2011 Chinese Cinema Preview
The year 2010 saw China's filmmaking industry continue to flourish. The country made about 500 films in 2010, ranking only after Bollywood and Hollywood in terms of annual film output. China's 2010 box office revenue reached a historical high at 10 billion yuan (about US$1.5 billion), rising 61 percent from the year before. That has prompted media prediction that China would overtake Japan, the current second largest film market, by 2015.
That prediction may come true if Chinese filmmakers continue to offer appealing films such as 2010's major box office contributors "Aftershock" and "Let the Bullets Fly". Will there be any? And what can we expect in a new movie-going year? Check out our list of the most anticipated Chinese films for 2011.
ACTION FILMS
Actor Andy Lau in "Shaolin" [Photo: CFP]
"Shaolin" ("Xin Shaolin Si")
For anyone who is a fan of kung-fu movies, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau or/and Nicholas Tse, this film directed by Benny Chan and set for release on January 19, will surely quench your thirst. The story is about a 1920s warlord (Andy Lau), who is betrayed by his ex-friend (Nicholas Tse), gaining a new understanding of life with the help of a Shaolin monk (Jackie Chan).
'Shaolin' Releases First Trailer
Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse Seen in 'Shaolin'
New Shaolin Temple, Literally
Actress Zhou Xun in "The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" [Photo: yule.sohu.com]
"The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" ("Long Men Fei Jia")
Set for release in October, Tsui Hark's martial-arts film stars Jet Li, Zhou Xun and Kwai Lun-Mei. The film is loosely based on "Dragon Inn" ("Xin Long Men Ke Zhan"), a 1992 film classic which follows a Ming Dynasty general's confrontation with a power-hungry eunuch at a deserted inn. The US$35-million film has been shot in 3-D by a crew that had reportedly received training from Chuck Comisky, the visual-effects supervisor on "Avatar".
Zhou Xun Appears in 'Dragon Gate' Photos
'The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' Starts Filming
Li Yuchun, Mavis Fan Join Cast of Tsui Hark's 3-D Film
Tsui Hark Tests 3-D Filmmaking
Zhang Ziyi in "The Grandmasters" [Photo: Sohu.com]
"The Grandmasters" ("Yi Dai Zong Shi")
Wong Kar-Wai's long-awaited film has kept his fans waiting for too long. It will eventually come out in 2011, almost 9 years after the director announced the project. In this biopic about Yip Man, the mentor of Bruce Lee, actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai takes the lead role, co-starring with Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen and Song Hye-Kyo.
Producers of 'The Grandmasters' Release Posters
DRAMA FILMS
Director Lu Chuan poses at a press conference for his new project "King's Feast" in Beijing on December 15, 2009. [File Photo: CFP/Beijing Times/Zhang Wei]
"King's Feast" ("Wang De Sheng Yan")
With an October release, Lu Chuan's fourth feature has yet to begin filming. The director has launched a nationwide open audition hoping to find his ideal actress who will later act against Chow Yun-Fat and Liu Ye. Lu Chuan wants to recreate in this film a banquet in 206 B.C. known in historical books as the Banquet of Hongmen (Hongmen Yan). Expectations are running high for the director whose previous three films ("The Missing Gun", "Kekexili: Mountain Patrol" and "City of Life and Death") have put him under the international spotlight.
Lu Chuan Holds Auditions for Next Female Lead
Director Zhang Yimou promotes "Nanjing Heroes" in Beijing on December 22, 2010. [File Photo: CFP]
"Nanjing Heroes" ("Jin Ling Shi San Chai")
Will Hollywood star Christian Bale's box-office power apply to Chinese audiences? Wait and see the performance of Zhang Yimou's wartime drama, starring "The Dark Knight" actor as an American priest working in China during the Nanjing Massacre in 1937. The film is set for release in December.
Christian Bale Joins Zhang Yimou's WWII Film
TRIBUTE FILMS
Stars promote "The Founding of a Party" in Beijing on September 1, 2010. [File Photo: CFP]
"The Founding of a Party" ("Jian Dang Wei Ye")
In celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, the China Film Group will release its all-star film "The Founding of a Party" before July 1. By "all-star", we mean 100 or more celebrities. Among them, Liu Ye plays Mao Zedong, with Chen Kun as Zhou Enlai and Chang Chen as Chiang Kai-Shek.
'The Founding of a Party' to Film at Kremlin
Actress Liu Tao Stars in 'Founding of a Party'
Actors for the Film 'Founding of a Party' Unveiled
Liu Ye to Play Young Mao Zedong
Jackie Chan, Li Bingbing and Winston Chao celebrate as the movie "The 1911 Revolution" started filming in Fuxin City of northeast China's Liaoning Province on September 29, 2010. [File Photo: CFP]
"The 1911 Revolution" ("Xin Hai Ge Ming")
Jackie Chan and Li Bingbing have co-produced "The 1911 Revolution", another all-star film, to mark the 100th anniversary of a revolution that began in the year 1911 and eventually brought an end to China's last feudal dynasty. The film is set for release in October.
