From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (January 15 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. Sharon Chan Man Chi who celebrates her birthday on the 17th B. Wu Fung who celebrates his birthday on the 18th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (1/21/2009) The Lunar New Year film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009)'s leads and director two days ago appeared in Beijing to attend the film's global premiere and a promotion at the Xindongan Plaza, as well as wishing the Mainland audience an early Happy New Year. At the activities, female leads even selected a perfect lover. Everyone thought that the cool guy Louis Koo Tin Lok would win, but in the end Sandra Ng Kwan Yu and the Mainland actress Yao Chen chose Ronald Cheng Chung Kei. Kwan Yu said, "Why would we choose Ronald to be a perfect lover, in a relationship people just want to be happy. Ronald is cheerful and funny, I believe that when I am unhappy he definitely has the ability to cheer me up. So Ronald has to be my choice." In addition, three on screen couples even played candy games at the premiere venue. As the director distributed from above, Cheng Chung Kei and Yao Chen's team was the smartest as Ronald took off his jacket to catch candy. Finally they still lost to Koo Tin Lok and Shin Lijun's team. Ronald even accepted the punishment and performed a Lunar New Year song. * (1/21/2009) The new film LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) last night held a world premiere. The cast including Andy Lau Tak Wa and Shu Qi attended the press conference. Wa Jai's "wedding ring" on his ring finger caused a media frenzy; during the event, Wa Jai and Shu Qi exchanged flattery and both publicly stated that they would wait for the other to wed. Wa Jai's right ring finger had a "ring". The Mainland media asked whether he was married. Wa Jai gave a funny smile, "Thank you for asking, the ring is a Cartier sponsorship." This year is the Year of the Ox, which some claimed that people born under the sign would have big plans. Reporters asked whether as an Ox Wa Jai would wed? He thought the question was very strange. He has already talked about marriage nearly a hundred times, he laughed that if he had to get married on the year of his astrological sign, then he would have to had get married four times, change girlfriends every 12 years and he joked that actually he was already married when he was 12. Wa Jai expressed that perhaps because his "Ox Wa" image was too in depth, people would ask him about the Year of the Ox. Would he tell his fans when he is married? Wa Jai told the media not to worry and revealed that he had a secret code communication with his fans and would surely call to tell them. As for his co-star Shu Qi, Wa Jai had nothing but praise. Both stated that they would wait for the other to wed. Wa Jai said, "I have known Shu Qi for a long time, she has been great to her friends. For example when (Andrew) Lau Wai Keung constantly threw tantrums on the set, sometimes even I would get mad. Yet Shu Qi wouldn't." Wa Jai also revealed that he has dined with Shu Qi and her mother. He found that Shu Qi treated his family very well and stated that this woman was worth marrying. On the other hand, Shu Qi also revealed her admiration for Wa Jai, she frankly stated that Wa Jai had too many attractive qualities and praised him for being attentive and taking care of people around him. He was also able to provide her with a warm feeling. Both discussed their point of view on love. They agreed that they believed love was full of possibilities. Shu Qi has seen a freind whose other half might have been lower class but they were still full of love. Thus she felt that she did not necessarily need to find a boyfriend with money. * (1/20/2009) Jacky Cheung Hok Yau yesterday attended a Disneyland Hong Kong event as the HOng Kong Disney honorary ambassador. Later Hok Yau promoted BOLT. Hok yau two nights ago attended the Radio Hong Kong Golden Needle award presentation to Lam Jik, who Hok Yau felt was an important lyrics writer. He needed to show his support and appreciation since many of his songs came from his hand. As for Lam Jik's wish of developing Cantonese songs into cultural heritage, Hok Yau expressed that he would see how he could help as he did not know whether releasing a few more Cantonese records would. Hok Yau who no longer paid too much attention to music awards thought the recent record company boycotts were bad, because everyone needed to unite to be good. He said, "Now is not good because the lack of unity. I have talked that for more than a decade!" He felt that everyone should look at the big picture and not treat award shows as promotions. He said, "Actually in the past we could have changed but didn't. Now no one is listening to me anymore. As a part of the music scene I felt very sorry." He believed that only unity would bring music back to its past glory. When show business was scattered no one could accomplish anything. He also said that now award shows would only present to friends. If he was an outsider he too would feel that the award was uselss. He also believed that now many singers could make their songs better and turn them into real gold songs. In addition, in the upcoming year Hok Yau revealed that aside a film production at the end of March he also planned to release a new record before the end of the year. He has not yet decided whether it would be a Cantonese or Mandarin record. Has his year long vacation after his world tour ended? Hok Yau said, "It has! 09 had a lot of minor chores so my next concert would be the middle of next year at the soonest." Would he work on Andrew Lau Wai Keung's new film? He joked, "He called me, but he asked me to have dinner with his son! (Would it be a big production?) Small production because it will be shot in Hong Kong. Mainly I had the acting bug, but any big production would take several months in Mainland!" As for New Year wish, he hoped that all the industries and trades would flourish, and good health for him and his family. He will try to make the family happy, and said that if his daughters behaved he would take them to Disneyland. He joked, "But they rarely misbehave." * (1/20/2009) Mandarin New Year comedy ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) starred Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Ronald Cheng Chung Yu. With four master comedians at work, sparks of course flew. Wong Pak Ming and Ng Kwan Yu started first. Kwan Yu not only reprised the sister in law look but also appeared in an exaggerated diving look. In the story L (Wong Pak Ming) asked Yu Chu (Ng Kwan Yu) to go swimming in hopes of getting to know each other better. Yet Yu Chu was in full battle gear as she arrived in an air tight scuba diving suit that disappointed L. Yet Kwan Yu's purple diving suit and colorful swimming cap was truly hilarious and scene stealing, leaving no room for Wong Pak Ming. He said, "I knew about the swimming scene from the screenplay and spent several months to get into shape. Yet Kwan Yu's costume stole the thunder if my six pack abs. She truly is very professional though, with her current value she is still willing to put on such an exaggerated costume. Her victory is well earned." Meanwhile Goo Jai was rolling around in bed in his tank top and shorts. In the story the uninhibited Goo Jai ran into the object of his affection Shen Lijun, who had his heart racing and him at a complete loss. He asked his friend Cheng Chung Kei for advice before daring to make his feeling known. In another scene his sister Yu Chu yelled at his co-workers and they could only play a prank on her. Finally everyone stuffed eight chicken wings into her mouth while she delivered her lines. Her express was interesting. * (1/20/2009) The 59th Berlin Film Festival recently released its participants. The Aaron Kwok Fu Sing starred EMPIRE OF SILVER (BAK NGUN DAI GOK) has been named to screen at the Berlinale Special. Sing Sing was very happy after finding out. He said, "This movie was shot in Shanxi at its coldest, 10 degrees below zero. The process was very difficult. Because of the severe cold and my head was bald, it was easy to catch a cold but I was about to tough out the shoot. Now the film will have its world premiere in Berlin, all the suffering was worthwhile!" The festival's opening film, THE INTERNATIONAL, would be about the funding of war and terror. The event selected EMPIRE OF SILVER for an "echo" premiere on February 12. The film is about Shanxi merchants in the midst of war and displacement still adhering to their commitments and the sense of justice. Because the film's background was also a bank, the event thought that a modern and an end of the Qing Dynasty era bank film could echo each other. Now the team is preparing for the Berlin trip. Originally Sing Sing had work on hand but would try to coordinate the efforts, hoping for a reunion with the team that he has worked with for over five months and to walk the red carpet together. As for whether investors Terry Gou would walk the red carpet with his newlywed wife, a spokesman said, "The itinerary is not yet known, but Chairman Gou feels very pleased with EMPIRE's Berlin premiere." * (1/20/2009) International movie star Jackie Chan has been enthusiastic about charity work. Yesterday Jackie Chan attended the 14th operation to bring warmth 2009 and presented down jackets to 100 seniors at the event. Reportedly Will Smith would produce the film adaptation KARATE KID. Originally Stephen Chow Sing Chi was rumored to play the film's karate master and Will Smith was interested in Chow to be the film's director. Finally Jackie Chan has replaced Chow Sing Chi in the master role. Jackie Chan only said that the film should go to production, but the current title has yet to be decided. As for the production start date, he said, "I won't know until mid February because the Actors' Guild strike may take place during that time in the United States. If the film starts production before the strike then it does not matter, if the strike starts then it won't start production." As for whether he would play the role of the karate master? He said that he still has not received the script so he did not know. Would he replace Chow Sing Chi in the role? He only said, "No one says anything about replacement." Jackie Chan said that on the Lunar 2nd he had advertising work, at the end of next year he would work on a movie CHOR BA WONG (TYRANT CHOR). As for his movie SHINJUKU INCIDENT's rumored Mainland ban, Jackie Chan said that actually when the film was made it never considered a Mainland release. * (1/19/2009) 2008's final music industry report card, the 31st Top Ten Chinese Gold Song awards" took place last night at the Aberdeen Sports Ground. This year's strong performer Kay Tse On Kay won 16 awards and the Four Station alliance Media Award. Her WEDDING INVITATION STREET (HEI TIP GAI) even won the Global Chinese Gold Song Award. As for Joey Yung Cho Yi and Eason Chan Yik Shun each received 15 awards, both lost to Kay by only one award. When Kay received the Gold Song Award, she hug and shook hands With Cho Yi who was rumored to be at odds with her. She also said that whoever won the award did not matter, the most important thing was singer solidarity, mutual support, make good music, and hope music would have less unnecessary gossip. When she performed the award winning song teary eyed, she was also off key. She expressed that she was very happy about 17 awards. She never expected to win the Media Award because in her mind this award was for the heavyweight. How would she celebrate? She said, "I don't know because I really never thought it. It's incredible. (You beat Joey and Eason?) Don't say that, four media outlets jointly presented this award. Each station may have its own standards, but I would like to thank the most the company's publicity staff for doing a good job, and everyone for their support of his record. In the future I will continue to maintain the naive idea and make my own music good, not to think too much about." Last night her husband Louis Cheung Kai Chung was not present to witness her victory, she said that her husband had to work. He is a musician who is focused behind the scene. Would she ask him to celebrate with her? She said, "No, although such a special date would be very romantic, but with co-workers as witnesses I am already very satisfied and happy." Joey and Eason although lost the Media Award last night still each received five awards, including best male and female singer award, the highest annual sales male and female singers Award and the National best singer awards, and so on, their performance was very decent. Thus when Joey performed in the finale, her mood was not abnormal. She also set off the night's climax. When asked about losing to Kay by just one award, Joey expressed that she did not know because she did not count the awards. Instead she felt stressed from being the final performer of the evening, which kept her awake all night. She said, "I know everyone feels that in 08 media world I came up a little short, but I already feel very fulfilled and grown up. I have fond memories, and the world just keeps on turning, in 2009 I will put in a renewed effort, (Do you want to win back the Media Award?) I don't think like that, thank you everyone for your encouragement." Eason also indicated that he was not disappointed. Last year he won 21 awards and this year he only won 15. He believed that was due to the increase of quality singers the competition has increased. However he felt that Kay truly deserved the award. Did he not mind only because he lost to her? He denied, "It doesn't matter, she indeed is amazing. I have always valued quality not quantity. (This year will you try to get back the award?) This is not my goal, you are not great just because of an extra award. I instead care more about the meaning of the award." In addition, Gillian Chung Yun Tung wrote online "We will be back!" Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin was asked whether a Twins comeback is expected this year. She said of course she hoped the sooner the better, but they would have to coordinate with the company first. JJ Lin Junjie who performed with Ah Sa earlier said that once Twins is reformed he would become the third party. Ah Sa comforted him and said that then they could work as a trio. After years away from the music award scene, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau last night made an appearance to present the Golden Needle Award to Lam Jik. Hok Yau expressed that lyrics were very important to the music scene. Many of his songs came from Lam Jik. He also performed a song. While the presentation ceremony last night took place outdoors, the temperature has warmed up a little. Female singers dressed more provocatively. The event even used purple as the female singer dress code. Before singer came on stage they all had jackets to keep them warm. Before the ceremony started, the event played its music and fans began cheering thinking that the event has officially started. Their cheers turned to jeers when instead news broadcast came on. The first Gold Song went to Yung Cho Yi. The event deliberately arranged for Miriam Yeung Chin Wa and Tse On Kay, both of whom were rumored to be at odds with her to present the award. The host even asked Joey to give both a thank you kiss and she complied. As for the "Excellent Popular Mandarin Song Award", originally it went to one person but it went to both Vincy Chan (Wing Yi) and Chan Yik Shun. The event director Fung Wai Tong expressed that they tied in points. When Ah Sa and Fama presented an award, the host asked Ah Sa whether she would like to appear on stage as Twins again after seeing all the members of Fama together. Ah Sa