By AFP
YANGON — Cars dangling from cranes, street shootouts and actors rappelling from roofs — Yangon residents were transfixed this week by the filming of a big-budget Hong Kong action movie around the city’s iconic Sule Pagoda.
Yangon has lent the charm of its colonial-style buildings and golden temple spires to Line Walker 2, the sequel to the 2016 blockbuster of the same name which grossed US$90 million worldwide.
Line Walker 2 stars Hong Kong heartthrob Louis Koo and Nick Cheung.
The final day of shooting drew hundreds of people as well as a long line of robed monks crowding onto overhead pedestrian passes, craning for a view of a choreographed gunfight.
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“It is amazing to see cars flying in the air, like in the big films,” Sai Mine, who was visiting Yangon from northern Shan State, told AFP.
The 25-year-old had heard about the filming and begged her sisters to take her to Sule Pagoda where the smouldering remains of a car lay nearby.
Myanmar actors were cast as well, and Aung Myint Myat said he got the “amazing” opportunity to play a SWAT team leader in the film.
“I’m really proud of it,” he told AFP.
Amateur filmmaker Thar Nge expressed delight at the chance to witness the day-long process to film a scene that plays out in seconds on the silver screen.
“I am a big fan of action and adventure films and it is amazing for me to be able to see these moments,” the 22-year-old told AFP.
