[2024.10.16] FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 13 2024

For The week ending Sunday October 13 2024

10 TRANSFORMERS ONE
    d. Josh Cooley
    Animation
    English Voices: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry,
      Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi,
      Laurence Fishburne, Jon Hamm

  9 THE VOLUNTEERS: THE BATTLE OF LIFE AND DEATH
    d. Chen Kaige
    Zhu Yilong, Zhang Zifeng, Xin Baiqing, Wu Jing
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 145 mins.
  Opening October 1 2024

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    It tells the story of the third to fifth battles in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, among wich Battle of Cheorwon will be the highlight. Li Xiang, Fu Chongbi, Cai Changyuan from 63rd Army and others will come on Stage.

  8 MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU'RE NEXT
    d. Tensai Okamura
    Japanese Animation
    Rating : IIA
    Length : 110 mins.
    Opening September 26 2024
    Trailer : https://youtu.be/otrs5icGoDs

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    "Next, it's your turn!"

    In a society where heroes and villains continuously battle in the name of peace and chaos, Deku, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he's long admired.

    Can Deku and the rest of U.A. High Class 1-A protect the world by putting an end to Dark Might, the man claiming to be the new Symbol of Peace?

  7 MY DEAREST FU BAO
    d. Shim Hyung-Jun, Thomas Ko
    Documentary
  Rating : I
  Length : 95 mins.
  Opening September 28 2024 (Preview)
  Opening October 4 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/jP1aAYNeK0M

[ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSA ]
    After her miraculous birth in Korea, giant panda Fu Bao gained tremendous popularity and love from fans worldwide. While her upcoming return to China is leaving fans in sorrow, her zookeepers continue their duty to make Fu Bao happy and solemnly start preparing her trip to China. As the expected day of farewell approaches, the zookeepers have to confront another unexpected farewell, and cannot give in to the emotions they have been holding back.

  6 HIGH FORCES
  Can : NGAI GEI HONG SIN
  Lit : Crisis Flight
    d. Oxide Pang Chun
    Andy Lau Tak Wa, Zhang Zifeng, Qu Chuxiao, Tamia Liu Tao,
      Guo Xiaodong, Jiang Mengjie
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 119 mins.
  Opening October 3 2024 in Malaysia
  Opening October 10 2024
  Teaser : https://youtu.be/Fj0XjqIUMxE
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/GcwLL7BklBM

[ HONG KONG MOVIE 6 ]
    "Is anyone there? Yes..." A mysterious message from Gao Haojun came from 10,000 meters in the air. A five-star luxurious A380 airplane was hijacked on itsmaiden flight. The hijacker Mike is threatening the lives of all 800 passengers onboard and Gao's wife and daughter. Gao, an international security expert, stepped up to deal with the hijackers. Will he be successful save all the passengers and resolve the crisis?

[ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ]
    Gao Haojun is a former Special Police officer. One time while subduing robbers who were robbing a jewellery shop, Gao accidentally blinds his daughter, Xiaojun, which shatters his family and is guilt ridden as a result. After his wife, Yuan, leaves him with their daughter, Gao resigns from the police force and becomes an international security expert. Years later, Gao bumps into his ex-wife and daughter while boarding the luxurious Airbus A380. However, during the flight, 12 hijackers seize the plane and hold its 800 passengers hostage while at over 10,000 feet in the air. As the hijackers mercilessly kill passengers on the economy class, Gao steps forward and engages in a battle of brains and brawns against the hijackers where Xiaojun also secretly assists her father by providing him intel.

[ SCREEN DAILY ]
    This action thriller takes places on a plane where a former SWAT member is caught up in a mid-air hijack with hostages including his own daughter.

