From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (AUGUST 14 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. Sammi Cheng Sau Man who celebrates her birthday on the 19th B. Jessica Hester Hsuan (Suen Huen) who celebrates her birthday on the 18th C. Leo Ku Kui Kei who celebrates his birthday on the 18th D. Karena Lam Ka Yun who celebrates her birthday on the 17th E. May Kwong Man Shun who gave birth to a 7 pound 5 ounce baby boy on the 15th F. Vincent Kuk Tak Siu who celebrates his birthday on the 15th G. Shirley Kwan Suk Yi who celebrates her birthday on the 15th H. Kevin Cheng Ka Wing who celebrates his birthday on the 15th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (8/20/2008) Miki Yeung Oi Kun and director Yip Lim Sum yesterday attended a radio interview to promote their new film FORGIVE AND FORGET (CHUN OI DIK). Yip Lim Sum expressed that the film will be released next Thursday. This Saturday and Sunday will have special screenings. Yip Lim Sum expressed that he will personally attend the show for audience reaction because that will be the most direct. He expressed that he could accept audience criticism. With his romantic trilogy earlier he went online for audience reaction. FORGIVE was a romance with horror segments. he said that the horror element addition was for freshness and to bring the audience excitement. He joked that he wanted to scare the audience. How did he feel about Miki's acting? He praised that she was very good. In comparison with Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Yip Lim Sum praised both as very good performers. Miki expressed that she will attend the special screenings if she will have time. She suggested female viewers to bring male companions because she and the director discovered several scary scenes were very suitable for couples to watch together. Miki expressed that she has already seen a screening but did not bring anyone. She only covered her own eyes. She joked that she will ask a male co-worker to attend the premiere but he must be cuddly. She said that guys have asked her to horror films, but usually they went with a group. Because they were not dating she did not want to be alone with him. * (8/20/2008) Charlie Yeung Choi Nei in early September has been invited to attend the 2nd annual Chungmuro International Film Festival. She felt very honored. Although this film festival was new in recent years, but Charlie was very happy to be able to help promote film and bring good films to different countries' audience. Charlie would attend the award ceremony on the evening of the 11th and planned to share films with local fans. She brought two of her films, THE LOVERS (LEUNG JOOK) and the early September release BANGKOK DANGEROUS. THE LOVERS received good reviews when it was released in Korea and was called the Chinese ROMEO AND JULIET. BANGKOK DANGEROUS was her first Hollywood film. Charlie said, "THE LOVERS was already over ten years old so finding the original film was certainly difficult. Distributors and producers who I have contacted have not responded. I could only contact God Father (Tsui Hark). Luckily, in the end the Korean film archive had a well kept copy." * (8/19/2008) Emme Wong Yee Man expressed that this Saturday she will head to Chengdu, Beijing and Guangzhou to promote the film A CHINESE FAIRY TALE. She hoped to be able to experience the cheerfulness in Beijing. In the film she played a reporter. Before the shoot she followed a Mainland reporter's coverage work and visited an old lady who lived off garbage picking and discovered that her home was full of trash. * (8/19/2008) Monica Mok Siu Kei in the Filmko new film OCEAN FLAME suffered to no end. After expressing earlier that the director for realism required real hitting in many fight scenes and put her in a hospital, in her suicide scene with Simon Yam Tat Wa she accidentally got glass in her eye. Siu Kei was still frightened when she recalled. "At the time I was really scared, I was afraid that I would be blind. For a moment my eyes truly had sharp pain." In the suicide scene, Siu Kei cut her wrist in the bathtub in her wedding gown. Yam Tat Wa needed to break through the glass bathroom door to save her. During the official shoot, the broken glass accidentally flew into Siu Kei's right eye. "Actually the bathroom door and I had a distance. Brother Wa didn't knock it too hard. I never expected the glass to fly so far." Siu Kei said that at the time he was very scared because she felt her eyes were far more important than other body parts. With eyes life would have no color. Luckily after a round of eye washing finally she was fine. Yam Tat Wa praised Siu Kei's professionalism because the shoot took place in the winter. Siu Kei was already cold from waiting in a big tub of water. When she was injured everyone was even more panicked. "I immediately asked her to properly rest, but she also didn't want to hinder everyone. In the cold bathtub she let the crew treat her eye. She was very nice and very professional." * (8/19/2008) Louis Koo Tin Lok in CONNECTED (BO CHI TUNG WA) had a series of thrilling scenes and nearly had an accident. Luckily Goo Jai was a good driver. The film's car chase cost alone reached 5 million. The film company even bought 40 million in insurance policies for the actors. In one scene while Goo Jai was chasing Liu Ye his car's brakes suddenly stopped working and accidentally hung on a building construction protective net. The entire car was covered in the net and Goo Jai had to continue to go 1,000 meters before stopping with his vision hindered. Because Goo Jai insisted on personally performing, the director arranged for a double to demonstrate it once. Goo Jai was so nervous during rehearsal that he almost did not know how to brake. The team closed off nearby roads to avoid accidents. Goo Jai was still shaking. "It was like driving blind. The net was tightly knitted so it had no line of vision to speak of. In the car I could only hear the team scream commands for me to drive and brake. I felt very passive. Thus the first time I was a little lost. I almost didn't know how to brake until quite far." A worker was unfortunately injured as he was dragged behind Goo Jai's car. After the shoot he was sent to the hospital for surgery. The location also took the longest time to find. * (8/18/2008) Wylie Chiu Shek Chi yesterday attended a TVB game show promotion. Lately she has been working on the independent film OI DOH FAT SIU (LOVE TO FEVER). In one scene she was pushed onto a coffee table and her legs were all bruised. * (8/16/2008) Ken Hung Cheuk Lap, Chan Ka Lok, Si Nga (former Wai Si Nga) and model A.lin yesterday attended the Emperor film HUNG SEUNG WOR NEI JOI YUT HEI (REALLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU) production start ceremony at a school and began their first day of work. Ken, Chan Ka Lok and Si Nga appeared in school uniforms. Emperor manager Mani Fok Man Hei attended and announced the official signing of Si Nga as an Emperor artist. Mani expressed that because she did not want Wai Si Nga's name to be too similar to Jill Vidal (Wai Si)'s so she would use the stage name Si Nga. Mani said that she would mainly work on film and advertising. For now she has signed a three film deal. However Si Nga during the contract signing still signed her full name and Mani immediately corrected her. Si Nga said that in this film she would play the role from a student to middle age and have a lot of crying scene. "Ken, Chan Ka Lok and I would be in love triangle, but it is not an extension of our television show." She expressed that she was not afraid of rumors with Ken and she did not know whether she would have any kiss scene with Ken. However she has already given him her first on screen kiss to him on TVB's DRESSAGE TO WIN. "I only remember that I was very scared then, but we didn't have any bad take. We did the scene several times for different angles." She would like to work with Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi, Liu Kai Chi and Lai Yiu Cheung the most. Si Nga expressed that her new company contract was similar to her modeling contract before. Ken in the film would play classmates with Chan Ka Lok and they both would fall for the same girl, but both only have a crush on her. Ken and Ka Lok in the film would be photography society classmates. Would they take advantage of Si Nga in the dark room? Chan Ka Lok joked, "I would teach her how to develop pictures." He said that he did not know whether he would have any intimate scene with Si Nga. Ken said that he should and the director was still considering it. "We already have great chemistry when we worked on the television show, but we really want to shake off those characters." * (8/15/2008) Mani Fok Man Hei yesterday led Deep Ng Ho Hong and Sherman Chung Shu Man as Emperor New Talent singing contest preliminary round judges. Mani stressed that she has been negotiating jobs for Gillian Chung Yun Tung. As for Ah Gil's five minute scene in MEI LANFANG, Mani responded, "The film company has never notified me that it would cut Ah Gil's scene, from taking the role to now the scene has never changed." * (8/15/2008) Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin in the new film BUTTERFLY LOVER (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) put on a male disguise to study martial art and became popular with fellow students. In one scene Ah Sa saw Wu Chen's clothes was ripped and immediately repaired it for him. Wu Chen saw how familiar she was with the task and thought no guy could be so skillful. Other students saw Ah Sa's skill and immediately took their clothes off for her to repair. Ah Sa was stunned to see the pile of clothes. Wu Chen as the eldest of course would not permit Ah Sa to be bullied and asked the students to learn to sew from Ah Sa. Comedy ensued. Wu Chen said, "I thought Ah Sa was a big kid. Normally she is very direct. I never would have thought her clothing repair skills would be so traditional, she is better than my mother!" Ah Sa added comedy and martial art elements. Her repair speed was extremely fast that the director and the crew were amazed. Ah Sa said, "I used to make do it yourself enhancement to my clothing, which made me well trained. Now I am too busy." * (8/15/2008) The Hundred Flower Award held a press conference in Beijing to announce that the 17th Annual China Golden Rooster Hundred Flower Film Festival will be held between September 10 and 13 in Dalin as well as the nominations. ASSEMBLY and THE KNOT almost swept all the nominations and became the favorites. Since the audience voting began on April 16 and ended on July 31, over 2728798 votes were received -- a 134% growth in total votes from last year. Nominated films included ASSEMBLY, THE KNOT, CRAZY STONE, TRIAL OF TOKYO, and INVISIBLE WINGS. ASSEMBLY with more than 10,000 votes was way ahead of the second place THE KNOTE; Best Director nominees were Feng Xiaogang, Yin Li, Stephen Chow Sing Chi, Ning Hao and Gao Kunshu. Feng Xiaogang also led the Best Director nomination votes. Best Actor and Actress leaders were Zhang Hanyu (ASSEMBLY) and Li Bingbing (THE KNOT). Although CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER's box office was higher than ASSEMBLY and THE KNOT, only Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. * (8/15/2008) The Janice Man, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun), Kathy Tong Yi and Maggie Lee Man Kwun starred LA LINGERIE (NOI YI SIU NUI) had an over 5 million opening week. The film company yesterday arranged for the stars to distribute promotional postcards outside the Mongkok Broadway cinema. Due to bomb scares in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok, the event was rumored to be cancelled. Although the event finally took place as scheduled, due to traffic it was postponed a hour. Over 200 people were already waiting. When the ladies appeared the location turned chaos despite the efforts of security. * (8/14/2008) The nine story formed DECADE OF LOVE (SUP FUN JUNG CHING) two nights ago held its Summer International Film Festival 2008 premiere. Attendees included Emperor Group chief Albert Yeung Sau Sing, Yeung Chiu Sing, Lam Ka Wa and his family, Karen Mok Man Wai's mother and brother, Steven Cheung Chi Hung, Deep Ng Ho Hong, Chan Ka Lok, Fung Ho Si and Krstyal Tin Yui Nei. Steven played a young drug addict. With veteran actors Richard Ng Yiu Hong, Fun Nei, Au Kam Tong, and Liu Kai chi as co-stars, he honestly said that he was very stressed and the role was the most serious and most difficult one in his career yet. He said, "This film was 14 minutes long without editing. During the shoot I was afraid of hindering the elders with bad takes. Luckily they were very helpful and forgiving." Deep also spoke of the difficulty of his role. In the film he played someone in a coma. The director even said that someone in a coma and a corpse had a thread of difference and asked him to perform with more life. In addition, he and junior colleague Fung Ho Si had intimate scenes. Fung Ho Si joked that it was her first on screen kiss. When asked whether Deep gave her any benefit, Deep cut in, "The director gave me the benefit of the intimate scenes." Tin Yui Nei played a couple with Tse Kwan Ho. She said that in the film they had a divorce. Because she never had the experience she needed director Lam Oi Wa's guidance. Was working with a Best Actor stressful? She said, "No, we communicated before hand." * (8/14/2008) Two