Saturday, May 17, 2025

[2025.05.18] "URBAN LEGEND" SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT RECEIVES MIXED REVIEWS AT CANNES

Tony Leung Ka Fai, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Gao Yuanyuan, and director Juno Mak dress up for the premiere

Lin Chiling dresses up for her Cannes appearance
courtesy of on.cc

SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT director Juno Mak leads Gao Yuanyuan, Louis Koo and Tony Leung Ka Fai to attend the Cannes Film Festival premiere. Lead actor Takeshi Kaneshiro does not appear
courtesy of singtao.com

Tony Leung Ka Fai, Gao Yuanyuan, Louis Koo Tin Lok, and director Juno Mak appear on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet

At the Cannes premiere, Juno Mak receives applause as he leads his team into the venue

Takeshi Kaneshiro does not appear at the Cannes Film Festival but posts the SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT poster on his social media
courtesy of mingpao.com

At the 78th Cannes International Film Festival the Hong Kong directed Juno Mak Chun Lung produced, directed, written and art directed suspense film SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (FUNG LUM FOR SHAN) was selected for the "Midnight Screening section" this year and held its world premiere in Cannes on May 17th. Juno led stars Louis Koo Tin Lok, Gao Yuanyuan and Tony Leung Ka Fai in the appearance. Lead actor Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) remained reclused and did not appear. When he heard the event playing the hit CARELESS WHISPER and the SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT film score, Leung Ka Fai even hummed along and danced. He also often fixed Gao Yuanyuan's dress and put his gentleman behavior on display.

SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT was Juno's second directorial work after RIGOR MORTIS (GEUNG SI), which took eight years to polish. The film was based on gangster drug trafficking and anti-drug power struggles, with its sharp aesthetic style and all-star lineup it has become one of the high-profile Chinese films at this year's film festival. Juno admitted that making this film was "like making six movies". After the film was screened, the audience stood and applauded. Director Juno thanked the audience in English. Leung Ka Fai said, "After watching the movie, I feel that I have no regrets about playing this role for the rest of my life. Being able to meet such a character and such a movie, I have already answered for my acting life."

Everyone stayed on the red carpet for about half a hour then entered the venue, which had no empty seat. Regarded as an "urban legend", SONS reportedly cost over HK$ 400 million. From preparation to production wrap, it has taken almost 10 years so far. This time at Cannes its veil of mystery was finally revealed and had plenty of responses. Some film critics praised the film to be full of aesthetics. Some however thought that it lacked emotions and narrative connections, which made it difficult for the audience to get into. Some said that the film was cut from the rumored 7 hours version to the current 132 minute version. Too much material did not have enough time to appear. If it was made into a series the result would be conceivably better.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

[2025.05.15] CHUNG SUET YING TURNS FILM PROMOTION TRIP IN TAIWAN INTO A FOOD TOUR

Chung Suet Ying talks about the food she has had in Taiwan
courtesy of on.cc

Golden Horse Awards Best Actresses Chung Suet Ying and Marco Ng Tsz Ho went to Taiwan earlier to promote their movie THE WAY WE TALK (HONG NGOR GUM TIN JUM MOR SUET). Chung Suet Ying said that she had spicy hot pot as soon as she arrived in Taipei on the first day, then she ordered a lot of take outs that included skewers and salted crispy chicken. She pointed out that she has been to Taiwan since she was very little, and the most memorable was that she often went to Taiwan for meat porridge, braised pork and meatballs in college, for which the host praised her.

Chung Suet Ying also visited Taiwan for filming when she was working on the movie A LYRCIST WANNABE (TIN CHI L) before. What did she think was the difference between filming in Hong Kong and Taiwan? She pointed out that all staff in Taiwan will carry their work IDs that would clearly list the names and positions of the staff. Hong Kong was different, as she joked that after finishing a film in Hong Kong she still did not know who the staff were.

[2025.05.15] PATRICK TAM GOES ON DIET WITH HIS "SON"

courtesy of on.cc

Patrick Tam Yiu Man and Locker Lam Ka Hei played father and son in the film that explored the communication between two generations and would be released next month, FIGHT FOR TOMORROW (PING MING SAM LONG). Locker said that Tam Yiu Man gave a full fatherly feeling. "During the filming I often had to control my diet. Sometimes I would choose light food for late night snacks. He would often joke, 'I am with you, Ah Pa would have to eat a little lighter.' These humorous interactions made the father-son relationship no longer monotonous, but showed a funny and light-hearted side and made the characters more three-dimensional."

