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Cinema

Cinema
Views, news, and reviews of films, from the latest releases to classic oldies.
A scene from the 1988 film My Neighbour Totoro. Studio Ghibli films like Totoro and Spirited Away continue to captivate audiences even today. In the US, the annual Ghibli Fest has been running since 2017. Photo: GKids via AP
Asian cinema: Japanese films

The appeal of Ghibli: why films like Totoro continue to find fans

The US-based Studio Ghibli Fest began in 2017 and, as Ghibli films continue to attract new fans of all ages, it keeps growing.

American cinema

Planet of the Apes at 25: why Tim Burton’s sci-fi remake was a confusing mess

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Hong Kong entertainment

Screen legend Patrick Tse saved my brother from drowning, woman recalls

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Asian cinema: Korean films

My Sassy Girl at 25: how Jun Ji-hyun’s star turn changed South Korean cinema

Jun Ji-hyun’s role as a brash young woman in the 2001 romcom subverted gender stereotypes, today inspiring actresses like Park Eun-bin.

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Jun Ji-hyun (left) and Cha Tae-hyun in a still from My Sassy Girl. Photo: Film Movement.
Style Edit

Style Edit: Regent Hong Kong dishes out Hong Kong cinema at the harbour’s edge

The Lobby Lounge’s lobster wonton noodles, char siu egg rice and French toast are homages to memorable scenes in Hong Kong films.

European cinema

Review | Three Goodbyes: Alba Rohrwacher stars in moving, life-affirming Italian drama

Isabel Coixet’s adaptation of Michela Murgia’s celebrated novel highlights how we should appreciate what we have in the time gifted to us.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

How Maggie Cheung went from commercial film eye candy to art-house legend

After being cast for her looks early in her career, Cheung proved herself in serious roles, then stepped away from the industry altogether.

Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung poses for a picture in 1991. Cheung was prolific between 1984 and 2010, appearing in dozens of films as a pretty “vase” character and later proving her range in more demanding roles. Photo: SCMP/TVB Weekly
American cinema

‘We hit the limits’: Christopher Nolan on going all out making The Odyssey

The director reveals the lengths to which the cast and crew went to make good on creating his epic version of ‘the ultimate adventure story’.

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K-drama news

Profile | Who is Nam Joo-hyuk, star of Netflix K-drama The East Palace?

Returning to the screen after three years, model-turned-actor Nam Joo-hyuk has starred in a number of hit Korean dramas.

Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Profile | How 94-year-old Bowie Woo became Hong Kong’s ultimate evergreen entertainer

Since becoming a film star in 1953, ‘Sau Gor’ has adapted to remain a feature of Hong Kong screens, and his recent concert set a world record.

Hong Kong actor and singer Bowie Woo with his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 41st Hong Kong Film Awards at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, on April 16, 2023. Woo set a Guinness World Record in June 2026 as the oldest Chinese artist to hold a solo concert at the age of 94. Photo: Dickson Lee
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Prolific Hong Kong director Andrew Lau looks back on his most iconic films

From the Young and Dangerous series to The Storm Riders and Infernal Affairs, Andrew Lau has captivated audiences for decades.

Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau is photographed at the New York Asian Film Festival, where he is the 2026 Filmmaker in Focus. Photo: Chris Kammerud
American cinema

Review | The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan adapts Homer for an anti-war masterpiece

Matt Damon anchors a visually stunning epic in which the women – Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya – outshine the men.

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Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Classic Hong Kong cinema

In this feature series on the best of Hong Kong cinema, we examine the legacy of classic films, re-evaluate the careers of its greatest stars and revisit some of the lesser-known aspects of the beloved industry.

American cinema

East meets West

In this feature series, we spotlight world cinema where East meets West, including notable China-US co-productions.

A scene from Christopher Nolan’s 2008 Batman film, The Dark Knight, which was partly shot in Hong Kong. Photo: Warner Bros
Asian cinema

Review | The President’s Cake: Cannes-winning Iraqi drama is an instant classic

Hasan Hadi’s profound film follows a young Iraqi girl trying to find ingredients for a cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein’s birthday.

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Baneen Ahmad Nayyef (kneeling) in a still from The President’s Cake (category IIA, Arabic), directed by Hasan Hadi. Waheed Thabet Khreibat and Sajad Mohamad Qasem co-star.
Hong Kong culture

Movie stars, minister pay tribute to ‘legendary’ Hong Kong producer Shi Nan-sun

Shi died peacefully at the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital after suffering multiple organ failure.

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Kung Fu Soccer: Stephen Chow loses his touch with Shaolin Soccer spin-off

Dilraba Dilmurat and Zhang Xiaofei lead a team of female football martial artists in Chow’s film that falls far short of its 2001 predecessor.

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Obituaries

Sam Neill, known for roles in Jurassic Park and The Piano, dead at 78

The New Zealand actor’s death was ‘sudden and unexpected’, his family says.

Actor Sam Neill had landed starring roles across many genres during his career. Photo: AFP
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

How pioneering studio UFO redefined early-1990s Hong Kong cinema

Peter Chan’s studio revolutionised Hong Kong cinema, scoring numerous hits during its short life, such as Comrades, Almost a Love Story.

European cinema

Why flop movie Shatter is a perfect 1970s Hong Kong time capsule

Shatter, featuring Peter Cushing, Lily Li and Ti Lung, was a box office failure in 1974, but offered a glimpse of a Hong Kong in transition.

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American cinema

Review | Evil Dead Burn: gruesome new chapter proves there is life in the franchise

Ultra violence and slapstick humour continue in Evil Dead Burn, the latest instalment of the hit horror franchise that started in 1981.

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Luciane Buchanan in a still from Evil Dead Burn, directed by Sebastien Vanicek.
American cinema

Review | Moana: Catherine Laga’aia shines in Disney’s vibrant live-action remake

Moana features a breakout performance by Catherine Laga’aia as the titular Moana – but the remake loses some of the magic of the original.

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Catherine Laga’aia as Moana in a still from Moana. Photo: Disney
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

6 surprising facts from Jet Li’s new book, including his near-death moment

From his many names to dishwasher woes, Beyond Life and Death shares things about the Chinese martial artist fans may not have been aware of.

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Singapore

Do Singapore ministers watch films? Joke raises hackles amid dialect debate

The culture minister’s quip about being too busy to go to the cinema has some critics jumping up from their seats.

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Mainland China

Video | How a Chinese indie film conquered the box office

Lan Hongchun’s story about love, loyalty and immigrant struggles has struck a chord with the overseas Chinese diaspora, topping the box office with US$290 million.

Lan Hongchun’s story about love, loyalty and immigrant struggles has struck a chord with the overseas Chinese diaspora, topping the box office with US$290 million
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Asian cinema: Chinese films

Review | A Dance with Rainbows: Taiwanese coming-of-age boxing drama packs a punch

Director Lee Yi-shan delivers a quietly powerful Taiwanese sports drama in A Dance with Rainbows, starring Lin Yi-ting.

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Lin Yi-ting in a still from A Dance with Rainbows (category IIA, Mandarin and Minnan), directed by Lee Yi-shan. Tsai Chen-nan and Yu An-shun co-star.
Hong Kong culture

Opinion | Before we hail Hong Kong cinema’s return, let’s ensure its survival

The rules we make around artificial intelligence and creative work today will define what the city’s culture and economy look like tomorrow.

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Asian cinema: Korean films

‘Oldboy’ Choi Min-sik on revenge, craft and Notes from the Last Row

Choi Min-sik points out parallels between 2003’s Oldboy and his new role in Netflix series Notes from the Last Row.

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