Movie Box Review

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Raymond Wong Pak Ming and Teddy Robin Kwan yesterday attended Hong Kong Film New Action event.  As one of the show business commission member Wong Pak Ming was asked about Chief Executive candidate Henry Tang Ying-Yen's recent troubles.  He said that before that he already nominated him.  He thought that everyone had advantages and flaws, no one was perfect.  He thought he had more advantages than flaws.

Wong Pak Ming admitted that now he still leans toward supporting Tang Ying-Yen because among the candidates he was more supportive of show business.  Earlier when the government supported the 300 million film development fund, they met at Mr. Tang's home.  Have other candidates campaigned with him?  Wong Pak Ming admitted that no one contacted him and he would not contact them.  His decision would be primary.

Teddy Robin said that he did not know how to discuss politics or religion.  He was not in the commission so he did not want to say much.  Earlier he won a Best Actor award in Australia with MERRY GO ROUND (DUNG FUNG POR), Teddy Robin said that now he has more choices.  However he would not randomly make movies.  Now he mainly is a producer as he has three scripts in preparation.

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The Louis Koo Tin Lok, Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu and Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred Lunar New Year film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI) will compete in the 4th Okinawa International Movie Festival.  Producer and actor Raymond Wong Pak Ming was very happy to hear the good news because this type of comedy usually would not be chosen for film festivals.  This selection was certainly recognition and support for the cast and the crew.  He hoped that the Hong Kong government would follow Japan and host more international film festivals so different genre films would be able to find a platform to promote.

JJ Jia courtesy of on.cc

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Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Raymond Wong Pak Ming exchanged fire for the third Lunar New Year in a row, but Chi Wai won all three years.  This year he even won from the beginning to the end.  Two nights ago at
the celebration and the New Spring visit, Tsang Chi Wai even presented the "Universe Nemesis" to Stanley Fung Shui Fan (Gung Gor) who performed for two years in a row.  He said that completely because of him "the Strongest in the Universe" Donnie Yen Chi Tan was defeated, but Gung Gor said that those words scared him.  He worried that they would insult someone and said that after the event he would have to immediately fly out of Hong Kong.

I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 two days ago broke 15 million at the box office.  Two nights ago a New Year group visit and a celebration took place.  Tsang Chi Wai, Fung Shui Fan, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Teresa Mo Shun Kwan and others attended.  Due to the third Lunar New Year victory in a row over Wong Pak Ming, Chi Wai wrote "Universe Nemesis" and presented the words to Gung Gor as he had fun at the expense of ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2011 (BAK SING PO HEI)'s "Strongest in the Universe" Yen Chi Tan.  Chi Wai said, "Over these two years Gung Gor helped a lot.  Gung Gor took care of 'the Strongest in the Universe' over these two years, one against ten your salary should be worth several tens of
millions.  Next time I will make IP MAN 4 with you."  Gung Gor could not turn it down fast enough.  "I am not sure what you are saying, right now I am a little scared.  I didn't say any of that!  Right after this I am taking a flight out!"

Later Gung Gor said that he was in Taiwan so he did not know about the box office.  Did he know who Yen Chi Tan was?  He joked, "I know, if I don't I would die even faster!"  He also said that the success of a movie was not due to just one person, the credit went to the entire group.  No one could say that it all depended on him, no one should joke about that.  Chi Wai said, "You won with a lot of room to spare.  When you were on top, Who knew where Chi Tan was."  Was Gung Gor very embarrassed?  He said, "No, I am only afraid that someone would be insulted."  Chi Wai also said, "With writing like that, Chi Tan next year will work for Wong Pak Ming for free just to win some bragging right back!"  Chi Wai later would make five or six films for Shaw.  Will he ask Gung Gor?  He said, "How can I do it without him, whenever we are against Chi Tan I have to get him."

Chi Wai also said that actually this year was a real victory over Wong Pak Ming.  The first year Wong Pak Ming won at first, later with more people going he barely won.  The second time at first they were tied but he finally won.  This year he won from the beginning to the end.  Chi Wai said, "This time was risky because I used TVB artists, no comparison to his big stars."  Speaking of Clifton Ko Chi Sum's criticism of current Lunar New Year films as "lacking choices", Chi Wai said, "He has already left this circle, he is working on a Lunar New Year play.  Even if he comes back he would be behind because the comedy is already different. However I would welcome him to join the fray next year.  (Yet he would only work with his girlfriend Perry Chiu Woon?)  I would cast Chiu Woon.  Actually Chiu Woon is very playful, I asked her to take part in THE TRIO DELIGHTS every time.  It's a waste for her to be just on the stage, Ko Chi Sum shouldn't have the monopoly."  Wheat Bread complained that Chi Wai last year promised everyone a vacation but has yet to come through.  Chi Wai said, "This year we have a chance, maybe in Japan!  (Next Lunar New Year will you compete with Wong Pak Ming?)  I will!  Competition is good."

