Half Price Lizzy

Cecily Huang | Sep 4, 2007 6:13 pm | Add a comment | 2305 reads

The Queen premiered in Beijing last Friday and you can catch the film for half-price tonight (see screening times below). Directed by Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Launderette, High Fidelity) and starring Helen Mirren, who picked up an Oscar for her portrayal of the British monarch, the date of the film’s Beijing release just happened to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Princess Diana’s fatal last ride through the streets of Paris, the very event on which the film is centered. The docudrama follows the maneuverings of the press, a newly elected Blair Labour government and the royal family in the wake of the death of the "people’s princess." Mirren is expected to visit Beijing in either late September or early October to promote the film.

See some reviews of the film here and here, or take a look at the trailer here.

In Other Movie News…

Waiting for Lust

Ang Lee’s latest movie Lust, Caution (色, 戒) premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last week. Beijing fans, however, will have to wait a little longer than expected before they can catch the latest work from the director of Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon at their local cinema. Originally scheduled to hit Beijing screens on September 28, the release date for Lust, Caution has now been pushed back to the end of October. In another blow, it seems that the steamy sex scenes that according to a review in the New York Times serve as an important component of the film, (what a novelty, non-gratuitous sex scenes) will be cut from the Chinese release. Given the lack of a film classification system in China, it’s not possible to restrict the film to adult audiences like the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has just done by giving the film a NC-17 rating. Ang Lee is expected to visit Beijing for the premiere.

You can take a look at the Lust, Caution trailer here.

Jackie Chan Musical

No, it doesn’t involve Jackie Chan doing impossible kung fu moves to a Gilbert and Sullivan soundtrack – rather, Mr. Chan is the producer of Air Diary (飞行日志), a new film that serves as one of the first releases under the banner of his “Chinese New Film Promotion Plan” that is intended to help develop original and independent talent in the Chinese film industry. The film had its premier at Beijing’s China Film Museum this past Sunday but will not open for general release until September 6. Air Diary tells the story of a group of passionate young musicians who travel north to the big city – part of a larger group of Beipiao Zu (a general term to describe young people who, attracted by the opportunities in urban areas, travel north to pursue their dreams) to make it big. The film stars super girl-turned singer Xu Fei and also marks Han Keyi’s debut as a director. We’re thinking it’s got to be pretty cheesy but you can make your mind up for yourself on September 6. In Chinese, no English subtitles.

You can take a look at a trailer here and the music video of the fictional band that star in the film here.

Screening Times for English Language Films in Beijing – Tuesday Sep 4

Dongsishitiao

East Gate Cinema

The Queen

4, 5.50, 7.40 and 9.30pm.

RMB 35

Shrek the Third:

5.10 and 8.50pm.

RMB 35

Harry Potter:

4.50, 7.20 and 9.50pm.

RMB 40

Lido/Chaoyang Park Area

Espace France Cinema

Shrek the Third:

5.20, 7.10, 9, 10.50pm.

RMB 30

Haidian

UME International Cineplex

The Queen

6.15 and 10.30pm.

RMB 42

Shrek the Third:

6.20 and 8.10pm

RMB 42

Harry Potter:

5.10, 7.50 and 10.30pm.

RMB 55

CBD

Wanda International Cinema

The Queen

4.40pm, 9pm.

RMB 30

Shrek the Third:

5.35, 7.30 and 9.25pm.

RMB 30

Harry Potter:

4.50, 7.40, and 10.30pm.

RMB 35