Red Cliff thread 2

[lovevicki]

[glow=red,2,300]AP Review: John Woo restores credibility to Chinese epics with 'Red Cliff'[/glow] (The Associated Press : July 8, 2008 ) (ÎÄÕÂ Article)
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Tuesday, July 08, 2008, 16:55:56

Post reply(»ØÌû)


HONG KONG: A true epic needs more than the grandeur of its landscapes, the lavishness of its sets and the sheer manpower of its battle scenes: It needs a truly epic story.

John Woo displays the crucial distinction in the magnificently told "Red Cliff," the Hong Kong director's triumphant return to Chinese film after 16 years in Hollywood.

Using old-fashioned good storytelling, "Red Cliff" restores credibility to the genre of Chinese historical epics that have often been tainted by pointlessly large-scaled and action-packed productions.

Woo is helped by a wealth of source material. "Red Cliff" is based on a storied historical period that has inspired video games and comic books ¡ª third-century prime minister Cao Cao's quest to unite a divided China.

But the director breathes new life into Cao and the colorful cast of characters that oppose him.

There's the ruthless and arrogant Cao, who dishes out beheading orders casually and lusts after the wife of one of the resistance fighters; his main rival, the avuncular Liu Bei, who despite Cao's invasion still finds time to weave grass shoes; Liu's pudgy and hotheaded lieutenant Zhang Fei, who never hesitates to speak his mind.

Liu's ally, Sun Quan, is a young ruler who struggles to find his confidence living under the shadow of his accomplished late brother and father.

Woo takes the time to introduce anecdotes that define each character. The epic battle scenes involving scores of extras and enhanced by special effects are still there ¡ª including a complex fight centered on a maze-like military formation ¡ª but most of "Red Cliff" is spent filling out the rich cast of characters.

The director is so keen on building an epic story that he even leaves the final showdown between the two sides to a second installment. "Red Cliff," which will be released in Asia this month, is the first part. The sequel will be released in December.

Woo's grand narrative justifies the two-parter. In "Red Cliff," he paints such a delightful ensemble of characters and sets up such a sharp contrast between the two opposing sides, bracing the audience for a titanic battle between Good and Evil in the sequel.

The outstanding storytelling and character building is reminiscent of "Star Wars." The story feels similarly epic; the characters similarly funky. Interestingly, the English subtitles cast Liu's side as the "rebels" and their opponents as the "empire" ¡ª the same terminology used in George Lucas' legendary sci-fi series.

And Woo injects humor and a modern sensibility into his characters, removing any feeling that these are outdated personalities hundreds of years old.

Japanese-Taiwanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro brings youthful playfulness and sarcasm to the role of Liu's famed military strategist, Zhuge Liang. At first glance, Kaneshiro lacks the gravitas to carry such an esteemed character in Chinese history, but he gives the character a unique, refreshing interpretation.

But the biggest surprise in the cast is Chinese actress Zhao Wei, who steals the show with her portrayal of Sun's spunky tomboy sister Sun Shangxiang, frustrated that her military ambitions are dismissed by the men around her.

With "Red Cliff," Woo shows he's still a masterful director to be reckoned with.

It's a feat made all the more outstanding by the difficulties he faced in the production. Two major stars ¡ª Chow Yun-fat and Cannes best actor winner Tony Leung Chiu-wai ¡ª dropped out at the last minute, although Leung later rejoined the cast. A stuntman died in an accident and torrential rains washed away part of an outdoor set in northern China.

It's unclear, however, if Woo's story can win over non-Asian audiences who are less familiar with the Chinese history. He is releasing a condensed, one-installment version in international markets. It remains to be seen if the abbreviated story will lose the character development and nuances that enabled "Red Cliff" to shine.

www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/08/arts/AS-MOV-Film-Review-Red-Cliff.php

[lovevicki]

Reviews: Red Cliff (8 Days Magazine, Singapore, July 10) (ÎÄÕÂ Article)
by qinyi (мÓÆÂ), Wednesday, July 09, 2008, 17:50:20

Post reply(»ØÌû)


By Whang Yee-Ling

Budget overruns. Torrential rains. Chow Yun Fat is replaced by Tony Leung. Tony is out, Takeshi Kaneshiro is in. Tony is in again.

