From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (JULY 10 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. Michael Tse Tin Wa who celebrates his birthday on the 15th B. Chun Wong who fell into the sea after dinner on the 12th C. Hiromi (Yu Mei) who celebrates her birthday on the 11th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (7/16/2008) Simon Yam Tat Wa, Chiu Woon, Winnie Leung Man Yi and director Ann Hui On Wa were among the attendees at the THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH) premiere. Yam Tat Wa will work on Hui On Wa's new film in Mainland. He said that he has looked forward to working with Hui On Wa for a long time. As for what kind of film it will be, he could not reveal the genre just yet. Hui On Wa honestly said that the new film will start production soon and will have Hong Kong financing. The preparation for the film has already been completed but she could not revealed any detail yet. * (7/16/2008) The Chan Hin Ka directed comedy NOI YI SIU NUI (UNDERWEAR GIRL) will soon open. In it underwear inspector Stephy Tan Lai Yun runs into "girl killer" Ronald Cheng Chung Kei on her new job and is hotly pursued. To win her heart, Cheng Chung Kei is willing to be Stephy's romantic consultant and resolve her romantic problems for her. He even teaches her to pad up and take the initiative with Lok Wing. Cheng Chung Kei in the film has the line, "In this world few men don't love big chest", so he teaches Stephy how to pretend to be big and attract a guy's attention. He even personally demonstrates it once. The crew prepares a roll of duct tape, padding, two sizes larger bra and a small tanktop. Immediately Cheng Chung Kei becomes a big chested man and even Stephy is surprised. For her first comedy Stephy runs into a comedy expert Cheng Chung Kei. During the shoot she as well as the crew are rolling on the floor. * (7/15/2008) 2R yesterday attended a computer event. Race recently has been working on a film with Anthony Wong Chau Sun and said that on the first day he did not pay her any attention. Race pointed out that perhaps he felt young people would not be serious. The next day she had scenes with him and needed to yell from morning to night. After the shoot Chau Sun said to the director that she was decent. She said, "I worked very hard on memorizing ten pages of the script, perhaps it was because I didn't have any bad take." * (7/14/2008) Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) yesterday attended an Inner Mongolia children choir Hong Kong concert as a guest. Siu Chai's film SNIPER (SUN CHEUNG SUN) originally was scheduled for release earlier this year, but due to co-star Edison Chen Koon Hei's nude photo scandal it was postponed without any release date yet. He said that before the Olympics many film inspections have ceased. With the Sichuan earthquake the approval has never come. He said, "This film was decently made. I hope it can be released. The production was so tough. One scene due to exceeding budget and time took three days nonstop to make, I was so tired with a gun in my hand that I couldn't see ahead." * (7/12/2008) This summer's only Hong Kong film NOI YI SIU NUI (UNDERWEAR GIRL) will soon be released. The film's cast features many young girls and guys' girl idols, including Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Janice Man Wing San, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Kathy Tong Yi, and Maggie Lee Man Kwun. Earlier the beauties posed for the film poster. At a Chai Wan studio each wore a small white tank top and short skirt, looking fresh and sexy with a very healthy impression. The photographer even prepared a king size bed with thousands of bras in different colors and varieties. The beauties made many seductive poses in bed. Later they even started tossing the bras in a rather joyous shoot. * (7/11/2008) The Yip Lim Sum directed film JUET DOI SEUNG GIU yesterday held a production start ceremony. Aside from the director and boss Paco Wong, cast members Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Kary Ng Yu Fei, Sammy and Hotcha attended. In the film Stephy and Kary played feuding rivals. Their character names were "Lam Fung Giu) and "Tsui Giu". The Twin Gius would even fight over a guy. Reportedly they were truly at odds. Stephy said that the director wanted them to do more homework and find each other's flaws. The fights were coordinated. Kary said that normally they would slam each others but jokingly. They gave the press a live demonstration. Stephy slammed Kary's forgetfulness, constantly forgetting to bring something and having to borrow from her, being brutish and not lady like. Kary honestly said that she was very hurt and slammed Stephy back for pretending to be mild mannered, looking fragile but actually being very strong inside. They also said tht actually they have never argued before, but Kary revealed that because after developing independently Stephy had less contact with her she was mad. Later she explained because she was too busy. In the film they had to fight over a guy. They revealed that they would have a mystery guest but he would not be Alex Fong Lik Sun. They would also have a fight scene, which for they would have complete freedom. Now they would come up with their own ideas. Would they pull hair? Kary said that they would try "scissor legs". * (7/11/2008) Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and Wu Chen starred in BUTTERFLY LOVERS (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) trailer has already been released. In one scene a group of thugs gang up on Ah Sa on the streets, Wu Chen arrives in time and fight them off. When Wu Chen fends off the enemies he crushes Ah Sa against the wall. For realism Ah Sa immediately screams. Unfortunately action director Ching Siu Tung feels that Ah Sa's scream is not convincing enough and keeps on telling her to try different methods. Finally she even barks like a dog and the crew cracks up. Ah Sa finally asks Director Jingle Ma Chor Sing to accept the take. She even whines to Wu Chen. For crushing her like that he has to be responsible. Wu Chen agrees without any hesitation, "Great! I will." Ah Sa asks, "How will you be responsible?" Wu Chen says, "Come to Brunei and be my queen!" Their flirting fills the set with sweetness and they crack up the crowd. * (7/10/2008) Sammi Cheng Sau Man returns to film with Eason Chan Yik Shun in the film DAI SAU CHA (BIG INVESTIGATION) (originally titled CHA JI NUI), which has already been scheduled for a Mid Autumn Festival release. With Alan Mak Siu Fai and Felix Chong Man Keung at the helm, Sammi and Eason played a cop and a mobster, enemies and friends in a mysterious relationship. In an all new INFERNAL police and criminal story, Seto Mo Lin takes over a kidnapping case. The son of mob boss Fok Ching Chung, a smuggler who both Hong Kong and China authorities want, is kidnapped. He suspects is an inside job. During the investigation, the mouthy rival Mo Lin becomes his most trusted friend in a crisis. Mak Siu Fai and Chong Man fai point out that the story inspiration comes from Akira Kurosawa's HEAVEN AND HELL, and logic is its biggest attraction. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 15 2008, FILM WORDS RED CLIFF CHARACTERS AND ACTORS RED CLIFF (CHET BIK)'s numerous characters seem to be based on the novel ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS and obviously also on historical records. Filmmakers of course take what they want and use them freely, but unlike THREE KINGDOMS RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON (SAM GOK ji GEIN LONG SEH GAP) that relies heavily on fictional characters that Sammo Hung Kam Bo and Maggie Q play. Actually Three Kingdoms is full of colorful characters that should be properly utilized instead of randomly changing and making them up. This film's most key figure is Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu and Cao Cao. In history the Battle of Red Cliff's victor was Zhou Yu. Su Dongpo's classic REMEMBERING RED CLIFF praised Three Kingdoms' Zhou at Red Cliff. However ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS sides with Liu Bei and deliberatedly changes to a Zhuge Liang victory that upsets Zhou Yu. Now the Tony Leung Chiu Wai played Zhou Yu returned him to the "rightful" place. His mutual respect for Zhuge Liang and vice versa is rather reasonable. Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) as the young Zhuge Liang is also reasonable because the fact is when Zhuge Liang participated in 208 Battle of Red Cliff he was only 27 and Zhou Yu was around 32. In Beijing Opera the senior performer plays Zhuge Liang who looks older than Zhou Yu and is instead incorrect. Strictly speaking, both Gum Sing Mo and Leung Chiu Wai have exceeded the age. Luckily modern people are better kept than ancient people. Gum Sing Mo's look and expressions are great. Leung Chiu Wai is thoughtful and cautious more than heroic. We will see if he will radiate in the next installment. Zhang Fengyi as Cao Cao lacks the heavyweight boldness (if memory serves old Beijing Opera film's Yuan Shihai was the best Cao Cao). Fortunately his acting is well honed and performance suitable. As for the warriors, Hu Jun's Zhao Zilong had the most opportunity to shine but his star power cannot match RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON's Andy Lau Tak Wa. Currently Mainland male star on the silver screen often has limited star power. Ba Sen Zha Bu as Guan Yu cuts and chops but without any major stage presence (Anthony Wong Chau Sun once in JIANG HU THE TRIAD ZONE (GONG WU GO GUP) played Lord Guan and resembled the character the most). Zhang Jinsheng as Zhang Yu is ordinary. You Yung as Liu Bei also shows no air or royalty. Taiwan's Chang Chen as gentle but decisive Sun Quan. Shido Nakamura plays a barbaric Gan Xing decently -- if Shido Nakamura plays Zhang Fei he may be very lively. Female character wise, as Xiao Qiao Lin Chiling is pretty but it is hard to say whether she is a beauty of the generation. Vicki Zhao Wei as Sun Shangxiang has a lively personality. Each time she appears she is attractive. I feel Three Kingdoms films can be even younger, hopefully next installment has more energy and impact. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 15 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS FILM BOX OFFICE FORESIGHT BEFORE THE OPENING RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) has been a big hit. Big production ultimately is the audience's first choice. If this year like last year has so many HOllywood hits the situation may not necessarily be the same. Industry insiders has a general idea before a film's release how much its Hong Kong box office will be. They are rarely wrong. The reason is very simple. As anyone with a little knowledge of local distribution would know, the number of opening cinemas and screens perhaps can gauge how much a movie can take in. Cinema circuits have professionals who have seen each film of the same period before the release before deciding how many cinemas would be screening. These people are market experts. They make decisions with past experience. They definitely would use every show at every cinema to its fullest. Now film scheduling is very free, unlike before when five to seven shows daily are definite. With several mini cinemas, very popular films can start with over 20 shows, with two to three shows in a hour. If the response is poor, the remaining shows are immediately cut to even just one show daily on a small cinemas with several dozen seats. Cinema circuits are film selection experts. After watching a movie they estimate the situation of the same period and already has a rather precise number in their heads. Surprises would happen, but never better than expected. They would only be worse. Cinema owners watch more movies than the average person. In addition they face the audience everyday and are very certain what the audience likes to watch. In terms of cinema and show arrangements, they would not be slow to make more money but hard to help the ones in trouble. If the opening day box office is poor, often they do not even wait for word of mouth before chopping show numbers. Thus they would only look worse than expected and rarely better. With less shows for the ones with poor reaction, of course the hits benefit. This extra advantage would not reach performance that exceeds expectation. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 14 2008, FILM WORDS RED CLIFF IS THE PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE The widely anticipated John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) costume epic RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) had a hit opening and gave Chinese films a July turnaround after the May Poverty and June Bottom. This film indeed is epic, spares no expense and respects the Three Kingdoms history and legend without any change, substitution or messy modification, which is seriously rare. However the overall performance remains difficult to determine. Because this is the first installment, it spends more than two hours to set up the Battle of Red Cliff and displays key figures' personalities and "multinational" situations. As for the real battle of wits and duel climax, the next installment will tell whether they are exciting or not. Certainly, Ng Yu Sum has put a lot of effort into the film. Different from his past passionate and explosive work, although it has very ferocious, bloody battle of the masses, but the drama with plot and tone is the main body. undoubtedly the first installment is not too intense and exciting, but it makes sense and keeps both the big and small details in mind. The plot has Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) under the prince's order leads 800,000 soldiers on march. The repeatedly defeated Liu Bei (You Yong) tries to ally with Eastern Wu Sun Quan (Chang Chen) in resistence. The film has several bloodbath battles: Zhao Zilong (Hu Jun) demonstrates his loyally fierce warrior nature, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei their bravery in battle; as well as the grand eight Tiagram Formation battle. Honestly, the battle scenes just have crowded slaughters, shock and the realism are not enough. The eight tiagram formation battle even feels heavy. Better is the details on character descriptions. Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) and Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) become the wisest center characters of the entire film. Their testing of each other is rather reserved and wonderful. The instrument scene is the most outstanding. Liu Bei's shoe weaving and Sun Quan's hunt are also very dramatic. This time Ng Yu Sum's drama is much better than action, wonderfully he maintains his trademark flying doves and even uses them further. The opening bird's flight to the throne is very unique. Later the doves frly from one side of the Red Cliff to the Cao camp, the long specialeffect bird's eye view is the entire film's best motion visual. Animals like Oxes, horses and tigers also make up for pleasant surprises. Overall, the first installment is mixed. Due to the large scale subjects, numerous characters, hope to make a Chinese film war epic without becoming common or alternative, the film has a lot of difficulty to overcome and unevenness is inevitable. Only the big finale will tell the victor. Seemingly the film has covered ever aspect, will it be able to return with a full harvest? We must wait until the next installment to find out. - SHEK KEI 4. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 14 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS ATV'S TANG TAT HEI SERIES IS THE MOST ANTICIPATED Former TVB Gold Label producer Tang Tat Hei's new ATV series production FAT MONG KWUN YING. With Lawrence Ng Kai Wa, Amy Chan Sau Man, William So Wing Hong it reminds people of his similar TVB series. Since the ownership change, ATV has produced many new series. The writer feels this Tang Tat Hei new series is the most attractive. Although earlier it has used TVB artists like Jessica Hester Hsuan (Suen Huen), but aside from the cast subject is also very important to television series draw. Tang Tat Hei rose in TVB because his series production subjects were fresher than other TVB series then. At that time TVB's primary series target was the old style housewife viewers. Tang Tat Hei focused on creating professional and middle class subjects. After their success, TVB realized that now many of the housewife audience are already middle class. Tang Tat Hei's concept perhaps came from foreign series, lawyer, doctor series that were already very popular in European and American television long ago. Hong Kong series have always been mainly about family morals and relationships and very afraid of involving professionals. Professional series' biggest difficulties are research, actor training and props. Research mainly requires time. Television series creation on average takes three months to half a year from conception to screenplay completion. Professional series require longer time. Television stations can do it but are unwilling to spend extra resources. Hong Kong artists are numerous but few can act like certain professionals. Some young artists cannot even enunciate correctly and their English abilities are low. They cannot handle a mouthful of professional terms. Professional series have stricter requirement in terms of props. They cost a lot of money. For example doctor series require special equipment rental. In this aspect, European and maerican series remain much higher class than Hong Kong series. Tang Tat Hei daringly challenged these subjects back then. TVB now still follows this route of production. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 13 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS THE CRIMES DURING THE FILM GLORY DAYS Carina Lau Ka Ling spoke for the first time in many years about being held captive for nude photos. Back then was Hong Kong film's most glorious period. Because film investment had a Midas touch effect, it attracted many criminal elements to this industry. What was better than a business that makes more money and more glorious than investing? Aside from investing, they needed stars with box office draw to perform for them. Because filmmaking would make money, star salary would not only increase but also lead to scheduling issue. Stars can at the same time worked on many roles, but time was limited. They definitely would turn down some invitations. Problems beyond their control would appear. When making offers to stars, companies would definitely say they would adjust to the schedules no matter what. Yet during the real production they might not necessarily be able to do so. Because investors did not truly understand film production, when they felt stars could not provide enough time to complete the film they could only use criminal operation methods. Here the film has not been finished and was unwilling to release the person, there could not wait and came to take the person by force. Back theen indeed more the once criminal elements have appeared on the set to take stars by force. Thus the position of production manager was not for everyone because one of the responsibilities was scheduling with the stars. Now the situation is very different. Film production managers are often from academia and need to have finance and personnel management knowledge unlike before. When the criminal elements participate in investment, they still would create an excessive production situation. Investors who do not understand film think the cast can sell overseas, aside from money they can use other methods to force stars to heed. In the end the production result is poor and the market collapses. Investment that is easiest to make money definitely would due to too many entries into the market collapse. No one would have any profit or leave with bruises all over. Hong Kong film is a good example. Market restructuring is difficult but better than criminal element polluting the market during more profitable times. No one wants Lau Ka Ling's tragic encounter to occur again. - KWOK HIN CHING 6. TA KUNG PAO, JULY 13 2008 ARTIST SENSITIVE INFORMATION HAS A PRICE In recent months a series of information leaks have taken place in government departments and publicly traded groups. The police and the group management have expressed deep concern. More worrying is the lack of clear explanation about why files are lost, not to mention how to effectively plug the leak. Anyone with knowledge of business file management understands that accounting is information, which is the channel that helps business exchanges. Service industries like sales, insurace, and travel weekly or even daily store target cilent and new file information. Information in the business market has a price, with special professionals like political