From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (JULY 17 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. Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Carina Lau Ka Ling who wed on the 21st 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (7/22/2008) Wu Chen and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin yesterday appeared on a Roadshow interview. They talked about their BUTTERFLY LOVER (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) production experience. Earlier during the shoot they were linked in gossip, which Ah Sa was somewhat nervous when asked. She asked Wu Chen to speak Mandarin because she was afraid that he would say something wrong and the press could misinterpret. Wu Chen said that he did not need to because his Cantonese was decent. Wu Chen expressed that during the shoot Ah Sa constantly played tricks on him but they had a very pleasant working experience. Ah Sa often shared her acting experience as well as her eating experience. When asked if he and Ah Sa would wed in Bhunei, he joked that perhaps in the sequel of the film he would consider further. * (7/21/2008) Zhou Xun challenges an all new silver screen image as her NUI YUN BUT WAI (WOMEN NOT BAD)'s shocking image has been unveiled. Her bowl hair and big, round glasses look was interesting and humorous. Zhou Xun in the film played a medical examiner. With her bowl haircut and frog glasses she looked a little like classic Hong Kong character Plain Jane. Tsui Hark revealed that he felt Zhou Xun was used to playing the quiet and introverted woman who is often abused. This time he wanted her to leave her past girl image. For the look to keep the rebelliousness and elegance, Tsui Hark hired costume designer William Chang Suk Ping to be the film's image consultant and even personally cut Zhou Xun's bowl cut. Zhou Xun liked this strange and funny look a lot, especially the big glasses. "Even I almost laughed to death because I have never seen this look on me." Actually she indeed had a very hard time with seeing herself clearly because the glasses were real prescription 800 degree glasses. "In the beginning I wasn't used to wearing the glasses, I was almost dizzy and cockeyed; without them I could see clearly, after putting them on I couldn't see anything. I almost couldn't even walk. In one scene I was forced to learn to smoke, but I almost couldn't see where the cigarette was." Even so, the glasses were still her favorite prop. After the shoot she collected them as a keepsake. This film was Zhou Xun's first comedy. She said, "I always felt that I had quite a feel for comedy, but seemingly only Tsui Hark was able to see that." She honestly thanked Tsui Hark. After completing the film she felt much happier. * (7/20/2008) 2008 MISS HONG KONG Winner: Edelweiss Cheung Shu Nga First Runner Up: Skye Chan Sin Yeung Second Runner Up: Sire Ma Choi Miss Photogenic: Sire Ma Choi Miss International Goodwill: Skye Chan Sin Yeung Most Popular Online Candidate: Nadia Lun Chi Won Travel Ambassador: Samantha Ko Hoi Ning Trendy Award: Hilda Leung Nga Lam * (7/19/2008) Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin yesterday appeared on the radio. Ah Sa has already completed work on BUTTERFLY LOVERS (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) and STORM RIDERS II (FUNG WON II). BUTTERFLY will be released in September and Wu Chen will provide his own voice for the Cantonese version. In September she will work with Alan Luo (Law Chi Cheung) on the new film SHUI YUET CHING (AGED MOON LOVE). After working with Wu Chen she will work with Law Chi Cheung, has her Mandarin improved a lot? She honestly said that she would like to study Mandarin and fashion design and would like to return to school. * (7/19/2008) Ella Koon Yun Na yesterday appeared on the radio. She honestly said that she felt stressed from returning to record at the studio. Lately she has been busy with the Andrew Lau Wai Keung directed new film, but she said that she only had a six second appearance. She believed that the director would not cut her performance to only three seconds. Co-stars included Shu Qi, Pei Wei Ying, Pu Pu and Elle (Siu Shuet), who played musical troupe members. Thus they have a lot of choreography and her kneecaps were bruised. However due to the pleasant production, no one complained. * (7/19/2008) The Hong Kong Bruce Lee club for the 35th anniversary of gong fu superstar Bruce Lee's passing yesterday held a Bruce Lee glorious 35 -- visual design art and film collection exhibit. Members Manfred Wong (Man Jun), Chan Kwok Kwun and Tin Kai Man showed their support and at the same time displayed the Stephen Chow Sing Chi sponsored Bruce Lee bronze statue. Satellite film channel 2 in support of the event would air classics like A CHINESE CONNECTION, ENTER THE DRAGON, GAME OF DEATH AND RETURN OF THE DRAGON. Chan Kwok Kwun earlier worked on CCTV's Bruce Lee biography in his place of origin Shunde and