From: NO TOP TEN CENTRAL Newsgroups: alt.asian-movies,soc.culture.hongkong.entertainment Subject: [TAKE OVER] HKSAR Film No Top 10 Box Office (DECEMBER 25 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. Janice Man Wing San who celebrates her birthday on the 29th B. Hung Sin Nui who celebrates her birthday on the 26th C. Mr.'s Tom who celebrates his birthday on the 25th D. Cally Kwong Mei Wan who celebrates her birthday on the 24th 2. MISCELLANEOUS * (12/31/2008) The movie IP MAN has performed ideally at the box office with 14 million in Hong Kong and 64 million in Mainland. Two nights ago the movie held a celebration, the film producer Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Master Ip Chun, director Wilson Yip Wai Shun, actors Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), Simon Yam Tat Wa, Wong Yau Nam and others. Wong Pak Ming earlier announced a IP MAN sequel next year and Bruce Lee would appear. Yen Chi Tan said, the role of Bruce Lee would be hard to play well and would be very stressful. Nowadays someone would have a very hard time capturing Bruce Lee's spirit, appearance, gong fu and temperament. Reportedly Aaron Kwok Fu Sing would play Bruce Lee. Would his collaboration with Hung Doi Lam be attractive? He felt it was no big deal but he did not feel the audience would watch a movie due to rumors. Hung Doi Lam in the film had many ill temper scenes. She said that during the shoot she imagined her boyfriend ignoring her then got into the mood. She said her boyfriend was not attentive enough because career came first for a lot of men. Thus she would prefer a mature man. Has Kwok Fu Sing enraged her? She said that after arriving in Hong Kong no one has upset her. Sing Sing was also very career minded, she said that her tolerance was greater, she was more mature and has learned to understand others. Reportedly Sing Sing would play Bruce Lee in the sequel. Would she mind working with Sing Sing on screen? She expressed that she would not mind, but would not be particularly happy. If they worked together again it would be OK. As for a couple performance, she expressed that she would play the master's wife in the film how could they be a couple? * (12/31/2008) 2008 has been an emotionally mixed year, the entertainment circle also played one different story after another. Because so much has happened, everyone say that they hope this year will pass as soon as possible, but as 09 ushers in what will happen? No one knows. Yet life goes on, we may as well adjust the mood and continues to watch each story's development with a smile. The entertainment circle is exciting because what is considered impossible becomes possible. Joe Ngai Chun and Vivian Chow Wai Man's love story is truly unexpected. When is life predictable? Former Emperor artists Isabella Leong Lok Si was reportedly dating tycoon Richard Li. She immediately stopped work and flew to the United States to study. Later Emperor sued her for breach of contract and she immediately countered and charged Emperor has tied her down with unequal contract. When she signed with Emperor at the age of 12, although her mother signed on her behalf, her mother did not understand English and signed the long term contract without certainty. She even accused the company of making irrational demands that made her feel like she was sold out. Thus she decided to sue to render the contract null and void. While we were all looking forward to this contract lawsuit of the century and whether Isabella would reveal inside information, both parties suddenly settled out of court. However both parties in their statements have indicated that they would accept each other's monetary compensation, Isabella even proclaimed that the amount of compensation would be donated to charity, but Emperor also reiterated that it did not pay any money. Then Richard Li on a public occasion stated that someone was lying. Finally although the lawsuit ended, the incident had many different versions. As to whether Richard Li and Leong Lok Si were in a relationship, neither has directly responded. Gigi Lai Chi's brother Lai Ying after a car accident in 2007 was in a coma for months, during which Gigi in order to take care of her younger brother suspended her performance at hand. Fortunately his brother after more than a dozen surgeries miraculously woke up but still had a long-term rehabilitation. To concentrate on taking care of her brother and his clinic business, Lai Chi announced her comprehensive retirement from show business. Angela Tong Ying Ying had a very unlucky year, early in the year while working on a series a blond man slapped her on the street. Her assistant was also injured during a struggle with the assailants. After the arrest the assailant admitted to "teaching her a lesson" for 2000 and was sentenced to 160 hours of community service. Near the end of the year, Ying Ying after attending a drama wrap feast injured someone while driving drunk. Another TVB artist Szeto Shui Kei owed 800,000 at a Macau casino. Later his coffe shop and TVB City both had graffiti from debt collectors and he contacted the police for help. Joe Ngai Chun and Vivian Chow Wai Man have been the golden couple for nineteen years. Because Ngai Chun was caught "cheating" with City University female student Miffty Zhang Mao in a passionate kiss, the relationship came to an end as both announced break up. Ngai Chun even tearfully admitted his mistake to Chow Wai Man and claimed that he was unable to face his girlfriend and broke up due to guilt. A week later, however, they suddenly announced their marriage. The story has taken a winding path. Similarly full of twists and turns was the bizarre ATV ownership change farce. ATV announced at the end of the year the addition of Wang Wai Kei and Linus Cheung Wing Lam to management. Lighting fire everywhere, Wang Wai Kei was exposed of asking current Miss Asia whether her breasts were real. Outside claimed sexual harassment. At the same time this year, a global election was used for Miss Asia. After the pageant the result had a problem and required another vote count. At the related Miss Asia pageant result press conference, Chang Wing Lam suddenly announced that after 12 days in office CEO Wang Wai Kei has resigned. Wang later denied having resigned, but in the end still had to pack up and leave. TVB this year in the name of the financial tsunami in December lay off over 200 people. Although TVB this year made profits, but general manager Stephen Chan Chi Wan cited that this was a painful decision. Outside criticized TVB for being less human. On the Internet in January this year several hundred artist sex photos were released, an investigation revealed that when Edison Chen Koon Hei took his computer for repair they were stolen. Involved female artists included Gillian Chung Yun Tung, Bobo Chan Man Woon, Rachel Ngan Wing Sze, Chan Si Wai and Chen Koon Hei's girlfriend Yeung Wing Ching. Chen Koon Hei after leaving Hong Kong for a month returned for a press conference. Ah Gil held a press conference and claimed she was too naive at that time. Her remarks were slammed on the internet as she was branded as "Naive Gil". Her image also plummeted as she immediately stopped all work and her career bottomed out. Not only her recording but her completed film FANTASTIC WATER BABES still has no release date. Even her scenes in FOREVER ENTHRALLED were all cut. Twins were also rumored to break up as her partner Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin worked alone all year. Jobless, Ah Gil served as image consultant for company artists and at the same time was linked to Juno Mak Chun Lung. Later supposedly Juno's family objected and they broke up. Other female artists kept a very low profile. Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi has not made any public response as she focused on being a wife and a mother. Bobo Chan Man Woon fled to the United States, as her wedding to her industry outsider boyfriend was rumored to have fizzled out. This year had particularly many joyous events, in addition to a number of artist weddings, many artists also became parents, like William Cho Wing Lim, Carlo Ng Ka Lok, Prudence Lau Mei Guen, Aelx Fong Chung Shun, Lawrence Ng Kai Wa, May Kwong man Shun, Francis Ng and so on. "The Hundred Billion Dollar Daughter In Law" Cathy Tsui Chi Kei after giving birth to a daughter a year ago, she is expecting again next June or July. However, some are happy and some are sad. After years together Dicky Cheung Wai Kin and Zhang Qian secretly registered their marriage last year and Zhang Qian soon was pregnant. Yet around February or March, the child had an abnormal heartbeat in its eighth month in the womb. The doctors immediately performed Caesarean section, but to no avail. 