Bodyguards and Assassins

[Milkyway]

Peter Chan Enshrouds March in Dark October

-- Dark October --

Dark October, produced by Peter Chan, is slated for production in March. Director Teddy Chan was planning the film back in 2004 when the investor committed suicide resulting in the production being stalled. With Peter Chan stepping in, financing for the 1.5m yuan film has been secured. The cast is likely to include Chow Yun Fatt and Donnie Yen, and perhaps Lau Ching Wan, Jackie Cheung, Leon Lai, Aaron Kok, Ji Jin Hee, Kwon Sang Woo.

In Dark October, Sun Yat Sen (Chow Yun Fatt) heads to Hong Kong to raise funds for uprising activities. Learning of assassination attempt by the Manchu government, the businessman (Leon Lai) in Hong Kong who is responsible for receiving Sun Yat Sen hires elite bodyguards (Donnie Yen et al.) to protect him, eventually escorting him back to Guangzhou safely.

http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/619-Peter-Chan-Enshrouds-March-in-Dark-October.html

[LoBo]

I think it could be good.
________
Free gift cards (http://bestfreegiftcard.com/)

[Doubleh]

If that cast stays as it is, that's a rediculous cast. I hope it happens.

[Milkyway]

I'm not too sure about Leon and Jackie and the unknown ones but the rest already promises big things (hopefully).

[GoldenFist]

This should be good.

- GoldenFist

[Milkyway]

HK, Mainland Directors Set up Film Company

Peter Chan and Huang Jianxin set up a film company Sunday with investment from PolyBona in an attempt to promote the Chinese cinema.

Acclaimed Hong Kong director Peter Chan and Huang Jianxin from the Chinese mainland set up a film company Sunday with investment from PolyBona in an attempt to promote the Chinese cinema.

The company, titled "Cinema Popular", planned to make 15 films in three years, said Peter Chan Sunday at the opening ceremony. "I hope that more elites will be cultivated for the Chinese cinema in the future through our cooperation with young directors."

The company's first film will be "Dark October" directed by Hong Kong actor-director Teddy Chen. The film, supported jointly by Cinema Popular, China Film Group and Shanghai Media Group, is scheduled to start shooting in Shanghai in mid-March.

PolyBona Film Distribution Co.,Ltd. has invested some 500 million yuan (about 73 million U.S. dollars) on the new film company. PolyBona president Yu Dong said he expected "Cinema Popular" to achieve a domestic box office of 2 billion yuan in three years.

PolyBona has distributed more than 150 Chinese and foreign films in the domestic film market since its foundation in 1999. Its overall box office totals some 1.5 billion yuan.

Zhang Hongsen, an official with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, said, "the founding of 'Cinema Popular' shows the country's deepened efforts in the industrialization of the Chinese cinema, and it also indicates a way out for the country to optimize filming resources."

Hong Kong director Peter Chan wins international acclaims for his war epic "Warloads" (2007) and musical romance "Perhaps Love" (2005) starring mainland-born actress Zhou Xun and heart-throb actor Takeshi Kaneshiro.

http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/02/16/1221s454112.htm

[Milkyway]

Looks like Chow Yun Fat will be dropped from the movie.

http://hkmdb.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=49964

[Maz]

Star-Studded 'Dark October'

2009-03-19 15:02:47 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Xie Tingting

Get ready for an all-star Hong Kong action thriller. Local filmmaker Peter Chan is striving to ensure his new project, "Dark October", will be a showcase of top actors.

Chan, who is producing the male-dominated film about the late revolutionary forerunner Sun Yat-sen, has been approaching best-actor winners of various film awards since last year, Sohu.com reported Thursday.

"He has this idea to make an all-star film," the report quoted a source close to Chan as saying.

Although Peter Chan and the film's director, Teddy Chen, have yet to confirm any actors to the media, Sohu quoted the source as saying that the cast will at least include Leon Lai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Anthony Wong, Chang Chen, Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, and Wang Xueqi.

But none of them will play Sun Yat-sen, the report says.

Other likely cast members are Hu Jun, Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse and Aaron Kwok.

"Dark October" tells the story of a group of bodyguards protecting Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) from assassins in 1905 Hong Kong.

It is the first film to be made by Cinema Popular, a company Peter Chan launched with mainland director Huang Jianxin last month.

Director Teddy Chen has long been planning the film. He first announced the project in 1999, but had to call it off as promised investment failed to arrive. Five years later, Chen gathered Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok for the film, which was halted again following the suicide of its then investor, Ronald Tsang.

Trying it for the third time, Teddy Chen has gained 150 million Hong Kong dollars (US$19.35 million) in investment. Shooting is slated to begin next month, according to the Sohu report.

http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/03/19/1261s466158.htm

[Milkyway]

Cinema Popular unveils $23m historical epic Bodyguards & Assassins

Start-up production and financing outfit Cinema Popular is unveiling its debut production today at Filmart – $23m historical epic Bodyguards And Assassins – to be directed by Teddy Chen.

The film, which starts shooting in early April, features a host of Hong Kong and Chinese stars including Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse and Chinese actor Wang Xueqi (Forever Enthralled).

The long-gestating project, which Chen has been developing for ten years, revolves around an assassination attempt on the founder of modern China, Sun Yat-sen. The production team has constructed elaborate sets at studios outside Shanghai, including a recreation of 1905 Hong Kong.

In addition to Cinema Popular, the film is backed by China Film Group and Shanghai Media Group, amongst other investors. The high-profile ensemble cast also includes Hu Jun, Tong Leung Ka-fai, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam, Fan Bing-bing, Wang Po-chieh and Zhou Yun.

Launched in February, Cinema Popular is a joint venture between Peter Ho-sun Chan and Chinese filmmaker Huang Jianxin’s We Pictures and Beijing-based Polybona.

Chan has created Cinema Popular in response to the rapid box office growth in mainland China. The company, which is investing around $73m in 15 films over three years, is overhauling the financing model for Hong Kong-China co-productions.

"A few years ago, China would contribute 25% of the budget and recoup around 30-40%," explains Chan. "But in the present climate, China is accounting for around 60-70% of the recoupment. Therefore we should be raising a bigger proportion of the budget from mainland China."

http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=43743

[Milkyway]

Dark October Mugged by Bodyguards and Assassins

-- Bodyguards and Assassins --

At today's press conference for Bodyguards and Assassins (formerly Dark October), a movie on a group of people protecting Sun Yat Sen against assassination when he was in Hong Kong to raise funds on October 15, 1905, the cast was formally announced.

At this stage, it's not known who'd be playing Dr Sun Yat Sen, after Chow Yun Fatt, who's doing the film on Confucius that begins filming around the same time, declined the offer. Director Teddy Chan explains that Sun Yat Sen is not the key figure in Bodyguards and Assassins, rather the film shows the history of Hong Kong through a group of people protecting Sun Yat Sen.

The partial cast announced includes "Gambler" Donnie Yen, "Beggar" Leon Lai, "Rickshaw Puller" Nicholas Tse, "Revolutionary" Tony Leung Kar Fai, "Assassin" Hu Jun, "General in Exile" Simon Yam, "Police Commissioner" Eric Tsang, "Mistress" Fan Bing Bing, "Scion" Wang Bai Jue, Wang Xue Qi and Zhou Yun.

Among the various characters, Donnie Yen's role is particularly of great import, full of suspense and development. Unlike the others, he isn't a patriotic or righteous person initially, even in the final instance, he's still uncertain of his own stand. Fan Bing Bing plays Donne Yen's wife, but remarries tycoon Wang Xue Qi to be his mistress due to a twist of events.

While Nicholas Tse had actually auditioned for this film several years ago before the production was held up, it's until only recently that his role as the rickshaw puller, one that would lay down his life for Dr Sun, was confirmed.

Hu Jun, as the main villain, one sent by the Manchu government to assassinate Dr Sun, would be shaving his head bald. Hu Jun would also be joining Jingle Ma's ongoing production Hua Mulan starring Vicki Zhao, playing a Hun general.

The 150m yuan film produced by Peter Chan, action directed by Stephen Tung Wai, begins production in early April 2009 and would be released in December 2009.

http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/630-Dark-October-Mugged-by-Bodyguards-and-Assassins.html#extended

[butcher wing]

do you think donnie yen sleeps? I need to see some footage something with substance to make my judgment til then, but it sound awesome, some serious names. can someone find ti lung and give him some work. if he is working can someone give me the names of his newest movies....

[mark187]

This sounds good, excellent cast, but Dark October is a better title. if you read Chinese, you can see that October is part of the Chinese title in those cast photos w/ the promo in the background. I wonder who will play Sun Yat-Sen? the last movie I saw Ti Lung in was last year's Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon. although it was good to see him, the movie was a waste of time. no way can it compare to Red Cliff

[butcher wing]

thanks mark187.

[Milkyway]

100 acres and 43M yuan spent on construction costs in Shanghai

http://i0.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/c/2009-03-30/U1584P28T3D2445529F326DT20090330094543.jpg

http://hkmdb.com/news/

http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2009-03-30/09452445529.shtml

[Milkyway]

Promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbBKmiocDcM&feature=channel_page

[Milkyway]

Promotional material released.

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075852.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075928.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075929.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075930.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075931.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075932.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075933.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075934.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075935.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075936.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075937.jpg http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090329/Img263075938.jpg

http://hkmdb.com/news/

http://yule.sohu.com/20090329/n263075851.shtml

[Milkyway]

Nicholas Tse Went all out for New Role

Hong Kong actor Nicholas Tse has gone all out for his new role in Director Teddy Chan's 'Bodyguards and Assassins' (formerly 'Dark October').

The actor had his head shaved bald, for the first time, to play a 'rickshaw puller' role in the upcoming star-studded film.

However, Tse has to undertake more than that. The actor who usually appears on screen with a squeaky-clean, handsome image will make do with a scared face in the film. Special makeup for his character allegedly takes hours to do.
Moreover, the actor also needs to devote time to sun bathing in order to get tanned and look more like a weather-beaten rickshaw puller.

The film 'Bodyguards and Assassins' tells the story of a group of people protecting Sun Yat-Sen against assassination when he was in Hong Kong raising funds on October 15, 1905.

Director Teddy Chan once explained that Sun Yat-Sen is not the key figure in Bodyguards and Assassins, rather the film shows the history of Hong Kong through a group of people protecting Sun Yat-Sen.

The power cast also includes Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, mainland popular actress Fan Bing Bing, veteran actor Wang Xueqi and Hu Jun. Pop singer Li Yuchun would make her screen debut in the film.

The 150 million yuan film produced by Peter Chan begins production in early April 2009 and will be released in December 2009.

http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/05/04/1321s481418.htm

[Milkyway]

http://donnieyen.net/bbs/attachments/month_0905/0905071711c4e9b74f98a19b7f.jpg

http://photocdn.sohu.com/20090507/Img263836542.jpg

http://www.donnieyen.us/dymb/index.php?topic=1539.msg14592#msg14592

[Milkyway]

http://image.xinmin.cn/2009/05/08/20090508035009393859.jpg

http://www.donnieyen.us/dymb/index.php?topic=1539.msg14595#msg14595

[Maz]

Poster

More individual posters of cast here: http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2009-05-13/00062514428.shtml

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-12/U1584P28T3D2514385F346DT20090512234505.jpg

[Milkyway]

Each one of those images just oozes with great premises.

[Milkyway]

http://www.cinemapopular.com/assets/the_people.jpg

http://www.cinemapopular.com/

[Drunken Monk]

Is it me, or does "The Diva" just seem out of place for a character title?

[The Dragon]

When does this flick drop?

[Milkyway]

December 18th.

[The Dragon]

Cool Beans. Thanks.

:)

[Milkyway]

Asia signs up 'Bodyguards'
Cinema Popular inks raft of pacts

We Distribution has inked multiple territory deals around Asia for the Donnie Yen actioner "Bodyguards and Assassins" at Cannes, an early success for the Cinema Popular shingle.

The $23 million "Bodyguards," formerly known as "Dark October," is currently lensing in Shanghai with Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang and Hu Jun.

Pic is produced by Peter Ho-Sun Chan and Huang Jianxin and is the first of five pics on their Cinema Popular slate.

Mediacorp Raintree Pictures and Festive Films co-acquired for the territory of Singapore. Malaysia and Brunei rights go to RAM Entertainment while PT Teguh Bakti Mandiri picked up for Indonesia. Parkit Films took Vietnam and Applause Entertainment will handle Taiwan.

Pic features three-time world kickboxing champion Cung Le and also marks the debut of Li Yuchun, past winner of China's "American Idol"-styled singing contest "Super Girl."

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid=VR1118003828

[MLee]

The poster and character images look great!

[Milkyway]

http://hkmdb.com/db/images/movies/13833/BodyguardsandAssassins+2009-11-b.jpg

http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/image_detail.mhtml?id=13833&image_id=143729&display_set=eng

[Maz]

New trailer shown at Cannes

LU8QkGsDGSw

[Milkyway]

This is getting better and better!!!

[Drunken Monk]

Yup, that was enough to get me excited for this one.

