Movie Box Review

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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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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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Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun)'s first Hong Kong action film THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) will be released in January during the Lunar New Year.  He at the same time witnessed for the first time the Hong Kong film fighting spirit, which also affected his effort.  Thus he personally performed many dangerous stunt in the film.  He also felt though that he was older and stressed that this time was the "one and only".

Chairman Chou meant that THE VIRAL FACTOR should be his final action film.  "From now on I should just stick to romance and singing in movies.  I am older, I can't."  He even admitted that he was afraid to die and would not put himself in danger again.  Working with Nicholas Tse Ting Fung this time in the film, Chairman Chou said that he only met once with director Dante Lam Chiu Yin.  After hearing the story he agreed right away.  He knew that every one of Director Lam's film challenged the limits and would have many dangerous stunts.  He said, "Finally this time I witnessed the might of Hong Kong film.  Actors personally performed almost all the dangerous stunts.  Sometimes the director would personally demonstrate them.  Even he was like that, how could I use a double?"  He remembered that in one scene he jumped from the plane.  After the
director's demonstration he hesitated for a long time before toughing it out.  After he jumped his mind went blank, leaving him completely helpless.  "This should be my bottom line, action films truly are too dangerous.  I can't help getting older now."

Chairman Chou in order to keep his mother from worrying during the shoot did not dare to call her at all.  He joked, "For the movie I dropped my idol baggage.  In the past no matter the stunt I would see if I looked bad?  Was the stunt cool enough?  Yet this time no one should be able to recognize me.  However, the director felt that this was actually the best way, I was seen completed as an escaped convict."  Although the film had two lead actresses, they did not have many scenes with him.  "One was gone as soon as I appeared, so we had no exchange at all.  Any rumor should be impossible."  He joked.

Chairman Chou later will direct the romance, the sequel to SECRET (BUT NUNG SHUET DIK BEI MUK).  Would he invite his rumored girlfriend to be his lead actress?  He joked, "I probably would look for a new comer.  I hope to be able to find a lead actress with Kwai Lun-Mei's aura."

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Making her first wuxia film, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen worked with director Tsui Hark, Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Kwai Lun-Mei and Chris Lee Yuchun.  Under such a strong ensemble, Siu Huen had to perform with an effort.  At first she regretted that she did not have any action scene, but seeing how tough each actor fought, she could not help but consider herself lucky.

Being able to work with her idol Director Tsui Har, Siu Huen felt very pleased.  She also did all the preparation to welcome the challenge.  However as for being assigned to play a gentle character, Siu Huen at first was completely lost.  "At first I thought why would I play this character?  Yet when I saw how pretty the costume was, I worked hard to play this fragile character.  After working with the director, I felt he was like a big kid.  He was not a modern person, but a hero.  I didn't know what he was thinking, he made people feel that he was beyond their grasp and without certainty.  Thus during the shoot she was also very nervous.  Actually all those gave people space to imagine.  The director wanted to give people a pleasant surprise!  Actually making wuxia film felt great.  This time was a Chinese traditional subject that merged martial arts and 3D into one.  The mix was very modern.'

Siu Huen even admitted that at first when she learned that she would make this wuxia film she regretted that she did not have any chance to show her skills.  Yet during the production, she witnessed how tough every actor fought and felt very lucky.  "In the film he had the protection of many masters.  I had more scenes with Zhou Xun.  I remembered on a desert shoot, the sandstorm was so strong I couldn't even open my eyes.  Yet we had to keep working.  Thus everyone's eyes were filled with sand and tears......when I saw all the action scenes of the other actors, I felt bad for them but I also thought they were a lot of fun."  Rarely making movies, Siu Huen said that each time she made a film she hoped to bring something fresh.  Like a vacation she could be in touch with different things.  The most memorable for her in FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATES (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) was the relationship with Zhou Xun.  "In a farewell scene with Zhou Xun, I had to play a feeling that I didn't agree with her leaving.  After the shoot, everyone said that this scene had quite a feeling.  I was very happy to hear that."

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The Tsui Hark directed 3D wu xia epic FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) was released yesterday.  Originally the Hong Kong release was to be the Cantonese version, but because earlier during the professional screening film critics, directors and viewers all would like to watch the original Mandarin version.  The film company in accordance to the audience demand released the Mandarin version starting today.  The Mandarin version will have Chen Kun and Chris Lee Yuchun's real voices.  Lee Yuchun joked, "In one scene Kwai Lun-Mei and I fought over Brother Kun, I in particular got to slap him.  That slap was especially loud.  With my real voice I believe it would be very realistic."

