From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (DECEMBER 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. Gallen Law Ka Leung who celebrates his birthday on the 16th B. Bosco Wong Chung Chak who celebrates his birthday on the 13th C. Leon Lai Ming who celebrates his birthday on the 11th D. Kenny Kwan Chi Bun who suffered dog bites on the 10th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (12/17/2008) Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam) yesterday together with Wong Yau Nam, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi went to Causeway Bay to promote the movie IP MAN. Many worked with G.O.D. to design mini wooden men, but Lynn's was too gorgeous. The film was released last week in Mainland, Lynn said her family has already shown its support, felt that her performance qualified and would continue to support her. Recently, however, she gave up a chance to perform in a film because the role was a model. Lynn in real life was already a model, so she did not want to play another one in a film and give nothing new to the audience. Thus, she would like to play roles that were very different from normal, like a tragic or beautiful romance. Would She play a homeless lady? She said, "I am scared that I can't handle it. It can't be too difficult; I have to take my time." Reporters asked whether she would ask rumored boyfriend Aaron Kwok Fu Sing for acting lessons? She felt that she would only be in tune with a female teachers and also said that the boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming was interested in an IP MAN sequel, which he has already negotiated with her. Hiroyuki Ikeuchi played a Japanese military officer with great martial art ability in the film, but in reality he frankly stated that he did not know any gong fu and had no interest in learning. * (12/16/2008) Lin Chiling yesterday attended the Peak Madame Tussauds news conference, Madame Tussauds would create a wax figure for RED CLIFF II Lin Chiling's Xiaoqiao character. A few days ago she spent three hours for wax figure tailoring. Chiling said that this production has been memorable. From it she has also learned a lot. She has fallen in love with acting and would like it to become a life-long career. When asked if she would like to transition, she said, "If everyone is satisfied and liked it, I would." Lin Chiling said that the RED shoot caused a lot of pressure, but only with pressure would she be able to do better. She said that the cooperation and team spirit become the driving force, like Tony Leung Chiu wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and director John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) have also helped her a lot, Chiling even praised Leung Chiu Wai as a magician. As soon as she saw Wai Jai she would become Xiaoqiao. He was able to bring her into the role, which was very amazing. The master of ceremonies claimed that the wax figure maker's measurement process went smoothly. She only expressed that three hours of posing was a bit tiring. The host asked Chiling whether the measurement would be accurate with her clothes on. She was embarrassed and said that that she was not sure. Lin Chiling said that the figure will be released in January next year. She will come to Hong Kong then. She said that although she stood for three hours, as a former model and her simpler move selections it was not too hard. She looked forward to this figure. Chiling expressed that she has never imagined Xiaoqiao would give her so much. Being able to work on this role has been glorious, which she could treat as history. Would she give up modeling? She said, "This was my first film, experience had to be accumulated slowly." She said frankly that Taiwan and Hong Kong companies have also approached her with film offers. She would welcome the opportunity to make big or small-scale production, as long as the character would be challenging. Chiling would like to work with Peter Chan Ho Sun because she liked his very fine work. Has she earlier introduced herself to Chan Ho Sun at the Taiwan Golden Horse awards? She said no. Who would she like to work with? She would like to work with Keanu Reeves. Has she asked John Woo for help? She said, "I was just casually saying, this is just my dream." Lin Chiling previously served as the guest performers at the Golden Horse Awards, but the criticism was "chick voice". Chiling indicated that she would accept the criticism. In fact, this is her first singing performance. She should not be eligible to stand on stage to sing because she is not a singer. However she was sincere and in the future she would continue to work hard. She would not be unhappy, as long as everyone who has seen her performance and smile. Her next performance would not be affected, as an artist should not have limits. Criticism was deserved. * (12/15/2008) The New Year new film CHI LING (THORN TOMB) will soon start production. Lead actor Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) grew facial hair for his new role; the lead actress has not been determined, but he would like to work with Mainland actress Zhou Xun. According to the Xinhua News Agency in Taipei on the 15th, the film's production team held a press conference in Taipei. Chow Kit Lun expressed hope that the female lead would speak Chinese so communication would be easier; the female lead could not be taller than him, otherwise the production would be very hard; since he has worked with Zhou Xun on a music video he would like this opportunity to work together once again. Director Chu Yen-ping said, Chow Kit Lun was too young so finding a well-known, close in age co-star was very difficult. Otherwise the female lead could easily become an "older sister"; currently candidates have not been decided, the search would take place in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and South Korea for an all new couple. The rumor about CHI LING was famous film star Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha)'s guest performance. Chu Yen-ping said that he would not approach Lam Ching Ha. If she was to return, the script must also be tailored for her and not just a guest starring role. CHI LING was an ultra-modern decadent romantic love story. In addition to COMRADES ALMOST A LOVE STORY (TIM MUK MUK) screen writer Ong Sai's design of male and female lead romance, director Lee Wai Man would plan the romantic scenes. Chu Yen-ping said that he was only in charge of "making gimmicks" as he hoped for all new breakthrough in costumes, action and vision. In addition, about the KUNG FU DUNK film sequel the president of Changhong Film and Television Wu Dun said although KUNG FU had decent box office of over 100 million in Mainland, for the sake of a breakthrough innovation, they decided on a cross-border cooperation. The production costs will be increased to 100 million yuan to create an Oriental mystery adventure action romance. Beijing Happiness Cultural Development Co., Ltd. Tung Chiu-fai said with the Mainland market's rapid growth in he hoped that CHI LING would be able to break 200 million yuan at the box office. * (12/15/2008) The Johnnie To Kei Fung produced, Vincent Lo (Law Wing Cheung) directed film TACTICAL UNIT (GEI DUNG BO DUI -- TUNG BAU) will be released January 8th, yesterday the director in conjunction with several leads including Simon Yam Tat Wa, Maggie Shiu Mei Kei and Lam Suet attended a forum after a screening of the film in Mongkok, the film poster also made its debut. On the poster Brother Wa was the most prominent, while Maggie and Lam Suet were not too eye catching; but Maggie did not mind, the most important was the film to perform well. Later she would assist in the Mainland promotion. Brother Wa still has yet to officially appreciate the film except during the production and voice work, so he looked forward to it a lot. Due to the present economic downturn, Brother Wa honestly said that he was worried about the effect on the box office. However as an actor he could not control it and could only do his part with promotion. Maggie proposed to reduce admission to attract spectators, Wa Jai immediately objected because he felt as long as the film itself was attractive the audience would be willing to pay out of his own pocket. Would they reduce their salary to rescue the market? Maggie has joked that her salary has never been considered high, but if it could save the market she would consider a salary reduction. Lam Suet who was working with Law Wing Cheong again revealed that during the shoot the director constantly scolded him. He even said that Law Wing Cheong was more explosive than To Kei Fung. When he was intense he seemed to have schizophrenia. Currently Lam Suet was shooting the Ah To produced new film FOOK SAU (REVENGE). Because the director was France, at work he had to rely on body