even went to shoot on location in the U.S. and Italy. After eight months the production has been completed with 50 episodes. During the Shunde shoot, because Bruce Lee's ancestral home was very broken down and only a few photos remained they did not shoot there. At the same time due to the Earthquake the series' original pre Olympic broadcast has been postponed to after the games. Although Bruce Lee's family could not return from the U.S. to attend, Chan Kwok Kwun pointed out that the members were still very supportive of their idol. Recently someone purchased Bruce Lee's ancestral home and planned to restore it. Chan Kwok Kwun pointed out that the club has many photos of the home in its prime and hoped to be able to assist. After restoration it planned to hand over the home to travel development council to manage so such valuable history could be preserved. * (7/19/2008) Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) yesterday attended two watch flagship store openings. Siu Chai not only has been providing his voice with Nicholas Tse Ting Fung to the animated film STORM RAIDERS (FUNG WON KUET) but also has bene working on UM SAT (ASSASINATION). Siu Chai waited almost a year for UM. Now that the film finally started work, he had to record and prepare for his concert tour. He wanted to run away. The worst part was the film had no production progress, which kept him in the dark. He sighed that his filmmaking life was poor and had to wait for several films. * (7/18/2008) Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and Wu Chen starred BUTTERFLY LOVERS (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) earlier shot a scene in which Ah Sa needed to pass a test to be able to remind in a martial art school and be with her beloved Wu Chen. During places, Ah Sa joked that she had to demonstrate her real gon fu. Aside from which she has just learned she also performed a cartwheel. Wu Chen praised, "I have enjoyed your cartwheel in your music videos and already thought you were great. I never would have guessed that you could do a cartwheel with a sword. Amazing, truly amazing." Ah Sa joked that her inspiration came from a little Shaolin student actor. She saw how exciting their mid air cartwheel was and she was itching to try it. She never would have thought that she could amaze Wu Chen too. * (7/18/2008) The Venice Film Festival will take place between August 26 and September 6. This year Hong Kong director Johnnie To Kei Fung has been invited to be a part of its jury. Ah To honestly said that he was happy and honored to be able to represent the Hong Kong film industry on the jury. As early as last year the event's jury chair has already invited Ah To to be a part of the jury, but because last year his film MAD DETECTIVE (SUN TAM) was in competition he could not. This year he had no film in competition and the jury chair personally came to Hong Kong and invited him, so he agreed. Ah To praised the Venice Film Festival as always very support of Asian films. Ah To earlier attended the New Delhi film festival. His new film SPARROW (MAN JEUK) was invited to be the opening film. Always promoting Hong Kong film to the international market he said, "New Delhi actually was very hot, and I never would have guessed that Indian people also like Hong Kong films. I hope in the future I would have more opportunity to introduce Hong Kong films for them to enjoy." * (7/17/2008) Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) earlier on a cable interview mentioned that since completing PERHAPS LOVE (YU GOR OI) he has not made a romance and worked on several movies that all expressed brethren relationships. Even he got a little bored and longed for another romance. Gum Sing Mo was asked whether he would be interested in directing. He expressed that when he saw how tough RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) was on John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) he has already changed his mind. However if he could choose, he would direct a comedy because making the audience laugh was harder than making the audience cry and in turn felt more successful. Kelly Chen Wai Lam who has hardly ever been in gossip mentioned that Gum Sing Mo was the only actor who tempted her heart in her career. He responded, "The chemistry got better as I worked with Kelly. The more familiar I was with her the more emotions flowed. Actually she too has a cute, innocent and funny side." As for why he has rarely been in gossips, he said, "Because as soon as the cameras are cut I can leave the character. This is due to training, haha!" [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 23 2008, FILM WORDS RED CLIFF'S BATTLE FORMATION ISSUES I feel in John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s epic RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) the battle of wits drama is better than the actual battle action. The bird's light flight is better than the grand but