Probably one of the best years for action/martial arts cinema lately, 2021 saw a number of truly impressive titles coming out, as China’s blockbusters seem to be getting better, followed by the Korean ones, Japanese manga adaptations continue to be on a very high-level, at least production level-wise and Asean countries keep on producing some of the most interesting in the category through the combination of social commentary and exploitation elements. Furthermore, a number of movies that do not fall in any of the aforementioned groups but are of equal quality, rounded up a truly great year for Asian genre.
Without further ado, here are the best Asian martial arts/action films of 2021, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2021, we decided to include them.
15. Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (Keishi Ohtomo)
On the other hand, the action element is top notch,...
Without further ado, here are the best Asian martial arts/action films of 2021, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2021, we decided to include them.
15. Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (Keishi Ohtomo)
On the other hand, the action element is top notch,...
- 12/27/2021
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Instability benefits art and there is no other place than the Chinese language world that this axiom is more evident, as the all the sociopolitical issues that are tormenting China, Taiwan and Hong Kong have actually have released the creative forces of local filmmakers in superlative fashion, even among the main voices regarding censorship. In that fashion, the quality of Taiwanese productions remained in the high levels it has gotten during the last few years, China added a number of rather interesting documentaries along the plethora of festival-appealing, European style movies and blockbusters, and Hong Kong ended up with a film that is truly worthy of the Golden Age of local cinema, even if as a whole, the industry took another step back.
Without further ado, here are the best Chinese Language films of 2021, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2020, but since they mostly circulated in 2021, we decided to include them.
Without further ado, here are the best Chinese Language films of 2021, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2020, but since they mostly circulated in 2021, we decided to include them.
- 12/23/2021
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Don’t confuse this movie with “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” directed by Guo Jingming, although they’re both adapted from the same Japanese novel series “Onmyoji” written by Baku Yumemakura. This novel was so popular that the Chinese game developer NetEase Games decided to further adapt it into “Onmyoji”, a 3D role-playing video game set in Japan and it also became a massive hit. An adaptation of this video game into a feature was soon on the drawing board resulting in “The Yinyang Master”, nonetheless, with collaboration between the Huayi Brothers Media, Ckf Pictures and NetEase Games.
In the fantasy world of ancient China, humans and demons live in harmony until Xiang Liu, an evil demon emperor, a serpent with nine heads decides to take control. However, the humans manage to defeat him and all demons are driven out to live in the Monster Realm while humans remain in Ping Jing city.
In the fantasy world of ancient China, humans and demons live in harmony until Xiang Liu, an evil demon emperor, a serpent with nine heads decides to take control. However, the humans manage to defeat him and all demons are driven out to live in the Monster Realm while humans remain in Ping Jing city.
- 4/10/2021
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
Global streaming service Netflix has acquired multi-territory streaming rights to upcoming Chinese fantasy film “Super Me.” The story is an aspirational tale, combining lucid dreaming and a rags to riches plot about a struggling screenwriter.
It was directed by Chong Zhang (“Fourth Wall”) and has a cast that is headed by Taiwan’s Darren Wang, along with Cao Bingkun, Song Jia and Wu Gang.
The film had its world premiere in the panorama section of the 2019 edition of the Sitges International Film Festival, known for its genre and fantasy leanings. It was also selected for the competition section of the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival in 2019 and for competition at the 2020 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.
But its hometown theatrical release, scheduled for 2019, was canceled by the distributor. “Super Me” finally enjoyed its mainland China premiere last week and will now reach commercial screens in China on Friday.
Netflix, which...
It was directed by Chong Zhang (“Fourth Wall”) and has a cast that is headed by Taiwan’s Darren Wang, along with Cao Bingkun, Song Jia and Wu Gang.
The film had its world premiere in the panorama section of the 2019 edition of the Sitges International Film Festival, known for its genre and fantasy leanings. It was also selected for the competition section of the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival in 2019 and for competition at the 2020 Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival.
But its hometown theatrical release, scheduled for 2019, was canceled by the distributor. “Super Me” finally enjoyed its mainland China premiere last week and will now reach commercial screens in China on Friday.
Netflix, which...
- 4/6/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Global streaming platform Netflix has picked up international rights to mainland Chinese animated feature “New Gods: Nezha Reborn.” The Light Chaser Animation Studios title was one of the seven major titles to release last week in Chinese cinemas over the peak Lunar New Year holiday period.
