Escape Plan 2: Hades (鋼鐵墳墓2) is an 2018 movie. The film stars Sylvester Stallone, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Dave Bautista, Huang Xiaoming, Jaime King, Jesse Metcalfe, Titus Welliver, and Wes Chatham. The movie is a sequel to Escape Plan.
Huang Xiaoming as Shu is taken to a jail. Sylvester Stallone as Ray needs to break them out. The then go through the motions of trying to find the weakness and of course, you break out. Huang ends up being the main star of the movie with even more screentime than Sly in the first half. Eventually Sly's role increases and it ends with him.
A third installment is already in the works and this installment was released to Redbox, digital, and the box office at the same time. If you like Sly and b-movies, you'll be slightly entertained. I for one didn't really enjoy this. Got this via Redbox T-Mobile Tuesday gift.
The Last Tycoon (大上海) is an 2012 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Chow Yun-Fat, Sammo Hung, Francis Ng, and Huang Xiaoming. The gals in the film include Yuan Quan, Monica Mok, Tong Fei, Yuan Li, and Feng Wenjuan. The movie is based on the high life of Shanghai-ers from the fall of the Qing Dynasty to its occupation by the Japanese.
Chow is the man in charge in Shanghai, outside of the military, no one else has more influence. We flashback to his country bumpkin days played by Huang Xiaoming. We also see that he has a crush on his neighbor sweetheart who will end up as one of the most famous opera performers in Zhong Guo. We see the tycoon, how he earned his strips and how he maintains his power. Along the way, there are women that enter their lives and it comes to a hedge on the heels of the Japanese's war into the Shanghai area.
This movie was long and sort of boring. It's like a drama of how Chow's character of Cheng Daqi rise to power from country bumpkin to the most powerful man in Shanghai. A Godfather take if you will. However, the women in the movie take up a lot of time, but you need the eye candy is my guess. Or its the presentation that the men are there due to their influence. Why try to be the most powerful man in Shanghai? Because you want to become so powerful that you can protect your woman?
Movie wise, it was well made. But the story lacked the heart that made me care for the individuals.
瑪德2號 (Saving Mother Robot) was released in Taipei this past weekend. It didn't do so hot the box office and placed 13th. So far, this summer has been brutal for Taiwan's very own. However, I can see why locals would assume it was just another film from the mainland. Starring the mainland's current go to leading man in Huang Xiao Ming. That guys IS in everything it seems.
The movie combines fantasy and the real world in the minds of a child and the creative nature of a photographer. The trailer is super confusing and I really don't have a need to watch this. But I will someday, it stars Vivian Hsu, one of my favorite actresses, still.
Sacrifice (趙氏孤兒) is an 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Ge You, Wang Xueqi, and Huang Xiaoming. The supporting cast includes Fan Bingbing and Vincent Zhao. The movie is directed by Chen Kaige.
Two Generals have beef with each other. One general frames the other general by poisoning the Duke. The framed general's whole clan of ~300 is killed. The only survivor is baby Zhao. A local doctor is the one that saves the baby from the grips of the general that wins. When the manhunt for baby Zhao takes the life of the doctor's son, he vows revenge. But a long drawn out revenge plan is hard to pull off, especially if it take 15 years. The doctor decides to raise baby Zhao and use him to take revenge on the general for his son. In the process, he sacrifices his wife, son, and his honor.
This movie was pretty good. Good acting, engaging story, and rather suspenseful. The matter of how things plays out kept me at the edge of my seat. I really didn't know which way things would go. Fan Bingbing's part was rather small, but quite emotional. Huang Xiaoming also plays a bit part. The main acting is left to Ge You and Wang Xueqi. Even though them two aren't the prettiest things to look at, their acting was superb.
血滴子 (The Guillotines) is an 2012 film out of Hong Kong and Zhong Guo. It was released in the US of A on June 14, 2013 in theaters and VOD. The movie stars Ethan Juan and Huang Xiaoming. Shawn Yue and Li Yuchun round out the rest of the supporting cast. This film was very loosely based on the Guillotine movies of the 1970s. However, this movie is completely new.
