Latest news with #WongKarWai
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
From Hollywood to Bangkok: Thailand's film boom targets B10 billion revenue
If you've watched enough Hollywood films, you might've noticed that Thailand pops up more often than you'd expect. From action-packed scenes in Tomorrow Never Dies, to the laughs of The Hangover Part II and the dreamy romance of Wong Kar Wai's In the Mood for Love, the country has become a favourite backdrop for international filmmakers. So much so, the Thai government expects over B10 billion in revenue from foreign productions this year alone. According to data from the Department of Tourism's Thailand Film Office (TFO), 279 foreign film projects were shot in the nation between January 1 and June 30, generating B2.8 billion in revenue. These numbers account only for officially permitted productions, which continue to support both the local film industry and the wider tourism sector. Interestingly, the top countries choosing our land for filming aren't from Hollywood. Leading the list are India, South Korea, Japan and China. Popular shooting locations include Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Chon Buri, thanks to their versatile cityscapes and accessibility. So, what makes the kingdom such a cinematic hotspot? A big part of it lies in the diversity of locations. From lush jungles and waterfalls to idyllic islands such as Phuket and Krabi, along with ancient temples, historical towns and futuristic urban settings, it's a filmmaker's dream – all in one place. Beyond the scenery, it's also an affordable destination. Production costs are significantly lower than in the West, local crews and logistics are cost-effective and the favourable exchange rate adds even more value. All of this allows filmmakers to stretch their budgets further with additional special effects or extra shooting days. In 2024, the nation earned B6.6 billion from 491 foreign film productions representing 42 countries. This year, the government is forecasting revenue to reach B10 billion, exceeding its initial target of B7.5 billion and marking a 50% increase from last year. Among recent high-profile shoots, HBO's The White Lotus filmed its latest season here, drawing global attention and a wave of tourists to Koh Samui. Upcoming releases include Jurassic World: Rebirth, now in cinemas and Alien: Earth, a sci-fi series that highlights the capital's urban sprawl, purpose-built sets at Studio Park in Samut Prakan and the scenic landscapes of Surat Thani, Krabi and Phang Nga. While it's still uncertain whether this year's revenue goals will be fully met, one thing is clear: Thailand's growing role as a film location continues to boost its global visibility and tourism appeal. And if you're missing the Land of Smiles, you can satisfy your wanderlust from afar with our roundup of 10 movies to watch when you miss traveling in Thailand.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Famous birthdays for July 17: Carey Hart, Alex Winter
July 17 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Cancer. They include: -- Clergyman/author Isaac Watts in 1674 -- Financier John Jacob Astor in 1763 -- Actor James Cagney in 1899 -- TV personality Art Linkletter in 1912 -- Comedian Phyllis Diller in 1917 -- Actor Donald Sutherland in 1935 -- Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei in 1939 (age 86) -- Basketball Hall of Fame member Connie Hawkins in 1942 -- Camilla Parker Bowles, Britain's queen consort, in 1947 (age 78) -- Musician Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) in 1949 (age 76) -- Actor Lucie Arnaz in 1951 (age 74) -- Actor David Hasselhoff in 1952 (age 73) -- Filmmaker Wong Kar-wai in 1958 (age 67) -- Johnny Briceño, prime minister of Belize, in 1960 (age 65) -- TV producer Mark Burnett in 1960 (age 65) -- Actor Alex Winter in 1965 (age 60) -- Musician Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr.) in 1966 (age 59) -- Actor Beth Littleford in 1968 (age 57) -- Actor Andre Royo in 1968 (age 57) -- Actor Bitty Schram in 1968 (age 57) -- Actor Jason Clarke in 1969 (age 56) -- Racer/motorcyclist Carey Hart in 1975 (age 50) -- Musician Luke Bryan in 1976 (age 49) -- Actor Stefania Spampinato in 1982 (age 43) -- Actor Sarah Jones in 1983 (age 42) -- Actor Tom Cullen in 1985 (age 40) -- Actor Billie Lourd in 1992 (age 33) -- Musician Kali Uchis in 1994 (age 31) -- Musician Wonwoo (Seventeen) in 1996 (age 29) -- Actor Grace Fulton Currey in 1996 (age 29) Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Joyous and uplifting': why Chungking Express is my feelgood movie
