[Book Reviews] Thomas has reviewed a couple of books on Asian and Far East films : East Asian cinemas Exploring Transnational Connections on Film and Asian Cinema: A Field Guide. More book reviews will follow.

[Interview] In December 2007, we spent an hour discussing with one of the Hong Kong most prolific filmmakers, the uber-busy Wong Jing. Here is a transcript of the interview that reveals some truth on the man and exposes his legendary candor.

[Interview] Hong Kong number one baddy directorial debut Coweb is an answer to thai action film extravaganza, and especially to the latest entry, Chocolate. Let's hear what this new film has to offer with the interview of the new director Hung Yan Yan.

[Interview] Filmmaker Antony Szeto’s (Dragon Blade, 2005) new directorial effort, Wushu, appears like a bridge between productions from HK and the Chinese mainland, between old-school and new school action films and between a feature film and a TV movie. Is it ambitious or just schizophrenic? Arnaud interwiewed the director.

[Interview] Director Peter Chan Ho-Sun has been famous among HK film buffs with local low-budget/low-profile drama and romantic comedies such as He's A Woman, She's A Man, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father. With the mainstream blockbusters Perhaps Love and The Warlords Chan has strived in the last three years to expand the reach of his films to mainland China, the whole Asia and the rest of the world. In the following two unpublished transcripts of our conversations with Peter Chan in 2005 and 2007 we discusses what has made the filmmaker he is now.

[Interview] Editor/director David Wu is well known for his axe montage and editing techniques on the best action movies from the late 1980s/early 1990s (The Killer, The Bride with White Hair). In the mid-1995, Wu went West and made many films and TV series in America. He felt into oblivion. His latest effort, Iron Road, with Betty Sun Li (from Fearless) and Tony Leung Kar-fai, was a good excuse for him to go back to under the limelight in China. It was also a good excuse for us to catch up with the filmmaker responsible for the 1980s-1990s HK action film extravaganza.

[Review] Lee Alon reviewed Carol Lai's last movie Naraka 19

[former Interviews] We just translated in english some ancient french interviews:

- The producer/actor/writer Bey Logan (december 2004) : the guy is always so talkative and very interesting.

- In a new genre, we interviewed the director Stanley Kwan in Paris Festival (July 2005).

- Ricardo Mamood is an actor from Argentina who first started out on the stage, before joining many exciting projects in HK, such as Twins Effect, Infernal Affairs 2 or The Medallion. To meet him (June 2005) was the opportunity for us to make an original foray into HK cinema, through the eyes of a non-Asian actor.

[hkcm communauty] We just opened 2 pages where hkcinemagic.com lovers can meet each others : Facebook and Myspace (direct links are available on the left french flag at the top of hkcinemagic pages). Don't hesitate to add some commentaries. Don't forget our map.

[Interview] We had the chance to discuss with German actor Brandon Rhea (the belgian fighter in Fearless). Joining him for the interview is English journalist and Fearless casting director, Mike Leeder, always ready to share his great knowledge of the HK movie industry.

[Review] Lee Alon reviewed The Sun Also Rises.

[Interview] Jerry Trimble is one of the great kickboxing champions. Based in Hollywood, he has mostly worked for US films but has also participated in several HK productions. He kindly agreed to talk with us of his career and his involvement in HK films.

[Focus] Male actors have dominated the Hong Kong movie industry since the 70ies. In those conditions, the career of a Hong Kong actress is tougher compared to their male counterpart. Only a few, the best one, make their way in the long run. A good illustration of the later sort is given by Hong Kong actress Athena Chu who confirms her great value for HK cinema with each passing year. Arnaud is the  french specialist of Athena  (some say in the world...) so he did this  lenghty article  to help people discovering this underrated beauty.

Summer holidays are over, at least for those lucky ones who had a break; time to wrap and put the swim trunk back in the cupboard. Those unfortunate enough not to enjoy the summer, might have spent more time indoors, in front of their computer and have probably realized that the HKCinemagic.com team was still working hard. New articles, interviews, galleries and video clips are available in the English side of the site.

