Movie Box Review

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Best Actor Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, popular Taiwan superstar Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Hong Kong star Andy On Chi Kit, Mainland star Lin Peng worked together on the Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed HK$200 million Emperor Motion Picture THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN).  The cast's life risking performance in the film and its massive amount of thrilling scenes in the air and at sea finally won the film box office success.  VIRAL after five days in release already broke the HK$8 million mark at the Hong Kong box office.

The film's Southeast Asian region release also brought extremely good word of mouth and box office.  The film company intends on arranging for Tse Ting Fung and Chow Kit Lun to gather in Hong Kong for a celebration.

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The Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) and Lin Peng starred film THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) received Malay police department's flight team support as they shot at the Police flight team headquarter and borrowed several helicopters and pilots.  They even had 7 police officers who personally performed.  Ting Fung and Chairman Chou had to perform a series of stunts on the helicopter.  Chairman Chou was frightened when the helicopter suddenly flew on its side.  Because at the time he did not put on his seat belt and the cockpit door was not closed, if he did not tightly hold on he definitely would have been flying.  Ting Fung pointed out that when he helped Lin Peng to the helicopter he almost had an accident and flew out of the helicopter.  Lin Peng said, "The three of us were in the helicopter and had to mind our safety while delivery our lines and act.  At the time the helicopter rolled on its side, something fell and was about to fly out, I quickly fixed it.  When the helicopter went sideways, I was careless and was tossed up.  Luckily Chairman Chou and Ting Fung grabbed me fast!"


In addition, director Dante Lam Chiu Yin revealed that Tse Ting Fung in a crying scene could not stop crying, perhaps he had too much suppressed that had to be released.  Chow Kit Lun said that he was 33, people could call him brother but not uncle.

Emperor boss Albert Yeung hosts the ceremony

Lin Peng

Elaine Kam

Patrick Tse, Andy On, Deborah Li

Eric Kwok, Grace Ip

Young Emperor stars come in support

4 Must See Parts: Earth Shattering Explosion

Seventh Floor Straight Down

Tearful Reunion

Genius child star

Ankie Bielke

Michelle Wai (Si Nga)'s clothing catches fire at the premiere.  Luckily Carlo Chan puts it out.

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Nicholas Tse, Deborah Li, Patrick Tse, Andy On

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Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Lin Peng, Liu Kai Chi, Elaine Kam Yin Ling, Andy On Chi Kit along with director Dante Lam Chiu Yi two nights ago attended THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) premiere at Sky 100.  Also on hand were Deborah Li and her husband Moustache Kong, Patrick Tse Yin and others.

The host talked about the venue.  Ting Fung joked that he could consider making an action film here, but Chairman Chou joked that he absolutely would not make a sequel because it was too tough.  The 18th would be Chairman Chou's birthday and the event arranged for a cake to celebrate with him in advance.

Later Ting Fung stated that with the government's permit he would be willing to jump from here for a movie; would he not have to watch himself more as a father?  He said, "I trust the safety of Hong Kong film, we are crazy but not stupid."  The director said that the boss would like the box office to reach 400 million.  Ting Fung admitted that he neither dared nor knew how to estimate, he had confidence though.  When asked about his former wife Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi's poor box office performance after her comeback and becoming the box office poison, Ting Fung was very helpless and said, "Oh don't say that, (people made her sound horrible?)  You made up this name, I didn't say it.  (How do you think she should be described?)  Don't ask me, I don't know how to answer.  If you ask me again I would giving you a beating, or maybe jumping from here and pulling you down too."

Ting Fung said that he will fly back to Shanghai to work for a few days then return to Hong Kong for the Lunar New year.  When asked whether he would reunite with Pak Chi?  Ting Fung kept saying no and said questions like no chance have already been answered before.

Lai Goo said that she has not asked her son.

Has she paid attention to any hint?  Lai Goo joked, "No, I too am waiting for the notice to coordinate.  (Have you contacted Pak Chi?)  No, she is hardly ever in Hong Kong.  (Are you scared?)  Why did you say that?  (Because you don't want them to!)  Are you answering for me?  I can tell everyone, don't put me between them.  Heaven's will is hard to go against, if they reunite I wish them well, don't say whether I approve or not."

Lai Goo said, she would prepare big laisee for her grandsons.  Quintus already knew how to say Grandma and Grandpa.  Would she urge her daughter Jennifer Tse Ting Ting to wed?  Lai Goo said that she did not want to but could not help but say that the Year of the Dragon will have a lot of joyous events.

Chairman Chou was very confident that the box office will reach 400 million; would he truly not make a sequel?  He said, "Absolutely not, I have to properly rest.  When I directed and starred myself it was both comfortable and award winning, how great was that!"  Would he ask rumored girlfriend Hannah Quinlivan (Kwun Ling) as the female lead?  Chairman Chou said that he did not want to find someone in the business as he hoped for freshness.  Otherwise he would ask Kwai Lun-Mei because they have not worked together for awhile.  Did he have a script yet?  Chairman Chou would like to shoot at the end of March.  Originally he thought about a magic film but THE GREAT MAGICIAN (DAI MOR SHOOK SI) has already used the subject first.

