News

Barbie Hsu has sadly passed away.

The Taiwanese actress, perhaps best known for her role in the 2001 TV drama Meteor Garden, died after contracting pneumonia following a flu diagnosis at the age of 48.

The actress, also known as “Da S” (or “Big S”), caught the flu while visiting Japan with her family during the Lunar New Year, according to her younger sister, Dee Hsu, who provided a statement.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I am grateful that in this lifetime I was able to be her sister, taking care of each other and being companions. I will forever be thankful for her and miss her!” her sister said, via CBS News.

Barbie first broke into the industry as a teenager in the pop music group S.O.S. with her sister Dee Hsu, also known as “Xiao S,” or “Small S.” The two then moved into hosting gigs on TV.

In Meteor Garden,...

Barbie Hsu, a Taiwanese actor and singer best known for starring in the hit 2001 series “Meteor Garden,” has died. She was 48.

The BBC reported news of Hsu’s death on Monday, citing local media. Her sister, Dee Hsu, told Taiwan’s Tvbs News that she had fallen ill while on vacation in Japan.

“During the Lunar New Year, our family came to Japan for vacation. My dearest sister Barbie has unfortunately left us after getting pneumonia, triggered by influenza,” Dee Hsu said, according to the BBC. Hsu had health struggles in the past and had previously been hospitalized due to epilepsy.

Barbie and Dee began their careers together as a singing duo, releasing the hit song “Ten-Minute Love” in 1994 under the name S.O.S. After a contractual dispute with their agency, the sisters shifted focus to hosting, which included the variety show “Guess” and entertainment news program “100% Entertainment.”

In 2001, Hsu rose...

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who starred in hit 2001 series Meteor Garden, has died from pneumonia at the age of 48.

Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed her death to local Taiwanese media through a statement and said that Barbie Hsu passed away from pneumonia after falling ill during a family trip to Japan.

Barbie and Dee Hsu began their careers together in a pop duo, before picking up TV hosting and acting roles.

Barbie Hsu, who had a history of epilepsy and heart disease, was hospitalised previously due to seizures.

Hsu also starred in TV series like Summer’s Desire and Corner With Love, as well as films like Reign of Assassins and Motorway.

Taiwan’s Meteor Garden was a series adaptation of a 1990s Japanese comic of the same name. Hsu played Shan Cai, a teenager from a middle-class family who attends an elite private school and becomes caught in a...

Taiwanese screenwriter and director Su Chao Bin wrote this Ming Dynasty wuxia drama primarily for Michelle Yeoh to star in. According to Su and producer Terence Chang, the approach was to do a story in the style of Gu Long's wuxia, populated with multiple characters plus a touch of suspense and mystery. Producer John Woo's input is mainly as an adviser, but he did direct one action scene which featured his daughter and thereby also credited as co-director. Su won the Best Director award for his effort at the 17th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards.

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The story starts off with an interesting animated prologue detailing the arrival of Monk Bodhi from India some eight hundred years ago. He spent his early years preaching in the Palace and then retired to Mt Jinhua where he trained and...

When it comes to big-budget productions made in Hong Kong, few could hold a candle to director Benny Chan whose resume includes such titles like “Rob-b-Hood”, “New Police Story” and “Raging Fire”, his last work before his death. As he was approached to do a remake of David R. Ellis' action-thriller “Cellular”, Chan did not have to think twice about the proposition since it gave him the chance to put the original premise within the Hong Kong culture, and therefore making his version much more than a mere copy as you might assume as first glance. “Connected”, which is currently streaming on Netflix, includes the ingredients typical for the kind of action thriller Chan is known for, as well as some impressive stunt work and great performances, especially leading man Louis Koo playing an unlikely hero.

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So far it...

Sales

Studiocanal has sold a raft of global territories on four-part thriller drama series “Ridley Road.” Created by Studiocanal’s Red Production Company, commissioned for BBC One and co-produced with Masterpiece, the series will air in the U.S. on PBS Masterpiece, in France on Canal Plus, and has also been acquired by Now Studio Hong Kong, ABC Australia, Nova Greece, Yle Finland, Svt Sweden, Nrk Norway, Dr Denmark, Rte Ireland, Hot Israel, Canal Plus Poland and Disney Plus Benelux. A sale to Mola Indonesia was agreed earlier this year.

Based on Jo Bloom’s book, the series follows a young Jewish woman who falls in love with a member of the ’62 Group. She rejects her comfortable middle-class life in Manchester and joins the fights against fascism in London, risking everything for her beliefs for the man she loves.

The drama adaption is written, and executive produced by Sarah Solemani...

