"John Woo: Interviews" represents unprecedented access to the director in creating an oral history and encyclopedia of sorts—the first authoritative English-language chronicle of Woo’s life, career and legacy.
Screen Daily just reported that first half “Red Cliff” became “the highest-grossing Chinese-language film in Chinese film history,” surpassing Zhang Yimou’s “Curse Of The Golden Flower.”
Monkey Peaches has posted the some impressive images and movie posters, plus the movie theme song.
April 27, 2008
The birds are back…but not the guns.
Woo told Sina.com:
“I couldn’t put any guns into the film. But I kept the pigeons there. You will see Zhuge Liang let pigeons go and fly away three times. I can’t help doing this.”
Check out the “Battle of Red Cliff” teaser trailer, posted at Firstshowing.net.
July 10, 2007
He’s in…and he’s out again.
Reportedly, Chow Yun-Fat was seen on the set of “Red Cliff.”
But, producer Terence Chang told the AP:
“Chow is definitely out. His dropping out of our film caused us tremendous scheduling problems…. If he rejoins us, I am afraid he might create ill feelings among all the crew and all the other main actors.”
Yep, that’s right. According to producer Terence Chang, Chow had too many “unreasonable clauses” in his contract.
Chang told Sina.com that the film’s insurer balked at the 70-plus clauses in Chow’s contract.
“There are too many [clauses we couldn’t accept], and many exceed industry standards,” said Chang, who added “We didn’t mistreat him.”
Chow’s exit follows Tony Leung (“Infernal Affairs,” “In the Mood for Love”) who left the production last month.
March 21, 2007
Leung leaves
Tony Leung told the AP that he’s leaving “Red Cliff,” citing the need for more time off after shooting Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution.”
“I think I need some time to recover. You can’t remove yourself from a character in a day or two once you’ve immersed in it,” Leung said.
He continued: “I feel a bit of regret, but I didn’t know the timing would be this tight. After thinking about the matter for a long time, after discussing it with John Woo for a long time, I decided it’s worse if I delayed the whole team.”
The book tour of the Northwest was a resounding success. Thanks again to Kathleen Karlyn and her staff for hosting the mini-John Woo film festival, and thanks to all who showed up for the party.
March 20, 2006
The nice folks at the University of Oregon Film & Media Group in Eugene, Oregon are hosting a 2-day John Woo film festival, followed by a book signing for me April 3 - 4.
Showing Monday, April 3: “The Killer” at 7 p.m., on campus at 110 Willamette
Tuesday, April 4, same location: Reception and book signing at 6 p.m., followed by a screening of Woo’s ultra-violent action masterpiece “Hard Boiled” at 7 p.m. I will conduct a Q&A at the end of the session and sign books afterward as well.
I’ll be in Portland over the weekend as well, reporting a story for the Chicago Tribune and signing a few books at Powells on Burnside...
ABOUT THE BOOK: "John Woo: Interviews" represents unprecedented access to the director in creating an oral history and encyclopedia of sorts—the first authoritative English-language chronicle of Woo’s life, career and legacy.
For more information about director John Woo, Hong Kong cinema, interview excerpts, editor Robert K. Elder or upcoming book events, please explore the site.
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