“A TENSE AND RIVETING PIECE OF ACTION CINEMA… IMPRESSIVE FIGHT SEQUENCES… BONE-CRUSHING VIOLENCE.” – TWITCH.
Winner of eight honours at the prestigious Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Action Choreography, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Costume and Make-up Design and Best Original Film Score, and the winner of the Best Actor (Wang Xueqi) and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholas Tse) prizes at this year’s Asian Film Awards, the epic, period action movie Bodyguards And Assassins is a dramatic fictionalized retelling of the suspenseful events of 1906 that eventually led to the 1911 Xinhai Revolution and the founding of the Republic of China.
Directed by Teddy Chan (The Accidental Spy) and featuring an impressive cast of Hong Kong and China’s biggest stars, including Donnie Yen (Ip Man; Kill Zone), Leon Lai (An Empress And The Warriors; Seven Swords), Xueqi Wang (Forever Enthralled; Warriors Of Heaven And Earth; The Red Suit), Tony Leung Ka Fai (Missing; The Myth), Nicholas Tse (Dragon Tiger Gate; New Police Story; The Medallion) and Simon Yam (Ip Man; Triangle), Bodyguards And Assassins is a sumptuously staged, action-packed blockbuster, full of political intrigue, tragedy and drama that will appeal as much to lovers of quality cinema as it will to martial arts aficionados.
On October 15th 1906, the man destined to become the Father of Modern China, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, is due to arrive in the British Colony of Hong Kong to discuss plans to overthrow the corrupt Qing Dynasty with a group of leading anti-Qing revolutionaries. Aware of Sun’s intentions, the Qing Court dispatches an elite army of assassins to the port where Sun is due to arrive, with orders to see to it that he never makes it to his appointment and does not leave the colony alive.
Receiving news of the proposed assassination, a newspaper editor and a local tycoon, both sympathetic supporters of the revolution, take it upon themselves to protect Dr. Sun at any cost. To help ensure his safety they recruit a motley band of fellow sympathisers, friends and acquaintances, all skilled in martial arts combat to act as Sun’s bodyguards. Additionally, they devise a risky plan to secretly replace the assassins’ target with a human decoy in an attempt to lead the killers away from their quarry.
As Sun arrives on the fateful day, the stage is set for a bloody confrontation in which a small group of selflessly courageous men and women will risk their lives fighting against hundreds of adversaries in a conflict that will determine the fate of millions.
Cleverly taking his time to establish his characters, their back-stories, motives and sub-plots in the deliberately paced first half of the film, director Chan expertly unleashes a barrage of non-stop, action set-pieces in a final hour that will leave viewers breathless.
Among the many standout sequences in a film that manages to be as emotionally involving and moving as it is exciting are a brilliantly directed sequence that echoes Brian De Palma’s homage (from “The Untouchables”) to Eisenstein’s famous Odessa Steps sequence from “Battleship Potemkin”, an extended free-running duel involving Donnie Yen and Cung Le, and a ‘man versus horse’ confrontation that is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Bodyguards And Assassins will be released on DVD (£12.99) and Blu-ray (£19.99) by E1 Entertainment on 31st May 2010.
Every dog has his day. And yesterday, Atlanta-area dogs sure had theirs, as its first Dream Dog Park was unveiled by Beneful® brand dog food in Johns Creek, Ga.
The entire Johns Creek dog-loving community has awaited this day since last September, when their community dog park was awarded a $500,000 renovation from the Beneful® brand after local resident Pat McNeely and his Siberian Husky Koda were named Grand Prize Winner in the Beneful® WagWorld® Dream Dog Park Contest. Since then, Pat and Koda’s dream ideas have served as inspiration for the renovation that was managed by the Beneful Dream Team, led by TV personality and design expert Jason Cameron and pet expert and bestselling author Arden Moore. The Dream Team duo have worked together to transform the Newtown Dog Park into an enviable adventure destination for dogs and owners. Some of the park’s most interactive and unique elements include a giant bone-shaped ramp with tunnels, two water splash pads and a running trail, all of which were put to good use yesterday as local dogs and their best buddies turned out to celebrate at a special unveiling event.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/benefuldreamdogpark/50201/
For the second year running, Colgate® Optic White® is teaming up with the Country Music Association (CMA) to give fans an insider look at the glamour and excitement around “The 49th Annual CMA Awards” taking place on Wednesday, November 4. To help share that insider story, Colgate Optic White together with two of Country’s brightest stars, Jana Kramer and Cassadee Pope, will share how to look and feel your best whether on or off the red carpet. Starting today, stay in the know on all of the behind the scenes tips and tricks by following @OpticWhite, @CountryMusic, @KramerGirl and @CassadeePope on Twitter.
“When it comes to life’s big moments, the first step to feeling your best is a beautiful smile,” said Kramer. “You can always swap out your shoes or your dress, but your smile is what makes it memorable.”