bloody war. Actually the film's battles are in rather large scale, with mountains and oceans of people, forests of spears and rain of arrows. A lot of effort has been put into the production but with a serious viewing of course many lacking spots can be "found". Undoubtedly, Chinese costume war films are not as full as the European, American and Japanese experience. They have already been convincing long ago and with plenty of variations. We started much later. For example from the soldier and horse equipment, formation preparation, all details from small to large seemingly have to be designed anew and very difficult. Last year Peter Chan Ho Sun's THE WARLORD (TAU MING JONG) had decent battle formations and was able to demonstrate individual hero's bravery among the military chaos, which was rare. Yet the European World War I's battle trench formation's appearance in the Qing Dynasty China was too exaggerated. RED CLIFF attempted to capture the Three Kingdoms battlefield realism. Even though with all the horses, the warriors mainly had to dismount from them to fight on foot. Changbanpo's Zhao Zilong lacked the air of cavalier. Three Kingdoms fans were the most upset went into battle on foot, without riding his Red Hare horse and waving his halberd. Actually THREE KINGDOMS RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON (SAM GOK ji GEIN LUNG SEH GAP) also had stronger foot than horseback battles, perhaps due to the lack of horseback battle expertise among action directors and stunt professionals? As for battle formation, the film's use of shields as reflectors seemed to have borrowed from ancient Roman history, not necessarily ancient Chinese ways. Originally China had many ancient art of war but they often have been lost or become mythical. How could they be adapted for the silver screen? It would require a lot of effort and fully concentrated study. This film's biggest battle formation was the eight diagram formation, inspired by the famous eight formation graph. Unfortunately it became a very clumsy iron shield formation that was not agile at all, in turn it lost credibility. ROMANCE OF THREE KINGDOMS described Zhuge Liang's use of rocks for the eight tiagram formation and created a maze. If the film was well thought out and had knowledge of the Taoist astronomical, geography and mysticism (Zhuge Liang originally was a Taoist), it could have been very exciting with the lively use of advanced special effects. As for the film's appearance of ancient Chinese "football", some criticized why would Cao Cao be in the mood to watch a match with the war on hand? Actually this film did not make that up as the game was originally a way to train Han soldiers. Although RED CLIFF was lacking, it had uncommonly entertaining parts as well. The land battle in the first installment was very tough. The challenge of the next installment's water battle would be even greater. Hopefully the film would save the best for last. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 22 2008, FILM WORDS MORE ABOUT THE WAY WE ARE The Ann Hui On Wa directed, Lui Yau Wah written THE WAY WE ARE (TIN SHUI WAI DIK YUT YU YEH) has been discussed slightly on this column during this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival. Although its recent release has been very alternative, it still received many good reviews. In the film festival program interview, Hui On Wa says that this film is one of her Tin Shui Wai two step project. The other is based on the 2004 Tin Shui Wai family murder and has received the Hong Kong Asian Film Financing Forum's Most Creative Award. Yet the story is too depressing and she could not find any investor. "As for THE WAY WE ARE's screenplay, actually as early as 2001 an university student who I didn't know mailed it to me. The content was very decent but it had nothing to do with Tin Shui Wai. Last year, Wong Jing needed a production. I recommended this rather low budget television film to him and started to edit that student's screenplay, change the background to Tin Shui Wai and turn it into the gently toned THE WAY WE ARE." Hui On Wa's early television work has already been renowned. After becoming a famous film director she still has made for Radio and Television Hong Kong television films that have not adjust to the market with personal uniqueness. The high definition THE WAY WE ARE is an uncommon yet full of little people flavor reality bite. This film describes the public housing single family's good people and deeds. Paw Hee Ching plays a middle age mother who works in a supermarket and lives with her secondary school son who is preparing for the HKCEE. She is very kind and often helps the lonely old lady (Chan Lai Wan) in the neighborhood. The son (Leung Chun Lung) seems lazy but actually is a nice kid who is even very filial. The entire film does not pile on drama and only shoots everyday life -- going to work, on the job, food shopping, cooking, hospital