Movie Box Review

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Irene Wan Bik Ha, William Chan Wai Ting, Michelle Wai (Si Nga), Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung, Patrick Tam Yiu Man and others yesterday attended their new film JAT JIK (PROMOTION) production start ceremony.  Irene said that in the film she will play the big sister of Wise Guys for the first time in the film.  She revealed that she has been bad when she was young, but after getting into the business she ended this type of life.  Luckily she did not take any misstep.  Now she would take care of her adopted son so he would not turn bad.

Chan Wai Ting and Si Nga again will play a couple after EX (CHIN DOH).  They also will have bed scenes, but Si Nga revealed that since she did one before she was not afraid.  She did not want to make this type of scenes too much, luckily the director was understanding and removed the rape scene.  Chan Wai Ting in the film kept fighting and killing.  He said that earlier the director even took him to dine with people in the mob to gain experience.  He continued, "I will have tattoos all over, one of which will look like Si Nga.  (Will he get a tattoo with your girlfriend Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin?)  No!  Now I regret getting a tattoo very much because it affects work a lot."  He hoped that everyone would focus on his work and decided to talk like about her.

Gillian Chung is rumored as involved in Elaine Tang and Plato Lai's break up

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Twins yesterday promoted their early March album release on the radio.  Because later they will have to begin their film work, they have to grasp the time to promote.  Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin revealed that she will start work on her film in March, she was happy because this time the shoot will mainly take place in Hong Kong except for a few days in the Mainland.  Gillian Chung Yun Tung in April will have to shoot in the
Mainland in April the nwork on a television series.  Due to confidentiality Ah Gil said that a lot of the film details could not be revealed yet.  She only revealed that she will work with an amazing actor in the film.  He is not an actor from either side of the strait and is married.  She stated that she and Ah Sa both liked to watch his films.  Ah Sa even joked that she has already put her name down, she would not mind even playing pedestrian A.  She said that she really wanted to visit the set, if he had time she might go with her boyfriend William Chan Wai Ting.

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Mainland Best Actor Ge You yesterday attended a press conference to officially sing with Emperor for three major productions in five years.  Emperor invested 500 million RMB on Ge You to plan and create movies, but he mercilessly joked that Emperor artists' Mandarin was not authentic enough.

Ge You yesterday attended the press conference in Happy Valley, announced the Emperor collaboration and signed the contract.  Big boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing led many of the company's artists like Twins, William Chan Wai Ting, Ken Hung Cheuk Lap and Sherman Chung Shu Man in support.  Ge You also announced that in the next five years he will plan film projects that he will star in and make three movies.  Reportedly the total investment amount reached 500 million RMB.

Ge You reiterated that he still was handling scripts.  As for the subjects, he responded, "I don't even know whether they are ancient, modern or contemporary yet."  Would he like to direct?  Ge You admitted, "Ten years ago someone has already asked me to direct, but for now I still haven't had the idea.  After being an actor for such a long time I feel being a director is too much trouble!"  He also mentioned that before the event he chatted with a male Emperor artist and discovered that with his accent he would have difficulty playing someone from Beijing.  He said, "He would be more suitable to play someone from Hong Kong who went to work in Beijing."  As for which artist he would like to work with, he admitted that if he had the chance he would like to work with Nicholas Tse Ting Fung.  As for the salary, he stressed that it was satisfactory but the most important was the large creative space.  He also said, "Yeung Sau Sing has been my friend for many years, I feel he is both familiar and pleasant."  On the other hand, Emperor boss Yeung Sau Sing said that he was deeply pleased to be able to sign Ge You but declined to discuss the salary.  He said, "We have been good friends for many years, being able to sign him truly is rare."  Yeung Sau Sing also said that this time he will provide him with a lot of freedom.  This time Ge You would be responsible for the film projects.

Yeung Sau Sing said, "Only they know about the Mainland taste, like I don't understand the jokes in IF YOU ARE THE ONE 2 either."  He also stated that Ge You was the top actor in three lands on both sides of the strait.  He said, "Last Christmas he alone made 1.5 billion at the box office.  This year he hasn't made any movie.  I am worried about him having to make three movies in five years.  However he can decide whether they will be costume or modern."  As for signing others, Yeung Sau Sing said that many are under negotiation.  For example Jiang Wen is already a steady collaboration partner.  Emperor also has a part in Feng Xiaogang's movies.  It will also work with Chen Kaige's large production.  As for signing actresses, Yeung Sau Sing thought that the film industry remained male artist dominated so he has not had such a thought.  He said, "The Mainland is actor driven, few female Mainland stars can carry the box office.  It's the same way in Hong Kong, with Wa Jai (Andy Lau), Wai Jai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and (Nicholas) Tse Ting Fung.  Few actresses can carry the entire film."  As for Ge You's accusation that some Emperor male artists' Mandarin was not Beijing enough, Yeung Sau Sing took the chance to reveal that he just talked with Kenny Kwan Chi Bun and criticized his poor Mandarin.  Would he hire someone to instruct?  He replied, "I will ask Mani (Fok Man Hei) to take care of it."

