Movie Box Review

Malay singer Ah Niu earlier brought his first film as a director, ICE KACANG PUPPY LOVE (CHOR LUEN HUNG DAU BING) to promote in Changsha. He not only talked about the production with Angelica Lee Sinjie, Penny Dai Pui Nei and other buddies but also conducted a small scale "first love girlfriend" contest. Among the three different style candidates, Ah Niu finally chose "Flower" candidate Xie Wenting as he thought her more mild mannered personality was right for the "first love girlfriend" image.

First time director Ah Niu claimed that he was not following the singer turned director trend as his initial dream was making movies. "My dream of making movies was before I became a singer, so when I had the ability to fulfill it I started to plan ICE KACANG." AH Niu stated that he chose "first love" as his first film topic because he felt he could make it well and be able to control it. "Actually what I want to remember with this film wasn't first love but a Malay small town." Ah Niu who grew up in a small town could only recall his childhood through photos and memories as small towns gradually vanished due to city development.

As for the group support of Lee Sinjie, Victor Wong (Bun Guoon), Gary Chaw (Cho Gat) and other "Malay Gang" all stars, Ah Niu was very appreciative and said that they all performed at a "friendly rate". Lee Sinjie even used her own experience to help Ah Niu with his script. She

wrote many of "Fighting Fish" lines in the film. Ah Niu honestly said that he is already thinking about his next film.

The new film ICE KACANG PUPPY LOVE was Ah Niu (Chan Hing Cheung)'s first film as a director and a star. In order to fulfill his film dream, he sold his house, used all of his life saving, and called in favors from Angelica Lee Sinjie, Victor Huang (Wong Bun Koon), Jasmine Leong Jing Yu, Gary Chaw (Cho Gat) and other superstars to perform. He honestly said that the pressure was enormous.

The film's background was the Malaysian countryside over a decade ago. The actors' costumes were very retro. Bun Koon slicked back his hair, wore flip flops and a gold Rolex, shaking his money maker while singing love songs; Cho Gat played a mobster who wore a loose and torn white tank top to bully everyone around. Yet the film focus remained on Ah Niu and the married Sinjie's 42 second long kiss scenes.

Ah Niu even revealed that once he was interested in Lee Sinjie. In high school they often participated in drama camp and have become friends for years. Lee Sinjie said that after many years she finally realized that Ah Niu was interested in her and she was surprised. The past crush became the female lead. Everyone jokingly yelled, "The director deliberately arranged benefits for himself!" Ah Niu said, "No! It was purely for dramatic effects!" Sinjie joked, "For this scene, my co-star is my good friend Ah Niu. Actually I was very nervous. Before the shoot I drank half a bottle of red wine before I was able to get into character!" Ah Niu replied, "Actually I drank the rest of the bottle!"