The Heavenly Kings
Traditional Chinese四大天王
Simplified Chinese四大天王
Hanyu Pinyinsi da tian wang
Jyutpingsei dai tin wong
Directed byDaniel Wu
Written byDaniel Wu
Produced byConroy Chan
Andrew Lin
Daniel Wu
Terence Yin
Patrick Lee
StarringDaniel Wu
Terence Yin
Andrew Lin
Conroy Chan
CinematographyKim Chan
Phat Chan
Edited byKim Chan
Phat Chan
Music byJun Kung
Distributed byGolden Scene
Release date
  • 20 April 2006 (2006-04-20)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

The Heavenly Kings (四大天王) is a 2006 Hong Kong film directed by Daniel Wu.

Background

In 2005, Chinese media began to report that Daniel Wu had formed a boyband, Alive, with Terence Yin, Andrew Lin and Conroy Chan.[1] Wu and his band mates posted information, updates, personal thoughts (including slamming Hong Kong Disneyland, for which they were spokespersons)[2] and the band's music, at their official website.[3][1][4] In 2006, Wu made his writing and directorial debut with The Heavenly Kings, which chronicles Alive's formation and exploits.[5] After the film's release, however, it was revealed that The Heavenly Kings was actually a mockumentary of the Hong Kong pop music industry and Alive was constructed purely as a vehicle to make the movie; the film's characters represented only 10-15% of their real-life counterparts[6] and much of the footage blurred the line between fiction and reality.[5] Wu admitted his own singing voice "sucked really bad," and the band had their voices digitally enhanced for its music, to prove that "it's easy to fake it."[4]

Cast and roles

Reception

Despite some backlash from the media over being intentionally fed false information in the movie[7] about illegal downloads of the band's music,[6] Wu won the best new director award for the film at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards, an achievement he called "a group effort."[7] The film has also been nominated for Best Original Film Song at the same Awards ceremony: Composer: Davy Chan; Lyricist: Li Jin Yi and Singer: Alive.

References

  1. 1 2 Chen, Fengfeng (4 August 2005). "Daniel Wu forms a new band". China Radio International. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  2. ↑ Rothrock, Vicki (4 September 2005). "A word of cultural caution". Variety. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "Alive". Alive official blog. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
  4. 1 2 Johnson, G. Allen (25 April 2007). "A model, actor, singing sensation (well, sort of) and now a director". SF Gate. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  5. 1 2 Eddy, Cheryl (25 April 2007). "Bubblegum bandits". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  6. 1 2 "The great Cantopop swindle". The Standard. 22 May 2006. Archived from the original on 7 March 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  7. 1 2 Young, Jennifer (29 April 2007). "Daniel Wu, "Heavenly King"". indieWIRE. originally from SF360. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
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