language to communicate and even described this time was Ah To's semester final exam for him. He hoped that he would not have to take the test again. * (12/15/2008) Earlier the film SHUI FENGHUANG (WATER PHOENIX) held an all province promotion event in Guiyang, the provincial party committee promotional department, the provincial Office of Spiritual Civilization, the provincial education department, the provincial Cultural Office, the provincial party committee, and other leaders attended the meeting to arrange for the Guizhou inspirational documentary film SHUI FENGHUANG's all province release screening. The movie was a the Guizhou Daily Newspaper Group and Beijing Amy Stewart film culture Co., Ltd. joint production. It was an ideological, artistic, and entertainment merger that was an important educational film about rural areas. SHUI FENGHUANG was a more than 400 million investment small budget film. The film was shot in Guizhou, based on the real story of the Qiannan Sandushui Autonomous County rural village teachers with disabilities Lu Yongkang's 36 years of teaching on his knees. He relied on his knees to kneel on the group and his arms to move his body forward and "walk", and he "walked" back and forth from the Shui Tribe's mountain residence's hills and waters. Finally he was able to reache 100% school-age children enrollment rate. * (12/14/2008) Two nights ago Stephy Tang Lai Yun and Justin Lo (Juk Tin) for BO CHI OI NEI (KEEP LOVING YOU) made a scene in which Juk Tin made his feelings known to Stephy but was rejected, finally they ended up argument. In addition to the director Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum) personally supervised the study, Juk Tin's mother and sister also visited the set. Juk Tin revealed in real life girls also always rejected him. Although it was not one hundred percent, he still had more rejection than acceptance. He joked, "I think it's because I look bad, short, have a poor figure and am Very troublesome." He went on to say that he was often subjected to bullying as a child, thus he lacked the courage to express his feelings to the object of his desire. Stephy revealed that Juk Tin was great at wooing girls and had a pair of electric eyes. He often unknowingly electrified people. Juk Tin however said that he smelt and always picked his nose so no one liked him. Juk Tin also complained that the director originally told him that he and Stephy had a kiss scene but reneged, thus he would ask the director for compensation; Stephy joked that because Juk Tin was cold sore so she did not accept the kiss scene. * (12/13/2008) The 59th Berlin Film Festival yesterday announced the first list of finalists, FOREVER ENTHRALLED would represent China in the main competition. Producer Han Sanping excitedly said that the Berlin Film Festival entry also was an opportunity to show the unique charm of Chinese culture, FOREVER ENTHRALLED's unique Eastern aesthetic and Chinese people's strength of character and integrity that would give the Western audiences a pleasant surprise. Last year, with MICHAEL CLAYTON the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress winner Tilda Swinton will serve as Chairman of the Competition Jury. According to the festival, FOREVER ENTHRALLED was a modern film that implicated Oriental aesthetics. Its subtle and reserved Eastern emotional expression was very unique as it melted the grand epic and delicate personal emotional world into one. As a Chinese director Chen Kaige in his film again and again continued his cultural mission thus the film finally successfully qualified to compete for the Golden Bear. Han Sanping said, "FOREVER ENTHRALLED's the Berlin Film Festival nomination marks the gradual maturation of China's industrialization. Director Chen Kaige has contributed the film that can represent Chinese-language film's highest standard of work, which is also an important achievement of China Film Group's continuing reform. I wish FOREVER ENTHRALLED the best of luck in Berlin." Zhang Ziyi also said, "I am very glad to hear this news. First of all, I would like to congratulate the director on the film's competition nomination, a great recognition of the film's artistic achievements. I am very happy for director Chen Kaige. At the same time, the nomination is an enormous encouragement for all the efforts that the staff has paid. I am also very honored to be one of them. I think, in terms of FOREVER ENTHRALLED, in addition to competition, of greater significance is that it will demonstrate to the world the extensive and profound Chinese culture of traditional Beijing opera. Because the film is the final approach to introduce Mr. Mei to the world. I very much look forward to share this film with the audiences around the world." Lai Ming said, "I am very proud to participate in the film. As a part of FOREVER ENTHRALLED, I am very pleased with its nomination." Chen Kaige was very happy to learn the news. * (12/13/2008) Three beauties Zhou Xun, Guei Lun-Mei, Kitty Zhang Yuqi in their new movie ALL ABOUT WOMEN (NUI YUN BUT WAI) all had different new attempts. Zhou Xun had to interpret a surreal bed scene; Kuei Lun-Mei was a rocker who loved to fantasize and trained in Chinese boxing; as for the youngest one Zhang Yuqi had to play a strong businesswoman in her early 30's, thus when she first received the role she was very upset. Although the three almost had no scene together, after an intensive publicity campaign coupled with their tomboy character, they have now become good friends. Best Actress Zhou Xun this time played a bowl haired "homebody" who would become totally stiff when she came in contact with a man, thus the entire film's most memorable scene was the "rigid bed scene," At that time she could not move her limbs as she was completely rigid, so the feeling was surreal. In real life, she claimed to be very charming but poor in social communication. Thus people misunderstood her to be difficult to get along with. In her relationship with her boyfriend was also based on the premise of mutual respect. Playing the hot-tempered rocker Kuei Lun-Mei, because all kinds of training was necessary before the shoot, has not been anywhere during her several month long stay in Beijing. Among everything that she has learned many, only riding the motorcycle was the most memorable for her. Because she could not decipher between the clutch and the throttle, she should never be able to operate a motorcycle in her lifetime. She said, "Although the learning process was very difficult, I was still very happy to shake off my past." Speaking of her character's overall desire to have the perfect boyfriend, although in real life her relationship with her boyfriend Leon Dai (Dai Lap Yun) was stable she did not think he was a "perfect boyfriend" because perfection did not exist. Mutual understanding was the most important. As the youngest of the three, Zhang Yuqi at first was unhappy about playing a 30 something strong businesswoman, but later when she learned that this role actually was not old and had quite a character, only then she readily accepted. As for the show's most memorable scene, she had a kiss scene with Alex Fong Chung Shun in the car. Because she got into the character very quickly, she unknowingly bit his lips. With her tough exterior, she said that she did not know how to handle love, let alone had the experience to deal with her boyfriend; but at first she would obey her boyfriend and would only leave if she truly could tolerate no more. * (12/11/2008) Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Liu Kai Chi, and the film's child actors Huang Xinyan and Huang Xueyan two night ago attended a celebration for the Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed Emperor film BEAST STALKER (JING YUN). Everyone opened champagne to celebrate the film's match toward 7 million after less than two weeks in release. Tse Ting Fung although was very satisfied with the film's performance thought that it was lacking promotion. He said that he never thought about breathing a sigh of relief and only enjoyed the production process as long as he did all he could. His father earlier attended the premiere. Did he have any comment? He said, "After my father saw it he came over to shake my hand then nodded. I never had this feeling before. He said that the director's production style was great." As for his wife she has yet to see it because she was sick earlier and claimed that he transmitted it to her and their son. Now their son was still coughing a little. He also denied that his wife was pregnant again. Ting Fung honestly said that he has never thought about winning Best Actor with this role, if he would it would be an encouragement. Cheung Ka Fai boasted that if the box office would break 8 million he would be mad with joy. As long as it was a dollar more than 8 