I’ve got a lot of great stuff planned, so get ready for that. Let me know what you guys like and what you don’t and I’ll get it all sorted out!
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It was announced a few weeks ago that Donnie Yen would be starting a production company called Super Hero Films. The company would be searching for new talent, but that doesn’t mean Yen will be taking a backseat. In fact, 2 films have been announced for the star.
The first is called The Master and pairs Yen up with Motorway director Soi Cheang. Yen will play a kung fu master who is targeted by a gun shop owner. This film may be the same as one called Enter the Master, where Yen was to play a similar role with Nicholas Tse in the cast as well.
The second film is titled Dragon City and will be handled by Gallants director Derek Kwok. It takes place in the 70′s and has Yen playing the role of a cop who battles corruption and crime within the walled limits of a walled-in Kowloon city. No other details have been revealed, but both films are scheduled to start filming next year.
Now, I’m excited to hear about these concepts and ideas, but I really hope that Yen finds new talent like he stated. I’m guessing he’s going to be working on some dream projects for now, but surely he’s not planning to be in every film. Yen’s got a busy few years ahead of him, and I hope that quality doesn’t suffer from the amount of films that are released.
Lots of fun things to discuss, so feel free to sound off. I’m excited for the Donnie Yen/Nicholas Tse project myself, but I can wait on Man with the Iron Fists.
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Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse Team Up for Enter the Master
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A new film featuring Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse is in the works. Called the Master, the film takes place in a US Chinatown and has Yen playing a former martial arts star who is forced to contemplate his actions when an immigrant he befriends ends up causing a rift between two triad factions. Tse will play the immigrant in the story.
Other details include Chan Hing-Ka in the director’s seat with Donnie handling the action. Emperor motion picture CEO Albert Lee has gone on to say that “Donnie and Nicholas have worked well together before, but Enter The Master will take the collaboration a step further by pitting the two directly against each other, both emotionally and physically.”
Needless to say, I can’t wait to learn more about this movie, it already sounds like it could be awesome.
Source: Film Business Asia
Background Info
After the success of SPL, Donnie Yen and Wilson Yip decided to team up once more. Action fans were disappointed by the long wait in SPL, and Dragon Tiger Gate promised more action from the start. The story was based off of a comic book, allowing for deeper characters and more complex stories. The cast also includes Nicholas Tse, Shawn Yue, and Yuen Wah. Would a more action-oriented story lead to a better overall film?
Story/Characters
I should go ahead and state that I’ve never seen any of the source material. The story is nothing mindbending or deep, but it’s enough to justify the fights that take place. I wished that there was more to go off of, but I understand there is just too much to cover in the span of one film. That being said, there are some sequences that feel very “comic booky.”
The characters, for the most part, are pretty shallow. You’ll get a fleeting bit of background info, but it’s hard to really connect to any of the characters. Some characters get more attention than others, but there are just too many stories to keep track of. However, the main story between Donnie and Nicholas is pretty decent and is handled in a good manner.
Action/Choreography
As you’d expect, everybody delivers on the action. What I truly enjoyed is the fact that each character has a distinct fighting style. This means that even during the same fight, everything was fresh with each character. There are also a lot of great angles and sequences to some of the fights. My only complaint would be the “finishing move” for the last fight, as it really was a letdown for me.
Own it, Watch it, or Skip it?
Dragon Tiger Gate is a solid action film with a decent plot. While it may or may not be faithful to the source material, it provides a lot of good action that everyone can enjoy. If you felt like SPL didn’t have enough action, you won’t be disappointed (though the story isn’t as deep.) People who want a good action film that doesn’t require a lot of thought will be able to sit back and enjoy Dragon Tiger Gate.
Watch it
It appears that the HK versions are no longer available on YesAsia, but they can also be found on Amazon.
This week has been crazy for me, but some cool news for the site as well. Hopefully you guys forgive me while I try to get everything back to normal.
Trailers for Wu Dang and Six Bullets and Expendables 2 Poster
Attend the Premiere of Death Grip!