[Maz]

Here are screencap pics from the trailer

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532172F346DT20090522004602.jpg

http://i3.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532173F346DT20090522004606.jpg

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532174F346DT20090522004608.jpg

http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532175F346DT20090522004611.jpg

http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532176F346DT20090522004614.jpg

http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532177F346DT20090522004617.jpg

http://i0.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532178F346DT20090522004620.jpg

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532180F346DT20090522004625.jpg

http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532181F346DT20090522004627.jpg

http://i0.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532182F346DT20090522004630.jpg

http://i0.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/p/2009-05-22/U2519P28T3D2532183F346DT20090522004633.jpg

Source: http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2009-05-21/23312532122.shtml

[Milkyway]

Cung Le, Xing Yu, Wang Wen-Jie (Wushu) and Philip Ng Wan-Lung (Invisible Target) have joined the cast.

http://www.kungfucinema.com/first-footage-of-bodyguards-and-assassins/7630

[butcher wing]

this movie look ill. Big names, and the fact that they rebuilt Hong Kong of the early 1900s wow that just makes me itch more for this move

[bolofan]

This is another film that is making me believe in this rebirth of martial arts action/drama.
I don't know if its just me that feels this way but hong kong action cinema in the 70/80/90's was excellent but cliched and only seem to appeal to its homegrown audience and a specific overseas audience.
These films and the likes of Ip Man etc, are type of film that I feel have mass appeal to all types of viewer.
Hell, I watched Ip Man last night with a mate who dislikes martial art cinema in general and he genuinely enjoyed every minute. Beautifully shot and directed with a surprising amount of character depth he thought.
Bodyguards and assassins looks to be another epic.

[Milkyway]

Teaser: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=595585330

[Maz]

Here's the teaser on youtube

UI8xr8mi3b4

[Milkyway]

“BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS” + “PUNITIVE HOMICIDE” – Teddy Chen interview - FILMART-HAF 2009

Formaly known as “Dark October”, the very long-gestated “Bodyguards and Assassins” becomes reality, and is definitly one of the most existing and expected Hong Kong / Chinese action movie to be released in South East Asia next year. Just before the beginning of the shooting, director Teddy Chen (“Downtown Torpedoes”, “Purple Storm”...) announced this huge project officially at the Hong Kong Filmart in March 2009, with his producer Peter Chan (“The Warlords”) and one big part of his amazing cast (Donnie Yen, Tony Leung Kar-fai, Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, Hu Jun, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bing-bing, Leon Lai, and Wang Po-chieh). At the same time, Teddy Chen also announced at the Hong Kong –Asia Film Financing forum (HAF) his next project, the thriller “Punitive Homicide”.

Ambroisine: You’ve just announced at the FILMART what’s probably the biggest movie of you career?

Teddy Chen: Yes. It’s called “Bodyguards and Assassins”, I’m gonna start to shoot it in Shanghai next week. On the set, I’m gonna rebuilt the Hong Kong of 1905, rebuilt the Victoria Harbour, Queen’s road, and some of the main Hong Kong roads of the last century. The story takes place exactly on October 15th, 1905. The revolution father, Doctor Sun Yat Set, comes to Hong Kong for one day. During his stay, some people from the Ching dynasty want to get rid of him. Then, some bodyguards arrive, from every streets, to help him, to protect this great person.

FA: Is this event actually really happened?

TC: Actually, the life of this revolution father has been threatened many times. Several assassins tried to kill him, once in San Francisco. He’s also been kidnapped in London. That’s real. But my story isn’t real. I created the 6 or 7 unsung heroes that will protect him and risk their lives to help the revolution. They are heroes with no names. They are not soldiers. This kind of heroes are from the streets. They are actors, guys selling stuff on the streets, beggar, one of them is a rickshaw man… They’re all from the streets. They are not from a revolution team, you know. Nobody knows them. They are unsung heroes.

FA: When did you start to work on this story?

TC: I wanted to make this movie ten years ago. The ideas came out in 1999 and some investors get involded in the project. But in this ten years period, I had some problems making this movie, especially because of the SARS. It happened in a village in China, next to the set of the movie in 2003. Everybody was afraid of course, so we had to stop. After the SARS in 2004, one of my main investors passed away, and I didn’t have enough money to carry on. So, I stoped again…until now. My producer Mr Peter Chan Ho-sun and I, discussed about this project for the first time in 1999. We had to work together on it, but something happened and I left. It didn’t work out. Ten years later, he came back. We discussed about it 2008, and he said “OK, let’s do it again”, because he though it was the right time to do it.

FA: And you have also another project that you’re presenting at the HAF, “Punitive Homicide”?

TC: Yeah it’s a smaller budget called punitive hominicide. It’s a thriller, a psycho serial killer story. I’m gonna do it after this project, in 2010. It’s about a psycho. It’s about murders. The story is about some people getting killed in Hong Kong. 1, 2, 3 are murdered… And the killer who did that he killed gave them some kind of punishement after their death. He cut away some pieces of body, in different way. But there is one common point between the murders: the victims all have an ancient antique jade, inside their body. The policemen don’t know why, and there’s no way to find any clue or to know why the killer is doing this. With the help of a university professor, who teachs history, they find out that the killer thinks he’s the king of the Ching dynasty. And he start killing because he wants the world to be in peace. So he starts killing the kings of the 6 kingdoms. All the movie is a mind game thing. And there will be an unexpected ending. I think the mind game will work out with the audience…

FA: It’s very much in the same style of “Double Vision”, also wrote by Su Chao-pin…

TC: Yeah. Su Chao-pin and I are very good friends and I like the things he did, he’s kind of good in this kind of field.

FA: Who’ll play in the movie?

TC: At this moment, Chang Chen, from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, Hsu Chi from “The Transporter” and Anthony Wong.

FA: When did you hear about HAF for the first time?

TC: This is my second time at HAF. Actually “Bodyguard and Assassins”, when it was called in English, “Dark October”, was selected at the HAF projects in 2003. I think it’s a great way to know more people from the industry, people who’re not from Hong Kong. You have a project for them and maybe sometimes they have a project for you. Maybe you can work out on this project now, maybe you can work on it later. It’s good to meet people. I think it’s good for the industry.

FA: For this project, you’re looking for some hong kong investors or foreign investors maybe?

TC: I have already half of the budget from Media Asia, I’m looking for the other half from foreign countries. From western countries, from Europe… It’s quite interesting because, many of the French companies that I met like this ideas of “Punitive Homicide”. I think maybe it’s gonna be co-produced by a French company.

FA: So, you’re leaving tomorrow for China?

TC: Yes. And I’ll start the shooting of “Bodyguards and Assassins” next week. It’s a lot of pressure for me. Because it’s a big movie, it’s a great cast and I have to make this thing out well, you know.

FA: You worked with some of the actors before.

TC: I worked with Leon Lai, Tony Leung, Eric Tsang…Never with Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse.

FA: Any last words?

TC: I hope you like my next film, and my next next film. And I hope to work on “Punitive Hominicide” with a French production team.

Interview conducted on March 25th, 2009 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/bodyguards-and-assassins-punitive-homicide-director-teddy-chen-interview-fi/

[Milkyway]

Unofficial site: http://www.cinemapopular.com/productions.php#bodyguards-and-assassins

Brochure: http://www.cinemapopular.com/pdf/BNA-Brochure-Final.pdf

[Milkyway]

Conflict On The Set Of BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS?

When writing about the new trailer for Teddy Chen’s Bodyguards And Assassins just a couple days ago I commented on how it was, frankly, a little bit underwhelming. Could this be why?

According to published reports, after clashing with producer Peter Chan, director Teddy Chen walked off set for two weeks and was replaced for that period by Andrew Lau Wai-Keung. Chan and Chen would later patch up their differences with Chen eventually returning to the helm, but this sort of conflict - particularly in the middle of photography - never bodes well.

http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/conflict-on-the-set-of-bodyguards-and-assassins/

http://www.hkreporter.com/talks/thread-791873-1-1.html

[Milkyway]

'Infernal' Lau joins 'Bodyguards'
Cinema Popular production adds Lau on last shooting day

HONG KONG -- “Infernal Affairs” helmer Andrew Lau will join the production team of “Bodyguards and Assassins," the upcoming period epic from studio Cinema Popular.

Former beauty queen and assassin in Wong Kar Wai’s “Fallen Angels,” Michele Reis, rounds out the star-studded cast that includes Donnie Yen (“Ip Man”), Leon Lai (“Forever Enthralled”), Wang Xueqi (“Forever Enthralled”), Nicholas Tse (“Dragon Tiger Gate”), Tony Leung Ka-fai (“The Lover”) and Hu Jun (“Red Cliff”).

The Teddy Chen-directed, $22 million action drama went through 10 years of development and a turbulent three-month shoot, beset by accidents and injuries, at the elaborate set of 1900 Hong Kong that took a year to build in Shanghai.

Producers Peter Chan and Huang Jianxin enlisted the help of Andrew Lau on the last day of filming Monday. "Bodyguards" is produced under Cinema Popular, the joint venture between producer-director Chan and producer Huang Jianxin’s We Pictures and China’s Poly Bona. The film is scheduled for release December 18 in China.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/asia/hong-kong/e3i64d7e42a898297d7a0a4aea022a0a20b

[Drunken Monk]

Official trailer up...

http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/and-now-its-time-for-excitement.-the-official-trailer-for-teddy-chens-bodyg#extended

More exciting but I was expecting a little more of the old kung fu in the trailer.

[Milkyway]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lXedOfCaBU&feature=channel_page

[DiP]

BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS Full Trailer Released

A full trailer of Bodyguards and Assassins has been released on the net. Set in Hong Kong back in 1905 and largely fictional, the story tells Dr. Sun Yat-Suen, the soon-to-be founder of the Chinese republic, travels to Hong Kong to raise money for his revolutionary cause. The imperial government sends assassins to kill Sun, and a local business tycoon, Sun’s supporter, hires eight bodyguards to escort him to safety, through 13 blocks.

It is directed by Teddy Chan (Wait Till You’re Older, The Accidental Spy, Purple Storm) and produced by director Peter Chan (The Warlords, Perhaps Love, Comrades: Almost a Love Story) and director Huang Jianxin (Back to Back, Face to Face, Samsara, The Black Cannon Incident).

An all-star cast is aiming the film at a high box-officer return later this year. The cast include: Donnie Yen as Shen Chongyang, the Gambler; Leon Lai as Liu Yubai, the Beggar; Nicholas Tse as A Si, the Rickshaw Man, Hu Jun as Yan Xiaoguo, the Assassin; Leung Ka-Fai as Chen Shaobai, the Revolutionary; Li Yuchun as Fang Hong, the Diva; Wang Xueqi as Li Yutang, the Tycoon; Eric Tsang as Shi Mifu, the Policeman; Fan Bingbing as Yue Ru, the Concubine; Wang Bo-Chieh as Li Chongguang, the Heir; Simon Yam as Fang Tian, the Fugitive; Zhou Yun as A Chun, the Fiancée; Sabi Bateer as the Hawker; Cung Le as Sa Zhenshan, the Henchman; Michelle Reis; Xing Yu, Wang Wenjie and Philip Ng as another assassin. Chow Yun-Fat is rumored to play Sun Yat-Suen.

The project started almost a decade ago in Hong Kong, with the original title Sap Yeuh Wai Sing (Cantonese pronunciation), which means “October in Victoria City”. Victoria City was the urban area the British planned for themselves in mid-1800s. To tone down the colonial element in the title, the third character “Wai” was replaced by another one also pronounced as “Wai”. The new title, which has been used ever since, could mean “City Siege in October”.

In 2004, a set was built in Chinese city of Guangzhou, to recreate Hong Kong’s Central district in 1905, and shooting was about to start with Aaron Kwok, Leung Ka-Fai, Andy Lau and Eason Chan Then the financier backing the project unexpectedly took his own life, forcing the projected to be shut down.

Last year director producer Peter Chan and Huang Jianxin picked it up secured new funding from powerful Chinese companies, like China Film Group Corp., Bona Films and Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group. A larger, more expensive and more realistic set, occupies an area equals to 10 football fields, was built over an eight month span in Shanghai. Overwhelmed by the complexity of the filming, Teddy Chan and Peter Chan asked Andrew Lau for help. Lau (Confession of Pain, Initial D, the Infernal Affairs trilogy) flew in and took over the shooting of some scenes. He said he would use the same set for his next film. Could it be Queen’s Road Ripper, which tells Jack the Ripper vanishes from London and reappears in Hong Kong?

Principal shooting has wrapped up last week and the release in Hong Kong and the rest of China is scheduled for the coming Christmas.

The only thing produced during the first production attempt is a short teaser trailer, a CG clip showing the change of Hong Kong island’s cityscape from 1905 to 2005, in backward. This clip is contained in the full trailer.

http://www.monkeypeaches.com/

[DiP]

Rugged martial arts veteran kicks on to stardom

VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN martial artist Cung Le will soon emerge on screen fighting fiercely in "Bodyguards and Assassins," a period epic by Hong Kong filmmaker Teddy Chan.

The long-anticipated, action-packed flick follows a group of martial artists who try to protect revered Chinese revolutionary Dr Sun Yat-sen from an assassination attempt during his stay in Hong Kong on October 15, 1905.

Le, once the three-time world champion of kickboxing and now holder of the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship, portrays a henchman pitted against an obsessive gambler played by famed Hong Kong kung fu star Donnie Yen.

Celebrated for formidable skills in such martial arts styles as Chinese full-contact fighting, Japanese taekwondo, Thai boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling, Le made his first foray into Hollywood with a feature film "Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter" in 2007.

With his electrifying movement and rugged good looks, the fighter-turned-actor, 37, has starred in subsequent productions including "Fighting," "Tekken," "Pandorum" and "True Legend."

"Bodyguards and Assassins" was filmed at an enormous replica set of 1905 downtown Hong Kong in Shanghai's suburban Songjiang District. After a three-month shoot it is due for release on December 18.


Q: How did you start your fighting career?

A: When I was a 10-year-old boy, my family moved from Saigon to San Jose, California, where early bullying finally inspired my mother to protect her little son. So she took me to the martial arts school to learn how to defend myself.

After years of backbreaking practice, I mastered a variety of fighting styles. And then I became a professional fighter as well as a team coach.

Q: You've been billed as a world-class fighter with lots of medals and champion titles. What was your biggest win in this period?

