From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (MAY 1 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. Patrick Tang Kin Won who celebrates his birthday on the 6th B. Pak Suet Sin who celebrates her birthday on the 5th C. Lai Yiu Cheung who celebrates his birthday on the 4th D. Chong Si Man who celebrates her birthday on the 1st 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (5/7/2008) Having always played the hero, Jackie Chan recently in the Emperor new film THE SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN) played a refugee. Behind the scene he willingly shared his salary with everyone. While shooting on location in Japan, the authorities made an exception for the film due to Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan in the film in order to find his missing girlfriend Fan Bingbing is stuck in Japan and works as a dishwasher and coal miner. In one scene Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) ran into a police inspection at the coal mine and went on the run due to their illegal immigrant status. Because the location was listed as one of the tourist landmark in Japan, location rental was difficult. With the name of Jackie Chan the tradition was broken. During the days at the location, the team suffered. First everyone each time had to spend more than 20 minutes to walk from the surface to the location. For the story, the dried path was filled with dirty water. Many crew members fell. Jackie Chan in turn treated the team to snacks and meals at every turn. Over three months in Japan he has bought crab legs, Kobe beef, and local sweet potato for the crew and made everyone very happy. Daniel for the new film left his usual handsome look and appeared with a perm. Daniel spent four to five hours on the cut. Since he had other jobs during the shoot he had to keep switching hairstyles. After the shoot he immediately cut his hair short. The film will be released at the end of September. * (5/6/2008) Kitty Zhang Yuqi yesterday attended a skincare product event. In the just completed Tsui Hark new film NUI YUN BUT WAI (WOMEN NOT BAD) Zhang Yuqi plays a strong woman. Has the director yelled at her? She says that the director was very demanding but also very nice. She is very excited to be a part of the film and sometimes she even loses sleep. Although the film is a modern film the director shoots it like a costume film. Everyday something unexpected occurs. She also congratulates co-star Alex Fong Chung Shun on becoming a father. Earlier when she made TIU CHOOK HUI (DANCE OUT) she was linked to Stephen Fung Tak Lun, which she said was probably a joke since they were just friends. For now she only wants to focus on work. Zhang Yuqi also points out that in the future she definitely will work on Stephen Chow Sing Chi's film but she needs to wait patiently. Reporters say that she has quite a connection with male stars named Stephen. She feels that both are very serious directors who girls would fall for. She has a lot of respect for them. * (5/6/2008) Stephy Tang Lai Yun in the TVB Po Leung charity show will perform with Kary Ng Yu Fei. Lately she has been busy with her new film NOI YI SIU NUI (UNDERWEAR GIRL). Stephy still does not know whether she will have to appear in underwear on camera as the director hast not informed her yet. She says, the director will see whether scene will have the opportunity and has already asked her to be prepared. However, Stephy says that she definitely cannot accept anything too sexy as she does not want to provide too much fantasy to others. Will she wear her own? She joked, "No way, my underwear can't be seen on camera!" Stephy says that she has seen a lot of underwear on the set but she is not embarrassed. Instead her male co-stars may be somewhat more embarrassed. Ronald Cheng Chung Kei for example also has to come in contact with underwear. Will she study underwear with guys? She says that she will not but if they have questions she will not mind talking about it. She joked that perhaps they know more than she does. * (5/6/2008) Isabella Leong Lok Si due to Emperor's contract dispute has skipped all of her jobs, including her film with Angelica Lee Sinjie, SUM HOI CHUM YUN's promotional poster shoot. The film will be released on June 12. Its film company Mandarin felt helpless because the contract stipulated that the poster must have Isabella's photo, otherwise the contract would be violated. Thus the film company still has not been able to release a film poster and had next to zero promotion. Mandarin boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming after discussions with his lawyers decided to sue Emperor. "During the contract signing Emperor requested the additional condition of Isabella must be on the film poster and the size of the photo must be the same as Lee Sinjie's. Isabella also had the exclusive right to sing the film theme song. Earlier for the film poster shoot, Isabella originally agreed to show up but finally skipped out. The film will be released on June 12, now even the film poster still has not been released. We can only used a woman's back for the promotional poster. In additional Isabella didn't sing the theme song, We can only find someone to make music for the film and lost the karaoke promotional opportunity. Ultimately we couldn't do a lot of promotion. I understand that Emperor and Isabella are in the midst of a lawsuit, I too want to settle the matter privately; but after the lawyers saw the contract they told me to file a lawsuit as protection. Because we are ultimately a public company we have to answer to stockholders. The impact on the box office definitely is very impacted. If we knew it would turn out like this, initially we wouldn't approach Isabella and would get another for the female lead." * (5/1/2008) The Chan Hing Ka directed film NOI YI SIU NUI (UNDERWEAR GIRL) yesterday held a production start ceremony. Attending actors included Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Tong Yi, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Andy On Chi Kit, Janice Man, Wong Yau Nam and Tsui Tin Yau. Lead actor Ronald Cheng Chung Kei was absent due to illness. The film's four actresses all needed to appear in underwear but yesterday at the production start ceremony they dressed very conservatively and only took photos with underwear in hand. Stephy in the film would play an underwear inspector but would appear in underwear as well. She expressed that during her stint with Cookies she has already appeared in a bikini but since that she has not. Would the company approve her underwear this time? She said that would depend on the circumstance. Actually she wore underwear everyday. In the film she would not appear in a thong. Stephy was not afraid that the four beauties' figures would be compared, and they would not appear together in underwear. She felt that the lace underwear was the prettiest, but normally she would buy the comfortable ones because lace would trigger skin irritation with her. She said that when she was little she did not dare to ask and has bought the wrong bra. Now she would mostly purchase online or by massive quantity abroad. Would she reveal her own measurements in the film? She joked that the film would be fictional so her measurements would be fictional as well. As for breast enhancement before the shoot, Stephy said that she was already 24 and had no way to enhance anymore as her development has completed. Any increase would depend on computer generated effects. JJ had the best figure among the girls. "Don't say that. (Are you afraid of comparison?) There shouldn't be any." However, in the film she would have sexy performance and romance with On Chi Kit. She said that even if he was right for her though her company prohibited dating. In addition she was a dummy in the romance department. She only wanted to focus on work for now and would not have time to think about when she would date. Tong Yi and Tsui Tin Yau would play a couple. Her character would be a flight attendant. In the film she too had to wear