figures and show business celebrities' files the most sort after. Even with the privacy regulation, in unregulated gray area profiteers of infomration leakage are hard to eradicate. A real estate friend has stated that for star properties and celebrity homes he risks seeking information from those around the target figures, especially their family and economic situations as bases for opening bids. Reportedly, before Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To)'s bankruptcy announcement, real estate companies have already approached about his South District property sale with an offer that was less than his ideal because they knew he was in a bind. Since he needed cash he succumbed to the bitter entanglement of real agent agents with advanced knowledge and helplessly sold at a loss. Many publicly recognized brands and groups before seeking celebrity spokes models would obviously conduct a background check on them. Major business transactions first would first check the target partner's current wealth condition, past transaction figures and dates and any unreputable past as consideration elements for long term collaboration. A credit report investigation process on average would go to a business file company with a massive amount of information in order to get a more in depth and widespread information as well as clear cut prices and sales. Some media coverage's interview target lifestyle information mostly comes from their employees. They include drivers, maids and even building security, even paper with information on them can reveal hints for study. Should the current privacy rights be strengthen? This includes Basic Law (Basic Law's stipulation of Hong Kong residence basic rights and duties) personal information. The industry estimates that in the short term no amendment is necessary, considering news media's coverage handling that inevitably touches on the freedom of the press. In other words leaked information if touched upon confidentiality and related connections would inevitably lead to outside attention, uncover the source and other complex problems involved in the problem itself. Even if personal information leak cannot be completely eradicated, the groups themselves should not expose client's privacy for profit. Ultimately that violates human rights. Personal information confidentiality and handling, especially public figure's files, require precaution against leaks and involve conscience and responsibility. Any intention to improve would yield a way. Security measures should not be overlooked either. - CHOW YI 7. TA KUNG PAO, JULY 13 2008, LIGHT SHADOW PATH KUNG FU PANDA'S RELEVATION Last week KUNG FU PANDA's Mainland box office has already exceeded 160 million and become the highest grossing animation in history. KUNG FU PANDA's widespread audience support has led to a lot controversy, the topic of which mainly is "why Mainland canot make a movie like KUNG FU PANDA." Even more fierce comments claimed that KUNG FU PANDA is "cultural invasion", "theft of Chinese national treasure and gong fu", even directr Lu Chuan praised the film with, "Gong fu is ours, panda is ours, why can't we make KUNG FU PANDA?" Panda indeed is China's national treasure. They are endangered, lovable protected animals. KUNG FU PANDA's "gong fu" though was not truly Chinese martial art. Its "gong fu" is based on the Hong Kong gong fu film tradition, basically an embodiment of Hong Kong style gong fu film culture. The term gong fu used to only appear in Cantonese films. As for Chinese Kung Fu the term was not commonly used until after Bruce Lee's movies became popular around the world. For martial art action displayed on the silver screen, Hong Kong film indeed has had a glorious past. Now U.S. films used Hong Kong gong fu film designs with computer special effects, the visuals are improved and threaten Hong Kong films; but that is another topic. KUNG is an animated production, better than the human physical limits and extremes. With a story that is suitable for the whole family, the audience thoroughly enjoys it. Some comments felt that Chinese film lacks creativity, financing and technology. Creatively, the comments again took the opportunity to criticize THE PROMISE (MO GIK) as much ado about nothing. Actually they are not constructive criticisms. THE PROMISE can be seen as a failed experiment. Chinese film creativity is decent, only its market instinct and operation is not as they are intended. The reason is the biggest commercial market remains (for now) the U.S. Movies that succeed in the U.S. often a worldwide hits like KUNG FU PANDA. INFERNAL AFFAIRS (MO GAN DOH) opened in several U.S. cinemas to decimal box office; THE DEPARTED was a big hit in the U.S. This is not a problem of creativity. As for computer technology, national films indeed are weaker because creators do not know enough about computers. Yet this is not a fatal flaw. The most difficult is the market issue. Because we lack knowledge of European and American market (especiall the U.S.) audience and ecology and natural limitations, we cannot take risk with too much financing. KUNG used over 400 animation artists, 5 years and US$130 million to produce. Without market understanding, the investment decision would be very hard to make. However, this level of film investment in the U.S. is no big deal because the U.S. market operation model has already been established. With scientific methods to calculate return, the grasp is more accurate (of course failures still exist). A famous Chinese director once tried his luck in the U.S., later due to unwillingness to submit to the producers' control and decided on his own final cut. Finally several films bombed, which was the problem of market knowledge. The market is financing driven. - TIN LIK 8. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 12 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS GOOD SINGERS MAY NOT NECESSARILY MAKE GOOD ACTORS Hong Kong artists, famous or not, work in multiple sectors of music, television and film. When the entertainment industry was thriving, focusing on just one was impossible as difficulties for breakthrough abound in several sectors. The industry only has an extremely few focused stars. Some could only act, some could only sing. They rarely chose one road for themselves. Often they tried to act or sing but were unsuccessful, so they focused on development in one sector. Good actors who at the same time are good singers are actually very few because they are completely two performance formats. To be a good actor, an actor must give up himself to be able to get into the character. Actors who hold the script and argue with directors cannot leave themselves behind and have no way of getting in. Everyone knows stars may not necessarily be good actors. They can become leads often not due to their acting but their popularity and luck with the audience. Actors have to forget themselves when they perform. Singers on the other hand have to