A sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has awoken from slumber and possibly snagged Michelle Yeoh to reprise her role of Yu Shu Lien. Fans of wuxia stories will know that Crouching Tiger is actually the fourth book in a series. The fifth book Silver Vase, Iron Knight is what will become the next feature. The Weinstein Company is behind this new film, having secured the rights of Wang Du-Lu’s Crane-Iron Series (though it seems Wang’s heirs aren’t happy at the amount of money, so expect some lawsuits eventually!) and are bringing Ronny Yu to direct the sequel, with John Fusco (The Forbidden Kingdom) having written the script.
Fusco says
“This introduces a new generation of star-crossed lovers, and a new series of antagonists in a battle of good and evil. It has a Knights Errant quality. There is an alternate universe in the books, a martial forest that exists alongside the real world, full of wandering sword fighters, medicine men, defrocked priests, poets, sorcerers and Shaolin renegades. It’s so vast and rich, and I found characters from the second and third books in the series to create a most interesting stew while being as true to the source material as I could be.”
How good this ends up being will be a mystery, though I seriously doubt it will approach Crouching Tiger in quality. I say that not as a pessimist, but a realist. I can be perfectly fine on its own laurels, but it will be burdened with the association to the original classic.
The Prototype was a trailer that premiered on Deadline (after being leaked), except with one catch – there wasn’t a movie, just the trailer! But it went viral and now got a chunk of change to make an actual The Prototype film. Andrew Will wrote the script and will direct. The Bandito Brothers is the group responsible, they made the low budget Act of Valor into a hit. With a surprising amount of internet shorts getting optioned into full-length features recently, is the next step just making them into actual trailers? Honestly, I think a video is more likely to go viral if it isn’t a trailer, but a story that showcases a potential film. But then again, I could be wrong. How much will the final movie end up looking like the trailer? That is another mystery that only the future will reveal…
Stack up your batarangs and be sure to get enough of those bricks that have slight slants so we can make a cool Lego Batmobile and not something that is all blocky. Because Lego Batman: The Movie is here! Despite being Lego Batman, Lego Superman is running around as well as other super heroes as they battle the Joker and Lex Luthor teaming up to be evil and very evil. And there is a Lego chicken, so that’s especially evil. So much evil, it’s like Mego Bloks are trying to take over! I see your game now, Joker. Some people just want to watch the world go to pieces and then someone steps on a piece at 2:30 AM while going to the bathroom and that really hurts! Is that what you want, Joker? Because the jokes on you! I have a nightlight! MuHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Lego Batman: The Movie will be available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD on May 21st from Warner Brothers Home Video.
official synopsis:
LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Superheroes Unite provides the ultimate blend of action and humor guaranteed to entertain fanboys of all ages.
The film finds Lex Luthor taking jealousy to new heights when fellow billionaire Bruce Wayne wins the Man of the Year Award. To top Wayne’s accomplishment, Lex begins a campaign for President – and to create the atmosphere for his type of fear-based politics, he recruits the Joker to perfect a Black LEGO Destructor Ray. While wreaking havoc on Gotham, Lex successfully destroys Batman’s technology – forcing the Caped Crusader to reluctantly turn to Superman for help.
LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Superheroes Unite features the definitive voice of Lex Luthor, Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption, SpongeBob SquarePants). In addition to Baker and Willingham, the cast includes Christopher Smith (Mortal Combat vs. DC Universe) as the Joker, and Charlie Schlatter (Diagnosis Murder) in a hilarious turn as the voice of Robin.
Wong Jing is back again for the 100th time (okay, okay, 93rd time…) with Princess & Seven Kung Fu Masters (笑功震武林), a sort of kung fu Snow White but not really but also wacky weird stuff. With Sammo Hung as Sammo Hung, and also Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Ronald Cheng Chung-Kei, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Rose Chan Ka-Wun, Timmy Hung Tin-Ming, Natalie Meng Yao, Xie Na, Yuen Wah, Bruce Leung Siu-Lung, Wong Cho-Lam, and many more. It looks totally, totally…something. And because everything Hong Kong is Chinese now, it’s in Mandarin. Yeah.
The plot:
During the early years of the Republic era, in the North-East region of China, the people are suffering from the power struggle among the local Warlords, bandits, and Japanese invaders. Warlord Lam (Sammo Hung), is not a leader of great vision, but stands firm in his own beliefs. The only paradise within the region is ‘Lucky Town’, the one place where no one dared to attack as it was protected by the seven kung fu masters who have resided there. When young patriots, Yan Fang (Rose Chan) who disguised herself as a man, and Howard Luo (Dennis To), infiltrate Tiger’s Den at night trying to steal the code book fail in their mission and tries to run, only Yan survives and is rescued by Cheryl. Mistaking Yan as a man, Cheryl falls for Yan. She then brings Yan to Lucky Town and begs the Seven Masters to cure Yan. Cheryl and the Seven Masters are then told of the secret plan by the Japanese, and together, they resolve to fight against Tiger Den and save Warlord Lam.
It’s that time of the year, when China shuts down thanks to Chinese New Year! In between everyone going to see their family and every family going out for an incredibly expensive dinner, there is also the tradition of going to see ridiculous comedy films in the theaters! The Lunar New Year comedies are a source of some of the best comedy films from Hong Kong! And also some of the most terrible… But let’s not dwell on those failures, because they get buried beneath the sands of progress progress progress. And more films the next year! This time, we got a three-way battle plan, and the first time in two years that there isn’t an I Love Hong Kong/Alls Well Ends Well matchup at the box office. Because last year’s entries are buried beneath the sands of progress progress progress.
Journey to the West: Fell Monsters Chapter (西游·降魔篇) – The most anticipated of the three new years comedies, because it’s the long-awaited return of Stephen Chow to film! He’s directing this insane take on the famous Monkey King story, even if his appearance in front of the camera will be brief if he does it at all. In any event, I cannot wait, and will literally murder every single one of you to get to see this film. Yes, even you, Tiny Tim. Think I’ll spare you because of your gimpy leg? Think not!
We posted the trailer here
Hotel Deluxe (百星酒店) – Vincent Kok’s entry takes place at a fancy hotel, and like all good Lunar New Year comedies, a bajillion things are going on. The hotel hires scab employees, it’s being used as a film set, is being renovated, and is hosting a fake wedding. Yes, only those few plot lines! Hotel Deluxe stars Ronald Cheng Chung-Kei, Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Teresa Mo Sun-Kwan, Chapman To Man-Chat, Fiona Sit Hoi-Kei, Eric Kot Man-Fai, Raymond Wong Pak-Ming, Lynn Hung Doi-Lam, Karena Ng Chin-Yu, and many more. Raymond Wong is producing. It opens February 7th
The trailer:
Better and Better (越來越好·村晚) – Zhang Yibai (with help from Xie Dong-Shen) bring us this Mainland funded comedy on February 10th. It features Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Wang Bao-Qiang, Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Wu Gang, Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing, Wang Luo-Dan, Xu Jing-Lei, Ni Da-Hong, and cameos from the likes of Karen Mok Man-Wai and Zhang Ziyi.
Trailer:
Who will win the ultimate showdown of ultimate 2013 Lunar New Year Destiny? Probably Stephen Chow unless that film sucks, than it’s anyone’s game!!!!!!! Enjoy the lots of pictures below.
