China’s Film Stars are spread out all over Asia! I decided to do a quick photo post to locate all of them…first is Pusan, because not that many Chinese people that went, and also it came first chronologically, so it’s easier to just get it out of the way.
The Message cast in Pusan: Alec Su, Huang Xiaoming, and Li Bingbing
Huang Xiaoming goes behind the lens to shoot Zhou Xun on Feng Sheng's set
The Message (Feng Sheng) topped the coveted national holiday week, with 150 million RMB (22 USD) which is really, really high to the point of raising eyebrows. Either way, the film has done what Hua Yi has out to do – be a blockbuster, and showcase some of its finest actors, which has been accomplished with both main actresses nabbing Golden Horse nods. Actor Huang Xiaoming also got to show off his improvement singing, by performing the theme song live rather impressively (though not enough for me to want another album from him). Li Bingbing and Alec Su look like they’re enjoying the performance too.
Chen Kun has been singled out in praise for his acting in the film Jian Guo Da Ye, commemorating the PRC’s 60th anniversary (today in China time), not an easy feat when the entire film consists of stars. He was chosen to act in the film as Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek’s son, Chiang Ching-kuo, future president of Taiwan, because he had a youthful air about him, as well a brooding pensive quality. He ended up playing it so well, that he was given more screentime while others were cut.
Here he sings red song Yin Shan Hong at the premiere ceremony a few weeks ago. He’s no Huang Ying, but I think he did a good job anyway.
I normally hate to talk politics in general, but since I am posting about this movie, I’d like to clear up a few things about the political aspect.
Most people have a knee-jerk reaction to this movie, because it’s “propaganda”. Perhaps, but not like you think. Due to closer cross-straight relations, and a celebratory nature of the movie in general, this will probably show the Nationalist side of the civil war as very sympathetic, which will in turn cause many Chinese youth to wonder what exactly the communists were fighting for in 1949 . And as much as the Mao-led government sucked afterward, the status quo before the civil war gave every reason for revolution. Frankly, this movie will definitely be much more balanced and less one-sided than The Patriot was to the British. (more…)
I never met a Chen Kun photoshoot that I didn’t like. In fact when I started this site I had no inkling on what I would be talking about, and only had a hazy idea of me posting up his pictures and fangirling over them. Lofty ambitions indeed no? Bloggers would be amiss really, if they aspired to anything more. I decided to stick Huang Xiaoming’s recent photoshoot in here too for comparison’s sake of the two magazines, which are two of the bigger ones for men in China, and also, because it’s always nice to see the former classmates together in some shape or form.
I see a lot of people new to this site leaving comments. I guess I was subtle about this fact, but this site is now in its much less active state so if you are new and would like to find out more about Chinese entertainment, please feel free to browse older entries. New entries will still appear, but it won’t begin to cover the breadth of Chinese entertainment (even just mainland entertainment) at all, and will focus on things that I or idarklight find coincide will our self-interests. Or you can check the numerous sites in the links section for more info.
Speaking of self-interests, I’m zoning in on this particular film, Lian Ai Ba. It seems there’s always a Chinese romantic comedy around the corner these days that captures my attention. Just as one airs (previously it was Sophie’s Revenge) another begins production. I suppose this one in particular appeals to me because of the story – a divorced couple refalling into love, and because I really do love all three cast members, especially the two leads, Yuan Quan and Chen Kun although they have never acted together. For more information about the film, click the “Lian Ai Ba” tag.
Sigh…because of this site I have so many movies, dramas that I am looking forward to , that I may not actually have time to watch. “Lian Ai Ba” is one of them. I have a lot of affection for all of the actors, and it’s nice to see a mature modern day romance about adults refinding love. So even if I’m a little wary of the first-time director, I will definitely be following this. And Chen Kun and Lu Yi in suits? Just two words: So shuai!
Lu Yi, Yuan Quan and Chen Kun in Lian Ai Ba...Lu Yi got motion sickness
Just some quick new links:
Rumors fly about Chen Chusheng joining Hua Yi and singing The Message’s theme song
Huang Xiaoming, casted in Ip Man 2.
Obama quotes Yao Ming in US-China talk.
49 min preview of Meteor Shower is out at youtube.
L-R Director, Chen Kun, Yuan Quan, Debbie Goh, and Lu Yi
Remember when I said Chen Kun and Yuan Quan were going to star in something? Well, production commenced, and the other two cast members are Lu Yi and Debbie Goh! That’s quite a cast, and those first three names are all so good at singing that I’m crying that this isn’t a musical. But that’s okay, because it’s a romantic comedy, which isn’t a genre I’m adverse to. “Liang Ai Ba” (Dating) is based off a hugely popular novel about a love triangle between a divorced woman, her ex-husband and his best friend. Go below for synopsis and some pictures from filming.
This is a really big post, so check it out !
Chen Kun and Yuan Quan sponsor a jewelry brand in style at an event, with Yuan Quan in white riding a horse, and Chen Kun giving her a ring, like a modern day prince and princess, except that pretending to marry was really awkward for them. Normally I wouldn’t care, but it’s two actors that I like, both of which whom actually have really nice singing voices and I’ve long wished they would collaborate in something like a musical. They will be working together, but instead will be in a HK film.
L-R Zhu Zixiao, Zhang Han, Zheng Shuang, Yu Haoming, and Wei Chen
Meteor Shower’s theme song was released featuring the voices of all four “Hua”. The soundtrack will feature the lovely voices of Wei Chen and Yu Haoming …and the voices of Zhang Han, Zhu Zixiao and Zheng Shuang. The series will be shown in early August on Hunan TV, after Always Smile! finishes airing.
