'Shaolin' Premieres in Beijing

The wartime drama film "Shaolin" starring Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bingbing and Jackie Chan, premiered on Thursday, January 13, 2011 in Beijing.

Director Benny Chan (4th from left) and cast members promote the premiere of the film "Shaolin" in Beijing on Thursday, January 13, 2011. Picture 2-4: Actress Fan Bingbing and actor Andy Lau. Picture 5: Actor Wu Jing [Photo: CFP]

Director Benny Chan led his cast in promoting the movie's upcoming release slated for January 19.

Set in the warlord-dominated 1920s, "Shaolin" is about an arrogant Chinese warlord (Andy Lau) who gains a new understanding of life and becomes a merciful Buddhist monk.

Lau said at the premiere that his character was "a bad guy who ends up becoming a good guy."

Nicholas Tse plays the warlord's ambitious adjutant who is the movie's main antagonist. Fan Bingbing plays the warlord's wife, while Jackie Chan appears in a cameo role as a monk who is a cook.