From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (February 12 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. Chiu Wing Hung who celebrates his birthday on the 20th B. Star choreographer Sunny Wong Kwok Wing and model Angela Hung Wa who wed on the 16th C. Miki Yeung Oi Kun who celebrates her birthday on the 14th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (2/18/2009) The Joe Ma Wai Ho and For For directed GIVE LOVE (OI DUT HEI) was the first collaboration between Gigi Leung Wing Kei and Chen Bo-Lin. They played in the film sibling in laws. Later Chen Bo-Lin's older brother reneged on the engagement and struck a heavy blow on Gigi. The sibling in laws thus were forced to share a home and even set off romantic sparks. Ma Wai Ho's daring older woman younger man relationship received a rare vote of full confidence from Gigi, who did not mind a kiss scene with Bo-Lin. Instead Bo-Lin during the shoot panicked and had frequent bad takes. Bo-Lin said, "Gigi has always been my favorite actress, ten years ago when I was still in school other students and I have already made her our idol. That may be the reason why I had a little pressure during this scene, I was very nervous." Gigi said to Bo-Lin, "You are kissing Lina (Gigi's role) now, she is someone who Yidong (Bo-Lin's role) loves. are not with Leung Wing Kei!" After hearing that Bo-Lin relaxed and was able to complete the scene. Later the director watched the play back with them and was rather satisfied. * (2/17/2009) The Fifteenth Annual Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award presentation ceremony was held at Sai Wan Ho Film Archive yesterday. Derek Yee Tung Sing presented the awards to "Best Film" THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH), "Best Director" THE WAY WE ARE's Ann Hui On Wa, "Best Screenplay" CLAUSTROPHOBIA (CHUN MUK)'s Ivy Ho (Ong Sai), "Best Actress" THE WAY WE ARE's Paw Hee Jing (Bao Hei Jing), and "Best Actor" BEAST STALKER (JING YUN)'s Nick Cheung Ka Fai. In addition, the event also presented awards to seven recommend movies, including HIGH NOON (LIT YUT DONG HUNG), THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON (SAM GOK ji GEIN LUNG SEH GAP), SPARROW (MAN JEUK), RUN PAPA RUN (YUT GOR HO BA BA), BEAST STALKER, CLAUSTROPHOBIA and CITY WITHOUT BASEBALL (MO YEH JI SING). First time Best actor and Best Actress, Cheung Ka Fai and Bao Hei Jing, shed tears of joy when they received their awards. They were both excited and happy. Cheung Ka Fai yesterday joked that with this award in hand he believed that immigration would depend on it. He also took out a "cheat sheet" for his speech. He said, "Just now Hui On Wa had a lot to share, but I have even more to say because I have never won. I have seen friends win more frequently." Ka Fai would like to thank the director Dante Lam Chiu Yi, the cast and the crew. He said, "This award belongs to everyone." Ka Fai used "machine" to describe the feelings of this award, he said while he wept, "Like a factory with many machines, it creates a lot of products. Many people only pay attention to brand name machines and have never paid attention to obscure machines. Yet one day the Critic Society came to the factory, saw the products that this machine manufactured were pretty, and gave this award to me. This award has a lot of significance to me." Bao Hei Jing was already in tears before she came on stage. She said recently she thought she was Cinderella. She would like to thank Siu Bo (Yee Tung Sing) for presenting this award to her because she knew Siu Bo has never presented awards. She would also like to thank Siu Bo for bringing her to the film industry. She said, "I believe that no one would give me an award again, so I would cherish this award. After 40 years in the business, I am truly infinitely grateful for being recognized. This is my first award, or is likely to be the only one, my husband (Fong Ping) said that he wanted to clear off the Fortune and Longevity statues to make room for my awards." She was also grateful to Hui On Wa, a brave director, and her husband Fong Ping who served as her photographer yesterday. After the event, Bao Hei Jing felt vindicated. When the event announced the winners, she did not dare to believe it. The Hong Kong Film Award nomination was already a great honor. This was her first Hong Kong Film Award nomination, which was already an affirmation. How would Sister Bao celebrate? She said dinner with a group of friends. She also hoped that in the future she would be able to make more movies. Yee Tung Sing was responsible for presenting yesterday's Hong Kong Film Critics Society awards to five winners. When Siu Bo presented the award to Sister Bao he even presented it on his knee. Siu Bo expressed that he has always felt that he was not qualified to present awards to others, but this time with winners Ong Sai, Hui On Wa, Cheung Ka Fai and Sister Bao he immediately agreed. He felt truly emotional. He also said that they were four of the filmmakers who he respected the most. Many people say that the Critics Society was a small circle, but he felt it has played a significant role. Many people would compare this award with the Hong Kong Film Award and the Director's Guild award, but the comparison was unnecessary. Everyone came from a different film point of view, fact, actually all of them were small circle activities. If a movie was only measured with box office, Hong Kong from then on would not have its own culture. Hui On Wa received the Best Director and Best Film awards. She said that this year she had a lot to say. She would like to thank the actors and behind-the-scenes staff. Before she thought winning an award was for her vanity and for convenience to find a job afterward, but now she has a new revelation. Just as when she shot the film, initially she did not know what it would turn out but she still daringly went ahead with it. Now it has been recognized, she could tell other directors that this approach to filmmaking was viable, shoot once they have the idea and the creativity. She also said directors on many occasions would not have enough money for the shoot, but apart from money, actually good faith and creativity were also important. * (2/17/2009) The Pang Shun produced movie BIG CHEAT (OI CHOOK MAU) yesterday held a production start ceremony press conference. Cast members William Chan Wai Ting, Si Nga, G.E.M., Lee Wan, Chubby (Siu fei), Square member James, Universe new comer Ciwi and new star recruitment winner Wong Long Yin attended. Each met the press in school uniforms. At the event Pang Shun led the cast and the seven new directors in the swearing-in ceremony. Chan Wai Ting in the film played a top student who helped other students cheat. The film had many high tech cheating methods, was he afraid of fan delinquency? He said no, because the story was very educational and also stressed the adverse consequences of cheating. He also was very happy that the film had a dance scene, in which he was the dance club president. When he was in school he was the dance team captain, once at the school Christmas party his dance performance fascinated many girls. Reportedly during the production G.E.M. has been quite smitten with him and often chatted with him. William joked: "I too really want her to be smitten with me." He said that everyone treated her like a younger sister. He expressed that this shoot has been a lot of fun, they often played magic tricks together but he stressed that they had no physical contact. G.E.M. expressed that she and William saw the report they thought it was funny. She said the film's actors were roughly the same age, they had fun working together and often played together. The tabloid reporter only caught them. In the film she and James played a couple but they had no kiss scene. She expressed that her previous relationship was her first at age fifteen. Would the film's cheating subject lead to fan delinquency? She said, "Don't worry. The story says that actually cheating doesn't help, in the end you have to rely on hard work to have good score." * (2/17/2009) Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) in SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN) had one difficult scene after another. In one scene they needed to pick trash in a dirty dump to show how difficult their lives were. The landfill was located in remote mountainous areas in Japan. The production crew spent three days to turn the location into a garbage dump with five large garbage trucks and 2,000 bags of garbage. Although the trash was props, the director for the sake of realism mixed in real trash. With the dusty location, each time the garbage was dug up a lot of dirt surfaced. The actors had to truly trash pick in the dump. Jackie Chan has always loved nature. From the start he has already asked the crew to be careful and not to pollute the natural environment. He even ordered the crew to remove all the trash after the shoot. He would also personally clean up the area after the shoot. The always dapper Ng Yin Cho this time made a big breakthrough. Dressed in garbage worker uniform, he even tied a towel around his nose for a make shift mask. In another scene when a garbage truck unloaded its trash, Chin Kar Lok was hit in the head and buried alive under over 100 bags of trash for 20 seconds. Jackie Chan and Ng Yin Cho immediately tossed trash bag off to rescue Chin Kar Lok. This scene took seven takes to complete, each time Kar Lok's response after emerging from the pile of trash was not pain but, "This stinks!" * (2/17/2009) The twenty-eighth annual Hong Kong Film Award nominations have been announced on February 11 as nominated films will compete for awards in 19 categories. The Hong Kong Film Award Association in order to allow the general public and movie lovers to relive those wonderful movies has made special arrangements and starting March 3 will hold a "nominated film program" at the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum. * (2/17/2009) Justin Lo (Juk Tin) and Stephy Tang Lai Yun in the movie