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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Daniel Wu, Shu Qi, Doze Niu, Stephen Fung, Mark Chao courtesy of mingpao.com

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Shu Qi, Mark Chao (Chiu Yau Ting) and director Doze Niu Chen-Zer last night attended their new film LOVE's Hong Kong premiere.  The film's other actor Ethan Juan (Yuen King Tin) was absent due to military service.

Shu Qi and Wang Leehom (Wong Lik Won) have been linked in rumors for years.  At the end of last year they were caught visiting Indonesia.  Last night reporters congratulated Shu Qi.  She immediately changed the subject.  "Are you congratulating me on my Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress nomination?  (Congratulation on you dating!)  When?  The news was written a week ago, I don't need to promote like this.  It has been rumored for ten years!"  Who would she spend Valentine's Day with?  She said that she would see Niu Chen-Zer and Chiu Yau Ting because today she will head to the Mainland to promote the new film in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other locations.  Was she not going to rest for half a year?  She said that she would not make a movie for half a year, she would still promote.  Who would she spend Valentine's Day with?  She said, "Check out my micro blog and you would know!  I have a date with the LOVE team.  (Do you long for love?)  OK, I am always working on romantic films with actors so I don't feel like I am not dating.  Like this movie, I have to kiss Chiu Yau Ting, Niu Chen-Zer takes care of me and have an innocent romance with Siu Tin.  I feel I have all the fun in life, I am pretty satisfied."

As for Shu Qi praising Niu Chen-Zer as handsome, she said that everyone had different flavor.  However Siu Tin was the most attractive to her because they played a couple that reminded her of simpler love during her school days.  Now would she pursue simple love?  She admitted that she truly wanted simple love.  Because she had many memorable and passionate love in movies, she felt very tired and ordinary was beautiful.  Stephen Fung Tak Lun who was also linked to rumor with Shu Qi last night came with good friend Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho).  He also chatted with Shu Qi.

Shu Qi was nominated for the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress with A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.  Facing a strong opponent in Deanie Ip Tak Han, she admitted that she almost knew the result.  She was already very happy about the nomination because A BEAUTIFUL LIFE production was very tough.  Now with the Hong Kong Film Award recognition she had something to answer with.  Who was her biggest competition?  She said, "Everyone is great, I am great too.  I will attend the award ceremony, I won't be absent because I know I would lose.  (Maybe it will be a surprise?)  The surprise wouldn't be me, how tragic you guys are."

As for Best Actor, Shu Qi picked Lau Ching Wan but she did not know whether his two nominations would split his votes.  Among the nominated films she has only seen LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM), so she did not dare to comment.

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Eric Tsang Chi Wai last year brought a dozen or so artists to Japan for a travel special to help revive Japan's tourism.  A year later, Chi Wai two nights ago again as a goodwill ambassador went to Fukushima Prefecture for a special in hopes of bringing positive messages back.  The special will air in March on TVB.

The Hong Kong Film Award nominations were announced earlier.  Chi Wai picked Lau Ching Wan as the favorite as he praised his outstanding performance in OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2) and LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM).  However he was worried that his two nominations would split his votes.  As for Best Actress, he said of course Deanie Ip Tak Han had the highest chances.  Chi Wai also praised the SHAOLIN (SUN SIU LUM JI) Best Supporting Actor nominee Nicholas Tse Ting Fung for his acting improvement.

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Gordon Chan states that broadcast contracts require full version

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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 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