Only six months after he starred in a film about a high-school romance,
Jay Chou has returned to the big screen to show off his basketball skills and
kung-fu moves in a new production.
Chou led other cast members of "Kung Fu Dunk" in promoting the film on
Saturday in Shanghai. Thousands of fans braved a rare snowfall and jam-packed
the Shanghai Film Art Center to watch the movie's first local screening.
Directed by prominent Taiwan filmmaker Chu Yin-Ping, "Kung Fu Dunk" revolves
around an orphaned boy (Jay Chou) who grows up in a kung-fu school and becomes a
talented basketball player.
Media reports have been comparing the film to Stephen Chow's latest fiction
comedy, "CJ7," which is a completely different genre but will rival "Dunk" at
the box office.
"CJ7" had a highly publicized premiere last week, and will open in theaters
on January 30, while "Kung Fu Dunk" follows on February 7, the Chinese New
Year's Day.
"Kung Fu Dunk" is Chou's fourth movie. He has long been sought after for his
musical talent. His previous on-screen appearances include the 2005 live-action
film "Initial D," Zhang Yimou's 2006 blockbuster "Curse of the Golden Flower,"
and Chou's own directorial debut, "Secret," a high-school romance that became a
box-office hit soon after its release in late July.
