Movie Box Review

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ESQUIRE Men of the Year award ceremony took place two nights ago at the Repulse Bay Hotel. Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Alex Law Kai Yui and Lang Lang were among the winners. Other guests included Louis Cheung Kai Chung, Edmond Leung Hong Man, Alex Fong Lik Man and Sherman Chung Shu Man.

Every winner put some collectibles that represented themselves on display. Yen Chi Tan, Hung Kam Bo and Law Kai Yui displayed their past awards. Only the seven time Best Actor Cheung Ka Fai displayed an antique clock. Ka Fai said that at first the event suggested for him to display his award but he thought that was tooting his own horn a little, which he did not want to do. He said that he bought the clock in Europe. He felt that time did not differentiate between gentlemen and petty people so it was the truest. Ka Fai earlier guest starred in FOUNDING OF A PARTY in the Mainland and lately he also guest starred in a short film. He said, "As someone from Hong Kong, I have to support Hong Kong film." Ka Fai did not ask for any special salary, but he discovered that guest starring for a day was like making a movie, he had to prepare for the character just the same. After work he completely "collapsed".

Yen Chi Tan was busy with ALL'S WELL ENDS WELL 2011 (JUI KEUNG HEI SI). Reportedly when Raymond Wong Pak Ming asked him to make this film, he asked for a role for his sister in law Wang Yuanyuan. Chi Tan explained that he knew in advance that this was an ensemble film so he recommended Yuanyaun for an audition. The final decision lay with the director. Aside from Carina Lau Ka Ling, the film also starred Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Ronald Cheng Chung Kei. Chi Tan said that he left the comedy for Goo Jai and Cheng Chung Kei, this time he went to learn. Ka Ling joked that her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai sent her to keep an eye on Chi Tan. Chi Tan joked, "Really? Then I will keep an eye on her for Wai Jai." Wai Jai's THE GRANDMASTERS (YUT DOI JUNG SI) poster was unveiled. Chi Tan has seen it and praised Wai Jai as very stylish and having a different feeling.

In addition, earlier Chi Tan complained that LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON) had less than ideal box office because too cut was cut. He clarified that he was not complaining and was only examining after the race. Actually every film would be cut. Would he put it as a condition on the contract? Chi Tan said that would be impossible as the actor was not in charge.

LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN) two nights ago held a box office celebration in Shanghai. Director Andrew Lau Wai Keung led stars Shu Qi, Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Huo Siyan, Ryu Kohota, Chen Jiajia and others in attendance.

Lau Wai Keung stated that in the first cut the ending actually had an additional 8 minutes of drama that explained Chen Zhen's personal inner conflict, but it was cut from the release. He hoped this ending would appear in the film sequel as the opening sequence. Shu Qi also hoped to continue to perform in the sequel, and romance the Yen Chi Tan played Chen Zhen once again. Shu Qi said, "Everything would depend on the script, hopefully the ending wouldn't be as sad as this time." Since the Mainland release of CONFESSION OF PAIN (SEUNG SING), Shu Qi's LOOK FOR A STAR (YAU LUNG HEI FUNG), IF YOU ARE THE ONE, BLOOD BROTHERS, CITY UNDER SIEGE (CHUEN SING GAI BEI) and other films were big hits in the Mainland. Shu Qi's personal cumulative box office in the Mainland was near 800 million yuan as Shu Qi became the target that film companies, directors and producers fought over. With a lucky star like Shu Qu, LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN had hope to witness Shu Qi's personal box office mark breaking 1 billion yuan.

Shu Qi since her first film has worked with Lau Wai Keung 11 times already. Shu Qi joked that Lau loved to yell at actresses, thus no one dared to work with him. Shu Qi also said, "He is very responsible to me, he wants big things for me." Then she called Lau Wai Keung "Papa". Meanwhile, Wong Chau Sun praised Shu Qi for her quality and being radiant in front of the camera. Shu Qi and Wong Chau Sun might appear in another story in the sequel, as Shu Qi might play Yoshiko Kawashima.

LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN) was released the earliest in the Mainland. Its opening day box office was near 20 million RMB. Its three day box office exceeded 50 million RMB to become the most ideal performance among films of the same period.

The film opened in Hong Kong on September 23. The single day and special screening box office already exceeded 3.5 million, 2.8 million more than IP MAN 2's opening day box office. At the same time it was Andrew Lau Wai Keung's highest grossing film since the INFERNAL AFFAIRS (MO GAN DOH) film series, again confirming that the team of Lau Wai Keung and Donnie Yen Chi Tan was extraordinarily attractive.

