The Four

[GeneChing]

Trailer 24.04.2012 四大名捕 先行版预告片 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZH6IH9JCus)


Wuxia Drama "The Four" Slated for Release in July (http://www.chinesefilms.cn/141/2012/04/25/141s9044.htm)
2012-04-25 17:05:48 Chinese Films
http://www.chinesefilms.cn/mmsource/images/2012/04/25/4115e331cded4d4880f3cc4f18d74964.jpg
Director Gordon Chan and Wang Changtian, CEO of Enlight Media, along with lead actors Deng Chao, Liu Yifei, Jiang Yiyan, Cheng Taishen, Bao Beier and Japanese actor Ryu Kohata, attended the event. [Photo: Mtime.com]

"The Four", produced by Enlight Media and considered one of the most highly-anticipated wuxia films in 2012, held a news conference in Beijing yesterday, Mtime.com reports.

Director Gordon Chan and Wang Changtian, CEO of Enlight Media, along with lead actors Deng Chao, Liu Yifei, Jiang Yiyan, Cheng Taishen, Bao Beier and Japanese actor Ryu Kohata, attended the event.

The first trailer for the film was unveiled, and it gave a glimpse of the four detectives' special skills.

Co-directed by Gordon Chan and Janet Chun and adapted from Wen Ruian's famous novel of the same name, "The Four" is Gordon Chan's first wuxia drama. His previous works such as "King of Beggars" and "Cat and Mouse" involved some wuxia elements, but this was obviously overshadowed by their comedic elements.

"I never shoot real wuxia films. In this field, my best teacher was Tsui Hark, and I don't dare get involved in this casually. I hope my teacher is able to see my efforts in this film," Chan said.

Wang Changtian, CEO of Enlight Media, and Gordon Chan announced together at the end of the conference that "The Four" is set to hit mainland screens on during the summer holiday slots on July 12, going up against Lu Chuan's costume war epic "The Last Supper" set to release on July 5.

Wang also stated that "The Four" is set to develop into a trilogy.

"I am crazy about wuxia. In negotiations with the novel's author, Wen Ruian, we intended to shoot a trilogy. As a result, the second and the third installments have started shooting before the first one's release."

By Liu Shuai Been wondering when we might see Crystal Liu in another wuxia.

[GeneChing]

"The Four" 60 sec trailer featuring Crystal Liu Yi Fei (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_aFYokbJI0)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgQqXwsGarY/T6sM3K2mr1I/AAAAAAAApAQ/m8cIzLOUW1M/s1600/the+four+concept+poster.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rFeshtJTpGE/T6sNsaHEwaI/AAAAAAAApAY/BW9RyhJ4vik/s400/the+four+poster+a.jpg

With Anthony Wong and Collin Chou too. :)

[doug maverick]

this reminds me of the andy seto comic book, the four constables...which was a really badass, kung fu comic book series about four constables(the leader being a cripple who was master of projectiles) it was short lived...but really freaking good.

[Hebrew Hammer]

This looks freaking cool, I always like adding a little of the supernatural to these flicks...can't wait. Now if we can add some Martial Arts Vampires...you would think Vampires would make for great Ninjas.

[Lucas]

This looks freaking cool, I always like adding a little of the supernatural to these flicks...can't wait. Now if we can add some Martial Arts Vampires...you would think Vampires would make for great Ninjas.

its funny that you mention that, in highschool i did a mini comic for my final art project about a ninja vampire.

[Hebrew Hammer]

its funny that you mention that, in highschool i did a mini comic for my final art project about a ninja vampire.

Lucas you complete me.

[GeneChing]

The character posters are up. I'm only posting Crystal's. Follow the link for the rest.


Character Posters Revealed for "The Four" (http://www.chinesefilms.cn/141/2012/05/22/241s9637.htm)
2012-05-22 16:13:02 Chinese Films
http://www.chinesefilms.cn/mmsource/images/2012/05/22/fd63118ab44948c58063fee671d7c2f2.jpg
The production company from "The Four" released a series of posters featuring characters in the film, Mtime.com reports.

"The Four", adapted from Wen Ruian's classic novel, is tagged as a supernatural wuxia film, a new area for this genre.

