New Year: It's time to go to the cinema!

We've just celebrated the arrival of 2010 and the Lunar New Year is drawing near. China has entered its festive season, and the year's most intensive box office competition is in full swing.

Biopic "Confucius", portraying the the greatest educator and thinker of China, is set to be released across China on January 22nd. Helmed by female director Hu Mei, the movie stars actor Chow Yun-Fat, Zhou Xun, Chen Jianbin, and Ren Quan. In this film, Confucius is a master of both philosophy and martial arts, and is also involved in love affairs. The huge budget and the multiple award winning actor Chow Yun-Fat should make a double impact at the box office.

The period martial arts epic "14 Blades" is the most anticipated film of the Spring Festival. It will hit the cinemas on February the 4th. Another action movie "True Legend", as well as comedies "Big Soldiers" and "Koshihikari Treasure Box" will also share a slice of the pie.

"Black Cat Detective", a hugely popular television cartoon series in China in the 1990s, has been adapted into an animated film of the same name and will be released in cinemas in February. The updated big screen version hopes to appeal to children AND grown-ups.

Last year, the animated film adapted from the popular cartoon series the "Merry Sheep and Big Bad Wolf" took in over 90-million yuan at the box office, around 13-million US Dollars. The sequel hits theatres at the end of the month. For the second production, which premieres in the year of the tiger, the sheep and wolf must join forces for the first time to fight against a tiger villain who is attempting to destroy the grassland. With a huge production investment and an eco-friendly theme, the sequel is sure to be another box office success.

Still of "Merry Sheep and Big Bad Wolf"