The film was also released in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Their box office tally already exceeded HK$60 million. The performance has been rather idea and the cast was rather excited. When asked how he felt about the box office, Yen Chi Tan said that his joy was unprecedented because this success proved that the audience accepted his performance of Chen Zhen. In addition this time he was the action director and the audience liked his action films.

Lau Wai Keung was also very happy, saying that this was his best performance in the Mainland so far. He did not dare to slow down his promotion. After the Mid Autumn Festival, he and Anthony Wong Chau Sun began a series of Mainland promotions. The Mainland film company for now scheduled a celebration in Beijing on the 28th. Lau Wai Keung, Shu Qi, and Wong Chau Sun have already agreed to attend. Yen Chi Tan would ask his current production in hopes of attending.

Shu Qi

Cissy Wang and husband Donnie Yen Chi Tan

The film LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN) yesterday held a premiere. Aside from actor Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Shu Qi, Anthony Wong Chau Sun, and director Andrew Lau Wai Keung, special guest Norika Fujiwara attended.

Due to the recently intense anti-Japanese sentiment in the Mainland and the film's background was the War Against Japanese Aggression, Norika was rather interested in this film and thus asked to attend. Reportedly, Norika came to Hong Kong to shoot a movie. Originally the shoot was completed two days ago. When she knew about LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN premiere she stayed to support it.

Shu Qi and Yen Chi Tan expressed that they did not know about Norika's attendance. Yen Chi Tan joked, "Maybe Norika learned that I would show my rear in the film, so she came to watch my 'August 15' (full moon)." Shu Qi played a Japanese character. She said, "Hopefully Norika

wouldn't detect how poor my Japanese was. I already practiced very hard. Actually, some Japanese fans thought my Japanese song performance was very accurate, better than with my Japanese dialogue." Shu Qi stated that after the shoot, director Lau Wai Keung asked her to provide voice work. Yen Chi Tan joked, "Did you ask the line, 'That island is ours'?" When asked whether he was referring to Diaoyutai, Yen Chi Tan avoided the political subject and joked, "I was referring to Lamma Island. Artists and historical problems are better off remaining separate." Shu Qi stated that she was worried about playing a Japanese and stressed that she was bleeding Chinese blood.

The film LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN held its Taiwan premiere. Donnie Yen Chi Tan and director Andrew Lau Wai Keung arrived in Taiwan and rushed to the press conference, after a series of interviews they went to the premiere. The event arranged for a 3 minute long red carpet. Yen Chi Tan and Lau Wai Keung chatted as they walked, jokingly asked why they still could not see the end. After red carpets of Venice, Beijing, Shanghai, they joked that Taiwan's red carpet was the longest in history.

"Strongest in the universe" Yen Chi Tan was a victim of a prank. The event presented a "sick man of Asia" plaque for Yen Chi Tan to kick, but after ten kicks he still was unable to. Finally he only broke a corner. Actually this plaque was made with canvas.

LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN) two nights ago held its global premiere at the Beijing Film Museum. Director Andrew Lau Wai Keung led actors Donnie Yen Chi Tan, Shu Qi, Anthony Wong Chau Sun, Huang Bo, Shawn Yue Man Lok, Huo Siyan, Ryu Kohata and Exile member Akira attended.

Shu Qi wore a short white dress and walked the red carpet in the arms of Chi Tan. The team after arriving in Beijing in the morning began to work. Due to the tight schedule, they have not eaten all day and was starving at the premiere. When they saw over 1,000 onlookers, they immediately became energized and excitedly appeared on the red carpet. Shu Qi and Chi Tan in the film played a couple with an awkward relationship. Shu Qi sighed that Chi Tan truly was a very nice man, unfortunately she was not his wife. Chi Tan looked embarrassed.

After the Beijing premiere, the film last night held its Shanghai premiere. The host brought out nunchukus for Wong Chau Sun and Huang Bo to plya with. Chau Sun looked convincing with them as he joked this was his god son Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun)'s Chou-chukus and revealed its secret, "Actually during the shoot I picked up a lot from Lau Wai Keung and Yen Chi Tan."

Shu Qi after the film shoot wished that she could marry a man like Yen Chi Tan. Yesterday another actress Huo Siyan also daringly admitted, "Big Brother Chi Tan is who I want to marry" and even praised Chi Tan as the "New Good Man". She said that she was envious of how great Chi Tan was to his wife and thought this was the man who she wanted to marry.

