2007 February 5:

MESSAGE BOARD IS BACK

The message board is back up. We apologize for the inconveniece for not being able to restore the old messages and user list.

2007 January 2:

MESSAGE BOARD DOWN

We took the message board down because it was hacked yesterday. We'll try to get it back up as soon as possible.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

05 August:

Gong Li, Chow Yun Fat to star in new Zhang Yimou film

Chinese star Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat have signed on to star in acclaimed director Zhang Yimou, whose film "Hero" was nominated for a best foreign film Oscar, the industry press said Friday.

The movie, "Autumn Remembrance," will mark the first time in 11 years that Gong has worked with Zhang, who directed her in the 1991 global hit "Raise the Red Lantern."

In the new film to be shot in China, Gong plays an imperial bodyguard who falls in love with a prince played by "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) star Chow in a tragic tale of star-crossed lovers, Daily Variety said.

"Autumn Remembrance" distributed by Elite Group, although no North American distribution deal has yet been sealed, Variety said.

Chow is currently starring in the Hollywood movie "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" while Gong is making Gong "Memoirs of a Geisha" for "Chicago" director Rob Marshall. Zhang and Gong last worked together on 1995's "Shanghai Triad." Zhang went on to direct "Hero" and last year's Oscar-nominated "House of Flying Daggers."

Hong Kong's Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh to star in WWII drama

HONG KONG (AFP) - A Canadian director has chosen Hong Kong's top actor Chow Yun-fat and ex-Bond girl Michelle Yeoh to star in a World War II drama, a press report said. Roger Spottiswoode, who directed "Tomorrow Never Dies" starring Yeoh, has cast Chow and the Malaysian-born starlet in a war drama called "The Bitter Sea", the South China Morning Post reported.

Based on the true story of a British reporter who saved 60 orphans, the movie is set during the Japanese invasion of China, the paper said. Chow, the star of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and featuring in the sequel of the Disney hit "Pirates of the Caribbean", is expected to play a communist commander while Yeoh will play a villager.

'Autumn' in China
Zhang to direct Chow, Gong in 'Remembrance'

Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li have signed to star in "Autumn Remembrance," a drama that will be shot in China next February by director Zhang Yimou. Pic marks the first time in 11 years that Zhang has worked with Gong. They became huge stars in China with such collaborations as "Raise the Red Lantern" and "Ju Dou," and last worked together in the 1995 pic "Shanghai Triad." New film will be distributed by Elite Group, and U.S. distribution hasn't yet been sealed.

Chow and Gong will play star-crossed lovers who fall in love within the borders of a kingdom. She plays Phoenix, an imperial bodyguard, while he plays Prince Ping. Numerous forces, including Ping's stepmother, who is also in love with him, try to keep the lovers apart. It leads them on a dangerous journey where secrets of the royal family are uncovered.

Chow is currently starring in "Pirates of the Caribbean 2" and will likely take another film before heading to China. Gong, who will next be seen in the Rob MarshallRob Marshall-directed "Memoirs of a Geisha" for Sony, is currently filming "Miami Vice," opposite Colin FarrellColin Farrell and Jamie Foxx for director Michael Mann and Universal.

Zhang, who last directed "House of Flying Daggers" and "Hero," will first complete "Riding Along for Thousands of Miles" before making "Autumn Remembrance."

21 July:

CHOW TO MAKE RARE FILM IN NATIVE HONG KONG

Actor Chow Yun-Fat to Make First Film in Native Hong Kong in a Decade, Directed by Ann Hui

HONG KONG Jul 17, 2005 — Hollywood star Chow Yun-Fat is making his first film in native Hong Kong in a decade, saying he would forgo a higher pay check in the U.S. because he liked the part and wanted to work with the director.

The "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star agreed to appear in Ann Hui's "The Aunt's Postmodern Life," playing a swindler who falls in love with a potential victim played by Siqin Gaowa.

"I agreed to this movie because I haven't worked with Ann in a long time. I admire her and Siqin Gaowa a lot. Plus the role I was offered in this movie is something new. I've never played a swindler before, so I want to try," Chow told the Apple Daily newspaper for Sunday's editions.

The newspaper said Chow is also due to film a movie on an ancient Chinese war with fellow Hong Konger John Woo and another production on an ancient Chinese empress with famed Chinese art-house director Zhang Yimou.

He is also slated to appear in the third installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

CHOW YUN-FAT SIGNS ON FOR PIRATES 3

Los Angeles - Actor Chow Yun-Fat has signed on for a starring role in the third instalment of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.

According to Variety Friday the Honk Kong actor will play Captain Sao Feng, a notorious pirate. Director Gore Verbinski is filming both sequels to Johnny Depp's 2003 hit back-to-back this summer in Hollywood and on location in the Caribbean.

