The countdown is on for the Painted Skin. It'll be the first Chinese film to open in cinemas after the Olympics. Cast and crew of the film attended a ceremony launching the official web-site, earlier this week in Beijing.

Post of "Painted Skin"

All six stars, Chen Kun, Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, Sun Li, Zhou Xun and Qi Yuwu attended. And they came dressed in the full regalia of their respective roles.

The story line of the film has not been fully revealed. Much however can be derived from the costumes. Zhou Xun is a thousand-year old fox spirit determined to tear apart a loving family. Donnie Yen and Sun Li play two warriors sworn to destroy the evil spirit. Zhao Wei, plays the wife. She says the role permitted more emotional involvement than violent combat roles.

Director Gordon Chan also attended the ceremony. He was quite open in comparing an earlier production of the story in 1993 and the present one. Both films derive from the Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio - a collection of bizarre tales from the Qing Dynasty Literati Pu Songling.

Chan says the new version of the Painted Skin adds a more contemporary perspective to the film. The original story is also somewhat extended.