Eighteen Springs / Half a Lifelong Romance 半生缘, the adaption of Eileen Chang’s eponymous novel, has released its first trailer featuring Carina Lau as older sister Gu Manlu (who seems to have gotten a personality makeover) and Jiang Xin as the younger sister Gu Manzhen.
The annotations/”headlines” on the poster reveal little bits of the plot – does Chen Xiao love Yuan Shanshan or Meng Jiangjie? (Yuan Shanshan, because she’s the main character).
Given that Love, Up in the Air/Above the Clouds/CLOUDS (云巅之上) is a drama about the drama between two people as they film drama(s), the new promo stills are rather fitting. The characters of the drama have been introduced, à la tabloid style: Chen Xiao (the in-universe star), Yuan Shanshan (the in-universe wannabe star), Meng Jiangjie (another in-universe star), Guo Xiaodong (a teacher at the institute for stars), Zhang Zhehan (a star singer), Merat (a manager), Zang Hongna (Yuan Shanshan’s in-universe manager), He Hongce (Chen Xiao’s in-universe manager), and Cai Wenjing (a second generation star). (At first glance, I didn’t realize Zhang Zhehan and Merat were featured in the stills).
Asides from the ridiculous premise that sparks the filming of the in-universe “Dong Xian” drama, the drama will feature a story in the modern day, and (so it seems) in the Republican era. Look below the cut for more pictures.
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Ge You and Jiang Wen as show masters in the upcoming movie, Gone With the Bullets.
The year is almost a quarter over (I know!), but 2014 is a really exciting year for Chinese film and it would be a waste not to take a look at all the great stuff that’s going to be released soon. This year, as some have noted, will be the year of big director comebacks, from Red Cliff’s John Woo to Zhang Yimou and many others. (Thanks to Mookie for everything about this post, I’m just here to spread the word.)
(Also, you’ll soon realize that Huang Xiao Ming does not rest… I believe he has at least 4 films this year alone, excluding dramas!!)
This list is in no way exhaustive. Continue reading
Jay, trying to gain acting skills through osmosis
1. Having released his latest CD, Jay Chou will be trying out acting again. He is joining the cast of “True Legend” aka “Beggar Su” aka “Su Qi Er” , whose name refers to the great martial artist who mastered drunken fighting.