[2014.01.17] TEN MOST ANTICIPATED CHINESE FILMS OF 2014

HELIOS

THE CROSSING

THE ICEMAN 3D

GONE WITH THE BULLET

OVERHEARD 3

DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART 2

HORSEPLAY
courtesy of mingpao.com

Stepping into 2014, everyone is waiting to watch the Lunar New Year films because of Chow Yun Fat and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung's FROM VEGAS TO MACAU (DOH SING FUNGWON) and the star studded supporting cast in Sandra Ng Kwan Yu's GOLDEN CHICKENSSS (GUM GAI SSS). Mainland film viewers recently voted online for the most anticipated Chinese films of 2014, of course currently known productions and already completed films were considered. Because this year many big directors return to direct films, it is absolutely good news to film viewers. However famous directors' burdens and pressure are proportional, jumping out of the frame to find a breakthrough is uneasy. Only then are they worth looking forward to and waiting for.

Mainland and Hong Kong tastes are slightly different. Thus the columnist has selected her own favorites to introduce as this year's good films.

HELIOS (CHET DOH): Directors Longman Leung Lok Man and Sunny Luk Kim Ching's film after COLD WAR (HONG JIN) has a strong cast, including the hottest star right now Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Jacky Cheung Hok Yau, as well as Korean stars Choi Si-Won and Ji Jin-Hee, how can anyone not look forward to this line up?

OVERHEARD 3 (SIT TING FUNG WON 3): Directors Alan Mak Siu Fai and Felix Chong Man Keung again use "surveillance" as their subject. Aside from the original cast of Louis Koo Tin Lok, Sean Lau Ching Wan and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Alex Fong Chung Shun in a nouveau riche look and Ng Man Tat who returns to the Hong Kong film industry also join. This time the subject is "housing policy", in comparison to the second installment Hong Kong people will be more able to relate.

DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART 2 (DAN SUN NAM NUI 2): Johnnie To Kei Fung again uses China and Hong Kong romance as a film backbone with city humor. Aside from Koo Tin Lok, Gao Yuanyuan and guest star Daniel Wu from the first installment, the cast is strengthen with Miriam Yeung Chin Wa and "Jai Jai" Vic Chou Yu Man. In particular Chin Wa and her former co-star Goo Jai are paired anew with Jai Jai, will her comedy genes have further breakthrough? Conceivably viewers who have not seen her performance in awhile truly long to her laughter again.

TRIUMPH IN THE SKIES (CHUNG SEUNG WON SIU) film version: Leung Ka Shu directs, the Cool Demon image has sent Julian Cheung Chi Lam 's career to the next level. This time he even runs into another rival Koo Tin Lok, with beauties Lin Chiling and Gao Yuanyuan. However where have the Hong Kong flight attendant beauties gone?

THE ICEMAN 3D (3D BING FUNG HUP): Among Donnie Yen Chi Tan's efforts, IP MAN was real kung fu. However based on the 1989 Yuen Wah, Yuen Biao, Maggie Cheung Man Yuk starred Hong Kong film THE ICEMAN COMETH (GUP DUNG KEI HUP), THE ICEMAN wins with 3D technology. Aside from Yen Chi Tan, Mainland LOST ON JOURNEY's Wang Baoqiang also stars. Law Wing Cheong directs. Everyone is looking forward to watch the action fight scenes in 3D.

THE CROSSING (TAI PING LUN): John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s latest film since RED CLIFF (CHET BIK) that gathers big name actors from China, Japan and Korea, including Zhang Ziyi, Song Hye-Kyo, Masami Nagasawa, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tong Dawei, Huang Xiaoming and others. Ng Yu Sum directs his first war disaster film, but he stresses that this film is full of hope. It also has a lot of action, dramatic and humorous elements. The columnist really wants to know how a master can add humorous elements to a disaster?

HORSEPLAY (FAN MA GEI): Lee Chi Ngai directs, Kelly Chen Wai Man and Dior Cheng Yi Kin team up again. This time Tony Leung Ka Fai joins them in faraway Prague for the police suspense film. The columnist looks forward to the collective memories Ekin and Kelly bring to viewers and fans of those years.

GOLDEN AGE (WONG GUM SI DOI): Ann Hui On Wa after making the authentic A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) makes a big turnaround to the Mainland for a 30s early Republic film. The bright spot is Tang Wei who has not made a Mainland film in awhile working with Mainland actor Feng Shaofeng. Although the box office remains a question mark, the director's style and actors' interpretations are looked forward to.

GONE WITH THE BULLETS: Jiang Wen after LET THE BULLETS FLY again battles Ge You in acting. With Shu Qi as eye candy, this iron triangle is a certain Mainland box office guarantee.

RETURN: With all the troubles in recent years, Zhang Yimou 7 years later works with old flame Gong Li again. With good actors like Chen Daoming, Yan Ni and Qin Hailu across the board, substance reigns. Zhang Yimou is trying to protect his brand with this film, but it may not be right for Hong Kong taste.