From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (SEPTEMBER 11 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. Kelly Chen Wai Lam who celebrates her birthday on the 13th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (9/17/2008) The Gordon Chan Ka seungp directed PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) two nights ago held a premiere in Guangzhou. Attendees included Ella Koon Yun Na, Natalie Ng Man Yan, Athena Chu Yun, Teddy Robin Kwan and Andrew Lau Wai Keung. Leads Donnie Yen Chi Tan and Zhou Xun entered hand in hand. Chen Kun entered with his arm around Vicki Zhao Wei. Ella came in support because Zhou Xun, Chen Kun and Zhao Wei were her idols. Earlier she has worked with this film director Chan Ka Seung and cinematographer Arthur Wong Ngok Tai. Ella and Lau Wai Keung had a great chat. Did she want to act? She honestly said that aside from singing she would like to act, even if she had to work on horror films. She joked that her horror film definitely would be afraid to scare viewers because she looked horrifying without make up. * (9/17/2008) Vicki Zhao Wei attended a Changsha new store opening. In PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) Zhou Xun had a passionate scene but her nude double completed most of the scenes. Zhao Wei expressed that she would not resist nude performance. "I don't need any nude double but it would depend on which kind of film it would be. If I am determined I would try it." As for whether she would perform with Chen Kun for real, Zhao Wei laughed. "Chen Kun and I have known each other since our teens. We can't be any more familiar. We are brothers. On the set she are like good friends who complete the job together." Zhao Wei currently is still studying directing at the Beijing Film Academy. When asked whether "education would put an end to her acting career?" Zhao Wei expressed, "In the future I will still mainly act, but I wouldn't miss a good screenplay. I am very interested in women subjects." * (9/17/2008) Karen Mok Man Wai and Eric Tsang Chi Wai worked on the Sundream film LOST INDULGANCE (BEI HONG) and ended up covered with scars and bruises. In the film they fell for each other. In order to shake off their current lives they attempted to fake their deaths so they could spend their lives together. In one scene they attempted a car accident to fool everyone about their relationship as they prevented to be driver and passenger. Their car needed to be driven into a river and they must go out of the car before then. To be more convincing, they rehearsed the accident numerous times. Director Zhang Yibai arranged for stunt performers to test the safety precaution in test runs. In the final run, the stunt professionals due to too much force injured their shoulders, rendered stunted and needed to be hospitalized. The director then was only willing to shoot them in a non moving car for the car jump close up. They jumped time and again out of the vehicle for five times. Although the car was not moving, they dove out of the car and ended up with bruises and scratches. Actually the film was their first collaboration. Karen could not help but joke that it was a beautiful misunderstanding. "I always admired Chi Wai a lot and would like very much to work with him. This time finally I got the chance. Although it was the first time I felt that our chemistry could not be anything better." The director praised, "In that car jumping scene, their chemistry was great. Their timing was very uniform." * (9/17/2008) The director of drama like THE ROAD, WHEN RUOMA WAS SEVENTEEN and HUAYAO BRIDE IN SHANGRILA, Zhang Jiarui has won international awards. His new film YUEN LUI (FAR THUNDER) has already started production in Chongqing. Today the team held a press visit. YUEN LUI would use a Hong Kong crew as ACTRESS, ROUGE and BANQUET's famous screen writer Yau Kong Kin and Fruit Chan Gor's official cinematographer O Sing Pui were added. Mainly a suspenseful thriller, YUEN LUI is about a tragic story of three young people. It explores modern youth's survival environment and value, romantic view. Lead actress Huo Siyan said, "YUEN LUI would bring you sorrow, tears and shock, but even more nostalgia and warmth. Not until the final moment the suspense absolutely wouldn't reveal that answer!" The film's shampoo girl Gan Su's casting has been rumored continuously in pre-production. Finally the role landed with MY NAME IS FAME's Mainland actress Huo Siyan. Zhang Jiarui expressed, after he savored Huo Siyan's MY NAME IS FAME performance he felt that he already has found the soul of Gan Su in his heart. After contact and exchanges with Huo Siyan his decision was even more confirmed. Zhang Jiarui said, Gan Su was a very hard to grasp character. From the production start to now he has been very satisfied with Huo Siyan's performance and effort. To play the hair salon shampoo girl, she naturally had to do homework to experience life in the hair salon. Huo Siyan directly stated, "I have experienced both legitimate and not so legitimate hair salons." Huo Siyan joked that she has always been curious about the little dark pink houses on the streets. "I finally had the chance to enter 'legitimately'. I dined with many hair salon girls, chatted with them, played mahjong with them, learned their hair washing techniques, observed their customer service demeanor and became good friends with them. after contact I discovered that actually they were rather optimistic and positive. That simple happiness deeply affected me." Huo Siyan even personally demonstrated "hair washing" on lead actor Guo Xiaoyin, who had nothing but praise for her and said that it was "very comfortable". Huo Siyan honestly said that actors ultimately do not want to be restricted in a narrow range. As life accumulated the passion for acting, she accepted YUEN LUI to excite her potential in multiple areas. As for award or not it was not a question to concern currently. Currently the team's common goal was to "complete the film solidly." * (9/16/2008) The fantasy film PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) will open nationwide on September 26. Today a premiere will be held in Guangzhou. This afternoon, director Gordon Chan Ka Seung led Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Chen Kun, Zhou Xun, Vicki Zhao Wei, Betty Sun Li, Chik Yik Mo in a press conference to discuss their production experience. Yen Chi Tan and Zhao Wei's new attempts will be refreshing to the audience. Always a tough guy on screen, Yen Chi Tan had many tender moments in this film. Yen Chi Tan said, "Maybe viewers who watch my movies would say it's cool, but actually playing that type of films is very tough and very tiring. No one can possibly remain uptight for 24 hours. PAINTED SKIN is the first time that I play the real me, so the audience can see my other side." Yen Chi Tan joked that he originally was a tender person but he did not have the talent to show the potential. PAINTED SKIN just happened to have the space for him to, and the director wanted to properly show his tender side. PAINTED SKIN was completely different from his past films. It did not require too much force and was like chatting with his wife. "Although I can't possibly say that this is my favorite film, honestly PAINTED SKIN is an attempt to play a different character. In the future I will still perform mainly in action films. PAINTED SKIN is my experimental process." In the new version of PAINTED SKIN, director Chan Ka Seung used several leads in opposite ways. MY FAIR PRINCESS' noisy Little Swallow Zhao Wei this time thoroughly changed her past image and played a faithful wife who was gentle and lady like. Zhao Wei said, "Many approached me with hopes that I would play the side that the audience likes, to