Hong Kong film industry veteran and longtime assistant director Albert Mak directed a few films back in 2000 with his last solo directing effort being “Forget Me Not” (2010). However, he is also known as an associate director to filmmaker Johnnie To in the film “Drug War” (2012). Released during the Chinese New Year 2024, Mak returns as director in the wacky comedy action heist film “Rod N Roll” which is just perfect for the occasion.
Taxi driver Robby (Gordon Lam Ka Tung) lives in a small apartment with his frustrated pregnant wife and his nagging mother. Unreliable and timid, loser Robby lives day to day and avoids the conflicts at home. On the other hand, his good friend Fai (Richie Jen) is an honest man who runs a small elderly home business. But he is forever in financial trouble and the recent rent increase makes his life even more difficult. Nonetheless, these two middle-aged men are kind,...
Taxi driver Robby (Gordon Lam Ka Tung) lives in a small apartment with his frustrated pregnant wife and his nagging mother. Unreliable and timid, loser Robby lives day to day and avoids the conflicts at home. On the other hand, his good friend Fai (Richie Jen) is an honest man who runs a small elderly home business. But he is forever in financial trouble and the recent rent increase makes his life even more difficult. Nonetheless, these two middle-aged men are kind,...
- 8/27/2024
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
The full competition jury for the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival has been revealed.
On Friday, festival organizers announced that Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To, Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi, Japanese actress Ai Hashimoto and French actress Chiara Mastroianni will be members of the 2024 main competition jury alongside previously announced jury president Tony Leung.
To, like Leung a legend of Hong Kong cinema, is famed the world over for his action and crime films. The veteran and prolific filmmaker’s credits include Breaking News, Exiled, Mad Detective, Drug War and the Election films (Election, Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election). To, a regular feature of the international film festival circuit, has had six films screen at the Cannes Film Festival, two in competition, as well as had four films selected to compete at the Venice Film Festival.
Enyedi is best known for writing and directing the Hungarian drama On Body and Soul,...
On Friday, festival organizers announced that Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To, Hungarian filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi, Japanese actress Ai Hashimoto and French actress Chiara Mastroianni will be members of the 2024 main competition jury alongside previously announced jury president Tony Leung.
To, like Leung a legend of Hong Kong cinema, is famed the world over for his action and crime films. The veteran and prolific filmmaker’s credits include Breaking News, Exiled, Mad Detective, Drug War and the Election films (Election, Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election). To, a regular feature of the international film festival circuit, has had six films screen at the Cannes Film Festival, two in competition, as well as had four films selected to compete at the Venice Film Festival.
Enyedi is best known for writing and directing the Hungarian drama On Body and Soul,...
- 8/2/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fish out of water comedy film “Jonny Keep Walking” kept its place at the top of the mainland China box office in its fourth weekend of release. Hong Kong-made action comedy “Rob N Roll” opened in second position.
“Jonny,” in which a man from the countryside struggles to hold down a corporate job in a big city, earned $15 million (RMB106 million), according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was another strong hold after $19.7 million in the film’s third weekend and $22.4 million in its second frame. The cumulative total for “Jonny” is now $134 million (RMB951 million).
“Rob N Roll,” with its starry cast of Aaron Kwok, Richie Jen and Lam Ka-tung, opened with $12.1 million. It was produced in Hong Kong and directed by Albert Mak, who has associate director credits on Johnny To movies “Drug War” and “Life Without Principle.”.
Another Hong Kong-made film, “The Goldfinger” took 3.8 million in third place.
“Jonny,” in which a man from the countryside struggles to hold down a corporate job in a big city, earned $15 million (RMB106 million), according to data from consultancy Artisan Gateway. That was another strong hold after $19.7 million in the film’s third weekend and $22.4 million in its second frame. The cumulative total for “Jonny” is now $134 million (RMB951 million).
“Rob N Roll,” with its starry cast of Aaron Kwok, Richie Jen and Lam Ka-tung, opened with $12.1 million. It was produced in Hong Kong and directed by Albert Mak, who has associate director credits on Johnny To movies “Drug War” and “Life Without Principle.”.
Another Hong Kong-made film, “The Goldfinger” took 3.8 million in third place.
- 1/22/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The South Korean remake of Hong Kong’s Drug War was a decent action-thriller boasting of and cashing in on its fantastic cast. 5 years later, we get Believer 2, a contrived and rather unnecessary sequel that tries terribly hard to fill up the (purposely left behind) gaps in the mysterious first film. What was fascinating about part 1 is the desperation with which Won-Ho wants to believe in the existence of Mr. Lee, who at this point appears as a fable rather than a real person. Won-Ho is keen on catching the mind behind the drug “Laika” that has taken over Asia (as we hear). Believer follows his vigorous journey to find the elusive man and shows us who he encounters on the way. Won-Ho is focused, moving ahead with nothing in his peripheral vision. He says to Brian, when he’s impersonating the big man that he knows Mr. Lee...
- 11/19/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
Lee Hae-young did in 2018 what many thought impossible when he successfully remade Johnnie To's much loved thriller “Drug War” into “Believer”, an accomplished thriller that boasted of a strong starcast, excellent visuals, an impressive score and the final on-screen appearance from the late-great Kim Joo-hyuk. While the story didn't really need a sequel per se, Netflix thought otherwise and here we are in 2023, with “Believer 2” ready to release imminently in the streaming platform.
Synopsis
A crime action film on the nerve-wracking war between Won-ho, who is still pursuing Mr. Lee's organization and the disappeared “Rak” after the bloody fight at Yongsan Station, and Brian, who has reappeared, and a new character “Big Knife.” “Believer 2” follows Won-ho's investigation of looking for “Rak,” who disappeared after Brian's incarceration, while getting to the core of the elusive drug cartel. Baek Jong-yeol, who has already received praise for sophisticated cinematography and...
