The official website for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the feature film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, confirmed the latest film has earned 4,000,124,620 yen (26.82 million Usd) on 2,372,164 admissions in 52 days since its release in Japan on January 26. The film ranked ninth in its eighth weekend in the Japanese weekend box office, continuing to break the Gundam series' film box office records. The movie already surpassed 2.3 billion yen (15.42 million Usd) marked by Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space released in 1982 and 2.23 billion yen (14.96 million Usd) by Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway in 2021. Related: Gundam Seed Freedom Film Shares Stunning Collab Visual with Dune: Part Two In its third weekend of release, Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony held the same second-place spot it did last weekend . The Doraemon anime franchise's latest 43rd feature film earned 353 million yen (2.37 million Usd) on 288,000 admissions, and its cumulative total revenue has surpassed 1.7 billion yen (11.4 million...
- 3/19/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
In its fourth weekend of release, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle , the first part of the Haikyu!! Final duology anime films, earned 843 million yen (5.74 million Usd) on 574,000 admissions, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . The number was 160.5 percent of the film's previous third weekend gross of 525 million yen (3.58 million Usd) and was enough to bring it back to first place in the weekend ranking again. The 85-minute film's cumulative total domestic revenue has reached 6.2 billion yen (42.25 million Usd) on 4.38 million admissions. It has reached the six billion yen mark, following Spy x Family Code: White , which reached the mark in 59 days . Related: Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Anime Film Slams Past 6 Billion Yen in Japan Coming in second was last weekend's No.1 film , Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony . The Doraemon anime franchise's latest 43rd feature film earned 502 million yen (3.42 million Usd) on 409,000 admissions in its second weekend, bringing its total to 1.2 billion yen (8.18 million Usd) on 1.04 million admissions.
- 3/12/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
The Doraemon anime franchise's latest 43rd feature film, Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony, opened in 382 theaters across Japan on March 1. In its first three-day weekend of March 1-3, the 115-minute film earned 656 million yen (4.37 million Usd) on 538,000 admissions according to Kogyo Tsushinsha , making its #1 debut in Japan's weekend box office ranking. The first-weekend revenue was equal to that of the previous 42nd film, Doraemon: Nobita's Sky Utopia , released in March 2023 which earned 4.34 billion yen (28.85 million Usd) from its total domestic run. The film ranked #4 in Filmarks' first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 3.75/5.0 based on 686 reviews. Related: Aoi Yuki and Amatsuki Join the Cast of Latest Doraemon Anime Film After spending two weeks in first place following its release, the first of the two-part anime film Haikyu!! Final fell to second place in its third weekend. The film made 525 million yen (3.49 million Usd) on 380,000 admissions, which was 47 percent of its second weekend gross,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Chikyuu Symphony (“Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Earth Symphony”), the 43rd entry in the long-running series of children's anime films based on the original manga by Fujiko F. Fujio, has published a special video clip from the film (below) and also revealed a pair of new cast additions who play guest roles in the movie. Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Chikyuu Symphony opened in Japanese theaters on March 1, 2024. In Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Chikyuu Symphony voice actor Aoi Yuki plays two roles as Paroparo, a large dog, and as the music teacher at Nobita's school. Musician Amatsuki also plays two roles as a cat and as a radio DJ. Kazuaki Imai directs the film, while Teruko Utsumi writes the script. Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Chikyuu Symphony key visual Related: 43rd Doraemon Anime Film Pulls at the Strings With Special Vaundy Trailer Based around the theme of “music”, the...
- 3/4/2024
- by Paul Chapman
- Crunchyroll
The official YouTube channel for singer-songwriter Vaundy has started streaming a music video for his latest song "Time Paradox," which will be featured as the theme song for the Doraemon anime franchise's next 43rd feature film, Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony . The song released digitally on January 7, and its CD single will be available on February 28. The clip was directed by himself for the first time in one year since "Mabuta" (21st digital single) in January 2023. Actor Shota Sometani (the protagonist Shinichi Izumi in the Parasyte live-action films) plays the lead role in the clip, which tells a story about interfering in the past through a 'time runner'. The theme is "a story about changing your present self to help your past self". Vaundy "Time Paradox" music video Vaundy artist photo As reported , Vaundy also makes his voice acting debut. In the film, he plays the vocalist of a band performing on the street.
