Sticking around for chunjie can go two ways: You either relish the quiet (before the fireworks, anyway) and use the time to finish those projects you’ve been putting off, or you just get bitter thinking about your friends sunning on the beach in Thailand. This should help push you toward the former: the Beijing Municipal Government has launched a program of 2 kuai movies over the holiday! There are some great flicks on offer at theaters all throughout the city, so read on for all the info, handily translated and organized for you all right here.
We’re not quite sure why this is happening, but suffice it to say some folks at the Beijing Municipal Film and Television Bureau got a little happy and decided that what the people needed was a little cheap movie action to celebrate the incoming Year of the Dragon. That link will take you to a bunch of Chinese, but at the bottom there’s a link to a downloadable file with the entire schedule. Yes, that’s in Chinese too, so if you’re training to be the next Dashan, you can take a look.
For the rest of us, here’s a list of what we’ve determined to be the more worthwhile movies to catch (there’s about ten of them, repeated at different theaters). It’s organized by area, so you don’t need to roll too far out of bed to catch some practically free cinema.
As usual, we recommend you call ahead to theaters to check on details before you head out:
Near Dongzhimen:
BC MOMA
万国城电影院（MOMA电影院）
东城区香河园路1号MOMA北区T4座
84388257-8002
钢的琴
The Piano in a Factory (Gang de Qin)
A favorite during this year’s Chinese awards season, this film pulls at the heartstrings as a father builds his daughter a piano to meet her materialistic requests in a custody battle.
Jan 24, 10am
Jan 30, 10am
锦衣卫
14 Blades (Jinyi Wei)
Donnie Yen plays a baddie in this wuxia film about intrigue and scandal among the Emperor’s secret police, set during the Ming Dynasty.
Jan 25, 2pm
Jan 31, 2pm
枪王之王
Triple Tap (Qiang Wang Zhi Wang)
Derek Yee directs Louis Koo and Daniel Wu in this crime thriller in which a fund manager (who also happens to be an excellent marksman) and a cop go in cahoots.
Jan 26, 2pm
UME, Anzhenqiao Location
UME国际影城（安贞）店
东城区北三环东路36号环球城贸易中心E座一层
58257733
可可西里
Kekexili: Mountain Patrol
This beautifully sprawling documentary-like film follows the struggles between vigilante raiders and antelope poachers in Tibet’s Kekexili region. Winner of the 2004 Golden Horse Award.
Jan 24, 26, 28, 30, all 9.30am
叶问
Ip Man
If you’re excited to head to a theater at 9:30am to see this, you probably don’t need much explanation. For the rest of you: It’s Donnie Yen playing the martial arts legend who taught Bruce Lee, and it’s supremely satisfying.
Jan 23, 25, 27, 31, all 9.30am
Dongdaqiao:
Ziguang Theater
紫光影城
朝阳区朝外大街10号蓝岛大厦西区五至六层
65992922
李献计历险记
Lee’s Adventure
Based on a series of animated films, this is a Scott Pilgrim-esque flick that pairs live action and animation, and follows a young man with a futuristic time-traveling disease trying to save his marriage.
Jan 24, 1.30pm
Jan 25, 9.30am
武侠
Wuxia
If you didn’t catch this cat-and-mouse martial arts thriller starring Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro the first time, here’s another go. It’s visually stunning and well-acted.
Jan 26, 1.30pm
Jan 27, 9.30am.
大武生
My Kingdom (Da Wusheng)
Two pretty-boys defend their territory and honor in this costume drama about the Peking Opera underworld. Lots to look at, even if the plot’s a little thin.
Jan 28, 1.30pm
Jan 29, 9.30am.
Near Guomao:
China World Phase 3 (Summit Wing)
国贸三期电影院
朝阳区建外大街1号国贸城三期地下一层3B120
65055181—8001
钢的琴
The Piano in a Factory
A favorite during this year’s Chinese awards season, this film pulls at the heartstrings as a father builds his daughter a piano to meet her materialistic requests in a custody battle.
Mon, Jan 23, 10am
锦衣卫
14 Blades (Jinyi Wei)
Donnie Yen plays a baddie in this wuxia film about intrigue and scandal among the Emperor’s secret police, set during the Ming Dynasty.
Jan 24, Jan 30, both 2pm.
枪王之王
Triple Tap (Qiang Wang Zhi Wang)
Derek Yee directs Louis Koo and Daniel Wu in this crime thriller in which a fund manager (who also happens to be an excellent marksman) and a cop go in cahoots.
