Monkey King - IMAX-3D featuring Donnie Yen

[GeneChing]

Coming up: Monkey King in IMAX 3-D (http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2010-08/02/content_20621106.htm)
August 2, 2010

Action star Donnie Yen will play the lead role in an IMAX 3-D fantasy film called "The Monkey King". Preparation for the project is underway in Beijing, Sina.com.cn reports.

Inspired by the classic epic novel "Journey to the West", the movie tells of the Monkey King's several adventures before he embarks on the journey escorting monk Xuanzang to the west.

Working on a budget of 300 million yuan (US$44.3 million), distributors of the film want to make it a monumental work.

Cheang Pou-Soi will direct the film. Other cast members are yet to be announced.

Filming is set to begin in October.
http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1007/20100802/0013729e78490dc0731210.jpg

[ghostexorcist]

Let's hope they do a better job of portraying the Monkey King than what was done in Forbidden Kingdom.

[doug maverick]

Let's hope they do a better job of portraying the Monkey King than what was done in Forbidden Kingdom.

the forbidden kingdom rocked...stop hating ghost.

[ghostexorcist]

the forbidden kingdom rocked...stop hating ghost.
I personally thought the movie was one of the worst I had ever seen. It ranks up there with Elektra.

[GeneChing]

I enjoyed Forbidden Kingdom (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42599) thoroughly. I watched Elektra (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=574) just because it was back when Jennifer Garner was coming off Alias and I was hoping for another Sydney. But that's not to the point. You want to talk about a disappointing Monkey King? Let's talk about The Lost Empire.

[ghostexorcist]

You want to talk about a disappointing Monkey King? Let's talk about The Lost Empire.
It took me years of therapy to repress the memory of that film. Thanks for ruining my stable life. Bai Ling as Guanyin! Whose idea was that?!?

Part of the reason why I don't like The Forbidden Kingdom is because it reminded me of this movie.

[doug maverick]

i thought forbidden kingdom kicked ass...i didnt like the white kid thou...and thought the film would have been more progressive if it was about a chinese kid who was devoid of his own culture...instead of a kung fu obsessed white kid...but i get it the white kid was fusco and he was kinda telling his story...

[JamesC]

I have to agree about The Forbidden Kingdom.

Didn't like it. Way too much cheese and so many cliches it was pathetic.

[GeneChing]

...we have a thread for it - take that debate over there (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42599). :rolleyes:

On another note, yesterday I posted this on the Chollywood Rising thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1031379&postcount=4). It's about IMAX in China. Apparently China is the 2nd largest market for IMAX in the world. They are developing portable inflatable IMAX theaters to reach China's countryside... that sounds like a fire trap to me, but I'd love to see one.

[JamesC]

Sorry Gene.

I think that inflatable IMAX theatre is a great idea! The potential to eventually reach out beyond even those second-tier cities is great.

I can just imagine someone from a very rural area being able to see their very first movie on an IMAX screen. That would be great.

[GeneChing]

I hope this makes it to U.S. IMAX screens.

Chinese Monkey King story adapted in $60M 3-D film (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbmHFMdSD6zXEo4i-vrBpjehzsTA?docId=2262f97db6a246d0a0ac4626bebd0167 )
(AP) – 6 hours ago

HONG KONG (AP) — The Monkey King character from Chinese folklore will be revived in a $60 million 3-D blockbuster starring Donnie Yen and Chow Yun-fat, as local filmmakers try to match the massive success of "Avatar" by launching their own productions in the new format.

The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong, hails from the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West," which describes a Buddhist monk's pilgrimage to India to collect religious texts. He is protected by three disciples, including a fighting monkey with magical powers.

The popular story is frequently adapted in stage productions, movies and TV series. It received the Hollywood treatment in 2008 when Lionsgate released "The Forbidden Kingdom," which costarred Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who played the Monkey King.

Now Chinese filmmakers are answering with a big-budget adaptation of their own.

Hong Kong director Soi Cheang started shooting "Monkey King" in Beijing on Oct. 8 with Yen in the title role and Chow playing a mythical emperor, Hong Kong-based Filmko Entertainment, one of the investors, said in a statement Monday. Other stars include actor-singer Aaron Kwok and actresses Kelly Chen, Cecilia Cheung and Gigi Leung.

"Monkey King" follows the character's life story before his India trip, when he attacked the Heavenly Kingdom with the Buffalo Demon King (Kwok), upset that he was snubbed by its rulers — a move that led to his imprisonment until the pilgrimage.

Chinese studios are keen to cash in on the country's fast-growing 3-D movie market, which delivered a whopping $206 million in box office revenues to the makers of the Hollywood sci-fi epic "Avatar" earlier this year — a feat that made the James Cameron film the top-grossing movie in China of all time. About a third, or 1,100 of China's movie screens are 3-D screens, the official Xinhua News Agency reported in April.

Famed Hong Kong director Tsui Hark also recently started shooting a 3-D production, announcing he will remake his 1992 kung fu movie "Dragon Inn" in the format.

The production team for "Monkey King" draws from Hollywood expertise, including visual effects designers who worked on 3-D movies like "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," Filmko said.

Yen was most recently seen in Andrew Lau's "Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen," playing the nationalist hero made famous by Bruce Lee. Chow's releases this year are the biopic "Confucius" and the World War II-era drama "Shanghai."

The director of "Monkey King" is known for tackling monster-like characters in horror films. Cheang's latest movie, the psychological thriller "Accident," was nominated for the Golden Lion Prize at the Venice Film Festival last year.

Filmko said the Hong Kong filmmaker will spend five months shooting "Monkey King" and another 15 months editing his footage. The expected release date is 2012.

[SPJ]

ALWAYS a sun wu kong fan since kidhood.

nice to see the 3-D

:cool:

[GeneChing]

And I thought the Flying Tigers thing (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1046214#post1046214) was funny....

No Monkey Business as Competing Versions of Chinese Legend Go into Production (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/no-monkey-business-competing-versions-33914)
2:34 PM 10/31/2010 by Karen Chu

Filmko and Mandarin Films Prepare $60 Mil 3D "The Monkey King"

HONG KONG – Filmko and Mandarin Films are co-producing a 400 million yuan ($60 million) 3D retelling of the Chinese legend The Monkey King with a mega-watt cast including Chow Yun-Fat, Donnie Yen and Aaron Kwok for a July 2011 release, Filmko Distribution general manager Dominic Yip told The Hollywood Reporter on Friday.

Producers intend for the film to release in 3D IMAX format, and have meet with IMAX executives in Beijing, Yip said, but the deal is in early stages and not yet finalized.

Filmko and Mandarin share in a 65% and 35% split the production cost, now targeted at 400 million yuan, currently the second-most expensive Asian project in production ever after John Woo’s $80 million 2008 two-part epic Red Cliff. Filmko is in negotiation with investors in China, Japan and other regions for minor contributions to the budget, a part of which is set aside for intended IMAX release.

Ip Man star Donnie Yen will play the title character and serves as action choreographer in The Monkey King, joined by Chow Yun-Fat (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Aaron Kwok (The Storm Warriors), Cecilia Cheung (The Promise) and Asian pop icon Faye Wong (Chungking Express) in her first acting role in six years. The film is produced by Ah Gan, helmer of the most successful horror film in China, The Game of Killing. Hong Kong director Cheng Poi-Shui (Accident) will helm from a screenplay by Edmond Wong, writer of Ip Man 1 & 2.

