Film Review: ‘The Great Wall’ is The Best of Zhang, The Worst of Zhang

 /  Reviews  / 
  The Great Wall (2016), story by Max Brooks, Edward Zwick & Marshall Hershkovitz; screenplay by Carlo Bernard & Doug Miro, Tony Gilroy; directed by Zhang Yimou Distributed by Universal Pictures (cinemas here) Grade: B+ The first coproduction between China and the US directed by an A-list auteur from either country, Zhang Yimou’s The Great Read More

2016 Sets Record for Co-Production Permits in China

 /  News  / 
China film officials approved a record number of co-production permits in 2016. China’s State Administration of Press and Publications, Radio, Film, and Television (SAPPRFT) issued an all-time high number of co-production permits in 2016, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday. The majority of the 89 permits were for productions from Hong Kong, with 54, Read More

China Box Office: First Weekend of New Year Not So Happy

 /  Box Office  / 
Ticket receipts across the three-day New Year’s Holiday (元旦节) from Saturday through Monday totaled RMB 662 million (US$95 million), a 22 percent decrease from 2016’s record-breaking haul of RMB 849 million ($130 million). Read More

Commentator Tells Online Critics to Go Easy on Homegrown Cinema

 /  News  / 
An article published on the mobile platform of People’s Daily on Wednesday attracted ridicule for claiming that “irresponsible” low online ratings and negative comments were damaging trust in the domestic film industry. Read More

China Box Office: ‘The Great Wall’ Adds $26.5 Million in Second Weekend

 /  Box Office  / 
As predicted, the new releases took the top two spots at the weekend box office, pushing last weekend’s victor "The Great Wall" to a third place finish with RMB 184 million ($26.5 million). Read More

On Screen China: ‘Tigers’ and ‘Tomorrow’ Look to Scale ‘The Great Wall’

 /  Box Office  / 
With the wide releases of both Jackie Chan’s "Railroad Tigers" and the romantic comedy "See You Tomorrow" dominating Chinese theaters this weekend, "The Great Wall" will lose more than half of its screens. Read More

‘Great Wall’ Production Company Angry Over Critic’s Comments

 /  News  / 
With a budget of $150 million, The Great Wall is the most expensive Chinese production ever. American actor Matt Damon plays the lead role, alongside several Chinese A-listers and up-and-coming stars. Read More

China Box Office: ‘The Great Wall’ Stands Tall with RMB 470 Million

 /  Box Office  / 
"The Great Wall"’s debut was on par with this summer’s most commercially successful local film, "Time Raiders" (盗墓笔记), which pulled in RMB 476 million on its opening weekend in August on the way to an RMB 1 billion finish. Read More

On Screen China: Will ‘The Great Wall’ Stand Tall?

 /  Box Office  / 
Reportedly budgeted at US$150 million and in the works for seven long years, "The Great Wall" isn’t just another Chinese blockbuster aimed at a purely domestic audience. Read More

CFI’s Sky Kings and Heavenly Queens: Jiang Wen/姜文

 /  People  / 
CFI Sky King: Jiang Wen. Beijing badass. The steel of Clint Eastwood married to the intelligence and subversive wit of Marlon Brando Read More