LOVE CONNECTED (BO CHI OI NEI) starred in the segment Silence is Better Than Sound. Juk Tin played a shopping center in residence singer Wai and Stephy played Bo who operated a small flower shop there. Everyday when she delivered flowers she would pass Juk Tin's stage and gave him a smile of encouragement; this sweet smile made him decide to make his feelings known on Valentine's Day, as he recorded a love song for her. This story has evoked bitter memories from Juk Tin's school days, when he from time to time would go to the classroom next door and peep at his favorite female classmate, but nothing came of this crash in the end. Stephy in the movie had to use a large and heavy bicycle to deliver flowers. She almost had to exhaust all of her strength to make the bicycle go forward. Once she did not press the brakes in time and ran directly into Juk Tin, bruising his calf. Stephy felt guilty but Juk Tin instead comforted her and said that the would was superficial. Stephy this time played someone who was hearing-impaired, before the shoot she not only studied sign language but also made personal contacts with the hearing-impaired in order to imitate their gestures and tone. In the scene when Juk Tin made his feelings known to Stephy, she listened to the love song that he has written for her and was moved to tears on the spot. Stephy said afterwards that at that moment Juk Tin's touching act really affected her as she unknowingly broke into tears. She said that if someone would write and personally perform a love song for her, she might be tempted as well. * (2/16/2009) The 2008 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award ceremony took place on the 16th. Last year's Best Director award winner with POSTMODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT, Ann Hui On Wa this year won again with THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH). THE WAY WE ARE became the 15th Annual Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award big winner, winning Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Film and gave the film a "shot in the arm" for the upcoming Hong Kong Film Award. Hui On Wa said that when she made this low budget film she had no expectation and no idea of how the film would turn out. As for the audience's appreciation after its release, she considered it as opening a new sky for the Hong Kong film industry. Winning their respectively first Best Actor and Best Actress award with BEAST STALKER (JING YUN) and THE WAY WE ARE, Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Paw Hee Jing (Bao Hei Jing) were in tears at the award presentation. Always regarded as a gauge for the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards have been presented first every year. Winning his first Best Actor award of his career with BEAST STALKER, Cheung Ka Fai broke down during his speech. He thanked the Film Critic Society for discovering him in a trash pile and giving him this award. Five time Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai has been publicly optimistic about Cheung's chances at the April Hong Kong Film award. Cheung Ka Fai was grateful to Leung Chiu Wai for his appreciation and also hoped that his words would come true. However he would apply any pressure to himself and would only enjoy the ceremony at ease. Another first Best Actress award winner, Bao Hei Jing had mixed Emotions as she was already in tears before coming on stage. She felt just like Cinderella today. As for her Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress chances, Bao Hei jing said, the nomination has already been a honor and affirmation as she would leave the award in Heaven's hands. She said that today she would celebrate with friends, after returning home she would put the Best Actress award on the altar. However, the presentation ceremony was also a "little episode". The main guest presenter, director Derek Yee Tung Sing stated that all movie awards are "small circle" games, as only a small number of people are making the decisions. The remake led to an audience uproar. However, Yee Tung Sing changed the subject and said that due to various different assessment criteria for the awards, they will be assessed from different perspectives. Hong Kong needed to have different perspective to appreciate movies. In addition, this year's Best Screenplay went to CLAUSTROPHOBIA (CHUN MUK)'s Ivy Ho (Ong Sai). The event also announced seven recommended films, including HIGH NOON (LIT YUT DONG HUNG), CITY WITHOUT BASEBALL (MO YEH JI SING), SPARROW (MAN JEUK) and RUN PAPA RUN (YUT GOR HO BA BA). * (2/15/2009) A regular winner of the Hong Kong Film Awards, Tony Leung Chiu Wai this year with RED CLIFF is again nominated for Best Actor. Although this time the opponents are three first time Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor nominees, including Louis Koo Tin Lok, Nicky Cheung Ka Fai and Donnie Yen Chi Tan, and Simon Yam Tat Wa, but Wai Jai expressed that he had no confidence and stated that he would like Cheung Ka Fai to win. Wai Jai has won five Best Actor Awards, but he was not optimistic about himself this year. He said, "I am not confident because I feel my performance is average, not particularly good." He also added that he has not seen the other films but felt that Cheung Ka Fai was a very involved actor who put in a lot of effort; he even said that he knew about Cheung Ka Fai won the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Best Actor Award and hoped that he could gain another victory. As for the other opponents saying he was the biggest rival, he responded, "No, I don't feel my performance is that good." As for Eric Tsang Chi Wai expressed hope that he and Maggie Cheung Man Yuk would present an award together. He said, "I am at their mercy every year, I don't mind doing whatever needs to be done." As for Valentine's Day, Wai Jai expressed that he had dinner with Carina Lau Ka Ling, gave flowers and card but Ka Ling did not have a gift for him. However Wai Jai still felt that when they dined together on Valentine's Day dinner, the atmosphere was warmer and more romantic. Reportedly due to YUT DOI JUNG SI (MASTER OF A GENERATION)'s production delay, Ip Chun has decided not to assist their shoot and they had to look for another Wing Chun master. Wai Jai expressed that they have found another instructor long ago, at present his master was one of Ip Man's disciples and has instructed the U.S. Navy. Reporters joked that this master might fight better than Ip Chun. He said, "To each his own. Fun is the most important in filmmaking. Only when I enjoy it would the viewers feel it is entertaining." * (2/15/2009) The Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum) directed new film LOVE CONNECTED (BO CHI OI NEI) yesterday invited Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Miki Yeung Oi Kun, Justin Lo (Juk Tin), Sammy, and Hu Qingnan to the promotion, but Kay Tse On Kay was no way to be found and fueled the rumor that she and Stephy were at odds. Stephy denied rumors but did not know why she did not appear. She believed that they were all actors in film and that she will attend the premiere. February 14 was Miki's birthday, at the event the actors all gave her a birthday kis and fans presented cake, flowers and gifts. She revealed that she wished for good health. Born on the Year of the Ox, her sign was right for this year. She fell in the Year of the Ox and still had the scar on her left knee. Earlier when she went on holiday with friends to the Philippines only she got sick. On Valentine's Day Juk Tin went to the beach with friends and lit candles, which was rather atmospheric. As for Gig Lin Yuan, he was reluctant to say more, "I don't know, let's not talk about love." He expressed that he would like to spend the day with ten women. In the past he has personally made a card for his girlfriend and she was so touched she cried. He also received heart shaped potato and carrot soup, which was very sweet. * (2/15/2009) Peter Chan Ho Sun and the Mainland directed Huang Jianxin yesterday with the Mainland distribution film announced in Beijing the formation of a film company and signed a strategic alliance with China Film Group. Chan Ho Sun also announced that the company's first movie will be the Teddy Chan Tak Sum directed SUP YUET WAI SING (OCTOBER UNDER SIEGE), which the China Film Group, Shanghai Media Group and others will co-financed. The production is scheduled to begin shooting in Shanghai in mid-March. Sandra Ng Kwan Yu host the event. In addition to the aforementioned people, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television Secretary Tong Gang, deputy director Zhang, Mao Yu, La Peikang, China Film Group chair Han Sanping, Shanghai Media Group president as well as numerous financial sector representatives showed their support. Chan Ho Sun said that the distribution company will invest 500 million yuan, and the film company has planned to complete 15 films within three years. They will cover the million dollar investment in large commercial, medium-sized and various types of films, at the same time they also hope through close cooperation with young directors to train even more Chinese-language film backbone of the future. The company's projected Mainland and Hong Kong box office in three years will accumulate more than two billion yuan. The always funny Kwan Yu joked that she knew about Chan Ho Sun and the Mainland film distribution would form a film company and has been waiting for him to invite her to be the press conference master of ceremonies, but he waited until very late yesterday to invite her. Kwan Yu said, "I too was afraid that I wasn't solemn enough, but he told me to be anything but because when I am solemn everyone is even less solemn. (Chan Ho Sun's company has planned to make 15 movies in 3 years, how many will you be involved in?) That would depend on whether the roles were suitable, but if I would be involved in every one, I wouldn't mind!" * (2/15/2009) BASIC LOVE (OI CHING GOO SI) two nights ago held its premiere on