be able to watch the past 'trademark' stuff. When director Chan Ka Seung cast me he said that in this film I would play something that others have not seen before and I have not played before. It may be tough, it may be hard to play." In addition, the smart and cute Zhou Xun played a vicious and conniving thousand year old demon who specializes in digging out human heart to nurture her human skin; In the old version the frail scholar Wang Sheng in the new version became a soldier, starring Chen Kun who has never played in a costume action film. The audience has paid a lot of attention to PAINTED SKIN's bed scenes. Chan Ka Seung stressed that PAINTED SKIN was not a category III film. Even though it had bed scenes, they would only be couple passion scenes and not as many as everyone has imagined. New version PAINTED SKIN not only completely turned upside down the old story but also used wonderful and new storytelling order and added several figures to tell a complex war of temptation, struggle, love and hate, life and death between human and demon, human and human, innocent men and women, between brothers, and between demons. * (9/16/2008) Filmko Entertainment established a branch company in Taiwan and yesterday held an opening ceremony and a press conference for its first film OI DOH DAI (LOVE TO THE BOTTOM). Guests included boss Alex Wong Hoi Fung, CEO Law Sau Wai, film stars Annie Liu (Lau Sum Yau), Alice Tzeng Hoi Won, Peter Ho Yun Tung, Lollipop's Prince and Modi, Van Fan Yat Sun, Yip An Tin, Tammy Chen Yi Yung, Tracy Chou Choi Si, Chiu Sik Chi. This time Filmko planned for five years to open a Taiwan branch company. Its first shot OI DOH DAI would cost NT$ 50 million to produce, distribute and promote. The production will start next month. Wong Hoi Fung welcomed any Taiwan artist. The company would make six to eight films in three years. The second film will start production next March. OI DOH DAI will have four stories with four directors Fong Man San, Gau Ba Doh, Wong Chi Gau and Chen Yik Sin. Chen Yik Sin's story will star Yuen King Tin and Tzeng Hoi Won; Fong Man San's story will star Lau Sum Yau, Chan Yi Yung and Alan Ko (Or Yau Lun). Wong Chi Gau's story will star Chow Choi Si, Alec Su Yau Peng. Gau Ba Doh's story will star Ho Yun Tung, who did not learn that Fan Yat Sun was also a lead until he arrived. Ho Yun Tung received the notice only two days ago. His manager expressed that Ho Yun Tung would not take this role and this time came in support. Tzeng Hoi Won will work on Chen Yik Sin's story with Yuen King Tin. The story will be about a flight attendant and a race car driver and start production in October. She honestly said that she was not worried about any rumor. "I don't know but I am not worried. Whether we get along or not I won't force it." Tzeng Hoi Won expressed that she will not keep her distance because that would make production difficult. * (9/16/2008) Jim Tsim Shui Man yesterday attended a performing art forum and shared his experience with the audience. He revealed that next year he will begin work on the film version of his stage work MAN OF LA TIGER. The film will cost 2 to 20 million, depending on investors. if he will have no investor he will invest himself. Now he is planning for a top artist to guest star in MAN in a minor role as the opposite sex. * (9/15/2008) The 17th Annual Golden Rooster Hundred Flowers Award two nights ago took place in Dalian. Li Bingbing with the film THE KNOT won Best Actress. Zhang Hanyu with THE ASSEMBLY won Best Actor, THE ASSEMBLY even became the evening's big winner with Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor awards. Two years ago nominated with A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES for Best Supporting Actress but lost, Li Bingbing this time finally won Best Actress. She shed tears of joy and made no sense in her speech. As for future work and plans, she hoped to continue to make movies as well as working on her own workshop. She even honestly said that someone approached her to make an all English dialogue film. However she thought that her English was still poor so she would insist on continuing to study. Zhang Hanyu went from an off screen voice actor to a support player in films and television and now Hundred Flower Best actor in 20 years. He was truly very honored that this time he was able to transform with realism and thanked director Feng Xiaogang, without whom he would not have today's achievement. He would like to have more opportunities to play even more different characters. * (9/14/2008) Donnie Yen Chi Tan yesterday promoted the October 2 release PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI). The film is Gordon Chan Ka Seung directed. Chi Tan expressed that he has known Chan Ka Seung for over 20 years but it was their first collaboration and they clicked right away. He said that the chill during the shoot was the most memorable for him. He said that this time he did not have to fight too much and had relationships with Vicki Zhao Wei and Betty Sun Li. Chi Tan expressed that this film's biggest breakthrough was the character's comedy. In addition he had to be a little "crazy". He said that in the film he had to tell busted gags and generate cheer. Sometimes he even needed to improvise so it absolutely was a new attempt. He said that he has always played cooler characters so he looked forward to this performance very much. He was able to smoothly perform completely due to director Chan Ka Seung's trust. He said, "Before the shoot I also studied Sing Yeh (Stephen Chow Sing Chi)'s films and see how to play 'Mo Le Tau'." Chi Tan expressed that working with Mainland actors has been very pleasant. Vicki Zhao Wei, Betty Sun Li and others were very professional and their ability was even more impeccable. He said do not let Zhao Wei's mild mannered exterior fool you, actually she could play along very well. Once at a shoot, Zhao Wei originally needed to cry; but when she saw him making fun even she could not help but laugh. Chi Tan expressed that gong fu film has been his specialty so film companies have approached him with action films. Did he enjoy action or comedy more? He said that this film has been the most comfortable ever. He recalled when he made THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIORS (GONG SAN MEI YUN) earlier, everyday he had to work from day to night but his co-star Leon Lai Ming could leave after shooting a little. He could not be more envious. He said that in EMPRESS he played a general who had to wield dual weapons and faced over 100 enemies. Even one chop per people would lead to over 100 hits. Instead Lai Ming's character could send flowers, give a little romance, sometimes in comparison he did not fight primary and truly was more relaxed. Chi Tan expressed that he would not be in Hong Kong on the night of the premiere so he would not be able to attend. However his wife CiCi Wang was very interested in seeing it. He said that this year he has made three films, EMPRESS' righteous general, PAINTED SKIN's comic character and IP MAN's scholar look. He said that during the shoot he got them confused and has forgotten his own identity. * (9/14/2008) Wylie Chiu Shek Chi, Hidy Yu Yiu Tung, and Square's Brian and James two nights ago attended the film OI DOH FAT SIU (LOVE TO FEVER) wrap banquet and celebrated with champagne. Brian poured champagne on Chiu Shek Chi's chest and she retaliated not only with pouring but also with spray toward his faces and eyes. Finally they even poured champagne on each other at the press' request for pictures. Chiu Shek Chi expressed that after working with Brian they have become good friends so she was not mad with the champagne pouring. "Maybe because I am tall, I 'stick a lot' to guys who are taller