First Post: Upcoming Asian Films to Look Out for in the Next Few Months.

HK/China:

The Myth (HK 2005) Release Date(HK): September 23rd, 2005; Release Date(USA): Unknown

Director: Stanley Tong

Starring :

Jackie Chan
Tony Leung Kar Fai
Kim Hee Seon
Mallika Sherawat
Sun Zhou
Shao Bing

Synopsis:
Chan plays an archaeologist who goes back in time to discover that he was once a Qin dynasty general in love wa Korean princess whose love is promised to his king.

Website: http://www.themyth.jce.com.hk/m.hk/

Trailer: Myth Trailer


Sha Po Lang (HK 2005) Release Date(Asia): November 2005 ; Release Date(US); Unknown

Director: Wilson Yip Wai Shun

Starring:
Donnie Yen
Sammo Hung
Simon Yam
Wu Jing

Synopsis: Chan(Yam), a detective nearing the end of his career, is taking care of the daughter of a witness killed by ruthless crime lord, Po(Hung). Martial arts expert Ma(Yen) is set to take over as head of the serious crime unit, replacing Chan who wants an early retirement. When an undercover agent is found dead three days after Ma joins the unit, Chan thinks it' s the work of Po and sends people to bring him in. Ma finds himself drawn into the battle between Chan and Po.

Website: http://www.sharpa-image.com.hk/spl

Trailer: Sha Po Lang Trailer


The Promise/Wu Ji(2005) Asia Release Date: December 2005 Release Date(US): December 2005(Tentative)
Director: Chen Kaige

Starring:
Cecilia Cheung
Jang Dong-Gun
Hiroyuki Sanada
Liu Ye
Nicholas Tse

Synopsis: a love story between a royal concubine and a slave.

Website: None Yet, Will Update

Trailer: Japanese Promise Trailer(click free then wait for countdown)



Perhaps Love(2005) Release Date(Asia): December 23rd, 2005; Release Date(US): December 2005(Supposedly, not confirmed)

Director: Peter Chan

Starring:
Takeshi Kaneshiro
Jacky Cheung
Zhou Xun

Synopsis: Set in the modern-day Beijing and Shanghai of the 1930s, story of this musical is about a young star and the two men who are in love with her.

Website: http://www.perhapslovemovie.com/

Trailer: Perhaps Love Trailer

Wait' Till You're Older(2005)Release Date(Asia) : Fourth quarter 2005; Release Date(US): Unkown

Director: Teddy Chen

Starring:

Andy Lau
Felix Wong
Karen Mok
Feng Xiaogang

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old KONG (Sit Lap Yin) is an unhappy child. In fact, he has not been happy since his mother’s suicide three years ago, which he blames on his FATHER (Felix Wong) and STEPMOTHER (Karen Mok). Having to live under the same roof with them, he finds not only his emotion increasingly stunted but his height as well. He yearns for freedom as much as he yearns for love. But only if he can outgrow his treacherous father, he believes, can he finally find peace and happiness.One unspectacular evening Kong decides to run away from home after another customary tiff with his stepmother. He chances upon an eerie OLD MAN (Feng Xiaogang) who claims he has a potion that can speed up the life process. As much as he would like to believe it, this is all baloney to him. So when he accidentally taints his blood with the potion, he hardly expects his fate is about to change forever.It is an impossible dream comes true when Kong wakes up the next morning to find himself already a twenty-year-old young man. Plunging into the adult world in full earnest, he is ready to take revenge on his parents while getting his hands on all things hitherto forbidden. But another day passes and he becomes ten years older. Only now does he realize the tragedy of his situation: his growth rate is exponential. When he finally uncovers the harsh reality behind his mother’s death, Kong has to race against time to right things wrong with his parents.http://www.mediaasia.com/

Website: http://www.waitolder.com/

Trailer: CH:
Wait Till Your Older Mandarin Trailer

Seven Swords(2005) HK Release Date: July 29th, 2005; US Release Date: Unknown; HK DVD Release Date: September 29th, 2005

Director: Tsui Hark

Starring:
Donnie Yen
Leon Lai
Charlie Yeung
Lau Kar Leung

Synopsis : (from hkfilmart.com)Adapted from renowned writer Liang Yu-shen's timeless classic, Seven Swords tells the story of seven unlikely heroes gathered together to save a village from the massacre of a general that is seeking a fortune through killing

Website: http://www.sevenswordsthefilm.com/

Trailer: HK: Seven Swords Cantonese Trailer
Seven Swords Mandarin Trailer

A Chinese Tall Story(2005) Release Date(Asia): December 22nd, 2005; Release Date(US): Unknown

Director: Jeff Lau

Starring:

Nicholas Tse
Charlene Choi
Fan Bingbing

Sypnosis : (from hkfilmart.com)A Chinese Tall Story is an unexpected retelling of the classic tale of Journey to the West, focusing on a little known adventure of Tripitaka, the Tang Monk, and his three trusted disciples. Filmed on glorious locations in China and with cutting edge effects, costumes and make-up.


