From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (MARCH 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. Juno Mak Chun Lun who celebrates his birthday on the 18th B. Karen Ka Wing who celebrates her birthday on the 17th C. Kay Tse On Kay who celebrates her birthday on the 13th D. Vicki Zhao Wei who celebrates her birthday on the 12th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (3/18/2009) The film DEPARTURE two nights ago held its Hong Kong premiere at the Causeway Bay UA. Chapman To Man Jat, William Chan Wai Ting, Don Li Yat Long, Wong Hei, Jacqueline Law Wai Guen, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yeung Sau Sing were among the guests. To Man Jat expressed that he would perform in a Chan Hing Ka comedy with Wong Cho Nam. He heard that Kama Law Hoi San and Fiona Sit Hoi Kei would be in the cast as well. He joked that he was already several decades old and would be the same no matter who he would work with. Chan Ting Wai expressed that he was immobile due to a leg injury. He said that during a rehearsal for his new film THE BIG CHEAT (OI CHOOK MAU) he aggravated his old knee injury. He was very worried about the condition and said that he has already seen a Chinese chiropractor and an acupuncturist. The doctor pointed out that he might have torn his tendon but the rehearsal had to continue. He honestly said that it would take a week to completely heal. He was the most concerned about his future dance development. * (3/17/2009) Raymond Wong Pak Ming and Che Suk Mui yesterday attended an event. Che Suk Mui was the spokesperson while Wong Pak Chi was the judge. Wong Pak Ming said that he hardly ever performed men's skin care until his earlier film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) when he had to pay more attention to grooming and exercise. Wong Pak Ming said that IP MAN 2 will begin production in July. This set will be built in Mainland and not shoot in Malaysia as earlier rumored. He expressed that actors like Donnie Yen Chi Tan received a raise, but Chi Tan also gave him a friendly discount. He said that the production cost has increased. Even (director) Wilson Yip Wai Shun received a salary bump. As for Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), he said that would depend on her role. However everyone had a pleasant working experience. He expressed that he also looked forward to Wong Kar Wai's film but had no idea when he would finish. He believed that Wong Kar Wai would make a great film. * (3/17/2009) Nick Cheung Ka Fai two nights ago attended a new cinema circuit opening ceremony, during which he also shared his experience with a group of aspiring young filmmakers. Ka Fai not only showed his support for this group of young people who were passionate about film but also had expectations of them. Ka Fai said that now a lot of young people like his nephew cannot find jobs that they like, which caused him some concern. Thus he hoped that if young people found their ideal, they should give their all. At the same time, he also reminded young people who would like to make films to avoid only making alternative films for their own enjoyment. Instead they should add commercial elements for balance. Ka Fai said, "Balance is the most important. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is too commercial. A film should have heavier personal style." Speaking of the currently growing youth drug abuse issue, he felt that they were better off making short films than taking drugs. Ka Fai said, "They should enjoy their own work instead of pursuing instant gratification." He also revealed that Tseng Kwok Cheung also has made small-scale movies that he was very willing to help with. As for investing, he would prefer acting more. * (3/17/2009) Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) in SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN) transformed suddenly from a honest villager image to a cold-blooded and terrifying DETROIT METAL CITY image. His character even made an 180-degree change. As if he was another person entirely, his friends in the film all kept their distance from him. This look was definitely more appalling than Japanese actor Kenichi Matsuyama's earlier DETROIT METAL CITY costume. Ng Yin Cho's make up actually was very time-consuming, especially initially when he was not used to it. Everyday he would take more than three hours with make-up and hair. In addition he used the Japanese geisha used make up. Because the make up was too heavy his face had a reaction. Later gradually he was used to it but still took two hours for make up. Even so, Ng Yin Cho thought the time was well spent. "Because I wanted this effect, I have to put in these efforts." Ng Yin Cho started his research as soon as he arrived in Japan. Although he frankly admitted that this look was excessive, it actually was very realistic. * (3/16/2009) Nick Cheung Ka Fai yesterday as the Sowers Action "Education sponsorship ambassador" attended a "Sowers 512 education sponsorship walk" at Kowloon Park. The event would mainly raise fund for the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken school children's school constructions and living expenses. Eight walks will take place in a year. Although Ka Fai could not personally participate he still tried to take time to attend and appeal for help. As the "education sponsorship ambassador" for years, Ka Fai tried to participate once but the night before the event he had a kidney stone issue and had to call a doctor to his home. Although the doctor asked him to quit he still insisted on going. The doctor gave him some drugs for the local medical team to administrate should he experience pain again. Ka Fai joked, "Luckily it didn't hurt again, otherwise my face would have been pale the whole way!" In addition to participating in fund-raising walk, Ka Fai also went on visits and witnessed a lot of miserable plight, such as two sisters who dropped out of school together. Twelve-year-old sister argued with her father and left home for a year, her experience was beyond any imagination; a ten-year-old child who due to the loss of his parents had to become the head of the family; and one mountain family that had to live in the pig shed. Ka Fai said, "I think this event not only makes an appeal to the people of Hong Kong, but also hopefully the Mainland people would lend a helping hand. The Mainland has a lot of wealthy people who make hundreds of millions in donations. If they can help then it is more more direct. (Would you walk with your daughter?) Of course! Before she was born I already had that thought, but she would at least have to be 7 or 8. Then our family of three would walk." In addition, the Film Critics Society Best Actor Ka Fai recently in a certain newspaper's "rotten film" survey received another Best actor nomination. He did not mind in the least and even joked, "Once in a lifetime, you have to try everything once as long as it's not drugs!" * (3/16/2009) Aaron Kwok Fu Sing months before attended the Berlin Film Festival world premiere of his movie EMPIRE OF SILVER. Even though it took place almost one month ago he still received a lot of reaction from the Berlin Film Festival. Earlier director Yao Shuhua sent a lot of e-mail with related reviews to Sing Sing's management company, including one from the film festival president who congratulated them on the EMPIRE premiere as "a huge success". Sing Sing was relieved. "The cast suffered five months in the severe chill of Xian during the production and the effort has not been wasted. Hopefully later with the Mainland release we would also receive good responses!" In the film Sing Sing and Hao Lei's highly controversial "love" became another local media focus, because their innocent love was crushed under the then feudal system, which forced them to turn "love" into a helpless "family affection". The local media not only gave high praises to their performance of this emotional struggle but also good reviews to the scene in which Sing Sing after a self-imposed exile returned home for a funeral. Furthermore, Sing Sing has met a lot of young screen writers and directors, as well as some good scripts on this trip to Berlin. Sing Sing quite frankly was rather interested and would not eliminate any future cooperation opportunities. * (3/15/2009) Pinky Cheung Man Chi, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Leila Tong Ning, and Sammul Pang King Chi starred film A VERY SHORT LIFE (DUEN JAM DIK SUN MING) two nights ago held its premiere in Mongkok. Andy On Chi Kit, Bernice Liu Bik Yi and HotCha were present. Pinky's low cut dress caught the most attention. She said that she dressed up because in the film she did not wear any make-up, and during the shoot her face was filled with acne. It was the worst look in her film career. She said with a laugh, "I'm afraid that people haven't seen me in such a long time and thought that I really looked the same as in the film." Tong Ning said that in the film she played a problem mother who could condone her boyfriend's violation of her daughter. The role had a lot of potential. She also knew that lately many family tragedies have happened and was upset to hear about them. When asked whether she was psychologically unbalanced during the shoot, she said, "I wasn't completely unbalanced, but I wouldn't dare to look directly at others. After the shoot wrapped on my first night at home I suddenly became very sad and cried. I think I was a release of the heavy stress." Tong Ning honestly said that she would think carefully before having children in the future because the responsibility was enormous. Andy On Chi Kit two nights ago came in support of the director Dennis Law Sau Yiu. As for rumors of dating Tse Ting Ting, Andy expressed that they were just friends but frankly admitted that he would like her to be his girlfriend. Was he confident about getting the girl? He said, "I don't know, I have always been confident in my job and have a little confidence in love. I would try my best. I work very hard in whatever I do." Andy said that he asked Ting Ting to attend the premiere together, but she did not have time. As for Ting Ting's mother Deborah Li (Dik