million, he and Ting Fung would kiss. Ka Fai said, "If the box office would be more than 10 million then I would go crazy. I would run naked in the streets to thanks the audience for their support, and would even ask Ting Fung to run the 400 meter relay together. I am not afraid of breaking the law, as long as during the exchange we wouldn't hand off the wrong baton. (Have you asked your wife?) No, (Are you really going to do what you say?) If I don't I am a jerk." Ting Fung said that when they broke the mark then they would further deliberate Ka Fai's proposal, but if they sold tickets to their streak, that day's box office would be over 10 million. If they ran naked in Shanghai to celebrate, the box office would pass 100 million. Would he promise to kiss Ka fai? He joked that he would like to ask his wife, even running naked he would ask her for fear she would not agree. In addition, Ting Fung earlier expressed hope to work with his father on a movie or a music video. Would he consider all three generations in the production? He immediately said, "No, (but it is be worth commemorating?) Although a 74-year-old, a 28 years old and a one-year-old would be very commemorative, I think it may be excessive. Maybe I would shoot it as a keepsake and not release it publicly. (Would you ask Mommy Deborah Li (Dik Bor Lai) and Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi to make a movie together?) The boss would have to pay a lot of money for this cast, as the boss I wouldn't be able to afford this price." BEAST STALKER was Sherman Chung Shu Man's second film. She said that she was satisfied with the results. Though she only had a few scenes, but she was already very satisfied to be able to make a big production film. Playing a female cop in the film, she had more scenes with Liu Kai Chi and Tse Ting Fung. Reportedly the film would make a sequel. She said that later she would try to recommend herself for that to the director because she has always wanted to make action films and would like to study Chinese gong fu if she had the chance. Since she had quite a tan, she had the potential to make some vicious martial arts movies, she also said that at home she would mimic some martial arts moves in front of the mirror, sometimes her sister would pass by and be stunned, thinking that she has gone mad. * (12/11/2008) Director Tsui Hark led actors Zhou Xun, Kuei Lun-Mei, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Stephen Fung Tak Lun and Peng Yu Yan to attend the Beijing premiere of ALL ABOUT WOMEN (NUI YUN BUT WAI). The female leads even appeared in their costumes. Among them Zhou Xun's small gray jacket with large glasses and a bowl wig was the funniest look and made the audience smile. Even more surprising was Fung Tak Lun and Peng Yu Yan asked her to pole dance. She clearly was well prepared and impressed everyone. Later they even held a funny "award ceremony" with category named after the holiday film titles. Getting all the men in the film hot and bothered, Zhang Yuqi won the RED CLIFF award; Guei Lun-Mei won the IP MAN award; with the most ridiculous costume, Zhou Xun in the film despite repeated failure continued to persist with love and finally understood the ultimate meaning of "Honesty is the basis of love". She received the IF YOU ARE THE ONE award. The most anticipated FOREVER ENTHRALLED award surprisingly went to Tsui Hark, who even thanked Chen Kaige. "I really want to thank Director Chen Kaige, who gave me the chance to win this FOREVER ENTHRALLED award. He deserved some credit for this award." He was asked to perform a Beijing Opera skit of the Drunken Concubine with a Chinese tiara and made the crowd roar with laughter. * (12/11/2008) After rushing through Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen promotions, last night the FOREVER ENTHRALLED team arrived in Changsha for its final publicity stop. Even though lead actress Zhang Ziyi could not attend due to scheduling conflict, Leon Lai Ming, Chen Kaige, Chen Hong, Sun Honglei and other members of the luxury line-up still dazzled and attracted tens of thousands of fans and the media to swarm to the scene. Maybe due to the last leg's ease, the team one after another dropped their caution from the earlier stops and made revelations at the fan meeting. Lai Ming said that actually he was very lonely, Chen Hong said that she was half Hunanese, and Sun Honglei without hesitation stated that the reason that Gillian Chung Yun Tung's scene was removed due to the Mei descendents' strong objection and they had to respect their Views. From the rumor of choosing Lai Ming to play Mei Lanfang to the film release now, Lai Ming remained the film's hotspot as the voice of opposition has never cease. Last night, reporters directly suggested that Sun Honglei was the film's truly well-deserved lead actor, which was rather awkward for Lai Ming. However, Chen Kaige immediately resolved the awkward atmosphere. He said, "I tell you that Lai Ming's performance was very well and very amazing. Because Beijing Opera relies on starting from childhood, it is difficult to learn as an adult. Yet Lai Ming has been very serious about his study. In the whole creative process, he has demonstrated what is inside him, his fear, hesitation and even recluse are on display. I think he has played very beautifully." Lai Ming also said that he was deep into the role, "I wasn't playing Mei Lanfang, I became Mei Lanfang." Lai Ming said, perhaps because both he and Mei Lanfang were in show business, he had the same loneliness as Mei Lanfang. In the film Mei Lanfang's dream of watching a movie actually was his dream as well. Because in Hong Kong, no matter where he went a few paparazzi would be behind him. Thus, Mei Lanfang's regret and rage of not being able to take Meng Xiaodong to the movies was especially touching for him. Sun Honglei's hard performance in FOREVER ENTHRALLED received viewers' absolute recognition. Last night at the event, Sun Honglei stated that actually his most satisfying scene was cut. The scene was the young Mei Lanfang's wedding. In it, his character You Yubai's mother died of anger when You Yubai resigned his official post. That day also happened to be Mei Lanfang's wedding. He went to congratulate the Mei family but broke down as soon as he saw Mei Lanfang. Yet after crying he still wished the new couple well with a smile. Sun Honglei said that he was very satisfied with this emotional upheaval scene, but because the scene involved Ah Gil, at the request of the Mei family Chen Kaige finally removed it. However, the scene had to be cut. Because FOREVER ENTHRALLED was a biography, the Mei descendents' opinions must be respected. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 17 2008, FILM WORDS ABOUT THE RECENT BOX OFFICE Recently no real outstanding strong film has appeared, but the film market was not poor. For example, after more than a month in release QUANTUM OF SOLACE was not well made but remained popular. A newspaper said that with the economic crisis, more people go to the movies. This may be too early to say, the Christmas and New Year period would tell the tale. The Nicholas Tse Ting Fung starred, Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed police film THE BEAST STALKER (JING YUN) was the most popular Hong Kong film of late. Now it has made almost 8 million yuan. A little surprising was CAPE NO. 7, which not only rocked Taiwan but also growing in momentum in Hong Kong as its box office was close to THE BEAST STALKER. This Taiwan country people in a band film was a really interesting film that also one sad and one happy, new and old Taiwan and Japan romance that was exceptionally rich. However, Hong Kong comedy NOBODY'S PERFECT (JUET DOI SEUNG GIU) was simply nonsense and its business was ordinary. Tsui Hark's special packaged Beijing romantic comedy ALL ABOUT WOMEN (NUI YUN BUT WAI)'s box office was poor. As for the actor award winning Hong Kong film TRUE WOMEN FOR SALE (NGOR BUT MAI SUN, NGOR MAI JI GUN)G and the new Taiwan film MIAO MIAO were not popular at the box office. Taiwan boy film WINDS OF SEPTEMBER had even less viewers. Obviously weak films were more numerous than strong films, hot foreign films continued to fare better and popular Chinese-language films were not many. - SHEK KEI 2. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 16 2008, FILM WORDS WINDS OF SEPTEMBER ACHIEVES YOUTH REALISM New people and new climate are emerging in Taiwan film. Although WINDS OF SEPTEMBER cannot be like CAPE NO. 7 as a box office miracle, it was well received and also won a Golden Horse for best original screenplay. Indeed it is an excellent Chinese school youth film. The Tom Lin Shu-yu written and directed, (Henry Tsai Chung-han co-written) WINDS OF SEPTEMBER is about seven male high school students who became "brothers" in Hsinchu, Taiwan in the 1990s. The film started with them at a professional baseball game, which was cheerful, vivid and full of life, naughty, hearty, and real vitality of youth. Male buddies often would be unruly and punished with demerits, the good news is the film did not go too far to concoct a radical rebellion, rage and violence, did not indiscriminately fault social wrong, family mistake, education error, or the worst of human nature, but a semi-autobiographical display of normal way of growing up. In the film the boys only sometimes gather for joy and are very immature, which actually is normal. They are not bullying gangs but good and honest students. Due to the adolescent struggle of love and sex, the loyalty scores of brothers, and the unpredictable and inevitable accidents of life, this group of boys has severe conflict that also leads to disaster and changes the fate or the state of mind. WINDS OF SEPTEMBER has not become dark or pessimistic. The latter section's 1997 graduation song is wonderful and moving to keep the outcome bright and sunny. The two main characters are outstanding: handsome mixed heritage Yan (Rhydian Vaughan) looks a bit like Tom Cruise and gets into romantic trouble; the academic type Little Tong (Chang Chieh) has a crush on Yan's girlfriend and constitute a subtle triangle. As for other boys the trio in a motorcycle storm are exceptional, several girls are also attractive. This is WINDS OF SEPTEMBER -- THE TAIWAN CHAPTER. Producer Eric Tsang Chi Wai first saw this script, supported the production, and even enabled new Hong Kong and Mainland directors to make two other versions. The Mak Hei Yun written and directed HONG KONG CHAPTER has been released in Hong Kong earlier but is not professional enough. As for the Han Yan's Mainland China chapter no one knows the result. Earlier Chen Kun Ho's GROWING UP, Hou Hsiao-hsien's A TIME TO LIVE AND A TIME TO DIE, Edward Yang Tak Cheung's A BRIGHTER SUMMER DAY all described boys in secondary schools in Taiwan. Now Lin Shu-yu's creativity is no match for his predecessors, at first the film is only lively and fun, but as it plays on it has more and more dramatic flavor and self-examination and better than the recent Taiwan girl homosexual comedy MIAO MIAO. Last year Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun)'s Taiwan school film THE SCRET of course was much more popular but was nothing sensational, the youth realism was no match for this one. - SHEK KEI 3. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 14 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SLOT SPLITS INTO THREE Christmas this year, film scheduling is not the same as usual. In the past Christmas and New Year would be deemed as one great time slot, big films would cross two holidays, the same as student holidays. Big films with more confidence would be released around mid December for the early taste because on average Christmas films would be released closer to the holiday and increase competition. Early release has early release troubles. If the word-of-mouth is not good, the box office decline would be too drastic. Even if it remained in the cinemas, it would lose screens and showing drastically. The cinemas could not be faulted. Christmas and New Year are the money slot, each screen and each showing are very valuable and have no margin for error. With early release big films, they best have the ability to sustain three or four weeks. With that ability their box office of course would be strong. Without too much confidence, films would wait for Christmas Eve release because holidays in any case stuff a large number of viewers into theaters, the number will not be too Ugly. This year's film scheduling is different from previous years because the Christmas and New Year slot has been split into three, some of the big movie production movies will not be able to occupy by three or four weeks of the schedule. Before the 20th a number of large films will open, at least 5 will open on the 24th and 25th, several more will open on New Year's Day. Understandably, the 3 or 4 week long big slot has been split into three because no single particularly strong big film has appeared. Cinema circuits in order to maintain revenue breaks up the schedule so that more films can be released in these few weeks. Normally 3 or 4 strong films would fight over the big slot, others are small films that target different audience groups. They have few screens and not too many shows. Yet this Christmas seems to be a big scrimmage. Earlier released films after Christmas have a very high chance to reducing screens and shows. When they last until New Year's Day, their box office cannot be optimistic. Film viewers naturally have more choices with more films. Each person's first selection is different, in this situation the opportunity of creating next box office record is naturally reduced drastically. The Lunar New Year slot should be a little better, ultimately it has RED CLIFF II (CHET BIK II KUET JIN TIN HA) had the aura of a king. - KWOK HIN CHING 4. TA KUNG PAO, DECEMBER 14 2008, LIGHT SHADOW PATH ON THE GOLDEN HORSE RESULTS This year's Golden Horse has come to a successful conclusion. THE WARLORDS (TAU MING JONG) won three awards including Best Feature Film and Best Director, so it was regarded as a winner but not as the big winner. Taiwan newspapers reported that CAPE NO. 7 was the big winner because it won four Golden Horse awards, two of which were Outstanding Taiwan Film of the Year and Outstanding Taiwan Filmmaker. Actually, film award ceremonies had their own unique features, in addition to the basic level of art timing, place and people are the most important factors. The results of the Golden Horse was very average, large and small films and productions of Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan all have won awards. THE WARLORDS only had three Golden Horse Awards, which actually was unexpected. Six months ago at the Hong Kong Film Awards, it won seven awards. Because THE WARLORDS' high production costs (ten times that of CAPE NO. 7,) its loss of Costume design, Art Direction, Cinematography and Action Choreography Awards made some Hong Kong film professionals on hand staggered. After CAPE NO. 7 winning the Best Original Film Score and Best Original Film Song two deserved prizes, a series of theatrical performances based on the film and the Taiwan awards of the year took place. All were CAPE NO. 7 "party" with director Wei Te-Sheng as its center, conceivably the Taiwan audience would be very happy to see it. The several major award's arrangements instead made people feel too fast-paced. The entire ceremony's impression was still the strongest on CAPE NO. 7. The day after the Golden Horse awards some assessments talked about some of the selection accreditation criteria and processes, which were also "entertaining." By the end of CAPE, when the concert reached the darkness, the lens turned to an old lady who was looking at an old letter without any light. The assessment thought that the life logic was incomplete, which was correct. Other criticisms are hard to understand, such as Japanese women absolutely would not be drawn like Chie Tanaka as fang baring and claws brandishing, and the pier and ship visuals had no historical basis, and so on, seemingly the assessment did not understand what was artistic modification. The member felt that even if filmmaking "lacked money it had to be the best", implying that CAPE NO. 7 did not "do its best." In this respect, there are also two different views; on one hand some people think that CAPE was a crudely produced film, the script and the work had tremendous gaps. The opposite view felt that the film production was down-to-earth and just right. Criticism of director Wei Sheng-Te did not do his best was too harsh, everyone knew that he dedicated his all to complete the movie. While criticism of his ability was plausible, criticism of his demand wa inconsistent with the facts. The assessment also praised THE WARLORDS' very good control, attention was paid to every detail (the general idea). Yet it did not win the Best Art and Cinematography Awards, the results were "interesting". As for the Best Feature Film, the competition was between THE WARLORDS and THE ASSEMBLY. The former was about betrayal and human nature portrayal, which had something more (what?) than the latter's one man effort to do something so it won. The writer believed that from the director's point of view, ASSEMBLY had a clear position, better than THE WARLORDS, which simply lay out dramatic conflict without any point of view. However, Feng Xiaogang was not even nominated, let alone winning. Therefore, movie award gains and losses could not be too persistent, in any case they were no big deal. - TIN LIK 5. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 11 2008, FILM WORDS ALL ABOUT WOMEN IS VERY CARTOONISH As early as the 1980s, Tsui Hark has made an action comedy PEKING OPERA BLUES with three charming actress Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha), Cherie Chung Chor Hung, and Sally Yeh (Yip Sin Man), which was very popular. Now Tsui Hark has made a 21st century new actress trio comedy that stars Zhou Xun, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, and Kuei Lun-Mei, and also invited South Korea's MY SASSY GIRL director Kwak Jae-Yong to collaborate on the screenplay. The film has become a very beautiful large-scale modern love rhapsody. Tsui Hark remains very lively and active, cheerful and rich as the film becomes a very interesting "Deluxe Chasing Boys" but it is so comic book like that it is exaggerated and gimmicky. No one can ask for the detailed and realistic mood. ALL ABOUT WOMEN has made Beijing very modern and even science fiction like. The invention of all purpose "love panacea" gives three separate women romantic encounters. The main story is how to prove true love amid the chemical reaction? Tsui Hark's women romantic comedy cooks up cartoon action too. In the film Zhou Xun is even more cartoonish than Plain Jane. Each time when a man touches her she would be as stiff as a puppet, and her eyesight is so bad she is almost blind. Guei Lun-Mei is a boxing and car racing rock singer, of course she is very wild. Zhang Yuqi is a cold businesswoman of a big business group. She has mesmerized many men. When her love attacks she would be fiery passionate. The film absolutely does not lack any strange antics, its packaging is also trendy and eye-catching, along with wonderful dancing and hit songs. Honestly though, I think it makes too much noise, too much dancing and jumping, looking a bit like a special packaged monkey show. Tsui Hark has always been able to keep the Monkey King like naughty vitality, but often he is hyper-active and has difficulty with self control. No one has been able to be like Buddha and tame the Monkey King. Speaking of which, Tsui Hark who excels in male heroes also loves to shoot female charm. Aside from PEKING OPERA BLUES, THE SECRET (DIP BIN)'s Michelle Mee (Mai Shuet), DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE (DAI YUT LUI YING NGAI HIM)'s Lin Chen Chi (Lam Chun Kei), ALL THE WRONG CLUES (WAI MA JI DOR SING)'s Yiu Wai, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA II (NAM YI DONG JI KEUNG)'s Rosamund Kwam Chi Lam, THE LOVERS (LEUNG JOOK)'s Charlie Yeung Choi Nei, and his production A CHINESE GHOST STORY (SIN NUI YAU WON)'s Joey Wang Cho Yin, SWORDSMAN II (DUNG FONG BUT BAI)'s Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) were all outstanding. Tsui Hark's modern humn ghost romance THE MISSING (SUM HOI CHUM YUN) this year also featured female star Angelica Lee Sinjie. ALL ABOUT WOMEN cooks up new and wonderful gimmicks that are very surreal. Actually Kwak Jae-Yong's Japanese science fiction film CYBORG GIRL is even more surreal and also has a cartoon feel. Yet its drama flavor is better. This time actress Zhang Yuqi is the most eye-catching, Zhou Xun and Kuei Lun-Mei are a little strange. In addition, all three divas are not Hong Kong female stars, among the actors Stephen Fung Tak Lun and Alex Fong Chung Shun are from Hong Kong. - SHEK KEI [ In Production Now/Soon ] Can : Sit Ting Fung Won Lit : Eavesdropping Situation d. Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung Louis Koo Tin Lok, Lau Ching Wan, Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Alex Fong Chung Shun, Zhang Jingchu, Lok Sze Wan, William Chan Ting Wai Can : Wan Dai Jor Lit : Play Too Big d. Pang Fat Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam, Stephanie Cheng Yung, Chow Pak Ho, William Chan Wai Ting, Wiley Chiu Shek Chi, Kung Yun Chi LOOKING FOR A STAR Can : Yau Lung Hei Fung Lit : Swimming Dragon Acting Phoenix AKA : 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 : 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 : 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 : 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) SUSPECT X Can : Sun tam Ga Lei Lok Lit : Detective Galileo d. Hiroshi Nishitani Masaharu Fukuyama, Kou Shibaski, Kazuki Kitamura, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Shinichi Tsutsumi OPening December 24 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A male corpse without a face or fingerprint was discovered. When a cop is assigned the cast and cannot find the deceased' identity, she can only turn to Yukawa, an univeristy physics professor for help. While investigating the case, Yukawa discovers that the neighbor of the deceased's former wife happens to be Tetsuya the mathematical genius of the century during Yukawa's university days. Tetsuya is now a unremarkable high school math teacher who has multiple connections to the case. This time in the battle of the century about the physics genius and the math genius, what tricks can Yukawa pull to resolve this perfect crime? POKEMON MOVIE 10 - THE RISE OF DARKRAI d. Kunihiko Yuyama Japanese Animation Cantonese Voice : Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam Opening December 20 2008 IP MAN d. Wilson Yip Wai Shun Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), Li Ja, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Terry Fan Siu Wong, Lam Ka Tung, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi Opening December 19 2008 [ 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. DESIRES OF THE HEART Can : Toh Fa Won Lit : Peach Blossom Fortune d. Ma Liwen Ge You, Vivian Wu (Wu Kwan Mui), Fan Bingbing, Song Jia, Li Chen, Cong Shan, Guo Tao, Yuen Qiu, Mei Ting, Li Xiaolu, Duan Yihong Length : 117 mins. Opening December 18 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Luck with the opposite sex, some cannot wait to ask for more, others avoid it like the plague. It is not only outside love but also within desire Luck will tell whether it is a disaster or fortune... Ye is a newly divorced single mother who through a marriage agency gets to know a gentleman Wang Ben, whose pursuit is strong and powerful. His romantic and polite ways have re-ignited the distracted Ye's hope in love, restored her confidence in marriage, and dead set on following him for life until two strange women who claim to be Wang's girlfriends come...Wang Ben disappears, is this suddenly visiting luck with the opposite sex a gift of love from Heaven, or a well-planned fraud?... TOKYO! Can : Tung King Bo Lok Lit : Tokyo Tribe d. Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, Bong Joon-Ho Ayako Fujitani, Ryo Kase, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yu Aoi, Teruyuki Kagawa Length: 112 mins. Opening December 18 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A young couple decided to start a new life in Tokyo, his goal was clear, hers was not as decisive. In this colorful city filled with people, their hearts start to part until one day, her loneliness has begun to change her body to an unknown and crazy condition...... a mysterious and madman like organism appears in Tokyo, "his" series of odd behaviors has brought panic and disaster to this city. "His" emergence slowly divided the entire city. As the city of Tokyo gradually collapsed into chaos, this organism was arrested. At this time, people of the whole city held their breath for his final sentence ...... He is a typical "Otaku", in the past 10 years he has locked himself in his Tokyo home and reduced the chance of outside contact to its lowest. A day, a delivery girl appears in front of his house amid an earthquake and something that he has never imagined happened -- falling in love. Not long after he learned that the girl like him was an "Otaku". In order to see the girl again, he decided to summon up the courage of his life and took his first step out the door...... 9 WINDS AKA WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE TAIWAN CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Tom Lin Shu Yu Rhydian Vaughan, Chang Chieh, Sheng Wei Nian, Wang Bo Chieh Length : 113 mins. Opening December 4 2008 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? CLAUSTROPHOBIA Can : Chun Muk Lit : Intimate d. Ivy Ho Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Karen Lam Ka Yun, Andy Hui Chi On Length : 100 mins. Opening November 27 2008 Opening October 26 2008 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival Opening March 23 at the Tokyo International Film Festival Site : http://www.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=4 [ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ] Pearl has quietly fallen in love with her boss Tom, who’s married with a family. Without warning, Tom asks Pearl to interview for another job. Wounded, Pearl demands that Tom terminate her. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Screenwriter Ivy Ho (JULY RHAPSODY) makes her directorial debut with CLAUSTROPHOBIA, using eight scenes and multiple characters to explore the complications and the irony of workplace romance and politics. In a space as small, crowded and claustrophobic as the office, love doesn’t grow - it incubates and breeds, like a virus. 1ST 7 DAY Can : Tau Chut d. Herman Yau Lai To Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen), Lam Ka Tung, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai, Fung Hak On, Tony Ho Wa Chiu, Chiu Yu Nung Opening November 20 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A depressed driver, a mysterious passenger, a poor woman, a touching past and an unknown forbidden land......like one piece after another of a lost puzzle, together it creates a suspenseful and touching story that is full of twists and turns. Taxi drive map King accepts an order that no one is willing to take. The destination is a Spring Thunder Hotel that has been abandoned for 33 years. Mysterious passenger Siu Ma drives his light truck and asks Map Wong to be his guide with a high offer. When they successfully arrive at the destination he would pay Map King even higher salary. Siu Ma is surprised that Map King is rather familiar with the direction of Spring Thunder Hotel. On the way Map King and the just as strange Siu Ma have too much knowledge of what happened then at the Spring Thunder Hotel. Yet they are unwilling to talk about it freely. After arriving Siu Ma says that the mission has been completed and gives the goods on the truck to Map King. When Map King opens the merchandise...... HIGH NOON Can : Lit Yut Dong Hung AKA : WINDS OF SEPTEMBER - THE HONG KONG CHAPTER Can : Gau Gong Fung d. Heiward Mak Hei Yun 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 Opening November 6 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] In 2007, as the world was busy to welcome 08 Olympic events, Hong Kong students' most important battle, the HKCEE, was around the corner. Nine male and female adolescents are at a loss between adulthood and childhood, caught in a dilemma between the internet, SMS, the materialistic and virtual world and the cruel reality; their restless and fragile souls cherished each other, under the scorching sun they found love and freedom that was exclusive to youth. While nothing new was under the sun, time after time an absurd little story has quietly occurred in balance. Starting with phone video, everyone turned from relying on each other to having a chip on their shoulders, from protecting each other to mutually suspicious of each other; the gradual disintegration of the friendship, fragile love, family fetters, death and life impacts...... [ 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 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. 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. IF YOU ARE THE ONE Can : Fei Sing Muk Yau Lit : Not Sincere Do Not Disturb d. Feng Xiaogang Ge You, Shu Qi Opening December 24 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Overseas Chinese entrepreneur Qin Fen has truly lived up to the term "return from the sea", only returning from the United Stated to Beijing to visit his aging mother after his father's passing. He was 40 something and still single. Home again he got the idea to wed and published a lengthy marriage recruitment ad in the newspaper. This ad that ends with 'if insincere do not disturb' attracts many women with different state of mind for encounters, including a woman who talks to her pet about her feelings, a cemetery salesman, a frigid young woman and a pregnant young girl who is looking for a father for her child. The more Qin Fen goes on the more fun he has. Among the dates, Qin Fen finally meets Siu Siu, a woman who truly touches his heart but also is a flight attendant who is involved in an extra-marital affair. They do not fall in love at first sight, not to mention get along; but like a pair of nemesis, surprisingly they always run into each other from time to time, Siu Siu on a rare occasion can use his shoulder to lend on. Qin Fen finds her naughty smile very acceptable. As both have needs to fulfill, they unknowingly spark off a delicate relationship. However, no matter what, Siu Siu and that man have a hard time with breaking off ties while Qin Fe always seems to be waiting by her side. Finally, Siu Siu is determined to go with Qin Fen on a trip to Hokkaido, and agrees if she can resolve her heart's shackles, they would marry immediately. When the two arrive in Hokkaido, Qin Fen at first does not understand why Siu Siu would insist on coming to this cold town, only to find out that the location is where Siu Siu's love story started. Two months later, Qin Fen has spent over 60 days with Siu Siu's "recovery", she has already gone from a lost person back to a cheerful woman. Qin Fen in these days truly get to know this wonderful woman and loves her even more. They already are no longer two lonely people who meet over a marriage ad, but a true hearted couple who has suffered and shared joy and sorrow together. 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 Opening January 1 2009 [ 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. FOREVER ENTHRALLED Can : MEI LANFANG d. Chen Kaige Leon Lai Ming, Zhang Ziyi, Sun Hongeli, Chen Hong, Wang Xueqi, Yang Da,Masanobu Ando Opening January 1 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story surroundes the Beijing Opera master of a generation Mei Lanfang's legendary love life -- two women and three men who were the most important in his life. Beautiful on the stage and handsome off the stage, Mei Lanfang early in his career defeated veteran Yan Thirteen and rose to fame. He even set off a romantic spark with the heroic actress Meng Xiaodong. The smart Mei Meng Xiaodong made Mei Lanfang's heart no longer lonely but also broke the heart of Mei's wife Fu Chifang, who even forced Mei's friend Yau Yubai to run interference. Because when Mei's loneliness was driven away, his stage career would be ruined... ONG BAK 2 d. Panna Ritthikrai, Tony Jaa Tony Jaa Opening January 1 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story takes place five or six centuries ago in Thailand, Tien's father was a patriotic and heroic soldier, but the ambitious high-ranking military officer Rajasena in order to seize power carried out a massacre. Tien witnessed the killing of parents and the loss of his entire family overnight. While he luckily survived, since then his eyes only had hatred. He was determined to avenge his loved ones. Tien's enemy hunted him down but a bandit leader rescued him, adopted him and trained him to become a bandit. Tien trained hard in various martial arts, such as fighting, boxing, or even magic curse; he was able to use a variety of weapons, including knives, swords, sticks and explosives; he mastered everything. After growing up Tien's martial art skills were unrivaled as he became the bandit leader's successor. Yet in the eyes of the Tien, his only goal was to kill Rajasena himself for revenge. He even planned to assassinate Rajasena at his coronation ceremony. Tien risked everytihng for revenge, but in front of him was an unexpected strong and stubborn enemy. In the ultimate battle with blood, flesh, and soul as the price, only unwavering will would be able to get Tien out of the woods! TACTICAL UNIT Can : Gei Dung Bo Dui -- Tung Bau d. Vicent Lo (Law Wing Cheong) Maggie Shiu Mei Kei, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lam Suet Opening January 1 2008 PARKING Can : Ting Che d. (Chung Man Won) Guei Lun-Mei, Chang Chen Opening January 8 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A couple on a night on which they cannot return home faces a decision before their divorce. 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 January 15 2008 PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA d. Hayao Miyazaki Japanese Animation Opening January 17 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story takes place in a world that still longs for magic and miracles still happen in the world, the scene is located at the seaside town and a house on the cliff. A fish Ponyo by chance runs into a boy and they become good friends. In order to live with his friend, Ponyo takes the chance, leaves the familiar sea, in hopes of becoming human. The boy also keeps his promise for his good friend. 