“Hot Summer Days” is the first Chinese-language film produced by 20th Century Fox in its then seventy-five-year history. Packed with stars hailing from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan, it’s the kind of ensemble romantic comedy that American audiences have been eating up for decades. Nevertheless, this Chinese take on the genre possesses just enough redeeming qualities to elevate it—albeit only slightly— above the pack of formulaic rom coms churned out by movie studios around the world. Gorgeously shot with several excellent performances, “Hot Summer Days” is a date movie of epic proportions, as we’re treated to a whole stable of good-looking actors— often glistening with sweat—as they try to find love in the sweltering heat of summer.

In Hong Kong, we meet Wai (Nicholas Tse), whose air conditioning repair shop is experiencing a much-needed boom in business during the oppressive heat wave.

Stars: Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, Louis Fan, Barbie Hsu, Ye Liu, Eddie Cheung, Gong Beibi, Carlos Chan, Flora Chan, Ankie Black, Ken Hung, Felix Lok | Written by Larry Cohen | Directed by Benny Chan

Engineer Grace Wong is kidnapped by thugs looking for her brother. Though her captors have destroyed the telephone in the room she is being held captive in, Grace is able to use her technical skills to repair the phone enough to call a random number. She gets through to slightly hapless debt collector Bob and implores him for help, setting Bob off on a mission to save a complete stranger from a mysterious group of conspirators, putting his life and relationship with his estranged son in danger.

This Chinese-Hong Kong remake of Cellular (and based on the same script by Larry Cohen) hits a lot of the right notes to make a satisfactory, dynamic thriller. Benny Chan...

Stars: Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Shawn Yue, Xiaodong Guo, Barbie Hsu, Josie Ho | Written by Joey O’Bryan, Kam-Yuen Szeto | Directed by Pou-Soi Cheang

I don’t know what it is about cars in movies but they can be very entertaining. Be it The Fast and The Furious in its various forms, Driver or even The Italian Job the non-stop action of high-speed racing and chases has always been popular. Motorway (aka Che Sau) is a film that taps into this popularity and comfortably sites between Fast and Furious and Driver as a understatedly cool “cops and robbers” film that brings some brains to the car chase sub-genre.

When an overconfident rookie is confronted by a getaway driver who appears to be able to do impossible turns through the use of a unique drifting technique he seems to have found his match. Taking him under his wing his veteran partner teaches...

Motorway finds Soi Cheang (Accident) once again teaming up with producer Johnnie To for the latest Milkyway production. Which can only mean one thing, it’s time for another bout of adrenaline-fuelled cool. Realism is the name of the game in Soi Cheang’s latest thrill ride, with exhilarating car chases and jaw-dropping stunts shying away from Bruckheimer style and sheen. You’ll actually feel like you’re part of the action when the pedal hits the metal, alongside Initial D stars Shawn Yue and Anthony Wong, no strangers to unadulterated racing action. Yue and Wong play elite traffic cops in a secret police unit that upholds the law in unmarked police cars. Gordon Lam, Barbie Hsu, Michelle Ye and Josie Ho are along for the ride, not to mention some really fast cars and an icy cool exterior long associated with the Milkyway brand. Available to buy in the...

Director: Soi Cheang. Review: Adam Wing. Motorway finds Soi Cheang (Accident) once again teaming up with producer Johnnie To for the latest Milkyway production. Which can only mean one thing, it’s time for another bout of adrenaline-fuelled cool. Realism is the name of the game in Soi Cheang’s latest thrill ride, with exhilarating car chases and jaw-dropping stunts shying away from Bruckheimer style and sheen. You’ll actually feel like you’re part of the action when the pedal hits the metal, alongside Initial D stars Shawn Yue and Anthony Wong, no strangers to unadulterated racing action. Yue and Wong play elite traffic cops in a secret police unit that upholds the law in unmarked police cars. Gordon Lam, Barbie Hsu, Michelle Ye and Josie Ho are along for the ride, not to mention some really fast cars and an icy cool exterior long associated with the Milkyway brand.

DVD Release Date: Feb. 12, 2013

Price: DVD $24.98

Studio: Screen Media

Croczilla eyes some appealing appetizers.

The 2012 Chinese horror-action-comedy movie Croczilla is one China’s first-ever creature feature films.

A giant foot crocodile named Mao—who measures 36 feet in length and weighs some two tons–goes on the rampage in Beijing after being moved from a peaceful crocodile farm and onto the menu of a local gangster. As if that’s not bad enough, Mao encounters the beautiful model Wen Yan (Barbie Hsu, Future X Cops) and gobbles down her bag, which contains $1 million, not to mention her mobile phone! The beast continues to terrorize innocent people, even as the army hunts it down and the lovely lady tries to recover her lost cash!