Would SECRET 2 be made?  Chairman Chou said, "It should be the end of the year, but I can't tell what the secret would be."  Reporters joked that his girlfriend was something that could not be told, Chairman Chou smiled without answering.  Would he like to work with Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha)?  He admitted that he asked Andrew Lau Wai Keung to introduce them, but he did not know whether she would be willing.  However he still was very happy that she has seen SECRET (BUT NUNG SHUET DIK BEI MUK).  Would he truly not work with Hannah Quinlivan?  Chairman Chou said, "The best would be asking friends of opposite sex who won't lead to rumors.  (But she really is a girlfriend?)  We are just friends.  (Are you dating?)  Dating in the movies."

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Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Andy On Chi Kit, Lin Peng yesterday promoted their new film THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN).  Chairman Chou was the most popular as he attracted over 100 fans.  Coincidentally Chairman Chou's birthday will be on the 18th.  The host asked fans to sing the birthday song, but Chairman Chou said that it was a little embarrassing.  Fans ignored him and kept singing.  They also played games with the audience.

Chairman Chou said that his birthday wish was for THE VIRAL FACTOR to be this year's box office champion, his written and directed film could be second.  Why did he not want it to be number one?  Chairman Chou joked, "Because this film is the toughest in my history, I wouldn't let myself to suffer too much so being second is enough!"  Chairman Chou also revealed that on his birthday he will attend the film premiere in Taiwan and he planned to invite 50 artists to a party.  Will he invite his girlfriend?  Chairman Chou kept circling and only said that he will invite female artist friends.  Will he invite rumored girlfriend Hannah Quinlivan (Kwun Ling)?  He admitted that she will be included but she probably would not attend.  Earlier he invited her to see THE GREEN HORNET and she was worried about reporter questions if she appeared.  Speaking of yesterday's Taiwan election, Chairman Chou said that due to the promote he did not have a chance to vote.

As for On Chi Kit he gave Lin Peng the nickname "Gutsy Lin" during the shoot.  He explained that Lin Peng personally performed any and all dangerous stunts.  Did Lin Peng treated herself like Chairman Chou's girlfriend in the film?  She said that although Chairman Chou often rescued and protected her, she did not have any fondness for him.  Was she afraid of falling under the spell of Chairman Chou?  Lin Peng said, "He indeed would have many girls under his spell.  Chairman Chou is very kind, very nice and simple."  Lin Peng revealed that the director has said that if the box office was decent a sequel would be possible.  Will she be able to kiss Chairman Chou then?  Lin Peng said that was not bad, hopefully she will be able to!

Bai Bing

Dante Lam, Andy On

Lin Peng

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THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) two nights ago held its Beijing premiere.  Director Dante Lam Chiu Yin led Nicholas Tse Ting Fung, Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Lin Peng, Bai Bing, and Andy On Chi Kit in attendance.  Ting Fung and Chairman Chou looked exactly liked brothers the entire way and even made the Mr and Mrs Smith back to back gun pose on the red carpet.

The director and the actors went to several meetings before and after the screening, viewers who just finished watching the film seemed to still be in the film as they called them by their film character names.  Chairman Chou joked, "If I knew in advance you might as well save us a few seats so we can watch your reaction.  When you should cry you have to cry!"  Ting Fung said handsomely, "THE VIRAL FACTOR will definitely bring you incredibly exciting two hours!"  Ting Fung also took the chance to "beg for mercy" with the director.  "Next time can we please shoot at a clean location.  In THE VIRAL FACTOR every time after work I had to shower three times, even my underwear had mud in it".  Kit Lun also joked, "Then don't wear underwear!"  The crowd shrieked.

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THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) has many action scenes.  Not only brothers Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) fight with Andy On Chi Kit and Jimmy Hung Tin Chiu, even lead actress Lin Peng
put herself on the line for stunts.  As she dove from the deck to the bottom of the ship, the crew's heart beats quicken.

Lin Peng's high dive was heart pounding, but she said it was a lot of fun.  "My previous action scenes were all in costumes, flying back and forth in long robes and sleeves and make pretty moves; this time is completely different.  I am casually dressed, which is even more beneficial to the action shoot.  As soon as I get shot I fall to the bottom of the ship, it feels so cool!"

Tse Ting Fung has many combat scenes on the oil tanker, including one with Hung Tin Chiu.  It started six in the morning and shot straight for almost ten hours before completion.  In another scene Ting Fung jumps from the oil tanker into the sea.  Ting Fung stands on the tail of the ship and is four stories above the sea.  Although the waves are strong, Ting Fung without any hesitation dives in.  However Ting Fung is almost swept under the ship.  The rescue divers due to the sudden wave cannot save him in time.  Luckily Ting Fung is a strong swimmer and immediately surfaces, leaving everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

Chow Kit Lun also has a series of gun fights.  In order to handle the extremely exhausting action, he arrives at the set early in the morning for warm up.  The cargoes on the oil tanker are set up like a giant maze.  Chairman Chou dodges bullets and grenades between the cargoes and at the same time has to perform a series of shots in mid air.  Because the end of the maze is the sea, during the shoot the crew put Chairman Chou on wires to prevent him from not being able to brake in time and falling into the sea.