Valentine's Day, leads Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Janice Man Wing San, Rex Ho Chun Wai and Tsui Jing Hei attended. The two male leads presented flowers to their onscreen lovers and received chocolate roses from them in return. The two beauties also blew director Oxide Pang Shun a kiss and gave him heart shaped chocolate. Kong Yeuk Lam expressed that her image designer selected her clothing. Although she looked fatter she did not mind. As for spending Valentine's Day at work, she joked, "Finally I don't have to spend the holidays alone, I can spend it with onscreen boyfriend Rex." She said that every year she had no lovers to be with and this time she could be with her onscreen boyfriend. In addition, she received flowers from fans and chocolate flowers at the event. In the film she played a cancer patient, two night ago the cancer patient she played came to show her support in person, she wished that she would enjoy the film. Janice Man revealed after the premiere, she would be with her boyfriend and has prepared a treasure chest for him. In the box she had many different gifts, including a home-made rotating crystal heart-shaped photo frame with their childhood photos in it. * (2/15/2009) The Gigi Leung Wing Kei and Chen Bo-Lin starred GIVE LOVE (OI DUT HEI) will be released this Thursday, in the story Bo-Lin due to Gigi's engagement breakdown shared the same house. Finally they develop a reasonable and fun older woman, younger man relationship. Gigi feels that this is a new attempt, rarely she and Bo-Lin match very well in appearance. When they put on wedding costumes for the film poster shoot, photographers also praised that they coordinated outstandingly and completed showed a "newlywed" couple's feeling of happiness. This is also the first time GiGi has put on Chinese wedding dress, which looks better than she has thought. Thus when she weds she would design her own chic dress. On the day of the shoot aside from GiGi, Hui Siu Hung and HotCha also wear wedding costumes. When Hui Siu Hung puts on the dress, the entire place goes quiet for several seconds. Bo-Lin is stunned because he never imagines that he not only looks a little more beautiful but also has a tender expression to coordinate, which is very funny. * (2/14/2009) In recent years moving to the Mainland market, Terry Fan Siu Wong yesterday attended a Metro radio interview. He revealed earlier he was filming MEI LOI GAING CHAT (FUTURE POLICE) in Beijing and will stay for three months. While he had to brave the cold weather for the shoot, even chattering when he was delivering the lines, but he still looked forward to its release. The film will not only have special effects but also a lot of wire work and flying scenes. In one he even had to drop straight to the ground from above. Because he had to wear leather shoes for the shoot, after the shoot his calves were very sore. After years in film, he finally with IP MAN received a Hong Kong Film Award Best Supporting Actor nomination. He said that he was very happy and very surprised because as an action actor he had to spend a lot of efforts before everyone would be able to see his improvement. Thus this was a certain type of recognition for his over a decade long career. The award was no longer important. Was he confident about winning? He He said that the opponents are either elders or idols, he was already very happy to be nominated with them. He also disclosed that the director has saved him a role in the IP MAN sequel. As for the Bruce Lee role, would Jay Chou Kit Lun or Chan Kwok Kwan be more suitable? He said that Chan Kwok Kwan Lee resembled Bruce Lee. Chou Kit Lun looked OK and could dance so he should be quite agile. The decision would be best left with the director. * (2/14/2009) Aaron Kwok Fu Sing two nights ago attended the EMPIRE OF SILVER (BAK NGUN DAI GOK) premiere in Berlin. Aside form Sing Sing, director Christina Yao Shuhua, Zhang Tielin, Ding Zhicheng, Lei Zhenyu and film producer Jeremy Thomas attended and walked the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival. Media from all over the world covered the event, local Chinese students were also on site to support Sing Sing. When Sing Sing appeared on the red carpet, the media and fans flocked to him for autographs and interviews. Sing Sing also wore a Longines sponsored antique watch, which has been insured with a HK$30 million policy. It was delivered from the Swiss Longines Museum. He said that the watch was very similar to the one he wore in the film. He was overjoyed and pleasantly surprised to be a modern person who was able to carry a Qing Dynasty Longine watch for the film promotion. The premiere ceremony took place in the famous Cinema Paris and was sold out. After the screening, the media and the audience gave three ovations with their applause. Well-known producer Jeremy Thomas had high praise for Sing Sing, calling him the brightest actor in modern Asia. After the premiere, everyone attended a party at Berlin's China Club. The China Club this time provided its venue for the first time to a film company to hold a party, mainly because its appreciation of Sing Sing as a two time Golden Horse Award winning Best Actor. Sing Sing upon learning that the film was well received felt that enduring four months of bitter cold days in Shanxi and Dunhuang was worth the effort. Sing Sing's onscreen father Zhang Tielin had nothing but praise for Sing Sing's performance and felt that currently Sing Sing has already elevated to an actor with deep layer acting ability. Sing Sing felt that this character had a lot of internal emotion, playing it from his youth to middle age provided a lot of space to play. His acting bug was fully satisfied. * (2/14/2009) Just completed the film GIVE LOVE (OI DUT HEI) Gigi Leung Wing Kei and Chen Bo-Lin earlier appeared on a TVB Entertainment News program. They discussed recent developments and even concocted a cake together to celebrate Valentine's Day with the audience. Speaking of unforgettable Valentine's Day, Gigi said once she gave her boyfriend a hand knit scarf on Valentine's Day. Because she put in a lot of effort and her boyfriend liked it she could not have been happier. Gigi frankly said that she liked men with a sense of humor, as she dreaded communicating with dull people. In addition he also had to look good, preferably handsome; Gigi also hoped that her boyfriend would be someone who knew how to enjoy life because she felt that such a person would live happily. As for Bo-Lin his most memorable Valentine's Day also involved a hand knit scarf. This scarf was very short but he very much appreciated his girlfriend for spending the time to knit the scarf. As for a mate, Bo-Lin honestly said that he liked talented beauty, but the ability to get along would be the most important. Otherwise they would be unable to communicate. Their new film is titled GIVE LOVE, did they considered themselves to deserve to be given love? Bo-Lin expressed at this stage love was supreme for him. He would be able to give up a lot for love, and absolutely was someone who deserved to be given love; Gigi felt that love was something with flesh and blood. Although work, fame and fortune were not, but they could balance each other out and coexist. However she felt that everyone should be able to give love, otherwise they would miss out on a lot. * (2/14/2009) Tissot's Greater China spokesmodel Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon) after learning about her CONNECTED (BO CHI TUNG WA) Best Actress nomination at the 28th Annual Hong Kong Film Award immediately called her sister Little S. Their mother was so happy that she cried. Big S happily said, "On the day of the awards ceremony I will personally attend. In order to win the Best Actress award, my whole family has agreed to be vegetarian for a day." * (2/13/2009) Mandarin Entertainment Holdings Limited's annual spring banquet took place two nights ago to celebrate IP MAN and ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009)'s box office success. The cast host an ice breaking ceremony on stage to celebrate ALL'S HK$24 million box office breakthrough. Attending ALL'S cast members Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Ha Chun Chau, Lee Heung Kam and director Vincent Kok Tak Siu, as well as IP MAN actor Donnie Yen Chi Tan, his wife Cici Wang and sister in law Wang Yuan Yuan, Terry Fan Siu Wong, Lam Ka Tung and director Wilson Yip Wai Shun, boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming and guests Stephen Shiu Ting Yat and his father Stephen Shiu Yeuk Yuen, artists Yu Hiu and Natalie Ng Man Yan. Two nights ago the event prepared more than HK$300,000 for cash prize drawing and games, Lee Heung Kam and Ha Chun Chau drew HK$1,000, Ng Kwan Yu drew 6,000, YANG Xiaojuan drew HK$10,000. Ng Kwan Yu was very happy about the great response to ALL'S. Everyone has agreed to a private dinner celebration and she joked that each person would treat once as they dined from the beginning to the end of the year. Was she worried that Andy Lau Tak Wa would mind that ALL'S defeated his Lunar New Year film LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG)? She said, Wa Jai stressed that she lost to Koo Tin Lok and not to her. She joked that she did not understand what Wa Jai meant either. She felt that everyone in the business had an idea already, Wa Jai's film was a romance and should be released with his record. The Lunar New Year period was more suitable for family films. She said, "I think Wa Jai shouldn't feel ashamed. We are good friends and will study this further personally. In this respect (the box office) he has no control. The film company released the film, he wasn't the one who wanted to battle ALL'S." Kwan Yu felt already very happy about a Hong Kong film being able to best foreign films at the box office. Jobs for the industry were already worth being happy about. Due to the financial tsunami, many behind-the-scenes people had to switch jobs. Has she seen Wa Jai's film? She said no because she has been very busy