Movie Box Review

Edmond Leung courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Maggie Cheung remains protective of her boyfriend despite break up rumors

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam) two nights ago attended a fashion store opening ceremony with Miriam Yeung Chin Wa, Huang Xiaoming, Edmond Leung Hong Man and others.

Huang Xiaoming stated that he was busy with Peter Chan Ho Sun's new film THE GUILLOTINES (HUET DIK JI).  Speaking of he and rumored girlfriend Angelababy appearing at a Mainland airport, Huang Xiaoming changed the subject when asked whether Baby was visiting him on the set.  "Do you have another question?  This year I already made seven movies.  I work very hard and hope to focus on my movies."  When asked whether he was so busy that he had no time to date, Huang Xiaoming said that he did not have time to see even his parents.  "After THE GUILLOTINES I have to make another new film, a love story in the 60s.  The cast will have good actors from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.  I look forward to it very much."

The Yeung Chin Wa, Eva Huang Shengyi and Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred new film PIK LIK SUN TAM (THUNDER COP) was rumored to be postponed due to Huang Shengyi's pregnancy.  Chin Wa admitted that the production date has been delayed to early next year, but she did not know whether it was due to Huang Shengyi.  She said, "I very much look forward to working with Yen Chi Tan, so I am a little sorry.  However next month I have my concert, now by change I can have more time to rest and recover."  As for whether the new film production schedule change would affect her parenthood plan, she joked that it would depend on whether she was destined to continue the production.

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

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."

courtesy of on.cc

Raymond Lam Fung and Eva Huang Shengyi worked on the Ching Siu Tung directed THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET).  Earlier they accepted a TVB interview and talked about their many passionate scenes.  The most memorable was the kiss in the water.  Because Shengyi did not know how to swim at all, she could only be in the water for a few seconds.  She could only open her eyes in the water and act at all.  Finally with everyone's encouragement and training she was able to complete this underwater kiss of a century with Lam Fung.

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

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."

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

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.

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

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

courtesy of mingpao.com

Raymond Lam, Eva Huang, Charlene Choi courtesy of takungpao.com

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.

courtesy of on.cc

Last year Kitty Zhang Yuqi revealed her contract termination with Stephen Chow Sing Chi's Star Overseas, which the company denied.  Yesterday the case progressed as reportedly it will be publicly tried in Shanghai in three days.  Actually in 2007 "Sing Girl" Eva Huang Shengyi through legal means gained her freedom, but this time Zhang Yuqi was not the one who filed suit but the defendant.

In addition, Sing Yeh's NEW CHINESE ODYSSEY reportedly would star Golden Horse Best Actor Huang Bo as Sun Wukong and Show Luo (Law Chi Cheung) as Piggy.

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

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

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.

Landy Wen, Vivian Hsu, Luo Mei-Ling

Vivian Hsu

John Woo

Charlene Choi feels like a country girl in a big city

Dzi Beads courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

The Eva Huang Shengyi starred film THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET) participated in the Venice Film Festival.  She happily departed but ran into trouble on the way and was stuck in Germany; after half a day, she finally received an exception visa to land in Venice.  Huang Shengyi's travel document had problems due to the Chinese consulate issuing the incorrect date on her visa, turning August 30 into September 28.  Huang Shengyi during layover in Germany was held up at the border.  Around 4PM Huang Shengyi received an exception for the transfer to Venice and thanked the authorities for their help online.  Due to the delay, Huang Shengyi had to catch up and jumped right into work without any rest.  She ate as she had her make up done.

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of takungpao.com

courtesy of singtao.com