Colgate Optic White will provide fans with behind the scenes access to Kramer and Pope on their road to the 2015 CMA Awards. Exclusive content and access opportunities include Periscope activations in the weeks leading up to the broadcast and a co-hosted live Twitter chat with Pope on Tuesday, Nov. 3 as well as other surprises. In addition, understanding the importance of social media and fan engagement, @OpticWhite will live-tweet from the red carpet and throughout the CMA Awards, engaging with fans on the brilliant smiles and styles of the night.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7566751-colgate-optic-white-cma-awards/
High school freshman Nina McDonald recalls simply running for the ball during middle school soccer practice when she felt a pop in her knee, followed by excruciating pain. As she fell to the ground, she remembers thinking she would never be able to play her favorite sport again.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/cayennemedical/46933/
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If you've looked at SUVs in the past but have been put off the idea by
their bulkiness (and high running costs), the Audi Q3 might be the car
for you. It shares many characteristics of the Q5 -- albeit in a
compact form; making it a highly attractive entry-level option for
anyone drawn to the Audi SUV range...See More
ttp://www.osv.ltd.uk/audi.php
Rare examples of classic cars can attract enormous interest from buyers, regularly breaking sales price records. Lauritz Lauritzen is the owner of one such car, Mercedes-Benz, cabriolet type B, model 320 from 1938 is the only one in the world produced at Mannheim Mercedes-Benz. Lauritz is excited about what price the car might fetch when it goes under the hammer in Denmark on June 26. The Mercedes represents the pinnacle of the German marque and only thirty-four cars were ever built.
This 1938c car is even more special as it is a top of the range ”Mannheim”-car further equipped with everything Mercedes could think of. In its time, it was probably one of the world's best cars. Today it presents itself accordingly - but only because the enthusiastic owner has put thousands of hours into it. Lauritz Lauritzen found the car in a barn in 1980 as a complete wreck, and the skilled Mercedes mechanic took on the challenge of restoring it to its former glory. Eleven years later the car was running again.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7861151-mercedes-resurrected-after-bomb-attack/
Holland America Line turns its culinary programming up a notch with the introduction of dynamic shipboard cooking shows produced in partnership with the long-running public television show America’s Test Kitchen, the most popular how-to-cook show on TV. Holland America Line is a sponsor of America’s Test Kitchen on public television, and is proud to make this experience possible at sea. The initiative was announced today in New York City at a press conference at the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education.
Holland America Line’s shipboard Culinary Arts Center will be transformed to replicate the television set where the prominent America’s Test Kitchen TV shows are recorded for broadcast by more than 350 public television stations nationwide. Designed specifically for Holland America Line, the shipboard shows will be hosted by Holland America Line chefs trained by America’s Test Kitchen culinary experts. Shipboard cooking demonstrations and hands-on workshops — with topics ranging from shaping Asian dumplings to making the perfect pie crust — will combine foolproof, accessible recipes and cooking techniques that are rooted in the rigorous testing and science-based approach of America’s Test Kitchen.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7363858-americas-test-kitchen-joins-holland-america/
ASICS is pleased to announce the incredible success of its first ever ‘Live Running Casting’ that took place at one of Europe’s biggest races, the 2010 Paris Marathon. Held on 11 April in one of Europe’s fashion capitals, over 1,500 women from all around the globe - an incredible 25% of the marathon’s female runners - registered to take part in this unique event. ASICS’ ‘Live Running Casting’ was organised in order to find the face of ASICS’ Spring-Summer 2011 multi-media campaign for AYAMi.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/asics/42405/
With the running boom continuing to evolve, 2010 marks a very special anniversary for the running world. The marathon, the most notable race of all time, celebrates this year, all over the world and especially during the Athens Classic Marathon this October, the 2,500th birthday of the legendary run of the Greek soldier-runner from Marathon to Athens (490 BC). As a brand whose footwear is favoured by the majority of marathon runners worldwide, ASICS takes its research heritage very seriously. Using the results from its latest study, ASICS aims to explain why and how this 42.195km race has become the icon it is today.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/asics/46288/
ChildObesity180 today announced the two National school program winners of its nationwide innovation contest. The competition was designed to identify and reward the most creative, impactful, and scalable school-based programs and technologies to promote children’s physical activity.
Among the many schools nationwide employing running and walking programs, the 100 Mile Club in Corona-Norco, CA is a true pioneer. Inspired by the 1992 Summer Olympics, special education teacher Kara Lubin had a dream that kids would be motivated to stay fit by the simple goal of “winning the gold medal.” These medals, based on dedication and effort, not speed and fitness, could reward students of all abilities, including Lubin’s special education students. Lubin took action and founded the 100 Mile Club in 1993. Elementary school students are presented with a straightforward challenge, run 100 miles over the course of the school year. Students log miles before school, after school, during recess, and at sanctioned community events. Milestones are rewarded with simple tokens – wristbands, pencils, and medals. A year-end assembly celebrates and recognizes students who have achieved 100 miles, and those still with miles to go. Nearly 20 years later, the 100 Mile Club has stood the test of time, and been adopted by schools in California and across the nation. The program is highly scalable and with Lubin’s help, is now in place in more than 115 schools across eight U.S. states, reaching more than 30,000 students.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56327-childobesity180-physical-activity-contest-100-mile-club-red-hawk-movement
Pro-audio brand RØDE Microphones is excited to announce the ‘My RØDE Reel’ international short film competition, conceived to nurture emerging, independent filmmakers and give them the opportunity to share in more than US$70,000 in prizes.
Running from March until June, the aim of the ‘My RØDE Reel’ contest is to encourage filmmakers from all walks of life to get out in the field, creating films and continually improve their craft.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/66061-rode-reel-international-short-film-contest
Absolut is running a global campaign that’s ‘challenging the status quo’ by presenting thought provoking visions of life in “An Absolut World”. Have a vision for the world? Vote to see your favourite Absolut vision come to life. http://www.inanabsolutworld.com.au
