Zhang Ziyi & Daniel Wu THE BANQUET

[Berri]

THE BANQUET

Here it is...we all have been waiting for the most talked about upcoming movie. This has been one secretive filming...some photos have been taken by spies!



Cast: Zhang Ziyi , Zhou Xun, Daniel Wu, Ge You, Ma Jingwu, Huang Xiaoming
Director: Feng Xiaogang

The Banquet has been described as a loose adaptation of "Hamlet", featuring royal conflicts and revenge set in 10th century China. The new Emperor (Ge You) has usurped the throne by murdering the previous Emperor. He marries the Empress (Zhang Ziyi), wife of the previous Emperor and stepmother to the Crown Prince (Daniel Wu). At first, the Empress seeks only to protect herself, but as the new Emperor grows suspicious of all those around him, she realizes that only by helping the Crown Prince kill him can she hope to survive. Together with the Chief Minister (Ma Jingwu) she tries to carry out this plot, but when the Prince is wracked by indecision she devises a new plan and seeks the throne for herself. As the plot move towards its climax, the Emperor calls for a lavish royal banquet, where each will seek the end of their enemies.
The Banquet differs from Hamlet in that it does not focus on the prince, but examines the feelings of each character. According to director Feng Xiaogang: "If Hamlet is about a prince who must make a choice involving life and death, then The Banquet is about how each character must face a choice of life or death... All are motivated by desire, but as soon as they have begun their plans must grow more extreme, and they move step-by-step towards the abyss... They do not intend evil, but turn to it out of self-preservation and ever-growing ambition."

Trailer
http://www.helloziyi.us/Videos/banquet-teaser.wmv

Official Website
http://ent.sina.com.cn/yeyan.html

Sina’s Official trailer
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2006-02-12/1318983316.html

Featurette:
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2006-03-21/20281023017.html

Here are photos of Daniel Wu:












Zhou Xun:











Last edited by Berri on Tue May 16, 2006 3:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

[Berri]

Chinese films have become hot tickets around the world, but few movie-goers outside China have even heard of arguably the country’s most popular director, Feng Xiaogang.

Things might change as the director has just finished his newest project, “The Banquet", which is being seen as his most serious shot at overseas markets.



Feng Xiaogang has been one of China's most beloved, bankable movie names for almost a decade by his honing in on native tastes. His light, overtly contemporary comedies screened every Lunar New Year have been a custom for many Chinese.

But with his contemporaries Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige already winning international acclaim with their big budget films, the veteran director is also expressing his ambition. 　　



Feng’s newest project "The Banquet" is a serious historical drama, an obvious shift from his former comedic-style.

Director Feng says he’s taken on this new style in order to fulfill and express the romantic sentiments deep in his heart. 　　

“I’ve dreamed of shooting some romantic and even tragic films. Few of these feelings and sentiments have appeared in my previous work. Now, ‘the Banquet’ has become a great opportunity for me to express my inner feelings.” 　　

And “the Banquet” represents his most serious shot at overseas markets, especially since he has cast Zhang Ziyi, China's hottest star, in the leading role. 　　

Now, another of the film’s cast members, Zhou Xun, has just won the Best Actress Award at the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards. 　　

Some say the two award winning actresses will certainly insure to the success of the film’s box office, but Feng Xiaogang believes the two actresses offer more than just fame. 　　

"I think a film not only needs best actor or actress winners but also need actors and actresses with real talent and skills and full devotion to the production. I think Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun are both award winners and actresses whom I admire.”

Regardless of the style departure or international interest, Feng believes his new movie, to be screened this September, will still be a hit in the domestic market. 　　

[Berri]

The Banquet in Two Different Cuts
http://www.karazen.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=864&highlight=banquet


Scott Weinberg writes: "Described as as "Asian version of Hamlet," Feng Xiaogang's "Banquet" begins shooting this month in Beijing, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, at a cost of $20 million ... its already $5mill over-budget!

"Chinese star Zhang Ziyi begins shooting "Banquet" this month which, with a cost of $20 million, is already $5 million over budget, a spokeswoman for the film's Beijing-based production company Huayi Brothers said Friday. One of China's leading independent film producers -- it made the Hong Kong hit "Kung Fu Hustle" with Sony Pictures Entertainment -- HB is co-producing "Banquet," billed as an "Asian version of Hamlet," with Hong Kong's Media Asia.

The film has no distribution guarantor bonding the project. Helmed by the popular Feng Xiaogang, "Banquet" will be designed by Oscar-winning art director Tim Yip ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), and scored by Tan Dun, who also worked on "Crouching Tiger."""

Zhang Ziyi's acting in the role of the queen of Night Banquet is vital in filming the historical epic, said director Feng Xiaogang at a news conference in Beijing on Saturday.

