Tuesday's Film Roundup
Keep reading below for a comprehensive list of all the films showing around town this half-price Tuesday. Aside from the films listed below, you can also catch what looks like a Chinese rip off of Finding Nemo called Happy Little Submarines (潜艇总动员 Qianting Zongdong), a Chinese Japanese co-production set in the aftermath of Japanese occupation called Chun Ai《纯爱》, the Jackie Chan produced Run Papa Run(我们这一家 Women de yijia) and a Thai cartoon called Khan Kluay
(小战象Xiao Zhanxiang)
Films Around Town
Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Tuesday June 24
(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)
Kungfu Panda
The much-anticipated Kungfu Panda finally hit Beijing's screens last Friday – three weeks after its American release. The English version of the film still features the voices of Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan (accompanied by Chinese subtitles), but there is also a Chinese version that like in Hong Kong, was voiced by equally big name Chinese stars. 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 taking over RMB 50 million over the first three days of screening. It took Iron Man 30 days to reach RMB 100 million. 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.
CBD
10:10 10:50 11:00 11:50 12:50 13:30 13:50 14:10 14:50
15:00 15:50 16:10 16:50 17:00 17:50 18:10 18:50 19:00
19:50 20:10 20:50 21:10 21:50 22:10
Xidan
10:55 11:45 12:05 12:25 12:45 13:15 13:35 13:55 14:15 14:35
14:50 15:05 15:25 15:45 16:05 16:25 16:40 16:55 17:15 17:35
17:55 18:15 18:30 18:45 19:05 19:25 19:45 20:05 20:20 20:35
20:55 21:15 21:35 21:55
Haidian
10:10 11:55 13:45 15:35 17:20 17:50 19:10 19:35
21:00 21:25 22:50
Stellar International Cineplex
12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
10:00 11:00 11:55 12:25 12:55 13:50 14:20 14:50 15:45 16:15
17:40 18:10 18:40 19:05 19:35 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30
Wangfujing
09:50 11:40 13:30 15:20 17:10 19:00 20:55
10:10 11:55 13:40 15:25 17:10 18:55 20:40 22:25
Dongsishitiao
11:30 14:50 18:10 19:50 21:30
Zhongguancun
10:50 11:25 11:40 12:50 13:20 13:40 15:15 17:10 17:35 18:25
19:10 19:30 21:05 22:10
10:20 11:00 11:10 11:40 12:10 12:50 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:40 14:50
15:20 15:50 16:30 16:40 17:10 17:40 18:20 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:10
20:20 20:50 21:20 22:00 22:10 22:40 23:05
Xinjiekou
09:45 10:35 11:35 12:30 13:25 14:35 15:15 16:35 17:10 18:00 18:30
19:00 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:40 22:35 23:25
Yayuncun
Digital 19:30 21:10
10:00 11:40 13:20 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:40 17:20 18:20 19:00
20:00 20:40 21:40 22:20
East Fourth Ring Road
10:00 10:45 11:30 12:00 13:15 14:00 15:00 15:40 16:00 16:05
16:40 17:20 17:50 18:20 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:40 21:15 21:45
22:20 22:55
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
11:10 14:00 16:50 18:15 19:40 21:05 22:30
Xidan
11:00 11:50 12:40 13:40 14:30 15:20 16:20 17:10 18:00 19:00
19:50 20:40 21:40
Haidian
09:20 12:00 14:40 17:20 20:00 22:40 23:15
Stellar International Cineplex
11:55 14:50 17:45 20:40
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
11:05 12:35 14:00 15:10 16:35 17:45 19:10 20:20 21:45 22:55
Wangfujing
10:00 12:40 15:30 18:10 21:10
09:50 12:30 15:10 17:50 20:30
Dongsishitiao
10:20 11:20 14:10 15:20 16:40 19:20 20:20 21:50 22:50
Zhongguancun
10:20 11:15 11:55 13:25 14:20 14:55 16:30 17:25 19:00
20:25 21:30 22:00
10:30 11:30 12:55 13:55 15:30 16:25 18:00 18:55 20:30 21:30 23:00
Xinjiekou
10:00 12:45 15:30 18:45 21:25
Yayuncun
10:20 11:20 14:10 15:20 16:40 19:20 20:20 22:00
East Fourth Ring Road
10:15 11:45 12:45 14:15 15:15 16:45 17:45 19:15 20:15 21:45 22:45
27 Dresses
Originally scheduled to hit Beijing's screens on April 21, this classic chick flick's release date has now been pushed back to late May. Starring Knocked Up's Katherine Heigl as a woman doomed to always be the bridesmaid but never the bride. She's finally pushed to do something, when she's expected to help organize her sister's wedding to the man she herself loves. The film was released in the US in January this year and the UK in March. Take a look at the trailer at the official site and some reviews here.
CBD
10:30
Xidan
12:55 17:00 21:25
Zhongguancun
14:50
East Fourth Ring Road
12:00 16:00 20:00
Missing (Shenhai Xunren)
Tsui Hark's new film is a romantic thriller that centers around the mysterious sunken structures around Yonaguni Island. Staring Tony Leung, Isabella Leong, Angelica Lee and Chen Chang. You can read some more about the film here and take a look at the trailer here.
