Chow Yun-Fat joins campaign to save Queen's Pier

Hollywood Star Chow Yun Fat Supports Queen's Pier Preservation
The Hong Kong government has once again ignored the public opinion to preserve the Queen's Pier in situ and decided to ask the legislative council to approve the budget for disintegrating the pier and relocating it elsewhere in order to give space to the P2 highway, a giant shopping district, a yet to be approved subway line in 2016 and a People's Liberation Army Pier at the Central Water Front.
Even though the government's Public relation machine keeps saying that it respects the professional group and public opinion, it has manipulated the opinions at the specialist task force in order to push through its pier relocation plan. According to the Association of the Architects, specialists from the civil society in the task force have insisted the government to preserve the pier in situ and looked for experienced preservation specialists to put forward a proposal, the government, however, forced the legislative council to approve its budget plan on 9 of May, while on the other hand deferred the Antiquities Advisory Board's grading of the Queen's Pier historical value (also on 9 of May).
The civil society insists that the government should first evalute the historical and cultural value of Queen's Pier, then discuss the preservation plan, while the technical issue should be discussed and determined in the final stage. However, the government has put the time-line upside down with its hidden agenda to disintegrate and vapourize the Queen's pier.
Preservation activists has decided to occupy the space by camping at the pier since 26 of April in the Queen's Pier to prevent the government's plan to seal off the space from public access.
Today at 5:30am, Hollywood Star Chow Yun Fat visited the pier and signed up to support young activists' action in preserving the Pier in Situ. He said, "if you guys can be successful in this campaign, you will become real heroes!" - Interlocals.net

UPDATED: ARTICLE FROM CRIENGLISH Hong Kong film star, Chow Yun-Fat has backed a campaign to save a pier that was a landing point for royalty in the former British colony, a media report said Sunday.

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, star of the global hit "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", has backed a campaign to save a pier that was a landing point for royalty during the colonial era, a media report said Sunday.
Chow, dressed in a low-key baseball hat and tracksuit, visited Queen's Pier early on Saturday morning as protesters led a vigil against its demolition, the Sunday Morning Post reported.
The actor arrived in a mini-van in the early hours of the morning as most of the protesters slept and signed a huge banner strung across the condemned pier, which has become a symbol of the city's dwindling architectural heritage.
The actor asked simply: "How are you guys doing? How long are you going to stay here for?" the report said.
One of the protesters, Yip Po-lam told the Post: "We're overwhelmed by his visit. He is an icon of Hong Kong, we grew up watching his TV dramas."
Built in 1957, Queen's Pier, was closed on Thursday night and will be demolished as part of a redevelopment plan that will see a huge swathe reclaimed from the famous Victoria Harbour to make way for a congestion-relieving bypass.
The pier has a colourful history. It was the landing point for many a visit by the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth -- after whom the pier was named -- in 1975, and the late Princess Diana in 1989.
It was also the ceremonial boarding point for visiting dignitaries.
The once-nearby Star Ferry pier and clock tower were demolished last month as part of the redevelopment plan criticised by conservationists for blocking a huge part of the harbour from the public.
Rows over the demolition sparked renewed concern for the fate of Hong Kong's heritage buildings, which preservationists say are being rapidly destroyed to make way for lucrative real estate projects.
If you wish to know more about the history of Queen's Pier go to Wikipedia

Sun Yat Sen nowhere in sight....POTC At World's End on the horizon

One of the new monsters from POTC 3 as shown on Ain't It Cool News

It has been reprted by Sina that the plans for making the movie about Sun Yat Sen have been put on hold for the present, and it is dubious that Chow Yun-Fat will be part of the cast. Sina has been trying to find out the details of any new project in the future for CYF and has found out that much information and also that director Fruit Chan/Chen Guo may have a project for Chow Yun-Fat. Whatever.... the activities of CYF for the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End will be the main interest for him in the coming weeks. - Information from Sina

More sketches on the POTC At World's End page

Johnnie To receives antique camera from Chow Yun-Fat

The Sparrow director Johnnie To was celebrating his birthday and was surprised by a gift of an antique camera from Chow Yun-Fat. Johnnie, like his long time friend CYF, is very interested in photography.

Chow Yun-Fat ready to go home and eat.

