Movie Box Review

The 30th Hong Kong Film Award will take place tonight at the Cultural Center. Seen as the final award of the year, Best Picture nominees include GALLANTS (DAI LUI TOI), DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAME (DIK YUN KIT ji TUNG TIN DAI GOK), IP MAN 2, STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN) and REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU). Before the battle they have already become the hot topic!

This year's Hong Kong Film Award Best Picture nominees have one thing in common, they are all full of martial art fighting elements and prove that in recent years the film market focuses more on martial art action subjects. The most special part is the directors of five Best Picture nominees are also nominated for Best Director, proving that every film is an exciting. Out of the five films, the Tsui Hark directed film DETECTIVE has the best chance. The film received 13 nominations, the most this year. It is the favorite for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress.

However changes may still take place. The John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) produced, Su Chao-Bin directed REIGN has 11 nominations, second only to DETECTIVE. Under producer Ng Yu Sum, the director achieved a wuxia film romantic beauty and its chance increased. The Raymond Wong Pak Ming, Li Xiaoran and An Xiaofen produced IP MAN 2 last year broke 200 million in the Mainland with a better story and pace than the first film. In addition IP MAN in 2009 already won Best Picture so it had a chance to win again.

Another commercial and critical hit STOOL had the frequently awarded in recent years director Dante Lam Chiu Yin and Nick Cheung Ka Fai. Earlier STOOL won many awards in the Mainland as shots of confidence for the Hong Kong Film Award Best Picture. As for the Lam Ka Tung produced GALLANTS, although its cast and production budget were lacking in comparison to its competition, its word of mouth far exceeded expectation. It was a rare work of sincerity in recent years. Earlier at the 17th Hong Kong Film Critic Society Award it won Best Picture.

The Hong Kong Film Critic Association yesterday announced the 2010 China Hong Kong Taiwan film critic alliance's top ten Chinese and foreign films". Due to the gradually closer relationship between the three lands on both sides of the strait, the selected films or "nominated" films were films that are the most worth recommended to the general audience of all three places. Thus the selection method will no longer be decided by the film's commercial achievement but by film critic's review and evaluation of the film. The order was based on the scores that each organization provided to make the results even more representative. The most important point is the event hoped to display the different results from the three places and not the overall results. Due to films of the three locations have their own merits and the points of view are not completely identical, the timing for a Best Picture for all three places is not arrived yet. Thus the event hoped viewers would start with the chance to watch the recommended films of the three places, gradually expanding to mutual understanding and admiration. One day will come when a Best Picture for all three places will be chosen.

The Hong Kong Film Critic Association 2010 Top Ten Chinese Films in order are MERRY GO ROUND (DUNG FUNG BOR), DETECTIVE DEE AND THE MYSTERY OF THE PHANTOM FLAMES (DIK YUN KIT ji TUNG TIN DAI GOK), LOVE IN A PUFF (JI MING YU CHUN GIU), UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE, BREAK UP CLUB (FUN SAU SHUET OI NEI), STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN), AFTER SHOCK, REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU), GALLANTS (DAI LUI TOI) and MONGA. Among foreign films were INCEPTION, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, CONFESSIONS, and THE HURT LOCKER.

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Jiang Wen was very happy about LET THE BULLETS FLY's six nomination and will definitely fight for time to attend the award show. Chow Yun Fat was very happy about the Best Actor nomination and thanked director Jiang Wen and the film company, as well as the writers for create a good character for him.

Carina Lau Ka Ling was very happy about her Best Supporting Actress nomination, in particular as Asian Film Awards selected Asia's outstanding films for nominations. Ka Ling said, "Aside from thanking the event, I also have to thank director Jiang Wen for giving me the chance to

perform and writing such a good character. I also have to thank my County Executive husband in the film Ge You. Tomorrow the film will celebrate in Beijing but I will not be able to attend. This nomination is considered the best New Year present from me to this team!" Ka Ling added that she had to thank all the viewers who liked the County Executive wife.

In addition, STOOL PIGEON (SIN YUN) director Dante Lam Chiu Yin was very excited that his cinematographer Tse Chung To received Best Cinematography nomination.

REIGN OF ASSASSINS' Best Actress nominee Michelle (Yeung Chi King) was busy at work in Paris. After receiving the good news she joked that she wanted to celebrate with the boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok. She was even happier to learn about other nominations. She particularly thanked producer John Woo (Ng Yu Sum), director Su Chao-Bin and executive producer Terence Chang (Cheung Ka Chun). How confident was she? She knew that the competition from the Mainland, Japan and South Korea was very strong. Because the award promoted Asian films, she hoped to be able to attend and meet everyone. She looked forward to a new year when everyone continued to contribute more to Asian films.

The Feng Xiaogang directed AFTER SHOCK received four nominations. He deeply thanked and recognized viewers who have seen this film. He particularly felt even deeper the relationship with Mainland comrades, which made him feel blood was thicker than water. At the same time he thanked the admiration of Best Actress nominee Xu Fan.

