The 180-meter red carpet was rolled out to receive dozens of entertainment stars, and the cast led the audience in banging thousands of drums at what an investor in director Peter Chan's war epic The Warlords claimed was the grandest premiere ever held in China.

(From L to R, clockwise) Cast members Xu Jinglei, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jet Li, director Peter Chan, and cast member Andy Lau beat a drum at a media conference before the premiere of kung fu epic The Warlords in Beijing on Thursday, December 6, 2007.

This premiere was studded with more than just stars. Drums were featured prominently throughout the premiere: Guests were invited to sign their names on a huge drum at the end of red carpet. When the ceremony began, lead actors Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jet Li, and Andy Lau emerged to bang three drums onstage. Small drums were distributed throughout the audience so guests could keep time with the performance.

The drumbeat was the signal to start battle in ancient China, around which the plot is centered. But these drums also evidenced the producer's desire to win the year-end box office battle. Director Peter Chan told media earlier this year that he hopes box office income will exceed 30 million yuan, or US$4 million.

The movie will open to Chinese audiences on December 13.

(CRI December 7, 2007)