Tag Archives: Hong Kong

90 Years, 9 Days: ‘The Departed’ (2006)

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90 Years, 9 Days: The Departed (2006)

In the grand scheme of Martin Scorsese‘s career, “The Departed” occupies a strange place in the director’s filmography. It’s the one he won for, definitely not his best — and if you ask some people — far from his best. The director’s remake of the Hong Kong crime thriller “Infernal Affairs,” despite winning Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, and Director at the 2007 Academy Awards, has failed, in many ways, to earn respect on its own merits.

One of the more ironic achievements of “The Departed” actually occurred in the year’s following its release. The success of the Boston-set crime drama kicked off a wave of similar movies set in Massachusetts, many of which also starred Mark Wahlberg. “The Departed” essentially created the Boston crime drama, the genre that would employ Afflecks and Wahlbergs for years to come, but the Scorsese film is the best of the bunch.

That’s because “The Departed” is about something, as opposed to being about a bunch violent dudes from Southie pulling a heist. From the very start of his filmmaking career, Scorsese has made movies steeped in Catholic ideologies, specifically how men deal with their past sins and the guilt that comes with them.

Taking a step back from the thematic elements and simply examining the surface, “The Departed” is a breed of crime thriller that we do not see often. It’s big, accessible, and brilliantly made. The levels of suspense reach heights more or less unparalleled in the genre.

Over the course of nine days, MTV Movies Blog will be traveling through cinematic time and the nine decades of movies featured in the “Best of Warner Bros 50 Film Collection.” Each day, we’ll review one film from one decade of the box set and taking a look back at the history of the studio.

[News] Damon Dash To Open Art Galleries In South Carolina & Hong Kong

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Damon Dash announces plans to launch a pair of art galleries to expand DD 172.

Damon Dash has announced plans to open galleries in South Carolina and Hong Kong.

The move comes after Dame opened Poppington Art Gallery in Manhattan in September.

“South Carolina is the New York of the South…with beaches…I like the town and there is a strong undiscovered artistic community from music to art,” said Dash to AllHipHop.

The galleries will be part of Dame’s DD 172 organization, and will “support the creation and distribution of works by artists, musicians, filmmakers and other creative types.”

“We will be bringing artist that we show in our New York gallery to the South and artists that we show in the South to the New York gallery,” added Dame. “It’s like a franchise. Next is Hong Kong.”

RELATED: Dame Dash Says He’s Proud Of Jay-Z Kanye West

‘Dark Knight’ Trilogy: Batman’s Greatest Gadgets

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Where does Batman get all of those wonderful toys? In the “Dark Knight” trilogy, they come from a winning combination of Bruce Wayne‘s extraordinary wealth, Lucius Fox‘s Applied Sciences division, and Christopher Nolan‘s bountiful imagination. The director’s just-concluded Batman trilogy always strived for real-world explanations for the Caped Crusader‘s decidedly larger-than-life arsenal, yielding numerous unforgettable gadgets along the way.

With “The Dark Knight Rises” now in the books, here’s a look at six of our favorite Batman gadgets from the Nolan era.

Magnetic Grapple Gun
Ah, the grapple gun. A magnetic, gas-powered handheld “firearm” in Nolan’s trilogy, this gadget has been a mainstay across all of the iterations of Batman. It’s simple but effective, allowing Bruce an easy exit whenever he needs it — and make no mistake, he needs it quite often.

Bombs Away
A little firepower can go a long way. Just ask the Batman, who uses small explosives to get get himself out of almost any jam. Whether its simply a means of distracting bad guys or used to create new exits and entrances where they didn’t exist previously, bombs are a Batman’s best friend. Our favorite of the Caped Crusader‘s explosive devices: the sticky-bomb gun, which he uses in Hong Kong during his mission to capture Mr. Lau.

Sonar Vision
When something makes Lucius Fox morally uncomfortable, you know you’ve got a powerful item on your hands. The technology that used all of Gotham’s residents’ cell devices to power sonar mapping proved invaluable for taking the Joker down — as well as Mr. Lau earlier in the film — yielding two epic fight scenes in the process. Bruce deleted the tech as a way of proving his loyalty to Lucius, but we bet he regretted that decision deeply the moment Bane set foot in Gotham.

