Movie Box Review

movie | box movie | box movie | box office | box office movie | broadcash | boxoffice | dvd release | dvd review | dvd movie | box office dvd | film | dvd film | hong kong film | hong kong film festival | international | international film festival | toronto film festifal | film festival | festival award | awards shows | hong kong film awards | mandarin film | film fan friday | gallants | golden globe awards | golden horse awards | global chinese | grandmasters | holiday movie

[2009.06.25] LEON LAI GETS HAIRY IN THE CITY

1:43 PM |

Leon Lai Ming, Liu Kai Chi (left)
Wilfred Lau Ho Lung
courtesy of on.cc

Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai)

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

After the earlier Tsim Sha Tsui mad dash and Mongkok four story billboard climb, Leon Lai Ming yesterday appeared on Kimberley Road in Tsim Sha Tsui for the Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed film FOR LUNG (FIRE DRAGON). Yesterday at noon the film company was already on hand for preparation. Lai Ming still appeared with the facial hair look and even had a little scar make up. Also present were Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai), Charles Ying Cheung Yau and Liu Kai Chi.

Because it was a street shoot, many people looked on and closed traffic jam nearby. Yesterday the scene was several cops on an investigation in a building, after which they put handcuffs and a black bag on a suspect. Yesterday was hot and the actors were either in a suit or long sleeve clothing so they were sweating bullets. When he was not in a scene, Siu Chai immediately removed his jacket. Lai Ming went to a nearby shopping center to "enjoy the air conditioning".

Siu Chai two nights ago turned 43. Due to the film production he could only celebrate at work. Yesterday the crew prepared a big birthday bun and cake for him. Siu Chai received a big bun with 43 little buns in it and a Hong Kong Film Award shaped cake with the words Best Actor on it. Siu Chai said to the director, "Wow, Best Actor? Then it's all on you Director! Haha."

As for birthday wish, Siu Chai said that health and safety for the family was the most important. Siu Chai said that around the Duen Ng Festival he already received homemade birthday cakes from his children. He would properly store such treasures every year so they could be the best memories when he turned old.

Read User's Comments(0)

Propose to the Transformers: Canadian, North American & UK Box Office June 19, 2009 Weekend

The Proposal takes the cake to the bank in Canada and North America debuting at #1 on both charts. The not-very-classy looking Year One started at #4 on both charts. In the UK Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen leads the charts, as it was released on Friday June 19. 2009 whereas it won't hit Canada and the States until today, June 24, 2009. So far the reviews have been rather grim. Speaking of, Whatever Works debuts on the North American charts at 20. Star Trek is still hanging on strong sitting in the top ten of all three charts over a month after it's initial release. We also have Canadian films in out top 20 here in Canada with À vos marques... party! 2 and J'ai tue ma mère, neither have been released yet here in Toronto but I will definitely be keeping my eye out for them in the future.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the June 19, 2009 weekend
1. The Proposal *
2. The Hangover
3. Up
4. Year One *
5. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
6. Star Trek
7. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
8. Angels & Demons
9. Terminator Salvation
10. Land of the Lost
11. À vos marques... party! 2 *
12. Imagine That
13. Drag Me to Hell
14. Millenium
15. Under the Sea 3D
16. My Life in Ruins
17. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
18. Away We Go
19. J'ai tue ma mère
20. Easy Virtue

Top 20 Movies in North America for the June 19, 2009 weekend
1. The Proposal *
2. The Hangover
3. Up
4. Year One *
5. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
6. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
7. Star Trek
8. Land of the Lost
9. Imagine That
10. Terminator Salvation
11. Angels & Demons
12. Drag Me to Hell
13. Away We Go
14. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
15. My Life in Ruins
16. Easy Virtue
17. Food, Inc.
18. 17 Again
19. Under the Sea 3D
20. Whatever Works *

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the June 19, 2009 weekend
1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen *
2. The Hangover
3. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
4. Terminator Salvation
5. Angels & Demons
6. Drag Me to Hell
7. Star Trek
8. Looking for Eric
9. The Last House on the Left
10. Last Chance Harvey

* indicates opening weekend in noted location, red text indicates Canadian film release

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Read User's Comments(0)

[2009.06.24] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: 6 TO 11 HELLISH TRAINING WITH NO ROOM FOR ERROR

9:09 PM |

Truth becomes known to us early or late, each excels in his field career or trade. Yu Jim Yuen although according to each disciple's qualification and quality assigned them to different positions and characters, but on stage no matter the role their basic foundation could not be missed. This is the meaning of what Beijing Opera actors often called "the act does not leave the technique".