Bor Lai), he said, "Actually I have never met Lai Goo, only her father (Patrick Tse Yin). I am a little afraid of Lai Goo. People say that Lai Goo is more serious. Ting Ting and I are good friends so I should have a chance to meet her, but whether she likes me or not I don't know." Andy honestly said that with Ting Ting they only lacked time. "We have to take our time." As for calling her everyday, he said, "Of course, I call my assistant everyday too." Andy expressed that earlier he has met Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi. Has he seen her interview? He said, "I watched a little, I thought she is very brave and noble." * (3/15/2009) Last night TVB JADE SOLID GOLD guests included Janice Vidal (Wai Lan), Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Fama, Kay Tse On Kay and Linda Chung Ka Yun. Fama's Lok Wing said that since the bullet threatening letter against their boss Edison Chen Koon Hei they have not had any contact with him. He also felt that such threats were illegal and taunting the police, so as employees they were a little worried. Yet since no practical action has been taken. Would his comments truly provoke someone to take practical action? He said that he was not the one who was challenged. As for Edison Chen Koon Hei's SNIPER premiere in Singapore, Mr. C felt that proved now he was at ease and full security measures have been taken. Yet did they feel now was a suitable time for him to appear and promote? They did not know but would like for Edison to produce their new record the most. Siu Chai was asked whether later he would attend THE SNIPER's Singapore premiere. He expressed that he has not received any notice and only knew that he would attend the International Film Festival premiere. As for two threatening letters to the media with bullets, he was surprised. "Two? I don't know whether I would attend with Edison but I am OK. I am used to it in Taiwan and it isn't as serious as imagined. The motive remains unknown. (The motive is for Edison not to appear?) I didn't think about that, and the movie is beyond my control. I am even less certain about publicity." * (3/15/2009) Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Joey Yung Cho Yi and Michael Tse Tin Wa two nights ago attended a play premiere. As Edison Chen Koon Hei's bullet threat letter shocked the entertainment business, god father Chau Sun earlier joked that he would have to wear a bullet proof vest to have dinner with him. Chau Sun two nights ago avoided the press and tried to use the "bathroom" excuse. As for Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) commenting that he would ask him about buying a vest, Chau Sun viciously said, "I am not an arms dealer, I am an actor. (Are you worried about Edison's safety?) I am better off worrying whether I can get in." Later, Cheung Ka Fai greet him and reporters asked them to pose for a photo. Chau Sun just kept going. Ka Fai followed and gave an awkward expression. He joked that Chau Sun had an "artist" temper. Chau Sun said, "Do you know what they (reporters) asked me? They asked me about bullet-proof vests, how am I supposed to answer!" The television station stopped Chau Sun and was asked about Edison, he immediately shook his head and did not want to answer. When the threatening letter was mentioned again, he said, "Is that right? (Are you worried about Edison's personal safety?) Crazy people are everywhere, I don't pay any attention to them. (Would you call him?) No, the police would deal with it. Clearly a mad person did it. If it was me, I would hold press conference the next day and bring whatever bullet I got." Ka Fai tried to help, "He came with his wife, maybe he was afraid that his wife would be on camera. (Does he have an "artist" temper?) I accommodate my friends. He is like that normally too." In addition, Ka Fai urged everyone not be so radical with the bullet threat letter. He said, "Everyone have people and things that they dislike, if they don't like it they can boycott it, avoid it on the street. I hope bad things don't happen." * (3/14/2009) Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers two nights ago held its 21st anniversary banquet in Tsim Sha Tsui. President Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Honorary President Arthur Wong Ngok Tai, and actors and film professionals like Shu Qi, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Simon Yam Tat Wa and Ella Koon Yun Na attended. The event presented three Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers Awards, "the year's most outstanding cinematography award" went to Wong Ngok Tai for PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI). The Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers founder Wong Jeet presented the award to Brother Tai. Wong Jeet is also Wong Ngok Tai's father. "the most charismatic actor award" went to Yen Chi Tann while "the most charismatic actress Award" went to Shu Qi. Shu Qi said that last year Rene Liu (Lau Yeuk Ying) won the Actress Award. She joked that this was her first award, which was truly too late. She said that she was very happy to receive this award at the hands of professional photographers. Which was her prettiest angle? She said that she did not have one, but Lau Wai Keung has said that the ones he took were the prettiest and told her not to think too much about it. Shu Qi expressed that she did not notice the news about threats against Edison Chen Koon Hei's comeback attempt. She laughed and said that why the rumors did not surface in the past. Shu Qi thought that a civilized society should have a lot of methods, everyone should give a little more space and opportunity to each other. People should be given the opportunity to improve themselves, reflect and contribute to the society. Was she worried about Chen Koon Hei's personal safety? She said that everyone was worried, not just her. She also wished the most for world peace, the protection of the Earth, and everyone do more charity work. Did she have any contact with Chen Koon Hei? She said that she would be concerned with basically anything in this business. John Chong Ching was asked whether he knew would Chen Koon Hei promote THE SNIPER (SUN CHEUNG SAU) in Singapore and Malaysia. He said that no decision has been made yet but he will not return to Hong Kong. He said that the threat was a serious situation so the company would closely monitor and deal with it solemnly. Now they were waiting to see how the police investigation would turn out. He said that the Singapore and Malaysia trip was still under consideration and everyone has looked forward to this film for a long time. Chong Ching frankly stated that he has not spoken with Chen Koon Hei but everyone was concerned. He said that Chen Koon Hei was not in Singapore or Malaysia. If he decided to promote there in April all security measures would be taken. He also said that co-stars would not be too worried and hoped that it was just a prank. Yet it still needed to be addressed. Yen Chi Tan said that this was the first year that he won this award. He joked that photographers were just as tasteful as his wife. Which part of his was the sexiest in his wife's mind? He joked that it should be the "family man" look at home. He was the happiest about the fan support after making IP MAN. He never imagined that he could win this award. Was his confidence in winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor increased? He said that if film professionals who voted for him this night would vote for him at the Hong Kong Film Award then his chances would be much improved. Chi Tan revealed that he would work on three films. Sometimes he would confuse the characters. Eight time Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography winner Wong Ngok Tai two nights ago won his ninth cinematography award. Last year he also won this award with THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG). This time he repeated his victory with PAINTED SKIN. He said that he has always trained cinematographers behind the scenes. Koon Yun Na came to support the film industry. She attended that last year she was also present. She remembered that night when she was the guest at the lucky drawing she picked out president Lau Wai Keung and Wong Ngok Tai. That day she met director Lau Wai Keung, who later cast her in LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG). She said, "Actually Director Lau's mother was also from Tahiti. When we met we said a few words in our native tongue." Ella hoped no one would go too far with the threats against Chen Koon Hei's comeback. She said that when she first appeared at the scene she modeled for a soft drink ad campaign in which Chen Koon Hei was the lead. Since she was only a bit player she believed that he would not remember her. Ella expressed that she has not received any excessive fan letters, the forced kiss incident was the most extreme. Lau Wai Keung has worked with Chen Koon Hei. Upon knowing about the threatening letter he honestly said that he was somewhat worried and hoped that it was a prank. He said actually not only actors, sometimes Legislative Council members would receive blades. Has he called Chen Koon Hei? He expressed that he has not have the time, but last Christmas he met with him. At the time Chen Koon Hei had psychological stress, as each person ultimately was a victim. Would he approach Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi or Gillian Chung Yun Tung to make movies? He said that he would not rule out any actor. As for when Chen Koon Hei would return to Hong Kong, he said that he did not know, even if he did he would not be at liberty to disclose. Lau Wai Keung felt that he could not be too worried about the threat. If Chen Koon Hei decided to promote his new film in Asia he should proceed as scheduled. * (3/14/2009) Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Yuen Qiu and Corey Yuen Kwai yesterday appeared on a television talk show. As for what the theme was, Sammo joked Sandra Ng Kwan Yu did not permit him to speak so he did not know what he should and should not say. The trio suddenly spoke Mandarin during the interview. Yuen Qiu revealed that back