visits, family gathers, community events and others. Wonderfully amid the ordinary many details are emotional and interesting. The actors are also very natural and do not seem to be acting. Every family has its own story, often it would experience birth, aging, disease and death. The most touching part of the film is when Paw Hee Ching accompanies the old lady to visit her grandson. The scene lightly points out the heartbreaking past and the helpless situation. The Granny has a very hard time to see her own relative. Luckily the world still has love, as non relatives can still celebrate as a family under the Mid Autumn moon. Actually this film's subject somewhat resembles France's ENSEMBLE, C'EST TOUT and can be developed into a straight up drama. Paw Hee Jing's martial past, her relationship with the in laws, her son's relationship with his cousin, his crush on a female tutor all have drama. Co-stars Clifton Ko Chi Sum, Chan Lai Hing, Idy Chan Yuk Lin and others are fun, but they come and go quickly without any detailed connection. Reportedly Hui On Wa is working on the second of the Tin Shui Wai two-step that perhaps has a stronger contrast. - SHEK KEI 3. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 20 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS AVERAGE PERFORMANCE OF SUMMER'S FIRST SLOT THE DARK KNIGHT's opening number reached 3.24 million on 87 screens. The number of screens have already demonstrated cinema owners' vote of confidence in this film. Its Hong Kong location shoot might not be its main reason for successful. The premiere word of mouth has already been out and those who have seen it have had nothing but praise. In such an advanced information age, the influence of word of mouth has been much faster than before. Film promotion felt that only the desire to go would affect a film's opening. Word of mouth would not be influential until the second week. If a film had bad word of mouth, that would indeed be true. If the word of mouth was good, premieres and advanced screenings would have already revealed that and added to the opening day success. Word of mouth spread at a very shocking pace. For a movie that the audience has looked forward to, bad word of mouth could not completely eliminate the desire to go. THE DARK KNIGHT seemingly would pass 20 million. Whether it could challenge the summer box office top three it tentatively remained unknown. RED CLIFF has entered its second week. Its first week made 14.67 million. On average it made over 2 million daily, an ideal performance. Entering its eighth day, with THE DARK KNIGHT opening the screen number rapidly dropped to 46 screens. Its box office also instantly dropped to 740,000 that day. Exceeding 30 million might be very difficult. KUNG FU PANDA after 20 days still made 234,000 and on top of the cumulative box office with 27.65 million. Neck in neck with PANDA earlier, WANTED's momentum was much worse. In the summer the family audience ultimately had an edge. WANTED on Thursday only made 62,000, but after three weeks it has already made an already decent 21.7 million. HANCOCK's word of mouth has been uneven and did not generate a lot of talk. Yet after 15 days it has already surpassed WANTED with 21.77 million. It still made 225,000 that day. For summer's first slot, several big films actually have performed rather evenly between 20 to 30 million. - KWOK HIN CHING 4. TA KUNG PAO, JULY 20 2008, LIGHT SHADOW PATH RED CLIFF'S SUCCESS HIDES CONCERN The John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) directed RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) has turned around his recent flops. In the Mainland market in four days it broke 100 million, in Taiwan it also succeeded. In Hong Kong its box office for the week was 14 million and had hope to break HERO (27 million) and FEARLESS (31 million) box office. Director Woo's RED CLIFF was the most expensive Chinese film in history. Reportedly its box office needed to pass US$70 million, thus the European, American, Japanese and Korean markets were very important. Currently the Korean opening was decent and exceeded all past costume epics. The European market has always been more stable, the Japanese and American markets would be the real key of return. In the past few years costume epics have been very successful in Mainland, but in the overseas market especially the U.S. they have performed poorly and shown signs of decline. Obviously the costume wuxia fever has already subsided. Some film professionals have described these films as using super luxury car prices to make an everyday car appear to exceed its class, but its cost can already make a luxury car. Super large production budget for a Greater Chinese hit film was not the business. Often when asked about U.S. distribution, those in charge would respond appropriately. RED CLIFF was the biggest Chinese film, the Korean success at least was the first step. Hopefully it would soon distribute to