said, "We will be back very soon!" When Leo Ku Kui Ke announced a Gold Song he did not forget to have a little fun with one of the hosts Myolie Wu Hung Yi. The 1992 Top Ten Chinese Gold Song New Artist silver prize winner Lau Shek Ming last night presented the New Artist award. After more than a decade away from a Hong Kong award stage, he felt both familiar and strange. However he also has noticed the new music artists and felt that Wu Hung Yi, Linda Chung Ka Yun and G.E.M. were decent, especially G.E.M. whose singing ability was the strongest. Would he consider another record release? He frankly admitted that he has signed with a Beijing company and will release a record. During the Lunar New Year he would take his wife and daughter to Japan. Turning to Miffty Zhang Mao's return to school to continue her studies, he said it was a good thing. The most important thing was everyone is happy and a happy ending for all. Did he feel she was brave? He said, "It is a good thing, this incident has given her a growth experience. I have great admiration for her and hope that she will now study hard! (Would you urge her to go out less?) I am not her parent." Moreover although East Asia threatened to boycott Radio Hong Kong, East Asia executive Gary (Chan Chi Kwong) and singer Janice Vidal (Wai Lan) attended the event. Actually Wai Lan came to support the Golden Needle Award winner Lam Jik. Sharing an owner with East Asia, A Music also had a singer Yeung Chin Wa in attendance. From another branch of East Asia, Fama also attended and described them as being from the same family tree. When asked why the other branches did not attend, they joked, "I don't know , we are leaves and operate independently from tree branches. (Are you worried that you won't get any award due to East Asia?) We operate independently." HotCha last night only had two members Regen and Crystal present. Actually when they were working on an ad yesterday afternoon, Winkie had an accident with a wooden ladder and the corner of her eye was swollen, fortunately she was fine but needed to go home to rest. Therefore she could not attend. Guest presenter Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam) was asked whether she would agree to present an award to her rumored boyfriend Aaron Kwok Fu Sing. "He is too amazing, he is a Heavenly King. How can I present to him. If the company asked me I wouldn't mind though. I would follow the company's direction." In addition, the stage last night might be too dark and too slippery. Therefore, apart from G.E.M. and Edmond Leung Hong Man slipped on stage one after another, when Chin Wa and Wyman Wong Wai Lam came on stage they too slipped a little. No wonder the hosts often reminded singers to be careful on stage. * (1/18/2009) The 2009 Miss Chinese International pageant took place last night in Foshan. This year 28 candidates competed as candidate 24 Toronto representative Christine Kuo Yun Hui won the title; Hong Kong representative Skye Chan Sin Yeung was the first runner up and Miss Congeniality; second runner up is candidate 26 Vancouver representative Cici Chen Na Liang Zi. Tubingen, Germany representative Julie Thao Lam (Lam Yuk Chun), candidate 25, won Miss Youth. * (1/16/2009) Yesterday at a TVB program taping in Television City, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu invited Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, Denise Ho Wan Si, Niki Chow Lai Kei and others as her guests. Recent reports cited that some Hong Kong directors have been dissatisfied with the Mainland inspection system of film subject matter, to which Lau Wai Keung and Wong Pak Ming felt that they must comply to the Mainland market's rules of the game. They thought the rules were very reasonable. Yesterday's guests were actors and directors of this year's two Lunar New Year films. Host Ng Kwan Yu directly said that was the special arrangements. She said, "This time LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) battles ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009)!" Some Hong Kong directors have been dissatisfied with the Mainland inspection system, which they accused of strangling film subjects. Lau Wai Keung felt that they were free to choose, he said, "Everyone have to follow the market and the rules of the game, if they don't want to play then they don't have to. If they want box office then they have to cater to other people's market taste! For example TVB and ATV have their own systems!" He thought that in choosing to make a movie in Mainland Hong Kong elements have been reduced. Hong Kong directors should have their own production style, but at the same time learn from other people's shooting method, rather than blindly permitting releases as soon as the film shoot ends. Lau Wai Keung also felt that to survive in the market they would have to open their minds and look at what in the framework has potential. Lau Wai Keung also revealed that his 16-year-old son has already started to study film courses, which he said with deep sentiment, "Now he is studying editing. The school has production equipment, how fortunate is he! (Has he inherited your talent?) I don't know, he has seen a lot of movies, but he definitely watches mine first!" Wong Pak Ming said that although both films will be released on January 23, the competition will be healthy. He said, "For many Lunar New Years comedy films have been lacking. This year has two so no one needs to watch PROTEGE (MOON TOH)!" As for Mainland inspection system, Wong Pak Ming explained, "After CEPA the co-production film finance sharing is a good thing, I think that the Mainland rules of the game must be complied to. The Mainland market has always had its own rules, their standards are very reasonable. Film people need to be patient to make movies that are suitable for the Mainland market!" Ng Kwan Yu said that the theme of the interview would be around the value of big name stars, she said, "Both directors have worked with big stars, I would like to know how much big stars charge for their salaries, the audience also wants to know the star's worth. When they make a movie they may make more than an ordinary people can in a lifetime!" Kwan Yu also said, "Back then (Stephen) Chow Sing Chi made two ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL, but the third one Wong Pak Ming said that he could not afford it." When Lau Wai Keung made INFERNAL AFFAIRS he approached her about playing a lady cop. She said, "However I turned it down at the time!" * (1/15/2009) Huayi Brothers after purchasing the film adaptation rights to the award winning novel WIND SOUND (FUNG SING) today held its first press conference. Known as the "Mainland INFERNAL AFFAIRS", this spy war film should be one of the company's largest productions this year. Chen Kuo-Fu and Gao Kunshu would co-direct. The bewildering casting turmoil has finally settled with a powerful ensemble of Zhou Xun, Huang Xiaoming, Li Bingbing and Zhang Hanyu, the company's most popular artists. Today they were all unveiled at the press conference. As soon as the event started, the presenter invited in order Zhang Hanyu, Li Bingbing, Zhou Xun and Huang Xiaoming to the stage for "interrogation". They each revealed their roles in the film. Zhou Xun would play the free and easygoing beauty Gu Xiaomong, Li Bingbing would play the cautious and calm the military information bureau's electronic information translation department chief Li Ningyu, Zhang Hanyu would play the puppet army leader, Wu Zhiguo, and Huang Xiaoming this time had to thoroughly reverse his image to play a Japanese military officer, Takeda. It was learned that Huang Xiaoming's Takeda would be rather handsome. Oozing madness under a calm exterior, he would be the novel's top villain. The entire story would revolve around his search for a spy in the puppet army as he alone battled wits with five suspects. He could be said that the beginning and the end