A: I was able to beat Frank Shamrock, a long-time MMA (mixed martial arts) legend, in a fight at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, on March 29, 2008.

I defeated Shamrock by technical knockout in the third round when his right arm was broken after a series of kicks, prompting me to claim the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship, a world title that I still hold.

Q: Did your fighting career benefit your later acting performances?

A: Yes, it surely did. I think my early martial arts practice laid a solid foundation for my later acting career. It made me stronger, more athletic and physical to be a kung fu actor.

Also, the diverse martial arts styles I've grasped help me adapt to different characters.

Q: You've starred in several films over the past couple of years. Do you have a favorite among them?

A: Well, I try not to classify the films as each has its own excitement and strength.

But I'd like to say I'm happy to be part of the historic epic "Bodyguards and Assassins."

I feel privileged to work with Donnie Yen, one of my favorite actors and directors in Asia.

Q: In another Chinese-language film, "True Legend," you worked with director Woo-ping Yuen and actress Michelle Yeoh, both Asian film scene heavyweights. Talk about your collaboration with them.

A: Wow, it was quite an experience to work with two award-winning film personalities at one time. They are just awesome and I learned a lot from them.

I think I'm better prepared to be involved in Chinese-language films after my collaboration with Yuen and Yeoh.

Q: Do you have other planned projects?

A: "Pandorum," a sci-fi action thriller, is the story of a pair of crew members aboard a spaceship who wake up with no knowledge of their mission or their identity.

I starred alongside Dennis Marshall, Ben Foster and Cam Gigandet in the film and I'm going to promote it before its scheduled release next month.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200908/20090816/article_410811.htm

[Fightingfist]

Gotta watch this lol

[Maz]

New 8min promo vid with new footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdvjQVsG-Mo

[DiP]

Friggin awesome!!!

[DiP]

Teddy Chen has stated that there'll be over 60 minutes of non-stop action which will take up most of the second half of the movie. The running time will be around 135 minutes.

http://hktopten.blogspot.com/2009/10/20091018-bodyguards-and-assassins.html

[LoBo]

Good news to hear.
________
Paxil settlement information (http://www.classactionsettlements.org/lawsuit/paxil/)

[lillippa328]

Teddy Chen has stated that there'll be over 60 minutes of non-stop action which will take up most of the second half of the movie. The running time will be around 135 minutes.

http://hktopten.blogspot.com/2009/10/20091018-bodyguards-and-assassins.html



this is great news!

[Dragon Ma]

Man, am I excited for this.

[DiP]

Cung Le on working with Donnie Yen (courtesy of Rama's Screen):

RS: I’m Asian and I grew up in Asia watching all kinds of kung fu, martial art movies, watching Jet Li, Jackie Chan and all those guys and of course Donny Yen. I understand that you worked with him on BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. He always seems serious on screen, was he like that in person?

CL: Donny Yen to me was a very kind, generous but intense person. I didn’t have any problem with him because when I got on set, I’m just as intense, if not, more. I was just as focused and I brought just as many ideas to BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. We filmed for like 13-14 days straight and a couple of more days after. And I told Donny "Hey Donny, this fight scene that you and I are in, this is old school stuff, you’re Donny Yen, how come you don’t take charge in choreographing this?" and he’s like "I don’t wanna say anything and I don’t want the guy to lose his job", there’s so many other fight scenes that they could use his expertise on those scenes. We actually wrapped our scene and I was really unhappy, I told Donny and Donny felt the same way. Two months later I came back, they brought me back, Donny and I collaborated to shoot that scene that we did.. in 4 days. We shot and the last day Donny was "hey Cung, we can do a lot better but we need you a couple of more days" but I already needed to fulfill the agreement I had with Overture Films to be at Comic-Con to promote PANDORUM and Comic-Con is a big stage to promote PANDORUM and I said "I can’t do it bro, what we’re going to have to do is shoot straight" so Donny and I both shot for 24 hours straight to get the final shot and what we did in 15-16 days with that other fight coordinator, between Donny and I and his expertise cause I never wanna step on Donny’s foot, we did what we had to do to get it done in 4 days, amazing.

RS: Wow, now that must’ve been quite an experience!

CL: Yeah. I mean it was.. I did all my.. everything. Taking the hit, running the rooftop of course they got some guy for the real dangerous stuff because if I get injured, that’s it. But I did about 80% of everything.

http://ramascreen.com/exclusive-interview-cung-le-talks-pandorum/

[DiP]

8 min promo in much better quality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwNFQV0Lc_0

[nectarsis]

SO many good looking flicks coming up soon...and Donnie Yen seems to be in more than a few. I've VERY impressed on the massive scale of the 1:1 1905 HK setup.

[DiP]

Peter Chan's upcoming blockbuster to feature an Asian all-star cast

SINGAPORE: Award-winning Hong Kong director Peter Chan was in Singapore on Monday to promote his upcoming blockbuster Bodyguards and Assassins.

Costing more than US$23 million (S$32 million) to produce, Assassins and Bodyguards is a story based on a group of bodyguards protecting Sun Yat Sen from assassins in 1905 Hong Kong.

Produced by Chan and directed by Teddy Chan, Assassins and Bodyguards will feature more than 10 well-known stars across China and Hong Kong, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated Asian movies at the end of the year.

The stellar cast includes Donnie Yen, Wang Xueqi, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Nicholas Tse, Hu Jun, Leon Lai, Eric Tseng, Li Yuchun, Simon Yam, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Yun, Wang Po Cher, as well as a guest appearance from Michelle Reis.

While in Singapore for the first round of publicity, Chan said the reason for selecting a star-studded cast was mainly due to commercial viability.

"I could have replaced Leon Lai and Maggie Cheung in Comrades with Chinese actors since the characters were supposed to be from China," explained Chan, using his award-winning Comrades, Almost a Love story as an example to illustrate the importance of featuring well-known celebrities.

When the press asked Chan whose performance among the fourteen big names left a deep impression on him, the 45-year-old director listed two names: Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse.

"The first one is Donnie Yen. In the past, I used to see him heavily involved in fighting scenes," he said. "This time round, he has more emotional scenes as compared to the past and there were a few crying scenes where he was in his element."

He then added that Yen is also a perfectionist: "(Yen) requested to include an action scene which eventually cost the team to exceed the filming duration for ten days.

"However, the effects turned out brilliantly and have never been seen before in an Asian film. Yen just went on with his role and did not ask for anything in return."

Chan shifted his attention to Nicholas Tse next.

The 29-year-old actor plays an 18-year-old naive character, a drastic transformation from the usual cool and suave roles Tse usually undertakes.

"10 years ago, he had to act as a 30-year-old when he was 18," said the producer. "Now, it's the opposite. I was very surprised and pleased when he managed to bring out the innocence and naivety of his character. In the past, he just had to act cool. This is a refreshing change."

Tse's professionalism also etched a deep impression on Chan.

"There was a scene where (Tse) was beaten up by Hu Jun for protecting Sun Yat-San and he requested for a real fighting scene," he said. "In the end, I got his close friend (a martial arts instructor) to punch him. The friend kept punching his face for more than 10 times till his face was swollen and I decided that was enough."

While having a star-studded cast does have its perks, it is a big headache for the producers when the egos start kicking in. Did Chan encounter any particular problems?

"I faced more problems in Warlords (which feature Jet Li, Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro). It doesn't take 14 big names to create a problem, two is already more than enough to handle," Chan laughed.

What about the rumoured disagreement between Donnie Yen and Leon Lai?

"There are absolutely no problems. Don't believe the reports! The ones who are having problems are not reported instead," said Chan, who has indirectly opened up another can of worms.

When pressed by the media to reveal which big names were giving him problems, the bespectacled director replied with laughter: "I would not tell you, of course."

Body and Assassins is scheduled to be release on December 18 in Singapore.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1013023/1/.html#

[DiP]

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs080.snc3/14743_302458930021_291377040021_9412457_5574373_n. jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs274.snc1/10121_298608125021_291377040021_9353989_5097141_n. jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs274.snc1/10121_298607610021_291377040021_9353988_1724168_n. jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs254.snc1/10121_299843840021_291377040021_9368025_2063831_n. jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs080.snc3/14743_302382325021_291377040021_9411461_3233435_n. jpg

http://www.facebook.com/pages/-Bodyguards-and-Assassins/291377040021#/pages/-Bodyguards-and-Assassins/291377040021?v=photos

[DiP]

Promo 1 (new edit), with English subs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J60-EZ44p5k

[David Rees]

This looks like one of the early highlights for 2010, great cast and set design....cant wait.





www.dvdasia.co.uk.....dvd and blu ray from all over the world (http://www.dvdasia.co.uk)

[DiP]

'Bodyguards and Assassins' sells at AFM
E1, CJ pick up Chinese period thriller at Santa Monica market

HONG KONG -- Big-budget Chinese period thriller "Bodyguards and Assassins" has been sold by We Distribution to four territories at the beginning of the American Film Market.

E1 Entertainment picked up the film for the U.K. and Canada, while CJ Entertainment bought it for South Korea and Gulf Films took it for the Middle East.

The $23 million film directed by Teddy Chan is set in early 20th century Hong Kong with all the action taking place on the day of a failed assassination attempt on Sun Yat-sen. Its all-star cast includes Donnie Yen, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Leon Lai and Simon Yam.

" 'Bodyguards and Assassins' caters to the intelligence and appetites of China's increasingly sophisticated and fast-expanding audiences. I am also thrilled that we have phenomenal response from territories outside mainland China," producer Peter Chan Ho-sun said.

The film is already destined for a wide Asian release Dec. 18 with distribution handled in Taiwan by Applause Entertainment, in Singapore by MediaCorp. Raintree Pictures and Festive Films, in Malaysia by RAM Entertainment, in Thailand by United Home Entertainment and UIP, in Indonesia by PT Teguh Bakti and in Vietnam by Parkit Films. CJ will release the picture in Korea in January.

Production is by Cinema Popular, a joint venture between Chan, Huang Jianxin and Bona which was launched this year.

Cinema Popular also is shopping its action-romantic comedy "The Return of the Incredible Wu Xia Couple," directed by Vincent Kuk, and Dante Lam's period actioner "Flying Guillotines" at AFM.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7d9cea78ab893444626530f76a9f2ae7

[DiP]

http://tw.ent.yimg.com/mpho/24/81/22481.jpg

http://i0.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/c/2009-09-11/U3349P28T3D2694133F326DT20090911010752.jpg

http://i3.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/c/2009-09-11/U3349P28T3D2694134F326DT20090911011300.jpg

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/c/2009-09-11/U3349P28T3D2694134F329DT20090911011300.jpg

http://images.google.se/imgres?imgurl=http://i2.sinaimg.cn/ent/m/c/2009-09-11/U3349P28T3D2694134F329DT20090911011300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2009-09-11/ba2694134.shtml&usg=__99oOYor0DdKt22bYpigTWJZHrB4=&h=368&w=550&sz=51&hl=sv&start=393&um=1&tbnid=oSuR8JjV7mlHZM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%25E7%2594%2584%25E5%25AD%2590%25E4%2 5B8%25B9%2B-%2B%25E5%258D%2581%25E6%259C%2588%25E5%259C%258D%2 5E5%259F%258E%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Dsv%26sa%3DN%26sta rt%3D378%26um%3D1

http://www.tx365life.com/viewthread.php?tid=255614

[DiP]

Official Site (http://www.bodyguardsandassassins.com/)

[DiP]

Trailer 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NwUvwW6Lfw

[Drunken Monk]

Is it me or are they trying to hold off on showing us the action scenes?

[DiP]

Just to keep our expectations raised all the more. It's working.

[DiP]

'Bodyguards' Make Their Debut

"Bodyguards and Assassins", an all-star film about a group of bodyguards protecting Sun Yat-Sen from assassins in 1905 Hong Kong, premiered Thursday on the 143rd anniversary of the birth of the foremost pioneer of China's revolution.

Lead cast members, including Leon Lai, Donnie Yen and Fan Bingbing, joined director Teddy Chen and producers Peter Chan and Huang Jianxin at the ceremony in Nanjing in eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

On the same day, the stars visited Sun Yat-Sen's mausoleum in the city to pay respect to the revolutionary figure.

The actor who portrays Sun Yat-Sen in the film has not yet been disclosed, but director Chen says he will very much resemble Sun with the help of Hollywood makeup artists.

The film's star-studded cast also includes Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang, Hu Jun and Li Yuchun. Chinese basketball star Mengke Bateer also has a role.

The movie's release date is set for December 18.

http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/11/13/1261s529020.htm

[DiP]

First Timer Li Yuchun Fights like A Kung Fu Panda

Singer-turned-actress Li Yuchun (Chris Li) believes her role in the upcoming historical film "Bodyguards and Assassins" corresponds to Po, the protagonist of the popular animated movie "Kung Fu Panda."

"There are six guys protecting Sun Yat-sen in the movie--Donnie Yen, Nicolas Tse, Mengke Bateer, Bo-Chieh Wang, Leon Lai and me," the Information Times newspaper quoted Li as saying. "We have different kung fu styles, just like the Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper, and Crane together with Po in Kung Fu Panda."

The first time actress had to receive training for her three fight scenes.

"The workers showed me the training video," Li said. "I found myself looking totally like a clumsy bear. I used a nine-section whip, and it kept lashing my own face or getting tangled up around my hand. But after I finished shooting, I began to feel like a kung fu panda."