According to second sister Yuen Po, Master Yu's intense training back then was disheartening. She says, "Getting up at 6AM, first we did laps on the roof, then performed hand stand for a hour, then basic training until 12PM lunch. At 1PM we started again, somersaults, carpet work, crouching tiger, tiger leap, hand stand, then 100 sweeps. We didn't stop until 5PM. If we had to perform at the Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, we often left at 6PM, started the show at 8PM. After the show the Master would perform a live review. When we returned to the school it was almost 11PM."

Training Secret, Everyone Screamed

After months and years of energy expenditure only exhausted the body. What had the children cowering was Master Yu's unique training secret. Yuen Po says, "Sometimes Master would put a piece of gum on the tip of your nose and you had to kick it off, which trained your kicks. He also asked you to form a duo to perform a split back to back. The most terrifying was Master would put you horizontal on his lap and pull you waist back. It was so painful that everyone for screaming for help, but what could we do. Everyone experienced that. Master would not soften because you was screaming."

About this inhumane period, Jackie Chan in his autobiography I AM JACKIE CHAN revealed, "If you try to use illness and injury as excuses to reduce training, they never work with Master. In the eyes of Master, as long as you can still move, you can fly. Thus, using illness to explain lack of training or improper movement would not be accepted."

To be fond of an easy life and averse to work is ultimately human nature. Although Master Yu was strict, Seven Little Fortunes had their opposing strategy. Yuen Qiu says, "Don't you think Master knew who was cutting corners? Who was only doing half leg sweeps? Yet 100 truly was too much, we kids couldn't care less. When we could cut corners we did, we worried about punishment when it came."

Forced Out Teacher, Soldier Replaced

Children loved to jump around. Although it was tough, once they were used to it they could handle it. Yet the worst was having them sit still and study. According to Yuen Biao's recollection, Yu Jim Yuen later hired a teacher to teach Seven Little Fortunes for five hours. It was the biggest punishment. He says, "Master hired teachers to help us with learning and recognition words. Which one of us liked studying? Then all the children got together to pick on the teacher. Master felt that teacher was too soft. Later he switched to a teacher with a military background, we immediately were out of luck." (11)

Read User's Comments(0)

[2009.06.24] POKER KING STARTS PRODUCTION

8:22 PM |

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of singtao.com

(left) Louis Koo Tin Lok, Heung Jor, Jo Koo (Kuk Cho Lam), Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Stephy Tang Lai Yun, Wong Yau Nam, Lau Ching Wan

Courtesy of takungpao.com

The film POKER KING yesterday held its production start ceremony. Actors Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Josie Ho Chiu Yi, Cherrie Ying Choi Yi, Jo Koo (Kuk Cho Lam), Stephy Tang Lai Yun and Heung Jor attended. Ying Choi Yi expressed that recently she and boyfriend Jordan Chan Siu Chun both returned to Hong Kong to make separate movies. She said while dating Siu Chun for two years they have only worked together in Hengdian and Beijing, but never in Hong Kong. Ying Choi Yi pointed out that Siu Chun will work with Michelle Ye (Yip Shuen) in the film FA SA FUNG JUNG JUEN, which worried her. Was she concerned about Yip Shuen's rumors? She said, "I know, I already warned Siu Chun and told him not to have any (rumor)." She would not follow Siu Chun 24 hours a day, but she knew that he and Yip Shuen would have intimate scenes. As soon as they saw each other she would hug and kiss, which she joked that she and Siu Chun have not done. Was she and Yip Shuen close in age? She said, "We should be, but if I am not worried I wouldn't say it. Siu Chun has to brush first when he gets home, otherwise he can't kiss me." Ying Choi Yi pointed out that this film will be Siu Chun and Cheng Yi Kin's reunion ten years after YOUNG AND DANGEROUS (GOO WAT JAI), so she did not ask him not to make it. Did she lack confidence in Siu Chun? She said that she was afraid that news would come out of nothing. Actually if she would ignore and not respond to it then nothing would happen. She said, "Actually Siu Chun was afraid himself, he said that during intimate scenes he would not stare."