During Qianlong's rule, he inherited a secret squad called the Guillotines. They carried out secret missions effectively, efficiently, and ruthlessly. Each head was a reward of 10 teals. When a messiah figure called Wolf appears, the Guillotines are sent to squash the rebellion. However, they do not and one of their squad members is kidnapped. Forced to recover their friend, but also take down Wolf, they are left with very little options. When the emperor sends the firearm squad to replace them, all heck breaks loose.
This film was loooooonnnnnnnng. At least it felt that way. I was very bored watching it. The first half was completely confusing. I kept asking myself, what is going on and what does this all mean. If I wasn't watching with someone else, I may have turned it off never to return. At last, I sat through the second half. And the payoff left me very disappointed. The confusing parts of the first half are answered slowly, but in a very unsatisfying way.
In the end, it went soapbox as they talked about rebellion, equality, and peace in life. I wasn't sure how this was playing out in terms of their view on mainland Zhong Guo. Which is massively controlled by the government, yet deals corruption that bankrupts the people's trust. Sucking it up and moving on can only last so long and as Zhong Guo continues to move into the global market in not only exports, but thought leadership. A bubble "burst" is definitely possible, but I think gradual change is more likely.
Ip Man 2 (葉問2) is a 2010 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Donnie Yen. Supporting cast include Sammo Hung, Lynn Hung, Simon Yam, and Huang Xiao Ming.
Ip Man escapes to Hong Kong after the communist take over and starts his new life with wife and son. To makes ends meat, Ip Man starts up a school and is given free use of an abandon roof top location. At first, no students show up. Wong Leung decides to give it a try and eventually recruits his friends. However, in order to have a martial arts school in Hong Kong, you need to join and pay association fees. Given this ultimatum, Ip Man is forced to compete with the masters of the schools in the association and the head of the schools. Ip Man is not defeated and refuses to give in. However, a British boxing stars rolls into town and challenges Chinese kung fu. Hung Chun-nam is killed in a fight and offers a rematch, to which Ip Man agrees. Ip Man than trains to fight the British boxer.
The movie was very fast paced and didn't really take anytime to slow. Even the slow parts were brief such as the Simon Yam cameo. The fighting between Ip Man on the British bloke was quite dull and boring. I kept wondering when it was going to end. You just knew Ip Man would come out alive.
Epic failure in my opinion due to the lofty expectations. Donnie's movies have become hype themselves. Its hard to be Donnie these days. Its hard to please us all! You're our last hope Donnie (wink wink, Star Wars reference).
泡沫之夏 (Summer's Desire) is set for broadcast in the next few months, but I noticed the extended trailer for it from GTV today. I've posted it below.
Pretty long teaser, but nothing out of the norm. But no release date mentioned.
It is an Taiwanese drama with a male lead from China. One of few if not the first (minus HK). But its already strange as his Mandarin is distinctly China style and very far from Taiwan Mandarin.
Looking forward to Serena Fang, Coco Chiang, and Maggie Wu's participation in this series.
The Chinese title translates roughly to "bubbles of summer". Summer is in the English, but Desire is not part of the Chinese. But whatever, the Chinese titles are never as provocative as their English translations. But the title is a play on the Barbie's characters name of 夏沫 and 泡 meaning abandon. This series had "Summer's Bubble" attached to it for some time.
風聲 (The Message) is a 2009 film out of China. The person behind the film is Taiwanese film-maker, Chen Kuo-Fu. The film stars Zhou Xun, Li Bing Bing, Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xiao Ming, Alec Su, Wang Zhi Wen, and Ying Da. The film is based in 1942 Nanjing during the Japanese occupation.
