Tuesday Film Roundup
Batman, the 20/50 Question, and Harry Potter and James Bond vs. Wall-E
The domestic version of the new Batman movie The Dark Knight, which has been breaking box office records in the States, is yet to pass through the censors here in China, but we’re still anticipating its Beijing premier some time soon. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Wall-E, Pixar and Disney’s new animated feature about a futuristic garbage collector. Chinese audiences might not be able to watch the critically acclaimed film because of the anticipated release of two other movies 007: Quantum of Solace and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which have both been booked for November premieres in China, thus postponing any possible China release date for Wall-E until early 2009, according to The Beijing News.
SARFT (The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television) is supposed to approve 20 foreign films for domestic release each year, but The Beijing News also points out that the total amount of annual domestically-released foreign movies have actually been around 50 in recent years – which is good news if you’ve been eagerly awaiting the chance to watch such upcoming flicks as Meet Dave, The X files, Babylon A.D, Mamma Mia and the Korean blockbuster The Good, The Bad, The Weird in cinemas around town.
Gong Li’s New Beau
Chinese mega-star Gong Li has a reputation for being elusive and private about her personal life, but she’s been quite visible in the media this year, particularly with the paparazzi who caught her sharing a romantic meal with her French boyfriend in Thailand while the 43-year-old actress was on location there filming for the upcoming film Shanghai. Gong’s new squeeze even went so far as to joke with the waiters that he had “gotten a Chinese wife,” but both her husband, Singaporean tobacco tycoon Ooi Hoe Soeng, and her agent have remained tight-lipped about the entire affair.
Keep reading below for a comprehensive list of all the films showing around town this half-price Tuesday.
Films Around Town
Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Tuesday July 29
(All times and prices have been taken from today’s Beijing News or this website – it would be a good idea to call and confirm details)
» Red Cliff
Red Cliff (赤壁 Chibi), alternatively known as The Battle of Red Cliff, recreates the story surrounding the legendary Battle of Red Cliff that took place immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period. Red Cliff is to be released in two parts throughout Asia, with the first part premiering last Thursday and the second part in January 2009. Outside of Asia, a single 2½-hour film will be released in January 2009. With an estimated budget of USD 80 million, The Battle of Red Cliff is the most expensive Chinese film to date. Trailer (with English subtitles) available here.
CBD
10:40 13:30 16:20 19:10 22:00 11:30 14:20 17:10 20:00 22:50 9:30 12:20 15:10 18:00 20:50 12:45 15:35 18:25 21:15 18:50 21:40 11:55 14:45 17:35 20:25 23:15 11:05 13:55 16:45 19:35 22:25
Xidan
10:15 10:35 11:05 11:25 11:45 12:05 12:25 12:45 13:05 13:05 13:25 13:55 14:15 14:35 14:55 15:15 15:35 15:55 15:55 16:15 16:45 17:05 17:25 17:45 18:05 18:25 18:45 18:45 19:05 19:30 19:55 20:15 20:35 20:55 21:20 21:35 21:35 21:55
Haidian
Digital 09:00 09:40 10:30 11:00 11:40 12:20 13:10 14:20 15:00 15:50 17:00 17:40 18:00 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:40 22:20 23:00 23:20
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
Digital 09:20 12:10 13:40 15:00 16:30 17:50 19:20 20:40 22:20
Wangfujing
09:40 10:50 11:20 11:50 12:30 13:00 13:40 14:10 14:40 15:20 15:50 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:40 19:20 19:50 20:20 21:00 21:30 22:10 22:40
Theater 2 11:40 14:30 17:20 20:10
Theater 3 11:10 14:00 16:50 19:40 22:30
Theater 5 10:40 13:30 16:20 19:10 22:00
Theater 6 12:10 15:00 17:50 20:40
Theater 7 10:10 13:10 16:00 18:50 21:40
Theater 8 09:40 12:40 15:30 18:20 21:10
Zhongguancun
10:20 10:50 11:20 11:50 12:20 13:00 13;30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:40 16:10 16:40 17:10 17:40 18;20 18:50 19:20 19:50 20:20 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00
Xinjiekou
09:45 10:30 11:05 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:45 15:30 16:00 16:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:25 23:30
Haidian
9:30 10:00 12:40 14:20 15:20 17:00 18:00 19:40 20:40 21:40 22:20
Yayuncun
Digital 09:40 10:20 12:20 13:00 15:00 15:40 17:40 18:20 20:20 21:00
East Fourth Ring Road
10:00 10:40 11:15 12:10 12:45 13:15 13:50 14:20 14:45 15:20 15:50 16:25 16:55 17:25 17:55 18:25 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 20:30 21:35
Jul 29
» Step Up 2 the Streets
Step Up 2 the Streets (a.k.a. Step Up 2: The Streets, 舞出我人生 Wu Chu Wo Ren Sheng) is the 2008 sequel to the teen-friendly battle dance-flick Step Up from Touchstone Pictures. The movie was directed by Jon Chu, and choreographed by Jamal Sims, Hi-Hat (Bring It On) and Dave Scott (Stomp the Yard). See the trailer here.
And just in case you can’t get enough, Disney has already announced plans for Step Up 3-D, to be released in 2010.
