Oscar winner disappoints writer of HK original (spoilers)
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-e ... ntid=64530

Hong Kong Remake Of 'Female Convict Scorpion' Underway
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/02/27/h ... -underway/

Hate Chinese epics? My aunt loves 'em
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainm ... 815647.htm

Alberta actress to portray famed Chinese-American writer Iris Chang
http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainm ... 167&k=3507

Hong Kong boosts film funding
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111796 ... id=13&cs=1

Chinese media put on politically correct diet
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/865/1/

Coverage of the 90th anniversary of Russia's October Revolution should be strictly censored and reporting about the collapse of the former Soviet Union and its East European satellites should be played down, the newspaper reported.
Other no-go areas include judicial corruption, the activities of human rights activists, sexual crimes, the aristocratic lifestyle of high-income groups and reporting on affairs with mistresses.
Also, to cater to the sensibilities of Muslim minorities, the "pig character in general should not be mentioned" this year, according to the guidelines.

"Departed" team take "Confession"
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/869/1/

Chinese "Super Blockbusters" Facing Crisis: Experts
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/02/28/1261@200374.htm

New Rule Limits Hong Kong, Taiwan TV Hosts on Mainland
...it will lead to a more standardized television industry on the Chinese mainland.
http://english.cri.cn/3086/2007/02/28/1261@200369.htm

Alberta actress to portray famed Chinese-American writer Iris Chang
http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainm ... 167&k=3507

It's great to see someone finally taking the time to tell Chang's story on film. Despite my obvious bias, I'm rather glad this is a Canadian production (especially after the good reviews given to DRAGON BOYS), as I'm not so sure Hollywood wouldn't feel the need to doll the story up in biopic cliches to win Oscars.

Olivia Cheng was quite good as an occasional reporter on Canada's Global TV news program, but she's as typically annoying as all the other hosts on Entertainment Tonight (Canada and the U.S.) so I can only hope she'll be capable of digging really deep to play Iris Chang.

This story ran today in one of the newspapers published out of my office, and will appear in a glossy magazine we print later in the month. I realize it has little to do with Hong Kong movies (outside of the subject saying who he'd love to see play him in a movie—hint hint), but the restaurant is one of our favourites, so I figured it was worth sharing. Sue me.

http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/yr4/YR_New ... 3375c.html

Good article, Brian. I like the name Congee Queen. I don't know if said actor would be willing to have an older woman for a girlfriend though!

Oscar winner disappoints writer of HK original
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-e ... ntid=64530

Warning - heavy spoilers if you haven't seen both/either!

Brian Thibodeau wrote:
It's great to see someone finally taking the time to tell Chang's story on film. Despite my obvious bias, I'm rather glad this is a Canadian production (especially after the good reviews given to DRAGON BOYS), as I'm not so sure Hollywood wouldn't feel the need to doll the story up in biopic cliches to win Oscars.

I am extremely happy that Iris Chang's story will be told in a Canadian production. Unlike their neighbors to the south, filmmakers in Canada aren't required to either: a) have a car chase, explosion or gun battle every six minutes or b) romanticize the subject of the film so she is unrecognizable or c) follow a predetermined and rigorously enforced story "arc" or d) explain things simply enough so that twelve year old brain-dead glue sniffers won't have to think too much or e) all of the above.

I first encountered the Korean/Canadian actress Sandra Oh in Double Happiness, a Canadian film that I thought was delightful.

It was a lovely introduction to Canadian movies--as opposed to U.S. films shot in Toronto or Vancouver.

Given a choice regarding a biopic of Iris Chang among a film made in Canada, no film at all or a film made in Hollywood, that would be my order of preference.

MrBooth wrote:

Oscar winner disappoints writer of HK original
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-e ... ntid=64530

Warning - heavy spoilers if you haven't seen both/either!

Warning added.

I am extremely happy that Iris Chang's story will be told in a Canadian production. Unlike their neighbors to the south, filmmakers in Canada aren't required to either: a) have a car chase, explosion or gun battle every six minutes or b) romanticize the subject of the film so she is unrecognizable or c) follow a predetermined and rigorously enforced story "arc" or d) explain things simply enough so that twelve year old brain-dead glue sniffers won't have to think too much or e) all of the above.