"The definition of supernatural wuxia is that the characters are equipped with supernatural power. At first, I feared that Wen Ruian would disagree with this idea. But he said yes and encouraged me to go ahead," director Gordan Chan said regarding this film.

The release date has been confirmed for July 12.

By Ma Sicong

[GeneChing]

四大名捕 (The Four) (2012) Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg-NzEd5eXI)

[GeneChing]

《四大名捕》120分钟预告 - In Cinemas 26 July 2012, Malaysia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR7XsgOvOSA)

[GeneChing]

What is it with Chinese flicks promoting with women bathing scenes (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1170638#post1170638)? Not that I mind...

7 more pix if you follow the link, but this is the pick of the litter.

"The Four" Unveils Pulsing Bathing Scenes (http://www.chinesefilms.cn/141/2012/07/03/122s10468_1.htm)
2012-07-03 14:16:17 http://www.chinesefilms.cn/mmsource/images/2012/07/03/8f1eb683c38c46e29791c2e397b35b31.jpg

Wait...pulsing? :confused:

[Lucas]

Lucas you complete me.

lol i just saw this.

[sanjuro_ronin]

What is it with Chinese flicks promoting with women bathing scenes (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1170638#post1170638)? Not that I mind...

7 more pix if you follow the link, but this is the pick of the litter.


Wait...pulsing? :confused:

Good times, good times :D

[GeneChing]

lol i just saw this. You two should get a bath!*



*only funny in context of this post (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1178031#post1178031) and then, only marginally so...

[SimonM]

Yeah, I'll watch that one.

[GeneChing]

The Four 四大名捕 (http://www.filmbiz.asia/reviews/the-four)
Hong Kong/China
Costume fantasy action
2012, colour, 2.35:1, 117 mins

http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIlMjAxMi8wNy8xOC8xNi8yNC8yMi83NDEvZm 91ci5qcGcGOgZFVFsIOgZwOgp0aHVtYkkiDTUwMHgxMDAwBjsG VA?suffix=.jpg&sha=a46c00a7
Directed by Gordon Chan (陳嘉上), Janet Chun (秦小珍)
The Four

By Derek Elley

Thu, 19 July 2012, 16:50 PM (HKT)

Standard, rather old-fashioned, martial arts mystery generates no real drama. Asian and genre events.
Story

A city in Ancient China. Six female martial artists, led by Penglai expert Ji Yaohua (Jiang Yiyan), report for duty to Department Six, a powerful state security organisation run by Lord Liu (Cheng Taishen). Yaohua and her group are assigned to Fourth Constable Han Long (Michael Tong) for a case involving a coin cast stolen from the Imperial Mint by Jia San (Tenky Tin). They surround Drunken Moon Inn where Jia San is arriving to sell the cast; but many other interested parties are also there that night and in the fighting and confusion Jia San escapes. Among those also present are professional debt collector Cui Lueshang (Ronald Cheng) and members of a secret investigative organisation, Divine Constabulary, which is personally sanctioned by a royal prince (Waise Lee) and outranks Department Six. Though the coin cast is recovered, Department Six takes over the running of the Imperial Mint and the Treasury Minister, Lord Xu (Zhang Songwen), is sacked. Following the death of Han Long, Yaohua is given his post, though she in fact secretly works for Lord An Shigeng (Wu Xiubo), a shipping magnate with special powers who is hatching a dastardly plan. Lord Liu suspends one of his constables, Leng Lingqi (Deng Chao), from duty for a breach of discipline but secretly tells him to infiltrate the Divine Constabulary, which he doesn't trust. Yaohua, who is attracted to Lingqi, overhears their conversation. Lingqi joins the small organisation, which is run by Zhuge Zhengwo (Anthony Wong) and includes crippled mind-reader Sheng Yayu (Crystal Liu) - whom Zhuge adopted after her family was killed - and martial artist Tie Youxia (Collin Chou). Meanwhile, Lueshang has also joined the group. Yayu is attracted to Lingqi, despite knowing his true character. Zhengwo tells his group that the case of the stolen cast is not over yet, and uncovers a scam involving forged currency that could lead to social unrest and bring down the royal family. It sets him and his group against both Department Six and the powerful An and his gang of spies.
Review

