??? The 13 categories ??? Best Picture ????Zhang Weiping ????Best Director ????Zhang Yimou ????Best Adapted Screenplay ????Liu Heng, Yan Geling ????Best Actor ????Christian Bale ????Best Actress ????Ni Ni ????Best Cinematographer ????Zhao Xiaoding ????Best Art Direction ????Yohei Taneda ????Best Film Editing ????Meng Peicong ????Best Sound Mixing ????Tao Jing ????Best Sound Editing ????Tao Jing ????Best Costume Design ????William Chang Suk-ping ????Best Make-up Design ????William Chang Suk-ping ????Best Original Score ????Chen Qigang ??? LOCAL cinemas are not optimistic about fulfilling the 1-billion-yuan (US$158 million) box office goal of “The Flowers of War, “a 600-million-yuan blockbuster directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Oscar winner, Christian Bale, according to a report in the Daily Sunshine on Thursday. ????The film tells the story of 13 prostitutes who showed courage during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. ????Premiered Dec. 15, the film had achieved a box office revenue of around 152 million yuan by Wednesday. ????“It is impossible for a film to reach 1 billion yuan in box office revenue if it does not snatch 300 million yuan in its first week,” said movie critic, Cui Ding. ????The first week’s ticket sales volume usually accounts for around one-third of the total box office, according to Cui. ????Hollywood blockbuster “Transformers III” saw more than 1 billion yuan in box office revenue in China after its first-week earnings surpassed 300 million yuan, the paper said. ????Insiders attributed the pessimism about the film’s box office ambition to the fact it was released in winter. ????Dec. 15 saw the premiere of another blockbuster, “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate,” which was directed by Tsui Hark. It is the first Chinese 3D film to be about swordsmanship. ????There would have to be more than 10,000 screens in China for two films to become blockbusters at the same time, the paper said, quoting an unidentified insider. ????Besides, four more films would be released before Christmas. ????“The Flowers of War” also contains scenes of genocide and rape, repelling some potential moviegoers. ????The most violent scenes have even prompted some people to walk out of screenings, including a scene in which Japanese soldiers take turns to rape a woman, the paper said. ????Meanwhile, some audiences have been puzzled as to why 600 million yuan was spent on making the film. ????According to the producer, Zhang Weiping, most of the money was used on a special effects team from Hollywood. ????However, despite the uncertain fate of the box office, the film has applied to contend for next year’s Academy Awards in 13 categories, including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. ????(Li Hao) | 