Extinct Dinosaurs & the Martial Arts Vacuum - Books & Film Roundup
What a terrible shame it is that pterodactyls are extinct. Imagine if they still roamed the skies, giant predators terrorizing pedestrians with their fearsome leathery wing beats. They would perch atop highway overpasses, staring down at us from beady eyes like animated gargoyles, scouring the earth for children small enough to devour. Alas, Pterosaurs, that pioneer of flying vertebrates, lost out to competition from early bird species. And so here we are. Left with pigeons.
The closest you may ever get to a real pterodactyl is at The Bookworm, where two accurately reproduced specimens will be suspended from the ceiling, accompanied by several other dino exhibits, as part of a month-long event – EVOLVE: Dinosaurs, Darwin and Discovery. Held in celebration of Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday, these exciting talks will include renowned Darwin biographer and science writer David Quammen as well as Professor Xu Xing, the man who has discovered more species of dinosaur than any other human. There will also be lots of kids’ events, plenty of discussion on Darwin, and – word on the street – betting on dinosaur fights.
The Beijing International Book Fair is open to the public on September 6 and 7 at the China International Exhibition Center; entrance is a mere RMB 20. Expect lots of fun exhibits, storytelling, and of course, books – although, as the fair is more of a forum for publishers, they are not for sale. With Spain as the honored guest, Instituto Cervantes will be playing a key role in the fair; their free exhibit of Spanish children’s book illustrations, running all month at their Sanlitun location, is worth checking out (see photo, above).
As for cinema, the hype for the big October anniversary is beginning. Tiananmen Square, one of 200 propaganda films commissioned by the CCP to mark its 60th anniversary, hits screens on September 3. That’s 28 days before October 1 – quite fitting, as the film examines the 28 days of preparation leading up to the celebration of the founding of the PRC 49 years ago. Communist Party partiers, please start your engines. If you’re not up for that, get in touch with your feminine side at CNEX, which will be holding a month of documentaries on women’s issues, some of which sound quite interesting.
After the success of IP Man earlier this year, there has been talk of an upcoming trilogy on Bruce Lee. With older stars Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen still dominating screens, there is what YNET.com referred to as “an embarrassing vacuum” in the young martial arts actor talent pool. To be fair, finding a young star who embodies the talent and charisma of Bruce Lee must be a bit like looking for a pterodactyl among pigeons.