After the fall of the nationalist Chinese capital of Nanjing during the Nanjing Massacre, the Japanese have set up a puppet regime. But an underground resistance movement has been established and they have successfully assassinated many high level Japanese officers. The puppet government works in conjunction with the Japanese find that there may be a mole in their ranks. They than set out on a spy hunt. With a fake message sent and seen by only 5 people, these 5 are brought to a secluded castle where they are interrogated. One by one, they are subject to psychological games. Will any of these 5 survive? Will they turn on each other? What horrific methods will the captors be subjugated to?
The movie has a pretty star studded cast. Huang Xiao Ming plays the Japanese interrogator out to find the spy. Zhou Xun, Li Bing Bing, Zhang Hanyu, and Alec Su play the captors. Their job is the survive and get out alive. When put in that situation, how will you react?
I've been a big Alec Su and Li Bing Bing fan for many years now. From Alec Su's post military service days to Li Bing Bing's turn in wuxia dramas. I haven't seen much of Alec these last few years. Li Bing Bing has transitioned from a wuxia lady to leading lady. Although both have matured with age, they are still both very good.
Zhang Hanyu is starting to grow on me. Zhang has quietly established himself as one of the top tier actors of China.
I liked the movie for the most part. There are quite a few subplots that you won't see in the movie summaries that give the storyline added complexity and meaning.
The Message has done well at the box office in China and Taiwan so far. I don't think it'll make it here to the states other than in film festivals and eventually DVD. I bought an imported China version from a local DVD place for $10.
There are lots and lots of promo and press junkets for this movie. I've included some of the ones that I enjoyed.
The Sniper (神鎗手) is s 2009 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Richie Ren, Edison Chen, and Huang Xiaoming. The movie is about a Hong Kong police sniper team.
Richie Ren as Hartman is the captain and top shooter of the sniper team of the Hong Kong police department. Edison Chen as OJ is a new recruit to the marksmen squad and is out to be the top shooter. Huang Xiaoming as Lincoln is the villain and is out for revenge.
Hartman bumps into OJ during a sting and is impressed with OJ. OJ is invited to the sniper team and immediately excels and becomes the top of the class. Hartman is the captain and top shooter of the group. Lincoln is a former member of the group but made a mistake that landed him prison for 4 years. Now that he's out, Lincoln is set on revenge. Taking revenge on those that him deems caused his downfall.
Its an exciting film and the main storyline revolves around Hartman and Lincoln. OJ's part is quite minimized. I'll guess that the movie would have included more OJ back story if there wasn't a Edison photo scandal. This movie was set for a May 2008 release, but sent to 2009.
I recently finished watching the Chinese wuxia drama The Royal Tramp starring Huang Xiao Ming. Of the 50 episodes, I really didn't start fast forwarding until around episode 42 or so. The last 8 episodes takes such a shift from the 20 or so that preceded it. I was bored and fell asleep watching. The first 6 episodes featured Wei Xiao Bao as a pre-teen. That was quite annoying and I kept thinking, when are they going to turn into "adults".
Also, the Mandarin the children were speaking was much different than the rest of the cast. I have a rough time deciphering slurred Mandarin. It was a double blow of annoyance. Kids and slurred Mandarin.
But once the "adults" came about, the series took a turn for the better. I like Huang Xiao Ming and think he has star quality.
Cherrie Ying plays a "love" interest of Wei Xiao Bao and is suppose to be the most "beautiful" of the 7 wives. I also liked newcomer He Zhou Yan. As I've written in past blogs, Cherrie Ying is one of my favorites. Looks like Cherrie Ying is making a transition to Dramas.
I was a big fan of Tony Leung's The Duke of Mount Deer series in 1984. I think I might have watched it like 4-5 times by the time I started high school. I haven't seen the 1984 one since the late 80s. Maybe in a few years, I'll get the remastered TVB series.
I also enjoyed the Stephen Chow Royal Tramp movies from 1992. In many ways, he may have been the very best Wei Xiao Bao there has ever been.
