Tuesday Film Roundup: New Year's Comedy Season is on!
After a series of spoof, or " Shan Zhai/ 山寨"- the Shan Zhai Spring Festival Gala, shan zhai CCTV News, Shan Zhai Lecture Forum( 百家讲坛), the spoof culture became an acceptable form of the expression of contemporary Chinese Internet creativity. However, Bollywood seems to be able to do it best. Chandni Chowk To China (月光集市到中国), to be released next year, is the first ever Bollywood Kung Fu Comedy. It follows one man's journey from being a medicore cook to an alleged reincarnated kung fu fighting legend. From the streets of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, India, to the Great Wall of China and beyond this hilarious comedy that spoofs movies such as Kung Fu Hustle and Curse of the Golden Flower will keep you laughing and on seat's edge through scene after scene of amusing situations.
Feng Xiaogang’s New Year comedy return has proven to be a boxoffice hit. If You Are the One (Feicheng Wurao 非诚勿扰)raked in over RMB 15 million on the first night and an estimated RMB 80 million in the opening week. Iconic film comdedian Ge You, enjoyed a positive reception following the first hesui pian of the season--Desires of the Heart (Taohuayun 桃花运), also a huge boxoffice success.
Films Around Town Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Tuesday Dec 23
(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) If you can read Chinese, this is by far the best site to consult.
If You Are the One (Feicheng Wurao 非诚勿扰) Feng Xiaogang's return to the new year comedy tradition that brought him early fame. The talented and popular Ge You is along for the ride too.
09:20 10:15 11:10 11:40 12:10 12:35 13:30 14:00 14:30 14:5515:50 16:20 16:50 17:15 18:10 18:40 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:3021:00 21:55 22:20 22:50
Xidan New Capital Cinema
10:40 13:00 15:20 17:40 20:00 22:20 11:40 14:00 16:20 18:40 21:00 21:10 23:15 10:00 12:20 14:40 17:00 19:20 21:40 21:50
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
17:50, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:10, 21:40, 22:10
HaidianUME International Cineplex
09:30 10:25 12:00 12:50 14:25 15:15 16:00 16:50 17:35 17:40 18:25 19:15 20:05 20:50 21:40 22:25 22:30 23:15 24:00
Stellar International Cineplex
09:40 10:20 11:00 12:05 12:55 13:40 14:40 15:30 16:20 17:20 18:10 19:00 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:40 22:20 23:30
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
09:50 10:30 11:20 12:20 13:00 13:50 14:50 15:30 16:20 16:50 17:20 18:00 18:50 19:20 19:50 20:30 21:20 21:45 22:20
Theater 1: 10:20 12:40 15:00 17:20 19:40 22:00
Theater 5: 10:50 13:10 15:30 17:50 20:10 22:30
Theater 7: 12:10 14:30 16:50 19:10 21:30
Theater 8: 11:30 13:50 16:10 18:30 20:50
DongsishitiaoEast Gate Cinema
09:30 10:20 11:00 12:00 13:20 13:50 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:10 16:40 17:20 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:40 20:20 20:50 21:20 22:00 22:40 23:30
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
09:20 10:15 11:10 11:40 12:10 12:35 13:30 14:00 14:30 14:55 15:50 16:20 16:50 17:15 18:10 18:40 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:55 22:20 22:50
Zhongguancun Mega Box
17:50, 18:30, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:10, 21:40, 22:10
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
10:00 10:40 11:30 12:20 13:00 14:20 14:40 15:00 15:20 16:40 17:00 17:20 17:40 18:25 19:00 19:20 19:40 20:00 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:20 21:40 22:20 23:50
Forever Enthralled (梅兰芳 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. More info available here. You can look at the "trailer" - it's really just a selection of still images taken from the film set to a Peking Opera sound track - here.
12:20 15:10 18:35 20:20 23:10
Xidan New Capital Cinema
10:40 16:30 19:10 21:50
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
19:40, 22:45
HaidianUME International Cineplex
10:30 13:15 14:55 24:45
Stellar International Cineplex
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
11:10 14:00 18:50 21:40
11:00 13:40 16:20 19:00 21:40
DongsishitiaoEast Gate Cinema
11:20
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
09:40 12:15 14;50 17:25
Zhongguancun Mega Box
19:40
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
10:20 12:20 13:00 15:40 18:20 22:00
Bolt (闪电狗 Shan Diangou) Bolt is a dog who plays a heroic canine in a hit TV show, but is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, where he begins his biggest adventure yet: a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with delusions and the help of two unlikely traveling companions – a jaded, abandoned housecat and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball –he learns along the way that he doesn't have superpowers and that what happens on his TV show is not real. See trailer here.