then their master forced them to speak Mandarin, otherwise they would be fined. Thus when they got together they loved to speak Mandarin. Sammo said that lately the brethren like Jackie Chan has met less. As for the Edison Chen Koon Hei death threat incident, Sammo has not worked with Chen Koon Hei, but Yuen Kwai has. Sammo felt that people should be given a chance. In addition since the sex photo scandal has passed they should be given some space. Sammo also made an analogy and said that after more than half his life now was the time for him to properly enjoy life and do what he wanted to do. Sammo felt that they did not do anything intentional, in addition this is their private life and they did not harm anyone. They still had a long way to go, so he hoped that the public would give them space. Would he consider working with the sex photo scandal leads on a film and help the younger generation? Sammo did not need to consider. If they had the chance to work together they would, so they would have to go with the flow. * (3/14/2009) Tse Ting Ting, Renee Dai Mung Mung, Wiley Chiu Shek Chi, Deep Ng Ho Hong, Chong Si Man, Bianca Hu Lam and Chow Sau Na two nights ago attended a certain magazine's party. Tse Ting Ting was asked about her sister in law Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi's film comeback. Ting Ting said that she had no idea. Ting Ting earlier has said that she would like to play action roles, has she thought about working with her sister in law? Ting Ting asked, "Can she fight? Actually I rarely watch Hong Kong films, but I have seen her in a movie in which she played a teacher. I also saw NEW POLICE STORY on the plane twice. I thought my brother (Nicholas Tse Ting Fung) really had it tough." Would Ting Ting ask her brother about how to play action roles? She said that her brother had a sandbag at home. Would she consult her rumored boyfriend Andy On Chi Kit? He said no. Later Ting Ting revealed that On Chi Kit once was working out at Ting Fung's home and knocked the sandbag down. They would spare as well. If they fought, who would she help? Ting Ting said, "They aren't really fighting. If they were I of course would help my brother!" * (3/13/2009) For Hong Kong film's 100th anniversary, Radio Television Hong Kong production HONG KONG FILM 100 YEARS yesterday held broadcast premiere ceremony. Attendees included Commerce and Economic Development Bureau chief Mrs Rita Lau Ng Wai Lan, Director of Broadcasting Mr. Wong Wa Kei, from the show business sector Peter Lam Kin Ngok, Raymond Chow Man Wai, Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Tsui Siu Ming and Donnie Yen Chi Tan. Alex Fong Lik Sun and Race Wong Yuen Ling attended as "Film successors". As Edison Chen Koon Hei's boss, Lam Kin Ngok said that the sender of the threatening letter against Chen Koon Hei has not yet been confirmed as a prankster, but he was not worried about the safety of Chen Koon Hei's life. He absolutely trusted Hong Kong's laws and police force to be able to ensure public safety. Cable executive Tsui Siu Ming avoided the media and left without answering any question about the threatening letters. Media Asia Films company boss Lam Kin Ngok yesterday was surrounded. The media asked whether the threat would endanger Chen Koon Hei's safety? Lam Kin Ngok calmly stated, "I am not worried. Hong Kong is not lawless. Even if Edison has done something wrong, he doesn't deserve a death sentence. We absolutely trust the Hong Kong Government and the police will be able to do something, so it should not be a problem." He also added that regardless whether you like or dislike someone, such a starting point was very wrong because it was illegal. Any challenge to the law will be subject to sanction. He said that he just returned from Beijing yesterday so he has not had the time to contact Edison, but he knew that the company has already spoken with him. He also asked how he should handle it, but they all believed in the police's abilities and were not too worried. As for any threatening calls, Lam Kin Ngok joked, "I don't get any, why don't you ask him?" In addition, the Chen Koon Hei starred THE SNIPER (SUN CHEUNG SAU) has been scheduled for an April 9 Hong Kong release, but with the threatening letters case would he be permitted to promote in Hong Kong? Lam Kin Ngok said, "Actually Edison doesn't want to be in Hong Kong so I never thought about asking him to return and promote. It was because of this that he wasn't asked to return, but he would attend the Singapore promotional activities. (Has he been asked to avoid other events for now?) I don't think this is the problem. I am not the challenger. Only that person has a problem. His joke went too far and challenged the law. Edison also thought that his joke went too far. Even if he was concerned about personal safety, he still believed that the police will do something." * (3/13/2009) Albert Yeung Sau Sing and Mani Fok man Hei yesterday attended an Emperor event. Yeung Sau Sing said that he has read about intimidation of Edison Chen Koon Hei. He said, "Chen Koon Hei doesn't concern our company so we are not at libert to comment. He has nothing to do with our company." Yeung Sau Sing said, Gillian Chung Yun Tung was the victim so he was not worried about Ah Gil and would not need to strengthen Ah Gil's security. As for her niece Vincy (Chen Koon Hei's girlfriend), he said, "She would be fine. Her dad has chatted with her. Parents should worry. She still is in school, I know that she will return to Hong Kong in the summer." He said that his niece would not need any security. Mr. Yeung also said that he has seen Ah Gil's earlier interview and expressed that it was very good. Ah Gil dared to admit to everything and explained her comment of being "naive and dumb". He said that he has always urged artists to be careful in love. As for FANTASTIC WATER BABES (CHOOK SHUI FU YUNG)'s release date, he said, "This year should be no problem, Mainland inspection should be no problem. The company will also make movies for Ah Gil." Mani did not respond to the threat and was not worried about Ah Gil's safety. She said that Ah Gil should have seen the news. Mani revealed that Ah Gil had a jean press conference in Taiwan. Because Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin would be working on a series in Taiwan, she would take a few hours to see Ah Gil but would not attend Ah Gil's events. Mani said that Ah Gil's two previous Hong Kong events were considered warm-ups, in addition the Taiwan trip will have many Ah Gil supporters. she would not be too nervous and was expected to stay for two days in Taiwan. Mani said that the company intended on making movies for Ah Gil and Ah Gil would like to work with two great actors like Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Chapman To Man Jat. * (3/13/2009) Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) yesterday worked on the music video for his Cantonese song FRIEND HAVE YOU CHANGED (PUNG YAU NEI BIN LIU MOOT YAU) and was shocked to learn about Edison Chen Koon Hei's threatening letter. Siu Chai said that each time he worked on a police gun play scene, something similar would happen in real life. When he made BREAKING NEWS a lot of reporters told him the story was unrealistic; how could no one get hurt after several hundred shots were fired? Later a real "breaking news" happened in Taiwan. The television station covered the gun fight live. Later reports said that the film was more realistic than reality. This time with THE SNIPER (SUN CHEUNG SAU) this bullet threatening letter occurred. He hoped it was just a joke. He expressed when he made SNIPER he was injured from a prop bullet. Was he afraid that he would be hit by a "stray" bullet when promoting with Edison Chen Koon Hei? Siu Chai said that he would not and hoped that nothing would happen during the promotion. Yet he planned to ask Anthony Wong Chau Sun about where to get a bullet proof vast. Siu Chai claimed that he did not know whether Edison would come back and promote and he has not asked the company. If Edison would not, he would have to work more. Because he was Chen Koon Hei's superior in the film he would have to take the task. He felt that safety was the most important, publicity was secondary. * (3/13/2009) Nick Cheung Ka Fai and Chapman To Man Jat's contract signing with Emperor Motion Pictures was held yesterday, boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing, Emperor executive Mani Fok Man Hei and Emperor Motion Pictures CEO attended. In honor of this event, two Emperor starlets Kung Hong Nei and Dorothy accompanied To Man Jat on the red carpet while Cheung Ka Fai entered with two foreign models. Mani gave Ka Fai a ticket to fly anywhere so he could participate in film festivals everywhere. He could bring his family along. She also gave Ah Jat a director's chair, hoping that he would direct and act. Mani joked that she beg Ka Fai over 4 years before he was willing to renew their contracts, Ka Fai said that he only renewed because of Mani. Because he has not had the opportunity to cooperate with Mani, Mani will be his manager after the renewal. Ka Fai expressed that he had no raise. The negotiation took place half a year ago before the financial tsunami. He explained that aside from money, having good roles was also important in the renewal. Ka Fai has been nominated for Best Actor with BEAST STALKER (JING YUN). He said that he had confidence, but dared not think too much for fear of too much stress. As for bringing his wife and daughter to the show, he joked that he could consider the idea. Would he dress up? He said, "I don't dare to. I am afraid that I would be very embarrassed with a failure in the end. I would wear last year's suit." Was he afraid of a jinx? He said, "I don't believe in that." Ka Fai believed that the threatening letter Cable received was a hoax. Many similar rumors have appeared in the past. To Man Jat was shocked. "I came right out as soon as I got up, I just found out now." He has worked with Chen Koon Hei and they were considered familiar, but they did not have any contact. He said that this incident has gone too far. Hong Kong was a lawful place and he