Lau Ching Wan expressed that in the film he would play a casino manager who was a little manic. Did he gamble in real life? He said that he would only play mahjong during the Lunar New Year and rarely went to the casino. As for stock investment, he said, "I invest a little. I have to understand what the economy is doing. I am not apt to speculate in real estate." Ching Wan expressed that now he learned to play with chips and gambling. Earlier Ching Wan was caught dining with Lai Yiu Cheung. He expressed that they knew each other for over a decade. Both came from TVB so they maintained contact. He joked that Lai Yiu Cheung's character "Chai Gau" was amazing and had more movies than him.

Koo Tin Lok in the film played a poker master and competed with Lau Ching Wan. Stephy played his girlfriend who was addicted to gambling. Goo Jai in the film played an aloof poker master. Before the shoot he had to spend time to study the game and practice some card and chip playing tricks. His arms were a little numb for it. After training for over a month he finally had some result. Goo Jai said, "I everyday practice with chips. Even when I eat and chat with friends, I have to continue to train. Now I finally learned several tricks."

In the film playing Goo Jai's girlfriend, Stephy had no intimate scene with Goo Jai. Stephy expressed that she rarely worked with many experienced actors, so she was nervous in front of Goo Jai, Lau Ching Wan and the others. Stephy expressed that she did not like to gamble or like guys who gamble. As for what she disliked the most in a boyfriend, Stephy said, "I don't like boyfriends who only play video games because I am not really interested. I also don't like boyfriends who force me to keep his company playing. He should compromise."

Read User's Comments(0)

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 09: Where is Team Bella?

8:37 AM | Labels: Before the Dawn, Podcast, The Twilight Saga

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 09 is up!

Looking for a Twilight fix? Head on over to Before the Dawn to check out Marina & I's discuss the all about Bella and where is or rather why is there a lack of love for our protagonist. We talk about her character in the context of all of the books so if you haven't read them yet please be aware that we will discuss them.

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast is a weekly 1/2 hour podcast meeting all your audio Twilight needs!

Read User's Comments(0)

[2009.06.23] SEVEN LITTLE FORTUNES 50TH ANNIVERSARY: YU SO CHAU TOOK A BEATING FOR YUEN QIU

5:10 PM |

Make a name for yourself and glorify your father and mother. This originally is a filial piety that children should have. As Yu Jim Yuen's daughter, Yu So Chau was the glory of the Yu family as a "martial art star" outside. Inside out of her busy schedule she took time to help her father with female disciple training in Beijing Opera. Yet this silver screen famous heroine indirectly due to Yuen Qiu took a beating from hre father at the age of 30. Seven Little Fortunes still remember that day as if it just happened.

Having performed the highly difficult 12 spear kick on stage, Yu So Chau in the 50s turned from the opera a stage to the film industry. With her years of Beijing Opera action actress background, she rapidly became a hot new heroine on the silver screen. Yet she could not change her tough on the exterior, gentle inside personality.

Famous But Not Proud, Morning Lessons

Yuen Qiu recalls her lessons with this top film "heroine" back then. She says, "Several sisters and I were fortunate enough to have studied under her. She isn't mean at all. Back then she taught a skit called '13TH SISTER'. At the time I had to get up very early to go to her Prince Edward Road home. Back then she would put on make up while teaching. There was no script at the time. Sister would first sing a few lines, then asked me to memorize them. She would say, 'Pay attention and listen, memorize it well, properly practice when you get back, work hard and sing it back to me next time'. Sister was very nice. She would never hit me, yell at me, so I particularly like studying with Sister."

Yuen Qiu liked to study with Yu So Chau of course also due to other temptations. Yuen Qiu says, "On many occasions when I went to Sister's home, I would run into her maid Sister Juk making breakfast. Sister would take the initiative and said, 'Sister Juk, pour a bowl for her'. Then I got a share too. At the time I only knew that studying with Sister I didn't have to train outdoors on the roof and I got good stuff to eat. so I worked very hard when I studied with Sister. After she taught me, I would never forget anything at the next lesson!"

Silver Screen Heroine, Disaster Spared No One

Although Yu So chau took great care of her little disciples, but once Yuen Qiu indirectly caused her harm. Yuen Bun said, "At the time we were rehearsing, Yuen Qiu's use of the whip was poor no matter how hard she tried. Coincidentally Yu So Chau got back from her movie so Master asked her to demonstrate, but Sister dropped the whip in the process. Master didn't say a word, picked up the whip and sent it toward Sister. Every one of us were stunned. WHITE BONE YIN YANG SWORD's Yu So Chau, at the age Sister was almost 30, still had to take a beating from Master. After the beating she had to say to Master, 'Pa, sorry'. After that time, Yuen Qiu never dared to drop the whip again." (11)