| Subject: Star-studded affair (The Star, Section Two - 3 Oct 2003) Malaysia |
Author:
¬‰e
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 20:34:01 10/06/03 Mon
Besides having an acclaimed director at the helm, [Warriors of Heaven and Earth] boasts a stellar cast from China and Japan. The main stars - Jiang Wen, Nakai Kiichi, Vicki Zhao Wei and Wang Xueqi - tell MICHAEL CHEANG what they think of the movie.
Jiang Wen
This hunk is not only one of mainland China's top leading men, he is also an award-winning director, having previously won an award at the Cannes Film Festival for [Devils on the Doorstep].
Jiang was first attracted to his character because of its complexity. "Liutenant Li is actually a wanted man; his only crime is disobeying his superior's orders to murder innocent people. I liked the character very much for its complexity and no one can fully tell what he is like or what he is thinking about. He could just be an ordinary soldier who follows orders, but he chooses not to because he does not subscribe to cruelty," Jiang explained.
For Jiang, working in the Gobi Desert was a strange experience. "When I saw the area, it was nothing like what I had expected. I was a bit disappointed, but still excited. During filming, there were so many people around and so many distractions, so I did not feel anything towards the place. Later, while I was riding across the desert, I felt differently. I began to appreciate how beautiful the desert really was, and it aroused some very emotional feelings in me."
And the hardest part of the movie? "We had to do a lot of horseback riding. Plus, because the movie focuses a lot on friendship, we had to be convincing. Actually, we were living together for about half a year before the film shoot."
Nakai Kiichi
KIICHI, who is one of Japan's top actors, plays Lai Xi, an official of the emperor's court who has to hunt down Liutenant Li. Kiichi's credentials are impressive indeed, having worked with some of Japan's best directors, including Kon Ichikawa in the films [47 Ronin], [Film Actress], and Ichikawa's 1985 remake of his own 1956 classic, [Burmese Harp]. Before filming, he also worked with popular Hong Kong superstar Faye Wong in the Japanese TV series [Love Lies], so he is no stranger to the Chinese entertainment scene.
Speaking with the help of a Japanese translator, Kiichi said that his perception of what a hero should be was somewhat similar to his character in the movie. "A real hero must be capable of love and willing to sacrifice anything. In the context of the movie, a hero is one who would sacrifice himself for a common cause, so my character and my idea of a real hero is quite similar."
Kiichi also had a special reason for starring in the movie. "I have very complex feelings towards China. I realised that many people (here) think of Japanese as devils or bandits," he said. "I wanted to change that perception, through my own behaviour, to show that the modern Japanese is not like that."
Vicki Zhao Wei
ZHAO, 27, began her showbiz career in TV series in China and Taiwan. She shot to stardom after playing the character of Little Swallow in the series [My Fair Princess], a role that set her up for a transition to movies. Since then, she has had roles in movies such as [So Close], [Shaolin Soccer], [The Duel] and [Chinese Odyssey 2002], working with well-known stars like Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Stephen Chau, Faye Wong, Shu Qi and Karen Mok. She was most recently seen in the Chinese film [Green Tea] (in which Jiang also stars).
Nevertheless, Zhao's role in [Warriors] as Princess Wen Zhu is unique in that she is the sole female lead in the otherwise male-dominated movie. Nevertheless, she was unfazed by the fact. "I feel that my role in the movie is very important because it gives the two leads a kind of a balance. Besides, even though the role may be small, I still did my best."
She also paid tribute to her two leading men. "Working with Jiang Wen and Nakai was a very good experience for me because they are among China's and Japan's best actors, and I was very honoured to work with them."
Wang Xue Qi
WANG plays Master An, a sinister warlord in the movie. One of the most well-known character actors in mainland China, he is best known for his roles in acclaimed director Chen Kaige's films, [Yellow Earth] and [The Big Parade]. This is also not the first time he is working with director He Ping, having starred in He's [Sun Valley]. Wang also starred in [In The Heat of the Sun], directed by Jiang Wen.
Despite all his experience, Wang said this was the first time he had played a character like Master An. "I feel the character was well-written. He is a very complex character, always acting like a gentleman but he is also very sinister and cruel at heart.
"It was never in Master An's mind to cross paths with Li and Lai Xi, in fact, he actually admires the two heroes very much. But to achieve his victory, he is forced to take extreme measures."
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 