Jan 25, 2pm
Jan 31, 2pm
Wanda Cinema CBD
万达CBD影城
朝阳区建国路93号万达广场B座三层
59603399-814
叶问
Ip Man
If you’re excited to head to a theater at 9:30am to see this, you probably don’t need much explanation. For the rest of you: It’s Donnie Yen playing the martial arts legend who taught Bruce Lee all he knows.
Jan 25, 9.30am
Jan 29, 9.30am
长江七号
CJ7
Stephen Chow’s fun take on grade school bullying, aliens, father-son relationships and the importance of being poor.
Jan 23, 27, 30, all 9.30am
Near Shuangjing:
UME Shuangjing Location
UME国际影城（双井）店
朝阳区东三环中路双井桥北富力广场6层
59037171-105
叶问
Ip Man
If you’re excited by this, you probably don’t need much explanation. For the rest of you: It’s Donnie Yen playing the martial arts legend who taught Bruce Lee all he knows.
Jan 24, 25, 28, 31, all 10.50am.
Jinsong Theater
劲松电影院
朝阳区劲松中街404楼
67761841
李献计历险记
Lee’s Adventure
Based on a series of animated films, this is a Scott Pilgrim-esque flick that pairs live action and animation, and follows a young man with a futuristic time-traveling disease trying to save his marriage.
Jan 22, 1.40pm
Jan 23, 9.30am
武侠
Wuxia
If you didn’t catch this cat-and-mouse martial arts thriller starring Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro the first time, here’s another go. It’s visually stunning and well-acted.
Jan 28, 1.40pm
Jan 29, 9.30am.
大武生
My Kingdom (Da Wusheng)
Two pretty-boys defend their territory and honor in this costume drama about the Peking Opera underworld. Lots to look at, even if the plot’s a little thin.
Jan 30, 1.40pm
Jan 31, 9.30am
Near Wangfujing:
Jinbao Jie Cinema Palace
金宝汇百丽宫影院
东城区金宝街88号金宝汇七层
85221506
钢的琴
The Piano in a Factory
A favorite during this year’s Chinese awards season, this film pulls at the heartstrings as a father builds his daughter a piano to meet her materialistic requests in a custody battle.
Jan 22, 10am
Jan 28, 10am
锦衣卫
14 Blades (Jinyi Wei)
Donnie Yen plays a baddie in this wuxia film about intrigue and scandal among the Emperor’s secret police, set during the Ming Dynasty.
Jan 23, 2pm
Jan 29, 2pm.
枪王之王
Triple Tap (Qiang Wang Zhi Wang)
Derek Yee directs Louis Koo and Daniel Wu in this crime thriller in which a fund manager (who also happens to be an excellent marksman) and a cop go in cahoots.
Jan 24, 2pm
Jan 30, 2pm
Xin Dong'An Cinema (at APM Mall)
新东安影城
东城区王府井大街138号新东安市场6层
85114393
钢的琴
The Piano in a Factory
See description above.
Jan 25, 10am
Jan 31, 10am
锦衣卫
14 Blades (Jinyi Wei)
See description above.
Jan 26, 2pm.
枪王之王
Triple Tap (Qiang Wang Zhi Wang)
See description above.
Jan 27, 2pm.
New Century Theater (at Oriental Plaza) 新世纪影院
东城区东长安街1号东方广场地下一层
85185399-101
钢的琴
The Piano in a Factory
See description above.
Jan 26, 10am
锦衣卫
14 Blades (Jinyi Wei)
See description above.
Jan 27, 2pm.
枪王之王
Triple Tap (Qiang Wang Zhi Wang)
See description above.
Jan 22, 2pm.
Jan 28, 2pm.
Happy Spring Festival!
Photo: Reverseshot.com
Also, The Bookworm has officially launched their website and program for the 2012 Bookworm International Literary Festival (BLF)! Check out this year's awesome list of authors here: http://bookwormfestival.com/bookworm-events/.
Tickets for "Friends of the Festival" (we think this means volunteers and those involved with the program itself) and Sponsors go on sale Jan 30, and tickets are on sale to the general public starting Feb 6. Plan accordingly!
Zhang Yimou's hopes for snagging an Oscar this year have been dashed, as Flowers of War was left off the short list of Best Foreign Film contenders. (Taiwan's much-touted Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale, however, did make the cut...)
Read the WSJ update here.
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