Chinese auteur Wong Kar-Wai is not a director you'd immediately seek out for a cosy feelgood experience. His films delve into loneliness, yearning and doomed love affairs, carried along by a melancholy undercurrent. Chungking Express, the story of two Hong Kong cops reeling from being dumped by their respective partners, doesn't deviate from these obsessions of his but the quirky romantic comedy also manages to be his most joyous and uplifting offering. The film has a playful energy and is brimming with offbeat humour. Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro play the heartbroken policemen, both deep in denial over the end of their relationships. We watch them cope in very different ways with their heartache. Kaneshiro's Cop 223 pines outside his ex's flat, buys cans of pineapple because they were her favorite food and goes on jogs so his body has no water left for tears. One night, he comes across Brigitte Lin's mysterious femme fatale in a dimly lit bar. Decked out in a bouncy blonde wig, sunglasses and a trench coat, perpetually prepared for both sunshine and rain, she has problems of her own. Their encounter is told as a noir-style crime caper that looks at the seedy underbelly of Hong Kong complete with shootouts and runaway drug mules. The film then moves on to Leung's Cop 663, whose story combines light-hearted romance with a dash of screwball comedy. He mopes at home in his underwear after his girlfriend leaves him, giving objects around his flat a tough talking to for letting themselves go. Cantopop singer Faye Wong plays a music-loving fast-food worker, also named Faye, who develops a crush on him and tries to work her way into his heart by secretly cleaning his flat. It's an act that is less domestic servitude and more a cunning plot to change someone on a cellular level without them realising. If that all sounds too zany and affected, it's not. Chungking Express somehow manages to be both gently whimsical and beautifully profound while mining plenty of laughs even in the desolate gloom of breakup despair. All four leads are unbelievably charismatic, and watching the two couples dance tentatively around each other is an unadulterated delight. I was 16 when I first saw Chungking Express and even though I grew up in Surrey, there was something about its depiction of alienation and not quite belonging in the big city that resonated with me. Perhaps because I also felt the same way as a second-generation Chinese immigrant; my family was one of the few ethnic minorities living on a very white council estate. I would borrow arthouse films from my local library, dreaming of a more exciting life. My parents were big fans of mainstream Chinese blockbusters, martial arts epics and triad crime films. When they brought home a VHS copy of Chungking Express, they had no idea of the impact it would have on me. It wasn't so much a breath of fresh air as a neon-hued tornado obliterating everything I knew about Hong Kong cinema. Over the years, I've rewatched all of Wong's films many times. I am just as smitten by his romantic masterpiece In the Mood for Love and the moody drama Days of Being Wild, but Chungking Express is the one I return to the most. It is as effervescent as the Coca-Cola that is blatantly plugged in the film and as exhilarating as the Mamas & the Papas' song California Dreamin' that Faye plays on repeat. It never fails to cheer me up. Each and every time I'm ridiculously charmed by the sight of Leung asking a giant white teddy bear if he's been in a fight, Faye dancing behind the snack bar counter brandishing condiments like glow sticks, and Kaneshiro trying to hit on women in a bar by awkwardly asking them if they like pineapple. The film is just so incredibly sweet, so astute about our interior lives, and so stylish in a way that still feels fresh and exciting even years later. Despite the sadness at the heart of Chungking Express, watching it feels like basking in sunlight. One of my favourite lines from the film comes from Cop 223, touched by a surprise message, as he speculates: 'If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries.' My love for Chungking Express will never expire. Unlike other, more straightforward feelgood movies, it doesn't shy away from depicting the rough edges of urban life and how it can leave you feeling unmoored. But it shows how there's always a chance to make a meaningful connection, hope emerging like a rainbow after the rain, scattering the grey clouds from the sky. Chungking Express is available on Max and The Criterion Channel in the US and to rent digitally in the UK and Australia
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Joyous and uplifting': why Chungking Express is my feelgood movie