39 year old Faye Wong also was rumored to be pregnant in August this year, her manager Chan Ka Ying and Carina Lau Ka Ling both confirmed the good news. Then came rumors of a miscarriage and Chan Ka Ying expressed that Faye was not pregnant and she has heard wrong. Many artists alos entered another stage of life this year. They include Carina Lau Ka Ling and Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Michelle Reis (Lee Ka Yun) and Hui Chun Hung, Kelly Chen Wai Lam and Alex, Ada Choi Siu Fun and Zhang Jin, Wu Pui Wai and Dan Lap Man, Chu Ling Ling and Vincent Lo (Law Hong Shui), Edmond Leung Hong man and Karen. Jacqueline Law Wai Guen and Jojo Wong Lam both wed their boyfriends of many years, while Marco Ngai Chun Kit and Tong Chun Yip both welcomed Mainland brides. Wai Jai and this year's Golden Rooster Best Actress Ka Ling's July wedding in Bhutan was the most thoughtful. The couple invited friends for a wedding in this Buddhist nation and received media coverage from far away. Chen Wai Lam in June this year at the final show of her concert series suddenly announced her wedding. Kelly and her boyfriend Alex held lavish wedding in October the same year. Keeping romance under wraps Over the years and never admitting that she was dating Zhang Jin, Choi Siu Fun suddenly announced her wedding to the surprise of many. Chu Ling Ling married businessman Vincent Lo (Law Hong Shui), which also caught attention. Although they chose to wed in Singapore, the wedding remained low key. Lee Ka Yun and Hui Chun Hung this also wed in December this year, they also held a hundred million dollar wedding in Hui's Shek O home then held two banquets to celebrate. However Carol Cheng Yui Ling and Lui Fong did not walk down the aisle as Do Do in October announced in a magazine interview that her sixteen year relationship with Lui Fong has ended. This year the two major natural disasters have taken place in China. Following the snowstorm, the 512 Sichuan 8 degree earthquake also caused tens of thousands of deaths and injuries. The always enthusiastic in charity Hong Kong show business immediately formed a charity mission due to the long and continuing reconstruction and promised in the next seven years to rebuild homes of Sichuan victims. The project included the Disaster Relief song recording PROMISE to support the victims; a number of popular artists including Andy Lau Tak Wa and Sammi Cheng Sau Man even braved aftershock risks, traveled to Dujiangyan to visit the disaster area; the project also held fund raisers in Hong Kong and Kowloon major shopping malls, while the main event was held on June 1. An eight hour long concert fund raiser marathon with over 100 Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan artists on the same stage raised several tens of millions for the cause. The biggest loss of show business in 08 was the passing of our "Happy Nut" Lydia Shum Din Ha. After a long battle Fei Jeh passed away February 19 this year, and the remains were shipped to Canada for burial, next to her mother who also died in the same year. Fei Jeh has been in show business for four decades and has performed in a number of different works. Her "Happy Nut" image is deep in the minds of the public and has brought people endless joy. Jackie Chan's father, Chen Zhiping also passed away in February this year at the age of 93. Jackie Chan transported his father's remains to be buried in Canberra, Australia and held a local memorial service. Jackie Chan, his wife Lin Feng Jiao and their son Jaycee Chan (Fong Cho Ming) also tearfully sent Papa Lung on his final journey. Once known as ATV "station treasure" Lau Chi Wing passed away in May at the age of 56. First generation disc jockey Chan Yam also in November this year died of pneumonia at the age of 63. * (12/29/2008) FOREVER ENTHRALLED will be released in Hong Kong January 1 next year. Leon Lai Ming as Mei Lanfang and Zhang Ziyi as Meng Xiaodong would compose a romantic love that did not come to fruition as they experienced the beautiful but bitter taste of love. Before the shoot, they have familiarized themselves with the lives of Mei Lanfang and Meng Xiaodong. Thus after production started they were able to submerge themselves into that kind of bitter romantic emotion; although the two's intimate gestures ended at first touch, each moment was also full of emotions. Lai Ming and Zhang Ziyi did not deny that before they worked together they have already were fond of each other and admired each other's professionalism and hard work in their performance career. Fortunately both were professional actors and had significant others, otherwise with less mental prowess they might not have been able to leave their characters. Zhang Ziyi said that she herself has never experienced this kind of love, but she felt their heartache as they loved each other but could not be together. During the shoot she had to experience their pain herself to be able to touch the audience with her own flesh and blood. Lai Ming during the shoot also felt Mei Lanfang's loneliness. After finishing the film, he felt the great instability of life and experienced the suffering from being torn apart. Mei Lanfang's biggest pain was that he was no mere mortal. Lai Ming in a film not only had to appear in the Beijing Opera costumes but also had to wear a fake beard and a white wig to play elderly. He said that this elderly look only took two hours to complete, when compared to the Bejing Opera make up it was already child's play. This was also Lai Ming's first old look. He thought the result was good and very manly. * (12/29/2008) Sammi Cheng Sau Man due to EVERLASTING REGRET (CHEUNG HUNG GOR) has been away from Shanghai for three years, but in order to promote her comeback movie LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK (DAI SAU CHA JI NUI) yesterday she returned to promote in Shanghai. Accompanying her were Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung, Chapman To Man Jat and others. Sammi in the new film played a romantically frustrated female cop. She said that many Hong Kong women resembled the characters. She was not in any hurry to date, but her church friends were more impatient than her as they kept playing matchmaker. She also admitted that some had possibilities for development, but she would let her romance to fate. Her old flame Andy Hui Chi On already has a new girlfriend, She graciously said, "Of course I wish them well! But I shouldn't talk too much about something that I don't know about. I am an outsider and have to keep the feeling of On Jai's girlfriend in mind." Although she said that she was in no hurry to date, she still has longed to wed in the past and had impulses on different stages. Was the target the same person? She said, "How do you come up with this?" She would like her mate to have the same religious belief. She would not consider his economic capacity. She said, "While love is sweet, it also has other tastes, including bitterness, so love still requires giving and sacrifice." The Shanghai promotional trip was very intense. After the press conference, several cast members also headed to the cinema for a face to face exchange with the audience. Sammi could not be happier about the extremely high admission rate at the cinema and repeatedly thanked everyone for their support. They prepared a lot of intimate small gifts for some lucky viewers in the audience. * (12/29/2008) Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) recently posed for the cover of MEN'S UNO in Tokyo and talked about his decade long journey from a singer to an actor. When Gum Sing Mo made CHUNG KING EXPRESS, he truly understood what was visual image creation. Starting then he decided to focus on film and because for this film he had a chance to develop in Japan. After working on Zhang Yimou's film HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, many internationally famous directors have started looking for him to perform. When he made RED CLIFF he had a renewed understanding of John Woo (Ng Yu Sum). His Hollywood work mentality was very admirable. He was willing to bring back and share his Hollywood experience with everyone. Gum Sing Mo's recent work has departed from his idol framework and developed towards the acting camp. He pointed out that perhaps due to his age, he could only get to know the role of Zhuge Liang from books and his growth then play his own Zhuge Liang. If he would play the character at the age of 40, the flavor might be different. Gum Sing Mo was very concerned with Taiwan films. When he learned about the popularity of CAPE NO. 7 that attracted new blood on and off screne to film, he hoped to have a chance to personally give an effort to Taiwan film. * (12/28/2008) The Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Eason Chan Yik Shun, Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen), Chapman To Man Jat, and Kate Tsui Tsz Shan starred, Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung directed film LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK (DAI SAU JA JI NUI) two nights ago held its Hong Kong charity premiere and raised for the Pok Oi Hospital 300,000 in donations. Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, Jade Kwan Sum Yin, Niki Chow Lai Kei, Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To) and his children all showed their support. Cheng Sau Man arrived in leopard print and stole a considerable amount of spotlight. The cast host a ceremony on stage. To Man Jat praised Yip Shuen's acting as a great, a rare class of actors nowadays. Yip Shuen was embarrassed, "What are you getting at!" Ah Jat responded, "Usually question and answer topics are like these." Chan Yip Shun said that the film was shot last year. In recent years he has made a number of films. He joked that he planned to trade hats with Sammi, but realized later that leopard print was not right for him. Eason jokingly gave Sammi the nickname of Leopard Print Cheng (Cheng Pau Man). She should properly chat with the real Song God (Sam Hui Koon Kit) about a double Leopard concert. Eason also joked that Sammi was very suitable for animal protection charitable activities, but Sammi should slow down since he was afraid of blurred vision; however, leopard print was decent and could serve a camouflage in the fall. he said that Sammi was decent with it and had a little wild feel. Sammi in the film played Szeto Mo Lin. She said that the director had a good sense of humor in coming up with the name. Would the director dare to make fun of Sammi's figure? He said that Sammi was very fun too, but he would not deliberately do so. Eason said that he did not invite his wife to the premiere and joked that they did not frequently see each other and were not too familiar. Did he receive his daughter's Christmas card? He said no. As for gifts for his father, he said, "we saw each other." Was he father not in Beijing? He explained that he used video conference. Sammi claimed that she often wore leopard print and has before in concerts. As for Eason's suggestion for her to team up with Hui Koon Kit for a concert jam, she said that Eason has always liked to joke around. She said about her nickname Leopard Print Cheng, "I like it, Eason is quite a prankster who likes to make up names for me. This time is an impulse, next time it may be zebra pattern." Sammi suggested for Eason to dress up like a porcupine so he could protect himself while looking cool. Sammi said that she was very happy about the film release. This film was a preview, a warm-up for work. She said that after the EVERLASTING REGRET (CHEUNG HUNG GOR) training experience she has rested for a long time. This time she was more relaxed in production and facing the results. She pointed out that she had no way of controlling the box office, which she was confident that it should not be too poor. While it should be looked at with the entire climate, it should have no regret. Sammi said that she spent Christmas Eve with a dozen family members, when she had time she would attend church services and strive to meet the future work. She said, "At present the company is working on two screenplays, rare tailor-made ones for me. They would be romantic films, I like love scenes too much. Don't ask me to make a police films again. I am interested in costume films too." Would she be interested in drama like EVERLASTING REGRET? She said that if she would accept it if she did not have to speak Mandarin because she went mad from the voice work and did not want too much stress. Would she like to work with Johnnie To Kei Fung? She instantly said that she was drooling with anticipation. She said, "Maybe he would drool in secret, but I am doing it blatantly. He always denies everything." Would she like to head to Hollywood with him? She frankly said that she was not able to as she has not even succeeded locally. Yet she knew that the chance would be definite. Chow Lai Kei two nights ago arrived around the same time as Kwan Sum Yin, who was rumored to be at odds with her. When Chow Lai Kei arrived at the scene, Kwan Sum Yin was preparing to enter the cinema. They did not have a chance to meet. Chow Lai Kei said that she came in support of the two leads and Pok Oi. She knew that Kwan Sum yin would attend. Tsui Tsz Shan two nights ago dressed provocatively. She saw the nonstop flash bulbs and said that she felt very awkward. She only dressed up for the occasion. She said that although she only guest starred, she was very glad that the two directors have given her a chance. She has learned a lot from Chan Yik Shun and Cheng Sau Man. In the future she must prepare to record for her March or April record release. * (12/27/2008) The China Filmmaker Association's Eighth National Representative Conference on the 26th elected new Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Hong Kong film professional Jackie Chan has become vice chairman of Film Society, while Andy Lau Tak Wa and Peter Chan Ho Sun were elected to the governing body. As a result of the China Filmmaker Association's constitutional amendment, 10 Hong Kong film professionals Jackie Chan, Lau Tak Wa, Chan Ho Sun, Gordon Chan Ka Seung, Derek Yee Tung Sing, Tsui Siu Ming, Crucindo Hung Cho Sing, Lei Nga Bok, John Chong Ching, Song Dai, as well as three Macau film professionals Choi On On, Chan Mau Wing, Tsui Sun have been accepted for the first time into the China Filmmaker Association. At the conference, Mainland Chinese director Li Qiankuan was elected as new chair. Apart from Jackie Chan, Vice-Chairmen also included director Feng Xiaogang, Yin Li, Secretary for the National Film Board Tong Gang, actress Pan Hong, Li Xuejian, Hsi Meichuan. Elected members to the governing body included Zhang Hanyu, Zhang Fengyi, Jia Zhangke, Li Bingbing, and many other well-known Mainland filmmakers. * (12/26/2008) Earlier become a Singapore citizen, Gong Li has been blamed by many for "forgetting her ancestry." Many of her Mainland organization memberships have raised concerns. Reportedly the China Film Association staff has informed the press that Gong Li has already disappeared from the Film Association membership list. The staff member told reporters that the membership is life long. If association charters, laws or disciplines are seriously violated, membership may be revoked. The reporter has learned that, in accordance with the newly revised charter membership, the Association member shall be "People's Republic of China citizen who engages in film work and achieves certain achievements." Gong Li's Singapore citizenship may very likely be the reason for her membership cancellation. Prior to this, the CPPCC National Committee issued a statement that said Gong Li was no longer a member of the CPPCC National Committee. Gong Li once was the ninth and the Tenth CPPCC National Committee member in politics. In March this year, at the 11th CPPCC National Committee, Gong Li was canceled membership. According to media analysis, the real reason was that Gong Li was making active preparations for foreign nationality. In accordance with the relevant provisions, non People's Republic of China citizens are not suitable to be the NPC deputies or CPPCC members. Gong Li was blasted on the internet for changing her nationality. Swiss national for two decades and famous actress Siqin Gaowa has shown outspoken support. She said that the choice of nationality did not affect an actor's acting and position in the eyes of the audience. "We still are Chinese actors." Because they were not of Chinese nationality, many well-known Chinese actors were unable to participate in the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film and Television and other important awards. Siqin Gaowa frankly stated, "This is a bit unfair." She said that she has put forward a proposal to the authorities but the answer was "no way." Yet reporters found that in the newly amended Film Association charter, overseas Chinese through applying for membership and member recommendation may be granted honorary membership. However, honorary members would not be able to vote and stand for election. If Gong Li would like to re-enter the association, perhaps this would still be a viable way. * (12/26/2008) The Chen Kaige directed film FOREVER ENTHRALLED will soon be released. This time Lai Ming made a new attempt as one of the Four Great Chinese Beijing Opera divas, national treasure maestro Mei Lanfang. Although Mei Lanfang's son Mei Baojiu after seeing the movie strongly appreciated Lai Ming's performance and claimed that Lai Ming completely performed his father's elegant and generous temperament, but outside comments claimed that Lai Ming's performance was no match for young Mei Laifang. Chen Kaige earlier visited Hong Kong and when asked about whether the evaluation was unfair to Lai Ming, Chen Kaige supported Lai Ming. He pointed out that many people felt that his portrayal was convincing and it was a matter of opinion. He cited that Mei Lanfang had two stages, one was reserved and the other on the offensive. He felt that Lai Ming's performance was very precise and professional, and with Zhang Ziyi they both achieved the Oriental classical beauty. Earlier Sun Honglei in an interview claimed that Lai Ming was straightforward and easily offended people, and Zhang Ziyi resembled a "tigress." Chen Kaige said that Ziyi actually was not mean at all. The cast was hitting and arguing around the set like siblings. Everyday after the shoot they would joke together. He said that Lai Ming was playful and would not offend anyone. After completing the shoot, they were reluctant to part. Chen Kaige also pointed out that when Lai Ming received the screenplay he was ver calm and clear. He also believed that Mei Lanfang changed him. In contrast fifteen years ago, when he and Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing talked about FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE his hand was shaking and had a lot of pressure. The film had a Mei Lanfang performance, which some claimed that a substitute performed in place of Lai Ming. Chen Kaige clarified that Lai Ming personally performed. Although Beijing opera took two decades to learn, but before the shoot Lai Ming in particular has spent more than two months time to study it. [ BLAH OF THE WEEK ] Columns, Reviews, Interviews 1. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 31 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS COMPARISON OF LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS BOX OFFICE A friend did a little statistics that compared the Christmas holidays last year with this year. On Christmas Eve 2007 the Hong Kong box-office revenues was 6.3 million yuan. As for this year, the single day take was 6,600,000, an increase of 300,000 from last year. The increase was not high and less than five percent. On the 25th Christmas Day last year the single day take was 7.8 million yuan, which has risen this year to 8,300,000, an increase of 6.4 percent. Obviously, the 26th was more obvious. Last year a revenue of 6.4 million was recorded, this year's was 7.4 million; one million more, or nearly 16 percent rise. 2007 and 2008 Christmas schedule shared a common characteristic, as no one film dominated. Cinemas offered better choices to the audience, and varieties to suit different needs. Several major films of last year's Christmas release schedule were THE WARLORDS, GOLDEN COMPASS, NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS, I AM LEGEND and BEE MOVIE. The statement that claims economic downturn is beneficial to the box office is true. While good for the cinemas, it may not be beneficial to film investors. With too many film choices, the box office naturally would be dispersed. In other words each film would not get too much, which is not conducive to big movie investments. Hong Kong to foreign films is a small market. If their revenue is not too far from Chinese language films, foreign film distribution of course is more advantageous. The local audience has not completely lost confidence in Hong Kong film. In the same period without a super class Hollywood film, Hong Kong film still has the edge. IP MAN finally took back the single day box office title and overwhelmed MADAGASCAR ESCAPE 2 AFRICA due to this reason. The public has reduced spending Christmas abroad, which also helps the box office a little. Actual value mentality is all over society as a whole and impacts the audience's film choice. Real kung fu, big production, both intelligent and entertaining are the reasons for IP MAN's success. With more screens its box office would not be much more than this figure. During the Christmas holidays, the competition is over the number of cinema screenings as well as the number of seats. Cinema circuits decide both. - KWOK HIN CHING 2. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 30 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS MAINLAND POLICY DECIDES BOX OFFICE During Christmas and New Year period, Hong Kong had many film releases. The slot was divided into three as each looted the market on its own. Although Mainland had no Christmas holiday, it still had a Christmas atmosphere as Western and Lunar new year holidays were treated as one. Stepping into December, strong New Year films were gradually released in Mainland. For a 200 to 300 million box office, a film must have over 700 or even over 1,000 screens and 6 to 8 week release date. When a super large film is released on more than 1000 screens at once, if its first week box office is less than 50 million it is not considered good. Reasonably it should be above 80 million to be able to achieve 150 or 200 million performance. This New Year slot has ten to 20 films that are fighting to be released, but this big cake would not be shared evenly. When discussing film box office predictions with a Mainland distribution friend, his first words were forecasts would be very hard without considering policy. Hong Kong estimates box office simply put with film packaging, selling point with elements like scheduling and opponents. Mainland is policy-oriented. Policy has decided scheduling and also screen numbers. From December until the next Lunar New Year, the Mainland box office big winner would be no more than three large films -- RED CLIFF 2, FOREVER ENTHRALLED and IF YOU ARE THE ONE. Other films have already lost in terms of policy. Forced into this schedule, they would not have too many screens. Even if they could continue their runs, the number of shows would be substantially less. RED CLIFF 2 originally was scheduled for a Lunar New Year release. it was moved up to January 8 because it needed 6-8 weeks of battle line. With RED CLIFF 2's move, FOREVER ENTHRALLED also moved up. IF YOU ARE THE ONE also followed suit. ALL ABOUT WOMEN (NUI YUN BUT WAI) and IP MAN originally would have more time and more shows in Mainland in December, but when big films under policy protection are released, where would they find room? China and Hong Kong audience tastes are different, also because the different marketing strategies, movie box office performance also differ tremendously. FOREVER ENTHRALLED and IF YOU ARE THE ONE would definitely exceed 100 million in Mainland but should not be able to beat IP MAN in Hong Kong. - KWOK HIN CHING 3. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 29 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS 2008 FILM MARKET REVELATION Which film in 2008 did you feel very excited about after watching it? The only one that is both a Word-of-mouth and box office success, I am afraid, would be THE DARK KNIGHT, but after watching it viewers did not have much excitement; perhaps a little sorrow. What has the world's most successful film really taught us? At least a little, that superheroes in films are no longer simple-minded; the audience no longer simply want senses stimulating visual effects and are willing to think more with their brains. Not every Hong Kong viewers who only seek excitement felt THE DARK KNIGHT was entertaining, some frankly expressed disappointment; but under the flock mentality they dared not skipping it. The same mentality can be reflected in the Taiwan ultra-blockbuster movie CAPE NO. 7. This strongly Taiwanese flavored film in fact is not suitable for the Hong Kong audience appetite, as its normal box office should have been around several hundred thousand. Under the media touting it had a 7 to 8 million performance. On the surface the figure appeared odd, but inside it reflected the Hong Kong audience's flock mentality. As long as the film performed well in a foreign country and was widely reported, it would have viewers. Mainland film is another matter. No matter how much it makes in the Mainland, the difference in two audience's tastes is still very obvious. IF YOU ARE THE ONE and FOREVER ENTHRALLED's box office have proven that. The Greater China market still needs time to integrate. Unfortunately many Hong Kong movie investors have already preferred the Mainland and abandoned Hong Kong. This year PAINTED SKIN's revelation is more important, the audience has proven with action that big films no longer need armor, big scenes and special effect stunts. With big film pattern, romance is already enough. CJ7 also uses the large film pattern to make a minor fun and reaps substantial profits. This year it is Hong Kong's most popular film. Yet Stephen Chow Sing Chi has lost the audience's expectations for him. Everyone has waited for his comedy for such a long time, but he instead plays "unexpected". Although disappointed, the audience's enthusiasm for him still cannot be stopped. The 50 million figure that is imperative to pass also shows how much the audience wants to see a funny movie. - KWOK HIN CHING 4. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 28 2008, AS LONG AS THERE ARE MOVIES VANISHING (END) Would harm would come if no one watched Cantonese films? Yes, for many people (or even most people), life will still go on as usual, life still delivers. Yet generations after generations of children after will lack the most vivid, concrete and interesting way to know their city where they are "born and bred", unfamiliar with (or even know) how their own (and the previous generation) come about and will not understand how history, culture or tradition was formed, so they would not have any context or standard. For film students, without standard they will be unable to determine good and bad. Without any reference, a lot of characters will be able to become characters because they will not have any background. Even in the past, when our respect for Cantonese films was weak (otherwise we would not have called them "disabled" films), but at least we would admit it had an inescapable intimacy for us. Without Cantonese films, the Earth would not stop change; but the city would lose some of her luster and vigor, the pace toward dimming and decline would also be a little faster (though this may already be an irreversible general direction). For example: can you imagine (future) Japanese films without Yasujiro Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse and Akira Kurosawa? How without the "studio era" Hollywood film would have developed? The cynical you would say, have Our Cantonese films produced masters like Ozu, Mizoguchi and Naruse? Have we made classics like GONE WITH THE WIND or CASABLANCA? Let me tell you: artistically, we perhaps did not have half a Ozu (or others), in terms of scale or technique, we might not have had any classic cited above, but we have had directors who had liked minded sentiments of Ozu (or others), personality toward people, emotions and behavior that had the same sharp edge and a profound insight into the heart of compassion. Our classic, despite the shabby appearance, had just the same immense effect and significance with its ability to move and even response and reflection of the era. All the self-humiliation only stemmed from ignorance and disregard. Cantonese films still have a very important function, even if you say they feel old: it can teach people to be human, enable us to differentiate clearly between black and white, right and wrong. Choi Ho Chuen said it best in his essay. One night he got home from work and switched on the television set, he saw on the screen Ng Chor Fan and Cheung Woot Yau and suddenly realized many of his (and his generation's) values and life principles actually came from osmosis and gradual guidance from watching Cantonese films since childhood. Everything has one day when it disappears, but we have the responsibility to preserve the good so it does not easily disappear. Please do not let Cantonese films vanish. Today, let us initiate and continue this exercise, will you? Note: This column AS LONG AS THERE ARE MOVIES has to bid readers farewell. Thanks to MING PAO DAILY's tolerance and readers' patience. - SHU KEI 5. TA KUNG PAO, DECEMBER 28 2008, LIGHT SHADOW PATH FENG XIAOGANG: VIEWERS ARE FAR BETTER THAN AWARDS A few of this year's Mainland New Year movies have been released already, with IF YOU ARE THE ONE's momentum being the strong. In less than a week in release, its box office has exceeded 100 million. Total box office of over 200 million has been beyond any doubt. As to whether it would break the previous Feng Xiaogang's film ASSEMBLY's 260 million box office records, it would have difficulties because this year has as many as 10 New Year films. Each box office will be thinned and different from the past one or two film monopolies. The title of this Director Feng film is very strange, Hong Kong viewers may not be ablbe to understand its meaning at once. Actually the Chinese title came from a personal ad's final line that meant if you are not sincere please do not call and disturb the candidate. IF takes the usual Feng fun, humor, and style. As Director Wong Jing once said, Feng's movies in Hong Kong film definition are not comedy but more subtle humor films. Feng Xiaogang has made many different genre attempts over the past few years, such as A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES, THE BANQUET, and ASSEMBLY. THE BANQUET was not considered successful, and ASSEMBLY had the best word-of-mouth. Exceeding 200 million box office at the box office without a famous actor, Feng Xiaogang was the first Mainland director to do so. As Mr. Feng said, Mainland films focus on directors, unlike Hong Kong film investors who first set Tony Leung Chiu Wa or Andy Lau Tak Wa before talking about other film elements. IF YOU ARE THE ONE's inspiration was said to be from the Taiwan film PERSONALS, but its content and structure was very close to and structure are very close to WHEN HARRY MET SALLY. The story stressed the middle-aged marriage seeker, who was full of middle-aged emotions that felt a bit autobiographical (the director has already reached the age). Although it was a story of middle-aged dirge, it added one after another segments of ironic humor content -- the director's expertise. Feng's purpose of making the film reportedly was due to 2008 being a year of suffering, after snowstorms, earthquakes, and the financial tsunami the director would like to make the audience happy and relax a bit. Thus he made IF in hopes that viewers could alleviate the physical and mental pressure and fatigue. Some people thought that Feng Xiaogang's film had a lot of difficulties with winning film awards (actually his ASSEMBLY has won all Mainland awards), Director Feng did not hesitate to say that he thought the audience was much more important to him. Instead of making something with depth and inner culture but the audience did not accept, he would prefer to make movies that the audience liked because unpopular films to the general audience would only be empty work for a small minority. Feng Xiaogang said that the U.S. presidential election appeared to be a major event, but for Chinese people, for their children to go to a better school might be an even more important matter. Viewers liked a perfect ending (happy ending), but the film festival's assessment might not necessarily think so; in fact, a good movie would not be easy to assess, popular movies would clearly speak through the objective facts of the box office. Thus, Director Feng has always been invincible. - TIN LIk 6. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 27 2008, AS LONG AS THERE ARE MOVIES VANISHING (1) Last Saturday I attended a forum on Hong Kong literature definition. Although the content was not directly related to film, one of the speakers talked about some vanishing old literary versions that reminded me of something that was only serious but the situation of which also has already reached dangerous level. In our films, old movies that are like those old literature - especially Cantonese films, are on the road that is destined to vanish. If you do not believe that, let us do an experiment. Readers of this article, if your age is the age of 20 or less, please answer the following three questions: 1. What is Cantonese film? 2. Can you name five representative Cantonese films actors and 3 (representative) works of each person? 3. Can you name three Cantonese films that you have seen on the big screen? I bet that anyone who can fully answer, even if he (she) is a film student, would be few. The reason is simple: the days from their birth to maturation, in accordance with the "normal" circumstances, they should have no chance to come in contact with Cantonese films (even if only one or two). A long time ago (starting from the nineties?), the two free television stations would still at each Sunday's late night schedule on a regular basis (from at first every Friday to later two or three days) most Cantonese films that suffered different degrees of audio and visual damages (the purpose was compliance with the Telecommunications Bureau regulation for free television station's daily advertising and official program broadcast schedule ratio, for the convenience of running more ads during the day or at the evening prime time hours), hence the name: Cantonese disabled films. In retrospect, at that time the reaction to these films though were more of ridicule, but at least it was a type of inheritance, and they were still able to maintain a type of entity of existence in their contemporary society (the rest were only shown on an annual basis at the International Film Festival's "Hong Kong Cinema Retrospective" screening or the Film Archive programming features - they are also the only opportunity to enjoy them on the big screen). With television abandoning even their only residual value, Cantonese films began to gradually vanished from our city. In this regard, I have expressed to a student sadness and worry. His response to me was: we do not have such a need! I have to admit that at that moment, I feel a flash of shock and grief. I do not particularly blame him because our cynical society has given him such an idea, because this city and this government have never treated film (including, of course their own films) as her culture and traditions. - SHU KEI 7. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 26 2008, FILM AND TELEVISION OBSERVATIONS The MULTIPLE PIECE CHRISTMAS CAKE Pre Christmas box office shows that no single film has dominance, as different viewers support different films. Male viewers' preference will certainly be IP MAN, the admission rate of which is very high and the reaction is also good. Donnie Yen Chi Tan as Wing Chun master Ip Man is more successful than any of his previous role, the entire film is fast-paced, not beating about the bush and satisfied male viewers who want to watch an action film. Hong Kong martial art stars are getting scarcer and scarcer. In recent years many action films are made with stars without any solid martial art foundation, relying on editing, doubles and special effects as substitutes. Male viewers who like to watch real gong fu are not satisfied as they feel they are too fake. Yen Chi Tan is most convincing martial art star in recent years. He has served as martial art director for Hollywood films and fighting games. He is also different from other action stars. Mainland has stars who can fight, but dominance in an action film requires more than just the ability to fight. Almost all the action stars not only have to be able to fight but also have to be considered to be with a brain. With a brain is not the sly type, but the type that knows how to make martial art performance look good. Yen Chi tan in the 80s has already returned from the United States to work in Hong Kong. Back then he did not have too much on screen success. Later he turned to directing and also worked on television series. He has turned from a successful action designer back to the front of the camera. He has taken a big detour but also has proven that martial art superstars have to go through the honing experience. Another hit of the same period is TWILIGHT that specializes in puppy love boys and girls. However it is not a big budget that is based on a best-selling novel. Its success tells everyone that as long as you have mastery over young romantic psychology, you can sell big. Other elements are superfluous. MADAGASCAR ESCAPE 2 AFRICA has become the box office champion as soon as it was released. Its launch date was well grasped, waiting for student vacations and looting all of the family market. This Christmas schedule cake has been divided into many pieces, each with its own market. - KWOK HIN CHING 8. MING PAO DAILY, DECEMBER 25 2008, FILM WORDS DETECTIVE GALILEO'S SUBSTANTIAL REASONING I have not seen "Detective Galileo" TV series. From the look of the very successful Japanese film version, it indeed is a substantial reasoning and battle of wit mystery. I again feel that the current Japanese popular culture knows how to use the mind and has scientific knowledge. Often it comes up with ingenious ideas that Chinese films lag far behind. SUSPECT X to describes Yukawa (Masaharu Fukuyama), a genius physics professor who assists the Tokyo police with a murder mystery. He battles wit with a genius mathematician (Shinichi Tsutsumi), meets his match and mutually appreciate each other. Wonderfully one is handsome and the other shabby and closed off, they create a contrast that is just as strong as DEATH NOTE's two young experts. However, this film is completely unlike DEATH NOTE's fantasy, youth, comic book and mysterious action. It is an official mystery suspense that achieves a detailed realism. Based on Keigo Higashino's original, award-winning "Galileo" novel series. To young Hong Kong movie fans, this film is mainly dramatic unlike DEATH NOTE's novelty and fun; but it is suitable for reasoning novel fans' support. SUSPECT X's murder case itself is very simple, a common family tragedy that is often seen in any society. Yet due to two outsider geniuses' entries, the mathematician set up the mystery and the physicist cracks it. Even more importantly it leads to the conflict between science and love, thus it grows more complex and winding. The whole film actually is mainly characterization that shows the two geniuses due to different personalities and fate are a world apart. Masaharu Fukuyama plays the idol professor detective who Heaven seems to favor. The earlier science experiment demonstration is very wonderful. Even more prominent is Shinichi Tsutsumi as a down on his luck mathematician. This time he looks like he has aged prematurely and alone. In order to help a pair of mother and daughter next door he "sacrifices" himself in a deployable manner. When the two geniuses reunite, their all night chat is also touching. When they are about to turn the cards and climb a snow-capped mountains together, the film turns into a very confusing an dangerous scene. Female detective Kou Shibaski is also lively and cute. Neighbor beauty Matsuyuki Yasuko was born unlucky. In addition, the city's homeless also becomes an important segment of the film. Director Hiroshi Nishitani achieves quality, with laughter and tears without thrill and excitement. Yet I am not satisfied with the ending and am very upset. Both the geniuses have good intention, why can they not create a more joyful resolution method? Now both are now lost by the wayside, their projections are not yet foolproof. They only prove that their talent and not yet considered genius. - 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 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 WARRIORS AKA : 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, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Ken Ho Ka King, Lam Suet, Tang Yan Opening December 3 2009 [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS MALAYSIA ] Japanese evil warlord Lord Godless desired to conquer China. He imprisoned a large number of martial artists and tried to make them subjugate. Among the prisoners were Cloud and the martial arts elder statesman Nameless. Wind came to the rescue. The trio was badly wounded by Lord Godless’s evil martial arts attack. Chu Chu was also knocked out when she blocked Cloud from Lord Godless’s strike. The remaining martial artists sacrificed their lives to save the trio, in the hope that the trio would beat Lord Godless one day and save the country. Chu Chu was badly wounded and stayed unconscious. Cloud was filled with remorse and vowed to take revenge. Wind chose to take the evil way to quickly boost up his martial arts skills, so that he could protect the people. During his training, he met the girl who changed his life, Dream. Meanwhile, the troop of Lord Godless came to attack. Wind’s training was interrupted when he tried to save Dream from Lord Godless’s assault. After some killings, Wind ran away and disappeared.... Lord Godless took The Emperor in captivity and stationed his troops in Heaven Cave. Cloud arrived alone and started a combat with Lord Godless. Lord Godless had the upper hand. In the meantime, the half-evil Wind appeared and joined the battle. During the fight, they inadvertently discovered the secret of the sovereign. The real intention of Lord Godless’s invasion was related to an ancient tomb, a forbidden ground buried with the Royal family’s secret. The truth was finally revealed. At last, how would the battle end? Who would eventually rule over the country? 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) 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) Rating : IIB Length : 98 mins. 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, Ying Da, Yu Shaoqun, Masanobu Ando Rating : IIA Length : 147 mins. Opening January 1 2009 Official Site : http://www.emp.hk/eng/index.htm [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] The story surrounds 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... DREAM Can : Bei Mung Lit : Tragic Dream d. Kim Ki-Duk Joe Odagiri (Siu Tin Chik Yeung), Lee Na-Young Rating : IIB Length : 95 mins. Opening January 1 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] "He dreamed...she was charged..." Jin has a nightmare in which while giving his ex a ride home he has a car accident. Out of curiosity he finds where the accident occurs in the dream, never expecting the same exact accident. The police looks for the suspect with closed-circuit television. Jin quietly follows the police in hopes of knowing more. Ran who the police wakes up in the middle of the night denies any wrongdoing and even points out that she has a sweet dream. Jin comes out to confess and says in his dream he is the driver of the accident. Of course, the police ignores him and arrests Ran. Jin and Ran work together to find out the truth but discover they have a strange connection: When Jin dreams, Ran would sleepwalk and do what Jin dreams of... They in the dream world is the same person. ONG BAK 2 d. Panna Ritthikrai, Tony Jaa Tony Jaa Rating : IIB Length : 98 mins. Opening January 1 2008 Official Site : http://www.ongbak2themovie.com [ 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 everything 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! 