  5 STUNTMAN
  Can : Mo Tai Jeh
    d. Albert Leung Koon Hiu, Herbert Leung Koon Shun
    Stephen Tung Wai, Terrance Lau Chun Him, Cecilia Choi Sze Wan,
    English Voices: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry,
      Philip Ng Won Lun, Max Cheung Tat Lun,
      Lam Yiu Sing, Rachel Leung Yung Ting
      Stephanie Che Yuen Yuen, Keith Ng Shui Ting, To Yin Gor
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 113 mins.
  Opening September 26 2024
  Teaser : https://youtu.be/yuId0bB2LW0
  fb : www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090464305290
  ig : https://www.instagram.com/stuntman.film/
  Site : https://hiff.org/events/stuntman/

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    LEE Sam was the undisputed king of stunt choreography during the golden era of Hong Kong action cinema in the 80s. After a devastating stunt accident, Sam steps away from the industry for 30 years. However, his old friend, a veteran director, has now persuaded Sam to work as the stunt choreographer on what will be the director's last film.

    The only catch is that his film stars Wai - Sam's former stunt crew member who has since become a famous action star in his own right. Sam and Wai have a contentious history, with Sam's infamously overbearing and demanding personality clashing with Wai's own ego and ambition. By chance, Sam crosses paths with a young, ambitious stuntman named LEE Sai Long, who sees this as an opportunity to advance his career. Long is caught between Sam and his former protégé turned rival. At the same time, Long helps Sam to reconcile with his estranged daughter, Cherry.

    As Sam returns to the world he once dominated, he must confront his past, mend fences with Wai, and overcome their personal conflicts in order to deliver an epic final action spectacle for the director's swan song. However, in the midst of shooting a robbery heist, Sam's shortsightedness endangers the public, and members of his crew are arrested, causing him to be fired.

    As the pressure mounts and the stakes rise, Sam must decide what he's truly fighting for—reclaiming his former glory or reconnecting with the daughter he's taken for granted.

[ SCREEN DAILY FILMART 2023 ]
    An once-famous stunt director pursues a comeback but disrupts the relationship with his daughter in the process.

  4 THE WILD ROBOT
    d. Chris Sanders
    DreamWorks Animation
    English Voices: Lupit Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy
    Chinese Voices: Joey Yung Cho Yee

  3 THE SUBSTANCE
    d. Coralie Fargeat
    Demi Moore

  2 LOVE LIES
  Can : Ngor Tam Dik Na Cheung Luen Oi
    d. Ho Miu Ki
    Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, MC Cheung Tin Fu, Stephy Tang Lai Yun,
      Chan Fai Hung, Emotion Cheung Kam Ching,
      Ronald Cheng Chung Kei, Jo Koo Cho Lam, Elva Ni,
      Joman Chiang, Lam Yiu Sing, Norman Noel
  Rating : I
  Length : 116 mins.
  Opening July 15 2024 at the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival
  Opening July 21 2024 at the Malaysia International Film Festival
  Opening July 26 2024 at M Plus (Preview)
  Opening August 23 2024 (Preview)
  Opening September 12 2024
  Teaser : https://youtu.be/6o-eMc9CaMc
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/c1v4-GhyeGQ
  fb: www.facebook.com/loveliesfilm
  ig: www.instagram.com/loveliesmovie
  Site : hiff.org/events/lovelies/

[ SCREEN DAILY ]
      A widowed gynaecologist falls for a French engineer on a dating app, which turns out to be a romance scam. Nevertheless, she insists it is true love despite being swindled out of a large sum of money.

[ 2024 NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Are online "romance scams" always destructive? In this moving, absorbing feature debut from Ho Miu-ki, Sandra Ng plays Veronica, a wealthy, widowed doctor who falls for a middle-aged French engineer on a dating app. Soon, "Alain" has convinced her to provide large infusions of funds and Veronica’s friends urge her to report him to the police. But even as she assures them it's true love, Alain must steel his heart of gold and quell his second thoughts to continue bringing in cash or risk painful consequences. With a hilarious Stephy Tang as the young scammer's coach, this captivating film probes the unlikely emotional connection that forms between a lonely young man and a vibrant older woman—and sets crucial scenes in the pretty-as-a-postcard Sapporo.

