Tuesday Film Roundup: Beijing International Film Festival and Hell Boy
We're a day behind schedule, so keep reading below for details of all the films playing in Beijing this Wednesday, Nov 26.
Beijing Independent Film Festival (BIFF)
Back in October, Angilee Shah wrote a post titled The Best Reporting on the Sichuan Earthquake You'll Never See for one of our favorite sources of China film and book news, China Beat. The article about Beijing director Pan Jianlin's latest film, Who Killed Our Children and the unlikelihood of the film being shown anywhere in China. Well, on Sunday, the film, which examines the sensitive issue of the number children killed in the Sichuan Earthquake, was shown in China as part of the Beijing International Film Festival out at Songzhuang Art Center. Festival organizers kept news of the screening quiet before the event. The rest of the festival program is now available here. Another of Pan Jianlin's films, Feast of Villains, will be screened on the last day of the festival on Saturday.
What do you move on to after you've directed the "greatest show on earth?" Zhang Yimou is reported to be starting work on the fourth of his astounding "Impression" series of performances in the Wuyi Mountains of Fujian. The other three shows were held in Lijiang River in Guilin, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yunnan Province, and Hangzhou's West Lake.
CFENS has published a list of what they consider the top ten Chinese films of the New Year/Spring Festival season. You can take a look at the list here - although you might need a proxy.
Blu-Ray DVDs are on their way to China - expected retail price? RMB 205!
Astro Boy the movie is on it's way. For more details and the trailer, take a look at the China Journal.
In other animation news, there are rumors that one of the two directors of Kungfu Panda has signed up to direct a live action version of He-Man.
Films Around Town
Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Wednesday Nov 26
(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) If you can read Chinese, this is by far the best site to consult.
Hell Boy 2: The Golden Army
Take a look at the surprisingly positive reviews here and trailer here.
12:30 13:40 14:55 16:05 17:20 18:30 19:45 20:55 22:10 23:15
Xidan
New Capital Cinema
12:35 13:40 14:50 15:55 17:05 18:10 19:20 20:25 21:3
Sanlitun
Village Mega Box
11:40 14:10 16:40 19:10 21:40
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
11:20 15:45 21:00 21:45
Stellar International Cineplex
12:55 17:30
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
10:40 12:55 15:15 17:30 19:50 22:05
Wangfujing
Star City
12:50 15:00 17:10 19:20 21:35
12:30 14:40 16:50 19:00 21:20
Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema
11:50 17:50 21:50
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
11:25 13:45 16:00 18:15 20:30 22:45
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
12:50 15:20 17:50 20:20
East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
19:50 21:50
Babylon AD
When even the director of a film admits that he's "very unhappy with the film," and that he "never had a chance to do one scene the way it was written or the way I wanted it to be. The script wasn't respected. Bad producers, bad partners, it was a terrible experience" it's not surprising that what emerges is an incomprehensible and unwatchable film. Its chances at the box office will probably not be helped by the fact that it's been available on DVD in the capital for weeks. You can take a look at some of the terrible reviews of the French-US co production here. View the trailer here.
11:20 13:20 15:20 17:20 18:20 19:20 20:20 21:20
Xidan
New Capital Cinema
11:20 13:10 15:05 16:55 18:40 20:30
Sanlitun
Village Mega Box
12:15 14:15 16:15 18:15 20:20 22:25
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
14:45 18:15 20:00
Stellar International Cineplex
14:40 12:20
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
12:20 16:30
Wangfujing
Star City
12:00 15:40 17:15
11:40 13:20 15:00 16:40 18:20
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
12:40 16:30 18:10 19:50 21:30
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
12:20 14:40
East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
13:00 16:25
007: Quantum of Solace
The high-octane adventures of Bond (Daniel Craig) continue. This new mission sees the martini-gulping international man of mystery teaming up with old friends to navigate a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit. Early reviews have been good, but not great. See trailer here.
12:30 17:10 21:50
Xidan
New Capital Cinema
11:40 13:05 13:50 14:35 15:15 16:00 16:45 17:25 18:10 18:55 19:35 20:20 21:05 21:45
Sanlitun
Village Mega Box
13:00 15:20 17:40 20:00 22:20
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
11:25 12:05 13:30 15:35 16:20 17:40 19:45 21:50
Stellar International Cineplex
13:05 15:05 17:10 19:15 21:20
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
11:50 14:00 16:10
Wangfujing
Star City
12:10 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00 VIP - 13:40 19:00 21:00
13:10 15:10 17:10 19:10 21:10
Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema
15:50 20:00
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
11:40 13:40 15:45 17:45 19:45 21:45 12:40 14:40 16:40 18:40 20:40 22:40
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
12:45 15:05 17:25 19:45 22:05
East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
Digital:12:50 14:50 16:45 18:40 20:35 22:30
Film: 11:50 13:45 15:40 17:40 19:40 21:40
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D Brendan Fraser stars in this remake of the Sci-fi classic. Read reviews here and view trailer here.
14:30 16:30 18:30
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
13:00 16:30 20:00 21:45
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
11:30 13:15 15:00 16:45 18:30 20:15 22:00
Other Films Showing the Week
Fit Lover (爱情左右 Aiqing Zuodeng Youxing)
Fans of eye candy might want to catch Chinese director Zhang Jianya's latest film as according to Xinhua, the film stars "twelve of the country's best looking actors."
Beast Stalker (证人Zhengren)
Director Dante Lam offers up a by-the-numbers HK action flick starring Nicholas Tse and Zhang Jinchu. Details and trailer at official site.
Desires of the Heart (Taohuayun 桃花运)
Our favorite Chinese actor, Ge You, dons a wig for this first hesui pian of the season. He plays the man at the center of a comedy of passionate encounters in present-day Beijing. The film also stars Fan Bingbing as an ugly girl, Mei Ting and Guo Tao.
Hutong Days (胡同里的阳光 Hutong li de Yangguang)
The film tells a story about a poor family living in the hutongs of Beijing. The story focuses on how the difficulties faced by the husband and father and how he manages to educate his little boy in his wife’s absence.
5.12 Wenchan Doesn’t Believe in Tears (5.12汶川不相信眼泪 5/12 Wenchuan bu Xiang Xin Yanlei)
The first movie based on the tragic Sichuan eathquake features images filmed at the site of the earthquake.
Out of Control (过界 Guojie)
The plot follows the adventures of a man on the run.
Love at Restaurant (味道男女Weidao Nannv)
Set against a background of 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese version of No Reservations (itself based on a great German film called Mostly Martha) looks about as promising as its Chinglish title suggests.
Upcoming
Nov 27
Next
Implausible Nicolas Cage vehicle that's been out on DVD for an age. Reviews here and trailer here.
Dec 5
Forever Enthralled (梅兰芳 Mei Lanfang) A biographical account of iconic Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang directed by Chen Kaige and starring Beijing-born singer Leon Lai. Ziyi Zhang stars as Mei’s lover Meng Xiaodong. More info available here. You can look at the "trailer" - it's really just a selection of still images taken from the film set to a Peking Opera sound track - here.
Dec 22
If You Are the One (Feicheng Wurao 非诚勿扰)
Feng Xiaogang's return to the new year comedy tradition that brought him early fame. The talented and popular Ge You is along for the ride too.
Links and Sources
Clubsnap: Impression Lijiang Jokul