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? NARUTO SHIPPUDEN 2: BONDS d. Hajime Kamegaki Japanese Animation Opening January 29 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A mysterious group of shinobi attacks the Leaf Village! Actually they are Land of the Sky's Sky Ninjas, whose nation the Leaf Village has vanquished previously. Their use of modern weapons bombards the Leaf Village and nearly brings it to the edge of destruction. Master healer Shinno and his apprentice Amaru arrive in the Leaf Village in hopes of the Leaf hokage would assign a squad to rescue the people of Amaru's hometown. The Sky Shinobi has also attacked Amaru's hometown to find the Sky Shinobi's former headquarter address. The Leaf hokage has ordered an counter attack on the Sky Shinboi while Naruto, Hinata and Sakura follow Shinno to Amaru's hometown. They discover the Sky Shinobi's former headquarter but Sky shinobis have killed Shinno. On the other, Leaf traitor Sasuke under Orochimaru's order heads to Amaru's hometown as well...... 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 APRIL 2 2009 [ 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. --- [ 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 * TAI PAN TOURS AND CASINO RAMA PRESENT PRISCILLA CHAN WAI HAN WORLD TOUR 2009 Special Guest: Don Li Yat Long DATE AND TIME : Sunday, January 18 2009 @ 8PM VENUE LOCATION : Casino Rama Entertainment Centre Casino Rama R.R. #6 Rama Rd., Orillia ON L0K 1T0 Canada TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE: www.taipantours.com 416.646.8838 Thornhill - Commerce Gate 505 Highway 7 East, Unit 8 Thornhill, Ontario L3T 7T1 905-881-8838 Markham - Pacific Mall: 4300 Steeles Ave. East, Unit B50 Markham, Ontario L3R 0Y5 905-948-8838 Markham - First Markham Place: 3255 Highway 7 East, Unit 68 Markham, Ontario L3R 3P9 905-946-8838 Scarborough - Oriental Centre : 4438 Sheppard Ave. East Unit 103 Scarborough, Ontario M1S 1V2 416-293-7838 Tai Pan Centre (Weston Branch): 3668 Weston Road Toronto, Ontario M9L 1W2 416-747-8877 Casino Rama 705-329-5288 Toronto - Rio - Can Marketplace: 2215 Steeles Ave. West, Unit C5 Toronto, Ontario M3J 3N2 416-736-8838 * SUPERKEY PRODUCTIONS AND TROPICANA ATLANTIC CITY PRESENT CHEUNG CHI LAM AND KAREN TONG LIVE DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, December 28 2008 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION: Tropicana Atlantic City Atlantic City NJ TICKET PRICES : $108, 78, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE: www.SuperkeyPro.com P & M Music 2 Elizabeth Street 212.732.3828 Brooklyn Paradise Vacations 778 60th Street 718.238.1228 * INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AND MOHEGAN SUN PRESENT JAY CHOU WORLD TOUR 2008 CHRISTMAS CONCERT DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, December 21 2008 @ 2PM Sunday, December 21 2008 @ 2 PM VENUE LOCATION: Mohegan Sun Arena Mohengan Sun Uncasville CT TICKET PRICES : $ 268 VIP, 188, 138, 88, 68 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE : www.iemshowplace.com/html/jaychou.html CHINATOWN : 89 Bowery 212.925.1898 FLUSHING International Entertainment Marketing 135-05 40th Rd., 2nd Floor Flushing NY 11354 718-888-3113 BROOKLYN International Entertainment Marketing 5609 8th Ave., 2nd Floor Brooklyn NY 11220 718-437-7717 ELMHURST 85-08 Queens Blvd. 2/F 718.803.3326 EDISON, NEW JERSEY: 1681 Rt.27 Suite 3 732.819.8883 BOSTON : 12A Tyler Street 612.695.1989 * JAY CHOU WORLD TOUR 2008 TORONTO DATE AND TIME : Thursday, December 18 2008 @ 2 PM VENUE LOCATION: Air Canada Centre 40 Bay Street, Toronto ON M5J 2X2 Canada TICKET PRICES : CA$ 288, 188, 138, 98, 78, 58 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE : TICKETMASTER http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/100041388704539B?artistid=1260229&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=5 * RAYMOND MIU PRODUCTIONS, INC. AND TRUMP TAJ MAHAL PRESENT MOONLIGHT RESONANCE CONCERT 2008 with Linda Chung Ka Yun, Raymond Lam Fung, Lee Sze Kei, Ha Yu DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, December 20 2008 @ 1AM VENUE LOCATION : Mark G Etess Arena Trump Tah Mahal Casino Resort Atlantic City NJ PRICE : $118, 88, 68, 48 TICKET OUTLET LOCATION: Raymond Miu Productions 195 Canal Street, Suite 201 New York NY 10013 212.966.0800 www.rmpny.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- Box office info : What Box Office Info? The usual suspects : MOV3.COM, Internet Movie Database, Yahoo! Hong Kong Erors : ye olde chaffing editor For Tuesday December 16 2008 10 WHAT JUST HAPPENED d. Barry Levinson Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Catherine Keener 9 NOBODY'S PERFECT Can : Juet Doi Seung Giu d. Yip Lim Sum Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Kary Ng Yu Fei, Chubby (Siu Fei), Sammy, Tong So Kei, Hotcha, 8 TRUE WOMEN FOR SALE Can : Sing Gung Jok Jeh 2: Ngor But Mai Sun, Ngor Mai Ji Gung Lit : Sex Worker 2 : I Don't Sell Body, I Sell Uterus d. Herman Yau Lai To Sammy Leung, Prudence Liew Mei Kwan, Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Race Wong Yuen Ling 7 IKIGAMI: THE ULTIMATE LIMIT d. Tomoyuki Takimoto (Lung Boon Ji Hung) Shota Matsuda (Chung TIn Cheung Tai), (Sing Mei Lei Ji), Takayuki Yamada (Tin San Hau Ji), Koji Tsukamoto (Chung Boon Go Si) 6 LEGENDARY ASSASSIN Can : Long Nga Lit : Wolf Fangs d. Nicky Lee Chung Chi, Jacky Wu Jing Celina Jade, Jacky Wu Jing, Alex Fong Lik Sun, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Ken Lo Wai Kwong 5 CAPE NO. 7 d. Wei Te-Sheng Van Fan (Fan Yat Sun), Chie Tanaka 4 ALL ABOUT WOMEN Can : Nui Yun But Wai Lit : Women Not Bad d. Tsui Hark Zhou Xun, Kuei Lun-Mei, Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Alex Fong Chung Shun, Stephen Fung Tak Lun 3 THE BEAST STALKER Can : Jing Yun Lit : Witness d. Dante Lam Chiu Yin Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Zhang Jingchu, Liu Kai Chi, Sherman Chung Shu Man, Miao Pu 2 FOUR CHRISTMASES d. Seth Gordon Reese Withersppon, Vince Vaughn 1 THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL d. Scott Derrickson Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS IKIGAMI: THE ULTIMATE LIMIT Rating : IIB Length : 133 mins. Opening December 4 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A place with similar history and environment as Japan has a law called "national vibrancy maintenance law". Its goal is to created a reduced national crime rate, highly productive utopia. As each new student enrolls in an elementary school, he or she would receive an immunization shot. One among a thousand would be injected with any extremely small pouch that would stick to the heart. Between the ages of 18 to 24 the poison would be released and killed the person. The government can accurately calculate the poison release time so the 1/1000 person who is selected to die can be assigned a death notice 24 hours before so he or she can make preparations...... TRUE WOMEN FOR SALE Rating : IIB Length : 90 mins. Opening December 4 2008 [ CITYLINE ] With a Chinese title that translates to “I don’t sell my body, I sell my uterus,” Herman Yau’s latest work courts as much attention and discussion as his acclaimed 2007 prostitute drama WHISPERS AND MOANS. A story that belongs uniquely to Hong Kong, the film frankly and sensitively portrays the lives of two women who chose to sell themselves - a drug-addicted madam who works the streets and a young pregnant woman from China who married an older man for the sake of Hong Kong residency. NOBODY'S PERFECT Rating : IIB Length : 100 mins. Opening November 27 2008 Site : http://hk.promo.yahoo.com/movie/nobodys_perfect [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Lam Fung Giu and Tsui Giu have been rivals since childhood. As adults, Lam Fung Giu has become a famous fasthion columnist. Vicious, she loves criticizing city celebrities' clothing the most. Yet due to some outstanding comments she has the love of the readers and remains popular; On the other hand Tsui Giu does not have too much career ambition. She and her family operates a traditional dress store in the old district. Although her life is simple, she is optimistic and has no worry...... LEGENDARY ASSASSIN Rating : IIB Length : 88 MINS. Opening December 4 2008 Opening November 20 2008 in Malaysia [ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ] When Bruce helps capture four runaway convicts hiding in an island, cop Holly believes that Bruce is one of the good guys. When a body of a decapitated ruthless criminal was found, Bruce disappears without a trace. His departures makes him the apparent killer. The arrival of the mobsters forced Bruce to come out of hiding when Holly is taken hostage. As the smoke clears, Holly is faced with dilemma; her feelings toward Bruce and her duty as a cop. CAPE NO. 7 Rating : IIA Length : 130 mins. Official Site : http://cape7.pixnet.net/blog ALL ABOUT WOMEN Rating : IIA Length : 120 mins. Opening December 11 2008 Official Site : http://www.allaboutwomen.com.cn [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A drop of love panacea "pheromone" connects the love lives of three women under the same city sky; three appeared to be fruitless romances weave a series of bursting love chronicles? Fanfan is a medical center examiner who looks not only ordinary but