Synopsis
A crime action film on the nerve-wracking war between Won-ho, who is still pursuing Mr. Lee's organization and the disappeared “Rak” after the bloody fight at Yongsan Station, and Brian, who has reappeared, and a new character “Big Knife.” “Believer 2” follows Won-ho's investigation of looking for “Rak,” who disappeared after Brian's incarceration, while getting to the core of the elusive drug cartel. Baek Jong-yeol, who has already received praise for sophisticated cinematography and...
- 11/4/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Chinese filmmaker Yang Feng is directing period-action drama The Coldest City, produced by Hena Film Culture Media. The stars Xia Yu (Breaking Through, A Little Red Flower), Lee Li-chun (Hello Mr. Billionaire, Goodbye Mr. Loser) and Tan Kai (Detective vs. Sleuths, Drug War).
Beijing-based Blossoms Entertainment is shopping The Coldest City to buyers in Cannes. It is among a somewhat shorter-than-usual list of Chinese commercial films on offer at the Marche du Film this year, as the Chinese industry continues to emerge from its pandemic-period isolation to re-engage with the global film business. The Coldest City will be released in China later this year.
The Coldest City is set in a frigid city of Northeast China in 1945, a turbulent period in Chinese history after the surrender of the Japanese army. In an unmanned city rampant with underworld forces, the story follows Gu Nian, a classic figure of the gunman who...
Beijing-based Blossoms Entertainment is shopping The Coldest City to buyers in Cannes. It is among a somewhat shorter-than-usual list of Chinese commercial films on offer at the Marche du Film this year, as the Chinese industry continues to emerge from its pandemic-period isolation to re-engage with the global film business. The Coldest City will be released in China later this year.
The Coldest City is set in a frigid city of Northeast China in 1945, a turbulent period in Chinese history after the surrender of the Japanese army. In an unmanned city rampant with underworld forces, the story follows Gu Nian, a classic figure of the gunman who...
- 5/22/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Berlin International Film Festival’s jury press conference, headed by Hollywood star Kristen Stewart, concluded on Thursday, but remarks made by legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To at the event are still reverberating a world away.
When the festival juror were asked by a journalist in the crowd to share their views on why cinema remains important in today’s world, To, considered on the greatest filmmakers Hong Kong has produced, responded: “For me, cinema has always been in the vanguard. When totalitarian rule emerges, when people lose their freedoms, cinema is the first to take the hit. In most cases, cultural production will be forcefully suspended, since the cinema speaks directly to the audience. That’s why dictators always target the cinema. I think Hong Kong… No, sorry. I think all the countries and peoples fighting for freedom across the globe should support the cinema. Because the cinema...
When the festival juror were asked by a journalist in the crowd to share their views on why cinema remains important in today’s world, To, considered on the greatest filmmakers Hong Kong has produced, responded: “For me, cinema has always been in the vanguard. When totalitarian rule emerges, when people lose their freedoms, cinema is the first to take the hit. In most cases, cultural production will be forcefully suspended, since the cinema speaks directly to the audience. That’s why dictators always target the cinema. I think Hong Kong… No, sorry. I think all the countries and peoples fighting for freedom across the globe should support the cinema. Because the cinema...
- 2/19/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Studiocanal and The Picture Company have entered into a new multi-year pact with the aim to make two-three films a year along with an infiltration into TV by Picture Company Co-Founders Andrew Rona & Alex Heineman.
The producers combined have made some of Studiocanal’s most successful films including the Liam Neeson thriller vehicles Unknown, Non-Stop and The Commuter, and they just released the Netflix action breakout Gunpowder Milkshake,. The films were all mid-level budget actioners that became profitable global hits for the studio. They’ll keep making those films for the Canal Plus library and Studiocanal’s streaming service output deals, but under the new deal, Rona and Heineman will lean into European theatrical co-productions and television for global audiences.
Studiocanal and the producers are in the early stages of a sequel on Navot Papushado’s Karen Gillan starrer, Gunpowder Milkshake, which was the number one streaming title overall...
The producers combined have made some of Studiocanal’s most successful films including the Liam Neeson thriller vehicles Unknown, Non-Stop and The Commuter, and they just released the Netflix action breakout Gunpowder Milkshake,. The films were all mid-level budget actioners that became profitable global hits for the studio. They’ll keep making those films for the Canal Plus library and Studiocanal’s streaming service output deals, but under the new deal, Rona and Heineman will lean into European theatrical co-productions and television for global audiences.
Studiocanal and the producers are in the early stages of a sequel on Navot Papushado’s Karen Gillan starrer, Gunpowder Milkshake, which was the number one streaming title overall...
- 9/28/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Chinese actor Gao Yunxiang was this week acquitted in Australia of multiple rape and sexual assault charges. Producer, Wang Jing was similarly found not guilty on seven counts of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault.
The cases sprang from accusations made in March 2018 that the two men had gone to the Sydney hotel room of a woman with whom they had been partying, after completing filming of Chinese series “Love in Aryana.” There, they were alleged to have taken turns in assaulting her, with one of them raping her. The woman cannot be named for legal reasons.
A jury took one day to deliberate on the charges, and accepted the men’s assertions that the sex was consensual. The judge delivered the jury’s verdict on Thursday.
The cases were previously heard in December last year, but the jury reached a decision on only one case – Gao was found not...
The cases sprang from accusations made in March 2018 that the two men had gone to the Sydney hotel room of a woman with whom they had been partying, after completing filming of Chinese series “Love in Aryana.” There, they were alleged to have taken turns in assaulting her, with one of them raping her. The woman cannot be named for legal reasons.
A jury took one day to deliberate on the charges, and accepted the men’s assertions that the sex was consensual. The judge delivered the jury’s verdict on Thursday.
The cases were previously heard in December last year, but the jury reached a decision on only one case – Gao was found not...