"Bodyguards and Assassins" is scheduled for release in China on December 18.

http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/11/17/1221s529925.htm

[DiP]

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/slidenews/4_img/2009_47/163_16676_747755.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/slidenews/4_img/2009_47/163_16677_633938.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/slidenews/4_img/2009_47/163_16684_230221.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/slidenews/4_img/2009_47/163_16685_352547.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/slidenews/4_img/2009_47/163_16695_994207.jpg

http://slide.ent.sina.com.cn/slide_4_163_1820.html#p=24

[Drunken Monk]

We get a taste of action in the new trailer...

http://twitchfilm.net/news/2009/11/new-bodyguards-and-assassins-trailer-action-orgasm.php

[DiP]

Donnie vs Cung Le, nuff said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeS4eJKq_xc

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

Getting a bit more amped for this movie! While Jackie and Jet are off doing crappy movies, Donnie is holding down the fort like a mofo!

[Drunken Monk]

There is some early evidence of wire work in the trailer but I'm hoping there isn't an abundance of it.

[TibetanWhiteCrane]

Yeah, I noticed that too. Let's hope it is kept to an absolute minimum!

[DiP]

Trailer 3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cavVzO8O4Ms

[DiP]

Jackie Cheung will not play Sun Yat Sen in "Bodyguards and Assassins"

HONG KONG : Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung will not play revolutionary leader Sun Yat Sen in upcoming movie "Bodyguards and Assassins", the film's production team announced on Wednesday.

Cheung, 48, will instead play revolutionary Yang Quyun who accompanied Sun when he returned to Hong Kong in 1894. His character will have little screen time and will sacrifice himself early in the film.

Produced by award-winning Hong Kong director Peter Chan, "Bodyguards and Assassins" is a story based on a group of bodyguards protecting Sun Yat Sen from assassins in 1905 Hong Kong.

Cheung's involvement in this film has been wrapped in so much secrecy that most of the main cast were not even aware of it. The production team also sealed off the set to shoot his scenes.

The film's director, Teddy Chen, said Cheung has decided to donate all his earnings from this film to charity.

Costing more than US$23 million (S$32 million) to produce, it features more than 10 well-known stars across China and Hong Kong, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated Asian movies at the end of the year.

The stellar cast includes Donnie Yen, Wang Xueqi, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Nicholas Tse, Hu Jun, Leon Lai, Eric Tseng, Li Yuchun, Simon Yam, Fan Bingbing, Zhou Yun, Wang Po Cher, as well as a guest appearance from Michelle Reis.

"Bodyguards and Assassins" is set to hit the big screen in mid December.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1020712/1/.html

[DiP]

Zhang Hanyu's Transformation into Sun Yat-Sen

Zhang Hanyu, who plays Sun Yat-Sen in the upcoming Chinese action thriller "Bodyguards and Assassins", is likely to astound the audience with the question, "Is that really him?"

Still pictures show that the famous actor apparently doesn't look like himself. Rather, he resembles his character, revolutionary forefather Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925), to an astonishing degree.

A series of behind-the-scenes photos released Monday shows why. The photos document Zhang's makeup process for the film. In one of the photos, Hollywood makeup artists carefully apply a skin-color latex mask to Zhang's face, with a black-and-white photograph of Sun Yat-Sen hanging in the background.

"I sat for seven hours everyday for the makeup," Zhang said recently, "But it's definitely worthwhile."

According to director Teddy Chan, he had shot four versions with each featuring a different actor playing Sun Yat-Sen. "Although it was really a hard decision to make, we eventually chose Zhang's version for the completed film."

Sun Yat-Sen is not a major role in "Bodyguards and Assassins", but it is key to the story, which is about a group of vigilantes trying to protect him from assassins on an October day in 1905.

The film boasts an all-star cast, which also includes Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang and Fan Bingbing. It is produced by Peter Chan.

A pan-Asian release is set for December 18.

http://english.cri.cn/6666/2009/12/07/1261s533868.htm

[DiP]

Contains 1/3 (around 4 min) of the whole fight (10 min long in total). Watch or avoid... Your choice!

scU43_TJlos

[Drunken Monk]

Eek! I watched some of it and some of the editing looks a bit awkward. It looks a little too frenetic in places.

[Drunken Monk]

Just watched it again and while there are some good moments (Donnie running down the corridor in Parkour-type fashion), I really didn't like the fight. Granted, I had my sound down so might not have felt the whole atmosphere of it but with the wild camera work, gratuitous slow motion and wirework I can say I'm rather disappointed.

[DiP]

http://www.mtime.com/movie/98991/trailer/23379.html

http://www.mtime.com/movie/98991/trailer/23380.html

http://www.mtime.com/movie/98991/trailer/23381.html

[DiP]

Donnie Yen Crossing Path with Cung Le in More Ways than One

While promoting Bodyguards and Assassins in Shanghai on December 9, producers Peter Chan and Yu Dong gave their thanks to Donnie Yen for helping the film wrap up successfully, returning to the set after filming had ended to re-enact a fight scene without taking extra pay. They also presented Donnie Yen with a film print of the parkour fight scene, that Donnie Yen, working with Cung Le and his longstanding team of 17 stuntmen, choreographed.

A portion of the 10 minutes fight scene between Cung Le and Donnie Yen was shown, opening with confusing camerawork and editing which thankfully stabilized in no time as it transitioned to a heart-stopping parkour chase, before segueing into a full-blown MMA-inspired martial arts sequence crisply delivered by both, while, for those growing weary of seeing Donnie Yen doing MMA yet again, other styles could be seen implemented in the making-of videos.

Donnie Yen was hesitant about this role initially, pondering over it for weeks, of whether he could handle such a demanding role, which was very different from his previous film Ip Man, of whether it might backfire instead. "I was eventually convinced by Peter Chan, for I should believe in Peter Chan, as well as in myself. Actually, I was given more than one choice, but I chose the down-and-out gambler eventually, and went all out to fulfill this role in terms of drama and action."

Peter Chan praises Donnie Yen unstintingly, "This scene is very representation of precision, speed and effectiveness. Being both the actor and martial arts director, Donnie Yen would be prone to hogging the limelight, yet from the finished cut, he was shooting mainly Cung Le, from our professional standpoint, this is very exceptional."

Donnie Yen elaborates on his duel with Cung Le, "I will never repeat myself, when shooting this scene, I was thinking parkour is a very popular sport, and while it was shown in a James Bond film, it wasn't done particularly well. I told Peter Chan, we've made built such a gargantuan set, spent so much money, why not shoot a graceful parkour fight scene?"

And so, they spent 8 days on the scene, creating what Peter Chan describes as his most ideal fight. Donnie Yen even worked non-stop for 26 hours, setting the record for the longest shoot on Bodyguards and Assassins. On his 84kg MMA champion opponent, Donnie Yen says, "It's like fighting a bull. Cung Le is the strongest opponent I have ever encountered in shooting action scenes, and because of his excellent martial arts skills and weight, I have to be extra careful."

Just a day before shooting this scene, Donnie Yen's grandmother, who was living in US, passed away. He couldn't sleep well, and his heart was very heavy, and he became quick-tempered. He was not able to attend her funeral, as he had already given his word, and to make matter worse, he had a relapse of waist injury, which made the parkour chase scene particularly a struggle to him.

Donnie Yen was recently listed as the highest paid Chinese actor this year, earning 12m yuan per film. Upon being asked about his pay, Donnie Yen smiles, "Sometimes, I get more, sometimes, lesser. Just like property, there is rise and fall. Today I get this amount, but the next day, I might get something completely different.

And it's only been announced recently that Dr Sun Yat Sen is played by Mainland award-winning actor Zhang Han Yu. Apparently, they couldn't come to a decision on picking which of the four actors they cast and filmed for the role until then.

http://www.wu-jing.org/happenings/archives/748-Donnie-Yen-Crossing-Path-with-Cung-Le-in-More-Ways-than-One.html

[DiP]

BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS Review

Those expecting a period action epic in a similar vein to last year's IP MAN may be left wanting by Teddy Chen's BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. Where Wilson Yip's film happily traded historical accuracy for fighting opportunities, Chen has chosen the opposite approach. The director takes his time to develop characters, position them carefully within a clear historical context and fully explore their relationship to each other and personal politics, before letting them off the leash to wreak bloody carnage.

Audiences teased by footage of Donnie Yen doing parkour through a crowded marketplace and unleashing holy hell on Le Cung have a long wait ahead of them. Only once outspoken revolutionary and assassination target Dr. Sun Yat Sen arrives in Hong Kong, a good hour into the film, does the action really begin. When it does, however, it does so in spades. The second half of the film unfolds more or less in real time and basically consists of one long chase/scuffle through the centre of turn-of-the-century Hong Kong. The Resistance must protect Dr. Sun from Quo (Hu Jun) and his Qing assassins, so he can meet with the leaders of the 13 rebel factions and plot the uprising that will bring about the end of the Qing Dynasty.

For the first half at least, Donnie Yen's Shen is very much a peripheral figure - a compulsive gambler with outstanding debts and exceedingly loose morals, happy to sell out anyone else if there's a quick buck in it for him. It is not until he is approached by old flame, the now Mrs. Li (Fan Bing Bing), and asked to watch over her husband during their mission that he really takes to the stage.

The true dramatic anchor of the film is Li, brilliantly played by Wang Xueqi. He starts the film as a successful businessman with little or no political agenda, but is drawn into the Resistance by his friend Chen (Tony Leung Ka Fai) and the involvement of his beloved son (Wang Bo Chieh), and eventually becomes a reluctant hero and the driving force of the operation.

Li recruits a ramshackle mob of "unsung heroes" to aid their mission, including his loyal rickshaw driver, A-Si (Nicholas Tse), whom Li vouches for when he proposes to a local girl. Chow Tofu (Mengke Bateer) is a giant, lumbering shaolin monk, who gladly puts himself forward to guard the convoy on its treacherous journey, and precocious young Fang Hong (Li Yuchun), the daughter of General Fang (Simon Yam), Dr. Sun's intended protector, who is brutally slaughtered with his men by the Qing forces days before the Doctor has even arrived.

Not only do Li and Chen have to contend with an encroaching army of invisible assassins, led by Quo (played with suitable menace by bad-guy du jour Hu Jun), but also Eric Zhang's interfering "puppet" police chief Shi, who is ordered to quell the riots by his British superiors, only to be instructed to turn a blind eye to the assassination attempts.

The problem with an ensemble piece like this is ensuring that enough screen time is given to each character and while Chen does a valiant job of making us understand and care about a good dozen or so different people, one or two do slip through the cracks.

This is most true in the case of Leon Lai's beggar, Liu. A washed-up warrior pining after a dead lover (a briefly glimpsed Michelle Reis), he is barely featured at all until he is called upon very late into proceedings to shave his beard and take on a whole legion of assassins single-handed. Lai's moment in the sun raised unintentional titters from the audience, not it seems for his performance or the direction, but simply because it's Leon and he simply fails to convince as a world-weary, lovelorn badass.

Hong Kong, circa 1906, is fantastically recreated on screen, thanks to a combination of vast outdoor sets seamlessly complimented by CGI landscapes. And it is here where the influence and involvement of producer Peter Chan Ho Sun can be most acutely felt. BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS boasts lavish production values, bringing a much-needed authenticity to the proceedings that director Chen effectively capitalizes on to build atmosphere, tension and an intricate web of characters.

Suffice to say that the film is more of a political drama than is perhaps hinted at in the film's marketing, but an engrossing and highly effective one. The context of this turbulent and volatile period of Chinese history is carefully executed and Chen ensures the drama is always placed ahead of any particular political agenda. And ultimately it is all for the audience's benefit. The second half is a tense and riveting piece of action cinema featuring some impressive fight sequences and numerous wince-inducing moments of bone-crushing violence, certainly worthy of the foundations so deliberately laid before it.

Cross published in bc Magazine (Hong Kong)

http://twitchfilm.net/reviews/2009/12/bodyguards-and-assassins-review.php

[WuxiaFan]

Good review! Thanks for posting! :smile:

[SimonMW]

Hmmm. The action was a bit difficult to follow in that preview. Glad there is more though. I thought that the fight had ended, but clearly there is a lot more.

What is interesting is that this is the first time that Donnie has allowed himself to be totally outclassed on screen. He really took a beating there, which i don't believe has ever really happened before. He usually dominates.

[DiP]

What is interesting is that this is the first time that Donnie has allowed himself to be totally outclassed on screen. He really took a beating there, which i don't believe has ever really happened before. He usually dominates.

I felt the same way when I watched it, but in terms of his own choreography. :bigsmile: Remember that he used to work with Woo Ping back in the day, which meant 50/50 outclassing from both parties.

[gorhama]

I for one would have no problem with Donnie Yen being outclassed for a while in his fight scene. To me it shows that he is willing to showcase a talented screen fighter and maybe just maybe that ego of his is taking a back seat and he's willing to let someone else shine as well. NOW I haven't seen it but I'm sure it's more 50/50 than Yen being outclassed. I'll hold off until I see it.

[blue_skies]

Hmmm. The action was a bit difficult to follow in that preview. Glad there is more though. I thought that the fight had ended, but clearly there is a lot more.

What is interesting is that this is the first time that Donnie has allowed himself to be totally outclassed on screen. He really took a beating there, which i don't believe has ever really happened before. He usually dominates.

I haven't been able to see the clip yet but that was one of the things I didn't like about Ip Man's fights with Donnie. He never really looked like he was going to lose at any given time. I think it's better when the lead takes a bit of a beating and you are not completely sure how he's going to overcome such a fierce adversary.