also a big short-sighted. Her human physical examination skills are ten thousand times better than her romance with men. She is insulated from the men of the city. Longing for love, she uses the professional convenience and her understanding human physical structure, coupled with the spirit of scientific experiments, finally invents a series of pheromone patches and uses them to successfully capture a band guitarist Xiao-gang's heart. Carried away with "love" Xiao-gang is busy all day with accompanying Fanfan that he has missed a series of performances. Band mate Rail Link becomes upset. Rail Link is the lead vocalist and a boxer. Her tough and tender unique personality deeply attracts Mok Kai Yan. However, Rail Link had a strange view on love, she would prefer to invest in with the feelings of the superstars X fantasy love than take a glimpse at another... THE BEAST STALKER Rating : IIB Length : 110 mins. Opening November 27 2008 Official Site : http://thebeaststalker.emp.hk [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A car accident thoroughly changes their lives. Cop Tong fei while chasing a wanted criminal Cheung Yat Tung has a severe car accident. Later he even accidentally kills a girl. He spends his days in darkness; prosecutor Ko Man witnesses her daughter's death in the hands of Tong Fei and can only give all of her love on her young daughter Ting Ling. Three months after the accident, the comatosed Cheung Yat Tung finally awakes. Ko Man immediately wants him in the court. Criminal Hung Gaing is ordered to kidnap Ting Ling and runs into Tong Fei, who cannot save Ting Ling in time. Ko Man receives a threatening call to recall the charges against Cheung Yat Tung to save her daughter; if she calls the police her daughter is dead. Tong Fei swears to save Ting Ling to make up for his past mistake...... ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, December 13 2008 15 IF CONTACTED YOUR FACE Can : Yu Gor Pung Doh Nei Dik Lim Vincy Chan (Wing Yi) 14 LOVE Can : Oi Xu Yi (Hui Ngai) 13 SUPER LIKE Can : Chiu Cup Hei Foon Genie Chuo (Cheuk Man Suen) 12 WEDDING INVITATION STREET Can : Hei Tip Gai Kay Tse On Kay 11 IF SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT Can : Yu Gor Yau Yut Gein Si Si Jung Yiu Dik Sandee Chen (Chan San Nei) 10 TAKE ME AWAY Can : Dai Ngor Jau Rainie Yang (Yeung Sing Lam) 9 DEEPLY LOVED YOU Can : Sum Sum Oi Gor Nei Jacky Xie (Sit Ji Him) 8 NO ONE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ME Can : Woot Yau Yun Bei Ngor Gung Oi Nei Shui Mu Nian Hua 7 PERSON WHO CATCHES THE MOON Can : Lau Yuet Leung Dik Yun Miriam Yeung Chin Wa 6 YOU ARE IN MY HEART Can : Nei Joi Ngor Sum Seung Huang Xiaoming 5 BE ABLE BE ABLE TO? Can : Hor Yi Hor Yi Mor Nicholas Tse Ting Fung 4 PROMISED FORTUNE Can : Shuet Ho Dik Yun Fok Neh Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) 3 BEAUTIFUL MOMENT Can : Mei Ho Si Guong Michael Kong Leung, (Ah Muk Lung) 2 YOU ARE NOT TRUE HAPPINESS Can : Nei But Si Jun Jing Dik Fai Lok May Day 1 NOT TRENDY DOES NOT COST MONEY Can : But Chui But Yung Fat Chin JJ Lin Junjie ------ [ 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. BURRRRRRRRRRRRRR The sudden temperature drop that was a month in advance has left many sniffling, shivering or worse. The declining economy has only made matter worse. Please help the less fortunate this holiday season...... "It's cool to have the goal of being the biggest movie star in the world. But why? It's been revealed to me that the question is: Whose life is better because you woke up today?" - Will Smith (http://boards.eonline.com/Insider/Boards/thread.jspa?messageID=2435080) The cold is not the only thing that has Your Chaffing Editor dreaming of warmer times. While many may flock to see Keanu Reeves' THE DAY THE EARTH STOPS GIVING A CR@? for the film itself, the only draw for Old Chaffy is the little ad insert that claims THE ONLY PLACE TO SEE THE EXCLUSIVE TRAILER OF WOLERVINE X-MEN ORIGINS, opening May 1 2009. While the cold or THE DAY THE EARTH STOPS GIVING A CR@? may not convince you that the world is either killing to an end or trying to kill us. Here are more signs that the end of time may be upon us soon. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you threw stuff out the windows as a child? For some of us who grew up in Hong Kong, we have heard about or seen some strange stuff falling from the sky, water balloons, bricks, air conditioners, and now bottles of acid. As usual, please join us as our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. Unfortunately in the world that we live in this sort of insanity has almost become usual. Some people just like to watch the world burn. http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BD0C820081214 By now you probably have heard about the romantic advice book that a nine year old boy has written. With ingenious advices like class clowns never get the girl and flapping your arms like a chikcen and making noise is not a good approach, once again Your Chaffing Editor has proven that he is not as savvy as a nine year old. For once, it does not involve a video game console. http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1865128,00.html?imw=Y More interesting or disturbing is yet another "robot girl" story. This one responds to "pain" by talking back. Insert your own dirty mind here. All Your Chaffing Editor can think of is this thing picking up a gun and mumbling "terminate subject". http://www.projectaiko.com (official site) http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_30026.aspx http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/552049 Finally, Your Chaffing Editor is now a firm believer in the power of believing. Call it faith, call it what you will, but with it you can pretty much do anything -- even though you may delude yourself into doing so. Horoscope is an interesting example. Last Friday, one of Old Chaffy's claimed, "If you are still in pursuit after today without any results, this fish is never going to be hooked." Thank whoever you like but someone just dodged a bullet big time. For those of you who are not as fortunate to escape any office hanky panky, check this out: http://workinglunch.msn.com/?module=article&id=15&source=mailto http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=699 BYE BYE BYE, Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] MAD Ne-yo Oh oh oh, oh oh oh... Oh oh oh... [Verse 1] She's starin' at me, I'm sittin', wonderin' what she's thinkin'. Mmmmm Nobody's talkin', 'Cause talkin' just turns into screamin'. Ohhh... And now is I'm yellin' over her, She's yellin' over me. All that that means Is neither of us is listening, (And what's even worse). That we don't even remember why were fighting. So both of us are mad for... [Hook] Nothin' (Fighting for). Nothin' (Crying for). Nothin' (Whoahhh). But we won't let it go for Nothin' (No not for) Nothin'. This should be nothin' to a love like what we got. Ohhh, baby... I know sometimes It's gonna rain... But baby, can we make up now 'Cause I can't sleep through the pain (Cant sleep through the pain). [Chorus] Girl, I don't wanna go to bed (Mad at you), And I don't want you to go to bed (Mad at me). No, I don't wanna go to bed (Mad at you), And I don't want you to go to bed (Mad at me) Ohhh no no no... [Verse 2] And it gets me upset, girl When you're constantly accusing. (Askin' questions like you've already known). We're fighting this war, baby When both of us are losing. (This ain't the way that love is supposed to go). Whoaaaaaaaaa... [What happened to workin' it out]. We've falled into this place Where you ain't backin' down And I ain't backin' down. So what the hell do we do now... It's all for... [Hook] Nothin' (Fighting for). Nothin' (Crying for). Nothin' (Whoahhh). But we won't let it go for Nothin' (No not for) Nothin'. This should be nothin' to a love like what we got. Ohhh, baby... I know sometimes It's gonna rain... But baby, can we make up now 'Cause I can't sleep through the pain (Cant sleep through the pain). [Chorus] Girl, I don't wanna go to bed (Mad at you), And I don't want you to go to bed (Mad at me). No, I don't wanna go to bed (Mad at you), And I don't want you to go to bed (Mad at me) Ohhh no no no... [Bridge] Oh baby this love ain't gonna be perfect, (Perfect, perfect, oh oh). And just how good it's gonna be. We can't fuss and we can't fight Long as everything alright between us Before we go to sleep. Baby, we're gonna be happy. I know sometimes It's gonna rain... But baby, can we make up now 'Cause I can't sleep through the pain (Cant sleep through the pain). [Chorus] Girl, I don't wanna go to bed (Mad at you), And I don't want you to go to bed (Mad at me). No, I don't wanna go to bed (Mad at you), And I don't want you to go to bed (Mad at me) Ohhh no no no... ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038