elevate themselves. Have you imagined how a singer feels when he stands on the center stage of the Hong Kong Coliseum? With 20,000 viewers around you, applauding and cheering, with a little less sense of self you would be completely frozen, shiving and shaking. When a singer runs to this side and raises his hand, he starts a human wave with endless whistles. When he goes to the other side, he starts another roar. The stage gradually rises, nearly thousands of spotlights shine on the singer and make him light up all over. At this moment he is not human, he is a god. Singers need to use their own singing and dancing to impact each people's heart in the venue. His sense of self at this moment would be inflated to the extreme. For someone who sense of self is inflated to the extreme to completely leave themselves go in another type of job and get into character that can likely be an extreme miniscle figure, you can imagine how difficult that is. When we see some famous people unable to play souls of small people we would feel strange because we are very familiar with small figures, but we can experience the difficulty of someone whose sense of self is inflated to nearly being in love with himself. - KWOK HIN CHING 9. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 11 2008, FILM WORDS FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR CHINESE FILM IN CRISIS Half of 2008 has passed. With major storm, rain, earthquake the Chinese region is busy with relief efforts. Show business has also been passionate, but the film industry in a crisis has a hard time with providing joy and cheer. Actually disaster time also needs entertainment. Last month when the Hong Kong Film Development Council met I heard from director Gordon Chan Ka Seung who has been to the Sichuan earthquake area. Victims loved old, big action big comedy Hong Kong films, which have become an important past time for joy amidst pain. Now Hong Kong film cannot save itself. Reportedly Mainland due to LUST CAUTION (SIK GAI) has tighten co-produciton inspection, which has been very influential. However Chinese films ultimately have to be marketed. Hong Kong film professionals with draw still are wanted. In the first half of the year Hong Kong's biggest hit was stephen Chow Sing Chi's Lunar New Year film CJ7 (CHEUNG GOR 7 HO) about poor Mainland laborer father and son. Although it had more tears than laughter, fortunately it has real meaning. It has made over HK$50 milllion, far more than other Chinese films. Taiwan star Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) starred KUNG FU DUNK (GONG FU GUOON NAM) only had an average box office. The Andy Lau Tak Wa starred, Daniel Lee Yan Kong written and directed THREE KINGDOMS RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON (SAM GOK ji GEIN LUNG SEH GAP) had a decent total box office, better than the Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Leon Lai Ming and Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred, Ching Siu Tung directed costume war film THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS (GONG SAN MEI YUN). Yip Lim Sum written and directed new era romance continued to be local hit. L FOR LOVE L FOR LIES (NGOR DIK JUI OI) made over 10 million. Other small budget youth films were numerous, including SEE YOU IN YOU TUBE (OI DAU DAI), HAPPY FUNERAL (LOK LAU HAU JOR 2), SCARE 2 DIE (HAK SEI NEI), LOVE IS ELSEWHERE (OI CHING MAN SHUI), BESIEGED CITY (WAI SING), CITY WITHOUT BASEBALL (MO YEH JI SING) and others. Yet often they are very rough. Edison Chen Koon Hei's nude photo storm has impacted the stardom of the youth generation; Shawn Yue Man Lok in SHAMO (GWUN GAI), PLAYBOY COP (FA FA YING GAING), MOSS (CHING TOI) tended to be dark and violent and most were not hits. Currently Hong Kong film reputation revival successors are lacking. As for experienced directors, Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga)'s RUN PAPA RUN (YUT GOR HO BA BA) and Johnnie To Kei Fung's SPARROW (MAN JEUK) both achieved nostalgia and honor within the dangers of the underworld but could not break through the crisis. Tsui Hark's modern mystery THE MISSING (SUM HOI CHUM YUN) was excessively complicated and the box office was not very ideal. Internationally, Wong Kar Wai's foreign film MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS was only ordinary, Chow Yun Fat's CHILDREN OF HUANGSHI was poor, Jackie Chan and Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit)'s FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (GONG FU JI WONG) was not as successful as the Hollywood animation KUNG FU PANDA. Now already in the second half of the year, Chinese epic RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) has been released and seemingly in battle alone. Next month the importance of the Beijing Olympics would crush everything. Seemingly this heart pounding year has to pass or perhaps when the dust settles next year before the Great Chinese film industry can tell whether disasters bring any turning point. - SHEK KEI 10. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 10 2008, FILM WORDS FROM WONG HEI HUNG TO KUNG FU PANDA This column has mentioned that both foreign films KUNG FU PANDA and WANTED are mainly about apprentice training. Actually Hong Kong film once were often about masters and apprentices, which now has almost been lost. Hong Kong gong fu film ancestor is Kwan Tak Hing's WONG FEI HUNG series. Wong Fei Hung treated patients and instructed apprentices, in turn spreading the traditionally important moral of honoring the master. However the master was the lead, the apprentices had a hard time standing out. In the 70s Hong Kong film finally permitted the young apprentice to be the lead. In 1974 Chang Cheh directed SHAOLIN MARTIAL ARTS (HUNG KUEN YU WING CHUN), which was mainly about Alexander Fu Shing's training. Aside from the strict master, Yuen Siu Tin also played the humorous master. In 1978, Yuen Wo Ping directed SNAKE IN THE EAGLE'S SHADOW (SEH YING DIU SAU) and DRUNKEN MASTER (JUI KUEN) both had his father Yuen Siu Tin as the strange and funny master who wonderfully instructed the disobedient kid Jackie Chan (in the latter he played the young Wong Fei Hung) and made Jackie Chan a star. Also in 1978 Lau Ka Leung directed and Lau Ka Fai starred in THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN (SIU LUM 36 FONG), which also was a famous master and apprentice film. Several years ago Tarantino's KILL BILL paid tribute to that film and cast Lau Ka Fai. In Hong Kong film's circle of life, gradually apprentices replace masters and brethren replaces master and apprentice. In the 90s Stephen Chow Sing Chi's "Mo Le Tau" became popular, he learned on his own without any master in a wise guy manner. Then Hong Kong film became depressed. Although education has been elevated, it lacked anything with hard working apprentice. This year is the 30th anniversary of DRUNKEN MASTER and THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN. Hong Kong had no response and embarrassingly nneded the U.S. animation KUNG FU PANDA to revive the gong fu charisma and the master and apprentice relationship. Hollywood's THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (GONG FU JI WONG) enabled Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) and Jackie Chan to wonderfully instruct an American kid. Japanese master Akira Kurosawa must be mentioned. His first film JUDO SAGA was very influential on the post Kwan Tak Hing Hong Kong gong fu films. Kurosawa's RED BEARD was about a doctor instructing new comers and was also another great master and apprentice film. Kurosawa's final work 1993, NOT YET, was about an old professor and essayist who was deeply loved by his students. Luckily last year Hong Kong also had a modern master and apprentice film, the Yau Nai Hoi directed EYE IN THE SKY (GUNG JUNG). Veteran cop Simon Yam Tat Wa instructed rookie Kate Tsui Tsz Shan. The film was very well made. - SHEK KEI 11. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 10 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MAINLAND INSPECTION MAY BE LOOSEN KUNG FU PANDA has been a tremendous hit in Mainland as its box office broke through 150 million and became the highest grossing animation in Mainland. KUNG FU PANDA also did well in Hong Kong after exceeding 20 million. For a family animation, KUNG FU PANDA was only reasonable and did not have much break through. The reason for its big Mainland success, the writer feels, was most primarily the lack of competition. Earlier Mainland inspection was tighten, both co-productions and imports were impacted. This year was not a Hollywood harvest year either. Thus KUNG FU PANDA became a winner. In estimate RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) may have a sizable box office as well and could challenge the box office record. Reportedly Mainland inspection has already started to loosen. After Olympics film releases will be benefited. Perhaps due to the Olympics the film market before the Olympics was obviously under pressure to avoid any chaos. Some also said that after last year's inspection tightening, industry insiders have all reflected to the authorities. If it is not loosen, the film industry would have a very hard time with survival. Thus it was slowly loosened. In the first half of the year Mainland did not have enough film releases, not in terms of quantity but in terms of caliber. In other words it did not have enough commercial films. In recent years, Mainland box office has had an annual double digit growth. Originally it was very optimistic and officials also were very glad to see this situation. Otherwise they would not announce these figures. In the first half of the year inspection had problems. To maintain box office figure growth the second half of the year had to catch up. No one would truly know whether the figure could be caught up with. The world economic environment has been poor. Mainland economic growth this year would slow. The lack of tremendous box office increase would not be a problem. The lack of declining figure would be the best. National film victory over foreign film was a policy issue. National film this year suffered the most from inspection. The end of the year big slot national or co-productions film in order to catch up in the several months after the Olympics must receive market protection in order to have achievements to be proud of. - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Juet Doi Seung Giu d. Yip Lim Sum Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Kary Ng Yu Fei, Sammy, Hotcha Can : Oi Dut Hei d. Joe Ma Wai Ho Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Chen Bo-Lin (Chan Pak Lam), Shaun Tam Chun Yin, Terry Fan Siu Wong, HotCha Can : Yau Jet Geung Si Um Luen Nei Lit : A Zombie Has a Crush On You Roger Kwok Chun On, Natalie Meng Yao, Jo Kuk Cho Lam, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Maggie Lee Man Kwan, Tanya Wu (Ng Ka Yun), Anke Bei, Angel Ho Cheuk Ying Can : Um Sat Lit : Assassination d. Soi Cheang Po Shui Louis Koo Tin Lok Can : Jing Yun Lit : Witness Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Zhang Jingchu, Sherman Chung Shu Man ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2009 Can : Ga Yau Hei Si 2009 Lit : Family Has Joyous Event 2009 d. Vincent Kuk Tak Siu Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei Can : Tung Moon Lit : Classmate d. Herman Yau Lai To Shawn Yue Man Lok, Ada Choi Siu Fun, Ella Koon Yun Na, Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Chapman To Man Jat, Jun Kung Shek Leung 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, 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 : Si Lim Lit : Reminisce d. Wai Ka Fai Lau Ching Wan, Kelly Lin (Lam Hei LUi), Yan Qing, Jo Kuk Cho Lam Can : Giu, Won Lit : Call, Soul Grace Ip Pui Man, Carl Ng Ka Lung, Jolie Chan Yuen Kei, Raymond Wong Ho Yin, Chucky Wood Gei Lan, Kwok Hoi San Can : Ang Hong Lit : Tough Guy Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Ellen Chan Nga Lun, Liu Ye, Sun Honglei FANTASTIC WATER BABES Can : Chook Shui Fu Yung Lit : Out of Water Hibiscus d. Jeff Lau Chun Wai Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Stephen Fung Tak Lun, Tian Liang, Eva Huang Shengyi, Opening October 23 2008 in Malaysia Official Site : www.emp.hk [ OFFICIAL SITE ] A beautiful and cocky swimmer Jill and her teammates kidnaps Alex, Hong Kong's champion swimmer, in order that he can train her to win a duel against her rival in swimming and in love. All hell breaks loose when hate at first sight inadvertently becomes something else... 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) 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 Yuk Lin, Clifton Ko Chi Sum Length : 90 mins. Opening July 17 2008 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. [ COMING SOON ] BREATH d. Kim Ki-Duk Chang Chen, Zia, Ha Jung-Woo [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] On a cold winter day, after learning her husband has found a new woman, Yeon absent mindedly heads for the prison where Chen is confined. Although she does not know him personally, repeated news of his suicide attempts on TV has subconsciously grown in her mind and now is leading her to seek him. Jin has no visitors and normally would not agree to meet with a complete stranger, but hearing that it is a woman he accepts her meeting request out of curiosity. Their first meeting is as awkward as it can get. Yeon treats Jin like an old friend whereas Jin does not open up so easily. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE 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 SNIPER Can : Sun Cheung Sau Lit : Godly Gunslingers d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Edison Chen Koon Hei, Huang Xiaoming Opening November 6 2008 in Malaysia [ 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. DORAEMON - NEW NOBITA'S GREAT ADVENTURE INTO THE UNDERWORLD Japanese Animation Opening August 7 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] This is a great adventure in the magical world with seven brave world rescuers! What strange idea does Nobita come up with now? If he can use magic, everything would become very convenient. One day, Nobita and Doraemon use the "If phone booth" to turn the real world into a magical world. This world is the same as the original world but everyone except Nobita use magic......in this world, magic is the main source of power in human survival and development. LA LINGERIE Can : Noi Yi Siu Nui Lit : Underwear Girl d. Chan Hing Ka Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Lo Mik Shuet, Wong Cho Nam Opening August 8 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] This story is about four young women. Their lives and their loves tied together by a common thread --- lingerie. Miu, Donut, Celine and CC come from four different walks of life. Yet they always seem to hang out at the same place, a sexy lingerie shop where Donut works. Miu works for the Research and Development division of a Lingerie company. She's been an over achiever all her life academically and career-wise, yet possessing a failing grade in romance. She recently moves into the house of her deceased, unmarried old maid of an aunt. In her room she sees glimpses of what could become her future, that of a successful career woman who dies a virgin. Just like her aunt's drawer full of fabulous lingerie and underwear, never to grace the sights of a man to share her life with. This epiphany of hers brings about a resolve to finally find someone to fall in love with for the first time. And with it comes droves of suitors of all shapes and sizes, from a rich playboy, a nerdy genius, a bank manager to a self proclaimed "love expert" Lucas who seems to have ulterior motives behind his pursuit of Miu. She needs to rely on her three close and romantically experienced friends to find her way out of this labyrinth. Yet these three "consultants of love" seem to have hit rough patches of their own. THE ONE MAN OLYMPICS d. Hou Yong Li Zhaolin, Hu Jun, Rating : I Length : 109 mins. Opening August 14 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] 76 years ago a short distance runner named Liu Changchun declined to represent the Japanese backed Manchuria to participate in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. After a tearful farewell with his wife and child he escaped Beijing, found the Dongbei University dean General Zhang to sponsor his boat ride as he headed alone to attend the games. 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 August 14 2008 in Malaysia [ 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... CRAYON SHINCHAN MOVIE Rating : IIA Length : 88 mins. Opening August 14 2008 CYBORG SHE Can : Ngor Dik Gei Hai Yun Nui Yau Lit : My Robot Girlfriend d. Kwak Jae-Yong Haruka Ayase, Keisuke Koide Opening August 21 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...... CONNECTED 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 Opening September 11 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Based on the Hollywood film CELLULAR, single mother Grace as usual takes her daughter Yu Ting to school but on the way robber Yi Fok crashes into her. Half conscious and powerless, she witnesses Yi Fook ransacking her home and brutally kills her maid! Later he takes Grace into a cargo. Yi Fok forces Grace to hand over his criminal evidence or he would kill her entire family. Frightened, Grace takes out a heavily damaged mobile phone, builds it while no one is watching and miraculously makes a call for help. The call accidentally goes to a financial company loan department employee Bong. Bong's son will be studying abroad and is waiting for him at the airport with his sister Jeanie. He remains suspicious on Grace's call for help and hands the phone to traffic cop Fai. Unfortunately due to network problems Fai cannot clearly hear what Grace says and warns Bong about playing prank on the police. At this time Yi Fok suddenly rushes into the cargo and luckily Grace can hide the phone in time. When Bong picks up the phone and clearly hears a gunshot he realizes the severity of the call and decides to rescue Grace! The task at hand though is to prevent the robber from hurting his next target -- Grace's daughter. Bong must keep her daughter from falling into the robber's hand. With danger ahead of him, at anytime he may have to give up his valuable life to save someone... BUTTERFLY LOVERS AKA : Dip Gim Lit : Butterfly Sword 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 Opening September 11 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] From the richest wine making family, Jook Yin Ji is energetic and happy. She likes to disguise herself as a man and wanders the town with her servant Ngan Sum. By chance she runs into Leung Chung San, a young hero who helps the constable in the capture of a major robber and has a good impression of him. Jook Yin Ji's father has a past business rivalry with Chin Wing Wai. Today as a high ranking official Chin claims that the Jook family is selling counterfeit wine in an attempt to take over the Jook family business and even wants the pretty Yin Ji as a concubine. Luckily the new rising star of the court Ma Sing Yun who has fallen for Yin Ji wisely backs him off. Sing Yun seeks help in the palace and leaves the help of his assistant Cho Fong. Father Jook asks old friend a herbal medicine maker to take care of Yin Ji in disguise and to teach her martial arts. 10 PROMISES WITH MY DOG Can : Ngor Wor Chum Wui Huen Dik 10 Gor Yeuk Ding Lit : My 10 Promises With My Retriever Mayuko Fukada, Etsushi Toyokawa, Reiko Takashima Opening September 11 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Akari Saito is a 14-year-old girl living in the city of Hakodate in Japan’s northern prefectural island of Hokkaido. Secure in gentle and compassionate love of her father Yuichi, and mother Fumiko, Akari is leading a carefree childhood free of want. The only seed of dissatisfaction comes from having to watch her father, a promising surgeon at a university hospital, grow busier and busier at the cost of time spent with her. And then one fateful day, Akari’s ever cheerful and energetic mother falls ill and is hospitalized. Just as worry and loneliness begin to take their toll on her, a stray puppy wanders into her yard. Taking the puppy with her on a visit to her mother in the hospital, she receives approval to keep it. It is a female Golden Retriever with white markings on its paws. They name him “Socks.” Before Akari leaves, her mother sits her down and carefully explains – by pretending to use the voice of Socks - the “10 Promises” Akari must keep to her new dog as her master. LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK Can : Cha Ji Nui Lit : Woman of Investigation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) Opening September 11 2008 in Malaysia [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] When an oil tanker explodes, John Fok becomes the focus of investigation by the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese police and is forced to put on hold his business to settle things out. Just as John is planning on a comeback, his son is kidnapped. Doomed in love, Senior Inspector Molline Szeto is fed up with her 10-year relationship with her boyfriend. With no prospect of an imminent wedding, she ends the relationship. Excited with her new crossroads in life, she is thrilled to be assigned to investigate the case of John's kidnapped son. 