Tuesday Film Roundup: The Foreign Films that made it on to Beijing's screens in 2008
Back in July last year, we wrote about the interesting gap between SARFT's (The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television) stated aim of only approving about 20 foreign films for domestic release each year and The Beijing News' report that, in fact, the total amount of domestically-released foreign movies have actually been around 50 in recent years. We took a quick look through our archives and counted a total of 44 foreign films released at Beijing's cinemas in 2008. You can take a look at the full list below. Also keep reading below for a comprehensive list of all the films screening in Beijing this week and screening times for what's left of half-price Tuesday.
Jan
1.The Pursuit of Happyness
2.My Blueberry Nights
Feb
3.Becoming Jane
Mar
4.Atonement
5.Salir Pitando (Spanish)
6.The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
7.Le Grand Chef (Shishen Zhengba 食神争霸) (Korean)
8.National Treasure: Book of Secrets
9.10,000 BC
10.Golden Compass
Apr
11.The Children of Huang Shi (Huang Shi de Haizi 黄石的孩子)
12.Taken
13.The Forbidden Kingdom (Gongfu Zhiwang 功夫之王)
14.Spiderwick Chronicl
15.Iron Man
May
16.D-War (Korean)
17.Vinci (Polish 2004)
18.Fast Track: No Limits (Ger)
19.Fool's Gold
20.27 Dresses
Jun
21.Kungfu Panda
22.The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
23.Fast Track: No Limits (Ger)
Jul
24.Hancock
25.Butterfly on a Wheel (危情24小时 Weiqing 24 xiaoshi)
26.Step Up 2 the Streets
Aug
27.Speed Racer
28.The Incredible Hulk
Sep
29.The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
30.Flood (UK)
31.Mee-Shee: The Water Giant (深湖巨兽 Shenhu Jushou) (Canada)
32.The Challenge (终极挑战 Zhongji Tiaozhan) (German – 2005)
33.Asterix and the Olympics (France)
Oct
34.Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D
35.Hui Buh: The Castle Ghost (呆呆精灵 Daidai Jingling) (Germany)
36.Wanted
37.Autobahnraser (Germany –2004)
38. Waiting in Beijing (JV)
Nov
39.007: Quantum of Solace
40.Babylon AD
41.Hell Boy 2: The Golden Army
Dec
42. Next
43. Bolt
44. Joulutarina (Finland)
More details about Fan Bingbing's (Cellphone, Lost in Beijing and Taohuayun) latest film, Wheat (麦田Maitian), which is due out this northern summer, were revealed this week. Directed by He Ping (Warriors of Heaven and Earth), you can read all the details here.
In Other News:
More films for the Spring Festival, China's first locally produced 3-D animated feature will open on Jan 28.
Lust, Caution actress Tang Wei as you've never seen her before.
Finally, you can view the winners of the 2009 Golden Globes here.
Films Around Town Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Wednesday Jan 13
(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.
Red Cliff II The first installment of Red Cliff broke box office records throughout Asia when it was released earlier this year. John Woo's epic also managed to push Titianic of its perch and now lays claim to being both the most expensive and also the most lucrative Chinese film ever made. A short trailer of the second installment has also been proving popular on video sharing sites.