Featuring characters from a continuing series of novels by Malaysian-born WOON Swee Oan 溫瑞安 that's formed the basis for numerous TV drama series in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China (starting with ATV's The Undercover Agents 四大名捕, 1984), The Four is a fairly standard martial arts costume drama that boasts good-looking production design but is let down by a poor script and ordinary direction. Shot in China with a pan-Chinese cast and largely Mainland money, it has the feel more of an '80s Hong Kong production, but not in a consciously retro style. As with Hong Kong veteran Gordon CHAN 陳嘉上's previous production, Mural 畫壁, also made with the same Mainland companies and writers, the content fails to live up to the handsome wrapping.

Like Mural, The Four can't really decide what it is. For those familiar with Woon's novels and/or the TV adaptations, the many characters don't need much explanation; but for anyone else, that's a big problem, as the script is so busy fitting in plot and keeping its large cast occupied that no one really develops any individual thrust. Hong Kong veteran Anthony WONG 黃秋生, as the dignified leader of a secret investigative bureau, makes the strongest impression, while his "four constables" (the meaning of the film's Chinese title) just go through the usual motions of martial arts heroes. Among them, Hong Kong comedian Ronald CHENG 鄭中基 (in a long wig) looks rather out of place and Taiwan's Collin CHOU 鄒兆龍 and Mainlander DENG Chao 鄧超 (both in Mural) don't develop much personality.

Mainland actress Crystal LIU 劉亦菲 (Love in Disguise 戀愛通告 (2010), A Chinese Ghost Story 倩女幽魂), who plays a wheel-chaired mind reader with telekinetic powers — a character who's actually male in the novels — is suitably mysterious but rather a blank page: her love-battle with JIANG Yiyan 江一燕's swordswoman over the affections of Deng's character hardly gets off the page. The more talented Jiang (Qiuxi 秋喜 (2009), I Phone You 愛封了) has her promising moments but is perpetually hamstrung by the script. Among the large cast, it's Mainland TV actor-singer WU Xiubo 吳秀波 (the murderer in People Mountain People Sea 人山人海) who's most memorable as the jokey, laidback villain of the piece.

Chan, this time co-directing with Hong Kong journeywoman Janet CHUN 秦小珍 (The Jade and the Pearl 翡翠明珠 (2010), All's Well, End's Well 2012 八星抱喜) rather than Danny KO 高林豹 (Mural, Painted Skin 畫皮 (2008)), throws everything into the pot: secret police organisations (but with no sense of menace), shape-shifting powers (but with only so-so effects), martial-arts action (nothing special, with TV-style wire-work), and nods to films like Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame 狄仁杰之通天帝國 (2010) (crime-solving) and My Own Swordsman 武林外傳 (the group's "family" scenes). The result isn't exactly boring — thanks to the crowded plot and cast — but just very average, with no real tension, drama or thrills.

Cyrus HO 何劍雄's imaginative sets — iron machinery contrasted with wooden constructs — maintain visual interest, as does the well-lit widescreen photography by fellow Hong Konger LAI Yiu-fai 黎耀輝 (Infernal Affairs 無間道 (2002), Wu Xia 武俠). Henry LAI 黎允文's score, as in 14 Blades 錦衣衛 (2010) and White Vengeance 鴻門宴傳奇, is weak.

The film is the first in an announced trilogy, the second of which has already begun shooting. I wonder what part 2 will be titled. The Five? 4.2?

[GeneChing]

Not so awesome foursome (http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/724202.shtml)
Global Times | 2012-7-30 19:45:03
By Zhang Zihan

http://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2011/93c4fe05-b860-4c9c-b6f9-3e038bccbc94.jpeg
Hong Kong actor Ronald Cheng stars as Life Snatcher in kung fu epic The Four. Photo: CFP

Who has the ability to read minds and gets around in an electric wheelchair powered by incomparable intellect? No, it isn't Professor Xavier from X-Men or even physicist Stephen Hawking. Introducing Emotionless, China's newest young heroine with telepathic powers played by Crystal Liu in Hong Kong director Gordon Chan latest kung fu epic The Four.