Poor Wen Yan! No wonder the movie was called Million Dollar Crocodile when it was released in theaters in its native China in June, 2012.

Written and directed by...

The Chinese nature gone amok comedy Million Dollar Crocodile is on its way to American DVD in February with a new title that could garner Screen Media Films a phone call from Toho’s legal department: Croczilla.

Starring Reign of Assassins' Barbie Hsu and Hong Kong character actor Lam Suet, Million Dollar Crocodile was released in its native land this past summer. On February 12, 2013, Screen Media Films will be releasing it on Us DVD under the Syfy-riffic new title Croczilla.

Fasten your seatbelts when a rampaging two-ton crocodile with an insatiable appetite is set loose in the city. With the army on the hunt, Croczilla will terrorize innocent people while a sexy model tries to recover millions from its belly. In the tradition of Jaws and Piranha, Croczilla is a wild ride of a creature feature, showing that Japan was just the appetizer!

Seems kind of a shame that a...

If you're into monster movies, and who the hell isn't? Then your gonna relish in this awesome news. We just learned that Screen Media Films has secured the North American rights for China's latest monster movie, Million Dollar Crocodile! The film is scheduled for a quarter one 2013 release, and I for one cannot wait to see this blood-bath. Barbie Hsu (Reign of Assassins) stars with veteran Hong Kong character thesp Lam Suet. In the film, "Xi…...

Screen Media Films has secured the North American rights for China's latest monster movie, Million Dollar Crocodile, and that means that we'll all to bask in this toothy creatures glory soon enough! The film is scheduled for a quarter one 2013 release.

Barbie Hsu (Reign of Assassins) stars with veteran Hong Kong character actor Lam Suet. More on this one as it swims closer to our shores!

Synopsis

Xiao Xing, a little boy, lives in the small town of Mei Jia Wu. He’s in the 4th grade at school and has a best friend named Amao, who is an eight-meter long crocodile. They get along with each other, peacefully. For many years Amao has been living in a local crocodile farm run by tough Bald Liu, who caught Amao in Thailand. But this year Bald Liu has to sell all the crocodiles due to bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the notorious tricky businessman...

“Million Dollar Crocodile” is a genuine cinematic milestone, marking China’s first proper foray into the CGI creature feature genre. As the title suggests, director Lin Li Sheng’s film follows the exploits and adventures of an oversized crocodile who goes on a mild rampage around a small countryside town, while Taiwanese starlet Barbie Hsu (“Bodyguards and Assassins”), popular Mainland actor Guo Tao (“Crazy Stone”) and reliable Hong Kong character veteran and Johnnie To regular Lam Suet all try to stay one step ahead of its jaws. The fun kicks off following a young boy called Xiao Xing, whose best friend just happens to be Amao, a giant 36 foot crocodile kept in a sanctuary run by Bald Liu (Shi Zhaoqi, “The Message”). Unfortunately, Liu is forced to sell the crocodiles to sleazy businessman Zhao Da Zui (Lam Suet), who plans to use to poor animals for luxury meat dishes. Amao manages to escape,...

No more teasing, kids! The full trailer for China's latest monster movie, Million Dollar Crocodile, is now running amok across the interwebs, and we put a leash on this bad boy and have it on display for you right here. Check it out!

Barbie Hsu (Reign of Assassins) stars with veteran Hong Kong character actor Lam Suet. More on this one as it swims closer to our shores!

Synopsis

Xiao Xing, a little boy, lives in the small town of Mei Jia Wu. He’s in the 4th grade at school and has a best friend named Amao, who is an eight-meter long crocodile. They get along with each other, peacefully. For many years Amao has been living in a local crocodile farm run by tough Bald Liu, who caught Amao in Thailand. But this year Bald Liu has to sell all the crocodiles due to bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the notorious...

Never smile at a crocodile, unless of course it literally holds the location of 1 million dollars! Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu leads the way in what appears to China's answer to 'Lake Placid' meets 'Rat Race'. The new CGI boosted comedy horror flick 'Million Dollar Crocodile' has unleashed a new action-packed trailer featuring plenty of looks at the gigantic CGI-croc, looking pretty impressive, and causing havoc. Hong Kong's veteran actor Lam Suet, Guo Tao, Lin Xue, Shi ZhaoQi, Xiong XinXin and Ding JiaLi also star. Check out the full plot synopsis plus the new trailer below....

If Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus taught us anything at all, it’s that the world’s scariest creatures are made infinitely more entertaining if they’re increased in size. How else do you explain our fascination with dinosaurs? They are basically enormous crocodiles, after all. Taking that logic and sprinting with it for a moment might help explain why a Chinese studio has taken the obvious next step of making Million Dollar Crocodile - a lavish CGI creature feature/horror-comedy that stars a gigantic croc which, somewhat ironically, must have cost more than a million dollars to bring to life.