Chinese auteur Wong Kar-Wai is not a director you'd immediately seek out for a cosy feelgood experience. His films delve into loneliness, yearning and doomed love affairs, carried along by a melancholy undercurrent. Chungking Express, the story of two Hong Kong cops reeling from being dumped by their respective partners, doesn't deviate from these obsessions of his but the quirky romantic comedy also manages to be his most joyous and uplifting offering. The film has a playful energy and is brimming with offbeat humour. Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Takeshi Kaneshiro play the heartbroken policemen, both deep in denial over the end of their relationships. We watch them cope in very different ways with their heartache. Kaneshiro's Cop 223 pines outside his ex's flat, buys cans of pineapple because they were her favorite food and goes on jogs so his body has no water left for tears. One night, he comes across Brigitte Lin's mysterious femme fatale in a dimly lit bar. Decked out in a bouncy blonde wig, sunglasses and a trench coat, perpetually prepared for both sunshine and rain, she has problems of her own. Their encounter is told as a noir-style crime caper that looks at the seedy underbelly of Hong Kong complete with shootouts and runaway drug mules. The film then moves on to Leung's Cop 663, whose story combines light-hearted romance with a dash of screwball comedy. He mopes at home in his underwear after his girlfriend leaves him, giving objects around his flat a tough talking to for letting themselves go. Cantopop singer Faye Wong plays a music-loving fast-food worker, also named Faye, who develops a crush on him and tries to work her way into his heart by secretly cleaning his flat. It's an act that is less domestic servitude and more a cunning plot to change someone on a cellular level without them realising. If that all sounds too zany and affected, it's not. Chungking Express somehow manages to be both gently whimsical and beautifully profound while mining plenty of laughs even in the desolate gloom of breakup despair. All four leads are unbelievably charismatic, and watching the two couples dance tentatively around each other is an unadulterated delight. I was 16 when I first saw Chungking Express and even though I grew up in Surrey, there was something about its depiction of alienation and not quite belonging in the big city that resonated with me. Perhaps because I also felt the same way as a second-generation Chinese immigrant; my family was one of the few ethnic minorities living on a very white council estate. I would borrow arthouse films from my local library, dreaming of a more exciting life. My parents were big fans of mainstream Chinese blockbusters, martial arts epics and triad crime films. When they brought home a VHS copy of Chungking Express, they had no idea of the impact it would have on me. It wasn't so much a breath of fresh air as a neon-hued tornado obliterating everything I knew about Hong Kong cinema. Over the years, I've rewatched all of Wong's films many times. I am just as smitten by his romantic masterpiece In the Mood for Love and the moody drama Days of Being Wild, but Chungking Express is the one I return to the most. It is as effervescent as the Coca-Cola that is blatantly plugged in the film and as exhilarating as the Mamas & the Papas' song California Dreamin' that Faye plays on repeat. It never fails to cheer me up. Each and every time I'm ridiculously charmed by the sight of Leung asking a giant white teddy bear if he's been in a fight, Faye dancing behind the snack bar counter brandishing condiments like glow sticks, and Kaneshiro trying to hit on women in a bar by awkwardly asking them if they like pineapple. The film is just so incredibly sweet, so astute about our interior lives, and so stylish in a way that still feels fresh and exciting even years later. Despite the sadness at the heart of Chungking Express, watching it feels like basking in sunlight. One of my favourite lines from the film comes from Cop 223, touched by a surprise message, as he speculates: 'If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries.' My love for Chungking Express will never expire. Unlike other, more straightforward feelgood movies, it doesn't shy away from depicting the rough edges of urban life and how it can leave you feeling unmoored. But it shows how there's always a chance to make a meaningful connection, hope emerging like a rainbow after the rain, scattering the grey clouds from the sky. Chungking Express is available on Max and The Criterion Channel in the US and to rent digitally in the UK and Australia
The Verge
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Chungking Express
Andrew Webster In the mood for streaming. Wong Kar-wai, the director behind and In the Mood For Love, made his first TV series with the 30-episode-long Blossoms Shanghai, which aired in China in 2023. And soon you'll be able to watch it yourself: it's coming to the Criterion Channel 'later this year.'