[shapes]

looks quite promising

[DiP]

Reviews.

http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews_2/bodyguards_assassins.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1403130/usercomments?filter=chrono

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20091217-186378.html

http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20091217-186389.html

[DiP]

BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (HK/China)

Genre: Action/Historical/Drama
Director: Teddy Chen
Cast: Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Wang Xueqi, Nicholas Tse, Tong Leung Ka-fai, Hu Jun, Simon Yam, Eric Tsang, Li Yuchun, Fan Bing-bing, Zhou Yun, Wang Po-chieh, Mengke Bateer, Michelle Reis, Xing Yu, Zhang Hanyu, Jacky Cheung
RunTime: 2 hrs 18 mins
Released By: Scorpio East Pictures, MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and Golden Village Pictures
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Official Website: http://www.bodyguardsandassassins.com

Opening Day: 17 December 2009

Synopsis:

1905, City of Victoria (British Colony of Hong Kong) In the distance of thirteen blocks, the one man who holds a nation’s fate must survive relentless attempts on his life with only five bodyguards to protect him. Against hundreds of assassins, these men must put their courage to the test in order to protect the hopes of millions in this perilous night even if it means fighting to the death…

Movie Review:

Things can never really go wrong when you have filmmaker Peter Chan on board as a producer. The veteran of Hong Kong cinema (the award winning director helmed the successful Comrades, Almost a Love Story, Perhaps Love and The Warlords) knows what works for the market, and what doesn’t. And this is not to imply that he is all commercialism and no substance. The ability to achieve a nice balance of fluff and stuff is one main reason Chan is one successful filmmaker in Asia. This time round, he ropes in director Teddy Chan (Wait 'Til You're Older, The Accidental Spy), with one main objective: To create one spectacular affair to wow viewers all around Asia.

So it is with this, we get the self touted 'action packed blockbuster of the year', and what a star studded affair it is.

Donnie Yen – an obvious choice because of his Ip Man fame. Wang Xueqi – an experienced Mainland Chinese actor who anchors the film. Tony Leung Ka Fai – he provides the affirmative weight to the cast chemistry. Nicholas Tse – another opportunity to hone his acting skills. Hu Jun – another Mainland actor who is increasingly popular with the masses, Eric Tseng – a familiar Hong Kong face always helps. Li Yuchun – a very popular singer in Mainland China would definitely boost the market. Fan Bing Bing – an obligatory pretty face from Mainland China to soften the mood. Mengke Bateer – the professional basketball player from Inner Mongolia would help to pull in some fans too.

The list doesn’t stop here. We’ve also got other notable names like Leon Lai, Simon Yam, Jacky Cheung, Michelle Reis and Zhang Hanyu (in cameo roles which are essentially important to the story) in the mix. Indeed, listing all these actors down almost seems like an exhausting task – imagine what the casting director went through to pin down the cast?

The pro Chinese story works for the production too: Revolutionary leader Sun Yat Sen is arriving in Hong Kong, and the politically dangerous trip requires a group of patriotic bodyguards who will go all out to protect the man. And it is with this, the 138 minute movie is played out nicely like an action adventure.

The impressive production values will awe you – Huge sets, magnificent cinematography, rhythmic editing, engaging action choreography, decent computer effects and emotionally charged music score are all part of the equation to this recommended movie. Sure, the storyline isn’t really considered innovative, but the pompousness of a production like this doesn’t need anything more.

Action fans would be pleased to know that there are some memorable sequences showcasing Yen’s agile moves, all adrenaline charged. Lai gets to be part of the fun too, but the Heavenly King’s character design is just too awkwardly distracting to hold ground. Celebrity Li’s foray is decent, as she turns in an affecting performance as a revolutionary’s daughter who gets involved in the turmoil. Other actors like Tse, Leung and Hu may have to resort to makeup antics like scars and blood to capture the audience’s attention, but being capable and respectable actors already, this doesn’t come off as exploitative.

If there’s one name to look out for during the award season, it has to be 63 year old Wang’s winning performance as a merchant. Note to budding artistes: This is called acting. Every subtle facial expression, eye movement or hand gesture is indicative of the experienced actor’s skill to bring out the intricate personality of the character. Though not a key scene of the movie, watch out for the sequence where the wealthy merchant agrees to propose on behalf of Tse’s rickshaw puller character. Through some simple exchange of words and actions, this scene stands out as the most poignantly moving portion of the movie.

Rating: 4/5 (An impressive ensemble piece with remarkable production values)

Review by John Li

http://moviexclusive.com/review/bodyguardsandassassins/bodyguardsandassassins.html

[DiP]

Bodyguards and Assassins

It’s difficult to classify what type of film “Bodyguards and Assassins” actually is. It’s based on an historical event (although most details are fabricated) and mixes producer Peter Chan’s signature tear-jerking style with director Teddy Chan’s typical fast-paced action scenes. A big budget and a star-studded cast means this local production does have its moments, but overall it’s ruined by too many wrong turns.

The film is based on Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s very brief trip to colonial Hong Kong in 1905, right after he set up the Chinese United League in Tokyo, the organization that led the 1911 revolution. The trip is for a one-hour meeting with the leaders of league branches from China to discuss strategies for the revolution. The Qing Empire has sent out assassins to take down Dr. Sun, while the British government has decided to take a step back instead of providing protection. This leaves unarmed revolutionists to protect Dr. Sun. People from all walks of life are recruited; among them are a tycoon (Wang Xueqi), his rickshaw runner (Nicholas Tse), a stinky tofu hawker (former NBA player Mengke Bateer), and a policeman (Donnie Yen). The lives of these people become intertwined, making the plan more complicated and less secure than it originally seemed.

What is hugely impressive about this film is that Chan spent RMB43 million building a life-size replica of Central, circa 1905, in a Shanghai movie studio. As the characters run rickshaws down the tong lau-lined Gage and Pottinger Streets, it is apparent how much heritage we have lost in Hong Kong. So much so that a filmmaker had to rebuild it in Shanghai, and here comes the irony—the studio will be transformed into a tourist attraction for people wanting a glimpse of old Hong Kong.

What is also admirable is the great performance by Nicholas Tse. After years of public humiliation with his acts of rebellion, the former pop idol proves himself a solid actor by mastering the complexity of his deceptively simple-minded rickshaw runner character.

Almost everyone in the cast does extremely well—except Leon Lai. Sadly, he cares too much about his “heavenly king” image and makes a total fool of himself when he appears with long hair and tries to kick some bad guy’s ass.
Aside from the Leon absurdity, “Bodyguards and Assassins” has a pacing issue, leaving us bored during the tear-jerking moments and confused when the action scenes are simply way too fast for anyone to follow. We are talking about more than 60 minutes of non-stop action toward the end of the film—schizophrenic storytelling just doesn’t work in this case.

3/5 Stars by Winnie Yeung.

(Hong Kong) Directed by Teddy Chan. Starring Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Wang Xueqi, Hu Jun, Tony Leung Ka-fai. Category IIB, 138 minutes. Opens Dec 18.

http://hk-magazine.com/feature/bodyguards-and-assassins

[DiP]

Korean poster.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/HITMANBHG/lposter041693.jpg

[DiP]

"Bodyguards and Assassins" sweeps big screen

From "Perhaps Love", "The Warlords", to "Bodyguards and Assassins", Peter Chan has become the only Hong Kong director to compete with mainland heavyweights like Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang and Zhang Yimou. Fresh from the first weekend showings of his latest film, let's take a look at how it has performed.

Since Thursday night's premiere, "Bodyguards and the Assassins" has taken seventy thousand yuan from its nationwide screenings. At a cinema in Beijing, all showings from noon to nine at night are sold out.

Audience feedback has been quite good. While some are impressed by the actors' performances, some think the mainstream theme has some entertaining elements, making it more intriguing.

According to an internet poll, sixty three percent of cinema goers give the film a score above ninety, while four out of five think both the drama and the martial arts scene are excellent.

It seems that the story about bodyguards who protect Sun Yat-sen, the forerunner of the Chinese democratic revolution from assassins will pave the way for box office success in the days to come.

http://english.cctv.com/program/cultureexpress/20091223/101917.shtml

[BaronK]

If this does well, we can look forward to Bodyguards and Assassins 2, Young Bodyguards and Assassins The Prequel, Sun Yat Sen the movie, Young Sun Yat Sen and a Bodyguards and Assassins movie from Wong Kar Wai.

[DiP]

Reimagining a Pivotal Year in China

SHANGHAI — Big, star-studded ensemble casts with their many egos are notoriously difficult to handle, and for Teddy Chen, the director of the Chinese blockbuster “Bodyguards and Assassins,” it was no different.

The film, which opened throughout most of Asia last week, features some of the hottest Chinese stars of the moment: the martial arts hero Donnie Yen, the Hong Kong actor-singer Leon Lai, the veteran actor Wang Xueqi, the Hong Kong heartthrob Nicholas Tse and Fan Bingbing, one of the most popular actresses on the mainland. There are also cameo roles by the Hong Kong star Michelle Reis and by Zhang Hanyu, the lead actor in “Assembly,” a 2007 film by Feng Xiaogang.

Over the summer, while still on the film’s set on the outskirts of Shanghai, Mr. Chen admitted to finding the experience stressful. Peter Chan, one of movie’s three producers, said he felt he also had to stay on the set throughout most of the production to “calm everybody down.”

“Movie stars are movie stars, and an ensemble cast is the one thing that scares them most,” Mr. Chan said. “They’re concerned another actor could outperform them; they could get less screen time if that’s the case. They’re afraid of letting themselves be at the mercy of the film director and producer, who have more control over the movie’s final editing because they can play out one character more than another.”

But the difficulties seem to have been worth it: “Bodyguards and Assassins” (Shi yue wei cheng) and its stars’ performances have been given the thumbs up by Chinese distributors, who dedicated 70 percent of cinema screens in the country to its opening weekend. Not surprisingly, the movie claimed the No.1 spot for Dec. 18-20, earning 74.8 million renminbi, or about $11 million. With the release of the Hollywood film “Avatar” delayed in China until early January, Mr. Chan said he is confident that “Bodyguards and Assassins” is on target to bring in a total 300 million to 350 million renminbi, which would make it one of the most successful Chinese-made movies ever.

It has been well-received by critics, with the journalist Zei Xin of Chengdu Daily noting, “The film provides what most Chinese commercial blockbusters’ lack — concrete contents and attention to details.” The movie has been sold for distribution next year in Britain and Canada.

The film takes the audience back to Hong Kong, circa 1905. The Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen is due to spend a few crucial hours in the British colony, meeting other revolutionaries to plot their next move in their battle to take control of China, and the Qing empress has sent an army of assassins to kill him. With the British government deciding to stay on the sidelines, it’s up to a group of misfits — including a tofu hawker (the former NBA player Mengke Bateer), a gambler (Donnie Yen) and an opium-addicted beggar (Leon Lai) — to protect him; all of them are, of course, martial arts experts.

Mr. Chen said the inspiration for the script came from the 1973 movie “The Bodyguard,” directed by his father, Tung Man Chan. “It was just a hard-core action movie,” said Mr. Chan, who recalls going to his father’s film set as a child. But while the original film focused on a couple of characters, the new one incorporates a broader cast.

While the new version is still a fast-paced action movie, Mr. Chan believes it is closer to a disaster film in its structure. It’s reminiscent of “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Towering Inferno” or “Titanic,” he said, in that “the first half of the film is spent presenting the various characters who are going to be summoned to the task, while the second half is about the disaster” or the attempted assassination of Sun Yat-sen and how the characters deal with it.

Mr. Chen said he started working on the film 10 years ago and had faced several financial setbacks. Key to the $23 million film was an elaborate $5 million set, at one-to-one scale, of a Hong Kong neighborhood in 1905, including the historic Pottinger “Stone Slab” Street.

“I tried to talk him out of building such an elaborate set because I thought it was too expensive,” Mr. Chan said. “In hindsight, I realize he was right to hold out for it. The film set actually became the single thing that drew all the people together; it worked like magic in a way because every star who came to the set was so impressed, it gave them that extra push.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/arts/24iht-chen.html?_r=1

[fiol]

the movie has been released in China (mainland) on dvd (original, not bootleg)
'till now it's out only the D5 version without english subs.. let's see if the D9 (with dts) will have the eng subs or not.

[QueMuchita]

I can't wait for this to be released on DVD with English subs as I still haven't seen this. Does anybody know when The Flying Guillotines or Queen's Road Ripper movies are being released?

[DiP]

The China version is cut. Avoid it at all cost!

[fiol]

The China version is cut. Avoid it at all cost!
it runs 132min... how long is the uncut version?

edit: it's 132min pal... hk version runs 139ntsc.. now.. are u sure it's cut?

[DiP]

People from China and Singapore noted that the Donnie/Cung Le fight was edited down to around 4 min (as long as the preview clip I posted a while ago), it's reportedly 10 min long. Hong Kong and Australian audiences has confirmed otherwise. Perhaps the movie runs longer than 139 min ntsc.

[fiol]

People from China and Singapore noted that the Donnie/Cung Le fight was edited down to around 4 min (as long as the preview clip I posted a while ago), it's reportedly 10 min long. Hong Kong and Australian audiences has confirmed otherwise. Perhaps the movie runs longer than 139 min ntsc.

Oh i understand. Well, i will wait for the HK release ^^

[FrankBolte]

I watched this back in december when I was in Hongkong. It was a small shabby cinema on the 8th floor in Mongkok,the cinema had space for ca. 120 people and was sold out me and my GF sat in the second row so it was kinda uncomfortable to watch ..anyway the movie rocked! Loved it to the max,the old HK looks amazing,good job. I heard from Bey Logan they use it also for yip man 2.....