It was worth the notoriously troubled production. Director-writer-producer John Woo's first Chinese feature in nearly 15 years and, at US$80 million (S$104 mil), Asian cinema's biggest undertaking, the historical war epic Red Cliff proves a grand achievement.

The 13th century literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms has inspired mangas, videogames, television serials, and another recent movie adaptation, Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon starring Andy Lau.

It is an account of Prime Minister Cao Cao's ruthless military campaign to unify China during the final days of the Han Dynasty, 208 AD.

As Cao readies an army of 800,000 soldiers and 2,000 ships, the Kingdom of Xu in the west persuades East Wu Kingdom in the south into combining their outnumbered troops against the invasion.

Takeshi is the Xu envoy Zhu-Ge Liang, the Taiwanese pretty boy bringing the requisite grace and guile to Zhu-Ge's silver-tongued negotiations.

Tony is Viceroy Zhou Yu of Wu. Yes, the Hongkong actor stayed on in the cast after all for a re-teaming with his Bullet in the Head and Hard Boiled filmmaker and he is a magnetic presence as befits Zhou the musician-general romantic hero.

There is an electrifying scene, a qin instrument playoff between Zhu-Ge and Zhou, wary strangers, entering into an alliance, that serves as a harmonisation of their intent.

Cao himself is not without charisma. The Chinese thespian Zhang Fengyi makes this formidable adversary a hungry, handsome despot envious of Wu's brave warriors, the likes of Hu Jun's Zhao Zhilong, and desirous of Zhou's beautiful wife played by model Lin Chiling in her acting debut.

Zhu-Ge and Zhou must defeat his men for a better tomorrow. Thus Woo takes his signature themes of brotherhood and chivalry across the vast canvas of history that encompasses also Chang Chen as the self-doubting 26-year-old leader of Wu and Zhao Wei, full of spunky humour, as his tomboy sister.

It is the latter and her archers who will lay the trap for Cao at the battlefield at San Jiang Kou.

This is a movie about battles of forces and wits. Woo ties together with singular cohesive vision a story of riveting detailed cunning as Zhu-Ge and Zhou scheme to out-fox Cao, all three brilliant military strategists, and thunderous action spectacle, Tim Yip's sweeping production design as magnificent as Cory Yuen's martial choreography is pulse-gripping.

Woo fleshes out character, builds excitement, sustains momentum.

These two-and-a-quarter hours are just the first, enthralling half of a diptych. It leaves the enemy armies setting up camp on opposite banks of Yangtze River in preparation for the Battle of Red Cliff, the most famous battle in China, the culmination of the saga, which will conclude end of the year, and a promise that the best is still to come.

4.5/5 stars

[lovevicki]

[FILM REVIEW] Once more unto the breach With 'Red Cliff,' John Woo restores credibility to Chinese epic filmmaking (Taipei Times) (ÐÂÎÅ&ͼƬ News & Photos)
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Friday, July 11, 2008, 08:04:44 @ Wee

Post reply(»ØÌû)


By Ho Yi
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Jul 11, 2008, Page 16

With an US$80 million budget, which makes Red Cliff (³à±Ú) the most lavish Asian production to date, and a running time of more than four hours, which has seen the movie split into two installments, John Woo's (…ÇÓîÉ­) Chinese sword-and-sandals epic marks a triumphant return home for the director after 16 years in Hollywood.

Set in the Three Kingdoms period of China's history and centering on the legendary Battle of Red Cliffs (³à±ÚÖ®‘ð), the epic sees Woo live up to his reputation as a masterful storyteller who reinvigorates a somewhat overworked and cliched genre with a good old-fashioned narrative developed by a rich cast of capable actors.

Set during the Han Dynasty's death throes, the film opens with shrewd Prime Minister Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi, ˆØSÒã) sending his million-strong army and a sizable fleet off on an unprecedently large campaign to forge a unified empire. Unable to match Cao's army, the benevolent exiled leader Liu Bei (You Yong, ÓÈÓÂ) sends his military strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro, ½ð³ÇÎä) to secure an alliance with Sun Quan (Chang Chen, ˆÕð), a southern warlord.

Buttressed by formidable warriors such as Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Áº³¯‚¥), Zhuge Liang successfully contrives to defeat Cao's vastly superior land force.

