What's this? A trailer featuring Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan and Andy Lau in which not a single punch is thrown? You betcha. How's that happen? Better question, how do you put together a film that includes not just those four but also Ge You, Leon Lai, Feng Xiaogang, Chen Kaige, Liu Ye, Tony Leung, Vicky Zhao, John Woo, Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi and more? Simple: You make a movie about the founding of the People's Republic Of China.
Outsiders are already denouncing this as propaganda,, which it may very well prove to be, but it's certainly propaganda with an impressive pedigree. The script writer of Peter Chan's Warlords co-directs and obviously no expense has been spared on cast. I suppose the question is how many of these people are involved because they truly want to be and how many were concerned about repercussions if they said no?
The lengthy trailer lies below.
Outsiders are already denouncing this as propaganda,, which it may very well prove to be, but it's certainly propaganda with an impressive pedigree. The script writer of Peter Chan's Warlords co-directs and obviously no expense has been spared on cast. I suppose the question is how many of these people are involved because they truly want to be and how many were concerned about repercussions if they said no?
The lengthy trailer lies below.
Oh, I'd bet money it's going to be essentially propaganda, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun. In a non-ironic way. Huang Jianxin (writer of Warlords) is an amazing, hugely under-rated director (go find my review of Gimme Kudos for starters) and I'm expecting him to bring something to this that's more than worth watching. Fingers crossed.
I can't help but wonder if, in a movie with this stellar and complete a cast, it isn't strange that Anthony Wong isn't present.
Guys, China is ruled by a communist party but it is not even a functioning communist party anymore. Not everyone in the country earns the same amount. You guys have to get with the program on international affairs.
Is it really a propaganda movie? I expect kind of a twist or the demontage of the comunist party, otherwise I can't explain why John Woo for instance would join this production, since he always mentioned his fears towards China and it's politics / history (Tian An Men Massacre...)
There can't be that sort of twist if they expect to ever be allowed to release it. It'll have to pass censorship to be certified and the laws specifically forbid any sort of criticism of China.
I'm very aware of the situation of chinese cinema. And my feeling tells me, that times of critical Zhang Yimou pictures are over.
But this is pretty much opportunistic from the involved people here.
China's national day is coming. that's what this movie is for. It's not the first time China produce movie to celebrate its birthday.
It can be a propaganda, the actors may under pressure to be in this movie and there may be lots of actors trying very hard to volunteer in this movie. China is big, anything is possible.