- 2/26/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Simran Kaur, who is the voice behind the famous cartoon character Nobita from the animated series ‘Doraemon’, said after she gave her voice to Nobita, the show became ‘Number 1’. Simran Kaur gave her voice to Nobita at the age of nine.
Sharing her journey of becoming the voice of Nobita, she said: “It was very simple for me. I auditioned for the voice of Nobita and I became Nobita’s voice. When I went to the audition, I was the only child present there. I was 9 that time. I had thought only I was asked to come to audition. But, later we (she and her parents) came to know that lakhs and lakhs of children from various parts of India were auditioned for the same. But I was the lucky one to be chosen.”
She continued: “Initially we did not know that it was a big deal. My parents and...
Sharing her journey of becoming the voice of Nobita, she said: “It was very simple for me. I auditioned for the voice of Nobita and I became Nobita’s voice. When I went to the audition, I was the only child present there. I was 9 that time. I had thought only I was asked to come to audition. But, later we (she and her parents) came to know that lakhs and lakhs of children from various parts of India were auditioned for the same. But I was the lucky one to be chosen.”
She continued: “Initially we did not know that it was a big deal. My parents and...
- 7/3/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” grabbed top place at the mainland China box office over the weekend with an opening $17.2 million (RMB122 million) score.
Giant screen company, Imax reports that $2.7 million, or more than 16% of the film’s China total, came from its Middle Kingdom venues.
Chinese online ticketing agency Maoyan forecasts that “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” will earn a total of RMB241 million or $34 million at current exchange rates.
“Fast X,” which had driven off with the spoils for the past two weekends, was overtaken on its third lap and achieved $7.7 million in second place, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. After 17 days in Chinese cinemas, “Fast X” has accumulated $124 million, making it the highest-grossing imported titled released this year in China ahead of Japanese animation “Suzume.”
Maoyan has revised its forecast for “Fast X” yet again. It is now predicting a lifetime score of RMB932 million ($132 million...
Giant screen company, Imax reports that $2.7 million, or more than 16% of the film’s China total, came from its Middle Kingdom venues.
Chinese online ticketing agency Maoyan forecasts that “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” will earn a total of RMB241 million or $34 million at current exchange rates.
“Fast X,” which had driven off with the spoils for the past two weekends, was overtaken on its third lap and achieved $7.7 million in second place, according to data from consultancy firm Artisan Gateway. After 17 days in Chinese cinemas, “Fast X” has accumulated $124 million, making it the highest-grossing imported titled released this year in China ahead of Japanese animation “Suzume.”
Maoyan has revised its forecast for “Fast X” yet again. It is now predicting a lifetime score of RMB932 million ($132 million...
- 6/5/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Seo In-Guk, Dong-Yoon Jang, Choi Gwi-hwa, Dong-il Sung, Park Ho-San, Moon-Sung Jung, Jung So-Min, Jang Young-Nam | Written and Directed by Hongsun Kim
Project Wolf Hunting begins with a mass return of Korean criminals captured in the Philippines. As they’re being led through Seoul airport somebody with a grudge against one of them detonates a suicide bomb killing himself, his target, and everyone else in the vicinity. To avoid a repeat of this, the next group is to be transported on the Frontier Titan, a specially fitted out cargo ship and delivered to a pier in Busan harbour to which the public doesn’t have access. I guess simply flying them into a military base never crossed anyone’s mind.
The Frontier Titan leaves Manilla with forty-seven criminals, twenty guards, two medics, and the ship’s crew. At least that’s what they think they’re leaving with because...
Project Wolf Hunting begins with a mass return of Korean criminals captured in the Philippines. As they’re being led through Seoul airport somebody with a grudge against one of them detonates a suicide bomb killing himself, his target, and everyone else in the vicinity. To avoid a repeat of this, the next group is to be transported on the Frontier Titan, a specially fitted out cargo ship and delivered to a pier in Busan harbour to which the public doesn’t have access. I guess simply flying them into a military base never crossed anyone’s mind.
The Frontier Titan leaves Manilla with forty-seven criminals, twenty guards, two medics, and the ship’s crew. At least that’s what they think they’re leaving with because...
- 4/13/2023
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Local productions were hit hardest, grossing a combined $2.15bn (RMB14.8bn), for a 47.5% market share.