The companies had hired from Hollywood a part of the production team, to handle the 3D aspects and special effects in the film, including cinematographer Daniel Symmes, special makeup effects supervisor Shaun Smith (300, I Am Legend), and visual effects consultant David Ebner (Alice in Wonderland). Special effects shooting in 3D has commenced in Beijing, while full cast will begin filming in mid-November.

The Monkey King is based on the 17th century Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. The simian protagonist is set for cinemas in 2011. The Monkey King will be presented at the upcoming American Film Market and is scheduled for China and Hong Kong in July 2011.

Director/producer/superstar Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer) and his company Bingo Group and China Film Group are also moving forward with their take on the legend, a remake of Chow’s 1994 A Chinese Odyssey, which will begin shooting in China in February next year for a Christmas 2011 release. With a 60 million yuan ($9 million) budget, the Chow camp has contemplated shooting and releasing in 3D or IMAX format, but is considering the budget implications. Chinese television producer Zhang Jizhong has also announced a three-part 3D movie version in English.

“We are not concerned at all about any other competing projects about the Monkey King legend,” said Yip. “Anyone can make a movie about the Monkey King. But we have a stellar cast, our own creative interpretation of the story and the characters. Ours will be completely different from anyone else’s.”

[ghostexorcist]

And I thought the Flying Tigers thing (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1046214#post1046214) was funny....
I really liked Chow's portrayal as the Monkey King. I'd rather see him do a full on adaptation of the book than redo his A Chinese Odyssey series, but I'm sure it will turn out superbly in the end.

For those who haven't seen it, check out this clip (don't bother reading the ill-timed subtitles):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8ZyCEKLsXE&feature=related

[GeneChing]

"The Monkey King" promoted in Beijing (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-12/12/c_13646076.htm)
English.news.cn 2010-12-12 19:53:10

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-12/12/13646075_11n.jpg
Chinese pop stars Aaron Kwok (L), Joe Chen (2nd L), Donnie Yen (C), Xia Zitong and Chow Yun-fat (R) pose at a press conference held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2010 to promote the new 3D film "The Monkey King". The action fantasy movie draws on the Journey to the West, a legend story of an immortal monkey being converted to the Buddhism and helping his master with the great pilgrimage to India. (Xinhua/Ji Guoqiang)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-12/12/13646074_11n.jpg
Hollywood movie star Chow Yun-fat poses with his wife at a press conference held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2010 to promote the new 3D film "The Monkey King". The action fantasy movie draws on the Journey to the West, a legend story of an immortal monkey being converted to the Buddhism and helping his master with the great pilgrimage to India. (Xinhua/Ji Guoqiang)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-12/12/13646073_11n.jpg
Chinese pop stars Peter Ho (L), Kelly Chan (C) and Gigi Leung pose at a press conference held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2010 to promote the new 3D film "The Monkey King". The action fantasy movie draws on the Journey to the West, a legend story of an immortal monkey being converted to the Buddhism and helping his master with the great pilgrimage to India. (Xinhua/Ji Guoqiang)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-12/12/13646072_11n.jpg
Chinese pop stars Kelly Chan (L) and Eddie Cheung pose at a press conference held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2010 to promote the new 3D film "The Monkey King". The action fantasy movie draws on the Journey to the West, a legend story of an immortal monkey being converted to the Buddhism and helping his master with the great pilgrimage to India. (Xinhua/Ji Guoqiang)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/photo/2010-12/12/13646071_11n.jpg
Chinese pop stars Donnie Yen (L) and Xia Zitong are seen at a press conference held in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2010 to promote the new 3D film "The Monkey King". The action fantasy movie draws on the Journey to the West, a legend story of an immortal monkey being converted to the Buddhism and helping his master with the great pilgrimage to India. (Xinhua/Ji Guoqiang)
Great fashion, no? ;)

[GeneChing]

Classic Chinese tale to get 3-D film treatment (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BD0PB20101214)
BEIJING | Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:47pm EST
BEIJING (Reuters Life!) - Monkey King, meet Avatar.

Production has kicked off on a stereoscopic 3-D version of one of the biggest-ever Chinese language adventure tales as local filmmakers hope to match the gigantic success of "Avatar."

The film, "Monkey King," is based on the classic Chinese novel "The Journey to the West," which tells the story of a Buddhist monk's pilgrimage to India to collect religious texts.

One of the best-known stories from Chinese mythology, the popular tale is frequently adapted in for television and movies.

Aaron Kwok, a Hong Kong pop star, is cast as the Buffalo Demon King, while Chow Yun-fat, who starred in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," plays the Jade Emperor.

Other Hong Kong stars such as Donnie Yen, Kelly Chen, Gigi Leung and Peter Ho will also take part.

Kwok told a news conference Sunday that he hoped his character would come off better in the new movie than he does in tradition.

"In Donnie Yen's action design, I hope the Buffalo Demon King can beat Jade Emperor in fights," he said.

To create the 3-D effects needed for Monkey King, the film's producers have employed a Hollywood team including David Ebner, who worked on "Alice in Wonderland" and "Spider-Man 3." Daniel Symmes is cinematographer.

The popularity of 3-D movies has surged in China. James Cameron's Avatar took $206 million in box office revenues in China earlier this year, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Monkey King is budgeted at $40 million and is expected to make a positive return at the domestic Chinese box-office when it opens in July 2012. Approximately a third or more than 1,100 of China's movie screens are 3-D screens, according to Xinhua.Can Sun Wukong defeat the Na-vi? We'll see in two years...

[ghostexorcist]

Classic Chinese tale to get 3-D film treatment (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BD0PB20101214)
BEIJING | Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:47pm EST
BEIJING (Reuters Life!) - Monkey King, meet Avatar.

[...]

Aaron Kwok, a Hong Kong pop star, is cast as the Buffalo Demon King, while Chow Yun-fat, who starred in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," plays the Jade Emperor.

[...]

Kwok told a news conference Sunday that he hoped his character would come off better in the new movie than he does in tradition.

"In Donnie Yen's action design, I hope the Buffalo Demon King can beat Jade Emperor in fights," he said.

I can't say I am too thrilled that they might be tweaking the story in such a way that the Bull Demon King would fight the Jade Emperor. Just stick to the novel. Why change a good thing?

[GeneChing]

Monkey King (Donnie Yen) - Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRJPit-Txyg)

[ghostexorcist]

Monkey King (Donnie Yen) - Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRJPit-Txyg)

Looks pretty good. It seems like they patterned Monkey's design off of the 1980s TV show.

[MightyB]

I really want to like this movie because I think Donnie Yen is awesome, but the imagery in the trailer seems pretty silly to me.

[GeneChing]

According to a news item I just posted on the BoF thread (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1234575#post1234575), this will premiere Xmas 2013.

Donnie Yen is pressured by "The Monkey King" (http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/donnie-yen-pressured-monkey-king-064600325.html?.tsrc=yfpnewsapp)
By Heidi Hsia | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo! Newsroom – Tue, Jun 18, 2013 2:46 PM SGT

18 June – Donnie Yen recently revealed that he has no interest to play the Monkey King ever again due to the immense pressure his latest movie has caused him.

According to ON.CC, at "The Monkey King" press conference in Shanghai on 17 June, the actor revealed, "The make-up for Monkey King took five hours every day, and another one hour to remove it after filming. After all that, I still have to take care of the fighting choreography!"

When asked if he will do it all over again, Donnie exclaimed, "This type of work affected my health negatively and gave me psychological stress. I think it would be impossible for me to agree to this kind of 'monkey punishment' again!"

However, all of his efforts were in vain, as Donnie's co-stars Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Peter Ho and many more, were full of praises for the martial arts actor, saying that the actor is really professional in his work and that he was able to retain the quality of the choreography despite pulling double duties as actor and director.

