Movie Box Review

For Thursday, February 2 2012

Samantha Ko and Christine Kuo attend an I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 audience appreciation event courtesy of on.cc

This year's Lunar New Year film competition has been fierce.  Originally the Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung starred Emperor Motion Picture THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) remained in second place among Chinese films at the box office, but two nights ago it finally landed on top with 1.73 million.  Director Dante Lam Chiu Yin had a hard time with hiding his excitement as he posted the good news online yesterday morning.  Tonight the leads will celebration at an audience appreciation event and even give mystery gifts to fans!

Eric Tsang Chi Wai's new film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) has always led this year's Lunar New Year film box office with an over 200,000 lead on THE VIRAL FACTOR.  As for the 3rd, VIRAL after 14 days in release made 1.73 million and successfully knocked off the 15 days in release, 1.7 million I LOVE HONG KONG 2012.  From the current box office trend, VIRAL has a chance to take the domestic Lunar New Year Chinese film box office

courtesy of on.cc

Mak Cheung Ching, Wilson Chin, Eric Tsang, Susan Shaw, Samantha Ko, Stanley Fung courtesy of takungpao.com

The Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) last night held an audience appreciation event at the Causeway Bay Times Square UA cinema with artists Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Samantha Ko Hoi Ning, Stanley Fung Shui Fan and Mak Cheung Ching.  Last night was also this UA cinema's final day of operation.  Chi Wai said that it was no big deal as it will only relocate upstairs.  As for the current location being rented to a high end retail store, Chi Wai pointed out that it proved Hong Kong tourism was doing well.  Did he feel that they had too many high end retail stores?  He pointed out that different people spent differently, taking care of everyone would be the best.  He said that Europe and Japan high end stores did poor business, but Hong Kong was doing well.  Of course it was better for tourists to come to Hong Kong than elsewhere.

Did Ko Hoi Ning's first love take place at this cinema?  She said that it was not here, but at the time she went to a movie with a guy and started dating.  Ko Hoi Ning was sorry that last night was this cinema's final day.  Fung Shui Fan said that he did not have much memory of this cinema because at his time the cinema screens were enormous.  Now many were mini cinemas so he did not go to the movies.  He also said that now the television screen was huge and not much different from going to the movies.  However he would miss it a little.  Mak Cheung Ching said that he had many memories of this cinemas because he often attended premieres.  He also came to the movies here.  He said that when he was little cinemas were much larger, only when watching with many people would the movie have atmosphere and a sense of resonance.  He believed now cinemas had a hard time and hoped that in the future fewer would close.  The best would be a cinema in every district.

JJ Jia courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Raymond Wong Pak Ming exchanged fire for the third Lunar New Year in a row, but Chi Wai won all three years.  This year he even won from the beginning to the end.  Two nights ago at
the celebration and the New Spring visit, Tsang Chi Wai even presented the "Universe Nemesis" to Stanley Fung Shui Fan (Gung Gor) who performed for two years in a row.  He said that completely because of him "the Strongest in the Universe" Donnie Yen Chi Tan was defeated, but Gung Gor said that those words scared him.  He worried that they would insult someone and said that after the event he would have to immediately fly out of Hong Kong.

I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 two days ago broke 15 million at the box office.  Two nights ago a New Year group visit and a celebration took place.  Tsang Chi Wai, Fung Shui Fan, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Teresa Mo Shun Kwan and others attended.  Due to the third Lunar New Year victory in a row over Wong Pak Ming, Chi Wai wrote "Universe Nemesis" and presented the words to Gung Gor as he had fun at the expense of ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2011 (BAK SING PO HEI)'s "Strongest in the Universe" Yen Chi Tan.  Chi Wai said, "Over these two years Gung Gor helped a lot.  Gung Gor took care of 'the Strongest in the Universe' over these two years, one against ten your salary should be worth several tens of
millions.  Next time I will make IP MAN 4 with you."  Gung Gor could not turn it down fast enough.  "I am not sure what you are saying, right now I am a little scared.  I didn't say any of that!  Right after this I am taking a flight out!"