The platform has exclusive worldwide streaming rights outside mainland China. It did not confirm a date for international availability.
Gross box office in mainland China reached RMB235 million ($36.4 million) after six days on release. Ticketing and data service Maoyan forecasts that it will eventually finish with a RMB407 million ($63 million) total.
“Nezha Reborn” is the third high profile commercial title picked up by Netflix in the past couple of months. Earlier, the platform licensed “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity,” a period fantasy action film by Guo Jingming which released on Dec. 25. It followed that with another of the Chinese New Year releases, “The Yin Yang Master,...
The platform has exclusive worldwide streaming rights outside mainland China. It did not confirm a date for international availability.
Gross box office in mainland China reached RMB235 million ($36.4 million) after six days on release. Ticketing and data service Maoyan forecasts that it will eventually finish with a RMB407 million ($63 million) total.
“Nezha Reborn” is the third high profile commercial title picked up by Netflix in the past couple of months. Earlier, the platform licensed “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity,” a period fantasy action film by Guo Jingming which released on Dec. 25. It followed that with another of the Chinese New Year releases, “The Yin Yang Master,...
- 2/17/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Based on the Japanese novel series “Onmyoji” by Baku Yumemakura, “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” is another link in the long chain of fantasy blockbusters that have been coming from China in the last couple of years, which implements though, a genre mashup approach that allows it to stand out from the plethora of similar titles.
Centuries ago, an Evil Serpent demon was born from the desires of human. Four masters from four different sects gathered together to seal the snake within the Imperial City. As the years pass, Four Guardians were constructed in order to prevent the Evil Serpent from escaping and wreaking havoc on the rest of the world. Since then, four different masters would travel to the Imperial City to awaken the Four Guardians to trap the snake. With the threat of the Evil Serpent rising once more, four different masters come together once more: Hongruo,...
Centuries ago, an Evil Serpent demon was born from the desires of human. Four masters from four different sects gathered together to seal the snake within the Imperial City. As the years pass, Four Guardians were constructed in order to prevent the Evil Serpent from escaping and wreaking havoc on the rest of the world. Since then, four different masters would travel to the Imperial City to awaken the Four Guardians to trap the snake. With the threat of the Evil Serpent rising once more, four different masters come together once more: Hongruo,...
- 2/11/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Starring Chen Kun and Zhou Xun, the film will be released theatrically in China on February 12.
Netflix has acquired global exclusive streaming rights outside China to Li Weiran’s The Yin Yang Master, which is scheduled for a theatrical release in China this weekend in time for Chinese New Year.
Starring Chen Kun and Zhou Xun, the film is an adaptation of the popular mobile game Onmyoji and produced by Chen Kuo-fu and Chang Chia-lu. The fantasy drama tells the story of a young man travelling to different worlds to prepare them for an upcoming war between monsters and humans.
Netflix has acquired global exclusive streaming rights outside China to Li Weiran’s The Yin Yang Master, which is scheduled for a theatrical release in China this weekend in time for Chinese New Year.
Starring Chen Kun and Zhou Xun, the film is an adaptation of the popular mobile game Onmyoji and produced by Chen Kuo-fu and Chang Chia-lu. The fantasy drama tells the story of a young man travelling to different worlds to prepare them for an upcoming war between monsters and humans.
- 2/9/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has picked up international rights to “The Yin Yang Master” a film that is one of the big seven tentpole titles that will open in mainland Chinese cinemas on Friday and compete for Lunar New Year holiday audiences.
Netflix acquired distribution rights in the rest of the world ex-mainland China from Huayi Brothers Media (“The Eight Hundred”).
The fantasy movie is a game-to-film adaptation of “Onmyoji” directed by Li Weiran and starring Chen Kun (“Mojin: The Lost Legend”) and Zhou Xun.
It should not be confused with another film with a similar title “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” that ultimately draws on the same source material. The latter is the first element of a two-part, book-to-film adaptation, directed by Guo Jingming (“Tiny Times”). Netflix acquired rights to the Guo title from sales agency Fortissimo Films ahead of the film’s mainland China release on Dec. 25. It earned some...
Netflix acquired distribution rights in the rest of the world ex-mainland China from Huayi Brothers Media (“The Eight Hundred”).
The fantasy movie is a game-to-film adaptation of “Onmyoji” directed by Li Weiran and starring Chen Kun (“Mojin: The Lost Legend”) and Zhou Xun.
