鬼吹灯之寻龙诀/鬼吹燈之尋龍訣/尋龍訣 (Mojin: The Lost Legend) is an 2015 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Chen Kun, Huang Bo, and Shu Qi. The supporting cast includes Angelababy, Xia Yu, and Liu Xiaoqing. The movie has done really well at the box office, current sitting as the third highest grossing domestic film.
Mojin are special tomb raiders. In the 1980s, a trio of Mojin enter a tomb, but are unsuccessful. The most skilled in the group sees a vision and decides to retire. Retiring to New York on an expired visa, they make ends meet hustling antiques. When a cult sect seeks their skills to enter a secret tomb, they are compelled to joined by force. As they get into the tomb, its trap after trap they must figure out as well as deal with the cult sect.
I can see why this was a very popular film. It copies the formula of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. You get mystery, intrigue and treasure hunting. The film is well made and the production value is high. However, the special effects in Asia still have some catching up. I caught this in the theatres as the new year came.
What I don't get is the use of white guys in the film that speak Mandarin. I think there is still a novelty factor with "white" people that will be hard to displace in this generation or even the next few or ever.
奔跑吧! 兄弟 (Running Man) is an 2015 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Angelababy, Wang Baoqiang, Li Chen, Michael Chen, Ryan Cheng, Wong Cho-lam, Sie Yi-Lin, Lynn Hung, Guo Jingfei, Eleven, Kim Jong-kook. The film is based on a popular Zhong Guo variety show of the same name.
The movie starts with the introduction of the team as they arrive at the airport. Eleven eventually shows up as their tour guide. When they get to the hotel, we are introduced to the whole team and the pick teams. The winning team gets to stay in the nice hotel rooms and the loser gets the no so nice hotel rooms. The swimming pool event is using their hands only to knock their opponent off the stage. The next day, they are present with an activity to find up to 200 clues. The winning team will receive $888,888 CNY. A killer has been made available in this game. Game on!
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what I saw. Because I have not seen the Zhong Guo variety show nor the original Korean version, I wasn't sure what was going on. And the captions they had on screen were not translated so I didn't get the jokes. However, I understand enough to ask myself why the heck I paid AMC prices to watch this. I could have just watched the Youtube version of the TV show. Yikes! But its doing tremendous biz in the motherland. I went with a buddy that knows the Korean version and we were the only ones in the theater.
The movie still follows Mark Chao with a new side kick. They much save the day, the fate of the city is in their hands.
During September, the crew of the movie went on a promotional tour. They seemed to be everywhere. I am not sure if this movie will make it to Zhong Guo, but the last two movies feature Zhong Guo stars in the side kick role.
Rise Of The Legend (黃飛鴻之英雄有夢) recently released it's first teaser trailer and some media pics. The first two pictures in this post are background pictures from Eddie Peng's Facebook page. Angelababy appeared in the first promotional event, suggesting that she would be the main female lead. However, Angelababy's role has been reduce to an guess appearance.
I've made it no secret that my favorite actor from the last 7-8 years is Eddie Peng. Hear Me (聽說) and Unbeatable (激戰) are two of my favorite films. Add in his other movies, Eddie Peng's next in line to take over the leading man mantle that has been held on too tightly by a select few.
I am excited by what little was shown in the teaser. Jet Li played Wong Fei Hung very straight, often to comedic effects. Jet Li's strength was his martial arts and highlighting those aspects made the casting a success. Jackie Chan's take was comedic and showed that Wong's not so straight and narrow. Eddie Peng's Wong Fei Hung looks both strong and romantic, elements that were sorely missing from the others.
Love You You (夏日樂悠悠) is an 2011 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Eddie Peng and Angelababy. The movie was released in Zhong Guo and Hong Kong. Without a theatrical release, it was broadcast on television in Taiwan.
A little girl is lifted out of the water after a crash but her parents are no where to be found. Sad, we fast forward to her adult life and she's trying to keep her job. But a chance encounter with a client, she demonstrates she can read lips. With her job back, she's sent to Malaysia to spy on a resort owner. When she gets there, they meet and immediately start to bump heads. Angelababy gets a job at the resorts and start to document Eddie Peng's business practices. However, as she stays there, she finds nothing out of the ordinary with Peng, but a hard worker. A couple that has booked their whole resort lands. They however break up and the two of them must get them together. With the two of them make it to love?
