[2014.04.13] THE WAY WE DANCE HAS THE POWER TO BREAK OUT

courtesy of singtao.com

The 33rd Hong Kong Film Award tonight takes place at the Cultural Center, 19 awards will be unveiled. For days various important awards have been examined. Today is the final award Best Film! The nominees include THE GRANDMASTER (YUT DOI JUNG SI), JOURNEY TO THE WEST: CONQUERING THE DEMONS (SAI YAU GONG MOR PIN), THE WAY WE DANCE (KONG MO PAI), THE WHITE STORM (SO DUK) and UNBEATABLE (GIK JIN). Each of the 5 films is unique on its own, the match is absolutely even.

Wong Kar Wai spent ten years to sharpen one sword and THE GRANDMASTER finally was released. Although many IP MAN films rushed out of the gate, Wong Kar Wai's THE GRANDMASTER did not focus on the legend of Ip Man but the seeming there but was not relationship between Gong Er and Ip Man, to bring out that even greater martial artists in the end had to submit the great wheel of time. The film was elevated to another level. With the full aesthetic product method, different kung fu styles were on display. In particular Wai Jai's rainy night fight against a gang and Ziyi's Eight Trigram Palm in the snow both were rather aesthetically beautiful. THE GRANDMASTER at different award shows won many awards, and won Ziyi 8 different Best Actress awards. No wonder THE GRANDMASTER was seen as the Best Film favorite.

However, inspiration and Hong Kong spirit are UNBEATABLE and THE WAY WE DANCE's biggest selling points. The two films' subjects are both hot blooded dreams. The former even made over HK$40 million. Nick Cheung Ka Fai for the film trained a body full of bulging chocolate bar muscles. In the film he played an over the hill fighter who fought again for his own dignity. Stepping out of the abyss of life was what countless Hong Kong people wanted to be recognized for. Dante Lam Chiu Yin this time abandoned his usual expertise of car chases, explosions and gun fights, connected many relationships as several characters' delicate relationships affected each other. It brought out of the message of "saving yourself by saving others". The film also had many classic lines that people savored. Thus it became the 2013 Hong Kong film box office champion.

In the same manner, local small budget film THE WAY WE DANCE's subject was hot blooded inspiration about how far people could go for their dreams. In the end the film truly created a miracle. With a cost of 5 million the film made over 10 million. Without big name, star effect, the director was a first time feature film director. Finally it really "went very far". Everyone praised it, as it perfectly interpreted the "Hong Kong fighting spirit never dies" attitude. Lead actress Cherry Ngan Cheuk Ling fought for her dream and showed many adults shades of their younger selves. The line, "For your dream, how far can you go?", even became a popular catchphrase.

The Stephen Chow Sing Chi produced, written and directed JOURNEY TO THE WEST: CONQUERING THE DEMONS was about how young Venerable Tang Monk tamed 3 demons. Although the film maintained the usual nonsensical comedy style, without Sing Yeh's performance it always felt something was missing. Without a Hong Kong flavor, who knows if this alternative JOURNEY would catch the jury's eyes. As for Benny Chan Muk Sing's THE WHITE STORM (SO DUK), Sean Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Cheung Ka Fai's three brother relationship was its backbone. With a shade of A BETTER TOMORROW (YING HUNG BOON SIK), car chases and explosions kept eyes busy. The brotherhood was also poignant. The film was a dark horse choice that should not be overlooked.

Each of the five films is unique on its own. Hong Kong Film Award winning directors Andrew Lau Wai Keung and Fruit Chan Gor both support THE GRANDMASTER. Lau Wai Keung says, "THE GRANDMASTER is a great film, the preparation process is already not easy. Wong Kar Wai has to have a lot of self confidence and persistence to complete it. During the period he also had to handle many problems. He is also a perfectionist, the resulting film is also pleasing. I feel he definitely will win." Chan Gor praised THE GRANDMASTER's aesthetic visuals, every scene was very well handled. Instead Simon Yam Tat Wa supported THE WAY WE DANCE. "The film is made with a lot of life force. Full of Hong Kong specialty, it makes people smile from within. In addition each actor performs very well."