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?... 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? [ 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 2009 [ 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. KUNG FU CHEF Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Vanness Wu (Ng Kin Ho), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Lam Tze Chung Opening 2009 [ 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? TACTICAL UNIT - COMRADES IN ARMS Can : Gei Dung Bo Dui -- Tung Bau d. Vicent Lo (Law Wing Cheong) Maggie Shiu Mei Kei, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Lam Suet, Sammuel Peng King Chi, Wong Chi Yin Rating : IIB Length : 91 mins. Opening January 8 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] In the police force, invisible competition always exists; between colleagues, are they friends or foes? Wa and Maggie leads their subordinates to face an emergency task on the last day before their dissolution: to search the mountains for armored car robbers. Over the the year and a half of their co-leadership, they have become rivals and the team relationship has already become split and rigid. Maggie's team wins praise and promotion from the superior. Wa on the other hand has no hope for a promotion. While in the mountains to look for criminals, two teams split up to search separately but fall under robbers' attack, Wa and Maggie in order to save their colleagues face a severe test. Can they finally cast aside their prejudices and work together to complete the job? PARKING Can : Ting Che d. (Chung Man Won) Guei Lun-Mei, Chang Chen Length : 112 mins. 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. FIT LOVER Can : Oi Ching Jor Yau Lit : Love Left Right d. Zhang Jianya Karena Lam Ka Yun, Leo Ku Kui Ke, Huang Xiaoming, Lu Yi, Alec Su (So Yau Peng), Naoki Hosaka (Bo Ban Seung Hei) Opening January 8 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] Nie Bing is a famous romantic television program presenter. She is beautiful, gracious and intelligent, on the screen she sounds like an expert with other people's feelings, but ironically in life she is unable to find he likes men. On her 30th birthday, Nie Bing awakes from a nightmare of dying alone; her mother nags her; her suitors maliciously attack her; even more terrifying is that she sees his divorced father's new girlfriend - her elementary school classmate......Is this the start of 30-year-old woman's terrible fate? Fortunately, on this day, she even meets an angel. The angel sends her a magic car and proclaims that Nie Bing will have twelve opportunities to choose, each time she turns a corner as long as she signals left and turns right, she will encounter a different type of man. With 12 types of men, one will always be suitable to her, right? The suspecting Nie Bing starts this wonderful love finding adventure. Indeed, the most handsome traffic cop in history with countless crazy female fans first enters her life. When he salutes a fan takes photos; when he says, "How are you" a fan applauds; even when he writes up a ticket someone is crying with excitement......This type of man is very handsome, but living with him is too extreme. Nie Bing flees in a panic. Then, comes the eloquent insurance salesman, rich coal bosses, a big time lawyer with unparalleled chemistry with her, a radiant little brother next door, a talented but depressed artist......a man after another arrives, each with a brilliant advantage but also exposes shortcomings for Nie Bing to nitpick at. Each experience is a hilarious adventure, every adventure leads to a helpless perception. How great would it be if she can live with the advantageous part of men. A year has passed since, Nie Bing has already suffered 11 straight defeats on the love battlefield. Nie Bing has had enough and does not want to play anymore. Nie Bloody tosses away the cursed car keys as she wants to return this car that has brought her pleasant surprises and disappointments of love to the angel. At this time, the twelfth man appears. Would this one be the one for her? Finding love sometimes has such a perspective, just like looking for moving landscape on both sides from the car windows with the most touching scenery is behind the car..... RED CLIFF II AKA : BATTLE OF RED CLIFF Can : Chet Bik - Kuet Jin Tin Ha Lit : Red Cliff - Decisive Battle Under Heaven d. John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo), Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Vicki Zhao Wei, Hu Jun, Shidou Nakamura, Janny Lin Chiling Opening January 15 2008 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] RED CLIFF II undertakes the first installment's tense confrontation between the three kingdoms of Cao, Wu and Shu. Cao Cao learns of Wu and Shu's alliance and sends 800,000 troops and 2,000 warships to the south and set up camp in the deark forest across from the Red Cliff on the Yangtze River. The nations of Wu and Shu lack of food and has far less soldiers than the Cao troops, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang change the course of events with their resourcefulness, a series of fierce land and sea battle constituted finally The Battle of Red Cliff that has been written in the history of China for ages! 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...... LOOK 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 Opening February 5 2009 Official Site : http://www.mediaasia.com/lfas [ GOLDEN SCREEN CINEMAS MALAYSIA ] Sam is the most eligible bachelor in town - he's young, smart and rich. However, every success has its price. Sam has already divorced three times and finds himself crawling back to the game of love sooner than he has expected. It is love at first sight when Sam chances upon Milan at a Macau casino. She is a part-time poker dealer and a full-time cabaret dancer, seemingly not the perfect match with Sam's life. While Milan is being groomed into a society woman by experts galore, Sam is starting to have cold feet. He takes his lawyer's advice and signs a prenuptial agreement without consulting Milan. This time, he is gravely mistaken, as this woman has a heart of gold and is looking for real love rather than fame and fortune. HAPPY FLIGHT Can : Hoi Sum Jik Hong Lit : Happy Direct Flight d. Shinobu Yaguchi Ayase Haruka, Seiichi Tanabe Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] "Finally I can fly on international routes!" The always optimistic flight attendant Etsuko is very excited about being able to participate on the international route job that she has looked forward to for a long time and is determined to do everything to its fullest! She never expects that the group of usually elegant and enchanting elders not only wolf down expensive flight meals in the break room but also remove their high heels for foot massage. Before the take of high-spirited novice pilots Suzuki only knows to give a silly laugh when he runs into a massive jet stream...how can two flight rookies turn the adventure into happiness with the passengers? NOBODY TO WATCH OVER ME Can : Shui Loi Sau Wu Ngor Lit : Who Would Protect me d. Ryoichi Kimizuka Koichi Sato, Mirai Shida, Ryuhei Matsuda, Yoshino Kimura, Toshiro Yanagiba Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] A 18-year-old youth suspected of killing primary school sisters is arrested, his mother and sister's lives at the same moment collapse. The unscrupulous media pursued them day and night, the internet continued to dig and uncover their privacy. They even receive death threats against the whole family. A police officer is ordered to protect the mother and daughter but has aroused strong public reaction. The officer's dark past that few know has also been revealed. The suspect's mother finally cannot take anymore and resort to suicide, as the younger sister finds the homicide's key clues......until this moment, actually no one knows whether the suspect is the real murderer? THREADS OF DESTINY Can : 366 Tin Dik Yeuk Ding Lit : 366 Days Appoinment d. Masanori Murakami Junpei Mizobata, Nao Minamisawa Opening March 5 2009 [ YAHOO! MOVIES HONG KONG ] When her first love has just ended, a secondary school student meets a quiet, gentle student Atsushi. Both were born on February 29 and unconsciously they have become attracted to each other. Later she discovers that she has made Atsushi in her childhood and thus is even more convinced that this is the destiny of love. On the other hand, her mother has forced Atsushi to give up this just budding romance! In order to protect his beloved, he can only hold back the pain and disappear in front of her. Fate has arranged for an innocent romance to be filled with suicide, death, drugs, violence, abuse and so many unexpected things in the middle. In the end can the red thread bring them back together and fate destined them to be connected again? 