nights ago STAR WARS THE CLONE WARS held its Hong Kong premiere. Shawn Yue Man Lok, Kwan Chor Yiu, Zoie Tam Hoi Kei were among the guests. Earlier a magazine accused Yue Man Lok of poor box office performance, with some films making only 170,000 to 210,000. Ah Lok expressed that actually they were not that low. He felt that the actor's responsibility was making a movie good and had no way to predict the box office. Ah Lok also was not worried about the report's effect on his value because film companies knew the actual figures. He stressed that he was not disappoint. * (8/14/2008) Barbie Shui (Tsui Hei Woon) and Liu Ye starred in the film CONNECTED (BO CHI TUNG WA). In it Liu Ye trapped Big S in a remote cargo without any response. She lost ten pounds from playing the character as her manager was concerned that she would not be able to physically endured. Big S in the film spent most of her time inside the cargo. One of the kidnappers Liu Ye in the cargo grabbed Big S from behind and scared her out of her wits. In another scene Big S had to fight for her life with Liu Ye's assistant. The kidnapper choked Big S. For realism during rehearsal the kidnapper mercilessly choked Big S by her fragile neck but she did not complain at all. During the entire shoot she willingly remained in the cargo in order to experience the emotions of being held captive, even when she rested and ate. Thus everyday the shoot brought her emotions to their most intense and she was able to feel the horror of being kidnapped. Big S honestly said that she had headaches and paranoia during the shoot. "Each time I had to cry with all my might and scream to my exhaustion. Thus each time the shoot ended I was numb and when I got home I would be completely out of it. Thus after ten days I already lost ten pounds. Hopefully I would make less films of this type from now on to avoid severe trauma." [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 20 2008, FILM WORDS SENTENCING THE CRIME OF I JUST DIDN'T DO IT The Masayuki Suo (Jau Fong Jing Hung) directed new film is very different from his popular 90's hits SUMO DO SUMO DON'T and SHALL WE DANCE. A courtroom drama that strikes at the Japanese judicial system, it last year won Best Picture, Director and Actor awards. I JUST DIDN'T DO IT does not describe a shocking crime, but the most common crowded train molestation case. Because it is common, all female passengers are paranoid and any male passenger can be guilty at any time. Not wonder Japan has a special "female special" cars. Even so, men and women cannot be completely segregated. Ryo Kase (Ga Lai Leung) plays a the young lead who during a ride a female student accuses of sexual harassment and is arrested. Such "misdemeanor" usually only needs a guilty plead and fine to be wrapped up, but he insists on his innocence, experiences a long term imprisonment, a challenging hearing and very complicated troubles. The film is over two hours long and displays the entire process like a documentary, including the train, police questioning, holding cell conditions, plaintiff and defense exchanges, and judge, family, friends and others' reaction. This film demonstrates fully Japan's typical leaving no stone unturned attention to detail. It is very detailed. More importantly it targets the Japanese judicial system's habitual demand for guilty plead. Often it expects the defense to plead guilty and still cannot thoroughly achieve the "innocent until proven guilty" modern internationally recognized principle. Koji Yakusho and Asaka Seto (Lai Wu Chiu Heung) are defense attorneys who try their best to prove innocence. The lead's mother, friends and volunteers who tirelessly look for witnesses and try every trick to gather beneficial information. Under Japan's 99% guilty verdict judicial system, can they turn the tides? Of course only the ending will reveal that. The entire film does not cook up mystery or thrill. Undoubtedly it is not a humorous and fun legal feud entertainment, but it is rarely solid and detailed. Masayuki Suo in the midst of seriousness does not lose his expertise of humor. Naoto Takenaka (Juk Jung Jik Yun) as the guard, Koji Yamamoto (San Boon Gan Si) as the naughty buddy and some strange guests of the court provided the humor. Lead Ryo Kase and each co-star have good performance. Wonderfully in the constant Japanese stiff faces each has variation. Actually Japan's judicial system differs from England and the U.S. Basically it is like Continental Europe with the judge and has no jury system. Next year it will start jury duty. These situations only specialists would understand, but this film's "innocence until proven guilty" principle is very important and very easy for modern people to understand. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 20 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS HONG KONG AND TAIWAN SHOULD JOIN HAND FIRST THEN WAIT FOR MAINLAND TO OPEN In a discussion about Hong Kong film with a friend, he suggests a very constructive idea. He says that Hong Kong film professionals often complain about the excessively strict Mainland inspection and demand the government to fight for open market. Why do they not first unite for a neighboring market that does not have inspection -- Taiwan? Taiwan commercial film almost has become extinct. Taiwan film and art film have almost become one of the same. The Taiwan government has financial assistance to support film, but it does not encourage the film industry. It only support some directors to make art films and win awards at film festivals. The award winning art films almost always are about Taiwan local culture and conditions. Many have Taiwanese dialogue. Although U.S companies have invested in commercial films in Taiwan, their performance has been lacking. Taiwan once was Hong Kong film's largest market, so large that for awhile Hong Kong film mainly relied on Taiwan and film were made to tailor Taiwan film companies' needs. Films that adjusted to markets outside their native finally decline, which was the definite destiny. Does Taiwan now meet the criteria to develop commercial films? The writer dares not confirm and only feels that it is a little better than before. Ma Ying-Jeou has been elected president and promoted closer economic ties with Mainland, which was better than when the Democratic Progressive party was in power. Taiwan idol series in China and Taiwan are very popular. In comparison, Hong Kong is already considered very hot. Taiwan television programs have more variety than Hong Kong due to competition. Japan has progressed from television programs to arranging anew its film industry as television stations participate in film investment, which has been very successful in recent years. Television ultimately has played the trailblazer role. Taiwan only lacks commercial film start, but it already meets certain criteria. The biggest market for Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment products in the future is still Mainland. Yet due to content inspection the progress has been hindered. The two lands' commonalities is creative freedom. If they team up for and improve the market anything is possible. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 17 2008 ABOUT WOO (7) My second observation is that Chinese film may likely never make a truly excellent costume (historical) war film, which is definitely related to neither the creator's talent and abilities nor this genre's enormous resource requirement. The reason is very simple -- we have betrayed another even more deep rooted tradition -- wuxia film. In other words, when the film reached battle / action scenes, it inevitably became one after another (individual) martial art fight performance. Its martial art fighting style would be more "real" (minimizing "wire" and computer generated graphics special effect use). RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) also had this flaw. Thus when Zhao Zilong rescued his infant master would remind people of the bloodbath in LONE WOLF AND CUB; when the soldiers parted for Guan Yunchang to appear, he made a stage style pose then began the slaughter; in the hard battle before the ending, each lead had a heroic solo for a few minutes (even Zhou Yu for some reason suddenly ran from the command to the battlefield and started to fight!) This conflict, I would feel, was not just from two genres but from two conceptual, China's and Hong Kong's. Strictly speaking, although wuxia film has already become a style of its own in the silent film era, since the mid 40s Hong Kong has already inherited it solely. After the Cantonese film era (from the mythical wuxia films to the hardcore gong fu film like the Wong Fei Hung film series), the Shaw's era (Chang Cheh, Lau Ka Leung, Chor Yuen, King Hu (Wu Kam Chuen)), then the Tsui Hark led (so-called) correction period and other long period development, a self sufficient, independent system has already been completed. On the other hand, due to resource and historical views, war films (whether costume or modern) has never been through any entity in Hong Kong films (due to the political elements behind them). This genre is Chinese film's. Zhang Yimou's HERO merged the two genres together. Yet between the two one is fictional and the other factual, and is a standoff between individual and masses (whether in terms of style or theme) that can never be ultimately resolved. Unfortunately, for now, RED CLIFF is no exception. The average "big film" always carries this or that hype. Even critics have a hard time to avoid this type of flock mentality. RED CLIFF is mixed, even more flawed than perfect. Yet I am still willing to treat it more positively (because it indeed has no intention or ugliness of other similar films of the genre that disgusts me). I even still look forward to the next chapter on a certain level. Ultimately, its director is named John Woo (Ng Yu Sum). (7 of 7) -SHU KEI 4. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 17 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS CHINESE FILM PRODUCTION UPPER LIMIT OF 300 MILLION RED CLIFF PART I in Hong Kong made 20 million while in Mainland broke the Chinese film box office record with 340 million already and with only TITANIC ahead of it. TITANIC reportedly should have had even higher box office but the later figures were not reported because it was a foreign film. At the time the level of openness was not the same. RED CLIFF PART I and II cost US$70 to 80 million. Now Part II's special effect still has not been completed so no one knows whether it will exceed budget. Big film in China in the end has market. Even though the THREE KINGDOMS subject certainly would receive criticism, the audience would still flood into the cinemas. In Mainland the bigger the production the better the box office performs, which for now is the standard. Whether investors make any money it is another matter. Film investment reality and box office figures often are not the same. Good box office does not necessarily mean big profit, on many occasions they are "laughing loss". Low box office does not necessarily mean loss, perhaps few knows about the profit. Those in the know reveal that RED CLIFF should not be at a loss but would not make big profit. To John Woo (Ng Yu Sum), his dream has already been fulfilled. For such a large production to avoid a loss it is truly rare. Chinese film's language is not the international market but Mainland. International is not Chinese film professional's personal reputation direction. International market still is the English language film market. Anyone who watches Chinese language film is either watching for action or curiosity. Few foreign viewers are interested in watching stories. RED CLIFF PART I and II cost 600 million. THE WARLORDS cost 300 million. The writer has no idea about the result. Conceivably the Chinese language film market currently can still withstand this production cost, but it is already near the maximum point. Unless the market opens up further, 300 million is the maximum. Another situation is that more concerning is the increase of risk for productions that are under 100 million, especially those in hundreds of thousands. Small to mid scale productions between 9 to 20 million are not guaranteed to be good. Chinese film market growth is not considered healthy. - KWOK HIN CHING 5. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 16 2008 ABOUT WOO (6) The world has a lot of parallels. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s idea of making RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) or ROMANCE OF THREE KINGDOMS should have been his wish for many years. He perhaps never expected that when his film started production, it was already at the end of this type of costume epic peak (Daniel Lee Yan Kong's THREE KINGDOMS RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON even overtook the lead in the last moment in an attempt to preempt RED). However, from the view of grandeur, without the noise and the waves of a series of similar genre films earlier, Woo would very likely have no way to fulfill his dream. The difference perhaps was here as well: even though RED still had endless disappointments, in comparison to most earlier "costume epics" it at least had an additional creative sincerity and honesty unlike its predecessors; their foremost objective was built on ambition and the theme centered around the life and death power struggle. Lam Yik Wa criticized RED for repeatedly using different