Later Gung Gor said that he was in Taiwan so he did not know about the box office.  Did he know who Yen Chi Tan was?  He joked, "I know, if I don't I would die even faster!"  He also said that the success of a movie was not due to just one person, the credit went to the entire group.  No one could say that it all depended on him, no one should joke about that.  Chi Wai said, "You won with a lot of room to spare.  When you were on top, Who knew where Chi Tan was."  Was Gung Gor very embarrassed?  He said, "No, I am only afraid that someone would be insulted."  Chi Wai also said, "With writing like that, Chi Tan next year will work for Wong Pak Ming for free just to win some bragging right back!"  Chi Wai later would make five or six films for Shaw.  Will he ask Gung Gor?  He said, "How can I do it without him, whenever we are against Chi Tan I have to get him."

Chi Wai also said that actually this year was a real victory over Wong Pak Ming.  The first year Wong Pak Ming won at first, later with more people going he barely won.  The second time at first they were tied but he finally won.  This year he won from the beginning to the end.  Chi Wai said, "This time was risky because I used TVB artists, no comparison to his big stars."  Speaking of Clifton Ko Chi Sum's criticism of current Lunar New Year films as "lacking choices", Chi Wai said, "He has already left this circle, he is working on a Lunar New Year play.  Even if he comes back he would be behind because the comedy is already different. However I would welcome him to join the fray next year.  (Yet he would only work with his girlfriend Perry Chiu Woon?)  I would cast Chiu Woon.  Actually Chiu Woon is very playful, I asked her to take part in THE TRIO DELIGHTS every time.  It's a waste for her to be just on the stage, Ko Chi Sum shouldn't have the monopoly."  Wheat Bread complained that Chi Wai last year promised everyone a vacation but has yet to come through.  Chi Wai said, "This year we have a chance, maybe in Japan!  (Next Lunar New Year will you compete with Wong Pak Ming?)  I will!  Competition is good."

Teresa Mo Shun Kwan two nights ago attended the I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) Lunar New Year group visit and celebration.  She was very happy about the ideal box office but she had reservations about whether she will participate again next year.  Has she and her family seen the film?  She said that she would wait for the video before watching it with her family because she worried that her youngest daughter would not understand and would ask her to explain.  Was she talking about the sexy scene?  She admitted, "Yes, I am a little scared, so I have to watch and explain at home."

Sister Mo revealed that later she will rest for awhile and will not work on a series.  She will have to move and go with her daughter to look for a school in Canada.  She said, "Moving to me is a big deal in life because every time I moved I got sick.  I even had to go to a hospital, maybe because I was in too much of a hurry.  This time I don't want to have such a hard time.  I am older too, I worry that I won't just go to the hospital but have to stay there.  I hope to move slowly."  Sister Mo has one more year before going to the university.  Because her daughter is a Canadian citizen, she will return to study there.  This year she will look for schools for her there.

Sister Mo's husband Tony Au Ting Ping's birthday will be on February 6, they originally planned to celebrate in Japan.  Yet they heard radiation rumors from friends and told her not to go to Tokyo.  If something happened, the Japanese government would hide it.  Thus she decided to cancel her trip.  yet Chi Wai planned to take the cast to Japan.  Sister Mo said, "If it's Chi Wai's treat, I would risk my life."

courtesy of mingpao.com

Eric Tsang Chi Wai and Teresa Mo Shun Kwan team up again during the Lunar New Year for the film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI).  Mo Mo would even make a sacrifice for art as her most daring sexy performance in her film career was one of the film's secret weapon.  Mo Mo said, "No one has seen me with so little clothing, displaying the career line during an erotic dance.  Everything is real.  During the shoot the set was clear to a certain level.  When the crew saw this scene they were all wowed."  She worried that her revealing performance would frighten her family, thus she would deliberately invite her husband and daughters to the show.