underwear. As for her co-stars' figures, she said everyone was good and she was satisfied with her own. Did she tell her boyfriend about this film? Tong Yi said that she did not have a boyfriend but she mentioned the film to her mother. Janice Man said, since she would wear underwear everyday she believed that it would be too awkward; unless she would have to walk around in front of guys. In the film she would play an older man killer and fall for the mature Chan Fai Hung. She believed that she would not have too many intimate scenes. She expressed that she liked guys who were two or three years older and more mature mentally than her. As for comparing figures, she said that how could she compare with her average figure. However, she would not mind being light on top because she got them from her mother. On Chi Kit said that normally he would go underwear shopping with his girlfriend. He felt that it was close to normal clothes purchase and he would provide his opinion occasionally. His girlfriend's comfort would be the most important. As for which style he liked on her, he joked, "I don't care, not wearing any would be the best." * (5/1/2008) When director Andrew Lau Wai Keung earlier prepared for the film FUNG WON ji JOI GEIN MO MING he was interested in Andy Lau Tak Wa for the title role. While that film has not started production, the role of Mo Ming has already gone to Ken Ho Ka King in the Pang Brothers' new film STORM RIDERS II (FUNG WON II). Ho Ka King on his blog shared the STORM RIDERS II production status in Thailand and unveiled his Mo Ming look. "With the heavy costumes in the hot weather, I can only quietly think about the winter cold." As for work, Ho Ka King also ate all over and participated in the local water festival. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 7 2008, FILM WORDS SORROWS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY AND SPOILING THE WEDDING DAY In my impression, these two are Zhu Shilin's best made films. Lately I have caught up and rewatched many of his work and still I feel these two films are the best. The 1948 SORROWS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY was renowned on its own, later due to Mao Zedong's personal verdict it also took Zhu Shilin's life. This black and white film has good set up and strong drama. The Beijing Forbidden City was built in Hong Kong Wing Wah film studio. The set, costumes, lighting and camera adjustments are excellent. It is very influential to Li Han-Hsiang's Qing Palace films. SORROWS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY has already been talked in every aspect, this I have to mention set designer Bao Tianming who was from Shanghai. I once worked at the Cathay era's Wing Wah studio and stumbled to become one of Bao Tianming's last assistants. Occasionally I heard how serious and difficult that production was and it sounded legendary. As for the 1951 black and white film SPOILING THE WEDDING DAY, its renown is no match for SORROWS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY and style drastically differs, but I like this romantic comedy in poverty even more. In the film the romance between the trumpet player and the factory girl is lively and interesting, full of the realism of the Mainland immigrants in Hong Kong then. They in order to wed work part time selling wonton noodle. They also have to find a place, build a wooden home, all are very intimate and are the collective memory that is gradually lost but should not be forgotten. Zhu Shilin is always shooting small business, middle class and the worldly, but SPOILING THE WEDDING DAY is about the lower class laborers yet it is unusually energetic and fun. Perhaps he and his younger co-director Bai Chen have set off spark? Han Fei and Li Lihua gave performance that was full of life and comedy. Li Lihua's young and simple female worker image was even rarely brilliant. The film's teahouse, shared rooms, facotry, wooden house areas and streets are full of solid flavor. In the following years Zhu Shilin's reality reflections like THE DIVIDING WALL, HOUSE REMOVAL GREETING, BETWEEN FIRE AND WATER and FESTIVAL MOON all described poor, small employee romance in narrow living conditions and all were variations of SPOILING THE WEDDING DAY. Living conditions once were old Hong Kong films' important and frequently made subject. Zhu Shilin has contributed a lot in this area. Bai Chen later returned to Mainland to write and direct, Ren Yichi who played the young left wing "progressive" female worker in SPOILING THE WEDDING DAY was one of Zhu Shilin's students. In this retrospective , the Ren Yichi, Chen Jingbo co-directed (Zhu directed), Zhu Hong and Gao Yuan starred PRECIOUS LITTLE MOON was then a refreshing, straight lace secondary school girl's basketball team youth comedy. PRECIOUS LITTLE MOON had left wing education, stressing group cooperation and opposing individualism. Fortunately it had a lot of actual locations, healthy and simple, a viewing today would be cute. - SHEK KEI (http://www.cultureshot.net/sekkkkeiluklei) 2. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 7 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS STAR PRICES ARE MARKET PRICES Most rumored star film salaries are asking prices and not actual. Media would mostly use asking prices to gauge their income, the difference of which would be rather enormous. Some stars' film salaries are very firm. They truly do not reduce any. Few though would have such character. Others are still negotiable. Price negotiation is not just continuously asking for reduction. Managers are not idiots. Approaching stars for movies rarely start with price. Often they talk about characters and if the stars feel interested, able to work with actors or directors they admire, then the chance of a price reduction is larger. Some film companies use fast money to attract some stars. For example if they charge a lot for an entire film, then they would be offered half the money for a few days of work. Both sides benefit. If those few days are not hard to play at all, a few days for half a film's salary is indeed intriguing. A more demanding film without action has over 30 units and at least over 20 working days. Some big directors even ask their stars not to work on other films while working on theirs. The stars would have to make more than half a year available. Some famous directors can make a movie for several years and call the actors to work and to stop work at anytime without paying them fully. Working with famous directors is for fame and working with commercial directors is for fortune. Smart stars would "walk with both legs" and thus would occasionally make some rougher productions. As films to make a living with, stars would only give very little time. Even for a full film salary, they may stipulate only 10 to 20 units. Actually this is a variation of price increase because the unit numbers have been drastically reduced. Film salary has always been flexible. Whoever has more negotiation ability changes daily at the ever changing entertainment circle and very practical. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 6 2008, FILM WORDS GOOD AND BAD OF ZHU SHILIN FILMS The World of Zhu Shilin is an important study program of Hong Kong Film Archive and the Hong Kong International Film Festival this year. Its run continues until May 12. Zhu Shilin (1899-1967) was a previous generation famous director. During the turmoil before and after World War II he became the mainstream pillar of the Shanghai and Hong Kong film industry. 