lately. Perhaps she would on Valentine's Day. Would she like a child from her husband for Valentine's Day? She joked that she did not need him to and she did not want any shallow gift like jewelry. She said that last year for her birthday her husband gave her a watch, at the time she suggested a sports car. Since they started a family they have bought family cars. She also wanted a sports car like Nick Cheung Ka Fai. "(Peter) Chan Ho Sun told me to check it out myself." Yen Chi tan, Fan Siu Wong, and Lam Ka Tung of IP MAN two nights ago attended the Mandarin Film Company Spring Banquet. Chi Tan received his first Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor nomination for the film, while Fan Siu Wong and Ka Tung received Best Supporting Actor nods. Chi Tan expressed the pressure has not bee too much as he treated the nomination as a win. After over 20 years in the business he was very happy that his acting was recognized, in addition this time many strong actors are in competition. As for confidence to win, he said of course he had a certain confidence. Would he campaign at the Spring Banquet? He of course would like to, but he was the happiest about the director's nomination. As for the IP MAN sequel's interest in casting Jay Chou Kit Lun or Chan Kwok Kwan in the Bruce Lee role while Wong Kar Wai's YUT DOI JUNG SI (MASTER OF A GENERATION) was rumored to cast Chang Chen as Bruce Lee, Chi Tan said that each had his own advantage, the director's opinion would be the most important. Chi Tan honestly said that he would like to see Tony Leung Chiu Wai's film and thanked Wai Jai for his acting and action praises. He also looked forward to Wai Jai's performance. Lam Ka Tung was nominated for Best Supporting Actor and said that he already felt very honored to be able to compete with Stephen Chow Sing Chi. He said that everyone had made a great effort this time. Ka Tung was asked about a Best Actor favorite. He said that he was very familiar with Simon Yam Tat Wa, Koo Tin Lok and Yen Chi Tan so the choice would be very hard. Fan Siu Wong expressed that he has been in the business for 19 years and has never thought about whether he would win. As for the biggest competition, he said that Chow Sing Chi needless to say was already a major rival. He expressed that he had no pressure as he was already very happy with a nomination. Koo Tin Lok two nights ago attended the Mandarin Film Company Spring Banquet. Goo Jai with RUN PAPA RUN (YUT GOR HO BA BA) received a Best Actor nomination. Two nights ago he ran into fellow nominee Yen Chi Tan. Would he campaign at the event? He joked, "Are we running for Regional Council?" Too Jai expressed that all the Best Actor nominees are very strong. Of course he too wanted to win. As for the great box office reaction to ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 and its victory over the Lau Tak Wa starred LOOK FOR A STAR, Goo Jai said, "Don't say who beat who, winning back the audience's confidence in Hong Kong films is the most important." Goo Jai revealed that he will return to comedy. Will he mind vilifying himself? He said that was acceptable. As for Best Actress, Goo Jai said, "Of course it's my film CONNECTED (BO CHI TUNG WA), I pick Tsui Hei Woon (Barbie Hsu). I will ask her to walk the red carpet with me." Cheng Chung Kei two nights ago attended the Mandarin Spring Banquet. When asked about Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin's claim that ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL only performed so well because of her cameo, he immediately thanked Ah Sa. Was Ah Sa his lucky charm? He said, "Yes." He said that when Ah Sa recovers he would take her to dinner. He frankly admitted that he sends 3 text messages to console her everyday. As for valentine's Day, he was somewhat evasive. He said that he did not make any plan or buy any gift since that day he had to record his new record. He was not worried that Ah Sa would get mad. He said, "Flowers and chocolate are too old-fashioned, I usually only take Ah Sa to dinner." Why has he not been honest about his romance over the year? He only said, "I am already gradually honest." As for old flame Miriam Yeung Chin Wa's wedding rumor, he expressed that he would wish her well if it is true. Would he wed before Chin Wa? He said definitely not. * (2/13/2009) This afternoon, the movie GEIN GOK DAI YIP (FOUNDING NATION GREAT CAUSE) will hold a press conference in Beijing. According to the introduction, China Film Group chair Han Sanping and the well-known director Huang Jianxin will co-direct the film while Hong Kong director Peter Chan and famous director Chen Kaige will join the fray. China Film Group chair Han Sanping revealed that Andy Lau Tak Wa will play a a Kuomintang high-ranking official. The film's backdrop will be the 40's between the War against Japanese Aggression victory and the eve of the founding of the People's Republic of China, bring back China's multiple party cooperation and political consultation system from the beginning to the established historical events, and reflect the Chinese Communist Party and each democratic parties' efforts for the establishment of multiple party cooperation and political consultation system. The film will be the China film industry's contribution to the sixtieth anniversary celebration of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It will be a collection of contemporary film industry's most prestigious stars. In addition to Zhang Guoli and Tang Guoqiang as the film's two major leads Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, Lau Tak Wa, Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang, Jiang Wen, Ge You, Chen Daoming, Chen Baoguo, Sun Honglei, You Yong, Feng Yuanzheng, Chen Hao, Hou Yong, Jiang Shan, etc., will play a variety of well-known political figures in the film. Portraying Thirteen Swallow in FOREVER ENTHRALLED (MEI LAN FONG)'s Wang Xueqi in the film will play Li Tsung-jen, top Mainland actor Chen Kun will play Chiang Kai-shek's son Chiang Ching-kuo, top Mainland actress Xu Qing will play Soong Ching Ling. Reportedly, the film has already started production on February 2 and the shoot currently is in full swing. Scheduled to film for three months, the film will shoot on location in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Nanjing and other places. The production should wrap by early May and release on September 10. * (2/13/2009) Simon Yam Tat Wa and his wife Qi Qi, Tse Ting Ting and Niki Chow Lai Kei two nights ago attended a cavier restaurant opening. Brother Wa recalled his most expensive meal, which was cavier in Moscow in 2007. Twelve people spent HK$780,000, and the advertisers covered the bill. Brother Wa with SPARROW (MAN JEUK) was nominated for Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor. When asked about his confidence, Qi Qi cut in and answered definitely. Brother Wa also said that his wife had confidence and so did he because his wife had faith in him. If he truly wins Best Actor he will treat the reporters to cavier. Qi Qi added, "Actually after so many nominations, he has already won. He can treat all of you." As for the four opponents, Brother Wa felt that he was the biggest rival. Turning to the recent "Salty Pork Hand" incident, Brother Wa felt that it was speculation. The source had the obligation and responsibility of exposing the parties' identities. Will he be more careful with female co-stars? Qi Qi cut in again, "No, when I modeled I would hug the male models too! At work you can't think too much." Brother Wa also said that as professional actors he would not be particularly evasive. * (2/12/2009) The 28th annual Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony will be held April 19 at the Cultural Center. Yesterday a press conference was held to announce the nomination list. The John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) directed RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) received 15 nominations, PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) and the box office hit IP MAN followed with 12 nominations each. CJ7 (CHEUNG GONG 7 HOR) only received four nominations. Stephen Chow Sing Chi whose role was rather major was strangely nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Many of this year's Best Actor and Actress nominees are first-time nominees, such as BEAST STALKER's Nick Cheung Ka fai and IP MAN's Donnie Yen Chi Tan who will compete with RUN PAPA RUN's Louis Koo Tin Lok, RED CLIFF's Tony Leung Chiu Wai and SPARROW's Simon Yam Tat Wa for Best Actor. As for Best Actress, the competition is very fierce. Earlier Film Critic Society Award Best Actress Bao Hee Jing is nominated again with THE WAY WE ARE to compete with Golden Horse Award Best Actress Prudence Liew (Lau Mei Kwan). Both are first time Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress nominees. Other nominees include PAINTED SKIN's Zhou Xun, CLAUSTROPHOBIA's Karena Lam Ka Yun and CONNECTED (PO CHI TUNG WA)'s Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon). Xu Jiao who earlier has received unanimously praise for CJ7 is not nominated for Best Actress but is nominated for Best New Actor. She will compete with RED CLIFF's Lin Chiling, ALL ABOUT WOMEN (NUI YUN BUT WAI)'s Kitty Zhang Yuqi and others; lead actress Chow Sing Chi is instead nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Officially released today, CLAUSTROPHOBIA due to a five day run last year at an Admiralty cinema qualifies for competition this year. Cheung Ka Fai yesterday attended the nomination announcement press conference. When he learned that he was nominated he joked that actually working for the Hong Kong Film Awards truly has its "advantages". Ka Fai said frankly that his Best Actor chance is one-fifth. Even though earlier he has won the Film Critic Society Best Actor Award, he joked that at most his chance is 1/4. Would he participate with normal emotions? He said, "No, with a very intense heart." Fearing that he would display disappointment, he has already tried to think more negatively