[Interview] We met and talk, for starters, with a baddie of one of the summer action blockbusters, Invisible Target. His name is Vincent Sze and he’s wrecking havoc in the film with Wu Jing and Andy On. The guy himself is French and was happy to answer our questions on his short, albeit interesting, career within the HK film industry.

[Review] William reviewed the disappointing Rush Hour 3.

[Event] Legend of SB movies and Five Venoms star Lo Meng is to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his ongoing contribution to Hong Kong cinema. The ceremony, held as part of the 1st Annual International Martial Arts Cinema Expo will take place on the 25th & 26th of August in Philadelphia, PA (location and event details). Hapkido Grandmaster Kim Jin Pal (one time master of Jackie Chan) will also attend, and will be acknowledged for his on screen work; a series of movie appearances in the early 70's. More infos here and here.

[Shaw Brothers] David Vivier had the chance to visit the Shaw Brothers' Studios in Clearwater Bay. Here is a guided tour inside the mythic studios.

[Reviews] Lee Alon reviewed the excellent Benny Chan's movie Invisible Target. Don't miss his other review : Eye in the Sky.

[Festival] Our Canadian contributor, Yves Gendron, is currently attending North America's greatest film genre festival; the Montreal's Fantasia Fest. He's now sending web-links covering the event for our board.

[1997-2007] To celebrate a decade of cinema after the 1997 handover of HK to the Chinese mainland, the HKCinemagic.com team has come up with a series of top 10 must-see films. Our regular contributors share their favorite films produced over the last decade but also provide explanations for their choice. Why such films are so important to watch? HK cinema isn't dead after 1997 like many people expected it, and helmers likes Stephen Chow, Johnnie To, Wong Kar-wai, Herman Yau, Ann Hui, Fruit Chan, Peter Chan and the likes proove that there are still many surprises to expect from this influential cinema industry. Let's celebrate HK, let's love HK and Happy Birthday to a very young and promising cinema.

[Interview] With Nanarland website, we interviewed the famous "ninja director" Godfrey Ho. He tells us all his truth. Enjoy.

Review] Lee Alon reviewed the third Lee Po Cheung's movie Single Blog.

[Review] Lee Alon reviewed the last Herman Yau's movie Whispers and Moans.

[Review] Lee Alon reviewed Susie Au's Ming Ming.

[Biographies] We translated some french bios by Arnaud Lanuque and Yves Gendron. So, you could read portraits about : the actor Paul Chun, and Shaw Brothers directors : Doe Ching, Chow See Luk, Tu Guangqi and Tang Xiaodan.

[Interview] King-wei Chu caught up with the 1970s glamorous Shaw Brothers actress Siu Yam Yam/ Shaw Yum Yum in Hong Kong to reveal unexpected seedy sides of the film business in its golden age

[Review] Lee Alon reviewed the disappointing Spider Lilies.

[Interview] In 2003, Thomas met the stuntman Bruce Law. The interview was in hkcinemagic1, now you could read it on hkcinemagic.com.

[Interview] Chu King-wei interviewed Shaw Brothers actor Chen Kuan-tai.

[Video] HKCinemagic.com has a new multimedia service, with video streamed directly from Youtube. In some movie pages you can directly watch trailers, making-of and scenes from your favorite films. Soon, other kind of videos will be added, such as interviews, reports or music videos. Other videos will also be included throughout the site in pages like the profile and article pages (see in films listings). Later a video gallery (with possibility to sort videos by type, date, names etc.) will also be available.

With the french websites Drkungfu and Nanarland, we interviewed the journalist-producer-actor-director Toby Russell, who is a kung fu specialist and a key man in independant kung fu movie scene who had worked for many years both in Taiwan and HK.

Lee Alon reviewed the actioner Twins Mission and Derek Yee's Protégé

Hkcinemagic.com team wishes you a happy Chinese New Year of the Pig 2007.