41 years after his passing he finally had a more official retrospective exhibition, unfortunately it was not complete; especially missing was his work during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai -- the background where LUST, CAUTION (SIK, GAI) took place and remains sensitive and controversial even until now. Although it is not the whole picture, this time is still a very rare screening opportunity that can confirm when he came from Shanghai to Hong Kong, made SORROWS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY (CHING GUNG BEI SI) and the following few years, his creative quality was the best. Yet, is Zhu Shilin is a film master? Honestly, the more I watch his films, the more questions I have. Back then Chinese film overall has many restrictions of technique, ideas and subjects. He occasionally made good films but even more ordinary ones. His artistic achievement obviously cannot compare to famous Japanese masters of the same generation Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujiro Ozu. No matter what, SORROWS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY and SHOULD THEY MARRY? are the best among Zhi Shilin's work that can rival famous films around the world that year. Since then he made the career and residence issues of Hong Kong's poor and feeble with a lot of real life feel. As for his descriptions of the low to middle income family couple comedy films they tend to be superficial and studio styles. THE THREE PEARLS' concubine storm remained real in the 50s, but today it seemed very outdated. The 1964 GARDEN OF REPOSE was his final film, which was made entirely in the old studio style that adapted Ba Jin's famous work GARDEN OF REPOSE into something dead and dull, not as good as his earlier adaptation of Cao Yu's work THUNDERSTORM. Zhu Shilin's late style was very conservative, luckily back then the Hong Kong film industry had a flood of new blood (including his Phoenix and Great Wall descendants) that raised a wuxia action new wave that transformed Hong Kong film. GARDEN OF REPOSE was not great but represented Zhu Shilin's nostalgic sorrow, difficulty of forgetting the lost nation and old dreams, and guilt of the nation's troubles. It could be said that the older generation's sorrowful farewell work during a turbulent new era. Bao Fang in GARDEN OF REPOSE played a fallen father who confessed to have failed his family and died a tragic death. The film foretold the future. Several years later Mao Zedong sentenced SORROW OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY as a treasonous weed. Upon learning the news Zhu Shilin passed away that night in Hong Kong. Many celebrities during the Cultural Revolution had to admit that they were guilty. (1 of 2) - SHEK KEI (http://www.cultureshot.net/sekkkkeiluklei) 4. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 5 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS FILM "WINDOW" CHANGE Although the film is depressed, film remains the general public's entertainment and ultimately most would be able to see it. With less viewers at the movies, most viewers would come in contact with films later. After the cinemas comes video, then pay television, free television, and the future's global online television. Film's "windows" aside from cinemas that will always be the most important first "window" continuously change with the other positions and importance. The video market in recent years have already been much worse than the peak. The rental problem has only added to the trouble. The video price's drastic decline has brought several years of fortune. Back then video rights were very valuable, enough to make up for the Taiwan market's loss. Unfortunately this was only self mutilation. After consumers purchased massive quantity of cheap video they started to be more cautious. Rental stores took advantage. Movies that were only worth one viewing were not worth owning. Renting them for one night for a few bucks is already enough. As the video market shrinks, another "window" expands. Pay television right prices have already exceeded video prices and become a key revenue source for film. Many industry insiders estimate that even video rental is regulated this market cannot return to the way it was. Video instead will go high quality like Blu-ray, which will benefit big production films. Small to mid budget productions' video sales will not rocket back up. Very likely even more convenient purchase methods than buying videos like legal online download will replace them. In the past the internet was seen as the final "window" after free television. This situation will very quickly change. Internet due to the lack of border was placed in the end out of fear of regional right. Yet the technology flood cannot be stopped. Pay per download or online television broadcast will become more and more popular. Everything is changing. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 4 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS ARTIST TORCH RUNNER'S VALUE Artists have two ways, sponsor recommendation and organizer invitation. If publicly applied, the writer suspects whether artists who took place in the torch running would fill the forms themselves. Artists in these events often are very passive. Although the invitation is a honor, they suffer no loss without one. In the eyes of many, torch running benefits artists. To sponsors and advertisers they are promotional tools who can spread the message even wider or attract even more interest. Torch running is not related to artists, actually many events are not. Why do they invite artists to participate? Artists of course have their value. From the mouths of others the effect is far from words from artists, especially with people who only pay attention to the entertainment news. Most people truly only like to read entertainment news. Young people often do not care about current affairs. Artists can deliver the message to them. Events that normally would only appear in a small local news article can appear in the more read entertainment news. Torch running is the headline of many publications, but occupies most entertainment pages. More people through these pages receive the related information and achieve the promotional effect. Olympic events of course should have more athlete participation, but Hong Kong sports still are not as developed as other areas. In places where sports are developed, athletes may be even more popular than stars and make much more than most artists. When sport star draw achieves such an effect, artists may not need to put in an effort. Hong Kong has many events that need artist promotion. They are willing to become this type of tool because both sides benefit. Artists while promoting these events are also promoting themselves. - KWOK HIN CHING 6. TA KUNG PAO, MAY 4 2008 ANGIE CHAN ON KEI RETURNS TO DIRECTING WITH PLEASANT SURPRISE Hong Kong has many dog owners, but how many are dog lovers? In comparison to relationships between human and human, human and nature or other animals, would that love be any different? Can a life that is only a dozen or so years long recall the simplest basic instinct that human has hidden long ago, is the question that experienced director Angie Chan On Kei wants to examine in THIS DARLING LIFE, which is also the reason that this film can appear on the big screen in its original documentary form. With the joy of life comes the pain of death. Chan On Kei 15 years ago adopted two puppies. When death slow approached puppy Baby, only then did she realize that sad reluctance that was as deeply painful as when she faced her parents' deaths. "That emotion was rather painful. In the pain I had two choices: one was to give up and the other was to turn grief into power and continue to face life. I felt that facing death positively was possible. Everyone must experience birth, aging, illness and death, time can treat sorrow and death can make people cherish every second and every minute of life on earth; right now is very important, don't drag your feet on anything that you want to do. This is the revelation that I got." She says, from then on, she decides to use video to record the final stage of the puppy's life and her own emotions. Whether "love" is any measure of difference is the question that she wants to examine; thus she decides to start in Hong Kong and find even more stories about human and dogs to see how they handle that relationship. All Lives Are Connected The release on the 8th, THIS DARLING LIFE is a documentary style film but it is not the type of animal documentary that can be seen