Background Info
Benny Chan decided to team up Jaycee Chan with two veterans in the film industry: Nicholas Tse and Shawn Yue. Benny went one step further and cast Wu Jing and Andy On in the roles of villains, ensuring that the action would be solid all the way around. While Jaycee still had a lot to prove, would he be able to step out of his father’s shadow and show the world what he was capable of?
Story/Characters
The story of Invisible Target revolves around three main police officers, each of them with their own history and emotional baggage. While this may sound like it would confuse the plot, it is handled fairly well that the motives of each character are clear. While more could have been done with the story overall, it provided enough background info and plotpoints to get the action going. Invisible target manages to give a decent story that has a destination while ensuring that the action doesn’t suffer from it.
The characters are pretty well done in Invisible Target. While they can be split into very distinct personalities, like by-the-books officer and constantly depressed lover, it’s the interaction between everyone that helps flesh out the characters. Like with most movies, the villains get the short end of the stick, which is a shame. Wu Jing is a great bad guy, and I would have loved for him to be more than a just badass. I also had a soft spot for Wai King Ho’s grandma, as she seemed to help lighten the mood often.
Action/Choreography
This movie was created with action in mind from the very beginning, and it shows. There are some pretty crazy stunts and the fights are pretty solid. That being said, Tse and Yue are the heavy hitters here, with Chan just supporting them. The fights can be a little showy at times, but the final confrontation was very well done. I can understand that Jaycee couldn’t have done much given his character, it would have been nice to see him fight more. Either way, the fights are shot well and there are enough stunts to keep most action fans happy, even though the special effects feel out of place sometimes.
Own it, Watch it, or Skip it?
Invisible Target tries to achieve a lot of goals, and gets pretty close to accomplishing most of them. The movie probably won’t be the one Jaycee will be remembered for, but the overall cast is very strong and helps carry the film. While there are a few things holding this movie back from being a must have, Invisible Target has enough going for it to warrant a view. If you want to see something that has a good plot and solid action, Invisible Target hits the mark.
Watch it
Invisible Target DVD (US Version)
Invisible Target Blu Ray (US Version)
Background Info
Dante Lam is known for creating powerful stories with strong characters that leave a lasting impact on audiences. The Viral Factor focuses on the story of 2 brothers that are on opposite sides of the law. Would Lam be able to bring something new to the tired genre while getting the most out of Tse and Chou, or would this movie fall short of its mark?
Story/Characters
The Viral Factor’s story is basic enough. While some setpieces are a little too coincidental, I felt like a lot of care went into making sure things didn’t happen just because certain characters needed to meet. The film doesn’t do anything to break any molds, which is a shame since Lam has created some truly gripping stories before. When compared to his other films, the story in the Viral Factor is lacking, but still gets the job done for an explosive action film.
What makes the story so great is how believable the characters are. Things don’t always wrap up nicely when it comes to family affairs, and the reason why the brothers are separated is grounded in reality enough to seem logical. However, this seems to only extend to Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse’s characters. There are several other characters whose motives are simply ignored. For example, there are some characters that are not “good” and the film tells you as much, but never why they can’t be trusted. It feels like a missed opportunity for even deeper characters for a richer story.
Action/Choreography
I was looking forward to the action sequences in the Viral Factor, and I’m happy with the result that I got. While I personally would have wanted more fight choreography, the pacing of the fights along with the shootouts and explosions are sure to satisfy those that want a solid action film. Andy On plays a great villain once again, though he didn’t get much time to showcase his talents as a fighter.
Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou exchange blows from time to time, and it’s very apparent that they both know what they are doing. Chou’s action in the Viral Factor far surpasses what he did in the Green Hornet, and I’m glad that I don’t have such a negative image of him anymore. I would like to point out that I’m a little tired of seeing people get suplexed through things though. It was cool in Flash Point, but now everybody does it.
Own it, Watch it, Skip it?
The Viral Factor suffers because there was so much more that could have been done with the story. Chou and Tse played their roles well and the action is solid, but deeper characters and less linear plot would have made this film superb. This isn’t Dante Lam’s best film, but it isn’t a waste of time either. If you want to see a good action film or see what Jay Chou can do with a good character, you should definitely check out the Viral Factor.
Watch it