[ M PLUS ]
    A successful obstetrician-gynecologist whose love life has stagnated, Veronica casually downloads a dating app for some harmless fun. Little does she know that the dashing French engineer on the other end of the line is actually a local con artist named Joe. The young man inadvertently joined a group of online scammers led by the oddball veteran Mr. White and the maudlin temptress Joan. As their fake relationship grows, so have Joe's guilty conscience and Veronica's hopes. First-time director Ho Miu-ki takes on the romantic comedy formula from a refreshing and topical angle, inquiring the essence of romantic love through the prism of deceit.

  1 JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX
    d. Todd Phillips
    Joaquin Phoenix, Lady GaGa

[2024.10.16] FOR THE WEEK STARTING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 2024

For the week starting Saturday, October 5 2024 (Week 40)

VIUTV CHILL CLUB CHART (WEEK 41)

  5 INVINCIBLE SAINT CLOTH
  Can : Mo Dik Sing Yi
  ERROR

https://youtu.be/3IW1cEK1x20

  4 ENCHANTMENT
  Can : Yut Lim Tin Tong, Yi Yun Git Gai
  Kelly Chen Wai Lam

https://youtu.be/PY4LmoBQr2k

  3 STRAWBERRY LOVE
  Anson Lo, Edan Lui, Jeremy Lee, Keung To

https://youtu.be/xQMvA43QVEY

  2 I'LL BE YOUR LIGHT
  Can : Ho Kau Ngor
  Jason Chan Pak Yu (feat. sica)

https://youtu.be/XQ_tYZGbgmc

  1 NEXT ROUND
  P1X3L

https://youtu.be/vBV1aVLs468

[2024.10.16] CHARLENE CHOI IS AFRAID THAT SHE CANNOT STOP LAUGHING ON THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FILM SET

Charlene Choi has had chemistry with Louis Cheung for a long time and believes that they would be full of chemical reaction

When Charlene Choi calls Joey Yung "elder", she gets so upset that she gets up to strike back
courtesy of on.cc

Charlene Choi calls this her "pink lady" look

Ronald Cheng and Charlene Choi held a joint press conference in 2010 to announce that they were married but in the process of a divorce

The internet jokes that Gillian Chung is under a "Non Thin Curse"
courtesy of on.cc

Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin (Ah Sa) yesterday appeared at the "Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Day 2024" press conference in a pink backless dress. She was busy with the Twins tour concert in the mainland and said that there would be a performance in the mainland, and then the filming of a new film would begin. In November and December they would tour the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom respectively. As for the dizziness and discomfort she felt at the Guangzhou concert earlier, she said that she had a fever afterwards. She believed that it was because she was too tired and was just before her menstrual period, so her immunity was weakened. She also said that she felt a little uncomfortable before the event. She joked that this year might be unlucky for her sign, but a minor ailments wre blessings. Speaking of her recent trip to Fukuoka, she joked, "I only got to go for a few days, not enough time to recharge my batteries. I hope I can have a long vacation next year. My current age isn't suitable to be too busy, haha."

Speaking of her upcoming new film, Ah Sa revealed that it would be a Lunar New Year comedy. She was very happy because her favorite genre is comedy, and she really likes the atmosphere of filming a comedy. She also said, "Actually, comedy is the most difficult thing to film because its easy to make people cry, but it's hard to make people laugh. However I happen to like this kind of challenge. T his time my co-star would be Cheung Kia Chung. We have worked together many times before and have established a bond. In addition I have great confidence in him. Instead I am worried about not being able to stop laughing when filming. (Can you cope with the overlap between the new film and the tour?) For the movie, we only need to work on it for three days this month; the script isn't too complicated, so there is no problem." As for her group mate Gillian Chung Yun Tung gaining weight recently, her shape was constantly changing but she was still a pretty girl; Ah Sa believed that the most important thing was that Ah Gil was happy and healthy. She praised Ah Gil for always being a pretty girl. Has she given any advice to Ah Gil on how to stay in shape? Ah Sa frankly admitted, "I can't teach her. I can only control my diet and I hate exercising the most. I don't like any exercise. The only one I like is tennis. I learned it when I was a child, and now I have picked it up again and asked the coach to train secretly. (Are there any suitors who want to meet to practice?) Kwan Chi Bun (Kenny) said that he was also interested. He is my 'husband' and the best sheld when I was asked about my relationships. (What about marriage?) I'm not in a hurry, everything will happen as it happens." In addition, speaking of her ex-husband Ronald Cheng Chung Kei's earlier announcement that he would take a break from the music industry and also mentioning that he was not happy in the short marriage with her, Ah Sa said that she has not paid attention to the reports but wished him well.