- 3/20/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
During the peak of their careers, Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng join Johnnie To’s light farce “Love on a Diet”. The romantic comedy that follows up on To’s “Needing You” (2000) looks more superficial on first sight, but underneath the fat suits and slapstick interludes awaits us a social commentary movie.
Sammi Cheng (“Infernal Affairs” 2002) plays exchange student Mimi Mo from Hong Kong who goes to Japan and falls in love with pianist Kurokawa (Rikiya Kurokawa). Kurokawa leaves to study music in the USA and returns to Japan as a big hit. Meanwhile, Mimi is depressed and compensates her downtimes with food, causing her to gain 200lbs. As Kurokawa returns, he does not recognize her anymore. Mimi meets Fatty (Andy Lau), who motivates her to lose weight in order to fulfill a promise that Mimi and Kurokawa made 10 years ago. But Mimi and Fatso fall in...
Sammi Cheng (“Infernal Affairs” 2002) plays exchange student Mimi Mo from Hong Kong who goes to Japan and falls in love with pianist Kurokawa (Rikiya Kurokawa). Kurokawa leaves to study music in the USA and returns to Japan as a big hit. Meanwhile, Mimi is depressed and compensates her downtimes with food, causing her to gain 200lbs. As Kurokawa returns, he does not recognize her anymore. Mimi meets Fatty (Andy Lau), who motivates her to lose weight in order to fulfill a promise that Mimi and Kurokawa made 10 years ago. But Mimi and Fatso fall in...
- 2/26/2020
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
Once again together with the Asian Film Awards Academy, we prepared for the Five Flavours audience a special selection of films which are the best representation of the Asian film industry latest achievements.
Asian Film Awards Academy is an institution which actively supports the development of regional film markets in Asia. Its awards may be considered an alternative to the most important world film awards and are intended to popularize high-quality commercial cinema from the Asian countries. Afa Academy was created by the three main film festivals in Asia – Hong Kong, Tokyo and Busan – and gradually has become a more and more recognized and influential brand. The organization and image of the event have gained a particular structure and character. In the future, the Asian Film Awards Academy gala and its initiatives will have a substantial impact on the shape and development of the film industry on the continent.
For the third time,...
Asian Film Awards Academy is an institution which actively supports the development of regional film markets in Asia. Its awards may be considered an alternative to the most important world film awards and are intended to popularize high-quality commercial cinema from the Asian countries. Afa Academy was created by the three main film festivals in Asia – Hong Kong, Tokyo and Busan – and gradually has become a more and more recognized and influential brand. The organization and image of the event have gained a particular structure and character. In the future, the Asian Film Awards Academy gala and its initiatives will have a substantial impact on the shape and development of the film industry on the continent.
For the third time,...
- 10/12/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Born, raised and educated in Hong Kong, Au studied filmmaking at the Academy for Performing Arts’ School of Film and Television under renowned critic Shu Kei. After graduating from the Apa in 2004, Au freelanced for a while and made his own shorts, one of which memorialised his beloved grandmother, who passed away in 2003. He finally made his way to Tvb, Hong Kong’s market leading television network. Though still harbouring aspirations to filmmaking, the pick-up writing and research on period dramas proved valuable for a number of reasons. Au worked as a writer alongside To’s right hand man, Wai Ka-fai, eventually participating in To’s Fresh Wave talent incubator programme. His 2007 short “Merry X’mas” cemented Au’s defining focus on Hong Kong society and how we relate to each other.
His breakout came in 2015 with “Dialect” in the hot button indie “Ten Years.” As one of the five...
His breakout came in 2015 with “Dialect” in the hot button indie “Ten Years.” As one of the five...
- 6/21/2019
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The current wave of Hong Kong nostalgia continues with “Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch,” an entertaining if superficial and heavily fictionalized glimpse into the final days of notorious 1990s kidnapper Cheung Tze-keung, aka “Big Spender” and renamed Logan Long here. Starring dependable veteran Tony Leung Ka-fai as the master crook and Louis Koo (Johnnie To’s “Drug War”) as an undercover cop tasked with taking him down, this old-school entry co-directed by Jason Kwan and prolific Hong Kong mainstay Wong Jing moves along briskly but never gets beneath the skin of its intriguing characters. Connected solely by its retro crime theme to the 2018 Kwan-Wong hit “Chasing the Dragon,” “Bunch” should do solid business when it opens in China and Hong Kong on June 6, and on limited North American screens on June 7.
Wong and Kwan scored an impressive $87 million theatrical gross in China for “Chasing the Dragon,” starring Donnie Yen...
Wong and Kwan scored an impressive $87 million theatrical gross in China for “Chasing the Dragon,” starring Donnie Yen...
- 6/6/2019
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen, who won Cannes’ Camera d’Or with his feature debut “Ilo Ilo” in 2013, and was chosen by Variety as one of its 10 Directors to Watch in the same year, is putting the finishing touches to his sophomore feature, “Wet Season,” which he is looking to premiere at an A-list festival. In the intervening six years, he has also been hard at work producing other filmmakers’ work.
Chen describes “Wet Season” as the story of a 40-year-old woman “who is having a bit of crisis in life and is on a journey to rediscover herself, redefine herself and restart [her life].” The woman’s friendship with a young man “helps her reaffirm her identity as a woman,” according to Memento Films Intl., which is handling international sales.
After directing several award-winning shorts, including “Grandma,” which won a special mention at Cannes in 2007, Chen was thrust into the global spotlight...
Chen describes “Wet Season” as the story of a 40-year-old woman “who is having a bit of crisis in life and is on a journey to rediscover herself, redefine herself and restart [her life].” The woman’s friendship with a young man “helps her reaffirm her identity as a woman,” according to Memento Films Intl., which is handling international sales.
