Tag: Takeshi Kaneshiro

TWC Acquires Peter Ho-Sun Chan’s DRAGON (WU XIA)

TWC ACQUIRES PETER HO-SUN CHAN’S MARTIAL ARTS, FILM NOIR EPIC, DRAGON (WU XIA), WHICH PREMIERES AT CANNES ON MAY 14TH

International Superstars Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tang Wei Co-Star in Action-Packed Tale of Crime, Family and Redemption

Studio Acquires Distribution Rights for the World Outside of Asia

The Weinstein Company (TWC) announced today that it has acquired from WE Distribution the distribution rights for the world, outside of Asia and French speaking Europe, to the martial arts, film noir epic DRAGON (WU XIA).  TF1 are already confirmed to distribute the film in France.  The film will have its world premiere as part of the official selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.  A 2011 theatrical release is expected in the US.

Director, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, is one of Asia’s most celebrated filmmakers, his critical and box office hits include award winning THE WARLORDS, which he produced and directed, and BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, which he produced.  With DRAGON (WU XIA) Chan brings to the screen an action-packed tale of crime, family and redemption.

DRAGON (WU XIA) features a dynamic ensemble of internationally celebrated talent, led by action superstar Donnie Yen (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, IP MAN), a martial arts master, Yen is also the film’s action choreographer; Takeshi Kaneshiro (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, CHUNGKING EXPRESS) and Tang Wei (LUST, CAUTION, LATE AUTUMN).  The film marks the first film appearance in 17 years of the legendary Jimmy Wang Yu (ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN, THE CHINESE BOXER), who is widely credited as the first Hong Kong kung fu star.

Along with Chan, the stellar lineup behind the camera includes the rising young director of photography Jake Pollock (THE MESSAGE, MONGA), veteran director of photography Lai Yiu-Fai (INFERNAL AFFAIRS, 2046); legendary Hong Kong production designer Yee Chung Man (THE WARLORDS, CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER); and leading costume designer Dora Ng (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN).

TWC has also acquired first option to remake rights for the film.

The announcement was made by TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein and Vice President of Acquisitions Dan Guando.

Said Chan, “During the production, Donnie was telling me that Wu Xia becomes more and more like a Weinstein movie. It’s no coincidence that Harvey likes the film. I am thrilled to work with Harvey and I think TWC is the best company to take this film to the US and international audience.”

Said Weinstein, “Peter Chan is a true artist and with WU XIA he has created a dream project, combining two of my favorite genres: film noir and martial arts.  Peter has been a friend for more than 10 years I could not be happier to be working with him on this film.”

Said Guando, “From the moment the film was announced, TWC has been excited about WU XIA.  It is set to be a martial arts classic that will redefine the genre.”

The deal was negotiated for TWC by Guando, Laine Kline, Executive Vice President Business and Legal Affairs, and Michal Steinberg, Senior Vice President Business Affairs and Acquisitions; and for WE Distribution by Katherine Lee, Executive Vice President.

WU XIA – SYNOPSIS

In the late Qing Dynasty, Liu (Donnie Yen) is a papermaker, leading a simple life with his wife Ayu (Tang Wei) and their two sons.  Into their remote village comes Detective Xu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), who is investigating the deaths of two bandits during a robbery.  Xu quickly realizes that the incident in question was no ordinary botched robbery – and his dogged inquiry threatens to dredge up the dark secrets of Liu’s buried past, threatening not only Liu and his family, but the entire village.

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979.  TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE.  Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, most recently Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture; Derek Cianfrance’s Academy Award®-nominated BLUE VALENTINE; and John Wells’ feature directorial debut, THE COMPANY MEN.  Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD;  HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; and 2011 Golden Globe® Best Foreign Language Film nominee THE CONCERT.   Upcoming releases include MIRAL, SPY KIDS 4, SCREAM 4, APOLLO 18, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, THE DETAILS and MY WEEK WITH MARILYN.  Recently wrapping are I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT and COGAN’S TRADE.

TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy® Award-winning hit reality series “Project Runway,” the new VH1 series “Mob Wives,” and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.”  The company is producing two “Project Runway” spinoffs, “Project Runway: Masters” and “Project Runway: Accessories,” which are expected to debut in 2011.  The company currently has 17 series in different stages of development, including: “Marco Polo,” a scripted historical series about the great explorer; “The Nanny Diaries,” based on the hit book; and “The Mad Ones,” adapted from the Mafia novel of the same name.

Review: THE WARLORDS

Directors Peter Chan and Wai Man Yip have made what is easily one of the biggest, most epic stories in the history of modern Chinese cinema. The true story of a 19th century General Pang (Jet Li) and his blood brothers, is beautifully shot, incredibly moving, and has as much action as any one could ever want.

When THE WARLORDS starts General Pang is playing dead on the battlefield surrounded by the bodies of his brothers and soldiers. His army was tasked with wiping out another, and the Kui army was supposed to back him up. Instead, the Kui army stood and watched as Pang’s army was wiped out completely. Pang, shamed with his loss hides out for a while, before running into some bandits and joining their ranks.

Pang and the bandit leaders Xiang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Er-Hu (Andy Lau) become blood brothers out of revenge for an army that’s done them both wrong. Together they gather 800 men and soon become a true military force, taking cities with  unparalleled  courage and honor. You really do get the feeling that these men would do anything for each other, through their actions, and beautifully delivered words.

Sadly there are points in the film where the narration and story is a little hard to follow. There are huge amounts of time that pass and characters motivations change without really showing why. This doesn’t hinder the film too much, but it’s a little confusing and might take some people a little while to catch up to what everyone is doing.

The films strong points are it’s action scenes by far. This is by far the bloodiest Jet Li film I’ve ever seen. The action isn’t the wire-fu (wushu) martial arts many Jet Li fans may know. Instead it’s a military combat style of film, along the lines of Braveheart, Kingdom of Heaven or the beginning of Gladiator. The choreography is beautifully done in it’s quick brutality. I can’t count how many times I was saying “oh wow” at the over the top flurry of blades. Gone is the dancing style of sword fighting and instead blades sink deep into shoulders, heads and throats with large amounts of blood flying from wounds and showering the ground. It’s incredible.

What pulled me in even further into the film was Jet Li’s performance of General Pang. He was an old, gruff, battered man who’d obviously been through quite a lot. Li’s really playing a distinguished man, a man who’s age shows with every crack in his face. Pang is often referred to as “Big Brother” and he grabs onto that and shows some real leadership. There are no speeches or rally cries like you’d see in almost every single Western action film. There’s no “They’ll never take our land…” but you never question that these men would follow Pang into the gates of hell if he asked.

The dynamic between Pang, Xiang, and Er-Hu is completely believable. Their loyalty for each other is the central force of the film and it really does work. How these three interact is incredible. The interactions between Lau’s Er-Hu and Li’s Pang will have audience members really battling over who they identify with more. While these three men are brought together through a lust for revenge, their priorities are completely different, and what they want for their men are often drastically opposed. Both of them are in the right and the wrong in many of the situations they’re in, and will have you talking about it well after the film’s last frame.

THE WARLORDS is one of the best films I’ve seen out of China in quite a while. Huge set pieces, sprawling battlefields with hundreds of extras, in full costume, riding horses and carrying swords into what looks to be certain doom for the idea of honor and revenge. Cinema doesn’t get much better than this.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars