Movie Box Review

For Thursday, February 9 2012

For Thursday, February 2 2012

courtesy of on.cc

Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) gave their all in the Emperor Motion Picture THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) and their hard work paid off!  Yesterday it opened and already made 400,000 at the box office before noon as its admission rate was over 90%.  With the three day advanced screening it made 1.2 million, a conservative estimate of the cumulative box office so far it might already have broken the 2 million mark.  It even was on top of the Malaysia box office and the top Chinese film in Singapore.  Since other Lunar New Year films I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) made 440,000 and ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI) made 400,000, the victory was overwhelming.

Director Dante Lam Chiu Yin honestly said that he was satisfied with the performance so far but he remained nervous.  Yesterday he even stayed by his computer to "check numbers".  "Although the Mainland box office is very important, Hong Kong ultimately is my home.  Losing would be unreasonable."  Ting Fung earlier even boasted that he wanted to challenge the Sky100 outer wall.  Lam Chiu Yin said that after the film's box office exceeded 10 million, he would begin to plan the sequel.

In addition, a self proclaimed Chow Kit Lun fan posted on Lam Chiu Yin's microblog.  The fan bought a ticket to THE VIRAL FACTOR in the Mainland, but the ticket that came out was for THE FLOWERS OF WAR.  The worker even changed the title with a pen, which upset her very much.  Lam Chiu Yin responded, "Actually such situations are often heard of.  I really don't know where the box office would go.  If you ask me of course I am worried about its effects.  Hopefully the authority will focus some attention to this."

Aarif Rahman, Zhou Dongyu

Dou Xiao, Joe Chen courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

The Barbara Wong Chun Chun directed THE ALLURE OF TEARS (KING SING JI LUI) two days ago was released simultaneously nationwide.  Its opening day box office already reached 10 million RMB and held its own against opening big films FLOWERS OF WAR and FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP 3D).  Executive producer Feng Kaishuai and director Wong Chun Chun was very excited about the film's Mainland success.

Wong Chun Chun said that ALLURE was a small romance.  At first she worried that viewers would choose the traditional large production, thus the entire team promoted even harder at many major cities in hopes of attracting even more young viewers.  Thus its opening was able to hold its own against two large films.  It was a shot of confidence into the entire team.  Hopefully the film's future Hong Kong release will perform well as well.  One of the lead actresses Gigi Leung Wing Kei happily said, "Everyone said that I was lucky.  I too hoped to be able to bring my luck to this film so it would perform better and better at the box office.  If it will pass 100 million, I will treat everyone to dinner.  Executive producer Daniel will take everyone on vacation to celebration."

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

The Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) and Zhou Xun starred 3D film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) yesterday held a press conference and premiere in Macau.  Director Tsui Hark led the cast to appear at the event.  Zhang Yimou earlier locked in reporters to prevent them from covering Tsui Hark and Johnnie To Kei Fung's new film promotions.  Tsui Hark yesterday said that the society stressed harmony but he could not understand why the film industry would be so explosive.  FLYING's selling point was the Mainland's first 3D film.  Yesterday the cast gathered in Macau to promote.  Lee Nin Kit led Zhou Xun, Kwai Lun-Mei and others to the event.  Director Tsui Hark said that he would be able to bring 3D film into a new territory.  He ambitiously said, "I hope Chinese film can head toward the entire world!"

Speaking of the competition, Zhang Yimou's FLOWERS OF WAR was accused of trapping the media at its event with a buffet to drive out Tsui Hark and To Kei Fung's new films.  Tsui Hark said, "I feel very honored to be in the same period as Zhang Yimou, but I feel the society stresses harmony.  I don't know why this industry is so explosive!"  In addition, many behind the scene said Tsui Hark the Devil because he forced actors to train hard for fight scenes.  Tsui Hark responded, "Actually I am worse than the Devil.  Although I can use stunt doubles, I hope the use of 3D can be gratifying visually so I arranged for the actors to personally perform."

Speaking of many 3D films appearing overseas but this was only the first for the Mainland, Tsui Hark believed that the nation will catch and will continue to make 3D films.  He said, "I am looking at scripts right now."  As for Lee Nin Kit's rumored 100 million in salary, he had no comment.  He only said, "I don't know.  You have to ask Boss Yu Dong.  Since I started production late I only took half the salary."

Speaking of the 100 million, Lee Nin Kit asked the media where they heard it from.  He said, "This is just a rumor that goes back and forth."  As for charging international superstar salary, he replied, "U.S. dollar is losing value, RMB is on the rise."  Once he said that he would focus on charity, Lee Nin Kit hoped that the cultural broadcast would be a part of charity.  He said, "Thus I would promote with Tai Chi, I wish for health and happiness for everyone."  How will he spend the Christmas holiday?  He admitted that he will rest.  Speaking of the crew calling Tsui Hark the Devil, Lee Nin Kit spoke up for his friend.  He said, "I have worked with Tsui Hark for years. Film production of course requires real kung fu.  Some people now are comfortable with modern films so they are not used to wu xia films."  Zhou Xun stressed that this was her first wu xia film and injury was inevitable for her.  She said, "With action scenes everyday, I had to be careful and take care of my body.  (With your character's similarities to Invincible Asia did you study Brigitte Lin?)  Although I have seen it, I didn't study it because mine is an all new character."  Clashing with her own film THE GREAT MAGICIAN (DAI MOR SHOOK SI) head on, Zhou Xun said, "Many people ask, but I am  neither worried nor scared.  Good box office is good for the actors too."