From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (January 8 2009) Organization: Chaffing Heart Club (TM) The following publication contains material that might be objectionable to some readers. Parental guidance and reader discretion are advised. [FLUFF OF THE WEEK] Courtesy of Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily, Apple Daily, Oriental Daily, and Ta Kung Pao 1. THIS TOP 10 IS DEDICATED TO A. Dicky Cheung Wai Kin and Zhang Qian who wed in the Philippines on the 12th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (1/14/2009) The movie LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) will be released in Hong Kong on the 23rd. Yesterday, director Andrew Lau Wai Keung led actors Andy Lau Tak Wa, Shu Qi, Denise Ho and Zhang Hanyu to attend the promotional activities in Beijing. Shu Qi's previous film IF YOU ARE THE ONE broke the 300 million mark at the Mainland box office, she as a member of the 300 million box office actress club naturally became the focus and also brought attention to LOOK. LOOK was Lau Tak Wa and Shu Qi's romantic love story, at the press conference the host asked the actors about the most romantic marriage proposal. Wa Jai thought for awhile then said, "I think saying to the person I love, 'Marry me' is already very romantic. I object to publish ads in the media as proposals. Because love is between two people, it should be simple as can be." Shu Qi also agreed. She felt that the most important thing is to emotionally move a girl, without too many fancy gimmicks. Being touched is already very romantic. Ho Wan Si said that in her twenties she did not understand why people wanted to get married. She never considered it as she felt it was only a marriage certificate. After turning 30 she started to understand why people wanted to marry. Being able to spend several decades and the rest of the life with the person she loved was very romantic. She says with a laugh, "I am still waiting." As for the married Zhang Hanyu he felt that when two people were in love, they did not have to consider and care about too much as love was everything. At the event the presenter also requested all the actors to do something fortunate in a week and write it down on paper so they could be announced one week later at the premiere. Wa Jai thought for a long time and could not come up with anything. Was it because he was already very fortunate? He said with a laugh, "Right! I really couldn't think of anything." In addition, Shu Qi and Wa Jai had a kiss scene in the film. Shu Qi was very excited to be able to kiss Wa Jai. She joked that she has been waiting for seven or eight years already. Finally she got the opportunity to kiss Wa Jai, which was very rare. Therefore, during the shoot she madly kissed, otherwise she could not experience the most romantic and the most fortunate feeling. Did she feel very fortunate during the shoot? She said frankly that the she was fortunate and happy. She thanked the director the most for giving her the feeling of dating because she has not dated in a long time. However, the shoot required rain. In order to accommodate the cameras, she had to sit and then raised her head as Wa Jai kissed her from above. This super-tough pose gave her a stiff neck. In response to Shu Qi's comment that she has waited many years to have a chance to kiss him, Wa Jai smile, "Wow! She should have told me earlier! I was ready at any minute." * (1/14/2009) Hong Kong directors Alfred Cheung Kin Ting, Joe Cheung Tung Cho and Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting yesterday with a group of Mainland directors and their families visited the Hong Kong Disneyland and even posed for pictures with Disney executives in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle. Did Cheung Kin Ting discuss cooperation with Mainland directors this time? He said that the visit was friendly in nature. He pointed out that the current colleagues of the three cross-strait locations should be renamed the "Greater China Film Association". In the past everyone's territories were very well defined, but now everyone faced the Mainland market. Because the Mainland market was big, it could support many people. Recently, Zhang Ziyi's topless sunbathing incident caused a stir. Would he make it into a film? He said that the matter was very "trivial", perhaps actors were more open. He also said that now the Mainland market was open, the atmosphere was very positive. As the Mainland box office continued to rise, Hong Kong's was on the decline. Thus Mainland had a lot of development opportunities. In addition the Mainland film lacked production staff behind the scenes, many Hong Kong people could work in Mainland. He pointed out that many Hong Kong directors were psychologically prepared, as in the future many productions would rely on the Mainland. The tightening bond between the Mainland and Taiwan would be detrimental to Hong Kong actors because idols could be found in Taiwan and actors could be found in Mainland. All of them needed to speak Mandarin, so Hong Kong actors were at a disadvantage; instead Hong Kong behind the scene staff would benefit the most. He also disclosed that in March he would begin production on a romantic comedy LAU LONG CHE JI LUEN (LOVE OF STREET CAR) with Mike Ho (Hor Kwun Cheung) as the lead actor. * (1/14/2009) The movie IP MAN has broken 100 million at the box office. Two nights ago the film's director Wilson Yip Wai Shun, action director Sammo Hung Kam Bo, scriptwriter Allan Wong Chi Hwan, actors Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), Lam Ka Tung, Terry Fan Siu Wong and boss and producer Raymond Wong Pak Ming gathered in Beijing for another celebration. Yen Chi Tan said modestly that the film's success was not only due to everyone's hard work but also fan support and Master Ip Man's touching stories. Wong Pak Ming said that the 100 million box-office proved that entertaining is the sole criterion for inspecting a film, and the audience was the inspector. Yip Wai Shun truly was surprised with IP's 100 million mark in Mainland. He had confidence in his own works, but in the same period the opponents were too strong. Thus he was very grateful to viewers of the entire nation's support of IP and hoped that everyone would continue to support Hong Kong produced film. Many Mainland sites have selected IP MAN as the best gong fu film of the year. Yen Chi Tan's popularity has rocketed with the role and he was more confident about an even better performance in the sequel. * (1/12/2009) The 10th Annual Two Strait Shores and Hong Kong Film Directors Seminar took place yesterday at the Huangpu Harbor Plaza Hotel, this biennial event this year had about 150 directors from three lands on both shores participated. As in 07 and 08 directors Edward Yang, Sung Chuen Sau and Xie Jin passed away, at the beginning of the workshop everyone stood up for a moment of silent tribute Derek Yee Tung Sing said that the main topics of this year's conference would be the market film culture and the information exchange, focusing on market culture's differences. He mentioned CAPE NO.7's success in Taiwan, FOREVER ENTHRALLED and IF YOU ARE THE ONE's Mainland critical and commercial success. Yet CAPE NO. 7's Hong Kong box office was unsatisfactory mainly because the subject did not meet the Hong Kong tastes. Siu Bo sighed, "What goes around truly comes around, in the past film subjects accommodated the Hong Kong market, now they have to cater to the Mainland audience. In the last couple of years Taiwan has begun to revive its own production to meet the local audience taste." He pointed out that the severe problem that Hong Kong film faced in recent years has been a shortage of directors, stars and staff, resulting in the Hong Kong film's growing weakness. Thus its survival would require diversity and modification. This time Mainland had 15 and Taiwan had 10 new directors, and he hoped that Hong Kong's new directors would be able to take over. Recently, reportedly his film SHINJUKU INCIDENT did not receive the Mainland approval for release. Siu Bo said that was due to its violent content. If he cut a milder version it would seem deceitful. However, he still would like it to be released in Mainland. A suitable version would not be easy to edit. This time SHINJUKU's case perfectly reflected the problem of how the subject accommodates to the market. Peter Chan Ho Chan believed that the Hong Kong film history has always had the pre-existing problem of population. Because Hong Kong only had several million people, in the past Hong Kong film accommodated to Taiwan and Southeast Asian markets like Singapore and Malaysia. Now it accommodates to the Mainland market. Even a few years ago a round of costume martial arts films were made for the European and American overseas audience, Hong Kong viewers in turn had no choice. Actually Hong Kong directors are used to such conditions so they have adapted to any environment. * (1/12/2009) The New Year film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) yesterday held a promotion. Attendees included director Vincent Kuk Tak Siu and actors Louis Koo Tin Lok, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Ha Chun Chau, Shen Lijun, and Raymond Wong Pak Ming. Kwan Yu and Goo Jai had a kiss scene in the movie. She joked that they kissed more than once. After a few times she has already determined Goo Jai's lip texture was actually very soft and the feeling of personal protection. As for her husband Peter Chan Ho Sun's lips, Kwan Yu joked that she could not remember. Instead she remembered her daughter's lips because every day she was forced to be kissed. Did Goo Jai and Kwan Yu brush their teeth before their kiss? He expressed that it was only a peck, but they chewed gum before hand. Recently he has been busy making SIT TING FUNG WON (EAVESDROPPING SITUATION) and had to lose 30 pounds in a short period of time. Now he has already lost 10 pounds, but working all night without food has made him very light. In the Lunar New Year he would have to fill up a little. Cheng Chung Kei also revealed yesterday that he will be filming a police film, his second as a director. It will star Koo Tin Lok. As for rumored girlfriend Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, he said that she was capable in comedy but this role was more serious like a female Danny Lee Sau Yin. He believed that it might not be suitable for her. * (1/12/2009) The New Year film LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) yesterday held a promotion at the Olympian City, director Andrew Lau Wai Keung led leads Andy Lau Tak Wa, Shu Qi, Denise Ho Wan Si and Lam Ka Wa at the event. The event arranged for three couples to dress in wedding costumes and declare their love in front of the cast. Wa Jai was very interested in the first couple because the bride was pregnant. Shu Qi after hearing the couple's declaration of love was teary eyed. Later Shu Qi expressed that she was very touched and they felt very sweet. She felt very happy to be able to promote with Wa Jai frequently. She was not seeing anyone now and would spend the Lunar New Year in Taiwan. Would she go to the Lungshan Temple to pray for romance? She joked, "Really! If it's accurate I definitely would." Yesterday's event theme was "fight for fortune". The master of ceremony asked Wa Jai if he felt very fortunate? Wa Jai said that he has put in an effort and hoped that a girl would accept it. Did he that he was fortunate? He said OK as career, love, family, friendship and health have all been very even. Of course no one would mind too much fortune. He seemed to have a lot to talk about with one of the couples. Wa Jai joked that he had to "learn". If he had to he would be responsible