From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (January 3 2008) 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. Eileen Yeow Ying Ying who celebrates her birthday on the 4th B. Eric Suen Yiu Wai who celebrates his birthday on the 3rd 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (1/9/2008) Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau) attended a bakery opening in Macau. Chi Wai expressed that he has been working on three new films that will shoot in Taiwan, Mainland and Hong Kong with the same subject. Taiwan's title will be GAU GONG FUNG (NINE DESCENDING WIND), Mainland's will be TAN HOI NEI DIK DEI TOH (OPEN YOUR MAP), but Hong Kong's still did not have a title. He would produce these three films and invest in them as well. All will star new comers. He will have one guest star role in all three films. Each film will cost around 4 million. Recently Pang Ho Cheung has been rumored to have stolen ideas from Tsang Kwok Cheung's screenplay to make into TRIVIAL MATTERS (POR SI YI). Chi Wai felt that was no big deal and believed that they only had similar ideas. * (1/9/2008) The Johnnie To Kei Fung directed, Tsui Siu Ming produced film LINGER (WU DIP FEI) two nights ago held its premiere at Central. Leads Vic Chou Yu Man, Li Bingbing, Wong Yau Nam and Yan Qing attended. Earlier Jai Jai at a promotion made a foul gesture. Jai Jai said that at a F4 concert he has done so as well. He said, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho) was born and raised in the U.S. and said that this gesture actually was only a gesture of youth without any special meaning. He hoped that no one would make a big deal. Li Bingbing although was the female lead did not have the diamond jewelry sponsorship like the male lead. Bingbing joked that Jai Jai has always been very pretty. As for To Kei Fung who rarely used female subject giving her the theme song to sing, Bing Bing thanked the director. She described the director as someone who was very intimate and very honorable. Although she has heard about him scolding at people on the set she was never at the receiving end. The director has already approached her about working together again. She said that with a call from the director she would not mind the subject, character, the size of the role or the salary. * (1/9/2008) The youth film SEE YOU ON YOU TUBE (OI DAU DAI) will open in Hong Kong on January 17. Pang Shun has produced this film with a group of student directors. Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Man Wing San and Maggie Lee Man Kwan are its stars. In the story Man Wing San and Kong Yeuk Lam each lead a team in competition. Maggie who is on Kong Yuek Lam's team has to use her devilish figure to get the hot dog from an uncle at a fast food restaurant. Kong Yeuk Lam lowers the zipper in front of Maggie's chest. She expresses that the shoot is the first time that she sees Maggie in person. Maggie's figure has her under her spell. During the shoot she keeps on making fun of her and also asks her for fitness tips. She cannot be envious of Maggie's naturally full figure though. Maggie feels that the shoot is very challenging. She needs some time to adjust before getting into the role. Because she has never used her figure to "tempt" anyone she does not know where to start. At first the shoot feels very awkward so her performance is not wild enough. Luckily with her team's encouragement she gets into the competition atmosphere and later her performance gets wilder and wilder. The result is also very funny and absolutely not dirty. * (1/9/2009) The English publication The Daily Mirror earlier reported that "sex star" Shu Qi and Hugh Grant were intimate in public. Although the publication has issued an apology it still described Shu Qi as "former sex star". South China Morning Post cried foul in one of its commentary and felt that even though Shu Qi has posed for nude photos the term "sex star" was still excessive; the commentary even felt that Shu Qi should take legal action. * (1/9/2008) The Chow Yun Fat starred film CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI has decided to drop out of 2008 Oscar competition. The film company's surprising decision to postpone to the 2009 Oscar competition. Fat Gor looked forward to more media attention and support for this film. * (1/9/2008) The Zhou Xun, Kuei Lun Mei, Kitty Zhang Yuqi starred Tsui Hark new film NUI YUN BUT WAI (WOMAN NOT BAD) will start production at the end of January in Beijing. Yesterday a launch ceremony was held with the fashion label Dior. The female leads wore the latest spring and summer fashion at the show. The event cost 3 million yuan. At the press conference, the cast expressed that they still were unclear about the actual story and how Tsui Hark wanted them to transform! Zhou Xun joked that in the film she had to play 12 characters and be able to see through everyone, a highly difficult challenge. Tsui Hark felt that since she was chameleon like he would give her the opportunity to thoroughly demonstrate the ability. Kuei Lun Mei said that for this movie she got to learn what she would like to learn like band training, cooking, horse riding. Zhang Yuqi when meeting with Tsui Hark was asked to try an Empress look, but she did not understand the relationship to this film. Tsui Hark mysteriously said that the script coud change at any minute. As for the decision to make the film, Tsui Hark said that two years ago when he was drinking at a friend's home he suddenly saw those words in calligraphy and came up with the idea. Actually he has always been interested in women comedy. 6 years ago he originally wanted to make NUI YUN SI LAU MAN (WOMAN IS A THUG) but during preparation he saw Korean director Kwak Jae-Yong's MY SASSY GIRL and was forced to give up the idea due to similar stories; then when the NUI YUN BUT WAI idea came he suggested collaboration with Kwak Jae-Yong. * (1/9/2008) Zhou Xun, Vicki Zhao Wei, Chen Kun, Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred WAT PEI (PAINTED SKIN) is in production in Hengdian. Playing the ghost Zhou Xun looked eerie in a long white robe and a black head scarf without any expression; Zhao Wei wore a round classic hairpin with the ancient lady style; Chen Kun played a general. Mainland media pointed out that Yen Chi Tan earlier shot a roof top fight scene in the night. Originally he personally performed but during the shoot he suddenly felt wrong and decided to use a double. Finally the double fell and was injured. Even Yen Chi Tan was scared. * (1/8/2008) The Leung Hung Wa directed, Deep Ng Ho Hong, Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, Mandy Chiang Man starred BLACK TRIAL (HAK DOH ji MO FUI GUM SUN) will open this Thursday (the 10th). The story uses a very special community care center in Taiwan as the stage for one real case after another and brings in a big group of real world case personnel for unprecedented commercial film on and off screen performance. They included a rapist, three murderer, an AIDS patient, two drug addicts, a self mutilator, ten mental patients in recovery.....with seven film academy students so the film can be more realistic, sincere and unique. * (1/8/2008) Jim Chim Sui Man and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin starred in SIMPLY ACTORS (HEI WONG JI WONG) made nearly 10 million at the box office as a small budget film. The cast and crew were already overjoyed and planned for a sequel. Unfortunately Ah Jim's schedule was harder than Ah Sa's to accommodate and the plan has been forced to be postponed indefinitely. Reportedly, SIMPLY directors Chan Pak Kin and Chan Hing Ka, producer Chin Siu Wai for months have been persuaded Ah Jim nonstop but Ah Jim could not even make time to dicuss the screenplay. Chin Siu Wai could only switch to plan for a youth film that would start work after the Lunar New Year. Ah Jim said apologetically, "They truly are very sincere. With such good box office everyone of course want to work together again. It's my fault, I am working on my stage show and my drama troupe will turn 15 next year and we will adapt Shakespeare's classic MID SUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Now the schedule has been packed until January 09." Ah Jim tried to "squeeze time dry" and to continue with Ah Sa. * (1/7/2008) Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun)'s KUNG FU DUNK (GONG FU GUOON NAM) has been scheduled for a Lunar New Year's Day (February 7) all Asia simultaneous release. Yesterday in Taiwan photographer Choi Wing Fung's "Jay Chou Collection" photo exhibit began the first wave of its promotion. Through Choi Wing Fung's lens, viewers will be able to see Chairman Chou's never before seen side. Choi Wing Fung expressed, he thought Chow Kit Lun's hands were only agile on the keyboard. He never would have imagined that they would be more magical when he played basketball. Chairman Chou could more than handle every shot; but even more amazing was, even though he was as busy as a cowboy on the set he was very calm and had very high emotional quotient. He even described Chow Kit Lun as a "giant magnet", referring to how Chairman Chow always attracted a crowd like nails that tightly stuck around him. Chow Kit Lun and Chen Chor Ho became good friends due to the film. To repay Chairman Chou's gift of a frog rock, Chen Chor Ho yesterday not only prepared a basketball shaped cake to celebrate his birthday in advance but also gave an antique gold and jade jewelry to symbolize their friendship. As the New Year started, Chairman Chou was again linked in new rumors. Chairman Chou's third birthday wish yesterday was "no more rumor". The host joked that known wishes would not come true. Chairman Chou joked that rumor at the start of spring was considered a lucky start. He could only wish that this year would thrive even more. In addition, Chairman Chou on the 9th will promote his film SECRET (BUT NUNG SHUET DIK BEI MUK) in Korea. He expressed that actually Chinese could be very "popular" and no one needed to keep following the Korean stream. He hoped to be able to bring his good work to other nations and looked forward to the chance to be able to promote it to Europe and America. He wished for unity for everyone. Chairman Chou in the film had a high speed ball spin on his finger tip. The most amazing part was he could make the basketball move in the air for several minutes. For this scene he not only spent over two