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Andy On Chi Kit and Mainland actress Lin Peng yesterday went to promote their film THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) in Yuen Long.  They looked great in military fatigues but when Lin Peng pulled the trigger, the magazine fell to the floor.  Others could not help but laugh.

Calling herself a tom boy, Lin Peng said that this was her first skirmish.  She admitted that dropping the magazine was very embarrassing.  As for working with Nicholas Tse Ting Fung this time, she praised that he was very nice and friendly.  He was great inside and out and his eyes seemed to be able to speak, which made her bashful.  She said, "People who don't understand him would feel he is very cool, but actually he isn't."  As for the other lead Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), who between him and Ting Fung did Lin Peng feel is more handsome?  She said that both were very handsome because both their eyes were electrifying.  During the shoot Ting Fung was in the middle of his divorce.  Did she comfort Ting Fung?  She said, "I am not at liberty to ask about other people's personal issues."

On Chi Kit said that he did not like to play war games because being shot hurt.  This year will be the third Christmas that he and Jennifer Tse Ting Ting have been together.  Because Ting Ting did not want to celebrate in hong Kong, she planned a trip.  Ting Ting asked for a car earlier, he said that they in Hong Kong often took taxi.  He alone would even take the MTR.  As for his hand injury, he said that the stitches would be removed in a week.

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Dante Lam Chiu Yin yesterday led Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), Lin Peng and Bai Bing to attend THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN)'s ultimate trailer release in Beijing.  THE VIRAL FACTOR's official Mainland site was already launched.  Although the trailer was only two minutes long, it shook the venue floor.  Chairman Chou praised the trailer as very "amazing" and left everyone breathless.  At the press conference the director and the three actors kept talking about the pain of the joy of the production.  Chairman Chou admitted that Director Lam has already forced him toward madness.  He never expected that the film needed three months to shoot, which made me want to go home everyday.  Lin Peng and Bai Bing joked that good food was wherever Chairman Chou was.  Bai Bing said that while working in Jordan, Chairman Chou constantly found some unexpected restaurants.  Lin Peng pointed out that Chairman Chou in
Malaysia took everything to have Bak Kut Teh.  The director immediately complained to Chairman Chou, "Why during the shoot you didn't take me once to try authentic local food!  If we have a chance to work together again, I definitely will make your production even tougher."

Lin Peng also revealed that Chairman Chou had the nickname of "Little Pale" on the set.  Although this time Chairman Chou looked very different from what everyone was used to, his skin was tan.  She realized that Chairman Chou had some very pale places so everyone called him "Little Pale".  Chairman Chou admitted that this time his VIRAL FACTOR costume was the most "manly" in his film career.  Lin Peng also cut her hair short for this film.  Chairman Chou joked that next time she might as well shave her head.  As for Chairman Chou's rating of Lin Peng's look, Lin Peng immediately said, "He doesn't like short haired girls!"  Chairman Chou awkwardly said, "Right!  I like long haired ones."

Speaking of shooting in Jordan and Kuala Lumpur, Chairman Chou admitted that Jordan to him was like "hell".  He pointed out that he was someone who did not like restrictions, but life in Jordan was too regulated and was very different from her personality.  Thus everyday after work, he would work out with Andy On Chi Kit.  While in Jordan, his "heaven" was a Chinese restaurant, as soon as he left he seemed to have returned to "hell".

Nicholas Tse holds virus specialist Lin Peng hostage

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The Emperor Motion Picture THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) director Dante Lam Chiu Yin has always satisfied viewers' visual sense with explosive scenes.  This time in the film he designed a car crash that paralyzed Nicholas Tse Ting Fung for three minutes.  Mainland star Lin Peng was almost disfigured.  Emperor nervously purchased ten million in insurance policy for each actor!

The Lam Chiu Yin directed Emperor Motion Picture THE VIRAL FACTOR cost HK$200 million.  The director has always been explosive and was known for mighty scenes.  Of course THE VIRAL FACTOR is no exception.  The film would have many extra large explosive scenes and tanks, fighter jets.  In addition the actors mostly personally performed their stunts.

In a car crash scene, Ting Fung had to drive over another car and when he landed a bus hit his car.  Ting Fung said that at the time his old wounds acted up.  "For two to three minutes I couldn't move at all, I was in so much pain that I was paralyzed."  Lin Peng who performed in such an explosive scene for the first time actually was nearly disfigured.  Thus Emperor could not be more nervous and spent heavily on everyone's insurance policies.

Lin Peng had many dangerous scenes.  Car crashes and chases were already casual for her.  "Aside from using a dummy during a car crash, I personally performed the rest.  So I constantly would suffer bruises and scratches."  She was so focused during the shoot that her professionalism made the director praise her the "female Jackie Chan".