Chinese School - Japanese TV doramas -

> Extras > Other cultures and language
Japanese TV doramas
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felixthecat -

I recently finished up watching Kemono Michi and The Black Leather Notebook with both starred
Ryoko Yonekura,two are based on suspense novels written by seller author Seicho Matsumoto.

www.shopktslab.com is good place to shop for reasonably priced Japanese dorama box sets.



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Chinese Character - Taiwanese accent -

> Learning Chinese > Speaking and Listening
Taiwanese accent
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jie2li4 -

I'm seriously considering spending a year in Taiwan to improve my Mandarin, which is now somewhere
around an intermediate level. I'm wondering, though, if the Mandarin spoken in Taiwan is
considered too "un-standard" to learn by. (i.e. I was just watching Chinese news today and they
were interviewing some Taiwanese people... And there were subtitles! Is the Taiwanese accent
really that difficult for mainlanders to understand?) Since I previously spent a semester studying
in Beijing, at this point I have a pretty standard accent, I think... But I wonder what effects
immersing myself in Taiwanese "guoyu" for a year might have on my Mandarin? Has anyone here
learned Chinese in Taiwan? Does anyone think it's a bad idea? A good idea? Why? I'd really
appreciate your advice.



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doumeizhen -

While there is some difference in accent, my department has a couple of people who learned in
Taiwan, and their pronunciation is actually quite good, and some say, even more pleasant, as the
Taiwanese sound more soft spoken.

As for the subtitles, I think all Chinese television has subtitles, to help people of other
dialects understand what they are saying. The only Taiwanese person I did not understand was from
a small town that was largely composed of an ethnic group. when I admitted this to a group of
Professors, both from China and Taiwan, they told me that they had problems understanding him too.

So no, I think if you are in the cities you should be perfectly fine studying Chinese in Taiwan.










jie2li4 -

I meant that there were subtitles only when the Taiwanese people were speaking, but not during any
other part of the program.

But anyway, I thank you for your response-- you've certainly helped ease my fears a bit.










in_lab -

I think your accent will be softened if you stay in Taiwan for a year, but I don't think you need
to worry that you'll suddenly start to sound like Chen Shui-bian. But in fact, you might have not
have so high an opinion about the Beijing-learned accent after a while. Or you might enjoy
everyone telling you your accent is biaozhun. (I initially thought that was a complement, but now
I'm not sure if it's a complement or just a comment.)










xiaojiang216 -

I have a friend who is an exchange student from Taiwan, and I can understand his Chinese with no
problem. The only thing that you may notice is that you might fall into the habit of pronouncing
things such as the following:

When saying 中文, you might say "zong1 wen2".
When saying 十四, you might say "si2 si4"

However, this does not hinder the understanding of the listener. Also you might learn some words
in the 两岸用语 category, but these are few.

Taiwan is a great place to be!










Quest -

Taiwan has many accents, city accents are perfectly understandable. Other accents are usually
understandable, unless the speaker can't speak Mandarin, then you would hear MinNanhua,
KejiaHua......










jie2li4 -

Thanks a lot everyone, this is really helpful!










bhchao -

A good example of beautiful Mandarin is the songs of Teresa Teng. Try listening to her songs for a
while and compare the Mandarin to a Beijing-accented Mandarin.

Your best bet for a quality Mandarin education is probably in Taipei, although there could be
other places in Taiwan of equal caliber.

I have a friend from Tainan (southern Taiwan) whose first language is Taiwanese, but her Mandarin
sounds as if her parents came to Taiwan a generation ago.










Xiying -

What you hear on the streets in Taiwan is non-standard, but this goes for almost anywhere in
China. Even Beijinghua isn't the same as Putonghua. The degree of Taiwanization of the Mandarin
varies (less so in Taipei, more so in rural/southern areas). At the established Chinese language
schools, teachers are especially selected for ability to speak Standard Mandarin without a
noticeable Taiwanese accent.










gamerfu -

Taiwanese you just drop the "r" sound. It's not difficult!

example:

yi dian(r)

the "r" is omitted in Taiwanese.












