Pirates of the Carribean 3, Part 1 news
Chow Yun Fat's the charming villain
By Jeanine Tan in Los Angeles, TODAY | Posted: 25 May 2007 1217 hrs
How does an actor charm a roomful of international journalists, most of whom have only a vague idea that he’s supposed to be very, very famous in Asia?
Why, make everyone take a photo with him, of course. That’s how Chow Yun Fat went from being “that guy from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, to the Asian uperstar that few would forget anytime soon.
And he also knows how to make you, the lone Singaporean journalist of the bunch, feel right at home, despite being smack in Southern California, thousands of miles away from our little island.
The location is the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, in the thick of the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End press junket.
In At World’s End, the third instalment of the mega-successful Pirates franchise that finally ties up all the loose ends left flapping like a ship's sails in the second film, Chow plays Sao Feng, the captain of the Singapore pirates. Sao Feng is more Davy Jones than Jack Sparrow, which means he’s more prone to evil deeds than last minute heroics.
Pirates fans might recall that in part two, Sparrow was swallowed by the Kraken when he decided to throw cowardice to the wind and return to save his crew.
In At World’s End, Sao Feng, who certainly looks the part of the baddie with his tattooed head and scarred face, gets tangled up with Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner and the now revived Captain Barbossa — and double-crosses them — when they try to steal his magical map in order to find Sparrow.
As the story goes, the East India Company now has control of Davy Jones and his ship, and is forcing Jones to rid the sea of pirates.
Sparrow must be found so the nine pirate lords can gather to stop the destruction of their kind.
For Singaporean audiences, At World’s End might have special meaning. After all, the passing mention of Singapore in the first two films comes full circle in the third.
There’s Chow as Sao Feng, of course, and we all know that in real life, his wife Jasmine is Singaporean. Singapore is also the setting of a major action scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film.
Never mind if the 17th century Singapore of the film was really a meticulously constructed movie set in Los Angeles: Painted prostitutes and fearsome pirates roaming the dank, steamy streets of a city that looks like the bastard child of the seediest Asian cities is just the kind of fantasy we need.
A PEKING OPERA CHARACTER
In the flesh, Chow looks nothing like Sao Feng, which is unsurprising. What is surprising, however, is that he also looks trim and youthful in a creamcoloured sweater and blue jeans. After all, he did seem a little puffy in the face — and gut — in his last screen outing as the Emperor in Curse of the Golden Flower.
The day of the interview also happens to be his 52nd birthday, and when you wish him happy birthday, with the other journalists following suit, he mock-attempts to give everyone a kiss on the cheek to thank them for remembering.
One happy female Swedish journalist gets kissed on the hand.
Score number one.
But after that smooth launch, the sea begins to get a little choppy. When Chow was last in Singapore, in December last year, to promote Curse of the Golden Flower, he could field questions in Mandarin, but here in Hollywood, it’s got to be in English, and clearly it’s a language he has never mastered, despite having moved to Los Angeles in 1998.
Take, for instance, his reason for why he liked the role of Sao Feng: “At that time, the white man ruled the world. But here, you see the white man asking an Asian for help, that’s impossible! But the script and the director gave me the authorisation to control the white man … I am the Captain, I can say no hanky-panky, this is my kingdom.” That’s actually kind of funny in a rather politically incorrect way, but delivered in such garbled English, the joke somehow loses its punch.
But never mind his mangled English, he’s got the respect of his fellow actors. Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, who plays Barbossa, said in a separate interview: “He was a real master class. On set, Yun Fat would experiment with his character on a level I’ve never seen before. He was like a character from a Peking Opera come to life. “And he was working in a second language, but the writers never let him have it easy. ‘Nine pirate lords’ is very hard for someone from Hong Kong to get their tongue around.”
MAKING THE SINGAPORE CONNECTION
Chow’s most recent foray into the headlines was not for At World’s End, but when he pulled out of John Woo’s upcoming Chinese period epic Red Cliff, saying that he received the script too late for him to learn his lines properly. A round of bad publicity followed, including hints of his exorbitant demands, but the latest news is that Chow has agreed to be in Red Cliff again.
But hearing Chow talk, he seems to be all about Asian humility.
“As an actor, you go on set and obey the director. You say the lines and leave,” he said, when asked if he had any input on his character, since he’s presumably more familiar with Singapore than the screenwriters.
Chow also let on that he tries to return to Lamma island, where he was born, every year during the Qing Ming festival in April of the Lunar calendar.
“I don’t need people there to expect me. I feel very uncomfortable. Ordinary people want to be mobbed, but I panic at mobs,” he said.