It should not be confused with another film with a similar title “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” that ultimately draws on the same source material. The latter is the first element of a two-part, book-to-film adaptation, directed by Guo Jingming (“Tiny Times”). Netflix acquired rights to the Guo title from sales agency Fortissimo Films ahead of the film’s mainland China release on Dec. 25. It earned some...
- 2/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has acquired exclusive global streaming rights outside of China to The Yin Yang Master. This is not to be confused with The Yin-Yang Master: Dream Of Eternity which is already on the service and was released in China late last year. The new acquisition is one of the anticipated Lunar New Year titles that will begin its Chinese theatrical run on Friday. Netflix has not yet set a streaming date.
Adapted from the popular mobile game Onmyōji, the fantasy film reunites stars Chen Kun and Zhou Xun in their first collaboration since 2012’s Painted Skin: The Resurrection. Produced by Chen Kuo-fu and Chang Chia-lu and directed by Li Weiran, The Yin Yang Master finds the world on the verge of a devastating war with monsters who are coming back to retrieve the Scaling Stone. Yin Yang Master Qingming’s (Chen Kun) life is in danger and he travels to...
Adapted from the popular mobile game Onmyōji, the fantasy film reunites stars Chen Kun and Zhou Xun in their first collaboration since 2012’s Painted Skin: The Resurrection. Produced by Chen Kuo-fu and Chang Chia-lu and directed by Li Weiran, The Yin Yang Master finds the world on the verge of a devastating war with monsters who are coming back to retrieve the Scaling Stone. Yin Yang Master Qingming’s (Chen Kun) life is in danger and he travels to...
- 2/9/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Not even remotely interested in seeing Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes or The Weeknd do their thing at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium?
We’ve got you. Instead of watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs go helmet-to-helmet for a shiny Vince Lombardi, head to these platforms and channels to get your Sunday evening fix of series and flicks.
All showtimes listed below are in Eastern Standard Time.
Streaming Alternatives Netflix
Shows: “Kid Cosmic,” “Firefly Lane,” “Hache” (Season 2), “Invisible City,” “The Sinner” (Season 3)
Films: “The Bank Job,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Zathura: A Space Adventure,” “Shutter Island,” “The Patriot,” “Little Big Women,” “Space Sweepers,” “Strip Down, Rise Up,” “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity”
Amazon Prime
Shows: “Little Coincidences,” “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?,” “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” “The White Princess” (Season 1), “Billions” (Seasons 1-3), “Black in Latin America” (Season 1), “Finding Your Roots” (Season 1)
Films: “Kiki,” “Dazed and Confused,...
We’ve got you. Instead of watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs go helmet-to-helmet for a shiny Vince Lombardi, head to these platforms and channels to get your Sunday evening fix of series and flicks.
All showtimes listed below are in Eastern Standard Time.
Streaming Alternatives Netflix
Shows: “Kid Cosmic,” “Firefly Lane,” “Hache” (Season 2), “Invisible City,” “The Sinner” (Season 3)
Films: “The Bank Job,” “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Zathura: A Space Adventure,” “Shutter Island,” “The Patriot,” “Little Big Women,” “Space Sweepers,” “Strip Down, Rise Up,” “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity”
Amazon Prime
Shows: “Little Coincidences,” “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?,” “Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men,” “The White Princess” (Season 1), “Billions” (Seasons 1-3), “Black in Latin America” (Season 1), “Finding Your Roots” (Season 1)
Films: “Kiki,” “Dazed and Confused,...
- 2/7/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
February may be the shortest month, but that doesn’t mean streaming services can ignore their duty to entertain us at all times. In that mission, Netflix is making a decent effort in February 2021. This isn’t the most jam-packed month the major streamer has trotted out just yet but there are plenty of new originals to get the job done.
Netflix has a few original series of note this month. The party begins with Kid Cosmic on Feb. 2. This animated series is a comic-tinged adventure from Craig McCracken, creator of the Powerpuff Girls. That’s followed by the Sarah Chalke and Katherine Heigl-starring Firefly Lane on Feb. 3 and Behind Her Eyes on Feb. 17. Perhaps the biggest sleeper this month, however, is Tribes of Europa. This post-apocalyptic adventure series premieres on Feb. 19.
There are also quite a few intriguing Netflix original movies in February 2021. Malcolm and Marie stars John David Washington...
