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Ace Hong Kong director Dante Lam has begun work on “The Rescue,” which is set to be the biggest-budget Chinese film made this year. The $90 million action-adventure picture has already claimed a coveted Chinese New Year release slot in 2020.

Lam was recently responsible for two of mainland China’s highest-grossing films: “Operation Mekong” and last year’s “Operation Red Sea,” which raked in a combined $750 million in their target home market. Both were drenched in blood and Chinese patriotism, which failed to connect with audiences overseas.

For the long-gestating “Rescue,” Lam – whose track record includes upscale Hong Kong thrillers “The Viral Factor” and “The Stool Pigeon,” as well as sports dramas “Unbeatable” and “To the Fore” – has changed direction again. “There are no guns or martial-arts things,” he told Variety. “‘The Rescue’ is focused on courage, which I show through action. This has the energy of song and dance, or...

It's Thursday. Friday's still quite a few hours away, and you're looking for something to help you pass your time. We totally hear you. The Internet has become a veritable theme park of time-killing activities, and the following one is a treat for sure!

As per the Pajiba website...

"Are you familiar with the movie and television trope in which someone is unexpectedly hit by a bus or other large vehicle? I’m sure that two or three instances of it immediately come to mind (and they’re assuredly in the video). We see it all the time (and it’s almost always effective), but I had no idea just how often it is employed until the noted video editor behind Harry Hanrahan compiled practically every instance ever of the trope into this supercut. It’s one of those brilliant video edits that blows up the trope, exposes it for...

It's only January and there is already a serious contender for the best Asian action movie of 2012. That film is from Hk and stars Asian superstar J.C.. But no, it's not Jackie Chan. It's Jay Chou who is in the film. Now please wait... before your anti-green Hornet sentiment takes over and makes you stop reading, please take note that the film - The Viral Factor - also stars Nicholas Tse (New Police Story, Shaolin, Bodyguards And Assassins) and is directed by Hong Kong action maestro Dante Lam (Beast Cop, Beast Stalker, Stool Pigeon). Plus it is the kind of cool action films that Jackie Chan was making in the 90s. Dante Lam is on a red-hot streak right now. His recent films...

“Fire of Conscience” mastermind Dante Lam thoroughly understands the action genre. The director’s latest endeavor, the 2012 scorcher “The Viral Factor”, offers up one tantalizing set piece after another, and rarely takes the time to catch its breath in-between explosions. What’s amazing is that Lam somehow manages to tell a compelling story along the way, which, you know, is always a good thing to have around when you’re waiting for the next adrenaline-pumping fight sequence to show up. True, the plot isn’t anything you haven’t seen a hundred times before, and the coincidences often pile up to the point of absolute absurdity, but Lam effortlessly makes it all seem brand-spanking new. It’s seriously impressive stuff. In fact, I’ve already watched it twice. Jay Chou stars as Jon, an International Security Affairs agent who watches helplessly as one of his traitorous teammates shoots him and...

Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? Tatsumi Trailer "Yoshihiro Tatsumi is a mangaka known for his gekiga style of alternate Japanese manga." Wish I knew what that meant. Director Eric Khoo...

Well, I suppose it's not the worst crop of movies we've ever seen in the middle of January. The fourth Underworld film, Underworld Awakening, hits theatres today and is likely to dominate the box office thanks to the return of Kate Beckinsale, but she will have to go head to head with Gina Carano in Steven Soderbergh's Haywire. The George Lucas-produced WWII film Red Tails is also out this weekend but seems to be getting slammed by critics, along with the Oscar hopeful Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. In select theatres we have Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War starring Christian Bale, Dante Lam's The Viral Factor starring Jay Chou and Ralph Fiennes' Roman revenge flick Coriolanus, plus a handful of documentaries including Frederick Wiseman's Crazy Horse. What will you be watching this weekend? Underworld Awakening Haywire Red Tails...

Director: Dante Lam. Review: Chris Sawin. Jon Wan's (Jay Chou) life is turned upside down when his ex-girlfriend Ice (Bing Bai) is killed while they're out on a life threatening mission in Jordan. After waking up in the hospital, Jon is informed that not only is his career as a cop more than likely finished but a bullet is still lodged in his brain, is inoperable, and he will be completely paralyzed in two weeks time. Instead of staying in the hospital, Jon goes to visit his mother who tells him a twenty year old secret that he has a younger brother. Little does Jon realize that his brother Wan Yang (Nicolas Tse) has become one of the most wanted criminals of Malaysia. Now in a race against time, Jon is just trying to reunite his family as Yang attempts to figure out who ratted him out. Meanwhile, Jon's former...

Following up on those TV spots that Todd recently posted for Dante Lam’s shoot’em up “The Viral Factor”, comes this news that Chinese game developers Tencent are hard at work on a first-person shooter game based on the movie. Apparently the game used to be called “T-Game”, but is now being converted to feature the characters from the movie played by Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou (of “Green Hornet” fame). You can see the digitized version of both gun-toting badasses below. The game is currently in its beta phase, but once completed, will allow players to choose between taking the sides of robots or plain old humankind in a futuristic battle landscape. That’s all we know about the game so far, but check out these images from it...

