“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.
Spearheading a new movement in social activism, the United States Association for UNHCR (USA for UNHCR) today launched the Blue Key Campaign — the first U.S. based initiative to channel the energy of individual citizens to speak out for refugees. The campaign aims to provide a broadened base of support for the leading organization safeguarding the rights and well-being of displaced people around the world – the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/unrefugees/47520/
Americans across the country are drawn into the competition, cheering for their state’s queen. And this year one lucky winner and a friend will have the chance to experience the 2011 Miss America Pageant live in Las Vegas. ARTISTRY® Skin Care and Cosmetics, exclusively by Amway, recently launched the “Find Your Pageant Look and Win!” Sweepstakes on its Facebook® page at www.Facebook.com/Artistry.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45839-Artistry-Miss-America-Sweepstakes/
To address consumer misperceptions and reassure visitors that the Gulf oil spill is not affecting The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel coastline and islands, the destination has begun airing the first of nine, 30-second television spots, that are scheduled to be filmed, edited and aired everyday from June 21-25 and June 28-July 1.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/florida-tourism/44657/
The new full-length trailer for MK Media Productions' highly anticipated motion picture Shangdown: The Way Of The Spur debuted today. Shangdown: The Way Of The Spur, starring Christian Bachini and The Way Of The Dragon's famous villain Jon T. Benn, and directed by Jakob Montrasio, pays homage to the violent and gritty Spaghetti Western genre while adding an Asian twist.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/shangdown/46374/
Lancôme is unveiling Genes Day on October 22, a one day fundraiser in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
In celebration of the beauty of scientific research, Lancôme will donate $7 from each bottle of their latest skin care breakthrough, Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate, sold that day to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support the research and treatment at St. Jude.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lancome/46646/
The Sounds of Pertussis Campaign moves into action with the second annual Pertussis Awareness Day in New York City featuring a range of educational activities, including the launch of the Sound Off About Pertussis song contest and a new public service announcement (PSA) featuring four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon. The national public awareness campaign encourages parents to help protect themselves and their babies from pertussis—commonly known as whooping cough—by getting vaccinated with an adult Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) booster, which may reduce their risk of getting the disease and spreading it to their babies.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/soundsofpertussis/45203/
Just in time for Valentine’s Day this year, Choice Hotels Music is offering yet another free original song download for consumers with “Sweetest Dreams.” Performed by Holly Montgomery and available for free at ChoiceHotelsMusic.com, “Sweetest Dreams” was inspired by the poetry of a remarkable young woman named Kai Croft and its lyrics were inspired by the emotion of love.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/choicehotels/45003/
The Ad Council, the Humane Society of the United States and Maddie's Fund launch first national PSA campaign to encourage pet adoption from shelters.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/40171/
Actress and Screenwriter of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” Nia Vardalos joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF), AdoptUsKids (AUsK) and the Ad Council today to unveil a new series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to encourage the adoption of biological siblings from the U.S. foster care system. The PSAs are being distributed this week as part of National Adoption Month.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/46953/
LG Mobile Phones sponsored the VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Gala 2010 last night, to celebrate the power of music and to support the restoration of public school music programs. Held at the world-renown Cipriani Wall Street, LG joined forces with VH1 Save The Music to transform a night of spectacular entertainment into a fundraising success by donating an additional $50,000 to help raise a total of $100,000 for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. Hosted by Glee star and Broadway veteran, Cheyenne Jackson, the evening featured tributes to music legend Julie Andrews, The ASCAP Foundation, long-time arts advocate John Legend and seven time Grammy Award winner John Mayer.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/lg/46951/
In an effort to educate teens about how to be smart about what they post and share online, the Ad Council announced the creation of a new collaborative initiative, the Internet Safety Coalition, developed to provide research-based messages to teens and their parents.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/47051/
