Title: Jackie Chan vs. Jet Li in THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
Description: Give me some hope for this movie, please
Dan Helmick - July 29, 2007 02:51 PM (GMT)
So we have Jackie and Jet facing off against each other for the first time. Yuen Woo Ping as action choreographer, and Peter Pau as cinematographer. Story is based on "Journey to the West".
However, the director is Rob Minkoff. The script is by John Fusco. And the plot sounds like a remake of Hallmark's THE LOST EMPIRE, with a clueless contemporary American driving the narrative.
Can anyone tell me why I might look forward to this?
Jane Ding - July 30, 2007 04:04 PM (GMT)
So far from what I have read, their story doesn't have much to do with "Journey to the West", the classical novel. They borrowed the Monkey King character (Jet Li) and his golden-banded rob, but the story is largely made up.
Peter Nepstad - July 30, 2007 06:03 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Dan Helmick @ Jul 29 2007, 08:51 AM) |
| Can anyone tell me why I might look forward to this? |
[...]
Unfortunately, no.
I'm still depressed that LORD OF THE RINGS didn't inspire any Chinese filmmakers into making a three- or four- or five- movie epic of JOURNEY TO THE WEST, or even THE WATER MARGINS.
If one wants to make a story of the Monkey King for western audiences, why do the writers insist on just appropriating the character for their own uninspired, forgettable drivel? It's hard to imagine a more exciting, epic movie than, say HAVOC IN HEAVEN (the first seven chapters of JTTW), with a big budget. And with Tsui Hark directing.
Brian Camp - July 30, 2007 06:37 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Peter Nepstad @ Jul 30 2007, 12:03 PM) |
I'm still depressed that LORD OF THE RINGS didn't inspire any Chinese filmmakers into making a three- or four- or five- movie epic of JOURNEY TO THE WEST, or even THE WATER MARGINS.
|
I've had so much fun discovering the varied Shaw Bros. adaptations of different chapters of "Water Margin" and the four-film series they made of "Journey to the West," that I've actually dreaded the prospect of a new version of either, given the current CGI-obsessed state of HK epic cinema.
As for Jet Li vs. Jackie Chan, it's interesting that each has Hollywood movies opening opposite each other this summer (WAR vs. RUSH HOUR 3). Why didn't they just save themselves the trouble and cast Jet as the villain in RUSH HOUR 3?
Dan Helmick - August 1, 2007 06:04 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Francis Lawrence is off to work on "Snow and the Seven," Walt Disney Pictures' live-action East-meets-West take on the "Snow White" fairy tale. Scott Rudin and Andrew Gunn are producing.
The story, a fantasy adventure, centers on a British girl being raised in 19th century Hong Kong. When she realizes her destiny is to conquer an evil force, she must prepare to fight by being trained by seven Shaolin monks.
The long-gestating project was originally written by Josh Harmon and Scott Elder. The current draft is by Scott Moore and Jon Lucas. The studio said the title of the project is only a working title and will change.
The studio is eyeing a start in 2008, with China being likely the site of the shoot.
Yuen Woon-ping is acting as the fight choreographer on the movie, which is being executive produced by Gunn Films' Ann Marie Sanderlin along with Anthony Wong and Dede Nickerson. |