Legend of The Moles-The Frozen Horror

Legend of The Moles-The Frozen Horror Poster

Genres: Animation, Fantasy
Director: Liu Kexin
Starring: Ji Guanlin, Zhou Zhiqiang and Li Yang
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: 11 August 2011 (China)
Runtime: 95 min

Plot Summary:
The snow mountain melts, which endangers the town of moles. To create issues worse, the bears are invading the city. On the other hand, mysterious powers arise in the city. Little moles not only have to dispel misunderstands between themselves, but also to save the homeland.

Legend of The Moles-The Frozen Horror Review:
The new Chinese movie is adapted from the popular children's online community game "Mole Park". Its characters including the female lead Momo and male lead Qiqi have produced a great deal of interest among children and gamers.

Mo shu wai zhuan

Director Gu Changwei who directed this new Chinese movie, Zhang Ziyi and Aaron Kwok star as an HIV-infected couple in AIDS-themed film Mo shu wai zhuan aka Life Is A Miracle.

Mo shu wai zhuan Poster

Genres: Drama, Romance
Director: Changwei Gu
Starring: Ziyi Zhang, Aaron Kwok, Wenli Jiang
Also Known As: Life Is a Miracle, Love for Life, Till Death Do Us Part
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: 10 May 2011 (China)
Runtime: 100 min

Plot Summary:
Set in a small Chinese village where HIV virus is spreading rapidly as a result of illicit blood trade, Mo shu wai zhuan revolves around De Yi (Aaron Kwok) and Qinqin (Zhang Ziyi) are both estranged from their respective family because of their disease and unexpectedly find love with each other by their misfortunes.

Mo shu wai zhuan (Life Is a Miracle) Review:
Mo shu wai zhuan (Life Is a Miracle) is first art-house Chinese movie to address the country's growing AIDS problem. Director Gu Changwei invited many HIV-positive people to join his new Chinese movie in an attempt to raise the awareness of AIDS problem and the discrimination against HIV-infected individuals.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1664704/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDq-3oBHMjA

The Lost Bladesman

This new Chinese movie adapted from the story of Guan Yu crossing five passes and slaying six generals in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

The Lost Bladesman Poster

Genres: Action, Biography, Drama
Director: Felix Chong, Alan Mak
Starring: Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Betty Sun
Also Known As: Guan yun chang
Country: China, Hong Kong
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: 28 April 2011 (China)
Runtime: 109 min

Plot Summary:
In the final years of the Eastern Han dynasty, AD 200. The Prime Minister Cao Cao (Jiang Wen) decides to attack the Emperor's uncle Liu Bei (Alex Fong). Liu Bei is defeated in a battle by Cao's forces, while his family is captured by the enemy. Liu Bei's sworn brother Guan Yu (Donnie Yen), surrenders to Cao Cao to protect Liu's family who is held captive at Cao's camp. Cao Cao knows he's a great warrior and attempt at persuading him to join his cause — to stay and rebuild  the Han dynasty. However, Guan says he must rejoin Liu with his oath of brotherhood and preserve his honor. Guan eventually sets out on a treacherous journey with wave after wave of killers ambushing him en route, Guan Yu is forced to unleash his deadly blade and slaughter his way out. That is the story of legendary Guan Yu crossing five passes and slaying six generals.

"The Lost Bladesman" Review:
This new Chinese movie is told through impressive style and fittingly epic visuals. If you don't know the story of the Three Kingdoms or if you already really like it, then you'll definitely enjoy this Chinese film. If you are crazy about Donnie Yen or if you just enjoy watching him kick the crap out of someone then you'll also enjoy this Chinese movie.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1648093/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pluvVeG3Ie8

You can preorder the "The Lost Bladesman" DVD (English subtitled) now from here.

Mr. & Mrs. Single

The new Chinese movie "Mr. and Mrs. Single" tackles the Chinese social phenomenon of secret marriages for young couples looking for better jobs and higher income. The romantic-comedy based on the popular theatrical play of the same name in China, Mr. & Mrs. Single is the latest urban romance from Hong Kong director Patrick Kong.

Mr. & Mrs. Single Poster

Genres: Drama
Director: Patrick Kong
Starring: Eason Chan, Rene Liu, Bing Bai, Harlem Yu
Also Known As: Yin Hun Nan Nv
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: 8 April 2011 (China)
Runtime: 100 min

Plot Summary:
"Let' s get married… it's love's antidote"

Cui Minguo (Eason Chan) who has to adds to the high cost of living, in order to get a new job as an personal assistant to CEO Mandy (Rene Liu) at a perfume company on the referral of his friend Tony (Harlem Yu). Eager to secure this well-paying job, Minguo decides to keep his marriage a secret in the workplace. In time, As Mandy becomes more appreciative of him,  their relationship starts to arouse the suspicions of his wife, Jingyi (Bai Bing), who also discovers Minguo has been lying about his marital status at work. During one inevitable business trip abroad, as the two are drawn closer and closer by temptation, Minguo risks exposing his secret and jeopardizing both his career and marriage.

