Movie Box Review

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Winning multiple international awards, the film A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) since its March 8 release has performed ideally at the box office.  Its opening box office was 3.1 million.  As for noon yesterday it accumulated 6.2 million.  Wa Jai and Deanie Ip Tak Han were still busy with the film promotion.  Lau Tak Wa even turned the film's production process into a new book titled MY 30 WORK DAYS: A SIMPLE LIFE PRODUCTION DIARY.  Two days ago Wa Jai attended a book signing in Taiwan.  When the news of Wa Jai's Taiwan visit went out, Wa Jai fans immediately rushed to buy the new book and the publisher had to print another edition in an emergency.  Since last Tuesday's advanced sales to its official release, another edition was needed in ten short days.  The book signing was originally slated for 300 fans, but due to the overwhelming advanced sales the number increased in the last minute to 500 fans.

Lau Tak Wa said that he has always had a dream to direct, he has already prepared a script.  Wa Jai pointed out that when he joined the television actor training class he originally wanted to study screen writing and directing, but under the instructor's encouragement he stumbled his way into becoming an actor.  However his dream to direct remained in his heart.  He pointed out that a year ago he originally wanted to make his film but he ran into Ann Hui On Wa, so he made A SIMPLE LIFE.  He also said that Taiwan film development was thriving.  After seeing Doze Niu Chen-Zer and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun)'s work as directors he thought they were amazing.  He too had to work hard on catching up.

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The Vicki Zhao Wei, Shu Qi, Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin), Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting), Eddie Peng Yu-Yen and Doze Niu Chen-Zer starred romance LOVE will not officially open in Hong Kong until the 23rd, but in Taiwan it opened on the 10th.  Its box office in two and a half days reached NT$37 million and created the highest box office record in Taiwan this year.

With the hot Taiwan opening LOVE yesterday opened in the Mainland at 14:00.  The time selection was due to its Putonghua euphony that meant "for a lifetime".  Hong Kong film distributors decided to hold advanced
screenings on Valentine's Day, the 18th and the 19th.

The cast earlier attended the Beijing premiere.  Zhao Wei and Shu Qi even kissed each other amidst the cheer of the media and the audience to create the most classic scene since SO CLOSE (JIK YEUNG TIN SI).  Viewers who have seen the film overwhelmingly voted for Shu Qi and Chiu Yau Ting's characters as the "most envious" and the "most fortunate" characters.  Shu Qi received the most female viewer envy because in the film she was under the take of tycoon Niu Chen-Zer and had time to have an affair with Chiu Yau Ting, finally she was even able to find true love like Yuen King Tin!  Chiu Yau Ting was the most fortunate because he had kiss scenes with Shu Qi and Zhao Wei; Chiu Yau Ting gleefully said, "When I kissed I felt the air around me freeze and time also stopped!"

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Daniel Wu, Shu Qi, Doze Niu, Stephen Fung, Mark Chao courtesy of mingpao.com

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Shu Qi, Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting) and director Doze Niu Chen-Zer last night attended their new film LOVE's Hong Kong premiere.  The film's other actor Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin) was absent due to military service.

Shu Qi and Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) have been linked in rumors for years.  At the end of last year they were caught visiting Indonesia.  Last night reporters congratulated Shu Qi.  She immediately changed the subject.  "Are you congratulating me on my Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress nomination?  (Congratulation on you dating!)  When?  The news was written a week ago, I don't need to promote like this.  It has been rumored for ten years!"  Who would she spend Valentine's Day with?  She said that she would see Niu Chen-Zer and Chiu Yau Ting because today she will head to the Mainland to promote the new film in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other locations.  Was she not going to rest for half a year?  She said that she would not make a movie for half a year, she would still promote.  Who would she spend Valentine's Day with?  She said, "Check out my micro blog and you would know!  I have a date with the LOVE team.  (Do you long for love?)  OK, I am always working on romantic films with actors so I don't feel like I am not dating.  Like this movie, I have to kiss Chiu Yau Ting, Niu Chen-Zer takes care of me and have an innocent romance with Siu Tin.  I feel I have all the fun in life, I am pretty satisfied."

As for Shu Qi praising Niu Chen-Zer as handsome, she said that everyone had different flavor.  However Siu Tin was the most attractive to her because they played a couple that reminded her of simpler love during her school days.  Now would she pursue simple love?  She admitted that she truly wanted simple love.  Because she had many memorable and passionate love in movies, she felt very tired and ordinary was beautiful.  Stephen Fung Tak Lun who was also linked to rumor with Shu Qi last night came with good friend Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho).  He also chatted with Shu Qi.