If you have the opportunity to see “Stool Pigeon” director Dante’s Lam’s latest action/thriller “The Viral Factor” when it lands in Us theaters this January, I strongly recommend that you do so. The movie is definitely a lot of fun, and it should play extremely well on the big screen. In other words, should the film happen to find its way into a theater within driving distance, take a trip and check it out. Dante Lam continues his hot streak, and I’m very anxious to see where he’s headed next. A plot synopsis for the uninitiated: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he...

Dante Lam's The Viral Factor releases around the globe this week, the latest from the director of Stool Pigeon, The Beast Stalker and Fire of Conscience pairing stars Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou as brothers on opposite sides of a continent-spanning plot to release a viral plague upon the world.With the Us release coming Friday, distributor China Lion have released a pair of new TV spots for the film. Check them out below....

The Viral Factor Trailer 1, Trailer 2, Poster. Dante Lam‘s The Viral Factor (2012) movie trailer 1, movie trailer 2, movie poster stars Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse, Andy On, Steven Dasz, and Andrew Dasz. The Viral Factor‘s plot synopsis: “A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness.

While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out that his father and brother, Wan Yang, are still alive. In his search for them, he discovers that his brother is working as a mercenary for Sean, who has evil plans to force scientist Rachel to cultivate a mutating virus to unleash on the world. The brothers unite to stop Sean but finds out that he has an even bigger plan for international blackmail.

Action director Dante Lam’s latest crime thriller The Viral Factor explodes (literally) onto North American cinema screens - with its January 20th theatrical release - and to mark event the U.S trailer has just landed, with a sizeable bang. Aside from it being a great movie, we have a tiny ulterior motive for mentioning the trail - take a look around the 38 second mark, and you might see mention from a certain; Asian, horror and cult movie news website. Synopsis: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out that his father and brother, Wan Yang, are still alive. In his search for them, he discovers...

Not excited for Dante Lam’s Jay Chou/Nicholas Tse actioner “The Viral Factor” yet? You should be. The film looks like it has the makings of a gun-happy good time. Coming from Lam (“The Beast Stalker”, “Fire of Conscience”), who has directed some of my favorite Hong Kong action movies of the 2000s, I’m really expecting good stuff here, so you better deliver, Lam! Anyways, check out a slightly new-ish U.S. trailer and poster for “The Viral Factor”. Idc Agent Jon (Jay Chou) sustains grave injuries on a mission and decides to spend his final days with his mother. She tells him a long-held secret. To fulfill her wishes, Jon goes to Southeast Asia. He befriends medical specialist Rachel (Lin Peng). When she is forced into the schemes of a criminal organization, Jon attempts rescue and becomes the target of the organization that includes his estranged brother...

Hong Kong action maestro Dante Lam (Fire Of Conscience, The Beast Stalker, Stool Pigeon) has established himself as Hong Kong - and arguably all of Asia's - finest and most consistent action film director over the past five years and he is rewarded with by far the biggest budget of his career with The Viral Factor.A continent hopping action thriller starring Nicholas Tse (Stool Pigeon) and Jay Chou (The Green Hornet) as brothers on opposite sides of a plot to release a genetically modified virus into the world, The Viral Factor will be releasing worldwide in January, the Us release handled by China Lion.And after a string of Hong Kong promos for the film China Lion have just released one of their own and...

I’m super excited about director Dante Lam’s upcoming actioner “The Viral Factor”. In fact, when I stumbled across the images you see embedded below, the top of my skull came completely off. And while that may be a slight exaggeration on my part, the new character posters are pretty nifty. Unfamiliar with “The Viral Factor”? Read this: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out that his father and brother, Wan Yang, are still alive. In his search for them, he discovers that his brother is working as a mercenary for Sean, who has evil plans to force scientist Rachel to cultivate a mutating virus to unleash on the world.

Updated With English Subtitled Version Of The Trailer.Hong Kong action maestro Dante Lam has been given the largest budget of his career for his upcoming effort The Viral Factor and he's certainly taking advantage. Lam's latest is a continent hopping affair with boats, helicopters, cars, guns and explosions o'plenty.A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out that his father and brother, Wan Yang, are still alive. In his search for them, he discovers that his brother is working as a mercenary...

The U.S arm of China Lion Film Distribution have just announced release dates for two great Chinese New Year’s titles, and they’re right at the ends of the spectrum in genre terms; The Viral Factor, starring Jay Chou and Nicolas Tse, and Alls Well That Ends Well (2012), starring Donnie Yen and Louis Koo. The Viral Factor will open on January 20th, 2012, while Alls Well That Ends Well (2012) will release on January 27th, 2012, throughout North America. Comedy and action chaos - seems they have a fair few bases covered there! Trailers below. The Viral Factor stars international superstar Jay Chou as an ex-government agent whose involvement in a kidnap rescue mission leads to a meet-up with his corrupt and wanted brother (played by award-winning actor Nicholas Tse). The film is directed by Dante Lam, who previously helmed The Beast Stalker and co-directed the cult classic Beast Cops. The...