like them. Did Wa Jai have anything to be responsible for now? Wai Jai expressed that he has not found his girlfriend and baby. He would talk when he has. He joked that he had to answer such questions because this was a romance. He would have made an action film if he knew. * (1/12/2009) Although yesterday was cold, artists still were very good-hearted artist as they participated in the Walk for a Million. TVB and ATV both have sent dozens of artists to participate. TVB representatives invited Nancy Sit Ka Yin, Shirley Yeung Szeki, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, Susanna Kwan Kuk Ying and Sheung Tin Ngor. ATV representatives included Chu Wai San, Bao Hee Jing and Man Yi Man. Joey Yung Cho Yi, Kay Tse On Kay, Fama and William Chan Wai Ting represented Radio Hong Kong. As the Community Chest board member Leon Lai Ming yesterday arrived early. FOREVER ENTHRALLED's Hong Kong box office only made 1,700,000. He said, "I don't think that it's any special news, I haven't paid any special attention. (The box office was only average!) I wouldn't care much about the box office. I have already said at the Hong Kong press conference that the Hong Kong box office wouldn't have any estimate. This drama has made 150 million in Mainland but Hong Kong only selected eight cinemas for release." Leon also said that if this film was not two and a half hours long, he believed that the Mainland receipt would have been over 200 million. As for the more than one million Hong Kong box office, he also did not know whether the figure was real. Yet he was already very happy about the Hong Kong release because the areas' cultures are different. Was he is satisfied with the box office? He said, "For a drama it has already broken all Mainland record. For a pure civilian story without any action, everyone including the China Film Studio and the team have been very satisfied." Some people blamed the poor box office on Zhang Ziyi's sunbathing scandal, Leon said, "I feel that this is a clean movie, I won't comment on people's private lives and personal time, but it has already become news. I don't want to talk about other people as film promotion. We should put an end to it." * (1/11/2009) The Andrew Lau Wai Keung directed New Year film LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) will be released soon, in line with the film promotion several leads Andy Lau Tak Wa, Shu Qi, Denise Ho Wan Si and Lam Ka Wa two nights ago recorded a Commercial Radio play that would be the film's prequel to introduce the character. In the film Shu Qi had a lot of sexy performances. Wa Jai frankly stated that he did not dare look to look at her because when he did he felt his heart beat. Wa Jai and Shu Qi in the film had dance scenes so they first learned to dance together. Wai Jai joked that he taught Shu Qi to deceive herself to feel that she knew how to dance. He claimed that he used to deceive himself about his dancing and acting abilities to be able to do a better job. When asked when Shu Qi's costumes were very Sexy? He said, "Sexy! In one scene the girls in the dance troupe were undressed. Although they wore nude-colored clothes, I was scared. Everything was out there, even with clothing I was very scared." Wa Jai pointed out that Shu Qi was already very sexy on her own. He did not dare to take any glimpse at her with reporters present. He felt that anyone would feel their hearts beat when they saw her. He said, "I am an ordinary person, If I don't look or my heart doesn't beat you wouldn't want me." With a flu Shu Qi attended two nights ago. She joked that in the film she and Wa Jai had intimate scenes but they only exchanged looks and might not be able to satisfy the audience. The film also had a passionate bed scene that not only required hugging and kissing but also crying. She honestly said that she felt happy and fortunate to be able to work with Wa Jai on an intimate scene. She also said that earlier she has already stuffed laisee to the director in hopes of him adding more intimate scenes, but in the end he did not. Shu Qi wore a pink crystal chain. She explained that because she had to wear red accessories for a program. Since she and Wa Jai just dated in the film, she did not need any romantic fortune. She would like that for awhile first. Ho Wan Si had a drunk scene, before the shoot she drank a little. Later due to inclement weather, she drank more and more while waiting for the shoot and finally she was drunk. When she saw Shu Qi she even screamed, "Shu Qi, come here!" Then she ran in the hotel corridor and refused to return to room. When the scene was reshot, the director ordered her not to drink anymore. Ah Si had a scene with Mainland triple crown Best Actor Zhang Hanyu, which gave her a lot of pressure. Zhang Hanyu even had to carry her while running six or seven stories on the stairs. Due to the slippery floor, when they turned she flew into the wall and even hit Hanyu's tooth. His mouth was bleeding instantly. * (1/11/2009) Fashion designer Dorian Ho held an Alice in Wonderland themed fashion show two nights ago. Children of celebrities like Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To), Almen Wong Pui Ha and Sofie Rahman (Lee Ka Wai) modeled at the event. Yen Chi Tan will work on the IP MAN sequel, which reportedly will cast Aaron Kwok Fu Sing as Bruce Lee. Chi Tan pointed out that the director would make the choice, of course he would like to work with Sing Sing as well. Earlier Tony Leung Chiu Wai who will portray Ip Man in another film honestly said that he was no match for him in a fight, Yen was very grateful and wished good performance for Leung's Ip Man film. He looked forward to see Wai Jai's performance because Wai Jai was known for his good acting skill. As for any advice for Wai Jai, Chi Tan expressed that Ip Man was the master of a generation. He spent nine months to try to figure out the role. He hoped that Wai Jai would put a little more effort than his usual performance and believed that he would be able to because he was a Best Actor. * (1/10/2009) South Korean actress Song Hye-Kyo appeared in Hong Kong yesterday. Song was invited to attend the "YouTube Symphony" activities and serve as its honorary ambassador to the Asia-Pacific region. However, the activities had an accident when the female emcee suddenly collapsed. Song was ushered into her room to stabilize the mood while the female master of ceremonies was taken to hospital for treatment. Song Hye-Kyo revealed that this year she will be filming the John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) new movie 1949 with Chang Chen, so she had to make an effort to learn Mandarin. She felt that Putonghua was very hard to learn. When the press called for demonstrations, she looked embarrassed and said, "I beg your pardon, I hope to be able to speak more perfectly before that." She said that in the film she was the only person who needed to learn Mandarin, therefore, she had to put in a lot of effort and care to make the film. Song Hye-Kyo expressed that she has loved Ng Yu Sum films since childhood and never expected such an early opportunity would arrive so soon to work with her idol. She also praised Chang Chen as a young and handsome actor. After the interview, a reporter thanked her in Mandarin, and Song Hye-Kyo thanked everyone in Putonghua as well. * (1/10/2009) The Karena Lam Ka Yun and Dior Cheng Yi Kin Valentine's Day movie CLAUSTROPHOBIA (CHUN MUK) has been invited to take part in the 59th Berlin International Film Festival, which made the first time director Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) very happy. The director would like to have the opportunity to walk the red carpet with the cast at the Berlin Film Festival. Everyone have put a lot of hard work into this movie and such a performance now truly was something to be happy about. In addition to catching the eyes of Asian film festivals CLAUSTROPHOBIA also has received similar appreciation from foreign film intellectuals. In September last year the film qualified for the Tokyo International Film Festival, the jury chairman and Oscar Best Actor Jon Voight (Angelina Jolie's father) has publicly praised Lam Ka Yun's performance in CLAUSTROPHOBIA as very exciting. With only a few lines she was still able to make you feel the inner turmoil of her emotional ups and downs and struggles. French Culture Association officials at the Asian Film Festival after watching CLAUSTROPHOBIA praised its intense screenplay structure, as the director turned the ambiguous office relationship into something that was intriguing and unforgettable. * (1/10/2009) Raymond Wong Pak Ming yesterday accepted Stephen chan Chi Wan's BE MY GUEST interview in Causeway Bay, Chan Chi Wan invited a master of arts and crafts to make something with the words Pak Ming and a production marker for him. Wong Pak Min in the interview talked about his mood after resigning as Mandarin Film's chair and his many years of film industry experience. Wong Pak Ming was asked about his feeling after resigning the chair position. He said that he was at ease, now he would prepare for the production start of IP MAN 2, which he would like from the point of view of Bruce Lee but at this moment he has not yet cast the role. However Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung Kam Bo were bound to participate, and the production would be expected to begin in June. As for rumors that Ip Man's Ip Chun would not consider consulting the sequel, Wong Pak Ming pointed out that everything was hard for the first installment in the beginning and the second installment no longer needed to be so hard. They would know what to do with the consultant fee. In addition, Wong Pak Ming said that next year he would start production on some comedy and action movies. Currently he would work on the front line and creative work. * (1/10/2009) Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam) attended a SWAROVSKI event and served as a model. Lynn recently lacked sleep because of work, but she denied that IP MAN has put pressure on her. Instead its good box office has made her very happy. Later she would celebrate again in Beijing. Lynn said that Aaron Kwok Fu Sing has congratulated her on her new film's box office success, but she said that Sing Sing was very busy after just finishing his concert. As for word of encouragement from Sing Sing, she said, "Coming from me it's not quite right!" Has Sing Sing indicated that he would like to work with her? She could not recall him saying anything like that. IP MAN would have a sequel and Sing Sing has been rumored for the Bruce Lee role. Lynn expressed that she did not know but she would not mind playing the wife of Sing Sing's mentor. * (1/9/2009) The movie IP MAN has been in release for three weeks and received 22 million at the box office. Two nights ago the film company held a second celebration, attendees included boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming, male and female leads Donnie Yen Chi Tan and Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), actors Lam Ka Tung, Wong Yau Nam and screenwriter Allan Wong Chi Hwan, son of Wong Pak Ming. An ice breaking ceremony took place in hpes of further box office breakthrough. During the ice-breaking ceremony, the ice scattered and splashed Lynn's face and chest. Wong Pak Ming announced a sequel earlier and two nights ago announced a third installment. Chi Tan two nights ago attended with his wife Cici Wang. Tony Leung Chiu Wai has publicly praised IP MAN and acknowledged that he could not possibly fight like him. Chi Tan was very grateful and very happy to receive his praise because he has spent a lot of time on the role. Yet he would like to see how Wai Jai would perform