Shu Qi was nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress with A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.  Facing a strong opponent in Deanie Ip Tak Han, she admitted that she almost knew the result.  She was already very happy about the nomination because A BEAUTIFUL LIFE production was very tough.  Now with the Hong Kong Film Award recognition she had something to answer with.  Who was her biggest competition?  She said, "Everyone is great, I am great too.  I will attend the award ceremony, I won't be absent because I know I would lose.  (Maybe it will be a surprise?)  The surprise wouldn't be me, how tragic you guys are."

As for Best Actor, Shu Qi picked Lau Ching Wan but she did not know whether his two nominations would split his votes.  Among the nominated films she has only seen LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM), so she did not dare to comment.

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The Doze Niu Chen-Zer directed new film LOVE will open next Friday.  The film company two days ago first released a book.  The director could not put the book down.  LOVE will participate in this year's Berlin Film Festival Panorama segment, the director's second film to participate other than MONGA.  Niu Chen-Zer expected to go to Berlin with the cast on the 15th.  So far only Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting) has been confirmed.  Ethan Juan due to military service could not attend.  Actresses Ivy Chen, Amber Kuo, Vicki Zhao Wei, Shu Qi and others were still in negotiation.  The director hoped for Zhao Wei and Shu Qi to be able to attend the most.

Yuen King Tin earlier finally reported for military service.  The director was very happy for him, but his heart also ached for all the pressure that Siu Tin had to endure during this period.  Siu Tin was accused of "dodging service", the director again clarified for Siu Tin and said that Siu Tin had no way to decide his reporting date.

Siu Tin earlier said that his girlfriend Tiffany Hsu due to work could not see him off, but later reportedly his girlfriend was waiting in the car in advance and they went to Taichung together.  Some even said that Siu Tin's car drove straight into the military camp and he was again under suspicion of special privilege.  Later the military said that everything was applied for according to rules, the arrangement was made only because the military did not want Yuen King Tin to be the target of the media.  In addition, all reporting men must leave their vehicles at the gate, have their temperature take to confirm that they did not have a fever before they walked into the camp.  Siu Tin however did not do so; the military reiterated that Yuen King Tin's car occupants were already confirmed in the camp, the car was permitted to enter to avoid a media circus.

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The Berlin Film Festival yesterday announced that the Doze Niu Chen-Zer directed romantic comedy LOVE has been selected to participate in this year's festival.  On February 16 Niu Chen-Zer will promote the film in Berlin with Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting).

Niu Chen-Zer was very surprised and pleased, as LOVE was proven to be without border or time restrictions and even exceeded language and cultural barriers.  He looked forward to going to Berlin again very much, to share his love experience with the world.  LOVE is about eight people in Taipei and Beijing's romantic struggles and reflects love in modern society.  The film cost 75 million RMB with influential actors and crew of both sides of the straits like Vicki Zhao Wei, Shu Qi, Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin), Mark Chao, Eddie Peng Yu-Yan, Mark Lee Ping-Bin, Tu Du-Chih and others.  The film has already been scheduled for a Valentine's Day release.  With the Berlin Film Festival selection, the film's popularity will explode.

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Two nights ago on Christmas, Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin) and director Doze Niu Chen-Zer attended a Taiwan promotion for their February film release LOVE.

How did Siu Tin spend Christmas?  He said that this year was the coldest Christmas.  He knew Taipei's restaurants and cinemas would have many people, so he went to Northeast Coast where it was truly super cold.  What did he give his girlfriend Tiffany Hsu?  Siu Tin said, "We kept each other company, giving her a complete companion was already the best gift."

Earlier reportedly Siu Tin applied to military service exemption because he was flat footed.  Siu Tin said that it was not like he could apply just because he wanted to, the departments had to make a decision.

Director Doze also clarified for Siu Tin and said that Siu Tin has always looked forward to his military service.  Over the years Siu Tin always said that military service should not be avoided.  To him military service was a great life experience.  Director Doze continued that sometimes Siu Tin's friends would use some great opportunities to tempt him into keep delaying his military service.  Actually now Siu Tin might report at any moment.