The film's six leads Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Chen Kun, Lee Yuchun and Mavis Fan Hiu Huen all stated that this film was the most difficult.  Several beauties all became "wind eating beauties".  Zhou Xun said, "The shoot took place under below freezing temperature.  Even my hands and the sand under my feet were frozen.  My head and ears ached.  Sand storms also kept appearing at the location.  As soon as cameras rolled, the wind making equipment blew.  I couldn't even open my eyes."  Chen Kun and Lee Yuchun in the film had the most fight scenes and every time they wielded their weapon they ate sand.  Although they suffered "abuses" at the hands of Tsui Hark, everyone still appreciated him.  Chen Kun said, "this time I played both the good guy and the bad guy at the same time, I felt like I had a personality split.  I also had to fight with Big Brother Lee Nin Kit.  Although it was tough the director very patiently displayed the actors' potential.  We truly both loved and hated him."

Boss Yu Dong, Zhou Xun

Tsui Hark, Shi Nansun

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The world's first 3D wu xia film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP 3D) two nights ago held its premiere in Macau.  Director Tsui Hark and the cast including Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Chris Lee Yuchun, and Kwai Lun-Mei walked the red carpet together.  Lead actors Lee Nin Kit and Chen Kun both wore black suits.  Lee Nin Kit had a pair of sunglasses and was full of star power.  Lead actresses Zhou Xun and Lee Yuchun appeared in blue and red, but they could not rival guest Candy Yu On On's fire.

With a lot of performance experience Lee Yuchun and Chen Kun fought over the new comer title.  Lee Yuchun said that she was the newest among the cast, but Chen Kun said that he was a 3D film new comer.  Lee Yuchun pointed out that working with a group of experienced actors was stressful for her, but fortunately she learned a lot during the process.  She thought while making a movie her body had to handle a lot, which was very different from singing.  In the film she had to wield a 30 catty Guan Blade.  After every training her arms would be very tired.  Later she even discovered that she had "little mice" in her arms.  In the film Lee Yuchun fought with Mavis Fan Hiu Huen for Chen Kun, finally Lee Yuchun ended up with him.  Would Yuchun fight for someone she likes in real life?  She said that she has always been more passive.  This time she played the character in the film.

How many points would Chen Kun give Lee Yuchun?  Chen Kun praised this new comer for being a pleasant surprise for everyone.  However he joked that once he and the crew watched Yuchun sing on television and thought that she looked very handsome when she sang.  They could not help but sent her praises via text messages.  When Yuchun returned to the set he thought she was completely different.  Chen Kun also said that he already saw FLYING in the Beijing premiere and described it as "shocking".

Kwai Lun-Mei this time in the film played a tough character.  Some said that she originally wanted to play Fan Hiu Huen's gentler character.  Kwai Lun_Mei denied that and said that she wanted to try different characters.  She joked that perhaps the director saw STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN) and thought that she could play tough too.  In the film she had many action scenes, which were the greatest challenges in her career because she had to wield many large weapons.  Did she want to shake off that pristine image with this film?  She said that it was not deliberate, as she took roles naturally.

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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."

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Mavis Fan, Kwai Lun-Mei, Chen Kun, Chris Lee, Zhou Xun

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The Tsui Hark directed film FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) two days ago held a press conference in Beijing and the premiere at night.  Zhang Xinyu who posted her own bed photo on boyfriend Ron Ng Chek Hei's microblog did not attend the press conference but did walk the red carpet at the premiere.  Today she will come to Hong Kong for the Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (NGOR OI HK 2012 HEI GA SEUNG GA) for a three day shoot and will be the target of the media.

Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit) revealed that Zhou Xun had 50 bad takes for one scene, which kept everyone from dinner.  Zhou Xun admitted that she indeed ran into her most disastrous day.  "I have never had over 40 bad takes, at the time I truly was down as my self confidence was completely damaged.  However later after Lee Nin Kit saw the scene he said that even professional stuntman would need over 40 takes for this scene.  His comfort made me feel better."  Although the film will be released on the same day in the Mainland as Zhang Yimou's FLOWERS OF WAR, but Tsui Hark and Lee Nin Kit did not care about internal struggle but cared about the two film's international influence; Tsui Hark even encouraged viewers to see FLOWERS.

The DRAGON cast due to the production formed the "Dragon Gate Alumni Association", which included Master Chen Chen Kun, Big Silly Zhou Zhou Xun, Big Brother Li Lee Nin Kit and Big Cannon Kwai Kwai Lun-Mei.  Zhou Xun joked that originally she was the president but because Lee Nin Kit's kung fu was too amazing, she had to give up here seat.  When asked if Tsui Hark joined them, what nickname would they give him?  Chen Kun said, "Big Strange Tsui, Old Strange Tsui, Demon Tsui."

