Tuesday's Movie Roundup

No Hollywood Movies For 3 Months?

A recent (and quite alarming) article in Variety trumpeted the news that due to escalating political tensions between China and the US, no foreign films would be released in China for the next three months! Let's think about that for a moment. Doesn't it sound a little bit like the Outstanding Golden Domestic Film Exhibition Month (Sep-Oct), where supposedly no foreign films were released throughout China? Well, during that particular "blackout" period, No Reservations, Prey, Shrek the Third, Transformers (IMAX) and Ratatouille were all granted releases. More interestingly, a report from Herald Tribune quotes Zhang Pimin, deputy director-general of China's Film Bureau as saying that foreign films will continue to be released for the rest of 2007 and on into 2008. However, with only a certain number of foreign films granted a release each year, and the snip-happy scissors of the censor waiting to take content out of movies, it is becoming increasingly hard for movies to be granted a release in China, which Will Smith is now finding out (see below).

Will Smith Encourages Karate Kid Remake

Stephen Chow, the all-action star of Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, has been invited by Will Smith to remake The Karate Kid. Smith was in Hong Kong to promote his Sci-Fi epic I Am Legend, but due to issues in securing a release in the mainland, don't count on seeing it at your local cineplex anytime soon. Chow and Smith are said to be interested in the idea of producing moves together, and according to Xinhua, the cheesy Ralph Macchio film from the 80s is on the table for a remake … interesting. I wonder what the Chinese for "wax on, wax off" is?

Ich Bin Eine Berlin Film Festivaler

Director Wang Xiaoshuai, whose 2001 movie Beijing Bicycle scooped the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, will see his new movie In Love We Trust (Zuo You) gain its world premiere at the prestigious European festival. The movie tells the story of a young child with cancer, whose mother goes to extraordinary lengths to try and save her child. In Love We Trust will face stiff competition from There Will Be Blood by Magnolia director Paul Thomas Anderson, but lets hope the recent run of success for Chinese films at International Festivals can continue.

Golden Horse Film Awards

Considered the most prestigious awards for Chinese-language films, the Golden Horse Film Awards were held this past week in Taipei where the most talked about movie of the year, Lust, Caution, swept the board with seven wins in total. Ang Lee took the best director gong, while Tony Leung took his third best actor award (he’d previously won for Infernal Affairs and Chungking Express) for his portrayal of the high-powered Japanese collaborator in World War Two-era Shanghai.

Despite the lack of mainstream releases, there are still a number of movies worth checking out around town. Here are the locations and times of what you can see:

Films Around Town

Lost in Beijing
There was a time when we thought we’d never get to see Lost in Beijing at the cinema, but after extensive cuts to the film it’s finally on release throughout Beijing. The story focuses on a young couple that moves to Beijing to seek work, but economic pressures and a sexual assault put huge pressure on their relationship. To check out what others thought of the film you can click here or view the trailer here.

Lust, Caution
Outlasting competition from the likes of The Bourne Ultimatum and Live Free, Die Hard and still going strong, Lust, Caution is showing around town. You many not be able to see all the good parts, but it’s still worth checking out Ang Lee's thriller on the big screen. There are also rumors that there are plans to make a TV series based on the film. We’ll keep you posted on that one. To check out what others thought of the film you can click here or view the trailer here.

Screening Times for Films (Blind Mountain, Lost in Beijing and Crossed Lines do not have English subtitles) in Beijing – Tuesday Dec 11

(All times and prices have been taken from today’s Beijing News or this website – it would be a good idea to call and confirm details)

Haidian
UME International Cineplex
Lust, Caution
10:00 12:40 15:10 17:20 20:00 22:40

Lost in Beijing
15:35 17:50 19:40 21:45

Crossed Lines
16:20 18:30 19:35 20:40 21:35 22:50

Ratatouille
15:15 21:30

CBD
Wanda International Cinema
Lost in Beijing
15:15 16:00 17:15 18:05 19:20 20:10 21:25 22:15

Crossed Lines
15:00 15:45 16:40 17:20 18:05 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:20 22:00 22:40

Lust, Caution
11: 00 13:50 16:40 18:10 19:30 21:00 22:20

Blind Mountain
17:20

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema
Lust, Caution

Lost in Beijing

Crossed Lines
12:10 14:15 16:20 18:25 20:30 数字11:05 13:05 15:05 17:05 19:05 21:10

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema
Lust, Caution
13:50 16:40 19:30 数字13:00 15:50 20:45

Lost in Beijing
11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00

Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema
Lust, Caution
11:20 14:00 16:40 19:20 22:00

Lost in Beijing
10:00 11:50 13:40 17:40 21:40
Crossed Lines
10:20 11:00 12:20 13:00 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:20 17:00 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00 22:20

Wangfujing
Xindong'an Cinema
Lost in Beijing
10:00 11:50 13:40 15:30 17:30 19:20 21:10

Lust, Caution
12:40 15:20 18:10 20:50

Crossed Lines
五号厅 09:50 12:00 14:10 16:20 18:30 20:40七号厅 10:50 13:00 15:10 17:20 19:30 21:40

Star City
Lust, Caution
11:10 13:50 16:30 19:10 21:50

Crossed Lines
10:20 11:20 12:30 13:30 14:40 15:40 16:50 17:50 19:00 20:00 21:10 22:10

Lost in Beijing
10:00 10:50 11:50 12:40 13:40 14:30 15:30 16:20 17:20 19:20 18:10 20:10 21:20 22:00

Xidan
Shoudu Shidai Cinema
Lost in Beijing
10:00 14:00 15:50 19:30 21:20

Lust, Caution
11:00 13:40 16:20 19:00 21:40

Crossed Lines
10:40 11:55 12:50 14:05 15:00 17:10 18:25 19:20 20:35 21:30

East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
Lust, Caution
10:30 13:10 14:40 15:50 18:30 20:30

Lost in Beijing
10:50 12:40 14:30 16:20 18:05 19:50 21:30

Crossed Lines
11:10 12:10 13:10 14:10 15:10 16:10 17:10 18:10 19:10 20:10 21:10

Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
Lust, Caution
16:20 19:00 20:40 21:50
(Screenings also available with Korean subtitles – call for more info)

Lost in Beijing
15:00 17:00 19:15 21:15

Crossed Lines
15:10 16:05 17:20 18:15 19:30 20:20 21:35 22:35

Ratatouille
18:45

Links and Sources:
Mtime: Pingguo (image)