Look, we get it. Watching all the Midnight Madness movies at midnight can be tough. Why not catch a few during the pre-midnight hours on the last Sunday of the Festival?
You must have a valid ticket for a screening. Injured people do not count as valid tickets.
SOUTHBOUND Final Screening:
Sun, Sept 20, 3:30 PM SCOTIABANK 10
Look at all the celebs red carping!
THE FINAL GIRLS Final Screening:
Sun, Sept 20, 5:00 PM SCOTIABANK 2
Here is the complete SPL 2: A Time For Consequences Premiere introduction and post-screening Q&A with director Soi Cheang and producer Paco Wong moderated by programmer Colin Geddes.
"Hey, let's look at some martial arts team-ups, Ti Lung." "Okay, David."
Tonight Yayan Ruhian teams up with director Takashi Miike in Yakuza Apocalypse. He might also team up with a frog, a vampire hunter and a vampire gangster. And last night, we saw Tony Jaa and Wu Jing team up together for justice and against terminal illness. So it seems like an excellent time to look at some Martial Arts Team Ups of Asskickery!
David Chiang and Ti Lung are the quintessential martial arts team-up. They started working together on The Young Juvenile / Dead End (1969) and worked on countless films together between then and the release of Chang Cheh's Blood Brothers in 1973. It's not actually countless, but since Ti Lung has currently been in 118 films and Chiang has been in 138 and is still going strong, I'm just leaving it at that. In fact, there are so many movies, I'm just going to pass along this tribute video.
After working Chiang and Ti Lung, director Chang Cheh gathered a new stable of actors including, Sun Chien, Philip Kwok Chun-Fung, Lo Meng, Lu Feng, Chiang Sheng and Johnny Wang Lung-Wei in 1978's The Five Deadly Venoms. Here the chief of the Poison Clan (Dick Wei) explains to Yang Tieh (Chiang Sheng) the nature of his mission--and just happens to introduce the Five Deadly Venoms themselves.
One of the many pleasures of Hong Kong cinema is playing, "Recognize the Deadly Venom" in this film. For instance, Lo Meng and Philip Kwok appear in John Woo's Hard Boiled (1992), which features a pretty sweet team-up between Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. Please note how Philip Kwok dismounts his motorcycle here...
But to get back to kung fu team-ups, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao have appeared in a bunch of movies together (and in various combinations), includingProject A (1984), Wheels On Meals (1984), and Dragons Forever (1988). Here they fight Benny "The Jet" Urquidez in Dragons Forever.
Lot fewer offices and factories feature glass furniture after this kind of things.
Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung also teamed up with Lam Ching-Ying (Mr. Vampire) in one of my favorite movies, The Prodigal Son (1981).
It was certainly a time for consequences last night on Day 8 of Midnight Madness, and consequences came in the form of knees to the face! And kicks to the face! And knees to the knees! And a wolf?
Possibly my favourite TIFF movie about involuntary organ donation, SPL2 kept the Midnight audience at the edge of their seats, and Ian Goring was there to bring you all the action!
Without a doubt, Teensy Ninja was one of the most popular celebs at TIFF this year. Some say that paparazzi photos of Teensy Ninja were fetching prices north of $500 a pop.
SPL 2 director Cheang Pou-soi
Oh, it's some kicky-punchy you're after, is it?
Programmer Colin Geddes, director Cheang Pou-soi, and producer Paco Wong attempt to summon Captain Planet
The very stylish Paco Wong!
Robert Mitchell interviews director Cheang Pou-soi
Colin Geddes and Peter Kuplowsky tell a story about Peter's first Midnight Madness screening - the original SPL!
Cheang Pou-soi introduces SPL 2!
Cheang Pou-soi and Paco Wong take questions from the audience
I don't remember what this picture of Cheang Pou-soi is about, but how can you not love that face?
Haha, remember when Tony Jaa kneed that guy right in the face? Classic Tony!
Director Cheang Pou-soi enjoys an imaginary hamburger
I think the translator was enjoying this Q&A more than anyone else.
A merry kick-mas to all, and to all a good night!
You can still be a part of the TIFF asskickery if you attend the final screening of SPL 2!
SPL 2: A Time For Consequences premiered last night. Robert A. Mitchell was on the red carpet dodging flying kicks and deadly punches. He also spoke with director Soi Cheang and producer Paco Wong.