After directing several award-winning shorts, including “Grandma,” which won a special mention at Cannes in 2007, Chen was thrust into the global spotlight...
- 5/16/2019
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
One of the finest Hong Kong cop thrillers of the previous decade, Johnnie To’s celebrated “Drug War” was a major success when it was released and continued his stance as one of the country’s finest modern directors. Now four years later, South Korea has opted for a remake of the film that takes the core essence of the same story into a new direction with Lee Hae-yeong’s new effort “Believer”.
“Believer” is screening at the Udine Far East Film Festival
After a friend is killed, determined cop Won-ho now has more ammunition than ever to nail the drug kingpin at the centre of the past two years of his life. After getting further clues to his identity, he and his squad begin an operation with the survivor of one of the attacks, Rak, a low-level employee in the operation, and begin to work through the organisation, in order to reach the top.
“Believer” is screening at the Udine Far East Film Festival
After a friend is killed, determined cop Won-ho now has more ammunition than ever to nail the drug kingpin at the centre of the past two years of his life. After getting further clues to his identity, he and his squad begin an operation with the survivor of one of the attacks, Rak, a low-level employee in the operation, and begin to work through the organisation, in order to reach the top.
- 5/4/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
The narcotics industry, or what existed of it, in South Korea has for the most part never been explored in cinema up until recently. 2018, however, changed that with two films on the subject out in a year. While “Believer” was a remake of the Johnnie To film “Drug War”, director Woo Min-ho’s latest film “The Drug King” attempted to tell the true tale of the 1970s drug trade through Busan into Japan. It was highly anticipated not only for being Woo Min-ho’s follow-up to the excellent 2015 thriller “Inside Men”, but also for starring South Korean superstar Song Kang-ho, who was last seen in the hit Gwangju Uprising drama “A Taxi Driver” as well as Bae Doona, one of the leading South Korean actresses. So does the film live up to the hype and the towering names it comes with? Let’s break it down.
After a brief introduction to methaphetamine,...
After a brief introduction to methaphetamine,...
- 3/9/2019
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Chinese director Andrew Lau has completed production on his most recent fantasy/comedy martial arts film “Kung Fu Monster” stars the iconic Louis Koo (“Paradox” “Drug War“) as a warrior fighting against a corrupt government that houses a menagerie of bizarre creatures.
“Fung Fu Monster” is set to makes its theatrical debut on December 21, 2018. A trailer for the film has been previously released and can be viewed below.
Synopsis
During the Wanli Emperor’s reign in the Ming dynasty, Sun Yehe, supervisor of the Eastern Depot, was ordered to capture monsters that have escaped from the royal palace. At the same time, militia warrior Zhen Jian colludes with his martial arts junior Xiong Jiaojiao and female warrior Leng Bingbing gather a group of forest fighters to rob the silver from corrput officials. However, silver was missing, while wanted criminal criminal Feng Sihai appears along with Jianghu wanderer Wu Bai. As a bigger crisis comes,...
“Fung Fu Monster” is set to makes its theatrical debut on December 21, 2018. A trailer for the film has been previously released and can be viewed below.
Synopsis
During the Wanli Emperor’s reign in the Ming dynasty, Sun Yehe, supervisor of the Eastern Depot, was ordered to capture monsters that have escaped from the royal palace. At the same time, militia warrior Zhen Jian colludes with his martial arts junior Xiong Jiaojiao and female warrior Leng Bingbing gather a group of forest fighters to rob the silver from corrput officials. However, silver was missing, while wanted criminal criminal Feng Sihai appears along with Jianghu wanderer Wu Bai. As a bigger crisis comes,...
- 12/6/2018
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
If ever you wanted to watch a movie on YouTube for free without breaking the law, now is your time. Feature films have been available to purchase and/or rent on the Google-owned site for years, but last month YouTube rolled out a number of free, ad-supported offerings without making an explicit announcement about the new feature. Among the 100 or so titles currently available are “Rocky,” “Legally Blonde,” and “The Terminator.”
As for the ads themselves, they aren’t as obtrusive as you might fear: Watching Arnold Schwarzenegger say “I’ll be back,” for instance, will require you to endure nine commercial breaks across the sci-fi classic’s 107-minute runtime.
“We saw this opportunity based on user demand, beyond just offering paid movies. Can we do ad-supported movies, free to the user?” Rohit Dhawan, director of product management at YouTube, said to AdAge. “It also presents a nice opportunity for advertisers.
As for the ads themselves, they aren’t as obtrusive as you might fear: Watching Arnold Schwarzenegger say “I’ll be back,” for instance, will require you to endure nine commercial breaks across the sci-fi classic’s 107-minute runtime.
“We saw this opportunity based on user demand, beyond just offering paid movies. Can we do ad-supported movies, free to the user?” Rohit Dhawan, director of product management at YouTube, said to AdAge. “It also presents a nice opportunity for advertisers.
- 11/17/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
One of the finest Hong Kong cop thrillers of the previous decade, Johnnie To’s celebrated “Drug War” was a major success when it was released and continued his stance as one of the country’s finest modern directors. Now four years later, South Korea has opted for a remake of the film that takes the core essence of the same story into a new direction with Lee Hae-yeong’s new effort “Believer”.
After a friend is killed, determined cop Won-ho now has more ammunition than ever to nail the drug kingpin at the center of the past two years of his life. After getting further clues to his identity, he and his squad begin an operation with the survivor of one of the attacks, Rak, a low-level employee in the operation, and begin to work through the organization, in order to reach the top. Complicated by...
After a friend is killed, determined cop Won-ho now has more ammunition than ever to nail the drug kingpin at the center of the past two years of his life. After getting further clues to his identity, he and his squad begin an operation with the survivor of one of the attacks, Rak, a low-level employee in the operation, and begin to work through the organization, in order to reach the top. Complicated by...