Picture from ent.beelink.com

Chow Yun-Fat in Kowloon City shopping

It was reported that Chow Yun-Fat was in Kowloon City doing some shopping. He purchased some seafood (crabs) while he talked to people and signed autographs. Observers said he did not look disturbed because of the recent events, and even told a child to be sure and study. People were taking pictures with their cell phones. He then went and purchased some starches (guess that means noodles or rice?) showing he still has a good appetite- Picture and report from Netease Forum

POTC At World's End has been approved to be shown in China

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, which includes Hong Kong film star Chow Yun-Fat in the cast, has successfully gone through film examination in China and is waiting for a general release this summer. The film was brought in by the China Film Group Corporation in early April. It has been ratified for general release in the Chinese mainland, after abridgement was done for several of its plots, requested by the State Administration of Film Radio and Television (SAFRT). The movie will meet with the Chinese audience no sooner than June, since "Spider-man 3" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (TMNT) has taken up the schedule of May. Previously the image of Chow Yun-Fat in the film has been under criticism. The Hong Kong star played cunning baldheaded Chinese Pirate Sao Feng in the film. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" is the third one of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. The first one, "The Curse of the Black Pearl", was introduced into Chinese movie theaters in 2003. The second one of the series, "Dead Man's Chest", missed the chance of meeting its Chinese fans on the big screen for too many horrific figures and plots. - CRIENGLISH

Chow Yun-Fat may play Dr. Sun Yat-Sen in movie

Article: April 20, 2007
Source: http://ju.qihoo.com/frame.html?title=%D6%D...7&qname=vip_pig

The latest rumor has it that the Sun Yat Sen role which was originally set for Takeshi Kaneshiro may be awarded to Chow Yun Fat. CYF who has left Battle of Red Cliff may now take the role that was originally set for Takeshi since Takeshi is now making the Battle of Red Cliff. According to the film foundation director Yau Fok San who would be making this movie, this movie would be made in English and among Chinese actors, the only one who could star as a senior has to be Chow Yun Fat. The most important is that CYF's eyes really looks like Dr. Sun Yat Sen. Then is that why Chow Yun Fat left the cast of Battle of Red Cliff? Yau Fook San did not want to confirm and said that everything is now in preparation.

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Dr. Sun Yat-Sen:
Sun Yat-sen (November 12, 1866 – March 12, 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader often referred to as the "father of modern China." Sun played an instrumental role in the eventual overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. He was the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912. He later co-founded the Kuomintang (KMT) where he served as its first leader. Sun was a uniting figure in post-imperial China, and remains unique among 20th-century Chinese politicians for being widely revered in both mainland China and in Taiwan.
Although Sun is considered one of the greatest leaders of modern China, his political life was one of constant struggle and frequent exile. After the success of the revolution, he quickly fell out of power in the newly-founded Republic of China, and led successive revolutionary governments as a challenge to the warlords who controlled much of the nation. Sun did not live to see his party bring about consolidation of power over the country. His party, which formed a fragile alliance with the communists, split into two factions after his death. Sun's chief legacy resides in his developing a political philosophy known as the Three Principles of the People (nationalism, democracy, and the people's livelihood/welfare), which still influence Chinese government today.

As shown on Wikipedia

Chow Yun-Fat to be spokesman for hotel

Sina entertainment -- Soon the Crown Macau hotel will open, and has invited film star Chow Yun-fat as their advertising spokesman. At a Macau Crown press conference today it was announced, although Chow did not attend the meeting he shot a film of 90 seconds earlier which was a special mini-film to promote the six-star hotel services. The announcement will be broadcast at today's press conference said the Chief Executive of the hotel who is presided over the ceremony broadcast.