Sonic Boot-Heel
Speaking of sonar, any device that can bring an army of bats to your location is a pretty useful tool to have, especially when all you do is run around at night fighting crime dressed as a bat. Only seen once in “Batman Begins,” this gadget gave Bruce all the cover he needed to make a fast escape with an ailing Rachel Dawes at his side.

Memory Fiber Cape
Base-jumping isn’t the most common pastime in Gotham City, but it’s essential to Mr. Wayne’s up-all-night extracurricular hobby. The cape was always a flashy accessory in the Batman mythos, but in Nolan’s trilogy, it was an essential tool that allowed Bruce to glide from point A to point B and beyond.

A Trio of Rides
It’s almost unfair to list these as part of Bruce’s collection of gadgets. They’re so much more than that. With the Tumbler, Bat-pod and The Bat at his side, there’s no terrain too rough to traverse, no corner of Gotham too out of reach. With these vehicles at his disposal, Batman has saved the day more times than anyone can reasonably count.

List off your favorite “Dark Knight” gadgets in the comments below!

Jackie Chan Readying New Action Comedy

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71e31 flip c Jackie Chan Readying New Action Comedy

Jackie Chan is ready to head back to his “Rush Hour” and “Shanghai Noon” glory days.

The actor is going to be starring in an upcoming English language action comedy, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The planned project will tell the story of a detective (Chan) who is hired to find an American gambler who’s racked up quite a bill with a Macau casino syndicate.

The movie will be produced in China, and will be set in Hong Kong, Macau, Eastern Europe and mainland China. No word yet on who will play the American, but it seems like Chan has opted out of the buddy comedy formula that has worked so well for him in the past.

Newcomer Jay Longino has been hired to pen the script, Chan will produce as well as star in the project. Hopefully he’ll bring on some of his old friends for the film as well. It’s still too early to know who will direct it, but we’d love to see him reteam with Brett Ratner or David Dobkin for his return to American big screens.

Beyond the “Kung Fu Panda” animated movies, the last time we saw Chan in theaters was with 2010′s “The Karate Kid.” His focus in Hollywood has seemingly been on kids’ movies ever since “Rush Hour 3″ came out in 2007. It’s exciting to hear that he’s returning to the comedy action genre, and hopefully this upcoming untitled movie be geared more towards adults than children.

Do you think Chan is gearing up for an American come back? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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‘Pacific Rim’ Battles Will Go Sky High, Guillermo Del Toro Says

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Pacific Rim Battles Will Go Sky High, Guillermo Del Toro Says

The mystery surrounding Guillermo del Toro‘s latest project, “Pacific Rim,” has been maddening for a few reasons. Considering the talent involved (del Toro, Elba, and Day), we’re going to want to know as much as possible about the film. Also, every glimpse we do get of the futuristic “monsters versus robots” movie just makes us want to see it more, like the newest picture of Elba in his costume.

The latest information comes from del Toro, himself, in an interview with Total Film (via ComingSoon.net). In the interview, the director describes not only the scope of the monster attack, but runs down a few of the big brawls we can expect to see on screen.

Learn more after the jump!

Del Toro explains that the problem with the monsters will be a global one in order to drum up the drama. “We had a Tokyo scene that we shot here in Toronto,” he said. “We had several Hong Kong scenes and a few scenes in Australia, through the television. We briefly see the kaiju take over San Francisco. The whole Pacific Rim needs a sense of danger.”

According to the director, the arenas for the fighting will be just as varied. “We take the battles far and above! Two or three of them happen in places where there has never been a battle between kaiju and robots,” he said. “From the bottom of the ocean to the atmosphere of the Earth. We have a battle in a storm at sea. Every battle we try to do differently. One is seen from the point of view of a single person. We never cut away from that point of view.”

What do you think of the new “Pacific Rim” details? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

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The Surprising Sophistication of Gears of War Judgment

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1UP COVER STORY

The Surprising Sophistication of Gears of War Judgment

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

Sleeping Dogs Muscles In On GTA’s Turf

Cover Story: Four reasons why United Front‘s open-world game already tops the last GTA.