- 10/22/2018
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Born, raised and educated in Hong Kong, Au studied filmmaking at the Academy for Performing Arts’ School of Film and Television under renowned critic Shu Kei. After graduating from the Apa in 2004, Au freelanced for a while and made his own shorts, one of which memorialised his beloved grandmother, who passed away in 2003. He finally made his way to Tvb, Hong Kong’s market leading television network. Though still harbouring aspirations to filmmaking, the pick-up writing and research on period dramas proved valuable for a number of reasons. Au worked as a writer alongside To’s right hand man, Wai Ka-fai, eventually participating in To’s Fresh Wave talent incubator programme. His 2007 short Merry X’mas cemented Au’s defining focus on Hong Kong society and how we relate to each other.
His breakout came in 2015 with “Dialect” in the hot button indie “Ten Years.” As one of the five...
His breakout came in 2015 with “Dialect” in the hot button indie “Ten Years.” As one of the five...
- 9/17/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
“… a wild and boisterous crime drama …” ~ David Ehrlich, Indiewire
“… solid two hours of action and suspense that’s muscularly directed by Lee and stylishly shot …” ~ Richard Kuipers, Variety
Directed by Lee Hae-Young (“The Silenced”), “Believer”, the stylish, action-packed remake of Johnnie To’s Drug War, hits digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD October 30 from Well Go USA Entertainment. While technically a remake, Cary Darling of The Houston Chronicle notes that “Lee Hae-Yeong’s gripping retelling … stands on its own and is different enough from the original to make it less a clone and more of a genuflection.” The story follows an investigator who, in an effort to bring down the boss of Asia’s biggest drug cartel, conspires with a lowly member of the gang seeking revenge against the boss. “Believer”, stars Cho Jin-woong (“The Handmaiden”), Ryu Jun-yeol (“A Taxi Driver”), Kim Joo-hyuck (“The Servant”), Kim Sung-ryoung (“The Target”), Park...
“… solid two hours of action and suspense that’s muscularly directed by Lee and stylishly shot …” ~ Richard Kuipers, Variety
Directed by Lee Hae-Young (“The Silenced”), “Believer”, the stylish, action-packed remake of Johnnie To’s Drug War, hits digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD October 30 from Well Go USA Entertainment. While technically a remake, Cary Darling of The Houston Chronicle notes that “Lee Hae-Yeong’s gripping retelling … stands on its own and is different enough from the original to make it less a clone and more of a genuflection.” The story follows an investigator who, in an effort to bring down the boss of Asia’s biggest drug cartel, conspires with a lowly member of the gang seeking revenge against the boss. “Believer”, stars Cho Jin-woong (“The Handmaiden”), Ryu Jun-yeol (“A Taxi Driver”), Kim Joo-hyuck (“The Servant”), Kim Sung-ryoung (“The Target”), Park...
- 9/16/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
“Warriors of Future” is the debut work of visual effects artist Ng Yuen-fai who worked on previous productions such as “The Warlords”, “Re-Cycle” and “Tai Chi Zero”. The Action/Sci-fi blockbuster boasts a well-seasoned cast in Louis Koo, (“Three” “Drug War“) Sean Lau, (“The White Storm” “Black Mask”) and Carina Lau. (“Days of Being Wild” “2046”)
The film has been in production since early 2017 and is set to release next year, a trailer for the film has been released.
Synopsis
In 2055, a meteorite, which brings a fast-growing alien vine named “Pandora”, crashes down on a barren Earth ravaged by pollution and global warming. “Pandora” purifies the planet but kills everything in its path. To protect the citizens of their city, the heavily armored military of Hong Kong, armed with the plant’s genetic map, tries but fails to destroy “Pandora” and uncovers a conspiracy. (From Wikipedia)...
The film has been in production since early 2017 and is set to release next year, a trailer for the film has been released.
Synopsis
In 2055, a meteorite, which brings a fast-growing alien vine named “Pandora”, crashes down on a barren Earth ravaged by pollution and global warming. “Pandora” purifies the planet but kills everything in its path. To protect the citizens of their city, the heavily armored military of Hong Kong, armed with the plant’s genetic map, tries but fails to destroy “Pandora” and uncovers a conspiracy. (From Wikipedia)...
- 7/10/2018
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
“Believer” is a film that you might not know about, but you should. The South Korean action-crime film is a hit in its homeland and has finally made its way to the Us. And to celebrate the film expanding to more cities this weekend, we have an exclusive clip from the film to share with you.
The film tells the story of an investigator who attempts to take down the head of one of the biggest drug cartels in Asia.
Continue reading ‘Believer’ Clip: Drug Cartels Are No Laughing Matter In This Remake Of Johnnie To’s ‘Drug War’ at The Playlist.
The film tells the story of an investigator who attempts to take down the head of one of the biggest drug cartels in Asia.
Continue reading ‘Believer’ Clip: Drug Cartels Are No Laughing Matter In This Remake Of Johnnie To’s ‘Drug War’ at The Playlist.
- 6/13/2018
- by Charles Barfield
- The Playlist
A massive hit in its native Korea, “Believer” is a wild and boisterous crime drama that’s evenly split between romanticizing the back-and-forth between cops and robbers, and lamenting the pointlessness of that endless pursuit. Directed by Lee Hae-young, a rising talent whose distaste for half-measures was already on full display in his previous work (e.g. 2015’s “The Silenced”), the film espouses a violent commitment to both sides of that coin — the fun of the chase, and the hollow pain that someone feels when it finally catches up to them.
Much of this recklessly entertaining movie is so giddy with violence (and so many of its characters are cartoonish psychopaths) that it can be easy to forget the melancholy tone of the opening minutes, or the sadness that creeps into the margins after that. If Lee never quite convinces us of anything, it’s because he fails to put...