Netflix has a few original series of note this month. The party begins with Kid Cosmic on Feb. 2. This animated series is a comic-tinged adventure from Craig McCracken, creator of the Powerpuff Girls. That’s followed by the Sarah Chalke and Katherine Heigl-starring Firefly Lane on Feb. 3 and Behind Her Eyes on Feb. 17. Perhaps the biggest sleeper this month, however, is Tribes of Europa. This post-apocalyptic adventure series premieres on Feb. 19.
There are also quite a few intriguing Netflix original movies in February 2021. Malcolm and Marie stars John David Washington...
- 2/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Netflix film "The Yin-Yang Master: Dream Of Eternity", based on the 1986 Japanese fantasy novel, "Onmyōji" by Baku Yumemakura, stars Mark Chao and Allen Deng, streaming February 5, 2021:
"...young 'yin-yang' master 'Qingming' (Chao) travels to 'The Capital' on his master's orders, where he attends a 'Heaven' ceremony. He is tasked with sealing a demon serpent for good, in order to prevent it from waking from its 300-year slumber and plaguing the people once again.
"However, the now released demon serpent is mighty and powerful. Qingming, together with a warrior named 'Boya' (Deng), 'Master Nanjiang' (Jessie Li), and 'Master Heshou' of the 'Imperial Observatory' (Wang Duo), set out to eliminate the demon serpent.
"In the midst of turmoil and crisis, an earth-shattering conspiracy involving the 'Princess' (Wang Ziwen) begins to surface..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...young 'yin-yang' master 'Qingming' (Chao) travels to 'The Capital' on his master's orders, where he attends a 'Heaven' ceremony. He is tasked with sealing a demon serpent for good, in order to prevent it from waking from its 300-year slumber and plaguing the people once again.
"However, the now released demon serpent is mighty and powerful. Qingming, together with a warrior named 'Boya' (Deng), 'Master Nanjiang' (Jessie Li), and 'Master Heshou' of the 'Imperial Observatory' (Wang Duo), set out to eliminate the demon serpent.
"In the midst of turmoil and crisis, an earth-shattering conspiracy involving the 'Princess' (Wang Ziwen) begins to surface..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 1/19/2021
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Headed by A Little Red Flower, China’s New Year’s Day box office hit $92m, while the three-day weekend came in at $199m.
Three local titles boosted the China box office to a record-breaking total of $92m (RMB600m) on New Year’s Day 2021, beating the previous record of $55m set on January 1, 2018.
Box office for the rest of the weekend was also healthy. With Han Yan’s A Little Red Flower leading the charge, takings over the three days (January 1-3) reached an impressive $199.2m, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway. The previous weekend (December 25-...
Three local titles boosted the China box office to a record-breaking total of $92m (RMB600m) on New Year’s Day 2021, beating the previous record of $55m set on January 1, 2018.
Box office for the rest of the weekend was also healthy. With Han Yan’s A Little Red Flower leading the charge, takings over the three days (January 1-3) reached an impressive $199.2m, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway. The previous weekend (December 25-...
- 1/4/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Disney/Pixar’s “Soul” continues to charm China with sales of $13.8 million over its second weekend, more than double its $5.5 million Christmas debut, thanks to strong word of mouth. It was the highest-grossing foreign import of the New Year weekend, far outstripping “Wonder Woman 1984” and even Hayao Miyazaki’s older but beloved animation “Ponyo.”
The weekend was huge. Industry consultancy, Artisan Gateway reported it as weighing in at $199 million, and other sources claim that is the biggest ever New Year weekend on record.
But the course of the next week promises to be disrupted by reactions to two separate plagiarism problems. State media reported that “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity,” and “Bath Buddies” will both be removed from circulation from Monday.
Director Guo Jingming on Thursday publicly apologized for plagiarizing part of another author’s work in his 2003 novel “Never Flowers in Never Dreams.” Now, his new film “The Yin-Yang Master,...
The weekend was huge. Industry consultancy, Artisan Gateway reported it as weighing in at $199 million, and other sources claim that is the biggest ever New Year weekend on record.
But the course of the next week promises to be disrupted by reactions to two separate plagiarism problems. State media reported that “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity,” and “Bath Buddies” will both be removed from circulation from Monday.
Director Guo Jingming on Thursday publicly apologized for plagiarizing part of another author’s work in his 2003 novel “Never Flowers in Never Dreams.” Now, his new film “The Yin-Yang Master,...