[doug maverick]

that trailer was lame as hell.. who edited that thing? doesnt give me any insight into the movie.no real action being shown.. just a bunch of random shots that dont really show anything. and not in a good way.

[GeneChing]

King Of Kung Fu Presents: The Interview With Monkey King Producer Michael Wehrhahn (http://asianmoviepulse.com/2013/07/king-of-kung-fu-presents-the-interview-with-monkey-king-producer-michael-wehrhahn/)
0
Posted July 15, 2013 by kingofkungfu in Features
http://asianmoviepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/post/king-of-kung-fu-presents-the-interview-with-monkey-king-producer-michael-wehrhahn/poster_3-300x399.jpg

www.michaelwehrhahn.com
www.globalstarproductions.com

Michael Wehrhahn is the producer of the much anticipated Donnie yen movie “The Monkey King(大鬧天宮)”, where he has spent 4 years working on this to make it a great hit with not only Donnie Yen fans, but Monkey King fans all around the world. Donnie Yen is a Kung Fu legend and has been making great movies for a long time, but since Sha Po lang i feel Yen has stepped up 5 gears and made some incredible movies and i have no doubts that The Monkey King will be another smash hit.

The Monkey King also stars many other great stars which include Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Joe Chen, Kelly Chen and Louis Fan, a real top star cast. In the novel, SunWukong (The Monkey King), is a monkey born from a stone who gathers supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After going against heaven and being captured under a mountain he later goes with the monk Xuanzang on a journey to retrieve Buddhist sutras from India. But in the first movie of the three scheduled, it shows the birth of SunWukong and how he was born and taught to use his special abilities during a time good and evil were at war on a distant Earth.

New technology in recent years like 3D should really bring out the characters in The Monkey King and capture the essence of the movie for the audience to experience the best Monkey King project to date. There has always been a big following of this character with many comics, TV series, movies, stage plays, manga cartoons, games which shows the power of The Monkey King and how highly regarded he is to audiences all over the world.

The movie has everything, a superb cast and crew, a world wide fan base which will support the movie and i have every faith this will live up to the hype that people have been talking about for a long time. Not only will this be a hit with Asian audiences, but a hit around the world and i am very excited that this is coming as a trilogy. This will deliver for audiences on the big screen, so when this is released, be sure to head down to your local cinema, grab your 3D glasses and sit back and enjoy the ride.
http://asianmoviepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/post/king-of-kung-fu-presents-the-interview-with-monkey-king-producer-michael-wehrhahn/mike.jpg

Background Information
Born in Northern New Jersey, Michael was introduced to the spotlight by his parents, highly regarded film archivists for networks such ABC ,NBC News and Republic Pictures. After several years of exposure to the bright lights of Hollywood, Michael began to act through his youth as a teen.

By his late Teens Michael has appeared in over a dozen motion pictures a half dozen television shows and directed his own exercise series. His first major appearance in a feature film was alongside World Renown Rapper Fat Joe playing “Alex Hunter” in Blazin’, one of the more popular Hong Kong orientated action Martial Art American made films’ of all time hitting the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks in a row.

In CBS’s Now & Again, as “Busker” his portrayal of a strung out homeless street entertainer on the streets of New York marked a dramatic evolution in his career. Then, in 1998, he appeared in the Kasuri Production Pocket Full Of Dreams, which established him on the big screen in selected countries in foreign countries.

After numerous extensive appearances on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’ Brien Show with Water World’s William Preston as an actor Michael proved he could perform his own stunts as well as act to entertain live audience around the world on national television for three seasons.

In late 1999 he has undertaken his most ambitious project ever: playing Billy Stevens in The Image Factory’s What’s Eating You?, a comedy horror film filled with Science fiction and virtual reality sets of mass proportion.

Other film projects include Treasure of the Seven Mummies, alongside Matt Schultz (Fast and the Furious), Billy Drago (The untouchables), Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever) and Danny trejo (Once Upon a time In Mexico) The Secret War alongside KC Armstrong and Jim Florentine (Howard Stern Show).

http://asianmoviepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/post/king-of-kung-fu-presents-the-interview-with-monkey-king-producer-michael-wehrhahn/monkey.jpg

At this point i would like to turn your intentions to the interview with Michael Wehrhahn, i would also like to thank him greatly for agreeing to do this and for also letting me use one of the first posters released for the movie. Also id like to say a big thanks to Robert Samuels for making this happen in the first place. I hope you guys enjoy the interview and take in what Michael has to say about the movie.

1.How did you first get involved with this movie and how did you feel before heading for the first day of shooting?

In 2007 after some successful co productions I was looking for new projects I was packaging several other films with good friends of mine in Hong Kong and a good friend asked me if Im interested in doing The Monkey King as a co production for the US. Originally since they already started production before joining them Global Star was just doing US distribution but due to the extreme special effects we came aboard as a co-production partnership to do all post production in the film and then designed two other films to make it a trilogy.

2.How familiar was you with the Monkey King character prior to filming?

I Always new The Monkey King (Sun WuKong) character because of my travels to China throughout the years. I actually attempted a pitch to the US studios in 2004 but they thought it was too risky and believed its only market was Art Houses. So if this was the market there was very little money to make the movie.

3.The Monkey King has such an all star cast, how did you find working with such amazing talent?

All the talent was amazing. I was really impressed by how fast the actors got into the characters. In the US actors prepare and prepare and prepare. Then they prep a lot to stay in character. The Monkey King Crew cast was like a light switch becoming there characters in a matter of a second. Donnie Yen was out of this world. Donnie came directly from another set the first day of The Monkey King and already was conditioned to play Sun Wu Kong and was flipping around and acting like a Monkey in which in the US there’s weeks of training then conditioning to perform the character. Just amazing talent.

4.How do you think the take on the film will be different to the novel and did the technical challenges take over or away from the plot or script?

Well first of all there’s three Movies. The first one we are releasing is the birth of SunWukong, how he was born and learned to use his special abilities during a time good and evil were at war on a distant Earth. This is not Journey to the West story of the Pilgrimage to India. The first Film is called “The Monkey King” The legend Begins. There are also two versions of this both have similar footage both from the traditional writings. We have added 1 or 2 characters to make it more marketable for a feature film.

The First China Version is in Mandarin keeping authentic to Chinese culture and Chinese style of film making. The second version or what we call the international US version is in English with a special guest well known US Celebrity appearing with extra characters and more scenes and special effects to market it on a broader market that’s not is as aware as china of the story therefore introducing it to the US Markets.

continued next post

[GeneChing]

Three movies. Extra characters. Hmph.

5.How did you find working on such a big movie, a movie with such high expectations?

I love film making and challenges. But this is far further than either. Producing this film on such a big budget and internationally working with different markets , politics, and finances. Very difficult but we have worked out the math and its going smoothly. We are working with over 4 dozen effects houses from around the world to create the CG in this film. We have an enormous amount of green screen in this movie as well as animated scenes. This is why its taking so long to complete. As for the High expectations we are doing the best we can and I’m a fan like everyone else. I put myself in the chair thinking like a fan to try to keep it as traditional and entertaining to as many people as possible.

6.During the movie, what are your real stand out moments and what was your favorite fight scene?

Sun WuKong always fights . Hes a fighting machine. So far I have two favorites. When Sun WuKong fights the Jade Army showing off his talents and the second is when he battles the Rock Monsters on Fruits and Flowers. Both super cool.

7.The Monkey King books features lots of mythology, have you read most of the titles and if so which ones would you recommended our readers?

I have been all over China as well as Thailand and Hong Kong researching The Monkey King stories. My favorites are the Chinese Classics Novels written during the Ming Dynasty based on the traditional folktales by (Wu Cheng’en). There’s a translated English version by by W.J.F Jenner on the market that’s tells the 100 chapters or so called Journey to the West. If your a comic book fan the comics done by TSAI CHIH CHUNG are very good and I personally own them as well.

8.In 10 years time, where would you like Global Star productions to be?

Global Star Productions been in business many years now. Our Family Roots were where Hollywood started in Fort Lee NJ. In ten years time I would just like the company to be known for great entertainment even if we do only a few really good releases. I’m a big fan of Disney and just want to help entertain the world universally. Maybe eventually have offices in Hong Kong or China.

9.I would also like to ask you about the upcoming movie Little Monk, is there much you can tell us about this and what we can expect?

The Little Monk is another movie we created as a co-production with China. Its also a trilogy and involves shooting in China as well as New York City. We have both very well know Hong Kong Actors in this as well as major A list US actors. This will be in two languages and the actors are doing the scenes in both to cut down on the dubbing in post.
There’s lots of Kung Fu in this and lots of action. although I cant release too much in the actors or story I do want to say there is a very well know Kung Fu actor in this leaving out Donnie and Jackie. You can see artwork for this at http://littlemonkmovie.com

10. Finally is there anything you would like to say to the readers at Asian movie Pulse, your fans and fans of The Monkey King?

I would like to tell the fans of The Monkey King that there will be a website called http://themonkeykingmovie.com in which will give you lots of info on the movies and whats going on. We also put together a Monkey King Social Network (http://monkeykingsocial.com ) (like Weibo and Facebook ) that will be a place to share your Monkey King Stories and share your comments , Monkey King Artwork and talk to other fans. A place to keep the stories alive as well as international . If you dislike something in part 1 please tell us on the social network as we will be taking feedback to better part 2. We created these worlds in which will have Monkey Games and actual movie scenes that you can personalize as yourself and have fun with it. The sites will be released in mid July.

I ask that the fans keep this alive so we can have more for the future. I’m a fan we must do this together. Thanks Asian Movie Pulse for everything.

Michael Wehrhahn

Here is a bio about Global Star productions.

In 1992 Michael Wehrhahn , son of late Larry Wehrhrhan (Republic Pictures, Fort Lee Film Storage) adapted from a family news archive and research storage business, creating and launching a multi functional corporation to develop, produce, and distribute superior inspirational films in which was called GLOBAL STAR PRODUCTIONS.

Global Star Productions known for its Hong Kong film making style techniques due its Asian roots of wire work and rigging with inferior action by its crew and well known action directors of the HKSA (Hong Kong Stuntmen Association) and superior teams from the best action in the business.

With strong attachments from Asia, Global Star Productions was able to incorporate Asian film making style visuals with Hollywood based film making and influence through some of the best Hollywood cinematics, animatics and CGI studios in the business. Global Star Production’s was successful in co producing with several productions to combine both countries specialties and influences.

In Late 1999 Global Star partnered up with SCREEN GEMS STUDIO’S in Wilmington North Carolina home of Dawsons Creek to assist in developmental projects, and maintain studio events alongside President Frank Capra and Vice President Gerrald Waller as well as assist in Those Hollywood Stunts and coordinate a stunt show for tourism on the studio lots.

Some of Global Star’s productional credits are “A Melody Looking” starring music legend Leon Lai “7 Mummies” starring (fast and the furious) Matt Shultz and (Once Upon a Time in Mexico) Daniel Trejo “BLAZIN” # 15 on the Bill board charts starring Fat Joe , Cuban Link , Angie Martinez “Secret War” starring KC Armstrong (Howard Stern show) and Jim Florentine (Crank Yankers)“Lord of the City” starring Marcos Miranda “Whats Eating You” and “The 25th Anniversary of Battlestar Galactica” reunion in Universal City CA.

Global Star’s in Production with several motion pictures today such as “The Monkey King” trilogy starring Donnie Yen and Chow Yun Fat, in development of numerous reality shows , cable shows and also in development of a new scifi epic feature with creator Richard Hatch called“Marsland2096”

So i hope everyone is now very excited for the release of The Monkey King and have enjoyed the interview with Michael, now sit back, click play on the trailer and spread the word to what surely will be a huge hit.

[GeneChing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHRbCTWDKGE


Donnie Yen Finds 'Monkey King' a Test of Endurance (http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/donnie-yen-finds-monkey-king-test-endurance-21410396)
HONG KONG January 3, 2014 (AP)

Donnie Yen found playing the Monkey King in the upcoming fantasy epic "The Monkey King" to be a test of endurance.

The action star spent six hours in the makeup chair daily during filming. "After the makeup is done, then comes the pressure of wearing the armor," he said. "It's very painful."

Yen and the film's director, Cheang Pou Sui, presented the latest trailer for the film at an event Friday in Hong Kong.

Yen, barely recognizable, is seen in full costume as the Monkey King fights off evil and shows off superpowers.

The story, based on Chinese mythology, is about the pilgrimage of the Monkey King, who accompanies a Buddhist monk to retrieve a sacred Buddhist text. The Monkey King battles the Bull Demon King, played by another Hong Kong A-lister, Aaron Kwok.

The 50-year-old Yen, whose films include Zhang Yimou's "Hero" and the comic Hollywood crossover "Shanghai Knights," acknowledges that his strength as a lean, mean fighting machine is not the same as before. But he said he still can fight the bad guys on the big screen.

"I think to shoot a movie takes stamina," he said. "I don't think that has anything to do with age. It's all right. At least I feel that in the past two years, my body has no aches and pains. I can still keep going."

"The Monkey King" also features Chow Yun Fat and Kelly Chan and will be released in China and Hong Kong on Jan. 30, before the Lunar New Year holiday.

Still on track for the end of this month.

[GeneChing]

I can hardly wait for this flick. I really hope it gets distributed in 3D in the US.

Chow Yun Fat teases Donnie Yen (http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/chow-yun-fat-teases-donnie-yen-025600373.html)
By Heidi Hsia | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo Newsroom – 14 hours ago

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/NpQko1v.ob53JKFWRwDbyA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zMDA7cT03NTt3PTQwMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_MY/News/YBrandCinemaOnline/7cn_chowyunfatteases00.jpg
Chow Yun Fat teases Donnie Yen

21 Jan – Chow Yun Fat poked fun at co-star Donnie Yen recently by expressing his hopes that the martial arts actor's temper would be better after filming "The Monkey King".
According to Mingpao, while speaking to the media at the movie's press conference in Beijing on 19 January alongside Donnie Yen and Aaron Kwok, Chow began innocently by saying, "Everyone used to say Donnie Yen was the strongest man in the universe. But after watching this film, they would realise that [Donnie's character] Sun Wukong is the best."
However, he mischievously added, "I hope that Donnie's temper would be better now that the film has finished."
Chow revealed that Donnie's temper was understandable, and revealed that not only did the actor had to sit several hours for his special effect make up, he also had to fight and choreographed others' action scenes.
Donnie laughed at this and replied, "I am extremely honoured to be able to work with Chow Yun Fat and Aaron Kwok. This is indeed a dream team. And because of Chow's high salary, he can't miss a single moment of production. He had to look cool when he appears."
Aaron then chipped in and said, "Donnie had a lot of work on his hand. He has a high demand and sometimes it would frustrate him when the crew can't coordinate and time was spent too much on coordination."
When asked about the incident on stage later that day, Donnie denied that they were bickering and said that everybody was joking.
"I would not be upset with what Chow said," said Donnie, who added that his two co-stars are experienced actors and needed less direction than others.