because Wai Jai's acting has been generally recognized as great and he could use it as a reference. Wai Jai recently has been training in martial arts more and preferred to use his arms and legs. He joked that next time Wai Jai could train with him. With a good box office this time, would he receive a raise for the next film? Chi Tan said that boss should know what to do. Would IP MAN's success create a lot of pressure on Wai Jai? Chi Tan said that actually Wilson Yip Wai Shun deserved a lot of the credit. Many dramatic scenes were handled very well as many female viewers were moved to tears. Chi Tan also said that the coming year would be very busy for him, as now he already has five offers. Lynn felt very lucky to have a good performance for her first film. As for Aaron Kwok Fu Sing's review, she gave a sweet smile and said, "He said OK!" She felt that she could not say that she has broken Sing Sing's box office record because the credit did not belong to her. She did not feel that she was lucky either. When asked again whether Aaron only said her acting was only OK, she expressed that she did not want the words to come from her own mouth. Perhaps the press should ask him next time. Earlier accusing of dating up, did she feel now that she was at the same class as Sing Sing? She said, "Don't say dating up, I am not as talented as he is." Lam Ka Tung did not know whether he would be in the sequel but in May he would work on another movie. He was the happiest about working with Chi Tan this time. 19 years ago they were classmates in the same artist training class but they have never had the chance to work together. * (1/9/2009) Big Brother Jackie Chan yesterday in Beijing recorded New Year song CHINA YEAR in hopes of encouraging everyone and at the same time wishing Chinese people around the world a Happy New Year. In addition, Jackie Chan's first collaboration with Derek Yee Tung Sing, SHINJUKU INCIDENT, will be released on April 2 during Easter, posters and trailers will be broadcast in major cinemas during the Lunar New Year. Jackie Chan will have many scenes with Japanese cop Naoto Takenaka. The Japanese national treasure who excels in comedy will have an all new performance, as they mutually appreciate each other. * (1/8/2009) Simon Yam Tat Wa, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Lam Suet, Lam King Kong, and Tommy Yuen Man On two nights ago attended the movie TACTICAL UNIT - COMRADES IN ARMS (GEI DUNG BO DUI -- TUNG BO) premiere and even popped champagne with boss Daneil Lam Siu Ming. Lam Ka Tung came to support director Law Wing Cheung. Brother Wa revealed that he insisted on making the shoeshine scene because when he was little he often saw his cop father wore leather shoes to work and he has polished his father's shoes. Brother Wa said, "Shoes are very important to the police, so that scene's feeling was very strong." He added that his father often took colleagues home for dinner when he was little. He and his mother went to market to shop for food, which also gave him good cooking abilities. He joked, "Although in the film I often argued with my colleagues, off camera we often ate together and had a lot of fun." Since this film brought back a lot of memories of his father for him, he would like Papa's colleague to be able to enjoy it. Although many might have passed already, he still would like their children to be able to appreciate it. In addition, Brother Wa praised Nick Cheung Ka Fai's acting as well deserved his Film Critic Society Best Actor Award. Siu Mei Kei two nights ago did not invite friends because she hoped that they would buy tickets. * (1/8/2009) RED CLIFF II's long-awaited release two nights ago held its charity premiere at the Times Square in Causeway Bay. Director John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) led the cast, including Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Lin Chiling, Chang Chen, Vicki Zhao Wei, Zhang Fengyi in attendance. When Wai Jai appeared in a gray suit, the public immediately cheered. Mrs. Leung Carina Lau Ka Ling entered hand in hand with her husband. The premiere held a drum ceremony and a toast. The event also held an auction for four autographed film posters and a pen for charity. Several actors two nights ago talked about their unforgettable experience from the shoot. Chang Chen and Wai Jai both pointed out that working on the film in the summer was very hard because they had to wear heavy costumes and armors. Lin Chiling was very happy about being able to work with big stars as a new comer. Zhao Wei felt that the most memorable was the film took a full year to make. In addition to several main characters, many guests like Albert Yeung and his wife, Elaine Lok Yi Ling, Raymond Lam Fung, Ellen Chan Nga Lun and others showed their support. In the first installment, RED CLIFF's large scale battle scenes left a deep impression with the audience. RED CLIFF II not only had big battle scenes but also one of the focus scenes, "the burning of the Armanda". The story would not lack depictions of love, family and friendship. At the premiere, the story officially was unveiled. Xiaoqiao, pregnant with Zhou Yun's child in order to help her husband went to the Cao camp to distract Cao Cao. Xiaoqian finally was captured and pushed from high above. Zhou Yu lept forward without hesitation to save his beloved wife. Sun Xiangxiang also snuck into the Cao camp under a male disguise and met a Cao general, with whom she started a friendship. As a spy Sun Xiangxiang witnessed her friend's death in a battle and was inconsolable. Sun Quan did not know that his sister Sun Xiangxiang was undercover and had a misunderstanding. When he realized that he was wrong he felt very guilty. * (1/8/2009) The Karena Lam Ka Yun starred FIT LOVER (OI CHING JOR YAU) two nights ago held its premiere. The lead was fashionably late. When the master of ceremonies asked about what she looked for in a mate, she bluntly said love at first sight. Ka Yun in the film played opposite 12 male stars. The event arranged for three men to express their love to Ka Yun. The first was a topless man with a rose in hand on one knee. The second was a mild mannered man with a golden cylinder. Ka Yun turned them both down. Finally a muscle man with a paintbrush and a book caught Ka Yun's attention, as she painted two hearts on the man's back. Ka Yun explained that she was late because she was ill possibly from traveling to Taiwan and having wild boar there. She has been on a beard and water diet in recent days. Because Ka Yun had two movie releases on the way, she could only attend the promotion in her condition. Yet she had no complaint because she felt that with the current market film releases were rare. No matter how how tough it was she still had to work. The other film CLAUSTROPHOBIA (CHUN MUK) will be released next month. Reportedly ka Yun with that film would compete for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress with TRUE WOMAN FOR SALE (NGOR BUT MAI SUN, NGOR MAI JI GUNG)'s Golden Horse Best Actress Prudence Liew Mei Kwan. She of course would be very happy if the film was nominated. Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau) also came in support. She said that earlier she ran into Ka Yun at the Golden Horse and was invited. Later she would promote her film OI DOH DAI (LOVE TO THE END). After completing her work on hand she would go to Taiwan and pick up her mother to spend the Lunar New Year in Canada. Raised in Taiwan, she said that she has never given laisee in Taiwan but she has at work in Hong Kong. She told everyone to relax though as she definitely would make it up upon her return. This year would be her fourth year in a marathon, each time she ran the 10 kilometer race. In order to be at her best shape, she planned to run in the cold in Canada and hoped to have a chance to compete in a half marathon. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 14 2009, FILM WORDS 2008 FILM'S CHINA HONG KONG ELEMENTS In 2008 Mainland China's cinema box office has continued its rapid growth, reportedly it exceeded more than 4.2 billion yuan. More than 60% of it were nationally produced and co-produced films. The most popular was RED CLIFF I's over 300 million, CJ7 (CHEUNG GONG 7 HO), THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG), PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI), FORBIDDEN KINGDOM, KUNG FU DUNK, IF YOU ARE THE ONE and FOREVER ENTHRALLED (MUI LAN FONG) all exceeded 100 million. Although the Mainland box office was quite far from the United States', most of the more than one billion population still had no connection with the cinema. In addition the Mainland authorities would only permit a few foreign film imports. Last year it even tightened Chinese-language film inspection with more barriers and many troubles. Yet it still had substantial growth, which showed the Chinese market's great potential. As the domestic demand expands in the future and cinema circuits increase, the film market will be even better. Silent for a long time, Taiwan film created its local box office miracle with CAPE NO. 7. The Taiwan and Hong Kong staffed KUNG FU DUNK was a Mainland hit. Hong Kong film has continued to weaken last year, only occupying a little more than 20% of Hong Kong film market total revenue and no match to its heyday as foreign films have all the advantages now. However, Hong Kong elements remain important. Mainland's most popular RED CLIFF, CJ7, THE WARLORDS and PAINTED SKIN all had Hong Kong directors, Hong Kong production style, others had Hong Kong film stars only Taiwan stars who have performed in Hong Kong hit films. Undoubtedly Mainland talent is increasing, but Hong Kong film people are more efficient with mainstream commercial films currently. Although Mainland style is gaining strengthen, it still cannot replace the Hong Kong style. Even Zhang Yimou's Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony that shocked internationally had Hong Kong martial art film elements, with assistance from Hong Kong expert Ching Siu Tung. On the other hand, Hollywood in 2008 also focused on the China factor with KUNG FU PANDA, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM and THE MUMMY TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR. All had Chinese background, the Chinese martial arts, and mainly Hong Kong elements. Some was dissatisfied with foreign "occupation" of our strengths, "using Chinese to contain China"! Actually pettiness is unnecessary as kung fu internationalization is a good thing. The animation KUNG FU PANDA is indeed a good film, Chinese films must work hard to improve. Last year the Chinese stars in foreign films have taken steps backward, as both Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) and Jackie Chan have lost their luster. Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King)'s CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI was even more disappointing. Wong Kar Wai's foreign film MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS was also lacking charisma. The most popular foreign film, THE DARK KNIGHT, also had Chinese and Hong Kong factors, yet Mainland prohibited its import as it considered the film as "smear". Actually, the film's most demonized are foreigners themselves, why should anyone mind? - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 12 2009, FILM WORDS TACTICAL UNIT TAKES A HIKE A few years ago Hong Kong film PTU featured the commonly known as blue beret Hong Kong Police Tactical Unit. It was one of Johnnie To's masterpieces. Now he produces the new film TACTICAL UNIT (GEI TUNG BO DUI -- TUNG BO) with Law Wing Cheong as its ddirector. Although the scale is small, it still is able to attract many viewers. TACTICAL is not as intriguing and odd as the missing gun search of PTU. It is simpler and more solid. Wonderfully it captures relationships between colleagues in the police force. They compete against each other, vindictive and divisive, until an archenemy appears. In the face of a serious crisis, their unity and cooperation are put to the test? This is a common situation in all trades and industries and can cause widespread sympathy. In the film two units within one team of Blue Berets are under the leadership of Simon Yam Tat Wa and Maggie Siu Mei Kei. For credit and promotion, they heat up the situation. The first part is particularly good. Without any big action it only has some ordinary clashes, but they spark off blatant and secret infighting as well as some awkwardly humorous moments. The main story is a sudden major case. Two units of rivals are in hot pursuit of explosive and dangerous bank robbers in the hills, where they become disoriented and endangered. Siu Mei Kei plays the new favorite while Yam Tat Wa plays the frustrated veteran, both are very convincing. Other actors are decent, the most lively and interesting is Lam Suet as a veteran who has been relegated to play police driver. He is very lazy and even "surrenders" to the robbers. Ridiculous yet pathetic, he however also becomes the case solving lucky star and hero. TACTICAL is a relatively rare Hong Kong hiking film that features the country side and old forts, as well as appearances from a strange graffiti writer, paintball enthusiasts and Mainlander desperados. As for getting lost deep in the mountains, dangerous adventures and losing contact, they are experiences that hikers often encounter and appear to be rather "familiar". The problem is uniformed police training and equipment should be different from rookie hikers. This film however has made them into blind and bumbling into trouble at any time, which I think is a distortion. The final small country village church gun battle also lacks a sense of realism. Hong Kong Police operations in the mountainous border should be reasonably experienced and even has special arrangements, they would not be so foolish, right? The film is obviously limited by the budget. When compared to foreign special police operation films it is much more simplistic. The Blue Beret series has a few more installments, which reportedly are made for television. At the Hong Kong Asian International Film Festival I have seen the Law Wing Cheong directed, Yam Tat Wa and Siu Mei Kei starred TACTICAL UNIT - THE CODE. Overall it is even better as it captures a rare calm and rational style, hopefully it will also be released in the cinemas. - SHEK KEI 3. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 12 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MORE AND MORE MOVIES WOULD MAKE OVER 100 MILLION IN MAINLAND IF YOU ARE THE ONE in Mainland made 310 million. Industry insiders estimated that RED CLIFF II may make over 400 million. RED CLIFF I made 340 million. As the Mainland box office continues to grow, together with two works of Feng Xiaogang and Chen Kaige have been in release for awhile. Without any opponent of the same class, 40 million for RED CLIFF II is not impossible. Despite the financial tsunami influence, the Mainland box office still grows. In 2008 despite the Olympics, the box office still reached 4.2 billion, more than 2007's nearly one billion. Earlier forecast estimated that in five to ten years, the Mainland box office would be able to reach 9 billion annually. At this figure, the market has yet to be fully saturated. More and more cinemas are the reasons for faster box office growth. New cinemas are divided into two types, film projection and "digital halls", "digital halls" refer to the digital projection cinemas. Mainland digital cinemas are also classified into different classes by resolution. The highest class is comparable to film, the ticket price is certainly not cheap. The worst is usually in a rural town, with ticket prices below 10 yuan. If the Mainland box office makes nine billion a year, the highest grossing film may reach as high as 800 million. On this basis, if a year has 4 800 million yuan super blockbusters, in the pie of 9 billion they only take up 3.2 billion. If the remaining 30 to 40 million are import films, then 20 to 30 million are left for other Mainland films or co-productions. As more and more films break the 100 million mark, mid scale film would head toward 100 million as even more directors would be able to join the "100 million club". At present less than 10 million in budget films that make 10 millions at the Mainland box office have gone from "rare" gradually to "common." People would still lose money despite the box office growth. Movies that are poorly made, have no selling points or no distribution support would still lose money, which has nothing to do with the general trend. Movies that have high box office may not necessarily make money. If a film that costs 200,000,000 makes 100,000,000, or costs 50,000,000 and makes 30,000,000, it is losing money. A significant market growth does not represent filmmaking risk has lowered, only that the profit that the winner can receive would be more and more impressive. - KWOK HIN CHING 4. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 11 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MAINLAND AUDIENCE VALUES DIRECTORS Two big Mainland directors' works have performed poorly at the Hong Kong box office, Chen Kaige's FOREVER ENTHRALLED after eight days in release made 1,750,000, Feng Xiaogang's IF YOU ARE THE ONE made even less with only 660,000. In terms of screens, FOREVER only had 11. With 1,750,000 over 8 days, each screen made nearly 20,000 daily. Its admission rate might have been higher than other films. IF YOU ARE THE ONE also did not have many screens, Hong Kong viewers definitely had more desire to see FOREVER than IF. Both films have been big Mainland hits. FOREVER has made 130 million while IF has already passed 30 million. Industry insiders have called both big directors "the nationally protected class", their releases have all the distribution and scheduling advantages. FOREVER's 130 million is already a poor performance. For Feng Xiaogang IF is only a small film. Light romantic fares have more and more market in Mainland, but not everyone can reach 300 million. In the past, many film companies only believed big scale armor films would exceed 100 million at the box office. Feng Xiaogang is the only differences. Facts have proved that Mainland audience's expectation for romance has exceeded super armor action. PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) and IF YOU ARE THE ONE have reflected this message. For investors, the news is absolutely good because the cheapest armor action film would cost 60 to 70 million, if not hundreds of millions. Light romantic fares already look great with just 30 million or so, and can be even cheaper. However, romantic films must have stars. In Hong Kong viewers only respects on screen star power, in other words big stars. The circumstance in Mainland is very different, as directors are selling points too and may be worth more than stars. Feng Xiaogang has said that Mainland productions depend on directors and not stars. He was referring, of course, accomplished directors. Because Mainland viewers would support directors, stars do not make much difference. Top Hong Kong directors often have to kiss up to stars. Without star power their movies cannot be made. With second or third tier stars the box office would suffer drastically. In this regard, big Mainland directors seem to have greater creative freedom. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. TA KUNG PAO, JANUARY 11 2009, LIGHT SHADOW PATH ABOUT STAR VALUE With the beginning of a new year, newspapers and the media have a lot of 2008 retrospective reports. One publication selected Will Smith as last year's best selling star (the star with the more box office draw). This selection was not just based on box office revenue, but also cinema and distributor votes. It had quite a lot of credibility. As for Hong Kong's actor with the most draw last year, he would be none other than Stephen Chow Sing Chi. Last year among Hong Kong's top ten blockbuster movies, only Chow Sing Chi's CJ7 (CHEUNG GONG CHUT HO) was one of the Hong Kong films. Its 51 million box office was second only to THE DARK KNIGHT's 58 million. Over the years, Chow Sing Chi films would almost certainly be the Hong Kong film box-office champion of the year. In terms of draw he had no rival. CJ7 and KUNG FU HUSTLE both in Mainland made over 100 million. For one person to have such a success performance, Chow Sing Chi indeed would be the only Greater Chinese actor. No one would disagree that he is a superstar. According to the cumulative box office over the past two decades, Chow Sing Chi is not the highest grossing actor. A few years ago statistics showed that Andy Lau Tak Wa is the highest cumulative box -office star because he is not only popullar but also highly productive. In addition he has always been popular over 20 years. Lau Tak Wa is also very popular in Mainland. He worked with Ge You in Feng Xiaogang's A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES, which exceeded 100 million at the box office. In addition, he also worked on Zhang Yimou's HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS and Peter Chan Ho Sun's THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG). Successful films often are related to its actors and directors. Some directors' movies are very good but not popular, and some directors are often able to make blockbuster movies. In Hong Kong, Andrew Lau Wai Keung and Johnnie To Kei Fung are both box-office hit directors who have made countless blockbuster films. In recent years Director To has focused on the European market as his films have been mainly art films and have not been too prominent at the local box office. Lau Wai Keung's Hong Kong film production rate has reduced from the past, his New Year film LOOK FOR A STAR will be a challenge. As Feng Xiaogang has said, the Mainland audience attaches great importance to directors, he himself has quite a lot of luck with viewers. Director Feng's films in Mainland have made over 1.1 billion yuan and he is the most bankable film director currently. As for actors, Feng's long time star Ge You of course has become a popular actor. In addition, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) with HERO, FEARLESS and THE WARLORDS has also become one of the popular stars. Also worth mentioning is Big Brother Jackie Chan, whose films have swept across Hong Kong and Taiwan in the eighties and in recent years in Europe and the United States. From the global perspective, Jackie Chan is the most popular. At present, the largest market for Hong Kong films is Mainland. In a few years when popular actors or directors are discussed again, Hong Kong would no longer be discussed independently. Hong Kong has become one of the cities in the Chinese market, its market position would not be very important. Popular actor or director will be national, then we shall see if Chow Sing Chi, Lau Tak Wa and Lau Wai Keung will be able to occupy a place. - TIN LIK 6. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 9 2009, FILM WORDS PARKING'S DECENT NEW TAIWAN DIRECTOR Is Taiwan film experiencing a renaissance? Currently it is yet to be determined and cannot be solely based on CAPE NO. 7's miracle box office. Certainly Taiwan has a lot of new talent, the potential of whom is worth noting. With a lot of advertising experience, Chung Mong-Hong wrote and directed his first feature length film PARKING as well as serving a cinematographer. He has made the film into the more alternative life intersection ensemble film, unlike the more common and general CAPE NO. 7. Yet the entire film is not dully artistic, vivid amid dark absurdity and even had warm human touch. It has become an unconventional new talent work. The story depicts Taipei protagonist (Chang Chen) after work driving to buy a cake for his wife at home. Yet on the way he gets into parking trouble and stumbles into an one night adventure, as he comes in contact with the absurd, dangerous and materialist reality that treats him ridiculously, beats him badly and almost turns him into a wandering ghost. Wonderfully the nice guy gets rewarded and a gratifying harvest. The most touching is when the protagonist goes to the wrong house, runs into an old man, a blind woman and a little granddaughter and is mistaken for their departed son returning home. The protagonist plays along and has a reunion dinner with them. As in Hong Kong director Wilson Yip Wai Shun's previous films MIDNIGHT ZONE (WUI JUEN SAU SI ji WUI WON YEH) and BULLETS OVER SUMMER (BAU LIT YING GAING) when Law Lan long for the entire family to dine together, the scene is strange yet touching. In Yip Wai Shun's new film IP MAN, several meal scenes are also very important. PARKING also has a dark humor food scene, in which the fish head in a rundown barber shop toilet is cooked into a strange soup that the lead dares not have. Jack Kao plays a reformed barber, which is also very wonderful. He truly is a good actor. Director Chung Mong-Hong has fun with both clothing and food. Chapman To Man Jat plays a little Hong Kong tailor who make clothes for his old client Chin Shih-Chieh (Gum Si Kit), the scenes involve the hardship of three lands on two shores. Taiwan pretty Peggy Tseng Pei Yu plays a Mainland prostitute who from simplicity to exotic is delicate. Leon Dai Lap Yun as the pimp shows that pimping is not easy in a both funny and sad manner. Kwai Lun-Mei plays the wife. With less screen time she does not stand out as much as Tseng Pei Yu. However the couple relationship is still intricate. This film has many strange and wonderful people. The taxi driver is also very strange, the bakery boss lady is dramatic as well. The actors have their own background, but I did not recognize Tou Chung-Hua as the mob boss. The film has plenty of high points, yet the mob and prostitution scenes are too uneven. Partially too explicit too far, the reasoning is not very proper. As a new director, Chung Mong-Hong undoubtedly performs with more flexibility. - SHEK KEI 7. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 9 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAINLAND MARKET Feng Xiaogang's IF YOU ARE THE ONE has exceeded 300 million at the Mainland box office, the figure alone has already surpassed the total Hong Kong film box office last year. He is the most successful commercial director in China in recent years, with a personal total box office of 1.14 billion. The Mainland box office is beyond any comparison with a small market like Hong Kong. Last year it had a 27% growth, with a total number of more than 420 million. With the financial tsunami, This year's Mainland box office has been estimated to still have growth, even a small place like Hong Kong last year had an increase. The three day Christmas box office was better than last year's. No wonder everyone has been optimistic about this year's film market. Hong Kong film professionals have a love-hate relationship with the Mainland market. They love its big gold mine, but at any time they can lose everything. Before shooting the script is already required to change left and right, after completion the film may due to various reasons be unable to be released. Reportedly the Edison Chen Koon Hei starred SNIPER and Jackie Chan's SHINJUKU INCIDENT due to delayed inspection have decided to abandon the Mainland market. If they were not intended to engage in a co-production, they should have had more creative freedom. Pure Mainland films that are not co-productions do not need script inspection. They are inspected after completion like our inspection process. Yet if it does not pass, the risk is even greater. Thus before filming the script may be submitted informally for inspection and would only start production after communication. On the surface the process has loosen but actually it has no difference. This year is sixtieth anniversary of the nation's founding, official theme movies in estimate would not be lacking. Before the October 1 National Day, no controversial film will be released in Mainland, the situation would be similar to the 08 Olympics. Coupled with the economic downturn, for the sake of social stability any indecent or crime related subject matters may be more strictly controlled. Although the Mainland audience is tired of costume dramas, because of relative ease to pass inspection they still will have a certain number. Whether inspection is tight or loose, the box office still has substantial growth in the Mainland. No one can tell whether Mainland film policy has any necessary change. - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Sit Ting Fung Won Lit : Eavesdropping Situation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung Louis Koo Tin Lok, Lau Ching Wan, Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Alex Fong Chung Shun, Zhang Jingchu, Lok Sze Wan, William Chan Ting Wai Can : Wan Dai Jor Lit : Play Too Big d. Pang Fat Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Stephanie Cheng Yung, Chow Pak Ho, William Chan Wai Ting, Wiley Chiu Shek Chi, Kung Yun Chi Can : Oi Dut Hei d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Chen Bo-Lin (Chan Pak Lam), Shaun Tam Chun Yin, Terry Fan Siu Wong, HotCha Can : Yau Jet Geung Si Um Luen Nei Lit : A Zombie Has a Crush On You Roger Kwok Chun On, Natalie Meng Yao, Jo Kuk Cho Lam, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Maggie Lee Man Kwan, Tanya Wu (Ng Ka Yun), Anke Bei, Angel Ho Cheuk Ying Can : Um Sat Lit : Assassination d. Soi Cheang Po Shui Louis Koo Tin Lok, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) Can : Tung Moon Lit : Classmate d. Herman Yau Lai To Shawn Yue Man Lok, Ada Choi Siu Fun, Ella Koon Yun Na, Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Chapman To Man Jat, Jun Kung Shek Leung STORM WARRIORS AKA : STORM RIDERS II Can : Fung Won II Lit : Wind Cloud II d. Pang Brothers Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Ken Ho Ka King, Lam Suet, Tang Yan Opening December 3 2009 [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS MALAYSIA ] Japanese evil warlord Lord Godless desired to conquer China. He imprisoned a large number of martial artists and tried to make them subjugate. Among the prisoners were Cloud and the martial arts elder statesman Nameless. Wind came to the rescue. The trio was badly wounded by Lord Godless’s evil martial arts attack. Chu Chu was also knocked out when she blocked Cloud from Lord Godless’s strike. The remaining martial artists sacrificed their lives to save the trio, in the hope that the trio would beat Lord Godless one day and save the country. Chu Chu was badly wounded and stayed unconscious. Cloud was filled with remorse and vowed to take revenge. Wind chose to take the evil way to quickly boost up his martial arts skills, so that he could protect the people. During his training, he met the girl who changed his life, Dream. Meanwhile, the troop of Lord Godless came to attack. Wind’s training was interrupted when he tried to save Dream from Lord Godless’s assault. After some killings, Wind ran away and disappeared.... Lord Godless took The Emperor in captivity and stationed his troops in Heaven Cave. Cloud arrived alone and started a combat with Lord Godless. Lord Godless had the upper hand. In the meantime, the half-evil Wind appeared and joined the battle. During the fight, they inadvertently discovered the secret of the sovereign. The real intention of Lord Godless’s invasion was related to an ancient tomb, a forbidden ground buried with the Royal family’s secret. The truth was finally revealed. At last, how would the battle end? Who would eventually rule over the country? Can : Si Lim Lit : Reminisce d. Wai Ka Fai Lau Ching Wan, Kelly Lin (Lam Hei LUi), Yan Qing, Jo Kuk Cho Lam Can : Giu, Won Lit : Call, Soul Grace Ip Pui Man, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Jolie Chan Yuen Kei, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Chucky Woo (Wood Gei Lan), Kwok Hoi San Can : Ang Hong Lit : Tough Guy Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Ellen Chan Nga Lun, Liu Ye, Sun Honglei FANTASTIC WATER BABES Can : Chook Shui Fu Yung Lit : Out of Water Hibiscus d. Jeff Lau Chun Wai Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Stephen Fung Tak Lun, Tian Liang, Eva Huang Shengyi, Opening October 23 2008 in Malaysia Official Site : www.emp.hk [ OFFICIAL SITE ] A beautiful and cocky swimmer Jill and her teammates kidnaps Alex, Hong Kong's champion swimmer, in order that he can train her to win a duel against her rival in swimming and in love. All hell breaks loose when hate at first sight inadvertently becomes something else... Can : Kit Ji Lit : Scorpion d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Sam Lee Chan Sam, Emme Wong Yee Man, Leung Siu Lung, Miki Mizuno (Shui Yeh Mei Gei), Nana Natsume (Ha Muk Noi Noi) Can : Hok Hau Hak Sai Lik Lit : School Mob Power Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Lee Si Pui, Annie Man Chung Han, Lui Hoi Yun Ada Wong Chi Hom, Timmy Hung Tin Ming Can : Goo Mo Mui Ying Lit : Ancient Tomb Phantom d. Chan Kwoon Wai Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Candy Lo Hau Yam Can : SI GUONG DOI LAU DIK WA Lit : IF TIME FLOWS BACKWARD d. Mak Kai Kwong Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, Yan Ng Yat Yin, Ken Wong Hap Hei, Karen Tong Bo Yu NEW PERFECT EDUCATION Can : Sun Gum Sut Pui Yuk ji Oi Dik Fu Lo Lit : New Chamber Cultivated Desire: Captive of Love d. Ng Man Lik Kaori Sakagami (Ban Seung Heung Jik) Tony Ho Wa Chiu, Vonnie Lui Hoi Yu Can : Jin Fu Lit : War Tiger Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Kristy Yang Kung Yu, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Lam Ka Tung, Candy Yu On On, Guo Xinqi (Kwok Sam Kei), Jason Chu Wing Tong, Koey Leung Shuet Mei, Iris Wong Yat Tung, Pavarit Mongkolpisit Nahatai Lekbumrung, Yunee Can : Mo Yau 24 Siu Si Lit : Worry Free 24 Hours Chiu Chung Yu, Natalie Ng Man Yan, Simon Loui Yu Yeung, Siu Chuen Yung, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Libby Lao Kuai Ieng Can : Nui Kuen Wong Lit : Female Fist King Diana Pang Tan, Angie Cheong Wei Yee, Lai Yiu Cheung, Emi Tojo (Dung Sing Gong Mei) Mizuho Ishikawa (Shek Chuen Mei Jung Shui) --- [ NOW SHOWING ] Info from Mov3.com (http://www.mov3.com), Ryan's Hong Kong Movie DataBase (http://www.hkmdb.com), Korean Movie Database (http://www.krmdb.com), Cinema Thai (http://www.cinemathai.com), Hong Kong Entertainment News In Review (http://www.hkentreview.com), Internet Movie DataBase (http://www.imdb.com) LOOK FOR A STAR Can : Yau Lung Hei Fung Lit : Swimming Dragon Acting Phoenix AKA : Sing Mung Kei Yuen Lit : Star Dream Fantasy Destiny d. Andrew Lau Wai Keung Andy Lau Tak Wa, Shu Qi, Denise Ho Wan Si, Zhang Hanyu (Cheung Hom Yu), Dominic Lam Ka Wa, Zhang Xinyi, John Chiang Dai Wai, Maria Cordero Ella Koon Yun Na, Yao Wenxue, Pei Wei Ying, Po Po Opening January 23 2009 Official Site : http://www.mediaasia.com/lfas [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS MALAYSIA ] Sam is the most eligible bachelor in town - he's young, smart and rich. However, every success has its price. Sam has already divorced three times and finds himself crawling back to the game of love sooner than he has expected. It is love at first sight when Sam chances upon Milan at a Macau casino. She is a part-time poker dealer and a full-time cabaret dancer, seemingly not the perfect match with Sam's life. While Milan is being groomed into a society woman by experts galore, Sam is starting to have cold feet. He takes his lawyer's advice and signs a prenuptial agreement without consulting Milan. This time, he is gravely mistaken, as this woman has a heart of gold and is looking for real love rather than fame and fortune. ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 Can : Ga Yau Hei Si 2009 Lit : Family Has Joyous Event 2009 d. Vincent Kuk Tak Siu Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Lee Heung Kam, Ha Chun Chau Rating : IIA Opening January 23 2009 Opening January 22 2009 in Malaysia [ GOLDEN SCENE CINEMAS ONLINE ] Kei's eldest sister Sandra is a hot-tempered magazine editor and her temperament has left her single all this while. They have a traditional family and one of the rules is that none of the siblings could get married before their eldest sister. In view of this, Kei sort help from the famous “Casanova”, Koo Chai (Louis Koo), who is the new journalist in Sandra’s firm to pretend to court his eldest sister and lure her into the mood of love. With Sandra falling in love with Koo Chai, she decides to introduce him to her parents (Lee Heung Kam, Ha Chun Chou). However, Koo Chai fell in love with another girl, Mun during an assignment and this broke Sandra’s heart. To avoid the disappointment of her parents, Sandra asks Mr. Wong a private investigator to pretend as her boyfriend. With Sandra love life going nowhere and her career plunging low, will she get what she wants? Will Kei find his true love and marries her sister off? Who will Koo Chai choose? Will all’s well end’s well? PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA d. Hayao Miyazaki Japanese Animation Rating : I Length : 101 mins. Opening January 17 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story takes place in a world that still longs for magic and miracles still happen in the world, the scene is located at the seaside town and a house on the cliff. A fish Ponyo by chance runs into a boy and they become good friends. In order to live with his friend, Ponyo takes the chance, leaves the familiar sea, in hopes of becoming human. The boy also keeps his promise for his good friend. RED CLIFF II AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF Can : Chet Bik - Kuet Jin Tin Ha Lit : Red Cliff - Decisive Battle Under Heaven d. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Vicki Zhao Wei, Hu Jun, Shidou Nakamura, Janny Lin Chiling Rating : IIB Length : 141 mins. Opening January 15 2009 official Site : http://redcliff.meiah.com [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] RED CLIFF II undertakes the first installment's tense confrontation between the three kingdoms of Cao, Wu and Shu. Cao Cao learns of Wu and Shu's alliance and sends 800,000 troops and 2,000 warships to the south and set up camp in the deark forest across from the Red Cliff on the Yangtze River. The nations of Wu and Shu lack of food and has far less soldiers than the Cao troops, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang change the course of events with their resourcefulness, a series of fierce land and sea battle constituted finally The Battle of Red Cliff that has been written in the history of China for ages! PARKING Can : Ting Che d. Chung Mong-Hong (Chung Man Won) Kwai Lun-Mei, Chang Chen Rating : IIB Length : 106 mins. Opening January 8 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A couple on a night on which they cannot return home faces a decision before their divorce. FIT LOVER Can : Oi Ching Jor Yau Lit : Love Left Right d. Zhang Jianya Karena Lam Ka Yun, Leo Ku Kui Ke, Huang Xiaoming, Lu Yi, Alec Su (So Yau Peng), Naoki Hosaka (Bo Ban Seung Hei) Opening January 8 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Nie Bing is a famous romantic television program presenter. She is beautiful, gracious and intelligent, on the screen she sounds like an expert with other people's feelings, but ironically in life she is unable to find he likes men. On her 30th birthday, Nie Bing awakes from a nightmare of dying alone; her mother nags her; her suitors maliciously attack her; even more terrifying is that she sees his divorced father's new girlfriend - her elementary school classmate......Is this the start of 30-year-old woman's terrible fate? Fortunately, on this day, she even meets an angel. The angel sends her a magic car and proclaims that Nie Bing will have twelve opportunities to choose, each time she turns a corner as long as she signals left and turns right, she will encounter a different type of man. With 12 types of men, one will always be suitable to her, right? The suspecting Nie Bing starts this wonderful love finding adventure. Indeed, the most handsome traffic cop in history with countless crazy female fans first enters her life. When he salutes a fan takes photos; when he says, "How are you" a fan applauds; even when he writes up a ticket someone is crying with excitement......This type of man is very handsome, but living with him is too extreme. Nie Bing flees in a panic. Then, comes the eloquent insurance salesman, rich coal bosses, a big time lawyer with unparalleled chemistry with her, a radiant little brother next door, a talented but depressed artist......a man after another arrives, each with a brilliant advantage but also exposes shortcomings for Nie Bing to nitpick at. Each experience is a hilarious adventure, every adventure leads to a helpless perception. How great would it be if she can live with the advantageous part of men. A year has passed since, Nie Bing has already suffered 11 straight defeats on the love battlefield. Nie Bing has had enough and does not want to play anymore. Nie Bloody tosses away the cursed car keys as she wants to return this car that has brought her pleasant surprises and disappointments of love to the angel. At this time, the twelfth man appears. Would this one be the one for her? Finding love sometimes has such a perspective, just like looking for moving landscape on both sides from the car windows with the most touching scenery is behind the car..... DREAM Can : Bei Mung Lit : Tragic Dream d. Kim Ki-Duk Joe Odagiri (Siu Tin Chik Yeung), Lee Na-Young Rating : IIB Length : 95 mins. Opening January 1 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] "He dreamed...she was charged..." Jin has a nightmare in which while giving his ex a ride home he has a car accident. Out of curiosity he finds where the accident occurs in the dream, never expecting the same exact accident. The police looks for the suspect with closed-circuit television. Jin quietly follows the police in hopes of knowing more. Ran who the police wakes up in the middle of the night denies any wrongdoing and even points out that she has a sweet dream. Jin comes out to confess and says in his dream he is the driver of the accident. Of course, the police ignores him and arrests Ran. Jin and Ran work together to find out the truth but discover they have a strange connection: When Jin dreams, Ran would sleepwalk and do what Jin dreams of... They in the dream world is the same person. DESIRES OF THE HEART Can : Toh Fa Won Lit : Peach Blossom Fortune d. Ma Liwen Ge You, Vivian Wu (Wu Kwan Mui), Fan Bingbing, Song Jia, Li Chen, Cong Shan, Guo Tao, Yuen Qiu, Mei Ting, Li Xiaolu, Duan Yihong Length : 117 mins. Opening December 18 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Luck with the opposite sex, some cannot wait to ask for more, others avoid it like the plague. It is not only outside love but also within desire Luck will tell whether it is a disaster or fortune... Ye is a newly divorced single mother who through a marriage agency gets to know a gentleman Wang Ben, whose pursuit is strong and powerful. His romantic and polite ways have re-ignited the distracted Ye's hope in love, restored her confidence in marriage, and dead set on following him for life until two strange women who claim to be Wang's girlfriends come...Wang Ben disappears, is this suddenly visiting luck with the opposite sex a gift of love from Heaven, or a well-planned fraud?... 9 WINDS AKA WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE TAIWAN CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Tom Lin Shu Yu Rhydian Vaughan, Chang Chieh, Sheng Wei Nian, Wang Bo Chieh Length : 113 mins. Opening December 4 2008 Opening March 21 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=684 [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] The winds of September are the wind of Hsinchu, a strong wind that visits the county and city between September and November. The film takes us back to 1996, during the time of the tragic Taiwan baseball scandal, an event that devastated many teenage boys. The story follows Yen and Tang and their gang through the last year of their high school life. From chasing girls to midnight skinny dipping to rooting for their favorite baseball team, they do everything together. When an accident throws Yen into a coma, their world starts falling apart. A cruel reality has announced itself, can the boys grow up quickly enough to face it? [ COMING SOON ] BREATH d. Kim Ki-Duk Chang Chen, Zia, Ha Jung-Woo [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] On a cold winter day, after learning her husband has found a new woman, Yeon absent mindedly heads for the prison where Chen is confined. Although she does not know him personally, repeated news of his suicide attempts on TV has subconsciously grown in her mind and now is leading her to seek him. Jin has no visitors and normally would not agree to meet with a complete stranger, but hearing that it is a woman he accepts her meeting request out of curiosity. Their first meeting is as awkward as it can get. Yeon treats Jin like an old friend whereas Jin does not open up so easily. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE MAINLAND CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Han Yan Tai Junjie, Wu Xiaoliang, Liu Shuhan, Chi Jia Rating : 105 mins. Opening March 21 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=682 [ THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] Some time before the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China, a Mainland high school stages a variety show to celebrate the occasion. One of the most brilliant openings among the many recent Chinese high school titles, it introduces the unfolding drama of rival groups of "good" and "bad" students and their "internal contradictions", and serves as a continual mental backdrop for the audience: of youth caught in a society whose founding ideology has become obsolete and absurd. SNIPER Can : Sun Cheung Sau Lit : Godly Gunslingers d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Edison Chen Koon Hei, Huang Xiaoming Opening 2009 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Ming is renowned as the top shooter in the police force. However things get complicated after the release of his former teammate and superb marksman Ching from prison. With only vengeance on his mind, Ching wants to take on Ming and the police, believing that they are the ones who put him in jail. When a mysterious sniper sabotages a high-security prisoner transfer and a convict escapes, Ming and his team are dispatched to profile the suspect. KUNG FU CHEF Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Lam Tze Chung Opening 2009 [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS ONLINE ] Jo had kept hatred in his heart for a very long time and did what he could to oust his uncle Wong Bing-Yi (Sammo Hung) from the village and to claim the rights to the “Dragon-Head Cleaver”, a symbol of power to the clan. As Wong Bing-Yi was forced out of the village, he encountered Shen Qing by chance and is determined to help her during the troubled times at her restaurant “Four Seas”. Here, he discovered a young cooking wonder, Lung Kin-Yat. To bring “Four Seas” back to the top, Lung ends up representing “Four Seas” to the competition against Chef Tin, two times “Top Chef” winner and the head chef at “Imperial Palace”, the restaurant owned by Jo. At the day of the finals, Wong Bing-Yi and Jo met privately to try to resolve their problems. Lung shined by overcoming many obstacles and preparing a dish called “Fresh Water Bak-Choy” just as his master, Wong Bing-Yi had taught him. However, the head judge has been bribed by “Imperial Palace” and he is also the master of Chef Tin. Who will finally win the title of “Top Chef”? Can the “Kung Fu Chefs” finally win over the hearts of many? NARUTO SHIPPUDEN 2: BONDS d. Hajime Kamegaki Japanese Animation Length : 90 mins. Opening January 29 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A mysterious group of shinobi attacks the Leaf Village! Actually they are Land of the Sky's Sky Ninjas, whose nation the Leaf Village has vanquished previously. Their use of modern weapons bombards the Leaf Village and nearly brings it to the edge of destruction. Master healer Shinno and his apprentice Amaru arrive in the Leaf Village in hopes of the Leaf hokage would assign a squad to rescue the people of Amaru's hometown. The Sky Shinobi has also attacked Amaru's hometown to find the Sky Shinobi's former headquarter address. The Leaf hokage has ordered an counter attack on the Sky Shinboi while Naruto, Hinata and Sakura follow Shinno to Amaru's hometown. They discover the Sky Shinobi's former headquarter but Sky shinobis have killed Shinno. On the other, Leaf traitor Sasuke under Orochimaru's order heads to Amaru's hometown as well...... CLAUSTROPHOBIA Can : Chun Muk Lit : Intimate d. Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Karen Lam Ka Yun, Tsang Kwok Cheung, Chucky Woo Gei Lan, Andy Hui Chi On, Lok Ying Kwan, Eric Tsang Chi Wai Rating : IIA Length : 101 mins. Opening February 12 2009 Opening November 27 2008 (Limited Release) Opening October 26 2008 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival Opening March 23 at the Tokyo International Film Festival Site : http://www.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=4 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Pearl has quietly fallen in love with her boss Tom, who’s married with a family. Without warning, Tom asks Pearl to interview for another job. Wounded, Pearl demands that Tom terminate her. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Screenwriter Ivy Ho (JULY RHAPSODY) makes her directorial debut with CLAUSTROPHOBIA, using eight scenes and multiple characters to explore the complications and the irony of workplace romance and politics. In a space as small, crowded and claustrophobic as the office, love doesn’t grow - it incubates and breeds, like a virus. HAPPY FLIGHT Can : Hoi Sum Jik Hong Lit : Happy Direct Flight d. Shinobu Yaguchi Ayase Haruka, Seiichi Tanabe Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] "Finally I can fly on international routes!" The always optimistic flight attendant Etsuko is very excited about being able to participate on the international route job that she has looked forward to for a long time and is determined to do everything to its fullest! She never expects that the group of usually elegant and enchanting elders not only wolf down expensive flight meals in the break room but also remove their high heels for foot massage. Before the take of high-spirited novice pilots Suzuki only knows to give a silly laugh when he runs into a massive jet stream...how can two flight rookies turn the adventure into happiness with the passengers? NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME Can : Shui Loi Sau Wu Ngor Lit : Who Would Protect me d. Ryoichi Kimizuka Koichi Sato, Mirai Shida, Ryuhei Matsuda, Yoshino Kimura, Toshiro Yanagiba Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A 18-year-old youth suspected of killing primary school sisters is arrested, his mother and sister's lives at the same moment collapse. The unscrupulous media pursued them day and night, the internet continued to dig and uncover their privacy. They even receive death threats against the whole family. A police officer is ordered to protect the mother and daughter but has aroused strong public reaction. The officer's dark past that few know has also been revealed. The suspect's mother finally cannot take anymore and resort to suicide, as the younger sister finds the homicide's key clues......until this moment, actually no one knows whether the suspect is the real murderer? THREADS OF DESTINY Can : 366 Tin Dik Yeuk Ding Lit : 366 Days Appoinment d. Masanori Murakami Junpei Mizobata, Nao Minamisawa Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] When her first love has just ended, a secondary school student meets a quiet, gentle student Atsushi. Both were born on February 29 and unconsciously they have become attracted to each other. Later she discovers that she has made Atsushi in her childhood and thus is even more convinced that this is the destiny of love. On the other hand, her mother has forced Atsushi to give up this just budding romance! In order to protect his beloved, he can only hold back the pain and disappear in front of her. Fate has arranged for an innocent romance to be filled with suicide, death, drugs, violence, abuse and so many unexpected things in the middle. In the end can the red thread bring them back together and fate destined them to be connected again? THE SHINJUKU INCIDENT Can : Sun Juk Goo Si Lit : Shinjuku Story d. Derek Yee Tung Sing Jackie Chan, Naoto Takenaka (Juk Jung Jik Yun), Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Masaya Kato (Ga Tung Nga Ya), Xu Jinglei, Fan Bingbing, Chin Kar Lok, Paul Chun Pui, Lam Suet, Lian Jin, Jack Kao (Ko Jit) Opening APRIL 2 2009 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] In the early 1990s, a tractor mechanic from China nicknamed Steelhead illegally enters Japan to search for his girlfriend. To make ends meet, he joins his friend in Shinjuku in doing menial labor. Steelhead finds out that his girlfriend has married Eguchi, a Japanese Yakuza leader. Steelhead decides to stay in Japan and work for Eguchi as a hitman. Soon, Steelhead gets used to the power and find himself embroiled so deeply in the ways of the underworld that there is no turning back. --- [ Entertainment URL ] EMPEROR MOTION PICTURES http://www.emp.hk GOLDEN SCENE http://www.goldenscene.com SING PAO http://www.singpao.com THE HONG KONG FILM ARCHIVE http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/hkfa/ CHANG CHUN CHINA FILM FESTIVAL http://www.cc-film.com GOLDEN HARVEST http://www.goldenharvest.com STAR EAST http://www.stareastnet.com CITY ENTERTAINMENT http://www.cityentertainment.com.hk Commercial Radio http://www.crhk.com.hk Television Broadcast Limited http://www.tvb.com.hk --- [ NORTH AMERICA AREA CONCERTS ] Courtesy of our neighbors at : High Level Entertainment's Concert & Event News Center http://www.levelhigh.com http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/1721/hlecaen.htm * Eason Chan live in San Francisco,CA March 22,2009 Eason's Moving On Stage, Eason Chan Live in Concert! Date & Time: Sunday night, March 22,2009 @ 7pm Venue Location: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City, CA 94014 Ticket Prices: $58, $78, $98, $138, $198 VIP tickets on sale now online at: http://www.usastarimage.com/ticket.aspx?id=31 Info & online ticket: www.usastarimage.com concert hotline: 510-651-6888 info email: concert@usastarimage.com ticket outlets: http://www.usastarimage.com/ticket.aspx?id=31 http://www.usastarimage.com Ng Hing Kee SF 415-781-8330 Ng Hing Kee Sunset SF 415-759-1999 Ng Hing Kee Millbrae 650-692-8922 Ng Hing Kee Mountain View 650-969-2034 Ng Hing Kee Oakland 510-272-0822 Ng Hing Kee Milpitas 408-433-5188 World Books SF 415-397-8473 Evergeen Books Milpitas 408-383-9798 Taro Books Cupertino 408-863-1288 Taro Books Newark 510-818-9666 * INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AND MOGEHAN SUN PRESENT JOLIN TSAI WE DANCING ONLINE 2009 CONCERT With Special Guests: Energy DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 8 2009 @ 2AM Sunday, February 8 2009 @ 2 PM VENUE LOCATION: Mohegan Sun Arena Mohengan Sun Uncasville CT TICKET PRICES : $ 168 VIP, 128, 88, 58 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE : www.iemshowplace.com/html/jolin_tsai.html CHINATOWN : 89 Bowery 212.925.1898 FLUSHING International Entertainment Marketing 135-05 40th Rd., 2nd Floor Flushing NY 11354 718-888-3113 BROOKLYN International Entertainment Marketing 5609 8th Ave., 2nd Floor Brooklyn NY 11220 718-437-7717 ELMHURST 85-08 Queens Blvd. 2/F 718.803.3326 EDISON, NEW JERSEY: 1681 Rt.27 Suite 3 732.819.8883 BOSTON : 12A Tyler Street 612.695.1989 * RAYMOND MIU PRODUCTIONS, INC. AND TRUMP TAJ MAHAL PRESENT AIR JUSTIN WORLD TOUR 09 LIVE Special Guests: Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Kary Ng Yu Fei DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 8 2009 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION : Mark G Etess Arena Trump Tah Mahal Casino Resort Atlantic City NJ PRICE : $118, 88, 68, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATION: Raymond Miu Productions 195 Canal Street, Suite 201 New York NY 10013 212.966.0800 www.rmpny.com Tin Ha Travel 817 60th Street, 2/FL Brooklyn NY 11220 718.431.8687 * PRISCILLA CHAN WAI HAN, PHIL CHANG YU NEW YEAR CONCERT DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 1 2009 @ 2AM Sunday, February 1 2009 @ 2PM VENUE LOCATION : MGM Grand Theater MGM Grand at Foxwoods Foxwoods CT TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS : P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street 212.732.3828 Jessica Holdings Ltd. 135-27 40th Rd. Suite 301 Flushing 718.460.2628 Trans-Pacific Travel 11 Tyler St. Boston MA 617.451.3478 * SHOWBOAT AND FUNG ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT A-DU AND TARCY SU SPRING FESTIVAL CONCERT DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 1 2009 @ 2AM VENUE LOCATION : House Of Blues Showboat The Mardi Gras Casino 801 Boardwalk Atlantic City NJ 08401 * TROPICANA ATLANTIC CITY AND SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT ANDY HUI AND WILLIAM SO NEW YEAR CONCERT Special Guests: Eddie Ng Kwok King, Divas DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 1 2009 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION : Adrian Phillips Ballroom Boardwalk Hall 2301 Boardwalk Atlantic City NJ 08401 TICKET PRICES : $128, 68, 38 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS : P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street New York NY 10013 212.732.3828 Apple Travel Services, Inc. 774 60th Street 2/F Brooklyn NY 11220 718.680.6666 Dannys Musical Store 41-46 Main Street Flushing NY 11355 718.358.5678 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : MOV3.COM, Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Sunday January 11 2009 10 MADAGASCAR: ESACPE 2 AFRICA d. Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath DreamWorks Animation Cantonese Voices: Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Krystal Tin Yui Nei, Chow Pak Ho, I Love You Boyz English Voices: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer 9 BEDTIME STORIES d. Adam Shankman Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce 8 SUSPECT X Can : Sun tam Ga Lei Lok Lit : Detective Galileo d. Hiroshi Nishitani Masaharu Fukuyama, Kou Shibaski, Kazuki Kitamura, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Shinichi Tsutsumi 7 FOREVER ENTHRALLED Can : MEI LANFANG d. Chen Kaige Leon Lai Ming, Zhang Ziyi, Sun Hongeli, Chen Hong, Wang Xueqi, Ying Da, Yu Shaoqun, Masanobu Ando 6 TWILIGHT d. Catherine Hardwicke Kirsten Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke 5 ONG BAK 2 d. Panna Ritthikrai, Tony Jaa Tony Jaa 4 LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK Can : Dai Sau Cha Ji Nui Lit : Woman of Big Search Investigation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Zhang Guoli, Chapman To Man Chat, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, Michelle Ye (Yip Shuet), Liu Kai Chi, Lok Ying Kwun, Lo Mik Shuet, Chan Bo Yuen Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) 3 IP MAN d. Wilson Yip Wai Shun Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), Li Ja, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Terry Fan Siu Wong, Lam Ka Tung, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi 2 AUSTRALIA d. Baz Luhrmann Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman 1 TACTICAL UNIT - COMRADES IN ARMS Can : Gei Dung Bo Dui -- Tung Bau d. Vicent Lo (Law Wing Cheong) Maggie Shiu Mei Kei, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lam Suet, Sammuel Peng King Chi, Wong Chi Yin ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS TACTICAL UNIT - COMRADES IN ARMS Rating : IIB Length : 91 mins. Opening January 8 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] In the police force, invisible competition always exists; between colleagues, are they friends or foes? Wa and Maggie leads their subordinates to face an emergency task on the last day before their dissolution: to search the mountains for armored car robbers. Over the the year and a half of their co-leadership, they have become rivals and the team relationship has already become split and rigid. Maggie's team wins praise and promotion from the superior. Wa on the other hand has no hope for a promotion. While in the mountains to look for criminals, two teams split up to search separately but fall under robbers' attack, Wa and Maggie in order to save their colleagues face a severe test. Can they finally cast aside their prejudices and work together to complete the job? IP MAN Rating : IIB Length : 106 mins. Opening December 19 2008 Official Site : http://www.ipman-movie.com [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Adapted from the life story of Ip Man - the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. This movie will be the first important record of the master's life. Ip's persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. Ip Man is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking - and it exemplifies a new peak in Hong Kong's wushu movies. LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK AKA : Cha Ji Nui Lit : Woman of Investigation Rating : IIB Length : 98 mins. Official Site : www.mediaasia.com/lcpc Opening January 1 2009 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] When an oil tanker explodes, John Fok becomes the focus of investigation by the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese police and is forced to put on hold his business to settle things out. Just as John is planning on a comeback, his son is kidnapped. Doomed in love, Senior Inspector Molline Szeto is fed up with her 10-year relationship with her boyfriend. With no prospect of an imminent wedding, she ends the relationship. Excited with her new crossroads in life, she is thrilled to be assigned to investigate the case of John's kidnapped son. ONG BAK 2 Rating : IIB Length : 98 mins. Opening January 1 2008 Official Site : http://www.ongbak2themovie.com [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story takes place five or six centuries ago in Thailand, Tien's father was a patriotic and heroic soldier, but the ambitious high-ranking military officer Rajasena in order to seize power carried out a massacre. Tien witnessed the killing of parents and the loss of his entire family overnight. While he luckily survived, since then his eyes only had hatred. He was determined to avenge his loved ones. Tien's enemy hunted him down but a bandit leader rescued him, adopted him and trained him to become a bandit. Tien trained hard in various martial arts, such as fighting, boxing, or even magic curse; he was able to use a variety of weapons, including knives, swords, sticks and explosives; he mastered everything. After growing up Tien's martial art skills were unrivaled as he became the bandit leader's successor. Yet in the eyes of the Tien, his only goal was to kill Rajasena himself for revenge. He even planned to assassinate Rajasena at his coronation ceremony. Tien risked everything for revenge, but in front of him was an unexpected strong and stubborn enemy. In the ultimate battle with blood, flesh, and soul as the price, only unwavering will would be able to get Tien out of the woods! SUSPECT X Rating : IIA Length : 128 mins. Opening December 24 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A male corpse without a face or fingerprint was discovered. When a cop is assigned the cast and cannot find the deceased' identity, she can only turn to Yukawa, an university physics professor for help. While investigating the case, Yukawa discovers that the neighbor of the deceased's former wife happens to be Tetsuya the mathematical genius of the century during Yukawa's university days. Tetsuya is now a unremarkable high school math teacher who has multiple connections to the case. This time in the battle of the century about the physics genius and the math genius, what tricks can Yukawa pull to resolve this perfect crime? FOREVER ENTHRALLED Rating : IIA Length : 147 mins. Opening January 1 2009 Official Site : http://www.emp.hk/eng/index.htm [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story surrounds the Beijing Opera master of a generation Mei Lanfang's legendary love life -- two women and three men who were the most important in his life. Beautiful on the stage and handsome off the stage, Mei Lanfang early in his career defeated veteran Yan Thirteen and rose to fame. He even set off a romantic spark with the heroic actress Meng Xiaodong. The smart Mei Meng Xiaodong made Mei Lanfang's heart no longer lonely but also broke the heart of Mei's wife Fu Chifang, who even forced Mei's friend Yau Yubai to run interference. Because when Mei's loneliness was driven away, his stage career would be ruined... ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, January 10 2009 15 BELIEVE AS TRUTH Can : Shun Ji Wai Jung Laure (Seung Man Jit), Yu Quan 14 CAN CAN? Can : Hor Yi Hor Yi Ma? Nicholas Tse Ting Fung 13 STRONG HAND IN SONG Can : Gor Jung Keung Sau Alan Luo (Law Chi Cheung) 12 YUNNAN BEAUTY Can : Wan Nam Mei Natasha Na Ying 11 EVEN IF THE WORLD HAS NO FAIRY TALE Can : Jau Shuen Sai Gai Mo Tung Wa Janice Vidal (Wai Lan) 10 DEEPLY LOVED YOU Can : Sum Sum Oi Gor Nei Jacky Xie (Sit Ji Him) 9 LOVE IS THIS SIMPLE Can : Oi Jau Si Jeh Mor Gan Dan Pu Bajia (Po Ba Gap) 8 KING QUEEN Can : Gok Wong Wong Hau Big Mouth 7 EXPOSURE Can : Bo Guong Hins Cheung King Hin 6 AT PEACE Can : On Jing Liu S.H.E 5 PROMISED FORTUNE? Can : Shuet Ho Dik Yun Fok Neh Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) 4 DRUNKEN RED CLIFF Can : Jui Chet Bik JJ Lin Junjie 3 HEART BEAT Can : Sum Tiu Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) 2 SONG WRITTEN FOR YOU Can : Wai Nei Seh Dik Gor Fang Datong 1 P.K. Jasmine Leong (Leung Jing Yu), Gary Cao (Cho Gat) ------ [ Yakety Yak ] The views and opinions expressed here are purely those of the writer and in no way reflect those of Hong Kong Film Top 10 Box Office, its contributors and affiliated web sites. CUT THE CORD Your Chaffing Editor apologizes for the depressing tone to last week's column, which obviously is not conducive to the power of BELIEVE and positive attitude. Apparently Top Ten Central is not the only place that is seeking a bail out from the economic downturn. One of Old Chaffy's favorite source of entertainment (whatever, it is THE soure of his entertainment) is looking for the same thing. What kind of terrible world do we live in? http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20090107/LAW03007012009-1.html Your Chaffing Editor tried to take his mind off the general dour mood and ease into the Home Office pace by seeking comfort in something familiar. Alas, much to his dismay, the familiar has brought something frightfully new to its menu -- Angry Whopper. Since when does food emote? Then again, considered what BK did to the "Whopper Virgins" in its previous ad campaign ANGRY seems appropriate. 8P http://www.adrants.com/2009/01/angry-whopper-bites-back.php Speaking of which, Your Chaffing Editor found an article about this sad Museum of Broken Relationships tour. Upon visiting the official site, the tour will make a stop in San Francisco on Valentine's Day. Your Chaffing Editor would now hum Depeche Mode's BLASPHEMOUS RUMOR to himself while drowning in the irony of it all. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28540958/?gt1=43001 After the last Olympics, Your Chaffing Editor would probably be the latest person to support any Chinese athlete. Unfortunately for Old Chaffy the West has finally caught up with the old country as someone has been introduced to fine American art of flipping the bird. http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/9041334/Chinese-skater-suspended-over-obscene-gesture?MSNHPHMA Another national hero to Your Chaffing Editor is Gu Gu the Giant Panda at the Beijing Zoo. Some people still have not learned that while cute and cuddly looking, panda have teeth and claws. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28554008/ When are people going to learn that turning a protest violent only turn people away from their cause? People of Oakland, this is a protest, not the Black Hole at a Raiders home game! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28555278 Your Chaffing Editor stumbled upon this site. While much to his dismay he was not a match with Angelina or Britney, he was elated to find who his sign was a match with (Hi Juno) Celebrities Love Match http://astrocenter.astrology.msn.com/msn/HPAstroGames.aspx?Af=-1000 Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] HUMAN The Killers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6r4KT8-VX0 I did my best to notice When the call came down the line Up to the platform of surrender I was brought but I was kind And sometimes I get nervous When I see an open door Close your eyes Clear your heart... Cut the cord Are we human? Or are we dancer? My sign is vital My hands are cold And I'm on my knees Looking for the answer Are we human? Or are we dancer? Pay my respects to grace and virtue Send my condolences to good Give my regards to soul and romance, They always did the best they could And so long to devotion You taught me everything I know Wave goodbye Wish me well.. You've got to let me go Are we human? Or are we dancer? My sign is vital My hands are cold And I'm on my knees Looking for the answer Are we human? Or are we dancer? Will your system be alright When you dream of home tonight? There is no message we're receiving Let me know is your heart still beating Are we human? Or are we dancer? My sign is vital My hands are cold And I'm on my knees Looking for the answer You've got to let me know Are we human? Or are we dancer? My sign is vital My hands are cold And I'm on my knees Looking for the answer Are we human Or are we dancer? Are we human? Or are we dancer? Are we human Or are we dancer? ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038