China’s box office decreased by 2.7% to $4.5bn (RMB31.17bn) in the first half of 2019, according to figures from Chinese industry website Mtime, as a range of issues, including tightening censorship and the recent tax clampdown, started to take their toll on an unpredictable market.
The decline marks the first time since 2011 in which box office has not shown positive growth in the first half of the year, a period that includes the most lucrative box office season, Chinese New Year (late January or early...
China’s box office decreased by 2.7% to $4.5bn (RMB31.17bn) in the first half of 2019, according to figures from Chinese industry website Mtime, as a range of issues, including tightening censorship and the recent tax clampdown, started to take their toll on an unpredictable market.
The decline marks the first time since 2011 in which box office has not shown positive growth in the first half of the year, a period that includes the most lucrative box office season, Chinese New Year (late January or early...
- 7/5/2019
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
The enduringly popular Japanese cartoon franchise “Crayon Shin-chan” has inspired a new animated TV series, “Super Shiro.” “Crayon Shin-chan” has been on air since 1992 and inspired 26 feature films.
“Super Shiro” is a fast-paced chase series, for kids, based on original IP by Yoshito Usui and scripted by on Kimiko Ueno. The series is to be directed by Tomohisa Shimoyama, with Masaaki Yuasa as executive director.
It will be produced by Shin-ei Animation, known for both “Doraemon” and “Crayon Shin Chan,” and Science Saru, a Tokyo-based animation studio.The series is backed by Turner Asia Pacific and TV Asahi. Their partnership was announced last week at the Kidscreen Summit conference in Miami. The agreement includes broadcast rights across Asia Pacific (ex-China). This is the first regional deal between the two parties and includes “a sizeable investment” from Turner.
It will be delivered as 48-parts each of 5.5 minutes. It is expected to...
“Super Shiro” is a fast-paced chase series, for kids, based on original IP by Yoshito Usui and scripted by on Kimiko Ueno. The series is to be directed by Tomohisa Shimoyama, with Masaaki Yuasa as executive director.
It will be produced by Shin-ei Animation, known for both “Doraemon” and “Crayon Shin Chan,” and Science Saru, a Tokyo-based animation studio.The series is backed by Turner Asia Pacific and TV Asahi. Their partnership was announced last week at the Kidscreen Summit conference in Miami. The agreement includes broadcast rights across Asia Pacific (ex-China). This is the first regional deal between the two parties and includes “a sizeable investment” from Turner.
It will be delivered as 48-parts each of 5.5 minutes. It is expected to...
- 2/18/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Su Lun’s feature debut has become the latest box office hit by a woman director.
Driven by Children’s Day on Jun 1, Japanese animation Doraemon The Movie: Nobita’s Treasure Island stole the weekend crown while local comedy How Long Will I Love U retained the weekly No.1 in the period of May 28-Jun 3.
Xu Zheng-produced How Long Will I Love U stayed top for two straight weeks, adding $31.1m for $118m after 17 days. Currently the seventh highest grossing local film in 2018, Su Lun’s feature debut has become the latest box office hit by a woman director.
Driven by Children’s Day on Jun 1, Japanese animation Doraemon The Movie: Nobita’s Treasure Island stole the weekend crown while local comedy How Long Will I Love U retained the weekly No.1 in the period of May 28-Jun 3.
Xu Zheng-produced How Long Will I Love U stayed top for two straight weeks, adding $31.1m for $118m after 17 days. Currently the seventh highest grossing local film in 2018, Su Lun’s feature debut has become the latest box office hit by a woman director.
- 6/4/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Japanese cartoon, “Doraemon The Movie 2018: Nobita’s Treasure Island” opened on top of the Chinese box office over the weekend. It was helped by the Children’s Day holiday on Friday.
The franchise feature, starring a big blue cat who is well-known from comics and TV series, opened on Friday and earned $24.3 million in three days. More than half of that total came on Friday, when it scored $13.0 million.
By Sunday, “Doraemon” had been edged into second place and overtaken by holdover “How Long Will I Love U.” The Chinese fantasy romance earned $15.9 million over three days for a cumulative of $110 million in 17 days.
Disney’s “Avengers: Infinity Way” took third place with $13.9 million. After 24 days on release, it has earned $354 million.