Too soon, the signal for the last question came, and you ask if he has anything to say to Singaporeans. After all, if an early preview screening was anything to go by, the audience here had more of a reaction to Chow’s Captain Sao Feng than Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards’ much touted cameo.
“I hope Singaporeans treat me like a friend. Please give me your comments about the movie, don’t hesitate, because then you would see that Sao Feng is a good guy, not a bad guy!” he said with a big grin.
As the interview rounded to a close, a Malaysian journalist asked if she could snap a photo with him — the junket had the usual ‘no photos with the talent’ clause — and Chow more than gladly obliged.
“Everyone take a photo with me. It’s my birthday!” beamed the charming one. “Singapore and Malaysia first!”
So, in a situation quite unheard of in press junkets, each and every journalist got their photo taken with the star. Noticing you standing around, he banters with you in between taking photos, and the words flow much easier in Mandarin.
Meanwhile, he leaves enchanted women and bewildered men in his photo-taking wake.
“He’s crazy,” said a bemused Irish journalist, male of course.
Later, you meet Chow again at the hallway outside and he surprises you with a big hug. He asks about your flight home, and complains that he’s still got the Tokyo premiere to attend.
Flashing another trademark grin, he said conspiratorially by way of a parting shot, “I’ve been sitting on planes until my butt itches!”
The Singapore connection in At World’s End is strong, indeed. - TODAY/fa
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/278292/1/.html
Posted on June 1, 2007:
Well, well, well, Pirates of the Carribean did very well worldwide. Look at these figures! In the opening weekend, it took in US$214 million, beating Spiderman 3 at US$176.6 million. In 6 days, POTC grossed US$245 million vs Spidey at US$232 million.
Here are the overseas breakdown:
"Japan, which had a two-day opening, delivered $15.9 million from 883 screens, hailed as the biggest opening for a U.S. film in industry history. The U.K., which opened Friday, earned $26.6 million from 552, called the third-biggest opening ever in the market. France, which opened Wednesday, came up with a five-day total of $17.7 million from 783, the fourth-biggest local opening. Korea supplied its biggest opening ever with $18.4 million from 623 in two days. Italy, with its fourth-biggest bow, came up with $9.6 million in three days. Germany provided $16.8 million in four days from 1,588 screens. Spain, with its biggest opening ever, furnished $11.6 million from 826 in three days. Other big performers included Mexico, with $9.4 million from 1,096 in three days; Australia, $9.9 million from 286 in four days; and Russia, $13.7 million from 700 screens -- the biggest bow ever in the market. "
Posted on May 25, 2007:
I watched it, I watched it! It is just as promised, CYF is good. You put another Asian actor in and they would overact as the lady in the ending part of the story did. This movie is 3 hours long and CYF was in quite a few scenes, to my surprise. I thought he was going to come and go for a scene. But man, the opening scene of Singapore is so good. 18th century Singapore, conical hats, narrow wooden bridges, galleys underneath, steam, chains, and they speak CANTONESE!!! OMG, thank you, Disney, thank you, for putting proper Cantonese on the map. We have suffered so many poor Cantonese speakers in all the American movies (the latest offender was Miami Vice III.) And CYF really recited a poem. hahahaha.... Okay, I won't disclose any part of the story. I would have liked a bit more sword fighting in the beginning and the middle but they kept it at the end. My kids loved the long ending. I think CYF was the perfect nemesis in this movie. His eyes have just enough haughtiness, his action, for a 52 year old, was fast enough. Too bad he didn't have too many scenes with Johnny Depp himself. His English is mostly understandable and only when he spoke very fast, I lost him. But otherwise, he sounds very fluent.
The movie of course owes everything to Johnny Depp. Without Johnny Depp, no one would have lasted for 3 hours. Johnny Depp will be immortalized as the best pirate we have ever seen. Man, he is good. Orlando Bloom is just good looking but I totally love the ending! Nope, I don't think a fourth one is required. The story is done. Please watch it to support CYF! In the rolling credits, they have 5 names of the main actors and then it said, "with Chow Yun Fat". I am so proud of CYF! Sigh...I hope Hollywood would give CYF a chance to plain the main role again one day. Or else he would really need to make his presence felt in Chinese movies going to the US.
We went for the 8 pm show, the first in the US and Japan and it was around 98% full. Throughout the movie, there were a lot of laughs because Johnny Depp is just too funny. At the end, the audience clapped.
Posted May 21, 2007:
5 more days to Pirates of the Carribean. It looks like the trailer has a bit more of Chow Yun Fat now and the other captains. Absolutely love his wicked looks!!!