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

[2025.05.15] FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, MAY 11 2025

For the week ending Sunday, May 11 2025
Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Movies Hong Kong


HOLY NIGHT: DEMON HUNTERS POSTER

10 HOLY NIGHT: DEMON HUNTERS
    d. Lim Dae-hee
    Ma Dong-seok, Seohyun, Lee David, Kyung Soo-jin, Jung Ji-so
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 92 mins.
  Opening May 8 2025
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/Ua2BTd4GqUA

[ CINEMA CITY ]
    Holy Night is a team that fights against groups that worship demons. The members of the Holy Night team are Bau, Sharon and Kim Gun. Bau's special ability is his powerful physical strength. Sharon has an ability to identify demons and performs exorcisms. Kim Gun helps Bau and Sharon. Meanwhile, psychiatrist Jung Won visits the Holy Night team to save her younger sister, Eun Seo. A demon resides in Eun Seo's body.

FLOWS MOVIE POSTER

  9 FLOW
    d. Gints Zilbalodis
    Latvian Animation

LAST BREATH MOVIE POSTER

  8 LAST BREATH
    d. Alex Parkinson
    Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, Cliff Curtis

MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD MOVIE POSTER

  7 MONTAGES OF A MODERN MOTHERHOOD
  Can : Fu Duk But
    d. Oliver Chan Siu Kuen
    Hedwig Tam Sin Yin, Siuyea Lo Chun Yip,
      Janis Pang Hang Ying, Fung So Bo, Patra Au Ga Man, Tai Bo,
      Johnny Hui (Keung Nei), Annie Man Chung Han
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 112 mins.
  Opening October 7 2024 at the 29th Busan International Film Festival
  Opening November 2 2024 at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival
  Opening April 12 2025 at the 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival
  Opening April 24 2025
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/QGqRg_Bn98Q
  Site : https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_view.asp?idx=75991&c_idx=402&sp_idx=0&QueryStep=2
  Site : https://2024.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/film/37011WEP06
  fb : https://www.facebook.com/people/%E8%99%8E%E6%AF%92%E4%B8%8D-Montages-of-a-Modern-Motherhood/61565310912776/

[ 29th BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Jing's day begins with a graceful tracking shot that follows her from the early morning as she pumps breast milk, leaves her baby with her mother-in-law, and heads to the bakery where she works. Her baby daughter Qing is difficult and cries constantly and Jing frequently clashes with her live-in in-laws over childcare and housework, while her husband, who works as a delivery driver, views parenting as something he occasionally helps with. All she did was have a child, yet Jing's life is turned upside down, leaving her in a situation where all her efforts to build her career have been negated. Director Oliver Siu Kuen Chan meticulously dissects Jing's struggles, revealing the emotional turbulence she endures. The film’s realistic and precise narrative depicts the suffocating oppression women suffer within both family and society, the pressures of 'being a mother' and 'motherhood,' and resolutely move forward, forcing Jing to make a final decision. (PARK Sun Young)

[ 37TH TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Suk-jing's ordinary life in Hong Kong is disrupted by motherhood, forcing her to navigate challenging changes that redefine her routine and sense of self.

[ 2024 BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ASIAN COTENTS AND FILM MARKET ]
    Suk-jing recently welcomes a baby daughter into her ordinary life, which, to her surprise, will never be the same again. She is soon stressed-out taking care of the baby 24/7, while her husband never proactively takes part in it. Conflicts with in-laws, postpartum bodily changes, affected work performance are straws piling up on her back...After long nights of nursing in loneliness, where will the break of day lead her?

A MINECRAFT MOVIE MOVIE POSTER

  6 A MINECRAFT MOVIE
    d. Jared Hess
    Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danille Brooks,
      Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen,

THE RED ENVELOPE MOVIE POSTER

  5 THE RED ENVELOPE
    d. Chayanop Boonprakob
    Putthipong Assaratanakul (Billkin), Krit Amnuaydechkorn (PP Krit)
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 128 mins.
  Opening May 8 2025
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/IcCFKQWc_Jc

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Hot-Blooded Line Man Menn accidentally stumbles upon a mysterious ghost marriage red envelope belonging to the gay man Titi, unexpectedly entering into a supernatural marriage contract. Menn, who tries to annul the marriage, finds himself transformed into a living hellish black king, and to save his life, he reluctantly agrees to the marriage. However, in order to regain his "single" status and free himself from Titi, Menn decides to team up with his "ghost husband" to investigate the truth behind Titi's death, hoping to help him rest in peace and be reincarnated. Thus begins a journey filled with laughter and tears, leading to madness...

[ HONG KONG MOVIE 6 ]
    A supernatural marriage story between a human and a ghost.

    When 'Menn', a super-straight mugger-turned-police spy, accidentally picks up a mysterious red envelope, he is bound by a supernatural contract that forces him to wed a ghost. Fate plays an even crueler trick on him: his 'spouse' is not only dead, but a cute and unapologetically progressive gay man named 'Titi'.