Chinese animation, “Happy Little Submarine: 20000 Leagues Under The Sea” and “Magic Mirror 2” were local beneficiaries from the Children’s Day weekend. “Submarine” earned $9.11 million in three days for fourth place.
The franchise feature, starring a big blue cat who is well-known from comics and TV series, opened on Friday and earned $24.3 million in three days. More than half of that total came on Friday, when it scored $13.0 million.
By Sunday, “Doraemon” had been edged into second place and overtaken by holdover “How Long Will I Love U.” The Chinese fantasy romance earned $15.9 million over three days for a cumulative of $110 million in 17 days.
Disney’s “Avengers: Infinity Way” took third place with $13.9 million. After 24 days on release, it has earned $354 million.
Chinese animation, “Happy Little Submarine: 20000 Leagues Under The Sea” and “Magic Mirror 2” were local beneficiaries from the Children’s Day weekend. “Submarine” earned $9.11 million in three days for fourth place.
- 6/4/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Disney helped bring American animation to the world, and now it's bringing one of Asia's most iconic cartoons to America. The Mouse House will air 26 episodes of “Doraemon,” a manga-turned-anime from Japan about a robot-like cat from the future, on its cable channel Disney Xd this summer. Also read: America's ‘Frozen’ Obsession Continues, Leading to Disney Store Lotteries and Disneyland Craziness The original announcement about the deal came in the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, and has since been confirmed to the WSJ by Disney publicists in Japan. The series was launched as a manga in 1969 by Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko,...
- 5/9/2014
- by Jordan Zakarin
- The Wrap
For most children aged between 3-12 in Japan and other parts of Asia, there is no manga/anime character more enduringly beloved and recognizable than Doraemon, the futuristic robotic cat who travels back in time to aid the young boy Nobita Nobi overcome his many shortcomings. Created by the mangaka duo, Fujiko Fujio in the 70s, the long running sci-fi comedy manga went on to spawn an anime series and multiple films released annually via Toho.This summer will mark the first CG/3D animated take on the popular franchise in Stand by Me Doraemon from the director duo, Takashi Yamazaki (Always: Sunset on Third Street, Space Battleship Yamato) and Ryuichi Yagi (Friends: Naki on Monster Island) with a script by Yamazaki. The story is based on the...
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- 4/21/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Now this is a piece of news that brings a tear to an eye (and not ironically, sarcastically or in any bad way speaking) – the Japanese government announced anime director Hayao Miyazaki as one of this year’s 15 winners of the Person of Cultural Merit honor on Tuesday.
Hayao Miyazaki is best known for his animated films produced under Studio Ghibli, such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo. He is now deep in production of his latest work, an anime “with lots of airplanes” and a projected 2013 release date.
The Japanese government awards the cultural honor every November to people who contributed to Japanese culture for many years (something similar to an Award for lifetime achievement). The winners of The Order of Cultural Merit, highest order, are decorated by the Emperor himself in the Imperial Palace on November 3 — a national holiday called Cultural Day. This year’s...
Hayao Miyazaki is best known for his animated films produced under Studio Ghibli, such as Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo. He is now deep in production of his latest work, an anime “with lots of airplanes” and a projected 2013 release date.
The Japanese government awards the cultural honor every November to people who contributed to Japanese culture for many years (something similar to an Award for lifetime achievement). The winners of The Order of Cultural Merit, highest order, are decorated by the Emperor himself in the Imperial Palace on November 3 — a national holiday called Cultural Day. This year’s...
- 11/2/2012
- by Vesna Sunrider
- Filmofilia
Created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969, Doraemon is a Japanese manga and anime series that tell the story of a robotic cat called Doraemon that is sent back from the future to the present day to help a young boy named Nobita. The sender is in fact Nobita's great-great grandson who wants to help improve fortunes of the family.Since its creation, Doraemon has become a cultural phenomenon and an icon of Japanese culture. It became Japan's first official anime ambassador in 2008.In a series of Japanese car advertisements, Jean Reno (star of one of my all-time favorite films Leon The Professional) plays Doraemon. The latest ad is embedded below, while the rest could be viewed via Anime News Network. ...