Posted May 17, 2007:
Ah, this is such a cute article. Chow Yun Fat talks about his filming for the Pirates of the Carribean. He is humorous as ever!
Article: May 17, 2007
Source: http://www.takungpao.com/news/07/05/17/UL-737501.htm
Tomorrow would be Chow Yun Fat's birthday and already in the US for the promotions of the Pirates of the Carribean, the day coincides with the premiere of the movie. CYF was interviewed and said he was happy to be able to star as the caption. Because he himself likes the movie and also Johnny Depp plus this movie would be show in the US, China and everywhere.
CYF plays the role of a Singapore captain and will have a scar on his face and shoeless. At first he discussed with the director if they should not make a pair of shoes for this character but in the end, they decided he should go bare footed. The director also praised that CYF looks better without shoes on and he looks natural. Asked if it was hard work, CYF laughed and said it was okay. He was only playing the king ordering people around on the boad. His underlings are all extras of Asian origin and he ordered his assistant to buy hot dogs for all of them as a form of bribe.
In the movie, CYF has to speak in English and Mandarin and the director even requested him to recite a poem that has mountains, water, clouds. CYF joked that he has not studied much when young and was a bit stuck and so he called Hong Kong at once to get someone in the company to find a poem from Li Bai, the poet.
After his part was done, when he was ready to leave, he said goodbye to everyone but because it was the time when the camera started rolling, he had to wait for a few hours. In the end, he was seasick and almost puked. CYF said that when out at sea, the waves are choppy and going to the toilet meant doing it over the water. It was quite difficult to handle.
Also in the movie he got to have feelings for the female lead. CYF joked, "Usually when you kiss pretty girls, you would die...anyway, I don't know." The look of CYF as a captain is very unique. Could this be the new style for him after Mark, the character? CYF joked, "Not bad. Better than wearing nice clothes and be a waiter and say Table for Two, who actually, is no more than a jobless."
Permission to repost this article is granted only if this article is accompanied with this message, the text is not altered, and credit is given to this site with a live link as follows:
Credit: http://www.wretch.cc/blog/gakinme
By Jeanine Tan in Los Angeles, TODAY | Posted: 25 May 2007 1217 hrs
How does an actor charm a roomful of international journalists, most of whom have only a vague idea that he’s supposed to be very, very famous in Asia?
Why, make everyone take a photo with him, of course. That’s how Chow Yun Fat went from being “that guy from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, to the Asian uperstar that few would forget anytime soon.
And he also knows how to make you, the lone Singaporean journalist of the bunch, feel right at home, despite being smack in Southern California, thousands of miles away from our little island.
The location is the Beverly Hilton hotel in Los Angeles, in the thick of the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End press junket.
In At World’s End, the third instalment of the mega-successful Pirates franchise that finally ties up all the loose ends left flapping like a ship's sails in the second film, Chow plays Sao Feng, the captain of the Singapore pirates. Sao Feng is more Davy Jones than Jack Sparrow, which means he’s more prone to evil deeds than last minute heroics.
Pirates fans might recall that in part two, Sparrow was swallowed by the Kraken when he decided to throw cowardice to the wind and return to save his crew.
In At World’s End, Sao Feng, who certainly looks the part of the baddie with his tattooed head and scarred face, gets tangled up with Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner and the now revived Captain Barbossa — and double-crosses them — when they try to steal his magical map in order to find Sparrow.
As the story goes, the East India Company now has control of Davy Jones and his ship, and is forcing Jones to rid the sea of pirates.
Sparrow must be found so the nine pirate lords can gather to stop the destruction of their kind.
For Singaporean audiences, At World’s End might have special meaning. After all, the passing mention of Singapore in the first two films comes full circle in the third.
There’s Chow as Sao Feng, of course, and we all know that in real life, his wife Jasmine is Singaporean. Singapore is also the setting of a major action scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film.
Never mind if the 17th century Singapore of the film was really a meticulously constructed movie set in Los Angeles: Painted prostitutes and fearsome pirates roaming the dank, steamy streets of a city that looks like the bastard child of the seediest Asian cities is just the kind of fantasy we need.
A PEKING OPERA CHARACTER
In the flesh, Chow looks nothing like Sao Feng, which is unsurprising. What is surprising, however, is that he also looks trim and youthful in a creamcoloured sweater and blue jeans. After all, he did seem a little puffy in the face — and gut — in his last screen outing as the Emperor in Curse of the Golden Flower.
The day of the interview also happens to be his 52nd birthday, and when you wish him happy birthday, with the other journalists following suit, he mock-attempts to give everyone a kiss on the cheek to thank them for remembering.
One happy female Swedish journalist gets kissed on the hand.
