HBO’s first Chinese-language films showing over Christmas holiday – martial arts co-productions with China’s CMC
Kung fu movies filmed in Putonghua both directed by Guo Jianyong, with Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen serving as executive producer
Putonghua comes to movie channel HBO for the first time on Christmas Day and Boxing Day as two made-for-television martial arts films set in ancient China receive their premieres.
Both are set during the late Qing dynasty. Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So (Now TV channel 115, December 25, 9pm) stars Cao Jun, while Sun Hao-ran takes the lead role in Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying (Now TV channel 115, December 26, 9pm). Action-film veteran Guo Jianyong directed both films, with Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen (The Transporter, X-Men) serving as executive producer.
Filmed in Putonghua and subtitled in English and Chinese, they are co-produced by HBO Asia Original and Chinese state-owned China Movie Channel.
“Apart from being HBO Asia’s very first Chinese-language production and approach to the genre, this also marks the network’s first collaboration with talents from China, Hong Kong and Singapore,” says HBO Asia chief Jonathan Spink.