and did not want any pressure. Will the biggest competition be from Tony Leung Chiu Wai who has won the most awards? He said, "I think winning more awards (in the past) doesn't mean definite vicotry. Never winning doesn't mean no award." He honestly regarded himself as the biggest rival. As for Nicholas Tse Ting Fung's lack of nomination, he felt that Ting Fung did not need to worry. In the future he definitely would have a chance to work on a better script. He honestly said that this time the nomination was already an award for him. Leung Chiu Wai expressed that he was very happy to be nominated for Best Actor again. As for confidence, he said that the chance is still 1/5. However he was very happy to learn that RED CLIFF received 15 nominations because the shoot was very hard for everyone. The numerous nominations would be encouragement for the entire team. Yen Chi Tan frankly admitted that he has not thought so far ahead for his chances but as an action actor the nomination was already very rare. In the past the award has gone to good actors, he hoped that this time everyone would change their minds about action actors this time; he also pointed out that his competition is fully of qualifications and experience, so the nomination was a victory for him already. Koo Tin Lok was very pleased to be nominated, which proved that his acting has been recognized. In addition in this film he had to play from young to old, interpreting the entire lifespan was hard. During the shoot he also felt lonely. He would like to make more good movies. Yam Tat Wa received his Best Actor nomination for the second year in a row. He was happy to have participated. He referred to this year's competition as lovable because all the films are different genres. He is confident in himself. He is also happy that his production OCEAN FLAME's actress Monica Mok Siu Kei is nominated for Best New Actor. Lam Ka Yun was pleasantly surprised with the nomination, which would provide her with another chance to "panic". She felt that the competition was very strong but she was not too confident in herself because her movie was small scale. This was Ka Yun's fourth Best Actress nomination. She joked that Lau Ching Wan was nominated for eight to ten times, so she still had room for improvement. Paw Hee Jing earlier has already won the Film Critic Society Best Actress Award with THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH). This time she is again nominated for Best Actor with the film, Sister Bao frankly said that she was very happy. She said, "I was just with Ann (Hui On Wa), we both have received this good news." When Sister Bao learned that the film received six nominations including New Actor and Best Supporting Actress, she screamed out of joy. She said that each nominee was strong, that the nomination was already a reward. She also said that making THE last year was truly a big harvest. As for Xu Jiao she expressed that she was happy about the nomination. She would like to thank Old Pa (Chow Sing Chi) for his instruction; she also said that playing a male role for the first time was rather difficult. Johnnie To Kei Fung was happy about SPARROW (MAN JEUK)'s Best Director nomination. He hoped that even more Hong Kong films would be produced in the future. As for his confidence, he honestly said that it did not matter. Instead he would like the most for Yam Tat Wa to win Best Actor. The Hong Kong Film Awards Association vice chairman and creative director Eric Tsang Chi Wai yesterday attended the press conference, he said that this year's Awards presentation ceremony would receive HK$5,850,800 from the Film Development Fund Grants. This year a HK$100,000 cash prize will be given to the New Director Award winner. Chi Wai also said that this year will be the 100th anniversary of Hong Kong film so he is planning to invite film's classic combination to attend, such as Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Chow Yun-fat and Cherie Chung Chor Hung. Overseas guests will be few. He pointed out that the lovable part of Hong Kong artists is their unity. Now he has already begun to contact artists to attend. Reportedly because Chi Wai and Peter Lam Kin Ngok are at odds, he has prohibited East Asia artists to appear on his game show. Chi Wai denied the matter and even claimed that earlier Wilfred Lau Ho Lung has appeared on the show. He said, "I instead am worried about a lack of guests." As for the recent "salty pork hand" incident, Chi Wai said that the incident has gotten many people into trouble and involved too many innocent people. He only hoped that the matter would settle down soon. In addition, last year's Best New Actor Kate Tsui Tsz Shan would not be able to attend due to work in New Zealand. She picked CJ7's Xu Jiao to win. She said that they shared the same last name and Xu Jiao had to cut her hair to play a boy for this film while earlier she had to cut her hair for a series, so she could relate. The 28th Annual Hong Kong Film Award Nominations BEST FILM THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH) RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) CJ 7 (CHEUNG GONG CHUT HO) PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) IP MAN BEST DIRECTOR Ann Hui On Wa (THE WAY WE ARE) Johnnie To Kei Fung (SPARROW) John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) (RED CLIFF) Benny Chan Muk Sing (CONNECTED) Wilson Yip Wai Shun (IP MAN) BEST SCREENPLAY Susan Chan Suk Yin, Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga), Matthias Woo Yun Wai (RUN PAPA RUN) Lou Shiu Wa (THE WAY WE ARE) Gordon Chan Ka Seung, Lau Ho Leung, Abe Kwong Man Wai (PAINTED SKIN) Jack Ng Wai Lun, Dante Lam Chiu Yin (BEAST STALKER) Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) (CLAUSTROPHOBIA) BEST ACTOR Louis Koo Tin Lok (RUN PAPA RUN) Simon Yam Tat Wa (SPARROW) Tony Leung Chiu Wai (RED CLIFF) Nick Cheung Ka Fai (BEAST STALKER) Donnie Yen Chi Tan (IP MAN) BEST ACTRESS Paw Hee Jing (THE WAY WE ARE) Prudence Liew Mei Kwan (TRUE WOMEN FOR SALE) Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon) (CONNECTED) Zhou Xun (PAINTED SKIN) Karena Lam Ka Yun (CLAUSTROPHOBIA) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Zhang Fengyi (RED CLIFF) Stephen Chow Sing Chi (CJ 7) Liu Kai Chi (BEAST STALKER) Lam Ka Tung (IP MAN) Terry Fan Siu Wong (IP MAN) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Nora Miao (Miu Ho Sau) (RUN PAPA RUN) Chan Lai Wun (THE WAY WE ARE) Vicki Zhao Wei (RED CLIFF) Race Wong Yuen Ling (TRUE WOMEN FOR SALE) Betty Sun Li (PAINTED SKIN) BEST NEW ACTOR Monica Mok Siu Kei (OCEAN FLAME) Kitty Zhang Yuqi (ALL ABOUT WOMEN) Juno Leung Chun Lung (THE WAY WE ARE) Lin Chiling (RED CLIFF) Xu Jiao (CJ7) BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Tony Cheung Tung Leung (THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON) Cheng Siu Keung (SPARROW) Lu Yue, Zhang Li (RED CLIFF) Arthur Wong Ngok Tai (PAINTED SKIN) O Sing Pui (IP MAN) BEST FILM EDITING David M. Richardson (SPARROW) Angie Lam On Yi, Robert A. Ferrettui, Yanng Hong Yu (RED CLIFF) Yau Chi Wai (CONNECTED) Chan Ki Hop (BEAST STALKER) Cheung Ka Fai (IP MAN) BEST ART DIRECTION Daniel Lee Yan Kong, Horace Ma Kwong Wing (THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON) Yee Chung Man, Ben Lau Man Hung (THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS) Tim Yip Kam Tim (RED CLIFF) Bill Lui Chor Hung (PAINTED SKIN) Kenneth Mak Kwok Keung (IP MAN) BEST COSTUME MAKE UP DESIGN Thomas Chong Chi Leung, Debby Wong Ming Ha (THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON) William Chang Suk Ping (ALL ABOUT WOMEN) Yee Chung Man, Dora Ng Lei Lo (THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS) Tim Yip Kam Tim (RED CLIFF) Bobo Ng Bo Ling (PAINTED SKIN) BEST ACTION CHOREOGRAPHY Sammo Hung Kam Bo (THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON) Corey Yuen Kwai (RED CLIFF) Nicky Lee Chung Chi (CONNECTED) Stephen Tung Wai (PAINTED SKIN) Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Tony Leung Siu Hung (IP MAN) BEST SOUND EFFECT Wu Jiang, Roger Savage (RED CLIFF) Chris Goodes, Sam Wong Lui (CONNECTED) Kinson Tsang King Cheung, Lai Chi Hung (PAINTED SKIN) Phyllis Cheng Wing Yuen, Nip Kei Wing, David Wong Dai Wai (BEAST STALKER) Kinson Tsang King Cheung (IP MAN) BEST VISUAL EFFECT Craig Hayes (RED CLIFF) Eddy Wong Won Hin, Victor Wong Won Tak, Ken Law Wai Ho (CJ7) Ho Siu Lun (MISSING) Ng Yuen Fai, Chas Chau Chi Sing, Tam Kai Kwan (PAINTED SKIN) Henri Wong Chi Hung (IP MAN) BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE Henry Lai Won Man (THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON) Fred Avril, Xavier Jamaux (SPARROW) Taro Iwashiro (Ngan Doi Tai Long) (RED CLIFF) Ikuro Fujikara (Tung Yuen Yuk Long) (PAINTED SKIN) Kenji Kawai (Chuen Jang Hin Chi) (IP MAN) BEST SONG FLYING WITH DREAMS (CHUI MUNG YI FEI) (THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS) BREAK UP HAS TO BE VICIOUS (FUN SAU YIU HUNG) (L FOR LOVE L FOR LIES) WAR HEART (SUM JIN) (RED CLIFF) ETERNAL LOVE (YUT MAN NIN DIK JUI MOK) (MISSING) PAINTED HEART (WAT SUM) (PAINTED SKIN) NEW DIRECTOR Derek Kwok Chin Kin (MOSS) Heiward Mak Hei Yun (HIGH NOON) Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) (CLAUSTROPHOBIA) BEST ASIAN FILM IF YOU ARE THE ONE (China) CAPE NO. 7 (Taiwan) SUSPECT X (Japan) FOREVER ENTHRALLED (China) ASSEMBLY (China) * (2/12/2009) FOREVER ENTHRALLED (MUI LAN FONG) is in competition at the Berlin Film Festival, director Chen Kaige and actors Leon Lai Ming, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Hong and Masanobu Ando have arrived in Berlin two day ago. Yesterday afternoon they attended a press conference, because Zhang Ziyi's birthday was on February 9th the focus fell on her. Two nights ago Ziyi celebrated her birthday at the premiere, she expressed that everyday has been very joyous so everyday has been a birthday. As for birthday wish, she expressed that she would only do what she would like to do. As long as she was happy it was enough. She did not want anything in particular. The local media