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Free Chinese Lesson - Vietnamese and Chinese syntax? - Page 6 -

> Extras > Other cultures and language
Vietnamese and Chinese syntax?
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HashiriKata -

I think the clearest example of difference in word-order between Chinese and Vietnamese can be
seen in common phrases such as shop names:

中国农业银行 (Chinese word-order)
银行农业中国 (= Ngân hàng nông nghiệp Trung Quốc, Vietnamese word-order)

This word order 银行农业中国 is typical of Vietnamese, and I don't think any of the Chinese
dialects would have this order as a typical example. This alone shows that Vietnamese is quite a
different kettle of fish compared to Chinese (dialects).



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Chinese Character - Comics 聾貓 -

> Learning Chinese > Non-Mandarin Chinese
Comics 聾貓
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skylee -

A friend has sent me this and it is crazily funny (you have to be able to understand cantonese,
though) ->





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chenpv -

Oh, thanks skylee, this is hilarious! I should love 宫崎骏 de animation more after seeing this.

Yes! We should start a thread collecting interesting comics around the world! What a brilliant
idea!

PS: ‘揸’ 是什么意思？










skylee -

揸 = drive (in this context)










geraldc -

I'm sure Mercedes can't be too happy about being transliterated as "ben屎"










semantic nuance -

哇哈哈哈!!!! So funny!! What is 靓仔?(in 我問你, 你係咪耍我 part) Sorry, don't know
its pronunciation and cannot type it in traditional font. Does it mean 'brat'? 'stupd'? or what
else?










geraldc -

leng jai, literally pretty boy, a term you can call young guys










skylee -

靓仔 = 臭小子 (in this context)










chenpv -



Quote:

靓仔，我問你, 你係咪耍我

This line sounds familiar...... Does it come from that '卖大米' flash?










Quest -



Quote:

leng jai, literally pretty boy, a term you can call young guys

It has a mouth radical: o靓(1st tone)仔 -> (臭)小子










skylee -
















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Chinese Online Class - Warning: Cheated in China AGAIN HELP!!!!!! - Page 7 -

> Studying, Working and Living in China > Living in China
Warning: Cheated in China AGAIN HELP!!!!!!
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gougou -



Quote:

While we wait, maybe we can turn the threat into a general "cheating" threat?

Good idea, but unfortunately, you're late: The Beijing Tea Scam (and a few others)



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HSK - Chinese Citizenship Query - Page 2 -

> Studying, Working and Living in China > Living in China
Chinese Citizenship Query
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gougou -



Quote:

well.... lets just say, gougou, that youd be less free to do what you want both politically and
personally as a chinese citizen.

I'm not sure about this. Judging by freedom of speech, it seems to me that a Chinese in the UK has
more rights than a Briton in China (Have both of them distribute FLG flyers to find out )



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imron -

This is making an invalid comparison. To make a fair comparison, you'd have to put the scenario
something like:

Chinese person handing FLG fliers out in China.
vs
Briton handing FLG fliers out in China.

and then

Chinese person handing FLG fliers out in Britain
vs
Briton handing FLG fliers out in Britain.

Both groups fair just as well when handing out fliers in Britain, but I think the Briton is
probably going to end up the better of the two in the first scenario.










md1101 -

yeah im trying to say what imron just did

gougou, you're not wrong. we're both looking at this in different ways. i just see it this way:

- A Briton handing out flg flyers in china would be deported... a chinese doing the same in china
could be locked up and never heard from again.

- A Chinese citizen has trouble attaining visa's to various countries around the world. I know its
been very hard to try and get my gf over here! (australia)

-Yes, a chinese citizen would be free to hand out flg flyers in briton but anyone is. the task of
the chinese citizen is to get to britain which isnt so easy. so IF lungyan manages to get a
british pemanent resident visa then i guess it should be easy to get to england. but he wouldnt
want to do anything bad in britain that china might hear about or he can expect to not to be
allowed to leave china again when he goes back there.

all in all he will lose some freedoms.










lungyan -

Thanks everyone I shall reply to each of you here.

novemberfog: well i need to be a permanent resident i don't intend to live anywhere else. there's
things i need to do that definitely will require citizenship.

geraldc: i understand that but i need permanent citizenship.

mickdriscoll: i know, i wouldn't hesitate to revoke uk citizenship. i don't think the restrictions
will affect me too much. the second part sounds interesting but i don't ever need to return to the
uk and wouldn't care to. yeah i really do need it i've got things to do in life that will require
it.

gougou: thanks i will check that link out.

