From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (APRIL 2 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. Jackie Chan who celebrates his birthday on the 7th B. Famous Hong Kong Cantonese Opera creator Yip Siu Tak who passed away on the 5th at noon at the age of 80. Uncle Tak three years ago already discovered that he had cancer. His best known work was TAI SIU YUN YUEN. Before passing away he learned that he received the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong's music achievement award, unfortunately he would not be able to accept the award personally. In 2007 he has already received the Hong Kong Performing Arts Academy honorary degree. 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (4/8/2009) Yesterday, the singer whose worth skyrocketed due to CAPE NO. 7, Van Fan Yat Sun promoted his new record and the CAPE NO. 7 Original Sound Track in Jinan and talked about how a shy pub singer became a Golden Horse award winner. At the press conference, Fan Yat Sun revealed that CAPE NO. 7's lead was originally named Ah San and not Ah Kar. Taiwan had an underground band lead was named Ah San. The team from the beginning would like Ah San whose experience was similar to play this role. Yet Ah San was not interested and later the lead's name changed to Ah Kar. As for CAPE NO. 7, Fan Yat Sun expressed that he liked this script a lot. When the director chose actors, he gave a lot of suggestions via mail. "I guess this is the reason that the director lets me perform." Fan Yat Sun said, actually he wanted to add some small character decorations to make the movie more touching. The director did not use them though. "The fact proves that the film originally was touching enough." As a singer, Fan Yat Sun honestly said that he participated in CAPE NO. 7 as a musician. CAPE NO.7 was a music and movie merger. He said, "I discovered something new that I like because filmmaking is very interesting." After the awkward situation of "hit song but not a hit singer", CAPE NO. 7 brought him a climax. He of course would like another climax to appear. * (4/8/2009) Juno Mak Chun Lung yesterday accepted a Commercial Radio interview. Juno's left eye had a growth. Earlier when he worked on Pang Ho Cheung's new film a blood capsule splashed into his eye, so he planned to have a small operation to remove it. However he was working on the film so he worried that he would not be able to make the time for the operation and rest. Yesterday his left eye was somewhat swollen. Although Juno would like to have the operation, he would not ask the director to wrap sooner since it was their first film together after TRIVIAL MATTERS (POR SI YI). When asked whether the film would be bloody, he could only say that the director told him it was an inspirational film. However the plot was very liberal. As for work, this year he would release two EPs and even planned to direct. Turning 25 this year, he felt that he has already lived a quarter century and the time has come to do something. Juno stated that for now he had no plan to start a family, as work would come first right now. This year he would have to direct and perform concerts so he still had a lot to do. Would he cast his rumored girlfriend Gillian Chung Yun Tung in the female lead, Juno said that for now he could not talk in such detail. * (4/8/2009) The 16th annual University Student Film Festival South China regional opening ceremony took place two days ago in Guangzhou University City South China Polytechnic Institute. Famous Hong KOng film creators, the film IP MAN's director Wilson Yip Wai Shun and producer Raymond Wong Pak Ming attended. Wong Pak Ming revealed that IP MAN 2 was under preparation. Sammo Hung Kam Bo would join the cast and use the Hung Fist style. He also urged university students to support Chinese language films more and not to buy pirated counterfeit. One day we would be stronger than American films. The venue played the hit gong fu film IP MAN. As one of the big hits of the 08 Chinese language film industry, IP MAN's screening attracted over 1,000 guests and students. After the screening, Yip Wai Shun and Wong Pak Ming participated in a question and answer segment with the audience. Speaking of IP MAN, Yip Wai Shun said, "In IP MAN, Ip Man is just an ordinary person who knows martial art. He faces many events like other ordinary people would. I want to make this film into a realistic gong fu film and don't want to turn it into a fantasy." Wong Pak Ming felt, the film was unique in that it was filled with love -- romantic love, patriotic love, friendship love......Yip Wai Shun expressed that the most unforgettable part was today he was among university students for the first time and saw young people who still liked Chinese language films, got an understanding of what kind of movies they liked and IP MAN in their eyes. Wong Pak Ming revealed, currently IP MAN 2 was under preparation. In order to be able to like SPL (SAT POR LONG) and have more stable action sequences, Hung Kam Bo would join the cast. He would fight with the Hung Fist (among Southern fist style it is known as "Men Fist") to duel with the so-called "Women Fist" Wing Chun. A student asked about Hong Kong film professionals who headed north mostly liked to make gong fu films and comedies. Wong Pak Ming expressed, with good market comes good movies. American films were so strong because they had an enormous market. Korean films were strong because their government guides and protects the enormous national market. South Korea recently had a movie that reached 700 million yuan at the box office. Our IP MAN's 100 million Mainland box office was already amazing. Koreans loved and protected their own films and insisted against watching pirated counterfeit. Thus our university students also had to support Chinese language films more and not buy counterfeit. One day we would be stronger than American films. After the opening ceremony, "digital film national high school tour" first stop in the South China region would continue to screen in the school THE WARLORD (TAU MING JONG), RED CLIFF I (CHET BIK), DIVERGENCE (SAM CHA HAU) and other excellent films for students who loved films. At the same time, the 16th Annual Beijing University student film festival would open in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu and Jinan at Shanghai University, Wuhan University, Sichuan University and Shandong University. * (4/8/2009) With the most top stars and directors of the Chinese language film industry, the film JIAN GUO DA YE (GREAT CAUSE OF CHINA'S FOUNDATION) is currently shooting in Shanghai. Two days ago gong fu emperor Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) appeared on the set. He expressed that he only had 3 lines in the film and received no pay as thanks for China Film Group's support of his charity projects. In the film, Lee Nin Kit played Kuomintung naval minister Chen Shaokuan. After the victory in the War against Japanese Aggression, he resigned after declining to participate in the civil war and Chiang Kai Shek dismissed him. In 1948, Chiang Kai Shek ordered him to head to Taiwan. He not only did not accept but also organized a partial navy uprising. After Liberation he supported the Communist Party's policy and has served as the Fojian Provincial government vice minister. He was a typical pacifist. Lee Nin Kit said, this character was very similar to his personality, anti-war and peace loving. Although in the film he only had 3 lines, he was willing to perform. Lee Nin Kit rather enjoyed Chen Shaokuan's line, "Chinese against Chinese is something I won't do". This one day cameo with three lines was Lee Nin Kit's first in his film career. In addition, he did not take a cent to play this role. He explained that his motive was very simple. China Film has always been very supportive of his One Foundation and made an appearance on every event's poster. He had no way to repay it so he expressed his gratitude this way. Although he did not take any salary for the film, Lee Nin Kit had his own "little abacus". He said that he has negotiated with China Film's Han Sanping about donating 10 cents from each film ticket of its film releases to the One Foundation. Later due to Chinese film's rapid development, this ratio seemed to be a little "excessive". Lee Nin Kit then hoped to be able to take a step back and take 1 cent from each ticket for charity. He used this filmmaking opportunity to negotiate with Chairman Han again. Lee Nin Kit has not made a movie in one year and a half as he has spent all of his time on the One Foundation. He expressed that he would guest star in some films but did not have any future film project. * (4/8/2009) Carrie Ng Ka Lai, Stephen Huynh (Wong Cheung Hing), Maria Chan Chai Ping yesterday worked on a French film at a cinema yesterday. Law Kar Ying even served as the art director. This film would shoot in Hong Kong for a month and would be released next year at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Both French directors Laurent Courtiand and Julien Carbon came from a screen writing background and earlier have written the Johnnie To Kei Fung directed RUNNING OUT OF TIME (UM JIN). Recently worked more in the Mainland, Ng Ka Lai has eased out of the Hong Kong film industry for ten years. She joked that this was not considered a comeback. She only felt like she has not made a movie for a few months and returned to it very easily. Her acting bug acted up as well. Ka Lai has been well maintained over hte years but she expressed that earlier she reached 140 pounds and swelled up like a pig. In the film she played a beautiful, talented and rich woman who killed and took drugs for psychological satisfaction. The film would be released with a category III rating. Ka Lai joked that she would like to charge Euros for the French film. She honestly said that she did not mind how much she would make. Most importantly the screenplay was challenging. Wong Cheung Hing yesterday spent two hours for Chinese opera make up. In the film he had to perform Cantonese opera, thus Brother Kar Ying was on hand to help him with his performance. Now he already knows how to perform four Cantonese opera songs. he