of the story. However Huang Xiaoming also revealed that when compared to the novel, the villain in the film would have very different. He would have a cold-blooded side, and a tender side, a complex body of contradictions that to him would be an extremely enormous test and challenge. To this end, he has been fully prepared. Not only has he seen many excellent World War II films, but he also has been actively studying Japanese. He said, "For any role that I am going to take, the premise is to not to repeat myself. I believe that in this movie, everyone will see a different Huang Xiaoming." * (1/15/2009) After sixteen years without a New Year film, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu this year because of the Mandarin film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) would again see the audience in the New Year. Recalling past ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL films, Kwan Yu has worked with big stars like Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Maggie Cheung Man Yuk and Stephen Chow Sing Chi; but now she is working with an all new team. She smiled. "It's a really big different from back then because I am already in my early 40s. (Yet you still look great!) Numbers are numbers, but I won't regret and miss the past because an actor's career has to go downhill. If I have any regret it would be over the people. (After so many years away do you have any expectation?) (Raymond) Wong Pak Ming's the recent momentum has been good, I hoped that he would continue its strong momentum." Back then Kwan Yu has set off many sparks with Gor Gor and Sing Jai, but this time she had the best chemistry with Wong Pak Ming rather than the handsome Louis Koo Tin Lok. She said, "Although I haven't seen Wong Pak Ming in more than a decade, but we still had a good understanding of each other (because you are from the same generation?) Of course not, he is much older than me, but he has kept himself in good shape; even better than Koo Tin Lok. All he has to do is fix his face, ha ha!" As for Hong Kong film market's continuing weakness, Kwan Yu also lamented that many behind-the-scenes staff changed jobs. Thus even her boyfriend Peter Chan Ho Sun has asked her to make movies again. She also has thought about making movies with her own money to revive the film industry, but a good screenplay is hard to find. Would she be willing to reduce her salary? She said, "That's negotiable, a valuable actor wouldn't reduce a cent. Yet I am stuck in the middle. I can go either way. (Are you making movies for award or box office now?) I would rather have box office because no matter how bad it is there is a limit. Award is not absolutely guaranteed, and the jury's assessment of me is much more stringent." Recently a number of stars have returned to television, such as Anita Yuen Wing Yi, Kathy Chow Hoi Mei, Ray Lui Leung wai and Chik Mei Chun. Kwan Yu recently also host a TVB program but she had no intention of making a series again. She said, "Hosting was just accidental. Actually back then I very quickly left television so I had no tie to it. I had no desire to make a representative work. Although (Stephen) Chan Chi Wan has spoken to me, but I feel Hong Kong television series production traps people in the studio like a cage match. It's very tough. Instead Mainland production is still viable because their single camera production has more texture." In addition, her and Chan Chun's daughter has become more grown up by the day, when would they intend to officially marry? Free and easy going, she said, "Not yet! Let me consider it! Perhaps when he screws around then I would! Taking a big chuck out of him!" Actually when their daughter was 1 they already held a banquet in Thailand so their friends and family felt like they were already married. They only needed a signature. She joked, "We too want to have fond memories, we hope to find a special place before tying the knot. People (referring to Joe Ngai Chun and Vivian Chow Wai Man) have already done it at home, we don't want to do it in a Hong Kong, perhaps when he is making a movie we will tie the knot on the set!" Although she is in no hurry to get married, Kwan Yu really wants another child. She said, "I feel my career is my child and not show business. Children will be the sustenance of the rest of my life, so I have been making quite an effort and haven't stopped, but I don't want to when I get a little tired, too full or too starved. In addition a month only has two conception days, a month goes by so fast that we can only keep trying." Hopefully in 09 Kwan Yu will be successful! [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 20 2009, FILM WORDS RED CLIFF II'S PLUS AND MINUS RED CLIFF I was a prelude, the Battle of Red Cliff was not officially launched until RED CLIFF II. The late fire fight was very fierce and indeed full of effort, so its box office was well deserved. However whether it would satisfy people there was much controversy. After all, John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) has taken THREE KINGDOMS' most famous Battle of Red Cliff to the silver screen, the process of which was very arduous. He has attempted to take into account a real sense of history and the legend of the Romance, but he also has to respond to the modern audience. It is difficult to be all things to all people. I think that as an unprecedented Chinese film industry effort, the film has achieved high gratification with high difficult big battles. Yet I do not like certain major "transformation" of characters and circumstances. The film has the Zhou Yu anti-spy strategy and the Kong Ming straw boat "arrow borrowing" scheme that THREE KINGDOMS fans are familiar are, it also subtly changed them to a two-pronged approach to strengthen the persuasiveness of Cao Cao's fall. However the anti spy and the arrow borrowing scenarios ultimately were a little childish. Cao Cao's use of an epidemic was a new creation that could barely be considered acceptable. Yet it did not properly use the role of the godly physician Hua Tuo. As for Kong Ming (Takeshi Kaneshiro) borrowing the East Wind, he did not establish an altar to practice magic; instead he used the knowledge of astronomy and geography, which was reasonable. He also released Kong Ming lanterns, which also was appropriately arranged. The most outrageous liberties were taken with the two leading actress. Sun Quan's younger sister Sun Xiangxiang actually disguised herself as a soldier to go uncover in the Cao camp, which indeed was exaggerated drama. Fortunately, Vicki Zhao Wei's performance was lively. Her encounter with a "jock" was also lovably silly. The most problematic was Zhou Yu's beloved wife Xiaoqiao, who at the critical moment went to meet Cao Cao alone across the river and became the key of the Cao Army's defeat. It was made too unreasonable and had no way of making Lin Chiling a beauty that could conquer cities and countries. The film's later battles were the most prominent, from the torching of the Armada to storming the Cao base camp on land. They were very explosive, brutal and vicious. I still think that the shield arrays were too simple and their practical value was highly doubtful, but the whole battlefield atmosphere was fierce, prop designs and special effects were decent, seemingly a large number of live performers even risked their lives. However, the climatic finale of the lead's life and death duel in which Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) saved the beauty and confronted Cao Cao, replaced guns with swords to reproduce the classic Ng Yu Sum gun fights, was looking for drama to act out. In addition after the major victory Cao Cao was released without reason in place of Lord Guan's release of Cao Cao at the Huarong Trail was very unreasonable. The entire film certainly took a lot of effort and did not just rely on changes and creativity. Unfortunately, the key points were changed poorly and the screenplay was less than appropriate. Actor wise, the most charismatic was Zhang Fengyi as the villain Cao Cao. Zhao Wei was interesting. Leung Chiu Wai and Gum Sing Mo lost luster. Liu, Guan and Zhang remained without any the demeanor of major generals. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 20 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS LARGE HONG KONG FILMS HAVE LOST THEIR ADVANTAGE Even if mainland inspection is completely relaxed starting today, the writer feels that Hong Kong film may not necessarily get out of the bottom immediately. As recent year performance has shown, Hong Kong film no longer has the advantage in terms of large scale films. Certain Mainland directors are indeed subject to certain protection policies, but aside from the protection they are more able to grasp Mainland audience taste than Hong Kong directors. Such directors are not large in numbers, or only a few may be named. Many Hong Kong directors are more mature with large film operation. In contrast some well-known Hong Kong directors have not performed as well as they have with large films, which has not only been reflected in the box office but also in the word-of-mouth. They can neither please Mainland viewers nor Hong Kong viewers. Preferences of the two locations' audience had differences. The reality was that large film investments, balancing the pros and cons, must first take care of the Mainland market. Thus if the inspection has been relaxed, it would not mean that this market could be won immediately. Both locations have not had any small and medium-sized film that were considered too well done. From another point of view, there was a lot of room for improvement. Hong Kong's medium-sized films had the highest risk and faced the most Mainland inspection constraints because they could not be without the Mainland revenue. Otherwise the chance of a loss would be enormous. However, do movies have to have the Mainland market? Not necessarily. The solution would be doing well in both local and markets outside the Mainland. Unfortunately, some people thought that restructuring the traditional Hong Kong film markets would be harder than to resolve the Mainland market issues. Why the traditional Asian markets no longer like Hong Kong films was an issue that was worth studying. In these locations the issue was not with inspection or Hong Kong films were not good enough, but the quality no longer match their tastes, or their own films have improved and became more suitable for their own tastes. The writer has more than once stressed that Hong Kong films should make their own style while keeping entertainment value in mind, which would be the way to long-term survival. Authentic style production is not confined to the local market, keeping audience's taste everywhere in mind is not possible. Their own unique style instead would make people like them. Successful Hollywood films are very American. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 18 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MAINLAND INSPECTION HAS NOT HARMED CREATIVE FREEDOM The cross-strait three land director seminar recently took place in Hong Kong, some directors believed that the Mainland inspection angle is detrimental to creative freedom. The fight for relaxed inspection did not just start today, but the writer feels that film investors are the ones who harm the creative freedom. With one country, two systems, Hong Kong has its censorship system in Hong Kong, Mainland China has its own. From a political level, for a country to follow the Special Administrative Region's system it is impossible. From a market perspective, Mainland without any doubt is a very large market. When Hong Kong films want to enter Mainland, they have a system to regulate. Whether it is loose or tight it is their issue. If you are displeased with their system, you can abandon their market. Malaysia also has very strict system, we rarely require them to relax and our creative freedom has not been damaged. The reason is very simple, their revenue is not the most significant part of Hong Kong films. When Hong Kong films are sold to Malaysia, they still would be cut. What local overseas Chinese see on the big screen is not the original full version. Malaysia piracy is quite formidable precisely because the full version can be seen on pirated videos. Previously most Mainland viewers watched Hong Kong films illegaly. They love them because they were full of creative freedom. Mainland inspection not only targeted film co-production and imports, Mainland productions were also subject to the same restrictions. Basically the system is fair. The biggest problem Hong Kong films encountered was the contraction of traditional markets, the Mainland film market at this time opened up and expanded, in turn becoming a life saver. At the market peak the Mainland revenue was not necessary. For awhile Taiwan was Hong Kong's largest market. Southeast Asia and South Korea also provided decent income. Film investors now rely on the Mainland market, so they ask for film creations to first meet the criteria of the Mainland inspection standards. If investors dare to take the risk, either focus on the local market or cooperating with markets other than the Mainland, they can also enjoy complete creative freedom. When a film is completed and sent for the Mainland inspection, it is cut according to the system. If it is not approved then let it go. This is the solution. Mainland film system will finally be open, the writer does not think that will happen too soon or for Hong Kong films. As former ATV president Wang Weiqi said, no one should not rely on long-term support from "Grandpa". - KWOK HIN CHING 4. TA KUNG PAO, JANUARY 18 2009 ARTISTS WED OVERSEAS TO PROTECT PRIVACY Last December when the media chose the "2008 Top Ten Entertainment News", someone asked a question: why lately these entertainment celebrities have chosen to go abroad for their wedding? At that time, everyone was busy with the selection so no one responded or had interest to examine in depth. Nothing came of it. A few days ago with the news of Dicky Cheung Wai Kin's wedding in the Philippines, this issue again surfaced in my mind. In the end what is the problem then? Hong Kong's ability to host an event has absolutely no room for doubt. We have a host of world-class meeting experience. Last year's Olympic equestrian events and at the end of last year the Clinton Foundation global activities all took place successfully, which may be sufficient to prove the point; as for banquet venue, the array is dazzling. We have internationally renowned five-star hotels, as well as distinguished private clubs, or top restaurants, their reception standards and food grade I believe absolutely can compare to Bhutan, Singapore or the Philippines favorably. Blending the cultures of the East and West, Hong Kong has always been proud of the reputation of its food, which is also one of its selling points that attracts tourists. Not long ago, even the internationally renowned Michelin awarded ratings to some Hong Kong eateries. Obviously its attraction can be seen (although the result of this incident aroused much controversy). As for wedding venues, Hong Kong of course has the historical monuments and religious sites to choose from, both Chinese and foreign place, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, so that should not be the source of the problem. Then what is the real reason? My only thought is that they fear Hong Kong's banquet venue security is not tight enough, or they worried that the staff in place may not be professional enough, may divulge details on the wedding, or even permit media to enter the venue and cover the event, in turn impacting the wedding ceremony progress and disturbing the guests. Thus they would rather traveling afar to hold their wedding ceremonies. If this is really the