on television. The key is its continuously developing story and set up of relationships, and not just a purely informational or factual recording. "This film would have more stories. In it each character shows viewers their real life and their views. I didn't finish one story then shot another, then put the stories together into a movie. From the start I thought about the main story, which was to watch Baby from illness to death. In between I recorded my own and other people's views on life, love and adversary. The story just kept developing. Thus you could say it is a docu-drama." She says, even though the initial main story is very clear -- the naive examination of relationship and how to face love and pain -- over two years of production she has interviewed countless people from different classes and nations, and other questions that are worthy of further discussion like what is "home" came up. "Many foreigners have lived in Hong Kong for decades. They treated here as home and contributed to the society, which I felt was very interesting and could be another subject that could be developed. Yet ultimately I returned to the original subject and focused on examining some relationship and what is the most important in life. Is it just fame and fortune?" Most of those she has interviewed were introduced to her from others or she learned from newspapers and magazines. Only one who was a homeless person who lived under the bridge she observed from afar. She did not try to enter his life. "This person and his dog rely on each other. Neighbors all have said that they have tried to speak with him but received no response; since he has chosen this lifestyle, I decided to respect him and not to invade his privacy. Actually this story was very worthy of our consideration. Why would the society have people like the homeless. Like a neighbor has said, did we give up on him or he gave up on us?" Relationship Between Human And Dogs Dog is the medium that tells about love without any difference. When asked why the director does not just shoot relationships between people, she says that her focus is people's value. She feels that animals can reflect a lot of hidden human nature. "This film through the relationship between human and dog enables us to examine anew our relationship with those around us and emotions and responsibilities for other life forms and nature. Keeping a dog and raising a child are actually very similar in process. Only a child can be independent at 18 but a dog faces death. The emotions that you have invested over a decade returns pain. Dogs don't speak so you have to be even more patient and observant. If you respect it as a life you would try to make it feel as comfortable as possible. The joy that it brings you is something that would be hard for anyone who have not had a dog to understand." She continues, "In my over ten years of dog ownership they have provided me with a lot of revelation, like their naive and loyal nature that holds no grudge. Actually human beings have such basic instincts as well, but mostly due stress in life or other reasons people start to hide themselves, no longer willing to trust others and hiding their nature away; in the process with a dog, a lot of human nature would be brought out anew. I feel if people can return to that type of honesty they would be happier." Angie dares not say lightly that she has made this documentary with a mission and only says that with her own experience and feeling. So she feels more connected to the world and wants to put her heart into making the film well. Fallen For Film In the 80s, Chan On Kei has directed three features, including the Cherie Chung Chor Hung and Alex To Tak Wai starred CHAOS BY DESIGN (OI CHING MAI YU), the PAT HA MAN JIK and Anthony Wong Chau Sun starred MY NAME AIN'T SUZIE (FA GAI SI DOI). Later she was alive in television advertising. THIS DARLING LIFE could be said as her "return to the big screen". She says, when she made this movie, she did not anticipate that it would have a chance to be released in the cinemas. "Back that I only had an impulse and felt that I really wanted to do this project. The fact was, those characters touched me a lot. Many people said that Hong Kong was very cold, excessively materialistic and everyone was selfish, but from this film we could see very ordinary people's noble hearts. SO this is a film that has a lot of hope and Hong Kong people can be proud of." Optimistic, she honestly says that when she produced this film she ran into more pleasant surprises than setbacks. Although the funding was limited she received a lot of help from people with good intentions, like Lo Hoi Tung of Yu+co, a special effect company in Hollywood, and of People Mountain People Sea, who has worked on the post production of MEMOIR OF A GEISHA, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and LUST, CAUTION, after screening the film provided a lot of support with the film's subtitle design and music and took only symbolic fees in return. She is very happy about that. "I of course would like viewers to be willing to watch the movie at the cinemas but I don't dare to have any expectation because viewers who goes to the movies now are fewer than before. This movie has no big star and is a documentary. If it can attract many viewers it would be another pleasant surprise. To me, in the entire production process I have already done my best. Like many things in life after completing them I should just let them go then continue on and face something new." She says, currently making this film well is the most important. For now she does not have another project, but if in the future she would have the chance to run into another subject that she has an impulse to make she would not eliminate the possibility of directing again or expressing the message through dramatic feature. "Film is my passion, otherwise I wouldn't spend my entire life in this industry. Whether documentary or drama, I am interested in making it." - SIU () 7. TA KUNG PAO, MAY 4 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION TRAVERSE LAI YIU CHEUNG CREDITS HARD WORK FOR TURNING FROM SUPPORT TO LEAD Lai Yiu Cheung finally has the chance to be the male lead in a major TVB series, which makes people truly happy for him. Even though the news has come at least five years too late. Lai Yiu Cheung has caught attention a long time ago. Although he has never been the top artist, the roles that he has played are just side characters, support, at most he is only the second lead actor. Yet he has put a lot of heart into each performance. Thus these characters that originally can be done without have left deep impressions. Truly introducing Lai Yiu Cheung to everyone was the television series JOURNEY TO THE WEST (SAI YAU GEI), which made two characters very popular: the Dicky Cheung Wai Kin played Suen Ng Hong (Monkey King) and Lai Yiu Cheung's Ju Bak Gai (Piggy). Lai's most successful area is taking this originally lazy, irresponsible, bumbling and despicable character to become extremely lovable and humorous. His popularity rocketed. At that time I saw two movies A LONG AND FORGOTTEN GHOST STORY (YUNG SHU TAU GONG GWAI) and FOURTEEN DAYS BEFORE SUICIDE (JI SAT CHIN 14 TIN), in both he played ghosts. Yet he used a natural yet humorous way to express the modern little man specialty with depth. Coordinated with the films' horror effects they had a black comedy flavor. Again I recognized his potential and substance. After returning to TVB, Lai Yiu Cheung feels different to me than before. After leaving TVB he continued to work in film and television. Different work organization and environment did not affect his passion and involvement in performing art. Instead those roughly and excessively made films hindered his artistic dream but he still performed with an effort. The accumulated experience has made him capable of playing any character at will. Whether they are SAFE GUARDS (TEET HUET BO BIU)'s failure heir Seung Chung, STEPS (MO DUNG CHUEN SING)'s Lee Lik Keung, THE GENTLE CRACKDOWN (SAU CHOI OI