recognized Lai Ming as Hong Kong's "Four Great Heavenly Kings". Lai Ming frowned when he heard the title and said that it was already outdated. Now he would only choose the jobs that he wanted to work on, do his part for the film. If the film succeeds then it was added bonus. Foreign journalists heard what the leads said and praised them for being on the same page. The premiere took place at Berlin's largest venue, Berlinale Palast, which can accommodate 1,600 viewers. The evening was sold out, after the premiere the audience gave a standing ovation for several minutes. On February 12 the actors would depart Berlin while the director would remain until the February 14 result announcements. * (2/12/2009) Tse Ting Ting yesterday modeled at a jewelry show along with models Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), Cara G. and others. Hung Doi Lam last year made IP MAN as a new comer but was not nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Actor. She expressed that she would not be disappointed as she still had a lot of room for improvement. As for IP MAN 2 casting either Chan Kwok Kwun or Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) as Bruce Lee, Lynn felt that Chan Kwok Kwun looked very convincing while Chow Kit Lun was very talented. She enjoyed listening to his songs. * (2/12/2009) Aaron Kwok Fu Sing two nights ago left for Germany because his film EMPIRE OF SILVER was invited to take part in the Berlin Film Festival. Sing Sing and Zhang Tielin would attend the premiere but actress Hao Lei would not be able to attend due to a conflict. For the global premiere, Sing Sing received a lot of sponsor support, including two Gucci suits and a Leica camera. As the Longine image ambassador he also received a silver watch that was created in 1867, the first watch that Longines sold to China. He joked that with so many people in the team accompanying him he did not need to hire any security. He joked that if all the sponsors just give him the items that would be the best. Sing Sing went on to say that he has not yet seen SILVER's final cut. He would have to wait until this global premiere to be able to see the result. As for Valentine's Day, he expressed that he would not return until the 16th. He said that work always comes first. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews . MING PAO DAILY, FEBRUARY 2009, FILM WORDS - SHEK KEI . MING PAO DAILY, FEBRUARY 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS - KWOK HIN CHING 1. MING PAO DAILY, FEBRUARY 14 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS THE MARKET DEMAND FOR MEDIUM SIZED FILM INCREASES A few years ago, film investment is this way. The are either super large films or super small ones. The former bets big to win big, the latter bets small to win big. Medium sized film are the most damaging. If it loses, it loses everything. Times change as medium sized films are starting to show a sign of life. Mainland film market continues to grow, and also increases the demand for medium-sized films. For super large film, a hundred million is a drop in a hat. Some are even as large as 300 to 400 million. Due to the financial tsunami, financing is somewhat difficult and takes more time than before. Super large production takes time, at least one or two years. The funding is held up and the return period is also long. In the unpredictable times, risk naturally increases. Unless a super small film is outstanding, it is difficult to be released on more screens. In addition it mostly features new directors and new actors and has no way to attract massive number of viewers. A medium-sized film thus has an advantage. It not only can replace the super large film quantity drop but also has greater release opportunity than a super small film. Yet Hong Kong and Mainland medium sized film investments are different. In the past Hong Kong's super large films are already very formidable when they cost more than 30 million. With the Mainland market, the cost has to exceed 100 million. Tens of hundreds are considered large production budget, but not super scale. Small films in Hong Kong can cost as less as to 2 to 3 million. Although the Mainland has this kind of production, the chance for release is extremely small. Many can only be distributed on video and sold to television. A production that costs more than 10 million is a medium-sized film in Hong Kong, in the Mainland it is between small and medium. In terms of the market, a medium-sized co-production should be between 10 to 30 million, the production level can rival similar South Korean films. However, a medium-sized film tests a director's ability the most. It must have a novel subject, stars and not actors without any box office performance or fame, and a smart marketing strategy. Otherwise it still runs the risk of annihilation. Market demand does not mean easy to make, the film industry changes too much and too fast. Something that worked yesterday may be totally unacceptable tomorrow, something that guaranteed defeat in the past may be the way to win today! - KWOK HIN CHING 2. MING PAO DAILY, FEBRUARY 12 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS TRADITIONAL LUNAR NEW YEAR COMEDY HAS BEEN RESURRECTED? The star studded ensemble Lunar New Year comedy this year has become the box office champion. As of Monday, ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) has been in release for 18 days, received HK$23,640,000 and outperformed the 26 day in release RED CLIFF II (CHET BIK -- KUET JIN TIN HA) (23,340,000), and PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA's HK$23,220,000 over 24 days. The top three films actually are very close at the box office, generally speaking they have tied. RED CLIFF II's performance is similar to the first installment, viewers who have seen both felt that this film is better than the last. Yet its Mainland box office and momentum are weaker than the first film, obviously the audience has lost faith. A few years ago, the Lunar New Year-style comedy was seen as something of the past as industry insiders thought that it was not a required Lunar New Year model. FEARLESS (FOK YUEN GAP) made over 30 million during the Lunar New Year. PROTEGE (MOON TOH) was not a comedy either. Everyone went with a laugh silly mentality to see Stephen Chow Sing Chi's CJ7 (CHEUNG GONG 7 HO) but realized that it was a family film. It still made over 50 million. Thus, no one believed that the Lunar New Year had to have comedy. Yet ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009's performance surprised everyone. The fun part of film is its numerous variables, too many people want to find a winning formula but end up in failure. The reason is simple -- too many variables. In terms of movies, if RED CLIFF had RED CLIFF II's big scenes, this film's box office would definitely be better than the last film. The writer has said that in recent years the audience considers the "jackpot". When the first film is well made, even if it makes less than expected the audience has faith in the next film. After video and word of mouth influences, the audience returns the box office that you should have. If the first film appoints the audience, even if the next film is better it still suffers. The traditional practice of saving the best for last no longer works. LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG) has Andy Lau Tak Wa and Shu Qi, the director is Andrew Lau Wai Keung. Originally it has a chance of winning, but the title and the poster do not coordinate with the climate. It happens to run into the same genre THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON and can do nothing about it. Cheerful big ensemble Lunar New Year comedy this year wins by default. Without similar competition, under the financial tsunami everyone is only after a laugh. With the cheapest budget it has become the Lunar New Year champion in Hong Kong. Will next year's environment be the same? - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Oi Chook Mau Lit : Love Cheats William Chan Wai Ting, Si Nga, G.E.M., Lee Wan, Chubby (Siu Fei), James, Ciwi, Wong Long Yin OVERHEARD 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 [ THE FILM CATALOGUE ] Three cops become increasingly thrilled by the secret they heard while conducting a surveillance on a listed company, without knowing this is a path of no return. BIG CHEAT 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 ACCIDENT Can : Um Sat Lit : Assassination d. Soi Cheang Po Shui Louis Koo Tin Lok, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) [ THE FILM CATALOGUE ] When a hitman suspects he is being targeted for termination, he must find and kill his predator against all odds 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’ 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... --- [ 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) LOVE CONNECTED Can : Bo Chi Oi Nei Lit : Keep Loving You d. Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum) Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Justin Lo (Juk Tin), Hu Qingnan, Tong So Kei, I Love You Boz, Miki Yeung Oi Kun, Leung Cho Hiu, Kay Tse On Kay, Sammy Rating : IIB Length : 96 mins. Opening February 19 2009 [ YAHOO! HONG KONG MOVIES ] LOVE CONNECTED depicts 5 love stories between 14 people on Valentine's Day. Would Fung whose love trial period comes to an end win the heart of his goddess Kei? Wai is a shopping center's resident singer. Would his song for a flower girl Bo bear fruit? Biker boys Dragon and Tiger develop a fantastic romance with their one online day lover Goldfish! Jo and Fong's seven year relationship has already reached an emergency level. Would the Valentine's Day dinner be their final supper? Playboy Fai plans three Valentine's Day dates but would his fantasy have any unexpected change in reality? KUNG FU CHEF Can : Gung Fu Chu Sun Lit : Kung Fu Kitchen God d. Yau Tat Chi Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Lam Tze Chung Opening February 19 2009 in Malaysia [ 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? EMPIRE OF SILVER Can : Bak Ngun Dai Gok Lit : White Silver Empire d. Christina Yao Shuhua Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Zhang Tielin, Hao Lei, Jennifer Tily, Ding Zhicheng, Lei Zhenyu, King Shih Chieh Opening February 12 2009 at the Berlin Film Festival Site : http://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/berlinale_programm/datenblatt.php?film_id=20090009 [ BERLINALE ] Director Christina Yao’s opulent feature film is a dynastic saga; it is also a passionate love story and a moral tale, based on historical events. The story of the Kangs, a family of bankers, and their banking empire on China’s ‘Wall Street’ spans a period from the Boxer Uprising to the Chinese Revolution and the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. The film begins in 1899. A carefree, hedonistic young man is next in line to inherit a banking empire which has hitherto meant very little to him. However, following a tragic abduction, of which his sister-in-law was the victim, this ‘third man’ reluctantly bows to his authoritative father’s iron will. Keen to prepare his offspring for the time when he will take over his financial conglomerate, this powerful banker, Kang, is determined to turn his son into as ruthless a businessman as himself. However, his idealistic son has always called into question his father’s high-handed style of leadership and hard-nosed business principles. The tense relationship between the two men is put under additional strain on account of Kang junior’s undying love for his beautiful young step-mother. She was the first and only love of his life – before his father stole her from him. It is time for him to decide whether he will take the path his father trod before him or whether he will make his own way in life... [ 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. BASIC LOVE Can : Oi Ching Goo Si Lit : Love Story d. Oxide Pang Shun Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Janice Man Wing San, Rex Ho Chun Wai, Tsui Ching Hei Opening February 26 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] In a pure love romantic story, a song links Ling, Siu Chun and Rex in a relationship. Ling has suffered from leukemia since childhood. Optimistic, she never keeps anything in her heart. Only with a limited lifespan she has kept all her love inside and does not inform her friends Rex and Siu Chun about her illness. Siu Chun came as child with her mother from Mainland to Hong Kong and has made a living selling fish. Introverted Siu Chun was not good with expressing herself. Her personality was the polar opposite with Ling, but they became good friends from mutual concern. Siu Chun has always been fond of Rex, but Rex has not made any move. Siu Chun also does not realize that another guy Hei is silently in love with her. Very talented musically, Rex writers a song for a competition. The song is written for the girl he loves but he never reveals her name. With graduation just around the corner, they will go their separate ways. Their relationship has not further developed until Ling falls ill. Her hospitalization breaks through this relationship silence...... GIVE LOVE Can : Oi Dut Hei Lit : Love To The End d. Joe Ma Wai Ho, For For Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Chen Bo-Lin (Chan Pak Lam), Shaun Tam Chun Yin, Terry Fan Siu Wong, HotCha, Maggie Lee Man Kwan Opening February 26 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Lina finally decides to get a divorce. Lina has almost already forgotten why she would marry Xiaodong a year ago, she cannot even remember what made her fall for Xiaodong. Lina believes that she can live on independently and not easily fall in love again. She feels that she would not again rely on the "never reliable" men, but her behavior is just the opposite. She stays in Xiaodong's home while Xiaodong has vanished.....sharing the home is Xiaodong's younger brother Yidong, a young man who does not like to talk, keeps everything inside but would suddenly scolds others "righteously". Actually the sibling in laws Lina and Yidong after Xiaodong's departure legall are independent, but they are like family and friends, can they develop into a couple? LOVE Can : Oi Doh Dai Lit : Love To The End d. Jiu Ba Dao, Vincent Fang Wenshan, Chen Yi-Sen, Mickey Huang (Wong Chi Gau) Ethan Ruan (Yuen King Tin), Alice Tzeng Hoi Won, Van Fan Yat Sun, Megan Lai Nga Yin Lan Jing Long, Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau), Alan Kuo (Or Yau Lun), Chou Cai Shi Opening February 26 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Four part love story An elderly mother quietly sat on the sofa, shut her eyes and lowered her head. Suddenly the telephone rang, the mother picked it up. On the other end was his son who died five years ago. The son urged his mother to take care of herself and promised to call home again next year at the anniversary of his death... Cool looking Blue is a direct music video ad director, but his assistant has quietly had a crush on him ... Ambitious slacker Siu Tin is an amateur acting double who is in a cold war with his flight attendant girlfriend Hoi Hoi. Instead of calling them in love, one may ask well say that they have been in a damaging tug of war. Hoi Hoi can no longer stand Siu Tin's laziness and they start to complain about each other... A sloppy woman who lacks self confidence everyday fantasizes about being in love. Everyday she cries to the heavens, "Who doesn't anyone love me?" The Lord finally can tolerate no more. One day, she receives a numerologist's forecast that she will encounter six men on the road, the sixth is even her true love... THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND SEX AND CHOPSTICKS II Can : Gum Ping Mui II Oi Dik Lo Dai Lit : Golden Bottle Plum II Slave of Love d. Chin Man Kei Hikaru Wakana (Yeuk Choi Guong), Serina Hayakawa (Jo Chuen Lai Lei Noi), Kaera Uehara (Seung Yuen Kaera), Winnie Leung Man Yi, Lam Wai Kin, Ng Chi Hung, Leung Cheuk Moon, Tam Gong Chung, Lee Kin Yan Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] After the lecherous Ximen Qing killed Wu Dalang, he logically married Jinlian as his concubine. Unfortunately, Ximen Qing was not satisfied. He plotted to seduce Hua Zixu's wife Li Pinger, in turn driving Hua to death from rage. Wu Dalang's younger brother Wu Song upon hearing about Wu Dalong's death vowed to avenge his brother, but he fell into Ximen Qing's beauty trap as Ximen Qing's maid Chunmei accused him of rape and he was banished! Chunmei therefore was appreciated and became one of Ximen Qing's concubines! Since then, Ximen Qing had "Jin(lian) Ping(er) (Chun)Mei" daily. Not only did he try all kinds of sexual positions but also worsen with abnormal sex games. The brilliant lifestyle has spent Ximen Qing's body as he became dependent on drugs to restore his former glory, which also started on Master Ximen's end... THE EQUATION OF LOVE AND DEATH Can : Oi Sut Seung Lit : Love Lost Compensation d. Cao Baoping Zhou Xun, Zhang Hanyu, Deng Chao Rating : IIB Length : 98 mins. Opening March 5 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Only with compensation would wishes come true... Give and take in love is never in a balance, what is the love that you want like? With fiance Fang Wen disappearing for four years without a trace but often sending letters without any return address, Li Mi has repeatedly recited each word in the letter and double counted each letter's date of arrival. Li Mi's love for Fang Wen accumulates day after day, as she becomes more and more hysterical. She even becomes a taxi drivers to look for her love, thinking that she can hear about her love's whereabouts from passengers' mouths. Fir four years, Li Mi has been waiting, in the end would Fangwen coming back, or would one of his answer? One day, a drug deal case reunites Li Mi with Fang Wen, who vehemently denies his identity and led to cop Ye's suspicion and investigation that finally unveils love's most tragic dark side. GU GU THE CAT d. Isshin Inudou (Huen Tung Yut Sum) Kyoko Koizumi (Siu Chuen Gum Yut Ji), Juri Ueno (Seung Yeh Shu Lei), Ryo Kase (Ga Lai Leung) Rating : I Length : 116 mins. Opening March 5 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Asako, a comic book artist in her early forties, is devastated by the death of her precious cat, Saba, which kept her company for over 15 years, as her assistant Naomi watches on with concern. Naomi is a young woman in her early twenties, who has her set of worries about love and future. Then one day, Asako meets a new cat, Gu gu, which brings new joy and vitality to her life. What is more, she finds potential for love in a man named Seiji. Like Asako, Naomi, too, embarks on a new life plan. 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? COMING SOON Can : Yum Yung Yuen Joi Lit : Dark Look In Theater d. Sopon Sakdapisit Chantawit Tanasaewee, Worrakarn "Punch" Rotjanawatchra Length : 84 mins. Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Cinema projectionist San and his co-worker Yiu watch a horror film, after which Yiu dies and the corpse appears in the film. The ghost in the film has already left the screen and captured San back to the film word to reprise the revenge murder scene! To save her boyfriend, Siu San looks up the film production and discovers that the film is based on a true story. The ghost in the film originally was a villager. They decide to investigate but the case actually hides an unexpected and horrifying truth...... ORZBOYZ! d. Yang Ya-Che Pang Chin-Yu, Lee Kuan-Yi, Mei Fang, Ma Chih-Hsiang, Hsu Chi-Wen Opening March 12 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Does your school have someone who plays pranks on the female students, gets into fights, lies and even drives teachers to tears and breakdown? "Liar 1", "Liar 2" are such students. "Everyday after school they must remain in the library glued to the book" is the punishment for their bad deeds. This perhaps is the best decision the teacher has ever made. They have thus read every book in the library. 