As the producer and lead actor, Chi Wai was unwilling to have his thunder shown and came up with his own pleasant surprise.  He said, "I would have many costumes and dress up as certain characters so the viewers would smile from their hearts."  Mo Mo thought Chi Wai's performance was hilarious.  He did not like to follow the script, he always improvised.  Chi Wai spoke of this Lunar New Year film was made according to the audience demand.  He hoped to add some atmosphere to the New Year.  The script initially had Miriam Yeung Chin Wa and Carol Cheng Yui Ling in mind, but the script was not be written according to their personalities.  With Chin Wa's pregnancy she turned it down.  He then thought of his old partner Mo Mo, along with Stanley Fung Shui Fan, Denise Ho Wan Si, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Lok Wing, 3F national bust goddess Zhang Xinyu and a group of TVB artists they had a little fun and the result was very satisfying.

Chi Wai praised Ho Wan Si's acting as having her own style and had shades of her mentor Anita Mui Yim Fong.  Ah Si and Wong Chung Chak's kiss scene was the most memorable for him.  Chi Wai joked, "Because I have never seen Ah Si kiss a guy."

Although Mo Mo might be a second choice, she did not mind at all.  "I don't care, I get paid and the role is right for me.  I couldn't agree any faster.  In addition comedy partner is very hard to find, on this rare occasion the co-star is old partner Chi Wai.  We have chemistry so we have more fun."

People fight to greet Donnie Yen for his laisee

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Pegasus Motion Pictures last night held its spring banquet, many in the industry came in support like Raymond Lam Fung, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, Ronald Cheng Chung Kei and others.  Speaking of ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 (BAK SING PO HEI)'s Hong Kong box office defeat at the hands of Eric Tsang Chi Wai's I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI), ALL'S boss Raymond Wong Pak Ming ridiculed Chi Wai's movie for not having a Mainland market and stated that next year he will keep going.  He said, "Why not compete when we can?"

Last night many artists appeared and gave away big laisees so everyone was pleased.  Speaking of this year's ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012 disappointing box office, Wong Pak Ming was not disappointed and stressed that it was expected.  He said, "This year has many film releases, so far its Hong Kong box office is 7 million.  However its Mainland, Singapore and Malaysia responses have been decent.  The Mainland box office has already passed 70 million and passing 100 million won't be hard."  Pak Ming stressed that it had profit, this time the word of mouth was even better than last year's ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2011 (JUI KEUNG HEI SI).  As for losing to Chi Wai for a third year in a row, he did not admit defeat.  "Chi Wai('s movie) isn't in the Mainland!  (He won in Hong Kong?)  Then congratulations to him!"

Speaking of Chi Wai revealing that he sent a text message to Wong Pak Ming but has not received any reply, he denied that and only blamed it on him not being in Hong Kong.  "I am not afraid that he would be mad, I am happy for Chi Wai!  Next Year I will keep making Lunar New Year films, why not compete when we can!"  Will he congratulate Chi Wai when he will return on the Lunar 8th, Wong Pak Ming joked, "Let's wait until he is really back first!"  Wong Pak Ming also revealed that this year he will invest on three films.  SAVING GENERAL YANG (YEUNG GA JEUNG) will be released at the end of the year.  In April Vincent Kok Tak Siu's NAM YUN YU YI FOOK (MEN ARE LIKE CLOTHES) will start production; however, the new film with old couple Ronald Cheng Chung Kei and Miriam Yeung Chin Wai will have to be negotiated again due to Chin Wa's pregnancy.

