Edmond Wong (The writer of the Ip Man) will be given the role to write this also, with the movie due to start filming around october.

Zhang Jizhong the producer says, “We’ll begin with the first instalment, so, we’d need US$100m rather than a total sum of US$300m, this will be an international co-production, part of the funds would come from bank loans, another from US, Japan and Korea. Based on current situation, we have no problems securing the funding.”

This was said, as they plan to make a trilogy of the monkey king, also alot of movies are getting 3D releases these days, so lets hope this movie stands out from the rest.

Jet Li as The Monkey King in "The Forbidden Kingdom"

The roles still left to be fill include Buffalo Demon King, Princess Iron Fan, Jade Emperor, and Erlang Shen. Lets hope they bring in a few more famous faces to the film, a good choice for Donnie yen trying something different. The character of the Monkey King was also used recently by Jet Li in the movie The Forbidden Kingdom, a role he played well.

The movie is set for a 2012 release.

PLOT
“Into the Gunfire” is based on the true story of 71 students who fought hundreds of North Korean soldiers in front of a middle school on June 25, 1950 during the Korean War. Kap-jo (Kwon Sang-Woo) was formerly a student who was convicted of murder. While serving his sentence he volunteers to fight as a soldier …

71:Into The Fire

Filming began December 1st, 2009 and finished April 13, 2010. The last scene filmed took place in a field of reeds on Hwang Mae mountain in Hopcheon, Gyeongnam, South Korea.

Release Date: June 2010

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sources:http://asianmediawiki.com/71:_Into_the_Fire

takashi miike - Director

The film is a remake of Eiichi Kudo’s 1963 black-and-white Japanese movie of the same name, the film actually finished shooting in september 2009.

PLOT
“The era of the samurai is waning. A sadistic young Lord rapes and kills at will. No-one can touch him because he is the Shogun’s younger brother, above the law. A senior government official realizes the situation will become more dangerous after the Lord ascends to a higher political position. After a wronged party publicly commits hari-kiri, a trusted older samurai is secretly hired to wipe out the Lord.

The samurai gathers together twelve assassins, each with their own deadly skill. Together they hatch a plan to ambush the Lord on his long journey home from Edo. Traveling stealthily through the mountains, the assassins take over a village. They convert it into a labyrinthine mousetrap, closing off alternative routes to ensure they capture their prey. But when the Lord arrives, the assassins discover they are outnumbered four to one by his crack team of bodyguards”.

The Cast of 13 Assassins

The movie stars Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Hiroki Matsukata and Kazuki Namioka and has a release date across Japan on the 25th september 2010.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_Assassins

Director Wilson Yip

Fresh of the back of the very popular Ip Man series, director Wilson Yip as confirmed he is to remake the Hong Kong classic A Chinese Ghost Story.

The original (1987), starred Leslie Cheung and Joey Wong and was also produced by Tsui Hark, with some classing it as a Hong Kong romantic comedy-horror film. Filming is to begin in june and will take place at the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival.

Joey Wong in A Chinese Ghost Story (Original)

Background
The story was loosely based on a short story in the Qing Dynasty literature Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio from writer Pu Songling. The film was immensely popular in Hong Kong and several Asian countries, including South Korea and Japan when released. Most notably it boosted the stardom of Joey Wong, won Leslie Cheung huge popularity in Japan, and sparked a trend of folklore ghost films in the HK film industry. The film grossed $18,831,638 HKD in Hong Kong.

If you liked movies such as Mr.Vampire, Encounters Of The Spooky Kind and Picture Of A Nymph, then this movie you should enjoy. I enjoyed the original movie and hope Wilson Yip does a good job of it.

Sources:chinesefilms.cn – wikipedia.com

Jackie Chan - Drunken Master 2

The say the movie will not be a direct follow up to the last Drunken Master movies, but will bring back the old style of martial art movies. Alan Mak is reportedly attached to make the movie, and will have a budget of US $15 million and is to start shooting in February 2011.

Jackie Chan’s representatives also unveiled the following projects:

• ‘Cambodia Landmine’, an action/comedy/drama, to be directed by ‘Little Big Soldier’s Ding Sheng. The $25 million production is scheduled to shoot in Cambodia in February 2012.
• ‘Tiger Mountain’, a Mandarin-language action drama, to be directed by Tsui Siu Ming. Budgeted at $50 million and set to begin production in October 2012, the film will boast 3D special effects.
• ‘Manhattan’, a $55 million action suspenser in both Mandarin and English, which Chan will both star in and direct. It is filming in both China and the U.S. and is slated for release in January 2013.

Lets hope some of these movies are true, as id love to see another Drunken Master movie, even if chan’s the teacher and someone else is doing most fo the fighting. His last movie Little, Big Soldier was a great film, id like to see more movies like this, which shows chans ability as a comedian.