reason, then we really have suffered significant losses. In these entertainment celebrity weddings, I noticed that the local government's tourism sector plays a key supporting role and would treat them as grand events with full ethnic color activity coordination. With various media coverage and deconstruction, the events actually become free and ambitiously effective tourism and cultural promotional activities. Our tourism authorities spend all day wrecking their brains to promote Hong Kong and tourism. Why has no one thought of coordinating efforts to help and contribute in this area, instead of handing over an excellent publicity opportunities over to others. - CHUI HIU 5. TA KUNG PAO, JANUARY 18 2009 BRUCE LEE MUSEUM HAS HOPE TO BE BUILT Hong Kong's ambition to build a Bruce Lee Memorial Hall, after centuries of anticipation recently a final decision has been made. A wealthy businessman has agreed to donate the property of Bruce Lee's former home at 41 Kimberley Road, Kowloon Tong to be used for museum purposes, pending the deliberations of the other segments. To "Dragon fans," Bruce Lee's fans in particular, the news has been regarded as great. After the completion of the monumental landmark, it would be meaningful to the elevation of Hong Kong's tourism industry, upgrade of local film and martial art industry culture. Since in November 2005 a bronze statue of Bruce Lee was erected on the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui, many visitors have made it a must stop spot on their travels. Kowloon Tong's Double Dragon gathering symbols, Bruce Lee's former home and Jackie Chan's production company, have long been stops for fans. The former before the museum construction was still an operating motel, while the latter was a private office that would not be open to the public. Visitors can only visit outside and pose for pictures in a close encounter. Bruce Lee's passing has already stepped into its 36th year, the memorial construction plans finally show signs of life. The official and civilian minds seems determined to do this job well. The former Dragon residence had only 5000 feet. Yu Peng Nin proposed to add 20,000 square feet of land for the new buildings, set up Bruce Lee Museum's main building, as well as a film museum, library and martial arts hall. He has made careful consideration himself in order to make the best use. Once all the necessary construction and operation costs have been confirmed and appropriate personnel assignment to monitor them; even if the costs would be expensive, they would certainly be money well spent. Because of the historical mission. Famous people in the industry have already made inquires and intent to support. Bruce Lee's fan support has never wavered. Over the past three decades, at Bruce Lee's birthday and death anniversary, the related organizations have never stopped sponsoring memorial activities. Bruce Lee Club has been the most focused. Au Kam Tong, whose devotion has already made him resemble his idol, 12 years ago has made a short film in commemoration. In the new millennium, he even raised funds for a public Bruce Lee Museum. Unfortunately due to a lack of funding, the exhibit only lasted a year. Over the years, a number of super fans who respect Bruce Lee, due to different ideas of memorializing their idol, created internal strife from pulling rank to martial art challenges. Infighting even appeared due to conflicts of interest and they turned into enemies. The fact also showed that for such an international superstar-class museum, with funding and checks and balances of power government operation would be more appropriate. The process also involves Bruce Lee's family for display copyright and artifact approval. In any case, this grand vision finally will be implemented in a few years at the sound of the gavel for confirmation. Pulling selfish interests aside, the general direction should be an effort to bring light to Hong Kong and extend the martial art saint of a generation's persistence. People from all walks of life would shoulder the heavy responsibility to ensure that the glory of the Dragon to shine on forever. The topic of Bruce Lee Memorial Hall construction extends to other superstar artists memorial ideas, should they be brought to fruition they would do one better than the already star studded Avenue of Stars. With veterans like Linda Lin Dai, Leung Sing Po, Yam Kim Fai and others, or the more recent Anita Mui Yim Fong, Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing, Danny Chan Pak Keung and Wong Ka Kui, their legendary stardom may have already been cast in wax sculptures. From a Hong Kong prosperity and enlightenment point of view, these immortal stars would also have recognition that can be traced and recorded. The idea is worthy of consideration. - CHOW YI 6. TA KUNG PAO, JANUARY 18 2009 THE NEW DIRECTOR WAY OF SURVIVAL The tenth annual cross-strait director seminar ended last Tuesday. A large number of directors from three lands attended, and the topics that were discussed were very broad. Allegedly it was the best done seminar. This year a group of outstanding young directors attended. They included KEKEXILI's Lu Chuan, CAPE NO. 7's Wei Te-Sheng, ORZ BOYZ' Yang Ya-Che. One of the interesting question was the issue of young director "survival". CAPE NO. 7's NT$500 million box-office created Taiwan's Chinese-language film history, but the director's fund-raising process was very difficult. Director Wei in addition to mortgage the house also borrowed money from everywhere. He was able to successful produce the film with the addition of Taiwan film assistance fund. Actually this approach for borrowing money everywhere for one desperate wager almost was the most common among new director filmmaking fund raising methods. Surprisingly, new directors were enthusiastic and faced it frankly. ORZ BOYZ director Yang even jokingly said, "I was luckier. I didn't have to mortgage my home because my investors mortgaged her mother's home." Truly the newborn calf was not afraid of "pain." However, when some new directors' movies generated losses they had to make a living to pay off the debt. Only they would know the pain. Hong Kong in the past also had similar cases. Some new directors even had to sign guarantees, if film companies lost money they may confiscate their salary and reserve the right to pursue further. More than a decade ago, when director Derek Yee Tung Sing directed C'EST LA VIE MON CHERI (SUN BUT LIU CHING) he too borrowed money and mortgaged his home. Finally the film made over 30 million and became his career's turning point, but more examples are just the opposite. Not only do the films lose money but also lack recognition. Director Pang Ho Cheung said that he went to look for a investors with a script. Investors felt that the film would not make money so the director borrowed money to make the movie. Finally Pang Ho Cheung said, he used his and his friends' money to prove investors right. He indeed is a realistic yet humorous creators. Examples like CAPE NO. 7 and C'EST LA VIE MON CHERI are few. Both directors believe in their works and receive fame and fortune after quieting voices of opposition. When young people want to direct and make their own work, working in other film positions first then switch to direct would be the best. Attending the meeting this time, Taiwan director association chief Hou Hsiao Hsien before directing was a writer and an assistant director. He has written many hit commercial films then he became an internationally renowned director. Hong Kong's Wong Kar Wai also was a productive commercial film writer, Andrew Lau Wai Keung was an outstanding cinematographer turned director. They have achieved outstanding performance at a certain film post then become directors. This transformation has two advantages, first is with familiarity in one aspect of the integrated arts they can focus more on unfamiliar areas; the second is they already have a certain visibility and strength, investors will have more confidence in their projects. However, no matter how young directors make movies, the most important thing is the quality of work itself. Investors and the audience has always been in charge of "their right to live or die." - TIN LIK 7. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 17 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS HONG KONG FILMS HAVE A CHANCE TO REIGN TWO SLOTS Hong Kong films finally have a chance to reign once. For several major dates the West has crushed the East, this Christmas however was an exception. IP MAN after 27 days (as of Wednesday) in release received 24.6 million, 6 million more than the second place THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL's 18,710,000. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL was released 8 days earlier than IP MAN. Yet on the cumulative box office the second to fifth place films were all non Chinese films, MADAGASCAR ESCAPE 2 AFRICA came in third, TWILIGHT in fourth and SUSPECT X in fifth place. The Chinese film victory in this slot of course is related to Hollywood film failure. The U.S. writer striker earlier has affected several big films' progress. IP MAN is a rare co-production film that retains the Hong Kong flavor. In Hong Kong it has made more than 24 million at the box office, and in Mainland it also received over 100 million. When it opened, the Mainland box office reportedly was not too great. Fortunately it had strong staying power. The sequel should be inevitable, due to word of mouth its performance would be better than this film. Of course, if the new HARRY POTTER film was made in time for Christmas it definitely would have been the box office champion. Yet it would not have affected IP MAN's revenue. Released only in 2009, the Hong Kong film LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK (DAI SAU CHA JI NUI) had better word of mouth than box office. After two weeks it made 7.14 million, which was considered decent for Hong Kong film. In the Chinese New Year period Chinese films also looked optimistic, RED CLIFF II would open first, ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) and LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) would be released next week. Foreign film competition was not considered too strong, Chinese film in estimate should have extremely high chance at victory. RED CLIFF II is a super production. Although the first film was accused of being different from our familiar THREE KINGDOMS story it did not lack supporters. Young viewers did not mind whether the film was historically accurate, the most important thing was whether it was entertaining. LOOK FOR A STAR has Andy Lau Tak Wa and Shu Qi. With romance as its selling point, the film's director Andrew Lau Wai Keung is also a confidence guarantee. ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL is cheerful enough. Comedy has always been a popular genre, but the audience requires a serious production. - KWOK HIN CHING 8. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 16 2009, FILM WORDS PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA RETURNS TO CHILDHOOD The 67-year-old Hayao Miyazaki remains the animation king, a national treasure with a long victory record in the Japanese film history. His new film PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA has been a mad success in Japan and also became one of the first Hong Kong Year of the Ox Lunar New Year period hot films. Always a child at heart, Hayao Miyazaki this time is especially "infantile" as he truly returns to childhood. In comparison to his previous films SPIRITED AWAY and HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, both the story and the artwork are much simpler, youth and adult audiences will probably feel that they are "childish." Yet when compared to his son Goro Miyazaki directed TALES FROM EARTHSEA and his disciples Hiroshi Morita's THE CAT RETURNS, Hayao Miyazaki ultimately is more interesting. He originally created and directed the film about a modern Japanese island boy's relationship with a goldfish. The main plot is a big tsunami crisis, in which the small goldfish turns magically into a girl to ride out the tough times with the boy. The film's cartoon roles all have maintained the flat, single line, hand drawn traditional features. With crayon painted scenery, the film makes the island's beautiful natural environment and modern everyday life. The boy and his mother are only ordinary, the most vivid is the goldfish girl whose ride on the stormy sea is a lot of fun. She is passionate and direct, loves ham and is very cute. She also has magic to enlarge a small toy boat to ride on, this wild girl is filled with fairy tale comedy. However the underwater world in this film is rather simple, not as varying as the United States animation FINDING NEMO. In addition the "demon" and the beautiful water fairy seem to be evil and good but they actually are the goldfish girl's parents. They turn the film into a doomsday science fiction mythology that has no clear explanation and remains baffling. Hayao Miyazaki's animated films, LAPUTA, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO and SPIRITED AWAY are the best, PRINCESS MONONOKE and HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE also have brilliant moments. PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA is not his best effort representative work, fortunately the goldfish girl is cute. Yet she is not lively enough. Among the romantic legends between man and fish, the West's mermaid beautiful fairy tale is the most famous. Actually the East has its own versions too. In the Yue opera classic CHASING FISH a fish fairy turns into a beautiful woman who falls in love with a scholar and causes real and fake heiress, real and fake judge mystery. In LIU YI CHUAN SHU Liu Yi helps the Dragon King's daughter, which is also very classic. This time Hayao Miyazaki amidst the modern and the Westernized still has some Eastern elements. Thus it is different from others, though not yet perfect. In any case, Hayao Miyazaki often talks about retirement but continues to create, which is a good thing. Fans can look forward to this little film would return with a truly wonderful work. - SHEK KEI 9. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 15 2009, FILM WORDS 2008 HONG KONG FILM ADAPTED TO ADVERSITY In 2008 Chinese film, Hong Kong directors and stars still had the most commercial appeal; but as Hong Kong film viewers reduced in number, Mainland China became a major market and production base. While catering to the Mainland tastes and official inspections, films were often caught in a dilemma. The most success films in the Greater China market all year were John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) and Stephen Chow Sing Chi's CJ7 (CHEUNG GONG 7 HO). The former was very arduous while the latter could only make joy from pain. Costume war films in addition to RED CLIFF also had Daniel Lee Yan Kong's THREE KINGDOMS RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON (SAM GOK ji GEIN LUNG SEH GAP), which was such a free adaptation that it made wanton changes. Ching Siu Tung's WARRIORS AND THE EMPRESS (GONG SAN MEI YUN) was even more fictional. Gordon Chan Ka Seung's PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) added soldiers, martial art heroes and multiple sided romance to the strange ghost tale. its box office was surprisingly great but would Mainland open up to ghost films? Inspection standards were still far from clear. Modern human and ghost romantic mystery were plenty, including Johnnie To Kei Fung's LINGER (WU DIP FEI) and Tsui Hark's THE MISSING (SUM HOI CHUM YUN). Neither was ideal. New Singapore director Tong Wing Kin's supernatural police film RULE NUMBER ONE (DAI YUT GAI) was very special but out of control. To Kei Fung's pickpocket film SPARROW (MAN JEUK) had more nostalgic flavor but did not try hard enough. Actually Tsui Hark's MISSING and romantic comedy ALL ABOUT WOMEN (NUI YUN BUT WAI) were full of mysteries and color, the problem was that they concocted excessively. Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga)'s mafia family film RUN PAPA RUN (YUT GOR HO BA BA) was vivid and interesting. Herman Yau Lai To's TRUE WOMEN FOR SALE (SING GUNG JOK JEH 2) achieved the lower class neighborhood feel, but was more nostalgic than innovating. Among Hong Kong police film productions Dante Lam Chiu Yin's BEAST STALKER (JING YUN) was better and had decent box office, Benny Chan Muk Sing's CONNECTED (BO CHI TUNG WA) was no match for its United States original version, Soi Cheang Po Shui's Japanese manga adaptation SHAMO (KWUN GAI) had both strong action and visuals but was excessively violent and deranged. Ann Hui On Wa's realistic human piece THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH) had commendable sincerity but was very alternative. New director Mak Hei Yun's HIGH NOON (GAU GONG FUNG: LIT YUT DONG HUNG) was not yet mature. Many independent directors co-created DECADE OF LOVE (SUP FUN JUNG CHING) had several decent segments but little audience attention. Fortunately at the end of the year martial art film IP MAN was soundly made and had strong momentum that brought Hong Kong film some good news. As long as Hong Kong film is not dead, it still has gong fu to stay the course amid adversity. Last year among Mainland film releases in Hong Kong, Chinese Communist soldier film THE ASSEMBLY was the most outstanding but recognized too much Chinese killing Chinese. Korean and Thai film's allure has dwindled. Japanese films maintained its East Asian popular culture advantages, but they were too obsessed with death. More exciting was SUSPECT X. South Korean Kwak Jae-Yong's Japanese film CYBORG SHE was also partially wonderful and interesting. - SHEK KEI [ 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 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 26 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? 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 : Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For the week of January 10-16 2009 10 IF YOU ARE THE ONE Can : Fei Sing Muk Yau Lit : Not Sincere Do Not Disturb d. Feng Xiaogang Ge You, Shu Qi 9 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 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 TWILIGHT d. Catherine Hardwicke Kirsten Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke 6 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) 5 AUSTRALIA d. Baz Luhrmann Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman 4 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 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 PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA d. Hayao Miyazaki Japanese Animation 1 RED CLIFF II 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 ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS RED CLIFF II AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF 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 dark 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! PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA Rating : I Length : 101 mins. Opening January 17 2009 Official Site : http://www.ghibli.jp/ponyo [ 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. 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. 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... IF YOU ARE THE ONE Rating : IIA Length : 127 mins. Opening December 24 2008 Official Site : http://www.mediaasia.com/iyato [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Overseas Chinese entrepreneur Qin Fen has truly lived up to the term "return from the sea", only returning from the United Stated to Beijing to visit his aging mother after his father's passing. He was 40 something and still single. Home again he got the idea to wed and published a lengthy marriage recruitment ad in the newspaper. This ad that ends with 'if insincere do not disturb' attracts many women with different state of mind for encounters, including a woman who talks to her pet about her feelings, a cemetery salesman, a frigid young woman and a pregnant young girl who is looking for a father for her child. The more Qin Fen goes on the more fun he has. Among the dates, Qin Fen finally meets Siu Siu, a woman who truly touches his heart but also is a flight attendant who is involved in an extra-marital affair. They do not fall in love at first sight, not to mention get along; but like a pair of nemesis, surprisingly they always run into each other from time to time, Siu Siu on a rare occasion can use his shoulder to lend on. Qin Fen finds her naughty smile very acceptable. As both have needs to fulfill, they unknowingly spark off a delicate relationship. However, no matter what, Siu Siu and that man have a hard time with breaking off ties while Qin Fe always seems to be waiting by her side. Finally, Siu Siu is determined to go with Qin Fen on a trip to Hokkaido, and agrees if she can resolve her heart's shackles, they would marry immediately. When the two arrive in Hokkaido, Qin Fen at first does not understand why Siu Siu would insist on coming to this cold town, only to find out that the location is where Siu Siu's love story started. Two months later, Qin Fen has spent over 60 days with Siu Siu's "recovery", she has already gone from a lost person back to a cheerful woman. Qin Fen in these days truly get to know this wonderful woman and loves her even more. They already are no longer two lonely people who meet over a marriage ad, but a true hearted couple who has suffered and shared joy and sorrow together. ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, January 17 2009 15 YUNNAN BEAUTY Can : Wan Nam Mei Natasha Na Ying 14 EVEN IF THE WORLD HAS NO FAIRY TALE Can : Jau Shuen Sai Gai Mo Tung Wa Janice Vidal (Wai Lan) 13 DRUNKEN RED CLIFF Can : Jui Chet Bik JJ Lin Junjie 12 I WISH Andy Lau Tak Wa 11 KING QUEEN Can : Gok Wong Wong Hau Big Mouth 10 SUDDENLY MISS YOU ALOT Can : Dut Ying Ho Seung Nei May Day 9 PROMISED FORTUNE? Can : Shuet Ho Dik Yun Fok Neh Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) 8 BELIEVE AS TRUTH Can : Shun Ji Wai Jung Laure (Seung Man Jit), Yu Quan 7 DEEPLY LOVED YOU Can : Sum Sum Oi Gor Nei Jacky Xie (Sit Ji Him) 6 LOVE IS THIS SIMPLE Can : Oi Jau Si Jeh Mor Gan Dan Pu Bajia (Po Ba Gap) 5 HEART BEAT Can : Sum Tiu Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) 4 P.K. Jasmine Leong (Leung Jing Yu), Gary Cao (Cho Gat) 3 LOVE MORE AND MORE Can : Yuet Loi Yuet Oi Fahrenheit (Fei Lun Hoi) 2 EXPOSURE Can : Bo Guong Hins Cheung King Hin 1 SONG WRITTEN FOR YOU Can : Wai Nei Seh Dik Gor Fang Datong ------ [ 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. WE MUST PICK OURSELVES UP Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the Presidential Inauguration have shortened this work week substantially. Your Chaffing Editor for once agreed with the new President when he called for us to "pick ourselves up". Swept up in all the excitement, Your Chaffing Editor decided to support the new President's call for action. The result sent a terrified Old Chaffy running and screaming, "There is a creepy guy trying to pick me up in the mirror!" An important lesson to learn in the new era: rejecting yourself does nothing for your self esteem. Then again, if you flubbed the Presidential oath, do you still get to be President? Filed under the yet another sign of the end of the world department: the temperature has dropped to single digit (much like Your Chaffing Editor's intelligence) in Fahrenheit, 20 degrees below the normal average. In addition, a plane landed on the Hudson River. Fortunately everyone on board was safely rescued. Oh yeah, the Phoenix Cardinals are in the Superbowl. Even in the virtual world of f^c