Director Doze hoped Siu Tin would be able to promote LOVE with him before the military service, but Siu Tin was not in charge of the decision.  He himself did not want to postpone it anymore as he wanted to face this matter as soon as possible.  Siu Tin also reiterated that at work for now he did not have much planned.  Before his military service he would promote LOVE and hoped to reach as many places as he could.

Jimmy Wang, Ethan Juan

Eddie Peng is not disappointed courtesy of on.cc

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WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE took home four Golden Horse Awards including Best Feature Film.  Director Wei Te-Sheng at the celebration laughed very happily; but he admitted that he was somewhat disappointed about not winning other awards.  As for Best New Actor, SEEDIQ had three nominees and all lost to Ko Chen-Tung.  Director Wei was asked whether he would be petty, he joked, "Today I can't bring swords so it's unfair."  He said that when the Best Feature Film was announced, at the time he wanted to give up, took the chance to run to the bathroom and escaped the awkwardness of defeat in the front of the camera.  Luckily he finally won the biggest award, which surprised him very much.

In addition, the Best Actor favorite, JUMP! ASHIN's Eddie Peng Yu-yen lost to Wa Jai.  When Doze Niu Chen-Zer and Lee Lieh presented the Best New Director Award they even said that he did not have much chance to win.  Peng Yu-Yen said that the director was only joking because they were close.  However, he admitted that he was somewhat disappointed because he gave a lot in JUMP!  Although this time he could not win, he was very happy to be nominated with other elders.

Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin) two nights ago was a guest presenter along with Shu Qi.  Then he even attended the WU XIA celebration.  Big Brother Jimmy Wang Yu who lost despite a high vote count also attended and kept joking.  He said that he did not expect what he said on stage, "I had a stroke but no award" to become the show's slang.  He even said, "Actually I can be with or without the award, the most important is
presenting the award to Director Ting Shan-Hsi.  Being able to present the award to him I am truly the happiest."

When Siu Tin saw Big Brother Wang Yu he joyously embraced him.  Both were bald and immediately reporters noticed their collaboration.  Siu Tin joked, "Big Brother Wang is the chief commander of us GUILLOTINES (HUET DIK JI).  He is responsible for training and leading us."  Big Brother Wang Yu said that earlier he went to Xian to guest star for a few days in GUILLOTINES.  He saw how hard working young Best Actor Siu Tin was and praised him as a very rare actor.  Big Brother Wang Yu suddenly recalled he co-starred in Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Tang Wei in WU XIA and joked, "Why wasn't I nominated for Best Actor?  If I was nominated for Best Actor and I could duel with (Andy) Lau Tak Wa, I might have won too!"  Another guest presenter Simon Yam Tat Wa asked for a glass of water and began to "toast" the team.  Brother Wa who did not drink said, "This is my 98% white wine, I have to congratulate all the winners!"

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Doze Niu Chen-Zer's new film after MONGA, LOVE, yesterday held its first Mainland media event in Beijing.  Huayi Brothers chief Wang Zhonglei, director Niu Chen-Zer, leads Vicki Zhao Wei and Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting) were interviewed.  Niu Chen-Zer said that the film was a snapshot that examined the complicated relationships in the modern city love.  He also added some of his own life experience into it.  He said, "In recent years I have more and more understanding about 'love'.  I want very much to share this experience with the world so I want to make a movie about love."

Zhao Wei this time played a mother on screen for the first time.  Her relationship with her son in the film was very touching.  She said that the character was very different from her past roles and could be a breakthrough for her acting wise.  In addition she was able to work with the director and a group of Taiwan hunks, which was the reason that she temporarily put down her daughter and took the role.  On his first visit to Beijing, Chiu Yau Ting praised the early Autumn Beijing atmosphere was very romantic; he also praised Zhao Wei for being very charming on and off camera and a popular woman.  He also talked about the fun time he had while working with Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin) and Eddie Peng Yu-Yan.  He also jokingly hoped to form with them the Taiwan "hunky trio" to bring even more handsome work to the audience.

Also at the event, the director presented "certificate of love" to the two leads.  To coordinate with his character, Chiu Yau Ting also received the "girl pick up" certificate.  Zhao Wei received the "best girlfriend" certificate.  After accepting their certificates, they gave the director a "marriage certificate" and publicly rushed him.  Zhao Wei said, "Because we feel the director looks carefree and wild but inside is someone who wants to get married very much, I hope he will be able to find a companion to spend the rest of his life with and forever extend love in marriage."

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Eddie Peng, Mark Chao, Doze Niu, Ethan Juan

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