For those of you who think a film with a massive reptile in it needs a story, here it is:

Xiao (10) befriends Amao, a 36 foot crocodile, who lives on his fathers croc sanctuary. Soon his father is forced to sell the crocodiles to a gangster who plans to use them for high priced meals.

Only a week after the last trailer for Soi Cheang's car chase flick Motorway surfaced, Media Asia has uploaded another one on its official Youtube channel with even more footage of stunt driving goodness.  As mentioned before, the film is produced by Johnnie To and the cast includes Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong, Guo Xiaodong, Barbie Hsu and Josie Ho.Sean is an overconfident rookie in the Stealth Riders, a secret police unit consisting of the best drivers in the force that targets underworld racing and fugitives on the run. Jensen is a legendary getaway driver, who's never been caught before his retirement 15 years ago. When Sean chances upon Jensen one day, he thinks his day has finally come.The theatrical release date in Hong Kong is June 21st. ...

No this isn't the reptilian sequel to Million Dollar Baby (although that would be awesome), but closer to a Mainland Chinese reimagining of Greg McLean's Rogue. Taiwanese starlet Barbie Hsu (Connected, Reign Of Assassins) plays a vengeful bride-to-be who goes after a giant maneating crocodile after it eats her purse. The escaped reptile, apparently named Mao (surely there isn't a political subtext there?), flees its captors when in transit to a new wildlife reserve. While wreaking havoc on the local community, Mao inadvertently swallows Hsu's handbag, which contains 100,000 Euros worth of wedding cash!! So, in her desperation she hires a gang of hunters, including Guo Tao and Lam Suet, to track down and kill the beast.Set to open in China on 8 June, the...

It seems like forever since director Soi Cheang and producer Johnnie To began work on their underground racing thriller, Motorway, with the first proper trailer surfacing almost exactly a year ago to the day. Well, now the chequered flag seems to be in sight as Media Asia has released a new trailer and announced that the film, which stars a host of familiar faces, including Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong, Barbie Hsu, Michelle Ye, Gordon Lam and Guo Xiaodong, will make its debut in China this coming June. The story focuses on Sean (Yue), a cocky police officer who goes undercover in a special tactical unit designed to take down secret underground racing gangs, and by the looks of the trailer, the production shot in some of...

Director: Su Chao Pin. Review: Adam Wing. Taiwan writer-director Su Chao Pin (Silk) joins forces with legendary filmmaker John Woo for a period tale about love and freedom. Hang on a minute, I here you say. Surely you mean brotherhood and redemption, right? Surprisingly not, Woo’s latest collaboration steps away from familiar themes and embraces the softer side of life instead. I say softer, there are swordsman, epic battles and countless martial arts showdowns, but for the most part Reign of Assassins throws its arms out to love and sentiment. Who am I kidding? Veteran action director Stephen Tung (Bodyguards and Assassins) is on hand to choreograph the exhilarating stunts, wire-assisted swordplay and epic battles sequences. He’s not so well versed in the art of poetic ballads, so I guess bone-crunching action will have to do then. Action queen Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) takes the leading...

Chinese period piece “My Kingdom” is a film which has whipped up a fair bit of interest as an East-West coproduction that attempts to inject a little action, romance and glamour into the world of Beijing Opera, not least since it stars top Asian pop duo Wu Chun and Han Geng in the lead roles. The two certainly took the film seriously, undergoing six months of training with the one and only Sammo Hung in order to convincingly play ‘wushengs’, actors who combine martial arts and opera in performance. Directed by Gao Xiao Song (“Copy Cat”), the film also has a fine supporting cast, including Barbie Hsu (“Reign of Assassins”) as the boys’ chief love interest, magician Liu Qian (here making his screen debut), Annie Yi (“Four Women Conflict”) and action veterans Yuen Biao (who also recently showed up in “The Legend Is Born – Ip Man”) and Yu Rong Guang...

If you thought Hollywood was done raiding Asian cinema for horror movie material, you’d be wrong. Dead wrong. Get it? Because the genre is horror? And people usually die in it? But I digress. The latest Asian horror movie to find its way to Hollywood via the remake chopping block is the 2006 Taiwanese supernatural drama “Silk”, about “scientists who capture the ghost of a child in an apartment and the detective charged with discovering clues to the ghost’s identity and demise.” Gold Circle Films is remaking the movie, and has assigned writers Marko King, Mary King and Jonathan Watters to take a crack at the script. The remake is expected to divert from the original premise, and the new premise is being called “Michael Crichton meets The Sixth Sense.” By which I’m guessing they mean science will figure prominently into the plot. Plus, ghosts, I would imagine.