I first encountered the Korean/Canadian actress Sandra Oh in Double Happiness, a Canadian film that I thought was delightful.

It was a lovely introduction to Canadian movies--as opposed to U.S. films shot in Toronto or Vancouver.

Given a choice regarding a biopic of Iris Chang among a film made in Canada, no film at all or a film made in Hollywood, that would be my order of preference.

While I can bemoan the overall state of Canadian cinema, we do produce some gems up here, even if they are about people who aren't necessarily Canadian, like Chang. DOUBLE HAPPINESS, though, was a great film, and if you liked it, you might try and hunt down LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY (2002), and even better film from the same director and also starring Sandra Oh, as well as some of the best Chinese-Canadian actors we have. It's a wonderfully sensitive, modestlly witty take on the clash of old-world traditions and new world progress as seen from the vantage point of a 12-year-old Canadian-born Chinese girl who's probably more traditional than many of the immigrant grown-ups around her. It really is the kind of ethnicly-tinted but culturally-specific (to Canada, that is) film that American producers have yet to make with any sincerity outside of, say, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, probably because it has no box office "grab"—car chases, two-dimensional ethnic stereotypes, three-act structure, "star" performances, unrealistic toilet humour, etc., essentially the cliches you mention in your post. I'm always amazed that director Mina Shum hasn't had a stronger career in features here or abroad (she largely works in TV nowadays) but that's Canada for you!

http://www.filmmovement.com/filmcatalog ... ndiseID=14

While I have to admit to liking my fair share of American cinema for precisely the cliches you point out, Ed, as I get older and my tastes broaden (oh, the expense!), I realize that the lack of those things (sometimes for better, sometimes for worse) really is what sets a lot of Canadian cinema apart. Canadian movies should be an actor's dream, since they're not burdened with the need for "action" to spice things up, but I guess we just don't have enough of an industry to keep everyone employed on a regular basis. For it all, though, our movies are often regarded the same way we are: rather nice and rather toothless. But if you dig deep enough, and actually avoid too much of the arthouse snoozers that we seem to be known for up here, there's much to enjoy.

Ironically, one of the best Canadian films of recent vintage is a French-Canadian film from last year called BON COP, BAD COP, which took a total Hollywood cliche—the love-hate buddy cop comedy—gave it a uniquely Canadian twist (one cop's from Quebec, the other from Ontario, the dead body that sets off the action is found atop the sign noting the provincial border!), then gave the whole package a hollywood gloss—gunfights, explosions, car chases, the whole lot! Damned thing became the biggest hit this country's ever seen (although in American dollars, it's $12 million take may seem pretty paltry, remember we've got one-TENTH the population of the states). So I guess we've discovered some truth in the old adage "If you can't beat 'em, rip 'em off!"

http://www.cinoche.com/trailers/1939/1988

Somewhere, I have an old pre-record VHS of Double Happiness but it's been a long time since I've watched it.

Has anyone seen either Red Doors or The Motel? Both are recent Chinese-American indie films that have caught my eye and I've tried to cover here in the News forum.

DeepDiscount descriptions:

The Motel
This quiet gem marks the directorial debut of Michael Kang, and was produced by Miguel Arteta (THE GOOD GIRL, CHUCK AND BUCK). Thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin (Jeffrey Chyau) is the first-generation son in a family of Chinese immigrants; he lives in a sleazy motel run by his hardworking, dour mother (Jade Wu) who discourages his interests in writing and girls. She believes that Ernest needs to appreciate what he has at home, and give up his dreams that threaten nothing but heartache--the viewer infers that this is what became of her own dreams. When a brash, hard-drinking, womanizing young Korean man named Sam (Sung Kang) moves into the motel, Ernest forms an unlikely bond with him, as each finds in the other something he desperately needs. Sam seeks out the fatherless boy, sensing a need for guidance and companionship that mirrors his own.

