The Founding of an Army 建军大业 is the third part of a series of Chinese patriotic films that began with The Founding of the Republic in 2009 and was followed by The Founding of the Party in 2011. The previous movies was released in conjunction with a national milestone and this time is no different as it marks the 90th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army.
I’m no fan of war movies, but it looks like this summer’s blockbusters are going to be the battle of war epics. Over in Korea, I already keep hearing buzz from the anti-Japanese occupation film The Battleship Island which is a highly-anticipated big-budget production starring Huang Jung Min, So Ji Sub and Song Joong Ki.
I think it’s purely coincidence that both movies are coming out this month though it’s interesting how they both boast a cast of epic proportions, one through sheer star power and the other through its ensemble of stars.
The Founding of An Army is led by Liu Ye (Oldboy), Zhu Yawen (City Still Believe in Love), Huang Zhi Zhong, Wang Jing Chun, Oho Ou (Fist & Faith), Liu Haoran (Nirvana in Fire 2), Ma Tianyu (Ice Fantasy Destiny), Lay Zhang Yixing (Operation Love), Li Yi Feng (Guilty of Mind), Bai Yu (Guardian), etc. And that’s not even everyone, so I’m guessing that many characters are going to be appear in the film simply as a cameo.
The story opens during a ceremony in the year 1949, the 56-year-old Mao Zetong thinks back to a time twenty years ago when the Communist party experienced their first defeat and the perilous journey that ensued to establish a new army. Aside from Chairman Mao, many powerful figures in the history of China are also represented in the film.
Release Date: July 28, 2017 China, August 3, 2017 Hong Kong and Macau
Source: Official Weibo
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