honestly said that at first she was not interested in Cantonese opera but now he discovered that he could improve his Cantonese. In the film Cheung Hing would have to speak French. He would play Ng Ka Lai's assistant. In one scene he killed a French actress. In addition, speaking of his brother Francois Huynh (Wong Cheung Fat) he said that his brother still has not returned to work and hoped that he would be able to find a better job. * (4/8/2009) Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon) and Louis Koo Tin Lok reunite for the Wong Jing directed costume comedy DAI NOI MUK TAM LING LING DOG. Big S will play a pretty heroine while Goo Jai plays a Forbidden Cop secret agent who is born on the Year of the Dog. However he only buries himself in inventing weapons and constantly needs the martial art master Big S to protect him. Big S honestly says that the film will be a breakthrough for her. "Normally when I see Hong Kong comedy film I would like to participate. This time I am very happy to be able to try comedy." Director Wong Jing earlier in Hengdian has shot Big S' action and comedy scenes. Wong Jing praised her comedy genes. "Big S has several comedy scenes, which I feel are very funny. She absolutely is comedy material. (How is Big S' agility? She was a little worried before the shoot!) Even if she is not agile I can make her look agile! Don't worry." * (4/7/2009) SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN)'s opening box office was already over 1 million, after four days in release it has accumulated 6 million and became the box office champion. Jackie Chan expressed that he was absolutely excited about the ideal box office but at the same time he was working on a film in the Mainland and regretted that he could not return to Hong Kong to celebrate. Last weekend it even accumulated near 2 million single day box office and forced the previous champion, the Oscar Best Foreign Language Film DEPARTURES to second place. It even pulled away from the same day releases, the big Hollywood productions FAST AND FURIOUS and THE RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN. The films landed in third and fourth respectively. SHINJUKU INCIDENT now accumulates at least 1 million single day box office record daily and becomes the Hong Kong film with the best box office performance. It is expected to go further during Easter. Jackie Chan expressed that he has always been very confidence in the film's box office performance. Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) expressed that he spent a lot of time on the character so he was very comforted that many praised his performance and the film performed well. Currently in the Mainland Xu Jinglei expressed that she was very excited that her first collaboration with Big Brother Jackie Chan would have such a good performance. Fan Bingbing expressed that she liked the character a lot and hoped that the film would be able to perform as well in all the nations. Meanwhile, Big Brother while promoting in Taiwan also stated that he has not given up on making a movie about his parents. He planned to ask Mabel Cheung Yuen Ting who directed the documentary on his father to direct, with Mainland actor Jiang Wen as his father. * (4/6/2009) Earlier receiving a bullet threat in Hong Kong, Edison Chen Koon Hei yesterday finally appeared in Singapore and attended SNIPER (SUN CHEUNG SAU)'s local press conference. The event had strict security, with over 30 guards alone. The media had to pass several security checks before entering the venue and remained under the watchful eyes of armed police. Despite bullet proof vest rumors Edison only appeared in a black shirt. Edison honestly said that he was worried about his personal safety but believed that the film company would make careful arrangements. At night, Edison attended the premiere in a Singapore shopping center's theater and came in close contact with 700 viewers. SNIPER press conference was held yesterday in Singapore. Boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok, director Dante Lam Chiu Yin and two leads Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) and Edison Chen Koon Hei attended. Chen Koon Hei naturally became the media focus with nearly 100 media outlets on hand to cover the event. The event assigned 20 guards as well as a dozen more hotel security to maintain order. The press had to first register then pass a bag search and a metal detector before finally arriving at the venue. Two guards stood by the door. When the press conference began, two local police officers watched over the venue. Chen Koon Hei directly entered the venue via a secret passage. At first when he saw the press he was a little nervous, often biting his thumb and looked around. When the press conference started though he became relaxed and occasionally gave a smile. Although the film company expressed questions not related to the film would not be answered, Chen Koon Hei responded to most questions and was very cooperative. About his father's bankruptcy application he said in Mandarin, "I rather love my family. If I can help them I definitely would. Papa recently indeed had a little problem. However, the economy now is very bad, he isn't the only one. Now I want the most for the family to be together." In the film his character did not have a good relationship with his father and threw money in a bag at Papa. Chen Koon Hei said, "In reality I wouldn't give a bag of money to him like in the film, maybe just a check." Earlier he came to Singapore for an event, why did he choose Singapore again? He said, "Because the people of Singapore welcome me." Was he afraid of the bullet threat? He said, "The film company asked me to come. This year the film company has been very supportive of me. When they ask me to come, I come. Although I have said that I would retire from show business indefinitely, because this film was signed before the retirement I have to come." Was he afraid? He said, "I would be lying if I said no, of course I am a little. However since I promised to come I have to, I have to continue to live my life." Was he like his character, who loves to challenge others, does things his own way, conceited, refuses to yield or make his own mistake? He said, "I personally don't like challenging others, but I would challenge myself. I want to do my best in everything." Was he worried that the audience would not accept him in this film? He said, "Actually many people have put a lot of heart into this film. I hope no one would feel that this is an Edison Chen film. I hope when everyone watches this film they would forget my part and remember me only after watching the film. I also hope everyone would give SNIPER a chance." After he first learned of the bullet threat, did he think it was a prank or worried about his personal safety? He said, "At first I wasn't certain, I didn't think about it. Honestly it's my life, of course I hope nothing happens. I also trust the film company would make proper arrangements. I believe that since the company asks me to come there should be no problem." Would he take the chance to return and make more money? He said, "Of course I really want to support my family. Papa due to the financial tsunami has a little problem, but now should I come back and work in show business? I am waiting the company to make arrangements for that. When the company feels suitable, I would come back and work in show business. At this moment I can work on several companies under my banner." As for changes over this year, Chen Koon Hei pointed out that each young person would suffer setback, most importantly after making a mistake he can change. This year he has continuously evaluated himself and thought about his future, but he thanked his family, friends and company for their support. Siu Chai and director Lam Chiu Yin were asked about their personal safety concerns. Siu Chai said, "I trust the company would make arrangements. Singapore is one of the safest nations, I believe the company would make careful arrangements but I don't need to wear bullet proof vest and helmet. My wife isn't worried either. Instead she was more concerned about me eating too much and having to lose weight." In addition, Chen Koon Hei appeared at a shopping center theater to attend the premiere at night. Due to the crowd at the shopping center, only the director and Siu Chai appeared at the ceremony outside the theater. Chen Koon Hei would only appear inside the theater. After the ceremony he would immediately leave. Chen Koon Hei arrived at the premiere with a group of bodyguards and waved at the audience. Although he only appeared for two minutes, the police had their hands on their guns in preparation of any attack. Then Chen Koon Hei appeared in front of the audience inside the theater and hoped that the audience would like this film. * (4/5/2009) The film SNIPER (SUN CHEUNG SAU) today held a press conference in Singapore's Grand Hyatt at 3PM. Because it was Edison Chen Koon Hei's first public appearance since the "bullet" letter threat, many reporters yesterday arrived in Singapore to cover the event. However he and boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok arrived in a prviate jet and traveled from the airport to the hotel through secret passages, they were not caught on camera. Around 6:05PM, director Dante Lam Chiu Yin arrived at the hotel. He expressed that he was not worried about his personal safety and did not buy a bullet proof vast since he just rushed back from France. He said that he did not know how Chen Koon Hei felt because they have not been in contact for a long time. As for the press conference location, he expressed that the hotel was selected for certain reasons. Although he did not state the reason the hotel security was obviously more intense yesterday than the day before. Aside from East Asia's own dozen or more guards, the hotel also added security and questioned all entering reporters. Reportedly two armed security guards would be on hand at today's press conference. Although Chen Koon Hei and Lam Kin Ngok did not appear, reportedly they have already arrived and avoided the media through secret passages. Last night they even