[2020.03.28] HONG KONG CINEMAS SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT'S TWO WEEK SHUT DOWN ORDER

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor yesterday announced that in the latest effort against the pandemic all entertainment venue would suspend operation for two weeks, they included cinemas. The restriction would begin at 6PM today. The theater industry including the Hong Kong Theatres Association all expressed their support, would fully coordinate with the government restriction, fight the pandemic with the entire city and work hard toward returning to a healthy Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Theatres Association issued a statement after the announcement, "Since the outbreak began, the theater industry has been severely impacted. Cinemas has been paying a lot of attention on the audience's health and released the following procedures like 'isolation/alternate seating ticket', delaying the opening and moving up the closing time for cleaning and disinfecting of the entire cinema, requiring viewers to wear masks and taking their temperature as they entered in hopes to strengthening viewer confidence about going to the movies. The cinema environment was even safer than anywhere else, the risk of infecting was not high. Because viewers purchased tickets online, they could pick up tickets without any contact. Inside viewers could wear masks and enjoyed ample viewing space. Despite during the outbreak the box office still reached new lows, the theater industry still persisted in continuing operation in hopes of preserving employee's employment opportunity. However, due to the worsening situation, in hopes of reducing the temptation of going outside and coordinating with the government ordered stronger restriction order cinemas would work with the government and temporarily close for 14 days. The cinema industry hopes to successfully win the fight against the pandemic with Hong Kong and continue to provide quality viewing experience to the audience."

Cinema City circuit boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming's 5 cinemas before suspending operation at 6PM would still run movies as scheduled. However the April 1st release of the 4K restored THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR and the April 8th release of the 4K restored THE PHANTOM LOVER in memory of Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing would be rescheduled after the reopening of cinemas.

Golden Scene film company responded, "We very strongly agree with the cinema temporary closing. Because the current box office has been very low but employees still had to go to work as usual, both viewers and employees would have risks. As for films that we have scheduled, we would wait until the reopening of cinemas to release them. We would have no problem. As the entire city unites to fight the pandemic, health is the most important!"

The film LOST AND FOUND IN TOKYO (SHOOK NUI OI MAN YAU) originally was scheduled for an April 2nd release, which now has been halted. Star Michelle Wai Sze Nga said, "I feel it is a good thing, being safe is more important than the release date. I personally agree and support this method. My promotions have already been done in advance anyway, now I can only post online to promote. With how severe the pandemic is, staying at home is the safest."

[2020.03.28] LESLIE CHEUNG REMEMBERED ON THE SIDE OF BUSES

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April 1st would be the 17th anniversary of "Gor Gor" Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing's passing. Due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the annual flower presentation was canceled earlier. Film poster designer Yuen Tai Yung's son, artist Yuen Kai Tsang, hand drawn a classic Gor Gor look with fresh flower in his hand and printed 12 giant posters to be posted on buses in memory of him all over Hong Kong. Hopefully it would bring back people's memory of Gor Gor's great music, film and art achievements.

[2020.03.28] STEPHY TANG LEARNS TO ENJOY HER SECOND BEST ACTRESS NOMINATION

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Nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress for the second with the film MY PRINCE EDWARD (GUM DOH), Stephy Tang Lai Yun appeared on a ViuTV interview and stated that she never thought that she would have anything to do with awards from making movies. "I remember my first nomination in 2018 as very sudden, I didn't know how to react. This time with the second nomination I know how to experience the joy. Actually I am not just lucky, everyone is recognizing me. I am very happy!" In 2018 with the film EMPTY HAND (HUNG SAU DOH) she won the Hong Kong Film Critic Society Best Actress award. After winning the first film award of her life she finally learned to think about her next step and hope to take a different route from before. Those who have enjoyed MY PRINCE EDWARD praised Tang Lai Yun's performance as a metamorphsis. After hearing that she was both shocked and moved.

[2020.03.27] TWO LESLIE CHEUNG FILMS RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN

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April 1st would be the 17th anniversary of Gor Gor Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing's passing. "Gor" fans have never forgotten, but due to the pandemic the flower presentation at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel would be canceled and be replaced with an online memorial event. Two of Gor Gor's films THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR (BAK FAT MOR NUI JUEN) and THE PHANTOM LOVER (YEH BOON GOR SING) have been restored anew in 4K and would be released on the big screen to remember the glory of the superstar of a generation. On April 1st Gor Gor and Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha)'s THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR will be screened. On April 8th Gor Gor and Wu Chien Lien's THE PHANTOM LOVER will be screened.