The victory proves to be Pyrrhic when the allied forces find themselves confronted by Cao's fleet of more than 2,000 warships anchored off shore. As the decisive battle looms, the two military masterminds scheme to secure victory.

Having opened in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan yesterday, this is the diptych's first segment. The second part is scheduled for release in Asia in January of next year. The epic's lengthy running time is justified by Woo's grand narrative, which is told in the vein of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. With the filmmaking luxury of length, Woo defines his characters through anecdotes and slowly builds up the tensions and the contrasts between the two opposing sides, which culminate in a Good vs Evil finale.

Though there are lavish sets, spectacular choreography and massive battle scenes enhanced by CGI effects, it is the substantive narrative that sets Red Cliff apart from the glut of big-budget Chinese historical dramas that have been released in recent years.

Audiences quickly find themselves falling for the colorful ensemble of characters and become absorbed in the film's narrative threads, which are enlivened by imaginative camera work, fast-paced editing and superbly executed choreography. Even ancient China's military wisdom is made sexy and enthralling when Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung Chiu-wai take on the roles of master tacticians in a complex battle that involves a maze-like military formation.

Woo's unconventional interpretations of historical figures have caused controversy. Doubts serviced when the director cast Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro as one of China's most revered scholars. If audiences expect the heartthrob to exude Chinese virtue and be the living embodiment of intellectuality, they'll be sorely disappointed. Instead, the actor gives the crusty character Zhuge Liang a playful update, bringing a sometimes slightly sissy young scholarly strategist to the big screen.

The casting of Taiwanese supermodel Lin Chi-ling (ÁÖÖ¾Áá) also raised a few eyebrows, but she manages to hold her own in the film.

With Red Cliff, Woo proves that China's rapidly developing film industry has both the know-how and talent to make Hollywood-style blockbusters. The country also has a seemingly inexhaustible archive of historical narratives to plunder at will, so expect many more to follow. Hopefully, more will be as well-made as this one.

www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/07/11/2003417095

[lovevicki]

'Red' a hot ticket in Greater China 'Cliff' earns more than $3.6 million its first day(Variety.com)(¸÷µØƱ·¿³É¼¨) (Ò»°ã General)
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Saturday, July 12, 2008, 00:52:02

Post reply(»ØÌû)


By PATRICK FRATER

HONG KONG -- John Woo's "Red Cliff," the most expensive Asian film ever, is off to a smashing start to its theatrical career across the 'Greater China' region.

China Film Group reported that the film grossed in excess of RMB25 million ($3.65 million) on Thursday, its first day of release.

In Hong Kong, where it is handled by Mei Ah in collaboration with Edko Films, "Cliff" scaled HK2,000,830 ($257,500) from 60 sites. That is a single day per screen average of $4, 280.

Taiwanese investor and distributor CMC Entertainment, reported that pic had accumulated NT$16 million ($526,000) on Thursday, making it the biggest opening day figure of the year in that territory.

Tickets to the biggest movies in China are often priced at premium rates. CFG's topper Han Sanping forecast that the pic will have passed the RMB100 million landmark ($14.6 million) by the end of the four-day opening weekend.

Pic received a generally positive critical reception in Hong Kong. Online bloggers and commentators liked the action scenes and said that the movie did not feel as long as its 2-hour 20-minutes run time. But others also said that pic was weighed down with heavy expectations.

In Hong Kong pic has to deal with stiff competition from "Kung Fu Panda" and "Hanthingy" still playing on large numbers of screens.

In China, the path has been largely cleared for "Red Cliff's" outing with considerably less competition.

Throughout Asia the pic is being released in two parts, with the second part skedded for January.

www.variety.com/article/VR1117988742.html?categoryId=1278&cs=1

[lovevicki]

John Woo Chinese epic earns US$26 million in Asia in opening weekend(The Associated Press Published: July 15, 2008 )
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 19:05:27 @ Wee


HONG KONG: John Woo's historical epic "Red Cliff" has opened strongly in Asia, earning US$26 million (€16.4 million) in China, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea since debuting last Thursday.

The Hong Kong native's return to Chinese-language film also beat Hollywood movies "Hanthingy" and "Kung Fu Panda" in the weekend box office in at least two territories.

Based on an famous battle in third-century China, "Red Cliff" is Woo's first Chinese film after a 16-year stint in Hollywood, where he made hits like "Face/Off" and "Mission: Impossible II."