than me. When Brian and I worked together I climbed on him like a Koala Bear." Brian honestly said that originally he and James planned to spray champagne to generate cheer but in the end they got poured on first. Brian said, "Work is work, I have to ask my manager when I can date first." Chiu Shek Chi cut in to decline, "If we were dating I wouldn't be like this to him, because I wouldn't do that to my dream boy." Sherming Yiu Lok Yi was asked about friend Timmy Hung Tin Ming's wedding rumor. She not only protected him but also refused to reveal his wife's identity. "He hasn't officially notified me, I don't know yet. However he has always thought about getting married. Now he has settled down and wanted to have a baby. I only heard of his girlfriend's English name. I don't know if she is his wife. I don't know about a lot. If he needs help I would help out." * (9/13/2008) The Chan Fuk Sun executive produced new film BALLISTIC (DAN DOH) two nights ago held its premiere. Actors Simon Yam Tat Wa, Alice Tzeng Hoi Won, Joseph Chang Hau Chuen and director Lawrence Lau Kwok Cheung attended. Lau Kwok Cheung expressed that the film would open with an election assassination as a power struggle ensued. Lau Kwok Cheung honestly said that the film was a Chen Shui-Bian incident inspired dramatic story, but all of the characters are fictional. He said that the subject was indeed a little sensitive. In the film Tzeng Hoi Won only had 15 minutes on screen time. He said that actually Hoi Won worked for ten days but because the film was too long. He said that he had to be very cruel during editing and hoped to be able to release a full length video. Brother Wa in the film played a cop who due to his job could not say anything even if he knew the truth. He honestly said that when he received the screenplay he thought about turning it down because it was a little sensitive. Yet if that was the case many films in the U.S. could not be made. He was a professional actor. He expressed that he was not sure if the film was based on the Chen Shui-Bian assassination, but the film hinted at a lot that could make the audience think. Yam Tat Wa just produced a new film and revealed that next year he would produce one more movie. He expressed that he indeed was very interested, but he would not retire off screen because he liked acting alot and would never say quit. Tzeng Hoi Won regretted not having any scene with Brother Wa. In the film she had the most scene with on screen father Liu Kai Chi the most. She revealed that in October she would work on a romance in Taiwan. She said that this year she has made two movies and a television series, a workload that she was very satisfied with. She said that next year she would not increase production as health was more important than money. * (9/13/2008) Sundream's new film TICKET will be released in October. This film is Jacob Cheung Chi Leung directed. The cast includes Zuo Xiao Qing, Nicky Wu (Ng Kei Lung), Cecilia Yip Tung, Fan Wei and others. The film shot a scene in a hospital, during the shoot the actors saw many life and death touching scenes. In the film a mother was carrying a baby with heart problems. The baby might die in the womb and even if it was born its chance of survival was very low. Yet both parents were very optimistic. One night the team was shooting and heard heavy crying from the operation room and doctors and nurses were very intense. Later they realized that a baby who was born with heart problems was in surgery and the parents were crying with all their might. Zuo Xiao Qing honestly said that he never expected something like that to happen in real life. She felt very sad and found it hard to accept. When she saw the parents crying she was holding back her tears too. Later she approached them and pat them on their shoulders to comfort and support them. She also bought them coffee. Cheung Chi Leung felt that life was so coincidental and immediately prayed for the baby. The cast and crew stopped to keep the parents company. Luckily the surgery was very successful and the parents cried tears of joy. * (9/13/2008) On the 11th, Wong Jing brought his produced and invested new film NGAN HONG (TOUGH GUY) to the Golden Rooster Hundred Flower film festival in Dalian. Wong Jing expressed, this film had more style than any of his previous work. He believed that this film would become the future direction for Mainland police films. As for tough guy, Wong Jing expressed that a real tough guy should hold on to his own principles and dignity when he is at a dead end in the face of the worst situation, and insist on his stance. Real tough guys should not just rely on fighting to resolve problems. Thus this film has never considered martial art actors. Among the numerous tough guys in this film, Wong Jing said that Anthony Wong Chau Sun as the evil business man was a "villain tough guy", an all new character for Wong Chau Sun. Liu Ye as the mildly mentally deficient character was the film's center. Wong Jing praised Liu Ye and saw a great future for him. He felt Liu Ye had a lot of potential and saw shades of Tony Leung Ka Fai on him. As for his style, Wong Jing who has always made commercial entertainment films felt that a movie should first be commercial. Yet this time was the first time that he added art film elements into a commercial foundation. As for the difference between commercial and art, Wong Jing felt that as long as the audience liked it and would be willing to go to the movies to see it, then it is a commercial film. He said that he despised some directors who completely ignore the audience's feeling and make movies for awards. Such films would not leave an impression with the audience and would be irresponsible to investors. He has been able to make movies for 28 years mainly because he has been responsible to investors. Now everyone is making big movies. Wong Jing said that many Chinese films have certain investment rules, like that so-called big film investment could not pass 100 million. Otherwise it would be a loss. * (9/13/2008) The film TOH FA WON (PEACH BLOSSOM FORTUNE) yesterday held a press conference. Actors Duan Yihong, Li Chen and others arrived in Dalian as fans welcomed them in droves. The press conference not only attracted the media but also gathered the Mainland film production studio, Hong Kong film company, cinema circuit company leaders. Ng See Yuen yesterday as the Hong Kong investor attended with the UME boss. To match the theme, each actor yesterday wore something in peach red. Geng Le wore a peach red suit, Song Jia had a peach red sash, Yuen Qiu wore a red jacket; but only Duan Yihong did not show any peach red. He honestly said that he has already done his best to find something but in the end was only able to buy a pair of pink socks. The story was about everyone's romantic story. Yuen Qiu felt that the "peach blossom luck" had to be run into like winning the lottery; Li Xiaolu said that it should be "chased", but little Song Jai felt that it should be "waited for". * (9/13/2008) Zhou Xun in the film PAINTED SKIN (WAT PEI) played a thousand year old fox demon, which had three layers of "human skin". They included face, the entire head and the full body one from head to toe. The full body skin was tailored for Zhou Xun, who also personally participated in the face and the head mask creation. The entire creation took three months. The stench of the material and glue was tough on Zhou Xun but she felt that because she has never made such scenes before she still felt it was very fun and exciting. Actually not only the skin making process was an effort, "wearing skin" was not easy either. Because the "human skin" was very soft, Zhou Xun felt it was a little like facial mask. Ultimately the entire body was in the