Thank you all for the help so far.










geraldc -

Now you've peaked my interest. What on earth do you want to do that would require citizenship?
You're not another person who wants to join the PLA are you?










self-taught-mba -



Quote:

Now you've peaked my interest. What on earth do you want to do that would require citizenship?
You're not another person who wants to join the PLA are you?

Oh NO!!!! Not that thing again! I was worried it was gonna go there.










mr.stinky -

gougou.....how am i gonna get permanant residency also? i may get married and stay
five years, but i have no job. i'm retired on my savings/investments, so no stable income.
i'm not 60 yet, and not a dependant. at least i have no record of being convicted of
breaking the law. so do i have to join the pla to become a citizen?










lungyan -

Haha no not at all nothing like that. It is for legitimate reasons. Heh. Yeah it seems so
difficult to obtain such a simple thing that will be of no harm to anyone but great benefit to me.
It can't be so impossible can it?










liuzhou -



Quote:

i may get married and stay five years, but i have no job. i'm retired on my savings/investments,
so no stable income.

Can you tell me what sort of reply would be given to a Chinese person desiring permanent residence
in your country who applied on that basis?










flameproof -

>I need to get Chinese citizenship and right of abode in Hong Kong.

The 2 are not related.

>Chinese citizenship

That's from China and probably impossible to obtain. There are only very few cases were it was
given out to foreigners.

>right of abode in Hong Kong.

Right of abode you reach after residing 7 years in HK. With RoA you can apply for "Permanent
Residency". Then you could apply for a "HK SAR" passport. To actually get the passport you would
have to give up your UK nationality.

The HK Passport brings you few (if any) advantages. The only thing I can think of is that you can
get a 10 year China visa (or "home" permit - wue heung jin). As a Permanent Resident with a
foreign passport you can apply only for up to 3 years.

That is really the very only advantage I can think of. And remember that you would need to apply a
visa for almost every country you plan to travel to in advance.












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HSK Exam - Britney Spears' new love speaks out

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Britney Spears' new love speaks out

(IANS)
Updated: 2007-07-06 17:05





Britney Spears

Britney Spears' new boyfriend John Sundahl has revealed their romance to
the public by calling the troubled pop singer his 'rock'.

John, a real estate investor and a recovering alcoholic, claims he knows
Spears is serious about the romance because she recently helped him
recover from bowel surgery, contactmusic.com website reported.

He says: 'When I was in the hospital, she sat with me and held my hand
all night long. She even sang and hummed to me while I was practically
unconscious. I love being around her. She's a sweet, caring girl and a
good mom.'









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Chinese language - Please take your garbage with you!

CITYLIFE / Photos and Cartoons






Please take your garbage with you!

(http://cartoon.chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-07-05 11:32






Please take your garbage with you!


















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Chinese language - Katie Holmes a 'most influential' celeb

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Katie Holmes a 'most influential' celeb

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-04 08:50





Katie Holmes arrives at an event at Twentieth Century Fox Studios in Los
Angeles , March 22, 2007. [AP]

NEW YORK - Katie Holmes, Rosie O'Donnell and Anna Nicole Smith's baby
daughter, Dannielynn, are among the boldface names on OK! magazine's list
of "most influential" celebrities.

The list of 19 famous faces, which appears in the magazine's latest
issue, on newsstands Friday, was separated by editors into six
categories: beauty queens, style setters, entertainers, newsmakers,
survivors and body shapers.

OK! named Holmes, the 28-year-old wife of Tom Cruise and mother of their
1-year-old daughter, Suri, a beauty queen because of her "refreshing
girl-next-door look" and sporty cropped haircut. Beyonce and Jennifer
Lopez also made the cut.

O'Donnell, who brought ratings and controversy during her tumultuous
tenure on ABC's "The View," made the list of newsmakers, as did Hollywood
supercouple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R.
Knight. Knight announced he was gay after it surfaced that Isaiah
Washington had used an anti-gay slur against him during an on-set clash
with a co-star.