animals as story symbols and felt somewhat confused. He was right. If I use the "child at heart" defense for Ng Yu Sum, perhaps it would miss the mark and become grotesque (even so, I still have no way to explain some very crudely handled scenes -- like Sun Quan's tiger hunt). Yet like that aforementioned (creative) genuineness, Woo's work has always had such undecorated simplicity. I also want to point out two more generalized problems. First, after wave after wave of "costume epics" I am already quite convinced: so far China still does not have enough ability to make a (Successful) epic. The reason is the epic genre not only involves the director's style or the art of film, but on an even greater level it is related to production management; in other word, the uniform performance of standard, method, human resources, each department's average professional quality. Corruption, uneven quality and other situations would appear the easiest in every one of these aspects in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan film industries. An example that I have already mentioned before was the post of casting. In Hollywood, it is a very professional and valued department. Aside from suggesting and selecting lead and support actors, they also arrange and conduct audtions and include all extras selection and casting. One of the biggest flaws in RED CLIFF is the stiff performance and rough exterior of the extras (fragile soldiers, well toned refugees). The fact is after watching scene after scene of masses, we as the audience perhaps would not have any difficulty to feel the hardship and difficulty of the arrangement. The more the merrier obviously does not apply to film production. - SHU KEI 6. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 16 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS BIG SHOWS DECEPTION IS VERY NORMAL The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony had lip syncing and computer generated graphic special effect deceptions, which were no surprises. The tricks are often seen at big shows. Not to mention the little girl, if special effect coordination is required and absolutely no mistake is permitted, fully experienced top singers may also have to lip sync. Whether this time the behind the scene little girl singer is not as pretty as the one who appears and would shame the nation, one can only say to each its own. The writer can only say that the one who appears meets the event requirements. Many of China's "model children" look like that. With the effects of helicopter chasing firework footprints, even if industry insiders cannot tell at first look they would find them strange. If they are real, even if an unmanned remote plane shot the scene it would still be very dangerous. In addition after the firework vanished no white smoke that should have been there was. The computer generated graphics are reasonable as long as the live venue truly launched similar firework in identical locations. What was seen on the spot should not be too different from the computer generated effect. The difference would be the impossible aerial shot. For complicated stunt coordination in a live performance, the television station would definitely record in advance just in case. What home viewers see actually is not live broadcast. Only the live audience see the real time performance. When the timing is well matched it is perfect. Actually many television big shows in Hong Kong in the past have made such arrangements, only the audience did not know. They are difficult to discover unless live "blooper" takes place. Only when television live broadcast has no problem would people suspect advanced recording. The writer feels that the Olympic opening ceremony is a show. As long as it is entertaining it does not need to be nitpicked. Most importantly the contest has no athlete who hires "substitutes" or use computer effects to deceive. If everything at the opening ceremony has to be real, would Li Ning have to fly to mid air without any wire to light the torch? - KWOK HIN CHING 7. MING PAO DAILY, AUGUST 14 2008, FILM WORDS LIU CHANGCHUN: ONE MAN OLYMPICS As the Beijing Olympics heat up, the release ONE MAN OLYMPICS describes over 70 years China's first Olympic athlete Liu Changchun. Although this piece of history cannot possibly be as attractive as the medal news and the film is not made outstanding enough, it still has an educational value. This film makes me feel deeply about China's drastic change and the strong contrast between the new and the old. Now China hosts the most expensive and the grandest Olympic Games in history, keeps on winning medals. The only question is can it surpass the U.S. with the most gold medal? Liu Changchun's China back then was the "sick man of East Asia". With his nation broken and his home in ruins, he could be the only representative at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The myriad of hardship was very painful. Liu Changchun (1909-1983) was a Northeast short distance runner. After Japan invaded three provinces, he was unwilling to represent Manchuria. He escaped to Beijing and Shanghai. With the assistance of Zhang Xueliang to be the Republic of China's only representative. After over 20 days by boat he finally arrived in Los Angeles. Throughout the entire journey only one coach Song Junfu accompanying him. They almost did not make the opening ceremony. The story was the difficulty ridden journey, mixing his university, training, romance, marriage and risky escape. The entire film had quite a sizable production. Many foreigners performed, speaking English, German, Japanese, the ocean liner even had a foreign film style ball as well as the stormy sea. Later the Los Angeles Olympics was brought back to live convincingly. Liu Changchun's final competition became the troublesome climax. Liu Changchun's lone participation was very noble and unforgettable, but this Mainland film could not help but be excessively melodramatic and had to meet the official standards. From the beginning to the end it stressed nationalism and patriotism and made Liu Changchun a little like Lei Feng. Without any fear of hardship or death at any time, he trained hard for the glory of his country. Overall the film felt more like acting than convincing. This film concentrated on the Chinese foreign friendship. Most Westerners who appeared were "Chinese friendly"; Japanese invaders of course were not good but they were not vilified. Instead the Republic of China government officials were described as very superficial and despicable. New comer Li Zhaolin as Liu Changchun is young and strong. He looks righteous but his acting is rather stiff. Shi Liang as the long distance journey coach and translator is more natural and at ease than the lead. Hu Jun played Zhang Xueliang and David Wu Dai Wai played an official in the U.S. Director Hou Yong is a famous Mainland photographer and has directed the Zhang Ziyi starred JASMINE WOMEN. Yet his director abilities are ordinary and no match for classmate Zhang Yimou's current brilliance. - SHEK KEI [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Sing Mung Kei Yuen Lit : Star Dream Fantasy Destiny d. Andrew Lau Wai Keung Andy Lau Tak Wa, Shu Qi, Denise Ho Wan Si, Zhang Han (Cheung Hom), Ella Koon Yun Na, Elle (Siu Shuet), Pei Wei Ying, Pu Pu, Lam Ka Wa 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 Can : Tung Moon Lit : Classmate d. Herman Yau Lai To Shawn Yue Man Lok, Ada Choi Siu Fun, Ella Koon Yun Na, Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Chapman To Man Jat, Jun Kung Shek Leung STORM 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 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) 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...... 