In addition, Ah Sa recently met up with her friends Joey Yung Cho Yee and Tsang Lok Tung for an outing, and Tsang Lok Tung posted a video on social media to share their moments. It was quite funny to see Ah Sa imitating Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and sprinkling salt on the food while cooking, while Joey pretended to be a chef and called "floor" for the meal. During this period Ah Sa boldly called Joey a senior, and Joey responded, "You have been in the industry for more than 23 years. Sooner or later, you will be called a senior!" They were also surprised to find a centipede crawling into the tent, and Tsang Lok Tung tried to push it away with her bare hands.

[2024.10.15] GARDNER TSE HAS NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR JEFFREY NGAI

Jeffrey Ngai and Gardner Tse work together on a movie for the first time. Jeffre takes the opportunity to get advice from the elder

Louise Wong jokes that everyday after the shoot her shoes are full of sweat
courtesy of singtao.com

Gardner Tse has nothing but praise for Jeffrey Ngai and even personally teaches him acting

Fish Liew, Louise Wong and Leung Chung Hang play firefighters in CESIUM FALLOUT

Gardner Tse and Jeffrey Ngai are like father and son on and off screen

Louise Wong plays a senior fire captain, putting on an oxygen tank and running into a fire rescue

Andy Lau plays an environmental protection expert who has cancer due to radiation
courtesy of mingpao.com

The movie CESIUM FALLOUT (FUN SING) told the story of how a group of heroic firefighters fought the fire and saved people under the threat of radiation. The scenes were both shocking and touching. In the film Gardner Tse Kwan Ho (Brother Ho), Jeffrey Ngai Chun Sun, Louise Wong Dan Nei, Fish Liew Chi Yu and Leung Chung Hang were on the same elite firefighting team. Tse Kwan Ho played a firefighter who was about to retire. This time he worked with a group of young people and Brother Ho was very happy. He said that the team first arranged for them to "team-build" before filming. The group, like going to training camp, first started playing volleyball and campfire party to get to know and connect with each other. There everyone were able introduce themselves and communicate with each other, then they moved to the fire station for training. Brother Ho wore the golden armor despite the scorching heat, walking so fast with an oxygen tank like he was flying. His physical fitness was better than the younger guys. He praised Ngai Chun Sun for being smart, humble, polite, and eager to ask questions. The two of them were very compatible.

Brother Ho said with a smile that the training was not too strenuous. Even when he had to wear the golden armor, a radiation-proof robe, and even an oxygen tank he was able to take it. "However it was a bit hard at the beginning, especially when I had to roll up the fire hose. After I finished rolling it, I sat down and felt like vomiting. I was so hot and dehydrated that I almost went into shock!" They had many scenes in and out of fires. Brother Ho said that only some of them used real fire, and the raging fires, explosions, the burning following the camera would not be too close. Before entering the fire scene, they must also take adequate safety measures; but they would feel the heat at the fire scene. When fighting the fire, it would burn in front of them. Just the the super explosive scene and the crushing container scene were computer generated special effects.

