Bad, bad news for Wong Kar-Wai fans eagerly anticipating what feels like a major creative detour from the Hong-Kong filmmaker.
Kar-Wai, the slow-moving director behind such stylish and expressionistic masterpieces as “In The Mood For Love,” “Chunking Express” and “Days Of Being Wild” (the latter being a personal favorite), may have directed the wuxia/martial arts heavy, “Ashes of Time,” but is generally recognized for his slow-burning and moody unrequited romance pictures. But maybe the dud that was his first American-language film, “My Blueberry Nights,” with Nora Jones and Jude Law convinced the director to switch gears a little bit.
Early this year, he announced a picture not many were expecting: “The Grand Master,” a biopic of Ip Man, the first Chinese man to teach the martial art of Wing Chun openly, training many major level students, including Bruce Lee. Longtime Kar-Wai acting mainstay, Tony Leung Chiu-wai was set to play the lead role.
However, there was a recent accident in preparations for the film. Leung Chiu-Wai’s arm was broken by a martial arts trainer during rehearsal for his latest role in the martial arts biopic. They apparently aren’t fucking around when it comes to the training. Shooting was originally slated to begin in September though that is now in jeopardy after the actor broke a bone in his left forearm. According to the AP, Leung must rest his arm for several weeks but can continue to train on his kicks.
However, Kar-Wai moves slow enough as it is and takes his sweet-ass time in the editing room. Hopefully Leung Chiu-Wai heals on time, because it’s conceivable, even if it shoots in the fall, the film won’t be ready for release until late 2010 or even 2011. We definitely welcome the return of this Cannes-winning director though. [Guardian]
Just to clarify: Wong is the surname, Kar-Wai is the, err, Christian name… buddhist name?… anyway: Kar-Wai should be Mr. Wong to all of us. And really looking forward to the movie!
That's why every film, DVD, every publication in the U.S. does the opposite of what you just said?
So the movie companies promoting his movies have fucked up EVERY Poster, DVD, film credit, etc?
You've posted before, stop it.
Sorry, I was just trying to be helpful – no need to get rude. I was a first-time-poster , btw, and the "anonymous" seemed to be the fastest way to post. But more to the point, the fact remains that you are wrong.
I mean, really, have you ever heard of a chinese surname like Wong-Kar? When Wong is just an extremely common name, like Miller or Smith. As you might know (or not), as a rule in China the family name comes first, followed by the forename. So unless, actors/directors/producers from Hong Kong have opted to find English names for themselves (John Woo, Rigog Lam etc.) or their Chinese names have been Westernized to help them in the Western market (Zhang Ziyi turning into Ziyi Zhan; Li Gong becoming Gong Li), that rule applies. That's why it's Mr. Wong and not Mr. Kar-Wai. Same thing for Tony Leung, who's Chinese name is Leung Ka-Fai (surname first, forename second). Unless you mean the other Tony Leung, who's Chinese name ist Leung Chiu Wai.
So again, being rude doesn't make you (or American DVD covers) right. But great site anyway. Has become a daily read, keep up the good work. Greetings from Germany, Thomas.
That's why every film, DVD, every publication in the U.S. does the opposite of what you just said?
So the movie companies promoting his movies have fucked up EVERY Poster, DVD, film credit, etc?
They do so to respect the cultural norms. In China, the family name is spoken before the given name.
To quote Daniel Plainview, 'you look like a FOOOOL'.
Stop it.