met with the director and Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) for dinner. * (4/5/2009) Fiona Sit Hoi Kei yesterday appeared at an autograph session and concert in Kowloon Bay. As for this year's work agenda, she expressed that she was working on a new series about the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Next month she would work on her new film with Jaycee Chan (Fong Cho Ming). She only knew it would be a romance. They were linked in rumors during their first collaboration, was she worried about further rumor? She immediately said, "I hope no one would focus on rumor, which wouldn't affect me either." Because she still has not read the screenplay, she did not know whether she and Cho Ming would again play a couple. * (4/5/2009) Juno Mak Chun Lung and Theresa Fu Wing two nights ago attended a store anniversary event. Juno expressed that he has been busy with his new record and Pang Ho Cheung's new film and did not even have time to sleep. He said that he first worked with Pang Ho Cheung on TRIVIAL MATTERS (POR SI YI). Would Gillian Chung Yun Tung co-star in this film as well? He said, "I only know I would have the most scenes with (Josie) Ho Chiu Yi, probably not." Juno expressed that he has always wanted to direct and hopefully he would be able to next year. Would he make Ah Gil the female lead? He said that Ah Gil was a good actor. Since a lot needed to be confirmed he had no idea. * (4/4/2009) ATV and Cable artists including Maria Cordero, Paw Hee Ching, Ho Cheuk Ying and Lam Wai Sun yesterday attended a contract signing ceremony between their shows and an appliance company. Nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress category with THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH), Paw Hee Ching expressed that after learning of the nomination she already felt like she won. With all the sponsors competing to sponsor her she instead felt uncomfortable. She said, "Fashion and jewelry companies have offered me sponsorships but I am very afraid of wearing several tens of millions in diamond jewelry. I ultimately am an actor of the masses, my heart is more regular folk like. I don't think I think any." As for her strong competition, Sister Bau picked Prudence Liew Mei Kwan and Zhou Xun. She even said that she would turn 60 in July, the Hong Kong Film Award nomination was a great gift for her. * (4/3/2009) This year fully returning to work, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau would not only release a new record but also work on the Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) directed film YUET MOON HIN NEI SI (FULL MOON HENNESSY) with Tang Wei. Yesterday they worked on location in Wanchai. In the scene Hok Yau ran into Tang Wei again, probably a reunion after some time apart. Hok Yau in order to please his girlfriend was willing to beg Tang Wei on the streets, screaming in hopes of his girlfriend would change her mind, "Don't leave!" The always serious at work Hok Yau before the shoot rehearsed the scene several times with the crew. He also gave opinions on camera angles and was very professional. Hok Yau and Tang Wei worked on the scene during rush hour. The shoot went smoothly and completed in 45 minutes. When Hok Yau and Tang Wei left, they saw reporters and gave them a friendly greeting. Tang Wei also flashed a smile. * (4/3/2009) Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) earlier promoted SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN) in Malaysia. At night they even attended a Kuala Lumpur shopping center's outdoor event. Jackie Chan said that although the Malay audience was no less than Singapore's, their response was much calmer. Malaysia has also learned from the Singapore experience and kept a certain distance between them and the audience to keep people from grabbing Jackie Chan's arms and not let go. Ng Yin Cho felt that the audience was calmer. Perhaps because the outdoor climate they did not cheer with all their might. Even he had to remove his jacket. With the film release on the way, Jackie Chan happily said that he has received many friends' praise for his successful transformation. They felt that his dramatic performance was just as outstanding. He felt that such praise was better than praises for his outstanding action performance. Because this was his first dramatic performance that did not require martial art, as a rookie he was already very satisfied with the positive response. * (4/3/2009) Karen Mok Man Wai yesterday attended a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Hong Kong event. Her former rumored boyfriend Stephen Chow Sing Chi has received criticism from many film professionals in regards to his poor attitude. Karen said, "When I worked with Chow Sing Chi, I didn't get that feeling. Maybe because at the time I was a newcomer, I was already very happy to be able to work on a masterpiece. I only wanted to learn." Karen even said that working with Chow Sing Chi felt great, the atmosphere was funny and fun. Did Chow Sing Chi take special care of her? She said, "No, my costume in GOD OF COOKERY (SIK SUN) is an example. As soon as I appear the whole place couldn't stop laughing, the atmosphere truly was decent." In addition, Karen expressed intentions to make a movie about a long distance runner. She said that now she is still gathering financing. In the film she would play a long distance runner and she has been practicing now. * (4/3/2009) New film NGAI JAI DOR CHING (SHORT GUY ROMANTIC) yesterday held its production start ceremony. Wong Cho Nam, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Race Wong Yuen Ling, Angelababy and Maggie Lee Man Kwan attended. During the ceremony the crew handed incense to Cho Nam, who remembered that he was Christian and laughed, "Why I am holding the incense? I don't worship like that." Meanwhile, director James Yuen Sai Sun handed out lai sees. The ladies took the lai see and smacked Cho Nam in the head. He joked, "Look, how convenient it is to 'smack' me." JJ whined, "How can you talk like that!" Cho Nam played a down on his luck heir and had intimate scenes with the female characters. He joked, "With so many girls fall for me at the same time, in reality it is impossible. It can only happen in the movie." Race had to study ballet and exotic dancing. She joked, "The company gave me a DVD to learn exotic dancing, the stripping scared me." As for revealing performance, she said, "This is a comedy, I don't think so." Tsui Tsz Shan played a street eatery owner with a scar on her face and tattoo. She said that the character would be very challenging and did not mind playing ugly. She honestly admitted that in real life she has been the object of a rich kid's pursuit but she felt that she was reaching and did not accept in the end. JJ played a masseuse and would have a kiss scene with Cho Nam. As for the height distance, she joked that if they lay down they could adjust. Tsui Tsz Shan revealed that Cho Nam liked "tall girls". "He keeps on telling people to wear high heels. (Is he the ideal boyfriend type?) I don't know him well enough. (Is height an issue?) It makes it harder." Lee Man Kwan expressed that girls develop earlier than guys. She has dated shorter guys but now she would not; Ga Hiu Sun also expressed that "it's a little harder" and "better off as friends". * (4/2/2009) The Jackie Chan, Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) starred action comedy DAI BING SIU JEUNG (BIG SOLDIER SMALL GENERAL) was unveiled on the 2nd as Jackie Chan led the team as well as the lead actress for her first appearance. Lin Peng played the teacher who led a group of children to leave color on the painting at the Beijing Olympic Game opening ceremony. Jackie Chan expressed that this film's background indeed would be an ancient war. The title roles of high and low rank soldiers would also put the characters in position in the war environment. Yet the war would just be a fictional backdrop. The true focus would take place in the stories between the title characters and others. The film's theme would not be war but peace. In this film, almost the entire cast would be young actors whose childhood idol was Jackie Chan. Raised in the United States, Wang Leehom has always said that he grew up on Jackie Chan movies. This collaboration completely felt like working with an idol. As for Korea's Yoo Seung-Jun, Jackie Chan's film culture also has deeply influenced him. To reporters who were present, Lin Peng was not considered a familiar actor. Yet one role that Lin Peng has played few Chinese would have missed. At the Olympics, a young female teacher brought children to paint on the canvas. Lin Peng played the teacher. Her big screen debut would be this film. Reportedly the story came from a sudden thought that Jackie Chan had 20 years ago. He wanted to make a story about a high and low rank soldier. Over these 20 years he has told this story to many people, including the current director Ding Sheng. In the film, Jackie Chan would play the high rank soldier while Wang Leehom would play the low rank soldier. Actually Jackie Chan's original intention was not as such. 20 years ago, when Jackie Chan first came up with the idea, he originally wanted to play the low rank soldier. He never imagined that he would have to wait 20 years for the story to come to the big screen. Time has already turned Jackie Chan from low high to high rank. Jackie Chan could only go with the flow and leave the low rank character to younger actors. Big Brother Jackie Chan revealed that the low rank soldier role originally had three choices -- Jaycee Chan (Fong Cho Ming), Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) and Wang Leehom. "I thought about casting Little Room (Fong Cho Ming), but with us the audience wouldn't focus. They definitely would laugh while they watch, 'hahaha, hahaha, they really look alike'." Later I thought of Ng Yin Cho. 