Zhang Yimou

Christian Bale-Led The Flowers of War Takes Top Spot at Chinese Box Office

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows took the top spot at the domestic box office this past weekend, while Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol dominated in most international markets. In China, however, the big winner was The Flowers of War, acclaimed director Zhang Yimou's (Hero) new Christian Bale-led historical drama, which took in $24 million in its first four days in theaters. With a production budget of $90 million, The Flowers of War is the most expensive movie in Chinese cinema history, but its powerful opening — surpassing what the #2 movie at the US box office earned — puts it well in line to make a profit within a matter of weeks.

Domestic Trailer for The Flowers of War Starring Christian Bale

The international trailer for The Flowers of War, award-winning director Zhang Yimou's (Hero) $90 million period war drama — the most expensive production in Chinese cinema history — debuted back in October. Now, a domestic trailer for the 60% Mandarin/40% English production has finally been released online.

The Flowers of War is based upon Yan Geling's novel The 13 Women of Nanjing and takes place during the six-week period in the Second Sino-Japanese War called the "Nanjing Massacre" because of the brutal treatment of Chinese men, women and children at the hands of the invading Japanese Imperial Army. The domestic trailer contains previously-unseen footage from the movie and primarily focuses on Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale (The Fighter), who stars as an American living in Nanjing who risks his life to protect a small group of Chinese women and children from the Japanese by hiding them in a church.

Christian Bale on Working with Zhang Yimou in China on The Flowers of War

Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale (The Fighter) recently broke his silence on his third go-around as Batman in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, offering his thoughts on his co-stars and the finality of taking off the cape and cowl when he was wrapped. Bale also spoke with Filipino website Inquirer about his next movie to hit theaters, The Flowers of War. The historical drama is set during a six-week period in 1937 in which the Japanese Imperial Army committed atrocities against Chinese men, women and children during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Bale opened up about what it was like to film in China and to work with acclaimed director Zhang Yimou (Hero).

International Trailer for The Flowers of War Starring Christian Bale

The international trailer for The Flowers of War (formerly 13 Women of Nanjing, 13 Flowers of Nanjing and Nanjing Heroes) has gone online. Directed by award-winning director Zhang Yimou (Hero), the $90 million period drama has been touted as the most expensive movie in Chinese film history and made headlines worldwide for the casting of Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale as the leading English-speaking actor in the 60% Mandarin/40% English production.

Based upon Yan Geling's novel The 13 Women of Nanjing, the movie takes place during the 1937 "Nanjing Massacre," a six-week period during the Second Sino-Japanese War in which soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army brutalized Chinese men, women and children. Bale plays an American priest struggling with his own demons who risks his life to shelter a group of women and children from the Japanese.

First Still Images of Christian Bale in Chinese War Drama 13 Women of Nanjing

Fans of director Christopher Nolan's Batman movies still have some time to wait before the first pictures of Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne or his heroic alter-ego in The Dark Knight Rises appear online. The production is supposed to begin in May, but it's likely that Warner Bros. will have the set clamped down tighter than...well, pretty tight, especially in light of all the leaks that occurred during the making of Green Lantern in New Orleans. In the meantime, check out these two new still images of Bale in his latest movie, 13 Women of Nanjing (formerly 13 Flowers of Nanjing and, before that, Nanjing Heroes).

Christian Bale's Period War Movie Starts Production Under New Title

According to FilmBizAsia, production is now underway on director Zhang Yimou's (Hero) new period war drama, 13 Flowers of Nanjing (formerly Nanjing Heroes). The movie, which is based on Yan Geling's novel The 13 Women of Nanjing, takes place during the 1937 "Nanjing Massacre," in which hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers were murdered and tens of thousands of Chinese women were raped by Japanese soldiers. The movie will be shot approximately 40 percent in English and the rest in Mandarin, with Christian Bale leading the English-speaking cast as an American Catholic priest who shelters a group of Chinese women from the Japanese soldiers.

Yimou's predominantly Chinese crew also includes some top talents from Western cinema, including Graciela Mazón (Once Upon a Time in Mexico) as Costume Designer and Joss Williams (Aliens, The Bourne Ultimatum) as Visual Effects Supervisor.

Christian Bale to Star in Chinese Period Drama Nanjing Heroes

Before he dons the classic black cape and cowl of the Dark Knight in the third and finalinstallment in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale will be putting on the black and white collar of a clergyman in director Zhang Yimou's (Hero) new $90 million period drama, Nanjing Heroes. The movie is based upon Yan Geling's novel The 13 Women of Nanjing and focuses on the horrific true story of the 1937 "Nanjing Massacre," a six-week period during the Second Sino-Japanese War in which soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers and raped tens of thousands of women. The movie will go into production in January and be shot approximately 40 percent in English and the rest in Mandarin. Bale has the featured English-speaking role of John, an American Catholic priest who shelters a group of women during the incident. Joss Williams and Martin Asbury's Dark Side FX (The Dark Knight) will handle visual effects.