Advanced Search
Business | Metro | Nation | World | Sports | Features | Specials | Delta Stories
 
 
The Chronicles of Narnia: Out of the wardrobe again
7/6/2008 12:52

The characters of C.S. Lewis' fantasy come to screen again in this newest installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

The adventure continues as producer/director Andrew Adamson teams up with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely to tell the tale of the dashing Prince Caspian who sets out to defeat a tyrannical king who has overtaken Narnia, and secure his rightful place on the throne. One year has passed since the events of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and now the kings and queens of that land have returned to make a shocking discovery.

By the childrens' calendars, it has been only 12 months since their last voyage into Narnia, but they are aghast to realize that 1,300 years have passed in the wondrous alternate universe. The Golden Age of Narnia has come to an end, and now the malevolent King Miraz rules over the land without mercy or compassion.

Miraz is determined to ensure that power remains in his bloodline, even if that means killing his nephew Prince Caspian so that Miraz's own son will be next in line for the throne.

The 2008 New Zealand Film Festival opens in Beijing this weekend, giving Chinese audiences a great opportunity to know more about the Pacific nation. The festival will feature 10 pearls of Kiwi cinema, including HBO comedy Eagle vs Shark, family drama No. 2 and Out of the Blue. The latter is based on New Zealand's most horrific shooting case in which 13 innocent people were killed.

A delegate from the New Zealand Film Commission said the festival would not only act as a bridge between Chinese and Kiwi people, but also allow New Zealand to promote its movie industry worldwide. The commission is also discussing joint film ventures with Chinese producers, the official said.

Golden couple Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are reunited in the treasure-hunting romantic comedy Fool's Gold after their 2003's cooperation in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Directed by Andy Tennant, this adventure story is full of eye candy such as white sand beaches, blue waters and beautifully-tanned stars. A good choice for a summer date at the weekend.

D-War, or Dragon War. In a film reminiscent of Ed Wood's oeuvre, Imoogi, an unknown and terrible creature, returns to destroy the planet. It is opposed by a reporter and a girl with a mysterious illness, in this action flick based on a Korean legend.

Run Papa Run is Taiwan director and veteran actress Sylvia Chang's first try at a male-oriented story. The joint production between Jackie Chan's movie company JCE Movies and EEG Movies marks Sylvia's return to the director's chair, following her success with 20, 30, 40 in 2004. Featuring Louis Koo of Hong Kong and Taiwan actress Rene Liu, Run Papa Run works as both a gangster and a family comedy.



Xinhua/China Daily