Gold Circle Films is gearing up to remake the 2006 Hong Kong sci-fi thriller Silk. The studio has hired Frankie & Alice screenwriters Marko King, Mary King, and Jonathan Watters to draft an American version.

The original story centers on a group of scientists who capture the ghost of a young boy in an apartment, and the detective in charge of discovering the boy's identity. The American version will not keep the same plot line, and, although specifics were not revealed, this new story is described as, "Michael Crichton meets The Sixth Sense."

Paul Brooks will produce for Gold Circle Films alongside Rob Cowan and Robin Jonas, with Scott Niemeyer executive producing.

No production schedule was released for the Silk remake at this time.

Silk was released September 28th, 2006 and stars Chen Chang, Yôsuke Eguchi, Kar Yan Lam, Barbie Hsu, Bo-lin Chen, Chun-Ning Chang, Fang Wan, Kuan-Po Chen. The film is directed by Chao-Bin Su.

There's more than a whiff of Tsui Hark's Peking Opera Blues in Gao Xiaosong's My Kingdom, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Four years in the making, with action choreography from Sammo Hung and a role for the rarely seen Yuen Biao, this could end up being a lot of fun. The producers have assembled a young, attractive cast in the form of Wu Chun, Han Geng and Barbie Hsu and seem determined to underline that this is a film with modern sensibilities, even though it features old school cultural elements like traditional Chinese opera. A fan-subbed version of the film's trailer has popped up online and certainly boasts a colourful blend of operatics and martial arts. Whether it succeeds in being an entertaining...

Shahid Kapoor has voted Asia.s Sexiest Vegetarian Man in a poll conducted by PETAAsiaPacific.com..I have always supported the cause of being a vegetarian, and it.s nice to be felicitated for something so close to my heart. Being voted as sexy is a matter of perception, but being vegetarian is a lifestyle change and something that comes from a sense of responsibility,. said Shahid in a statement.Singer Faye Wong has been crowned Asia.s Sexiest Vegetarian Woman. Other popular contenders included actors Kareena Kapoor and R. Madhavan, model-turned-Hollywood actress Maggie Q and Mongolian singer Nominjin, Taiwanese actor Blue Lan, actors Gao Yuanyuan and Barbie Hsu, and songwriter Louis Cheung..Going vegetarian is the best thing that you can do for animals, the earth and your health. Plus, there.s no easier way to stay slim and sexy . and Faye Wong and Shahid Kapoor are living proof,...

Soi Cheang's previous collaboration with producer Johnnie To, Accident, is a big favourite around these parts and by the looks of the trailer to his new film, Motorway, he's sticking to the same style.Starring a host of familiar faces, including Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong, Guo Xiaodong, Gordon Lam, Barbie Hsu, Josie Ho, Michelle Ye, Li Haitau and LiGuangjie, with action direction from Chin Ka Lok, Motorway is an old school pedal to the metal racing thriller that features some audacious sequences through the very heart of Hong Kong's Central district. There's no word yet on when the film will be released, but we'll be keeping a very close eye on this one.Synopsis:Sean is an overconfident rookie in the Stealth Riders, a secret police unit consisting of...

Connected

Stars: Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, Louis Fan, Barbie Hsu | Written by Larry Cohen | Directed by Benny Chan

Engineer Grace Wong is kidnapped by thugs looking for her brother. Though her captors have destroyed the telephone in the room she is being held captive in, Grace is able to use her technical skills to repair the phone enough to call a random number. She gets through to slightly hapless debt collector Bob and implores him for help, setting Bob off on a mission to save a complete stranger from a mysterious group of conspirators, putting his life and relationship with his estranged son in danger.

This Chinese-Hong Kong remake of Cellular (and based on the same script by Larry Cohen) hits a lot of the right notes to make a satisfactory, dynamic thriller. Benny Chan proves to be a first rate director of action and tension. The film starts quickly...

More Chinese costume capers arrive in the form of “Adventure of the King”, another screen adaptation of the classic play ‘The Matching of Dragon and Phoenix’. The film was directed by Chung Shue Kai, who recently co-helmed the Tvb-Shaw Brothers outing “72 Tenants of Prosperity”, and previously worked on broad comedies such as “”Beauty and the 7 Beasts” and “Nine Girls And A Ghost”. The second in Chinastar’s ongoing ambitious 5510 production plan, the film is actually a follow up of sorts to “Flirting Scholar 2”, being cut very much from the same cloth, not only in terms of setting and humour, but in that it also features a lot of the same supporting cast members and characters. Headlining the wackiness this time is Richie Jen (who also gets the chance to briefly cameo his role from “Flirting Scholar 2”), with an appealing female lead in the always cute and chirpy Barbie Hsu...