SEUNG BING)'s drastically different brothers Dai Chung Man and Dai Chung Mo, he is more than convincing. Even more rare is while he is even open at the same time his internal acting has more layers. Over the years most TVB idol youth series had poor review and rating, which made it recognized the fact that young artists were not ripe yet. Thus it turned to middle age substance. The success of HEARTS OF GREED (TONG SUM FUNG BO) was like a shoot of confidence, naturally it followed suit. Although many series had Lai's name, it was only on the support list. However he has been even more eye catching (like in STEPS and THE GENTLE CRACKDOWN), even more liked by viewers, and the series rating guarantee. - CHUI HIU 8. TA KUNG PAO, MAY 4 2008, LIGHT SHADOW PATH GOOD SCREENPLAY IS AS VALUABLE AS GOLD Recently at another opportunity to speak with film students the feeling was great. The foreign professor at the event even praised their thought level and professionalism. When speaking of the most important element of film, everyone agreed on the screenplay because it truly was the foundation of film creation. Coincidentally, Mainland director Wu Tianming and a group of famous scholar directors like Xie Fei targeted the problem of declining screenplay quality with a film screenplay advanced study class in Xian. The half month long course was completely free. They truly had good intention. Director Wu Tianming felt, last year 400 films passed inspection, but less than 1/10 were released in cinemas (perhaps referring to several decade screens) and less than 5% were able to make money because of too few good screenplays. He even said that after nearly half a century in film, he has never run into a screenplay that could be used right away as a lot of time had to be spent on editing it. Raymond Chow Man Wai years ago has said something similar; back then Mr. Chow has said, he would be willing to buy a screenplay that could be make immediately for 1 million. A screenplay that could be made aside from good content technique also had to be commercially viable, which indeed was not easy at all. Director Wu felt, China has many good actors and directors but the overall screenplay quality could not satisfy the film development demand. This phenomenon was the same in China and overseas. Hong Kong had the same problem, as difficulty of finding good screenplay has become a common issue. One of Wu Tianming's opinion is worthy of discussion. He said, American films has been able to reign around the world not only due to excellent production its theme promoted truth, kindness and beauty. The writer disagreed. THE GODFATHER years ago and the recent THE DEPARTED were not "righteous" films. American film's reign over the world has many reasons, one of the most important though was not "righteousness". In addition the U.S. also has many rotten films. Director Wu criticized recent Mainland films for promoting conspiracy, plotting, murder, and father and son hatred. "Grand scenery, brilliant colors, empty content, are all due to value director issues." Wu said, "Human quality must be praised in film. General human value bottom line can't be broken through. Don't mistake breaking through this bottom line for modern ideas." The writer agreed with this point. In recent years costume epics have been elegant but not solid, reflected the darkness of humanity without outstanding screenplay content. In addition they were not successful in Europe and America. Seemingly all were "miscalculated" (result less than expectation). Many screenplays like Director Wu said showed the writer's unfamiliarity with creative process and technique. Without enough experience and proper training, Director Wu hired foreign experts to help screen writers. Unfortunately the course was in Xian. If it was in Hong Kong then we could conveniently "pick up a few hints". - TIN LIK 9. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 3 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS "BUSTY" ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS Entertainment reports often focus on female artists' busts. At any public event, whoever's chest is larger and reveals more is seen as the event's winner; whether their fashion sense is outstanding seems secondary. Aside from large events like award shows when image experts make professional critique, on average the competition is a war of chest. Obviously female artists has already accepted this rule of the game, especially below in second, third tier or below. Whenever they attend any press covered events, whether the temperature is three or thirty degree Celsius, they would all try to wear less and deliberately make their busts stand out. Some ordinary female artists through proper adjustments would suddenly become large and even lead to suspicion of breast enlargement. Many entertainment reporters are female. They very clearly know that with the right undergarment and certain special adjustments, the wonder effect can be manufactured with breast enlargement. Yet reports still use terms like "suddenly large and suddenly small" or "suspicious resemblance to fake chest" only to attract even more controversy with readers. When foreign female stars have breast enlargement it is no strange scandal. The Hong Kong media love to expose secret, real or fake they can write a lot with it. Female artists in order to become coverage focus have to follow the rules of the game. If you do not and others do you would not see press the next day if you dress a little more conservatively. When your chest is less exaggerated than other female artists you would be called a total loss. This is the reason behind the recent "busty" entertainment pages. Interestingly female stars who truly rise in the entertainment circle often do not have very large chests. Many are smaller than average. Big breasted ones would be called sex symbols and popular with male viewers, but female viewers would find them hard to accept. Hong Kong women generally have smaller chests and may relate better to small breasted female stars. - KWOK HIN CHING 10. MING PAO DAILY, MAY 1 2008, FILM WORDS A TALE OF MARI AND THREE PUPPIES : VERY TEAR JERKING This new Japanese hit film is a special class tear gas that is very suitable for people who like to shed sentimental tears. At the advanced screening I discovered many female viewers in tears and recalled that cinemas used to give tissues with crying movies. Now it is still useful. Do dog lovers all love to watch tear jerking dog movies? Not necessarily, some animal right protection advocates object to the creators' deliberate use of animal suffering and pain. or letting it to its own devices to move viewers with painful scenes. Luckily now movies must avoid the animal abuse crime. This one although is quite tear jerking did not necessarily have any concern of harming the dog actors. A TALE OF MARI AND THREE PUPPIES is based on the 2004 earthquake in Japan -- Mari the mother dog waits bitterly in the mountain village disaster ruins, takes care of its three puppies and experiences 16 days of hellish encounter. Can they survive? This film starts with Mari being abandoned in it youth. A girl adopts it as it turns from a cute puppy into a dog mother. During the 6.8 earthquake it bravely rescues the girl and her grandfather. The authorities sends a helicopter to rescue the victims and can only leave the loyal dog and its three puppies in the dead end disaster area. The story continuously creates touching scenes. The little girl who still misses her beloved dog and her brother take the risk to return to the village. Climbing over hills and peaks, they are injured and lost amid the downpour and the darkness. Their father goes to the mountain to find them but without notifying the authorities, which annoys me to no end. Perhaps the Japanese culture is reluctant to trouble others, but at such a crisis he should have contacted the police and organize a search party. How can he go alone in the dark to the hills and rescue his children? Aside from these deliberately cooked up thrills and melodramatic