Movie Box Review

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The film ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II) last night held its premiere at the Sky 100.  In attendance were Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, directors Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai.  The venue was decorated mainly in white and spray with artificial snow, making it rather romantic.  Playing a couple in the film Goo Jai and Sammi held hands as they appeared and posed for photos sweetly.  Yet when her real significant other was mentioned, Sammi declined further discussion and again clarified that she had no plan to wed.

Goo Jai and Sammi worked together again after eight years.  He said that actually it was more than eight years.  If they counted television series they have not worked together for over a decade.  However because they knew each other for a long time they had a lot of chemistry.  Sammi said that off screen her friendship with Goo Jai has already been elevated to another level.  She also thought that Goo Jai has matured a lot.

To Sir revealed that Goo Jai was very hairy and this time even worked with real facial hair.  He truly was very manly.  In the film Goo Jai played an all purpose artist, but he claimed in reality he was not.  Although he has directed and sung, he did not know how to play the piano and write songs.  In one scene he had to write a song for Sammi, he asked her for help.  Goo Jai also said that in one scene he had to carry Sammi from a sea of tree.  He happened to not feel well that day, so the shoot was both very tough and unforgettable.

With Valentine's Day on the way, this film will be released on Valentine's Day.  Sammi said that she will not be in Hong Kong that day.  Has she prepared a gift for her boyfriend Andy Hui Chi On?  She sweetly said, "I am not talking about this, let's just talk about the movie."  Will she ask people to buy tickets?  Sammi stated that she will not be in Hong Kong.  How will Goo Jai spend Valentine's Day?  He said that he will spend it with To Sir and joked, "Actually Christmas last year, this New Year's Day and Valentine's Day, Easter I will be with him.  For the movie I can't do anything about it."

In addition, Sammi and On Jai reportedly will wed in August.  Earlier they even went bed shopping together.  Sammi reiterated that she had no plan to wed and she did not want to respond again.  That day they only passed by.  Reportedly they went to buy a bed for sex.  Sammi joked, "Wow!  I am terrified, don't talk about this.  Let's just be together for awhile."  Will Goo Jai keep a low profile on his romance as well?  He learned from Sammi and said, "Let's talk about the movie."  Sammi heard and joked that he was mimicking her.

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The Sammi Cheng Sau Man and Louis Koo Tin Lok starred ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II) will premiere tonight and be officially released on February 9.  Yesterday Sammi and director Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai conducted a Mainland media interview. Speaking of marriage, Sammi admitted that for now she had no wedding plan and said that she has already passed the age when she would panic about marriage.  She also said that during the shoot although being in high altitude was very tough, her boyfriend Andy Hui Chi On kept encouraging her.

Sammi, To Sir and Wai Ka Fai accepted the interview.  In the film Sammi was more sensible about love.  Was she the same way in reality?  She said, "Very sensible?  Actually he and I in not so public places would be like an average couple.  If I need his opinion we would very sensibly chat."  She also said that now she would not throw tantrums, perhaps because she was out of temper.  She said, "The Lord absolutely wouldn't let me explode, which is an enormous change since my depression.  He benefits a lot from that."  Has her elders rushed her to marry?  She said, "So far I don't have any plan, maybe the Hong Kong media are more anxious for me at my age, but I have already passed the age of panic.  I have already gone from very anxious to not anxious.  My family is rather relaxed because at least I am dating."  She also joked that she was thick skinned so in the Lunar New Year she still accepted red pockets.

On Valentine's Day will she watch this movie with On Jai?  She said that she would not be in Hong Kong then, he might go with his friends!  However during the shoot she kept sharing her thoughts with him.  Two nights ago after the screening she shared with him as well.  He always encouraged her, telling her not to be too stressed and not to carry all the burden.  Thus now she could be more relaxed with the result.  Sammi also revealed that after completing two weeks of promotion she will fulfill a dream of charity.  Last year she went to teach English in the Yunnan mountain region elementary school with two friends, which she thought was very meaningful and missed such visits.  This year she will go elsewhere but this time she will not teach.  Speaking of her good friend Andy Lau Tak Wa's impending fatherhood, she said, "I sent him a text message to congratulate him because this is his dream.  After spending so much time on his show business career and art, now it is the time to truly enjoy life.  I believe his daughter will definitely be very beautiful."

In addition, Wai Ka Fai and To Kei Fung have worked together on many classic romantic films.  They felt that they made too many city films before so this time they deliberately went far away from the city.  Wai Ka Fai said that during the shoot he was worried.  Because of the high altitude, during location scouting he had quite a headache.  The location was very pretty though, so after returning he and To Sir still decided to shoot in Yunnan.  To Sir even praised Sammi's performance.  He said, "I am very satisfied with her performance.  She is more mature than before, her acting is much better too."

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The Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fai produced romance ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II) shot on location in Shangri-La.  Sammi Cheng Sau Man aside from work took pictures of animals.  Louis Koo Tin Lok often accompanied a bicycle and said that he spent more time riding the bicycle in Shangri-La than ever before.  However, due to the lacking hygienic condition, going to the bathroom was a big problem for the cast.

Because Shangri-La was in high altitude, the air was thin.  Behind the cameras everyone had to slow down their movement, otherwise they would have breathing difficulty or require oxygen tank assistance.  However the more regular bathroom there was very far from the location.  Going there would require a lot of energy.  The closer ones to the location was very filthy and smelly.  Goo Jai said that at first he chose to go to the normal bathroom, but after a few rounds he had difficulty breathing.  Finally he had to submit too.

Sammi treated the local animals like her friends.  Originally the team worried that the animals would scare her, but in one scene she kept taking photos on animals on her first trip to Shangri-La she lived out the act.  With the team's camera she kept shooting animals.  She pointed out that the chance to be so close to nature was very rare for city people so she had to cherish it properly.

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The Sammi Cheng Sau Man and Louis Koo Tin Lok starred ROMANCING IN THIN AIR (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II) will be released on Valentine's Day.  Earlier Sammi, Goo Jai, director Johnnie To Kei Fung and Wai Ka Fi attended a Mainland media interview in Hong Kong.  This time Sammi and Goo Jai reunited after LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS (BAK NIN HO HUP) eight years ago.  Goo Jai pointed out that Sammi's biggest change was she was happier.  She also liked to eat and would try different delicacies at different places.  Sammi pointed out that Goo Jai was more mature and had a humorous side.

Director To Kei Fung also praised Sammi.  He pointed out that Sammi had a very hard time.  In the film she had to interpret a very deep love, but she had to be very suppressive.  In comparison to seven years ago, Sammi now was much more confident and felt like another person.  She has become gentler.  Sammi joked that the director left the hardest scene to play for the end, leaving her reluctant to release her emotions.  Wai Ka Fai said that they have always made city romantic films.  This time he wanted to express love in another format, because the location had nothing materialistic and only had real hearts.

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JJ Jia

Louis Koo Tin Lok and Larisa Angela (Shui Sa)

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Miriam Yeung Chin Wa

Johnnie To Kei Fung, Wai Ka Fai

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