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... 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 August 15 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. 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...... [ 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 FORGIVE AND FORGET 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 Opening August 28 2008 HANADA Can : Fa Yeung Nam Ji Final Lit : Flower Like Men Final d. Yasuharu Ishii (Shek Jang Hong Ching) Mao Inoue (Jang Seung Jung Yeung), Jun Matsumoto (Chung Boon Yun), Shun Oguri (Siu Suk Din), Shota Matsuda (Chung Tin Cheung Tai), Abe Tsuyoshi (Ah Bo Lik) Opening August 28 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Doumyouji and Makino announced the wedding, but on the day of their engagement their engagement item, the 1 billion yen Doumyouji family jewel crown Smile of Venus is stolen! The couple goes from Japan, to Hong Kong to Las Vegas in search of the crown, but in the process their relationship is tested again. Can Doumyouji make Makino determine to marry him? RULE #!: THERE ARE NO GHOSTS Can : Dai Yut Gai Lit : First Commendment d. Tong Wing Kin Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Shawn Yue Man Lok, Stephanie Che Yuen Yuen Opening September 4 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Everyday, the police receives around 185 calls for help, 180 of which are related to assault, rape, murder, robbery, kidnapping, the remaining 5 are those "there is something out of the ordinary with my home" types of calls. "Miscellaneous Department" has the responsibility to investigate these out of the ordinary cases. Rookie cop Lee Kwok Keung while on patrol shoots and kills a serial killer who has been wanted for years. Then he is involuntarily assigned to another department -- "Miscellaneous" and starts his journey on a series of supernatural investigations. Differ from the police's serve and protect heroics, "Miscellaneous" takes care of the out of the ordinary cases in some extraordinary manner. Another "Miscellaneous" key member is Officer Wong, the department heads who is a little strange and loves drinking as much as his life. He and Officer Lee team up to resolve every call for help at the "Miscellaneous Department" and eliminate each caller's fear. While on assignment, Officer Wong deliberately states to Office Lee the first rule of the "Miscellaneous Department": there are no ghosts! The fact is this first rule is only a lie. The "Miscellaneous Department" first task is to do whatever it takes to hide supernatural events from the world and lower community fear. To Officer Lee who is full of passion and ambition for the police work, the true mission of the "Miscellaneous Department" violates ethics. For a stable society, should the police hide the truth? Would it be real justice? While Office Lee is struggling in his mind, the "Miscellaneous Department" faces an extremely threatening serial possession case, as a particularly vicious ghost forces the duo to the edge of death. Finally, the hunter becomes the hunted. DIVE Can: Fa Yeung Tiu Shui Siu Nin Lit: Trick Diving Youth d. Naoto Kumazawa Iori Ashihara, Toru Emori, Yuya Fukuda Opening September 18 2008 HELP ME EROS Can : Gau Gau Ngor Oi Sun d. Lee Kang-Sheng Rating : III Length : 104 mins. [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Ah Jie has lost everything on the stock market due to a severe economic crisis. He spends his days in his sealed apartment, looking after the marijuana plants that he secretly grows in a wardrobe and smoking marijuana joints. In his desolation, he calls a helpline and gets to know Chyi, whose sweet and gentle voice causes him to fall in love with his fantasized image of her. He tries to ask her out but is repeatedly rejected. He begins projecting his fantasy of Chyi on Shin, the new girl working at the betel nut stall downstairs who is always sexily dressed to lure male customers. He becomes closer to Shin and the two of them sink deeply into a world of erotic and psychedelic pleasures… At the time same, Ah Jie begins to stalk Chyi… 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. 4BIA d. Paween Purijitpanya Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, Yongyoot Thongkongtoon 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, Zhang Guoli, Chapman To Man Chat, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, Kate Tsui Tsz Shan, Michelle Ye (Yip Shuet), Liu Kai Chi, Lok Ying Kwun, Lo Mik Shuet, Chan Bo Yuen Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) Opening September 11 2008 in Malaysia Official Site : www.mediaasia.com/lcpc [ 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. 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 25 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... CHASER Can : Jui Gik Jeh d. Na Hong-Jin Kim Yun-Seok, Ha Jung-Woo, Seo Yeong-Hie Opeing September 25 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Once a cop, Joong-Ho has always become a pimp. Yet lately trouble has increased as his call girls vanish without clearing their debts. He receives a call from a client and sends Mi-Jin, even though she has a bad cold. Mi-Jin goes as Joong-Ho realizes that this client's number is the same as the previous ones with the vanished call girls. He realizes something is wrong and immediately goes after Mi-Jin. On the way, Joong-Ho crashes into another car in an alley. That driver Young-Min does not ask for compensation. Joong-Ho sees the blood stain on his shirt and suspects that he is behind the missing call girls. After a chase, Joong-Ho finally catches up with Young-Min. Yet because Joong-Ho impersonates a police officer, both are brought to the police station. Inside the police station, Young-Min admits that he has killed the missing call girls but Mi-Jin is still alive. Although he confesses the police has no evidence to charge him, so everyone is frantically looking for bodies. Only Joong-Ho believes that Mi-Jin is still alive. As the 12 hour holding period fades, he must find the missing Mi-Jin in a hurry. 