fake skin so it would feel uncomfortable and took some getting used to. Before the shoot, Zhou Xun not only had to wear the three layers but also had to go through six hours of special effect make up. * (9/12/2008) Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Wu Chen, Harlem Yu Ching Hing and Shaun Tam Chun Yin yesterday attended a BUTTERFLY LOVER (MO HUP LEUNG JOOK) press conference in Taiwan. The actors watched footage from the film and shared a lot of the production experience. First time big screen actor Yu Ching Hing joked, "This was my first film! Sister Choi Cheuk Yin 'taught' well, haha." Also a first timer on the big screen, Wu Chen and Ah Sa were called the new golden couple in Mainland. He happily said, "This was the first movie in my life. I feel very honored and also very proud." Ah Sa also expressed that this was the happiest production in my career so far. Tam Chun Yin in the film played the Axe Gang leader. With an eye patch, after one day in production he nearly blinded himself. His father Ti Lung also performed as Ah Sa's father. * (9/12/2008) Monica Mok Siu Kei in OCEAN FLAME had daring nude and sex scenes. I originally would have thought that a new comer would find bed scene very difficult, but Monica said that taking off all of her clothes was not hard at all. Monica said, "It was as simple as 1, 2, 3, strip. The difficulty lies with grasping the character, especially when director Liu Fendou had two selections in mind. If she performed poorly, someone would replace him at the position." She even said that taking off her clothes in front of the camera was anything. In addition during the sex scene shoots, Monica did not ask to clear the set. "How hard can taking off clothes be? Although most of the set were male, everyone were very professional. They wouldn't be gawking. The more you hide, the more people feel you have something to hide." Instead lead actor Liao Fan was more shy. Before the shoot she even took the initiative to communicate with Liao Fan. "Tell him not to be scared, I am a girl and I am not scared. What are you scared off." Everyone very quickly removed their clothes for the shoot. * (9/12/2008) Sundream film CHAMPIONS (DUET BIU) director Tsui Siu Ming, producer Li Feng Ming led actors Dicky Cheung Wai Kin, Priscilla Wong Chui Yu, Debbie Goh (Ng Tin Yu) and others to Dalin for this year's Golden Rooster Hundred Flowers Award and yesterday held a press conference. The host asked each actor to describe the film. Dicky described it with "If they didn't fight they wouldn't have met" because he and most actors' first scene was a "fight" scene. Wong Chui Yi described it with "real". Dicky asked Brother Siu Ming if they had to be "real" even with love scenes like LUST, CAUTION (SIK, GAI). Priscilla immediately looked very awkward and joked that she would never be as perfect as Cheung Sai. * (9/11/2008) The 17th Annual Golden Rooster Hundred Flower film festival opening ceremony press conference yesterday took place in Dalin. CURSE OF THE GOLDEN CURSE (MOON SING JUNG DAI WONG GUM GAP) announced its last minute resignation. According to the film festival, two days ago it received the notice of resignation from competition from the production company. However it was not certain of the reason and the company has not yet responded. * (9/11/2008) Ken Hung Cheuk Lap, Si Nga and Chan Ka Lok yesterday worked on the Emperor film HUNG SEUNG WOR NEI JOI YUT HEI (REALLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU) wrap scene. Guest star model A.Lin made an appearance and celebrated with the team. Hung Cheuk Lap yesterday shot his kiss scene with Si Nga. He honestly said that he did not feel embarrassed and joked that while kissing as soon as he got out of bed he had a little bad breath. Si Nga expressed that the kiss scene was very frightening. Although she has already given her first on screen kiss to Ken on television she was still a little worried. She joked that during the kiss she wanted to vomit a little because of the heat and not because of Ken. Ken said that he was a little dizzy from the heat and burnt on his arms. The director later provided them with beverage to replenish their energy and they were a little better. Ken expressed that the heat was the toughest part. Yesterday morning he had to wear a down jacket outdoors. When he took it off he was all sweaty. Ken however gained weight instead. Si Nga expressed that earlier when they shot a scene in which she slapped Ken. She honestly said that hitting someone was scarier than getting hit. However her first slap was very brutal and finally she slapped him nine times. Ken pointed out that the nine slaps were due to camera angles. After that shoot she had to attend an event and his cheek was swollen. Si Nga said that she slapped Ken until her hand hurt, the feeling was very unnatural. She said that earlier she worked through the night and then an early shift. Finally she got sick and had to see a doctor. Chan Ka Lok in the film had a crush on Si Nga. He joked that he was very envious of Ken being able to get intimate with Si Nga. In the film he only had the chance to hug her, but at the time she was ill and felt uncomfortable. He felt nothing when he held her. Ka Lok said that in the film he waited for Si Nga for four years but in reality he would not be so faithful. At most he had a crush on a girl for two months. He said that he was not someone who could fail so he would not make his feeling known to a girl who he had no confidence with. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, SEPTEMBER 16 2008, FILM WORDS OCEAN FLAME: WILD AND MESSY The Simon Yam Tat Wa produced category sex and violent film OCEAN FLAME had many Hong Kong actor assistance from him, Lam Suet, Leung Ka Yan, Hui Siu Hung, Bau Hei Jing, Lawrence Cheng Tan Shui and others. Actually it is a work of Mainland extreme director Liu Fendou. Lead actors are also from China. This film's original is Mainland controversial popular novelist Wang Shuo. 20 years ago Mainland has already made it into a film of the same title with Xia Gang as its director. In the novel the male lead is a young people who is a pimp and an extortionist in Beijing. He falls for a pretty university student. She becomes a prostitute and kills herself. After hard labor rehabilitation he is released. In a south seaside tourist area he runs into another woman. This time he no longer wants to harm another or drag anyone down. New film OCEAN FLAME takes freedom with the original, mainly taking from the first half of the story and changing the backdrop to Hong Kong. However the main characters are all very Mainland, with more Putonghua dialogue than Cantonese. The production style is alternative and strange. The visuals are very contrived, cooking up deranged violence, gratuitous sex and nudity. This type of rebel and fallen flower story has been made countless times in Hong Kong in the 70s and the 80s. Now Hong Kong society has changed. Instead Mainland has become stranger and stranger. Yet Mainland film inspection is very strict. This time thus uses Hong Kong to generate rebellion and sexual violence. In the film the male lead (Liao Fan) has been made to be a very deranged and rebellious trapped beast, tough and heartless to the pretty innocent girl (Monica Mok Siu Kei). He seems to deeply love her but deliberately abuses her, as he does not want to soil her. After tragedy, he even angrily and violently fight. Finally he finds his own dead end. Director Liu Fendou although has passion and impulse is excessive and out of control. For film festival participation he sells "art" shots. The entire film is very wild and messy, which makes viewers impatient. Only the cinematography is decent. The beach under the blue sky and white clouds, and the Hong Kong streets and alleys form an enjoyable visual. Liao Fan originally is a good stage actor. This time he is full of primal beast feel; Mok Siu Kei is attractive, dares to bare, but their life and death romance is not convincing. Other characters' personalities are unclear. However this alternative film's box office is better than the Hong Kong director and actor ensemble A DECADE OF LOVE, obviously due to the blood and flesh category III gimmicks. Actually DECADE is worthy of Hong Kong movie viewer attention, but it lacks promotion. The poster is not attractive at all. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, SEPTEMBER 16 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS NEW TAIWAN FILM WANTS TO TAKE OFF Taiwan has a local film that , after three weeks in release, broke the Taiwan film record of ten years with NT$54 million at the box office. CAPE NO. 7 is about 130 minutes long. Without any star, it is a story about several small potato formed band. It uses seven love letters to traverse 60 years of space and time, starting with Taiwan mass nostalgia. Without any very large promotion, the film through the internet elevates its popularity. Viewers who have seen the film write about their feeling online and draw viewers for this film. Some critics feel that CAPE NO. 7 along with last year's Taiwan film ISLAND ETUDE, WINDS OF SEPTEMBER, ORZ BOYZ, new Taiwan film is about to take off again. Taiwan film has often been said as already dead, with only a few art directors make film festival films. The situation perhaps truly has changed. Hong Kong film has remained in a crisis for a long time. It neither resemble Taiwan film and abandon the commercial market years ago nor escape from the crisis. The production rate is fewer year after year until it satisfies Chinese cinema circuit to its lowest demand of around 50 films. In recent years, film professionals temporarily drop the beautiful dream of China Hong Kong win win with co-production and promote focusing on the Hong Kong market to start all over. Industry outsiders have difficulty understanding the hardship of making a pure Hong Kong film. Because the past market has expanded, cost has increased as well. If a movie focuses on the Hong Kong market mainly, for it does not lose big its budget cannot possibly be very high. Star power naturally cannot be big either and promotional budget cannot spend too much. With all the variety of elements together the release buzz of course is weaker. Cinema numbers cannot be too many. One must mention that Hong Kong viewers in recent years have been supporting the strong. Many complain about the weaker Hong Kong films before even seeing them. A fever like Taiwan's CAPE NO. 7 online campaign may be harder. Difficult does not mean impossible. Before the 80s Hong Kong film take off, many viewers did not believe that Hong Kong film could have such a glorious era. Film is a dream making industry that is not suitable for participants or even viewers who are too practical. If one day Hong Kong takes off again, the glory naturally belongs to the minority with dreams. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, SEPTEMBER 14 2008 NOT A LEGENDARY ERA (1) At the Hong Kong Film Archive organized AN EMERGING MODERNITY: THE ROARING 60S program I again saw Chor Yuen's WINTER LOVE (1968) and Lung Kong's YESTERDAY TODAY TOMORROW (1970), and at the Leisure and Cultural Service Department organized JAPANESE NEW WAVE CINEMA event I saw several Yasuzo Masumura and Masahiro Shinoda's work. The 60s and the 70s, at least in terms of film achievement, was not a legendary story that was created under a wave of nostalgia, but a truly brilliant and glorious era. In terms of movies themselves, WINTER LOVE and YESTERDAY were not perfect (the latter after massive cutting appeared to be in bits and pieces). They could not even be called the two famous directors' best work. Yet under the observation of historical/era context, the films undoubtedly occupied outstanding places in Hong Kong (Cantonese) film history. In the Cantonese film development history, Chor Yuen and Lung Kong should be two final soldiers (or defenders?). Among them, Chor Yuen played the successor role. He came from a traditional Cantonese film family (his father was Cheung Woot Yau, one of the top Cantonese film actors in the 40s and the 50s). When he started to make movies, it was already the Cantonese film sunset era. His earlier work was all Cantonese film's most popular family drama (traditional values, feudalism fatal flaws; the destruction and tragedy of family that war brings; like ETERNAL REGRET and A MAD WOMAN and the new (city) youth romance (like his first film THE WHISPERING PALMS, all took turns. In Chor Yuen's oral history interview record, the most interesting find was that he actually was no different from most of the 60s "cultural youth"; he too was under the influence of the Italian Neo-realism, the French New Wave, European art film and a variety of new ideas at the time (his favorite director and film was Antonioni's BLOWUP). This influence, after the old school Cantonese film and its representatives (mainly a group of actors) officially retreated/retreated, was even more obvious. In WINTER LOVE, it was not hard to see the film influence of LE BEAU SERGE (Claude Chabrol, 1958), LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD (Alain Resnais, 1961), L'AVVENTURA (1960), LA NOTTE (1961, both Antonioni directed) and LOLA (Jacques Demy, 1961); like the male lead's writer identity, female lead's mysterious past, a pair of male buddies' relationships, long nights, from encounter to a bone deep romance, the meaning of masks, repetitive structure and others, all of which could be found in the aforementioned film. Chor Yuen (and the original writer Yi Tat)'s handling did not have make any big gesture to justify itself (the main issue lay with the axe ridden story), but forunately he dared to try with real emotions and intimacy. In other words, that spirit is the 60s trail blazing spiirt. (1) - SHU KEI 4. TA KUNG PAO, SEPTEMBER 14 2008 MAINLAND FILM INDUSTRY HAS HIDDEN CONCERNS The first half of this year has been the Hong Kong film ice age. Industry insiders lingered and did not know whether to go. Instead the Mainland market was all positive. The first two seasons' film box office revenue exceeded 50% of last year's same period, with a monthly average was 260 million. Even March and April did not have any obvious slide (unlike last year). Half a year total box office exceeded 1.6 billion yuan. The Mainland box office revenue has been ideal, but the number of movie watchers has not been. In 2007 22% of the people have gone to the movies, in other words every person on average goes to the movies once every five years. One of the reasons is the high ticket prices. Mainland movie prices go from 10 to 70 or 80 yuan, a rather high rate for the people's income. In terms of absolute price, some regions have higher ticket prices than the U.S. Americans on average go to the movies 5 times a year due to how economical ticket prices are (in comparison to income). Movie ticket prices are high because of the lack of cinemas. Last year Mainland added nearly 500 screens (almost 4000 total). This year in the first half of the year it also added 150 screens. Thus, this year's first half of the year average ticket price was 25 yuan, one yuan drop from last year's. After several more years, conceivably after the market self correction ticket prices would be even more "reasonable". In the first half of the year Mainland cinema revenue remained "East wind crushes west wind". National film occupied 55% of the box office while foreign around 45%. Unfortunately, the Mainland film market remained the big film's world. The top five Chinese