    Menn must help Titi uncover the truth behind the accident that took Titi's life so he can finally rest in peace and leave Menn alone. All clues eventually lead to an illegal drug case that Menn and 'Goi', an older policewoman that Menn has a crush on, happen to be investigating. Believing that solving this case will benefit his career and love life, Menn takes on this atypical mission to help Titi, leading to an unlikely bond between the living and the dead, a gay and a straight man.

A GILDED GAME MOVIE POSTER

  4 A GILDED GAME
  Can : Leep Gum. Yau Hei
  Lit : Gold Hunt. Game
  AKA : THE TRADING FLOOR
  AKA : Dong Fong Wa Yi Gai
  Lit : Eastern Wall Street
    d. Herman Yau Lai To
    Andy Lau Tak Wa, Oho Ou
      Ni Ni, Huang Yi, Reve Jiang Mengjie,
      Kent Cheng Juk Si, Jasper Liu
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 129 mins.
  Opening May 8th 2025
  Teaser : https://youtu.be/MToRso9ViL0v

[ EMPEROR CINEMAS ]
    Gao Han is a financially savvy student determined to make a name for himself in the finance field. With his friend Chu Feng's family business – the new energy technology giant "Zhuo Neng" – preparing to go public, Gao Han lands an internship opportunity at an investment bank. Under the guidance of his mentor Todd, a chief analyst, Gao Han quickly rose through the ranks. However, the overwhelming pressure to succeed and the corrupt practices within bank divisions led Gao Han to compromise his principles and be used as a pawn. In the name of glory and fame, he betrayed Todd and joined Helen’s division. Ultimately, this not only caused Gao Han’s relationship with his girlfriend Xu Xiaohui to fall out, but further caused his friend’s family business to suffer and led Todd to walk away from the firm. Gao Han eventually realizes his mistakes and stood his ground to prevent a hostile takeover, thereby redeeming himself in the process. After earnestly asking for Todd’s help, the two worked to successfully help Chu Feng regain control of his family company.

THE DUMPLING QUEEN MOVIE POSTER

  3 THE DUMPLING QUEEN
    d. Andrew Lau Wai Keung
    Ma Li, Kara Wai Ying Hung, Zhu Yawen, Ben Yuen Fu Wah
  Rating : I
  Length : 119 mins.
  Opening May 1 2025
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/xT1FuJt8sVw

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
  The film is based on a true story. In the 1970s, Zang Jianhe, a woman from Qingdao, was forced to leave her hometown with her two daughters. To make ends meet and raise her children, she washed dishes by day and cleaned cars by night. With no one to rely on, she bore the immense pressure alone. Determined to break free from her fate, Zang Jianhe decided to make a living by selling dumplings. From struggling to attract customers to eventually thriving, she received much support from tough-but-kind Hong Jie, Brother Hua, and Uncle Dessert. Through perseverance, she grew her dumpling business into a success, and her life gradually opened up to new possibilities...

VITAL SIGNS MOVIE POSTER

  2 VITAL SIGNS
  Can : Sung Yuen Toh Jung
    d. Cheuk Wan Chi
    Ben Louis Koo Tin Lok, Neo Yau Hawk Sau,
      Angela Yuen Lai Lam, Poon Chan Leung
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 100 mins.
  Opening April 4 2023 at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
  Opening April 27 2023 at the Udine Far East Film Festival
  Opening October 27 2023 at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival
  Opening May 1 2025
  Site : https://2023.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/film/3604WFC24
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/uKnFrTeguZo

[ EMPEROR CINEMAS ]
    After being reassigned to a new station, paramedic Wong Wai is assigned to ride with Jerry Ma. At first, Wai doesn't agree with Jerry's work style. But after some time, Jerry influences Wai to remember once again that the aim of paramedic work is to save every victim.

[ HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
    In one of his finest dramatic performances yet, Louis Koo stars as a veteran ambulanceman who simply wants to do his job without any interference from his boss. While he considers emigrating with his daughter, he clashes with his new partner, a young go-getter on the fast-track up the bureaucratic ladder. A mature directorial effort by Cheuk Wan-chi, this dramedy about Hong Kong's civil service culture and the latest emigration wave is a charming, yet sobering love letter to her city and its people, especially those who still remain.