believed the police had the ability to protect public safety. To Man Jat said that he would act, direct or produce in his years at Emperor. He said that Hong Kong had few actresses and later he would discover some new faces. Would he consider Isabella Leong Lok Si for a movie? He expressed that he would take everyone into account. * (3/13/2009) Taiwan actress Lin Chiling appeared yesterday at the Peak's Madame Tussauds Hong Kong to unveil her Xiao Qiao costume wax statue. First she reprised Xiao Qiao's tea ceremony for Madame Tussands' general manager and Mei Ah Entertainment Group Managing Director Tong Hing Chi, then they unveiled the wax figure. When she saw her own figure, she shouted it was wonderful. She also pointed out that the wax figure's skin was almost real, so it was worth not being able to move for three hours. Later Chiling said yesterday after she arrived at the scene, first she visited the other wax figures and felt Leo Ku Kui Ke and Kelly Chen Wai Lam's were the most realistic. As for her own, she said, "The skin was truly the same, the smile also resembled mine and had Xiao Qiao's ancient flavor (but it seemed to have buried your figure?) No, no, if I didn't wear high heels today, I would be as tall as the figure, then we would look even more similar. Many friends wanted to come and see today." Would she change costume for the figure to show off hers? She joked that she did not know and would have to ask. Chiling would work on the Chu Yen-ping directed CHI LING (THORN HILLS). Reportedly the director would like Sun Honglei to join the cast, but he thought Chiling was a flower vase and was reluctant to work with her. Chiling laughed, "Big Brother Sun was very nice, I don't believe he would say something like this. We have met before, he gave me a lot of encouragement and looked forward to us being able to work together." As for further criticism of her acting, she felt that acting required years of training and life experience. However, she was willing to accept this challenge, she would not feel frustrated and hurt. She said, "If when I turned forty-year-old no one would praise me as a flower vase, then that would hurt!" She also said that currently she would face work seriously and would not let this affect her confidence. In addition, Chiling was nominated for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards New Actor Award, but she had no confidence at all. She was very happy about the nomination and felt it was a huge encouragement. She said, "In recent years whether it was acting or publicity, I have always been living in RED CLIFF's Xiao Qiao. Now with such a report card and a nomination for my first role, what more could I ask for? (Would you study acting?) I hope I would be able to. Because voice, dance and acting were all parts of the performance, I wanted to study them." * (3/12/2009) Yesterday Cable received a threatening letter from the United States. It contained an item that resembled a bullet and a letter that targeted to Edison Chen Koon Hei. The letter warned him against attending any public event after April 4, otherwise his personal safety will be jeopardized. Cable has already contacted the police. Yesterday after 5:00 PM, cable Entertainment News station received an A4 envelope from the United States. It was sent from Pennsylvania. When the envelope was opened an item that appeared to be a bullet was found inside, along with a letter that threatened Chen Koon Hei to cease all publicity event in any nation after April 9. Otherwise his personal safety would be in danger. It also claimed to be the last warning, and he was already given a chance when he attended an event in Singapore. He would have another chance. East Asia expressed shock over the news. The company for now would not make any comments and response. Everything will be left to the police. * (3/12/2009) Sandy Lam San San presided over the now program HAVE A NICE DAY. Earlier her guest was sexy goddess Shu Qi and they talked about her intimate scene experience. Shu Qi last year received the United States entertainment channel E!'s selection as "the world's sexiest lips", but she never thought her lips were sexy. Shu Qi's first kiss happened when she was 16 or 17. She went to the movies with her boyfriend. As he departed he gave her a kiss at the door, but she did not think it was romantic. Her first on screen kiss was in SEX AND ZEN (YUK PO TUEN) with Tsui Kam Kong. Later she has had kiss scenes with many artists, three times with Tony Leung Chiu Wai. Shu Qi even said, "The kiss with him felt the best because his thick lips and his eyes can make you become very invested." As for Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Shu Qi said, "His lips were very thin, kissing him was like eating him." Shu Qi has worked on four kiss scenes with Dior Cheng Yi Kin. Shu Qi said, "I don't know if Ekin was shy so he had no set up, like he was trying to finish that scene as soon as possible, ha ha." As for her recent co-star Andy Lau Tak Wa, Shu Qi said, "Wa Jai of course is decent!" Her scene with Jordan Chan Siu Chun was already over a decade ago, but she still praised him. "He was humorous, the shoot could be very pleasant and relaxed." The most interesting kiss was THE BEST OF TIMES. She had a kiss scene that went from the living room to the bedroom with Chang Chen. It was 10 minutes long. After the cameras stopped they were still kissing. They did not even hear the director's command. Shu Qi regretted that she has not had the opportunity to shoot a kiss scene with Jacky Cheung Hok Yau. She even stated that if she could work with Hok Yau she would work for free. Actually Hok Yau has always been Shu Qi's idol. She recalled after she joined the business Manfred Wong (Man Jun) knew that she liked Hok Yau and brought her backstage to visit Hok Yau on the SNOW WOLF LAKE set. She said, "That day was my birthday, backstage Man Jun introduced us. Then Hok Yau gave me a card, a flower and an apple to wish me Happy Birthday. He even said, 'originally I had two apples, but I ate one and left one for you.' How sweet was that!" * (3/12/2009) Jan Lam Hoi Fung yesterday attended the 33rd Annual Hong Kong International Film Festival press conference, this festival's mascot "Bau Fa" (Exploding Firework) was a Lam Hoi Fung design. The event even launched the "Bau Fa" T shirts, caps, emoticon and computer wallpaper downloads. Jan on the stage joked that when he took this job he knew that the budget was very low. He said that he came up with this idea at the the supermarket. The host expressed that he would give a present to "Bau Fa" designer Jan. When Jan learned that it was a cake, he joked that he thought it was money. Jan was asked whether the budget was very little. He said that having a job in today's environment was the most important. When asked whether his salary for this job was lower than the HSBC stock price, he joked that it fell below the price but he has always supported the film festival. This invitation was a great honor for him, as working one more job than one less. What about the copyright? He joked that it didn't matter because Hong Kong designs very quickly would appear in the Ladies Market. Would the design yield dividends? He said, "I am getting it now, attending a very grand press conference. Backstage I also ate a lot. This time I can eat in and take out too." Jan has always thought design was his actual job and radio was only a side job. He was very glad that someone asked him to design something. * (3/12/2009) SHINJUKU INCIDENT was this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival opening movie. During the shoot Jackie Chan has experienced many first time, including his first role as a gangster, a killer, and the first kill. In the scene Jackie Chan in the crowded streets of Japan had to quickly kill someone with a gun, causing serious panic on the streets. In another scene, he had to face countless knives in a dark environment. The venue had more than 200 Japanese and Chinese actors, the most difficult problem was communication. During the shoot everyone had to speak Japanese, then translate back to Chinese. Although Jackie Chan was already accustomed to translating, he was a little overwhelmed when he saw this scene with more than 200 actors. This screen took over 15 days to shoot, as snow interrupted the progress. At the time 200 performers gathered in the streets and threw stones at the window. Japan did not have any candy glass at the time. For this glass shattering scene the team had to prepare over 1,000 pieces of real glass for the shoot. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, MARCH 18 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS INTIMIDATION CASE THAT IS SELF DETRIMENTAL AND BENEFITS NO ONE Two media outlets have received threatening letters with bullets, prohibiting Edison Chen Koon Hei from attending any promotional activity anywhere. Intimidation is a criminal act, the suspects committed a crime that is substantial while Chen Koon Hei in indecent photographs committed what at most would be considered immoral acts, negligence in dealing with personal privacy, or even the issue of less than proper accountability to the victims. If people who are not directly involved in the indecent photo scandal loudly protests against these artists' comebacks, they belong to the same few types. The first category are the so-called "Moral Talibans", whose personal extreme moral values are forced on others or even the whole community. The second category are frightened parents, who are unable to teach their own children against idol obsession, demand media purification and use social pressure to boycott artists who are involved in indecent photographs. The third category are people who are hostile to artists, always despised artists who rely on their looks to be able to make a lot of money, live in luxury, and carry out personal relationships with the good looking men and women in the business. The world is too fair to artists and unfair to others. Thus when artists make mistakes, they must pay a heavy price. The fourth category are troublemakers. As soon as something happens, they would make radical comments