The simple, awkward dialogue of the film is managed winningly by novice actor Chyau, who was recruited from the Bronx High School of Science to play the part of Ernest. The performances by supporting actor Kang, as well as Samantha Futerman, who plays Ernest’s precocious love interest, are equally powerful. With beautiful photography and a slow, seductive pace, the film delivers a message about finding beauty in unlikely places, as well as the courage to follow one’s dreams.

Red Doors
A Chinese-American family tries to settle in the New York suburbs in Georgia Lee's RED DOORS. The different experiences of each family member are catalogued in a fascinating debut feature
http://hkmdb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=45241

THE MOTEL was the opening night gala at the 2005 Toronto ReelAsian film festival. Since I didn't live here at the time, my attempts to get tickets online were futile. Perhaps now that it's out on DVD it might be worth a rental.

RED DOORS sounds intriguing. Thanks for the lead.

Brian Thibodeau wrote:LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY (2002), and even better film from the same director and also starring Sandra Oh, as well as some of the best Chinese-Canadian actors we have. It's a wonderfully sensitive, modestlly witty take on the clash of old-world traditions and new world progress as seen from the vantage point of a 12-year-old Canadian-born Chinese girl who's probably more traditional than many of the immigrant grown-ups around her.

I couldn't agree more about Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity. While I am ignorant of of the details of the lives of Chinese-Canadians in Vancouver the movie was so well written and made that it had the ring of truth. A delightful movie. Young actress Valerie Tian was terrific and her attempts to use Taoist magic to find someone for her single mother (Sandra Oh) was magical itself. The problem isn't that the magic doesn't work--it does--but that her aim isn't very good and the wrong people are effected by it. The part of the story concerning the young man who didn't want to take over his father's butcher shop might problably worked on a number of levels as he violated both old world and new world traditional ideas of what makes a person successful. The story of the middle-aged Chinese-Canadian security guard who was laid off seemed shoehorned into the movie and the way that story ended was obvious--but was still very effective.

For other Sandra Oh fans I can recommend Barrier Device a short film written and directed by Grace Lee. Very funny, very well observed look at different types of relationships. According to IMDB Grace Lee her student film "Girl Meets Boy" was based on her experience of constantly being asked if she spoke English.

For other Sandra Oh fans I can recommend Barrier Device a short film written and directed by Grace Lee. Very funny, very well observed look at different types of relationships. According to IMDB Grace Lee her student film "Girl Meets Boy" was based on her experience of constantly being asked if she spoke English.

Interesting you bring up Grace Lee. THE GRACE LEE PROJECT is one of the best documentaries I've seen in the last five years, and it kind of expands on issues in GIRL MEETS BOY (which I haven't seen) by examining the seeming blandness attached to Asian girls from around the U.S. and Canada named Grace Lee (and there are MANY!), both by the very commonness of their name, and by the tendency of people who knew them not to remember them. It's an absolutely wonderful pop culture doc in the vein of SUPER SIZE ME, with sly bits of humour injected into some very poignant truisms about the experiences of being a young Asian woman in a multicultural society still prone to casual stereotyping that Grace Lee, the director, proves beyond a doubt is not without at least some rational explanation (like the fact that first-generation Korean immigrant mothers, overwhelmingly Christian, didn't look very deep for names for their baby daughters! ).

My review of this is one of a paltry two over at the IMDB that have been there since I saw it nearly a year and a half ago. I really, REALLY wish this film would get off the touring circuit and come out on DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0451070/usercomments

Grace Lee Project website (with trailer)
http://www.gracelee.net/



EDIT: I just noticed BARRIER DEVICE is now available on Itunes for two bucks. Think I might download that one.
http://www.gracelee.net/index.php?p=news&news_id=81



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I would recommend the Canadian film NOTHING to those who appreciate high-concept Indie film-making.

Jeez, I totally forgot about that one! I remember wanting to see it a few years ago because of the director's CUBE, and then I completely let it slip off the radar. D'oh! Thanks for the brain jog; now I gotta find it.