HONG KONG (AP) - Darth Vader, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are feeling the heat at the box office from an unusual rival - a movie based on a Japanese comic book, directed by Hong Kongers and starring a Taiwanese pop star making his debut in the movies.
"Initial D," the story of a young street car racer, has stunned "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" and the action thriller "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," starring Jolie and Pitt, at the Hong Kong box office.
The movie grossed $3.6 million over 10 days as of last weekend. By comparison, the latest Star Wars installment has made just $2.4 million over 46 days. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" fared better, earning $2.8 million in 25 days.
"Initial D," filmed in Japan, is a testament to the far reach of Japanese popular culture and marks a unique cultural cross-pollination. Some of the Chinese entertainment industry's top creative talent teamed up to bring the work of Japanese comic artist Shuichi Shigeno to life.
At the helm are Andrew Lau and Alan Mak - the directing duo behind the acclaimed Hong Kong police thriller "Infernal Affairs," which is being remade into a Hollywood film directed by Martin Scorcese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Leading the cast is Asian pop sensation Jay Chou, a singer-songwriter and one of Chinese-language music industry's biggest names.
Chou's fame also translates into instant regional appeal for the movie, a commercial consideration director Mak said was inevitable for a movie with a $10 million budget.
"Whether it's Taiwan, mainland China or Hong Kong, he's the hottest singer of his age group," Mak told The Associated Press.
Rounding out the cast is veteran Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong, local heartthrobs Edison Chen and Shawn Yue and singers Jordan Chan and Kenny Bee. Japanese actress Anne Suzuki, who appeared in the 1999 film "Snow Falling on Cedars" with Ethan Hawke, plays Fujiwara's classmate and love interest, Natsuki Mogi. |
發表於 2005-7-8 19:08:37