THUNDERBOLTS* MOVIE POSTER

  1 THUNDERBOLTS*
    d. Jake Schreier
    Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell,
      Olga Kurylenko, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

[2025.05.14] FOR THE WEEK STARTING SATURDAY, MAY 10 2025

For the week starting Saturday, May 10 2025 (Week 19)

VIUTV CHILL CLUB CHART


  5 PROVE ME WRONG
  The Lemon Ones

  4 I'LL LET YOU GO
  Can : Lau Joi Nei Joi Ngor Joi Dik No Hoi
  Feanna Wong Suk Man

  3 LOW PROBABILITY BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE
  Can : Hor Nung Sing Pin Dai Dan But Si Moot Hor Nung
  CY Chan Chung Chak

  2 APRIL WHISPERS
  Can : Sei Yuet Muk Yu
  Terence Lam Ka Him


  1 THEREAFTER
  Can : Yin Ji Hau
  Jay Fung Wan Him

Sunday, May 11, 2025

[2025.05.12] ANITA YUEN COMPLAINS ABOUT HER SON: "OPPOSITE SEX BEFORE HUMANITY"

Despite her son not having time to be with her, Anita Yuen fortunately still receives flowers
courtesy of on.cc

Three beauties Anita Yuen, Miko Wong and Chris Tong attend the OMG! MOM'S BIG NEWS Mothers' Day premiere
courtesy of singtao.com

Anita Yuen praises the 58 year old Chan Lai Lai (second right) for her bravery over her advanced age pregnancy. She holds Chan's daughter for a photo with her and her husband Brian Chan

Juztin Lan, Chan Fong, Anita Yuen, Chris Tong and Miko Wong attend the OMG! MOM'S BIG NEWS Hong Kong premiere

Benny Chan Ho Man's family of six show their support
courtesy of mingpao.com

Yesterday Anita Yuen Wing Yee (Len Len) accompanied the "counterfeit Lin Minchen" Miko Wong Jie Kee and a group of Malaysian actors to attend the promotion of the movie OMG! MOM'S BIG NEWS (OMG! AH MA YAU HEI), Len Len said that her 18-year-old son Morton Cheung had a date yesterday. Could he accompany his girlfriend and her Mommy? Len Len also doubted, "Accompanying a girlfriend may be a possibility, but if she is accompanying girlfriend's mommy, I don't think he's reached that point. He probably wouldn't. (If your son has a girlfriend would you be jealous?) Well no, I would've only said that 'opposite sex before humanity'." Since her husband Julian Cheung Chi Lam would be a judge on the MIDLIFE SING AND SHINE 3 finale, she could only "stick" to him to watch the show. She also said that she has not yet received her Mothers' Day gift from her son, but knew that her son and her husband have discussed it and looked forward to be surprised. In addition Brian Wong Chak Fung's 58-year-old wife who announced that she was pregnant with her second child, Chan Lai Lai went to see the movie with her family earlier. Len Len made a special trip to congratulate them and praise Mrs. Wong for her bravery.

[2025.05.11] JUNO MAK WOULD TAKE THE SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT TEAM TO CANNES

Juno Mak appears at his new film's exhibit, with many stills on display
courtesy of on.cc

Juno Mak says that he has no idea when SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT would be released in Hong Kong and has to wait for
courtesy of mingpao.com

The film SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT (FUNG LUM FOR SHAN) starting April 26 has held an exhibit that has attracted more than 10,000 visitors as of yesterday, showing never-before-seen stills and sculptures of the main characters made by renowned Spanish sculptor Eudald de Juana Gorriz.

As the SONS OF THE NEON NIGHT's producer, director, screenwriter and art director, Mak Chun Lung revealed that he already had a heart of fancy when writing the script. He hoped to record his characters in an additional way, which was also a sculptural method rarely used in traditional Chinese films to record art forever. After the exhibition, he would store the sculptures in the warehouse. Perhaps for future exhibition or promotion overseas, he might also ship them there to assist in publicity.

Mak Chun Lung recently returned to Hong Kong from Thailand to complete the sound effects of the film, and he revealed that he would lead the film team to fly to France on the 13th of this month to participate in the "Midnight Screening section" and the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on the 16th. After 8 years of filming, he said that the film was cut into a version of more than 130 minutes and that Cannes and Hong Kong would have the same version. However Hong Kong has not yet confirmed the release date. For the premiere at Cannes Mak Chun Lung stated that he felt a heavy yet honored feeling, as the music giant Ryuichi Sakamoto, who mainly scored the film, has passed away. He recalled working with him was like a dream. "I was fortunate to meet Ryuichi Sakamoto in 2016. He lived in New York at the time, but I was working on a movie in South Korea so we met in Tokyo. He had a piano in his hotel room, and he played for 6 consecutive hours. He was actually already a little unwell at that time."

As for going to the Cannes Film Festival Mak Chun Lung for now knew that Louis Koo Tin Lok would go with him, but the focus was on Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo). Would he attend the promotion? He said that actually each actor is also very busy. Of course he hoped that every actor would be able to attend, but it is not up to him to decide whether they would be able to appear together. Has he had any contact with Gum Sing Mo? He said that he has kept in touch with all the actors, but whether he would be able to participate in the promotion his management team would determine the schedule. "I believe everyone will be able to get together!"