HaidianUME International Cineplex
Digital 09:30 11:20 13:10 15:00 16:55 18:50 20:45 22:40
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
Digital 08:30 10:25 12:20 14:15 16:10 18:05 18:35 20:00 20:30 21:55 22:25
Lady Cop & Papa Crook (大搜查 Da Sou Cha) Sammi Cheng stars in this new Hong Kong action comedy after three years’ absence from Hong Kong cinema. Cheng plays a police officer assigned to help investigate the kidnapping of the son of a corrupt red diesel kingpin (Eason Chan), thus beginning an unlikely alliance between fellow cops and criminals. See trailer here.
Xidan New Capital Cinema
10:10 11:50 13:30 15:10 16:50 18:30 20:10
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
19:20, 21:15
HaidianUME International Cineplex
09:15 13:05 18:05 21:55
Stellar International Cineplex
10:50 12:30 14:15 16:00 17:45 22:15
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
10:10 11:55 13:40 15:20 17:05
10:10 11:50 13:30 15:10 17:00 18:40 20:20 22:10
DongsishitiaoEast Gate Cinema
09:40 23:00
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
09:00 10:15 12:30 14:15 16:00 17:45 19:30 21:15 23:00
All About Women (女人不坏 Nv Ren Bu Huai) Tsui Hark's brand new romantic comedy, known as China's own 'Sex and the City', stars Zhou Xun, Zhang Yuqi and Kwai Lun-Mei. Tsui Hark's stylish, hilarious adventure depicts a trendy and contemporary Beijing through three separate encounters in the lives and loves of three modern yet very unique, young women. See trailer here.
9:30 17:30
Xidan New Capital Cinema
13:25 15:50 18:10
10:40 14:25 21:30
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
09:55
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
15:50
Ip Man (叶问 Ye Wen) The Cantonese action flick is a semi-biographical account of Yip Man (1893-1972), the martial arts master of Bruce Lee and the first to teach Wing Chun, an aggressive, close-range style of combat. “Ip Man” marks Yen’s fourth collaboration with director Wilson Yip, reuniting them with co-star Simon Yam and Sammo Hung who make a cameo appearance and serve as fight choreographers. See trailer here.
12:10 22:50
Xidan New Capital Cinema
10:55 13:05 13:30 14:10 15:20 15:45 16:25 17:30 18:00 18:40 19:40 20:20 20:55 21:50
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
19:10, 21:30
HaidianUME International Cineplex
09:45 11:00 11:50 13:55 14:50 16:00 16:55 19:00 19:50 21:05
Stellar International Cineplex
09:55 12:00 14:05 16:10 18:15 22:50
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
10:50 12:55 15:00 17:00 19:10 21:15
10:10 12:10 14:10 16:10 18:10 20:10 21:10 22:15
DongsishitiaoEast Gate Cinema
12:50
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
10:10 12:15 14:20 16:25 18:30 20:35 22:40
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
10:00 10:45 11:55 12:40 13:50 16:30 22:40
Other Films Showing the Week:
Joulutarina ( 圣诞传说 Sheng Dan Chuan Shuo) is a light-hearted Finnish movie, which tells the story of how Santa Claus came to be. Young Nikolas loses his family and is taken in by different local families each year. He makes toys for the children of the families as good-bye presents, encountering setbacks while creating the Christmas tradition that we know today. See trailer here.
Next Implausible Nicolas Cage vehicle that's been out on DVD for an age. Reviews here and trailer here.
Upcoming
09 Jan 1 Madagascar 2 (马达加斯加2 Ma Da Jia Si Jia 2)
09 Jan Silver Medalist ( 疯狂的赛车 Feng Kuang de Sai Che) An action-adventure story focused on the lives of express deliverymen, traffic cops and lonely beauties. Another crazy movie by Ning hao after the triumph of Crazy Stone. The film will be shown during Spring Festival as the end of the 2009 New Year Comedy Season.
09 Chandni Chowk To China (月光集市到中国 Yue Guang Ji Shi Dao Zhong Guo) is the first ever Bollywood Kung Fu Comedy. It follows one man's journey from being a medicore cook to an alleged reincarnated kung fu fighting legend. From the streets of Chandni Chowk in Delhi, India, to the Great Wall of China and beyond this hilarious comedy that spoofs movies such as Kung Fu Hustle and Curse of the Golden Flower will keep you laughing and on seat's edge through scene after scene of amusing situations. See trailer here.