Movie Box Review

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The 18th Hong Kong Film Critic Society Award took place yesterday at the Film Archive.  Deanie Ip Tak Han and Lau Ching Wan won the Best Actor and Actress, Jiang Wen also received the Best Director Award and Best Picture went to the Ann Hui On Wa directed A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH); Best Screenplay went to LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM)'s Au Kin Yi, Wong King Fai and Milky Way Creative Team.  Also seven recommended films were presented, including OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2), DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (DAN SUN NAM NUI), LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE, LET THE BULLETS FLY, WHITE VENGEANCE (HUNG MOON YIN), FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) and BIG BLUE LAKE (DAI LAN WU).

Ching Wan, Sister Deanie, Jiang Wen, Hui On Wa were present to accept the awards.  Ching Wan won with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE.  He thanked the Film Critic Society.  He was particularly happy that he was able to win for the first time with a Johnnie To Kei Fung directed film.  He also had to thank Lo Hoi Peng for his suggestions about the character; Jiang Wen joked that the film obviously was good due to the actors performance, but it still won the Director award.  However he was still very happy because usually when he was the actor the director won, when he directed the actors won.  This time was an exception (directed and starred).  Jiang Wen continued, "This time I came to Hong Kong for three days, I have been on the stage three times and won three awards.  Hong Kong truly is paying respect to me.  I hope to be able to stay a little longer, in a year I may be able to win over 300 awards!"

After the ceremony, Ching Wan expressed that he was very happy because he won an award for the first time with a To Kei Fung film.  In the past he blamed himself for not performing good enough.  Ching Wan continued, "I was really sorry, I thank Ah To for always giving me good characters.  This time I can answer to him, finally I have grown into an adult!"  As for the later Hong Kong Film Award, Ching Wan said that the
two awards were different.  In his experience, after winning the Film Critic Society Award three times he has lost at the other one three times.  yet now he was very happy to have one.

Sister Deanie for the fourth time with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) won Best Actress.  Was she confident about winning six?  Deanie pretended her head itch and said, "The chances are even."  Sister Deanie said that she would still give this award to Andy Lau Tak Wa, as she joked that he had plenty of space for awards.  Has she picked out what to wear yet?  Sister Deanie said that she was more casual, if she had to dress up she truly had difficulty.  Thus every time Wa Jai's company arranged what she wore.  Would she like to win Best Actress with Wa Jai as the Best Actor?  Sister Deanie said, "Of course!"  As for meeting Jiang Wen for the first time, Sister Deanie praised him as a good actor and a good director.  If in the future they will have a chance to work together she will welcome it very much, but she will not take the initiative and ask because she felt actors were more passive.

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The Tsui Hark directed 3D wuxia film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) two nights ago appeared in Berlin.  He and his wife Shi Nansun, actors Mavis Fan Hiu Huen and Kwai Lun-Mei promoted there.  An avid tattoo fan, Siu Huen at the press conference and the premiere without hesitation displayed her arm tattoo and her wild side.  At the press conference she stepped on her long dress, luckily she did not embarrass herself.

At the press conference, Tsui Hark said that kung fu director King Hu (Wu Kam Chuen) could be said as his mentor.  His film DRAGON GATE INN was one of his favorite films.  20 years ago, he had a chance to remake NEW DRAGON GATE INN and over 2 years of working with Wu Kam Chuen he benefited a lot.  Thus FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE was a continuation of his memory and emotions as well as a salute to Wu Kam Chuen.  Shi Nansun said, "FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE has been interpreted continuously, like a Shakespearean play it is a classic is worth making and making again.  3D film is a very interesting attempt.  I believe the themes of love, friendship and justice was values that the entire world share."

An avid fan of the tattoo art, Siu Huen wore a long dress that showed off her exaggerated arm tattoo.  Yet she accidentally stepped on her dress and almost embarrassed herself in front of the foreign media.  She said that she has always been a Tsui Hark fan and hoped to play in the film a "water like woman".  Although it was very abstract the role was able to trigger her imagination.  At night she showed her wild side in a fiery short dress.

Kwai Lun-mei revealed that this year she has already received a great dramatic film and hoped to be able to get a musical film.  Speaking of her BLUE GATE CROSSING co-star Chen Bo-Lin, Siu Mei admitted because they wanted it to be perfect too much they have been very cautious with their collaboration opportunities.  She also very "ambitiously" said, "I really want us to grow up to a silver screen couple in the future like (Maggie) Cheung Man Yuk and (Tony) Leung Chiu Wai."

Still in Berlin to promote her husband Wang Quanan's WHITE DEER PLAIN, Kitty Zhang Yuqi humbly said that her male co-stars motivated her WHITE performance.  She even said that when working with actors of different styles she felt like she was riding a roller coaster.  Zhang Yuqi who still has not have a wedding ceremony with her husband admitted that she hoped to have it soon after her husband finished promoting this film and she would like to become a mother soon as well.

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Director Tsui Hark led the FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) team to this year's Berlin Film Festival.  Speaking of the film's 13 Hong Kong Film Award nominations including Best Director, he admitted that he has always admired Ann Hui On Wa and thought that she deserved the award the most.  In addition, Gua Ah Lei and the new film JOYFUL REUNION team was six hour late due to the snow closing the Munich airport.  Another lead actress Huo Siyan who arrived earlier welcomed everyone to the venue as the sun returned.

Tsui Hark earlier celebrated his 61st birthday in Berlin.  Two days ago he continued to promote FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE there.  Speaking of no interest in a sequel, he said that this film was already different from his creative habit.  He felt that if it was good enough then he did not need to do more, unless he had a story that was worth shooting then he would consider.

As for FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's numerous Hong Kong Film Award, would he look forward to it winning more awards than DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (DIK YUN KIT JI TUNG TIN DAI GOK)?  Tsui Hark felt that everyone should enjoy the atmosphere and share the joy at award shows.  Because colleagues were considered friends, he should share the joy no matter who won.  In addition he liked the nominations very much.  He mentioned that when his good friend Teddy Robin Kwan won last year he felt very happy.  As for this year, Tsui Hark felt that Hui On Wa should be able to win with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) and praised her for daring to make subjects that no one would dare to touch.  Tsui Hark also felt that the Hong Kong Film Award's nature was gradually blurring, but the Greater Chinese concept was a good thing.

Gua Ah Lei, Huo Siyan and Lan Cheng-Long starred JOYFUL REUNION two nights ago held its global premiere in Berlin.  Huo Siyan earlier arrived at the film festival for the opening ceremony.  The director Tsao Jui-Yuan, producer Hsu Li-Kong and other leads originally were to arrive in Berlin three days ago but due to the snow at the Munich airport their flight was delayed for six hours.  Finally they took 26 hours to arrive in Berlin.  Luckily after they arrived the sun came out.  Huo Siyan learned of their arrived and went to welcome them and visit the film festival venue together.  At night they dressed up for the premiere.  Huo Siyan saw her parting scene with Lan Cheng-Long and broke down.  Kitty Zhang Yuqi in the new film WHITE DEER PLAIN press conference wore a tight evening gown, her belly led to speculation that she was pregnant.

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The 31st Hong Kong Film Award will take place on April 15 at the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Center.  Yesterday a press conference was held to announce the nominations.  Every year Best Actor and Best Actress have been definite foci.  Lau Ching Wan this year with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM) and OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2) received Best Actor nominations, competing with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH)'s Andy Lau Tak Wa and LET THE BULLETS FLY's Ge You and Jiang Wen.  Best Actress favorite of course was A SIMPLE LIFE's multiple Best Actress award winner Deanie Ip Tak Han.  A BEAUTIFUL LIFE's Shu Qi is considered the dark horse.  WU XIA's Tang Wei, DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (DAN SUN NAM NUI)'s Gao Yuanyuan and FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP)'s Zhou Xun were also nominated.  This year FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE and LET THE BULLETS FLY received the most nominations with 13 each.

Yesterday Lau Ching Wan, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and the Hong Kong Film Award Association members attended the press conference.  They announced the nominations.  When Ting Fung announced Best Supporting Actor nominees, he realized that he was nominated with SHAOLIN (SUN SIU LUM JI) and was embarrassed.  Later, Ting Fung said that he never thought that he would be nominated.  Because SHAOLIN was made awhile ago, even he forgot about it.  Speaking of the competition, he pointed out that his fellow nominees were all elders who he admired.  He did not want to participate for three years in a row.  This year he would already be very satisfied in the audience.  Was it because he has already won both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor he did not care?  Ting Fung denied that as he would be very happy that others recognized his hard work.  Among the nominees, he said that all were his elders.  When he saw Uncle Kenneth Tsang Kong's OVERHEARD 2 performance he truly was stunned.  Speaking of Lucas being hospitalized for illness, some said for four days, he said, "That's crazy, just one day.  He's fine.  During the New Year I had a stuffy nose too."

Lau Ching Wan this year had two Best Actor nominations.  He thanked everyone for their support as he hoped to do his best for Hong Kong film.  Which film was he more confident about?  He said that the news was very sudden and he liked both characters.  Was he worried that his votes would be divided up?  He said that he would worry about that later, he was already very pleased to be nominated.  He also said that every year the competition was very strong, he only hoped that the award show would be entertaining.  Earlier he received the Film Critic Society Best Actor, was his confidence increased?  He said that this situation has already happened many times, but each time he would be excited.  Ultimately two organizations had different judging standards.

Jiang Wen and Ge You were both nominated for Best Actor.  Ge You was truly very happy to be nominated again with LET THE BULLETS FLY.  He was happier that he was nominated with director Jiang Wen.  He thanked the voters for their support and recognition.  Jiang Wen was working on a film in France.  His office responded, "LET THE BULLETS FLY received 13 Hong Kong Film Award nominations, which is the best recognition for Hong Kong film professionals who participated in this film on and off screen.  Thank you (Carina Lau) Ka Ling, Uncle (William Chang Suk Ping) and all the on and off camera workers.  The happiest was the Best Action Choreography nomination as we remember director Sit Chun Wai."  Nominated for Best Supporting Actress with LET, Lau Ka Ling was very grateful for everyone's recognition of her work.  She thanked director Jiang Wen and Ge You, Chang Suk Ping for the exceptionally wonderful costumes, she also thanked all viewers who liked her character.

Ip Tak Han was again nominated with A SIMPLE LIFE for Best Actress.  She only responded with "extremely honored".  Shu Qi was very happy and thanked director Andrew Lau Wai Keung and co-star Liu Ye.  Without those two handsome men A BEAUTIFUL LIFE's Shu Qi would not exist.  She would definitely attend if she would be in Hong Kong.  Gao Yuanyuan was both surprised and excited about her nomination, as she thanked everyone for recognizing her.

Tsui Hark said that he was very happy about FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's 13 nominations, which was a honor for the entire creative team.  The film also was the result of the workers' hard work, the joy of nominations had to be shared with everyone.  Johnnie To Kei Fung with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE was nominated for Best Director and Best Picture.  he said that this was a film that he liked very much.  He thanked the cast for their patience and giving him three years to make the film.  Ann Hui On Wa with A SIMPLE LIFE was nominated for Best Director.  She is in Taiwan and was very happy to be nominated, the happiest about the Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Cinematography nominations.  In addition, this year the Hong Kong Film Award received HK$5,668,400 from the film development council to assist in the production.  This year the award show will air live on TVB and Now.

31ST HONG KONG FILM AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE
A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH)
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM)
FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP)
OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2)
LET THE BULLETS FLY

