#TIFF13: “MAN OF TAI CHI” STARRING KEANU REEVES, TIGER HU CHEN & KAREN MOK

One of the Films to premiere at TIFF ’13 has a familiar face behind the lens. Keanu Reeves tries his hand at directing in Martial Arts Flick Man of Tai Chi. Starring Action Star Tiger Hu Chen, Actress/Singer Karen Mok and Reeves himself, the Film centers on a Martial Artist, who is known for his phenomenal Tai Chi (a defensive, slow-form variety of Martial Arts) skills, being lured into an underground, high-stakes Fight Club.

Watch the Trailer below:

Although it premiered in Asia earlier this month, a North American release date still has yet to be set for the Film to be distributed in Canada by eOne Films.

Reeves appears on the verge of a career resurgence, starring next in Sci-Fi Flick, Passengers alongside Reese Witherspoon.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

#NEWMUSIC: ASIAN MEGASTAR KAREN MOK TO MAKE STATESIDE DEBUT WITH “SOMEWHERE I BELONG”

Now this totally made my day! Those of us in North America likely have little idea who Karen Mok is, but in Asia she is an Icon. The Hong Kong-born and British/Italian-educated Singer Actress first made her debut in 1993 as a Singer with moderate success, before branching out into Film and signing to Rock Records in Taiwan, which quickly propelled her Career.

Soon before she knew it, she was working with A-List Directors like Wong Kar Wai and at one point she even was considered for the Steven Spielberg-produced Adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha.  Accolades have been huge for her, winning both acting and Music Awards in her native Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Best Female Artist.

I met Mok back in 1997 when she performed at Varsity Arena here in Toronto, with no idea she could speak fluent English at all, until I heard her thick British accent – she was humble and had an air of sophistication to her.  I think I may even have had a Geocities Fanpage for her at one point, which she wrote to tell me she loved!  I remember even receiving a signed Poster from her too at point… now where is it?!

Mok is now set to make her stateside debut finally in North America with her first-ever English Language Album, a Jazz Disc titled Somewhere I Belong, to be released via Universal Music.   On the Album are Cover Versions of Classics like Wicked Game, Stormy Weather, Funny Valentine and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Click here to hear her sublime take on Chris Isaak‘s Wicked Games.

Universal Music Canada releases Somewhere I Belong on February 26, 2013.

(Photo credit: Universal Music)