Loaded with Asian stars and backed by investors from China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, it's also a huge production by Asian standards. Woo told the AP in a recent interview he has already spent US$70 million on the movie, which features scenes that involved up to 2,000 actors and crew members.

The Hollywood trade publication Variety says "Red Cliff" is the most expensive Asian production in history.

In mainland China, where the movie is viewed as an important showcase of Chinese history before the Beijing Olympics in August, "Red Cliff" earned 108 million Chinese yuan (US$16 million) through Sunday on a wide release of 1,400 copies, spokesman Weng Li at investor China Film Group said. China has more than 3,500 screens.

The result makes it the quickest film to break the 100 million yuan (US$15 million) mark ¡ª the threshold of a big hit in China, Weng said. "Red Cliff" achieved the result in four days, breaking the record of five days set by Hollywood blockbuster "Transformers."

The Chinese results are also significant because of mixed reviews. Chinese audiences are intimately familiar with the story and some have aired concerns about Woo's alleged deviation from history and over-the-top dialogue.

Producer Terence Chang said he isn't worried about box office results because the minimum guarantee payments he secured from distributors around the world already covers the movie's big budget.

Still, Chang said in a phone interview with the AP he was surprised by the results.

"I thought it would do OK, but I didn't think it would do so well," he said.

In South Korea, the movie made 5.1 billion South Korean won (US$5 million) through Monday, according to figures posted on the Web site of the Korean Film Council.

In the four-day period ending Monday, "Red Cliff" beat the Hollywood movies "Hanthingy," "Wanted" and "Kung Fu Panda."

In Taiwan, "Red Cliff" earned 80 million New Taiwan dollars (US$2.6 million) through Sunday, according to figures provided by investor CMC Entertainment.

In the Taiwanese capital Taipei, "Red Cliff" is the top-earning movie on opening day this year, raking in nearly 8 million New Taiwan dollars (US$263,000) on Thursday. At the weekend box office in Taipei, it also bested "Hanthingy" and "Kung Fu Panda."

In Hong Kong, "Red Cliff" has made 10.6 Hong Kong dollars (US$1.4 million) through Sunday, according to figures posted on hkfilmart.com. That figure is better than last week's earnings by both "Hanthingy" and "Kung Fu Panda."

In Singapore, the film pulled in 1.03 million Singapore dollars (US$740,000) until Sunday, according to figures provided by distributor MediaCorp Raintree Pictures.

Woo is also releasing a sequel to "Red Cliff," which he is currently editing, and a one-part condensed version for markets outside of Asia.

www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/15/arts/AS-MOV-John-Woo-Red-Cliff.php

[lovevicki]

John Woo's 'Red Cliff' bows big in Asia (HollywoodReporter)
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 19:06:01 @ Wee

Post reply(»ØÌû)


War epic earns $15.8 mil in China

By Alex S. Dai

July 14, 2008, 01:01 PM ET

SHANGHAI -- John Woo's period war epic "Red Cliff," at $80 million the most expensive Asian film ever made, scored a record-breaking weekend across six Asian territories, earning 108 million yuan ($15.8 million) in its first weekend in China, according to the China Film Group.

In Hong Kong, local hero Woo's two-part film continued its boxoffice dominance for distributors Mei Ah and Edko, earning HK$10,585,000 ($1.36 million) from Thursday-Sunday on 60 screens, the Hong Kong Kowloon & New Territories Motion Pictures Industry Assn. said.

"Red Cliff" grossed nearly twice what Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" earned in its four-day Hong Kong opening weekend in 2000 before going on to become the highest-grossing Chinese-language film ever released in the U.S.

Made with international backing and a star-studded, Pan-Asian cast including Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro, "Red Cliff" also raked it in in Singapore, where Daniel Yun, CEO of MediaCorp. Raintree Pictures, predicted the film will best most Asian epics from recent years.

Distributor Scorpio East scored a Friday-Sunday take of S$1,029,290 ($761,000) from 47 prints, topping the Singapore boxoffice.

"Red Cliff" sold 20% more tickets there than the first weekend of Peter Chan's "Warlords" in December. It also earned more than Zhang Yimou's "Curse of the Golden Flower" and Lee's "Crouching Tiger" when they opened in the Southeast Asian city state.