[GeneChing]

...been waiting so long for it...:rolleyes:


Donnie Yen says Monkey King performance inspired by watching his son play (http://ca.news.yahoo.com/donnie-yen-says-monkey-king-performance-inspired-watching-022937029.html)
By The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 14 hours ago

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/bLtmsw9tQC1TV6ErP6X.qg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDY7cT03NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_ca/News/Capress/XVY103-125_2014_000000_high.jpg
In this Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 photo, Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen gestures during an interview at a restaurant in Hong Kong. The action star plays the title role in the upcoming 3D film, "The Monkey King," which is loosely based on the classic Chinese folktale, "Journey to the West," where the Monkey King accompanies a Buddhist monk on a pilgrimage to retrieve a sacred Buddhist script. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)View Photo

HONG KONG - Actor Donnie Yen says his toddler son was his inspiration for his performance in "The Monkey King."

The action star plays the title role in the 3D film, "The Monkey King," loosely based on a classic Chinese folktale where the Monkey King accompanies a Buddhist monk on a pilgrimage to retrieve a sacred Buddhist script.

The movie opens in Hong Kong on Thursday and in the rest of China on Friday in a bid to capture box office sales at the start of the Chinese New Year holiday period.

It is a popular story that has been told numerous times on the small and big screen, and many actors have played the part before.

But instead of looking to those past performances, Yen watched his young son, who was 3 years old at the time, playing at home.

"He was hopping around from couches to couches, this sofa to that sofa, very active," Yen said. "I saw my son running around, jumping around, just acting like any other active child and I said to myself 'you know, this is the essence that I wanted to kind of preserve' ... the Monkey King's, his purity, his youth, his childhood-like, his — the whole innocence of his character."

While it was easy to get inspiration from his son, it was not as much fun for Yen to put on the full-body monkey suit with prosthetic make up.

"The hardest part was that once you have that full on make up, you can't eat, you can't eat normally ... and you can only drink liquids out of a straw," he said in an interview.

Yen also denied rumours the he was no longer involved in the sequel to Ang Lee's classic martial arts film, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

But he said the script is still being written.

[PalmStriker]

:) This film is going to make Yen, Chow Yun Fat and Aaron Kwok IMMORTAL! Now Yen is ready for his role in CTHD!

[doug maverick]

45mil US. world wide... this might be donnies biggest hits..unfortunately all the reviews are pretty bad.

[GeneChing]

Monkey King has record opening in China (http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/monkey-king-has-record-opening-in-china)
By Kevin Ma
http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIsMjAxNC8wMi8wMS8wNC80Mi8xNi81MDkvbW 9ua2V5X2tpbmcuanBnBjoGRVRbCDoGcDoKdGh1bWJJIg01MDB4 MTAwMAY7BlQ?suffix=.jpg&sha=7ed3c036
Sat, 01 February 2014, 20:45 PM (HKT)
Box Office News

The Monkey King 西遊記之大鬧天宮 had a record-breaking opening day at the China box office on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Released in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, the big-budget fantasy film – based on the early chapters of Journey of the West – made RMB121 million (US$20.0 million) from 2.81 million admissions on approximately 8,600 screens. Including previews, it has made a total of RMB123 million (US$20.2 million).

The Soi CHEANG 鄭保瑞 film, starring Donnie YEN 甄子丹, broke Iron Man 3's RMB105 million (US$17.3 million) record to set a new all-time high for opening day gross. It also set the record for the highest gross for a film on Lunar New Years day and the fastest domestic film to cross the RMB100 million (US$16.5 million) mark.

It accounted for approximately 34.9% of all screenings nationwide.

Where are We Going, Dad? 爸爸去哪兒, the feature film expansion of the hit reality show, also opened huge. From 2.76 million admissions, the documentary – featuring the show's original cast — made RMB88.2 million (US$14.6 million), beating Tiny Times 1 小時代 to become the best opening day gross for a Chinese 2-D film.

At an average of 87 admissions per screening, it also secured a higher per-screening admissions than The Monkey King, which had 81 admissions per screening.

Gambling comedy From Vegas to Macau 賭城風雲 was third-placed with RMB24.8 million (US$4.09 million) from 752,000 admissions, including previews. The CHOW Yun-fat 周潤發-starrer accounted for 19.5% of all screenings. It was reportedly the second-placed film in Hong Kong yesterday, behind Golden Chickensss 金雞ｓｓｓ.

After making RMB8.06 (US$1.33 million) from single-day previews last weekend, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation 華誼兄弟傳媒股份有限公司' Ex-Files 前任攻略 opened with only RMB5.65 million (US$932,000) from 166,000 admissions yesterday. The romantic comedy, starring popular actors HAN Geng 韓庚 and Ryan ZHENG 鄭愷, accounted for only 10.4% of all screenings on opening day.

Despite State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) 國家新聞出版廣電總局's recent efforts to stop cinemas from under-reporting box office income, netizens have been posting photos of Monkey King and Where Are We Going, Dad? tickets with incorrect ticket price and handwritten information on Sina's Weibo microblog. On its official Weibo, distributor Beijing Enlight Pictures Co Ltd 北京光線影業有限公司 vows to closely monitor the situation.

Last year, Stephen CHOW 周星馳's Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 西游　降魔篇, a prequel to the Monkey King mythology, was the top film during the seven-day holiday with RMB510 million (US$84.1 million). It ends its run with RMB1.24 billion (US$204 million) on the Mainland, including a major box office takings boost on Valentine's Day.

Still wondering if it'll play in the U.S.

[GeneChing]

Film Review: ‘The Monkey King in 3D’ (http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-chinese-blockbuster-the-monkey-king-1201080253/)
http://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/monkeyking.jpg?w=640&h=360&crop=1
The Monkey King
January 31, 2014 | 02:18PM PT
Hong Kong helmer Soi Cheang infuses a simplistic, action-driven narrative with inexhaustible energy, but little style or substance.
Maggie Lee
@maggiesama

More than three years in the making, and easily the most ambitious cinematic rendition yet of Wu Cheng’en’s 16th-century Chinese epic “Journey to the West,” “The Monkey King in 3D” nonetheless can’t match the technical refinement or storytelling smarts of its Hollywood counterparts. Hong Kong helmer Soi Cheang infuses a simplistic, action-driven narrative with inexhaustible energy, but one expects greater stylistic flair and substance from the veteran helmer behind “Motorway” and “Dog Bites Dog.” Still, this CG-cluttered fantasy epic will still do well if marketed as family entertainment; opening on multiple Imax screens at home, it’s already expected to break Chinese New Year B.O. records.

Chinese viewers will be compelled to compare “The Monkey King” with Stephen Chow’s recent “Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons”; while that film filled in the gaps of Xuanzang’s early life, this one traces the path that led Monkey to become the monk’s disciple. Admittedly, Chow’s humor and brilliantly subversive instincts are inimitable, but the collaboration of four scribes here has nevertheless produced a shallow, juvenile screenplay that plays like “Journey to the West for Beginners,” with borderline-cardboard characters.

The pic kicks off in high gear with an apocalyptic turf war between the deities and demons, rendered in six minutes of nonstop, “Transformers”-style mayhem during which both sides seem less intent on defeating each other than simply smashing the surrounding celestial architecture to smithereens. The deities prevail, led by Jade Emperor (Chow Yun-fat), whose sister, Princess Iron Fan (Joe Chen), pleads for the life of rebel leader Bull Demon King (Aaron Kwok), whom she loves. The couple is banished, along with the whole demon tribe, to Flaming Mountain.