Kenny admitted that his accent was not Beijing enough, thus making local series would be hard.  However he said, "Ordinary communication isn't a problem.  We will improve our Beijing accent in hopes of being able to work with Ge You."  Steven Cheung Chi Hung said that he believed he would have to live there be able to practice his Beijing accent.  He said, "We ask Mani to get more Mainland series for us."  Twins' Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin admitted that Ge You was very highly positioned and very nice.  "If I will be able to work with him, I will be willing to sweep the floor and empty the trash."  Speaking of her less than fluent Mandarin, Ah Sa said, "Hong Kong artists indeed can improve more.  In the past I wanted to provide my own voice for my Mandarin roles, but because the approval required Beijing accent in the end I couldn't."

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Twins and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung two nights ago attended the 20th Golden Rooster Hundred Flower Film Festival Award in Hefei.  Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and Mainland star Bai Bing presented "Best Music Award" while Ting Fung presented "Best Actor".

When asked whether Twins wanted to be on the Golden Rooster Hundred Flower award stage, they said, "Of course!  We would be happy with the nomination.  This time we saw so many Hong Kong artists participating and we were very moved.  Unfortunately favorite (Aaron) Kwok Fu Sing didn't win Best Actor."  Two nights ago Twins on the red carpet were already very popular with the Mainland audience.  Ah Sa was the happiest about seeing Hu Ge because they have not seen each other since working together on BUTTERFLY LOVER (LEUNG JOOK).  Ah Sa was also happy about the reunion with Liu Xiaoqing.

After the awards, Twins and Ting Fung had a rare chance to run into each other and met at the hotel to celebrate.  They will perform a concert and act respectively in Shanghai.  Twins asked Ting Fung to attend their performance in Shanghai.

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JADE SOLID GOLD taped two nights ago with William Chan Wai Ting, Jade Kwan Sum Yin, Mag Lam Yun Tung, Hotcha, Samuel Toi and others.  Chan Wai Ting revealed that later he will make a Wise Guy movie.  He said that he has always been a YOUNG AND DANGEROUS (GOO WAT JAI) fan and envious of Dior Cheng Yi Kin's chance to play Chan Ho Nam.  This time he finally fulfilled his dream of playing a Wise Guy.  Now he had to lose weight as he hoped to shape up.  Earlier when he made a Mainland film his weight rose to 170 pounds and his face was much rounder.

Ekin was afraid that playing a Wise Guy would affect his image.  William said that seeing Ekin's success he knew that there was no effect.  Would he need to have tattoos?  He said that he had four real tattoos already, but he would not mind more for the movie.  William said that he would not get a love tattoo or a couple tattoo because he knew that his girlfriend Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin would not get one.

Lam Yun Tung recently had a part in the Joey Yung Cho Yi starred film DIVA.  Joey earlier attended the press conference and the host described her as a "box office poison".  Was she afraid of becoming poison?  Lam Yun Tung said that she would not have any box office pressure because it was beyond her control.  She could only do her part and she believed Joey would as well.  Did Joey complain to her?  She said no, she believed that Joey would not mind.  The host just wanted to create some cheer.  This time in the film she would not have any kiss or bed scene.  Who would she like her first on screen kiss to go to?  Lam Yun Tung said that she never thought about it.  Would she like to give it to her rumored boyfriend Sheldon Lo (Law Hau Yung)?  She joked, "I want to give it to a dog."

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Ching Siu Tung, Eva Huang, Jet Li, Charlene Choi, Yang Zi courtesy of takungpao.com

The Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Eva Huang Shengyi and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin starred THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUEN) two nights ago held a premiere in Causeway Bay.

Lee Nin Kit did not accept any media interview only did a brief question and answer segment with the host.  Director Ching Siu Tung pointed out, THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE was the most difficult
fight film for Lee Nin Kit in the past ten years.  Lee Nin Kit said that this time was not considered difficult.  He joked, "Attending promotions to me is even more difficult."  Ching Siu Tung also said that every actor
worked on this film until they got sick due to the dozen or so degree below zero Celsius climate.  he said, "We still used the wind machine to create the drifting feeling!"  Ah Sa also admitted that working in the water in the chilly winter without any protective clothing was very tough, luckily the director prepared ginger tea for them to keep warm.