Digital 9:40 10:10 10:40 11:10 11:40 12:50 13:20 13:50 14:20 14:50 15:20 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:10 19:40 20:10 20:40 21:40 22:15 22:50 23:15
Xidan New Capital Cinema
10:30 11:10 11:35 11:55 12:15 12:35 12:55 13:25 13:45 14:10 14:30 14:50 15:10 15:30 15:50 16:20 16:40 17:05 17:25 17:45 18:05 18:25 18:45 19:15 19:35 20:00 20:10 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:20 21:45 22:10 22:35
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
Digital 10:20 11:40 12:55 14:05 15:45 16:55 17:25 17:55 18:35 19:05 19:45 20:15 20:45 21:25 21:55 22:35
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
Digital 09:35 10:15 11:40 12:55 14:05 15:45 16:55 17:25 17:55 18:35 19:05 19:45 20:15 20:45 21:25 21:55 22:35
HaidianUME International Cineplex
Digital 09:10 10:10 11:20 12:50 14:00 14:50 15:30 16:40 17:10 17:30 18:10 19:20 19:50 20:10 20:50 22:00 22:30 22:50 23:30
Stellar International Cineplex
Digital 09:40 10:30 11:10 11:50 12:30 13:20 14:00 14:40 15:20 16:10 16:50 17:30 18:10 19:00 19:40 20:30 21:00 21:50 22:20 00:00 00:40
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
Digital 09:00 09:40 10:30 11:15 11:50 12:30 13:20 14:00 14:40 15:20 16:10 16:50 17:30 18:10 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00 21:50 22:30 23:10 23:50
Digital 10:10 10:40 11:20 11:50 12:20 12:50 13:20 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:40 17:10 17:40 18:10 18:40 19:20 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:20 22:00 22:30
DongsishitiaoEast Gate Cinema
Digital 09:40 10:40 11:40 12:20 13:40 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:20 17:00 17:40 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00 21:40 22:20 23:00
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
IMAX 09:45 11:30 13:15 15:00 16:45 18:30
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
Digital 10:00 11:15 12:10 12:40 13:50 14:50 15:30 16:25 17:25 18:05 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:40 21:05 21:35) 22:05 22:35
Madagascar 2 (马达加斯加2 Ma Da Jia Si Jia 2)
IMAX 10:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
IMAX 11:35 13:30 15:25 17:20 19:20 20:25 21:15
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
IMAX 10:25 12:20 14:15 16:10 18:05 20:00 22:00 16:10 18:05 20:00 22:00
Stellar International Cineplex
IMAX 10:50 14:45
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
IMAX 10:20 12:00 13:45 15:30 17:10 18:55 20:40 22:25
IMAX 10:10 11:50 13:30 15:10 16:50 18:35 20:15 21:55
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
IMAX 09:45 11:30 13:15 15:00 16:45 18:30
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
IMAX 10:00 11:40 13:15 17:45 22:45
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. Many fans of the Feng's early works don't think it quite measures up to his old stuff - but the film is set to overtake Red Cliff I as the most lucrative domestic film ever. With English subtitles. View trailer (also with English subtitles) here.
Digital 11:20 16:40 19:20
Xidan New Capital Cinema
Digital 11:45 14:20 16:50 19:20 19:45 21:50 22:15
SanlitunVillage Mega Box
Digital 11:20 14:00 16:45 19:30 22:10
HaidianUME International Cineplex
Digital 09:00 11:50 15:00 16:00 17:25 19:50 20:30 22:15
Stellar International Cineplex
Digital 10:00 12:25 14:55 17:20 19:50 22:25
WangjingStellar International Cineplex
Digital 10:10 12:40 15:10 17:40 20:10 22:40:40 20:10 22:40
Digital 10:20 12:40 13:50 15:00 16:10 17:20 18:30 19:40 20:50 22:00
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
Digital 10:20 11:30 12:40 15:00 16:05 17:20 19:40 20:25 22:00 22:45
East Fourth Ring RoadEspace France Cinema
Digital 11:00 13:20 14:50 15:40 17:10 19:40 22:00
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. WARNING: No English subtitles.
12:35
HaidianUME International Cineplex
10:15 22:25
Stellar International Cineplex
10:40 18:00 20:50
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
13:05 16:05
ShuangjingUME International Cineplex
10:30
Other Films Showing This Week:
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. WARNING: No English version or English subtitles.
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.
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.
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.
Upcoming
Jan 20 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. More details here. You can also view trailer here.
Jan 28 Australia (澳洲乱世情/澳大利亚 Aozhou Luanshiqing/ Aodaliya)
Baz Lurhmann's big budget project boasts a stellar cast of Australia's best actors and sublime scenery but despite a huge marketing push around the globe, doesn't seem to have won too many fans. Nicole Kidman has been on the end of some particularly negative reviews. Take a look at the trailer here and a roundup of reviews here and here.
Feb 14
Cape No. 7 (海角七号 Haijiao Qihao)
This Taiwanese romantic comedy broke box office records at home and now overcomes political hurdles to be released across the mainland on Valentine's Day. Read a review of the film here and view the trailer (with Eng subtitles) here.