Much of this recklessly entertaining movie is so giddy with violence (and so many of its characters are cartoonish psychopaths) that it can be easy to forget the melancholy tone of the opening minutes, or the sadness that creeps into the margins after that. If Lee never quite convinces us of anything, it’s because he fails to put...
- 6/7/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
If you could believe it, the No. 1 reigning movie at the South Korean box office right now is not Solo: A Star Wars Story, but a homegrown crime thriller called Believer. That’s right, Lee Hae-young‘s taut and brutal remake of Johnnie To’s gritty Hong Kong crime epic Drug War has currently blasted Solo right out of the top spot — […]
The post Exclusive ‘Believer’ Clip: A Drug Deal Goes Horribly Wrong in This South Korean Crime Thriller appeared first on /Film.
The post Exclusive ‘Believer’ Clip: A Drug Deal Goes Horribly Wrong in This South Korean Crime Thriller appeared first on /Film.
- 6/7/2018
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
Johnnie To’s gritty mainland crime epic “Drug War” (2012) is given a slick and mostly effective South Korean re-tooling in “Believer.” Centered on a dogged cop obsessed with flushing out a mysterious drug kingpin, this pacy outing is loaded with colorful characters but fails to deliver the emotional intensity it promises. The first feature by director and co-writer Lee Hae-young since his classy period thriller “The Silenced” (2015), “Believer” has notched two million admissions since its May 22 local release. An entertaining action-thriller accessible for non-Korean viewers, “Believer” ought to perform well when it opens June 8 on 23 North American screens.
Action-packed but free of the extreme brutality that sometimes hinders the commercial prospects of Korean genre films in offshore markets, “Believer” borrows just the basics of To’s film. While faithfully recreating some of the original’s most famous sequences, Lee and female co-writer Chung Seo-kyung have significantly altered plot and character details elsewhere.
Action-packed but free of the extreme brutality that sometimes hinders the commercial prospects of Korean genre films in offshore markets, “Believer” borrows just the basics of To’s film. While faithfully recreating some of the original’s most famous sequences, Lee and female co-writer Chung Seo-kyung have significantly altered plot and character details elsewhere.
- 6/5/2018
- by Richard Kuipers
- Variety Film + TV
Crime drama, “Believer” debuted on top of the South Korean box office. Opening on Tuesday, the Next Entertainment World release earned $14.9 million from 1.8 million admissions over six days, including some $9.21 million earned between Friday and Sunday. It accounted for 54% of the total weekend box office. Directed by Lee Hae-young the Korean remake of Hong Kong thriller “Drug War” will open in the U.S. on June 8 through Well Go USA.
“Deadpool 2” and “Avengers: Infinity War” slipped to second and third places, respectively. With a drop of 69%, Fox’s “Deadpool” earned $3.68 million for a cumulative of $26.9 million after two weekends. Disney’s “Infinity War” earned $890,000 to extend its five-weekend total to $91.4 million.
Another Disney release, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” debuted in fourth place on Thursday. The “Star Wars” spinoff earned $931,000 over its opening four days. Upi’s horror thriller “Truth or Dare” debuted on the same day as “Believer” and took fifth place,...
“Deadpool 2” and “Avengers: Infinity War” slipped to second and third places, respectively. With a drop of 69%, Fox’s “Deadpool” earned $3.68 million for a cumulative of $26.9 million after two weekends. Disney’s “Infinity War” earned $890,000 to extend its five-weekend total to $91.4 million.
Another Disney release, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” debuted in fourth place on Thursday. The “Star Wars” spinoff earned $931,000 over its opening four days. Upi’s horror thriller “Truth or Dare” debuted on the same day as “Believer” and took fifth place,...
- 5/28/2018
- by Sonia Kil
- Variety Film + TV
Well Go USA has nabbed North American rights to Believer, the upcoming South Korean action crime film from Lee Hae-young (The Silenced).
The film is a remake of the Hong Kong gangster film maestro Johnnie To's 2012 film Drug War. It features the last starring performance of South Korean actor Kim Joo-hyuk (Yourself and Yours, The Servant), who died in a car accident at the age of 44 last year. Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Sung-ryung and Park Hae-joon also star.
Described as an eclectic crime thriller, the film follows a low-level drug dealer who conspires with a dangerously ambitious...
The film is a remake of the Hong Kong gangster film maestro Johnnie To's 2012 film Drug War. It features the last starring performance of South Korean actor Kim Joo-hyuk (Yourself and Yours, The Servant), who died in a car accident at the age of 44 last year. Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Sung-ryung and Park Hae-joon also star.
Described as an eclectic crime thriller, the film follows a low-level drug dealer who conspires with a dangerously ambitious...
- 5/7/2018
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Well Go USA has nabbed North American rights to <em>Believer</em>, the upcoming South Korean action-crime film from Lee Hae-young (<em>The Silenced</em>).
The pic is a remake of Hong Kong gangster-film maestro Johnnie To's <em>Drug War</em> (2012) and features the last starring performance of South Korean actor Kim Joo-hyuk (<em>Yourself and Yours</em>, <em>The Servant</em>), who died last year in a car accident at the age of 44. Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Sung-ryung and Park Hae-joon also star.
Described as an eclectic crime thriller, <em>Believer</em> follows a low-level drug dealer who conspires with a dangerously ambitious cop to bring down a major cartel’s ...
The pic is a remake of Hong Kong gangster-film maestro Johnnie To's <em>Drug War</em> (2012) and features the last starring performance of South Korean actor Kim Joo-hyuk (<em>Yourself and Yours</em>, <em>The Servant</em>), who died last year in a car accident at the age of 44. Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Sung-ryung and Park Hae-joon also star.
Described as an eclectic crime thriller, <em>Believer</em> follows a low-level drug dealer who conspires with a dangerously ambitious cop to bring down a major cartel’s ...