Terry Robin Kwan was surprised but happy to win Best Actor

John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s wuxia film REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU) two nights ago began its promotion in Singapore. Only producer Ng Yu Sum, director Su Chao-Bin and lead actress Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi Kng) remained. Michelle sighed that this promotion did not have male lead Jung Woo-Sung's support, which took some getting used to because in the past Beijing and Hong Kong promotions Jung Woo-Sung would be by her side and take care of her like a gentleman would.

Despite the lack of Jung Woo-Sung, Michelle said that she still felt very happy because she was able to promote with Ng Yu Sum and Su Chao-Bin in Singapore. She has not promoted in Singapore in years. This city has always left a good impression on her.

Ng Yu Sum hoped that the Singapore viewers would like this film. The event informed Ng Yu Sum that after watching this film earlier media friends had nothing but praise. Everyone liked this story very much and thought that it was a wuxia film that has been missing for a long time as it was very exciting. Some even felt that this was Yeung Chi Kng's most exciting film, no wonder she held nothing back in this film promotion.

John Woo

John Woo, Su Chao-Bin

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The John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) produced wuxia film REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU) earlier held a premiere in Beijing. The segment that honored Ng Yu Sum was the most emotional, as the event displayed footage of his Venice award acceptance but suddenly added his daughter Angeles Woo (Ng Fei Ha)'s thoughts about his award. Ng Yu Sum broke down after seeing the words that her daughter said for him. Attending the premiere were director Su Chao-Bin, actors Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King), Jung Woo-Sung, Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon), Shawn Yue Man Lok, Wang Xueqi, Paw Hee Ching, Pace Wu (Ng Pui Chi) and Leon Dai Lap Yan. The entire audience gave a three minute standing ovation.

The actors proceeded to perform. Yue Man Lok stood out the most as he made noodles on stage. He then jumped rope with the noodles he made and lighten the mood. Most actors performed with swords. When Jung Woo-Sung drew his sword it broke in half. Actually it was a set up, the

missing half of the sword was already in Jung Woo-Sung's chest. Yeung Chi King and Jung Woo-Sung embraced each other. She said that from the first day of their collaboration they fought, later they held hands at any public event as a message of mutual support.

Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon)

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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 film REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU) held its global premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Producer John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) accompanied his wife and their daughter Ng Fei Ha, Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King) and Korean star Jung Woo-Sung walked the red carpet. Taiwan star Pace Wu (Ng Pui Chi) and Shawn Yue Man Lok came alone, but the former showed off her legs and the latter wore red shoes with a black suit. Both stole the show.

The audience was amazed with Yeung Chi King and Jung Woo-Sung's exciting fight scenes, their portrayal of a couple was even more touching. Yeung Chi King said, "Jung Woo-Sung is so handsome, I can easily get into character." At the same time, Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon) who was absent from the film festival in the film seduced Wang Xueqi. Her back revealing scene became a topic of focus.

An European film critic magazine reporter liked REIGN OF ASSASSINS very much. He said that although it was very different from the John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) style in his mind, and FACE/OFF was still the more exciting Ng Yu Sum film, REIGN OF ASSASSINS was still a great wuxia film. The kung fu scenes were particularly exciting, the visuals were very beautiful,

especially their color.

REIGN OF ASSASSINS (GIM YU) was John Woo (Ng Yu Sum)'s first wuxia production. The film will premiere in Venice on September 3. The film cast included Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King), Jung Woo-Sung, Wang Xueqi, Barbie Hsu (Tsui Hei Woon) and Shawn Yue Man Lok. Earlier at the official site launch, the villain assassin leader Wang Xueqi revealed that he and Big S had an indecent mentor disciple relationship and passion scenes. Recently the film company unveiled stills from this scene. Wang Xueqi and Big S' passion scene was "direct stimulation".

Wang Xueqi's righteous image has always been well known. He has stated to the media that his weakness was love scene, kiss scene, not to mention bed scene. Yet this time in REIGN, he broke through his personal performance limit and played an indecent mentor disciple romance with Big S. Earlier Wang Xueqi stated that he had to make the passion scene very pretty and human. From the stills, this scene and the "pretty" that he talked about was more like Big S' description of "direct stimulation physical relationship". Big S who Wang Xueqi called "gentle assassin" took the initiative and lay on top of Wang Xueqi with a naked seduction. Wang Xueqi had to tightly embrace and retreat. Aside from passion he also had a secret that he could not reveal.

Speaking of this passion scene, Wang Xueqi explained, "The wheel king that I played did not dare to become involved in love. Since love brought him joy and pain, we did not have passion for the sake of passion. It was a progression of character personalities." During the shoot, he kept reminding him not have to other thought. Luckily the passion scene was still a partner scene. "Big S performed very well, she can make you relax and get into character."