Movie Box Review

For Thursday, February 9 2012

For Thursday, February 2 2012

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THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) performed well as it already passed 20 million at the Hong Kong and Macau box office.  Director Dante Lam Chiu Yin led Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun), producer Leung Fung Ying, screen writer Ng Wai Lun to the cinema for audience appreciation.  Tickets quickly sold out in a few hours.  When Chow Kit Lun arrived in Hong Kong many fans welcomed him at the airport.  Then they rushed to the cinema to enjoy the film.  Their schedule was tighter than their idol Chairman Chou.

The cinema had over 500 people and no empty seat.  Viewers became very excited to see the creators.  In particular Chow Kit Lun's fans kept screaming.  Everyone knew that Chairman Chou always wanted to look good.  The host arranged for fans to impersonate Chairman Chou's chok look.  Chairman Chou personally selected the winner who would receive an autographed poster.  Chairman Chou flew from Taipei for audience appreciation, the first event of this type that he participated in.  "For my first Hong Kong audience appreciation event, it feels very fresh.  Viewers and fans are enthusiastic and spread the joy throughout the venue, which I enjoyed.  I rarely have a chance to interact with Hong Kong fans, this time I am able to chok with them, everyone have had a lot of fun."  After the chok game came the lucky drawing that gave away director Lam Ciu Yin and Chow Kit Lun's personally autographed film memorabilia like novels, photo books and action figures.  The process was very exciting and so were the winners.  Some fans even revealed that they saw the movies ten  times.

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The Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) starred THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) performed well during the Lunar New Year, its Hong Kong box office alone was already 18 million and its global box office was 150 million.  The film company last night held a celebration.  Aside from the leads, director Dante Lam Chiu Yin, Andy On Chi Kit and boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing were in attendance.  At the event Lam Chiu Yin received a "Lunar New Year film box office champion" plaque from the boss.  Everyone also participated in a toast and Lo Hei ceremony for better luck and box office.

Ting Fung admitted that he was very happy about the ideal box office but he did not know yet whether a sequel will be made.  His former wife Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi and their two sons lived near the venue.  Did he visit his sons on the way?  He said, "I just did this morning, (Why didn't you bring your sons?)  I don't do that."  However he admitted that during the Lunar New Year he brought his sons on visits for laisee.  Because he was rarely in Hong Kong, sometimes he did not want to go.  His older son Lucas also asked him to stay in Hong Kong more.  He explained that Papa has to work, luckily Lucas understood.  He even praised Lucas for taking care of his brother Quintus and would not fight over toys.  Once they hit their heads during play, Lucas ignored himself to take care of his brother right away.  He was very touched to see that, but he did not understand Quintus had very little hard and a receding hair line.

Did he see Pak Chi when he visited his sons?  He said not every time.  As for their rumored reunion, he said that he and Pak Chi had New Year dinner.  He also dined with his parents and sister but not together.  He even joked, "With all the New Year meals I got much fatter, during the interview I had to suck in my gut.  (You were divorced but dined together, did your sons feel strange?)  Nowadays divorces are very common, my sons would understand."  He said that Lucas wants his parents to be together but mentions it only occasionally.  Ting Fung also said, "I heard from my former wife that Lucas would cry when he sees people beating me up on television, like when I was little I would cry when I saw Papa being executed."

Chow Kit Lun last night appeared in costume.  He said that after the celebration he would shave.  Speaking of he and rumored girlfriend Hannah Quinlivan (Kun Ling) being caught at dinner together, he said, "No, really?  During the New Year I dined with many friends."  As for Kun Ling's mother being caught helping out at his restaurant, he admitted that sometimes when the restaurant was busy many friends would help.  He stressed that Mother Ling only volunteered her help and did not work for her.  The restaurant was opened in commemoration of the film INITIAL D (TAU MAN JI D)'s eighth anniversary.  This time with THE VIRAL FACTOR he wanted to open a toy gun store, but his mother objected.  Did he need his mother's permission on everything including choosing a girlfriend?  He said, "Choosing a girlfriend also need mother's nod."

Samantha Ko and Christine Kuo attend an I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 audience appreciation event courtesy of on.cc

This year's Lunar New Year film competition has been fierce.  Originally the Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) and Nicholas Tse Ting Fung starred Emperor Motion Picture THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) remained in second place among Chinese films at the box office, but two nights ago it finally landed on top with 1.73 million.  Director Dante Lam Chiu Yin had a hard time with hiding his excitement as he posted the good news online yesterday morning.  Tonight the leads will celebration at an audience appreciation event and even give mystery gifts to fans!

Eric Tsang Chi Wai's new film I LOVE HONG KONG 2012 (2012 NGOR OI HK HEI SEUNG GA HEI) has always led this year's Lunar New Year film box office with an over 200,000 lead on THE VIRAL FACTOR.  As for the 3rd, VIRAL after 14 days in release made 1.73 million and successfully knocked off the 15 days in release, 1.7 million I LOVE HONG KONG 2012.  From the current box office trend, VIRAL has a chance to take the domestic Lunar New Year Chinese film box office

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The Dante Lam Chiu Yin directed, Nicholas Tse Ting Fung and Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) starred THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) opened on January 17 in the Mainland, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and North America.  As of January 28, its total box office broke HK$130 million.  According to Variety, THE VIRAL FACTOR came in fourth among 20 new releases in the U.S. and was the first Chinese film to land in the top five.  THE VIRAL FACTOR exceeded HK$100 million in the Mainland to become the Lunar New Year Spring Festival Chinese film that broke the 100 million mark the fastest.  In Hong Kong its opening box office already passed 2 million.

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THE VIRAL FACTOR (YIK JIN) after 7 days in release in the Mainland broke the 60 million RMB mark.  The film company estimated that in a few day it will be able to pass the 100 million mark to become the Spring Festival Chinese film champion, as Dante Lam Chiu Yin will join the "100 million yuan director" club.  Despite the numerous negative news about Jay Chou (Chow Kit Lun) before the release, his performance in the film was a pleasant surprise for the audience.  Lam Chiu Yin said, "At the time I told Chow Kit Lun not to mind and be confident that his performance will open viewers' eyes.  Chow Kit Lun during the shoot practiced the stunts with a lot of effort on the set, as he wanted to prove that he had a masculine side too."