The youngest celebrity on the list: 10-month-old Dannielynn Hope, who was
recognized as a survivor because she has been "at the center of
Hollywood's most controversial tragedies," the magazine said. Her mother,
Anna Nicole Smith, died in Florida in February. A bitter paternity
dispute between Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead was put to rest months
later when Birkhead showed he was Dannielynn's father.

The top three entertainers -- the "people who decide what we watch and
listen to," according to OK! -- were "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell,
Carrie Underwood and model-TV host Heidi Klum.

Tyra Banks was among the "body shapers" who influence notions of body
image. Banks, who was dubbed fat after she was photographed on the beach,
later appeared on her syndicated TV talk show in a bathing suit.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Justin Timberlake and Kate Moss were named the most
prominent trendsetters in fashion.









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Chinese Pinyin - "License to Wed" painfully unfunny

ENTERTAINMENT / Review






"License to Wed" painfully unfunny

By Kirk Honeycutt (Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-02 16:54



Comedies don't get much lamer than "License to Wed."

Working from a flawed premise with characters lacking credibility and
plot turns more moronic than funny, the movie flatlines in about five
minutes. Yes, it does star Robin Williams, but this is the cloying
Williams who turns up in such movies as "Patch Adams" and "Jack." And for
Mandy Moore, the film represents a step backward into nondescript fluff
after proving herself capable of sterner stuff in "Dedication" at
January's Sundance Film Festival. This "License" should expire a week
after opening.

Williams plays an overheated if not mentally unbalanced minister who puts
engaged couples through a relationship torture test before he will agree
to marry them. So the movie asks us to accept a man of the cloth
illegally bugging a couple's bedroom with minimicrophones, having the
bride drive down a street blindfolded and encouraging the groom to pick
fights with his future in-laws. Another of his great ideas is twin
robotic babies that scream and defecate to simulate what having children
is like. (Which, of course, ignores all the joys of real parenthood.)

Moore and John Krasinski of NBC's "The Office" play the put-upon couple,
but nothing in Kim Barker, Tim Rasmussen and Vince Di Meglio's belabored
screenplay (from a story by Barker and Wayne Lloyd) explains why they put
up with any of this nonsense. Moore is therefore forced to play her
character as too dumb and insensitive to notice, and Krasinski is a guy
who will go along with anything including allowing the reverend to break
his nose.

The most obnoxious character -- though just barely -- belongs to child
actor Josh Flitter, who plays the reverend's henchman, Choir Boy. He does
all the breaking and entering, electronic spying and remote controls on
the berserk Robo Babies. He is made to look positively evil and is, we
are told, a "minister in training." God help the parishioners of that
church.

Christine Taylor and DeRay Davis play the thankless roles of Moore's
divorced sister and Krasinski's best friend, respectively, each charged
with delivering nothing but bad advice. Meanwhile, Peter Strauss looks
stiff and unhappy as Moore's aloof dad.

For the record, no less than a dozen people took some sort of producing
credit on this film.

Cast:

Rev. Frank: Robin Williams

Sadie Jones: Mandy Moore

Ben Murphy: John Krasinski

Lindsey: Christine Taylor

Carlisle: Eric Christian Olsen

Choir Boy; Josh Flitter

Joel: DeRay Davis

Director: Ken Kwapis; Screenwriters: Kim Barker, Tim Rasmussen, Vince Di
Meglio; Story: Kim Barker, Wayne Lloyd; Producers: Mike Medavoy, Arnold
W. Messer, Nick Osborne, Robert Simonds; Executive producers: Bradley J.
Fischer, David Thwaites, Kim Zubick, Dana Goldberg, Bruce Berman;
Director of photography: John Bailey; Production designer: Gae Buckley;
Music: Christophe Beck; Co-producers: Christine Sacani, Louis Phillips,
Trevor Engelson; Costume designer: Deena Appel; Editor: Kathryn Himoff.