Chow Yun-Fat will attend POTCAWE premiere in Japan

Sanspo confirmed that Johnny, Orlando, Keira and Chow Yun Fat will attend Pirates 3 premiere in Tokyo Japan, along with Jeffery Rush, Gore Verbinsky and Jerry Bruckheimer. The event will be held at the Nippon Budokon Hall on May 23. - As shown on Orlando Bloom Multimedia

Update: Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

A world of excitement approaches

posted by Jas, 04/17/07

AWE production designer Rick Heinrichs talks about what we can expect in Pirates 3 which will be almost three hours long
Some of the most exciting moments in the third film, however, were beyond what the film crew could create in a water tank. Rick and the rest of the team had to film one of the most elaborate ship-to-ship confrontations ever seen onscreen. To make the scene feel completely real to audiences, the filmmakers went above and beyond, spending weeks to build unique sets and equipment that put the actors in the middle of a typhoon on the pitching, rolling decks of their ships. It was an impressive accomplishment -- but a demanding one. "It was incredibly hard on the crew and the cast. They had to be out there in the wet for 16 hours a day," Rick says. "Our art department was right off the stage there, and we would stand on the stage and look up at what they were doing, and be incredibly glad we weren't up there, 30 feet in the air. They were getting drenched and blown and slipping and sliding. But nobody got hurt."
The plot of "Pirates: At World's End" is a secret as closely guarded as a pirate's treasure horde. But Rick confirms that the title should be taken literally -- expect to see the very edge of the world itself on film ... and to discover, along with Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth, and Will Turner, what lies beyond. It's not a discovery to be taken lightly, as Captain Jack will discover.

As the trilogy draws to a close, no one can say whether the voyagers aboard the Black Pearl will have more adventures in store. For Rick, at least, coming this far has been an amazing journey. "I've loved Pirates of the Caribbean since I first rode the attraction, so this has been a thrilling experience -- not just because it gave me a chance to work with (director) Gore Verbinski and work with Disney again, but because this was something from my own childhood that had such a great impact on me. And I think we've succeeded in giving the movies a limitless quality that suggests we are concentrating on one portion of the pirate world, but there's so much more out there."

As shown on Orlando Bloom Multimedia

Chow Yun-Fat records video to present award

Video shown at the 26th annual Hong Kong Film Awards

Video and download

UPDATE: Chow yun-Fat not to film Battle of Red Cliff

Article: April 16, 2007Source: http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2007-04-16/19041521611.html

Following Tony Leung's departure from Battle of Red Cliff, sina.com has an exclusive interview this early morning with CYF on the news regarding the rumor that CYF has required over 100 unreasonable conditions including exceeding 3 times the pay of the Curse of the Golden Flower, and also required that the fund be paid all in one lump sum causing the American insurer from the investor to finally take CYF off the cast. The reporter today contacted CYF for clarification and CYF also responded at once. "On Friday night, through my lawyer, I have officially resigned from the film production. The reason is that the production company really did not give the script to me and also could not give me the schedule for filming. To appear in a huge production and to have to speak Mandarin, I need sufficient time to prepare. But I only got the script a week ago. I really do not have the confidence to perform my part well so I resigned from it." As to whether the contract was too demanding on CYF's part, CYF said, "The fee has always been offered by the investors side and later on they said they couldn't afford it and requested that I reduce the fee. We already reduced the fee. Then they later wanted the movie to be split into two parts and I haven't requested to increase the fee. And recently, they again requested that the pay be issued by instalments and I have also agreed. So I don't know where did all this come from. As for the American insurance company not accepting my contract, when I made the Children of Huang Shi and The Curse of the Golden Flower, it was also with this Amercian company. If this company thinks they have problem with my contract, why were they able to accept my previous two movies? So I don't believe in this saying. My contract is definitely according to the American standards of making Western films and it involves a huge amount of Chinese captial. They may not be accustomed to Hollywood contracts yet. So from The Curse of the Golden Flower to the Battle of Red Cliff, so much problems arise. Anyway, I hope that this matter would not damage the friendship between Zhang Jia Zhen and John Woo.

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Credit: http://s2.invisionfree.com/la_creme_d_asie

UPDATE: Pirates of the Caribbean AWE

New clips - Featurette with download

(If the site does not come up, try again. This is an active link)

Chow Yun-Fat and fan

Picture from Netease

Hong Kong Film Awards

Winners at the Hong Kong Film Awards:

Best Actress - GONG Li - Curse of the Golden Flower

Best Art Direction - HUO Tingxiao - Curse of the Golden Flower

Best Costume and Make-Up Design - YEE Chung-Man - Curse of the Golden Flower

Best Original Film Song - "The Chrysanthemum" Curse of the Golden Flower
composed by Jay CHOU, lyric by FANG Wen-Shan performed by Jay CHOU

Full list of winners and nominees on MonkeyPeaches

The race is on....