scenes, the director is considered solid. He describes the local traditions including koi and bullfighting, as well as the problem of the small village's merger with the big town before the earthquake and the determination to rebuild after. He also concentrates on the relationships between the siblings, father and grandfather, which is very warm. Of course, the most attractive are the dogs. The puppy is innocent, cute, and very likable. The grown Mari is loyal and courageous, noble in its motherly love that is indeed very touching. It does not complain or cry in the face of any hardship, more persistently heroic than the humans. Actually tear jerking films are not right for my taste. I suffer through them. The film's dog however is truly worthy of appreciation. In addition the writers and the director are smart. After working hard to satisfy "crybabies" and making people worry about Mari's fate, the ending is not tragic and viewers can rest at ease. - SHEK KEI (http://www.cultureshot.net/sekkkkeiluklei) [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Chun Oi Dik Lit : Dear Andy On Chi Kit, Miki Yeung Oi Kun, Kwan Chor Yiu, Alice Tsang Hoi Won, Chubby (Siu Fei), Vivian Yeo (Yeung Sau Wai), HotCha 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, BUTTERFLY LOVERS Can : Mo Hup Leung Jook Lit : Martial Art Heroes Leung Jook d. Jingle Ma Chor Sing Wu Chun, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Hu Ge, Harlem Yu Ching Hing, Ti Lung Can : Nui Yun But Wai Lit : Women Not Bad d. Tsui Hark Zhou Xun, Kuei Lun-Mei, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Alex Fong Chung Shun 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, Nick Cheung Ka Fai Can : Cha Ji Nui Lit : Woman of Investigation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) 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, Official Site : www.emp.hk [ OFFICIAL SITE ] A beautiful and cocky swimmer Jill and her teammates kidnaps Alex, Hong Kong's champion swimmer, in order that he can train her to win a duel against her rival in swimming and in love. All hell breaks loose when hate at first sight inadvertently becomes something else... Can : Kit Ji Lit : Scorpion d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Sam Lee Chan Sam, Emme Wong Yee Man, Leung Siu Lung, Miki Mizuno (Shui Yeh Mei Gei), Nana Natsume (Ha Muk Noi Noi) Can : Hok Hau Hak Sai Lik Lit : School Mob Power Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Lee Si Pui, Annie Man Chung Han, Lui Hoi Yun Ada Wong Chi Hom, Timmy Hung Tin Ming Can : Goo Mo Mui Ying Lit : Ancient Tomb Phantom d. Chan Kwoon Wai Chin Kar Lok, Yuen Wah, Candy Lo Hau Yam Can : SI GUONG DOI LAU DIK WA Lit : IF TIME FLOWS BACKWARD d. Mak Kai Kwong Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, Yan Ng Yat Yin, Ken Wong Hap Hei, Karen Tong Bo Yu NEW PERFECT EDUCATION Can : Sun Gum Sut Pui Yuk ji Oi Dik Fu Lo Lit : New Chamber Cultivated Desire: Captive of Love d. Ng Man Lik Kaori Sakagami (Ban Seung Heung Jik) Tony Ho Wa Chiu, Vonnie Lui Hoi Yu Can : Jin Fu Lit : War Tiger Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Kristy Yang Kung Yu, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Lam Ka Tung, Candy Yu On On, Guo Xinqi (Kwok Sam Kei), Jason Chu Wing Tong, Koey Leung Shuet Mei, Iris Wong Yat Tung, Pavarit Mongkolpisit Nahatai Lekbumrung, Yunee Can : Mo Yau 24 Siu Si Lit : Worry Free 24 Hours Chiu Chung Yu, Natalie Ng Man Yan, Simon Loui Yu Yeung, Siu Chuen Yung, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Libby Lao Kuai Ieng Can : Nui Kuen Wong Lit : Female Fist King Diana Pang Tan, Angie Cheong Wei Yee, Lai Yiu Cheung, Emi Tojo (Dung Sing Gong Mei) Mizuho Ishikawa (Shek Chuen Mei Jung Shui) --- [ NOW SHOWING ] Info from Mov3.com (http://www.mov3.com), Ryan's Hong Kong Movie DataBase (http://www.hkmdb.com), Korean Movie Database (http://www.krmdb.com), Cinema Thai (http://www.cinemathai.com), Hong Kong Entertainment News In Review (http://www.hkentreview.com), Internet Movie DataBase (http://www.imdb.com) THIS DARLING LIFE Can : Oi Yu Gau Tung Hung Lit : Dog Walking With Love d. Chan On Kei Documentary Paul Wong Koon Chung Rating : I Length : 82 mins. Opening May 8 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Everything starts with a dog. After 16 years with the director, dog Baby is ailing and slowly approaches death......this pain process of parting with the beloved brings the director in a stream of memories and considerations of family relationship anew. Also with the dog as the guide, the director opens up the heart and listen to other dog owners' exciting stories. Behind these stories of human and canine, we explore the enduring problems of humanity: life, death and love. Through the brilliant visuals, we see in our short but cute lives what is the most important. MASKED RIDER THE NEXT d. Ryuta Tazaki Masaya Kikawada, Kazuki Kato Opening April 17 2008 [ 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, Lo Hoi Pang, Lam Suet, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan Opening February 11 2008 at the Berlin Film Festival Site : http://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/berlinale_programm/datenblatt.php?film_id=20084390 [ BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL ] "Sparrow" is a common word used in Hong Kong street slang for pickpocket. The term refers to the special dexterity needed to pluck people's wallets from their pockets...and possibly also to the necessity of having to flutter away quickly should one de discovered. Kei is one such "sparrow" -- a nd a very professional one at that. He and his three partners earn a good living from digging deep into the pockets of oblivious passers-by moving along the crowded urban canyons of Hong Kong. As far as Kei's concerned, it's all he needs to live a carefree life. Whenever hei s not going about his business he loves to ride about the city on his bicycle photographing street scenes with his Rolleiflex camera. One day the gorgeous Chun Lei comes into his sights. Kei is fascinated but behind Chun Lei's good looks lurks a mysterious past. Kei falls in love with her -- and he is not the only one. After having managed to turn the heads of his three colleagues, she reveals her true intentions. The sparrows are to steal a key that is of great importance to her. At first the task seems simple, but then another interested party appears on the scene in shape of the shy tycoon Mr. Yen...... [ 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. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE TAIWAN CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Lin Shu Yu Rhydian Vaughan, Chang Chieh, Wang Bo Chieh Length : 113 mins. Opening March 21 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=684 [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] The winds of September are the wind of Hsinchu, a strong wind that visits the county and city between September and November. The film takes us back to 1996, during the time of the tragic Taiwan baseball scandal, an event that devastated many teenage boys. The story follows Yen and Tang and their gang through the last year of their high school life. From chasing girls to midnight skinny dipping to rooting for their favorite baseball team, they do everything together. When an accident throws Yen into a coma, their world starts falling apart. A cruel reality has announced itself, can the boys grow up quickly enough to face it? WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE MAINLAND CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Han Yan Tai Junjie, Wu Xiaoliang, Liu Shuhan, Chi Jia Rating : 105 mins. Opening March 21 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=682 [ THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] Some time before the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty to China, a Mainland high school stages a variety show to celebrate the occasion. One of the most brilliant openings among the many recent Chinese high school titles, it introduces the unfolding drama of rival groups of "good" and "bad" students and their "internal contradictions", and serves as a continual mental backdrop for the audience: of youth caught in a society whose founding ideology has become obsolete and absurd. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE HONG KONG CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Heiward Mak Lam Yiu Sing, Sham Ka Kei, Anjo Leung Hiu Fung, Venus Wong Man Yik Length : 100 mins. Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=683 CITY WITHOUT BASEBALL Can : Mo Yeh ji Sing Lit : City Without Wildness d. Lawrence Ah Mon (Lau Kwok Cheung), Scud (Wan Yu) Leung Yu Chung, Ron Heung Chi Chun, Gia Lin Yuan, Monie Tung Man Lei Length : 100 mins. Opening March 22 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=441 [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTVIAL ] Resigned to playing at a remote facility without even a spectator's stand, a local baseball team faces challenges on and off the field before the international championships. SNIPER Can : Sun Cheung Sau Lit : Godly Gunslingers d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Edison Chen Koon Hei, Huang Xiaoming [ 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. THE WAY WE ARE Can : Tin Shui Wai Dik Yut Yu Yeh Lit : Tin Shui Wai's Day and Night d. Ann Hui On Wa Paw Hee Ching, Chan Lai Wun, Leung Chun Lung, Idy Chan Length : 90 mins. Opening March 27 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=638 [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] A widowed mother and her teenage son live in a Tin Shui Wai estate. She works in a supermarket and helps a colleague breaks into her new job. The boy, average in each and every way, grows into adolescence hesitantly. In passing, we find out that the mother has made big sacrifices to her family. The way we are, the way we live; an ode to the salt of the earth. THE LUCKIEST MAN Can : Dai Sei Hei Lit : Great Four Joys d. Lam Tsz Chung Nat Chan Pak Cheung, Yuen Qiu, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Lam Tsz Chung, Monica Chan Fat Yung, chan Kwok Kwun, Timmy Hung Tin Ming, Pinky Cheung Man Chi Opening May 29 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Ho Bit Fat founded a mahjong parlor in the 50s. With his superb mahjong skills and wise management he now has all 60 mahjong parlors in Hong Kong and has the Hong Kong mahjong industry by its ear. The industry calls him "gambling king" out of respect. He has three wives, Sophie, Sister Ling and Manna, two sons and a daughter. Sophie's son Kei has no accomplishment and uses gambling king's reputation to start trouble all over. Sister Ling's son has never grown up. Having liked music since childhood he considers himself a singer. Ling's daughter Sisi is pretty and ambitious. She makes her own living and never relies on her father. In others' eyes Ho Bit Fat's wives get along well and serve gambling king together. Many are envious but no one knows that the wives and the sons have been fighting continously over the gambling king's inheritance. They not only get the gambling king's butler to watch his every move, but also turn food into hteir weapon as they constantly play pranks on each other. The wives constantly duel in the living room, where nothing is left unturned. As they battle to life and death, the gambling king brings home his illegitimate son Fai and makes the situation even more complicated. Fai is filial and respectful to everyone, thus has the gambling king's favor. The wives and the sons for their own benefit team up and often play pranks on Fai. On the other hand the gambling king wants to retire and in order to keep his business legacy going suggests for his three sons to each take care of a mahjong parlor, with the best performer becoming the successor. Kei and Kin in order to prevent Fai's victory not only hire monks and beggars to create disturbance outside the store but also three great swindlers to cheat at Fai's store. Because Fai has no knowledge of gambling finally he has nothing left. The gambling king orders his butler to take Fai and visit three mahjong experts of the 50s. Because the trio is already aging, they can only teach mahjong techniques via lecture. Fai's extraordinary smart enables his mahjong abilities to improve suddenly with the three experts' guidance. Finally a mahjong war is about to erupt... THE MOSS Can : Ching Toi d. Kwok Chi Kin Shawn Yue Man Lok, Bonnie Sin Sik Lai, Terry Fan Siu Wong, Susan Shaw Yam Yam Liu Kai Chi, Kiu Bo Bo, Jan Lam Kam Lin, Matthew Chow Hoi Kwong, Si Suet Yi Shaun Tam Chun Yin, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Opening June 19 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Moss is the lowest form of plant life but also has the strongest will to live. Prostitution, robbery, and murder happen in Sham Shui Po everyday. Full of Wise Guys, police, prostitutes, the homeless and IndoPak laborers, here is like the new Kowloon Walled City, a strange land within the city, a moss overrun hell. Jeung is a special mission unit officer who is stationed in Sham Shui Po. He has his way of survival in this violent and bloody world, with mobsters and prostitutes as constant companions, his life does not have much goal. To other police officers he actually resembles a Wise Guy more. Among the numerous prostitutes he only favors Lulu. It is not love or even pity, only when he faces Lulu he can sleep at peace. On this day, mob boss Ma Chop's son Kei disappears in rival Four Eyed Tong's turf. Even the rare emerald that Kei has smuggled into the border has vanished. Ma Chop knows Jeung has connection to Four Eyed Tong and forces him to face Tong on her behalf. Yet Tong vehemently denies that he has taken Kei. Both sides refuse to yield and Ma Chop even swears to have Tong Killed as Jeung is stuck in the middle. A killer who resembles a homeless person suddenly attacks Four Eyed Tong. Jeung in order to protect him severely injures the killer but accidentally kills Four Eyed Tong! The killer has become the only witness. Jeung worries that after the police has the killer he would provide the truth. For his own safety Jeung tries everything to get to the killer before the police. During his chase from Jeung, the killer runs into Lulu and knocks her out. He even holds Lulu's cousin Fa hostage. Jeung watches as the unconscious Lulu is sent to the Intensive Care Unit and discovers that his feeling for Lulu is deeper than he has imagined. The rage between self perservation and vengeance burns beyond control. Amid the pressure between the police and the mob, several low life people officially declare a dark war in Sham Shui Po; whoever has the strongest will to live is the final victor. 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 10 2008 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] 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. KERORO THE MOVIE 3 Japanese Animation Opening July 10 2008 CYBORG SHE Can : Ngor Dik Gei Hai Yun Nui Yau Lit : My Robot Girlfriend d. Kwak Jae-Yong Opening September 4 2008 Official Site : cyborg.gyao.jp [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A straight laced young man runs into a robot from the future and becomes deeply attracted to this pretty, cute and unique robot girl. They gradually fall for each other but an earthquake disaster strikes. He is trapped and his robot girlfriend risks her life to rescue her most beloved...... THE SHINJUKU INCIDENT Can : Sun Juk Goo Si Lit : Shinjuku Story d. Derek Yee Tung Sing Jackie Chan, Ken Watanabe, Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) Opening September 25 2008 RED CLIFF PART II 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 December 18 2008 --- [ Entertainment URL ] EMPEROR MOTION PICTURES http://www.emp.hk GOLDEN SCENE http://www.goldenscene.com SING PAO http://www.singpao.com THE HONG KONG FILM ARCHIVE http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/hkfa/ CHANG CHUN CHINA FILM FESTIVAL http://www.cc-film.com GOLDEN HARVEST http://www.goldenharvest.com STAR EAST http://www.stareastnet.com CITY ENTERTAINMENT http://www.cityentertainment.com.hk Commercial Radio http://www.crhk.com.hk Television Broadcast Limited http://www.tvb.com.hk --- [ NORTH AMERICA AREA CONCERTS ] Courtesy of our neighbors at : High Level Entertainment's Concert & Event News Center http://www.levelhigh.com http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/1721/hlecaen.