Hot Summer Days is a delightfully quirky movie about falling in love. Set in China, emotions swell as the heat draws people together and conflict arises in entertainingly offbeat ways. Seven romantic stories intertwine in this tale that conjures up a nice dose of  magical realism. Pay special attention to Barbie Hsu as the motorcycle girl and Jacky Cheung as the ice cube guy, their storylines are especially fun!

Here's the trailer...

In theaters October 8th.

And finally it started! The 67th Venice Film Festival, one of the most prestigious, and, by the way, the oldest film festival in the world, kicked off tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Palazzo del Cinema featuring impressive Opening ceremony, hosted by the Italian actress Isabella Ragonese.

Black Swan made its world premiere as the opening film, bringing the American director Darren Aronofsky back to the Lido, where he won the top Golden Lion prize with The Wrestler (2008).

Of course, we already have some interesting reviews to share with you, for example this one (that comes from Variety):

“A wicked, sexy and ultimately devastating study of a young dancer’s all-consuming ambition, “Black Swan” serves as a fascinating complement to Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” trading the grungy world of a broken-down fighter for the more upscale but no less brutal sphere of professional ballet.”

Let us remind...

Reign of Assassins, coming this fall to theaters, is a martial arts action flick featuring Michelle Yeoh as a deadly woman on a dangerous mission.

Directed by Chao-Bin Su and John Woo based on Chao-Bin Su's script, Reign of Assassins falls under that category of awesome recent innovative martial arts films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in which women possess deadly powers and are never to be underestimated. There's also a fantastical setting to the story - mythical historical China, which is filled with monks, warriors, religion, kings, and romance.

The official synopsis: A skilled assassin finds herself on a quest to carry the mystical remnants of a Buddhist monk through China. A team of deadly assassins follow her, placing her in a fight for her life as she attempts to put the power-wielding secret of the monk to rest.

Apparently, Michelle Yeoh's character is retired and is...

Along with the list of films playing in-competition, the Venice Film Festival has announced which films are playing out-of-competition this year. The movies include Ben Affleck’s The Town, Casey Affleck’s Joaquin Phoenix documentary I’m Still Here, Martin Scorsese’s Elia Kazan documentary A Letter to Elia, John Turturro’s Passione, Julie Taymor’s The Tempest as the closing night film, and Robert Rodriguez’ Machete as the opening night film. It’s an eclectic bunch of flicks and they’re just a small sampling of the movies playing out-of-competition. Hit the jump to check out the full list.

The 67th Venice Film Festival will run from September 1 – 11th.

Ben Affleck – The Town

USA, 120′

Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively

Casey Affleck – I’M Still Here

USA, 108′ (documentary)

Joaquin Phoenix

Marco Bellocchio – Sorelle Mai

Italy, 110′

Alba Rohrwacher, Donatella Finocchiaro, Elena Bellocchio, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio

Piergiorgio Gay...

Legendary Hong Kong writer, director and one man cinematic production line Wong Jing returns with “Future X-Cops” a remake sequel of sorts to his 1993 cult trash classic “Future Cops”. Unsurprisingly, being very much a Wong Jing outing, the film is typically hard to classify, mixing in science fiction, action, romance, family melodrama and, of course, crude humour. The film is a bona fide stab at making a big budget Chinese blockbuster, with special visual effects from noted South Korean team Kinomotive and an all star cast headlined by the one and only Andy Lau, with support from the gorgeous Fan Bing Bing (“Sophie’s Revenge”), Barbie Hsu (“Connected”), Mike He (“Love at Seventh Sight”) and young actress Xu Jiao (recently in Stephen Chow’s “CJ7”). The plot itself takes some swallowing. The film kicks off in the year 2080, with Andy Lau playing a cop called Kidd, who is entrusted with protecting scientist Dr.

Though no one has come forward and told us what it is about, they, whoever they are, have released a trailer for an upcoming Chinese period comedy The Dragon and Phoenix Inn starring Richie Ren and Barbie Hsu. 

It`s good for a laugh and would appear to be some decent kung fu sequences as well. How much will there be I don`t know but some of the physical gags at least work for now until a subtitled versions finds it way around. ...

John Woo's Reign of Assassins goes to The Weinstein Co Fortissimo Films Chairman Michael J. Werner and The Weinstein Company's Bob Weinstein and Harvey Weinstein jointly announced that The Weinstein Company has pre-bought North American and South African rights to Fortissimo's Reign of Assassins ("Jianyu Jianghu"). The film was produced by John Woo (Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2) and Terence Chang (Face/Off, Mission: Impossible 2) through their Lion Rock Production banner along with Galloping Horse and Media Asia.