Lee Alon reviewed the taiwanese movie Eternal Summer.

During the Cannes festival Bastian had the oppotunity to meet Johnnie To. The director was in town to present his two-part movie : Election. In this short interview he talks about his career and his latest work.

The veteran actor Walter Tso Tat-wah is dead January 13th, 2007. Waiting for a biography, we propose you his (not exhaustive) filmography (a few hundred of movies !) and some galleries.

We have updated our website with a new search engine based on google. The Google Search will let you search through the entire HKCinemagic website including reviews and articles. Click here to read more about it or simply use the "G"oogle icon inside our search form on the left to give it a try. We hope it will help you browse Hong Kong Cinemagic.

Mike reviewed the excellent Wo Hu. Lee Alon reviewed Confession of Pain. Mike reviewed Hong Kong Godfather and Crime Story. We added a new banner Google Adsense for eventual advertising.

December : Mike reviewed Sammo Hung's Don't Give A Damn !
Lee Alon reviewed Patrick Tam's After This, Our Exile and Mike Murphy reviewed Johnnie To's Breaking News.

November : Lee Alon reviewed the excellent Battle of Wits.
We're very happy to greet three new editors in the hkcinemagic.com team : William from London, Aline and Henrique from Brazil. Welcome everybody !
Arnaud interviewed the famous Action Director Tony Leung Siu-hung.
Mike (a new editor) reviewed Century of the Dragon and Triads : the Inside Story.
Lee Alon reviewed Diary by Pang Brothers

October : The well-know actor/artial art artist Bruce Leung returned on screen recently in Kung Fu Hustle, Arnaud Lanuque had the chance to meet him for an interview.
Lee Alon reviewed DOA : Dead or Alive

September : Veteran actor Bao Fang is dead September 22th.
Review of The Banquet by Lee Alon
Other veteran actor Kwan Hoi San passed away in the night between September 10 and 11, 2006. He's widely known especialy for his role as a virtuous gang boss, betrayed by Tony Leung in John Woo's Hard Boiled. VLT reviews his extensive career for us.
Review of On The Edge (the last Herman Yau's movie) by Lee Alon

August : Arnaud offers us a mega informative interview with Roy Horan, a gweilo who became actor and producer in HK during 80-90'
Review of Dog Bite Dog by Lee Alon (08/18/06)
News about Heroes of Shaolin by Lau Kar Leung (08/11/06)
Special Battling Babes with Yukari Oshima (video footage made by Cyril)
Review of Re-Cycle by Lee Alon

July : First review about the last HK blockbuster Dragon Tiger Gate.
Thomas Podvin interviewed the actor-director Derek Yee. Arnaud Lanuque tested the Optimum DVD A Better Tomorrow. Yves Gendron presented the picturesque character of the Cantonese martial folklore Beggar So and the Montreal's Fantasia film fest with the asian and international programming.

April : We offer many more interviews: Peter Chan for Perhaps Love, director of Fearless' director Ronny Yu, and the beast Anthony Wong. Pieter and Yves also offer a summary on the Clan Yuen, the most gifted choreographer group that has been in activity in HK for several decades. Finaly, we've added a new feature for the non-famous actors, unknown to us. You'll find them in our people index registrated under the names "***?" Help us to find out who they are, see the forum.

March : we present an exclusive news about Lau Kar Leung's new movie project. We also offer many more interviews: Peter Chan for Perhaps Love, director of Fearless Ronny Yu, and the beast Anthony Wong. Pieter and Yves also offer a summary on the Clan Yuen, the most gifted choreographer group that has been in activity in HK for several decades. Finaly, we've added a new feature for the non-famous actors, unknown to us. You'll find them in our people index registrated under the names "***?" Help us to find out who they are, see the forum.

Your participation and help for HKCinemagic.com will be greatly appreciated. If you want to be seriously involved and are committed, please contact Thomas at contact@hkcinemagic.com. He’ll be glad to welcome you among the team.