[fiol]

I watched this back in december when I was in Hongkong. It was a small shabby cinema on the 8th floor in Mongkok,the cinema had space for ca. 120 people and was sold out me and my GF sat in the second row so it was kinda uncomfortable to watch ..anyway the movie rocked! Loved it to the max,the old HK looks amazing,good job. I heard from Bey Logan they use it also for yip man 2.....

oh that cinema! i watched Flash Point twice when it got released! :bigsmile:

[shapes]

Just finished watchig this, really enjoyed it, really well constructed plot and well told for once, actors were all excellent, the only let down was the fighting, it was quite dull and un original, the Donnie fights were very good esp the first time he fights on the balcony. the film is a two thumbs up though, wish the Manchu villains could have had a few more surpirses in their arsenal like a wicked kicker who infultrates Tony Leungs camp and unleashes at the end.

[DiP]

What version did you watch? And how many fights did Donnie get?

[shapes]

2hrs 10 mins he fights a four times or so

[BaronK]

I haven't seen the movie with subs yet but it looks great and it is character/story driven. The action supports it much in the way Danny the Dog's action supported the story. It's not about great choreographed screen fights. There are no great takes or memorable fights in the movie. It's supportive "action". The action is completely done in a means to end fashion, rather than how most like their action on screen(as "fights").
No complaints, like I had none with DtD action wise. To me it's first, foremost and last, about the story. I look forward to seeing it with subs.
When he says Donnie fights about 4 times, it's not like him having 4 fights in ItLoD4. These are sprinkle bits. A kick and a punch. A. Not really "fights".

[DiP]

The China/non-Hong Kong version indeed for you two. Not good.

Anyway, good retros. I'll wait for the DVD when it goes out.

[shapes]

it's better than not seing it, the free running fight was not that great, but the first bit in the fight when donnie gets booted was fantastic, really good use of wires
anyone know if that guy Xueqi Wang who plays Lee Yu Tng the nesw papaer boos has done any other good films, he was tremendous in this. so were Tony "bachand" Leung and Nick Tse

[DiP]

edit: it's 132min pal... hk version runs 139ntsc.. now.. are u sure it's cut?

Just looked through Yesasia, and found specs for the China DVD. It states 138 min PAL. Is it right? Where did you get your specs?

http://www.yesasia.com/global/bodyguards-and-assassins-dvd-china-version/1022004490-0-0-0-en/info.html

[lillippa328]

any english subs yet?

[DiP]

You will have to wait till the end of next month.

http://www.yesasia.com/global/bodyguards-and-assassins-dvd-hong-kong-version/1021422757-0-0-0-en/info.html

[kaleyboy]

Eng subs now available from the usual places.

[fiol]

Just looked through Yesasia, and found specs for the China DVD. It states 138 min PAL. Is it right? Where did you get your specs?

http://www.yesasia.com/global/bodyguards-and-assassins-dvd-china-version/1022004490-0-0-0-en/info.html

http://www.gouduo.com/ware_13326.html

it says 132min pal

[mark187]

http://www.yesasia.com/us/bodyguards-and-assassins-dvd-hong-kong-version/1021422757-0-0-0-en/info.html

HK version now available to preorder,comes out Feb 8th!

[daisho2004]

Bodyguards And Assassins (PREORDER 02/08/2010 Dark October Siege / Shi Yue Wei Cheng / Sap Yueh Wai Sing) its being released through hkDVDstore.com with English Sub-T's I haven't ordered from this site before so how is it, is it a legit site to order from?

[fiol]

i guess i ll buy the hk vcd..

[niro]

Gonna watch the blu-ray version soon hopefully

[kaleyboy]

I didn't like this movie, the story was boring and didn't engage me at all. The scenes with Donnie were decent, apart from the fact that he didn't shave his head for the role and he wears a skull-cap throughout, making his head look like a water mellon. Add to that CGI blood, wires, Nicholas Tse, etc. The plus points were strong direction, and a great cast with some fantastic acting. Particularly the old guy, who plays the new husband of Donnie's ex-wife. He's actually playing the same character played by Ti Lung in Battle For The Republic Of China.

[Monk Sante]

I didn't like this movie, the story was boring and didn't engage me at all. The scenes with Donnie were decent, apart from the fact that he didn't shave his head for the role and he wears a skull-cap throughout, making his head look like a water mellon. Add to that CGI blood, wires, Nicholas Tse, etc. The plus points were strong direction, and a great cast with some fantastic acting. Particularly the old guy, who plays the new husband of Donnie's ex-wife. He's actually playing the same character played by Ti Lung in Battle For The Republic Of China.

I ordered this film hoping it was kick ass.....I guess I will have to wait for my copy to see if I agree or disagree. :squigglemouth:

[The Dragon]

I ordered this film hoping it was kick ass.....I guess I will have to wait for my copy to see if I agree or disagree. :squigglemouth:

Sometimes you just have to view it yourself... People have different tastes. I remember watching Dragon, Tiger, Gate and enjoying it, after many people spoke about their dislike of it. It's a live-action Anime'... Popcorn fun. No more, no less.

:nerd:

[Asmo]

Bodyguards And Assassins (PREORDER 02/08/2010 Dark October Siege / Shi Yue Wei Cheng / Sap Yueh Wai Sing) its being released through hkDVDstore.com with English Sub-T's I haven't ordered from this site before so how is it, is it a legit site to order from?

From my experience they sell bootlegs.

[Monk Sante]

Sometimes you just have to view it yourself... People have different tastes. I remember watching Dragon, Tiger, Gate and enjoying it, after many people spoke about their dislike of it. It's a live-action Anime'... Popcorn fun. No more, no less.

:nerd:

I agree with you 100% Dragon.....I've totally avoided films that others disliked, and thanks to YouTube most of these films are now part of my growing collection. Taste vary I guess. :angel:

[kaleyboy]

One man's meat is another man's poison. All views are subjective, just 'cos I didn't like doesn't mean others will feel the same. I hope you enjoy it, Monk Sante; but there were too many things about it irritated me. For you, it may be totally different.

[fiol]

any snapshot from the dvd? i'd like to see how the quality is..

[WuxiaFan]

With this post, I am now a MASTER! FTW!!!

You're a stud.
:yociexp102:


What does Mrs. Dragon (aka Angela) think of that?
:yociexp50:

[AlbertV]

I'm ordering the VCD with some select DVDs from YesAsia.com, since I no longer have my all-region player (died after 7 years of having it :( - will get another one soon I hope)

[LoBo]

Just be prepared, it has something like 15 min of action out of 138 min. I was very disappointed by the film.
________
How to make a vaporizer (http://vaporizer.org/reviews)

[WuxiaFan]

I'm ordering the VCD with some select DVDs from YesAsia.com, since I no longer have my all-region player (died after 7 years of having it :( - will get another one soon I hope)

What are you going to play it on? Why are you wasting your money on VCDs anyway??
:khi3f:


Go with an Oppo Digital player. They're the best universal players, IMO. Check out the Benchmark Reviews at Secrets of Home Theater HiFi:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/the-secrets-dvd-player-benchmark.html

[Karlos]

My DVD of this - along with my copy of STORM WARRIORS - arrived yesterday from YesAsia.com

I have to say I liked it; it's beautifully made, incredibly well acted and the sets - well, words can't do that aspect justice; incredible work, there.

That said, it's very much a drama and I think that's were a lot of negativity towards it comes in as it was sold as very much a "balls out" action flick - which it sure isn't.

And why the f--- Donnie didn't shave his head for this, I'll never know. I'm sure he had his reasons but bloody hell, he looks like an alien in some shots!! :tongue:

[DiP]

That said, it's very much a drama and I think that's were a lot of negativity towards it comes in as it was sold as very much a "balls out" action flick - which it sure isn't.

The usual promo reasons (famous actors for each particular genre). Understandable.

[lillippa328]

was it this or 14 blades that said the whole last hour is action?

[DiP]

This movie. 14 Blades, on the other hand, is packed with great action set-pieces (I've been told the movie has 8 major scenes plus some small ones) so for those who expected to see Donnie do major ass-kicking in B&A should look out for 14 Blades instead.

[daisho2004]

OK I finally got to watch this movie today, and I will say it had an excellent storyline and a great cast involved in it. But don't go into this movie thinking it is an Action movie because it really isn't as a few Guys here stated it only has about 15min. of action in the whole movie. Its all about the drama that makes this movie. The fight scenes they had were good I wish there were a few more but I guess the Director didn't want to take away from what this movie was all about. Overall a good movie to watch.

BTW if anyone wants to pick it up for a great price I got mine from "almodovars" he is a seller on eBay, this DVD had a great picture and excellent English subtitles.

[fiol]

BTW if anyone wants to pick it up for a great price I got mine from "almodovars" he is a seller on eBay, this DVD had a great picture and excellent English subtitles.

they dont seem genuine to me
it listed 1 dvd and the original release is 2 dvd-set:
http://dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=10540
also some other stuff he's selling dont look original products..

[lillippa328]

i bought mine at Foreign Flix (Foreign Cinema) in VA for 13.99 :)


good news! They now carry Mega Star! This, along with Storm Riders 2, Founding of a Republic and a whole load of other films, all Mega Star!

[daisho2004]

they dont seem genuine to me

fiol: These are overseas sellers. I buy a lot of my movies overseas because if you waited for an official US release of half these movies you'd be an Old Man. There pressed copies and they look legit enough for me and the prices are great. So again you can wait for a US release or you can get the movie now.
And honestly I really never watch the 2nd. disc so its no big deal to see the making of it or the TV Spot.

[fiol]

fiol: These are overseas sellers. I buy a lot of my movies overseas because if you waited for an official US release of half these movies you'd be an Old Man. There pressed copies and they look legit enough for me and the prices are great. So again you can wait for a US release or you can get the movie now.
And honestly I really never watch the 2nd. disc so its no big deal to see the making of it or the TV Spot.

if i have to buy a movie i buy the original hk rls (in this case of course)
i will never buy a boot (and i'm from italy where these kind of movies (or better, 99,9999999% of asian movies) dont even get a release) and i dont want to give money to the bootlegers.
i already hacked my dvd players so i dont have problems with the region things..

[daisho2004]

fiol: Well again it all comes down to how bad you want a movie, and I really wanted to see Bodyguards & Assassins. I also have an all region player as well, but again the pressed DVDs are superb in all areas, picture quality, sound, and subtitles so I really don't consider them to be bootlegs. If an official US release comes out and I loved the movie than I'll pick it up. But I'm glad that I can get these movies from overseas in order to watch them.

[blue_skies]

I'll happily purchase Asian DVD releases as long as they are genuine releases. I want to see many films badly and own a copy of a particular film, yet I refuse to give money to bootleggers. Particularly with niche movies like martial-arts films the money has to go to the right people so that more are made. Couldn't care less if people rip-off Hollywood, most of their product deserves to be ripped off imho.

Is that DDDHouse DVD a bootleg and does this online retailer usually sell pirate copies?

[Asmo]

DDDHouse have never sold bootlegs when I've dealt with them.

[fiol]

dddhouse sells genuine rlses

[David Rees]

ddd house are fantastic, one of the best.
Just saw the film and was very impressed...as a drama. Its not an all out action film but when it comes its very good and the acting is top notch too.
Go in with the mindset of seeing a great drama as opposed to action and you will be fine.
Amazing set design too.


HK Legends OOP DVDS..CLICK HERE (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574630925&toolid=10001&campid=5335817596&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fdvd-video.shop.ebay.co.uk%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3 Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3Dhong%2Bkong%2Blegends%26 _sacat%3D11232)

[Morgoth Bauglir]

fiol: Well again it all comes down to how bad you want a movie, and I really wanted to see Bodyguards & Assassins. I also have an all region player as well, but again the pressed DVDs are superb in all areas, picture quality, sound, and subtitles so I really don't consider them to be bootlegs. If an official US release comes out and I loved the movie than I'll pick it up. But I'm glad that I can get these movies from overseas in order to watch them.

Be careful with those boots. I wish I would have been onto them when I first started collecting Shaw Brothers and other DVDs I bought online. I wasted so much money. I agree with blue skies. The money needs to go into the right hands. And they can still get you even if you think you know what you are doing. I ordered Red Cliff part 1 off ebay thinking it was legit. Damn thing was taped off a TV station, has HORRIBLE subs that appear when they want to, and it was majorly cut!:sad:

[Karlos]

You simply can't go wrong with these 2 suppliers:

DDDHouse.com

&

YesAsia.com


100% on the level, legit releases only.

:bigsmile:

[lillippa328]

just watched it ....great movie!!! excelent!!!!!!!!



for all yall that are saying theres no action...ur wrong...the last hour had all the good stuff...this is not a kung fu movie,but a good ass movie! The last hour was very intense with plenty of action all in it!



9/10!

[gorhama]

just watched it ....great movie!!! excelent!!!!!!!!



for all yall that are saying theres no action...ur wrong...the last hour had all the good stuff...this is not a kung fu movie,but a good ass movie! The last hour was very intense with plenty of action all in it!



9/10!



Totally agree, it was more of a political thriller/drama than an all out Kung Fu movie. That being said the action on hand in the last hour was great!! I was watching it and totally engorssed in the acting, the production values and the awesome sets that I didn't even think hey I haven't seen any action. Then when it happend it was very awesome.

[daisho2004]

Well again I always read the reviews/comments of other people before I buy online from eBay, but I can honestly say I never really had a problem with there movies and I always ask about money back if anything is wrong with the movies. :xd:

[lillippa328]

Totally agree, it was more of a political thriller/drama than an all out Kung Fu movie. That being said the action on hand in the last hour was great!! I was watching it and totally engorssed in the acting, the production values and the awesome sets that I didn't even think hey I haven't seen any action. Then when it happend it was very awesome.




oh 100% man...those sets were crazy beautiful!!! Deff. a political thriller/drama with some MA mixed in, but maan what a good fresh breath of air into the genre

[The Dragon]

I just finished watching this film and that's my comment! What a well paced, acted, and directed film. The casting was terrific and it was one of those films that left me waiting anxiously to see what was going to happen next. I loved the role Leon Lai played here, and even Simon Yam.
If this is a new dimension to the genre-I welcome it with open arms!