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Learn Chinese online - Interview with princes to be released

ENTERTAINMENT / Most Viewed Photos in 72 Hours






Interview with princes to be released


Updated: 2007-06-29 17:20






An undated handout publicity photograph, released June 28, 2007, shows
Britain's princes William (L) and Harry (R) during a BBC television
interview in London. The interview with the princes, in which they
discuss their mother's life and legacy in advance of the Concert For
Diana at Wembley Stadium on July 1, 2007, is due to be broadcast on June
29, 2007. [Reuters]


1 2










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Pnyin - Mandy Moore turns to songwriting on new album

ENTERTAINMENT / Music






Mandy Moore turns to songwriting on new album

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-28 09:28





Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore is taking a walk on the slightly wild side with a new album
borne out of heartbreak and frustration.

"Wild Hope" (Firm Music/EMI) marks the fresh-faced pop star's first
studio release in four years. Led by the single "Extraordinary," it
eschews the bubblegum sound of her previous albums in favor of a more
serious tone.

Indeed, 23-year-old Moore hopes the album will show that she is no
ordinary pop starlet. For starters, the Los Angeles resident co-wrote all
but one of the songs, setting her apart from rival teen idols who rely on
big-name producers and songwriters for cachet.

The album's grimly confessional tunes stand in stark contrast to Moore's
infamously sunny public disposition. But will it kick-start a modest
recording career spent in the shadow of Britney, Christina and pals?

"Wild Hope" debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 Wednesday; her
previous studio album, the 2003 covers set "Coverage" opened at a
career-best No. 14, selling twice as many copies, but it quickly stalled.

Moore has wisely diversified into acting, with films such as the teen
romance "A Walk to Remember" and the religious satire "Saved!" She
returns to theaters next Wednesday with the Robin Williams comedy
"License to Wed." Moore and John Krasinski ("The Office") play a
betrothed couple.

"FIRST REAL HEARTBREAK"

Her profile has also been boosted by product endorsements, and by gossip
about her romances with the likes of "That '70s Show" star Wilmer
Valderrama -- who claimed he took Moore's virginity, a boast she has
angrily denied -- and tennis champion Andy Roddick.

Her 2004 break-up with Roddick, the year after he won the U.S. Open, was
her "first real heartbreak," Moore said in a recent interview with
Reuters at her publicist's office, and left her feeling "very, very
devastated."

It was in this frame of mind that Moore began the 2 1/2 year recording
process for "Wild Hope," retreating to a studio in upstate New York where
she enlisted the help of such below-the-radar songwriters as Lori
McKenna, Rachel Yamagata and Los Angeles duo the Weepies.

The first song she recorded, "Nothing That You Are," expresses the hope
that an unidentified paramour will "burn in hell." It's a far cry from
the sentiment of "Candy," the breakthrough single from her 1999 debut
album "So Real."

Unlike Valderrama, Moore was not keen on naming names. She said that
certain men privileged to spend quality time with her -- that list also
includes "Scrubs" star Zach Braff and DJ Adam Goldstein -- probably won't
be able to recognize themselves in the lyrics.

"It's not fair to completely say that all of these songs are about one or
two people. It's an amalgamation of a bunch of different experiences,"
she said.

Lots and lots of guys?

"Oh yeah, I'm quite the hussy," Moore said with an ironic laugh.

But seriously, while some of the songs may have a sad undertone, she
views the album as an uplifting experience overall.

"I'm not a really glass-half-empty kinda girl. I listen to the record and
to me it's a lot about self-understanding and definitely hope."

After four albums she now largely disdains, Moore feels "Wild Hope"
offers her a chance to redefine herself.

"Or just define myself for the first time, really."










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Chinese Class - Unofficial diva party

CITYLIFE / what's on










Unofficial diva party

(smartshanghai.com)
Updated: 2007-06-26 09:58



For all you Christina fans who are going to see her live, Sasha's and
Zapata's have joined forces to bring you an unofficial pre and after
party.



For 100 rmb Sasha's is providing an all you can eat BBQ at 4pm until
6.30pm and then a free bus service to the stadium for all ticket holders.
The bus will then drop ticket holders back to Zapata's where the party
can continue with free vodka mixers and beer between 10pm and 11pm.

Sasha's
Date/Time: 4pm, June 26
Address: 9 Dong Ping Road
Tel: 021-64746628
Hours: Bar: Sun-Thu 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am
Restaurant: 11am-10.30pm (last order)
















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Chinese Class - Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela in new movie

ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela in new movie

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-06-23 08:31



LOS ANGELES - Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and his film production
company on Friday unveiled plans to make a movie starring Freeman as
former South African president and Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela.