Playing the role of a firefighter for the first time, Jeffrey found it very interesting. In one of the scenes an explosion took place on several floors of containers, His life was saved thanks to Brother Ho pulling a rope, but he had to hang upside down for a long time and felt like blood was rushing to his head. "For the scene I hung upside down for 45 minutes. Of course I was pulled up in the middle, and I wasn't even very scared with the wires. At that time I was focused on the performance and the filming was going smoothly, but my fire helmet fell off and covered up my face so the scene had to shot again. Actually my appearance doesn't really matter to me!" Brother Ho immediately scolded him and said that since he was the appearance asset his face was very important. Jeffrey said frankly that he used to do comedies, this was his first serious drama and he was lucky enough to meet Brother Ho. "I particularly admire Brother Ho. Everyone with golden armors were so heavy and stuffy. Everyone after wearing them for 20 minutes had to remove them to breathe a little then took our places again, but Brother Ho moved so quickly and ran so fast with the oxygen bottle on his back. I have been working out at the gym, but when I saw him even I was like, 'Wow' and thought he was so awesome!" Brother Ho said modestly, "I too have been working out. Earlier I also have had training because the shoot was really exhausting, I spent several months shooting at the container yard and recycling yard during the hottest period." Brother Ho also returned the favor and praise Jeffrey for being very sharp for his age. Since the two of them had the most scenes opposite each other, they were arranged to do "team building" together and began to introduce themselves to each other. Brother Ho said, "I tried my best to talk about my resume as briefly as possible, and we got to know each other gradually. He was great at chatting, so it's easy to get along." Jeffrey also said with a smile that he introduced himself, "Brother Ho is the same age as my old man, he is very approachable. When you really want to ask a question seriously, Brother Ho is also very serious to answer you. I had a crying scene and I asked him for advice, he spent 45 minutes talking to me on the phone in great detail." To be able to have a drama lesson with Brother Ho, he stated that he made a huge profit. Brother Ho also said that Jeffrey really liked to ask questions and talk to people. Seeing that he was so smart, he helped him. "I saw that he was very good friends with other seniors, he could really BS!" Jeffrey explained that firefighting was about teamwork, it would be better if everyone got to know each other a little better. Brother Ho agreed that their team spirit was not "acted", "It was all thanks to the early 'team building' process and all the BS during the shoot, we BS'ed everyday until dark. We talked about anything and everything." Did Jeffrey talk about girls? They all said in unison that they only talked about "Sun Yat-sen".

Speaking of the three firefighters Tse Kwan Ho, Bai Yu and Jeffrey's fate at the end of the film, Brother Ho said that when he first read the script, he questioned whether it was necessary. However he asked real firefighters, who also said that if this happened they would all really stepped in to help because this is really the spirit of a firefighter. Brother Ho also explained, "In the end, even Jeffrey stepped in to help. In the scene he didn't even know that his fate would be certain, so it makes sense."

Wong Dan Nei said that in the film she plays a female firefighter, she had to have the same physical fitness as the boys. Thus she had to work hard. She previously participated in the crew arranged "team building". In addition to playing volleyball, she also went to the fire station to receive special training and lessons on using firefighting tools. They practiced for about a month. She revealed that she had to leap out when filming the explosion scene. Because her character was an officer and her personality also refused to admit defeat, when she saw everyone in heavy equipment running and jumping, she had to be able do it too. Of course she was injured and bruised. Wong Dan Nei recalled a scene in which a container exploded as she climbed down a rope, and she was terrified. "During the explosion I was holding a rope and had to swing out and back again. I had to muster up my courage to react. In fact, it was so scary and I had to overcome the fear."

Leung Chung Hang said that it is indeed difficult to run wearing the golden armor, but his physical fitness has improved after doing it everyday. Among the male firefighters, he was the only one who has to learn to open a street well, which was also difficult and required physical strength. It also required skills. At first I was frightened and I did not know if I could do it. I was even hoisted up to the third floor. Fortunately I was able to overcome it in the end. Leung Chung Hang pointed out that in fact, the fire scene was shot with half-real and half-fake fire, but it was not as dangerous as he thought. However because it was filmed in midsummer, he felt bloated when he started working and felt shrunken by the end of the day. Wong Dan Nei joked that once after filming she was able to pour out the sweat by removing her shoes. Leung Chung Hang said that one day he wore an oxygen mask and an oxygen bottle for an all day real fire shoot. He felt a little dizzy and unwell, and the another firefighter Wesley Wong Hoi Kit even suffered from heat stroke.

