[2022.07.03] 3 FILMS RETREAT TO MAKE ROOM FOR SEAN LAU IN THE MAINLAND

Many look forward to Sean Lau's DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS

The Best Actor gives his all, even jumping into the sea

Nick Cheung takes a beating in his new film, but the anticipation level is also taking a beating.

Michael Tao
courtesy of on.cc

Every year the Lunar New Year and the summer slots would be guaranteed battlegrounds for film companies. This year the Mainland summer box office would be rather cheerful, with Sean Lau Ching Wan and director Wai Ka Fai's "golden team" created Emperor Motion Picture DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS (SUN TAM DAI JIN), "Seven Best Actor Cheung" Nick Cheung Ka Fai's film, one of the four great box office heads Mainland Best Actor Huang Bo's film and the film starred Du Jiang and Tong Liya. All were to be scheduled for Mainland release on July 8th. Earlier they have already begun many trailer and poster promotions.

With all the competition comparison was inevitable. The Cheung Ka Fai starred film on many famous film data site's audience anticipation level has been behind the other 3 films. DETECTIVE on the anticipation level and the trailer airplay have led, in particular the trailer airplay even reached 880 million. No wonder many online said that Ka Fai this time seemed to be taking a beating.

As the Mainland audience waited, a dramatic development suddenly appeared as the other 3 films except DETECTIVE all announced their retreat from the release date on June 30th! This move reminded people of the 7 Lunar New Year film retreat in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Reasons for these 3 films' "schedule adjustment" has not been announced. One of the film companies' boss Daneil Lam Siu Ming said that the decision was completely due to the Mainland pandemic has not been completely under control. "Some cinemas still haven't opened yet. After discussions we feel it's not worth the risk. Thus we decided to retreat from the release date. (All 3 films of the same release period retreated at the same time?) That's just a coincidence!" As for the Lau Ching Wan and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin starred DETECTIVE continuing on the original release date, Lam Siu Ming said, "I wish them good luck! Maybe since we are all gone, they would make even more!"

Despite the competitions' automatic retreat, DETECTIVE still promoted fully. In one scene Ching Wan's daughter had to ram her head against the wall. In order for her to give a more realistic performance, he personally demonstrated the scene once off camera. The force he rammed his head into the wall with stunned her on the set. However after the guidance from her elder, the actor's performance improved by leaps and bounds and became tension filled. Many online praised Ching Wan for his selfless guidance and living up to his Best Actor presence!

As DETECTIVE VS SLEUTHS became the Mainland summer box office focus, the film company came up with new ideas to promote as it asked DETECTIVE's director Wai Ka Fai and lead Sean Lau Ching Wan's classic co-stars from their "god series" 30 year ago, THE GREED OF MAN (DAI SI DOI), Michael Tao Dai Yu, Loletta Lee Lai Chun and Derek Kwok Ching Hung to promote the film!

In the video Tao Dai Yu and Kwok Ching Hung introduced their character in THE GREED OF MAN, which reminded many series fans of their life and death struggle with Lau Ching Wan. In real life their friendship remained as they all urged viewers to go to the movies and support Ching Wan. Lee Lai Chun also looked forward to the film release.