Posted 10:51 PM by Blah blah

Hero Breaks All Records For Chinese Films (Wall St. Journal):

CHINA'S MOST EXPENSIVE FILM has just become the most successful mainland movie ever. [Interview with director Zhang Yimou in Time Asia.]

Director Zhang Yimou's martial-arts epic "Hero" has broken all records for mainland movies, pulling in 200 million yuan (US$24.2 million) in its first 21 days of release, according to Qin Lixin, deputy general manager of Beijing New Picture Film Co. The picture, backed by Miramax Films, also has raked in HK$25.6 million (US$3.3 million) after 25 days in Hong Kong.

The US$31 million film starring Jet Li as a warrior during China's Warring States period, from 475 B.C. to 221 B.C., is poised to outperform "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in the Asian market. In addition to its theatrical record, the DVD and VCD rights for "Hero" were sold to a consortium of three companies for an unprecedented 17.8 million yuan.

Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, "Crouching Tiger" set an international benchmark when it grossed more than US$205 million in theaters world-wide. Its success changed expectations in the industry about the potential crossover of Chinese films and generated a slew of large-scale epic films. But the film didn't fare as well in China. "Crouching Tiger" earned 30 million yuan in China, according to its co-producer Bill Kong.

"Crouching Tiger," directed by Ang Lee, stumbled in the mainland largely because local censors delayed the release of the film by three months, allowing pirated VCDs to flood the market. "Hero" was successful in part "because we were able to stop piracy," said Mr. Kong, who also co-produced "Hero."

The film's investors took unusual steps to prevent copying. At preview screenings, attendees were forced to hand over all metallic and electronic devices before entering the theaters.

"We managed to have not one single pirated CD on the market until four days into the release," said Mr. Kong. "That said, the film is so visually stunning that even people who saw the pirated VCDs believed it should be watched on the big screen."

In "Hero," Mr. Li stars as Nameless, a warrior who kills three assassins to save the Emperor Qin -- a ruthless king whose goal is to unite all China. The big-name cast includes Zhang Ziyi, who also appeared in "Crouching Tiger," Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung.

While the film's theme of tyranny and unity has sparked debate on the mainland, reviews by foreign critics generally have been favorable.

"Hero" is slated for release in Taiwan on Saturday. Miramax hasn't yet scheduled a U.S. release for "Hero," but Mr. Kong hopes the distributor will turn its attention to the film as it continues to gain momentum. The movie has received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.