The task of postwar reconstruction falls on the shoulders of goddess Nuwa (Zhang Zilin), who gives up her own body to fill the cracks in the firmament (don’t ask how). What’s left of her afterward is a pink, Kryptonite-ish substance that falls to Earth and enables the genesis of a primate embryo. And so Monkey is born.

While living inside his bubble, the infant Monkey is befriended by a snowy fox. When he grows up (now by Donnie Yen), he re-encounters the fox in the form of a pretty, fur-clad girl, Ruxue (Xia Zitong). They fall in love, entwining tails like in an old Disney cartoon, blissfully unaware that Bull has other plans for them in his scheme to retake the Heavenly Palace. Meanwhile, the Goddess of Mercy (Kelly Chen) sends Taoist master Puti (Hai Yitian) to be Monkey’s mentor and teach him magic. Unfortunately, Puti is not much of a disciplinarian, and his pupil, now called Sun Wukong, becomes naughtier than ever.

For more than 100 minutes, Wukong goes on a series of adventures, which invariably involve him vandalizing deity property like the Eastern Sea Palace, Jade Emperor’s celestial stable, or the fairy peach grove. Most Chinese kids know these chapters by heart, and there’s no new take here; the only novelty is that the effects are splashier in such a movie adaptation, with CGI so pervasive that one sometimes forgets they’re watching a live-action film.

“Journey to the West” was one of the few ancient classics not branded “revisionist” when the Chinese Communist Party took power: During the Cultural Revolution, in such propaganda films as the animated “Uproar in Heaven,” the Monkey King was celebrated as a role model for Red Guards — an anarchic force of nature that rose up against the ruling elite. In Jeff Lau’s “Chinese Odyssey” series, made on the eve of Hong Kong’s handover to China, the Monkey King was portrayed as an Everyman at the mercy of history, grappling with existential questions.

This current blockbuster incarnation, by contrast, is arguably the most vanilla of the bunch, portraying Monkey/Wukong as playful rather than rebellious, and only a threat to the social order when treacherously provoked. All of which makes him friendlier to a tyke audience, but it provides Yen with little room to flex his acting muscles or otherwise emote effectively; in fact, the thesp looks unrecognizable in his hairy suit and heavy makeup.

Jade Emperor is as majestic and magnanimous as any absolute ruler can get, but it’s a dull role, and Chow’s attempts to enliven it through occasional banter with Wukong come to naught. Kwow looks sexier than one might expect for a man with horns jutting out of his forehead, but his vengeful Bull is one of the flattest roles he’s played. Bull’s accomplice, the three-eyed celestial gatekeeper Erlangshen (Peter Ho), proves the most intriguing and psychologically persuasive character here, essentially a disgruntled employee who’s been denied a promotion or pay rise for several centuries.

Yang Tao and Cheung Man-po’s compositions and the computer illustrations (by more than a dozen vfx companies) boast a geometry inspired by traditional Chinese art, notably in a scene where a pack of flying horses form a beautiful symmetrical pattern in the sky. However, many of the visuals are oversaturated and simply sub-standard, resembling cheap computer-game fare; most annoyingly, the fight scenes are often obscured by scattered debris. The creature design ranges from magnificent to kitschy.

With so much animation crowding the background, the terrific high-wire action (directed by Yen) is frequently upstaged. Production design is sumptuous when it comes to the various heavenly and underwater habitats, but inexcusably slack in its evocation of the hellish Flaming Mountain, which consists of only two sets: a dreary, charred cave interior and a sooty pit.
Film Review: 'The Monkey King in 3D'

Reviewed at UA Windsor Cinema, Hong Kong, Jan. 30, 2014. Running time: 119 MIN. Original title: "Xiyouji zhi da nao tiangong"
Production

(Hong Kong-China) A Filmko Entertainment, Newport Entertainment (in Hong Kong)/Beijing Anshi Naying Culture Co., China Film Group, Wanda Media (in China) release of a Filmko Entertainment, Mandarin Films Co., China Film Group presentation of a Filmko Entertainment, Shenzhen Golden Shores Films production in association with Zhejiang HG Entertainment Co., Shenzhen Golden Shores Films, Dongguan Boning Entreprise and Investment Co. (International sales: Filmko Entertainment, Hong Kong.) Produced by Kiefer Liu. Executive producers, Kiefer Liu, Zhao Haicheng, Chen Jingshi, Luo Qi, Han Lei, Ye Dewei, Zhang Quanxin, Hou Li. Co-executive producers, Xu Yong'an, Chen Canqiu, Keefer Liu, Harvey Wong.
Crew

Directed by Soi Cheang. Screenplay, Szeto Kam-yuen, Edmund Wong, Huo Xin, Dali Chen. Camera (color, widescreen, HD, 3D), Yang Tao, Cheung Man-po; editor, Cheung Ka-fai; music/music supervisor, Christopher Young ; production designer, Daniel Fu; art director, Yang Changzhi; set decorators, Zhang Haiwang, Zhao Zhanli; costume designers, William Cheung, Yee Chung-man, Guo Pei, Lee Pik-kwan; sound (Dolby Digital), Jay Yin; re-recording mixers, Steve Burgess, Chris Goodes; special makeup, Shaun Smith, Mark Philip Garbarino; visual effects supervisor, Kevin Rafferty, Ding Libo, Kim Wook, Kim Jung-hoon, Patrick Kim, Kim Chan-goo, Park Myung-song, Lee In-ho, Li Rui, Shin Chang-dong, Eric Xu, Rita Shi, Fort Guo, Billy Zhuang, Chris Q Yao, Adrian Chen, Jiang Weibin, David Ebner, Jeff Goldman; visual effects, GS VFX, Dexter China VFX, Dexter Digital, CJ Powercast, Idea, Macrograph, Illumina VFX, Wuji LMZ Art&Design, Mad Man, Digital Studio 21, More VFX, Revo Fx, Technicolor, PO Beijing, Studio 51, Lucky Dog, TWR Entertainment, Z Storm, DEVFX, the Resistance Visual Effects; stereoscopic supervisors, Daniel L. Symmes, Keith Collea; action director, Donnie Yen; stunt coordinators, Kenji Tanigaki, Yan Hua; assistant director, Mai Yonglin, Vash Yan; Casting, Liu Shiliu, Liu Sasa.
With

Donnie Yen, Aaron Kwok, Chow Yun-fat, Peter Ho, Hai Yitian, Xia Zitong, Joe Chen, Kelly Chen, Gigi Leung, Zhang Zilin, Calvin Cheng, Cheung Siu-fai. (Cantonese dialogue)
So wait. No Pig, Sandy or Sanzang? :(

[GeneChing]

Such is the power of Chinese cinema now

‘Monkey King’ Reigns At China And Global Box Office (http://variety.com/2014/film/news/monkey-king-reigns-at-china-and-global-box-office-1201083571/)
FEBRUARY 2, 2014 | 07:20PM PT
Patrick Frater
Asia Bureau Chief
HONG KONG — “The Monkey King,” a vfx-heavy re-telling of part of the classic “Journey To The West” tale dominated the Chinese New Year box office — and took top spot in the global rankings.

According to local sources, the picture claimed RMB216 million or US$35.4 million in its first two days of release (Jan. 31-Feb 1). Data is necessarily preliminary as China is largely closed for the prolonged holiday period. Overseas tracking agency Rentrak estimates a $46 million three day (Friday-Sunday) cumulative total in the seven territories that “Monkey King” opened.