or even pranks just to stand out. Most of them have low personal values and low self-esteem, only through radical comments can they find personal pleasure. When they see the media quoting their comments and reporting their behavior, they would experienced an inexplicable thrill privately. If the troublemakers have personal discretion issues, when they get momentarily carried away or lack legal knowledge, they may commit criminal acts. Intimidation is obviously a criminal offense, something that a lawful society cannot tolerate. With a little bit clearer thinking anyone would be able to assess that even with a bullet (real or fake) in the threatening letters, Chen Koon Hei would not truly avoid public appearance. He would only strengthen security, and the police would fully investigate. Since the goal is not achieved, the troublemakers break the law for no reason. When the police investigates overseas it has to solve the case. No matter what the idea is not the smartest. Someone would actually do something that is self detrimental and benefits no one, which is truly strange. - KWOK HIN CHING 2. MING PAO DAILY, MARCH 17 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS LEAVING SHOW BUSINESS IS NOT EASY Reportedly Jill Vidal (Wai S) and Kelvin Kwan Chor Yiu's urine tests while detained in Japan contained cannabis and other controlled substances, the news has not been confirmed yet. If so, their future is quite a concern. Even if their contracts are terminated, if they borrow salary from their management companies during the period they still owe a debt. Young people may fantasize about show business. When they see many newly recruited stars reach fame very quickly, always claim that their records sell well, perform concerts and work on ad campaigns, they must think money is easy to make in the business. When most management companies sign new comers they have no basic salary, some even have to pay for their own record release. What would new comers without money do? No problem, the management companies can provide them salary advances as loans. If they need monthly living expenses they can ask to be paid like monthly salary. Each month they would receive the money not as salary but as loan. Generally the loans do not charge interest, unless the relationship changes. Management companies may not pay for Singing, action, and dancing training for new comers; it is also treated as loans. Such expenses would be deducted after commission from their income once new comers have work. Unless they are overnight successes, the after commission (usually up to 30 to 50%, some even up to 60, 70%) income would not have much left. Salary that can tolerate monthly expenses is already very good, not to mention deductions. Without rising to fame, they have no way to pay back the loans. If their families are rich and they bring money to their stardom dream, of course they can come and go freely. Otherwise once they leave the entertainment business, they not only do not take away any glory but also carry tons of debts. Artists, apart from living expenses and education costs, actually have a variety of expenses that they would take on. Managers with conscience do not need artists to be responsible for work related expenses, but some would add in expenses like transportation. These expenses should not underestimated, the debt for being an artist for three years is higher than the three-year university government loan. The sooner they achieve fame, the sooner they reduce the debts. Otherwise, the debts grow larger as it drags on. Show business entry is hard, departure is not much easier. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, MARCH 16 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS TELEVISION STATION FILM PRODUCTIONS ARE HARD TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT Cable's business performance is in the red, its losses stem from film and set-top box connections. Set-top boxes are pay television's heavy burdens, high-definition is future general trend of broadcasting. The audience is willing to bear the cost of free television set-top box, but pay TV's can only be included in the monthly fee and paid for bit by bit. Cable and now's old set-top boxes will be gradually replaced with new high-definition versions. At today's economic difficulties, any requirement for users to fund the replacement will probably bring about a certain loss. In the future, set-top boxes will be a big expenditure for pay television. Cable years ago due to expensive film royalties and Hong Kong film production rate decline faced a supply shortage. Thus it set up Sundream Motion Pictures and invested in film production. With a number of movie channels, Cable's home grown film productions can be said to be a drop in the bucket. Hong Kong's largest film companies make less than 12 films per year, some even as less as 10. For a movie channel with a Hong Kong film broadcast premiere every month, it would need 12 per year. Most movie channels require a film library and a new movie weekly. Home grown production alone cannot possibly meet the demand, not even 10% of the volume. From the perspective of self-sufficiency the idea is not feasible. now's approach is for film companies to set up their own movie channels that split the operation costs. Another approach is to walk with both legs and shop for film library outside to buy films. In today's economic slump the acquisition price may be more affordable. Film library has permanent copyright and can constantly be run again, a smart move in the long run. Film production is a viable investment. The film market under the financial tsunami still has growth, but if out of touch with the pulse of the audience, risk of loss remains. Thus film investment profit and loss should be accounted for independently and should not depend on the television station's internal digestion, which is truly competing in the film market. Movies and television are two entirely different businesses. Film trends change faster and even more difficult to master, with more chances for defeat than victory. Yet in victory it is also very attractive. - KWOK HIN CHING 4. MING PAO DAILY, MARCH 15 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS FILM PRODUCTION TREE MOVE MAKES A BIG DEAL OUT OF SOMETHING SMALL Alex Law Kai Yui's new film shoots on location at Central's old district. In order to bring back the true style of the Sixties, the production has applied for the removal of three trees at the scene. His search showed that back then the trees did not exist. In addition they hindered the camera angles. For the temporary removal application, experts were hired to assist so the trees would "temporarily stay" at the Government nursery. After the shoot they would return. As if that was not enough, he even guaranteed the trees' health for two years. After everything, people are still criticizing and feel this should not be done. Some say that computer graphics are so advanced, why do the trees have to be physically removed when the computer could wipe them away? Some also claimed that although the film company was willing to guarantee the trees' health for two years. When the trees die at most it would just make monetary compensation, what good is that? Computers of course can make something virtual real in movies. Wiping away the trees is viable, but if this is the main setting for the movie they will be in many shots. The cumbersome process and the cost required to wipe them away in every shot are beyond the expectation of the average person who does not understand movie special effects. This Law Kai Yui film is a joint venture with the Film Development Fund, its estimated budget is no more than 12 million and should not be able to afford this type of computer special effects. A film runs 24 frames per second. To wipe away the trees with computers, each frame must be clean. In addition the fill in landscape must be shot first as well, and each frame must be filled in. If the cameras move, the fill in scenery must also change at the same pace. It is not as simple as handling still photos. As for the two year guaranteed tree health, the writer felt that enough was done already. If any misfortune should befall within two years, then of course compensation would have to be made. The compensation did not necessarily have to be money, it could be planting trees that would be similar in age and size. It would not be an offense that requires prison term or a human life for a tree life. Even when hiring actors, after the performance their health cannot be guaranteed for two years. Should any accident occur during the film shoot, the director would not have to make up for it with his own life. In foreign film productions tree removals are very common. Not only moving them away, for cosmetics a big tree can be moved from elsewhere for scenery. It is no big deal. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. TA KUNG PAO, MARCH 15 2009 IDOL DRUG POSSESSION INVOLVEMENT RADICALIZES CONFLICTS The global financial tsunami is further deepening and re-arranging the political and economic new order. Big and small nations, locations, enterprises, etc. have been affected and impacted. Hong Kong entertainment business' recent series of incidents also have caused a tremendous backlash in the social and cultural value system, Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi, Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Kelvin Kwan Chor Yiu, Jill Vidal (Wai Si), etc. have recently become the focus of news. The former two due to the sex photo scandal made their first high-profile interview to discuss the matter, naturally they became everyone's target of concern; but in terms of shock and impact, two young music idol singers were found in possession of cannabis in Japan were much worse. In the "Kwan, Vidal" incident development so far, everyone's focus has been targeted at the two's possession of cannabis while ignoring other aspects, such as: (1) the incident itself has a lot of questions that awaited answers, such as how it happened and the truth, whether their cannabis was for personal use and where it came from. We would probably have to wait for them to return before knowing. (2) This time caused such an enormous reaction because they are not only current Youth idols, but also anti-drug ambassadors earlier. They have attended public campaigns to call for young people to stay away from drugs, so this case has not only damaged their fresh and healthy iamge, but also embarrassed the government departments concerned. Actually I have always had reservations about the Government's policy of using artists in its public advocacy activities, especially when promoting health and education policy. Without mentioning whether they are able to live up to the campaign or not, but apart from to increase the attractiveness and visibility its effectiveness is difficult to measure. (3) After the incident, from public opinion to their respective record companies and other artists, they are more or less further condemned. Profound regrets have been expressed for them not treasuring their lives and stardom. However, in the minds of youth and the Internet world, a reaction that is different from convention has appeared. While they, due to their nearly blind devotion and protection of their idols, still show their full support before hearing the truth from the idols' mouths, they also point out that "in the past artists such as Deep Ng Ho Hong and William So Wing Hong due to drug abuse were arrested but are still able to survive in the music scene today. Yet now Kwan and Vidal have not yet been charged, the media and other people have already convicted them and even demanded termination of contracts. It is unfair." Media coverage and youth response seem to have a certain degree of deviation, seemingly if the younger generation is not properly guided and educated, the future impact will be even more far-reaching. - CHUI HIU 6. TA KUNG PAO, MARCH 15 2009 THE LONG ROAD OF SCREENWRITING Last year this column discussed a number of directors, today let's say a few words about Hong Kong's screenwriters. Every year the Hong Kong Screen Writers Association would hold a spring banquet. Every time has been very exciting and a little "confusing", but it certainly has been the most fun and enjoyable gathering among the industry spring banquets that the writer has attended. This year the Screen Writers Association selected THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH) and PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) as the recommended script (similar to the Best Screenplay category) and also elected the new Executive Committee session. In addition to the routine lucky prize drawing, the Screen Writer Association this year also published a Hong Kong Screen Writers roster. The previous one was published in 1996, thirteen years ago, which demonstrated how severe the "bad habit" of late draft submission from screen writers has become. Comparing the new screen writer roster to the old, in addition to more stringent editing and layout the most surprising is that most of the membership has not changed; only the signs of aging on the photos can be seen (except the ladies). The Hong Kong film industry indeed has a talent generation gap. Most Screen Writer Association members are still working hard in their screen writing posts, while a considerable amount has become directors, producers or film and television organization executives. The rest are working jobs in language or education. In other words, the majority of members have maintained their creative identity. The most fascinating part of the Screen Writer roster is the member self introductions, the variety in which truly live up to the infinite creativity of screen writers. Some members listed their experience in a chronological order, an index to their autobiography. Some members only wrote a few words as expressions of their feeling, like "enjoy screenwriting, and hope to continue......"; a few words already have enough "affection" and "sincerity". Some even have statement or advertisement like words, such as "writer/director, all purpose, multi-functional", that make people smile from the heart after reading. As for essays or other prose, they require more patience to read. One of the screen writers even gave a "moment of silence" for last year's "May 12" victims and led to a series of impressive words. Two whose titles came first indeed had a head start and become the object of comment. Most surprisingly, the usually (including at the Spring Banquet) funniest ones Lam Chiu Wing and Lam Man Cheuk's narrations are all serious, indeed their strategy has reached the peak -- playing the unexpected card. In the Screen Writer roster some allegedly are the Screen Writer Association organized Screen Writing Class members, which proved that everyone's efforts have not been wasted and worth persisting. After reading the Screen Writers roster, the writer felt that our movie industry still had hope because experienced screen writers still firmly adhere to their posts and the centripetal force within the trade has not diminished. As for how to go forward on the future road, everyone should explore the topic together. - TIN LIK 7. MING PAO DAILY, MARCH 14 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS CREATE MAINSTREAM OR FOLLOW THE CROWD Hong Kong has big movie companies but they lack big companies' production direction. For the film market to heat up, mainstream movies must be created and make one shining star after another. Independent productions do not create new film mainstream. Long-term Strategy For Star Support In the past Hong Kong had big companies like Shaw, Golden Harvest, Cinema City and others. When they invested in movies they did not look at performance of each film, and when they supported stars they had long term strategies. Shaw's had long-term plans to careful cultivate new stars into Best Actor and Actress award winners. They did not make the determination over 1 or 2 film performances. Golden Harvest, from Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Jackie Chan to Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), had one action superstar after another because it believed in Hong Kong-style action films. Lee Nin Kit, for example, after the overnight success of SHAOLIN TEMPLE was quiet for a period. Golden Harvest asked Tsui Hark to create a new image for him, which was no easy success and the investment cost was very high. Everyone remembered Lee Nin Kit's ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA (WONG FEI HUNG), most forgot the earlier DRAGON FIGHT (LUNG HUNG TIN HA) that performed poorly both at the box office and word-of-mouth. This Tsui Hark and Lee Nin Kit's modern action film was shot in the United States and its cost was not light. The company did not stop investing due to this film's failure. The even higher cost ONCE UP ON A TIME IN CHINA solidified Lee Nin Kit's position as the action of superstar of the generation, its cat could be said as unprecedented. Martial art films thus also became the mainstream again, which showed that mainstream creation required long-term investment. Hong Kong Audience Taste Changes Quick Hong Kong's current situation is not conducive to creating mainstream. Its box-office is not stable, audience tastes change too fast and are not concentrated enough. Hong Kong films that only target the Hong Kong market are not suitable for creating mainstream. For them to be profitable they have to follow the crowd. The mainland market has stability and high percentage growth, its audience taste is also easier to grasp. It is suitable for long-term plans and favors creating mainstream. Once a new genre has success, a sequel can begin production and similar type of film releases would also be profitable. If film companies mainly target the Mainland as their primary market, they have to have the determination foir mainstream pioneering. Otherwise they cannot become Chinese-language films' large companies. - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Yut Lo Yau Nei Lit : All Along Have You d. Derek Chiu Sung Kei Louis Koo Tin Lok, Karen Mok Man Wai, Crystal Huang Yi Can : Oi Chook Mau Lit : Love Cheats d. Pang Shun, William Chan Wai Ting, Si Nga, G.E.M. Tang Chi Kei, 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) A VERY SHORT LIFE Can : Duen Jam Dik Sun Ming d. Dennis Law Sau Yiu Leila Kong (Tong Ning), Maggie Shiu Mei Kei, Pinky Cheung Man Chi, Samuel Pang King Chi, Koni Lui Wai Yi, Yoyo Law Chi Ching Crystal Cheung Wai Yun, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai Rating: III Opening March 19 2009 Official Site: http://www.averyshortlife.com [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] "Women are inherently doomed to get screwed by Men! Father and men outside are not much different" One day, a high ranked Assistant Police Commissioner Josephine suddenly appears in the Western Police Station, personally review a chilly girl abuse and murder cause. An eleven-year-old girl's mother, Peggy, beat her to death. Peggy has already confessed to killing her child, while her live in boyfriend is also charged with raping the young daughter. The mad Josephine presses hard as one after another torture interrogations appear on screen. Inspector Sister Cat, Chief Inspector Barbara and Sergeant IVY each comes up with tactics to help Josephine's severely abusive interrogation. Peggy suffers a variety of torture but still refuses to confess to giving a silent approval to her live in boyfriend to sexually abuse the little girl. What are female police commissioner Josephine inhuman in her abuse of power and torture of her female suspect? Or is the female suspect Peggy lying and getting what she deserves? Finally Peggy chooses to commit suicide in prison. What untold secrets may a fragile little woman have? Is "women are inherently doomed to get screwed by Men" the truth? 