"D-War 2: Mysteries of the Dragon" has a new tentative release year of 2020. First it was 2009, then 2016. In a production showing China's blossoming film industry joining forces with the man who tried to make the first Korean made special effects blockcbuster, Shim Hyung Rae.
Irony is the story behind D-WAR 2's production history. Though CJ Entertainment in Korea is back to support the project, its China's H&R Global Pictures acting as the main production company.
This is because Shim Hyung Rae, for reverent readers, lost Younggu Art when tales of gambling addiction and threatening of producers with flare guns hit the headlines. This, coinciding with reasons why D-WAR wasn't critically appraised moreso or more lucrative in 2007 has lead recent reports from September in Korean news outlets proclaiming that control is out of Shim's hands in a way. The script is being finished in English, has unspecified American talent giving input. Particular comment was that the script "is being refined like a sculpture." For the record, an odd uncredited credit to a Nick Alvers has popped up as a co writer of the first D-WAR (claim can be found on Wikipedia). Shim is also advising the director of D-War 2, not directing himself quite.
To remind readers, the most recent synopsis details of a fictionalized version of the space race in 1969 between America and Russia, and this space race factoring in with (a more recently released detail) war between Oriental Dragons and Occidental dragons.
Originally the plot was supposed to be Ethan finding an old lady with an Imoogi in her possession. Sadly, though fond particularly of Buraki as a character or using Imoogis as a race of creatures, connections to D-WAR might be limited. "Its connected to D-WAR, but its a different story. The tale of the dragon is what's after ascension to heaven."
If I was Korean, I might feel like Shim is getting foreign half help for his dream. Instead of a Chinese/Korean co production deal, its Shim taking his concept and letting the Chinese build on it. Bong Joo Ho mighty have succeeded more with SNOWPIERCER. While Shim may not be able to direct humans, his SFX shots and scenes just keep getting better. D-WAR's final battle is, away from the rest, fantastic directing.
What of the Chinese press? What's happening on the Chinese side of things? While new Chinese blockbusters are lighting the box office, co-American productions like PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING and THE GREAT WALL are finding it hard to produce non-sensibility-offending cross cultural productions, given these elements are calculated whenever a studio or producer is evaluating a film as product. Though finding help in directors like Denny Harlin teaching China's new crop of filmmakers tools of the trade, big productions like the Bruce Willis-leading AIRSTRIKE have been canceled out of theatrical distribution from fear surrounding tax scandals, like one Willie's co-star Fan Bingbing seems to be in the middle of.
Seems like China and Shim were made for each other. In fact, part of D-WAR's production hell is from China's awkward puberty stage blockbuster abilities. "We are talking specifically with the Chinese theater chain and four large investors, including funding, distribution and character businesses, with Chinese investment companies... The investment has been delayed due to the Sad issue in China, but I have been in contact with China first to get together, and the story is going well and the contract will be announced later."
Along with Keanu Reeves and Kevin Costner starring, China's Tang Guo Qiang is headlining. Qiang can be found playing upper caliber Chinese political figures and legends, old and contemporary, including Mao Zedong. With the exception, Keanu and Costner's involvement in all press conferences and such has been ink on paper that is a single D-WAR 2 poster.
Digital effects will be done by Chinese VFX houses. Particularly Naked Eye 3D graphics (mostly used for smartphones and lightshows) will be used in filming D-WAR 2.
Li Xin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Global Pictures of China, said: "Dragon War 2" is China 's first science fiction blockbuster. The total investment of 500 million yuan is indeed not small for Chinese film projects, but it is more than the sci-fi blockbusters currently produced in Hollywood. It is not too big, and the film is also the first film in China to be released simultaneously in the world. "Dragon War 2" has a very strong creative team."
Quote from link:
media.weibo.cn/article?id=2309351000144017394174548048&jumpfrom=weibocom
China's film climate has changed since D-WAR came in in 2008 in China to gross only $4.4 million dollars. Besides Japan, China seems to be gaining some taste for the giant monster film. For example, Legendary's PACIFIC RIM franchise has been saved more than once by China at the box office, the second film being a Chinese co-production. Two films by the name MONSTER HUNT (1 & 2) have come out since 2016. Though with some scenes outsourced overseas, these Pixar-inspired films have been making healthy $300 million grosses.
Dragons haven't been missing from Chinese screens either, though not common. A 2011 Australian/Chinese co-production including the like of Sam Neil, THE DRAGON PEARL features two kids who find a dragon under a temple and try to help it look for its Yuh-yei-joo-esque pearl. Its animation isn't the hottest. Much easier on the eyes is a trilogy of Monkey King films, mostly starring wuxia legend Donnie Yen as the legend from Chinese myth. Of particular note is the second film which features a fight with a dragon! Likewise, The Monkey King films were produced with American SFX, VFX, and make up artists hired in an advisory capacity.
Hopefully stalling on D-War 2 will cease soon now that things are coming to a head. At the same time, the last irony, may China - way more notorious of having their films and television seemingly by a very large margin consist of historical tales, legends, and political hyperbolies for the state, not fall into the same nationalist pit falls that Shim took the odds with, much more revealing unsavory business deals for these products we call art.
The world will never know.
Links to sources:
http://www.newsfarm.co.kr/news/articleViewAmp.html?idxno=42215
http://mnews.imaeil.com/Culture/2018101011223902355#cb
http://huaren.haiwainet.cn/n/2017/0407/c3541758-30845655.html?fbclid=IwAR1wGLDR7kyEXVBXy2jRSO3L3twRbmp1lhfC69zgCYGUZlAoBpo-GZfPSaY
https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004937585
http://www.koreatimes.com/article/20180411/1172552
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