'I would first pick Ng Yin Cho. Why? Not that Wong Lik Won is bad, but I brought out Ng Yin Cho and watched him grow up like a son. I would try to cast Ng Yin Cho as much as I can, but he just worked with me on SHINJUKU INCIDENT." When the role was not yet cast, Lam Fung Giu said, "If you don't cast Fong Cho Ming, then choose Wong Lik Won". Jackie Chan thought, "Great idea, let's try Wong Lik Won". "What do I like about Wong Lik Won? Ten years ago when I met him for the first time, he was an artist. If I was a girl I definitely would like him. I met him at a private club that (Alan) Tam Wing Lun and I owned. There was a piano, and he came to sing. Then he played the piano, erhu, violin, anything with a string he could play. Singing, Chinese, Cantonese he was all well versed in. This person knew everything on stage, like me (on the set). It's true." After explaining, Jackie Chan joked, "So you have to thank that Ms. Lam, Little Room's Mama." * (4/2/2009) Hot on the internet, Michael Tse Ting Wa's Laughing Gor although reappeared at the finale of EMERGENCY UNIT (HOK GAING JUI GIK), internet demand remained unsatisfied. TVB took the opportunity to work with Shaws on a film to bring Laughing Gor to the big screen. Herman Yau Lai To would direct the film that will start production around May for an August release. Tse Tin Wa yesterday appeared on BE MY GUEST. Host Stephen Chan Chi Wan presented five gifts to him, a fragrance set, an electronic photo frame, an alcohol breath analyzer, a likeness of Laughing Gor with 68 1997 commemorative HK$5 coins and a Laughing Life Extension 2009 film contract. When Tin Wa received the contract, he laughed and asked, "Today is April 1!" Chan Chi Wan expressed that the contract was absolutely real but Tin Wa still asked for a live signature and hand shake to confirm. The film story would be a prequel that would be linked to the EMERGENCY UNIT story. Chan Chi Wan welcomed real undercover agents to provide suggestions; as for other actors, Chan Chi Wan said that mainly they would be film actors and from open recruitment. Yet he did not eliminate the likelihood of using TVB artists. As for Tin Wa's salary, he said, "The salary is definitely reasonable. It of course is not the television price, but the amount is private. We are not hiring a bureau chief." Currently working on a series, Tin Wa originally would work on a new series with Liza Wang Ming Chuen. Now due to the film he has been pulled. Tin Wa happily said about the company tailoring a film for him, "I was very surprised because I never thought I would be able to make a film version. Today being April 1 it was even more surprising. I would like to thank the audience for the support. With their support and care, I wouldn't be here today. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me." He thought the chance was very rare, thus he would use all of his effort to make it and not disappoint anyone. "I still don't know what the story would be. Maybe I would contact Yau Lai To to discuss it. (Would you like the original cast to appear?) Of course I would have no problem, but this is not up to me. The company would cast the film because I don't want to anything that isn't a part of my job. I just found out (about the film), I am not certain what is in the contract!" * (4/2/2009) The Eric Suen Yiu Wai, Zhang Jun, Man Chin Shui, Yuen Wah, Lam Ka Wa, Wong Yau Nam and Tats Lau Yi Tat starred Christian gospel film TEAM OF MIRACLES WE WILL ROCK YOU (LAU LONG HONG SAI GAI BUI) two nights ago held its premiere. Although the film was Gigi Lai Chi's final film before her marriage, she did not appear to assist with the promotion. Instead her friends Ada Choi Siu Fun, Catherine Hung Yun, Elaine Lok Yi Ling and Nick Cheung Ka Fai came in support. Ms. Lok even brought a group of TVB artists with her and made the scene even more cheerful. Suen Yiu Wai revealed that after completing the film he had no contact with Lai Chi. Earlier he sent a text message to congratulate her on her wedding and she replied with a thank you. Would Lai Chi participate in the film promotion? He said, "I believe she is enjoying life right now. In addition this film still has many actors who can help with publicity. (Did you invite your friend Kelvin Kwan Chor Yiu to the premiere?) Can he still come out? Others might melt him! However I have called him after he returned to Hong Kong. He didn't sound any different, but with his return many people would feel relieved. Most importantly he cherishes everyone's love." He said that later he planned to visit him with friends but would not be deliberate. He also said that in the film any mistake in show business would sink someone to the bottom, but being sunk was not important. Most importantly no one would bring themselves down. When Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing first appeared he was jeered as well, in the end he became an everlasting superstar. Choi Siu Fun came in support of her husband Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun described that the film release was as joyous as a baby's birth. Choi Siu Fun joked that she was still young and pretty so she would spend more time on work. She did not want to rid such a good figure with a baby. Earlier Zhang Jun was caught smoking on the streets. He honestly said that he still has not quitted successfully, but he has smoked less. Choi Siu Fun honestly said that she has been praying for his quitting and urged him to smoke less. * (4/2/2009) Gaile Lok yesterday with Leung Ka Kei attended a Maritime Square event. Her boyfriend Leon Lai Ming in the new film BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS (SUP YUET WAI SING) would play a beggar. Because he was very convincing even the director could not recognize him. Gaile honestly said that she would like to see her boyfriend in costume, but right now losing weight was the most important. She expressed that they were in a weight loss competition. She has already lost 10 of her 15 pound goal but he has gained instead. EMERGENCY UNIT (HOK GAING JUI GIK)'s Leung Ka Kei did not know that Laughing Gor would be on the big screen. If she had the chance she would like to participate. In addition she would play any role, working together would be the most important because the collaboration was very pleasant. * (4/2/2009) The 33rd Annual Hong Kong International Film Festival award night took place two nights ago at the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Center. Among the four award categories, the FIPRESCI award went to Chinese director Zou Peng's A NORTHERN CHINESE GIRL, the SIGNIS Award went to Indonesian director Riri Riza's THE RAINBOW TROOPS, the Asian Digital competition gold prize went to Chinese director Emily Tang Xiaobai's PERFECT LIFE and silver prize went to Malay director James Lee's CALL IF YOU NEED ME. The Humanitarian Award for Documentaries' Best Documentary went to Yu Guangyi's SURVIVAL SONG, while the Outstanding Documentary went to Kazuhiro Soda's MENTAL. The event also got special recognition to Kenji Nakanishi's THE BLUE BIRD. After the award ceremony, the Cheng Yu-Chieh directed, Lee Kang produced YANG YANG held its Asian premiere. One of the actors Chang Ruei-Jia expressed that sharing the film on his birthday was very meaningful. Director Cheng Yu-Chieh said that female lead Sandrine Pinna (Cheung Yung Yung) has brought the character to life. She spent a month on nonstop track training and he was rather confident that she would be nominated for film awards. Cheung Yung Yung said, before the shoot she received guidance from producer Lee Kang and consultant Ang Lee. She was very pleased that Lee Kang's brother Ang Lee after seeing the film said that it was a very creative and true movie. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, APRIL 8 2009, FILM WORDS SNIPERS TRIO SETS OFF SPARK Because of Edison Chen Koon Hei's scandal, his film SNIPERS (SUN CHEUNG SAU) was released for Easter a year later. Actually a film was "banned" due to a certain actor's personal problem, it would be very unfair. Conversely, when a certain film had controversial issues, the film's actors should not be "penalized". Strong Visual, Good Dynamic At this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival I saw SNIPERS premiere. This is director Dante Lam Chui Yin's quality work, with strong visual and good dynamic it is rather explosive and stimulating The story is the usual cops and robbers fight that even involves police snipers' internal relationships, but not without the popular concoction of adding fuel to the fire. Fortunately the training details and the police mission achieve realism, characters' relationships and conflicts set off sparks. Although it does not have foreign film WANTED' innovative beyond reality fantasy, it is also not as exaggerated with computer graphics as that film and still displays Hong Kong style gunplay film's unique attraction. Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) plays the police force big brother sniper and with a proud new talent Chen Koon Hei forms a feuding master and apprentice bond, the relationship of which is delicate and interesting. Yam Yin Chai this time looks extra stable and strong. No longer clowning around, his performance is the most down-to-earth, solid and with the most character. Chen Koon Hei's performance is also very appropriate without going overboard. Handsome Mainland actor Huang Xiaoming is the film's super sniper rival. He turns from a police expert to a lone outlaw. Although his character is not clear, his cold image is prominent. The romantic description is also different. Tight Twists and Turns, Both Action and Drama Strictly speaking, the former public servant sharpshooter due to a hostage incident is filled with grief, which sounds passable but is not. I do not know whether the film's marksmanship and respiratory secret are accurate. However, as a modern sharpshooting "martial arts hero" film, this one achieves tight twists and turns, with both action and drama the gun fights are fierce. Lam Chiu Yin In Good Form Lam Chiu Yin in 1997 directed his first film OPTION ZERO (G4 DUT GUNG), which shot the police firearms in extra details. Since then he has either directed or co-directed BEAST COPS (YEH SAU YING GAING), JIANG HU THE TRIAD ZONE (GONG WU GO GUP), THE TWINS EFFECT (CHIN GEI BIN), HEAT TEAM (CHUNG ONG CHI MA GUN) and others. Last year's BEAST STALKERS (JING YUN) was also entertaining. He is one of the Hong Kong directors who is in good form currently. Among Hong Kong films that describe cops and robbers sharpshooter battles, 8 years ago the Law Chi Leung directed, Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing and Alex Fong Chung Shun starred DOUBLE TAP (CHEUNG WONG) created a precedent. Its gun training, duels and psychological descriptions were decent. Since then Johnnie To Kei Fung, Wai Ka Fai co-directed, Pang Ho Cheung originally written FULLTIME KILLER (CHUEN JIK SAT SAU), in which Andy Lau Tak Wa played a deranged sharpshooter. In the old Japanese film STATION, Ken Takakura played an Olympic class sharpshooting detective. The film is the most righteous and even has a country nostalgia, but it is different from Hong Kong gun duel films. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, APRIL 8 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS TVB FILMMAKING IS "FUJI LIKE"? TVB and Shaw co-finance film productions, is it taking the "Fuji" route? Japan's Fuji TV in recent years has been active in film production investment with impressive results. Hong Kong people are very familiar with Fuji TV's romantic drama. Actually not only romantic series get high ratings, many other genres do too. Fuji at first adapts some series with rating success to the big screen, the box office of which has even defeated Hollywood films. The writer has talked about the reasons that in the past Hong Kong TV series' big screen adaptations failed. TVB cannot easily become "Fuji" in film. TVB Drama Takes Housewife Route Different from Fuji TV, TVB series do not take the youth route. Its main audience is the older, commonly known as housewife audience. At present, the main cinema audience is primary adolescents. Housewife audience rarely goes to the movies. Even the home audience will only go to family movies on holidays. Fuji TV series attract a young audience, actors are idols. Film adaptations are no problem at all. TVB's successful television series in recent years do not have young genre or cast. Film adaptations may work but will require the addition of other elements. Need To Add Other Elements In the past when local television stations adapted popular series or characters for the big screen they did not engage in large production. They felt that television already had substantial audience support, the box office should not be a problem. Thus they would not need to spend a lot of money for film versions. They were wrong. Television series was free, while movies cost HK$60 or 70 a ticket for admission, the audience had very different requirements. Movie versions must make the audience think they were worth the ticket price. They must have a number of scenes or even casting that cannot be seen on free television. When TV stations want to make movies, they should neither save on cost nor give the audience the impression that they slap together a movie in the midst of a hot topic to rip viewers off. When the film market is bad, film production must have quality and creativity must also be higher than the free television. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, APRIL 6 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS TVB SHAWS FILM PRODUCTION IS IMPERATIVE TVB follows the Laughing Gor fever and announced the production of a "Laughing Gor Prequel" movie. The author for now does not plan to discuss the Laughing Gor phenomenon here, the reason will be disclosed later. TVB and its parent company Shaws' film production cooperation has long been rumored. The reason is not any fever that television series has brought or the success example of Japan's Fuji TV film investment. Many years ago, when the Government recovered the Hammer Hill Road Golden Harvest Studio, Golden Harvest applied for land to build a studio. The Government allocated land in Tseung Kwan O, but the sake of fairness the studio site was open to public auction. Thus the incident of nine major companies' siege took place as Golden Harvest lost to the Shaw Brothers led multiple company cooperation to win the bid. The battle rewrote the history of Hong Kong cinema. Golden Harvest since then has reduced production, finally its major shareholders retired and the Group was handed over to other people. The Shaw led alliance under the recent film market downturn reportedly has dropped out of the Studio plan one after another. Shaw now is the last film company that is supporting the great studio cause and has invested more than 1 billion to build a Studio without any project. This investment not only has no recovery period but also lacks any official film production facility. To continue to allocate funds, film production is necessary. Without movie production, any further investment is also redundant. New Studios will be large in scale and can provide one-stop service, from pre- to post-production all can be carried out inside; a studio that can construct large scale sets. Unfortunately in recent years large productions have been moved to the Mainland, where not only cost is cheaper than in Hong Kong but also is a requirement for China Hong Kong film co-productions. Pure Hong Kong productions are mostly small and medium-sized films that cannot possibly have the money to rent the large studio to build sets. Actual location shots are both convenient and economical. Several years ago, many big foreign productions have shot on location in Hong Kong. Most came for actual Hong Kong location shots and did not have too much need for a studio. In order to activate the more than 1 billion in investment, Shaws and TVB's film production cooperation is imperative. - KWOK HIN CHING 4. MING PAO DAILY, APRIL 5 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS WHAT KIND OF FILM COMPANY IS FILM FUND The Chief Executive again says that he wants to start up cultural creative industry to save the market, film of course is one of the advantageous industry. The exhausted Hong Kong film rescue has been talked about from the Tung Chee Hwa era to now, from 100 to 300 million. Hopefully Chief Executive Tsang and his team can clarify why the money has remained and no result has been achieved. More directly said, it does not help at all. It does not help at all not because of unclear goals but execution issues. Before the 300 million development fund was approved, the writer has already received a call from Cheng King Hong. He was not worried that the money not being approved, only that film professional would not get the money because usually the process would be complex with plenty of responsibilities. It was enough to keep people at bay. Currently the film fund can invest 30% in Hong Kong film, enough for the symptoms but not the cure. If a company that invests in film sees the film development fund it would see where the problem lies. Aside from the Hong Kong government's film development fund, the world has many other funds; most are commercially operated, so we also can see the film fund as a film investment company. What standards does this government film company currently use to invest in film? Actually it only looks at cost and return, without considering creativity. Each application from professional production to distribution inspection mainly does not look at screenplay creativity. Instead it checks whether the production budget is reasonable, whether the return estimate is practical enough before it turns the application to the committee for approval. Do you think that a film company that only considers profit would have the sense of duty to promote film's future development? This is only a film investment that does not have any ideal and only has its mind on profit. The government's original intention is not as such, but now it indeed is. The time has come to properly examine what went wrong in between. The government's assistance is not important, if it wants to help it should help a little more reasonably. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. TA KUNG PAO, APRIL 5 2009 KWAN SHUN FAI RETURNS A MIRACLE TO THE "HOMELESS" Since the financial tsunami, everyday newspapers are all of company closing and downsizing, high employment rate, increasing aid applications and emotional hotline assistance calls. While waiting for the day of light, some still are full of ambition, some choose to give up. They felt that being able to stand up again is as incredible as the homeless can play in the World Cup. Yet the film TEAM OF MIRACLE: WE WILL ROCK YOU (LAU LONG HONG SAI GAI BUI) is a story of self strengthening that is based on a true story. It is able to inject a shot of positive energy into the society completely because of hot blooded director Kwan Shun Fai, who has not given up on overlooked homeless population. TEAM OF MIRACLE: WE WILL ROCK YOU story is about a variety of characters who fill "Lantern Street" from around the world and treat the streets as their homes and the ground their beds. Eric Suen Yiu Wai plays social worker Ah Tung who has always seen the lower class and the homeless as his mission. When he sees the news of Germany's first Homeless World Cup online, he organizes homeless into a soccer team. He hopes to be able to break out of Hong Kong to compete and in the process bring life to each homeless soul. Because the team is only thrown together, during the process it experiences a series of setbacks and dangers, but each person's morale remains high and once again ignite the fire of life in order to achieve their dreams. Aside from Suen Yiu Wai and Gigi Lai Chi who plays a senior psychotherapist, the cast also has Zhang Hun (as the former Division A player and gambling addict), Wong Yau Nam (an orphan who has been on the streets since the age of 9), Tats Lau Yi Tat (a bankrupted restaurant owner), Wong Tak Bun (a bus driver who cannot forgive himself after killing someone in an accident). Hope Endures A lot of people see homelessness as a social problem, and feel this is a group of poor people who give up on themselves, forever shut themselves in their own world and never willing to come back out. Director Kwan Shun Fai in order to grasp the homeless inner world has personally "sleep on the streets" and experience one night homeless. "I said to myself, I have to try to 'sleep on