Score number one.
But after that smooth launch, the sea begins to get a little choppy. When Chow was last in Singapore, in December last year, to promote Curse of the Golden Flower, he could field questions in Mandarin, but here in Hollywood, it’s got to be in English, and clearly it’s a language he has never mastered, despite having moved to Los Angeles in 1998.
Take, for instance, his reason for why he liked the role of Sao Feng: “At that time, the white man ruled the world. But here, you see the white man asking an Asian for help, that’s impossible! But the script and the director gave me the authorisation to control the white man … I am the Captain, I can say no hanky-panky, this is my kingdom.” That’s actually kind of funny in a rather politically incorrect way, but delivered in such garbled English, the joke somehow loses its punch.
But never mind his mangled English, he’s got the respect of his fellow actors. Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, who plays Barbossa, said in a separate interview: “He was a real master class. On set, Yun Fat would experiment with his character on a level I’ve never seen before. He was like a character from a Peking Opera come to life. “And he was working in a second language, but the writers never let him have it easy. ‘Nine pirate lords’ is very hard for someone from Hong Kong to get their tongue around.”
MAKING THE SINGAPORE CONNECTION
Chow’s most recent foray into the headlines was not for At World’s End, but when he pulled out of John Woo’s upcoming Chinese period epic Red Cliff, saying that he received the script too late for him to learn his lines properly. A round of bad publicity followed, including hints of his exorbitant demands, but the latest news is that Chow has agreed to be in Red Cliff again.
But hearing Chow talk, he seems to be all about Asian humility.
“As an actor, you go on set and obey the director. You say the lines and leave,” he said, when asked if he had any input on his character, since he’s presumably more familiar with Singapore than the screenwriters.
Chow also let on that he tries to return to Lamma island, where he was born, every year during the Qing Ming festival in April of the Lunar calendar.
“I don’t need people there to expect me. I feel very uncomfortable. Ordinary people want to be mobbed, but I panic at mobs,” he said.
Too soon, the signal for the last question came, and you ask if he has anything to say to Singaporeans. After all, if an early preview screening was anything to go by, the audience here had more of a reaction to Chow’s Captain Sao Feng than Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards’ much touted cameo.
“I hope Singaporeans treat me like a friend. Please give me your comments about the movie, don’t hesitate, because then you would see that Sao Feng is a good guy, not a bad guy!” he said with a big grin.
As the interview rounded to a close, a Malaysian journalist asked if she could snap a photo with him — the junket had the usual ‘no photos with the talent’ clause — and Chow more than gladly obliged.
“Everyone take a photo with me. It’s my birthday!” beamed the charming one. “Singapore and Malaysia first!”
So, in a situation quite unheard of in press junkets, each and every journalist got their photo taken with the star. Noticing you standing around, he banters with you in between taking photos, and the words flow much easier in Mandarin.
Meanwhile, he leaves enchanted women and bewildered men in his photo-taking wake.
“He’s crazy,” said a bemused Irish journalist, male of course.
Later, you meet Chow again at the hallway outside and he surprises you with a big hug. He asks about your flight home, and complains that he’s still got the Tokyo premiere to attend.
Flashing another trademark grin, he said conspiratorially by way of a parting shot, “I’ve been sitting on planes until my butt itches!”
The Singapore connection in At World’s End is strong, indeed. - TODAY/fa
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/278292/1/.html
Posted on June 1, 2007:
Well, well, well, Pirates of the Carribean did very well worldwide. Look at these figures! In the opening weekend, it took in US$214 million, beating Spiderman 3 at US$176.6 million. In 6 days, POTC grossed US$245 million vs Spidey at US$232 million.