Website: http://achinesetallstory.emp.hk/

Trailer: Chinese Tall Story Trailer

Qian Li Zou Dan Ji("Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles")(2005) Release Date(Asia): December 2005?(I think); Release Date(US): Unknown

Director: Zhang Yimou

Starring:

Takakura Ken
Jiang Wen
Kiichi Nakai

Synopsis: Takada, a Japanese fisherman accompanies his ailing son Takada to Yunnan Province of China to search for the secret behind a local opera.

Website: None yet, Will Update

Trailer: None Yet, Will Update

Fearless (In Production) Release Date: TBD

Director: Ronny Yu

Starring: Jet Li

Synopsis: This film tells the story of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia (1869~1910). Huo Yuanjia was the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Sports Federation.

Website: None yet, Will Update.

Trailer: None yet, Will Update.

The Night Banquet("Ye Yan") (In Production)

Director: Feng Xiaogang

Starring:

Zhang Ziyi
Ge You
Daniel Wu
Zhou Xun

Synopsis:
Inspired by William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the story of The Night Banquet is set in a chaotic era of China called Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, according to Shanghai Youth Daily. In a falling empire, the Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, the Princess, the Minister and the General all have their own quests for the ultimate power. The Empress set up a secret coalition with the Princess and the Minister in attempt to take the throne for the Crown Prince, but her real goal is to take the power for herself, and the Crown Prince wants to use the Empress' plan for his own quest for the throne. The conflicts finally erupt at a night banquet, at which the Empress starts executing her plan of killing the Emperor and the Crown Prince takes the opportunity to finish off his own enemies...

Website: None yet, Will Update

Trailer: None Yet, Will Update.


Korea:

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance(2005) Release Date(Asia): July 29th, 2005 ; Release Date(US): Unknown; Korean DVD Release Date: November 31st.

Director: Park Chan Wook

Starring:

Lee Young-Ae
Choi Min Shik

Synopsis: A high school student (Lee) goes to jail in order to save the teacher (Choi) she loves. When she leaves prison 13 years later, she finds she has been betrayed and prepares to take her revenge.




Website: http://www.geum-ja.co.kr/

Trailer:Lady Vengeance Trailer

Duelist (2005) Release Date(Asia): September 9th, 2005 ; Release Date(US): Unknown

Director: Lee Myung-Se

Starring:

Ha Ji-won
Kang Dong-won
Ahn Sung-ki

Synopsis:
Set in the Joseon Dynasty period, Nam-sun (Ha Ji-won) is a female police officer known for her quick and hot temper when it comes to nabbing nasty criminals. Her boss (Ahn Sung-ki) is much calmer and down-to-earth, with his years of experience in the field as a guidepost for Nam-sun.A series of incidents befuddle both Nam-sun and her boss. While top politicians are squabbling with each other, counterfeit bills circulate throughout the city, creating confusion among the people. Whenever police officers attempt to secure clues, they get lethal attacks from the mysterious agent "Sad Eyes.

Website: http://www.duelist2005.co.kr/

Trailer: Duelst Trailer

Japan:
Takeshis. Release Date: TBD

Director: Takeshi Kitano

Starring:

Takeshi Kitano

Synopsis: this film is about the life of Beat Takeshi the superstar, and follows him around "off set" to give the viewer an idea of what he's face in his daily life. At some point he comes across a "Mr. Kitano" (also played by Beat) in which the story starts to explore the fantasy world of this "Mr. Kitano" who idolizes Beat.

Website: http://www.office-kitano.co.jp/takeshis/

Trailer: Takeshi's Trailer

Thailand:
Tom Yum Goong (2005) Release Date(Asia): August 11th, 2005; Release Date(US): Unknown

Director: Prachya Prinkaew

Starring: Tony Jaa

Synopsis: Kham (Tony Jaa) is a country boy whose life is turned upside down when international mafia figures turn up at his sleepy village to capture his two prize bull elephants and take them to Australia. These are no ordinary elephants. They are majestic, grand creatures due to be offered to His Majesty the King as a token of devotion: they are Kham's elephants. He has no choice : he can't allow anyone to take his beloved elephants away, he must travel to Australia, right into the heart of the Mafia-run district to track down the kidnappers and bring his elephants home.

Website:http://www.tomyumgoongmovie.com/

Trailer: Tom Yum Goong Trailer