BEST DIRECTOR 
Ann Hui On Wa (A SIMPLE LIFE)
Johnnie To Kei Fung (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
Tsui Hark (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Alan Mak Siu Fai, Felix Chong Man Keung (OVERHEARD 2)
Jiang Wen (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST SCREENPLAY
Susan Chan Suk Yin (A SIMPLE LIFE)
Wai Ka Fai, Yau Nai Hoi,
  Ray Chan Wai Bun, Jevons Au Man Kit (DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART)
Milky Way Creative Team, Au Kin Yee,
  Wong King Fai (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
Alan Mak Siu Fai, Chong Man Dor (OVERHEARD 2)
Zhu Sjjin, Shu Ping, Jiang Wen,
  Guo Junli, Wei Xiao, Li Bukong (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST ACTOR
Andy Lau Tak Wa (A SIMPLE LIFE)
Lau Ching Wan (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES)
Lau Ching Wan (OVERHEARD 2)
Jiang Wen (LET THE BULLETS FLY)
Ge You (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST ACTRESS 
Shu Qi (A BEAUTIFUL LIFE)
Tang Wei (WU XIA)
Deanie Ip Tak Han (A SIMPLE LIFE)
Gao Yuanyuan (DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART)
Zhou Xun (FLYING DRAGONS OF DRAGON GATE)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jimmn Wang Yu (WU XIA)
Paul Chun Pui (A SIMPLE LIFE)
Nicholas Tse Ting Fung (SHAOLIN)
Lo Hoi Peng (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
Kenneth Tsang Kong (OVERHEARD 2)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Wai Ying Hung (WU XIA)
Qin Hailu (A SIMPLE LIFE)
So Hung Suen (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
Kwai Lun-Mei (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Carina Lau Ka Ling (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST NEW PERFORMER
Jam Hsiao (THE KILLER WHO NEVER KILLS)
Shiga Lin (LAN KWAI FONG)
Zheng Shuang (MURAL)
Karena Ng Chin yu (MAGIC TO WIN)
Sheng Chien (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Jake Pollack, Lai Yiu Fai (WU XIA)
Nelson Yu Lik Wai (A SIMPLE LIFE)
Johnny Choi (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Anthony Pun Yiu Ming (OVERHEARD 2)
Zhao Fei (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST FILM EDITING
Derek Hui Won Yu (WU XIA)
David Richardson (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE)
Yau Chi Wai (FLYING SWORDS OF DFRAGON GATE)
Curran Pang Jing Hei (OVERHEARD 2)
Jiang Wen, Cao Weijie (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST ART DIRECTION
Yee Chung Man, Sun Li (WU XIA)
Yee Chung Man, Ben Lau Man Hung (SHAOLIN)
Yee Chung Man, Ben Lau Man Hung (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Daniel Lee Yan Kong (WHITE VENGEANCE)
Wong Kar Lang, Gao Yiguang, Yu QInghua (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN AND MAKE UP
Dora Ng Lei Lo (WU XIA)
Bobo Ng Bo Ling (MURAL)
Lai Hsuan-Wu (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Eddie Mok Kwan Kit, Debby Wong Ming Ha (WHITE VENGEANCE)
William Chang Suk Ping (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST ACTION DESIGN
Ching Siu Tung (THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE)
Donnie Yen Chi Tan (WU XIA)
Corey Yuen Kwai, Yuen Tak, Li Chung Chi (SHAOLIN)
Yuen Bun, Nam Hoi Hong, Sun Kin Kwai (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Ailen Sit Chun Wai, Li Chun Chi (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Chan Kwong Wing (A BEAUTIFUL LIFE)
Chan Kwong Wing, Peter Kam Pui Tat, Chatchai Pongprapaphan (WU XIA)
William Hu, Li Hanjiang, Gu Xin (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Henry Lai Won Man (WHITE VENGEANCE)
Chan Kwong Wing (OVERHEARD 2)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
MISSED ADDRESS (A BEAUTIFUL LIFE) Ivana Wong Yuen Chi
TWO HEARTED FLOWER (HI, FIDELITY) Sandy Lam Yik Lin
WANDERING LOST IN THE WORLD (WU XIA) Dou Wei
COMPREHEND (SHAOLIN) Andy Lau Tak Wa
FLOODED GOLDEN MOUNTAIN (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE) Ngok Mei

BEST SOUND DESIGN
Nopawat Likitwong, Traithep Wongpaiboon (WU XIA)
Kim Seok-Won (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Phyllis Cheng Wing Yuen, Lam Siu Yu (WHITE VENGEANCE)
Kinson Tsang King Cheung (OVERHEARD 2)
Wen Bo, Wang Gang (LET THE BULLETS FLYING)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ryu Hee-Jung, Eddy Wong Won Hin,
  Ken Law Wai Ho (THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE)
Yung Kwok Yin, Andy Kang Chung Cheung (WU XIA)
Christopher Bremble (MURAL)
Wook Kim, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung Chi Hung (FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE)
Victor Wong Won Tat, Eman Tse Yi Man (LET THE BULLETS FLY)

BEST TWO COASTS CHINESE FILMS
YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE
THE FLOWERS OF WAR
IF YOU ARE THE ONE 2
STARRY STARRY NIGHT
WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE

BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Jessey Tsang Tsui Shan (BIG BLUE LAKE)
Calvin Poon Yuen Leung (HI, FIDELITY)
Bill Yip Kim Fung (CURE)

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The 6th Asian Film Award will take place on March 19th.  Yesterday the nominations were announced.  The Tsui Hark directed FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) received the most nominations with seven.  As for Best Actor and Best Actress, A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH)'s multiple Best Actress award winner Deanie Ip Tak Han was the favorite.  After her Golden Horse Award, she and YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYES' new generation goddess Michelle Chen will battle for the crown.  Andy Lau Tak Wa also with A SIMPLE LIFE will face FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's Chen Kun and Japan's Koji Yakusho for Best Actress.  Ko Chen-Tung only received a Best new Actor nomination.