The film, to be called "The Human Factor," will be based on an upcoming
book "The Human Factor: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Changed the
World" by journalist and author John Carlin.

"I have known Nelson Mandela personally for quite some time, and am
continually in awe of his enormous presence in the world. The opportunity
to portray him in this film is a great honor," Freeman said in a
statement.

Revelations Entertainment, the company run by Freeman and business
partner Lori McCreary, is expected to begin production in early 2008. A
theater release date has not yet been set for the independently made
movie.

"The Human Factor" will look at Mandela's public and private life in the
first year of his presidency, when South Africa was just emerging from
years of apartheid.

Mandela, now 88, was a long-time anti-apartheid activist who was jailed
by the former white-ruled government of South Africa early in his life
and served 27 years before being released in 1990.

Mandela went on to lead the country when apartheid ended, and his policy
of reconciliation helped earn him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Freeman earned an Oscar as best supporting actor for his 2004 role in
Clint Eastwood's Academy Award-winning boxing drama "Million Dollar Baby."









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Study Chinese - Elisabeth and Rosie: "We aren't friendly"

ENTERTAINMENT / Gossip






Elisabeth and Rosie: "We aren't friendly"

(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-20 09:55



NEW YORK - Elisabeth Hasselbeck says she and Rosie O'Donnell aren't on
the best of terms nearly one month after their on-air dustup on "The
View." "Truthfully, I think a friend is someone who you have positive
communications with, so I don't know if I would define us as friends
right now," the 30-year-old co-host tells syndicated TV show "Access
Hollywood" in an interview scheduled to air Tuesday.

"I did define us as friends, but I'm not going to make the leap to assume
that we will or will not be friends in the future," Hasselbeck says.

The heated squabble �� broadcast live on a split-screen as the two
co-hosts traded accusations and personal digs �� led to O'Donnell's early
departure from the ABC daytime chatfest. O'Donnell called Hasselbeck
"cowardly" for not saying anything in response to talk-show critics who
accused her of calling U.S. troops terrorists.

"We had so many conversations and a true friendship," says Hasselbeck,
the more conservative of the pair. "If you looked at the big picture, I
always looked at us on the same team, even though our politics were so
different."

Last month, O'Donnell, 45, said in a video blog posted on her Web site
that she had never tried harder to be friends with someone, but doesn't
think she succeeded with Hasselbeck.

That was news to Hasselbeck, who says she had a close relationship with
O'Donnell.

"She sent me two e-mails right after (the fight) and I sent her one
back," she says. "It was a really great e-mail, so hearing these things
after really surprises me."

Confrontation can be healthy, Hasselbeck says.

"We really did challenge each other, and I loved that. I found such
meaning in this job because we were able to turn the lens on one another,
as good friends should do."












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HSK - 'Fantastic Four' rides $57M wave to top

ENTERTAINMENT / Movies






'Fantastic Four' rides $57M wave to top

(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-18 09:06



LOS ANGELES - Hollywood's superhero foursome is still fantastic at the
box office. The 20th Century Fox sequel "Fantastic Four: Rise of the
Silver Surfer" debuted as the No. 1 weekend flick with $57.4 million in
sales, slightly surpassing the $56.1 million opening of "Fantastic Four"
two years ago, according to studio estimates Sunday.



Jessica Alba who plays Invisible Woman and Michael Chiklis , The Thing in
'Fantastic Four: Rise of The Silver Surfer,' appear during a segment of
the NBC 'Today' television program in New York's Rockefeller Center,
Frtiday June 15, 2007. [AP]

Among other new wide releases, a favorite teen detective had trouble
finding an audience as the Warner Bros. mystery "Nancy Drew" premiered
with a so-so $7.1 million to finish at No. 7.

Opening in narrower release was the Weinstein Co. thriller "DOA: Dead or
Alive," an adaptation of the martial-arts video game that pulled in just
$232,000. Playing in 505 theaters, "DOA" averaged a paltry $460 a cinema,
compared to $14,499 in 3,959 theaters for "Fantastic Four" and $2,732 in
2,612 locations for "Nancy Drew."

