



Photos: Sohu






Hua Mulan & The Adventurer: French director Christophe Gans has spent the last few months developing the Bob Morane comic adaptation "The Adventurer" with Vincent Cassel in the lead. However last week it was confirmed that the project has been cancelled, and so many are now asking what's next. 'Grozilla' spoke to the man himself and asked the exact same question - "He answered that among the many projects he's slated to do, he's in close contact with Miramax to replace Peter Pau at the helm of 'Hua Mulan' - the live version of the story told in the 1998 Disney cartoon feature. He adds that if Chow Yun Fat is still on board, Michelle Yeoh will very probably be soon off this project". In regards to the 'Adventurer' project, it seems the film's canning "is collateral damage of the new rules edicted by Canal Plus. The company has withdrawn funding from many projects recently, including films under the 'Eskwad' label which separated and is now its own entity (and thus can't afford a major project like this)". Thanks also to 'Antoine'.
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm


http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117892290&categoryid=19&query=zhang+and+yimou&display=zhang+yimou&cs=1
uShi Mian Mai Fi

http://www.vengeancemagazine.co.uk/

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808404742&cf=trailer
full trailer for kill bill

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fq20030912n1.htm
thai version of seven samurai

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?ff20030903a1.htm
behind filming of the last samurai

Running on Karma
andy lau, Cecilia cheung. directed by Johny To and wai Ka-Fei
http://www.g-film.com/hb/dkdydzh.jpg
poster

Shenyang Today, updated on Shi Mian Mai Fu
Gan Lu, documenting filming

"The crew of Shi Mian Mai Fu is a large army with over a hundred members. We will stay there for three months. Most scenes will be shot at the "scenery zone". Everyone will reside in the mountain. Shooting will begin by noon tomorrow and all key figures have arrived." This is what producer Zhang Weiping told Shenyang Today yesterday from Ukraine over the phone. Besides director Zhang Yimou, action director Ching Siu-Tung and costume designer Emi Wada have also arrived in Ukraine. He confirmed Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau, Jin Chengwu / Takeshi Kaneshiro and Anita Mui would all come. However, Anita Mui's cancer has added a certain degree of uncertainty to her appearance. Zhang Weiping said Ukraine was picked because sceneries in China had all been used by Zhang Yimou and the Ukrainian wilderness is perfect for exploring Zhang Yimou's imagination. According to Zhang Weiping, the flowers have been planted on the location are in three colors - red, gold and about the color of "Ukrainian autumn". The costumes designed and made by Emi Wada are the most expensive investment during the process of pre-production. Just like what she did to Hero, documentary maker Gan Lu has started recoding the making of the film.


nita Mui Stays With Zhang Yimou's SHI MIAN MAI FU Despite Cancer (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

September 9, 2003
Sina.com

Shanghai's Jiefang Daily reports Anita Mui wil keep her commitment to Zhang Yimou's second martial-art film Shi Mian Mai Fu. According to someone from her agent company, Anita Mui is eager to work with director Zhang Yimou and show her will to fight cancer. On Saturday, Anita Mui announced she had cervical cancer at a press conference in Hong Kong. Dozens entertainers, including Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh and Andy Lau, showed up for support. According to a cancer expert, reasonable amount of work could improve her condition but she would need blood transfusion at any moment. According to the paper, Anita Mui will join the crew later this week. Zhang Yimou, Zhang Ziyi and producer Zhang Weiping have already arrived in Ukraine. Shooting is planned to start next Wednesday in the Eastern European country, which will double for China.

Action director Yuen Wo-Ping has been working with KUNG FU crew for two weeks in Shanghai, according to Shanghai's Jiefang Daily. As the new AD to replace Sammo Hung, he has modified some fight sequences. Reportedly, Yuen's demand is much higher and tougher. His choreography is also different from his predecessor. The paper also revealed names of more cast members - 1970's kung-fu film veteran Leung Siu-Lung, one of the "Seven Fortune" Yuen Wa, three cast members from Shaolin Soccer - Tin Kai-man, Lam Ji-chung and Chan Gwok-kwan, director Lau Chun-Wai, who is also sharing some directing works with Stephen Chow, and the leading girl, newcomer Huang Shengyi.
http://www.jfdaily.com.cn/

According to various reports, Anita Mui's health problem would not allow her to handle long and exhausting work. Director Zhang Yimou has started making plan to reduce the weight of her role or even replace her with another actress and, possibly, offer her another role, a cameo. According to Hong Kong's Sing Pao, Anita Mui's manager said , Anita Mui has never been part of Ukrainian filming and she will only show up for filming in Beijing and Sichuan Province. According to the script, Anita Mui will play the big sister of Zhang Ziyi's character. Her role is relatively small but vital to the development of the story. According to Beijing Youth, shooting has started in Ukraine as scheduled. Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau and Jin Chengwu / Takeshi Kaneshiro attended the ceremony marks the beginning of the production. However, Hong Kong media report yesterday Andy Lau returned to Hong Kong from Malaysia.

News
http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Movies/Filmmaking/News_and_Media/
google film news

http://movies.yahoo.com/news/ap/20030906/106285962000p.html
anita mui fighting cancer

Cool slide show of new Kill bill photos
http://movies.yahoo.com/movies/feature/killbill.html

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808509531

Release Date: October 17th, 2003 (LA/NY); expands to other cities at later dates

Japanese Release Date: August 19th, 2002

MPAA Rating: R (for violence)

Language: Japanese with English subtitles

Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films and Destination Films

Distributor Note: (9/4/03) Samuel Goldwyn Films is codistributing this film in the U.S. with the Sony subsidiary, Destination Films, with Columbia TriStar Home Video handling the eventual video release.

Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro (Miyamoto), Ann Suzuki (Miri), Kirin Kiki (Xie), Goro Kishitani (Mizoguchi), Yukiko Okamoto (Dr. Yagi), Dean Harrington (Dr. Brown), Kisuke Iida (Karasawa), Chiharu Kawai (Liu's Interpreter), Mitsuru Murata, Kazuya Shimizu (Murakami), Masaya Takahashi (Liu Laoban), Xiaoqun Zhao (Slave Merchant)

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

Director Notes: (8/4/03) This movie has heavy ties to the Japanese horror/samurai videogame series, Onimusha, as Yamizaki is directing Onimusha 3, and star Takeshi Kaneshiro provides the voice and face model for the game's lead character.

Screenwriter: Takashi Yamazaki

Premise: Miyamoto (Kaneshiro) is a Japanese assassin trying to wreak vengeance against an underworld crime boss called Mizoguchi after he had Miyamoto's best friend disemboweled and his organs sold. Just as it looks like he will finally get his chance at payback, a mysterious girl, Miri (Suzuki), appears who claims to be a time traveler from the future who came back to the present day to stop an alien invasion as it happens. Miyamoto is faced with a difficult decision: does he get his revenge against the crime lord or does he save humanity from a future living under cruel alien rule? This movie reportedly pays open homage to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Matrix, The Terminator and other Hollywood movies.

Genre: Action, Crime, Eye Candy, Foreign, Science Fiction, Thriller

Official Japanese Site: Returner.net

Monkeyepeaches
Shooting of the fifth of Police Story series, under the title New Police Story, will start this month, according to Nanfang Daily. Director Benny Chan said the story was not too complicated and it follows the good vs. the bad tradition of previous Police Stories. Nicholas Tse will play another cop and Charlene Choi play her girlfriend. The bad guys will be portrayed by Daniel Wu, Wang Chieh(?), Terence Yin and Andy On. Benny Chan also said there would be a lot more hand to hand fights and less CG effects (How about no CG effects?). Now the biggest unanswered question is who will play Jackie Chan's girlfriend, possibly wife?

http://www.merechina.com/editorscorner/essay.asp?PageID=633

zhang yimou new movie.

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15975
ong bak photos

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15974
japanese dragon head

Photos around the world
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15976
Spy - Aroudn teh World
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15981

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15989
anime - Aint it Cool news
-- Kungfu Hustle --

Kungfu Hustle's female lead is Eva Huang Yisheng, 20. She is from Beijing Film Academy (where Vicky Zhao graduated from) and has some training in dancing. Stephen Chow says "There is not only one female lead, she is one of them. She does not know kungfu but is very professional"
wu-jing.org

http://enjoy.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper190/8/class019000029/hwz1253873.htm
photos kung fu hustle


The Ten-Pronged Ambush --

New Picture's director, Zhang Wei Ping, who is the producer for Zhang Yimou's new sword-fighting movie, Shi Mian Mai Fu (The Ten-pronged Ambush), reveals that the movie begins production on 11 September in Ukraine, where two third of the movie will be shot. Learning from Hero's mistakes and strengths, Zhang Yimou is presenting a stronger story. Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro act as constables in The Ten-pronged Ambush, both of whom are interested in blind songstress Zhang Ziyi. Anita Mui plays an important supporting role as Ziyi's senior fellow disciple. (Anita Mui may withdraw from the movie due to her illness; her manager does not want her to over-exert herself.) The cast-members have been coached fencing over the past few months in preparation for the shoot. Most of Hero's original crew are back. Ching Siu Tung continues to be the action director while Emi Wada returns as the costume designer. Zhang Yimou is negotiating with Tan Dun to write the music. Production budget is at least US$30 million. A few hundred thousands have already spent on on buying flower seeds and hiring over 60 Ukrainian florists, taking three months to cultivate flowers in their wilderness shooting base. Nanfang City Daily
wu-jing.org

article on Corey Yuen
http://www.lacitybeat.com/article.php?id=215&IssueNum=13

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808405832
relaes date, Shaolin Soccer

http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hp&cf=prev&id=1808509531
japanese scifie action "The returner" takeshi Kenoshiro

Monkey peaches
The top executives of Beijing New Picture have started talking to reporters in China. The working title of the second martial-art film by Zhang Yimou is Shi Mian Mai Fu (Ambush from Ten Directions). It is the title of a 16th Century music piece, usually performed with pipa, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument. The story is set in Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Zhang Ziyi will take the leading role, a blind entertainer. We have seen her fight in many movies, and this time we will see her dance on the big screen for the first time. Andy Lau and Jin Chengwu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) play two cops, both are in love with the blind girl. Anita Mui will play Zhang Ziyi's big sister. Compared to Hero, the new one will look more like a pure martial-art film, and the story will be richer and more intricate. Action director Ching Siu-Tung, costume designer Emi Wada and composer Tan Tun will return to take their old jobs in Hero. Two third of the film will be shot in Ukraine even though its a story happens in China. Ukraine was chosen after Zhang Yimou scouted various locations in China, Australia, New Zealand and some other countries. Over sixty local farmers have been caring for flowers planted on a large field for three months. It will be at least as expensive as Hero (US$ 30 million). An overseas partner is needed to share the cost and it will not be MiramAxe. Shooting will start on in Ukraine September 11, the Mid Autumn Festival of China. Zhang Yimou and Zhang Ziyi have already arrived in Ukraine yesterday and the rest will soon follow.

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0336/park.php
shaolin soccer

Jet Li denies involvement w/crouching tiger sequel?
Monkeyepeaches

zhang ziyi w/ take next zhang yiumous marti art film
monkeypeaches