the streets' once to be able to understand the homeless feeling. So one night, I really slept on the streets. It is a very quiet street near my home, I alone slept on the ground and stared at the moon. That lonely feeling actually was very tough." "I chose to shoot the movie on the homeless when I saw on television social workers who organized a group of homeless to play soccer overseas to help them regain their confidence. At the time I thought whether I could shoot their true story." He added, "TEAM OF MIRACLE: WE WILL ROCK YOU at first was not scheduled for an Easter release, but due to various delays this film is released just in time as people are at their most lost. it is truly unexpected. I hope it can bring people tears within laughter, laughter within tears, and the strength to stand up after falling down." Life will always have lows. When the overall global economy is on a downturn, setback once improperly dealt with would often become even greater stress, and even cause tragedy; too much negative energy will become the society's time bomb, only by injecting positive energy will despair turn into hope. Kwan Shun fai said, "After the Lehman case, one day while I was taking the MTR I witnessed someone in a suit who hid in the corner after getting on the train, then he covered his head like the world already had no hope. I got sentimental over the incident and felt that the community needed an inspirational movie like TEAM OF MIRACLE to tell everyone that there will always be hope in life, even if the first half may be a lopsided loss like the homeless in the story, as long as they don't give up in the end they can give themselves a miracle. This is the message that the film want to bring out." Speaking of the weather related delays during the shoot, he said, the incident instead showed the actors' professionalism. "We made this movie when Hong Kong's weather was at its worst last year. Not only did we had constant rain, we also hit several amber and black rainstorm warnings as well as a category 8 typhoon that made the production even more difficult. Fortunately all the actors were very together. I remembered that in one scene this group of homeless were moving on the streets. At the time the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the amber rainstorm warnings. Our staff of course had windbreakers, but actors could only stand in the rain. Their professionalism touched me the most that time. Despite the cold wet weather, they still didn't mind at all. After the shoot they even came over and asked if we needed another take." Actors Look Back In fact, adapting the true story of the homeless for the silver screen may be also an opportunity for the actors to look back to their own past. Suen Yiu Wai in the film with his never give up spirit vowed to bring light into darkness. He did not hesitate to say that he also fell in real life. Quickly rose to fame early in his career, he once developed in Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Japan and Korea but he left at the peak of his singing career to work on the Mainland series. For quite a long time since then, he felt terribly lost until two years ago when he returned to the Hong Kong music scene. Some were not optimistic, but fortunately he did not give up. Finally he reached his performance today. "I feel to truly be happy, we must learn to be satisfied with what we have; not to keep wanting when the soul has no way to be satisfied." In addition to participating, Suen Yiu Wai also wrote and performed the theme song for the film. He wanted through his lyrics encouraged Hong Kong people in the financial tsunami to maintain confidence. No matter how difficult the crisis is, life will always have hope. Zhang Jun also admitted that his own life experiences are similar to his role. "Before becoming an actor, I was a martial arts athlete with formal training in martial arts and a National Championship. After retirement, I was at a loss for one or two years; uncertain about the future I didn't know what to do ; then, like my role Ah Wing, I slowly strived from stunt person to action director, and then became an actor. After a low in life, I began to understand that the world had a lot of unpleasant things. Actually they were not so embarrassing. Instead because of this experience, my life will be more positive in the future." He said. - SIU O 6. TA KUNG PAO, APRIL 5 2009, LIGHT SHADOW PATH WHY WOULD FENG XIAOGANG RECEIVE THE COLD SHOULDER Ending last week, Filmart had a forum that invited Oliver Stone, John Woo (Ng Yu Sum), Andrew Lau Wai Keung and Feng Xiaogang to discuss prospects of Chinese films. During the event Feng Xiaogang used a foul Cantonese word to describe Hong Kong audience's neglect of his film and became the talk of all Hong Kong entertainment pages. Actually, this seminar had other note worthy contents, only reporters view the event from the gossip new angle. In addition to Director Feng's always very "direct" speech manner, it became the only forum coverage. Looking at the discussion of Chinese cinema, Feng Xiaogang and Ng Yu Sum's statements were more detailed and systematic. Directed Feng mainly expressed his own filmmaking ideas. Over a decade every one of his movie has performed better than the previous at the box office, what was the secret? Actually the director said that his movies except THE BANQUET (YEH YIN) all started with inspiration rather than commercial considerations. In particular was THE ASSEMBLY, which was a large production but without any star. Its investors were sweating bullets. He believed that with commercial calculations, even a comedy would only pile comic elements together without any meaning. For example IF YOU ARE THE ONE was a romantic comedy that cost around 40 to 50 million yuan, which certainly was a great risk. However the director's comedy and romance were all inspired. In addition he focused heavily on the logic of the movie, otherwise the audience will not agree with it. Feng Xiaogang also pointed out that the Mainland and Hong Kong audience differences, the Hong Kong audiences follow actors to the movies, while the Mainland goes directors. Mainland investors look for directors to make movies and would not ask whether he has already signed the main cast, but Hong Kong investors must have their actors of choice before starting production. This difference was one of the reasons that made Feng Xiaogang movies hits in the Mainland and neglected in Hong Kong. Director Feng's speech has long been very humorous and must have a punch line. To enhance the drama he used a single Cantonese foul word to describe Hong Kong audience's "disdain" for his movies. He noted that CAPE NO. 7's very strong momentum in Hong Kong as almost everyone was talking about it. Director Feng's movies have come to Hong Kong for almost ten years but have not been recognized yet. However, the writer thought that one of the reasons was Director Feng's works have been very popular in the Mainland but Taiwan directors have not had a hit in Taiwan for nearly two decades. Although CAPE's box office was equivalent to just over 100 million yuan at the box office, judging from the population of Taiwan and Taiwan cinema's depression, the box office record of NT$500 million was amazing. CAPE's success made a very deep impression with Hong Kong film professionals because Hong Kong films were at a disadvantage, not much better than the Taiwan Chinese language films. This was the reason that CAPE has become a subject of studies in Hong Kong. On the other hand, Director Feng was extremely optimistic about Chinese films' prospects. He felt that with the current box office growth rate projections, the Mainland box office would break 10 billion, create a powerful consumer group, and thus improve its economic status and global influence. - TIN KEI 7. TA KUNG PAO, APRIL 5 2009 UNFORGETTABLE LESLIE CHEUNG KWOK WING Unconsciously, Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing has left us for six years already. Our nostalgia for him has not diminished or weakened with the passage of time but instead has deepen and solidified. In recent years more people want to know and understand him; everyone have united through the power of the internet and formed different groups to communicate, discuss, through reviewing his psychological history and film work explore his roles, dialogues, songs to find the pulse of the era and social change in them, and even sum up their place. When I read these sites' long articles, messages, words from the heart and after careful consideration, pictures and many private collections, I would feel everyone's love and respect for him, and pride for htis superstar. Over the years, I have always thought what has this superstar left us? Apart from his good old music, film and television work that has stood the test of time, and today everybody still feel great about; apart apart from his persistence in the pursuit of perfection in his arts; apart from his hard work, refusal to easily give up and determination on his singing career; apart from his positive exploration of different performing arts range after his comeback, his courage to try a variety of different types of performances, and hope to scale new heights in his career, what else is there? From the look of the local music scene the past two years, those new young singers because of various reasons like record companies' pursuit of quick success that have forced some out before they even rose, unable to develop their own special talent; and at the same time the sex photo scandals and the most recent drug possession case have made everyone turn on young singers with terms like "one generation worse than the previous", "lack of strength, inability to perform live", "completely off key", "ordinary looking, guy/girl next door with indistinguishable names" to further their accusations Yet in all honesty, they perhaps may not be able to persist and work hard but have we provided encouragement and opportunities to these young singers? While we are asking too much from them and criticizing them, the society is filled on an "everything on the Government" passive attitude, how do we adjust? When Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) recalled how Cheung Kwok Wing took extra care of her back then, a moment of clarity suddenly struck my heart: back then he physically embodied the tradition of helping new comers and constantly strived for passing the music from generation to generation, perhaps the time has come for us to face up and act. - CHUI HIU 8. MING PAO DAILY, APRIL 4 2009, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS THIS YEAR THE IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE As for Wednesday the single day box office champion in the Japanese film DEPARTURES. This year two Oscar winning films have become Hong Kong box office champions, which is rare especially since neither is mainstream film. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE after 35 days in release already made 23.66 million, which is very amazing. This figure is close to the Lunar New Year film champion. A light season can still provide good box office as long as the same period has no strong competition and the film can generate a buzz. Its performance is similar to a strong season. The Oscar Best Foreign Language Film DEPARTURES is released after SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, the scheduling of which is also very smart. DEPARTURES has accumulated 6.75 million in two weeks, for a non big production Japanese film the performance is very decent. With the topic of an Oscar winning film, a non mainstream film can achieve good box office and reflect the change in audience mentality and taste. Some commercial films that are obviously full of entertainment value instead cannot attract mass audience support, which again proves the audience has an expectation for change. In second place of the single day box office is UNDERWORLD RISE OF THE LYCANS with 168,000, its seven day accumulation is only 2.61 million. Hong Kong director Lee Chi Ngai's Japanese manga based film DANCE, SUBARU! is in third with 127,000 that day and 1.75 million after a week. The performance is disappointing. Foreign film HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU has white collar working women's support and made 100,000 that day. After two weeks in release it took in 3.78 million, which is considered reasonable for the same period. Topping the cumulative box office remains THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON because on Wednesday it was still on one screen. It accumulated 24.4 million and only took in 250 that day. Between the Lunar New Year and Easter is a light period, box office on average would not be too great. The previous years Oscar films did not perform too well. This year luckily came the Indian backdrop SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and Japan's DEPARTURES, breaking the traditionally Hollywood Oscar films. This year the audience taste has been very hard to predict, anything that has been impossible in the past would become possible. - KWOK HIN CHING 9. MING PAO DAILY, APRIL 3 2009, FILM WORDS SHINJUKU INCIDENT: ABROAD TRAGEDY The Derek Yee Tung Sing directed, Jackie Chan starred SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN) is drastically different from the typical Jackie Chan film. Although it has fierce fights, they neither display martial art nor concoct comedy. Instead the film seriously describes a Mainland illegal immigrant's rise in Tokyo, Japan and struggle against the Taiwan mob, the Japan underworld and authorities. The fact is in the bad element mix of Tokyo's Kabukicho, Chinese gang turf wars have been numerous. Some have already been made into films, like Shunji Iwai directed SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY and the Lee Chi Ngai directed SLEEPLESS TOWN. This big production has a number of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland and Japan film stars, the dialogue is mainly Mandarin. Originally the Mainland market is very important, but the subject would have a hard time with the Mainland film inspection. It still gives its all, maintaining Hong Kong film's valuable specialty of freedom. Jackie Chan changes his image to play a Northeast tough guy Steelhead who sneaks into Japan to find his girlfriend, becomes the Chinese black market laborer boss, suffers more than his shares of hardship and takes risk, turns into a killer and a mob boss and finally a tragic hero. This film captures the hardship of overseas Chinese and the danger of the underworld, particularly it tells some Chinese works hard, some are "habitually" selfish, street wise, and cause internal strife. Many are tragic. SHINJUKU INCIDENT is full of sentiments for Chinese compatriots but also honest criticism. Its mob film format resembles the 80s' TO BE NUMBER ONE (BAI HO). This film involves Japanese underworld and police, and Chinese from all over. It is much more complex than the purely Hong Kong TO BE NUMBER ONE, and its scale even grander. This time Jackie Chan is exceptionally realistic and tragic, flexible even after all the hardship that he faces. He even maturely faces old flame's Japanese mobster husband Masaya Kato and turns enemy detective Naoto Takenaka into a friend. In the film he attempts to unite the Chinese and switches from bad to good, but he is no match for the cruel reality. The end is very painful. An obvious problem is Jackie Chan has exceeded the male lead's risk taking age and does not resemble former girlfriend Xu Jinglei's childhood love. In the film Jackie Chan's expressions are very serious and less humorous. He no longer performs comedy action and stunts. The entire film focuses on realism, but the lead suddenly turns into a risk taking master and makes the film somewhat awkward. More outstanding is Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho). In the first half he is a kind coward, in the latter half he gets in over his head; he truly can be good and bad. Masaya Kato, Naoto Takenaka, Paul Chun Pui, Chin Kar Lok and others are decent. As for female characters, Xu Jinglei still does not have variety in her expression. The other key female character Fan Bingbing is pretty, romantic and likable. Yee Tung Sing makes the film full and stable, yet the degree of difficulty is high. Its spiriti is no match for his Hong Kong mob ONE NITE IN MONGKOK (WONG GOK HAK YEH). - SHEK KEI [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Ngai Jai Dor Ching Lit : Short Guy Romantic d. James Yuen Sai Sun Wong Cho Nam, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Race Wong Yuen Ling, Angelababy, Maggie Lee Man Kwan JUNIOR SOLDIERS Can : Dai Bing Siu Jeung Lit : Big Soldier Small General d. Ding Sheng Jackie Chan, Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won), Yoo Seung-Jun, Lin Peng Can : Yuet Moon Hin Nei Si Lit : Full Moon Hennessy d. Ivy Ho (Ong Sai) Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, Tang Wei KUNG FU CYBORG Can : Gei HEI Hup Lit : Mechanical Hero d. Jeff Lau Chun Wai Hu Jun, Betty Sun Li, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Gan Wei, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Jason Wu Jing, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Law Kar Ying Opening July 2009 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 November 12 2009 in Malaysia 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) 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? TWENTIETH CENTURY BOYS CHAPTER 2 d. Yukihiko Tsutsumi Toshiaki Karasawa, Etsushi Toyokawa, Takako Tokiwa Rating : IIB Length : 141 mins. Opening April 9 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] In 2015, 15 years after "Bloody New Year's Eve", after Kenji opposed the Friend constructed robot and vanished, the Secret Base Gang goes their separate ways. Each secretly continues to fight -- Otcho escapes from the Umihotaru Prison, Yoshitsune now leads his own underground group against Friend. Maruo decides to follow tightly a certain important individual and waits for the right itme to act, Yukiji raises Kenji's niece Kanna. This group of old classmates also gradually remembers their childhood memories in regards to Friend.....? The New Book of Prophecies has also appeared. "In 2015 at a church in Shinjuku, a savior will rise to uphold justice and be struck by an assassin." Who is this "savior"? What will happen to the world? 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 ] PERMANENT RESIDENCE Can: Wing Gau Gui Lau d. Scud (Wan Cheung) Sean Li Ka Ho, Osman Hung Chi Kit, Jackie Chow Tak Bong, Lau Yu Hong Rating : III Length: 115 mins. Opening March 27 2009 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Opening April 16 2009 Site: http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/film/detail/1137.html [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] The second film from the producer/screenwriter/co-director of CITY WITHOUT BASEBALL explores in complete abandon and full nudity the life story of a young man who pursues an impossible love with his straight boyfriend and who contemplates on the mortality of his loved ones. 