The previous weekend's No. 1 movie, George Clooney and Brad Pitt's
"Ocean's Thirteen," fell to No. 2 with $19.1 million. The Warner Bros.
casino caper raised its 10-day total to $69.8 million, putting it on
track to become the franchise's third $100 million hit.

Despite the big opening for "Fantastic Four," Hollywood revenues slipped
for the third straight weekend. The top 12 movies took in $138.8 million,
down 4 percent from the same weekend last year, when "Cars," "Nacho
Libre" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" led with a combined
$86 million.

The industry had a blockbuster May with "Spider-Man," "Shrek" and
"Pirates of the Caribbean" sequels, but big films are not holding their
audiences after huge opening weekends.

After a surge early this year, attendance has slipped to just a fraction
ahead of 2006, diminishing prospects of a record summer that many
analysts had predicted.

"We've seen our advantage over last year slowly being chipped away," said
Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.
"A lot of films are doing what these big summer movies do, open big and
drop off fast."

The new "Fantastic Four" reunites the quartet of
astronauts-turned-mutant-superheroes, played by Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica
Alba, Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans. This time, the comic-book heroes
join forces with archenemy Dr. Doom ( Julian McMahon) to take down the
Silver Surfer, an emissary leading a planet-destroying entity to Earth.

The studio and filmmakers toned down the action so the sequel could earn
a PG rating to broaden the audience to family viewers. The first
"Fantastic Four" was rated PG-13.

"A lot of the superhero comic-book movies are sort of geared toward being
darker and edgier. We think `Fantastic Four' is a more family friendly
group of superheroes," said Chris Aronson, senior vice president for
distribution at 20th Century Fox. "We wanted to make sure to cast a wide
net and go after the family audience, and it worked."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian
theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be
released Monday.

1. "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," $57.4 million.

2. "Ocean's Thirteen," $19.1 million.

3. "Knocked Up," $14.5 million.

4. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," $12 million.

5. "Surf's Up," $9.3 million.

6. "Shrek the Third," $9 million.

7. "Nancy Drew," $7.1 million.

8. "Hostel: Part II," $3 million.

9. "Mr. Brooks," $2.8 million.

10. "Spider-Man 3," $2.5 million.








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Chinese Mandarin - A black sheep among racquet-toting token blonds

ENTERTAINMENT / Hot Pot Column






A black sheep among racquet-toting token blonds

By Chad Swanson (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-06-13 13:34



One of the great joys of going to another country is the opportunity to
do things one wouldn't normally do. In China, trying out for a male
modelling career was one such opportunity. My story began when a Chinese
lady came up to me and asked if I would like to audition for a Heineken
commercial. She said I had to have some tennis ability. Although I had
never played tennis, I've watched a fair bit on TV, so I agreed to give
it a try.

The next day I turned up for the audition and saw other contenders in
line for my spot. There were lots of blond men from Russia, France and
Canada. Some of them were stretching, and all of them looked very focused.

I identified the favorite as a Russian with well-cultivated hair. He had
this air of confidence that gave him an aura of respect. As for me, I
sensed that I was not like the others. I was the only one with scraggly
black hair. Furthermore, my face looked unshaven and perhaps my body
language gave it away that I was still a novice. I just didn't know what
stretches a male model was supposed to do.

After all the models had warmed up, the audition began. Each man took
turns with the tennis racquet, and was asked to strike some poses. The
man with cultivated hair put on a Blue Steel pose, and then topped it
with a profound stare into the horizon. Both poses were very impressive,
which confirmed my suspicions that he would be tough to beat.

Once everyone had had a go, the racquet was passed to me. I didn't think
I could do the Blue Steel as well as Ben Stiller in Zoolander, but I knew
that I could do a Lleyton Hewitt "C'mon!" with my hand pointed towards my
forehead like the Australian tennis star.

Unfortunately, within five seconds of the racquet being given to me, it
was taken away without a single photo being taken. The photographer went
to his bag and got a baseball cap and put it on me. He looked at me,
shook his head, went to his bag, got a hunting jacket and then put that
on me.