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 May 6 2008 10 THE SAVAGES d. Tamara Jenkins Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney 9 BESIEGED CITY Can : Wai Sing Lit : Surrounded City d. Lawrence Ah Mon (Lau Kwok Cheung) Tang Tak Po, Wong Hau Yan, Wong Yat Ho, Tze Lock Chiang Cho Man 8 OVER HER DEAD BODY d. Jeff Lowell Eva Longeria-Parker, Paul Rudd Lake Bell 7 ROGUE d. Greg Mclean Radha Mitchell, Michael Vartan 6 HAPPY FUNERAL Can : Lok Lau Hau Jor 2 Ga Suk Jeh Lai Lit : Sixth Floor Rear Flat 2 Family Appreciation Ceremony d. Barbara Wong Chun Chun Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Fama, I Love You Boyz, Tian Yuan, Law Chung Him, Stephanie Cheng Yung, Lollipop, Eric Tsang Chi Wai 5 THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL d. Justin Chadwick Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana 4 MY WIFE IS A GAMBLING MAESTRO Can : Ngor Lo Por Hai Doh Sing Lit : My Old Lady Is Gambling Saint d. Wong Jing Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Meng Yao 3 THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM d. Rob Minkoff Jackie Chan, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Michael Angarano, Lee Bing Bing, Crystal Liu Yifei, Collin Chou Siu Lung 2 A TALE OF MARI AND THREE PUPPIES d. Ryuichi Inomata Eiichiro Funakoshi, Akiko Matsumoto Cantonese voices: Tony Leung Ka Fai, Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Eric Suen Yiu Wai, Wu Fung, Jacky 1 IRON MAN d. Jon Favreau Robert Downey Jr., Gwenyth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS BESIEGED CITY Rating : III Length : 97 mins. Opening May 1 2008 Opening March 22 2008 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Site : http://www.hkiff.org.hk/eng/programme/show_detail.php?fi_id=425 Official Site : http://besiegedcity.big.com.hk [ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ] A young man in coma is under arrest for murder; as his older brother delves into the past year of his brother's life, he discovers that numbness and cowardice can have murderous consequences. HAPPY FUNERAL Rating : IIB Length : 101 mins. Opening April 24 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Landlady Susie after years as the landlady has run into countless young people. She still misses the former rear flat residents the most. This year, as she increases rent another group of new young people has rented this residence. Because her grandson will return to Hong Kong from the U.S., Susie takes the chance to find his grandson a wife. Thus this time her strict rental questions basically revolve around strange questions like blood type and Chinese and Western astrology. Some young people have great backgrounds, some are wooden and stiff. As soon as she sees Kay and Chi Susie is already pleased with herself... MY WIFE IS A GAMBLING MAESTRO Can : Ngor Lo Por Hai Doh Sing Lit : My Old Lady Is Gambling Saint d. Wong Jing Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Meng Yao Rating : IIB Opening May 1 2008 THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM AKA : THE J AND J PROJECT Rating : IIA Length : 105 mins. Opening April 24 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] U.S. youth Jason is a super Chinese gong fu fan. On an occasion, he discovers a mysterious golden staff in a certain Chinatown store and is taken through time and space and the "door without door" to ancient China! Jason receives a shocking prediction that wants him to return this weapon to its owner and thus resolving the Monkey King who has been trapped for 500 years under a boulder. On his difficult search, Jason meets figures from the martial art hero world and ancient legends -- One of the "Eight Fairies", "Drunken Fist Master" and wandering poet Lu Yan, the mysterious and silent monk and, the vengeful heroine Golden Sparrow. The four travel over the mountains and through the rivers and discovers where the evil Jade Warlord has imprisoned the Monkey King. The Jade Warlord sends his top assassin -- the cold blooded, white haired demon Ni Chang to lead an army of over 10,000 in pursuit of the four..... A TALE OF MARI AND THREE PUPPIES Rating : IIA Length : 125 mins. Opening May 8 2008 [ YAHOO! HONG KONG MOVIES ] Based on a true story, on October 23 2004 at 5:56PM, a 6.8 earthquake took place in Japan. A grandfather and a child were heavily injured and trapped under the debris. At this moment they heard their dog. It risked its life, while taking care of its puppies Rock, Scissor, and Paper it kept on calling for their courage to survive. Finally the Self Defense Force arrived and rescued all of the residents but left Mari and its three puppies in the disaster area! Without any food, Mari still tried to protect its three puppies. At the shelter the child and his brother learned that a storm was approaching and decided to start their own rescue! ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, May 3 2008 15 LIGHT SONG Can : Dam Dam Dik Gor Xu Fei 14 LITTLE SUN Can : Siu Tai Yeung May Day 13 HIS STORY Can : Ta Dik Goo Si Hins Cheung King Hin 12 DON'T LOVE THE BIGGEST Can : But Oi Jui Dai Yuanzi 11 OBSESSION PREFERENCE Can : Tam Sun Chi Joey Yung Cho Yi 10 I AM NO GREAT PERSON Can : Ngor But Si Wai Yun Jordan Chan Siu Chun 9 PREPARING AT ANY MOMENT Can : Si Hak Jung Bei Jeuk Bobo 8 ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) 7 RED ALL OVER THE GLOBE Can : Hung Pin Chuen Kau Jacky Cheung Hok Yau 6 ESCAPE LIFE Can : Toh Sun Jeff Chang Shun Jit 5 REVIVING MEMORY Can : Fook Hak Wui Yik Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Fang Datong 4 NEW SONG TRY SINGING Can : Sun Gor Si Cheung Nicholas Teoh 3 EMBRACE DREAM OF LOVE Can : Yung Po Oi Dik Mung Seung Jane Zhang Liangying, Andrea Bocelli 2 SHE AND I SHE AND HE Can : NGOR WOR TA TA WOR TA Emil Chau Wa Kin, Lee Chi Ching 1 HOLD HOLD HOLD HAND Can : Hin Hin Hin Sau Wu Kequn ------ [ 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. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE Your Chaffing Editor spent the weekend helping an old friend move. While he may seem to have turned a new leaf, he actually had an incentive as his friend treated him to watch IRON MAN after the move. In light of the fact of that the Former Chaffing Editor is in the room, Old Chaffy will just say that the film is one of the best super hero movie without Wolverine. (You can take that last part out once he leaves the room.) Your Chaffing Editor is not saying this because Marvel gave him a free subscription or the main character is a cocky, drunk mid rate hero with a heart problem. Honestly, Your Chaffing Editor dislikes Gwyneth Paltrow with a passion yet the movie actually makes her likable and entertaining. Well done for everyone involved. Luckily for Your Chaffing Editor, he did not have to catch up following that pathetic attempt at generosity. As readers may have noticed, this week's Fluff is lighter than usual. Most entertainment pages this week have been covering the Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou Olympic torch running. It went something like this: - critique of runner style - obligatory promotion and/or propaganda - criticism of why Hong Kong stars are running elsewhere Obviously the first and the last are fluff, but the middle one is so overblown with statements like "I have never been prouder to be Chinese" and from a certain action comedy star, threat of violence for any protestor who may be thinking about ruining the torch runner, that Your Chaffing Editor almost took the first flight just to try him. Again, he has not turned a new leaf; he would not have done it for any noble cause, he would have done it just to be stupid. I AM NOT THE HERO TYPE, CLEARLY. Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038