This was a fun watch. Silly story. Cheezy set ups. Extreme over the top acting. But it doesn't hide, doesn't apologize for it. It is, therefore I loved it. I think I am just a Eddie fan. Every good guy movie he's in, I like him. He's like my favorite actor these days. Use to be Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung. But both of them slowed down. Eddie is these days. Angelababy is my favorite actress these days, but I don't go out of my way to watch her films. I do for Eddie.
This is pre buff Eddie as he made this prior to Jump Ashin! Eddie is extremely tan and Angelababy is super pale in comparison. The two of them together make a very nice looking couple on screen.
Mark Chao continues his accent into leading man status with the lead in this film by replacing Andy Lau as the younger Dee. The trailer starts with Mark's voice and it's on. Angelababy takes up leading lady status for this film. With the mystery set on high, we'll see if they can make these prequels a franchise. I for one hope it does.
第一次 (First Time) is being released in Taipei today. The movie stars Mark Chao and Angelababy. Looks like super glorified music video. Not the US type music videos. But the Taiwanese ones. The ones with elaborate stories that pull on all your emotions. Angelababy plays a gal with a life threatening illness. When Mark Chao walks into her life, inspiration happens.
Hey, I love rom-coms from Taiwan. I'll be sure to pick this on up and make it a movie night with my wie.
All's Well Ends Well 2010 (花田囍事2010) is a 2010 film out of Hong Kong. The movie stars Louis Koo, Sandra Ng, Ronald Cheng, Raymond Wong, Angelababy, and Lynn Hung.
The film is about a royal family in the beginnings of the Ming Dynasty. Louis Koo is the emperor. Sandra Ng is the crazy women. Angelababy is the princess and her squeze the general played by Ronald Cheng. Princess falls in river, loses memory. Picked up by Million, played by Raymond Wong, forces her to marry. General looks for Princess. Queen wants to see princess. Emperor is not very smart. LOL moments placed every 5 minutes or so.
This is what it is. Mindless entertainment with the stars of today looking their best in ancient gear. Angelababy stands out as a stunning beauty. Louis is going nuts, in the movie and real life for doing these films. Ronald is Ronald. Lynn Hung is a giant and looks out of place in this film.
See it for the eye candy. Skip it if you're looking for a engaging story.
Short of Love (矮仔多情) is a 2009 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Wong Cho Lam, Angelababy, Race Wong, JJ Jia, and Kate Tsui. With cameos from Ella Koon, Chrissie Chau, Divas (HK), Louis Cheung, I Love You Boyz, ToTo Mui, Eddie Ng, Louis Yuen, and Lynn Xiong.
The movie is about Wong Cho Lam as Jack, a very rich stock trader. Jack is short, has curly hair, fat lips, and not very easy on the eyes. Yet in this movie, he's a playboy and gets all the girls! Amazing! In this movie, he's already living with Chrissie Chau as Lily, but due to some comedic circumstances, Lily thinks Jack is poor and leaves him. Down on his luck, he abandons work and looks for love, or sex partners. Angelababy as an Angel gives him some advice that helping others will help him find love. It starts at his shrinks office when Race Wong as Chrissy/Christine/Chris mistakes Jack for a shrink. Jack does his best to woo Chrissy, but Chrissy has multiple personality disorder. With drugs in hand and than mixing them up, Chrissy developers even more personalities. On the run, Jack bumps into JJ Jia's Caca and befriends her, by playing a blind masseuse. Of course, Caca finds out he's not blind. Kate Tsui as Sandy enters his life. And falls for Jack?!
Wow. I had this movie on while doing bills, so, it was tolerable. If I were just watching the movie and doing nothing else. I'd stop and read the business section of my Los Angeles Times to feel smarter. The movie seemed to only be a showcase for Wong Cho Lam. Unfortunately, Jack is a character that stays unlikable to the very end. And you have to wonder in your head, none of these real life beauties should give him the time of day.
This was the second movie with Angelabay I've seen. Angelababy is now my favorite HK actress. Amazingly beautiful.
Chrissie Chau, this is the first movie I've seen her in a movie. Chrissie's been in the HK news a lot lately as a sexy bombshell. Unfortunately, from this movie, bombshell she isn't. Bombshell is a combo of looks an body. Chrissie may have the boby, but not the beauty part.
JJ Jia makes another great appearance. JJ's great and her personal blog ads to her aura. Sweet and gentle, but all so beautiful.
Angelebaby softens up the movie and had way to little screen time. Boo! More screen time for Angelababy!
In essence, you're watching this movie for the all the lovely ladies stomping around. That's it. The story only moves you to the next lady. Fine by me. If the ladies were any less, the movie wouldn't have gotten me to the end.
Watch for the ladies, skip it if you're looking for an interesting story.