Teresa Mo Shun Kwan two nights ago attended the I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) Lunar New Year group visit and celebration.  She was very happy about the ideal box office but she had reservations about whether she will participate again next year.  Has she and her family seen the film?  She said that she would wait for the video before watching it with her family because she worried that her youngest daughter would not understand and would ask her to explain.  Was she talking about the sexy scene?  She admitted, "Yes, I am a little scared, so I have to watch and explain at home."

Sister Mo revealed that later she will rest for awhile and will not work on a series.  She will have to move and go with her daughter to look for a school in Canada.  She said, "Moving to me is a big deal in life because every time I moved I got sick.  I even had to go to a hospital, maybe because I was in too much of a hurry.  This time I don't want to have such a hard time.  I am older too, I worry that I won't just go to the hospital but have to stay there.  I hope to move slowly."  Sister Mo has one more year before going to the university.  Because her daughter is a Canadian citizen, she will return to study there.  This year she will look for schools for her there.

Sister Mo's husband Tony Au Ting Ping's birthday will be on February 6, they originally planned to celebrate in Japan.  Yet they heard radiation rumors from friends and told her not to go to Tokyo.  If something happened, the Japanese government would hide it.  Thus she decided to cancel her trip.  yet Chi Wai planned to take the cast to Japan.  Sister Mo said, "If it's Chi Wai's treat, I would risk my life."

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The Clifton Ko Chi Sum directed 80's Lunar New Year film IT'S A MAD MAD MAD WORLD (FU GWAI BIK YUN) two nights ago was screened at the Film Archive.  Ko Chi Sum attended in support and shared with the audience the production experience.

Ko Chi Sum said that the stars Lydia Shum Din Ha and Bill Tung Biu have already left.  Two nights ago when he watched again he felt very sentimental.  He pointed out that Shum Din Ha and Tung Biu were both television people back then, but the film company boss actually agreed for them to star.  He thought that the boss back then was very daring, and creative freedom was greater then than now.  Now the focus is on the cast and the production is overlooked, the production time is rushed, he even claimed that now Hong Kong film industry has no one with the courage to cast television artists as leads.  Many films are filled with head shots on one poster.  Has he watched this year's Lunar New Year films?  He said that he still has not mustered up the courage to watch.  If he had to choose he definitely would support his mentor Raymond Wong Pak Ming.  Will he make another Lunar New Year film again?  He said, "The environment now is different from back then.  Even if I have a good story, I still need the boss to have confidence to invest before I can."

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Samantha Ko, Bosco Wong

Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo

Zhang Xinyu, Lok Wing

Mak Cheung Ching, Natalie Meng courtesy of mingpao.com

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The Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) premiere took place last night.  Over 80 actors were on hand.  To match the theme of "joy upon joy", actors Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Teresa Mo Shun Kwan, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Samantha Ko Hoi Ning and others all appeared in Chinese wedding costumes.  Chi Wai even announced the good news that yesterday the single show box office was 220,000, beating ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI)'s 120,000.

The actors walked the red carpet as the event arranged for lion and dragon dances.  Chi Wai said that everyone was very happy after putting Chinese wedding costumes.  In the past two years, Chi Wai's Lunar New Year films have defeated Raymond Wong Pak Ming's.  Was he confident this year?  Chi Wai admitted, "Wong Pak Ming's new film has a stronger cast, but our friendship comes first.  I hope everyone will do well."  This year did he invite Wong Pak Ming to the premiere?  Chi Wai said that the first year they went to the premiere and became the media focus.  Later Wong Pak Ming's daughter yelled at him for promoting for others.  Earlier ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 held its premiere.  When he found out the response was decent, he sent a text message to congratulate him.  However he did not reply yet.

Wong Chung Chak and Denise Ho Wan Si in the film played a couple and even had a kiss scene.  Ho Wan Si did not attend so Ko Hoi Ning appeared with Bosco.  Was the switch much better for Bosco?  He said that to each her own.  He even praised Ho Wan Si's mouth was hot and this kiss was memorable.  It was her special move.  Bosco pointed out that during the kiss scene Ho Wan Si stuck to his mouth tightly and he had no way to react.  He joked that he did not mind being called short tongued, as long as his life was not short then he was fine.  However the most wrong was for Myolie Wu Hung Yi to reveal that.