Sources: – Hollywood Reporter.

The movie will go into production this may and will be directed by Daming Chen (One foot of the ground).

Andy Lau

“What Women Want is a 2000 American romantic comedy film, directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. The movie achieved enormous success with a domestic gross of $182,811,707 and a worldwide gross of $374,111,707, against a budget of $70 million”.

We know Andy lau is great in a comedy role and can certainly imagine it to be better and funnier than the origional movie. Lau is also filming the movie “Shaolin” which also co-stars the likes of Jackie Chan and Wu Jing.

Andy Lau and Jackie Chan - "Shaolin"

Kelvin Wong in Moon Warriors

He is normally seen as a badguy when appearing in films, starting off as a minor part to starring in alongside legends such as Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Jet Li and Andy lau.

Kelvin Wong in Police Story 3

After getting tired of being typecast in Hong Kong movies, Wong moved to Taiwan, where he found success in a variety of genres on the small screen.

Thoughts go out to his family and friends. Soon as we hear more about his death, we will be sure to let you know.

Sources:www.hkfilm.net

Since the news that Sammo would play the Hung Gar master and would get to take on Donnie Yen, i really couldn’t wait but am i glad the wait is finally over. The premiere brought together some famous names with action star Donnie Yen traded poses with hong kong mvie legend Sammo Hung.

Donnie Yen vs Sammo hung

Ip Chun (The actual son of Yip Man), got to see his dad’s name in big letters as it appeared across the screen, ans what i wouldn’t give to have been sat there with the legends and watch this great movie.

Everyone has said it will outclass the first movie, with the choreography being better and the fact sammo and donnie have to fight on top of a table will show the wing chun style at its best (The Prodigal Son is a great example).

Premiere of Ip man 2

Another big winner on the night was a little known movie called “Echoes of the Rainbow”, which starred Simon Yam who also picked up best actor for his role. The movie also went on to win another three awards, which seen Alex Law pick up best screenplay.

Also a highlight for me was knowing that Lau Kar Leung finally picked up his lifetime achievment award which is well over due in my eyes.

Here is the list of all the winners.

Best film: – Bodyguards and Assassins

Best director: “Teddy Chen” – Bodyguards and Assassins

Best actor: Simon Yam, ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’

Best actress: Kara Hui, ‘At the End of Daybreak’

Best supporting actor: Nicholas Tse, ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’

Best supporting actress: Michelle Ye, ‘Accident’

Best screenplay: “Alex Law” – Echoes of the Rainbow

Best new performer: Aarif Lee, ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’

Best action choreography: Stephen Tung, Lee Tat-chiu, ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’

Best cinematographer: Arthur Wong, ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’

Best film editing: Kong Chi-leung, Chan Chi-wai, ‘Overheard’

Best art direction: Ken Mak, ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’

Best costume and makeup design: Dora Ng, ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’

Best original film score: Chan Kwong-wing, Peter Kam, ‘Bodyguards and Assassins’

Best original film song: ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’ from ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’, composer Lowell Lo, lyrics by Alex Law, performed by Aarif Lee

Best sound design: Steve Burgess, Wu Jiang, ‘Red Cliff II’

Best visual effects: Ng Yuen-fai, Chas Chau, Tam Kai-kwan, ‘The Storm Warriors’

Best new director: Cheung King-wai, ‘KJ: Music and Life’

Best Asian film: ‘Departures’ (Japan)

Lifetime achievement award: Lau Kar-leung

Sources: yahoo news.

PLOT
“The legend of Ong Bak 3 begins after Tien (Tony Jaa) has lost his fighting skills and his beloved stepfather at the Garuda’s Wing cliff from the raid led by Jom Rachan (Saranyu Wonggrajang). Tien is brought back to life with the help from Pim (Primrata Dechudom) as well as Mhen (Petchai Wongkamlao) and the Kana Khone villagers. Deep into the meditation taught by Phra Bua (Nirutti Sirijanya), Tien finally is able to achieve ‘Nathayut’. His talents are put to the test again when his rivals including the Golden-Armored King’s Guard (Supakorn ‘Tok’ Kijusuwan), the mysterious killers in black, and Bhuti Sangkha (Dan Chupong) return for the final massive showdown”.

Directed, Written, Produced and starring Tony Jaa, it seems there is no end to his ability infront and behind the camera. The trailer does seem to show Jaa’s trademark moves, but also CGI effects and some new intresting characters (Even Tony Jaa seems to act like some kind of devil). Also it wouldn’t be a Jaa movie without a few elephants thrown in, which i think we’ll see until the day he retires.

Ong Bak 3 open’s across Thailand on the 5th May 2010.

Click here to view the embedded video.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ong_Bak_3