“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.
Imagine young, responsible men smiling on an operating theater bed as a team of surgeons cut off their foreskin; in a new effort to help them reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. Well, no need to imagine. See for yourself: In Swaziland, "Operation Abraham" supports the training of doctors in performing safe, effective and rapid circumcisions on men.
Citing projections that by 2030, America’s senior population will reach 20 percent of the population – 78 million people – and new survey information showing that Americans feel increasingly helpless about their personal cancer risk as they grow older, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) today highlighted the emerging research showing that even in later life, many cancers can be delayed or prevented through regular physical activity and a plant-based diet.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/aicr/46620/
Fidelity Investments®, one of the world's largest providers of financial services and the No. 1 provider of mutual fund advisory programsi, today introduced a new unified managed account (UMA), Fidelity® Personalized Portfolios, which provides a daily tax–sensitive investment management solution and other key features. This service offers affluent investors, who are navigating an increasingly complex investing environment, a single diversified portfolio that can be personalized to meet their individual needs while at the same time optimizing risk management and after-tax returns.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/fidelity/48025/
On November 17, millions of Americans will mark the American Cancer Society’s 36th annual Great American Smokeout by giving up smoking for the day, and maybe for good. Because smoking can trigger asthma symptoms in children, quitting is an important first step toward protecting kids’ health. BeSmartBeWell.com tells parents the steps they can take on the Great American Smokeout, and every day of the year, to lower the risk for childhood asthma.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childhoodasthma/50826/
According to a national online survey released today by the Ad Council, only a third of parents in the United States are very concerned that lead poses a health risk to their children. However, lead poisoning affects more than one million children in the United States. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems and aggressive behavior.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/43516/
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) today announced the grand opening of its multi-risk research center in Chester County, S.C.
The state-of-the-art, multi-hazard applied research and training facility will significantly advance building science by enabling researchers to more fully and accurately evaluate various residential and commercial construction materials and systems. The facility is entirely funded by the property insurance industry.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/ibhs/45568/
According to the Surgeon General’s Office, an estimated 10 million Americans over 50 have bone health issues, while another 34 million are at risk. One of the easiest ways to combat bone health issues is by eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, although a report released by the Nutrilite Health Institute (www.nutrilite.com/color) reveals Americans who fail to eat enough fruits and vegetables are likely not getting enough bone-building nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/amway/41489/
They’ve been dubbed the “Sandwich Generation”–middle-aged people caring for aging parents while still taking care of their own children. Pulled in many directions, these family jugglers are at risk for stress, depression and other health problems. Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population; 10,000 people turn 65 every day. This will continue for nearly 20 years, and that means more and more people will find themselves aiding their aging parents.
Throughout November, which is National Family Caregiver Month, BeSmartBeWell.com sheds light on the challenges of caregiving and the particular issues facing the Sandwich Generation. At BeSmartBeWell.com, siblings Chris and Ann share their story of juggling jobs, family and caring for elderly parents.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/caregivingparents/50827/
Recent research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety strongly demonstrates the benefits of antilock brakes for motorcycles. Based on findings that antilocks significantly reduce motorcycle crashes, including fatal ones by more than a third, the Institute is seeking a federal requirement that manufacturers equip all new motorcycles with this technology.
For more information, go to http://thedigitalcenter.com/projects/1788-institute-calls-on-government-to-mandate-antilock-brakes-for-all-new-motorcycles
Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you, your home and your property. The risk of fire, especially fire associated with lightning, is often overlooked and underrated as a potential threat. Even the most safety-conscious homeowner may not have considered this risk that affects thousands of homeowners each year. Lightning associated with thunderstorms and sometimes hurricanes can pose a variety of fire hazards. The massive power of lightning’s electrical charge and intense heat can induce destructive power surges through home circuitry, burn holes in CSST gas piping, explode brick and roofing materials, and ignite house fires.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lightningsafetyalliance/46346/
Parents and grandparents rarely disagree about how cute their (grand)children are, but when it comes to setting up safe sleep environments for babies, the two generations don’t always concur, according to a new study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of HALO Innovations in time for National Baby Safety Month. The survey found that the majority of parents and grandparents agree that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is their top concern in raising their children. However, grandparents are more likely than parents to place babies on their sides or stomachs to sleep, and more likely to place potentially dangerous objects in babies’ cribs, increasing their risk for SIDS and accidental suffocation.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/halosleepsacks/46013/