The U.S arm of China Lion Film Distribution have just announced release dates for two great Chinese New Year’s titles, and they’re right at the ends of the spectrum in genre terms; The Viral Factor, starring Jay Chou and Nicolas Tse, and Alls Well That Ends Well (2012), starring Donnie Yen and Louis Koo. The Viral Factor will open on January 20th, 2012, while Alls Well That Ends Well (2012) will release on January 27th, 2012, throughout North America. Comedy and action chaos - seems they have a fair few bases covered there! Trailers below. The Viral Factor stars international superstar Jay Chou as an ex-government agent whose involvement in a kidnap rescue mission leads to a meet-up with his corrupt and wanted brother (played by award-winning actor Nicholas Tse). The film is directed by Dante Lam, who previously helmed The Beast Stalker and co-directed the cult classic Beast Cops. The...

[Update: Added third making-of video that focuses on the stuntwork.] Emperor Motion Pictures has uploaded two making-of videos for Dante Lam's The Viral Factor at its official youtube channel.  The videos contain footage from the on-set location of the Middle east with the director overseeing the major set pieces that requires airplanes from the air force, tanks and the special forces in a hostile environment.  The two main leads include Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse as brothers but both are opposite side of the law. A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has...

Its full and final trailer time for action movie maestro, Dante Lam’s, latest blockbuster The Viral Factor...and this being a Lam production, things go Boom in spectacular fashion on more than one occasion. Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse provide the heavy hitter top lines names for above the door, and this is sure to be the first box office hit in 2012. The Viral Factor is due to hit Hong Kong screens on January 19. There’s plenty of bang for your buck, at the trailer below. Synopsis: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out that his father and brother, Wan Yang, are still alive. In his search for them,...

Its full and final trailer time for action movie maestro, Dante Lam’s, latest blockbuster The Viral Factor...and this being a Lam production, things go Boom in spectacular fashion on more than one occasion. Jay Chou, Nicholas Tse provide the heavy hitter top lines names for above the door, and this is sure to be the first box office hit in 2012. The Viral Factor is due to hit Hong Kong screens on January 19. There’s plenty of bang for your buck, at the trailer below. Synopsis: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out that his father and brother, Wan Yang, are still alive. In his search for them,...

Scuttlebutt on the street is that director Dante Lam’s “The Viral Factor” will screen in select theaters right here in North America beginning this January. And while that’s good for those of you who live in larger markets, the rest of us will be (im)patiently waiting for the flick to appear on VOD. Below you’ll a plethora of behind-the-scenes photos from the upcoming Nicholas Tse/Jay Chou actioner, all of which are pretty darn cool. Assuming, of course, that you have any interest in the flick whatsoever. I’ll give you one guess as to which side of the fence I reside. Unfamiliar with this one? Let’s bring you up to speed: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is...

Emperor Motion Pictures has uploaded two making-of videos for Dante Lam's The Viral Factor at its official youtube channel.  The videos contain footage from the on-set location of the Middle east with the director overseeing the major set pieces that requires airplanes from the air force, tanks and the special forces in a hostile environment.  The two main leads include Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse as brothers but both are opposite side of the law.A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness. While contemplating leaving the force, he finds out...

And that’s precisely what I’m in the market for: something loud, stupid, and totally mindless. A good, coherent script is entirely optional. Below you’ll find the latest trailer for director Dante Lam’s sci-fi actioner “The Viral Factor”, which looks to be an absolute blast. As a big fan of both gunplay and explosions, I fully endorse the viewing of this trailer. The “good brother vs. bad brother” scenario might be a bit played out, yes, but this one features both Nicholas Tse and Jay Chou, not to mentions explosions. And gunplay. It promises to be good stuff. Before checking out the trailer, familiarize yourself with the plot: A mission to escort a witness from Jordan to the Netherlands leaves International Security Affairs agent Jon severely scarred: a bullet is lodged in his brain, his fiancée and fellow agent Rita is dead and their traitorous colleague Sean has nabbed their witness.

We have been keeping an eye on this one for some time now. Hong Kong's most prominent action director, Dante Lam, has been upping the ante with each successive film over the past few years, and his latest, The Viral Factor may yet prove to be one of Hong Kong Cinema's most ambitious projects to date.Starring Jay Chou and Lam favourite Nicolas Tse as estranged brothers on opposite sides of the law, the action hopscotches from the Middle East to Malaysia and back to Hong Kong as Chou leads an anti-terrorist unit to track down Tse's character before he can unleash a deadly weaponised virus.The film promises wall to wall mayhem and bloodshed, alongside a healthy dollop of family melodrama just to keep things grounded...