Camera Begins Rolling on 'The 1911 Revolution'
Winston Chao Works on 4th Portrayal of Sun Yat-Sen
More Than 70 Stars Join in 'The 1911 Revolution'
Source
Brb, writing most of these down.
That prediction may come true if Chinese filmmakers continue to offer appealing films such as 2010's major box office contributors "Aftershock" and "Let the Bullets Fly". Will there be any? And what can we expect in a new movie-going year? Check out our list of the most anticipated Chinese films for 2011.
ACTION FILMS
Actor Andy Lau in "Shaolin" [Photo: CFP]
"Shaolin" ("Xin Shaolin Si")
For anyone who is a fan of kung-fu movies, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau or/and Nicholas Tse, this film directed by Benny Chan and set for release on January 19, will surely quench your thirst. The story is about a 1920s warlord (Andy Lau), who is betrayed by his ex-friend (Nicholas Tse), gaining a new understanding of life with the help of a Shaolin monk (Jackie Chan).
'Shaolin' Releases First Trailer
Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse Seen in 'Shaolin'
New Shaolin Temple, Literally
Actress Zhou Xun in "The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" [Photo: yule.sohu.com]
"The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate" ("Long Men Fei Jia")
Set for release in October, Tsui Hark's martial-arts film stars Jet Li, Zhou Xun and Kwai Lun-Mei. The film is loosely based on "Dragon Inn" ("Xin Long Men Ke Zhan"), a 1992 film classic which follows a Ming Dynasty general's confrontation with a power-hungry eunuch at a deserted inn. The US$35-million film has been shot in 3-D by a crew that had reportedly received training from Chuck Comisky, the visual-effects supervisor on "Avatar".
Zhou Xun Appears in 'Dragon Gate' Photos
'The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' Starts Filming
Li Yuchun, Mavis Fan Join Cast of Tsui Hark's 3-D Film
Tsui Hark Tests 3-D Filmmaking
Zhang Ziyi in "The Grandmasters" [Photo: Sohu.com]
"The Grandmasters" ("Yi Dai Zong Shi")
Wong Kar-Wai's long-awaited film has kept his fans waiting for too long. It will eventually come out in 2011, almost 9 years after the director announced the project. In this biopic about Yip Man, the mentor of Bruce Lee, actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai takes the lead role, co-starring with Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen and Song Hye-Kyo.
Producers of 'The Grandmasters' Release Posters
DRAMA FILMS
Director Lu Chuan poses at a press conference for his new project "King's Feast" in Beijing on December 15, 2009. [File Photo: CFP/Beijing Times/Zhang Wei]
"King's Feast" ("Wang De Sheng Yan")
With an October release, Lu Chuan's fourth feature has yet to begin filming. The director has launched a nationwide open audition hoping to find his ideal actress who will later act against Chow Yun-Fat and Liu Ye. Lu Chuan wants to recreate in this film a banquet in 206 B.C. known in historical books as the Banquet of Hongmen (Hongmen Yan). Expectations are running high for the director whose previous three films ("The Missing Gun", "Kekexili: Mountain Patrol" and "City of Life and Death") have put him under the international spotlight.
Lu Chuan Holds Auditions for Next Female Lead
Director Zhang Yimou promotes "Nanjing Heroes" in Beijing on December 22, 2010. [File Photo: CFP]
"Nanjing Heroes" ("Jin Ling Shi San Chai")
Will Hollywood star Christian Bale's box-office power apply to Chinese audiences? Wait and see the performance of Zhang Yimou's wartime drama, starring "The Dark Knight" actor as an American priest working in China during the Nanjing Massacre in 1937. The film is set for release in December.
Christian Bale Joins Zhang Yimou's WWII Film
TRIBUTE FILMS
Stars promote "The Founding of a Party" in Beijing on September 1, 2010. [File Photo: CFP]
"The Founding of a Party" ("Jian Dang Wei Ye")
In celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, the China Film Group will release its all-star film "The Founding of a Party" before July 1. By "all-star", we mean 100 or more celebrities. Among them, Liu Ye plays Mao Zedong, with Chen Kun as Zhou Enlai and Chang Chen as Chiang Kai-Shek.
'The Founding of a Party' to Film at Kremlin
Actress Liu Tao Stars in 'Founding of a Party'
Actors for the Film 'Founding of a Party' Unveiled
Liu Ye to Play Young Mao Zedong
Jackie Chan, Li Bingbing and Winston Chao celebrate as the movie "The 1911 Revolution" started filming in Fuxin City of northeast China's Liaoning Province on September 29, 2010. [File Photo: CFP]
"The 1911 Revolution" ("Xin Hai Ge Ming")
Jackie Chan and Li Bingbing have co-produced "The 1911 Revolution", another all-star film, to mark the 100th anniversary of a revolution that began in the year 1911 and eventually brought an end to China's last feudal dynasty. The film is set for release in October.
Camera Begins Rolling on 'The 1911 Revolution'
Winston Chao Works on 4th Portrayal of Sun Yat-Sen
More Than 70 Stars Join in 'The 1911 Revolution'
Source
Brb, writing most of these down.