Bodyguard: A New Beginning.
Above - The Official Lionsgate trailer of Bodyguard: A New Beginning for release on dvd in the US.
Bodyguard: A New Beginning is about the story of Leung, played by Vincent Sze, - "Invisible Target" "Sha po lang" - who is the bodyguard of a Chinese Triad boss, Wong, played by Richard Ng - "Lucky Stars", "Wheels on Meals" - to whom his loyalty is unparalled.
Living in Hong Kong, Wong requests that his bodyguard Leung travel to the UK to protect a young British woman, whose true identity is known only by Wong himself. Even his own wayward son, Yuen, played by Carl Ng "New Police Story", is kept in the dark, which leads to a betrayal that threatens to destroy the family and all that his father has worked hard to protect. Mark Strange plays a hired hitman brought in by rival triad boss Kai, played by the familiar face of Cary Tagawa - "Memoirs of a Geisha" - to kill Leung and to kidnap the woman he has sworn to protect.
Besides getting a decent all action role Mark Strange also co produced this great looking film, and what a proper job they've done of it. Bodyguard's director, Chee Keong Cheung, should be proud of this film. I like the way he managed to weave parts of Leyland, and Preston's St.Georges shopping centre into the film - been a while since I visited it, but it's not changed too much since Mark and I engaged in a 8 hour charity kung fu marathon there :).
Above - another Bodyguard movie trailer
Whilst on location in Leyland filming Bodyguard: A New Beginning (I got a small walk on role as one of Kai's henchmen) I met Anthony Carpio , who was flicking out some combos to keep himself fit, and I told him it reminded me of when my brother and I use to practise together, lol he said "what, like this" and faked a couple of shots at me. I looked at Mark and laughed, "Yes", like that".
A great guy, and another, as co fight co-ordinator for Bodyguard, along with Man Ching, who deserve a special mention for their work on this film - great action Anthony!
It's easy to see why Bodyguard: A New Beginning, received a mention as one of the highlights of the Oldenburg International film festival 2008.
Copyright © 2007 Richard Strange unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.
