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Essentially a mixture of Johnnie To's cinematic style (and casting) and the story of “Infernal Affairs” plus somewhat of John Woo's heroic bloodshed, “Line Walker” aims, though, mostly at entertainment. The film is based on the homonymous 2014 TV series, and later on spawned a sequel.

“Line Walker” is available from Echelon Studios

A Hong Kong police chief who has the identities of all undercover agents in his files manages to protect them by deleting the files before he is murdered. However, this also means that a number of them continue to work unbeknownst to the body of the Force. Agent Ding Siu-ka and her handler Inspector Q are working out their names with great success, with the exception of Blackjack, an undercover agent that has been working in the most notorious drug syndicate of Hong Kong.

Two years after they have started their research, they receive a message...

Stars: Wu Jing, Wang Zhi, Andy Lau, Zina Blahusova, Clara Lee, Liya Tong, Matias Lorieri, Jeremiah Blakely, Temur Mamisashvili, Yanmanzi Zhu | Written by Gong Geer, Frant Gwo, Cixin Liu, Hongwei Wang, Ruchang Ye, Yang Zhixue | Directed by Frant Gwo

Released in 2019 The Wandering Earth became one of the largest grossing non-English language films in history, mostly on the strength of its performance in its native China. Of course, that made The Wandering Earth II inevitable. The only surprises are that rather than a sequel it’s a prequel, telling the story of the Moving Mountain Project that turned Earth into a giant spaceship and that it manages to be even longer than the original, coming in at just under three hours.

At the film’s start, The United Earth Government (Ueg) has been established and work on the first of the thousands of giant engines needed to move Earth out...

Total revenues at $32.8m were down 12.5% from the previous weekend in quiet pre-Chinese New Year period.

Local comedy Big Red Envelope, starring Bao Bei’er and Clara Lee, remained in pole position in its second weekend at the China box office (January 29-31), according to figures from Artisan Gateway, grossing $7.4m for a cumulative total of $22.6m.

Universe Entertainment’s Shock Wave 2 came in second with $6.4m over the three-day weekend, pushing it to a cume of $186.5m. Coming in third with $5.5m, Hg Entertainment’s melodrama A Little Red Flower has reached an even mightier cume of $207.2m.

A Little Red Flower came in second with $7m for a cumulative total of $196.9m.

Local comedy Big Red Envelope topped China’s box office over the weekend January 22-24, according to figures from theatrical consultancy Artisan Gateway, grossing $8m in its first three days.

Directed by Li Kelong and starring Bao Bei’er and Clara Lee, the film’s title refers to the red paper packets used in China to give money as gifts, especially during the Chinese New Year celebrations. Although the film topped the box office over its opening weekend, it drew a mixed response from audiences,...

Mildly titillating romantic comedy “Big Red Envelope” topped the box office rankings in China as overall takings in the world’s biggest theatrical movie market amounted to a lowly $37.5 million over the weekend.

The new release title may be intended as a critique of obsessions with money, gifting culture and societal status – red packets are gifts of money in Chinese culture, given especially, but not exclusively, at Chinese New Year – but chunks of the audience were not buying it.

Online comments suggested that the film pulled its punches, that the central romance was too far-fetched, and that it was largely an excuse in male gratification with the camera lingering on Clara Lee’s curvy figure. She plays opposite reliable Bao Baier in the picture directed by Li Kelong.

The picture earned a woeful 4.7 out of 10 rating at online film discussion platform Douban, and somewhat better 8.4 score on ticketing platform Taopioaopiao.

For the action movies fans, Renny Harlin has earned the status of a living legend with the films he made during the 90s: “Die Hard 2” (1990), “Cliffhanger” (1993), “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996) and “Deep Blue Sea” (1999). For the last five years, the Finnish-American filmmaker has been mostly working in mainland China and Hong Kong where he has helmed three films so far. “Skiptrace” (2016) was a reasonably fun action-crime-comedy starring Jackie Chan and “Jackass'” Johnny Knoxville, while “Legend of the Ancient Sword” was an expensive flop. His latest movie, “Bodies at Rest”, is an addition to the collection of Christmas-set action flicks, which premiered at the last year’s edition of Hong Kong International Film Festival, before a short festival tour that included Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy and Edinburgh International Film Festival. The theatrical release focused on the Far East markets ensued. The film is now available on DVD,...

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Warner Bros. Pictures will invite audiences throughout the U.S. and Canada to experience the newest chapter in the hugely popular international franchise with the domestic theatrical release of “Detective Chinatown 3.” The action-comedy-mystery sequel is set to open in more than 150 theaters and limited IMAX engagements in major cities across North America, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Vancouver, on January 24, 2020, day-and-date with the film’s much-anticipated release in China by Wanda Pictures. “Detective Chinatown 3” is one of the widest releases among all Mandarin language films in North America in recent years.

Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran reprise their roles as a mismatched crime-solving duo in the film, again written and directed by Chen Sicheng. Set in Tokyo, where the pair embarks on their latest misadventure, the film also features Thai martial arts superstar Tony Jaa...

Warner Bros. Pictures has confirmed details of its wide specialty release of “Detective Chinatown 3” in North America. The film will reach American theaters on Jan. 24, coinciding with a huge outing handled by Wanda Pictures in China at the beginning of Chinese New Year (aka Spring Festival).

The mainland Chinese-produced franchise movie is pitched as an action-comedy-mystery sequel that is once again written and directed by Chen Sicheng. Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran reprise their roles as a mismatched crime-solving duo. Third time out, the action shifts to Tokyo, after previous excursions to Thailand and New York.

Warner reports that it will open the film “in more than 150 theaters and limited IMAX engagements in major cities across North America, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Vancouver.”

Releases of most Chinese films in North America target the Chinese diaspora, rather than crossover audiences. And they...

Zhang Yimou’s Shadow takes second spot ahead of week-long National Day holiday.

The weekend box office battle kicked off on Sunday (rather than Friday) when new local releases swarmed the cinemas ahead of the official week-long National Day holiday.

After a weak September, Sunday’s daily box office finally shot back to the same level as the peak summer weekends, with Hello, Mrs. Money topping the one-day chart, followed by Shadow, Project Gutenberg and Fat Buddies.

Theatre troupe Mahua FunAge returns to the big screen again with Hello Mrs. Money, which took $15.2m on its opening day. The comedy...