The film is based on wuxia literature master Wen Rui'an's novel of the same name, which tells the story of a crime-fighting quartet. The 125-minute film's courageous attempt to revive the ailing genre of kung fu films in China has earned it a successful albeit controversial reputation at the box office since its release on July 9.

The Four has so far raked in 150 million yuan ($23.5 million), leapfrogging domestic blockbuster Painted Skin: The Resurrection for top spot last week. But not all viewers of the film have given it the thumbs up, hinting at growing fatigue among Chinese audiences for kung fu productions.

Figures from douban.com's movie database show only 8 percent of more than 22,300 viewers gave it four or more out of a possible five stars, while over 55 percent gave it two stars or less. Statistics from database mtime.com aren't much more flattering, with the median rating from nearly 5,000 viewers just 5.3 out of 10.

Most critics lambasted heroes of The Four, which also stars Anthony Wong, Deng Chao, Ronald Cheng and Collin Chou, for being too similar to those in Marvel Comics' X-Men. While Emotionless is portrayed as being much stronger than Professor X, she shares Magneto's skills of being able to move items using telekinetic powers.

Fellow crime fighter, Iron Fist, has the ability to design and make machines powered by electricity generated from his hands - seemingly a fusion between Storm from X-Men and Tony Stark, the engineer alter ego of Iron Man.

While Chan seems strongly influenced by comic book superheroes, he's also enlisted other fantasy villains including werewolves and zombies. One attribute Chan appears to have overlooked, however, is the fact Chinese audiences are paying to see a fresh, exciting movie, not a poor imitation with Chinese characteristics of X-Men (2000), Van Helsing (2004) or Resident Evil (2002) garnished with kung fu.

Chan appears to have selectively chosen some of the decades-old traits of Chinese kung fu cinema in an attempt to navigate a new, uncharted direction. While a daring move, it's not one that pays off. Quite simply put, there's no room an electric wheelchair in a movie supposedly set in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Chan fails to explain the principles of his bold, new world, which is where he loses the confidence of his audience. Hollywood has already cemented its own parameters that define superheroes, including the values they stand for.

Western audiences are familiar with them, just as Chinese fans are familiar with traditional kung fu films.

The Four aims to find middle ground between the two, but only succeeds in falling flat on a cinematic no man's land.

Betraying the classic virtues of Chinese kung fu cinema is the arguably greatest threat facing the genre. Perhaps the most infamous example of this can be found in director Tsui Hark's box office flop The Legend of Zu (2001), which drew criticism from kung fu purists disillusioned at computer-generated scenes of flying, sword-wielding martial artists.

A more recent example is Alan Mak's The Lost Bladesman (2011), which told the well-known story of Guan Yu, the famous general who lived during in Three Kingdoms period (220-280).

In Chinese culture, Guan is revered for his unfailing honesty and loyalty to warlord Liu Bei. However, Mak's film sees Guan fall in love with Liu's wife, an affair that didn't go down well with many Chinese moviegoers.
Do you think this critic actually saw the film or did he just watch the trailer and write around other reviews?

[SimonM]

Quite simply put, there's no room an electric wheelchair in a movie supposedly set in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Guess this reviewer hasn't heard of Steampunk. :rolleyes:

[doug maverick]

This reviewer is an unresearched bafoon. Had he done a little research or actuallu saw the film he would have known that it is based on a comic book but not a marvel film, its based on a comic called "the four constables" I called it when I saw the trailer and even the character names are the same. The actual comic isn't supernatural in nature thou. It has a pretty cool storyline. More akin to a mystery then supernatural.

[Hebrew Hammer]

I just saw this, my impressions were that it was a very visually appealing movie, the sets, the costumes, the special effects, Crystal Liu...fight scenes were well done and entertaining. There just wasn't enough action for my liking, lots of typical Chinese intrigues, which is fine but they should have added more action sequences. A lot plot energy was focused around a supposed love triangle between Crystal Liu, a rival female martial artist Jiang Yiyan, and a lone wolf constable, Leng Lingqi.

I never got any really sense of chemistry, romance between the three of them other than some catty looks between the ladies. I thought it would have been bold of them to include a love scene with physically challenged, yet beautiful 'Emotionless' (Crystal) but it never surfaced. She was true to her character's name.