The first trailer of Believer, the highly-anticipated remake of Johnnie To’s 2012 Hong Kong crime thriller Drug War, has been unveiled ahead of its May 24th release in South Korea.
Lee Hae-young, the director of The Silenced, brings to the screen the tale of detective Won-ho (Cho Jin-woong from A Hard Day). He teams up with drug dealer Rak (Ryu Jun-yeol of A Taxi Driver) in the hopes of infiltrating and taking down a major crime syndicate that oversees the dark world of drug trade in South Korea.
The film will also act as a final bow for the late actor Kim Joo-hyuk, who sadly passed away this last November. If the trailer is any indication, however, his turn as the crazed drug kin pin Ha-rim will be a memorable, worthy swan song.
Buckle up and check out the action-packed, fast-paced trailer below.
Source: ScreenAnarchy...
Lee Hae-young, the director of The Silenced, brings to the screen the tale of detective Won-ho (Cho Jin-woong from A Hard Day). He teams up with drug dealer Rak (Ryu Jun-yeol of A Taxi Driver) in the hopes of infiltrating and taking down a major crime syndicate that oversees the dark world of drug trade in South Korea.
The film will also act as a final bow for the late actor Kim Joo-hyuk, who sadly passed away this last November. If the trailer is any indication, however, his turn as the crazed drug kin pin Ha-rim will be a memorable, worthy swan song.
Buckle up and check out the action-packed, fast-paced trailer below.
Source: ScreenAnarchy...
- 4/25/2018
- by Kristen Barrett
- AsianMoviePulse
The much-anticipated Korean remake of Johnnie To's crime drama Drug War has dropped an electric first trailer ahead of its domestic release on May 24. From The Silenced director Lee Hae-young, the film will head overseas under the new international title Believer. Cho Jin-woong (A Hard Day) takes the lead role, played by Sun Honglei in the original, of detective Won-ho, who is looking to take down a large crime syndicate that controls the drug trade in Korea. Rising superstar Ryu Jun-yeol (A Taxi Driver) fills Louis Koo's shoes as Rak, the drug pusher who teams up with Won-ho to take them on. Park Hae-joon (Fourth Place), Kim Sung-ryoung (The Fatal Encounter) and Cha Seung-won (Man on High Heels) co-star in the crime thriller, which also...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 4/18/2018
- Screen Anarchy
Chinese actor Gao Yunxiang, who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney, Australia was denied bail by a local court on the morning of Tuesday, April 10.
Gao, 35, and another 35-year-old man named Wang Jing were arrested on March 26 in Sydney after a 36-year-old woman reported to the police, alleging Gao and Wang sexually assaulted her in her room at the Shangri-La Hotel.
The court heard that the woman reported the case to the police shortly after the incident and bruises were found on her legs. Gao pleaded not guilty and attempted to seek bail from the court afterwards, but the Sydney Central Local Court ruled that the two must remain in prison during the trial.
According to Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, the court heard that one of the accused men had sexual intercourse with the 36-year-old woman, but it was uncertain whether the man in question is Gao or Wang.
Gao, 35, and another 35-year-old man named Wang Jing were arrested on March 26 in Sydney after a 36-year-old woman reported to the police, alleging Gao and Wang sexually assaulted her in her room at the Shangri-La Hotel.
The court heard that the woman reported the case to the police shortly after the incident and bruises were found on her legs. Gao pleaded not guilty and attempted to seek bail from the court afterwards, but the Sydney Central Local Court ruled that the two must remain in prison during the trial.
According to Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, the court heard that one of the accused men had sexual intercourse with the 36-year-old woman, but it was uncertain whether the man in question is Gao or Wang.
- 4/10/2018
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Plot85% Acting78% Directing79% Music59% 75%Overall Score Reader Rating: (6 Votes)85%High Risk, High Return
“Drug War” or “Du Zhan” apparently marks the first time filmmaker Johnnie To directs a film directly on mainland China. As the title suggests, this is all about the good cops versus the bad drug traffickers. Here, you got drug mules to catch, drug dealers to follow and the occasional drug lord to apprehend ( or kill, depending on your mood ). Luckily, this type of material falls directly in Mr. To’s jurisdiction.
Of the two main characters, anti-drug unit captain Zhang Lei is played by Honglei Sun. He’s got the whole “deep voice” thing going on and has enough presence on-screen to keep you hooked. He’s got that “I’m-only-gonna-tell-you-once” kind of look on his face that makes him extremely enjoyable to watch.
His opposite, Timmy Choi ( played by Louis Koo ), starts the movie off...
“Drug War” or “Du Zhan” apparently marks the first time filmmaker Johnnie To directs a film directly on mainland China. As the title suggests, this is all about the good cops versus the bad drug traffickers. Here, you got drug mules to catch, drug dealers to follow and the occasional drug lord to apprehend ( or kill, depending on your mood ). Luckily, this type of material falls directly in Mr. To’s jurisdiction.
Of the two main characters, anti-drug unit captain Zhang Lei is played by Honglei Sun. He’s got the whole “deep voice” thing going on and has enough presence on-screen to keep you hooked. He’s got that “I’m-only-gonna-tell-you-once” kind of look on his face that makes him extremely enjoyable to watch.
His opposite, Timmy Choi ( played by Louis Koo ), starts the movie off...
- 11/2/2013
- by The0racle
- AsianMoviePulse
Plot85% Acting78% Directing79% Music59% 75%Overall Score Reader Rating: (4 Votes)81%High Risk, High Return
“Drug War” or “Du Zhan” apparently marks the first time filmmaker Johnnie To directs a film directly on mainland China. As the title suggests, this is all about the good cops versus the bad drug traffickers. Here, you got drug mules to catch, drug dealers to follow and the occasional drug lord to apprehend ( or kill, depending on your mood ). Luckily, this type of material falls directly in Mr. To’s jurisdiction.