Ah Sa revealed that when she went shoe shopping she ran into "Big Beauty" Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha) and Ti Lung's wife Tao Man Ming.  She said, "I asked them for their opinions.  Mrs. Ti Lung thought the shoes were pretty."

Ah Sa joked that every time she went clothes shopping she ran into "guiding light".  Last time in Venice she saw Deanie Ip Tak Han.  This time she ran into Lam Ching Ha for the first time.  As for her impression, she said, "I feel she is very well maintained."

Huang Shengyi dressed provocatively two nights ago.  She admitted that she did not use any tape and took the chance to urge the media not to keep staring at her chest.  She revealed that next month she will again
come to Hong Kong for an action comedy.

Shengyi said, "For this movie I have already trained over two months in martial arts, thus with another action film I don't need to practice more."  Shengyi revealed that she also did not need to practice earlier for a martial art performance in a commercial.  Thus she got her return for all her hard work.  Shengyi also pointed out that SORCERER was the most difficult because thus she learned a lot of action techniques.  She hoped to have more chances to work on action films in the future.  She said, "Kung fu films sell better and have more overseas market."

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Eva Huang Shengyi and Raymond Lam Fung earlier promoted their film THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET), which will be released simultaneously in Hong Kong and the Mainland.  Lam Fung played Hui Sin but different from the previously cowardly Hui Sin.  This time he would give for White Snake.  Lam Fung said, "Honestly I didn't used to think Hui Sin was a man, but this time he finally gave and made this romance a little more equal."  He directly said that at first he worried that viewers would make comparisons to previous work and did not understand why director Ching Siu Tung would cast him as Hui Sin.  When he learned that the new version would be sunnier and the entire romance would be more balanced, he believed that the life and death scenes would be even more touching.  He joked, "Female viewers absolutely can bring tissues to the movie!"

Ching Siu Tung was a famous action director, but Lam Fung in the film was the only one without any fight scene.  He honestly said that was regrettable.  He said, "The director is known for making martial art very pretty, I too want to learn from him.  Yet at the most I just did wire work and rock climbing."  During the shoot, he said that the most difficult was being in the water.  Actually originally he did not need to get wet but accidentally fell into the lake.  The director thought the visual was decent and finally wanted him to soak in the lake and romance White Snake.  He was all wet for three days.  Lam Fung hoped to work with the director on his next action film because he too wanted to become an action star.  He said, "Romance is more direct with the result, but fight action after editing would be different and may even make myself look better in fights.  (Yet romance is more relaxing?)  Who says?  The last time I injured my neck from a romantic scene."

As White Snake Huang Shengyi said that many action scenes in the film relied on special effect assistance, but she made many preparations as well to avoid too many bad takes.  She also honestly said that working
with Ching Siu Tung was stressful but also very exciting.  She hoped to be able to fight more.  Was she not afraid of injury?  She said that she scratched her finger but a prop bruised her face, but she did not regret making action scenes.  Instead she thought it was very fun because she was able to learn a lot.  She would not succeed just from doing.  In the film she also had many wire scene, in one of which she had to turn in mid air then fly out.  However she turned 20 to 30 times and she was dizzy.  The toughest however was diving head first from ten floors up.  She recalled, "At the time I was very scared but after struggling for several minutes I jumped.  I finally jumped seven or eight times.  Aside from the first time, I wasn't so scared anymore.  That was just psychological."  Speaking of her wardrobe malfunction at the Venice Film Festival, she helplessly said, "I am more careless, the director often asked me why I constantly had accidents."  She joked that Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin taught her some wardrobe malfunction prevention techniques.  I believed soon I would have to ask her for more advice."

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The Ching Siu Tung directed THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET) will open on September 29th in Hong Kong and the Mainland for the National Day slot.  Eva Huang Shengyi and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin in the film played White Snake and Green Snake.  As Green Snake, Ah Sa would display Green Snake's lively side.  In the film she even played matchmaker to Huang Shengyi and Raymond Lam Fung.  The film added many computer generated special effects.  In THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE a human shape that was covered in snake scales from shoulder to waist and below waist was all snake.  In order to realistically display such human snake hybrid, Huang Shengyi and Ah Sa were wrapped in blue cloth from their chest down and relied on post production on the special effect created snake scales.  Their figures left nothing to the imagination.  To create White Snake and Green Snake's "snake skin", Huang Shengyi and Ah Sa also needed to be completely naked in the resin mold.  To Huang Shengyi and Ah Sa, the film THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE made them give the biggest leeway in their careers.