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 19 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... K-20: LEGEND OF THE MASK Can : Gwai Yun Yi Sup Min Seung Juen Lit : Strange Person 20 Faces Biography d. Shimako Sato Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Takako Matsu Opening March 19 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] The protagonist of the story is Heikichi Endo, a circus acrobat who is deceived by K-20 and set up to take the fall for the phantom thief. Using his incredible physical dexterity, Heikichi wages war against K-20. He fights alongside K-20's next wealthy target, Duchess Yoko Hashiba, and her husband-to-be, brilliant detective Kogoro Akechi. But what is the ultimate decision Heikichi has to make? ORZBOYZ! d. Yang Ya-Che Pang Chin-Yu, Lee Kuan-Yi, Mei Fang, Ma Chih-Hsiang, Hsu Chi-Wen Rating : I Length : 104 mins. 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. 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) Opening March 13 2009 Rating : IIA 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 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. THREADS OF DESTINY Can : 366 Tin Dik Yeuk Ding Lit : 366 Days Appoinment d. Masanori Murakami Junpei Mizobata, Nao Minamisawa Rating : IIA Length : 106 mins. 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? 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. HAPPY FLIGHT Can : Hoi Sum Jik Hong Lit : Happy Direct Flight d. Shinobu Yaguchi Ayase Haruka, Seiichi Tanabe Opening March 26 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? DANCE, SUBARU! Can : Mo Ba! Gok d. Lee Chi Ngai Momoi Kaori, Meisa Kuroki, Miku Sano, Ara Opening March 26 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Adapted from a popular Japanese manga (comic book) of the same title, Dance, Subaru! is a motivating tale about the self-realization of a young ballerina under adversity. Subaru and her twin brother Kazuma share a passion for dance, but they do not have the fortune to receive formal training. Kazuma dies of a brain tumour at the young age of 10. After Kazuma’s death, dancing became Subaru’s only happiness, but is discouraged by her widower father who expects her to chart a more conventional education. This difference of hearts has alienated the father and daughter relationship ever since. Subaru’s life takes a dramatic turn when she runs into a cabaret owner Isuzu, who is a retired ballerina herself. Isuzu, recognizing the talent in Subaru, takes the kid under her wing and trains her. By the time she turns seventeen, Subaru is performing botched-up ballet numbers regularly at Isuzu’s cabaret, which affords Subaru to pay for ballet lessons at Madam Mako’s studio. Madam Mako’s daughter, Mana, is Subaru’s classmate since early grade school. She loves Subaru as a friend but is also embittered by Subaru’s talent. A third young ballerina, Liz Park, a Korean American, is a star pupil at the famous American Ballet Theatre in New York. Liz runs away to Tokyo out of boredom from the tedious life as a ballet student. She sees in Subaru a worthy competitor, a catalyst to revitalize her waning enthusiasm for ballet stardom. All three girls end up contesting with one another in Shanghai. Subaru finally discovers Liz’s secret agenda. While being upset by Liz’s betrayal as a friend, Subaru is more determined to dance to her best ability. Just as Subaru is ready to challenge at Liz’s apparent supremacy in the Final, tragic news from home strikes Subaru out of her stride. Nevertheless, for the heartbroken Subaru, the show must go on. The Final literally evolves into a feverish affair when Subaru, suffering from a high fever contracted from a night of mourning in a rainstorm, pitches herself gallantly against Liz in her top form... 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, Ken Low Wai Kwong, Jack Kao (Ko Jit) Rating : III Opening March 22 2009 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Opening APRIL 2 2009 Official Site : http://shinjukuincident.emp.hk [ 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. TEAM OF MIRACLE: WE WILL ROCK YOU Can : Lau Long Hong Sai Gai Bui Lit : Homeless World Cup d. Kwan Shun Wai Eric Suen Yiu Wai, Zhang Jun, Gigi Lai Chi Man Chin Shui, Yuen Wah, Lam Ka Wa, Wong Tak Bun, Wong Yau Nam, Tats Lau Yi Tat, Tong Kim Hong, Hui Siu Hung, Wong Chi On, Ng Chung Tin, Cheng Chi Sing, Pei Wei Ying Opening April 2 2009 Official Site: http://www.media.org.hk/wewillrockyou [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] "Lantern Street" is a name seems to mean "forgotten". When the lights come on, people from everywhere whose home is the street and bed is the floor can be seen here. Time seems to have stopped here, as if isolated from the outside world. "Heaven has no dead end, God will always prepare a way out for Man!" On the other side of Lantern Street, a hot blooded social worker vows to bring dignity and hope back to their lives. With more than a decade of experience in service of the lowest class in society and the homeless, senior social worker Cheung Tung Kin was born in a broken homes and living on the streets with no tomorrow. On a cold night when he was thirteen, in the dark back alley garbage dump, an old, enthusiastic foreign pastor brought "a ray of light" to him. The pastor's life mission: "Exhausting a lifetime to looking for lambs outside the flock, persisting to the end and no doubt God's hand drawn rainbow after the rain will definitely be seen." became Tung's life goal, as he gives his entire life for the homeless who are the hardest to contact and change and have given up on themselves. Tung sees on the Internet a report about Germany's first "Homeless World Cup", vows to use an ordinary football to ignite one homeless soul after another, calls for a homeless formed, seemingly absolutely ridiculous "Dawn Football Team", and even hopes to break out of Hong Kong to attend the first "Homeless World Cup." The ragtag team although faces with a number of ups, downs and crises, its morale is high as life has been rekindled once again. Life has once again caught fire, but the challenge never hesitates with humanity. Can this team of "homeless" achieve the dream to represent Hong Kong in the "World Cup"? Can they play side by side in the second half of life and return a miracle to the their lives? SNIPER Can : Sun Cheung Sau Lit : Godly Gunslingers d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Edison Chen Koon Hei, Huang Xiaoming, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, Bowie Lam Bo Yi Rating : IIB Length : 86 mins. Opening March 24 2009 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Opening April 9 2009 Official Site: http://www.mediaasia.com/thesniper Site: http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/film/detail/5/1094.html [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] Handpicked by the elite Police Sniper Team Leader Hartman, rookie OJ has demonstrated all the promises to be the next top shooter. When former top shooter Lincoln reemerges from behind bars, OJ becomes fascinated by his unorthodox techniques much to the dislike of his tutor. Hartman's dark past starts to unfold and Lincoln is taking his revenge by assisting with a heist. Behind the heavy guns and scrupulous details of sniper protocols, this Dante Lam drama of brotherhood going seriously wrong is a reminder of the costs it takes to be at the top. [ 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. 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 April 9 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? I CORRUPT ALL COPS Can : Gum Chin Dai Gok Lit : Money Empire d. Wong Jing Eason Chan Yik Shun, Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Bowie Lam Bo Yi, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, Liu Yang, Natalie Yao Meng, Wong Jing Opening April 23 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] During British rule, Hong Kong once was under a period of darkness. At the time, police corruption took place almost everyday, in the decade between 1963 and 1973 alone, the Hong Kong police corruption amounted to 10 billion at the time, roughly equivalent to 500 billion in 2009! The head of this empire of corruption was the Hong Kong Island Chinese chief inspector Brother Lak. Every time Brother Lak was unable to solve a case, he would order his subordinate Fire Kirin to find a scapegoat to take the blame. Somehow, Fire Kirin arrested university student Han Chi Bong and wanted him to admit to several dozen crimes including theft, indecent assault and battery. Fortunately Bong's mother got rent collector Pig Grease Cake to force Fire Kiri to release him. Chan Siu Gau was Brother Lak's subordinate who caught Brother Lak's eyes due to his amazing athletic ability and was promoted to the rank of inspector. One day, Siu Gau ran into the female drug lord Rose who was under drug trafficker Chaozhou Jook's pursuit. Siu Gau tried to save her and was injured in the process. Brother Lak was furious and ordered Chaozhou Jook to hand over to his turf to give Rose. Since then, Rose and Siu Gau became close friends; With the backing of Siu Gau, it was all smooth sailing for Rose! On the other hand, Brother Lak lusted after Fire Kirin's shapely lover Lucy and had an affair with her! Upon discovering the affair, Fire Kirin was assigned to reservoir guard duty! By the early Seventies because of several corruption scandals and Brother Lak's excessive arrogance that ignores evenly the newly transfer from the United Kingdom Police Commissioner, the Governor set up the Independent Commission Against Corruption and was determined to put an end to all corruption; the competent Yim Kwok Leung was responsible for Brother Lak's eradication, Fire Kirin for revenge transferred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Han Chi Bong also joined. With their perseverance this corruption created money empire gradually collapsed! Brother Lak realized that his time has passed and escaped to Taiwan; and the ICAC has arrested Siu Gau. Where would happen to Siu Gau? 