20TH CENTURY BOYS d. Yukihiko Tsutsumi Toshiaki Karasawa, Etsushi Toyokawa, Takako Tokiwa, Hitomi Kuroki Opening October 2 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story takes place between 1960 and 2010, around lead Kenji and a group of classmates. During childhood they fantasize about opposing an evil organization and write a prediction to save the world. 30 years later, a self proclaimed "friend" mystery person forms a friendly gang to save the world as predicted. If someone betrays "friend" then the friendship ends and is immediately killed. The symbol that "friend" uses is the same as Kenji and his friends. What is the true identity of "friend"? Is "friend"'s prediction book exactly the same as Kenji's? 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 October 9 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. KUNG FU CHEF Opening October 9 2008 in Malaysia 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... 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. IP MAN d. Wilson Yip Wai Shun Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lynn Hung [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] Adapted from the life story of Ip Man - the grand master of the Wing Chun style of kung fu and sifu of legendary kung fu superstar Bruce Lee. This movie will be the first important record of the master's life. Ip's persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to wushu and the freedom and spirit it represents. Ip Man is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking - and it exemplifies a new peak in Hong Kong's wushu movies. 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 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, Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Lee Heung Kam, Ha Chun Opening January 22 2009 in Malaysia [ GOLDEN SCENE CINEMAS ONLINE ] Kei's eldest sister Sandra is a hot-tempered magazine editor and her temperament has left her single all this while. They have a traditional family and one of the rules is that none of the siblings could get married before their eldest sister. In view of this, Kei sort help from the famous “Casanova”, Koo Chai (Louis Koo), who is the new journalist in Sandra’s firm to pretend to court his eldest sister and lure her into the mood of love. With Sandra falling in love with Koo Chai, she decides to introduce him to her parents (Lee Heung Kam, Ha Chun Chou). However, Koo Chai fell in love with another girl, Mun during an assignment and this broke Sandra’s heart. To avoid the disappointment of her parents, Sandra asks Mr. Wong a private investigator to pretend as her boyfriend. With Sandra love life going nowhere and her career plunging low, will she get what she wants? Will Kei find his true love and marries her sister off? Who will Koo Chai choose? Will all’s well end’s well? --- [ 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 RENO CONCERT 2008 Date & Time: Saturday night, October 11,2008 @ 7:30pm Venue Location: Peppermill Tuscany Events Center 2707 South Virginia Street Reno, NV 89502 Toll Free: (866) 821-9996 http://www.peppermillreno.com/entertainment/new_peppermill_headliners/joey_yung_starlight Ticket Prices: VIP $168, $128, $98, $68 bus & hotel packages available call 415-731-3223 for details Ticket Outlet Locations: Concert Info Hotline: 415-731-3223 Concert Info Email: ktv@newfacektv.com website: www.NewFaceKTV.com http://store.edstyle.com/concerttickets.html New Face K-Box 870 Taraval Street San Francisco, CA 94116 tel: 415-731-3223 Quickly 6901 Geary Blvd (cross street: 33rd Ave) San Francisco, CA 94121 tel: 415-867-3412 Premiere Mobile Sunset District: 415-664-9928 SF Chinatown: 415-398-99385 Oakland: 510-331-7288 Usasia Inc Toll Free Hotline 1-800-822-4885 San Francisco Chinatown 415-989-1688 Oakland Chinatown: 510-835-8588 Concert Info Hotline: 415-731-3223 Concert Info Email: ktv@newfacektv.com website: www.NewFaceKTV.com http://store.edstyle.com/concerttickets.html * 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 August 19 2008 10 ELITE SQUAD d. JOse Padilha Wagner Moura, Caio Junqueira, Andre Ramiro, Maria Ribeiro 9 WALL*E d. Andrew Stanton Disney Pixar Animation Fred Willard English Voice: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, MacInTalk John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver 8 DOREAMON - NEW NOBITA'S GREAT ADVENTURE INTO THE UNDERWORLD d. Teramoto Yukiyo Japanese Animation 7 THE CRAYON SHINCHAN MOVIE d. Yoshita Usui Japanese animation 6 THE MUMMY TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR d. Rob Cohen Brendan Fraser, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), 5 THE DARK KNIGHT d. Christopher Nolan Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman 4 LA LINGERIE Can : Noi Yi Siu Nui Lit : Underwear Girl d. Chan Hing Ka, Chun Siu Chun Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Lo Mik Shuet, Wong Cho Nam, Fama, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Janice Man Wing San, Kathy Tong Yi, JJ Jia (Ga Hiu Sun) 3 GET SMART d. Peter Segal Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson 2 HELLBOY 2 THE GOLDEN ARMY d. Guillermo Del Toro Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones 1 JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH d. Eric Brevig Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Aniat Briem ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS CRAYON SHINCHAN MOVIE Rating : IIA Length : 88 mins. Opening August 14 2008 DORAEMON - NEW NOBITA'S GREAT ADVENTURE INTO THE UNDERWORLD 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 Rating : IIA Length : 119 mins. 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. ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, August 16 2008 15 Can : Jau For Yup Mor Ding Dong, Ah Shun 14 LEGEND Can : Chuen Shuet Jacky Xie (Sit Ji Him) 13 THE PRINCE'S NEW CLOTHES Can : Wong Ji Dik Sun Yi Jam Hsiao (Siu King Tung) 12 RAINY DAY Can : Ha Yu Tin South Fist Mama 11 I AM STILL YOURS Can : Ngor Wan Si Nei Dik Leo Ku Kui Ke 10 ONE FINAL SECOND Can : Jui Hau Yut Miu Jung Kary Ng Yu Fei 9 BENEFACTOR Can : Bak Lok James Lin (Lam Yau Ga) 8 LIGHT A TORCH Can : Dim Yut Ba For Gui JJ Lin Junjie 7 TEARS LAUGH Can : Ngan Lui Siu Liu Liu Liyang (Lau Lik Yeung) 6 UNWILLING TO SPEAK Can : But Yuen Shuet Wa Eason Chan Yik Shun 5 THE ROAD HOME Can : Wui Ga Dik Lo Karen Mok Man Wai 4 IF YOU ARE ME Can : Yu Gor Nei Si Ngor Fan Wei Qi (Fan Wai Kei), Emil Chau Wa Kin 3 ON EVERY LINE Jason Chan Pak Yu, Daniel Lee Gut Hong, Danny Wan Lik Ming 2 YET I FALL FOR YOU Can : Pin Pin Oi Seung Nei Wu Jianfei (Ng Kin Fei) 1 LAYOVER Can : Chuen Gei Will Pan (Poon Wai Pak) ------ [ 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. OLYMPIC FEVER IS MAKING ME SICK While Olympic fever appears to have engulfed the entire world, Your Chaffing Editor seems to be the only person who could not care less. While the U.S. Olympic coverage tries to make the nation feel better with the medal count lead, Your Chaffing Editor is absolutely convinced that the host nation has made up events for its gold medal lead. Your Chaffing Editor's favorite women's gymnastics event this year: "MAKING HORSE". Speaking of which, Your Chaffing Editor has sent ChiPpy on assignment to Beijing to interview the Olympic Mascot "Fuwas" (Your Chaffing Editor prefers to refer to them as "Fukus"). While Old Chaffy easily recognizes the panda, he was curious about the rest of them since they made their debut. So curious, in fact, that he has been screaming at the top of his lungs, "WTF ARE YOU?!" from the West Coast Office in hopes of being heard. Finally, the official site provided the answer. (http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/n214068254.shtml) Once he has found the answer, Your Chaffing Editor's eyes have been glued to one particular Fuku -- in fact, the biggest Fuku of them all and the mere mention of its place of origin may immediately land you a beating like a student protesting for democracy in the late 80s. Thus in lieu of risking his own invaluable (he means NOT VALUABLE) life, he has sent ChiPpy in his stead. Alas, poor ChiPpy has not been heard from yet. Perhaps he has made the mistake of mentioning Your Chaffing Editor by name. Perhaps he has ended up in line for the next BODIES exhibit or the night market menu. Perhaps he is still waiting for Michael Phelps to win his 9th gold medal with synchronized swimming. If anyone at the games has seen ChiPpy, please tell him to call home. Back to the Fuku in question, it is a bright orange horn-ly animal from, of all places, Tibet. China's message is about as subtle as the U.S.' choice of the flag carrier at the opening ceremony. As if that was not enough of a burden for a Fuku to carry, he also has the task of being "Beijing's commitment to a Green Olympics". Seriously, poor Yingying has more baggage than the airport. Months ago when Your Chaffing Editor first saw the commercial he knew it might be trouble. Finally, someone has become annoyed enough to make the accusation. Is the Six Flags "More Flags, More Fun" campaign derogatory to Asian? (http://video.aol.com/video-detail/more-flags-more-fun-six-flags-commercial/731688455) (http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/news/six_flagsmore_flagsmore_racism_90860.asp) Back to Olympic Fever, the Spain Men's Basketball team posed for an advertisement that is more obviously "racist". Would the racism gauge please inform Your Chaffing Editor what he should be more offended by? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/10/olympics2008.olympicsbasketball) Topping off the week of idiocy would be Your Chaffing Editor's "The Apple Store Genius" move of the week (not actually Apple sponsored or affiliated): while translating the article about Charlie Yeung Choi Nei's attendance of a film festival in Korea, Your Chaffing Editor spent a few minutes more than usual to look up the Korean town name even though it sounded awfully familiar. Once he found the name in English he truly felt like a genius -- he just ate at a restaurant in K-Way with the same name. Now the movie reel themed menu started to make sense. Also, providing bottles of frozen Yakult as dessert did not hurt either. In fact, it was so good Your Chaffing Editor had to get another 5 pack across the street in Han Ah Reum. Gees. Finally the summer is nearing its end. While Ne-Yo's new effort has been jamming Your Chaffing Editor's dumbphone as much as JT last year, his latest song seems appropriate. Best of Luck and Much Love, Juno Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] MISS INDEPENDENT Ne-Yo http://www.defjam.com/site/artist_news.php?artist_id=593&news_id=105719 [Intro] Yeah, yeah yeah, Yeah, yeah yeah, Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. [Verse 1] Ooh, is somethin' about, Just somethin' about the way she move, I can't figure it out, Is somethin' about her, (Say) Ooh, is somethin' about, Kinda woman that want you but don't need you, (Hey) I can't figure it out, Is somethin' about her. [Hook] 'Cause she walk like a boss, Talk like a boss, Manicure nails just sent the pedicure off, She's fly effortlessly, (effortlessly) An' she move like a boss, Do what a boss, Do, she got me thinkin' about gettin' involved, (involved) That's the kinda girl I need, oh. [Chorus] She got her own thing, That's why I love her, Miss independent, Won't you come and spend a little time, She got her own thing, That's why I love her, Miss independent, Ooh, the way me shine, Miss independent, yeah. Yeah, yeah yeah, Yeah, yeah yeah, Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. (ohh) [Verse 2] Ooh, there's somethin' about, Kinda woman that can do for herself, I look at her and it makes me proud, There's somethin' about her, Somethin', ooh, so sexy about, Kinda woman that don't even need my help, She said she got it, she got it, (she said she got it, she got it) No doubt, there's something about her. (there's somethin' about her) [Hook] 'Cause she work like a boss, Play like a boss, Car and the crib she 'bout to pay 'em both off, (both off) And bills are paid on time, yeah, She made for a boss, Slowly boss, Anythin' less she tellin' them to get lost, (get lost) That's the girl that's on my mind. [Chorus] She got her own thing, That's why I love her, Miss independent, Won't you come and spend a little time, She got her own thing, That's why I love her, Miss independent, Ooh, the way me shine, Miss independent, yeay. [Bridge] (Mmhm) Her favorite thing to say, Don't worry I got it, (mmhm) And everything she got, Best believe she bought it, (mmhm) She gon' steal my heart, Ain't no doubt about it, girl, You're everything I need, Said you're everything I need. Yeah, yeah yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah. [Chorus] She's got her own thing, (oooohoooohhhoh) That's why I love her, (that's why I love her, oh ohh) Miss independent, (independent) Won't you come and spend a little time, (ohh) She's got her own thing, (she got, she got) That's why I love her, (that's why I love that girl) Miss independent, (ohh ohh) Ooh, the way me shine, Miss independent. Miss independent, That's why I love her. ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038