films occupied 66% of the first half's national film box office. CJ7 (CHEUNG GONG CHUT HO) made 200 million, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM made 180 million, KUNG FU DUNK made 110 million, THREE KINGDOMS: RESURRECTION OF THE DRAGON made 65 million and THE EMPRESS AND THE WARRIROS made 43 million. Foreign film's top five also occupied 55% of foreign film box office. KUNG FU PANDA made 100 million, IRON MAN made 94 million, THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN made 83 million, 10000 BC made 75 million and NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS made 68 million. From the genres, most popular big films were all action or adventure films. Drama has never been popular. Aside from TITANIC, even PERHAPS LOVE became cannon fodder. Let's see if MEI LANFANG would be able to break through. Among national films, small and mid scale films were not considered vibrant. One of the reasons was no brand name effect. In the past Zhang, Chen, and Feng made a name for themselves with small to mid scale films. They became widely popular and now they all have gone to make big films. Small to mid scale film brand name still has not have any new successor. Let us see CRAZY STONE's director Ning Hao would be a successor. The lack of high quality small to mid scale productions, without any health market, Hong Kong situation was the best example. - TIN LIK 5. MING PAO DAILY, SEPTEMBER 12 2008, FILM WORDS 4BIA : SCARY FUN Yet another refusing to die ghost film is here. Thai film since ten years ago when NANGNAK suddenly rose also films without ghosts like BANGKOK DANGEROUS, IRON LADIES, JAN DARA, ONGBAK, but the most frequently seen are still ghost films. The new Thai hit 4BIA means phobia and consists four ghost stories. It keeps on cooking up ghosts to scare people, just right for young people but not for the mature. Yet four young directors' styles are uncommon, at least they would not be familiar. In the first part a bored girl plays with her phone at home and receives a mysterious text message. Director Yongyoot Thongkongtoon deliberately makes it monotonous and dull, leaving the best for last to create an unexpected horror effect. He even wonderfully explains cause and effect, showing his ghostly talent. Paween Purijitpanya directs the second part about high school bullies who pick on poor students and finally suffer the revenge in the form of a hex. This part sells unusual visuals, cameras are all over the place with a lot of exaggeration and passion. Bloody and brutal it also has a terrifying surreal atmosphere. The third part is the most lively and fun. Director Banjong Pisanthanakun does not do anything strange for the sake of being strange. Four young men go camping in the hills. They joke around and tell ghost stories that are fun and funny, would one of them become a ghost? Full of suspense, the ending is surprising. Parkpoom Wongpoom's fourth part is occasionally good. Overall it is mixed. It can only be said that ghost film anthologies are often like this. This film has some thrills and laughs that can be considered passable. It also has spicy Thai flavor. I have seen many ghost film mixes. Decades ago Japanese director Masaki Kobayashi's costume KAIDAN was a production with a lot of thought put into it. Each part had its own specialty. HOICHI THE EARLESS is the most classic but WOMAN IN THE SNOW is poor. No matter one or multiple directors, these films have very hard time to be great in every part. For example several years ago in the Hong Kong, Thailand and Korea made THREE only Peter Chan Ho Sun's Hong Kong part was excellent. This Thai ghost film was only a little game, with its daring tricks and comedy the most worthy of attention. The film feel is agile. - SHEK KEI 6. MING PAO DAILY, SEPTEMBER 12 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MAINLAND STARS ARE MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN HONG KONG STARS After Tang Wei, reportedly Hu Jun has already become a Hong Kong resident through the elite talent program. As Mainland stars come one by one, they pose certain threat to local stars. Hong Kong directors who have worked with Mainland stars all have praised their professionalism, which of course was compared to Hong Kong stars. Not every Hong Kong star is unprofessional. Many due to the entertainment circle ecology cannot possibly be professional. The most often flawed is high salary but short work hours. When stars become stars their salary naturally increases, which is the same around the world. Yet Hong Kong star salary takes more than half of the film's budget and severely impacts production quality. As long as they have market, people would hire them no matter how high their prices are. Yet fully paid, Hong Kong stars mostly would only provide a little time to make a movie. Mainland star salary in recent years has also rocketed, but they concentrate more on filmmaking than Hong Kong's as they give more energy and time. Many of them have had official acting training. Most have graduated from drama academies. Their basic foundation is already better than many local stars. Before places they would focus on rehearsing, unlike many Hong Kong stars who only hide in their vehicles to talk on the phone or sleep. Hong Kong stars are very busy. Sometimes on filmmaking days they would have other events and could not concentrate on acting. The industry also has bad habits. The famous ones often ask for their parts to be shot first. If they have other jobs on the same day, stand ins would fill their scenes. Scenes that are only hands and feet definitely are not theirs. Professional actors know how to act even with their hands and feet. How can they so easily let other people take their part? The new generation of Hong Kong stars sells popularity and not acting. Films are tailored for them, and often they become the bosses. Mainland stars are much more competitive than Hong Kong stars. Perhaps because fame is easy in Hong Kong, few new generation Hong Kong stars have learned to cherish the chance. Some are even unwilling to make kiss scenes. What more can anyone say? - KWOK HIN CHING 7. MING PAO DAILY, SEPTEMBER 11 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MAINLAND CANNOT HOLD ON TO FILM ELITE TALENT Tang Wei through the excellent talent program becomes a Hong Kong resident, and comments ensued. The ban in Mainland due to LUST, CAUTION (SIK, GAI) is very unfair to her. Ang Lee is not a Mainlander and cannot be banned. As an international director he does not even get named in the criticism. Tony Leung Chiu Wai is from Hong Kong and at the same time has won an international award. He too has not suffered any bad consequence. His RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) has been approved in Mainland and had 300 million box office. Tang Wei suffered because she was one of them. In film art she still has not been recognized yet. Resolution of the ban through the Hong Kong excellent talent program is a good idea. From now on, she can accept roles as a Hong Kong resident. Mainland inspection is not only unfair to Hong Kong and foreign film professionals but also has an extreme amount of pressure on Mainland film workers. Some internationally renowned Mainland stars reportedly already hold foreign passports. Not only are they convenient for travel but also provide greater freedom when they work. If Mainland wants to hold on to talent it must continue to open up film and television policies. Sometimes loose and sometimes tight, the policies approve films then prosecute them. To film development they are an enormous obstacle. Talent loss is a definite result. The writer understands the central government's fear of film poisoning people's hearts, but aside from strict big screen regulation pirated videos can be purchased anywhere. Any indecent unedited version can be seen. If something was to happen it would have already. Big screen's influence is smaller than the small screen. Now television screens are becoming larger and larger. Projectors are getting cheaper and cheaper too. Viewers who watch banned film at home would not lose too much from the big screen. Mainland viewers' eyes have already been opened long ago. Big screen content is still under restriction, which is laughable. Like LUST, CAUTION, if it has any problem many Mainland visitors have seen it in Hong Kong cinemas. The unedited pirated video are available nationwide. You can ask any Mainland friend. Any movie that they like to see they have seen. Yet they do not seem to suffer from any bad influence. Loosen or lose control. - KWOK HIN CHING [ In Production Now/Soon ] LOOKING FOR A STAR 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 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? 