Of the two main characters, anti-drug unit captain Zhang Lei is played by Honglei Sun. He’s got the whole “deep voice” thing going on and has enough presence on-screen to keep you hooked. He’s got that “I’m-only-gonna-tell-you-once” kind of look on his face that makes him extremely enjoyable to watch.
His opposite, Timmy Choi ( played by Louis Koo ), starts the movie off...
“Drug War” or “Du Zhan” apparently marks the first time filmmaker Johnnie To directs a film directly on mainland China. As the title suggests, this is all about the good cops versus the bad drug traffickers. Here, you got drug mules to catch, drug dealers to follow and the occasional drug lord to apprehend ( or kill, depending on your mood ). Luckily, this type of material falls directly in Mr. To’s jurisdiction.
Of the two main characters, anti-drug unit captain Zhang Lei is played by Honglei Sun. He’s got the whole “deep voice” thing going on and has enough presence on-screen to keep you hooked. He’s got that “I’m-only-gonna-tell-you-once” kind of look on his face that makes him extremely enjoyable to watch.
His opposite, Timmy Choi ( played by Louis Koo ), starts the movie off...
- 11/2/2013
- by The0racle
- AsianMoviePulse
Drug War Contest Giveaway Sweepstakes. This Drug War Blu-ray contest, giveaway, sweepstakes illustrates Drug War‘s release on DVD and Blu-ray on October 15, 2013. Johnny To‘s Drug War / Du zhan‘s stars Sun Honglei, Louis Koo, Honglei Sun, Michelle Ye, and Yi Huan. Drug War‘s plot synopsis: “Captain [...]
Continue reading: Contest: Drug War (2013) Blu-ray: Sun Honglei Tracks Drug Criminals...
Continue reading: Contest: Drug War (2013) Blu-ray: Sun Honglei Tracks Drug Criminals...
- 10/11/2013
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Looking back at 2012 on what films moved and impressed us, it is clear that watching old films is a crucial part of making new films meaningful. Thus, the annual tradition of our end of year poll, which calls upon our writers to pick both a new and an old film: they were challenged to choose a new film they saw in 2012—in theaters or at a festival—and creatively pair it with an old film they also saw in 2012 to create a unique double feature.
All the contributors were asked to write a paragraph explaining their 2012 fantasy double feature. What's more, each writer was given the option to list more pairings, with or without explanation, as further imaginative film programming we'd be lucky to catch in that perfect world we know doesn't exist but can keep dreaming of every time we go to the movies.
How would you program some...
All the contributors were asked to write a paragraph explaining their 2012 fantasy double feature. What's more, each writer was given the option to list more pairings, with or without explanation, as further imaginative film programming we'd be lucky to catch in that perfect world we know doesn't exist but can keep dreaming of every time we go to the movies.
How would you program some...
- 1/9/2013
- by Daniel Kasman
- MUBI
Drug War Trailer, Du Zhan Trailer. Johnny To‘s Drug War / Du zhan (2012) movie trailer stars Sun Honglei, Louis Koo, Honglei Sun, Michelle Ye, and Yi Huang. Drug War‘s plot synopsis: “Captain Zhang (Sun Honglei) and his team will stop at nothing to track down drug criminals. When drug lord Timmy Choi (Louis [...]
Continue reading: Drug War / Du Zhan (2012) Movie Trailer: Johnny To, Sun Honglei...
Continue reading: Drug War / Du Zhan (2012) Movie Trailer: Johnny To, Sun Honglei...
- 11/29/2012
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Rome Review: Johnnie To's 'Drug War' Is A Gritty, Talky Procedural That Amps Up To A Bruising Climax
Johnnie To is a prime example of a director whose name means one thing to overseas audiences, and quite another to those in his native Hong Kong. While his home fans know him as a prolific genre-hopping polyglot whose production company Milkyway Image is a force to be reckoned with on the national filmmaking scene, abroad, especially in the U.S., he's primarily known as an action/thriller director; a less-stylized John Woo. And so his newest film, "Drug War" ("Du Zhan"), which was a late "surprise" addition to the Rome Film Festival line-up, should export neatly. A bruising procedural, the film covers in unflinching detail just a couple of packed days in the course of a sprawling and complex sting operation to bring down a cadre of drug kingpins. Despite a strict, almost ascetic attention to narrative logic, To's storytelling skill somehow kept us engaged through long periods of talkiness and complex plotting,...
- 11/15/2012
- by Jessica Kiang
- The Playlist
A solid, visceral action flick from Hong Kong maestro Johnnie To, "Du Zhan" ("Drug War") delivers on audience expectations. Confidently following a familiar route, the Chinese director brings his brand of muscular gangster movies to a new potential market. In fact, "Drug War" is the first of To's many films to be shot and set in mainland China -- specifically in the Jinshan district. Unfolding in a country right in the middle of an economic boom, where opportunities for rogue entrepreneurs are ripe, the film benefits from a topic that feels especially timely. The plot is meaty enough: After the inclement boss of a drug cartel Ming (Louis Koo) is arrested during a raid, he's persuaded by police captain Zhang (Sun Honglei) to take part in an undercover operation aimed at his own gang in exchange for a reduction of jail time. Setting up business meetings with powerful bosses in...
- 11/15/2012
- by Celluloid Liberation Front
- Indiewire
Rome – Johnnie To’s thriller Du zhan (Drug War) will premiere at the International Rome Film Festival after all, after the festival said Sunday that the film would be the second and final surprise selection added to the festival’s 15-film competition. Du zhan is the first ever film shot in mainland China for To, a native of Hong Kong. The film tells the story of a police captain’s efforts to break up a major cocaine ring with the help of an arrested drug lord. Earlier, the festival announced that Yi Wu Si Er (Back to 1942) from Chinese director
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- 11/11/2012
- by Eric J. Lyman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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