- 1/4/2021
- by Rebecca Davis and Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Hong Kong’s “Shock Wave 2” out-earned “Wonder Woman 1984” in China in just two days, topping the local box office this weekend with a $51.4 million debut, according to data from Maoyan.
By the end of Christmas Day, “Shock Wave 2” had grossed $28.6 million (RMB187 million), more than the $23 million (RMB151 million) “Wonder Woman” had earned since Dec. 18.
Its opening is nearly triple the Patty Jenkins-directed blockbuster’s China debut of $18.8 million last weekend, and more than 35 times the mere $1.46 million “Wonder Woman” managed to lasso this weekend to come in seventh at the box office.
Meanwhile in North America, “Wonder Woman” opened to $16.7 million from 2,100 cinemas, marking the best opening weekend to date for the region since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Shortly afterwards, the studio announced that it is now fast-tracking development on a third, concluding installment of the franchise that will bring back both director Patty Jenkins and leading lady Gal Gadot.
By the end of Christmas Day, “Shock Wave 2” had grossed $28.6 million (RMB187 million), more than the $23 million (RMB151 million) “Wonder Woman” had earned since Dec. 18.
Its opening is nearly triple the Patty Jenkins-directed blockbuster’s China debut of $18.8 million last weekend, and more than 35 times the mere $1.46 million “Wonder Woman” managed to lasso this weekend to come in seventh at the box office.
Meanwhile in North America, “Wonder Woman” opened to $16.7 million from 2,100 cinemas, marking the best opening weekend to date for the region since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Shortly afterwards, the studio announced that it is now fast-tracking development on a third, concluding installment of the franchise that will bring back both director Patty Jenkins and leading lady Gal Gadot.
- 12/28/2020
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Hong Kong action sequel Shock Wave 2 rocked China’s box office over the weekend, opening to a healthy $64.5 million. Youth fantasy film Dream of Eternity also did decent business, debuting to $38.9 million.
Hollywood tentpoles, however, fared far less well. Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 was effectively snuffed out, adding just $1.5 million in its second weekend, a 92 percent decline from its disappointing $18.8 million opening, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The superhero tentpole, which cost $200 million to make, has totaled just $23.9 million and is expected to earn only a little ...
Hollywood tentpoles, however, fared far less well. Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 was effectively snuffed out, adding just $1.5 million in its second weekend, a 92 percent decline from its disappointing $18.8 million opening, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The superhero tentpole, which cost $200 million to make, has totaled just $23.9 million and is expected to earn only a little ...
- 12/28/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Hong Kong action sequel Shock Wave 2 rocked China’s box office over the weekend, opening to a healthy $64.5 million. Youth fantasy film Dream of Eternity also did decent business, debuting to $38.9 million.
Hollywood tentpoles, however, fared far less well. Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 was effectively snuffed out, adding just $1.5 million in its second weekend, a 92 percent decline from its disappointing $18.8 million opening, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The superhero tentpole, which cost $200 million to make, has totaled just $23.9 million and is expected to earn only a little ...
Hollywood tentpoles, however, fared far less well. Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 was effectively snuffed out, adding just $1.5 million in its second weekend, a 92 percent decline from its disappointing $18.8 million opening, according to data from Artisan Gateway. The superhero tentpole, which cost $200 million to make, has totaled just $23.9 million and is expected to earn only a little ...
- 12/28/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Initiative is part of the streaming giant’s pandemic hardship fund, which aims to support film and TV creatives.
Netflix has launched a documentary talent fund to support emerging filmmakers from across the UK during the ongoing virus crisis.
The fund will give 10 filmmakers and their teams the chance to make a short documentary film with a budget between £20,000 and £40,000 and the brief “Britain’s Not Boring and Here’s a Story”.
The teams will receive guidance from the streaming giant and other filmmaking professionals, to ensure that all those involved in the production are fairly paid, and will aim...
Netflix has launched a documentary talent fund to support emerging filmmakers from across the UK during the ongoing virus crisis.
The fund will give 10 filmmakers and their teams the chance to make a short documentary film with a budget between £20,000 and £40,000 and the brief “Britain’s Not Boring and Here’s a Story”.
The teams will receive guidance from the streaming giant and other filmmaking professionals, to ensure that all those involved in the production are fairly paid, and will aim...
- 12/17/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
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