O

ver the past decade, open-world sandbox games have been all the rage. And why not? This style of game presents players with impressively modeled recreations of some of the most important settings in history within the context of a video game. When executed properly, these authentic playgrounds add an extra layer of believability to any story. We’ve done everything imaginable through an open-world lens, from traipsing across Renaissance Italy in Assassin’s Creed II to high-speed cop chases in Grand Theft Auto IV. Now developer United Front Games aims to provide an equally ambitious and complementary experience to those examples with their latest game — one that matches a foreign locale with fast car chases and urban drama. In Sleeping Dogs, players experience Hong Kong and get a behind-the-scenes look at the gritty world of the Chinese underground, experiencing a tale inspired by hit movies Infernal Affairs and The Departed.

Can it really best the top dogs in the genre? I think so. Despite Rockstar‘s landmark work, its GTA titles tend to combine cool ideas (see the bank heist in GTA IV, which former 1UP editor Thierry Nguyen often describes as Heat: The Video Game) with janky execution (see driving, hand-to-hand combat, and targeting). Sleeping Dogs aims to improve on the GTA formula, and the effort shows. It was clear to me during a recent hands-on demo that the the developers passionately focused on creating a game with fluid combat, great driving and handling for cars and bikes, and an engaging story that doesn’t sit entirely at odds with gameplay. Remember Mr. Bellic’s ridiculous attempt to get out of the killing people business in GTA IV by… well, killing people? GTAIV hit its fourth birthday this past April, and a sequel is due by the time it turns five. But before you get excited for Grand Theft Auto V, a game no one has seen neither hide nor hair of since its debut trailer last fall, consider Sleeping Dogs.

Quantum Conundrum Bridges Dimensions, Generations

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1UP COVER STORY

Quantum Conundrum Bridges Dimensions, Generations

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

Sleeping Dogs Muscles In On GTA’s Turf

Cover Story: Four reasons why United Front‘s open-world game already tops the last GTA.

O

ver the past decade, open-world sandbox games have been all the rage. And why not? This style of game presents players with impressively modeled recreations of some of the most important settings in history within the context of a video game. When executed properly, these authentic playgrounds add an extra layer of believability to any story. We’ve done everything imaginable through an open-world lens, from traipsing across Renaissance Italy in Assassin’s Creed II to high-speed cop chases in Grand Theft Auto IV. Now developer United Front Games aims to provide an equally ambitious and complementary experience to those examples with their latest game — one that matches a foreign locale with fast car chases and urban drama. In Sleeping Dogs, players experience Hong Kong and get a behind-the-scenes look at the gritty world of the Chinese underground, experiencing a tale inspired by hit movies Infernal Affairs and The Departed.

Can it really best the top dogs in the genre? I think so. Despite Rockstar‘s landmark work, its GTA titles tend to combine cool ideas (see the bank heist in GTA IV, which former 1UP editor Thierry Nguyen often describes as Heat: The Video Game) with janky execution (see driving, hand-to-hand combat, and targeting). Sleeping Dogs aims to improve on the GTA formula, and the effort shows. It was clear to me during a recent hands-on demo that the the developers passionately focused on creating a game with fluid combat, great driving and handling for cars and bikes, and an engaging story that doesn’t sit entirely at odds with gameplay. Remember Mr. Bellic’s ridiculous attempt to get out of the killing people business in GTA IV by… well, killing people? GTAIV hit its fourth birthday this past April, and a sequel is due by the time it turns five. But before you get excited for Grand Theft Auto V, a game no one has seen neither hide nor hair of since its debut trailer last fall, consider Sleeping Dogs.

Interview: Taking Stealth a Step Further With Assassin’s Creed III

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1UP COVER STORY

Interview: Taking Stealth a Step Further With Assassins Creed III

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

Sleeping Dogs Muscles In On GTA’s Turf

Cover Story: Four reasons why United Front‘s open-world game already tops the last GTA.

O

ver the past decade, open-world sandbox games have been all the rage. And why not? This style of game presents players with impressively modeled recreations of some of the most important settings in history within the context of a video game. When executed properly, these authentic playgrounds add an extra layer of believability to any story. We’ve done everything imaginable through an open-world lens, from traipsing across Renaissance Italy in Assassin’s Creed II to high-speed cop chases in Grand Theft Auto IV. Now developer United Front Games aims to provide an equally ambitious and complementary experience to those examples with their latest game — one that matches a foreign locale with fast car chases and urban drama. In Sleeping Dogs, players experience Hong Kong and get a behind-the-scenes look at the gritty world of the Chinese underground, experiencing a tale inspired by hit movies Infernal Affairs and The Departed.