Zhang Jin was Zhang Ziyi's stunt double in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and was a stunt performer in Hero (2002). He won Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film awards for his portrayal of Ma San in Wong Kar-Wai's tribute to Ip Man, The Grandmaster (201. He was Ghost Eyes in From Vegas To Macau (2014) and Wu Long in the new Wong Fei-Hong movie, Rise Of The Legend (2014). He played the young Mue Che in Shaolin vs. Evil Dead: Ultimate Power (2006).
And from the SPL 2 stills and posters, it looks like Zhang Jin is Master of Dapper Fist.
Dapperly villainous.
Fine, I'll take off my jacket, but only because there's two of you.
Fit is crucial in a duel.
Wu Jing has been framed and imprisoned for fashion crimes.
And then there is Louis Koo. What is he even doing? Do you even recognize him?
See Zhang Jin kick ass with style tonight!
SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCESscreens:
Thu, Sept 17, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Fri, Sept 18, 3:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 6:30 PM SCOTIABANK
I've been going to Midnight Madness screenings since 2001 and I've been part of standing ovation only a handful of times. The first time was when Tony Jaa exploded onto the world stage with Ong- Bak. Now, Tony is back with SPL2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCES. Don't worry if you haven't seen the first one because apart from a similar theme (which I'm guessing is bone-crunching action) the two stories are independent of each other. Check out the trailer below and we'll see you tonight at the Ryerson!
SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCES Screening Times:
Thu, Sept 17, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Fri, Sept 18, 3:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 6:30 PM SCOTIABANK 2
Wu Jing, aka, "Jacky Wu," returns to Midnight Madness with SPL 2: A Time For Consequences. Madniks might remember Wu Jing from the first SPL (2005), directed by Wilson Yip Wai-Shun, and Wu Jing and Donnie Yen beating the bejeezus out of each other in an alley fight.
Wu Jing was born in Beijing in 1974. He entered the Beijing Wushu School when he was six and is a Chinese National Wushu Champion. Wu got his first break when he was discovered by director and choreographer, Yuen Woo-Ping. Yuen gave Wu a role in Tai Chi 2 / Tai Chi Boxer (1996).
Here Wu fights Billy Chow in Yuen Woo-Ping's Tai Chi 2:
Which led to Wu starring in Yuen Woo-Ping's 1997 tv series Master of Tai Chi.
Yuen Woo-Ping and Wu Jing made two more tv series together: New Shaolin Temple and
Swordsman of Flying Dagger. Man, I wish I got TVB. But my sadness is easily distracted by this fight between Wu Jing and be-ascoted Sammo Hung in Fatal Contact (2006). (Guys, Sammo Hung is fighting in an ascot).
A nice fight between Wu and Shawn Yue in Invisible Target (2007).
Legendary Assassin (2008) was co-directed by Wu and Li Chung-Chi, who is SPL 2's fight choreographer.
Wu Jing wrote, directed and starred in Wolf Warriors / I Fight For China (2015). It features Scott Adkins (The Undisputed Series; Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning). The hand-to-hand fighting starts at about 1:45.
And to get you in the mood for SPL 2, Wu Jing's alleyway throwdown with Donnie Yen in SPL.
SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCESscreens:
Thu, Sept 17, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Fri, Sept 18, 3:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 6:30 PM SCOTIABANK
One of my most cherished Midnight Madness memories is seeing Tony Jaa kicking a guy with his legs on fire at the world premiere of Ong-Bak (2003). And this was back in the Uptown days, when you could see men with legs aflame knee someone on the enormous screen of an old movie palace. This memory still fills me with wonder and joy, because I am a terrible person.
Tony Jaa got his start in the late Panna Rittikrai's Muay Thai Stunt Team. He performed in some of Panna's films--and was occasionally a villainous henchman. Since then, Jaa's become a superstar in Thailand, with films reflecting pride in Thai antiquities and heritage (especially elephants). And now, Tony Jaa, like MM Alumnus Joe Taslim (The Raid) before him, has become of a member of the Fast & Furious family, with an excellent featured fight in Fast & Furious 7.
Now Tony Jaa returns to Midnight Madness in SPL 2: A Time For Consequences. In SPL 2, his character, Chai, does a lot of sensitive parenting as the father of a terminally ill daughter. He also beats the hell out of a lot of people. In that spirit, let's look at some clips of Tony Jaa bringing it!