Chao-Bin Su (Silk, Better Than Sex) and Woo directed the martial arts epic which is a fast-paced action thriller set in the Ming Dynasty and stars Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Sunshine), as a skilled assassin who falls in love with the son of a man who was killed by her gang. Unaware that he also is a trained martial artist, their love blossoms and then tensions rise as...

Shanghai -- The Weinstein Co. on Friday bought from Fortissimo Films the North American rights to the forthcoming martial arts epic "Reign of Assassins," starring Michelle Yeoh and co-directed by Su Chao-pin ("Silk") and producer John Woo.

The deal -- announced on the eve of the 13th Shanghai International Film Festival, which runs through June 20 and where Woo is head of the jury -- also includes South African rights.

"I am thrilled to be back in business with Michelle Yeoh and am very excited to be working with John Woo on another one of his brilliant films," Harvey Weinstein said of the deal.

The film also stars Jung Woo-sung ("The Warrior"), Kelly Lin ("After This Our Exile") Barbie Hsu ("Silk") and Wang Xueqi ("Forever Enthralled").

"Reign" was produced by Woo and his long-time business partner Terence Chang through their L.A.-based outfit Lion Rock Prods., together with Beijing-based Galloping Horse Film and TV Prods,...

The Weinstein Company has picked up North American as well as South African rights to 'Reign of Assassins" starring Michelle Yeoh. John Woo and Terence Chang produce via their Lion Rock Productions along with Galloping Horse Film and TV Productions and Hong Kong's Media Asia. Woo co-directed alongside Su Chao-pin ("Silk"). Yeoh plays a lethal assassin who falls for the son of a man who was killed by her gang. Jung Woo-sung, Kelly Lin, Wang Xueqi and Barbie Hsu also star.

There once was a time when having John Woo's name on a film would generate instant excitement, but after a string of mediocre American action films throughout the '90s and early 2000s, it looked like his career was running out of steam for good. Then came the release of Red Cliff, which seemed to prove that the problem wasn't with John Woo, but with Hollywood -- big surprise. Now John Woo is co-directing and co-producing another action movie originating from his homeland of China called Reign of Assassins, and an early promo trailer has found its way online. The movie stars Michelle Yeoh as a retired assassin who just can't escape her former life. It looks like another much more traditional martial arts action movie with a romance angle, which seems to get getting away from the Hong Kong gangster flicks that Woo is best known for. Of course,...

Twitch has just premiered the first promo trailer for the upcoming Asian film Reign of Assassins, which, according to the site, will be released in either August or September. Click on the brand new trailer below to check out this new film, which was produced by action-film legend John Woo and you can also read the full synopsis below as well.

Reign of Assassins Trailer

In 428Ad, Bodhi, a Southern India prince became a Buddhist monk and set off for China, earning a hallowed reputation as a mystical martial artist. Following his death, his remains mysteriously disappeared.

Hundreds of years later, Zhang, a high-ranking court official, is assassinated by Drizzle. Zhang's son Jingxiu, whilst mourning his father's death, is assailed by a group assassins. They leave him for dead, but somehow he survives and escapes their clutches.

Drizzle, a talented warrior herself, finds herself in possession of Bodhi's remains, and...

Our first clear look at the actual footage for John Woo & Su Chao-pin's wuxia film Reign of Assassins (Chinese title: Jianyu Jianghu, English translation: Rain of Swords in the Martial Arts World) has surfaced online in the form of a promo reel.  The cast include Michelle Yeoh, Jung Woo-sung, Barbie Hsu, Kelly Lin, Shawn Yue, Angeles Woo and Wang Xueqi.  Here's a detailed synopsis (spoiler alert):

In 428Ad, Bodhi, a Southern India prince became a Buddhist monk and set off for China, earning a hallowed reputation as a mystical martial artist. Following his death, his remains mysteriously disappeared.

Hundreds of years later, Zhang, a high-ranking court official, is assassinated by Drizzle. Zhang's son Jingxiu, whilst mourning his father's death, is assailed by a group assassins. They leave him for dead, but somehow he survives and escapes their clutches.

Drizzle, a talented warrior herself, finds herself in possession of Bodhi's remains,...

After helming the war epic Red Cliff, it looks like John Woo’s next project will tackle wuxia, the martial arts/fantasy genre that inspired Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers.

The new film, currently in production, is entitled Reign of Assassins. A promotional reel has made its way to Twitch — which you can also check out using the player below — and based on what we’ve seen, the new film co-helmed by Woo and Su Chao-pin combines drama, romance, and a few action set-pieces reminiscent of Crouching Tiger. It also stars Michelle Yeoh, who gained international fame in Ang Lee’s 2000 movie.