"Mr. & Mrs. Single" Review:
This new Chinese movie, like Go Lala Go, explores the Chinese office politics and contemporary social phenomenon of young men hiding the fact that they are married in order to secure more attractive jobs. "Mr. and Mrs. Single" based on the popular Chinese theatrical play of the same name, the film is a feel-good romantic comedy that delivers the laughs while tackling themes that easily resonate with all couples.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1887955/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djE37C1VR2M

You can preorder the "Mr. & Mrs. Single" DVD (English subtitled) now from here.

Wu xia

The new Chinese movie is a refreshing film for the martial arts genre, part period detective mystery, part martial arts drama, and part pressure-points manual. Both Donnie Yen and Takeshi Kaneshiro gave a very strong performance.

Wu xia Poster

Genres: Action, Drama
Director: Peter Chan
Starring: Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tang Wei
Also Known As: Dragon
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: 4 July 2011 (China)
Runtime: 125 min

Plot Summary:
The story set in a village in Yunnan province, southern China, 1917. Liu Jinxi (Donnie Yen) is a local paper-maker lives with his wife Ayu (Tang Wei) and their two sons in this remote village. However, when a pair of bandit attempt to rob the local store, Liu fought off two bandits and accidentally kills them in the battle. Local chief is happy it happened under his jurisdiction because of learned one of the bandits was amongthe ten most wanted people in the land,and the town is busy proclaiming the average paper maker a local hero. Or so it seems until detective Xu Baijiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro) begins to investigate how a untrained man could have dispatched two seasoned bandits.

"Wu xia" Review:
Wu Xia is a fascinating fusion of a detective story, forensic science, action, humor, politics and family drama. The editing of this new Chinese movie is nicely framed - the CSI-like flashbacks coupled with Kaneshiro's detailed monologue provides a fascinating view into human pressure points. The music is a refreshing trait for me - the score is too tense and somber and not melodramatic, although I never knew an electric guitar can be that effective in a period kung-fu film, sort of like Ry Cooder in Hill's "Last Man Standing".

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1718199/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JHGPiYoEac

The Pretending Lovers

The Pretending Lovers, a new Chinese movie directed by Fendou Liu. The new romantic comedy, which a first for Chinese films, the climactic scene shot in Trondheim, Norway through captured on the extraordinary sight of the aurora.

The Pretending Lovers Poster

Genres: Drama, Romance
Director: Fendou Liu
Starring: Bo Huang, Yiyan Jiang, Zhang Mo
Also Known As: Jia Zhuang Qing Lu
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: 24 June 2011 (China)
Runtime: 93 min

Plot Summary:
Honest insurance company salesman named Wen Chen (Bo Huang) encounter kindergarten teacher Lu Shen (Yiyan Jiang). Like many other lonely souls in the city, Lu Shen decides to play the "let's pretend lovers" game, and so she asks him to be her fake boyfriend and Chen Wen agreeably accept her requisition. But it turns out that sassy girlfriends begins treating him to a series of bizarre challenges.

"The Pretending Lovers" Review:
Not exactly the heartthrob type, Bo Huang may be an unlikely choice for romantic hero roles but that's exactly what the Golden Horse Best Actor Award-winner is in The Pretending Lovers! Directed by Fendou Liu, the urban romantic comedy pays obvious homage to My Sassy Girl, but there is no denying that the new Chinese movie possesses a genuine charm of its own thanks to its delightful mix of side-splitting hilarity and sappy melodrama.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1990255/

The Piano in a Factory

This new Chinese movie tells the story of a father to fight for custody of his daughter against his estranged wife, a steel factory worker decides to build a piano from scratch.

The Piano in a Factory Poster

Genres: Drama, Comedy
Director: Zhang Meng
Starring: Shin-yeong Jang, Qian Liu, Wang Qian-Yuan, Hailu Qin
Also Known As: Gang de qin
Country: China
Language: Mandarin
Release Date: July 15, 2011
Runtime: 119 min

Plot Summary:
The story is set in an economically depressed steel-making city in Northeastern China where everything is covered by snow most of the year.

CHEN (Wang Qian-Yuan), in charge of recreational activities of a factory, has separated with his wife for some years. He is dedicated to getting his daughter to be a pianist but can not afford a piano because he has to take care of his aged ill parents. His friend, a door keeper of a school, finds him a music room for his daughter to play piano, but someone reports this to school master, leaving his friend being fired.

His wife wants to divorce from him and ask for the custody of the daughter. They fight with each other for the issue. The court rules that the daughter makes the decision. The daughter says that she'll stay with whomever provides her with a piano. Chen tries to borrow money from his friends but fails. He goes out to drink with his pals. As they get drunk, someone comes up with a planto steal the piano from the school. After having sobered up, they carry the piano back to the classroom as they find that piano is made of steel plates and ropes and they can manufacture one by themselves.

Though the piano has been made, his daughter chooses to live with her mother. Before departing father, the daughter plays the piano not very much in the tune. Chen and his pals in the workshop are listening to the melody silently.

"The Piano in a Factory" Review:
Director Zhang Meng uses black humor to tell the story of the father's pursuit. The film is Zhang's second feature. Wang Qianyuan, who plays the father, was named best actor at the 2010 Tokyo International Film Festival. This new Chinese movie won the World Competition at this year's Miami International Film Festival.

Imdb page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723118/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QjQGBj08vM