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Holiday movie lineup features great variety
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CHINA’S golden period for films runs from Christmas through the Spring Festival. Over the years it has become a holiday tradition for Chinese movie buffs to watch what are known as hesui pian, or New Year movies.
This season offers a wide range of films and many have star-studded casts or light-hearted stories.
According to Guo Ying, marketing manager of Shanghai United Cinema Lines, the competition will heat up in January when a lot of popular animated features and Hollywood pictures hit movie theaters.
“Foreign movies usually perform well at the local box office,” he says. “The Spring Festival starts on February 19, which means the new year screening time will last around two months. It’s a big chance to cash in at the box office.”
Guo expects box office revenue for this year will total more than 30 billion yuan (US$4.8 billion), up 38 percent over 2013.
Highly anticipated movies to be released this month include Tsui Hark’s 3D action blockbuster “The Taking of Tiger Mountain,” Gu Changwei’s romantic movie “Love on the Cloud” and the animated comedy “The Nut Job.”
Adapted from the famous 1957 novel “Tracks in the Snowy Forest” by Qu Bo, “The Taking of Tiger Mountain” centers on a PLA soldier who is sent to infiltrate a gang of outlaws. A lot of young actors star in the movie and their performances have been highly praised by critics.
“Love on the Cloud,” the latest offering by celebrated art-house director Gu Changwei, is a touching story about love and youth.
Gu offers insight into modern love in this age of mobile connectivity.
“The Nut Job” is a Hollywood animated movie set in Oakton in the late 1950s and is adapted from the series “Surly Squirrel.” It tells the story of a self-serving exiled squirrel and his former park friends surviving in the city.
The film, budgeted at US$42.8 million is the most expensive animated movie ever to be co-produced in South Korea. When it was shown in North America and South Korea, the film was hailed for its funny lines, cute cartoon images and insight into trust, love and friendship.
“The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies,” the final installment in the Hobbit series, will also hit local cinemas next month. The epic fantasy film by Peter Jackson features spectacular war scenes and stunning special effects to depict a war against an array of combatants to keep the Lone Mountain from falling into the hands of a rising darkness.
The American comedy “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” is imaginative and funny. It is the third and final installment in the series. In this episode, Ben Stiller’s character sets off on an adventure to save magic before it is too late.
Another highly anticipated movie is the fantasy flick “Seventh Son.”
Based on the novel, “The Wardstone Chronicles,” the movie revolves around Master Gregory, who is tasked with ridding the world of supernatural creatures. The film is expected to be released in China on January 18, weeks before it debuts in North America on February 6.
The second installment of the popular domestic cartoon film “Boonie Bears” and “Amazing Pleasant Goat,” a new installment of the “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf” franchise, will hit cinemas. Both animated movies have large fan bases in China.
“Running Man” is a cinematic version of the hit entertainment reality show. Celebrities will face new outdoor games and competition in a jungle. They have to count on their intelligence, strength and perseverance to win.
Release dates
January 4: “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”
January 18: “Seventh Son”
January 23: “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies”
January 30: “Running Man” and “Boonie Bears 2”
January 31: “Amazing Pleasant Goat”
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