Yeoh plays Drizzle, a talented warrior in possession of the remains of Bodhi, a renowned mystical martial artist. Her character is on a quest to bring the ashes to their rightful resting place; however, a team of deadly assassins called The Black Stone are after her,...

It doesn't look like John Woo will be returning to Hollywood anytime soon. After a string of not-so-great Western films, Woo returned to China and delivered the massive two-part epic Red Cliff. I've only seen the first film of the Chinese release (haven't yet seen the condensed most other countries got), and while it certainly isn't perfect, it towers above anything Woo delivered while in Hollywood. Now we have a first look at his next project, Jianyu Jianghu (also known for now as Rain of Swords In The Pugilistic World), which stars Michelle Yeoh. Woo will be co-directing the film with Su Chao-Bin (Silk, Better Than Sex). They'll be joined by longtime producer bud Terrence Chang. The cast also includes Chang Chen, Kelly Lin, and Barbie Hsu. There's no official English title yet, but I suspect they'll run with something similar to Rain of Swords. It's apparently a wuxia film...

The good folks over at Wu-Jing.org have found the first (a bit bland and generic) poster and a detailed plot description from the upcoming wuxia film Rain of Swords in The Pugilistic World (Jianyu Jianghu).

Rain of Swords is currently under production by John Woo and Terence Chang with Su Chao Bin directing. It stars Michelle Yeoh, Jung Woo Sung, Barbie Hsu, Paw Hee Ching, Wang Xue Qi and Shawn Yue, and will be released in Summer 2010.

428Ad, Bodhi, a Southern India prince became a Buddhist monk and set off for China, earning a hallowed reputation as a mystical martial artist. Following his death, his remains mysteriously disappeared.

Hundreds of years later, Zhang, a high-ranking court official, is assassinated by Drizzle. Zhang’s son Jingxiu, whilst mourning his father’s death, is assailed by a group assassins. They leave him for dead, but somehow he survives and escapes their clutches.

Wong Jing goes back to the old school with “On his Majesty’s Secret Service” a truly madcap period set comedy in the classic early 1990s style. Although the master of the form himself, Stephen Chow, isn’t starring in such films anymore, there’s certainly no reason to stop making them, and in his absence, Louis Koo has stepped up to the plate, accompanied by a great cast of Hong Kong and Mainland stars including Barbie Hsu, Tong Dawei (“Red Cliff II”), Song Jia (“Curiosity Killed the Cat”), Liu Yang (“Bullet & Brain”), Fan Siu Wong (recently in “Ip Man”) and even veteran genre favourite Sandra Ng. The plot, such as it is, follows Koo as Royal Dog, an inventor and royal guard, who does his best to protect the rather useless Emperor (Liu Yiwei) and the crazy Empress (Sandra Ng) while trying to handle his feisty fiancé Faithful (Barbie Hsu...

Fox International Productions is making its first foray into China with the Chinese-language romantic comedy "Hot Summer Days," which it is producing and distributing with Star Television Asia and Huayi Brothers Media.

Assembling a cast from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the film will star Jacky Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Daniel Wu, Rene Liu, Vivian Hsu, Barbie Hsu, Angelababy, Jing Boran, Duan Yihong, Fu Xinbo and Gordon Liu.

The film, which began filming in August in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, is being co-directed by first-time directors Wing Shya, who has made his mark as a cinematographer and fashion photographer, and Tony Chan.

Fruit Chan and Paul Cheng are co-producers.

The film is slated for release early next year in China by Huayi Brothers and by Fox in all territories outside of mainland China. Star holds pay TV rights to the film in Asia excluding China.

Opening in Hong Kong this week is a movie that sounds like James Bond but may play closer to Austin Powers. On His Majesty's Secret Service (Dai noi muk taam 009), written and directed by the prolific -- and wildly fluctuating in quality -- Wong Jing, stars Louis Koo, Barbie Hsu, and Sandra Ng in a 'nonsense' comedy that is set in a historical period, long before British secret agents began drinking martinis.

Andrew Mack of Twitch found a plot description at Far East Films: "The secret service has been responsible for protecting the Emperor for generations ... Amongst the current group, Zero Zero Dog (Louis Koo) is considered to be the weakest as he shows no interest in the martial arts and spends his time studying technology and creating inventions. When Dog stumbles upon an evil plot to kill the Emperor by the chief eunuch ... he decides to prove everyone wrong and vanquish the enemy himself.

Soon to appear in the latest from Wong Jing’s production line, On His Majesty’s Secret Service, Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu has managed a successful film and television career in soap operas, genre flicks and Hong Kong blockbusters – but last year’s My So-Called Love saw her make a major attempt at serious drama. How did she measure up with an up-and-coming director and a weighty script heavy on the emotional baggage? Find out after the break.