When Liew Chi Yu first took the script, she thought that playing the role of a firefighter would be great for her to be stylish and cool, and she could take this opportunity for her muscle training. However because in the film she ended up playing desk job firefighter, she did not have the opportunity to enter a fire scene in the film. She did not have to participate in the training; but when she only played on high altitude rope training in a team-building game, she was so scared that she cried. She chuckled bitterly and said, "I am afraid of heights. The high-altitude rope training was conducted on a rooftop more than ten stories high that required climbing two or three more stories. Everyone had to. I saw Wong Dan Nei climb so fast and so quickly so I went up!" Wong Dan Nei said with a smile, "I was actually very surprised, but I wanted to show that I was Madam so I climbed up quickly. Everyone thought I was so relaxed." Fish said with lingering fear, "I thought at the time, we are both girls so there should be no problem. When I got up the stairs, I had to climb down the rope. When I stepped over, I felt that something was wrong. I thought to myself this time I can't do it! My life was over, but everyone said below, "You can do it" so I climbed over the two ropes amid the encouragement." Fish said that after seeing the finished product, she really wanted to try to be a firefighter because you only live once. She really wanted to rush into the fire, and the feeling would be so heroic.

[2024.10.15] SANDRA NG DANCES THE HULA IN HAWAII AS PROMISED

Sandra Ng swung her body with a maracas in her hand and danced the hula to "pay the bill" by the swimming the pool
courtesy of singtao.com

Sandra Ng receives the Spotlight on Hong Kong Filmmaker in Profile honor at the Hawaii International Film Festival

Sandra Ng and Peter Chan in Hawaii
courtesy of mingpao.com

Sandra Ng has been busy promoting the movie LOVE LIES (NGOR TAM DIK NA CHEUNG LUEN OI) recently. She and Peter Chan Ho Sun recently went to Hawaii to attend the "44th Hawaii International Film Festival". From the hands of popular Chinese Hollywood actor Ronny Chieng she received the "HIFF SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG FILMMAKER IN PROFILE AWARD" in recognition of her excellent contributions and outstanding achievements to the film industry. Kwan Yu expressed her feelings on the stage with witty remarks and a sense of humor. She also fulfilled her previous promise and danced the hula the swimming pool to "pay the bill".

Speaking of the award, Kwan Yu said gratefully on the stage, "I am very lucky to be able to start my career during the heyday of Hong Kong movies. I started by playing small roles in movies; I tried my best in every role, hoping to leave a deep impression on the audience. Role wise, I created my own personal style and co-created with screenwriters and directors to make my role and performance even more interesting, then even more beautiful, and ultimately even better. Forty years and 150 films later, I'm honored to be a filmmaker in profile here today; because I started my career outside of the spotlight, I would continue to learn how to be a better actor and producer." At the same time Kwan Yu promoted Ho Miu Ki's directorial debut LOVE LIES as a part of the film festival's "Spotlight on Hong Kong" section and do her part for Hong Kong films.

After receiving the award, Kwan Yu was very excited and fulfilled her previous promise by dancing the hula. Earlier Kwan Yu promised that after winning the award, she would do as the locals do and dance the hula to celebrate. Two nights ago after receiving the award she walked to the swimming pool. Dressed in a Hawaiian style, she swung her body with a maracas in her hand and danced the hula to "pay the bill".

Kwan Yu is the filmmaker to win the Hong Kong Filmmaker in Profile award at the Hawaii International Film Festival after directors Wong Kar Wai and Stanley Kwan Kam Peng. In addition, after arriving in Hawaii recently, Kwan Yu attended the Hawaii International Film Festival's "Spotlight on Hong Kong" welcome ceremony and the film festival awards ceremony. At the event she met with her friends who were invited to attend this film festival like Michelle Wai Sze Nga, Patra Au Ga Man, THE LAST DANCE DANCE director Anselm Chan Mou Yin, STUNTMAN directors Albert Leung Koon Hiu and Herbert Leung Koon Shun, Chinese American actors Jimmy O. Yang and Ronny Chieng, director Charles Yu at the rare gathering. She even took the opportunity to relax in Hawaii, which was full of vacation atmosphere and coincided with the fireworks show at night on the weekend. After completing her trip to Hawaii, Kwan Yu continued to prepare for LOVE LIES and competed for the Best Actress award at the "Golden Horse Awards" to be held at the end of next month in hopes of winning glory for Hong Kong films again.