Seven months pregnant, Chen Wai Lam admitted that she has already gained over ten pounds and joked that her appetite was even greater than her husband's.  "I keep eating salty and sweet things, it's very hard to control."  Kelly said that now once her husband was full she would try to stop.  Does her son "Shrimp Dumpling Kid" know that he will soon be an older brother?  Kelly said, "He knows that Mama has a baby in her belly and knows where he came from.  He would even pretend to crawl back inside to come back out again!"  She revealed that during the Lunar New Year she brought "Shrimp Dumpling Kid" on Lunar New Year visits and her friends and family gave laisee to both "Shrimp Dumpling Kid" and the baby in her belly.  When will she be able to break even?  Kelly helplessly said, "It's impossible, I calculated that both of their lifetimes won't be on par with tonight, tonight I will give six figure in laisee."  Last night she wore flats, she joked that now she could not even see her feet so dressing pretty would be useless.  "Now I don't like to sit because standing up I look like a pregnant lady!"  Andy Lau Tak Wa earlier admitted that his wife Chu Lai Sin was carrying a little dragon maiden.  Kelly stated that she would like to make a match.  She said, "'Little Juicy Bun' matches her.  If not that I will tell 'Shrimp Dumpling Kid' to take the place!"  She joked that this time she was rich because Wa Jai's daughter will have a lot in dowry.

Ng Kwan Yu was linked to Winnie Yu Tseng years ago.  Last night Kwan Yu appeared at the spring banquet and became the focus.  Recently Yu Tseng and Pansy Ho Chiu King were caught holding hands in Europe.  Kwan Yu coldly responded, "I didn't see the news, I don't know.  As long as they are happy it's fine.  It's got nothing to do with me.  Don't ask about other people."  She joked that she and her daughter constantly held hands too.

As for a dragon baby, she responded, "I have to rest for half a year before even trying, but I still have two movies on hand."  Kwan Yu admitted her body was like an animal's, one day without a child was like ten.  As for advice from her good friend Andy Lau Tak Wa, she said, "I can handle my own deal.  Telling him to raise me too sounds more like it."  As for Louis Koo Tin Lok recently he has been working on his new film DRUG WAR (DUK JIN) in Tianjin.  Goo jai said, "The low temperature there was seven degrees below zero (Celsius), we still have awhile on the shoot."  Speaking of ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2012's mediocre Hong Kong box office, he hoped that next time will be even better.  Actors have to do their part.  As for whether he will work on another Lunar New Year film next year it will depend on whether the boss will invest.

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

The Shaw Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) already broke 10 million after its release.  Yesterday Christine Kuo, Susan Shaw Yam Yam, Daniel Chau Chi Hong and others went to the cinema to give gifts to viewers.  For her first movie audience appreciation event, Christine Kuo was very happy about the film's box office performance, felt fortunate that she was a part of the shoot and even joked that she won three gold dragons in a row.  She hoped that her luck would carry to work all year.

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courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Mak Cheung Ching, Mandy Wong Chi Man, Eliza Sham Lai Heung and two directors Chung Shu Kai and Wilson Chin Kwok Wai yesterday appeared in Kwun Tong for I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) viewer appreciation.  They announced that the film's Hong Kong box office has already reached 10 million, which truly was joy upon joy!

Wheat Bread looked bigger.  He said that over the dozen or so days of promoting, he ate like crazy every time.  He has already gained 15 or 16 pounds.  After the Lunar New Year he will start losing weight, but since he was "fat to begin with" he did not mind.

With another box office hit, Chung Shu Kai revealed that Eric Tsang Chi Wai during the last Lunar New Year promised to take everyone to Japan if the film reached 20 million at the box office.  No one expected that the promise has yet to be fulfilled still.  Chin Kwok Wai said that this year if they do not go to Japan then at least they have to go to Korea; Wheat Bread joked, "For stuff like this of course I would wait until the directors speak up first, then all we have to do is chime in.  however earlier at the Malaysia premiere, the response was decent.  Hopefully if the box office performs well we can go again for viewer appreciation."  Wheat Bread was asked how it felt to lead the promotion,  Wheat Bread said that everyone was busy and he had time.  On the Lunar 8th when Chi Wai will return to Hong Kong, they will celebrate again.