:khi8j:

[ukrevrend]

Now this is the first time I have posted in this section of the forum, (i'm strictly 'old school with Shapes'), don't really watch these 'new' productions. But being a Donnie Yen fan from way back and after viewing and really liking Yip Man, I gave this an airing last night.
Really enjoyed it, from the story, to the sets and even the kung fu scenes, although few and far between! I agree with a lot of the reviewers here, that although this was billed as a actioneer, it is actually a drama with action, maybe I'm mellowing, but the lack of action until the last hour or so, didn't bother me in the least, the story kept me and some very convincing acting from a very good cast. All in all I would recommend this, even to my 'old school heads!', who like me, must move with the genre or get left behind!!
4/5
Bless

[BaronK]

So why has no one mentioned the supposed 10 minute Cung Le/Donnie fight from the HK version? I take it people have the HK version dvd. Can anyone confirm it's existence?

[Asmo]

I got the Blu Ray of this today. Can't wait to watch it!

[lillippa328]

So why has no one mentioned the supposed 10 minute Cung Le/Donnie fight from the HK version? I take it people have the HK version dvd. Can anyone confirm it's existence?



What really?>!!!

[David Rees]

So why has no one mentioned the supposed 10 minute Cung Le/Donnie fight from the HK version? I take it people have the HK version dvd. Can anyone confirm it's existence?

Its more of a long chase scene, but very well done...........



Shaw Brothers Official All Region DVDs Here (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574630925&toolid=10001&campid=5335817596&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fstores.ebay.com%2FMood-in-Asia_Shaw-Brothers_W0QQ_fsubZ513983010QQ_sidZ168257000QQ_trk sidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322)

FAR EAST BLU RAY GUIDE (http://dvdasia.co.uk/)

[DiP]

Probably a false claim by the media. They did the same thing to True Legend, stating the opening fight scene would be 10 min but only to be shorter than that.

[Asmo]

This is a great film, I enjoyed every second of it.

[BLfan]

The UK Blu Ray version is currently at a cheap pre-order price of £11.99 at Amazon.co.uk. I will order this soon. :bigsmile:

[fiol]

two limited edition from HK:

Bodyguards And Assassins (3 DVD Limited Edition)
http://dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=10750

Bodyguards And Assassins (2 Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
http://dddhouse.com/v3/product_details.php?ProductID=10749

i dunno what to do.. if u ,guys, have to give a mark from 0 to 10.. what's urs?

[DiP]

Wow... 50 min long docu and 70 min of other material including deleted scenes. Hopefully, the full Donnie/Cung Le fight is included.

[fiol]

yeah i know... but i have to know how it s the movie before purchasing it (14 blades was a blind purchase and the movie turned out to be quite good but it was cheap...)

[LoBo]

Buy it only if you like a 2 hr. drama film with 15 min of action.
________
Ipad Cases (http://accesoriesipad.com/)

[DiP]

yeah i know... but i have to know how it s the movie before purchasing it

It's easy, just download a torrent (from free torrent sites) of the movie before deciding to purchase something. Always works.

[fiol]

lol i thought about that but then once i watched it on dvx i won't buy the dvd (also because i dont watch special features really often ) :xd:

@LoBo: uhmm.. 2h drama and 15min action? lol better think it over :bigsmile:

[xianzai]

I enjoyed it overall, but it's definitely not beginning-to-end action. The action is plentiful in the last hour and well done.

What's starting to bug me about these big-budget HK/Chinese releases is they are filling up running time with slow-moving scenes where the actors try to emote. Unfortunately, a lot of actors aren't good at it, so these scenes really hurt movies. Let's get back to 90 minutes of plot and action, with closeups of actors trying to emote cut to the minimum.

[GwaiLoMoFo]

Just watched it, pretty good overall. But it did try too hard to be sentimental...over did it a bit.

[One Armed Boxer]

I agree with GwaiLoMoFo...it was a good film overall.

I watched it last week and stayed away from reading this thread until I did...but perhaps now I should have read it first, yes 15 minutes of action is a much more accurate description than the much hyped "over 60 minutes of intense action" that was used to market the movie...which is the expectation I went into it with.

I think I will have to give it a second view when I will watch it with a clearer idea as to what type of move it actually is. The plus points where that the story was well told, and the drama for me at least was gripping and kept it interesting, with the majority of characters being well developed and thought out. The set is also amazing, and even if it is not an hour of action, the fact that the last hour does take place in what is basically real time is a technically excellent achievement.

The downsides are, first up the obvious - those expecting the hour of awesome action won't get it. Also, I was watching it with my friend, and when Donnie Yen and Cung Le face off my friend actually said to me "Does this need to be in the film?". I have to say I'm inclined to agree with them, personally I couldn't wait for the fight to start, but when it comes around it feels like it's there because it's Donnie Yen so the movie needed a fight, and it doesn't really flow with the story.

Plus, it was a dissapointment....when compared to the grounded and realistic story that's come before, when Cung Le does what looks like a 10 foot leap off the stall just to kick Donnie in the head, it's almost laughable.

Leon Lai is also a downside, at least Donnie allowed the makeup department to make him look like he'd been beaten within an inch of his life (as well as give him a melon head). However after Lai takes on countless attackers and is slashed to death...his face remains in pristine condition with not a mark on it...once again when compared to what Donnie looked like after taking on just one guy, the illusion of reality is broken. His emotional ramblings about falling for his fathers woman were also not very convincing.

Lastly I would have to say, after spending so much money on the set, why does the movie feature some completely unrealistic looking CGI blood!? I'm sure they could have streched the budget to invest in some squibs, otherwise why not make the set CGI as well!?

Despite having said all this...it is still a good movie, and I think the amount of good just about outweighs the bad..Tony Leung Ka Fei and Nicolas Tse are as reliable as ever turning in great performances, and the story ultimately comes to a satiisfying end.

[cultlabs]

I have the Press release info for the upcoming UK DVD release at the end of May...

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm144/samueljones1/BNA0415_0098.jpg


“A TENSE AND RIVETING PIECE OF ACTION CINEMA… IMPRESSIVE FIGHT SEQUENCES… BONE-CRUSHING VIOLENCE.” – TWITCH.

Nominated for 18 Hong Kong Film Awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Action Choreography (the results will be announced on 18th April 2010) and the winner of the Best Actor (Wang Xueqi) and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholas Tse) prizes at this year’s Asian Film Awards, the epic, period action movie Bodyguards And Assassins is a dramatic fictionalized retelling of the suspenseful events of 1906 that eventually led to the 1911 Xinhai Revolution and the founding of the Republic of China.

Directed by Teddy Chan (The Accidental Spy) and featuring an impressive cast of Hong Kong and China’s biggest stars, including Donnie Yen (Ip Man; Kill Zone), Leon Lai (An Empress And The Warriors; Seven Swords), Xueqi Wang (Forever Enthralled; Warriors Of Heaven And Earth; The Red Suit), Tony Leung Ka Fai (Missing; The Myth), Nicholas Tse (Dragon Tiger Gate; New Police Story; The Medallion) and Simon Yam (Ip Man; Triangle), Bodyguards And Assassins is a sumptuously staged, action-packed blockbuster, full of political intrigue, tragedy and drama that will appeal as much to lovers of quality cinema as it will to martial arts aficionados.

On October 15th 1906, the man destined to become the Father of Modern China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, is due to arrive in the British Colony of Hong Kong to discuss plans to overthrow the corrupt Qing Dynasty with a group of leading anti-Qing revolutionaries. Aware of Sun’s intentions, the Qing Court dispatches an elite army of assassins to the port where Sun is due to arrive, with orders to see to it that he never makes it to his appointment and does not leave the colony alive.

Receiving news of the proposed assassination, a newspaper editor and a local tycoon, both sympathetic supporters of the revolution, take it upon themselves to protect Dr. Sun at any cost. To help ensure his safety they recruit a motley band of fellow sympathisers, friends and acquaintances, all skilled in martial arts combat to act as Sun’s bodyguards. Additionally, they devise a risky plan to secretly replace the assassins’ target with a human decoy in an attempt to lead the killers away from their quarry.

As Sun arrives on the fateful day, the stage is set for a bloody confrontation in which a small group of selflessly courageous men and women will risk their lives fighting against hundreds of adversaries in a conflict that will determine the fate of millions.

Cleverly taking his time to establish his characters, their back-stories, motives and sub-plots in the deliberately paced first half of the film, director Chan expertly unleashes a barrage of non-stop, action set-pieces in a final hour that will leave viewers breathless.

Among the many standout sequences in a film that manages to be as emotionally involving and moving as it is exciting are a brilliantly directed sequence that echoes Brian De Palma’s homage (from “The Untouchables”) to Eisenstein’s famous Odessa Steps sequence from “Battleship Potemkin”, an extended free-running duel involving Donnie Yen and Cung Le, and a ‘man versus horse’ confrontation that is nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Bodyguards And Assassins will be released on DVD (£12.99) and Blu-ray (£19.99) by E1 Entertainment on 31st May 2010.

[One Armed Boxer]

a ‘man versus horse’ confrontation that is nothing short of jaw-dropping.

This statement is as over exaggerated as it is bizarre...:squigglemouth:

[DeathFuMaster]

Well it probably would sound weird for people who have not seen the movie lol. It sounds like he is fighting the horse. But technically they are pitted against each other literally.

[GwaiLoMoFo]

Yeah my 9 year old son happened to walk in the room and saw the scene with Donnie Vs The Horse. He actually laughed out loud, which made me do the same. It was a pretty silly sequence, especially the sentimental build-up right before hand

[LeRolls]

Still trying to decide if I want to import the Blu-Ray for this title.

[The Dragon]

Still trying to decide if I want to import the Blu-Ray for this title.

Buy this film, LeRolls. We are certain you'll enjoy it.

[The Amazing Psycho Per]

A bit dispointed with this one, although I didn't go in with high expectations. I think Teddy Chen bit more then he could chew...

There was a nice build up to the action scenes but to much was a letdown.

-The fights are badly shot and edited.
-The fight between Donnie Yen and Cung Le really disapoints and there is too much wire for the type of movie they were aiming for.
-Too much characters are hardly fleshed out, especially the beggar and Eric Tsang's police officer.
-The Shaolin master is a waste...


Still on the plus side, the parkour scene was nice. And the whole ensemble was a step ahead of usual genre fair. Once you get past the historial inacuracy and accept it's purely a fiction with a historical character in it, it's somewhat enjoyable. It still managed to make you care for the characters and their mission. I also like the way they treated the character of the General, which was more nuanced then usual for a bad guy in HK action cinema.

But all in all, the action broke the movie in my case. If it delivered on a higher level, it would've been a success for me. Worth a viewing...

[cultlabs]

Here's the UK pack shot and a nice street fight clip to enjoy...

FIGHT! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cphcqqOaoA)


http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm144/samueljones1/Bodyguards_And_Assassins_B_A_3D_DVD.jpg

[kingofkungfu2002]

I'll definitely be picking up the UK Blu-Ray :nerd:

[Markgway]

Of the umpteen production companies listed for this film I noticed Vanatge Holdings Media. Is this the South Korean company? I didn't know there was any Korean involvement/finance.

[daisho2004]

Do you think this will get a legit US release in the near future?

[DeathFuMaster]

Do you think this will get a legit US release in the near future?

Man I hope so, we haven't even got Ip man yet though. Thank God for imports and region free dvd players!!

[Athena]

Man I hope so, we haven't even got Ip man yet though. Thank God for imports and region free dvd players!!

DeathFuMaster !
I 100 % agree ! I know people hate import & " crappy " all region players , but I LOVE BOTH !! :kiss::wink::kiss: The other option is simply that you don't get to see stuff ! Either at all or for a long time !
Athena

[mark187]

yes, I agree with Athena. plus there are some excellent quality region free players out there anyway. I got a Toshiba all region, which is of the exact same quality as the toshiba region 1 i bought in stores. likewise, as far as Hong Kong goes, their dvd releases are always of a high quality nowadays, as well as being english friendly. as fa as I can tell, there's usually little to no difference in the quality of dvd releases today from HK or the US, as for blurays I don't know, but it sounds like HK blurays are generally a couple steps below US ones.

[daisho2004]

Funny I thought Ip Man did get a legit US release!

[DeathFuMaster]

Funny I thought Ip Man did get a legit US release!


Well yeah, but technically it isn't actually released until it comes out July 27th via Well Go USA....but I have had the HK dvd for over a year I think.

[Kwok Choi]

Here's the UK pack shot and a nice street fight clip to enjoy...

FIGHT! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cphcqqOaoA)


http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm144/samueljones1/Bodyguards_And_Assassins_B_A_3D_DVD.jpg

KFC Member Cutlabs has got the contract to promote and market Bodyguards And Assassins in the United Kingdom so watch this space.

[cultlabs]

Which is me!

Firstly, I've got a couple of copies to give away if your in the UK (your choice of format) so I think the easiest way to do a give away is to say that if you contributed to this thread, you're in the prize draw. I pick a couple of names at random on the 31st May and whoever gets picked can have a freebie.

So, any opinions on the movie, good, bad or indifferent, keep them coming.

Next week I'll have an exclusive clip for the KFC forum only, so pop back for that...

[blue_skies]

what extras are on the dvd cultlabs?

[cultlabs]

I'll have some Merantau info soon.

I'll get details of any extras shortly.

[nectarsis]

LOVED this movie. Art direction/settings/costumes were fantastic. Plot was well done. Acting was solid. Gonna nab this ASAP.

[DeathFuMaster]

Yes this movie is awesome, its ashame that the US won't get a proper release for sometime. I have a good copy here at the house, but I might get the UK release too.

