Tuesday Film Roundup
» Red Cliff
Red Cliff (赤壁 Chibi), alternatively known as The Battle of Red Cliff, is a Chinese epic film that recreates the story surrounding the legendary Battle of Red Cliff that took place immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period. Red Cliff is to be released in two parts throughout Asia, with the first part premiering this Thursday and the second part in January 2009. Outside of Asia, a single 2½-hour film will be released in January 2009. So we're not sure if the print being released on July 10 at cinemas in Beijing will include English subtitles.
The film is directed by John Woo and stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei. With an estimated budget of USD 80 million, The Battle of Red Cliff is the most expensive Chinese film to date. Trailer (with English subtitles) available here.
Keep reading below for a comprehensive list of all the films showing around town this half-price Tuesday.
Films Around Town
Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Tuesday July 8
(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)
Jul 2
Hancock
After the Pursuit of Happyness and I am Legend, this film marks Will Smith's third appearance on China's big screens in 2008. This time he's playing a down and out superhero who gets little in the way of moral support from his wife, played by Charlize Theron. Reviews tend to go either way, this write-up in last week's Sydney Morning Herald being a good example of a more positive review and this recent review on Slate an example of a less than glowing recommendation. Synopsis available here and trailer here.
CBD
10:20 10:50 11:20 11:50 12:20 12:50 13:20 13:50 14:20
14:50 15:20 15:50 16:20 16:50 17:20 17:50 18:20 18:50
19:20 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:20 21:50 22:20 22:50
Xidan
10:15 11:15 11:40 12:10 13:10 13:35 14:05 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:30
17:00 17:25 18:00 18:25 18:55 19:20 19:50 20:20 21:20 21:45
Haidian
Digital 10:45 13:30 14:15 16:00 17:45 19:30 19:50
21:15 21:35 23:00
Stellar International Cineplex
09:55 10:55 11:50 12:20 12:50 13:45 14:15 14:45 15:40 16:10
16:40 17:05 17:35 18:05 18:35 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 20:55
21:25 21:55 22:25
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
09:20 11:15 13:10 15:10 19:30 21:20
Wangfujing
09:50 10:20 11:35 13:20 13:50 15:05 15:35 16:50
17:20 18:35 19:05 20:20 20:50 22:05 22:35
10:00 11:45 13:30 15:15 17:00 18:45 20:30 22:15
Dongsishitiao
10:40 11:30 12:20 13:10 14:00 14:50 15:40 16:30 17:20 18:10 19:00
19:50 20:40 21:30 22:20 23:10
Zhongguancun
10:10 10:40 11:10 11:40 12:45 13:45 14:50 15:20 15:50
16:55 17:25 17:55 18:25 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:05
21:35 22:05 22:35
10:20 11:00 11:40 12:10 12:50 13:30 14:00 14:40 15:20 15:50 16:30
17:10 17:40 18:20 19:00 19:30 20:10 20:50 21:20 22:00 22:35 23:05
Xinjiekou
09:30 11:25 13:20 14:00 15:15 16:20 17:10 19:05 20:10 21:00 22:00
Yayuncun
Digital 10:00 11:40 13:20 15:00 16:40 18:20 20:00 21:40
East Fourth Ring Road
10:30 11:10 12:10 12:50 13:50 14:30 15:30 16:10 17:10 17:50
18:50 19:30 20:30 21:15 22:10 23:00
Kungfu Panda
The English version of the film still features the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan (accompanied by Chinese subtitles), but there is also a Chinese version voiced by equally big name Chinese stars. Despite what appear to be rather self-serving attempts by Zhao Bandi to persuade Chinese people to boycott the film, it's still proved very popular taking over RMB 50 million over the first three days of screening. It took Iron Man 30 days to reach RMB 100 million. Reviews have also been good - most settling for the "it's all good fun" kind of appraisal. Aficionados of Chinese traditional painting have also enjoyed some of the in jokes and one review in a Beijing newspaper compared the films melding of East and West to one of KFC's "Lao Beijing" Chicken wraps. You can view the trailer here and visit the official site here (Chinese version here). The complete copy of the film is available here. The Beijing correspondent of the Guardian has also produced this audio report on the popularity of the film in Beijing.