The first sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is scheduled for a July 2006 release. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 is scheduled for summer 2007.

Zhang Yimou Wants Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li for His Third Martial-Art Piece?

Chinese veteran star Chow Yun-Fat is in talk to star in director Zhang Yimou's untitled third martial-art film, which is rumored to be set in Tang Dynasty, same as House of Flying Daggers.
Source said, Gong Li, who took the lead in Zhang's first seven films, was mentioned for the role of Empress Wu Zetian, China's only female monarch.

The new film will focus more on the story and will have more characters than Zhang's previous two martial-art films.

Several locations in China has been pre-selected and much of the film will be shot indoor in Beijing.

Production is scheduled to start sometime next year.

21 May:

MIDWAY ENTERS THE NEXT GENERATION WITH BOTH GUNS BLAZING AS "STRANGLEHOLD" IS UNVEILED

Collaboration with World Renowned Action Film Director John Woo and International Action Star Chow Yun-Fat Scheduled for Next Generation Consoles in 2006 Midway Games Inc. a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, today announced Stranglehold, an intense action game currently in development for next generation consoles. Stranglehold is a collaboration with world renowned action film director, John Woo's (Face/Off, Hard Boiled, The Killer) Tiger Hill Entertainment and is scheduled to release in 2006.

The project is currently in development at Midway's Chicago studio by the critically acclaimed Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy team, led by industry veteran Brian Eddy. Stranglehold, will bring John Woo's famous use of hyperkinetic, choreographed action and freeze framed sequences to the video game arena and will also feature the likeness and voice talent of international action film star, Chow Yun-Fat, (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hard Boiled, Bulletproof Monk) in his video game debut. Having worked together for several feature films, the dynamic duo, Yun-Fat and Woo, are teaming up once again, but this time bringing their expertise to the world of interactive entertainment.

"The video game industry continues to push the envelope, bridging the worlds of games and movies to produce revolutionary entertainment for consumers," said Steve Allison, Midway chief marketing officer. "To have John Woo creatively involved in Stranglehold and Chow Yun-Fat reprising his role as Inspector Tequila is truly a dream come true for fans of Hong Kong action movies. This game is the first pure example of the convergence of entertainment. Stranglehold is an example of what is possible in the next generation of video games as a viable approach to building a new IP as a gaming franchise that speaks to a fan base through its star and director, in the same way a film does."

"Creating, developing and producing original content for various facets of the entertainment industry is the mantra of Tiger Hill Entertainment and Stranglehold is one of our most ambitious projects yet," said John Woo, co-chief executive officer and co-founder of Tiger Hill Entertainment. "We are excited to work with Midway to create an interactive entertainment experience that filmgoers and gamers alike will appreciate and enjoy."

"After so many years of working with John Woo as a movie director, I'm thrilled to venture into the world of video games with Woo and Midway at the creative helm," said Chow Yun-Fat. "Being able to bring move-like action where people can watch and enjoy, to the world of video games where they can experience the adrenaline-filled action first hand is a great experience to be a part of." About Stranglehold

Stranglehold, a third person, action/adventure game set in Hong Kong and Chicago, is being developed in collaboration with world renowned film director, John Woo. Featuring international action film star Chow Yun-Fat as Inspector Tequila, Stranglehold will feature much of the hyperkinetic, choreographed action and freeze framed sequences that Woo is known for.

» View Trailer (Thanks Shamz!)
» View Trailer (Thanks Charlotte!)

Source: XBOX365.com

Chow Yun-fat returns to native island in Hong Kong to promote tourism

Hollywood star Chow Yun-fat returned to his native island in Hong Kong to promote tourism, newspapers reported Wednesday. "Lamma island has many scenic spots, such as the Cheung Po-tsai cave, the reopened Tin Hau temple, the seafood is delicious," Chow was quoted as saying in Ming Pao Daily News at a banquet hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board Tuesday. Cheung Po-tsai is a famous Chinese pirate. Chow plays Cheung in the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" the sequel to the 2003 hit, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." Chow also celebrated his 50th birthday early, which falls on Wednesday, with banquet guests singing "Happy Birthday" in Japanese, English and Chinese, Apple Daily reported. Chow also said he struggled with learning how to ride a horse for an upcoming movie, Ming Pao reported. "I learned horse riding with 7 or 8-year-olds. They're very brave, they learn more quickly than I do. When I first started it was like riding on a boat, swaying. Now I can manage to command the horse to make a few steps," Chow said.

Photos courtesy of Sina
Thanks also to Shoto for posting the pics on the message board.