The award ceremony press conference took place yesterday.  Attending guests included the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society chair Wong Ying Wai, Hong Kong Film Development Council chair Jack So Zak Kwong, vice chair Peter Lam Kin Ngok and jury chair Eric Khoo (Yau Kam Hoi).  FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE received seven nominations including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Visual Effects and Costume Designs.  Zhang Yimou's FLOWERS OF WAR and Wei Te-Sheng's WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE each received six nominations.  The Golden Globe Best Foreign Film Award winner A SEPARATION received five nominations.

As for Best Picture, the Golden Globe winner A SEPARATION naturally is the favorite, but competition FLOWERS OF WAR and SEEDIQ BALE both have substance.  Best Actress conceivably has to go to A SIMPLE LIFE Ip Tak Han, Michelle Chen could only play along.  Instead A SEPARATION's Leila Hatami was seen as the dark horse.  The Best Actor competition could be said as strong, FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's Chen Kun and A SIMPLE LIFE's Lau Tak Wa both had substance.  Ko Chen-Tung blew up with YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE but did not receive a Best Actor nomination.  He only received the Best New Actor nomination and competed with FLOWERS OF WAR's Ni Ni.

Competing for Best Actress again, Ip Tak Han said, "To me being able to participate in a movie isn't easy, the movie receiving an invitation to compete is a bonus."  Fellow nominee Lau Tak Wa said, "I am very honored, I know the fellow nominees are very strong.  Chen Kun obviously is a good actor who I am more familiar with.  In addition, the Iranian actor has already won Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival.  His film A SEPARATION also just won the Golden Globe Best Foreign Film.  His momentum is very strong.  I am already very happy about the nomination.  I have even more confidence in Best Actress nominee Sister Deanie winning, and Ann (Director Hui On Wa) will also receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.  A SIMPLE LIFE already has award winning representatives, hahaha....."

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress with FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE, Kwai Lun-Mei said that this was her first acting nomination so she would cherish it and be grateful for it.  She also thanked everyone.  Currently in Taiwan, SEEDIQ BALE director Wei Te-Sheng responded that he was very honored to receive the Asian Film Award jury recognition.  He has already shared this good news with all the nominees and will attend with them.

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The 18th Hong Kong Film Critic Society yesterday announced its winners.  Earlier winning Best Actress awards with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) in Venice and at the Golden Horse Awards, Deanie Ip Tak Han again won Best Actress.  Lau Ching Wan with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES (DUET MING GUM) won his third Society Award Best Actor Award.  A SIMPLE LIFE at the same time won Best Picture.  Jiang Wen with LET THE BULLETS FLY won Best Director, and Best Screenplay went to LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES.

Last year 57 films were officially released.  Among Best Picture and Best Director, A SIMPLE LIFE, LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES, FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2), LET THE BULLETS FLY's competition was the strongest.  Finally A SIMPLE LIFE won Best Picture and LET THE BULLETS FLY's Jiang Wen won Best Director by two votes more than FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's Tsui Hark.  OVERHEARD 2 and LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE also had a fierce competition over Best Screenplay, finally LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE's Milky Way creative team, Au Kin Yee and Ben Wong King Fai won.

A SIMPLE LIFE's Ip Tak Han crushed EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DONG SING SAI JAU 2011)'s Karen Mok Man Wai and FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's Zhou Xun for Best Actress.  Best Actor had Ching Wan in competition with himself.  He finally with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE's small time hook by two vote beat his OVERHEARD 2 "Landlord Club" stock market elite Law Man Sun.  This was also Ching Wan's third Hong Kong Film Critic Society Best Actor Award after HIGH ALERT (GO DOH GAI BEI) and LA BRASSIERE (JUET SAI HO BRA).

Lau Ching Wan thanked the Film Critic Society, and Johnnie To Kei Fung for giving him such a challenging character.  As an actor, while acting he of course hoped that it would be fun too.  He said, "Director To next time you have a fun script, definitely save it for me!"  Ip Tak Han again won with A SIMPLE LIFE.  She said that any award was an encouragement; especially for a senior like her, an award was like a shot of confidence.  She wished that all awards could bring investors the return that they should have.  She wished director Ann Hui On Wa would be able to make movies that she believed in.  Ip Tak Han also thanked the Hong Kong Film Critic Society and also Andy Lau Tak Wa and Hui On Wa's trust.