CBD
11:10 13:10 14:10 15:10 17:10 18:10 19:10 21:10
Xidan
10:35 10:55 11:25 11:45 12:05 12:25 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:40
13:55 14:15 14:35 14:50 15:05 15:25 15:45 16:05 16:25 16:40
16:55 17:15 17:35 17:55 18:15 18:30 18:45 19:05 19:25 19:45
20:05 20:20 20:35 20:55 21:15 21:35 21:55
Haidian
IMAX 10:30 14:00 15:45 19:15 21:00 22:45
Stellar International Cineplex
10:20 13:50 17:40 19:40 21:40
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
Digital 10:35 12:35 14:25 16:20 18:10 20:00 21:50
Wangfujing
10:00 11:00 12:45 13:30 14:30 16:15 17:00 18:00 18:45 19:45 20:30
21:35 22:15
09:50 11:00 11:35 12:45 13:20 14:30 15:05 16:15
16:50 18:00 18:35 19:45 20:20 21:30 22:05
Dongsishitiao
Digital 09:20 11:00 12:40 14:20 16:00 17:40 19:20 21:00 22:40
Zhongguancun
10:30 11:05 11:50 12:30 13:10 13:50 14:30 15:10 15:45
17:10 17:50 18:30 19:10 19:50 20:25 21:10 21:50 22:25
10:40 11:20 12:00 12:30 13:10 13:50 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:10 16:50
17:30 18:40 19:20 19:50 20:30 21:10 21:40 22:20 23:00
Xinjiekou
10:35 11:45 12:25 14:15 15:35 16:05 17:30 18:00 19:20 19:50 21:15 21:40
Yayuncun
13:00 14:40 16:20 18:00 19:40 21:20
East Fourth Ring Road
10:00 10:10 11:30 12:20 13:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:10 16:40 17:20
17:50 18:20 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:40 21:15 21:45 22:20 22:55
Butterfly on a Wheel (危情24小时 Weiqing 24 xiaoshi)
Also known as Shattered, this thriller stars Peirce Brosnan as a demented killer who has takes the daughter of a typical American family hostage and taunts the parents in a cruel game. See reviews here and a trailer here. The movie is being screened in a dubbed Chinese version at most cinemas across town.
CBD
10:10 12:10 16:10 20:10 22:10
Xidan
11:30 13:25 15:20 17:20 19:15 21:10
Haidian
10:00 13:10 15:15 18:05 20:35 23:20
Stellar International Cineplex
09:45 11:35 13:25 15:25
Wangfujing
12:05 21:10
Dongsishitiao
11:50 15:10 18:30 21:50
Zhongguancun
09:30 17:00 22:10
13:00 16:40 18:30 20:20 22:10
Xinjiekou
10:10 12:05 18:15
Yayuncun
12:20 15:40 19:00 22:20
East Fourth Ring Road
11:55 13:40 15:25 17:10 17:50 18:55 20:40 22:25
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The children return to Narnia in this sequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. But it's a very different country this time. Starring the voice of Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep, and the voice of Liam Neeson as Aslan. See reviews here and trailer here.
CBD
18:10 21:00
Xidan
12:20 15:00 17:40 20:25
Haidian
Stellar International Cineplex
11:25 14:25 17:20 20:15
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
13:20 18:50
Dongsishitiao
10:15 12:45 15:15 17:45 20:20
Zhongguancun
14:00 19:05
Missing (Shenhai Xunren)
Tsui Hark's new film is a romantic thriller that centers around the mysterious sunken structures around Yonaguni Island. Staring Tony Leung, Isabella Leong, Angelica Lee and Chen Chang. You can read some more about the film here and take a look at the trailer here.
CBD
12:00 16:00 18:00
Wangfujing
11:45 15:20
East Fourth Ring Road
12:45
Zhu Meng 2008 (筑梦2008)
A documentary about Liu Xiang and other Olympic hopefuls in the lead up to the Olympics. You can watch the trailer here.
CBD
10:00(RMB10) 14:00
Haidian
13:30
Stellar International Cineplex
10:10
Zhongguancun
13:15
Xinjiekou
12:35
Upcoming Films
Jul 10
Red Cliff
Despite the recent tragedy of a stunt man dying on the set during post production, John Woo's Three Kingdoms-inspired epic Red Cliff is still slated to open on July 10. If the film is as good as the promotion sounds, this could be the epic to beat all epics. Director Woo has gone on record saying that this will be China's Gladiator. Trailer (with English subtitles) available here.
July 26
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Jet Li stars as Mummy Qin Shihuang, alongside Michelle Yeoh and Brendan Fraser in this third installment of the popular franchise. No reviews yet - not released elsewhere until July 24 but you can read more about the making of the film here. Trailer here.
Aug 10
Speed Racer
The latest project from the Wachowski brothers is a live-action version of Japanese anime series Speed Racer. The result is reportedly heavy on action and visuals, and weak on storytelling. Read some rather disappointing reviews here and take a look at the trailer here. Despite the poor reviews the film's Chinese box office takings might be helped by the presence of Korean heartthrob Rain's presence in the cast.
Aug 20
Unlike Speed Racer, The Hulk has been getting some pretty good reviews. You can take a look at the trailer here.