In China, "Red Cliff" -- Woo's first film made in China since 1992's "Hard Boiled" -- earned a record-high 27 million yuan ($3.9 million) on Thursday, its opening day, CFG said. This broke the previous opening-day record in China, held by "Transformers," which took in 22.4 million yuan ($3.3 million) in its July 2007 China debut.

Karen Chu from Hong Kong, Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop from Singapore and Alicia Yang from Shanghai contributed to this report.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i78e076c5490e131394bc79c0d9fbeda7

[lovevicki]

[glow=red,2,300]John Woo's `Red Cliff' Has Blood, Battles, Stars, Little Else[/glow] (Bloomberg News) (Ò»°ã General)
by ÐÄÓ±, Friday, July 18, 2008, 20:47:17

Review by Le-Min Lim
More Photos/Details
July 18 (Bloomberg) -- Raptors shriek, fires roar, bodies arc into the air as an armored horseman slices through a wall of men, a wailing baby strapped to his back.
General Zhao Yun is fighting to save the son of benevolent leader Liu Bei, whose forces were crushed by the invading troops of villainous Cao Cao. The battle scene is the first of several in Asia's most expensive film, John Woo's $80 million epic ``Red Cliff,'' about warring states in China in 208.
The movie, named after a bank on the Yangtze River where the final naval showdown takes place, bears all the traits of a Woo production. There are ballet-like fight scenes, laconic heroes on a mission, limpid-eyed damsels in distress and gobs of blood. Add computer-generated effects to simulate thronging troops and a 2,000-ship fleet and you have the manic action of a big-budget Hollywood production.
``Red Cliff'' shows Woo's bid to return to the type of film that made him famous in Asia before he left for Tinseltown -- male-bonding tales of sacrifice and betrayal like ``A Better Tomorrow'' starring Chow Yun-fat, whose heroes would sooner bleed than cry.
In ``Red Cliff,'' that masculine friendship is between Tony Leung's Zhou Yu, the ponderous but loyal viceroy of the East Wu Kingdom, and Takeshi Kaneshiro's Zhuge Liang, Liu's brilliant strategist. They forge an uneasy partnership to resist the much- larger Han Empire forces led by Cao.
Stiff Headpiece
With his lanky good looks and youthful gait, Taiwan-born Kaneshiro looks perfect to play Zhuge -- until he speaks. His voice is dubbed with the air-tight quality of studio recording, a distraction that damages his performance. Hong Kong actor Leung, usually ace, looks uncomfortable at best, not helped by a stiff headpiece with twin poufs and a top-knot that looked overworked with Brylcreem. Each acts in his own ambit, with the look of one struggling to recall his line. Chemistry is nil.
Women are usually marginal in Woo's films, little more than talking props. ``Red Cliff'' is no exception. Taiwanese model Chiling Lin makes her big-screen debut playing Zhou's wife and legendary beauty Xiao Qiao, a paragon of virtue and a trophy Cao seeks. Lin makes a valiant effort at making her role less twee, though fails to overcome her cliched lines on peace and Camelot ideals.
With some voice training, Lin might gain more screen presence. There's little spark between Leung and Lin either. They look more like overawed teenagers on a first date than a seasoned couple.
Chinese Stars Shine
Mainland Chinese actors carry the movie, overwhelming their Hong Kong and Taiwanese counterparts in presence, and proving they are among the best in the world.
Zhang Fengyi (``Farewell My Concubine'') plays Cao with nuance, alternating so smoothly between human and vile traits that he stirs sympathy for one of the biggest villains in Chinese history. Hu Jun plays the wearied but unswerving General Zhao with verve. Zhao Wei plays East Wu princess Sun Shangxiang, a plucky sprite and budding warrior, adding much-needed comic relief to a film that gets boggy between fight scenes.The star of the movie is really Woo. His battle scenes are formidably choreographed, featuring keeling horses, brutal swordfights and complex troop configurations. It's a monumental undertaking and Woo delivers.
Still, a 2 1/2-hour film is a challenge to sit through -- and one steeped in history and cultural cues would test the patience of even the most ardent history buff. ``Red Cliff'' remains a very Chinese movie that probably won't travel well.
The version playing now in Asian cinemas is the first half of an almost 5-hour movie, the second part of which will be shown in January. The producers will edit the film down to a 2 1/2-hour edition for release in Europe and the U.S.
``Red Cliff,'' from Lion Rock Entertainment and other producers, is in theaters throughout Asia. Rating: **.
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=axVVFP8CkAf4&refer=muse