hours on practice but also had a coach. The finale slame dunk scene was just as complex and even Chairman Chou had a series of bad takes. Chairman Chou normally would only take one or two takes for the score but this time he took two hours. In another scene he used chains to practice on the streets. Because in the film he would train from day to late night the shoot had to be shot twice and took a full 15 hours. Chairman Chou joked that it was a tremendous physical challenge and shooting on the streets was full of danger. Thus the film company has bought eight figures in insurance just in case. In the film Chairman Chou had a crush on Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin for a long time. Finally due to his hard work and blood and tears he moved Ah Sa into accepting his love. Ah Sa in one scene had to cry on the floor and Chairman Chou had to comfort her. She honestly said that at the time she was under his spell for a second. She felt Chairman Chou's tenderness and kindness; but when the director yelled cut, she immediately left the character because she was a professional actress. * (1/7/2008) LINGER (WU DIP FEI) yesterday promoted in Tuen Mun. Actors Vic Chou Yu Man, Li Bingbing, Wong Yau Nam, Yan Qing attended. Jai Jai thought chatted with the two beauties he still appeared to be very shy and often looked around. During the game a fan suddenly hug him and he was caught off guard. He only giggled and said that he never expected his fans would be so passionate. The event at the same time arranged for several children to appear in butterfly costumes. Jai Jai joked with a girl whether she lost her front tooth due to too much candy and the girl just kept laughing. When the host asked everyone for a victory sign pose, Jai Jai almost taught the girl to do it backward as a foul sign. This film was Jai Jai's first film. He had bed scenes with Li Bingbing. He pointed out that the shoot was not too awkward. Instead its introduction during the promotion was embarrassing. He expressed that his girlfriend Barbie Shui (Tsui Hei Woon) was working as well. If she had time he would invite her to watch. His bed scene with Bingbing was not too exaggerated as they shot it with actors' basic professional stance. This film will be released on the 11th in Taiwan, opposite his fellow F4 member Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho)'s KUNG FU FIGHTER (GONG FU MO DIK). Jai Jai said that these two films were of two different genres. He hoped the audience would watch both films. He would invite all F4 members to watch it together. He was rumored to be competing with Bingbing over the theme song and finally he lost to Bingbing. Jai Jai stressed that did not happen. Instead he felt Bingbing sang decently. Bingbing denied that she competed with Jai Jai for the song and said that director Johnnie To Kei Fung brought music that he liked a lot for Lam Jik to fill the lyrics with. He got it in one day. The company got her the song and she only spent four hours to complete its recording. She was very touched when she recorded it as she sang while she cried. She believed that girls would experience its sorrow and regret after listening to it. Yau Nam earlier was injured on the set and after some Chinese medicine he has gradually recovered. Earlier he lost 15 pounds when he was ailing so now he had to gain weight. Later he would release his solo record. He stated that Shine would continue and he and Tsui Tin Yau would only develop apart temporarily. * (1/7/2008) The 16 show Andy Lau Tak Wa Wonderful World tour 2007's Hong Kong leg has ended two nights ago. Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Shu Qi and Peter Lam Kin Ngok came to the show, as did Wa Jai's benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Charles Heung Wa Keung and their son . Wa Jai dedicated the song IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME (YU GOR NGOR YAU SI) to Sammi. "I am waiting for a movie with you, but Boss (Lam Kin Ngok) says that their salaries together are too much. We don't want to take a pay cut. Hopefully we can find a better film to work on together." Sammi pointed at Lam Kin Ngok and the audience roared. At the celebration Wa Jai discussed a long vacation. "When my voice recovers I will do voice work for a movie. After I will record a Lunar New Year song with my two sons, I will be on vacation until the end of September. In August and September I will go to the Olympic Games, unless I would run into a light modern film." * (1/6/2008) Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau) and Tiffany Lee Lung Yi yesterday attended a Japanese restaurant opening. Earlier Lau Sum Yau worked on the Mainland film TWO STUPID EGGS (DAI DIN YING 2) and finally was able to perform with Mandarin. At first she was still very confident, but after getting to know her Mainland co-stars she felt that she lacked culture. When the director spoke he used all four word idioms. Recently she has been on the film's promotional tour. She expressed that Changchun was the coldest with only 20 some degrees Celsius below zero. Aside from a thick coat the wool hat was an absolute must. Yet indoors the temperature was too warm and she did not feel well. Luckily she only stayed in Changchun for one day and she did not fall ill. * (1/6/2008) Yesterday Alex Fong Lik Sun and Stephy Tang Lai Yun attended the TVB Yan Chai charity night worship ceremony. Later Fong Lik Sun and Stephy will work on the Yip Lim Sum directed new film. Siu Fong claimed that in the new film they would have daring love scene. Stephy said about her bottom line, "You can see a little of my back, hopefully conceptually it won't be category III." Siu Fong said, "I don't care, but where can't I touch Stephy?" Stephy said, "Wow, where do you want to touch?" * (1/6/2008) Vic Chou Yu Man two days ago promoted LINGER (WU DIP FEI) in Singapore. He attended the global premiere, press conference, shopping center events and over a dozen media outlet interviews. The local media was very interested in Jai Jai and Li Bingbing's bed scene and embarrassed the shy Jai Jai. Jai Jai expressed that because he knew it was just acting the performance was not embarrassing at all. Yet looking back now and talking about the experience he was somewhat embarrassed. At a shopping center event three participants were chosen to perform Li Bingbing's scene and Jai Jai judged. The participants appeared to be obviously nervous. As Jai Jai got closer they moved away a little. Jai Jai could not help but asked, "Why are you avoiding me?" At the night of the premiere, Jai Jai greeted the audience at each cinema and said, "Although LINGER is a sadder movie, I hope everyone can experience its message of cherishing those around you." When he left the cinema he suddenly scream, "Please get your tissue ready!" The audience cracked up. * (1/6/2008) Louis Koo Tin Lok recently has been preparing for the Emperor film BO CHI TUNG WA (KEEP IN TOUCH). Yesterday he and the team continued the rehearsal in Tai Po. In the story Goo Jai had to dodge oncoming traffic. The team for safety concerns hired expert driver Hoi Tong to assist with the production. Before the shoot Goo Jai chatted closely with him and tested out the positions and places. Yet during the official shoot Hoi Tong's vehicle was slightly off as it flipped. Goo Jai who was in another car and the crew were stunned and immediately moved in. Luckily Hoi Tong with all his experience was not harmed. Goo Jai expressed, "I was really worried that he would get hurt. Luckily soon he was able to walk out of the car on his own." Director Benny Chan Muk Sing said, "This crash was the same as the one last week. Last week was Goo Jai's first rehearsal and I didn't want to scare him, so I gave him the simpler task and postponed this scene until today." The film would cost 30 million and is expected to be released at the end of the year. Lead actress Barbie Shui (Tsui Hei Woon) at the end of the month will report to the team and join Goo Jai and Liu Ye in the cast. * (1/5/2008) The Fan Bingbing starred LOST IN BEIJING reportedly has been banned in China for severe violation of the state's film regulation such as producing sexual content without inspection, without permission broadcasting sexual content on the internet and producing video products, and submitting a version of the film that has not been inspected to the 57th Berlin Film Festival for competition. The state administration of radio, film and television has never received any film copy or related material for inspection. The production unit had 15 days to send a copy for inspection. In addition, the film company would lose qualification to produce film for two years. * (1/4/2008) Wong Kar Wai's new film MY BLUEBERRY NIGHT two nights ago held its premiere in Hong Kong. Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Carina Lau Ka Ling, Karen Morris (Mok Man Wai), Chang Chen, Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Elaine Lok Yi Ling and her TVB artists attended. The film company workers pulled away Wai Jai and Ka Ling after they arrived, but Ka Ling stopped for interviews. Ka Ling expressed that for her charity work although she has won the Golden Rooster Hundred Flower Best Actress award she was in no hurry for her next role. Earlier Wong Kar Wai expressed that he was waiting for Leung Chiu Wai to train for YIP MUN JUEN (YIP MUN BIOGRAPHY). Wai Jai would like to start work soon before the audience lost interest. Thus he would take the second half of the year to rest and train. Earlier Jackie Chan's JC Group was rumored to be dissolving because Jackie Chan and managers Willie Chan Chi Keung and Solan So Lun were at odds. As a JC Group artist Ng Yin Cho expressed that his contract would come to term in half a year and he would not make a decision until then. He expressed that both Chan Chi Keung and So Lun have rarely made appearance in the public in recent year and others have taken over their work. Since he has worked with them for years, he was somewhat reluctant about their departure. However the company has not changed much, only the internal atmosphere was somewhat different. * (1/4/2008) The stars of the Feng Xiaogang directed, over 100 million yuan war film ASSEMBLY earlier came to Hong Kong to promote. In his 20 year career in film, Zhang Hanyu has worked on four Feng Xiaogang films -- including THE BANQUET (YEH YIN) and A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES (TIN HA MO CHAK). Yet he has played nothing but no name minor characters. Then on their fifth collaboration he had the lead role and he was very appreciative of this opportunity that the director has given him. Zhang Hanyu was already moved to tears after he received the script and had feelings for the character Lin Chang in the film. He volunteered for the role, but the director said that the role has already gone to Ge You. However finally due to fate he still landed the role. Zhang Hanyu said, "The role has gone to Ge You, Jiang Wen and (Andy) Lau Tak Wa. The former two were recognized outstanding actors, Wa Jai had actor professionalism and passion for film. He is a great actor. When we worked together it was very pleasant." Yuan Wenkan praised the director as lovable. He revealed that when they promoted in Korea earlier the audience liked this film a lot. The audience even gave the film a standing ovation as it sold out 7,000 seats in 15 minutes and 16 seconds. The film after a week of release in Mainland has made over 100 million yuan. He believed that the film would perform well in Hong Kong as well. * (1/4/2008) The Steven Cheung Chi Hung, Mandy Chiang Nga Man and Tong Yi starred film YES I CAN SEE DEAD PEOPLE (NGOK NAM SI GEIN) two nights ago held its premiere. Other Emperor artists as well as guests like Hins Cheung King Hin and JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun) came in support. The three leads had family and friends in attendance. Steven's sister and brother came for his first lead role. Mandy had family and friends from Shanghai. She happily said, "More people are here than for the Lunar New Year reunion, I am so touched I want to cry!" Steven has promoted in Mongkok before so he was not afraid of the chaos, but last night he was a last minute host and had no script. He was shaking with panic. "Earlier I carried a child actor on my shoulders. He was so excited that he pulled at my hair and nearly poked me in the eyes!" Mandy has just conducted a countdown in Mongkok and she has always been trained for crowds. She said, "Actually fans would protect me on the way. If anyone tried anything they would gang up on him for sure." JJ has worked with Steven twice. In ISABELLA she even gave him her first on screen kiss, but the director finally cut it out. She said, "I would never forget it in my lifetime. He is so handsome, even if it's cut out it was worth it." She also praised him as cute and lovable, but she honestly said that her management has prohibited her from dating. She knew that she was a romantic fool who could easily let love affect her mood. Thus she did not want to consider romance yet. If she would run into someone would she rather end her contract? She said, "No, because right now my career comes first." * (1/3/2008) The Moon Lee Choi Fung starred Buddhist film CHOR LIM SUN SING (ASSIST THINKING NEW STAR) two nights ago held its premiere. Other cast members included Cheung Kwok Keung and Shao Yam Yam. Her "Man in the Closet" co-star Zhong Tianyi did not appear. Lee Choi Fung said that the film company did not make arrangement and she did not contact him. Guests like Tse Shuet Sum, Lee Lik Chi and Yuen Wah came in support. Lee Choi Fung explained that the director suggested the addition of an affair in a Buddhist movie. Because her former husband Law Kai Yan has made up such an exciting story the director felt that he might as well followed. At the time she did not know whether her godson Zhong Tianyi minded. Later she learned that he was somewhat afraid but after the director's persuasion he finally agreed to perform and played the scene with an exaggeration. Was she worried that others would make fun of her for adapting the rumor on the big screen? She was not worried because during the shoot it already added fun. * (1/3/2008) Vic Chou Yu Man and Li Bingbing in LINGER (WU DIP FEI) play a couple. In the film they have a love hate relationship. Jai Jai sometimes even hates Bingbing to the bone. In one scene Jai Jai brings Bingbing to the accident site. At the time it already was late at night. Bingbing did not wear any shoes but Jai Jai forced her to walk barefoot on the raod. With constant truck traffic the location was very dangerous. Jai Jai even scolded Bingbing on the road. For this scen, Bingbing originally had to wear slippers but Bingbing felt that if she was dragged out of her bedroom outside she should not even wear slippers. Thus she volunteered to perform barefoot. Was Bingbing afraid that she would injure her feet on broken glass? Bingbing said, "Actually I was somewhat afraid but the crew was very attentive. Before the shoot it has already cleared the road three to four times for me and tried to avoid glass and pebbles on the road." Jai Jai praised Bingbing, "I feel she respects her profession a lot. Later a truck had to pass by her at high speed. The driver was afraid of hurting Bingbing. During the rehearsal the driver did not dare to drive too close to her. Bingbing herself though said that if the truck was not close enough the result would not be good enough. Thus she personally said to the driver, 'Don't worry, I trust you'. I feel this is truly very rare. She trusted the crew on hand. This is what we as actors need to learn." During the shoot, the truck drove by Bingbing at high speed. It was too close and nearly knocked down Bingbing. She immediately fell on the ground and everyone was terrified. Luckily she only bruised her arms and legs and she was not hit. * (1/3/2007) Elanne Kong Yuet Lam and Janice Man Wing San in the film SEE YOU IN YOU TUBE (OI DAU DAI) not only competed with their beauty but also with their lives! In one scene they had to stand dangerously on a wall in a tug of war, then climb down ropes along the roof. In the scene Ah Ling and Janice fought over Law Chung Him and tested their courage on the roof. On screen they were able to maintain their composure and make a variety of ferocious expressions for the director, but actually they were quaking in their shoes. Ah Ling was in the most pain due to her fear of height. When she was little she rolled down the stairs. "That time my eye was bruised from the fall, Mommy says that I cried for a long time and wouldn't stop! From then on my legs get weak in high places. This time we worked for such a long time at such a high place, I was not only dizzy but also wanted to throw up!" Former model Janice was used to the catwalk so her balance was better. She had no difficult even with big steps on the wall. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 9 2008, FILM WORDS YES I CAN SEE DEAD PEPOLE: PUBLIC HOUSING SYTLE GHOST FILM 2008's first Hong Kong local production release is this low budget ghost film. Currently Hong Kong film remains in the shadow and daylight is hard to see. Luckily this film is considered lively without any messy and vulgar gimmick, and is a new comer's work with some local color. YES I CAN SEE DEAD PEOPLE (NGOK NAM SI GEIN)'s director is new director Lee Kwong Yiu (with the same name as the Father of Singapore, he is easily remembered). Without any fantastic special effect, the film takes place in old style public housing and achieves grass root little people's intimacy. Steven Cheung Chi Hung plays a housing project kid, a small waiter of a coffee shop who is born with the ability to see ghosts. In the film the housing project constantly has suicides, including this lead's good friend. He is not surprised, remains a gentle, naive, lively and lovable good kid. His brother (Gu Yu) after a vacation in Cheung Chau with his girlfriend (Mandy Chiang Nga Man) becomes distracted and seems to be possessed, leading to family concern. Cheung Chi Hung and Chiang Nga Man investigate, finally discover new and old, far and near tragedies and try to settle the ghost. The film of course has many dark thrills but without cooking up horrifying ugliness. Most of the ghosts that the lead sees are pitiable and silent. This ghost story would not make people scream like mad. It positively focuses on everyday life and attracts viewers with humanity. Cheung Chi Hung's performance is rather lively and likable. Brother Gu Yu's haunting expressions are also decent. Aside from the younger generation, the film also has show business veterans Suen Lik Man, Tam Yun Mei as parents, Lau Kong as the housing security guard, all of whom have intimate neighborly feel. Female lead Chiang Nga Man looks decent but is only limited to follow people around without any real chance to perform. Cheung Chi Hung's crush, housing project beauty Tong Yi, originally is fun but is not properly developed. If this film strengthens the romance it would be even more attractive. YES I CAN SEE DEAD PEOPLE's housing project flavor somewhat resembles Fruit Chan Gor's claim to fame MADE IN HONG KONG, but the young lead is much more righteous and without back then Sam Lee Chan Sam's "rotten" passion. This time Lee Kwok Yiu's direction is appropriate but also lacks spark. With all the Hong Kong ghost films, scary or touching ideas are hard variations. Yet local film genres are dwindling, seemingly only people and ghosts and cops and crooks are easily to make. In the past year's Hong Kong supernatural films the most special is Wai Ka Fai and Johnnie To Kei Fung's MAD DETECTIVE (SUN TAM) that turns the cops and crooks case into neuroses and supernatural. Pang Shun's THE DETECTIVE (C+ JING TAM) mixes private detective and ghost tale and is also flavorful; Pang Fat's IN LOVE WITH THE DEAD (CHUNG OI) achieved specific details with illness and ill fated romance, but many also die in it unfortunately. - SHEK KEI (http://www.cultureshot.net/sekkeiluklei) 2. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 9 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS CRITIC CULTURE DOES NOT ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY The most often criticism of the local entertainment industry's overall sunset is the lack of creativity. Creativity requires coordination from all aspects, and not all creativity is publicly accepted. Instead, creativity often is criticized, ostracized and made fun of. The writer feels the critic culture has definite impact on creativity. The anti establishment and anti power trend that started in the 90s can be explained with the 97 problem. Youth of that era could not clearly see the future and felt that anyone with qualification has left. Hard work would useless for those who remained because it could not compare to real estate and stock market speculation. Stephen Chow Sing Chi's nonsense comedy exactly cheered everyone up. Its small wit was even more important than big intellect. Whoever worked hard was called an idiot. New idols only focused on packaging and made the money right in front of them. They just wanted to be hot for a few years to make enough money. Show business was considered a fast money making industry. Creative industry needed long term development, which must invest in even more resource research -- a specialty of intelligent economy. After 97, everything was waiting to thrive but an unexpected natural and man made disasters not only did not rearrange the economy but also collapsed it. Hong Kong people's life long saving evaporated with the declining real estate market, which further proved that a lifetime of hard work was also useless. The critic culture naturally was born as people received soul satisfaction from the media's variety of vicious criticism. When the entertainment industry wanted to innovate it could not rival the criticism from everywhere. The 70s and 80s positive encouragement has vanished after 97. Even one time success due to luck was pushed to the heavens while failure would be stomped into the ground. Everyone would see that in show business many sudden success and failure example could be seen because the Hand Over ten years truly did not value potential. Luck was the most important. As the economy improved, the social trend has started to change again. Hong Kong has become optimistic as the critic culture has taken a slight break. Seemingly the time has come to encourage creativity. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. SING TAO DAILY, JANUARY 9 2008 PANG HO CHEUNG CHAPMAN TO FRENCH FEAST Making a movie is similar in condition to a chef's feast preparation. First the chef has to know what his expertise is and whether his expertise is suitable to the diner's taste. With direction material has to be found at the market because timing has to be right for eating. If material cannot coordinate, even better dishes would lose luster. As the film TRIIVAL MATTERS (POR SI YI)'s producer, Chapman To Man Jat calls himself the restaurant manager and Pang Ho Cheung the star chef. "This chef has a lot of strange ideas and is very greedy at the same time. He wants more budget, big stars, and longer production time." Ah Jat tries to coordinate the various requests because he understands that every director is greedy. At the same time he understands his buddy who has started toiling with him over ten years ago at ATV is greedy for a reason. Thus he personally negotiates over a dozen participating actors and personally calls in favors. Because the stories go over the line, Mainland co-production would be difficult. Due to a lack of funding he is willing to pay out of his own pocket and finances this film. What kind of dish does Ah Jat feel this time is? "French feast! 7 short films, with appetite, soup, entree, cheese and dessert, it has everything. Anyone who appreciates it would feel it is a full feast, anyone who doesn't think it is 'extra fish' (excessive)." TRIVIAL MATTERS is based on a novel of the same name. It contains 18 short stories, 5 of which are selected along with two new stories for the movie. To prepare for a movie with 7 stories, a lot of trivial matters are already involved. "It is no different from preparing for 7 movies, different casting, locations that cannot repeat, basically aside from the crew everything else starts all over. When the movie first starts, I want to make the story NAIL CLIPPER MONSTER, but the story is rather long; if it is too short it would have been overly compressed, too long and it can't be put down. Finally the story is pulled. The world is always strange like this. The movie starts with it but in the end it is not a part." Haruki Murakami Some online book critic accused Pang Ho Cheung's set up and style to be somewhat similar to Haruki Murakami. Pang directly says that he grew up reading his novel and more and less has been influenced. "When I was in school, every girl would read the writer's work. Of course I have to read it too. Even if the book bag has room I still walk around with it in hand so people would know that I am reading it." Back then he read because it was cool and he did not understand the content; but as he grew older, today reading it again he has already learned to enjoy the bitterness and humor in the words. "He has influenced me the most in that light sense of humor that can come from life's bitterness. This is also the segment that I want to achieve the most in my creation." Youtube Movie Whether the novel or the movie, it is about love that often due to a trivial matter is spoiled to the point of no return. In reality Pang Ho Cheung has had similar experience, and it happened on his first love. "My first love due to a movie HOT WAR (WAN YING DUT GUNG) broke up outside Mongkok's Broadway (Cinematheque). At the time we both had a summer job. She started at 3:30PM, I started at 5:30PM. Originally I wanted to wait until she went to work then go to see the 4PM show, but due to the film length that day only had a 2:30PM show. So I suggested for her to take a walk while I went to the movie. Her response was, 'Is the movie important or am I important. If you go you can expect a break up.'" When the average boyfriend hears dialogue like that of course he reluctantly gives in; but Pang Ho Cheung indeed lives for film as he chose to go. "I at the time didn't think about breaking up, I only thought worrying about it after watching it." Finally the movie ended and so did that first love. (Reporter: then how is the movie?) "When you ask me, I would say it's great even if it kills me! I have to support my own choice, which of course isn't objective because of excessive personal reflection. Yet if I have to choose again, I would choose to go." Each of Pang Ho Cheung's movie has been controversial, unfortunately the box office remains stuck. Is he somewhat reluctant? "It's not up to me to be reluctant. Like playing mahjong, whether you know how to play and whether they win are two different matter. One film's box office is related to promotion, casting and the audience's desire at the time. It is beyond your control, I only ask that after completing each film I would not have regret." We deeply believe that Pang does not mind box office revenue because his new film TRIVIAL MATTERS is divided into 7 small segments, a big taboo at the box office and a challenge to the market for him. "I feel that in the past this would have been dangerous, but nowadays viewers should be able to accept that. With youtube, young people today watch short films longer than full features. Everyone has already fostered the short film watching habit." He personally deeply believes that young people would accept this format, and when the film is placed on youtube he can save a lot of editing trouble. Gold Label Producer To Man Jat and Pang Ho Cheung co-financed a film production company "Not Brothers". The first film ISABELLA is To Man Jat's first as a producer. "ISABELLA is an entry level movie for being a producer. The entire film has two leads, one of whom is me. The other one is a new comers. In other words as long as I satisfy the director's request then I am fine, simple enough. This time I have to face 19 actors, which is a little tougher but it isn't a problem. As long as you have the 'learning never finishes' mentality, you can learn while you work. Even someone as proud as Mr. (Johnnie) To Kei Fung says that something that learns as long as it lives, then it must be true." When a movie is a collection of short stories, time is short and the ability to tell the story has to be higher. Casting specifically needs viewers to tell from their first look what kind of personality he is playing. In BIG HEAD WAI, (Gillian) Chung Yun Tung plays a girl who is indecisive; stephy (Tang Lai Yun) plays a good friend who is friendly on the surface but actually very impatient inside. Both with their gossip background would already make a good movie when they are on the screen. "Pang Ho Cheung has many ideas, if actor A is not available, he would switch to actor B. Only Ah Gil and Stephy's characters did not have second hand preparation. If we missed either one we might have to change the story." However people want to know how this "gold label producer" persuades the "gold label managers" rivals Paco and Mani to share the stage. "Balance of each side's benefit is the most important. Emperor understands and earlier has worked with me on ISABELLA so it has certain confidence. As for Stephy, the character on the surface looks a little negative but she actually is not bad. She is only thinking of herself, which is a very normal behavior. Thus when Paco hears about this character he thinks it is pretty good, perhaps because he is such a person, haha....." However as a gold label producer, the most important is to know how to act. As Ah Gil later tells Ah Jat, online fans claim that her character although may not have as much opportunity as Stephy's but the image is more positive. Ah Jat's response is, "Mmmm.....right, you are not suitable to play this character, how would you treat a friend......" After hearing that, would you still say that Ah Jat's producer title is in name only? Success After resolving acting, financial controls' turn is up. Filmmaking today has to mind the China market to have investors who are willing to invest. If it would have been a co-production, the story's content has a lot of restrictions. First students cannot date, no sex talk in the movie, no prostitute, and no devil. Yet this movie has all of the above. "If you tell a boss that you would succeed even without the Mainland market, you would be unwilling too. You are so confident, why don't you make one and see?" With this confidence he financed his own production in hopes of making a very Hong Kong flavored movie. "If it is successful, it proves that the Mainland market does not have to lose money. Then the future day would be much easier. On the other hand if we failed, which proved that you two . From the now the movie continues to have no ghost, no sex, no prostitute, students would not date, otherwise the population would die." To Ah Jat, whether the film is a hit or not is beyond his control. Thus as long as the movie can wrap and be released then it is considered a success. "That day after completing ISABELLA, Toho held a 77 table wrap banquet. My old lady was there and she saw the 80 some people at the entire venue, then she said that actually one movie could give so many a livelihood. I think, that's right, as long as I can come up with an idea, several dozens people are already fed. Is this no already something that is successful?" Contract Spirit The world has many nonsense written regulation. Although it already is set, it has no standard in actual practice. For example Ah Jat reveals when he is a producer, he has to sign a contract that basically said, "You have to try your best to make a movie great and finish it within the stipulated time and budet." Later with the objective days and the budget." The latter has an object date and money that can be measured, but how do you measure "look good"? However this nonsensical comment is imprinted in Ah Jat's mind. "At first I looked at it like a joke, but during the shoot I would tell myself to try my best to make the movie good! Making sure the cameras are in their places! The props are realistic! Actually it has served its purpose." Yet ultimately what "good" is has not been selected." In the end "good to watch" is not explicable? Are critical but not commercial success considered "good to watch" or commercial but not critical? 4. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 8 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS 07 CHINA BOX OFFICE 3.3 BILLION Mainland reported that 07 China film production rate exceeded 400, the box office broke through 3.3 billion. This figure was at least 600 million more than two days ago. The growth rate exceeded 22%, which was a very high number. If all goes well Mainland box office will extend the high growth due to cinema increase in the future few years. The end of 07 luckily had THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG) and ASSEMBLY (JAP GIT HO) that pulled the Chinese foreign box office ratio to 50/50. THE WARLORDS in Mainland has already made nearly 200 million. ASSEMBLY has exceeded 180 million. The former will hve 250 million no matter what it has already 07 Chinese film champion. In terms of import films, the real winner is TRANSFORMERS. The report claimed that its box office was 277 million but the writer has heard the final number was over 290 million. The number from then on was not announced. Mainland distribution goal is for national films not to lose to foreign films. Everyone knew that already. Unfortunately last year was a Hollywood harvest year as many big films were released at once in the summer. Hong Kong films last summer fell into a bitter battle and had less box office than predicted. If Hollywood films were not that strong, Hong Kong film would have performed a little better. 07 China's top import films included TRANSFORMERS, SPIDER MAN 3, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF PHOENIX, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEANS THE WORLD'S END, CASINO ROYALE. The total box office has already equaled 06's 20 import film numbers all year. 08 although had many big Hollywood films, but they may not necessarily be as strong as 07. Hopefully with the strong Beijing Olympics momentum, Chinese language film in China can truly defeat foreign films at home. The writer has rather high expectation for 08 Chinese films. Hong Kong film market should be better than 07. Film investors may not agree, recent Hong Kong film productions have confirmed that. Investors mostly would decided the upcoming film projects in the second half of the year. Big films would take a year and a half to two from planning on. Mid to small scale films would take 3 months to half a year. January productions at the soonest would be released after April. Aside from the production completion, small to mid scale performance perhaps would have to summer until after to be fulfilled. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 7 2008, FILM WORDS ASSEMBLY HAS BLOOD, TEARS AND WARMTH ASSEMBLY is an very outstanding modern Chinese war film. The battlefield scenes are fierce and realistic and the story is very touching. I feel it is 07's best Chinese film. This film in Mainland has been both a commercial and critical success (reportedly it has already made 160 million yuan and might charge toward 200 million), but because it is about the Communist Chinese army and without any big star, in Hong Kong it only has a lukewarm release after the Christmas and New Year. Yet it should not be missed. The first half of the film is a blood bathed 1948 Civil War between the Kuomingtung and the Communists. Director Feng Xiaogang absorbs the advanced technology of the U.S. film SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and Korean film TAEGUKGI, blasts the heavens with fiery explosions and blood and gore galore. Yet it absolutely is not hard imitation but can be able to achieve highly realistic special Chinese battlefield scene. That type of strong effects is not only unprecedented in Chinese film but also different from foreign war films. The city invasion has severe injuries and deaths. With another bitter snowy base defense the scene is very tragic. In comparison, THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG)'s end of the Qing Dynasty civil war has more soldiers and horses and grander scale. It is just as cold, cruel and brutal but its details are no match for this one's realism. The lead is the Zhang Hanyu played commander who is the only miraculous survivor of his entire troop. In the second half this sole survivor wanders around like a ghost and is trapped in the crisis of proving who he is. He has experienced the Korean war, for ten years he keeps on looking for the truth and fighting for honor for his late soldiers. This long and difficult solo journey is full of tear jerking drama. This film is based on Yang Jinyuan's novel LAWSUIT, Liu Hong writes the screenplay. If it only has battlefield scenes, although they are outstanding they only have Chinese against Chinese, killing Chinese; with the second half military version of THE STORY OF QIU JU it strengthens humanity, realism and drama. It even stresses each little soldier's life should be respected. Of course, ASSEMBLY only values Communist Army lives and speaks well of Communist China. It has no way to examine why the civil war drives compatriots kill each other. Yet in comparison to other Communist China propaganda films this one undoubtedly has more humanity than party line, it also has loss of control on the battlefield or deliberate inhuman behavior. Feng Xiaogang's method this time is completely different from his past work BE THERE OF BE SQUARE, BIG SHOT'S FUNERAL, CELL PHONE, A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES and THE BANQUET. He has exceeded quality. Zhang Hanyu excitingly expresses the hot blooded man's true color, later his friendship with an officer's brother and matchmaking for a young widow have a familiar comedy feel. The entire film not only has blood and tears but also gradually finds comforting and joyous warmth. - SHEK KEI (http://www.cultureshot.net/sekkkeiluklei) 6. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 7 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS FILM DEVELOPMENT FUND APPLICATIONS 07's film production has been low, still hovering around 50 (in terms of releases). It cannot be any less. How will 08 be? It should ot be lowered than this number. Industry insiders hope the government's film fund will make a killing for small to mid scale films. Yet for now applications are reportedly few. The government's 1/3 support covers the soy sauce, but someone has to put up the chicken. The other 2/3 still has to come from the film company. Film companies are not interested in small to mid scale films, which has to do with recent failures of these types of films. Originally small to mid scale films are earning guarantees. Previously they only need to be sold overseas with big films in a basket and pull up the samll to mid scale film prices. Yet now film production rate has declined. Some big films are not only one film company funded, different sized films are sold separately. This year even production project reports are not seen. Each big film group seems to be taking a wait and see approach. The film development fund specifically states commercial film support. Applications require industry insiders' professional estimate mainly to see whether cost and return are reasonable, which refers to whether in the current market situation they have any chance to profit. The writer has already estimated that first few movies that the development fund is allocated to have to be well done. Even if they do not make big money, they absolutely cannot lose a lot. Otherwise the public would get no answer and the fund has no way to keep playing. To big film groups, the government's 1/3 investment can prevent a little loss; but if they figure out that they can make money and do not want to benefit the government, why would they have to give away 1/3 of the profit, even have to explain the accounting to the fund every year, sell the permanent rights in the future and other procedures are not known yet. Thus they may not be willing to apply. The film fund's professional inspectors do not dare to approve randomly. The initial stage they definitely would be stricter. It would be hard to expect many film professionals to benefit early in the year. Hopefully more and more new cinema openings would increase demand, and hopefully viewers are tired of foreign film visual effects and become interested in the local film that they can related to more. - KWOK HIN CHING 7. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 6 2008 MOVIE WIKI Anyone who likes film should visit the Chinese Movie Wiki (http://www.cinepedia.cn). Its name has clearly stated everything. Years later, God willing, if it can still maintain its current self awareness, and work tirelessly to strengthen its low caution attitude, it will likely be one of the world's most important and indispensable Chinese sites. France based Mainland film critic Dapi Huqi (Li Yang) launched the site on December 28 2006 with the support of several dozen film critics, scholars, independent film producers and film lovers to provide "a platform that brings together film knowledge, experience, writing, translation and arrangement from everywhere...its base is our valuable "love", and its function is a little practical the contribution from anyone with film knowledge and language resource to the film culture broadcast." On its anniversary, I wrote, "I don't know if every film fan (at least the film fan of my generation) have had this thought. In other words, when I first liked movies in my childhood, my first dream was to grow up and become a cinema usher because ushers can watch movies for free for a long time. When I grew up a little, I realized that ushers indeed can watch movies all day, but they can only watch the same movie over and over. In addition they would definitely miss at least the opening ten minutes! Then when I started to write about movies, what I want to do the most is to write a movie thesaurus. Back then information was not as fast and easy as it is today, especially in Chinese. At the time I only wanted to convenience myself, I never imagined the difficulties of such a task. I have to shamefully admit that I am so naive because for a very long time I have not truly and seriously treated film writing. I relied on a little very superficial knowledge and my arrogant personality and posed." Today I of course understand, writing a thesaurus, an encyclopedia is an exceedingly serious matter because it must provide its users with accurate and flawless information and knowledge. It is a record and an archive that have to be responsible to history and those to come. How can the flawlessness be maintained? The only way is to seek, search then repeatedly confirm, all of which require a lot of heart and time. It is impossible for any one individual to be able to do alone. Due to political reasons (I hope that it would not be due to racial reasons) the Chinese language has always had a lot of obstacles in this area and has been very hard and very hard to do well. The "Wikipedia" format (collective, open, democratic, group) provides a very good opportunity and foundation. Thus I respect the founder of the Chinese Movie Wiki and hope that this site can forever exist as time and technology develop. Selfishly, I am happier about actually being able to participate and finally fulfilling one of my childhood dreams." - SHU KEI (http://www.yingxiang.org/shukeii) 8. TA KUNG PAO, JANUARY 6 2008, LIGHT SHADOW PATH THE ASSEMBLY PERFORMANCE IS ENCOURAGING In recent half a month similar text messages have been received. Their contents are interesting short comments about three movies like "In LUST, CAUTION (SIK, GAI) women are unreliable. In THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG) brothers are unreliable. In ASSEMBLY men are unreliable." Some adds over a dozen other movies' "unreliable". During this period, Mainland viewers are discussing movie contents. Three movies (must be last year's top three highest grossing ones) all had uniformly good reviews. The entire film industry is on the rise. The most "reliable" should be the directors Ang Lee, Peter Chan Ho Sun and Feng Xiaogang! In 2007 Mainland film box office has already reached 3.3 billion yuan, nearly 700 million more than 2006 and exceeded the earlier estimate (3 billion). The new box office record has a lot to do with the thriving economy. Last year each movie screen had over 10% growth daily as cinema number increase has grown beyond any count. The three major film's total box office would exceed 500 million. Aside from Ang Lee's LUST, CAUTION, THE WARLORDS and ASSEMBLY too have made over 200 million, a peak in recent years. First super films from HERO to CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWERS all received criticism, with THE PROMISE at the worst receiving end of it. Viewer attitude was the same as Hong Kong television series for awhile -- viewers scolded as they watched. THE WARLORDS and ASSEMBLY broke through the curse of big film criticism as mainly their reviews and words of mouth have been great. ASSEMBLY has even been called a national film classic. Other films have had outstanding box office performance as well. PROTEGE (MOON TOH), A BATTLE OF WITS (MUK GUNG), SECRET (BUT NUNG SHUET DIK BEI MUK) all were well received and broke through the idea that viewers only watched super films and small to mid scale films had to catch up. This trend has demonstrated that the Mainland film market has already taken a step in the healthy direction. The writer thought that ASSEMBLY was the most encouraging. A war film without any big star could possibly become the year's highest grossing film and proved that the audience's eyes are crystal clear. ASSEMBLY's viewers felt that the actors were truly like soldiers, the story was touching and grand, a peak of a commercial film. Director Feng Xiaogang could finally made up for his previous flaw (his last film THE BANQUET was one of the big films that was criticized) and successfully changed genre. ASSEMBLY's Mainland review seemed to have surpassed all films of recent years and has been called the "Four Like Movie", meaning "the audience liked it, the experts liked it, the media liked it and the leadership liked it". Clearly movies had no size difference, no mainstream or otherwise, only good and bad movies. Congratulations to Director Feng. - TIN LIK 9. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 5 2008, 2007 CONCLUSION As Chinese film remains depressed (to me at least), in the year end conclusion only five movies have made me feel when I watched and made me think afterward. (according to the Hong Kong release date) 1. THE POST MODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT 2. THE GO MASTER 3. LUST, CAUTION 4. TRIANGLE 5. THE MAD DETECTIVE The five films' seven directors are all heavily experienced. Their latest work has several common areas: when they shoot they tread with as much care as they do on think ice and put all of their effort into their work (Although TRIANGLE does not lack the game flavor, that is a mood. In terms of attitude neither of the three is careless at all); in subject selection and expression method they either differ from their previous work or set even higher difficulty for themselves. In addition they are all very humble. In doing so, although all five movies are flawed they are all touching and have all left tracks on (Chinese) film history. They are movies without any regret and are all worthy of our (and future generations) study, whether it is Chow Yun Fat, Siqin Gaowa, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Tang Wei, Joan Chen, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lau Ching Wan's acting, or Li Qiang, Wai Ka Fai's screenplay, Wang Yu, Cheng Siu Keung's cinematography, Emi Wada's art design, Wu Ling's sound design.....of course Ann Hui On Wa's tact, Tian Zhuangzhuang's speaking without sound, Ang Lee's ferocious impulse, Tsui Hark's fierce depth, Ringo Lam Lan Tung's variety in changes, Johnnie To Kei Fung's sharpness and smoothness and Wai Ka Fai's painstaking operation. In comparison to most other Chinese films and their creators (or their foreign films)'s absurdity, laziness, flamboyance, narrow-mindedness, arrogance, greed, clumsiness, snobbishness, indifference, overindulgence, self obsession/delusion/plagiarism, pretentiousness, deception, superficiality, sloppiness......these five films and the value that they represent is excessive on one hand but on the other represented its poor and unproductive era symbolically. - SHU KEI (http://www.yingxiang.net/shukeii) 10. MING PAO DAILY, JANUARY 3 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR FILM AND TELEVISION SCHEDULING DIFFERS Television is different from film. Film would treat each major holiday and long holiday as good slots. Television would snicker if rating would not take a dive during this period. The first decade of Hong Kong free television, especially the 70s, would have great holiday television rating due to a lack of entertainment. The film market was also thriving. During that era, Christmas and New Year would not have several hundred thousand people holiday exodus, or several hundred thousand people countdown at the Star Ferry and Times Square. During the Christmas and New Year holidays, television would not have any special program to attract viewers. At most it would perform its usual shows, air one or two newer films (if it has them), or play some concert type program again. Viewers who stay at home can go to bed earlier. If not they should prepare the latest video to entertain themselves. Television in recent years has not deliberately fight for holiday rating. Of course they would not because advertisers would not be interested in viewers who would stay at home and watch late night television. These people obviously are not active consumers. Without advertising support, why would television spend money on exciting program production? The Lunar New Year will soon arrive. To Chinese film the Lunar New Year slot is more important than Christmas. The reason is simple. This is a Chinese New Year. The strongest foreign films would be placed on Christmas and New Year holidays that are celebrated in the West as well. Lunar New Year foreign films on average are not as strong as Christmas'. Chinese film, specifically Hong Kong film, could achieve better performance by all reasons. Television is different. Lunar New Year series would not be to strong because of the several hundred thousand people on vacation abroad and many others who are entertaining outside. Home viewers will definitely be fewer. Thus in recent years only some lucky and happy series with around 20 episodes. The worst is long series that drag over the Lunar New Year. They would lose some viewers. Finale is even worse. No matter how great the show is, rating has the danger of decline. Television stations would not be so silly! The Lunar New Year series may be deliberately loose. - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Bo Chi Tung Wa Lit : Keep In Touch d. Benny Chan Muk Sing Louis Koo Tin Lok, Barbie Shui (Tsui Hei Woon), Liu Ye Can : Ngor Lo Por Hai Doh Sing Lit : My Old Lady Is Gambling Saint Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Meng Yao Can : Ching Tai Lit : Moss d. Kwok Chi Kin Shawn Yue Man Lok, Terry Fan Siu Wong, Shaun Tam Chun Yin Can : Oi Ching Man Shui Lit : Love Hail Yumiko Cheng Hei Yi, Ken Hung Cheuk Lap, Yan Ng Yat Yin, Chow Pak Ho, Sherman Chung Shu Man Can : Cha Ji Nui Lit : Woman of Investigation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Eason Chan Yik Shun Can : Si Lim Lit : Reminisce d. Wai Ka Fai Lau Ching Wan, Kelly Lin (Lam Hei LUi), Yan Qing, Jo Kuk Cho Lam Can : Hak Ba Ba Lit : Black Papa d. Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) Louis Koo Tin Lok, Rene Liu (Lau Yeuk Ying) Can : Dai Yut Gai Lit : First Sin d. Tong Wing Kin Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Shawn Yue Man Lok, Stephanie Che Yuen Yuen 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 : Sun Cheung Sau Lit : Godly Gunslingers d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Edison Chen Koon Hei, Huang Xiaoming Can : Duet Shui d. Law Sau Yiu Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Danny Lee Sau Yin, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Maggie Siu Mei Kei, Pinky Cheung Man Chi, Jason Wu Jing, Ken Low Wai Kwong, Heung Jor, Tian Niu, Yen Wing San Can : Ang Hong Lit : Tough Guy Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Ellen Chan Nga Lun, Liu Ye, Sun Honglei THE J AND J PROJECT Can : Gong Fu ji Wong Lit : King of Gong Fu Jackie Chan, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Crystal Liu Yifei, Li Bingbing Can : Fa Fa Ying Gaing Lit : Flowery Cop d. Jingle Ma Chor Sing Shawn Yue Man Lok, Linda Chung Ka Yun, Chen Kun, Wong Yau Nam, Carl Ng Ka Lung 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, Eva Huang Shengyi, Stephen Fung Tak Lun, Tian Liang, Can : Kit Ji Lit : Scorpion d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Sam Lee Chan Sam, Emme Wong Yee Man, Leung Siu Lung, Miki Mizuno (Shui Yeh Mei Gei), Nana Natsume (Ha Muk Noi Noi) Can : Hat Sei Nei Lit : Scare You To Death Sam Lee Chan Sam, Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Tommy Yuen Man On Can : Hok Hau Hak Sai Lik Lit : School Mob Power Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Lee Si Pui, Annie Man Chung Han, Lui Hoi Yun Ada Wong Chi Hom, Timmy Hung Tin Ming SHAMO Can : Kwun Gai Lit : Military Chicken Shawn Yue Man Lok, Francis Ng Chun Yu, Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau), Dylan Kuo (Kwok Bun Chiu) Can : Goo Mo Mui Ying Lit : Ancient Tomb Phantom d. Chan Kwoon Wai Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Candy Lo Hau Yam Can : SI GUONG DOI LAU DIK WA Lit : IF TIME FLOWS BACKWARD d. Mak Kai Kwong Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, Yan Ng Yat Yin, Ken Wong Hap Hei, Karen Tong Bo Yu NEW PERFECT EDUCATION Can : Sun Gum Sut Pui Yuk ji Oi Dik Fu Lo Lit : New Chamber Cultivated Desire: Captive of Love d. Ng Man Lik Kaori Sakagami (Ban Seung Heung Jik) Tony Ho Wa Chiu, Vonnie Lui Hoi Yu Can : Jin Fu Lit : War Tiger Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Kristy Yang Kung Yu, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Lam Ka Tung, Candy Yu On On, Guo Xinqi (Kwok Sam Kei), Jason Chu Wing Tong, Koey Leung Shuet Mei, Iris Wong Yat Tung, Pavarit Mongkolpisit Nahatai Lekbumrung, Yunee Can : Mo Yau 24 Siu Si Lit : Worry Free 24 Hours Chiu Chung Yu, Natalie Ng Man Yan, Simon Loui Yu Yeung, Siu Chuen Yung, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Libby Lao Kuai Ieng Can : Nui Kuen Wong Lit : Female Fist King Diana Pang Tan, Angie Cheong Wei Yee, Lai Yiu Cheung, Emi Tojo (Dung Sing Gong Mei) Mizuho Ishikawa (Shek Chuen Mei Jung Shui) --- [ NOW SHOWING ] Info from Mov3.com (http://www.mov3.com), Ryan's Hong Kong Movie DataBase (http://www.hkmdb.com), Korean Movie Database (http://www.krmdb.com), Cinema Thai (http://www.cinemathai.com), Hong Kong Entertainment News In Review (http://www.hkentreview.com), Internet Movie DataBase (http://www.imdb.com) LINGER Can : Wu Dip Fei Lit : Butterfly Flies d. Johnnie To Kei Fung Vic Chou (Chow Yu Man), Li Bingbing, Wong Yau Nam, Yan Qing Rating : IIA Length : 89 mins. Opening January 10 2008 [ YAHOO! HONG KONG MOVIES ] "Have you ever liked me?" Jia never has thought about a question that she hesitates to answer would have severe consequences and become her boyfriend Dong's regret of a lifetime. The couple thus is separated in heaven and earth. Three years have not been able to wash away the memories. Jia has always relied on medicine to forget remembrance, guilt and even Dong's face. Numb in life between love and pain, Jia seems to be holding Dong's hand and embracing him certain times of the day. "Have you ever liked me?" This comment has just troubled her has again drifted back into her mind. Jia cannot tell whether Dong has returned. She can tell even less whether the reunion is a dream or a nightmare; or his return represents a release or an entanglement. Thus, Jia enables herself to know Dong anew to find an answer that has not been answered yet... [ COMING SOON ] THE SPARROW Can : Man Jeuk Lit : Cultured Bird d. Johnnie To Kei Fung Simon Yam Tat Wa, Kelly Lin (Lam Hei Lui), Lam Ka Tung, Lam Suet, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS ONLINE ] They are known as the "sparrows", Hong Kong's street slang for "pickpockets". They work in groups, lifting wallets from unsuspecting tourists until one day an irresistible woman of unknown origin appears before them and requests the gang to steal a key for her. The set up begins to unravel itself when the mission completes. The pickpockets realize this exotic beauty has been slowly leading them onto a path of no return. BREATH d. Kim Ki-Duk Chang Chen, Zia, Ha Jung-Woo [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] On a cold winter day, after learning her husband has found a new woman, Yeon absent mindedly heads for the prison where Chen is confined. Although she does not know him personally, repeated news of his suicide attempts on TV has subconsciously grown in her mind and now is leading her to seek him. Jin has no visitors and normally would not agree to meet with a complete stranger, but hearing that it is a woman he accepts her meeting request out of curiosity. Their first meeting is as awkward as it can get. Yeon treats Jin like an old friend whereas Jin does not open up so easily. SEE YOU IN YOU TUBE Can : Oi Dau Dai Lit : Love d. Chut Tiu Janice Man Wing San, Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam Opening January 17 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Ling and Janice have been friends since childhood. Although they are close, they have a habit of competition to death in school, sports, astrology, botany and dreams. No matter how competitive they get they cannot harm their friendship. When they get to the university, they under different circumstances fall for Chung Him...... ATASHIN'CHI THE MOVIE d. Tetsuo Yasumi (Bak Gok Jik Fu) Japanese Animation Rating : I Length : 95 mins. Opening January 17 2008 CJ7 AKA : SEVEN AKA : YANGTZE RIVER 7 Can : Cheung Gong 7 Ho d. Stephen Chow Sing Chi Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Xu Jiao, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Lam Tsz Chung Opening January 31 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A down on his luck father takes his son to a broken down home as the entire family relies on his father's physical labor for a living. He also constantly picks up trash for home use. Papa has high hopes for his son to get into a star school and risks his life to pay the high tuition; the son due to his poor family background is often the subject of ridicule for teachers and students alike. Only the pretty and kind teacher Ms. Yuen never gives up on him and takes great care of him. Watching his classmates with the new technology toy dog CJ7, the envious son constantly asks Papa to get one for him. The empty pocked Papa can only bring up a plastic ball from the dump as a gift. Unexpectedly, this ball turns into a lovably alien with extraordinary abilities! The son names this new friend CJ7 and even brings it to school as his companion behind his father's back in hopes of teaching bullying classmates a lesson and resolve all difficult problems at school. KUNG FU DUNK Can : Guoon Lam Lit : Slam Dunk d. Kevin Chu Yin Ping Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Baron Chen, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Chen Bo-Lin (Chan Pak Lam) Opening February 7 2007 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Shi-Jie, grew up in a martial arts school and is well-trained in kung-fu. With his kung-fu skills and good reflexes, Shi-Jie excels in basketball by mastering the slam dunk technique. Wang-Li, who is trying to locate Shi-Jie's real family, invites him to join the university's basketball team in hope of making some money. Shi-Jie faces new challenges while trying to blend in with the basketball team members Ting-Wei and Xiao-Lan. With the upcoming basketball championship and the appearance of Li-Li, will the team members set aside their differences and personal feelings for the love of the game? L: CHANGE THE WORLD d. Hideo Nakata (Jung Tin Sau Fu) Kenichi Matsuyama (Chung San Yin Yat), Youki Kudoh (Gung Tung Jik Gwai) Opening February 9 2008 THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS Can : Gong San Mei Yun Lit : Kingdom Beauty d. Ching Siu Tung Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Leon Lai Ming, Guo Xiaodong, (Kau Jun Hoi) Opening March 1 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Amid a war, Princess Feier whose father died in battle took over the duty of protecting her nation with General Xuefu. Later traitor Hu Ba assassinated and injured the princess, who luckily was saved by Duen Lanchuan. They fell for each other; but with trouble inside and outside how would Feier choose? THREE KINGDOMS : RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON Can : Sam Gok Gein Lung Seh Gap Lit : Three Kingdoms See Dragon Remove Armor d. Lee Yan Kong Andy Lau Tak Wa, Maggie Q, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho), Ti Lung Opening April 2008 RED CLIFF PART I AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF Can : Chet Bik Lit : Red Cliff d. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Janny Lin Chiling, Vicki Zhao Wei, Chang Chen, Zhang Fengyi, Hu Jun, You Yong Opening July 3 2008 [ CINEMA ONLINE ] In the early third century, the warlord Cao Cao and his soldiers invaded the land of Wu. The ruler of Wu, Sun Quan called on the rival warlord Liu Bei for help, but their two armies were still badly outnumbered. However, strategists Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang see that Cao Cao's army was not used to battling at sea. With 200,000 men, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang defeated Cao Cao's army at the Yangtze River. --- [ Entertainment URL ] 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 * RAYMOND MIU PRODUCTIONS AND TRUMP TAJ MAHAL CASINO RESORT PRESENT LIZA WANG LIVE IN CONCERT 2008 DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 24 2008 @ 1AM Sunday, February 24 2008 @ 2PM VENUE LOCATION : Mark G. Etess Arena Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort TICKET PRICCES : $118, 78, 48 EXCLUSIVE BOX OFFICE LOCATION : Raymond Miu Productions 195 Canal Street, Suite 201 New York NY 10013 212.966.0800 www.rmpny.com * INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AND MOHEGAN SUN PRESENT EASON CHAN YIK SHUN EASON'S MOVING ON STAGE 3 DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 10 2008 @ 2AM Sunday, February 10 2008 @ 1PM VENUE LOCATION : Mohegan Sun Arena Mohegan Sun 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard Uncasville CT 06382 (860) 862-4002 TICKET PRICES : VIP$138, 108, 78, 58 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS : ONLINE : www.iemshowplace.com CHINATOWN 89 Bowery 212.925.1098 FLUSHING International Entertainment Marketing 135-05 40 Road 2/Fl 718.888.3113 BROOKLYN International Entertainment Marketing 5609 8th Avenue 718.437.777 EDISON 1681 Rt. 27 Suite 3 732.819.8883 BOSTON 12A Tyler Street 617.695.1989 * SUPER KEY PRODUCTIONS PRESENT SHARON CHAN MAN CHI AND RAYMOND LAM FUNG LIVE Special Guest: Ma Chin DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 10 2008 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION : Grand Theatre Hilton Casino Resort Atlantic City NJ TICKET PRICES : $118, 78, 48 BOX OFFICE LOCATION : Chinatown SuperKey Production 16 Bowery 4/FL 212.619.2628 www.superkeypro.com 2 Elizabeth Street 212.732.3828 133 East Broadway 212.513.7898 Brooklyn 778 60th Street (8th Avenue) 718.238.1228 Flushing 135-17 40 Road, 3/FL 718.886.8294 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : MOV3.COM, Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Tuesday January 8 2008 10 ATONEMENT d. Joe Wright James McAvoy, Keira Knightley 9 AUGUST RUSH d. Kirsten Sheridan Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Robin Williams 8 THE GOLDEN COMPASS d. Chris Weitz Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards 7 ASSEMBLY Can : Jap Geit Ho d. Feng Xiaogang Hu Jun, Zhang Hanyu 6 MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS d. Wong Kar Wai Norah Jones, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman 5 YES I CAN SEE DEAD PEOPLE Can : Ngok Nam Si Gein Lit : Mean Man Incident d. Lee Kwong Yiu Steven Cheung Chi Hung, Mandy Chiang Nga Man Tong Yi (Yuen Ka Yi), Gu Yu Dennis Mak Chi Ho, William Chan, 4 THE AMERICAN GANGSTER d. Ridley Scott Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe 3 NATIONAL TREASURE : BOOK OF SECRETS d. Jon Turteltaub Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger 2 THE WARLORDS Can : Tau Ming Jong Lit : Enter Name Record d. Peter Chan Ho Sun Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Andy Lau Tak Wa, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Xu Jinglei 1 ALIEN VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM d. Colin Strause, Greg Strause Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS ASSEMBLY Rating : IIB Length : 125 mins. Opening January 3 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] On a mission, the commander orders his subordinate to use the assembly as a retreat signal; as long as the assembly is not blown, the entire team must persist to the last moment! As 47 soldiers fight on, they are outmanned and outgunned. Before one of the soldiers fall, he claims to have heard the assembly and suggests for the others to retreat; but the team has varying opinions and insists on fighting to the end. The leader helplessly watches his soldiers die one by one, suspects whether he has ignored the signal and led his entire team to its death! From then on, his only motivation in his existence is to find the honor that his dead comrades deserve, can he bring the remains and dignity a home that they deserve? YES, I CAN SEE DEAD PEOPLE Rating : IIB Length : 93 mins. Opening January 3 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] The home that the Wah family lives in has always been the place with the highest suicide rate in Hong Kong. Ghosts are everywhere but the people are fine. Yet since Wa Koon Tung returns from Cheung Chau, strange events keep coming. His brother Koon Nam and Koon Tung's girlfriend investigate and discover that everything comes from an old bill. At the same time, Koon Nam's crush Mei Chi attracts a horrible ghost, village chief, after helping someone. She sees her family fall and her life is in danger. Koon Nam who has been able to communicate with the dead since childhood becomes the only hope of resisting village chief and rescuing his brother... THE WARLORDS AKA : Blood Brothers AKA : Chi Ma Rating : IIB Length : 127 mins. Opening December 13 2007 Official Site : http://www.warlordsthemovie.com [ MOV3.COM ] In the fall of 1870, Big Brother was dressed in official costume. Ambitious, if he did not take this road of no return, he extremely likely would have become one of the revolutionary who overthrew the corrupted Qing Dynasty, but...two robbers and a woman changed his life. These two robbers were his sworn blood brothers, Second Brother and Third Brother. The woman was Second Brother's wife Lin Sun. The straight laced Second Brother has fallen to robbery during the chaotic times. He led several hundred people to rob everywhere. He was honorable as a thief as he would only take 70%. He would divide his gains with the people with shared a mountain village with him and he was popular with them. Second Brother loved two people the most in his life, Lin Sun and Third Brother who has followed him as a robber at the age of 13. Third Brother had an unique masculine attraction. Aside from his wolf like ferocity and killer coldness, he also had a romantic innocence. After robbing a rebel troop meal caravan when a stranger Big Brother took an arrow for him, he experienced the appreciation of life saving. To fulfill the peace and prosperity for the world dream, Big Brother borrowed the power that Second and Third Brother led to form "Mountain Camp" to temporarily serve the Qing Dynasty and unite military might against the rebels; yet as he had power in his hand, Big Brother became ambitious. He had a falling out with Second Brother and used Third Brother's hot temper to convince him to stand on his side. At the coronation ceremony and with power within his grasp, Big Brother... ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, January 5 2008 15 SUNSHINE GUY Can : Yeung Guong Juk Nam Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) 14 SINCE I LEFT Can : Ngor Jau Yi Hau Jane Zhang Lingying 13 DAY SHOW NIGHT SHOW Can : Yut Cheung Yeh Cheung Karen Morris (Mok Man Wai) 12 DRIFT Can : Piu Piu Cyndi Wang (Wong Sum Ling) 11 WORSHIP Can : Shun Bei Jasmine Leong Jing Yu 10 WAVE WAVE HAND Can : Fai Fai Sau Wang Feng 9 HERE I GO Eric Suen Yiu Wai 8 MY HEAVEN Can : Ngor Dik Tin Hins Cheung King Hin 7 LOSE TO YOU Can : Bai Cup Nei Alan Luo (Law Chi Cheung), Elva Hsiao (Siu Ah Hin) 6 WEDDING MARCH Can : Fun Lai Jun Hung Kuk Anson Hu (Wu Yin Bin) 5 THE RESULT? Can : Git Gor Leh Big Mouth (Dai Jui Ba) 4 NEVER APART Can : But Wui Fun Lei Michael Kong Leung 3 ? Can : Tat Yi Man Tanya Chua (Choi Kin Nga) 2 CONCERT Can : Yin Cheung Wui Eason Chan Yik Shun 1 WOW Bibi Zhou Bichang ------ [ 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. REHAB You know you are in trouble when you go to two different bars on two different nights and both played Amy Winehouse' REHAB when they see you. Sigh. What happened to establishments that would just take your money and overlook your well being? Actually, all the warning signs for a total train wreck were there -- nonstop drinking for two days straight,, pigging out at McDonalds (WOOHOO FREEDOM!) and on bar food, personal bottle of sake, lycheetini, Car Bomb and Radler, wearing liquor as your scent to mask the lack of personal hygiene, uncontrollable laughing and crying, basically the whole kit and kaboodle except the hurl-o-rama. It could have been worse. Your Chaffing Editor could have been freezing his @$$ off in Toronto instead of watching the International Bowl at a sports bar. Nevertheless, with all the seven sins of gluttony, wrath, envy, sloth, lust, greed and pride violated, Your Chaffing Editor was certain that he was headed directly to Heck. He might have found it as none of his picks won the NFL playoff game last week. He might also have stumbled upon it after revealing his devotion to JUNO only to have the backlash for the movie began. Then again, he also found a copy of THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG) on his desk. This movie should be watched at a cinema for the full effect. Alas, even though it moves at a quicker pace than the big Mainland crap-production movies that Your Chaffing Editor has mostly avoided like the interns, the Old Chaffster still drifted off to outer space somewhat in the middle (obviously when Andy Lau Tak Wa was not on screen). While he would like to think that he resembled Andy or Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo)'s characters the most, lately around Top Ten Central Your Chaffing Editor felt more like Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit)'s character except not as smart. Maybe he actually is Xu Jinglei's character -- never in control of her own fate. Your Chaffing Editor would leave all the comments to the experts. Are the characters political representatives of the region where they are from? What is the director trying to say about the politics of China and Taiwan today? Who knows. Is the movie entertaining? Well, the battle scenes were brutal. Peter Chan Ho Sun was in control of the movie for the most part, which was more than what could be said about its fellow crap-production colleagues. You should watch it once and decide for yourself whether the movie is entertaining to you and which character you would relate to the most, unless you are squemish (like people who thought SWEENEY TODD was a horror film instead of a delicious promotion of meat pies and gin. Mmmm, Your Chaffing Editor is STILL hungry.) Why does Xu Jinglei look a little like Ng Sin Lin or Flora Chan Wai San in this movie? Has she always looked like that? I despise that I adore you, Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038