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| Stephen Chow thanks the audience for their support of KUNG FU SOCCER |
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| Dilraba posts the good news of the 200 million RMB opening box office for KUNG FU SOCCER |
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| Stephen Chow praises Dilraba's acting |
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| Zhang Xiaofei in the film plays Team Emei captain Shuangshuang courtesy of mingpao.com |
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| As the team doctor Sisley Choi fills in an emergency in goal |
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| KUNG FU SOCCER has a strong cast courtesy of mingpao.com |
The Stephen Chow Sing Chi written and directed new film KUNG FU SOCCER (GONG FU NUI JOOK) yesterday opened big in the mainland, as of 7 PM last night it exceeded 200 million MB (around HK$ 230 million). Chow Sing Chi's film release after many years has been long anticipated, but the outside reviews of KUNG FU SOCCER have been polarized. Some criticized that the idea was still from over 20 years ago, the dialogue old fashioned, special effects could not compare to his previous film KUNG FU HUSTLE (GONG FU) and internet films, and the term "hard to watch" once landed on hot search; but many online also supported the film as entertaining, praised it as Chow Sing Chi's unique style, and its Maoyan platform rating was 9.4. Chow Sing Chi yesterday thanked the audience with the cast in Tianjin. Facing the passionate audience, he sentimentally said that he worried about not doing a good enough job and failing to live up to everyone's support. He also said that he has always believed that Chinese kung fu was the best in the world, thus Team Emei in this film would definitely blow up the entire world.
The Chow Sing Chi film KUNG FU SOCCER from preparation to production has been kept confidential, only after the release date was confirmed the cast as announced. Starring Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba and Lay Zhang Yixing, with special performance from Lau Ka Ling and Japanese star Takeru Satoh, the film also included Sisley Choi Si Bui, Louis Cheung Kai Chung, MC Jin (Auyeung Ching), former Chinese women's soccer team player Zhao Lina and Japanese dane group Avantgardey. In the story Team Emei women's soccer team fused traditional kung fu into modern soccer to compete in the women's soccer "Ultimate Invincible Cup", overcame bias and strikes against them to win the championship. The film production cost reached 380 million RMB (around HK$ 430 million); yesterday its opening box office as of 7 PM last night surpassed 200 million RMB, over 230,000 shows were scheduled with over 5.79 million viewers.
KUNG FU SOCCER was released after long anticipation and immediately triggered passionate online discussion. The reviews fell between extreme responses like "laughing from the beginning to the end" and "like lying on a bed of nails". The term "hard to watch" once reached the second most searched online. Many online commented that KUNG FU SOCCER's story was old fashioned, the comedy awkward. A lot of the entire film used green screen production computer special effects, which could not compare to KUNG FU HUSTLE (GONG FU) over 20 years ago and internet movies. Some even pointed out that the acting was superfluous, and the performance came on too strong and hard. However some supported it as entertaining, saying "Chow Sing Chi is still Chow Sing Chi" and displaying his unique nonsensical comedy style. "Chow Sing Chi's comedy would never just be absurd comedy, after explanation you would see a lot of satire and metaphors in its designs."
Away from the public eye for a long time, Chow Sing Chi yesterday along with KUNG FU SOCCER's actors Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba, Xue Ye, Aimi and Woo Yu On thanked the auidnece in Tianjin. Facing the passionate audience, he thanked them for their support and sentimentally said, "I feel a little ashamed, sometimes I would always feel I haven't done good enough, very afraid of failing to live up to everyone's support." Chow Sing Chi talked about Chinese kung fu. "Thank you Chinese kung fu is the best in the world, this has always been my belief. So in my heart, I feel Team Emei would certainly blow up the entire world." The host told him to turn his back to the audience and then said, "We would always stand behind you." Chow Sing Chi was greatly touched.
Dilraba was said to have gained 8 catty (around 4.9 kilograms) for KUNG FU SOCCER. She clarified that she did not. "Earlier I saw a report that said 16 catty (around 9.76 kilograms). I was afraid that after two days it would become 32 catty (20 kilograms). I didn't gain weight, only in order to increase coordination between limbs, I did muscle gaining personal fitness training. Another internet rumor that her ankles were swollen, which was also false. Because if they were swollen they would not be good for the movie." Dilraba said that the team was very professional, the director's protection of the actors was very professional and appropriate. Chow Sing Chi revealed that Dilraba got tanned during the shoot. "She contributed. Her acting is truly good. In addition as a great beauty, being tanned is a very serious matter." Dilraba replied, "Great beauties still look good with a tan." As for when KUNG FU SOCCER would open in Hong Kong, so far no announcement has been made.