[lovevicki]

"Red Cliff" makes No. 3 overall internationally! (Variety) (ÎÄÕÂ Article)
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Saturday, July 19, 2008, 19:35:04 @ Garfield
edited by£¨±à¼­Õß) Wee, Saturday, July 19, 2008, 19:41:54

Post reply(»ØÌû)


'Mamma Mia!' sings happy toon abroad
Universal's adaptation grosses $24.5 million
By DAVE MCNARY, PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Forget all the rules about the foreign box office -- beginning with the adage that American musicals don't play overseas.

Bowing in only a dozen territories over the July 11-13 weekend, Universal's bigscreen adaptation "Mamma Mia!" grossed a dazzling $24.5 million from 1,407 playdates for a boffo per location average of $17,410. That's quite a start.

Musical opened overseas one week ahead of its domestic launch, placing No. 4 at the international box office.

Move gave "Mamma Mia!" some breathing room before Warner Bros. begins to roll out Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel "The Dark Knight." Historically, "Batman" pics haven't traveled terribly well outside the U.S., but look for "Dark Knight" to break this pattern.

Coming in No. 1 internationally for the July 11-13 frame was Sony's Will Smith starrer "Hanthingy," which grossed $70.9 million from 8,099 playdates in its second sesh for a foreign cume of $179.8 million in only a dozen days.

With holdover markets declining just 45%, Sony execs upped their forecasts for a final "Hanthingy" foreign gross to an ambitious $350 million to $400, pointing to Smith's sterling international record.

DreamWorks Animation and Paramount's "Kung Fu Panda" also pleased, coming in No. 2 for the sesh and jumping the $200 million mark. Toon grossed $45.3 million from 6,314 runs for a cume of $221.6 million in its sixth weekend.

The only non-Hollywood pic making a big splash internationally over the July 11-13 frame was John Woo's Chinese action-adventure "Red Cliff," which got off to a boffo start in Asia and came in No. 3 overall. "Red Cliff" tallied $23 million as it debuted in five territories.

"Red Cliff" grossed an estimated $14.6 million in China, $6 million in South Korea and $1.9 million in Taiwan.

Showbox, the movie's Korean investor and distributor, said the casting of Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro helped the pic score well with older demos.

In Europe, "Mamma Mia!" sang up a storm at the Blighty box office, grossing $13.2 million to beat holdover "Hanthingy" for No. 1. That's the best Brit launch ever for a musical and U's fourth-best opening ever in that territory.

It makes sense that the film is doing well. The stage version, composed by Swedish band Abba, has been seen by some 30 million and grossed $2 billion since its debut on London's West End nearly a decade ago. Also, the film features an international cast.

In Scandinavia, "Mamma Mia!" saw stellar returns with $1.6 million from Sweden, $1.3 million from Denmark and $635,000 in Norway. In addition to its July 18 Stateside launch, "Mamma Mia!" expands next into Austria, Germany and Holland.

"Hanthingy" still did tidy business in the U.K., grossing $7.37 million for a cume of $33.5 million.

Also in the U.K., "Journey to the Center of the Earth," playing in digital 3-D wherever possible, grossed a solid $1.9 million. Overall, "Journey" grossed $3.9 million in its international debut over the July 11-13 weekend from only 637 runs.


Spanish exhibs were over the moon about the weekend's stellar box office performance, led off by the launch of "Kung Fu Panda." Toon grossed $6.2 million on 585 for a strong per location average of $10,513.

"The best thing about 'Panda' is that it's got a clear ride until 'Wall-E' opens Aug. 6," one Spanish booker said.

With the conclusion of the Euro Cup soccer tournament, which muted moviegoing across the continent, the July box office has seen a much-needed uptick.

Over the July 11-13 weekend, "Hanthingy," "Kung Fu Panda," "Red Cliff" and "Mamma Mia!" did a combined $160 million in grosses.

With the uptick, six major Hollywood studios are running about even with last year in terms of international box office grosses. Last year set a record with $9.5 billion.