Zhang Xinyu wore a Chinese wedding gown for the first time.  Did she want to get married?  She admitted that she has not thought about it.  Her boyfriend Ron Ng Cheuk Hei has not proposed to her yet either.  Even if he did she would not agree because her career just started.  She felt that girls should have careers.  However she would like to wed before age 30.  Recently Zhang Xinyu was reported as an avid smoker and once worked at a night club.  She thought those reporters were very funny and exaggerated.  The photos were from when she went to a karaoke box with friends when she was 19.  She did not smoke and she was young then, she thought holding a cigarette would look cool.  She also clarified that she never worked at a night spot.  "Is that possible?  Before getting into the business my parents raised me, now I can rely on myself."  Elaine Lok Yi Ling was asked why Ng Cheuk Hei was not invited.  Ms. Lok said that Ng Cheuk Hei was working and was not a part of this film.  He was not avoiding Zhang Xinyu.

Lynn Xiong, Kelly Chen, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu and other ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 stars appeared on a TVB Entertainment News program as well

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Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Kelly Chen Wai Lam appeared on Cable Entertainment News Lunar New Year program and had a Lunar New Year meal with the anchors.  Goo Jai even pan fried New Year cakes and turnip cakes.  At first he was a little clumsy, burning a few pieces because he had the heat on too high.  Later Kelly gave him some advice and he got more and more familiar.

Speaking of their Lunar New Year family traditions, Goo Jai said that his family was very traditional.  On the Lunar New Year's Eve they had to worship and bathe with pummelo leaves, on the Lunar New Year he had to say New Year greetings to his parents.  On the Lunar 2nd they would have the first meal of the year and pick a lucky time for worship.  The schedule was tighter than a production's.  He continued, "Every year during the Lunar New Year visits, my relatives' children would play with me.  If I made a wuxia film that year I was done for, everyone would treat me like I really knew kung fu, grab me and hit me."  Kelly revealed that Shrimp Dumpling Kid already knew how to make the New Year greeting gesture but not how to say "Gung Hei Fat Choi" yet.  She said it was almost time to teach him.  Kelly also said that she would cut Shrimp Dumpling Kid's hair, but she was reluctant to cut it too short because long hair matched the shape of his face.  For the child to sit still for the hair cut, Kelly had to use cartoons, books and even the vacuum cleaner because he did not like to see hair.  Thus every time she cut his hair she would take two days.

Kelly only has one pineapple bag in her purse

Stars break out in a dance contest

Louis Koo helps Kelly Chen up

Karena Ng

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Lynn Xiong

Louis Koo is curious about Kelly Chen's belly

Sandra Ng, Donnie Yen

Ronald Cheng avoids sharing the stage with his wife

Sammie Yu courtesy of mingpao.com

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Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam), Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Chapman To Man Jat, Raymond Wong Pak Ming and others two nights ago went to the film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI) premiere.  Also on hand were many guest stars like Ronald Cheng Chung Kei.  Coincidentally his wife Sammie Yu Sze Man was the host.  When everyone was on the stage for a group photo, he did not appear.

Kwan Yu pushed up three inches of "career line".  She explained that because her character was named "Sung Chau Bo" so she had to coordinate.  Did she add pads?  Chi Tan praised her and said that she did not need to.  Kwan Yu told him to stop pretending to be naive.  Chi Tan joked, "I am not (Peter) Chan Ho Sun, how would I know?  Today I will call him!"  Kwan Yu again said that for this shoot she had to at least add two more pads.  She did not understand why she did not have a figure but constantly had to act like she did.

Kelly admitted that she did not want to dress too maternity so she wore a fiery red dress and heels.  Her belly recently has grown very rapidly.  For balance actually she should not wear heels that were too high.  Now "Mini Juicy Bun" is already more than six months.  Was Goo Jai her guardian?  He said of course, he was responsible for helping her up and down as well as what was in Kelly's purse.  Kelly took out a pineapple puff, saying that she was prepared in case she was hungry.  With the dragon dance and the confetti cannon, was Mini Juicy Bun scared?  Kelly said, "The confetti cannon scared me, (Did he kick you?)  I can't feel him unless it's very quiet, but he is constantly kicking me like after meals and sleeping.  He's even stronger than King Nikochan (Lau Sing)."