- 4/9/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Film: 'Doraemon in Nobita and the Steel Troops: The New Age'; Director: Yukiyo Teramoto; Voiceovers: Masaharu Fukuyama, Yumi Kakazu, Koji Kato, Subaru Kimura; Rating: ** - a disappointing fare.
There's an old tradition of treating children's content with lightness. The usual justification given for making bad children's films is that put anything moving in front of kids, and they will like it (by that logic, there's no need for any specialised content for kids).
And it is this same malady that 'Doraemon...' suffers from, with a substandard story and execution. And it's a greater.
There's an old tradition of treating children's content with lightness. The usual justification given for making bad children's films is that put anything moving in front of kids, and they will like it (by that logic, there's no need for any specialised content for kids).
And it is this same malady that 'Doraemon...' suffers from, with a substandard story and execution. And it's a greater.
- 10/8/2011
- by Arun Pantit
- RealBollywood.com
New Delhi, Sep 15: Here's some good news for children - Walt Disney's animated film 'Doremon In Nobita and the Steel Troops: The New Age' will hit Indian screens Oct 6.
Directed by Teramoto Yukiyo, about an earless robotic cat named Doraemon who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi.
'Doraemon' is a Japanese comic series created by Fujiko F. Fujio.
In the film, Nobita is jealous of his friend Suneo's new robot and asks Doraemon to build him an even better one..
Directed by Teramoto Yukiyo, about an earless robotic cat named Doraemon who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi.
'Doraemon' is a Japanese comic series created by Fujiko F. Fujio.
In the film, Nobita is jealous of his friend Suneo's new robot and asks Doraemon to build him an even better one..
- 9/15/2011
- by Amith Ostwal
- RealBollywood.com
Created by Fujiko F. Fujio in 1969, Doraemon is a Japanese manga and anime series that tell the story of a robotic cat called Doraemon that is sent back from the future to the present day to help a young boy named Nobita. The sender is in fact Nobita's great-great grandson who wants to help improve fortunes of the family. Since its creation, Doraemon has become a cultural phenomenon and an icon of Japanese culture. It became Japan's first official anime ambassador in 2008. I have always been particularly fond of Doraemon, as it was one of the first animes I ever had the joy of watching; and as a child, I often wished I had access to Doraemon's pocket with all those special gadgets. Doraemon:...
- 7/16/2011
- Screen Anarchy
HONG KONG -- A comic trio formed by a poor workman, his son and his alien pet drive the story of CJ7, a hyperactive, wishful-thinking special effects fantasy suitable for family outings. It is the long-awaited brainchild of Stephen Chow, the comedian-writer-director who pioneered the unique Hong Kong genre of mo lei tau (nonsensical) comedy in the early 1990s.
Despite Chow's self-professed desire to salute E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and oblique borrowings from Japanese anime Doraemon, the sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers springs foremost to mind as Chow's one-of-a-kind magnetic screen persona seems to have been abducted by aliens, who replaced him with a pod spouting moral platitudes and CGI-enhanced emotions.
A joint effort by Chow's Star Overseas and Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, "CJ7" has worldwide release ambitions; it bows stateside Friday. Even with Chow's trademark smart-ass Cantonese neologisms and Hong Kong's ineffable local color filtered out while proficiently rendered visual effects stand in for gags, Chow's strong Asian fan base is still flocking to the theaters. Convincing a North American audience more familiar with Jackie Chan and Jet Li and more likely to prefer Chow's more exotic and action-packed Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle won't be so easy, though.
This is Chow's first directorial work shot entirely in China, but geographic and cultural character look fuzzy. He plays Ti, a construction laborer who pays through the nose to send his only son Dicky (Xu Jiao) to an elite school. Dicky's street urchin looks make him a target for bullying. Only his teacher, Miss Yuen (Kitty Zhang), shows some kindness.
Dicky wants his classmate's cyber toy CJ1, but the impoverished Chow finds him a scrap-yard substitute that he names CJ7. The florescent green blob morphs into a creature with a fluffy mane and a bouncy, squishy torso. Dicky dreams of impressing his classmates with alien high-tech gizmos but ends up thoroughly humiliated. However, when an accident happens, CJ7 reveals its hidden powers.
The first half-hour depicts father-son relations with a mischievous charm reminiscent of Chow's early films. Xu, a girl who impersonates the boy Dicky, is the one who holds the film together. A natural in front of the camera, she has a wealth of facial expressions even in solo scenes with a computer-generated figure. Zhang, who wears a cheongsam tight enough to moonlight in a hostess bar, never stirs as a love interest.