[2020.03.26] RAYMOND WONG SUGGESTS GOVERNMENT ORDERED CINEMA CLOSING TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC

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The novel coronavirus has turned the Hong Kong economy into a toxic pool of water. With 5 cinemas under his Cinema City circuit banner, Raymond Wong Pak Ming decided to fight the pandemic himself! As early as February this year, everyday between each show the cinema has already cleaned every seat even more, the cinema also gave mask to each viewer, hand sanitizer and took temperature. He even spent over HK$ 1 million to bring in international medical class equipment to elevate the cinema's health standard and ensure the safety of viewers and employees. If anyone with an electronic monitor wrist band was found at the cinema, the cinema would immediately call the police.

Speaking of each cinema's ways to fight the pandemic, including alternative row ticket sale, Wong Pak Ming yesterday stated that the most effective way would be for the government to order cinemas to close 14 days to prevent mass gathering. "The Singapore government has announced that all cinemas must halt operation at the end of April. I really agree with their method. The Hong Kong government shouldn't be several beats slower. It should follow suit and order cinemas to close for 14 days. Then it can effectively prevent the pandemic from spreading!"

Wong Pak Ming pointed out that he thought about closing his cinemas, but because they were mostly in shopping centers, if he closed them he would need to compensate the shopping centers for their losses. Thus he did not follow through. Forcing cinemas to close would certainly lead to economic losses, Wong Pak Ming said, "If the government would order cinemas to close, it should have some financial assistance for everyone to get over the hard time together. The most important is the safety of the people."

Many film companies have been unwilling to release new films in this environment, making Mainland cinemas to extend the run of IP MAN 4: THE FINALE due to a lack of film to release. Hong Kong cinemas also ran into similar problems. Wong Pak Ming said, "If the government doesn't order the cinemas to close, we have to come up with ideas. April 1st would be the anniversary of Gor Gor (Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing)'s passing. We have restored two classic films THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR (BAK FAT MOR NUI JUEN) and THE PHANTOM LOVER (YEH BOON GOR SING) into 4K editions. Their runs will begin on April 1st. PHANTOM was the final film that Gor Gor made as a producer, it was well worth remembering."

As for Wong Pak Ming's suggestion, Anita Yuen Wing Yi and Karena Ng Chin Yu both thought it was a great idea. Ng Chin Yu said, "Public safety is the most important, closing cinemas for 14 days would prevent mass gathering -- a good way to prevent the pandemic." Yuen Wing Yi also felt that the suggestion could be viable, but the most important would be for everyone to take the full prevention measures. Health was the most important.

[2020.03.25] FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY MARCH 22 2020

For Sunday February 22 2020

Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Movies Hong Kong

10 THE GANGS, THE OSCARS, AND THE WALKING DEAD
  Can : Gong Wu Mo Lan Si
   d. Kao Pin-Chuan
   Roy Chiu, Huang Ti-Yang, Long Shao-Hua Yao Yi-Ti,
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 106 mins.
  Opening March 19 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/yCxCcl6mTa0

[ THE METROPLEX ]
   Producer BS and his long time director friend Wenxi have always dreamt to make it big in movie industry. The duo has been working together for more than a decade, but nothing’s ever successful. They treat the filming of ceremonies, weddings and funerals, like a movie, with drones and all, but they still struggle financially. They even work for the mob to pay their debts.

   One day, their creditor and the mob boss Brother Long suddenly takes an interest in Wenxi's script. He only has one condition: to let his wife Shanny be the leading actress. Their break has come! They are finally appreciated! BS and Wenxi grab the chance and take the offer, and they party all night long to celebrate. After they sober up, they find the leading actress floating in the swimming pool, dead... They don't dare to let the mob boss know, so they decide to finish the movie no matter what it takes, even with a corpse...

  9 THE CAVE
  Can : Kei Jik Gau Woon
  Lit : Miraculous Rescue
    d. Tom Waller,
    Erik Brown, Jim Warny, Tan Xiaolong, Ekawat Niraworapanya
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 104 mins.
  Opening March 12 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/x51S0_0Ie4A

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Based on true events, THE CAVE tells the untold story of the rescue that captivated the world, from the point of view of the unsung heroes in the Tham Luang mission to free the trapped 13 'Wild Boars', culminating in a triumphant outcome against all the odds.

  8 JEXI
    d. Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
    Adam Devine, Rose Byrne, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Pena,

  7 THE INVISIBLE MAN
    d. Leigh Whannell
    Elizabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Michael Dorman

  6 THE PLATFORM
    d. Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia
    Ivan Massague, Antonia San Juan, Zorion Eguileor,
      Emilio Buale, Alexandr Masangkay

  5 MY SPY
    d. Peter Segal
    Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman

  4 THE CALL OF THE WILD
    d. Chris Sanders
    Harrison Ford, Karen Gillan, Dan Stevens

  3 MR. ZOO: THE MISSING VIP
  Can : Ho Gau Duk Gung Dui
  Lit : Good Dog Special Assault Team
    d. Kim Tae-yun,
    Lee Sung-min, Kim Seo-hyung, Bae Jung-nam, Kal So-won
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 114 mins.
  Opening March 19 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/qqfckyhUs-8

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Joo Taeju is the top agent of National Intelligence Service. While Taeju was on a mission to guard a very special VIP, the VIP disappeared by a sudden accident and he can understand what animals are saying after his accidental fall NIS Director Min and agent Mansik suspect Taeju who is suddenly acting strangely, but Taeju is on a mission to find the VIP with help of Ali, a military dog...In the middle of downtown, never seen a team play between a man and an animal's start to happen!

  2 BATTLE OF JANGSARI
  Can : Hung Chuen Jeh
  Lit : Lucky Survivors
    d. Kim Tae-hun, Kwak Kyung-taek,
    Kim Myung-min, Megan Fox, Choi Min-ho
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 110 mins.
  Opening March 12 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/PvgRKm7Xk9E

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Based on the incredible true story of Jangsari Landing Operation. When North Korea invades South Korea on June 25, 1950, they pushed South Korea and its ally US Army to the southernmost city. U.S. General MacArthur planned Operation Chromite, which would see the joint allied forces to take back a strategic location of Inchon and in order for it to succeed, he needed a small battalion to flank the North Korean army and eliminate their supply line at Jangsari beach.

    Having lost his family on his retreat away from North Korea before the War, a model student Choi Sung-pil enlists in the army to fight for the South. Ki Ha-ryun is a rebellious youth from the South who volunteers to fight in the war. All of the 772 students and youths are like them who are barely out of school with only 2 weeks of boot camp training. Task force commander Captain Lee Myung-jun knows that it’s a long shot, but he has no choice but to lead them into a crucial mission. Meanwhile, US war correspondent Maggie braves the dangers of the battlefield to report on the war in the frontlines. She feels empathy for the Korean students who must go into battle on behalf of the veteran soldiers for their country, and tries to do what she can on her end to rescue them.

    With little ammo, scant food supplies and raggedy weapons, can the students successfully carry out their mission and return home safely?

  1 THE HUNT
    d. Craig Zobel
    Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank

[2020.03.25] CLOUDY DAYS REMIND IRENE WAN OF LESLIE CHEUNG

Irene Wan performs on Nancy Sit's program

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Irene Wan says whether outside or inside Leslie Cheung was perfect.

Timothy Wong's street stall is closed for renovation for half a year, but his coffee shop is getting a lot of take out business
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Irene Wan Bik Ha two nights ago attended the taping of CANTOPOP AT 50 at Television City. Irene revealed that she would sing Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing's songs FALLEN FOR YOU and WIND CONTINUES TO BLOW.

Speaking of her impression of Gor Gor, Irene said that she worked with Gor Gor on the film ROUGE (YIN JI KAU). He was her most perfect co-star. "Gor Gor's appearance, personality and acting basically were perfect and the most excellent. He was also very nice and very attentive to people, Gor Gor was always like that. Gor Gor's name was very suitable because he took great care of everyone, constantly bringing everyone joy."

Irene also said that once in Canada, he ran into then already announced retirement Gor Gor and Daffy Tong. They were very much in love and she felt that he rather enjoyed life then. When he saw her he greeted her. Then sometimes at parties she and Gor Gor would run into each other, so when the news of his passing spread she did not remember it at the moment and thought that it was only April's Fool. Now whenever the day was cloudy she would think of him.