(china org) This year, an unusual eight-day-long, back-to-back holiday will mark both the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, spelling a lucrative season for tourism and leisure. Here, China.org.cn previews the upcoming films designed to entertain audiences during the break, potentially helping China's film market achieve new milestones at the box office.1. "The Volunteers: To the War"
"The Volunteers: To the War," the first installment of a new epic war trilogy from legendary director Chen Kaige and boasting an all-star cast, provides a panoramic, multi-faceted view of the sacrifices made by China's People's Volunteer Army during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). The film, which will be released amid the 70th anniversary of China's final victory, comes hot on the heels of "The Battle at Lake Changjin," which Chen co-directed two installments of and achieved phenomenal success. Chen described the new film as "the biggest film project of his career." Production took over a year and involved a monumental scale, including 25,000 costumes, more than 100,000 props, a shooting site spanning one million square meters, a crew of 1,500 individuals, and a 1:1 reproduction of the planes, tanks, and heavy weaponry used in the war. No other film captures the National Day spirit quite like it. The film hits Chinese screens on Sept. 28.
2. "Under the Light"
The crime drama "Under the Light," directed by China's esteemed Zhang Yimou, also boasts an all-star cast, including a who's-who of the best actors currently working in China, such as Zhang Guoli, Yu Hewei, Joan Chen, Zhou Dongyu, and Lei Jiayin. This film, potentially Zhang's most intricate story in recent years, marks a fresh direction for the acclaimed director. Zhang has described "Under the Light" as an exploration into realms he hasn't delved into before, characterizing it as "urban, modern, and cool." This stylish, neon-lit drama touches on themes from anti-corruption to anti-crime. Following the massive success of his historical drama "Full River Red," which grossed an impressive 4.54 billion yuan earlier this year, reinforcing his reputation and brand, "Under the Light" is poised to be another triumph for Zhang. The film will be released nationwide on Sept. 28.3. "The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan"
The immensely popular "Ex-Files" franchise, detailing urban love stories, returns with its fourth installment, "The Ex-Files 4: Marriage Plan." In it, buddies Meng Yun (played by Han Geng) and Yu Fei (Zheng Kai) navigate the complexities of love and commitment. Meng Yun, reeling from a breakup, seeks true love amidst societal pressures, questioning the essence of marriage. Conversely, Yu Fei tests his relationship with a pre-marital "cooling-off" phase, anticipating post-marriage challenges. With the previous installment, "The Ex-File: The Return of the Exes," grossing a stunning 1.94 billion yuan, this new sequel is highly anticipated, amassing almost 3 million "want to see" clicks on China's major ticketing platforms Maoyan and Taopiaopiao. The film opens nationwide on Sept. 28.4. "Lose to Win"
Directed by Gao Hu, "Lose to Win" is a Chinese remake of the 2018 Spanish film "Champions." Promoted as the holiday's "sole pure comedy," it is being targeted toward audiences seeking lighthearted entertainment. The narrative centers on a conceited basketball coach assigned to train a team of players with learning disabilities as part of his community service. Featuring acclaimed comedians like Wei Xiang, Wang Zhi, Yue Liang, and Ai Lun, "Lose to Win" opens across China on Sept. 28.5, "Moscow Mission"
"Moscow Mission," an explosive action film by Herman Yau, stars Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xuan, Janice Man, and the iconic Andy Lau. It follows a cross-border manhunt for the perpetrator of a heinous robbery and rape on a Moscow-bound train from Beijing. Inspired by true events from 1993, Yau has said how many of the scenes are nothing like he's ever shot in his career previously as well as some he never imagined he'd film. Meanwhile, executive producer Han Sanping emphasized that "Moscow Mission" is more than a crime film; it's a top-tier Chinese action blockbuster epitomizing the pinnacle of Chinese cinema's industrialization. "Moscow Mission" debuts in Chinese theaters on Sept. 29.6, "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie"
"PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie," directed by Cal Brunker, offers family entertainment based on the beloved "PAW Patrol" franchise. When eccentric scientist Victoria Vance's device causes a meteor to crash into Adventure City, the PAW Patrol pups unexpectedly gain superpowers. However, they must confront Vance and their longstanding foe, ex-mayor Humdinger, who aims to seize these powers for villainous ends. The first "PAW Patrol" film enjoyed global acclaim, netting $144 million worldwide, including 82.5 million yuan in China. The sequel's appeal was evident at its Sept. 24 premiere in Beijing, with children and parents alike enthusiastically glued to the screen. It remains the sole new foreign release this holiday, debuting in China concurrently with its North American launch on Sept. 29.7. … And many more animated films
Children are spoilt for choice this holiday, with several other animated films set to debut. These include "Backkom Bear: Mars Mission," "Pil," "I Am Nezha 2," "The Little Mermaid and the Sea Monster," and "Kung Fu Tiger."Source: China.org.cn, September 29, 2023 by Zhang Rui