Here are the overseas breakdown:
"Japan, which had a two-day opening, delivered $15.9 million from 883 screens, hailed as the biggest opening for a U.S. film in industry history. The U.K., which opened Friday, earned $26.6 million from 552, called the third-biggest opening ever in the market. France, which opened Wednesday, came up with a five-day total of $17.7 million from 783, the fourth-biggest local opening. Korea supplied its biggest opening ever with $18.4 million from 623 in two days. Italy, with its fourth-biggest bow, came up with $9.6 million in three days. Germany provided $16.8 million in four days from 1,588 screens. Spain, with its biggest opening ever, furnished $11.6 million from 826 in three days. Other big performers included Mexico, with $9.4 million from 1,096 in three days; Australia, $9.9 million from 286 in four days; and Russia, $13.7 million from 700 screens -- the biggest bow ever in the market. "
Posted on May 25, 2007:
I watched it, I watched it! It is just as promised, CYF is good. You put another Asian actor in and they would overact as the lady in the ending part of the story did. This movie is 3 hours long and CYF was in quite a few scenes, to my surprise. I thought he was going to come and go for a scene. But man, the opening scene of Singapore is so good. 18th century Singapore, conical hats, narrow wooden bridges, galleys underneath, steam, chains, and they speak CANTONESE!!! OMG, thank you, Disney, thank you, for putting proper Cantonese on the map. We have suffered so many poor Cantonese speakers in all the American movies (the latest offender was Miami Vice III.) And CYF really recited a poem. hahahaha.... Okay, I won't disclose any part of the story. I would have liked a bit more sword fighting in the beginning and the middle but they kept it at the end. My kids loved the long ending. I think CYF was the perfect nemesis in this movie. His eyes have just enough haughtiness, his action, for a 52 year old, was fast enough. Too bad he didn't have too many scenes with Johnny Depp himself. His English is mostly understandable and only when he spoke very fast, I lost him. But otherwise, he sounds very fluent.
The movie of course owes everything to Johnny Depp. Without Johnny Depp, no one would have lasted for 3 hours. Johnny Depp will be immortalized as the best pirate we have ever seen. Man, he is good. Orlando Bloom is just good looking but I totally love the ending! Nope, I don't think a fourth one is required. The story is done. Please watch it to support CYF! In the rolling credits, they have 5 names of the main actors and then it said, "with Chow Yun Fat". I am so proud of CYF! Sigh...I hope Hollywood would give CYF a chance to plain the main role again one day. Or else he would really need to make his presence felt in Chinese movies going to the US.
We went for the 8 pm show, the first in the US and Japan and it was around 98% full. Throughout the movie, there were a lot of laughs because Johnny Depp is just too funny. At the end, the audience clapped.
Posted May 21, 2007:
5 more days to Pirates of the Carribean. It looks like the trailer has a bit more of Chow Yun Fat now and the other captains. Absolutely love his wicked looks!!!
Posted May 17, 2007:
Ah, this is such a cute article. Chow Yun Fat talks about his filming for the Pirates of the Carribean. He is humorous as ever!
Article: May 17, 2007
Source: http://www.takungpao.com/news/07/05/17/UL-737501.htm
Tomorrow would be Chow Yun Fat's birthday and already in the US for the promotions of the Pirates of the Carribean, the day coincides with the premiere of the movie. CYF was interviewed and said he was happy to be able to star as the caption. Because he himself likes the movie and also Johnny Depp plus this movie would be show in the US, China and everywhere.
CYF plays the role of a Singapore captain and will have a scar on his face and shoeless. At first he discussed with the director if they should not make a pair of shoes for this character but in the end, they decided he should go bare footed. The director also praised that CYF looks better without shoes on and he looks natural. Asked if it was hard work, CYF laughed and said it was okay. He was only playing the king ordering people around on the boad. His underlings are all extras of Asian origin and he ordered his assistant to buy hot dogs for all of them as a form of bribe.
In the movie, CYF has to speak in English and Mandarin and the director even requested him to recite a poem that has mountains, water, clouds. CYF joked that he has not studied much when young and was a bit stuck and so he called Hong Kong at once to get someone in the company to find a poem from Li Bai, the poet.
After his part was done, when he was ready to leave, he said goodbye to everyone but because it was the time when the camera started rolling, he had to wait for a few hours. In the end, he was seasick and almost puked. CYF said that when out at sea, the waves are choppy and going to the toilet meant doing it over the water. It was quite difficult to handle.
Also in the movie he got to have feelings for the female lead. CYF joked, "Usually when you kiss pretty girls, you would die...anyway, I don't know." The look of CYF as a captain is very unique. Could this be the new style for him after Mark, the character? CYF joked, "Not bad. Better than wearing nice clothes and be a waiter and say Table for Two, who actually, is no more than a jobless."
Permission to repost this article is granted only if this article is accompanied with this message, the text is not altered, and credit is given to this site with a live link as follows:
Credit: http://www.wretch.cc/blog/gakinme
Posted May 8, 2007:
CYF will be in the US on May 18 for the premiere. Asked if he thinks Pirates of the Carribean would break the one day record of Spider Man 3, CYF said that he is not the main character and so they shouldn't ask him. HK has already sold out the tickets for May 23, and 24th morning shows." For each scene, I have to spend around 2-3 hours to do make up. Johnny Depp is very into the movie. The first time I met him, it was in the dressing room and even the way he spoke was like in the movie. " This movie charged HK$15 extra for the ticket this time and CYF joked that the extra 15 dollars was to see him. He has one scene with Johnny Depp.
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