And perhaps that was my biggest gripe about this film, it lacked passion. Most of the characters seemed 'emotionless' to me, very dead panned performances. Nobody to truly attach yourself to, someone to root for or against. Lots of potential, I enjoyed the psychic powers aspect and supernatural undead story lines, perhaps if they make a sequel we'll get more for our buck.

[Zenshiite]

this reminds me of the andy seto comic book, the four constables...which was a really badass, kung fu comic book series about four constables(the leader being a cripple who was master of projectiles) it was short lived...but really freaking good.

They are based on the same source.

[doug maverick]

They are based on the same source.

yea i figured that out once i saw all the characters names.

[Zenshiite]

The Four Constables is a great comic. So I'll keep my eyes out for this movie.

[GeneChing]

I actually started watching this a little while ago but forgot to review it. I started this before the Olympics and finished it somewhere before they ended, so I only saw it in chunks which isn't always the best way to view effect-laden films. I feel like McKayla Maroney, falling on her butt and settling for the silver.

The Four reunites Colin Chou with Chinese starlet, Crystal Liu Yifei from Forbidden Kingdom (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=758), and adds the great HK veteran Anthony Wong. It's a wuxia flick with a Shanghai Steampunk leaning. Okay, in all honesty, wuxia is basically Chinese comic books, and The Four has been unfairly compared to Avengers (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1043) because it's a band of heroes with superpowers and issues. The special effects are decent. There's some nice fight scenes with fireballs and swords and a lot of flying about. It was entertaining, like a comic book film in that park-your-brain-outside way. Crystal is really good in this. She plays this wheelchair-bound psychic/telekinetic, although her powers are never clearly defined as she can fight on crutches, see hidden intentions and Jedi objects like projectiles, including crazy-shaped shuriken flung at her by the dozen. Plus she has this weird steampunk wheelchair that can make her stand up as if on a dolly and mounts in this huge arm so she can reach all over this massive wall file of scrolls. The film had a lot of style with long panning shots and some cool imagery. Not a mind blowing flick, but an interesting example of the direction kung fu flicks are going now. I like fights with fireballs and swords.

[SimonM]

Watched the Four tonight, Painted Skin 2 last night. Hands down, the Four is a far superior movie on all levels.

Painted Skin 2 was a hollow movie with one-dimensional characters, bad special effects and no tension. Characters were introduced without fanfare and occasionally vanished without notice - by the end of the movie my wife and I still couldn't figure out what happened to the evil (Russian?) wolf queen. Was she dispatched by the protagonist while we weren't looking? Did she just leave?

And, considering the ultimate resolution of the love triangle, why was it necessary for general dummypants to cut his eyes out? When he symbolically whipped his blindfold off at the end was it supposed to be poignant?

All in all it was nothing but a shiny mess of cgi frippery.

The Four, on the other hand was an entertaining movie - an almost steampunk take on Wuxia with a cast of characters who actually had personalities and motivations. Some elements of the end seemed to have been suffering from sloppy editing - I think as a half-hearted set-up for a near-inevitable sequel but it was better acted, better choriographed, much better scripted and all around better.

If you're going to watch a Chollywood fantasy for the next little while choose the Four over Painted Skin 2 every time.

[GeneChing]

Well Go USA (http://www.wellgousa.com/) has sponsored our forum recently with topmost banner ad campaigns for Muay Thai Warrior (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1215795) and Bangkok Revenge (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64334). They are the leading distributor of Asian film now, via DVD/BRD and netflix.

THE FOUR Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G82CrR0xHZw)

[GeneChing]

Enter to win THE FOUR on DVD! (http://www.kungfumagazine.net/index.html) Contest ends 6:00 p.m. PST on 04/04/2013. Good luck everyone!

[GeneChing]

THE FOUR has bought out our topmost banner and is sponsoring our forum this week. Be sure to click-thru the banner for good measure!

[GeneChing]

Enjoy Your Meal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4MfR4ZE_Gs)

[doug maverick]

article on well go as the new leading distributor on asian cinema in america? would be a interesting one indeed.

[GeneChing]

See our The Four DVD winners thread. (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65797)