the U.S. and break the recent costume epic fate. RED CLIFF was Hong Kong's only summer Chinese film, with several U.S. films like KUNG FU PANDA, HANCOCK, WANTED and the just released THE DARK KNIGHT surrounding it. RED CLIFF's success was not simple at all. Hong Kong film investors felt Hong Kong film's local space for survival has dwindled by the day as cinemas welcomed Hollywood films, which was justified in terms of business. With the current flexible scheduling, traditional Hong Kong film viewers would return disappointed when they would go to the cinemas for 2:30, 5:30 and 7:30 PM shows as the audience continued to be lost. RED CLIFF in Taiwan and Southeast Asia has performed decently, but RED CLIFF does not happen every year. The average film seems to have lost the Southeast Asian market. Taiwan for examples, over a decade Hong Kong film aside from big films and Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) films have all performed disappointingly. Since the start of the 90s, the Taiwan audience has been disappointed with Hong Kong film. At the time too many films were rotten. Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand preferred Jackie Chan and Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) films and they have made mostly English films. With Thai films taking over with an annual 50 film production rate, the demand for Hong Kong film has not been high. Markets like Indonesia were small and singular. Hong Kong film success has already become beautiful memory. Where do we go from here is the industry's important subject. - TIN LIK 5. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 19 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS EVERY MOVIE NEEDS COMPUTER SPECIAL EFFECTS Undoubtedly, now is the computer generated image age. Almost every movie has been through computer handling, the difference would only be how much. On average people feels that CGI special effects would only appear in those science fiction and action special effect films, but they would be wrong. Television production's color adjustment is easier than film. Film in the past took a lot of effort. With computer handling it became much simpler. For example, in the past some special effect scenes always had color difference before and after the scene. Thus whenever scenes with different color appeared you knew they were special effects. Uneven color adjustment saved money and only needed to pull several special effect scenes to handle. Simple scene transitions like fading would also have uneven color adjustment. With Hollywood film's big budget, before CGI, lighting was used for special effect and the entire film would be color adjusted from start to finish. Of course they looked very comfortable and never odd. After CGI became commonplace, putting the entire film into the computer for color adjustment only required several hundred thousand more. Some simple scene transition handling could be done as well and the film's overall quality has been elevated. Several hundred thousand to a big movie of course would be no big deal; but to small to mid scale films that might be a heavy burden. The government has provided financial assistance to high technology and has been also determine to help the film industry. If small to mid scale films could enjoy computer handling to elevate visual quality, that would increase market competitiveness. - KWOK HIN CHING 6. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 18 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS TELEVISION STATION IS THE BEST SHELTER Wong Hei terminated his TVB contract early. The writer felt sorry for him because TVB has always treated him well. Show business has been light in recent years, television station is the most comfortable shelter. Television development also depends on who you know. Without executive support, you rarely get work and only make the lowest salary. It is very sad. In a television station people either work to death or bored to death. TVB although not longer renew contracts when some artists' ended still has a certain amount lying around. No one should complain about too much work at a television station. Busy is good. The right amount of workload is very hard to come by. Only the two poles would appear. In recent years television stations very rarely have been able to make stars who can develop in film or music industry at the same time, which is related to the busy to death on screen schedule with the slightest fame. With several series a year, making movies and records outside are already impossible. Record release not only needs time to record songs but also promotions before and after the release, not something that artists who are working on series can handle. Movies are even more troublesome. Would you cast anyone who needs schedule accommodation for his or her big screen debut? Television stations are good because no matter how big the storm is outside it is still a place of its