CBD
10:50 14:50 18:50 22:50
Xidan
12:30 18:10
Haidian
09:40 11:40 13:40 15:40
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
09:10 10:00 12:00 13:40 14:00 16:00 17:30 18:00 19:20 20:00 21:10
Wangfujing
10:30 14:25
12:05 16:00 20:00 22:00
Zhongguancun
10:40 12:30 16:20 18:30 20:30
Xinjiekou
09:30 13:10 19:40 21:35
East Fourth Ring Road
11:10 13:00 14:50 16:40 18:30 19:45 20:20 21:00 22:10
Hancock
After The Pursuit of Happyness and I am Legend, this film marks Will Smith's third appearance on China's big screens in 2008. This time he's playing a down and out superhero who gets little in the way of moral support from his wife, played by Charlize Theron. Reviews tend to go either way, this write-up in last week's Sydney Morning Herald being a good example of a more positive review and this recent review on Slate an example of a less than glowing recommendation. Synopsis available here and trailer here.
CBD
9:50 11:50 15:50 19:50 21:50
Xidan
13:10 14:00 15:05 16:05 17:00 18:00 18:55 20:00 20:50
Haidian
09:20 11:05 12:50 14:35 16:20 18:05 22:40
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
16:00 19:50
Wangfujing
09:50 11:35 15:05 18:30 20:10 21:55
09:50 12:45 16:25 21:40
Zhongguancun
10:30 12:15 14:05 15:50 17:35 19:25 21:10 22:55
Xinjiekou
10:15 16:55
Haidian
12:30 13:20 16:40 20:00
Yayuncun
11:20 13:10 16:30 20:00 21:50
East Fourth Ring Road
09:40 11:20 13:00 14:40 16:20 19:40 21:20 23:05
Kungfu Panda
Despite what appear to be rather self-serving attempts by Zhao Bandi to persuade Chinese people to boycott the film, it's still proved very popular, becoming the first animated film to take over RMB 100 million at the Chinese box office. Reviews have also been good - most settling for the "it's all good fun" kind of appraisal. Aficionados of Chinese traditional painting have also enjoyed some of the in jokes and one review in a Beijing newspaper compared the films melding of East and West to one of KFC's "Lao Beijing" Chicken wraps. You can view the trailer here and visit the official site here (Chinese version here). The complete copy of the film is available here. The Beijing correspondent of the Guardian has also produced this audio report on the popularity of the film in Beijing.
CBD
12:00 14:00 16:00 20:00 22:10
Xidan
10:55 13:00 14:05 15:00 16:00 16:55 17:55 18:50 19:50 20:40 21:45
Haidian
09:15 11:15 13:00 14:45 16:30 18:30 20:15 22:00
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
10:30 12:20 17:00 20:50
Wangfujing
13:20 16:50
10:00 11:45 13:30 15:15 17:00 18:45 20:30 22:15
Zhongguancun
12:30 16:20 20:00 21:50
Xinjiekou
09:20 12:55 18:45
Haidian
15:00 18:20
Yayuncun
10:00 14:50 18:10
East Fourth Ring Road
10:25 12:35 14:15 15:55 17:35 19:15 20:55 22:35
Storm Riders: Clash of the Evils
Storm Riders (风云决 Fengyun Jue) is based on the comics of top selling Hong Kong animator Ma Wing Shing (more details about his work available here). The animated film is voiced by heartthrob Nicholas Tse (Xie Tingfeng) and Richie Ren of Duimian de Nühaizi fame. Expect a martial arts meets fantasy storyline. Click here to view trailer.
CBD
10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
Xidan
13:05 15:50 17:00 19:00
Haidian
13:45 15:20
Stellar International Cineplex
12:05 14:25 16:25 18:25 20:25 22:25
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
09:50 11:40 13:30 15:30 17:30 19:20 21:10
Wangfujing
10:30 14:35
11:00 12:45 14:25
Dongsishitiao
Zhongguancun
10:20 13:50
10:35 12:10 14:20
Xinjiekou
10:20 13:10
Haidian
11:15 14:55 16:50
East Fourth Ring Road
12:45 14:30 16:15 18:00
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The children return to Narnia in this sequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. But it's a very different country this time. Starring the voice of Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep, and the voice of Liam Neeson as Aslan. See reviews here and trailer here.
CBD
09:55
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
14:50 20:15
East Fourth Ring Road
10:00
Upcoming Films
Sep 4
Asterix and the Olympics
Asterix, Obelix, and their friends have entered the famous Olympic games in Ancient Olympia. They are determined to taste victory, but the Gauls face formidable competition from both Greeks and Romans. See trailer here.
Sep 14
Flood
Flood is a disaster film set in London and Scotland. Estranged meteorologoist father Leonard (Courtnay) and Marine Engineer son (Carlyle) are caught up in a weather related disaster as spring tides meet a freak North Sea Superstorm…
Oct
Painted Skin
Also Known As: Hua pi. An old tale based action-thriller centered on a vampire-like woman who eats the skins and hearts of her lovers.
Nov
007 and Harry Potter
Expect the China premieres of both 007: Quantum of Solace and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in November. See Trailers here and here.
Dec
Mei Lanfang
A biographical account of iconic Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang directed by Chen Kaige and starring Beijing-born singer Leon Lai. Ziyi Zhang stars as Mei’s lover Meng Xiaodong.
Possibly Batman: The Dark Knight later in the year
And maybe Wall-E and X-Files in 2009