I didn't really know what was going on. There I was looking like the Deer
Hunter, with no tennis racquet in my hand, wondering how this was going
to win me the audition, let alone sell beer to tennis fans.

After a few shots were taken, the lady and the photographer spoke
together in Chinese, looked at the photos on the camera and asked where I
was from. I said: "Australia." They sort of half-smiled and half-laughed.
With that, they said I would no longer be required.

As for the blond men, they went on to round two to pretend they were
playing tennis. None of them did a "C'mon" and all in all, they looked
too precious for my liking. To be honest, I couldn't imagine any of them
ever winning a Grand Slam. Although, I could imagine them drinking
European beer, they could never sell Australian beers like VB or XXXX.


(China Daily 06/13/2007 page20)










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Chinese Tutor - Re-joyce comes

CITYLIFE / Shopping






Re-joyce comes

By Rita Ma (City Weekend)
Updated: 2007-06-11 09:58


Joyce has put the joy back in Shanghai.s high fashion circles. The
multi-label designer boutique from Hong Kong has opened its first store
on the mainland in Shanghai��s Plaza 66, with a fashion-fuelled bash
graced by brand founder Joyce Ma herself, along with her daughter
Adrienne, Yohji Yamamoto and Ann Demeulemeeste.

Thirty-six years after Ma's small boutique at the Mandarin Hotel first
flickered onto the fashion radar, the new 8,000 square foot flagship
store in Shanghai showcases collections by international heavyweights
including Balenciaga, John Galliano, YSL, Oscar de la Renta, Ann
Demeulemeeste, Comme des Garcons, Viktor and Rolf, Y's, Y-3, Undercover,
Rick Owens, Number Nine and Valentino Red. It's located in the same
luxury mall where Joyce opened mono-brand stores for Jil Sander and Anna
Sui last year.

But it's more than just the clothes that get the designer treatment.
Interior designer Gert Voorjans, who created all Dries Van Noten
boutiques worldwide, along with artist Michele Oka Doner, has designed a
classy retail space, the highlight of which is Doner's gilded dome at the
center of the women's designer ready-to-wear salon. The dome evokes the
filigree of a beehive, a splendid echo to the main entrance featuring a
gold-leaf scrim and pair of cast bronze doors.

At the entrance, a sizeable area is dedicated to women's shoes, bags and
accessories, from the likes of Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and
Nancy Gonzalez. A procession of rooms and anterooms lead to the women's
designer salon, in which all styles and brands form an elegant
integration-from Comme des Garcons' trendy rags symbolizing the collapse
of Japan's new age stylings, to Ann Demeulemeeste's sophisticated
collection of black and white silk skirts and Galliano's death-head
t-shirt.

At the other end of the store, with its own entrance, is an exclusive
men's area, handsomely designed with a huge "checkered box" light box
hanging from the ceiling, and decorated with a selection of stunning
photographs by Flemish photographer Wouter Deruytter. Collections from
Balenciaga, Fendi, John Galliano, YSL, Y's and Y-3 are presented in a
space that boasts a "nice mixing and modern design", according to Yohji
Yamamoto. The Japanese designer, wearing a dark Zhongshan suit, seemed
especially pleased with the Joyce display of his Y-3 shoes, commenting:
"You know, I always thought I should have my men's shoes displayed like
this."

Joyce
Location: 2/F, Plaza 66, 1266 Nanjing Xi Lu
Tel: 021-62790910










Feature




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Tibet and know more interesting tour routes leading to this divine place.
Please click here!

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sights from mysterious Yunnan Province!Yunnan New Film Project,Travel
with the film.Wanna know more? Please click here!




Editors' Picks




� Back to the old days

� Keeping cool in the summer

� Drift your troubles away

� A free meal isn't far away

� The magic of strawberries





Beijing Guide




Eating out: Heating things up
Bars&Cafes: The force is with them
Weekend&Holiday: We go to Rio
Shopping: Outdoors enthusiasts
What's on: Dine with celebrity chefs







Shanghai Guide


Eating out: An old favourite re-opens
Bars&Cafes: Sightseeing pays off
Weekend&Holiday: Slippery when wet
Shopping: Re-joyce comes
What's on: Anniversary celebration.





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