[2024.10.15] LOUIS KOO STEPS IN TO SAVE THE HONG KONG LUNAR NEW YEAR FILM MARKET

DaDa Chan and Kenneth Ma would play mahjong while teaching how to chase girls.
courtesy of on.cc

Samantha Ko and other actors secretly meet with the director
courtesy of on.cc

Louis Koo is indeed a big brother in the film industry. When he saw the Hong Kong film market was in trouble, he immediately stepped in to save it.
courtesy of singtao.com

In the past the Lunar New Year has been very busy for movies in Hong Kong, and a date film companies would fight over. Like TABLE FOR SIX (FAN HEI GUNG SUM) and CHILLI LAUGH STORY (HOP GA LAT), there were three or four Hong Kong Lunar New Year movies released at the same time and their box office results also drew much attention; but currently the film market has declined sharply, and there is a lack of investors amid the continued downturn. Reportedly there would only be a few Hong Kong Lunar New Year films next year, one of which would be a new film with the TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) team. Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin would collaborate with Louis Cheung Kai Chung in another new movie to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Kenneth Ma Kwok Ming would team up with goddesses Samantha Ko Hoi Ning, DaDa Chan Jing and others to teach everyone how to chase girls with a large number of stars in support of the film to celebrate the New Year.

In the past, film companies usually would be busy preparing to start production on Lunar New Year films during the summer vacation in August and September. However the recent situation in the Hong Kong film industry has been dire, so far no Lunar New Year film has officially started production. Even the "Lunar New Year Heavenly Queen" Sandra Ng Kwan Yu has no works this year. At the beginning of the year she revealed that she would make a movie about playing mahjong, which she planned to start production this year and hoped to become a Lunar New Year movie in 2025. However she later said that the script was not good enough, so she would not consider it yet; as for another Lunar New Year film starring guy group MIRROR members Edan Lui Cheuk On, it has also announced earlier that it would be postponed.

In the critical situation where there would be no Hong Kong Lunar New Year films, two film companies have finally stepped in to rescue the market recently. One would be a One Cool Film and Entertaining Power invested, ROB N ROLL (LIM SI GIP ONG) director Albert Mak Kai Kwong directed film. Koo Tin Lok recently while attending a TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) event also hinted that the original cast would shoot a new film with a few action scenes, but it would not be about the Walled City at all. Actually the new film he mentioned turned out to be one of the Lunar New Year films next year.

According to insiders, this Lunar New Year film in addition to the original cast of Koo Tin Lok and the "Four Songs of the Walled City": Raymond Lam Fung, Philip Ng Won Lung, Tony Wu Tsz Tung and German Cheung Man Kit, Louise Wong Dan Nei, Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Chrissie Chau Sau Na, Peter Chan Charm Man and others would join the strong lineup. Although Koo Tin Lok and Sister Na have collaborated many times, people would never get tired of this combination of handsome men and beautiful women and still look forward to it; Wong Dan Nei attended an event a few days ago and also leaked that the new movie that will start filming next week would be in more of a rush, but because of confidentiality she could not reveal anything yet. When asked if she would make a Lunar New Year film, she continued to keep her lips sealed and said, "I didn't say it, you guessed it. (Which actors would you work with?) Some people that no one can guess. If they were so easily guessed, the audience would feel the lack of freshness." Earlier director Mak Kai Kwong stated that this would not be a Lunar New Year film, but due to the lack of Hong Kong Lunar New Year films next year it was asked to answer the call. The film would be expected to start production within a few days, but in order to be released before the Lunar New Year on January 29th, 2025 the production would be really hurried.

Reportedly the LAN KWAI FONG (HEI OI YEH PO) producer Ng Kin Hung would direct another Lunar New Year film. The film would be about gambling. For now the cast would include Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and Louis Cheung Kai Chung. The film company hoped to start filming this month, so that it would be able to make the Lunar New Year release in time. Both films would be shot in Hong Kong and Macau.

