Musicals and Gaming Dominate New Round of Foreign Films Hitting Chinese Cinemas
One of the more modern Spring Festival traditions celebrated in China is the foreign film blackout period which descends upon Chinese cinemas each lunar year to halt the onslaught of Hollywood flicks and give local films the inside running.
But, now that the holiday season is behind us, films from Hollywood and elsewhere are once again welcome on the mainland, and, this month musicals and films based on video games are the main theme.
Undoubtedly the most anticipated foreign film to make it to China this month is La La Land (爱乐之城), which hits cinemas on Valentine’s Day, February 14 – just in time to coincide with the backlash against the backlash to the modern day musical.
Staying on the musical theme, the other feature worth catching, especially if you have kids in tow, is Sing (欢乐好声音), the animated musical from the same team behind Despicable Me. That comes out in a couple of weeks on Friday, February 17.
Films based on video games also get a bit of a look-in this month with Assassin’s Creed (刺客信条) coming out on the 24th and also possibly Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (生化危机6：终章) coming at some stage, though it’s still not clear when exactly.
The sixth and final installment of the Resident Evil franchise already hits screens in North America on January 27. Now that pirated copies are already being circulated online, the film’s producers will be wanting it to come out in China ASAP.
The film’s official Weibo account posted weeks ago that it had passed the censors, but we’re still waiting on its final release date. Some fans have been sharing pictures of their local cinema schedules as well as posters for the film which mark it in for Friday, January 17.
But before any of the above hit screens, xXx: Return of Xander Cage (极限特工), makes its debut, this Friday, February 10. The Vin Diesel action blockbuster, also includes Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen and Chinese actor Kris Wu. It will have a wide release 3D, IMAX3D and China Film Giant Screen formats.
Here’s the full list to mark in your calendars. Click on the titles to watch the trailers.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage (极限特工：终极回归)
February 10
3D/IMAX3D/CFGS
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 43 percent
Critics Consensus: xXx: Return of Xander Cage should satisfy fans of the first two installments, but its preponderance of set pieces can't quite make up for a tired storyline that fails to take the franchise – or action fans – anywhere new.
La La Land (爱乐之城)
February 14
2D/IMAX
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93 percent
Critics Consensus: La La Land breathes new life into a bygone genre with thrillingly assured direction, powerful performances, and an irresistible excess of heart.
Sing (欢乐好声音)
February 17
2D/3D/IMAX3D/CFGS
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73 percent
Critics Consensus: Sing delivers colorfully animated, cheerfully undemanding entertainment with a solid voice cast and a warmhearted – albeit familiar – storyline that lives up to its title.
Assassin’s Creed (刺客信条)
February 24
3D/IMAX3D/CFGS
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 18 percent
Critics Consensus: Assassin's Creed is arguably better made (and certainly better cast) than most video game adaptations; unfortunately, the CGI-fueled end result still is still a joylessly overplotted slog.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (生化危机6：终章)
February 17 (maybe?)
2D?
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 43 percent
Critics Consensus: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter may prove mind-numbingly chaotic for the unconverted, but for fans of the venerable franchise, it offers a fittingly kinetic conclusion to its violent post-apocalyptic saga.