Par is leading the way this year with $1.3 billion, thanks to "Panda," "Iron Man" ($251 million) and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," the year's top international grosser at $441 million.

Fox is second with $1 billion, followed by Warner Bros. with $950 million, Disney with $750 million, U with $635 million and Sony with $580 million.

Ali Jaafar in the U.K., Ed Meza in Germany, Patrick Frater in Hong Kong, Michael Day in Italy and Emilio Mayorga in Spain contributed to this report.

www.variety.com/article/VR1117989163.html?categoryId=1278&cs=1

[lovevicki]

[glow=red,2,300]Red Cliff Review by Variety's Derek Elley[/glow] (Posted: Sun., Jul. 20, 2008, 2:44pm PT) (ÎÄÕÂ Article)
by Wee (Ì©¹ú), Monday, July 21, 2008, 16:21:37

Post reply(»ØÌû)


Chi bi (China-Japan-Taiwan-South Korea-U.S.)
By DEREK ELLEY
A China Film Group Corp. (in China)/Avex Entertainment (in Japan)/CMC Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox (in Taiwan)/Showbox (in S. Korea) release of a China Film Group, Chengtian Entertainment (China)/Avex Entertainment (Japan)/CMC Entertainment (Taiwan)/Showbox, Taewon Entertainment (S. Korea)/John Woo presentation of a Lion Rock Prods. production. (International sales: Summit Entertainment, L.A.) Produced by Terence Chang, Woo. Executive producers, Han Sanping, Wu Kebo, Masato Matsuura, Ryuhei Chiba, Huang Chin-wen, Kim Woo-taek, Ryu Jeong-chun. Co-producers, Anne Woo, Zhang Daxing, Yeh Ju-feng, David Tang, Wang Wei, Cheri Yeung. Directed by John Woo. Screenplay, Woo, Khan Chan, Kuo Cheng, Sheng Heyu.

Zhou Yu - Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Zhuge Liang - Takeshi Kaneshiro
Cao Cao - Zhang Fengyi
Sun Quan - Chang Chen
Sun Shangxiang - Vicki Zhao
Zhao Yun - Hu Jun
Gan Xing - Shido Nakamura
Xiao Qiao - Lin Chi-ling
Liu Bei - You Yong
Lu Su - Hou Yong
Sun Shucai - Tong Dawei
Li Ji - Song Jia
Guan Yu - Basenzabu
Zhang Fei - Zang Jinsheng
Huang Gai - Zhang Shan
Cao Hong - Wang Hui
Jiang Gan - Shi Xiaohong
Kong Rong - Wang Qingxiang
Emperor Xian - Wang Ning
Lady Mi - He Yin

One of the most ballyhooed Asian productions in recent history, and the most expensive Chinese-lingo picture ever, John Woo's costume actioner "Red Cliff" scales the heights. First seg of the two-part, $80 million historical epic -- with "The Battle of Red Cliff" to follow in late January -- balances character, grit, spectacle and visceral action in a meaty, dramatically satisfying pie that delivers on the hype and will surprise many who felt the Hong Kong helmer progressively lost his mojo during his long years stateside. Pic may, however, disappoint those looking for simply a costume retread of his kinetic, '80s H.K. classics.

Film is pitched more at an older demographic than traditional Asian youth auds, and the July 10 release (in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea) faces heavy competition from other summer titles after its first frame. But robust initial returns point to the two-parter putting black ink on most investors' ledgers - apart, maybe, from Japanese investor Avex, who bankrolled more than half the budget. Non-Asian returns look to be much smaller, especially as in the West the whole 4 1/2-hour movie will be available only in a single, 2 1/2-hour version that could end up losing much of the character detail that motors the production.

Detailing an incident familiar to auds throughout Asia, script by Woo and three other writers mixes elements from history (as recorded in a third century chronicle by Chen Shou), the freely fictionalized classic "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by 14th-century scribe Luo Guanzhong and their own filmic imagination into a dramatic stew that has engendered beaucoup debate among Asian specialists and auds who already have their own ideas on the characters from multiple comicbook treatments, TV drama series and school textbooks. However, given that these often contradict each other - even down to details of who were the good and bad guys -- pic always faced an uphill battle pleasing everyone.