As for Lynn she said that she did not know her rumored boyfriend Aaron Kwok Fu Sing was about to call his horse CALL OF LOVE, but thought that the song was very classic.  Would it be better if it was named after her?  Lynn said that it could not, it would be better if it was called Aaron Kwok.  Would naming it after her be very sweet?  Lynn said she would worry about it when it happened, as it would feel very severe.  She too wanted to watch him lead the horse, she would be willing to take photos for him.

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Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Teresa Mo Shun Kwan yesterday along with many artists worked on a Lunar New Year program.  Chi Wai will perform in Las Vegas on the Lunar 29th with daughter Tsang Bo Yi, Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Vivian Hsu (Tsui Yeuk Suen), thus he jokingly asked Mo Mo who would spend the Spring Festival in Hong Kong with her family to keep an eye on the box office and viewer appreciation.  He praised himself for making a great film, better than the previous two years.  It had both happy and touching scenes and more content.  He also remembered to praise his competition Raymond Wong Pak Ming.  He said, "I heard his movie would be decent too, I am very happy."  Unfortunately two nights ago he had to host the Miss Chinese International pageant and could not attend his premiere.

As for his confidence, Chi Wai said that he has already won for two years and it has become habitual.  He hoped that they would compete and support Hong Kong films together.  Yet he immediately said, "I heard Wong Pak Ming's movie this year is similar to my format two years ago, with an ensemble and more songs."  Speaking of the film having to pay US$200,000 royalty for using a Beatles classic and in the last time switched to using Joey Yung Cho Yi's song, Chi Wai was asked why he did not use Raymond Lam Fung's Solid Gold Hit CHOK.  Chi Wai joked that he would give it to Wong Pak Ming.

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A cable program invited recently Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam) and Raymond Wong Pak Ming to guests on the "Shall we cook?" segment.  They personally made Lunar New Year delicacy.  Hung Doi Lam said that she did not mind others calling her "Sing Soh" and stated that she hoped to be as fortunate as Kelly Chen Wai Lam.

Wong Pak Ming said that ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI) was Kelly's first film after marriage.  He even boasted, "Working on my stuff has an advantage, as soon as you do something joyous happens."  Lynn was asked whether she did.  Lynn said, "Not yet, I hope to be as fortunate as Kelly."


Donnie Yen Chi tan in ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 was in a band.  He due to the story had to be "Eason Chan Yik Shun possessed" as he reprised his music award show behavior.  Chi Tan's look and gestures won a lot of applause.  He even uploaded the "award photo" online in support of the film company's recent promotion of the message of love and left a message that he really "loved" film.

Speaking of being a film industry hot property today, Chi Tan recalled almost being bankrupted.  "It's hard to forget before and after the 97 financial storm, I funded BALLISTIC KISS (SAT SAT YUN TIU TIU MO) myself.  The production cost was not even US$500,000, but it bombed at the box office and cleared the table with one shot!  I have been when I only had 100 in my bank account, at a dead end and had to borrow from a loan shark."  Luckily he persisted and was able to succeed.

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The Kelly Chen Wai Lam and Louis Koo Tin Lok starred Lunar New Year film ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI) will be released in the Lunar New Year.  They along with boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming were interviewed earlier.  Chen Wai Lam was already pregnant while working on ALL'S, was Kelly's husband worried?  She said that her husband asked her about it.  He knew that the shoot was only two weeks long and it was a comedy without any fight scene, so he did not object.

Kelly said that in one scene she had to poke Goo Jai's muscle with a pen and praised how fit Goo Jai was.  Normally he would train with weights when he was not in a scene.  He was very hard working.  How would she grade Goo Jai's figure?  Kelly said 100 points and admitted that she liked men with muscles.  Did her husband have muscles?  She joked, "When we started dating he did, now he is a blob."  Has she asked her husband to exercise?  Kelly said, "No, my own figure isn't very pretty.  However my husband watches himself, he wouldn't be too fat or have a belly."

Koo Tin Lok said that this year was his fourth year of making a Lunar New Year film.  In the film Goo Jai had a topless scene to show off his masculinity.  In the film he was completely naked, but on the set he
wore shorts.  Was Goo Jai embarrassed?  He said, "I wasn't, but I wasn't used to it on the first day."  At the time Goo Jai did not have time to work out first, but he has always had abdominal muscles.  He just did not
have enough time to pump them up.  While working in ALL'S, Goo Jai knew that Kelly was already pregnant.  Was he worried?  He said, "A little, we had to go to a construction site and a forest for location shoots.  I was worried that she would fall, instead I saw how relaxed and professional she was."

Wong Pak Ming this year again faces Eric Tsang Chi Wai during the Lunar New Year.  He hoped that everyone would be happy and said that he was confident this year he would beat Chi Wai.