The Hong Kong-made production directed by Soi Pou-cheang and starring Donnie Yen, Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwok, enjoyed a 30% market share and beat off TV show adaptation “Dad, Where Are We Going?” Released only in China “Dad” scored RMB171 million ($28 million) to Saturday according to local data, and $34 million through Sunday, according to Rentrak estimates.

The film scored particularly strongly on the huge circuit of Imax screens in China. Opening on 140 Imax Middle Kingdom screens it kicked off with a $1.8 million opening day, beating the $1.5 million score of “Iron Man 3.” Imax estimates that it will complete the weekend with a $4.5 million cume.

“Specifically, Friday is now our biggest Imax day ever, for either a Hollywood or Chinese title,” Imax Entertainment CEO Greg Foster, told Variety.

The Rentrak worldwide data also underlines the growing importance of the Chinese box office. The top film in North America, “Ride Along” this weekend grossed $12.3 million according to Rentrak.

Chinese New Year, which is tied to the lunar new year and shifts between January and February, is a high point in the Chinese cinema year, along with the pre-Christmas month of December.

After a relatively weak December 2013, analysts will be carefully scrutinizing the overall size of the two week Chinese New Year box office period – not just the individual winners.





What's the biggest film in the world right now? Hint: It’s Chinese (http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/what-s-the-biggest-film-in-the-world-right-now--hint--it-s-chinese-112101626.html)
The Monkey King made more money than The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle this weekend, without even having a global release.
By Tom Butler | Yahoo UK Movies News – 6 hours ago

As the Oscars loom on the horizon, it would be easy to think that one of the front-runners would be dominating the global box office – maybe 'The Wolf of Wall Street’ or David O. Russell’s 'American Hustle’.

No, the biggest film at the global box office right now is ‘The Monkey King’, never heard of it? Don’t worry, neither had we until we saw the results of the hotly-contested Chinese New Year box office battle.

The special effects extravaganza (which looks epic, watch the trailer above), based on a passage from the classical novel ’Journey To The West’, opened in just seven regions on January 31st, raking in an estimated £28m over a three day period.

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/wI.db.PlzLd6T1GygefmqQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/movies/2014-02-04/1c8ffc0c-72bc-4816-af3f-fe192f984d5d_Monkey-King-chinese-box-office.jpg
Go ape... Donnie Yen as The Monkey King (Credit: Global Star Productions)

In comparison, the highest-grossing film at the US box office ‘Ride Along' took £7.3m over the same period, in its third week of release.

Chinese New Year is historically one of the most profitable weekends in the Chinese cinema year, so it's no surprise a home-grown film took home the lion's (or should that be monkey's?) share.

The data from international box office tracking agency Rentrak also shows that ‘The Monkey King’ performed well on IMAX screens taking £1.1m on the Friday along, beating the record for opening day takings of £918,000 previously held by ‘Iron Man 3’.

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/sjqMbyDJQDepeg277KLmIw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/movies/2014-02-04/773c4133-a10d-428a-a508-530ee3882e3a_monkey-king-poster.jpg
Epic... The film's poster is suitably dramatic (Credit: Global Star Productions)

The Hong Kong-made feature which stars Asian cinema heavyweights Donnie Yen (‘Ip Man’, ‘Hero’) and Chow Yun-Fat (‘Hard Boiled’, ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’), tells the story of how the Monkey King (Yen) rebels against the Jade Emperor of Heaven.

‘The Monkey King’ does not currently have a UK release date, but it’s heading to US cinemas in September. SEPTEMBER! Wait...September?!?

[ghostexorcist]

So wait. No Pig, Sandy or Sanzang? :(

The rebellion takes place over the first 7 chapters of Xiyouji. Sanzang doesn't come in until the 9th chapter, and the disciples some time after that. From the review, it sounds like they reworked the original storyline. I don't understand why they have to change a good thing. I'm still going to watch it the first chance I get, though. I don't particularly trust the reviewer's judgement since he casts Stephen Chow's last film in a positive light. I hate to say this--I'm a huge Stephen Chow fan--but I did not like it.

[GeneChing]

...and Pig helps. But you are right, ghostexorcist. This might be based on the earlier confrontation between Monkey and the Bull Demon King. Or even a complete revision. We'll see...hopefully earlier than September. ;)

[GeneChing]

...Dragon (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?58073-Dragon-aka-Swordsman-aka-Wu-Xia)

Meanwhile, back to our topic... ;)


Monkey King heads record-breaking New Year (http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/monkey-king-heads-record-breaking-new-year)
By Kevin Ma
Sat, 08 February 2014, 09:30 AM (HKT)
Box Office News

http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIwMjAxNC8wMi8wNy8xNS80NC8yMi8zMzUvdG hlX21vbmtleV9raW5nLmpwZwY6BkVUWwg6BnA6CnRodW1iSSIN NTAweDEwMDAGOwZU?suffix=.jpg&sha=ea2a8855

The year of the horse got off to a prosperous start for the Chinese film industry with two record-breaking openings during the 7-day Lunar New Year holiday.

After shattering opening day records, fantasy film The Monkey King 西遊記之大鬧天宮 made a total of RMB619 million (US$102 million) from approximately 12.4 million admissions over the seven-day holiday. The RMB500 million (US$82.5 million) film accounted for about 30% for all screenings nationwide.

On 5 Feb, IMAX Corporation announced that The Monkey King made US$1.8 million on 31 Jan from Chinese IMAX screens, breaking the US$1.5 million single-day record previously set by Iron Man 3.

However, Beijing Enlight Pictures Co Ltd 北京光線影業有限公司's Where Are We Going, Dad? 爸爸去哪兒 was the true surprise of the holiday. From approximately 14.3 million admissions, the feature-length version of the hit reality show made RMB474 million (US$78.1 million) on its first seven days of release.

In addition to setting a new opening day record for a 2-D film, Dad has also set a new record as China's highest grossing documentary of all time. Like the television show, the film version features five celebrity fathers completing a mission with their children. The film was reportedly shot over five days in a Guangzhou safari park.

However, Dad has also come under attack from film critics, who criticised Enlight and filmmakers (including producer TENG Huatao 滕華濤) for simply putting a television reality show in cinemas. Director XIE Dikui 謝滌葵 has since defended the film to local media, accusing critics of undermining the hard work of the crew.

WONG Jing 王晶's From Vegas to Macau 賭城風雲 was a distant third, grossing RMB182 million (US$30 million) on its first seven days of release. It has already surpassed The Last Tycoon 大上海 (2012)'s RMB149 million (US$24.6 millon) gross to become the Hong Kong director's highest grossing film in Mainland China.

Despite a weak RMB5.65 million (US$932,000) opening, Huayi Brothers' Ex-Files 前任攻略 maintained steady throughout the holiday. After seven days on release, the romantic comedy has made RMB42.9 million (US$7.07 million), despite having only 5% of all screenings for most of the holiday period.

Opening on 5 Feb, in time for the final two days of the holiday, Disney's Frozen made RMB34.5 million (US$5.7 million) from approximately 934,000 admissions on its first two days of release.

According to local media, total box office revenue for the holiday is approximately RMB1.41 billion (US$232 million). This represents a year-on-year increase of 86%. Total admission is estimated at 39 million from 84,300 screenings.

With a combined gross of RMB1.09 billion (US$180 million), The Monkey King and Where Are We Going, Dad? had a combined 77.5% market share. Both films topped the global box office chart over the weekend just from their domestic gross.

