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Reign of Assassins is a 2010 wuxia film directed by Su Chao-Pin and co-directed by John Woo. The film is shot in China and set during the Ming Dynasty. The film stars Michelle Yeoh who plays an assassin who tries to return to a normal life after counseled by a priest. After saving her husband and herself from a gang, she attracts the attention of her former assassin gang.

The film began production on October 30 and was shot in China and Taiwan. While shooting, John Woo was on set continually advising director Su Chao-Pin which lead to Woo being credited as a co-director. Reign of Assassins had its premier on September 3, 2010 at the 67th annual Venice Film Festival where it met acclaim from critics. It premiered in China on September 28, 2010 and has been purchased by the Weinstein Company for North American release rights and by Lions Gate Pictures for United Kingdom release rights.

Trailer

Plot

The film begins with a narration of the legend of an Indian monk and the widespread belief that his mummified remains have magical power. The Dark Stone gang, having found that half of the remains are in the prime minister Zhang's hands, sends assassins to kill him and his son Renfeng (Xiaodong Guo). Dark Stone's top assassin Drizzle (Kelly Lin) steals the remains and flees. She is encountered by the monk Wisdom, the best martial artist who points out Drizzle's swordsmanship has fatal flaws and she can be killed by a master. Wisdom spends three months with her and finally sacrifices himself to be killed by Drizzle, in the hope to enlighten her. After Wisdom's death, Drizzle is burdened with sorrow and guilt and decides to leave her old way of life. She goes to a famous surgeon who changes her appearance and she assumes the identity of Zeng Jing (Michelle Yeoh). Zeng opens a market stall selling cloth. She attracts the attention of the messenger Ah-Sheng (Jung Woo-sung) whom she eventually marries. The Dark Stone, in the mean time, are still in pursuit of Drizzle and the remains. Their leader Wheel King (Xueqi Wang) recruits and trains a new assassin, Turquoise (Barbie Hsu), a merciless girl who is also a sex maniac.

Filming

Principal photography began on October 4, 2009 in Songjiang, China, and then moved to Hengdian World Studios. Part of the film was shot in Shanghai on October 30. The film was then set to be shot at the Shanghai Song Jiang Shen Qiang studio, then to move to the Hengdian World Studios outside the city, then over to Taiwan, where a quarter of the film was set to be made.

Principal photography was completed on February 27, 2010.  After being impressed with the script, John Woo was reportedly on set the whole time offering advice to Su. Terrence Chang who stated that Woo spent "more than a week" directing a fight scene which features his daughter Angeles as an assassin. Woo's Angeles took the role to experience film-making from an actor's perspective.  The official English credits read "Directed by Su Chao-pin. Co-directed by John Woo". Woo has stated that he "didn't want to impose my style on Su...I only gave advice and shared my experience."  Production started in Shanghai and then moved to the World Studios complex at Hengdian in the second month. Heavy rains made production go over-schedule and that a huge outdoor temple set had to be moved indoors to avoid further delays.  Producer Terence Chang applied for a Taiwanese government subsidy as the writer-director Su Chao-pin, as well as two investors, four executive producers and six major actors in the film are Taiwanese. Post-production was also done in Taiwan. Woo worked with the editor during post-production on the film.

Release

Before the film's release, The Weinstein Company bought from Fortissimo Films the right for a North American release of Reign of Assassins while Lions Gate Pictures UK received licensed for the United Kingdom.  Reign of Assassins had its premiere on September 3, 2010 at the 67th annual Venice Film Festival where it was shown out of competition.  The film was released in China on September 28, 2010.  The film premiered in Hong Kong on October 7 and in Taiwan on October 10.  Reign of Assassins was shown on October 8 at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival.  In China, Reign of Assassins made RMB30 million ($4.5 million) on its opening week.

_{References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reign_of_Assassins}

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