As for the Patrick Kong (Yip Lim Sum) directed Lunar New Year film, its subjects would mainly be mahjong, chasing girls and crazy comedy. It would feature Kenneth Ma Kwok Ming, Samantha Ko Hoi Ning, DaDa Chan Jing, Carlos Chan Ka Lok and others, and guest stars would as as numerous as a galaxy. It would not bring joy to Hong Kong, but also cheer on filmmakers. Reportedly the filming started yesterday, and everyone would show up to announce the details within days. One of the lead actresses Chan Jing replied yesterday, "This is my first time working with Director Yip. I was born in the Year of the Snake and making a film to celebrate the Year of the Snake. I think it is very meaningful."

In the film, she would play a couple with Chan Ka Lok, but as it turned out the two did not know each other beforehand. Ka Lok said with a smile, "Our first official meeting was on the day we met at the director's company to talk about the movie. This time I would play a popular artist. Lately at home I have been binging her movies like crazy for research." Ma Kwok Ming joked that he will do his best this time. "I am very happy to be able to participate in the performance. I hope the audience would be happy from coming to see the movie."

The Hong Kong film market has been bleak. Even during the Lunar New Year there has been almost no Hong Kong-produced Lunar New Year films, causing major headaches for major film companies. In recent years many Hong Kong artists such as Anita Yuen Wing Yee, Bobby Auyeung Chun Wa and Philip Keung Ho Man have gone to Malaysia to make movies. Earlier a film company has proposed using a Malaysian film for a Hong Kong Lunar New Year film, but there was a lot of opposition because it was not produced locally. In the end, two film companies stepped in to support the Lunar New Year schedule and hoped to tide over this difficult period with everyone.

[2024.10.14] MICHELLE WAI ATTENDS THE LAST DANCE'S WORLD PREMIERE IN HAWAII

courtesy of on.cc

Michelle Wai and Tommy Chu practice the hell breaking rituals for their new film THE LAST DANCE

THE LAST DANCE director Anselm Chan and Michell Wai attend the film's Hawaii International Film Festival
courtesy of on.cc

The Dayo Wong Tze Wah and Micheal Hui Koon Man, Michelle Wai Sze Nga, Catherine Chau Ka Yee, Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling), Rosa Velasco (Wai Law Sha) starred Emperor Motion Picture THE LAST DANVCE (POR. DEI YUK) has been scheduled to be released on November 14th. Hui Koon Man and Michelle played father and daughter in the film, in order to interpret her role that has been working in the family chanting business for generations, Michelle received related special training as long with Hui Koon Man and Tommy Chu Pak Hong. She not only had to learn the skills of holding white flags, but also had to master many complex movements in the hell-breaking ritual, including sword playing, sword throwing and scripture recitation, etc.

Michelle revealed that while working out at the gym, other people would listen to music but she listened to the scriptures. She exercised as as recited them. She admitted that the most difficult thing was throwing the sword, and she almost disfigured herself. "The sword is pretty heavy for me, once after I threw the sword and the tip of the sword went straight toward my face. I blocked it with one arm and it busted open. I still have a scar now. If I couldn't block it in time, the sword might have fallen on my face. Fortunately, I reacted quickly." Despite the tedious movements and hard training, Michelle never gave up. Her professionalism and dedicated attitude made the director proud. The two lead actors Hui Koon Man and Tze Wah were also moved. Tze Wah even praised, "One minute on stage, ten years of hard work off stage."

THE LAST DANCE has already attracted attention from many overseas film festivals before it was released. The director and Michelle recently went to Hawaii to attend the 44th Hawaii International Film Festival, where they attended the world premiere and a series of events. Michelle said nervously, "It's the first time I watched THE LAST DANCE on the big screen. The happiest thing is that I met so many Hong Kong people. They said getting tickets was very hard." After the movie screening, the audience applauded one after another. Viewers even asked the director and Michelle for photos; and some audience members even praised Michelle's performance for reaching the Best Actor level, which moved her deeply.