According to the director, Zhang has captured the inner world of the queen in the tragedy, with its royal conflicts and tale of revenge entangled with love.

Public interest has been sparked by Feng's switch from comedy to tragedy and the star-studded cast, which includes Feng's long-time partner Ge You, Hong Kong heartthrob Daniel Wu, and Chinese pop idols Zhou Xun and Huang Xiaoming.

Feng's biggest budgeted film, the $15 million (U.S.) Night Banquet looks to major box-office success in overseas markets.
The director is thought to have cast Zhang mainly because she is a familiar face for Western moviegoers. Even though Night Banquet is a dramatic shift from Feng's trademark comic style, the director said he will still stick to his motto of amusing the public. Feng said, I will not make the story complicated just to cater to the tastes of a small group. I believe my film will be for the public.

The shooting is scheduled to be finished before the Chinese New Year. It is also reported that Zhou Xun, Mongolian singer Teng Geer and Super Girl Zhang Liangying will be singing in Night Banquet.


BEIJING, Jan. 21-- Ten days after director Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet finished shooting, the film's producer announced plans to make the film a 2007 Oscar candidate.

Wang Zhonglei, president of Huayi Brother, said, "The exact screening date depends on when the post-shooting production is finished. What we are sure about is that it won't be the end of the year because The Banquet is running for next year's Oscar nomination."


To qualify as an Academy Award competitor for Best Foreign Language Film, a film has to be screened for at least a week before October, which means The Banquet will hit cinemas in late September.


The Banquet is China's commercial film director Feng's latest after his New Year movie hits Cell Phone and A World Without Thieves. The two were No. 1 and No. 3 films in China in 2003 and 2004, making Feng one of the most successful commercial film directors in China. However, this time, Feng hasn't released The Banquet in time for the Chinese New Year, raising some doubts.


The Banquet, starring Asia's rising film star Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Xun, mainland actor Ge You and Hong Kong's Daniel Wu, has been described as a loose adaptation of Hamlet, featuring royal conflicts and revenge in 10th century China.


(Source: sznews.com)


Gaga digs into 'Banquet'

Deal said to be biggest Japanese buy of a Chinese film

By PATRICK FRATER

Gaga Communications has bought Japanese rights to mainland Chinese movie "The Banquet," which reunites many key elements from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" around star helmer Feng Xiaogang.

Deal, understood to be in excess of $5 million, is said to be the biggest Japanese buy of a Chinese film. Ziyi Zhang and Ge You star in the period pic, loosely inspired by "Hamlet." Currently shooting in Beijing, it is expected to wrap by January.

Production budget is some $20 million, put together by the Huayi brothers from China and Hong Kong's Media Asia, with the latter taking the foreign sales role. Deal was concluded by Media Asia topper Peter Lam, Gaga chairman Tom Yoda and Gaga CEO Yasuhide Uno.

With the Japanese deal now in place, Media Asia expects to be able to coordinate a full pan-Asian release close to Christmas 2006.

Chinese martial arts master Yuen Wo-ping is choreographing the action sequences. Tim Yip designed the sets, and Tan Dun is committed to scoring the film. Trio worked on Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," with Yip and Tan winning Academy Awards for their efforts.

Media Asia previously repped Feng's "A World Without Thieves" as co-financier and foreign sales agent for Huayi. Media Asia and Gaga recently worked together on Japanese-language co-production "Initial D."

Ge, winner of the actor prize at Cannes in 1994 for Zhang Yimou's "To Live," is a Feng regular. He has appeared in six of the director's pics, including "Big Shot's Funeral" and "Cell Phone."

Zhang will next be seen in Japanese helmer Seijun Suzuki's "Operetta Tanuki Goten" ("Princess Raccoon") and Rob Marshall's "Memoirs of a Geisha," for Spyglass Entertainment.

[Berri]

Feng Xiaogang's film "The Banquet" will be premiered at this year's Venice Film Festival on September 3rd, according to Beijing-based co-producer Huayi Brothers.

After premiering in Venice the film will then go on to tour five cities across China starting in Guangzhou.

CEO of Huayi Brothers, Wang Zhonglei, said the film will be released in China starting September 15th, with 650 copies to be sent to cinemas nationwide. 　

Wang admitted the risks of not choosing summer vacation or any other holidays for the film's release, however adding that there will be no other big budget films in China's cinemas during its scheduled screening, and thus no competition.

Feng Xiaogang saw his largest box office takings with his film "A World Without Thief," which grossed close to 120 million yuan. Wang said he has confidence that this new film could earn even more.

Also, since The Banquet's copyright in Europe has been sold, its screening in Venice also serves to promote the film's European partner.
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[sweeto_gal]

did anyone get the ending of this movie...?