With endless film contracts, Donnie Yen Chi Tan has another new film release LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN). Earlier he promoted at the Venice Film Festival. Everyone would be concerned whether LEGEND OF THE FIST would be able to break IP MAN's box office. Because its strong cast and crew, Yen Chi Tan, Shu Qi and INFERNAL AFFAIRS (MO GAN DOH) director Andrew Lau Wai Keung, the film is already a box office guarantee. Yen Chi Tan also has been promoting heavily, everyday he made action poses to remind everyone that he was Chen Zhen.

Yen Chi Tan yesterday practiced topless yesterday under the Ching Ma Bridge. Has Yen Chi Tan been too much in character and everyday was a mix of Chen Zhen and Ip Man?

With the Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN, the director Andrew Lau Wai Keung in order to wash away Chi Tan's previous image spent a lot of time to talk with Chi Tan to study action scenes.

Lau Wai Keung felt that in order to expand Chen Zhen's legend, Chen Zhen's every move must be very fast, vicious, and accurate. Chi Tan's earlier characters might be more focused on structure, thus he strictly asked Chi Tan for a sense of speed that must be 100% accurate and

fast to be able to capture Chen Zhen's characteristics.

The most surprising part of the black hero scene was Chi Tan was as fast as a car, then flew into it through the window. That second took most of the day to measure and test positions before its completion. Any accidental contact with the car would make the scene a failure. Thus he

had to be very accurately jump into the car. Luckily Chi Tan finally was not injured and the shoot was very smooth. In addition he also had to kick in the rain. Although kicks were not hard for him at all, the wet road and the run on top of the car made them difficult for him. In one

take he almost slipped, luckily he had good balance and did not fall. Chi Tan after the shoot breathed a sigh of relief, "That was close!"

Shawn Yue Man Lok guest starred in the film LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN), which was one of the Venice Film Festival opening films. Ah Lok earlier personally attended the Venice Film Festival. On a Mainland site interview, he said that he was able to make that film completely because of director Andrew Lau Wai Keung's invitation. In addition he has never performed in an early Republic film, thus he became interested in this character. Ah Lok said that he did not know how to fight and was only responsible for the dramatic scene in the film. All the action scenes were Donnie Yen Chi Tan's responsibility.

In addition, Ah Lok's films REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU) and CHILD'S EYE (TUNG NGAN) also appeared in Venice. He honestly said that he was rather lucky to have three films at his first Venice Film Festival. He even said that currently he would like to work with director Feng

Xiaogang the most.

The 67th Venice Film Festival held an international press conference and an opening film red carpet ceremony for the Media Asia film LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN (JING MO FUNG WON CHEN ZHEN) on September 1. Director Andrew Lau Wai Keung and Donnie Yen Chi Tan both brought their wives, Yen Chi Tan's sister in law Wang Yuanyuan accompanied Shawn Yue Man Lok on the red carpet so he would not have to attend solo.

Yen Chi Tan was very excited to see the LEGEND OF THE FIST posters all over the streets of Venice and foreign fans kept asking him for autographs and photos during the international press conference and red carpet. Even he dared not believed how well known he was overseas. Lau

Wai Keung was very happy that foreign media praised his film's intense drama and exciting action scenes. After the premiere the film received very high praises as it received a five minute standing ovation from the entire audience. Over half the audience was reluctant to leave. Some

felt that this was the most exciting Yen Chi Tan film yet. The admission rate was over 90% and applause was endless during the screening.

In the Chen Zhen torture scene, Chi Tan's revealing performance left the entire audience's mouths wide open. In order to show off his figure, Chi Tan joked that of course he had to properly work out and exercise like mad. Lau Wai Keung praised Chi Tan's generosity and stated that Chi Tan never cleared the set. Even Shu Qi deliberately visited the set. She even dragged the make up artist to enjoy the scene together. No wonder Yen Chi tan joked that this scene alone was worth 50 million RMB box office.

Chi Tan met with famous Hollywood director Robert Rodriguez backstage. Robert Rodriguez even expressed that he was a fan of Chi Tan. First time film festival attendee Yue Man Lok became bashful before the press conference because he just met Jessica Alba. The ordinarily

playful him turned quiet as his palms were sweating and face turned red. He was surprised that when he walked the red carpet many fans cheered for him.

Donnie Yen, Shawn Yue Man Lok

Shawn Yue represented LEGEND OF THE FIST THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN, CHILD'S EYE and REIGN OF ASSASSINS

Elanne Kong Yeuk Lam

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