The sweet chase scene from Ong-Bak:
Drunken style in Ong-Bak 2 (2008):
Fighting Lateef Crowder in Tom Yum Goong / The Protector (2005):
Having some fun making references to the chase scene in Ong-Bak and the quest to find his elephant in Tom Yum Goong / The Protector in The Bodyguard (2007)
A bit of the bus fight in Furious 7 (2015):
Tony Jaa and Michael Jai White in Skin Trade (2015):
And kicking a dude with his legs on fire:
SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCESscreens:
Thu, Sept 17, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Fri, Sept 18, 3:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 6:30 PM SCOTIABANK
Director Soi Cheang is making his first appearance at Midnight Madness this year with SPL: A Time For Consequences. But he's had other films at TIFF. Accident (2009), starring MM Alumnus Louis Koo, and Motorway (2013), starrring MM Alumni Anthony Wong Chau-sang and Josie Ho, screened in the Vanguard Program. This year Soi Cheang brings a follow-up to Wilson Yip's SPL / Sha Po Long / Killzone. SPL blew the roof off Midnight Madness in 2005--with Sammo Hung in the house. In taking on the sequel, Cheang brings new characters and locations to the series, with characters played by MM Alumni, Wu Jing, Jony Jaa, Louis Koo and Simon Yam. And Cheang maintains some of the original's sensibility. There will be fights. There will be fights in a Thai prison. Simon Yam might be in peril.
Like many Hong Kong directors, Soi Cheang got his start on Hong Kong's iconic television station, TVB. He went on to become an assistant director for Johnnie To and Accident and Motorway were both produced by To's Milkway Image Ltd. Cheang even did some shooting for Wilson Yip on the first SPL. Cheang's filmography is pretty diverse now, ranging from grimmer films like Dog Bite Dog (2006) to the family friendly Monkey King 3D (2014).
Tony Jaa and Wu Jing throw down.
Director Cheang was kind enough to answer some questions for us in advance of the premiere of SPL2. Since he sent his answers back in Chinese and English, we're posting his answers in both languages.
SPL 2: A Time for Consequences isn't a traditional sequel to SPL. How
did you come up with the new story and how does it keep some of the
themes and feel of SPL?
At first, I told him that I wouldn't want to make an SPL movie unless we had a feasible story. And somehow we managed to put together all the characters and the story framework that you see in the current movie.
Tony Jaa and Unda Kunteera Yhordchanng
You work with many amazing and talented performers in SPL 2. How was
it working with them and how did you cast the film?
In fact, they are
all good action movie actors. We were grounded in the characteristics
of each actor or how I feel about each actor. For example, I
don’t want Tony Jaa be a killer. I would like him to be a simple
and headlong man, just like in Ong-Bak. Besides, I want the
audience can see the other side of Wu Jing. He is always power and
prestige in the past. This time, I want him down in the dumps and
struggling. This time, I have tried a different and distinctive style on
every actor, I hoped everyone could be outstanding.
Wu Jing, struggling. (Simon Yam in peril)
How was working with action choreographer Li Chung-chi?
We started to
discuss the operation of each scene and my demands. We have made many
adjustments on site. There were some ideas we created together. And
there are some scenes were I decided to do for atmosphere, then he developed
it.
I've read you started in the film industry as an assistant director
for Wilson Yip Wai-shun, Ringo Lam, Andrew Lau and Johnnie To. How have
they influenced your filmmaking? What other filmmakers or films have
influenced you?
每個跟我合作過的導演對我有很大影響，因為在他們身上學到很多，好似你們提到的Wilson
Yip, Ringo Lam, Johnnie To 他們都對我很大影響
Those directors
that I've worked with are a great influence on me. I learned a lot from
them. As you mentioned, directors like Wilson Yip, Ringo Lam, Andrew
Lau and Johnnie To. They have a great influence on me.
Zhang Jin and Tony Jaa.
There are three languages in SPL2: Cantonese, Mandarin and Thai. What
were some of the challenges and benefits of shooting in so many
languages?
Language
is challenge for us during shooting. But we have to overcome it.
I think there was a big challenge for Zhang Jin. Although he is not Thai, he had to speak in Thai during shooting. I think he is very
talented in language. So it made the shooting very smooth.
Thank you so much, Director Cheang!
SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCESscreens:
Thu, Sept 17, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Fri, Sept 18, 3:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 6:30 PM SCOTIABANK
In past years, we at the Midnight Madness blog have warned you of many dangers. The dangers of hooking up with or dating dead people and the heartbreak of "intimate hauntings" (e.g., Dead Girl; It Follows). The dangers of Tony Jaa taking you apart like a chicken with his powerful and frightening muay thai skills, which we face again this year in SPL 2: A Time For Consequences. (The consequences? Tony Jaa takes you apart like a chicken), The dangers of Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim or Yayan Ruhian (The Raid; Yakuza Apocalypse) taking you apart with their pencak silat and judo skills. The dangers of 3-D-inducing drugs bringing Judge Dredd's justice down on you and Soy Sauce-based drugs just making you see... things you really don't want to. Just last year, we warned you about Murder Scouts. And despite their being our informal Midnight Madness blog mascot, we always have a wary eye on our "friends," the isopods--giant or otherwise.
"Otherwise."
Tonight The Chickening begins this year's Madness. It becomes a part of not only Midnight Madness' history, but a part of a select history, a history of films warning you of dangers to be prepared for. Sure you know about The Birds and I assume you've been briefed on the precautions necessary during a Birdemic, Poultrygeist or even a Thankskilling.
Throw the egg out and wash your hands. Do not touch your mucus membranes.
Abandon your house. Go get Chinese food.
Preparedness is next to Not Getting Your Ass Killed. Sure, Bubo the mechanical owl from Clash of hte Titans is cute. But have to stopped to consider what would happen if Bubo went bad? He has the wisdom of Athena and his cuteness is unstoppable.
Sure, Bubo's cute and helpful, but its name is also evocative of the Bubonic Plague. Best wash your hands.
We haven't heard from Rodan or the Giant Claw in a while, but not so long ago, Bangkok dealt with a very Rodan-like Garuda situation. Does your city have a Giant Bird Preparedness Plan?
Garuda will mess up the Greater Metropolitan Area.
Have you considered all the eventualities of a Roc roosting in a densely populated city? And I'm not talking about the effects of Dwayne Johnson on the native cod population and how that trickles down to depleted fish and chips options. I'm talking about this Roc:
City officials attempt to enforce zoning regulations.
What about this mysterious goose visible for a good while in Harinam Singh's vampire classic Shaitani Dracula? It seems innocent enough--as if it had just wandered into the shot. But it is in a movie about Dracula. Is it some kind of Dracula itself? What is it doing? Should we fear the Goosening?
I think... I think it's looking at us...
And that's not even getting into the more prosaic dangers of, say, Sam the Eagle running a political campaign. (I'm thinking Senate).
Sam's anti-"weirdo" policies would be devastating for Midnight Madness.
But we do have some fine feathered friends on our side. Bubo, probably. Rodan stood up for Earth against King Ghidorah and the alien jerks hiding in our lakes and laughing at human emotions that one time.
And for every goose Dracula, there is a heroic wonder bird like Sheroo in Dharam Veer. Sheroo the Wonder Bird catches imperiled babies.
Baby saved!
But if you see Mr. Chicken... Goddamn, your goose is cooked. Run. Just run. And we'll pray for you.
My God, he sees us. HE SEES US.
In the meantime, as always, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling poultry products and always cook your chicken to an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Holy Cats, check out these sweet character posters for SPL 2: A Time For Consequences! They feature Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Louis Koo and Zhang Jin.
(And yes, we have it on good authority that Tony Jaa and Wu Jing fight, though they don't in these posters).
Tony Jaa's leopard arm explains a lot about his terrifying muay Thai skills.
Wu Jing is not a werewolf. Stop asking.
Louis Koo's character is very sensitive about his growth.
Zhang Jin, dapper even when his arm is 20-30% wolf.
And in case you were thinking, "I thought Simon Yam was in SPL 2!" Well, we have this poster of Simon Yam from a different set of SPL 2 character posters (ones without cool panthers and wolves). Looks like Mr. Yam will be in the next season of Hannibal...
Or perhaps Vampire Prosecutor.
Dapperly thinking of inviting Simon Yam and Zhang Jin over for some Type O.
SPL 2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCESscreens:
Thu, Sept 17, 11:59 PM RYERSON
Fri, Sept 18, 3:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 6:30 PM SCOTIABANK