"CJ7" revels in a cartoon-like depiction of abject poverty with a priceless scene where cockroach swatting is an alternative to PlayStation. However, such social issues as education, employment and inequality of wealth are glossed over by slogan-like mottos of being poor but virtuous. The storybook ending is artificial and offers no antidote to Ti and Dicky's problems.
CJ7
Sony Pictures Classics
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia/the Star Overseas/China Film Group
Credits:
Director: Stephen Chow
Screenwriters: Stephen Chow, Vincent Kok, Tsang Kan-cheong, Lam Fung, Sandy Shaw, Fung Chih-chiang
Producers: Stephen Chow, Chui Po-chu, Han Sanping
Director of photography: Poon Hang-sang
Production designer: Oliver Wong
Music: Raymond Wong
Co-producers Vincent Kok, Connie Wong
Costume designer: Dora Ng
Editor: Angie Lam
Cast:
Ti: Stephen Chow
Dicky: Xu Jiao
Miss Yuen: Kitty Zhang
Mr. Cao: Lee Shing-cheung
Building Site Foreman: Lam Tze-chung
Running time -- 88 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Despite Chow's self-professed desire to salute E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and oblique borrowings from Japanese anime Doraemon, the sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers springs foremost to mind as Chow's one-of-a-kind magnetic screen persona seems to have been abducted by aliens, who replaced him with a pod spouting moral platitudes and CGI-enhanced emotions.
A joint effort by Chow's Star Overseas and Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, "CJ7" has worldwide release ambitions; it bows stateside Friday. Even with Chow's trademark smart-ass Cantonese neologisms and Hong Kong's ineffable local color filtered out while proficiently rendered visual effects stand in for gags, Chow's strong Asian fan base is still flocking to the theaters. Convincing a North American audience more familiar with Jackie Chan and Jet Li and more likely to prefer Chow's more exotic and action-packed Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle won't be so easy, though.
This is Chow's first directorial work shot entirely in China, but geographic and cultural character look fuzzy. He plays Ti, a construction laborer who pays through the nose to send his only son Dicky (Xu Jiao) to an elite school. Dicky's street urchin looks make him a target for bullying. Only his teacher, Miss Yuen (Kitty Zhang), shows some kindness.
Dicky wants his classmate's cyber toy CJ1, but the impoverished Chow finds him a scrap-yard substitute that he names CJ7. The florescent green blob morphs into a creature with a fluffy mane and a bouncy, squishy torso. Dicky dreams of impressing his classmates with alien high-tech gizmos but ends up thoroughly humiliated. However, when an accident happens, CJ7 reveals its hidden powers.
The first half-hour depicts father-son relations with a mischievous charm reminiscent of Chow's early films. Xu, a girl who impersonates the boy Dicky, is the one who holds the film together. A natural in front of the camera, she has a wealth of facial expressions even in solo scenes with a computer-generated figure. Zhang, who wears a cheongsam tight enough to moonlight in a hostess bar, never stirs as a love interest.
"CJ7" revels in a cartoon-like depiction of abject poverty with a priceless scene where cockroach swatting is an alternative to PlayStation. However, such social issues as education, employment and inequality of wealth are glossed over by slogan-like mottos of being poor but virtuous. The storybook ending is artificial and offers no antidote to Ti and Dicky's problems.
CJ7
Sony Pictures Classics
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia/the Star Overseas/China Film Group
Credits:
Director: Stephen Chow
Screenwriters: Stephen Chow, Vincent Kok, Tsang Kan-cheong, Lam Fung, Sandy Shaw, Fung Chih-chiang
Producers: Stephen Chow, Chui Po-chu, Han Sanping
Director of photography: Poon Hang-sang
Production designer: Oliver Wong
Music: Raymond Wong
Co-producers Vincent Kok, Connie Wong
Costume designer: Dora Ng
Editor: Angie Lam
Cast:
Ti: Stephen Chow
Dicky: Xu Jiao
Miss Yuen: Kitty Zhang
Mr. Cao: Lee Shing-cheung
Building Site Foreman: Lam Tze-chung
Running time -- 88 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
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