[GeneChing]

I appreciate your deletion here and repost there (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?58073-Dragon-aka-Swordsman-aka-Wu-Xia&p=1261546#post1261546). Keeps things tidy. Thanks for that. :)


Monkey King maintains reign at China B.O. (http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/monkey-king-maintains-reign-at-china-bo)
By Kevin Ma
Tue, 11 February 2014, 15:30 PM (HKT)

http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIsMjAxNC8wMi8xMC8yMy8xOC81Mi8xNTMvbW 9ua2V5X2tpbmcuanBnBjoGRVRbCDoGcDoKdGh1bWJJIg01MDB4 MTAwMAY7BlQ?suffix=.jpg&sha=35f73e3d

Box Office News
Lunar New Year films remained the most popular attractions in Greater China cinemas this weekend.

Friday and Saturday were workdays in Mainland China, but it didn't stop audiences from going to the cinemas. The Monkey King 西遊記之大鬧天宮 dominated box office for the second weekend, making RMB146 million (US$24.1 million) from approximately 3.47 million admissions between Friday and Sunday.

After 10 days on release, the 3-D fantasy epic has made RMB766 million (US$126 million), making it the fourth highest grossing domestic film of all time.

Reality show extension Where Are We Going, Dad? 爸爸去哪兒 also continued its phenomenal run, making RMB97.3 million (US$16.1 million) from 3 million admissions in its second weekend. It has made RMB571 million (US$94.2 million). It is expected to become the ten highest grossing domestic films this week.

WONG Jing 王晶's From Vegas to Macau 賭城風雲 made RMB85.2 million (US$14.1 million) in its second weekend for a total of RMB267 million (US$44.1 million) after ten days on release. Despite the end of the holidays, the CHOW Yun-fat 周潤發 comedy still managed a week-on-week increase of 22%.

Another film that experienced an increase in its second weekend is romantic comedy Ex-Files 前任攻略. With a week-on-week increase of 39%, the Huayi Brothers Media Corporation 華誼兄弟傳媒股份有限公司 release made RMB19.7 million (US$3.25 million) this weekend. After 10 days on release (plus a single-day of preview screenings), it has made RMB62.6 million (US$10.3 million).

Opening on 5 Feb, Disney's Frozen was fourth-placed this weekend with RMB51 million (US$8.42 million). After five days on release, the 3-D animated fantasy had made RMB85.5 million (US$14.1 million). It is already the highest grossing non-Pixar Disney animated film in China. In 2012, Wreck-It Ralph (2012) made RMB29.3 million (US$4.83 million) in its first six days of release for a total of RMB63.6 million (US$10.3 million).

In Hong Kong, The Lego Movie dethroned Golden Chickensss 金雞ｓｓｓ as the top film over the weekend. From 38 locations, the animated comedy – released in 2-D and 3-D – made HK$7.83 million (US$1.01 million) in its first four days of release.

Golden Chickensss was second-placed as the top local film, making an additional HK$6.91 million (US$890,000) from 42 locations. After 11 days on release, the comedy has made HK$32.3 million (US$4.16 million).

A new extended version of the Matt CHOW 鄒凱光 film – featuring previously deleted scenes and new scenes shot over the weekend — is set to be released in local cinemas this week. (See separate story)

After 11 days on release, From Vegas to Macau has made HK$28.8 million (US$3.71 million), The Monkey King has made HK$23.5 million (US$3.03 million) and Hello Babies 六福喜事 has made HK$15.8 million (US$2.04 million).


In Taiwan, local comedy Twa-tiu-tiann 大稻埕 topped the box office for the second weekend, making NT$8.95 million (US$295,000) in Taipei. After 11 days on release, it has made NT$45.1 million (US$1.49 million) in the capital city. Local media reports that it has made over NT$120 million (US$3.96 million) nationwide.

The Monkey King was fourth place behind RoboCop and The Lego Movie, making NT$6.31 million (US$208,000) in its first three days of release.

After two weekends, Golden Chickensss – dubbed in local dialect with the voice of Zone Pro Site 總舖師 actress LIN Mei-hsiu 林美秀 as Sandra NG 吳君如's character – has made NT$4.18 million (US$138,000). After three weekends, comedy Lion Dancing 鐵獅遇玲瓏 has made NT$14.3 million (US$471,000).

[GeneChing]

That's 163,956,000.00 USD today.


Monkey King joins billion yuan club (http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/monkey-king-joins-billion-yuan-club)
http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIsMjAxNC8wMi8yMy8wMC8zMy80NS83OTEvbW 9ua2V5X2tpbmcuanBnBjoGRVRbCDoGcDoKdGh1bWJJIg01MDB4 MTAwMAY7BlQ?suffix=.jpg&sha=ab8c98c9
By Kevin Ma
Sun, 23 February 2014, 16:40 PM (HKT)
Box Office News

3-D fantasy The Monkey King 西遊記之大鬧天宮 passed the RMB1 billion (US$164 million) mark yesterday at the Mainland China box office, the third Chinese-language film to so and the fifth film overall.

After 23 days on release, it has made RMB1.01 billion (US$165 million)

Last year, both Lost in Thailand 人再囧途之泰囧 (2012) and Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons 西游　降魔篇 crossed that milestone. They joined Avatar (2009) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011). See chart below.

With competition from The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug this weekend, and the second weekend of Beijing Love Story 北京愛情故事, it's not likely that Monkey King will reach the box office heights of Thailand or Journey in the coming weeks.

Filmko Pictures Ltd 星皓娛樂有限公司 recently announced that it is planning a Monkey King sequel for Lunar New Year 2016. According to local media, Hong Kong's Louis KOO 古天樂 is on board as monk Xuanzang (a.k.a. Tripitaka).


CHINA TOP TEN BOX OFFICE

Avatar; RMB1.39 billion (US$228 million)
Lost in Thailand; RMB1.26 billion (US$208 million)
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons; RMB1.23 billion (US$202 million)
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon; RMB1.11 billion (US$182 million)
The Monkey King; RMB1.01 billion (US$165 million)
Titanic (1997); RMB977 million (US$160 million)
CZ12 十二生肖 (2012); RMB880 million (US$144 million)
Iron Man 3; RMB753 million (US$124 million)
Painted Skin: The Resurrection 畫皮Ⅱ (2012); RMB727 million (US$119 million)
So Young 致我們終將逝去的青春; RMB718 million (US$118 million)

[ghostexorcist]

I'm over half way through the movie and I have to say that I don't like it so far. It deviates way too much from the novel, it bounces around too much, and Monkey is a bit of a wuss. Let's hope it gets better towards the end.

[ghostexorcist]

I'm over half way through the movie and I have to say that I don't like it so far. It deviates way too much from the novel, it bounces around too much, and Monkey is a bit of a wuss. Let's hope it gets better towards the end.

The end had some interesting battles, but the overall film is a disjointed mess. I'm greatly disappointed.

[GeneChing]

It's implausible to try to divorce this from last year's CNY blockbuster JTTW: Conquering Demons (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?61200-Stephan-Chow-s-Journey-to-the-West-Conquering-Demons). Both are the creation myths revised and deviated. Both are effects heavy to the point of overwhelming the story. Both have a lot of eye-candy, but little nutritious value. Both capture a bit of Monkey, but miss the mark overall. This one has better fights, but isn't as funny. I'm sure I would enjoy seeing the finale fight in IMAX 3D. We'll see if part 2 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?67299-Monkey-King-2) comes off better.

[GeneChing]

Monkey Business: Donnie Yen Channels his Inner Ape as Sun Wukong in THE MONKEY KING: HAVOC IN HEAVENLY PALACE (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1280) by Lori Ann White