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 [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] In the early 1990s, a tractor mechanic from China nicknamed Steelhead illegally enters Japan to search for his girlfriend. To make ends meet, he joins his friend in Shinjuku in doing menial labor. Steelhead finds out that his girlfriend has married Eguchi, a Japanese Yakuza leader. Steelhead decides to stay in Japan and work for Eguchi as a hitman. Soon, Steelhead gets used to the power and find himself embroiled so deeply in the ways of the underworld that there is no turning back. PAINTED SKIN Can : Wat Pei d. Gordon Chan Ka Seung Donnie Yen Chi tan, Vicki Zhao Wei, Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Qi Yuwu, Betty Sun Li Opening September 25 2008 in Malaysia [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Chong Wu, an amorously inclined young man, came across an attractive young woman needing his help and he immediately rushed to her aid. The meeting brewed wild imaginations to have her in his arms for himself. Though he is married, he continues having strong desires and urges to bed any pretty woman that he meets. To his shock, the woman that he sexually desires is actually a ghost. 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 * STARLIGHT JOEY YUNG CHO YI ATLANTIC CITY CONCERT 2008 VENUE LOCATION : Mark G. Etess Arena Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort Atlantic City NJ DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday Monring, September 28 2008 @ 1AM Sunday, September 28 2008 @ 2PM TICKET PRICES: $128, 88, 58 EXCLUSIVE TICKET OUTLET LOCATION: Raymond Miu Productions www.rmpny.com 195 Canal Road Room 201 212.966-0800 * ANDY HUI CHI ON AND WILLIAM SO WING HONG LIVE IN CONCERT Special Guest : Eddie Ng Kwok King VENUE LOCATION : Horseshoe Casino 777 Casino Center Drive Hammond IN 46320 www.horseshoe.com 866-711-SHOE DATE AND TIME : Friday night / Saturday morning, August 8 2008 @ 12AM TICKET PRICES: $148, 108, 88 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: Ticket Master 866.448.7849 ONLINE www.thevenue-chicago.com * RIVER ROCK CASINO PRESENTS A-MEI VENUE LOCATION : River Rock Show Theatre 8811 River Richmond BC V6X 3P8 Canada DATE AND TIME : Tuesday, July 22 2008 @ 8PM TICKET PRICES : CA$388, 228, 148, 88 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS : TICKET MASTER CANADA http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/110040CBB8A695B2?artistid=1231195&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 July 15 2008 10 THE INCREDIBLE HULK d. Louis Leterrier Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt 9 SUPERHERO MOVIE d. Craig Mazin Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald 8 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, Law Wing Cheung, Cheung Moon Yuen, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan 7 THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN d. Andrew Adamson Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes 10 I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND d. Jiri Menzel Ivan Barnev, Julian Jentsch (Sophie Scholl), Marian Labuda 9 KUNG FU HIP HOP Can : Jing Mo Moon Lit : Excel Dance Gate d. Fu Huayang Jordan Chan Siu Chun, Fan Bingbing, Popin Hyeon-Joon, Pan Xiaoting, Yang Yang, Gao Min, Xing Aowei 8 SEX AND THE CITY d. Michael Patrick King Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon 7 ENSEMBLE, C'EST TOUT d. Claude Berri Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Stocker 6 NIM'S ISLAND d. Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler 5 WANTED d. Timur Bekmambetov James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie 4 KERORO THE MOVIE 3 d. Mine Yoshizaki Japanese Animation Cantonese Voices: HotCha 3 KUNG FU PANDA d. Mark Osborne, John Stevenson Dreamwork Animation English voices: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan Cantonese voices: Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Denise Ho Wan Si, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Jackie Chan 2 HANCOCK d. Peter Berg Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman 1 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 ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS RED CLIFF PART I AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF Rating : IIB Length : 140 mins. Opening July 10 2008 Official Site: http://th.foxmovies.com.tw/redcliff [ 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. KUNG FU HIP HOP Rating IIA Length : 94 mins Opening July 10 2008 [ NOW.COM.HK ] Northern youth Chor Tung has studied martial art since childhood. Ambitious, he has fallen in love with street dancing since then as well. Yet for dancing he did not properly care for his sister and led to her sight loss. At the time, their grandfather also had a heart attack and passed away. Chor Tung brought his sister to Beijing for treatment. To survive and to raise money for her sister's treatment, Chor Tung sold counterfeit goods. In a counterfeit sweep Chor Tung met a mysterious woman -- a dance club's gold label DJ Tina. Chor Tung during his escape took Tina's handbag, thus leaving a very poor first impression with each other. KERORO THE MOVIE 3 Rating : I Length : 90 mins. Opening July 10 2008 THE SPARROW Rating : IIA Length : 87 mins. Opening June 19 2008 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. ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, July 12 2008 15 THE OLDER THE LONELIER Can : Yuet Jeung Dai Yuet Gu Dan Milk and Coffee 14 FALLEN FOR BEAUTY Can : Oi Seung Nei Dik Mei Yu Quan 13 SING WITH ME Can : Pui Ngor Gor Cheung Soda Green 12 I AM STILL YOURS Can : Ngor Wan Si Nei Dik Leo Ku Kui Ke 11 WHY Can : Wai Sup Mor June Zhu (Chu Jing) 10 FAITH Can : Shun Lim Anson Hu (Wu Yin Bun) 9 NEXT SUNRISE Can : Ha Yut Gor Tin Leung Claire Guo Jing 8 UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOM Can : Ying Fa Shu Ha Hins Cheung King Hin 7 EYE COLOR Can : Ngan Sik James Lin (Lam Yau Ga) 6 ON EVERY LINE Chan Pak Yu, (Lee Gut Hong), (Wan Lik Ming) 5 ORCHID Can : Yuen Mei Fa Man Wenjun (Moon Man Gwun) 4 ON THE TREADMILL Can : Pau Bo Gei Seung Joey Yung Cho Yi 3 LIKING YOU IS VERY TIRING Can : Hei Foon Yut Gor Yun Ho Lui Vinci Chan (Wing Yi) 2 COLLECT Can : Sau Chong Jam Hsiao (Siu King Tung) 1 LOVE AND HOPE Can : Oi Yu Hei Mong JJ Lin Junjie ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038