Monday, October 3, 2011

ASIAN INVASION MONDAY: JACKIE CHAN'S MEGA EPIC "1911" AND CHRISTIAN BALE'S CHINESE OSCAR CANDIDATE "FLOWERS OF WAR"

Premiering October 12th in US cinemas, is Chinese mega epic 1911 with Jackie Chan (it is his 100th film!). At the beginning of the 20th century, China is in a state of crisis. The country is split into warring factions, the citizens are starving, and recent political reforms have made matters worse, not better. The ruling Qing Dynasty, led by a seven-year-old emperor and his ruthless mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (Joan Chen), is completely out of touch after 250 years of unquestioned power.
With ordinary citizens beginning to revolt openly, the Qing Dynasty has created a powerful, modern army (the “New Army”) to quash any rebellion. But weapons are expensive, and desperate for cash, the Qing leaders are trading anything they can get their hands on with foreign countries… and selling China’s
future in the process. Huang Xing (Jackie Chan) has recently returned from Japan, where he has studied the art of modern warfare. When he finds his country falling apart, he feels he has no choice but to pick up the sword, leading an increasingly desperate
series of violent rebellions against the powerful Qing Dynasty and the New Army- several with tragic consequences. From the walls of the Forbidden City to the battlefields of China, with no expense spared in production and no detail ignored in its quest for historical accuracy, 1911 is a true epic in every sense of the word!


 THE FLOWERS OF WAR
As you might have heard, China has chosen Zhang Yimou’s (HERO, THE HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS) period epic THE FLOWERS OF WAR ( previously known as HEROES OF
NANKING) to be their Oscars 2012 candidate. Starring Oscar winner Christian Bale, it is China’s most expensive film ever with the budget of almost $100 million. The plot of THE FLOWERS OF WAR will center on a foreign mortician who comes to China in 1937 to bury a priest. He has the misfortune of being there just as Japanese forces are taking over the capital and epic battles rage all around him. The late priest’s cathedral was also a school for girls in which the mortician must now pose as a priest to avoid incarceration by the advancing Japanese army. But he is forced to take a more active role in the conflict when the soldiers demand the use of the young female students as “entertainment” for their troops.

30 comments:

  1. I'm quite interested to see how 1911 will turn out. A top-production Chinese film that isn't about bashing Japan?

    Neat.

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  2. Having in mind their history, no one can blame China for bashing Japan in their films.

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  3. Wow, two really powerful stories. Both sound great. I'm glad you highlight these kinds of films. I don't know if I would have known about them otherwise.

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  4. "1911 Revolution" would make a good companion piece with Bertolucci's 1987 movie "The Last Emperor." Joan Chen was in that movie too, as the wife of the last Emperor. Now, 25 years later, she's playing the last Emperor's mother, I see.

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  5. I am looking forward to both of these films. I have always been fascinated by Chinese history, particularly the early twentieth century. Jackie Chan looks as though he is really exercising his dramatic chops for 1911.

    Awesome spotlight, Dez. :)

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  6. Wow, 1911 sounds like something I would watch. The Xinhai Revolution always intriguied me, that being a young and last emperor and such.

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  7. Hi Dezzy, I am back form my holidays...How have you been?

    That Jackie Chan movie looks cool!! I do love the old drunken master

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  8. @Damon
    glad you like it ;)

    @Reilly
    thanks!

    @Luanne
    the first one premieres in US on the mentioned date, so you will be able to see it :) And most moviegoers like Asian films too, so I use the opportunity from time to time to post something about the latest ones :)

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  9. @Debra
    it's true, and we haven't seen Joan Chen for quite a long time now, I even forgot about her, so it will be interesting seeing her again

    @Melsy
    yes, I've never actually seen Chan show his acting skills, he usually goes for that Asian overly dramatic approach to roles, so it will be interesting seeing him serious for once.

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  10. @RGers
    I agree, it was an interesting part of Chinese, always so complex, history

    @Scott
    hey, Scott, welcome back, did you get some suntan? Lost all your money in Vegas? Been strip searched at the airport by Mexican custom officers?

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  11. Wow, they both look like wonderful films.

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  12. *I am too lazy to change my profile*

    Jackie Chan in a very serious movie!! wow,I wouldn't miss it. thank you dezz...You have kept me updated all the time :)

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  13. Both sound good but 1911 will swing it for me...plenty of action.

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  14. 1911 sounds like it might be good, never knew the tidbit on it being is 100th film, quite a feat, especially for someone who always did there own stunts.

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  15. Wow! Look at that Jackie Chan. And 100 films! That one reminded me of a WWI joint, and what a switch for him. As for the other, interesting as well. China moves into entertainment~ ;p

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  16. @Clarissa
    there's always something wonderful from China and Asia :)

    @Kame
    shouldn't you be informing me on Asian flicks? :P

    @Lurk
    yep, that one is more for you, Lurk

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  17. @Pat
    yep, imagine shooting 100 action films without ever breaking your neck?

    @Leigh
    China has been ruling the entertainment world for decades and decades now :)

    @Maybe
    glad you like it

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  18. Jackie Chan.. In 1911? Enough said! I'm in :). Thanks for this, I had no idea.

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  19. Jackie Chan has been in 100 movies. Dude must be rich, but he also must love what he's doing. nice blog, following.

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  20. @Neatfit
    be welcome, glad you liked it, Neat!

    @Noah
    he really must! Thanks, for liking the blog :)

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  21. Those are nice photos of Jackie Chan in Bazaar. As for Flowers of War, I'm highly anticipating that but that is a bad poster mostly because of Bale's weird expression, what's up with that??

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  22. yep, I don't like FLOWERS OF WAR poster either, bad colours! But Jackie did surprise us with the Bazaar photo shoot :)

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  23. @Dezzy ... hehehe I am not well informed about movies (except for Cillian's)...that's why I like your blog ;)

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  24. i have mad love for jackie chan! thanks for the pics! :)

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  25. he he you're the first one I've heard who's in love with Chan :)

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  26. he he you're the first one I've heard who's in love with Chan :)

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  27. I like to film "The 1911 Revolution" 2011 Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Director and Best Oscar 2012 in Jackie Chan.

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