CBD
18:00 20:00 22:10
Xidan
12:20 14:25 16:30 17:05 18:35 19:10 20:30 21:20
Haidian
Digital 09:35 11:25 15:40 17:35 21:30
Stellar International Cineplex
12:40 16:25 18:10 19:55 21:40
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
11:30 13:20 15:25 17:15
Wangfujing
10:40 12:30 14:50 16:50
10:20 12:10 14:00 16:00 17:50 19:40 21:30
Dongsishitiao
13:10 16:30
Zhongguancun
11:50 16:05 18:05 20:05 22:05
12:25 16:00 17:45 19:35 21:25 23:10
Xinjiekou
10:20 12:15 14:10 16:05 22:10
Yayuncun
10:50 14:30 17:50
East Fourth Ring Road
10:50 12:45 14:30 16:15 18:00 19:45 21:30
Fool's Gold
A film starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson about a treasure hunter and his failed marriage. Take a look at some of the terrible reviews here and the trailer here.
CBD
12:30
Haidian
19:25
Stellar International Cineplex
09:50
Zhongguancun
13:50
East Fourth Ring Road
12:30
Iron Man
Based on the Marvel comic of the same name, Iron Man stars Robert Downey Jr. as a billionaire industrialist who builds a high-tech suit of body armor that allows him to transform into a superhero. The film opened strongly over the May break garnering good reviews in both local and international press, but was beat out by the poorly reviewed Forbidden Kingdom at the Chinese box office. Don't follow the crowds out after the credits begin to roll as there is an extra 40 second scene that follows. The producers of the film are considering making a sequel that will feature the Chinese character known as Mandarin. You can take a look at the trailer here.
Xidan
13:10 15:50 18:20 20:50
Haidian
13:20
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
12:15 16:25 20:50
Wangfujing
10:00 15:00 19:50
Dongsishitiao
13:00 18:00
Zhongguancun
12:20 19:55
Yayuncun
13:00 18:00
Calabash Brothers (葫芦兄弟Hulu Xiongdi)
In keeping with international trends of trying to cash in on the nostalgia that children of the 80’s have for the cartoons they watched in their youth, one of the most popular animated cartoon series in China during the late 80's makes a come back on China's big screens. Seven brothers - with various super powers - hatch from a magical calabash vine. They are born to destroy some evil spirits who rule an enchanted mountain. The evil spirits (one of which frequently utters the exclamation "oyoyoyoyo!"), in turn, yearn to boil all the brothers together in a couldron, thus concocting a daoist pill to absorb the brothers' powers. For more on the original Calabash Brothers series see this wikipedia page. You can view the original series here and a preview of the movie here. If you enjoy this film, you might want to check out this tbjkids article about other Chinese cartoons from the '80s.
Zhongguancun
09:40
Yayuncun
12:40 16:10
Fast Track: No Limits
Another in a line of tacky English-language German films complete with clunky dialogue. This one appears to be a knock off of the Fast and the Furious. Take a look at the trailer here.
CBD
12:10
Xidan
15:00 19:20
Zhongguancun
09:50
10:40 14:10
Upcoming Films
Jun 29
The Pediatrics Department
In September 2004, three doctors quit their jobs at the Pediatrics Department of Anhui Ningguo People’s Hospital to go and work in a private hospital. The remaining seven doctors had to manage 41 inpatients as well as the outpatient department. This is an inside look at the inner workings of an understaffed hospital department. Film starts at 8pm. Discussion and Q and A session with the director at 9.30pm. RMB 20 (students), RMB 40.
7pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
Jul 2
Hancock
After the Pursuit of Happyness and I am Legend, this film marks Will Smith's third appearance on China's big screens stars in 2008. This time he's playing a down and out superhero who gets little in moral support from his wife, played by Charlize Theron. Reviews and synopsis available here and trailer here.
Jul 6
And the Spring Comes (Li Chun)
Gu Changwei's second film stars his wife Jiang Wenli as an aspiring opera singer struggling to get a Beijing hukou in the 1980s. Jiang won the Best Actress award at the Rome International Film Festival for her performance. Gu will be on hand at the end of the screening for a Q and A session. Keep your eyes out for an interview with the director in the July issue of the Beijinger. Take a look at our review of the film here and the trailer here. RMB 40, 20 (students).
8pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
Jul 10
Red Cliff
Despite the recent tragedy of a stunt man dying on the set during post production, John Woo's Three Kingdoms-inspired epic Red Cliff is still slated to open on July 10. If the film is as good as the promotion sounds, this could be the epic to beat all epics. Director Woo has gone on record saying that this will be China's Gladiator. Trailer (with English subtitles) available here.
July 26
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Jet Li stars as Mummy Qin Shihuang, alongside Michelle Yeoh and Brendan Fraser in this third installment of the popular franchise. No reviews yet - not released elsewhere until July 24 but you can read more about the making of the film here. Trailer here.
Aug 10
Speed Racer
The latest project from the Wachowski brothers is a live-action version of Japanese anime series Speed Racer. The result is reportedly heavy on action and visuals, and weak on storytelling. Read some rather disappointing reviews here and take a look at the trailer here. Despite the poor reviews the film's Chinese box office takings might be helped by the presence of Korean heartthrob Rain's presence in the cast.
Aug 20
Unlike Speed Racer, The Hulk has been getting some pretty good reviews. You can take a look at the trailer here.