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 * Eason Chan live in San Francisco,CA March 22,2009 Eason's Moving On Stage, Eason Chan Live in Concert! Date & Time: Sunday night, March 22,2009 @ 7pm Venue Location: Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave, Daly City, CA 94014 Ticket Prices: $58, $78, $98, $138, $198 VIP tickets on sale now online at: http://www.usastarimage.com/ticket.aspx?id=31 Info & online ticket: www.usastarimage.com concert hotline: 510-651-6888 info email: concert@usastarimage.com ticket outlets: http://www.usastarimage.com/ticket.aspx?id=31 http://www.usastarimage.com Ng Hing Kee SF 415-781-8330 Ng Hing Kee Sunset SF 415-759-1999 Ng Hing Kee Millbrae 650-692-8922 Ng Hing Kee Mountain View 650-969-2034 Ng Hing Kee Oakland 510-272-0822 Ng Hing Kee Milpitas 408-433-5188 World Books SF 415-397-8473 Evergeen Books Milpitas 408-383-9798 Taro Books Cupertino 408-863-1288 Taro Books Newark 510-818-9666 * INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING AND MOGEHAN SUN PRESENT JOLIN TSAI WE DANCING ONLINE 2009 CONCERT With Special Guests: Energy DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 8 2009 @ 2AM Sunday, February 8 2009 @ 2 PM VENUE LOCATION: Mohegan Sun Arena Mohengan Sun Uncasville CT TICKET PRICES : $ 168 VIP, 128, 88, 58 TICKET OUTLET LOCATIONS: ONLINE : www.iemshowplace.com/html/jolin_tsai.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 * RAYMOND MIU PRODUCTIONS, INC. AND TRUMP TAJ MAHAL PRESENT AIR JUSTIN WORLD TOUR 09 LIVE Special Guests: Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Kary Ng Yu Fei DATE AND TIME : Saturday night / Sunday morning, February 8 2009 @ 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 * 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 30 2008 10 FOUR CHRISTMASES d. Seth Gordon Reese Withersppon, Vince Vaughn 9 IF YOU ARE THE ONE Can : Fei Sing Muk Yau Lit : Not Sincere Do Not Disturb d. Feng Xiaogang Ge You, Shu Qi 8 POKEMON MOVIE 10 -- THE RISE OF DARKRAI d. Kunihiko Yuyama Japanese Animation Cantonese Voice : Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam 7 THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL d. Scott Derrickson Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates 6 THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX d. Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen Animation English Voices: Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson 5 TWILIGHT d. Catherine Hardwicke Kirsten Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke 4 BEDTIME STORIES d. Adam Shankman Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce 3 SUSPECT X Can : Sun tam Ga Lei Lok Lit : Detective Galileo d. Hiroshi Nishitani Masaharu Fukuyama, Kou Shibaski, Kazuki Kitamura, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Shinichi Tsutsumi 2 MADAGASCAR: ESACPE 2 AFRICA d. Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath DreamWorks Animation English Voice: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer 1 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 ------ Summaries for some of the films above. Some contain SPOILERS IP MAN Rating : IIB Length : 106 mins. Opening December 19 2008 Official Site : http://www.ipman-movie.com [ 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. SUSPECT X Rating : IIA Length : 128 mins. 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 university 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 Rating : I Length : 90 mins. Opening December 20 2008 IF YOU ARE THE ONE Rating : IIA Length : 127 mins. Opening December 24 2008 Official Site : http://www.mediaasia.com/iyato [ 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. ------ GLOBAL CHINESE SONG CHART For Saturday, December 27 2008 15 THE MOST FORTUNATE THING Can : Jui Hung Fok Dik Si (Leung Man Yum) 14 YOU ARE NOT TRUE HAPPINESS Can : Nei But Si Jun Jing Dik Fai Lok May Day 13 I STILL CAN FLY Can : Ngor Wan Nung Fei Cheung (Wong Nga Lei) 12 IN THE END ONLY ABLE TO LIE DOWN Can : Jui Hau Ji Nung Tong Ha Loi (Wong Lap Hung) 11 YOU WHO LOVES MONSTER Can : Oi Gwai Muk Dik Nei Joey Yung Cho Yi 10 PERSON WHO CATCHES THE MOON Can : Lau Yuet Leung Dik Yun Miriam Yeung Chin Wa 9 YOU ARE IN MY HEART Can : Nei Joi Ngor Sum Seung Huang Xiaoming 8 DEEPLY LOVED YOU Can : Sum Sum Oi Gor Nei Jacky Xie (Sit Ji Him) 7 Grass Ring Can : Cho Gai Ji Y2J (Sun Muk Yu Tung) 6 SEEKING MICHAEL Can : Chum Sau Michael Hai Mingwei (Hoi Ming Wai) 5 NO ONE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ME Can : Woot Yau Yun Bei Ngor Gung Oi Nei Shui Mu Nian Hua 4 EVEN IF THE WORLD HAS NO FAIRY TALE Can : Jau Shuen Sai Gai Mo Tung Wa Janice Vidal (Wai Lan) 3 ?EXPOSURE Can : ?Bo Guong Hins Cheung King Hin 2 PROMISED FORTUNE? Can : Shuet Ho Dik Yun Fok Neh Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) 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. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Ah, the usual holiday good will toward peeps itsh Before Your Chaffing Editor goes about his usual "selfish", "fratricidal" and "internecine" hate mongering. You too can learn those big words and more for yourself (maybe even spiritual awareness or something) from El Padre http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/urbi/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081225_urbi_en.html All kidding aside, if we just keep one of the messages in mind the world would probably be a better place for it. Like the Macy's bag says, BELIEVE. Now for something completely different. Have you ever wanted to just choke the life out of one of your supposed friends? If you are one of Your Chaffing Editor's "friends" you probably have (on a hourly basis). Cosmo, the girls' go to publication for advice and such, brings you this information article. "Friends", take heed. http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlecosmo.aspx?cp-documentid=15859485>1=32023 The holidays are a cheerful and joyous time for many, so much so that according to a study many are taking the term spreading holiday cheer literally. All Your Chaffing Editor is going to say about this is, if you know it's going to rain, use an umbrella, ella, ella, a, a... http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2008/12/heating_up_the_holidays_expert_1.html On a more personal note (does this guy ever stop talking about himself?) Your Chaffing Editor has found himself unable to sleep at nights and napping through the holidays. Either age or evolution has caught up with Old Chaffy, who is leaning toward the more obvious since turning into a bear and hibernating through winter is almost unheard of. Then again, Your Chaffing Editor has been storing up a lot of fat recently, which again can be attributed to either theory. Finally, Your Chaffing Editor has been hearing this raspy voiced girl growling on the radio. While Old Chaffy is reminded of Bonnie Riatt, most set lower standards (probably due to their lower age range) and compare her to Melissa Etheridge (Then again, the 12 year old girl inside Old Chaffy is thinking Avril). While the radio keeps on cranking UNBEAUTIFUL, Your Chaffing Editor just visited Lesley Roy's site (http://www.lesleyroymusic.com) and felt I'M GONE, I'M GOING more right now. Heaven forbid, should Your Chaffing Editor ever make anyone feel unbeautiful -- he is totally sorry. Really. Then again, standing next to Your Chaffing Editor would only have the opposite effect on you. Hey, maybe he should start charging for that space... MAKING THE WORLD BEAUTIFUL IN COMPARISON, Jer Jer Stinks, Your Chaffing Editor Top Ten Central --- [ WHAT IS YOUR CHAFFING EDITOR LISTENING TO ] UNBEAUTIFUL Lesley Roy (http://www.lesleyroymusic.com) Don't hang up, Can we talk? So confused It's like im lost. What went wrong? what made you go? Don't pretend you don't know This is me Im unchangeable When did we Fall apart? Or did you lie From the start? When you said Its only you I was blind Such a fool Thinking we Were unbreakable It was you and me against the world And you promised me forever more Was it something that I said? was it something that I did? Cuz I gotta know What made me unbeautiful. Ive been told Whats done is done To let it go And carry on And deep inside I know that's true Im stuck in time Im stuck on you We were still untouchable It was you and me against the world And you promised me forever more. Was it something that I said? Was it something that I did? Cuz I gotta know What made me unbeautiful Wake up, wake up, wake up Cuz im only dreaming Get out, get out, get out Get out of my head now Because we're much better All together Can't let go. It was you and me against the world And you promised me forever more Was it something that I said? Was it something that I did? Cuz I gotta know What made me unbeautiful It was you and me against the world And you promised me forever more Was it something that I said? Was it something that I did? Cuz I gotta know What made me unbeautiful Make me unbeautiful. ---------------------- HK Top Ten Central hktopten@hotmail.com | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/2038