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? DRIFTING FLOWER Can : Piu Long Ching Chun Lit : Drifting Wave Youth d. Zero Chou Mei Ling Lu Yi-Ching, Serena Fang, Chao Yi-Lan Rating : IIA Length 97 mins. Opening April 23 2009 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Taiwanese director Zero Chou (Spider Lilies) offers up three subtle, interwoven lesbian tales of the lost and found nature of love. The first segment opens with a fragile domestic bliss cobbled together by Jing, and her younger sister Meigo. Butch accordionist Chalkie upsets the balance by falling for Jing and inspiring Meigo’s first big crush. The middle story belongs to Lily, a patient endlessly searching in her disintegrating memory for her lost lover. The final segment follows Chalkie, coming of age with best pal and coming to terms with her repulsion at her own budding body and her complicated feelings for girls. TOUCH OF THE PANDA Can : Hung Mau Wui Ga Lo Lit : Panda's Road Home d. Yu Zhong Daichi Harashima (Dai Doh Yuen Dei) Opeing April 30 2009 [ SINA MOVIES HONG KONG ] 9 year old Lo Jai after losing his parents in a fire loses his ability to speak. Without any friend Lo Jai in the forest runs into a young panda Bobo, which is under hunters' pursuit. To keep it from harm, Lo Jai takes it home and hides it. During this period, Lo Jai teaches Bo Bo a variety of survival skills while Bo Bo opens up his heart again. Thus they build a deep friendship. Unfortunately, Lo Jai gradually understands that his strength alone is not enough to stop the hunters and the hounds' pursuit. Thus he is determined to return Bo Bo back to its mother...As danger approaches closer, can Lo Jai finally overcome the odds with Bo Bo and find the road home? HANDSOME SUIT Can : Fan Juen Ju Nam Si Wong Ji Lit : Turning Over Pork Belly Is A Prince d. Hanabusa Tsutomu Shosuke Tanihara, Muga Tsukaji, Keiko Kitagawa, Miyuki Oshima Cantonese Voices: Eric Kot Man Fai, Jan Lam Hoi Fung Opening April 30 2009 Site : http://encorefilms.com/handsome-suit [ SINA MOVIES HONG KONG ] If you have a suit that makes you handsome, what would you do? The extremely ugly Takuro Oki after taking over his late mother's diner Kokoroya runs into new part time help Hiroko, but he suffers a major setback after she rejects him. Later he runs into the "handsome suit" and transforms into the super handsome Hikariyama Annin. He begins to live a double life as the lady killer Annin and the pervert suspect Takuro. With the ultimate Handsome Suit that can permanently transform him into Annin, what would Takuro choose? 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 7 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. KUNG FU CHEF Can : Gung Fu Chu Sun Lit : Kung Fu Kitchen God d. Yau Tat Chi Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Lam Tze Chung Opening May 2009 Opening February 19 2009 in Malaysia [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS ONLINE ] Jo had kept hatred in his heart for a very long time and did what he could to oust his uncle Wong Bing-Yi (Sammo Hung) from the village and to claim the rights to the “Dragon-Head Cleaver”, a symbol of power to the clan. As Wong Bing-Yi was forced out of the village, he encountered Shen Qing by chance and is determined to help her during the troubled times at her restaurant “Four Seas”. Here, he discovered a young cooking wonder, Lung Kin-Yat. To bring “Four Seas” back to the top, Lung ends up representing “Four Seas” to the competition against Chef Tin, two times “Top Chef” winner and the head chef at “Imperial Palace”, the restaurant owned by Jo. At the day of the finals, Wong Bing-Yi and Jo met privately to try to resolve their problems. Lung shined by overcoming many obstacles and preparing a dish called “Fresh Water Bak-Choy” just as his master, Wong Bing-Yi had taught him. However, the head judge has been bribed by “Imperial Palace” and he is also the master of Chef Tin. Who will finally win the title of “Top Chef”? Can the “Kung Fu Chefs” finally win over the hearts of many? KERORO THE MOVIE 4 Japanese animation Opening July 9 2009 [ SINA MOVIES HONG KONG ] On the day of Keroro's Earth invasion, Keroro oversleeps! When he arrives at the space tunnel and sees his waiting teammates, enemies suddenly appear! Giroro and Dororo are under attack when another strong rival joins in the attack! One day, an inexplicable giants object "Dragon Tails" appear all over the world. To seek the truth, Keroro Platoon starts a worldwide investigation, ends up in a mysterious world landmark in France, Mont Saint Michel. There it runs into a mysterious girl Shion, whose "Dragon Book" holds incredible power that transforms Keroro Platoon into different ferocious dinosaurs with immense power. Would the dinosaur Keroro invade Earth or... --- [ 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 PRESENT ALAN TAM AND HACKEN LEE WORLD TOUR 2009 TORONTO DATE AND TIME: June 8 2009 @ 8PM VENUE LOCATION: Air Canada Centre Toronto ON Canada TICKET INFORMATION: http://www.taipantours.com/Concert/EventList.aspx * FUNG'S ENTERTAINMENT AND CAESARS ATLANTIC CITY PRESENT RENE LIU MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT 2009 With Special Guests Ocean Ou and DATE AND TIME: Saturday night / Sunday morning, May 10 2009 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION: Caesars Circus Maximus Theater Caesars Atlantic City Atlantic City NJ TICKET INFORMATION: www.fungshow.com * SUPERKEY PRODUCTION AND ATLANTIC CITY HILTON CASION RESORT PRESENT Sam Li Shengjie and Lee Lai Ha Live VENUE LOCATION: Hilton Grand Theatre Atlantic City NJ TICKET PRICES: $118, 88, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: Online: http://www.superkeypro.com P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street 212.732.3828 Apple Travel Service Inc. 774 60th Street 2/F Brooklyn NY 718.680.6666 Paradise Vacations 135-17 40 Road 3/F Flushing NY 718.886.8294 * 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Thursday April 2 2009 10 HAPPY FLIGHT Can : Hoi Sum Jik Hong Lit : Happy Direct Flight d. Shinobu Yaguchi Ayase Haruka, Seiichi Tanabe 9 THE READER d. Stephen Daldry Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross 8 UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS d. Patrick Tatopoulos Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra 7 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 6 HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU d. Ken Kwapis Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore 5 DANCE, SUBARU! Can : Mo Ba! Gok d. Lee Chi Ngai Momoi Kaori, Meisa Kuroki, Miku Sano, Ara 4 THE RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN d. Andy Fickman Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig 3 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) 2 FAST AND FURIOUS d. Justin Lin Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez 1 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) ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS THE SHINJUKU INCIDENT 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. DANCE, SUBARU! Rating : IIA Length : 115 mins. 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... TEAM OF MIRACLE: WE WILL ROCK YOU Rating : IIA Length : 108 mins. 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? HAPPY FLIGHT Rating : I Length : 104 mins. 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? DEPARTURES Rating : IIA Length : 130 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... ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, April 4 2009 15 FISH Can : Yu Cheer Chen Yi Jing 14 WHY ME Chris Li Yuchun 13 TWO MISSING ONE Can : 2 Kuet 1 Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin 12 UNFORGETTABLE DAY Can : Nan Mong Dik Yut Tin Xu Wei (Hui Ngai) 11 SONG WRITTEN FOR YOU Can : Wai Nei Seh Dik Gor Alan Luo (Law Chi Cheung) 10 JOOK YING TOI Kay Tse On Kay 9 700 YEAR LATERS Can : 700 Nin Hau Eason Chan Yik Shun 8 CAN PRAISE CAN WEEP Can : Hor Gor Hor Yup Joey Yung Cho Yi 7 EYES OF CHILDREN Can : Hai Ji Dik Ngan Jing Jane Zhang Liangying 6 ALONE IS GOOD Can : Yut Gor Yun Jau Ho Jade Liu Liyang 5 HUMMING LOVE Can : Hung Hung Oi Abin Fang (Fong Gwing Bun) 4 COUNTRY Can : Gok Ga Jackie Chan, Liu Yuanyuan 3 CAPE STAR WEAR MOON Can : Pei Sing Dai Yuet Hins Cheung King Hin 2 I LOVE YOU Can : Ngor Oi Nei Faye Wong 1 THREE PERSON VISIT Can : Sam Yun Yau Khalil Fong Dai Tung ------ [ 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. APRIL FOOL Your Chaffing Editor would like to begin this week with a moment of silence for the victims of the earthquake in Italy and the shooting in Binghamton, New York. Has this ever happened to you? You are listening to the radio and minding your own business when the DJ asked listeners to call in about their worst dates. All of a sudden, a caller called in and said, "Yeah I dated this guy, [insert your name here]..." Your Chaffing Editor of course could not turn off the radio fast enough. WTF. Meanwhile, Your Chaffing Editor has received an offer for the pirated X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE. He quickly declined not only because of legality issues but also the print supposedly was an unfinished one. The Former Chaffing Editor let his X-book subscriptions run out when Wolverine lost his adamantium and never went back. What do you think the odds are of us here at Top Ten Central wanting to see the movie possibly without claws? http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2009/04/07/2009-04-07_xmen_leak_isnt_the_real_wolverine.html Finally, the latest Jason Mraz duet just kept on playing in Your Chaffing Editor's head and he could not stop it even if he wanted to. The possible start of this mental iPod stuck on repeat issue might be a likely departure from a circle that is no longer (probably never was) his. Baby, best of luck. I'LL PUT A FLOWER IN YOUR HAIR, Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] LUCKY Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillat http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?vid=328308 Across the water across the deep blue ocean Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying Boy I hear you in my dreams I feel your whisper across the sea I keep you with me in my heart You make it easier when life gets hard I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend Lucky to have been where I have been Lucky to be coming home again Ooh ooh ooh They don't know how long it takes Waiting for a love like this Every time we say goodbye I wish we had one more kiss I'll wait for you I promise you, I will I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend Lucky to have been where I have been Lucky to be coming home again Lucky we're in love in every way Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed Lucky to be coming home someday And so I'm sailing through the sea To an island where we'll meet You'll hear the music fill the air I'll put a flower in your hair Though the breezes through trees Move so pretty you're all I see As the world keeps spinning 'round You hold me right here, right now I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend Lucky to have been where I have been Lucky to be coming home again I'm lucky we're in love in every way Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed Lucky to be coming home someday Ooh ooh ooh Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038