Huang Shengyi said the molding process was a little hot.  At first she was not used to it.  Luckily her skin did not have any reaction.  She said that this special effect scene was already much more comfortable than fighting Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit)'s Fahai and being hung up high for a sword fight.  She said that after days of fighting, the molding was like rest for her.  Speaking of working with Ah Sa, Huang Shengyi said that she was a very cute little sister.  This half human, half snake look once gave Director Ching Siu Tung quite a headache as he repeatedly asked the Korean company to make adjustments to achieve Green and White Snake's half human, half snake image.  In addition, the film also had other demons, like Miriam Yeung Chin Wa's rabbit demon, Jiang Wu's turtle demon, Chapman To Man Jat's toad demon, Lam Suet's rooster demon and a particularly cute mouse.  They were all friends of White Snake and Green Snake.

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Venice Best Actress Deanie Ip picked out Charlene Choi's red carpet earrings

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Raymond Lam Fung yesterday promoted THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET) with Eva Huang Shengyi and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin.  Lam Fung, Ah Sa and Huang Shengyi talked about the film's intimate scenes.  Lam Fung and Huang Shengyi said that for the shots they shot two days underwater, everyday they worked the full ten hours.  Was she worried that Lam Fung's fans would be jealous?  Huang Shengyi stressed that she was not.  Lam Fung said that the memorable intimate scene was with a man.  "My first time was with Bobby (Auyeung Chun Wa).  This time I am with a Mainland actress.  Of course being intimate with girls is more normal, when I worked with Bobby I couldn't hold back my laughter."  In addition, Deanie Ip Tak Han with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) won the Venice Best Actress award.  Huang Shengyi honestly said that she definitely would see A SIMPLE LIFE; as for Ah Sa she stressed that the earrings that she wore on the film festival red carpet were Sister Deanie chosen.

Deanie Ip made an appearance in support and Ah Sa was touched

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Jet Li, Eva Huang, Charlene Choi, Ching Siu Tung

THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SHEH CHUEN SHUET) held its global premiere on September 3 at the Venice Film Festival.  Executive producer Yang Zi, director Ching Siu Tung, stars Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Eva Huang Shengyi and Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin attended.  With his first appearance at an international film festival, Lee Nin Kit attracted many overseas fans.  After the press conference, many foreign media lined up for this kung fu emperor's autograph.

Director Ching Siu Tung honestly said that the audience of the entire world would be able to understand THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE.  "This is a Chinese folk story that also has a lot of special effects and action."  With his years of action film experience, "overseas sickness" would not appear overseas.  He even revealed that the international version was half a hour shorter so the story could focus more on the White Snake, Hui Sin, Green Snake, Nung Yung, and Fahai.  In the September 29 Asian release, Hui Sin's marriage proposal would be added and some existing animal characters would become human in the form of guest stars like Jiang Wu, Miriam Yeung Chin Wa, Chapman To Man Jat, Sonija Kwok Sin Nei and others to add to the story's entertainment value.  Ching Siu Tung participated in his first Venice Film Festival and did not only enjoy the Water city's scenery and the Mediterranean cuisine, but also more direct understanding of European film festivals.  He thought that the Venice Film Festival paid a lot of attention to the film genre during its film selection.

Walking on the Venice red carpet for the first time, Huang Shengyi repeatedly said it felt great and hoped that everyone would be able to experience the Chinese culture through her fashion.  Huang Shengyi even
introduced the Dzi Bead that she wore.  "Dzi Bead like diamond and other gems is a treasure with collectible value."  Playing Fahai, Lee Nin Kit has worked with Ching Siu Tung for years.  He trusted the director very
much.  "Whatever he lets me do, I do."  Reporters also asked him about his One Foundation and whether he would unify it with martial arts, which Lee Nin Kit honestly said that would be very hard.  "Martial art is a
profession, the One Foundation is my non profit organization.  Although it has made some strides, we still need to keep working hard."  Playing Green Snake, Choi Cheuk Yin said that the director guided her on the set through mimicking the snake's movement.  However when she saw a man made such gestures she could not help but laugh.  Yang Zi revealed that the film's current overseas advanced sales have been very ideal and already set the best sales performance of a Chinese films overseas in recent years.  It has always broken even.  With the distribution's guaranteed minimum accounting and online copyright, the film has already made its cost back.