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 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 FORBIDDEN LEGEND SEX & CHOPSTICKS Can : Gum Jung Mui Lit : Golden Bottle Plum d. Chin Man Kei Kaera Uehara, Hikaru Wakana, Serina Hayakawa Lam Wai Kin, Tsui Siu Keung, Ng Chi Hung Rating : III Length : 94 mins. Opening September 18 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] In the Song Dynasty, wealthy son Simon Hing is a handsome genius who inherits his father's medical knowledge with specialty in male potency. As he matures, his father hires a courtesan in the disguise of a family friend to stay at the Simon home. Actually she is the beauty that his father has arranged for him, to instruct Simon Hing in the art of the bedroom and woman taming, for him to experience that the joy of sex must not involve love and thus decides Simon Hing's philandering life... 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 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A diver who has dreamt of becoming a diving master after years of hard work finally successfully joins the diving team and sees the coach's son and three time champion teammate as his target. however, the diving team faces financial trouble and is about to disband. The new coach must train a national diving representative to be able to turn the crisis around. She thus tries her best to invite a rebellious diving elite to join the team and trigger competitiveness among the team. To focus on his training, the diver ignores his girlfriend who has a change of heart. The rebel leaves home and his live in girlfriend behind and the champion time and again struggles with his coach father. As the national competition edges closer, each of three young divers faces his own troubles and fear. The competition grows more and more fierce because only one can qualify... RULE #1: THERE ARE NO GHOSTS Can : Dai Yut Gai Lit : First Commandment d. Tong Wing Kin Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Shawn Yue Man Lok, Stephanie Che Yuen Yuen Rating : IIB Length : 93 mins. 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 Affairs 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. CATCH A WAVE Can : 3 Gor Chung Long ji Siu Nin Lit : 3 Wave Crashing Youth d. Nobuyuki Takahashi Haruma Miura, Gaku Hamada, Rosa Kato, Ryo Kimura, Naoto Takenaka Opening August 28 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Taiyo is a 16 year old high school students. He and his two best friends decides to spend the summer together. They leave their parents' control far behind and goes to one of the homes that is hours away from Tokyo, a beach house in the south. When they arrive, they immediately fall under the spell of the endless sea and surfers on the towering waves. 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 Rating : IIA Length : 88 mins. 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... [ 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. 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… 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) 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 Length : 123 mins. 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 September 25 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. LOST INDULGENCE Can : Bei Ong Lit : Secret Coast d. Zhang Yibai Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Karen Mok Man Wai, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Chiang Man Lai Opening October 2 2008 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] The story starts with a car accident that shatters the silence lives of family of three. Husband Ng To's taxi falls into the river. He is missing, leaving an injured female passenger -- barmaid So Dan. Wife Fan Lai faces a hefty compensation. With a family in trouble she can only first take So Dan home to recover. At home her son Siu Chuan has just finished his examination and faces his own love and father's passing, all of which has him feeling alone and lost. The entrance of So Dan into his home stirs up changes in his life, as So Dan's beauty seems to lead his growth from a boy into a man. While treating her injury he seems to have fallen for her legs. Siu Chuan panicks in the face of desire. Mother Fan Lai under So Dan's silent influence seems to have found a strain of youth. She runs into a Hong Kong businessman Siu Yi with a type of awkwardness. Finally So Dan after recovering leaves them. Two years later, Siu Chuan finds So Dan and learns the cruel but sad truth of the accident... KUNG FU CHEF Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Lam Tze Chung Opening October 16 2008 in Malaysia [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS ONLINE ] Jo had kept hatred in his heart for a very long time and did what he could to oust his uncle Wong Bing-Yi (Sammo Hung) from the village and to claim the rights to the “Dragon-Head Cleaver”, a symbol of power to the clan. As Wong Bing-Yi was forced out of the village, he encountered Shen Qing by chance and is determined to help her during the troubled times at her restaurant “Four Seas”. Here, he discovered a young cooking wonder, Lung Kin-Yat. To bring “Four Seas” back to the top, Lung ends up representing “Four Seas” to the competition against Chef Tin, two times “Top Chef” winner and the head chef at “Imperial Palace”, the restaurant owned by Jo. At the day of the finals, Wong Bing-Yi and Jo met privately to try to resolve their problems. Lung shined by overcoming many obstacles and preparing a dish called “Fresh Water Bak-Choy” just as his master, Wong Bing-Yi had taught him. However, the head judge has been bribed by “Imperial Palace” and he is also the master of Chef Tin. Who will finally win the title of “Top Chef”? Can the “Kung Fu Chefs” finally win over the hearts of many? DETROIT METAL CITY d. Toshio Lee Kenichi Matsuyama, Yoshihiko Hosoda, Ryuji Akiyama Opening October 30 2008 Site : http://www.tiff08.ca/filmsandschedules/films/detroitmetalcity [ TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2008 ] Souichi is a timid, sensitive and innately polite music geek who moves from the Japanese countryside to Tokyo with big dreams: he aspires to sing sugary love ballads and become a chart-topping sensation. But life does not turn out the way Souichi had hoped, and the only gig he can get is that of front man for the notorious band Detroit Metal City (DMC). Wearing a cape, tights and ghostly demon makeup, Souichi storms the stage each night as Johannes Klauser II, smashing guitars and spewing verbal filth in songs about murder and rape. The band's crazy getups and destructive performances have earned them a legion of devoted, maniacal fans, who believe that Klauser is a drug-gobbling demon from hell. To make matters worse, this reluctant rocker runs into his college crush, the demure and adorable Ms. Aikawa, who is now a magazine pop critic. Soon he is struggling to keep his wild metal stardom a secret. After defeating rival bands and winning recognition as one of Japan's top acts, DMC is challenged to a duel by death-metal icon Jack IL Dark. Souichi finds himself locked in a battle of satanic guitar riffs for the title of ultimate death-metal king, all while keeping Ms. Aikawa sweetly ignorant of his alter ego. 