Chow Sing Chi's KUNG FU SOCCER opened in the mainland yesterday, while its Hong Kong release date awaited announcements. One of the reporters watched the film in Shenzhen yesterday and the following contains spoilers.
KUNG FU SOCCER's story revolved around passion, pursuit of dreams, love a friends, but with the "Hong Kong style nonsense" that Hong Kong viewers have been looking forward to. Every female character was pretty, none would made ugly. The film also saluted past films several times, and included 3 major Easter eggs to provide "Sing fans" a little comfort.
Aside from carrying Chow Sing Chi's golden label and starring Zhang Xiaofei, Dilraba and Zhang Yixing, KUNG FU SOCCER also included Carina Lau Ka Ling, Louis Cheung Kai Chung, Jimmy O Yang (Au Yeung Man Sing), MC Jin (Auyeung Ching), Japanese star Takeru Satoh and Japanese dance group Avantgarde. The cast line up was strong, which also meant that the stars had limited screen time. Lau Ka Ling played the Team Emei coach, almost every time she appeared she was playing mahjong and did not do much. In the film she was considered a spiritual leader. Cheung Kai Chung played an official in one of the games but did not have any eye catching performance; Jimmy O. Yang as a match staff member and MC Jin as the opening ceremony host could be said to be "happy to be there".
Avantgarde played the warm up guests of the finales, did not have much screen time. Takeru Satoh played the rival team coach and had many lines, mainly he sold his handsome look. Lead actresses Zhang Xiaofei and Dilraba in order to play the perfect women's soccer spirit accepted intense training. They played convincingly in the film and met their requirement in both action and acting. Zhang Yixing's performance was a surprise. Completely dropping his "idol baggage", he demonstrated his funny side. Aside from the plaza dancing, his face was swollen from Zhang Xiaofei's Iron Sand Palm and he drooled as he spoke. It became the scene with the most laughter in the entire film. New actor Xue Ye was said to be the new generation "Sing Girl" after MERMAID's Jelly Lin Yun 8 years ago. Her character used her real name and was a light on her feet reserved player. With the former child star Aimi and the goalkeeper Ni Hao, youth ruled the day.
The trio with the mainland actor responsible for comedy Angel Woo Yu On and Hong Kong representative Sisley Choi Si Bui all had their names under the "special introduction" credit. Originally Choi Si Bui was only arranged to play the team doctor with sunglasses. She would only frequently hit the wrong person and did not have the chance to play. Later she was named the second reserve goalkeeper and had to play at a critical moment. The scene in which she caught the opponent's shot with one hand was very eye catching. Seeming she was no lower in position than Xue Ye in the heart of Chow Sing Chi.
KUNG FU SOCCER did not add Chow Sing Chi's "Hong Kong style nonsense", which perhaps would disappoint some viewers. However with special effects and AI technology maturing, the soccer scenes were even more exciting and intense than SHAOLIN SOCCER and were able to bring about special technique scenes like the animation CAPTAIN TSUBASA. Chow Sing Chi's film's unique style could not be hard to see from watching the movie in detail: the film opened with the BUDDHA'S PALM music, the two female leads quoting Bruce Lee, "Be Water, My Friend", the scene in which the fat child actor was made fun of, the use of Sally Yeh's BAFFLED as background music, all of which have appeared in his previous films. In addition "Team Emei"'s jersey in the finals were the same as "Team Shaolin".
3 major Easter eggs provided surprises to "Sing fans". The KING OF COMEDY "first love" scum of the century who forced "Lau Piu Piu" Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi into prostitution, Steven Fung Min Hung with the same look reprised this classic scene with Angel Woo Yu On. Chow Sing Chi was suspected of personally performing two more scenes with his back to the camera. First he appeared as KING OF COMEDY's Wan Tin Sau, holding the classic book AN ACTOR PREPARES to teach the players acting; near the end of the film Fourth Brother "Ghost Hand" Chan Kwok Kwan, Sixth Brother Lam Tsz Chung and Fifth Brother Chow Sing Chi from SHAOLIN SOCCER appeared in the audience with their back to the camera. Chan Kwok Kwan praised "Team Emei", "They have real skills." Lam Tsz Chung immediately turned to the side and asked Chow Sing Chi, who was wearing the sneakers "Ah Mui" Vicki Zhao Wei mended for him. "Brother, what do you think?" Chow Sing Chi answered, "Then let's play them once."
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