own. Local television station's first choice of course is TVB. Its production rate is enormous, and performance opportunities naturally are more. Artists with executive protection are the best. More practical instead is good relationships with producers because they are the real "users". When executives order who to push, subordinates would not disobey. However how to design their characters in the series and whether they can demonstrate their abilities, producers and creative teams have to deal with. The dumbest are artists who are full of themselves. With screenplay changes they definitely cross the creative team. In the future when the team writes their parts, how could they be focused? They would just make up something that works, since it would be changed on the set anyway. With anyone who is opinionated, producers would avoid trouble by cutting the scene. Series production is teamwork, affecting morale by accommodating someone is impossible. - KWOK HIN CHING 7. MING PAO DAILY, JULY 17 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS SHOW BUSINESS HAS NO SECRET Carina Lau Ka Ling and Tony Leung Chiu Wai's wedding in Bhutan has been exposed. Show business has no secret, which is something that everyone should know already. Why does this circle have no secret? The biggest reason is too many people want to know this circle's secret. Supply and demand are the simplest of reasons. How much space does publication, radio, television, or internet everyday have to fill with show business information? In addition the more secret the information is the more controversial it is. Not all of this circle's information would be reported. Everyday actually a lot of show business news that wants to be known is buried because they are not controversial. The more secret and the less people should know about, the more the media are interested in. On many occasions the media represent public interest, some are excessive and exceed the ethics borders. The media that represent the public in peeping for artist privacy including creating negative news are criticized. Actually these items indeed have market. Many buy, watch and criticize at the same time in a personality split manner. The public is nosy, industry insiders are just as nosy. Everyday the gossips and privacy that are spread in the industry are much more numerous than the media have seen. The suspicion often is more exciting than the exposed one. Many show business secrets leak due to its own people. Some media lack news and would create news, but some more credible secrets are mostly from industry insiders. Veteran reporters have industry informants. Some have mutual benefits and others just love providing information. Informants are shattered in different positions in the industry, some are as lowly as the base level workers and as high as boss level. Uncovering someone else's secret is an indescribable satisfaction. Human nature does not need any further explanation. Show business has no secret. Some secrets actually have already been known but never been publicly reported. Why? Because people who knew such secrets had an ethics border that has never been exceeded. - 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, Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) 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. OCEAN FLAME Can : Yut Boon Hoi Shui, Yut Boon For Yim Lit : Half Sea Water, Half Flame d. Liu Fendou Liao Fan, Monica Wang (Mok Siu Kei), Hai Yitian, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lam Suet Opening August 8 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Wang Yao once was a heartless john and con artist, then one day he ran into waitress Li Chuan. Wang Yao originally thought Li Chuan was like all the other girls and be on his beckon call, but Li Chuan's stubbornness far surpassed his imagination. Amid the mutual torture, they gradually lost themselves. He lost his freedom and she lost her life. After an eight year sentence, Wang Yao walked out of the prison gates. He entered the home of Li Chuan's mother with a gun and wanted to fulfill his wish...... 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 continuously 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 their 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...... HANADA Can : Fa Yeung Nam Ji Final Lit : Flower Like Men Final d. (Shek Jang Hong Ching) (Jang Seung Jung Yeung), (Chung Boon Yun), (Siu Suk Din), (Chung Tin Cheung Tai), (Ah Bo Lik) Opening August 28 2008 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 * SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPTS, INC and RESORTS ATLANTIC CITY PRESENT HINS CHEUNG KING HIN LIVE Special Guest : Theresa Fu WIng VENUE LOCATION: Superstar Theatre Resorts Atlantic City Atlantic City NJ DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, August 17 2008 @ 1AM TICKET PRICES : $108, 78, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: CHINATOWN P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street New York NY 10013 212.732.3828 FLUSHING Dannys Musical Store 41-46 Main Street, Flushing NY 11355 718.358.5678 BROOKLYN Apple Travel Service Inc. 774 60th Street, 2/F Brooklyn NY 11220 718.680.6666 * 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 22 2008 10 I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND d. Jiri Menzel Ivan Barnev, Julian Jentsch (Sophie Scholl), Marian Labuda 9 NIM'S ISLAND d. Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler 8 ENSEMBLE, C'EST TOUT d. Claude Berri Audrey Tautou, Guillaume Canet, Laurent Stocker 7 WANTED d. Timur Bekmambetov James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie 6 KERORO THE MOVIE 3 d. Mine Yoshizaki Japanese Animation Cantonese Voices: HotCha 5 SPACE CHIMPS d. Kirk De Micco Vanguard Animation English VoiceS: Andy Samberg, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels 4 HANCOCK d. Peter Berg Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman 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 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 1 THE DARK KNIGHT d. Christopher Nolan Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman ------ 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. KERORO THE MOVIE 3 Rating : I Length : 90 mins. Opening July 10 2008 ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, July 19 2008 15 FALLEN FOR YOUR BEAUTY Can : Oi Seung Nei Dik Mei Yu Quan 14 NEXT SUNRISE Can : Ha Yut Gor Tin Leung Claire Guo Jing 13 SOMETIMES LONELY Can : Yau Si Jik Mok Kelly Chen Wai Lam 12 ON EVERY LINE Jason Chan Pak Yu, Daniel Lee Gut Hong, Danny Wan Lik Ming 11 LIKING YOU IS VERY TIRING Can : Hei Foon Yut Gor Yun Ho Lui Vinci Chan (Wing Yi) 10 ON THE TREADMILL Can : Pau Bo Gei Seung Joey Yung Cho Yi 9 TOGETHER WITH YOU Can : Yu Nei Tung Joi Chen Chusheng 8 LOVE AND HOPE Can : Oi Yu Hei Mong JJ Lin Junjie 7 COLLECT Can : Sau Chong Jam Hsiao (Siu King Tung) 6 EYE COLOR Can : Ngan Sik James Lin (Lam Yau Ga) 5 ORCHID Can : Yuen Mei Fa Man Wenjun (Moon Man Gwun) 4 TEARS CRY Can : Ngan Lui Huk Liu Liu Liyang (Lau Lik Yeung) 3 UNWILLING TO SPEAK Can : But Yuen Shuet Wa Eason Chan Yik Shun 2 UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOM Can : Ying Fa Shu Ha Hins Cheung King Hin 1 I AM STILL YOURS Can : Ngor Wan Si Nei Dik Leo Ku Kui Ke ------ [ 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. WATCH THE WORLD BURN Last Friday, Your Chaffing Editor had a smooth ride to work. Others in the city however might not have been so fortunate. If they worked in Bryant Park area, they would probably have run into a massive influx of children and teenagers who have descended upon the area for Disney's latest money making machine, Miley Cyrus. According to a friend, it was so crowded that he could not even moved past the fountain. Would anyone care to guess the one thing that those poor commuter hated the most about Miley? Speaking of Disney's money making machines, apparently its latest venture WALL*E is suffering online backlash for its portrayal of the future. Your Chaffing Editor might or might not agree with those bloggers whose feelings were hurt when they saw the passengers of the Axiom, but he could not help but wonder if they were busy complaining on their blogs about how the film portrayed future humans, do they realize how closely they actually resemble to fictional characters? (http://www.slate.com/id/2195126/) As usual, Your Chaffing Editor must turn to the grand ONION for a moment of clarity on the subject matter. (http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/your_guide_to_the_wall_e) At the risk of sounding like one of the Axiom passengers, Your Chaffing Editor absolutely lost it when he while accidentally flipping through the channels landed G4 TV's coverage of E3, which happened to be about Street Fighter 4. (http://www.streetfighter.com) At further risk of becoming one of the complainers, Your Chaffing Editor also went to see THE DARK KNIGHT and, while it was a good film, did not like it. It might have been a little too dark, too long with too little (fictional) bang and too much (actual) bang for his summer entertainment taste. Perhaps that waswhy he enjoyed HELLBOY 2 THE GOLDEN ARMY so much after watching THE DARK KNIGHT. For his taste, THE DARK KNIGHT should have been two movies with the focus of this one more on Heath Ledger's Joker exploits and the rise of Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent and saved the rest for later. As it stands, Your Chaffing Editor thought all the call for Heath Ledge's Oscar might have been out of sentimental reasons because the character itself deserved as much credit. He found Aaron Eckhart's heartbreaking portrayal much more reasonable. Perhaps a second viewing will change his mind. "Some men aren't looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn." I am an agent of chaos, Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038