New Chinese Movie Posters Unveiled at Cannes

A number of new Chinese films have unveiled their movie posters at the Cannes Film Festival over the past few days, and here is a selection of them for your viewing pleasure.

 

WHITE VENGEANCE

This one is a historical epic starring Leon Lai (BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS, FIRE OF CONSCIENCE). Directed by Daniel Lee (DRAGON SQUAD, THREE KINGDOMS, 14 BLADES), the film tells the story of a famous Chinese banquet that involved the two key characters in the overturning of the Qin Dynasty. Zhang Hanyu, Liu Yifei, Feng Shaofeng, Anthony Wong, Jordan Chan and Andy On co-star. I have always found director Daniel Lee's movies to be mostly entertaining despite the (very) often messy narrative. So this one should be a fun, if forgettable, historical film. Plus the strong cast could really help lift this film.  

 

 

 

 

 

THE GREAT MAGICIAN

While everyone's wondering what is happening to Wong Kar Wai's THE GRANDMASTERS, which of course stars the great Tony Leung (IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE, INFERNAL AFFAIRS, LUST CAUTION), Tony has already got a new film due to be completed very soon. The new film is THE GREAT MAGICIAN, directed by Derek Yee (ONE NITE IN MONGKOK, PROTÉGÉ, and a personal favourite of mine - the little tearjerker C'EST LA VIE, MON CHERI). Lau Ching Wan also stars in the film. Looking at the poster, I think the smoke dragon is pretty cool, but why is Tony Leung dressed so similarly to what we've seen of him in THE GRANDMASTERS posters?

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAI CHI

This is going to be the new film by actor-director Stephen Fung, who as a director, has been incredibly inconsistent. His most successful work to date remains his 2005 action flick HOUSE OF FURY, but his last film JUMP was rather disappointing. Now working with China's biggest production company Huayi Brothers, Fung is going to direct a trilogy of films called TAI CHI, with the help of the crew behind DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME. TAI CHI is reportedly about the birth of a Tai Chi grand master. Looking at the poster, my only question is: what on earth is that thing facing the Tai Chi practitioner? Production is due to start next month and release of the first film is planned for 2012.