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Chen Kun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Mavis Fan Hiu Huen earlier posed for a magazine cover to promote FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP).  The trio during the interview all said that director Tsui Hark gave their image an 180 degree turn.  Chen Kun went from a gentleman to a villain.  Always a nice girl, Kwai Lun-Mei turned into a sassy and wild minority tribeswoman.  With her outstanding personality, Fan Hiu Huen became a tender woman.

Claiming to rarely make fight scenes, Chen Kun spent 9 months for the most basic physical, boxing and martial art training.  As the sassy princess Kwai Lun-Mei at first did not know where to start.  "Until when costume designer Mr. Yee Chung Man darkened my face, drew tattoos on it, put a wig and a costume on me.  Then all the foreign territory woman's dominance, exotic wildness all came out.  I still remember after my first fight scene I imagined myself to be a wild wolf or a leopard on the prowl."

The tender character seemed to be quite distant from Fan Hiu Huen's personality.  She said, "The director said that woman is like water, with a very wide range of space for imagination.  Haha!  Luckily during the shoot under the leadership of the director and other co-stars I gradually entered into the character's world!"

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The 3D wuxia epic FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) yesterday held a press conference in Beijing.  Five actors Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit), Chen Kun, Chris Lee Yuchun, Kwai Lun-Mei, and Mavis Fan Hiu Huen reunited for the first time after the film wrapped at the end of last year.  They discussed the relationships between the characters in the film.  Rarely having on screen romances, Lee Nin Kit this time caught the eyes of Zhou Xun and Fan Hiu Huen and had ambiguous relationships.  Zhou Xun described her character's feeling for Lee Nin Kit with "deeply buried true love", while Fan Hiu Huen stated that she "respects and admires" Lee Nin Kit.

Director Tsui Hark joked that he owed Lee Yuchun a relationship.  This time in the film Lee Yuchun had a tangling relationship with Chen Kun, but Kwai Lun-Mei fell in love at first sight of him.  In one scene Lee Yuchun and Kwai Lun-Mei fought out of jealousy for Chen Kun.

The event's bright spot was Bona film industry group chief Yu Dong and Lee Nin Kit's joint appearance.  With the upcoming holidays, Yu Dong announced that the film promotion had "three no" principles: no fighting back, no back talking and no ticket price increase to ensure the public audience's viewing rights.  Yu Dong even revealed that Lee Nin Kit recently received the United Nations' Pyramide con Mami award.  Lee Nin Kit thanked everyone for supporting and caring about him.

Anthony Wong Yiu Ming

Patti Hou, Wu Chun

Cheun Kun

Shawn Yue

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Mr.

Kary Ng

Rosamund Kwan

Wu Chun

Shu Qi

Julian Cheung

Moses Chan

Kwai Lun-Mei

Patti Hou

Michael Lai

Zhang Jingchu courtesy of mingpao.com

Fala Chen with boyfriend Sit Sai Hung courtesy of takungpao.com

Fashion label Giorgio Armani's Central new store opening ceremony took place last night.  The event invited stars like Shu Qi, Rosamund Kwan Chi Lam, Chen Kun, Wu Chun, Kwai Lun-Mei, Patti Hou, Zhang Jingchu, Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Shawn Yue Man Lok, Fala Chen and Moses Chan Ho.

Wu Chun today has to return to Beijing for SAVING GENERAL YANG (YEUNG GA JEUNG).  Recently he dubbed in Cantonese for the first time in another film MAGIC TO WIN (HOI SUM MOR FAT) but he worried that the audience would not understand.  He said that his Cantonese has improved.  He learned it on his own from watching Hong Kong film.  Recently working with Andy Lau Tak Wa on a film, Zhang Jingchu praised that Wa Jai was very handsome.  Wa Jai was rumored to be a father soon.  She asked with surprise, "Really?  I don't know.  Tomorrow I will congratulate him.  Maybe it's a joke!  If so then I will tell everyone.  (Has Chu Lai Sin visited the set?)  No."  Kwai Lun-Mei cut her hair short for a new film.  If the story required it, she would not mind shaving her head.

Shu Qi was rumored to be a Bond Girl but she said that she has not auditioned and no one contacted her.  She learned about everything from the media.  Would she accept if she was invited?  She joked, "Right now I really am not too interested.  I don't want to fight, leave it for someone else.  After over ten years I hope to rest a little, I don't want to lose the passion for film."  She said that for now she did not want to take another role.  She would like to stop for half a year or so.  Now she has finally turned down all offers and she felt much lighter.  Her boss had no opinion about her temporary break.  She joked, "The boss always treats me like a money tree, stopping for half a year doesn't matter!  (Would you enjoy life like Kwan Chi Lam?)  That's good too, if I have her financial abilities.  (Hasn't you made enough?)  If I only spend a little I will be able to have meal."  She said that for over ten years she has been busy with movies, she hoped to be able to have more personal space in the future.