Can it really best the top dogs in the genre? I think so. Despite Rockstar‘s landmark work, its GTA titles tend to combine cool ideas (see the bank heist in GTA IV, which former 1UP editor Thierry Nguyen often describes as Heat: The Video Game) with janky execution (see driving, hand-to-hand combat, and targeting). Sleeping Dogs aims to improve on the GTA formula, and the effort shows. It was clear to me during a recent hands-on demo that the the developers passionately focused on creating a game with fluid combat, great driving and handling for cars and bikes, and an engaging story that doesn’t sit entirely at odds with gameplay. Remember Mr. Bellic’s ridiculous attempt to get out of the killing people business in GTA IV by… well, killing people? GTAIV hit its fourth birthday this past April, and a sequel is due by the time it turns five. But before you get excited for Grand Theft Auto V, a game no one has seen neither hide nor hair of since its debut trailer last fall, consider Sleeping Dogs.

Interview: Reinventing Lara Croft

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1UP COVER STORY

Interview: Reinventing Lara Croft

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

Sleeping Dogs Muscles In On GTA’s Turf

Cover Story: Four reasons why United Front‘s open-world game already tops the last GTA.

O

ver the past decade, open-world sandbox games have been all the rage. And why not? This style of game presents players with impressively modeled recreations of some of the most important settings in history within the context of a video game. When executed properly, these authentic playgrounds add an extra layer of believability to any story. We’ve done everything imaginable through an open-world lens, from traipsing across Renaissance Italy in Assassin’s Creed II to high-speed cop chases in Grand Theft Auto IV. Now developer United Front Games aims to provide an equally ambitious and complementary experience to those examples with their latest game — one that matches a foreign locale with fast car chases and urban drama. In Sleeping Dogs, players experience Hong Kong and get a behind-the-scenes look at the gritty world of the Chinese underground, experiencing a tale inspired by hit movies Infernal Affairs and The Departed.

Can it really best the top dogs in the genre? I think so. Despite Rockstar‘s landmark work, its GTA titles tend to combine cool ideas (see the bank heist in GTA IV, which former 1UP editor Thierry Nguyen often describes as Heat: The Video Game) with janky execution (see driving, hand-to-hand combat, and targeting). Sleeping Dogs aims to improve on the GTA formula, and the effort shows. It was clear to me during a recent hands-on demo that the the developers passionately focused on creating a game with fluid combat, great driving and handling for cars and bikes, and an engaging story that doesn’t sit entirely at odds with gameplay. Remember Mr. Bellic’s ridiculous attempt to get out of the killing people business in GTA IV by… well, killing people? GTAIV hit its fourth birthday this past April, and a sequel is due by the time it turns five. But before you get excited for Grand Theft Auto V, a game no one has seen neither hide nor hair of since its debut trailer last fall, consider Sleeping Dogs.

Disney Puts ‘Order Of The Seven’ On Hold

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eb8b1 2 Disney Puts Order Of The Seven On Hold

It seems like “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Mirror Mirror” won the battle of the Snow White movies. Disney had been developing their own dark take on the beloved fairy tale called “The Order of the Seven,” but new reports say that they have put the project on hold indefinitely.

The Hollywood Reporter has the news, citing the movie’s large budget as a reason for the cancellation. Apparently after the deemed box office failures of Disney’s “John Carter” and Universal’s “Battleship” — both with budgets over $200 million — Disney has decided to reassess their big tentpole movies.

“The Order of the Seven” was planned to be a Hong Kong-set spin on the classic Snow White tale starring Saoirse Ronan and being directed by first timer Michael Gracey. The kung fu flick would follow a young woman who escapes her wicked stepmother and turns to an international band of seven warriors to protect her. According to THR, they would belong to “an ancient order dedicated to fighting demons and dragons.” Even as early as last week, Disney had hired “Iron Man” scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby to clean up the script.

Apparently the resignation of studio head Rich Ross also had something to do with “Order” being scrapped. Ross had been overseeing the development of the movie, but left Disney in April after “John Carter” did not prove profitable. Right now, Disney has not named a replacement for him as head.

Are you disappointed that “Order of the Seven” is put on hold? Let us know in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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