To Kei Fung thanked the Film Critic Society.  Milkyway creative team was responsible for writing this film.  Since founding the Milky Way Image he has always hoped to give new comers more opportunities, cultivate
more talent for the film industry and hope that everyone would work hard together.

In addition, the Hong Kong Film Critic Society at the same time selected seven recommended films: LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE, OVERHEARD 2, DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (DAN SUM NAM NUI), FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), LET THE BULLETS FLY, WHITE VENGEANCE (HUNG MOON YIN), and BIG BLUE LAKE (DAI LAN WU).

BEST PICTURE: A SIMPLE LIFE
BEST DIRECTOR: Jiang Wen (LET THE BULLETS FLY)
BEST SCREENPLAY: LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES
BEST ACTOR: Lau Ching Wan (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES)
BEST ACTRESS: Deanie Ip Tak Han (A SIMPLE LIFE)
RECOMMENDED FILMS:
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE
OVERHEARD 2
DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART
FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE
LET THE BULLETS FLY
WHITE VENGEANCE
BIG BLUE LAKE

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As the New Year starts, the site Sohu's TopTen Best and Worst Film Poll again surfaced.  Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi and Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) both became Rotten Film Actor and Actress.  Since her divorce, Pak Chi who has been away from film for years went from a divorced woman into a film industry hot property as different teams added to their offers for her help.  Unfortunately they all bombed at the box office and disappointed each one of their dream.  She too was elected the rotten film heavenly queen online.

Pak Chi came back to make THE LEGENDARY AMAZONS (YEUNG MOON NUI JEUNG) and TREASURE HUNT (MO GA JI BO).  Pak Chi who was treated time and time again to be the film gold label finally became "box office poison".  Cheung Pak Chi's return to the silver screen not only was accused of being the "expired" beauty that her heavy pancake make up could not make up for but also her discomfort in front of the camera.  No matter when she played an accessory assistant, Lara Croft, strong businesswoman or gentle housewife, all anyone saw was her haunted face with eyes opened as wide as bronze bells and a smile that seemed to be laughing but not on her lips.  Yam Yin Chai's performance was criticized as stiff as ever.  Yam Yin Chai and Cheung Pak Chi's performance in that film could rival each other in terms of rottenness and contributed to this year's ensemble performance that made many people collapse.

As for the top ten rotten films, they were MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (GOO DOH GAING WON), MURAL (WAT BEI), THE LEGENDARY AMAZONS (YEUNG MOON NUI JEUNG), TREASURE HUNT (MO GA JI BO), SHENZHOU 11, THE SORCERER AND THE WHITE SNAKE (BAK SEH CHUEN SHUET), EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DONG SING SAI JAU 2011), MY KINGDOM (DAI MO SUN), THE DEVIL INSIDE ME (DUET MING SUM TIU) and LOVE IN SPACE (CHUEN KAU YIT LUEN).  The Top Ten Best Films are FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), FLOWERS OF WAR (GUM LING SUP SAM CHAI), LOVE IS NOT BLIND, OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2), REST ON YOUR SHOULDER (GEIN SEUNG DIP), WU XIA, THE PIANO IN A FACTORY, STARRY STARRY NIGHT, KORA and DEAR ENEMY.

courtesy of takungpao.com

The world's first IMAX 3D epic FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) exceeded 340 million RMB in the Mainland box office since its release.  The IMAX 3D box office also reached 30 million.  The film company not only arranged for 14 screens to show the Mandarin version but also on 2 IMAX 3D screens on its second week of release.

Tsui Hark said that FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE was a challenge of Chinese film production.  "Because many always thought that Chinese 3D production was poor, after we received the investment he found a crew that was passionate about movies to fulfill this goal."  This film in the Mainland received critical and commercial success, as the film has broken even Tsui Hark could relax.  Tsui Hark said that he spent a lot of time and effort on this production.  In order to achieve international quality, he hired AVATAR 3D visual effect director Chuck Comisky to be the film's 3D production consultation in hopes of exploring a new age for Chinese 3D film.

FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE not only caught attention as director Tsui Hark's exploration of the wuxia world with new film technology but also Tsui Hark's reunion with Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) after 14 years.  Lee Nin Kit admitted that he took the role not only because his trust in Tsui Hark but also 3D.  This was his first 3D wuxia film, in which he participated with a mentality of exploring, understanding and learning.  He was also very curious what kind of experience the 3D wuxia world would bring to the audience.