[Wheat Thin Man]

I really want to check this movie out, I'll have to import it soon.

[dyenboy]

I like this movie but there was practically no action in the begining or the middle. When the action does pick up it, thats when it gets good.

I like 14 blades better...

[cultlabs]

It's quite heavy on plot and intrigues which I enjoyed.

I don't think the story elements of the movie affect the film negatively as long as your not expecting wall to wall battles.

I posted a blog with new links related to the movie from the last week plus some interesting clips. There's a taste of the making of documentary and some interview footage with the film makers.

B&A BLOG (http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=497135849&blogId=534291983)

[cultlabs]

what extras are on the dvd cultlabs?

Optional English Subtitles, Behind the Scenes: Character, Behind the Scenes: Costume and Make-Up, Behind the Scenes: Set Design, Behind the Scenes: Action

[cultlabs]

I think it offers something a little more complex than just some guys beating up on each other for 90 minutes. The historical background and the time and setting are really interesting.

B&A blog: New reviews and Cung Le interview (http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=497135849&blogId=534973556)

[cultlabs]

BODYGUARDS & ASSASSINS is out this week in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray.

As stated earlier, I'm involved in PR for the UK release so I offered a free copy to one random UK member who posted in this thread.

Congratulations BLfan.

[OpiumKungFuCracker]

Just watched this one on Netflix instant queue thanks to (Mpm74/cityonfire) Jaw-dropping action scenes, the one scene with the 8 foot Giant guy getting his ass kicked was awesome!!!

[KyFi]

I'm never up-to-date on modern martial arts movies, but I just got this one, and absolutely loved it. Great story, setting, characters, performances and action. It was a great plot device-- a Seven Samurai style gathering of wildly diverse bunch of heroes, and then set up a very tight mission of protecting the rickshaw for one trip across the city, while constantly being under attack. I also liked the little on-screen epitaph for each of the heroes. I don't mind a little less action when everything is so well put together. Just a great movie, IMO.

[OpiumKungFuCracker]

Nicholas Tse is freaking fantastic in this movie, big fan!!!

[Markgway]

The only problem with the Mega Star BD is that the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks are Cantonese dub only. The original Mandarin track is standard 5.1. Strange.

[Sheng]

Originally Posted by Silver_Fox
The second time, I was completely engaged with the character development and intricacies of the plot. Whoever this older guy is who played Li Yutang is, GIVE HIM AN AWARD NOW.
It was the great Wang Xueqi in what amounts to a career-defining performance! He's a Mainland actor as you speculated and he did indeed get the “Best Actor” award for this by the HK Film Critics Society. Most recently he weighed in with another show-stealing performance as the multi-faceted gang master in REIGN OF ASSASSINS.

[Yi-Long]

I'm mostly behind with these new movies cause it's hard to keep track on which ones are cut and butchered for their western release, and which ones are released uncut...

[BaronK]

What I find annoying is that they promoted this like it was a kung fu movie or something. Its not and not even close. Its a movie. A damn good one that should have been promoted as the movie it plays out to be.
I don't watch this for the action and don't look for it when there is none onscreen. i fully enjoy the picture itself. Some really good performances and I like the way the picture and situations played out although its already been said about Leon Lai's character.
I love Tung Wei's action style although this was more action style and story based in conception and execution. I know Donnie redid the stuff between he and Cung Le but it doesn't fit in any way and would prefer to see what Tung Wei's stuff with them looked like.
Really good picture.

[Markgway]

It was the great Wang Xueqi in what amounts to a career-defining performance!

Yes, he was excellent.

[OpiumKungFuCracker]

What I find annoying is that they promoted this like it was a kung fu movie or something. Its not and not even close. Its a movie. A damn good one that should have been promoted as the movie it plays out to be.
I don't watch this for the action and don't look for it when there is none onscreen. i fully enjoy the picture itself. Some really good performances and I like the way the picture and situations played out although its already been said about Leon Lai's character.
I love Tung Wei's action style although this was more action style and story based in conception and execution. I know Donnie redid the stuff between he and Cung Le but it doesn't fit in any way and would prefer to see what Tung Wei's stuff with them looked like.
Really good picture.

Yeah me too.. I hate it when movie studios do that.. There is a word/phrase for it, forgot what it's called, 'False Advertisement?'

[Markgway]

I'd say there's enough martial arts to justify its status as a martial arts movie.

Audiences these days don't have the appetite for the 90% kick fests they made in the 70s.

[massa_yoda]

I absolutely loved this one. I am working on getting a guest review posted on Shaolinchamber36. Look for it soon! Fortunately, I never saw the trailer that seemed to spoil it for some people. I do address this in my review. I did NOT know that Donnie redid his action scene though. That's very interesting and I wonder how much friction this caused on the set with Donnie making changes like this.

[ShaOW!linDude]

I did NOT know that Donnie redid his action scene though. That's very interesting and I wonder how much friction this caused on the set with Donnie making changes like this.

I thought I remembered reading a link to this story on here somewhere (probably in this very 20+ page thread:tongue:). DY wasn't satisfied with it or some such and brought Cung Le back and they did additional choreography over the course of a 24 hr period. It went something like that, I believe.


Boy, was I off. This was post #54 by DIP on page 6 of this thread.


Cung Le on working with Donnie Yen (courtesy of Rama's Screen):

RS: I’m Asian and I grew up in Asia watching all kinds of kung fu, martial art movies, watching Jet Li, Jackie Chan and all those guys and of course Donny Yen. I understand that you worked with him on BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. He always seems serious on screen, was he like that in person?

CL: Donny Yen to me was a very kind, generous but intense person. I didn’t have any problem with him because when I got on set, I’m just as intense, if not, more. I was just as focused and I brought just as many ideas to BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS. We filmed for like 13-14 days straight and a couple of more days after. And I told Donny "Hey Donny, this fight scene that you and I are in, this is old school stuff, you’re Donny Yen, how come you don’t take charge in choreographing this?" and he’s like "I don’t wanna say anything and I don’t want the guy to lose his job", there’s so many other fight scenes that they could use his expertise on those scenes. We actually wrapped our scene and I was really unhappy, I told Donny and Donny felt the same way. Two months later I came back, they brought me back, Donny and I collaborated to shoot that scene that we did.. in 4 days. We shot and the last day Donny was "hey Cung, we can do a lot better but we need you a couple of more days" but I already needed to fulfill the agreement I had with Overture Films to be at Comic-Con to promote PANDORUM and Comic-Con is a big stage to promote PANDORUM and I said "I can’t do it bro, what we’re going to have to do is shoot straight" so Donny and I both shot for 24 hours straight to get the final shot and what we did in 15-16 days with that other fight coordinator, between Donny and I and his expertise cause I never wanna step on Donny’s foot, we did what we had to do to get it done in 4 days, amazing.

[massa_yoda]

Awesome. Thanks for that!

[ShaOW!linDude]

Well, he says he brought just as many ideas for the fight sequences (3rd sentence). But that doesn't mean they used them. Donnie has greater experience as a choreographer and I'm under the impression that CL assented to his and STW's decisions. That's the way it came across to me but what do I know.

[Travis]

I saw this movie last night and hated it. It was very much like a soap opera.

I found it long, slow, and boring and when the action finally came an hour and 20 minutes in, I was over it and pretty much just wanted the movie to end.

Every actor has a scene where they cry and I found that cheesy, and not in a good, fun way.

[OpiumKungFuCracker]

I saw this movie last night and hated it. It was very much like a soap opera.

I found it long, slow, and boring and when the action finally came an hour and 20 minutes in, I was over it and pretty much just wanted the movie to end.

Every actor has a scene where they cry and I found that cheesy, and not in a good, fun way.

You could have just fast forward to the action scenes and save yourself the hour and 20 minutes... The fact that you had to sit and wait that long for an action scenes means you're trying too hard bro....

[Travis]

I thought about fast forwarding the movie.

I don't watch movies just for fight scenes though, especially these days when I can just turn on the TV and see a MMA fight that is better than what you would see in a movie anyway.

I didn't like this movie because I found it boring, drab, and overly dramatic.

[Sheng]

Dude, I have no clue what you expected and I don't know if you have any interest or understanding in Chinese political history (a vague idea about Dr. Sun Yatsen's role in it is definitely helpful in grasping the essence of this), but to compare THIS movie to a "soap opera" betrays nothing but your own ignorance. (and that's diplomatically phrased!)
Dunno what your standards for a great movie are. Did anybody tell you to expect a nonstop MA show here? Well, like someone suggested, you could have used the fast forward button to get a piece of the action, but anyway... Point is that this is a character-driven, fictionalized historical drama first and foremost, the cast was incredible, the best pan-Chinese cinema has to offer right now, with not only Wang Xueqi weighing in with career-defining performances. Personally speaking, I haven't seen a more intense and more convincingly acted film in the last two years.

[Travis]

I really don't have any interest in Chinese political history and that is part of why I didn't like it.
I would much rather watch something like The Patriot with Mel Gibson.

I think this is more of a movie for Chinese people and most mainstream westerners wouldn't care that much for it.

I didn't really know what to expect from it and I didn't have high expectations. I was just hoping for a mildly entertaining movie.

Again, I don't watch movies just for martial arts scenes because generally it is hard to get excited watching movie fights these days when mma on TV is so common. I am looking for all around entertaining movies.

I also don't get why people get offended when I don't like a particular movie.

[massa_yoda]

Point is that this is a character-driven, fictionalized historical drama first and foremost, the cast was incredible, the best pan-Chinese cinema has to offer right now, with not only Wang Xueqi weighing in with career-defining performances. Personally speaking, I haven't seen a more intense and more convincingly acted film in the last two years.

Amen.

Again, I don't watch movies just for martial arts scenes because generally it is hard to get excited watching movie fights these days when mma on TV is so common. I am looking for all around entertaining movies.

I also don't get why people get offended when I don't like a particular movie.

Nothing wrong with having an opinion, people just have really strong reasons for loving and hating certain movies. For me, this is so much more than a martial arts film. You say you don't watch movies just for the martial arts scenes....but this movie is (to me) nearly flawless in the drama, characters, music, scope...so I guess I don't really know what you look for in the scenes in between the fights. But again, different strokes for different folks.

[Travis]

Yeah, I figured this forum is place to express opinions so I was just sharing my honest opinion. It seems some people get very offended when my opinion isn't exactly the same as theirs and I don't get that. It's not like I am telling the people that made the film that it sucks nor am I trying to be insulting about it.

I don't really think of the non-action scenes as filler scenes, I think they should also be entertaining. To me, this was not an entertaining film.

I just saw Bullets Over Summer and that has an action scene at the beginning and the end. The middle is a drama/comedy but those scenes are really entertaining and interesting as well. I am just looking for movies that are entertaining regardless of the genre.

[massa_yoda]

Yeah, I figured this forum is place to express opinions so I was just sharing my honest opinion. It seems some people get very offended when my opinion isn't exactly the same as theirs and I don't get that. It's not like I am telling the people that made the film that it sucks nor am I trying to be insulting about it.

I don't really think of the non-action scenes as filler scenes, I think they should also be entertaining. To me, this was not an entertaining film.

I just saw Bullets Over Summer and that has an action scene at the beginning and the end. The middle is a drama/comedy but those scenes are really entertaining and interesting as well. I am just looking for movies that are entertaining regardless of the genre.

I like all sorts of stuff people hate and vice versa, so don't get discouraged. I agree about the non-action scenes needing to be entertaining. I didn't mean to say 'filler', that wasn't the right word. IMHO, the non-action scenes in B&A worked well. But again, that's just me. It's all about what you want out of your action movies.

[Phoenix]

Just scanned the last few posts, and I too, like films some people hate and vice versa. But about the MMA thing, I think kung fu choreography will always (at least in a good film) be very entertaining and excitingly shot. I would never get that from a real life contest where two opponents have to pound the hell out of each other. A very loosely related argument would be someone saying, why watch any of the Rocky films when real boxing matches are televised? That's not a very good example, I admit.


Some of the classic kung fu action scenes contain elements of action that I will probably never see anywhere else.

edit-also, different people find different stuff entertaining. What pleases one person may bore another person to death.

[OpiumKungFuCracker]

I really don't have any interest in Chinese political history and that is part of why I didn't like it.
I would much rather watch something like The Patriot with Mel Gibson.

I think this is more of a movie for Chinese people and most mainstream westerners wouldn't care that much for it.

Chinese political or World history in general??? So you only care for American history and that's why you would rather watch 'The Patriot?'
If that's the case, you are really missing out on some great films from around the globe my friend....

[Travis]

I would care more about a film that is on American or Philippine history more than on history of some other country in general. I think The Patriot and Braveheart are both great films, but I think the reason I preferred The Patriot to Braveheart is that The Patriot is about American history and I relate that more than to Scottish history.

I only mentioned The Patriot earlier because that is also a fictionalized film based on a real historic event and I think it is a great film.

[QueMuchita]

I love this movie also but I have to admit on the first viewing of it I was disappointed because I guess I was expecting it to be a lot more of a action movie but each time I watch it now I like it more and more.

[DiP]

Great film. Politics don't interest me much but the conflict between the Manchus and revolutionaries provides alot of engaging moments in the story. On top of that is a great direction, cast/performances, music, sets, CGI, and cinematography. Action was decent but it doesn't showcase anything significant that we normally come to expect in choreography. It's more intact with the story and characters.

I see that a mention of reality martial arts being more enjoyable than onscreen fighting was given some posts back. REALLY?! Has UFC really got some people twisted or something? Action movies are fictionalized, period.

[kngfu]

I was expecting to be bored, but the exact opposite was true. I loved it and was impressed by Donnie Yen's acting throughout the movie.