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 --- [ 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 * Sam Hui live in Reno,NV Nov 27,2008 more details coming soon! Tickets On Sale Saturday, September 13th @ 10 AM Contact InfoContact: Ticketmaster Phone: (775) 787-8497 http://ticketsus.at/ticketstudent?CTY=3&CID=874 http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/events/11-27-2008/sam-hui * Jolin Tsai live in San Jose,CA Nov 30,2008 Date & Time: Sunday night, November 30,2008 @ 7:00pm Venue Location: San Jose State University Event Center 290 S. 7th Street San Jose, CA 95192 Ticket Prices: $58, $78, $98, $138, $188 (VIP) Info & online ticket: http://www.usastarimage.com http://www.usastarimage.com/EventDetail.aspx?id=29 concert info hotline: 510-651-6888 concert info email: concert@usastarimage.com ticket outlet locations: Ng Hing Kee: San Francisco: 415-781-8330 Sunset SF: 415-759-1999 Millbrae: 650-692-8922 Mountain view: 650-969-2034 Oakland: 510-272-0822 Milpitas: 408-433-5188 World Journal Bookstore (San Francisco) 415-397-8473 Evergreen Books (Milpitas) 408-383-9798 Mo Mo Bookstore (Cupertino) 408-863-1288 Tara Books (Newark) 510-818-9666 Nan Hwa Group (San Jose) 408-453-3330 free roundtrip bus for concert ticket holders in: san francisco chinatown (contact ng hing kee sf & world books), san mateo & millbrae marina food call 650-212-3988 & 650-692-8922 for details http://www.usastarimage.com http://www.usastarimage.com/EventDetail.aspx?id=29 concert info hotline: 510-651-6888 * 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 * ERIC MOO LIVE 2008 Special Guest : Hu Yanglin DATE & TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, October 5 2008 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION : Grand Ballroom Bally's Atlantic City Atlantic City NJ * Fei Yu Chin live in San Jose,CA Oct 4,2008 Date & Time: Saturday night, October 4,2008 @ 7:00pm Venue Location: San Jose State University Event Center 290 S. 7th Street San Jose, CA 95192 Ticket Prices: $58, $78, $98, $108, $138, $168 Info & online ticket: http://www.usastarimage.com http://www.usastarimage.com/EventDetail.aspx?id=28 concert info hotline: 510-651-6888 concert info email: concert@usastarimage.com ticket outlet locations: Ng Hing Kee: San Francisco: 415-781-8330 Sunset SF: 415-759-1999 Millbrae: 650-692-8922 Mountain view: 650-969-2034 Oakland: 510-272-0822 Milpitas: 408-433-5188 World Journal Bookstore (San Francisco) 415-397-8473 Evergreen Books (Milpitas) 408-383-9798 Mo Mo Bookstore (Cupertino) 408-863-1288 Tara Books (Newark) 510-818-9666 Nan Hwa Group (San Jose) 408-453-3330 free roundtrip bus for concert ticket holders in: san francisco chinatown (contact ng hing kee sf & world books), san mateo & millbrae marina food call 650-212-3988 & 650-692-8922 for details http://www.usastarimage.com http://www.usastarimage.com/EventDetail.aspx?id=28 concert info hotline: 510-651-6888 * 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 September 16 2008 10 THE DARK KNIGHT d. Christopher Nolan Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman 9 MADE OF HONOR d. Paul Weiland Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd 8 CYBORG SHE Can : Ngor Dik Gei Hai Yun Nui Yau Lit : My Robot Girlfriend d. Kwak Jae-Yong Haruka Ayase, Keisuke Koide 7 REC d. Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza Manuela Velasco 6 OCEAN FLAME 5 BANGKOK DANGEROUS d. Oxide Pang Shun, Danny Pang Fat Nicolase Cage, Charlie Yeung Choi Nei 4 JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH d. Eric Brevig Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Aniat Briem 3 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 2 4BIA d. Yongyoot Thongkongtoon, Paween Purijitpanya, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom, 1 MAMMA MIA d. Phyllida Lloyd Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS CYBORG SHE Rating : IIA Length : 121 mins. 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...... 10 PROMISES WITH MY DOG Rating : I Length : 117 mins. 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 Rating : IIB Length : 118 mins. Opening September 11 2008 ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, SEPTEMBER 13 2008 15 BITTER SKY Can : Chong Tin Nicky Lee Gau Jik 14 RAINY DAY Can : Ha Yu Tin South Fist Mama 13 LIVE FOR YOU Can : Wai Nei Yu Woot (Sun Muk Yu Tung) 12 IF ABLE TO BE TOGETHER Can : Yu Gor Nung Joi Yut Hei Jasmine Leong (Leung Sing Yu) 11 OPEN HEAVEN WINDOW Can : Hoi Tin Cheung May Day 10 PAINFUL LOVE Can : Tung Oi Jam Hsiao (Siu King Tung) 9 NOT YET LOST Can : Mei Shu Justin Lo (Juk Tin) 8 CALL SISTER Can : Giu Jeh Jeh Black Girl 7 LITTLE WAIST Can : Siu Man Yiu Vincy Chan (Wing Yi) 6 HATE THAT I LOVE YOU Rhianna, Hins Cheung King Hin 5 SEE YOU NEXT TIME Can : Ha Chi Hoi Gei Leo Ku Kui Ke 4 EXIT FIRE ENTER DEMON Can : Jau For Yup Mor Ding Dong, Ah Shun 3 NOT YET 18 Can : Mei Moon Sup Bak Shui Anson Hu (Wu Yin Bun) 2 CRUEL MOONLIGHT Can : Chan Ho Yuet Guong James Lin (Lam Yau Ga) 1 7 Can : Chut Eason Chan Yik Shun --------- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] SO WHAT P!nk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJZDsJ8UU64 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1593810&vid=272675 Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na I guess i just lost my husband I don't know where he went So i'm gonna drink my money I'm not gonna pay his rent (Nope) I got a brand new attitude And i'm gonna wear it tonight I wanna get in trouble I wanna start a fight Na Na Na Na Na Na Na I wanna start a fight Na Na Na Na Na Na Na I wanna start a fight So so what? I'm still a rock star I got my rock moves And i don't need you And guess what I'm having more fun And now that we're done I'm gonna show you tonight I'm alright, I'm just fine And you're a tool So so what? I am a rockstar I got my rock moves And i don't want you tonight Uh, check my flow, uh The waiter just took my table And gave to Jessica Simp- Shit! I guess i'll go sit with drum boy At least he'll know how to hit What if this song's on the radio Then somebody's gonna die I'm gonna get in trouble My ex will start a fight Na Na Na Na Na Na Na He's gonna start a fight Na Na Na Na Na Na Na We're all gonna get in a fight! So so what? I'm still a rock star I got my rock moves And i don't need you And guess what I'm having more fun And now that we're done I'm gonna show you tonight I'm alright, I'm just fine And you're a tool So so what? I am a rock star I got my rock moves And i don't want you tonight You weren't there You never were You want it all But thats not fair I gave you life I gave my all You weren't there You let me fall So so what? I'm still a rock star I got my rock moves And i don't need you And guess what I'm having more fun And now that we're done (we're done) I'm gonna show you tonight I'm alright(I'm alright),I'm just fine (I'm just fine) And you're a tool So so what? I am a rock star I got my rock moves And i don't want you tonight No No, No No I Don't want you tonight You weren't fair I'm gonna show you tonight I'm alright, I'm just fine And you're a tool So so what? I am a rock star I got my rock moves And i don't want you tonight (wooooooooooohoooooooo!) Ba da da da da da (*tongue spits*) ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038