“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.
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn 1000 AD. For years, One Eye, a mute warrior of supernatural strenght, has been held prisoner by the Norse chieftain Brade. Aided by Are, a boy slave, One Eye slays his captor and together they escape, beginning a journey into the heart of darkness.On their flight, One Eye and Are board a Viking vessel but the ship is soon engulfed by an endless fog that clears only as the crew sights an unknown land. As the New World reveals its secrets and the Vikings confront their terrible and bloody fate, One Eye discovers his true self.
Official website - www.valhallarisingthemovie.co.uk
Katrina, Caleb, and Paige return in the exciting second novel in the Sunset Vampire Series. A trust is betrayed, bonds of friendship are strained, relationships may end, and a tenuous neutrality among the world’s vampire population is threatened. With stakes so high, some will not survive A Bloody London Sunset. Learn about the book and this author here, http://www.rutherfordliterary.com/
When a five-year-old Ola was sent to live with her parents, she was plunged into a world of violence. Beaten almost daily, and protecting her younger brother and sister, Ola endured sadistic abuse that left her bloody and scarred while somehow trying to find the strength to survive. This is her story. Learn more about this book and author http://lydiataiwo.com Tragic Life Stories – Non-Fiction
From New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry, the first in a thrilling series of novels based on Deadlands, a hugely successful role-playing game (RPG) set in the Weird, Weird West.
In Ghostwalkers, a gun-for-hire, literally haunted by his bloody past, comes to the struggling town of Paradise Falls, where he becomes embroiled in a deadly conflict between the besieged community and a diabolically brilliant alchemist who is building terrible new weapons of mass destruction . . . and an army of the living dead! Find out more at http://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765375261 Graphic novel
The holiday season is officially underway, and with sleigh bells, carols, décor and more, comes festive holiday get-togethers. No matter the occasion, it’s all about the food, drinks, and of course, the fun! However, it can be challenging to contribute something that truly stands out in the crowd. The key to quick and easy holiday entertaining is likely already in your pantry: California Ripe Olives.
Mild, buttery and delicious, California Ripe Olives are right at home on the holiday menu – from libations to light bites and even the desert table, too.
Cocktails are often at the center of holiday get-togethers, and for elegant celebrations, Freda’s Martini is a great choice. Named for Freda Ehmann, who developed the curing process for California Ripe Olives in the 1800s, this cocktail is classically delicious with just the right amount of pizazz. Or, to liven up the New Year’s Day celebration brunch menu serve up a California Mary or two, in honor of National Bloody Mary Day. Horseradish, spicy green beans and California Ripe Olives, are just a few ingredients that come together to kick-off a great year ahead.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8049752-california-ripe-olives-light-bites-and-libations/