Monday Morning Poll: Which Film Will Make The Most Money This Summer?

It's a new year, a new summer and the studios are gearing up to present us with a fresh crop of blockbusters. Last year at this time, I wrote up a Monday Morning Poll asking you which Summer 2006 film would make the most money at the box office. Ultimately, I went with The Da Vinci Code over Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest -- a rookie mistake, I know, but something in me felt pretty confident. But now I'm back -- a whole year has gone by -- and it's about time for those predictions. So, lets take a look at some of the top contenders (in the order of how I think they'll finish at the box office when it's all said and done):
Spider-Man 3 -- In this third installment, Peter Parker finally realizes that, as a superhero who constantly saves New York City, he should definitely be able to land someone better looking than Kirsten Dunst. Lots of villains and lots of mind-blowing special effects --coupled with the fact that this could be the last Spidey go-round for Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Raimi -- should be enough for this web slinger to swing into the summer's top spot.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End -- Though the second Pirates flick went ballistic at the box office last summer, a lot of folks walked away with lukewarm feelings toward the sequel. And while I'm confident a truckload of peeps will show up to see how Disney and director Gore Verbinski wrap up the trilogy, I'm not quite sure it will have what it takes to knock Spidey out of the top spot. There's no doubt in my mind that these flicks will finish one and two at the box office, but it really is a toss-up. Tough call right here; something tells me it will come down to the foreign totals.
Complete article

Chinese poster for Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End

Sina

Hong Kong Film Awards

Just a reminder that the Hong Kong Film Awards are on April 15. Curse of the Golden Flower is nominated in 14 categories including Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. For an article on these see the post on February 1, 2007. The official website for the award event.

"The Bund"

Pictures as shown on Netease forum

The Bund Shanghai Beach was one of the most favorite of all the TV series seen in Asia. The young Chow Yun-Fat appeared as he would in many of his movies in Hong Kong...handsome, romantic and ready for action. A new slideshow from this program is listed in the Phanfare slideshows.

Two Chow Yun-Fat movies in top 10

Reported from Kung Fu Cult Cinema
SensAsian.com Top Sellers
1. Twins Mission [DTS 2 Disc Regular Edition]
2. Protege [DTS 2 Disc Regular Edition]
3. Death Note - The Last Name [DTS]
4. Happy Birthday [DTS]
5. A Battle Of Wits [DTS 2 Disc]
6. The Postmodern Life Of My Aunt [DTS China Version]
7. It's a Wonderful Life [DTS]
8. After This Our Exile
9. Confession Of Pain [2 Disc]
10. Curse Of The Golden Flower [DTS]

UPDATE: The Postmodern Life of My Aunt

Ming Pao Daily reporting on movies in theaters in Hong Kong wrote this about The Postmodern Life of My Aunt:
"Ann Hui On Wa's THE POST MODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT had good word of mouth and has always been screened only on five screens. Its box office has been steady. After 18 days it accumulated 1.05 million and 70,000 on that day. It had legs for the long haul." - As shown on Hong Kong Film Top 10

Hong Kong International Film and Television Market

(3/24/2007) During the Hong Kong International Film and Television Market and the Hong Kong Asian Film Financing Forum, the Trade Development Council has asked an exclusive survey company to conduct a survey with 80 participating companies and 252 visitors to select Hong Kong film market's top five grossing actors, actresses and directors. The survey company yesterday announced the result. The top five grossing actresses are Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Carina Lau Ka Ling, Angelica Lee Sinjie, Maggie Cheung Man Yuk and Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King); the top grossing actors are Andy Lau Tak Wa, Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, and Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit). The directors are Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Derek Yee Tung Sing, Jackie Chan, John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) and Johnnie To Kei Fung. The most popular genres are action, comedy, drama, horror and animation.

As shown on Hong Kong Film Top 10

Hong Kong Fim Awards

The 26th Hong Kong Film Awards will be on April 15 and these stars have been picked to represent "Handing the torch down to inherit the past and to carry on to the future." A magazine will come out featuring 10 stars. Among them is Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung, Jet Li, Gong Li (not in the picture), Sean Lau, Aaron Kwok, Isabella Leong, Teresa Mo, Rene Liu, and Angelica Lee. - Sina