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, Jacqueline Law Wai Guen, Amy Chum Yun Mei, Audrey Chan, Ariel Chan Length : 122 mins. Opening March 22 2009 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Opening May 2009 Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/film/detail/2/1097.html [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] The flip side to last year's well-received feature THE WAY WE ARE, NIGHT AND FOG explores the darker side of Hong Kong's most notorious town, Tin Shui Wai. Based on a true story, the story revolves around an older, unemployed Hong Kong man, his young Mainland wife and their twin daughters. Their lives, unfortunately, are anything but easy, and the shocking conclusion raises issues about the plight of the socially deprived lower class. Despite the tough subject matter, the director treats her characters with a fair hand, while highlighting the increasingly prevalent interactions between Hong Kong and post-1997 Mainland. --- [ 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 * TAI PAN TOURS AND CASINO RAMA PRESENT ANDY HUI CHI ON AND TAI CHI CLASSIC WITH A TWIST LIVE 2009 DATE AND TIME: Sunday, APril 19 2009 @ 8 PM VENUE LOCATION: Casino Rama Entertainment Centre Casino Rama R.R. #6 Rama Rd, Orillia ON L0K 1T0 Canada TICKET PRICES: TBA TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: TICKET MASTER: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/10004254BE219CFD?artistid=1298932&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 * RAYMOND MIU PRODUCTIONS, INC. AND TRUMP TAJ MAHAL PRESENT ALL STAR EASTER CELEBRATION LIVE IN CONCERT 2009 Lee Heung Kam, Tam Bing Man, Lai Yiu Cheung, HotCha DATE AND TIME: Saturday night / Sunday morning, April 12 2009 @ 1 AM VENUE LOCATIONS: Mark G Etess Arena Trump Tah Mahal Casino Resort Atlantic City NJ TICKET PRICES: $108, 88, 68, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATION: Raymond Miu Productions 195 Canal Street, Suite 201 New York NY 10013 212.966.0800 www.rmpny.com Tin Ha Travel 817 60th Street, 2/FL Brooklyn NY 11220 718.431.8687 * LUCKY ENTERTAINMENT AND FOXWOOD PRESENT CHANG DI and CHU MI MI live DATE AND TIME: Saturday night / Sunday morning, April 12 2009 @ 2AM Sunday, April 12 2009 @ 2PM VENUE LOCATION: Fox Theatre Foxwoods Resort Casino Mashantucket CT 06339-3777 TICKET PRICES: $98, 78, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: CHINATOWN: P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street 212.732.3828 FLUSHING: Jessica Holdings 135-27 40th Rd. Suite 301 Flushing NY 718.460.2628 BOSTON: Trans-Pacific Travel 11 Tyler St. Boston MA 617.451.3478 * 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 www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com TICKET PRICES : CA$99.75, 126, 147 TICKET OUTLET LOCATION : TICKET MASTER http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1000416ABC04692E?artistid=1272557&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 * Huang Pin Yuan and Winnie Hsin Live DATE AND TIME: Saturday night/Sunday morning, March 29 2009 @ 3PM VENUE LOCATION: House of Blues Showboat Atlantic City 801 Boardwalk Atlantic City NJ 08401 609.343.4000 * 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 Evergreen Books Milpitas 408-383-9798 Taro Books Cupertino 408-863-1288 Taro Books Newark 510-818-9666 * Sunday Entertainment Concepts and Resorts Atlantic City Present Kay Tse On Kay Live DATE AND TIME: Saturday night/Sunday morning, March 22 2009 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION: Superstar Theater Resorts Casino Hotel 1133 Boardwalk Atlantic City NJ 08401 TICKET PRICES: $108, 78, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: AM 1480 WZRC 449 Broadway 5 Fl. New York NY 10013 (212) 965-1480 * Superkey Production and Tropicana Atlantic City Present Jade Kwan Sum Yin, Liu Jialiang Special Guest: Tam Ming Fai DATE AND TIME: Saturday night/Sunday morning, March 22 2009 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION: Tropicana Showroom - North Tower, 3rd Floor Tropicana Casino & Resort 2831 Boardwalk Atlantic City NJ 08401 TICKET PRICES: $108, 78, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE: http://www.superkeypro.com CHINATOWN: P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street 212.732.3828 BROOKLYN: Paradise Vacations 778 60th Street 718.238.1228 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Thursday March 12 2009 10 L-O-V-E 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 Cheng-Lung, Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau), Alan Kuo (Or Yau Lun), Tracy Chou Cai Shi 9 BLINDNESS d. Fernando Meirelles Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Alice Braga 8 HOTEL FOR DOGS d. Thor Freudenthal Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle 7 CONFESSION OF A SHOPAHOLIC d. PJ Hogan Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter 6 GRAN TORINO d. Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley, Bee Vang Clint Eastwood 5 THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND OF 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 4 COMING SOON Can : Yum Yung Yuen Joi Lit : Dark Look In Theater d. Sophon Sakdaphisit Chantawit Thanasewee, Worrakarn "Punch" Rotjanawatchra 3 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE d. Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla 2 WATCHMEN d. Zack Snyder Malin Ackerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode 1 DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION d. James Wong Justin Chatwin, Chow Yun Fat, Emmy Rossum ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS L-O-V-E Rating : IIA Length : 93 mins. 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... THE FORBIDDEN LEGEND OF SEX AND CHOPSTICKS II Rating : III Length : 93 mins. 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... COMING SOON Rating : IIB 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...... ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, March 14 2009 15 LOVE IS THAT SIMPLE Can : Oi Jau Si Na Mor Gan Dan Pu Bajia (Po Ba Gap) 12 MAKE FUN Can : Gau Siu Alan Luo (Law Chi Cheung) 11 NIGHT SHANGHAI Can : Yeh Seung Hoi Ray Ma (Ma Tin Yu) 10 THAT CANNOT BE LOVE? Can : Na But Wui Si Oi Ba? Jane Zhang Liangying 15 WORLD OF ONE AFRAID OF LONELINESS Can : Yut Gor Yun Dik Sai Gai Hoi Pa Gu Dan Wang Zijian (Wong Chi Kin) 14 JOOK YING TOI Kay Tse On Kay 13 THE MOST FORTUNATE MATTER Can : Jui Hung Fok Dik Si Rachel Liang (Leung Man Yam) 12 PLAY BIG SHOT Can : Sa Dai Pai Jolin Tsai (Choi Yi Lam) 11 BEHIND THE SEA Can : Hoi Hau (Hau Yuen) 10 UNFORGETTABLE DAY Can : Nan Mong Dik Yut Tin Xu Wei (Hui Ngai) 9 MESMERSIZING MAZE Can : Mai Won Jun (Cheung Chi Sing) 8 LOVE SONG Can : Ching Gor Jasmine Leong Jing Yu 7 BAD GUY Can : Wai Yun Abin Fang (Fong Gwing Bun) 6 I LOVE YOU Can : NGOR OI NEI Faye Wong 5 IN SPRING RAIN FULL OF SUN Can : Chun Yu Lui Sai Moon Tai Yeung Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) 4 WHY ME Chris Li Yuchun 3 FISH Can : Yu Cheer Chen Yi Jing 2 PERHAPS LOVE Can : Yu Gor Oi Khalil Fong Dai Tung 1 ALLEGRO OPUS 3.3AM Eason Chan Yik Shun ------ [ 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. Sometimes you find the strangest detours when you are lost. Somehow Your Chaffing Editor has stumbled upon all things Japanese this week on the web. Even before he had his heart ripped out every September in Flushing, Old Chaffy has always had a favorite baseball team. When he visited Japan as a child, he visited Osaka -- hometown of the Hanshin Tigers. (Pokemon fans may note the team's similarity to the Electabuzz baseball team in the show) Years later, the team came full circle with another one of Your Chaffing Editor's favorite in what hopefully will be the end of its own "curse of the bambino" -- Curse of the Colonel. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_colonel_odd Even more disturbing to Your Chaffing Editor is this piece of technological beauty. Somehow, all Old Chaffy can think about is Judgment Day. Are you sure the manufacturer is not SkyNet? http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29720798/ Finally, Your Chaffing Editor has caught up to the current NARUTO SHIPPUDEN broadcast in Japan. The downside is now Old Chaffy may be suffering from withdrawal symptoms while he waits for new episodes. The upside is Old Chaffy also now has a favorite NARUTO SHIPPUDEN end credit. (Please see below) The new series has less of such silly antics. Perhaps growing up has a price? In closing, Your Chaffing Editor must throw in some business related items. According to the "if you don't have anything nice to say" rule, Old Chaffy will try to be brief as he managed to catch both RED CLIFF II and ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 (GA YAU HEI SI 2009) -- both now are available on DVD. Both films are decent with the lately MUCH LOWERED expectations for Hong Kong films. RED CLIFF II lives up to being the pay off of RED CLIFF I, whether the final battles are as satisfying as some have claimed would depend on your cup of tea. Much of the same can be said of ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL. The film series has always been flaky but as a Lunar New Year film of the 80s it must have the obligatory family friendly happy ending as the title infers. The star power is dimmer, the scale is smaller and the flavor like the Hong Kong film industry itself has become much more co-production like, which usually spells doom for a comedy in the old days. Alas, the Hong Kong audience may have been so starved for a comedy that as the crass and vulgar type (see Old Chaffy) would say, "even crap is delicious." "Would not know because he does not eat crap" Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] BACCHIKOI! Dev Parade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMiyrotq7jI Bacchikoi bachikoi beibee! BACCHIKOI! Oh my God Oh my God! Kinou no shippai de kujiketatte? Gottsuan desu! Gottsuan desu! Onyuu no fuku ni soosu ga hanete wo! Donmai, donmai shizunda mama ja naimida mo my eyez Donna ni hangurii de angurii demo Donburi kutte danshingu! Ore raitsu ma demo nakamadaro burazaa! Tatoe kyukafuu, kyoofuu, arashi ga fuitemo bacchikooi! Kamon! Hanaretetemo onaji sora no shita de Saawaratte, funbatte. Let's do it, do it, do it, do it! Bacchikoi bachikoi beibee! Tattoe asa ga kunakutatte yei yei! Bacchikoi bachikoi beibee! Kimi totomoni yume wo miru ze yei yei! Bacchikoi bachikoi beibee! Nanii ga nan demoaa demokoo demo akirameru na yei yei! Bacchikoi bachikoi beibee! Donnayoru moasai hakuruze yei yei! Nananananananana... Nanananananananananana... Nananananananana... Nananananananananananana... ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038