1 has become a strong book reader while 2 has become the world's luckiest listener; together they set sail on the sea of each story and leaving behind the real world's indifference and pain. This pair of liar brothers together pursues the prettiest girl in the school but accidentally uncover the tragic secret behind that sweet smile. Their most important plan is to go to that mysterious water world. As long as they are able to leap through the invisible door behind the water way they can enter the mysterious fairy tale world Oz, where they do not have to wait to grow up. Yet the promise is broken in a careless betrayal and they are forced to part. 2 can only go to the place alone, standing at the water way's highest point until the parting curse breaks...... A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS Can : Chin Nin Sin Toh d. Wayne Wong Henry O, Li Yiyun Rating : I Length : 84 mins. Opening March 12 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Mr. Shi is a widower and a retired man from Beijing. When Yilan, his only daughter who lives in the US, has a divorce, he decides to visit her in the small town where she works as a librarian. His intention is to stay with her until he helps her recover from the trauma. He is a "rocket scientist", Mr. Shi likes to tell people he meets in America, and enjoys their attention. But Yilan acts less enthusiastic in his show-off, nor is she interested in his plan to rescue her marriage and reconstruct her life. When Mr. Shi persists in finding out the reason for the divorce, Yilan starts to avoid him. Disappointed but not discouraged, Mr. Shi explores the small town and meets an old woman, Madam, who fled the Iranian Revolution to the US. Neither Mr. Shi nor Madam speak English well, but by gesturing and talking in their own tongues, Mr. Shi and Madam start a rare friendship, in which they find momentary haven from the world of lies they have to weave to keep themselves hopeful, but the friendship is soon disrupted when Madam's son sends her away to a retirement home. Facing revelations both from Madam and Yilan's confrontation that Mr. Shi has never been prepared to face, he finally accepts things as they are, and reaches a small understanding with Yilan and her life. DEPARTURES Can : Lai Yi Si ji Jau Ming Kuk Lit : Ritual Master's Sonata d. Yojiro Takita (Lung Tin Yeung Yi Long) Masahiro Motoki (Boon Muk Nga Won), Ryoko Hirosue (Guong Muk Leung Ji) Rating : IIA Length : 120 mins. Opening March 12 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Daigo Kobayashi is a cellist whose dream is shattered when his Tokyo orchestra suddenly closes down. Left with no choice but to sell his prized cello, Daigo returns with his wife Mika to his late mother’s house, deep in the Japanese countryside. In need of money, Daigo responds to an ad in the paper for a job in ‘Departures’, mistakenly thinking that it might be somehow related to travel. But to his complete surprise Daigo finds he has applied for a position as an ‘encoffineer’ – a man who performs the delicate and traditional Japanese ritual of preparing the bodies of the recently deceased for their departure to the next life – and without having time to think about it, he accepts the job... TOKYO SONATA Can : Dung Gaing Jau Ming Kuk d. Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Hak Jat Ching) Teruyuki Kagawa (Heung Chuen Jiu Ji), Kyoko Koizumi (Siu Chuen Gum Yut Ji), Yoji Yashuko (Yi Sor Guong Si) Length : 119 mins. [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] TOKYO SONATA unsettles on a deeper level with the story of an ordinary Japanese family that is slowly falling apart. After suddenly losing his job, Ryuhei hides the truth from his family and passes each day in lies. He becomes increasingly estranged from his two sons, each with secrets of his own. Quietly watching her husband and children drift apart, housewife Megumi is too tired to stop her family from unraveling. 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. NIGHT AND FOG Can : Tin Shui Wai Dik Yeh Yu Mo Lit : Night and Fog of Tin Shui Wai d. Ann Hui On Wa Simon Yam Tat Wa, Zhang Jingchu Opening May 2009 --- [ Entertainment URL ] MEDIA ASIA http://www.mediaasia.com 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 * NATASHA NA YING, A MU, AND GUAN ZHE DATE AND TIME : Sunday, April 5 2009 @ 7PM Monday, April 6 2009 @ 8:30PM VENUE LOCATION : The Avalon Ballroom Theatre Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort 6380 Fallsview Boulevard Niagara Falls, ON L2G 7X5 Canada TICKET PRICES : CA$99.75, 126, 147 TICKET OUTLET LOCATION : TICKET MASTER http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1000416ABC04692E?artistid=1272557&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 * 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 * LIU FANG DATE AND TIME : Saturday, March 14 2009 @ 8PM VENUE LOCATION : Ryerson United Church 2195 W. 45th Ave., Vancouver BC V6K 1N7 Canada TICKET OUTLET LOCATION : TICKET MASTER http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/110042378BFB91C7?artistid=721818&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 * Sunday Entertainment and Horseshoe Hammond Present Huang Pin-Yuan Live Special Guest: Rain Li Choi Wa DATE AND TIME: Sunday, March 1 2009 @ 9PM VENUE LOCATION : The Venue Horseshoe Hammond 777 Casino Center Drive Hammond IN 46320 TICKET PRICES: $73, 53, 43 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: TICKET MASTER http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/07004197DFAEBC96?artistid=1283342&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Thursday February 12 2009 10 NEW IN TOWN d. Jonas Elmer Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr. 9 LOOK FOR A STAR Can : Yau Lung Hei Fung Lit : Swimming Dragon Acting Phoenix 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 8 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, Shen Lijun, Yao Chen 7 CLAUSTROPHOBIA Can : Chun Muk Lit : Intimate d. Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Karena Lam Ka Yun, Tsang Kwok Cheung, Chucky Woo Gei Lan, Andy Hui Chi On, Lok Ying Kwan, Eric Tsang Chi Wai 6 SEVEN POUNDS d. Gabriele Muccino Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson 5 BRIDE WARS d. Gary Winick Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Bryan Greenberg 4 REVOLUTIONARY ROAD d. Sam Mendes Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet 3 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON d. David Fincher Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett 2 YES MAN d. Peyton Reed Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper 1 VALKYRIE d. Bryan Singer Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Billy Nighy ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS LOOK FOR A STAR AKA : Sing Mung Kei Yuen Lit : Star Dream Fantasy Destiny Rating : IIA Length : 118 mins. 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 Rating : IIA Length : 100 mins. Opening January 23 2009 Opening January 22 2009 in Malaysia Official Site : http://www.allswellendswell.com [ 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? CLAUSTROPHOBIA 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. ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, February 14 2009 15 UNFORGETTABLE DAY Can : Nan Mong Dik Yut Tin Xu Wei (Hui Ngai) 14 SEEKING FORTUNE Can : Chum Fok Jacky Cheung Hok Yau 13 KING QUEEN Can : Gok Wong Wong Hau Big Mouth 12 LOVE MORE AND MORE Can : Yuet Loi Yuet Oi Fahrenheit (Fei Lun Hoi) 11 THAT CANNOT BE LOVE? Can : Na But Wui Si Oi Ba? Jane Zhang Liangying 10 POST ADOLESCENCE POEM Can : Hau Ching Chun Kei Dik Si May Day 9 LOVE IS THAT SIMPLE Can : Oi Jau Si Na Mor Gan Dan Pu Bajia (Po Ba Gap) 8 WORLD OF ONE AFRAID OF LONELINESS Can : Yut Gor Yun Dik Sai Gai Hoi Pa Gu Dan Wang Zijian (Wong Chi Kin) 7 BAD GUY Can : Wai Yun Abin Fang (Fong Gwing Bun) 6 WITHOUT IF Can : Muk Yau Yu Gor Jasmine Leong (Leung Jing Yu) 5 ANOTHER HEAVEN Can : Ling Yut Gor Tin Tong Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won), Jane Zhang Liangying 4 PERHAPS LOVE Can : Yu Gor Oi Fang Datong 3 FISH Can : Yu Cheer Chen Yi Jing 2 YOU CHOOSE Can : Yau Nei Shuen Jat JJ Lin Junjie, Fama 1 ROSE ROSE I LOVE YOU Can : Mui Gwai Mui Gwai Ngor Oi Nei Joanna Wang (Wong Yeuk Lam) ------ [ 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. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY Love has left a stench in the air as the Lantern Festival and Valentine's Day have come and gone. Dubbed as the "Chinese Valentine's Day", the Lantern Festival this year went a little too far in Beijing. May your love burn with the same surprise and passion? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/4571118/New-Beijing-landmark-ablaze-after-firework-festival.html Before the holidays, Peanuts holiday specials are often replayed. Your Chaffing Editor however finds the Valentine's Day a little disturbing, from the creepy stalker tone of A CHARLIE BROWN VALENTINE to the depressing tone of BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN. Old Chaffy of course prefers BE MY VALENTINE, CHARLIE BROWN since the other one hits a little too close. Some people are destined to celebrate Black Day forever, and not just out of fondness for Ja Jang Myeon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vQ6cGpiong While Wikipedia has less information than Old Chaffy remembered on Black Day (April 14), it had a link to Singles Awareness Day (SAD), counter programming for singles on Valentine's Day. Another alternative is Singles Day, which is celebrated on October 1. Old Chaffy says, if being single makes you happy, by all means celebrate it any day you want. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singles_Awareness_Day Finally, while many prefer the Japanese ox with a heart shaped birthmark for their Valentine (http://www.daylife.com/photo/01FTgrfa8q4UW), Your Chaffing Editor instead chose this photo for his, from the bottom of his heart... http://www.daylife.com/photo/024M6koeGy3g0 WHO LOVES YA, BABY? Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038