But the picture indisputably works on its own terms. Though this first part is a long warm-up to the part two naval battle on the Yangtze River that saw the forces of the North rebuffed by those of the South, it contains more than enough action and drama to justify its length, as well as a cliff-hanger ending that leaves auds hungry for more.

Yarn opens in summer AD 208, with prime minister-cum-general Cao Cao (powerful Mainland vet Zhang Fengyi) asking permission from Han dynasty Emperor Xian (Wang Ning) to lead an expedition south to take on "rebellious" warlords Liu Bei (You Yong) and Sun Quan (Taiwan thesp Chang Chen). Jittery mood in the imperial court sets the stage for the political machinations that marble the whole movie -- and forecasts the period of turmoil, known as the Three Kingdoms, that followed the imminent collapse of the 400-year-old Han dynasty.

Socko, 20-minute action sequence, as Cao Cao's massive army sweeps south and meets Liu's forces in the battle of Changban, establishes the gritty, chaotic tone of the movie's land warfare. Cool, almost grungy color processing, and action that's exaggerated but not manga-like, is underpinned by realistic costumes and design by ace art director Tim Yip. There's no clear sense of geography in the skirmishes, but maybe that's the point.

As Liu & Co. lick their wounds after their retreat, Liu's canny strategist, Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) proposes an alliance between him and Sun Quan vs. Cao Cao's seemingly unstoppable forces. Pic's second act broadens here, establishing the nervous, indecisive character of Sun Quan, his tomboyish sister, Sun Shangxiang (lively Mainland babe Vicki Zhao) -- and last but not least, Sun Quan's commander, Zhou Yu (H.K. heartthrob Tony Leung Chiu-wai).

Appearance 40 minutes in of toplined Leung (a last-minute replacement for Chow Yun-fat) adds some real emotional heft to the drama. Though not the most physically imposing thesp in the cast, Leung is easily the subtlest, and character's musical interests add extra layers to what, until then, has been simply a sturdy historical actioner.

Main cast has few weak links and traverses all shades of character. Zhang and Leung dominate the movie, while Kaneshiro is fine as wily strategist Zhuge and Zhao adds welcome humor as the feisty princess. Chang is a tad lightweight in such company as the wimpish Sun, and Taiwanese super-model Lin Chi-ling mostly decorative as Zhou's wife. Multitude of colorful supports is led by Mongolian actor Basenzabu as a warrior who's a one-man moving mountain.

Dark-toned color processing doesn't glamorize the period and adds gravitas to many of the youthful actors. Japanese composer Taro Iwashiro's multi-faceted score -- brazzy, playful, lyrical by turns -- adds real dramatic clout throughout. Visual effects are just OK.

Version caught in South Korea (cut by local distrib-investor Showbox) was nine minutes shorter than that shown in Chinese-speaking territories, with a couple of scenes shortened, including a calligraphy sequence prior to Zhou making love to his wife. Japanese version, to be released later this year, will also be shorter than Woo's 140-minute cut.


Camera (CineLabs Beijing color, widescreen), Lu Yue, Zhang Li; editors, Angie Lam, Yang Hongyu, Robert A. Ferretti; music, Taro Iwashiro; production-costume designer, Tim Yip; sound (Dolby Digital), Roger Savage; sound designer, Steve Burgess; visual effects supervisors, Craig Hayes, Kevin Rafferty; visual effects, The Orphanage, CafeFX, Hatch Prod.; stunt supervisor, Dion Lam; stunt co-ordinator, Guo Jianyong; assistant directors, Albert Cho, Richard L. Fox, Thomas Chow; secnd unit directors, Zhang Jinzhan (army battles), Patrick Leung (naval battle); action director, Corey Yuen; casting, Cheng Jie. Reviewed at CGV Bucheon 3, South Korea, July 19, 2008. Running time: 131 MIN.


With: Sun Chun, Jiang Tong, Kou Shixun, Koyuki, Li Hong, Menghe Wuliji, Wang Yuzhang, Zhang Yi, Wu Qi, Chen Changhai, Zhao Chengshun, Wang Zaolai, Xie Gang, Yi Zhen, Jia Hongwei, Guo Chao, Cui Yugui, Xu Fengnian, Ma Jing, Hu Xiaoguang, Ye Hua.
(Mandarin dialogue)

www.variety.com/review/VE1117937769.html?categoryid=1263&cs=1

[vickin0oi]

thank.