LOVEHKFILM.COM
- reviews - features - people - panasia - blogs - about site - contact - links - forum -
 
 
Search LoveHKFilm.com
Site Features
- Asian Film Awards
- Site Recommendations

- Reader Poll Results

- The FAQ Page
 
support this site by shopping at
Click to visit YesAsia.com
 
 
 
 
 

Note: This blog expresses only the opinions of the blog owner,
and does not represent the opinion of any organization or blog
that is associated with Damn you, Kozo!.

Filmmaking is fun

So last Wednesday I was walking down the street in Tsimshatsui and I happened upon this scene:

Set
There’s always a crowd in front of 7-11

Hey, they were shooting a film! I was genuinely surprised and hung around to snap some photos. Hanging out near the film set resulted in me being 75 minutes late for a date with a girl, but she understood. Unfortunately, I have been unable to confirm her understanding because she won’t return my phone calls.

I’m sure Nick Cheung would have done the same thing:

Nick
“I totally make women wait!
They are powerless to resist my debonair charm.”

Actually, I’m lying. I was tipped off that Dante Lam (BEAST STALKER) was shooting his new film on that particular Wednesday in Tsimshatsui, and I took a late afternoon sabbatical to check out the set. Sad to say, I’ve been in Hong Kong over four years and I’ve never actually attended a Hong Kong film shoot. Now I can check this accomplishment off my list and move onto my next one: actually appearing in a Hong Kong film. I’m hoping when I accomplish this it’ll involve squibs and Karena Lam.

 Karena
“Stop! You’re embarrassing me!”

Going by the (probably tentative) Chinese title 《火龍》, translated as “Fire Dragon”, this new film marks the latest from Dante Lam, who seems to be attempting a single-handed takeover of Hong Kong Cinemas since his BEAST STALKER success. Besides 《火龍》,  Lam has a number of projects lined up, including BEAST STALKER 2, reuniting Lam with Nick Cheung - which probably means we’re talking a sequel in name only. Nicholas Tse may be in the project too, but only if he tones down his overacting.

Nic Tse
“I won’t overact this time, I promise! Jackie, save me!”

Lam is also slated to direct a new take on THE FLYING GUILLOTINE for producer Peter Chan Ho-Sun, plus there’s his “Best Actor” project, which is to star Nick Cheung, Francis Ng, Anthony Wong and Lau Ching-Wan. Recently, it was also floated that Lam will direct a sequel to DRAGON TIGER GATE. Obviously, Dante Lam intends on being busy through 2013. I hope he takes a break to eat.

Here’s Dante Lam hard at work on the set:

Dante Lam
“Between takes, I drink Slurpees.”

The first actor I spotted that day was a perm-sporting Richie Jen (or Richie Ren, depending on what movie’s credits you’re copying from). Richie emerged from the next door cha chaan teng (local cafe) and proceeded to shoot the scene, which involved he and a bunch of other actors escorting a criminal into an unmarked cop car.

Richie
“I work this hairstyle.”

It took about two takes before I realized who was walking behind Richie:

Richie and Leon
The evil presence behind Richie Jen once dated Shu Qi.

Behind Richie is his co-star Leon Lai, sporting his infamous (at least to local Hong Kong media) fake facial hair. While I can’t say the beard looks convincing, Leon does look very in character as a rumpled cop.

 Leon Lai
“Catch bad guys first. Shower later.”

Facial hair and a lack of grooming seems to be Leon’s new thing. Check out his look in this December’s BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS:

Beggar Leon
“Catch bad guys. Don’t shower, period.”

I think he’s playing Jesus.

Also present for filming that day were Michelle Ye, who was sporting a new shorter haircut; singer Wilfred Lau, perhaps best known as fiery young triad guy in LADY COP AND PAPA CROOK; and the always awesome Liu Kai-Chi, who once upon a time won a LoveHKFilm Award for Best Overacting.

Liu Kai Chi
Liu Kai-Chi doesn’t overact. He just improves movies.

Like all movie sets, the atmosphere was electric for all of five minutes before it became one long waiting game, with repeated take after take of guys getting into cars and driving off. Occasionally a big truck would drive through the set and they’d have to reposition the camera all over again. Frankly, I’m simply amazed that filmmakers can do what they do - that is, take the days, weeks or months of tedium and turn them into something that actually works as a motion picture. It’s times like these that I feel guilty for panning films.

Then I think about GIVE LOVE and my guilt just disappears.

Give Love
This photo screams quality filmmaking.

That’s pretty much it for my personal set visit to 《火龍》. After a good hour hanging around on the street, I stopped into a cafe, had some roast pork and iced milk tea, sat around with Dante Lam and Michelle Ye, exchanged some words with Richie Jen, and shook Leon Lai’s hand. Twice. He also said sorry to me for not saying “Hi” earlier, because I was busy cutting up some french toast. Really, this is all true and totally makes sense.

Leon drinking
“Want some champagne with that french toast?”

Yep, just another Wednesday in Hong Kong. I can sum up my experience in one word:

Ace
They make a gelato flavor for everything

Photo credits: Apple Daily, Orisun.com, Mei Ah Entertainment and the official LoveHKFilm Digital Camera.

From Italy with Mild Affection

Hi from Udine.

Lobby of the Teatro Nuovo
The lobby of Udine’s Teatro Nuovo

Nearly through the Far East Film Festival and today was the most important day thus far: laundry day. In an effort to make everyone else’s stay here far more pleasurable, I’m washing my clothes. This is proof that I’m always thinking about other people.

 Wash and dry
When I did this I could have been watching RULE NUMBER ONE again

The 11th Far East Film Festival is now over half over and unfortunately, the number of new Asian films I’ve seen thus far is rather low. Some highlights:

Read the rest of this entry »

Hi and bye, plus another edition of Kozo’s Mailbox

Man, it’s been awhile. And it’ll probably be a lot longer before I write in this thing again because in a few short hours, I’m off to Italy. Again. My toys will miss me:

Carue plus Chopper
Carue and Chopper will guard my Blu-ray collection.

This year is the second year that I’m attending the Far East Film Festival. I get to go because I contributed to their catalog and book, plus I’m fortunate enough to have saved enough money for a plane ticket.  This is a special time of the year because it represents the end of a lot of stuff. The Hong Kong International Film Festival is over. The Hong Kong Film Awards and associated drama is over. The LoveHKFilm Awards and all the related busywork is over. All that’s left is the review writing, which I’ll get to when I get to. That’s what 2009 is about for me: not doing more than I have to.

Read the rest of this entry »

Damn You, Koh So! Reviews of IP MAN and THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD, plus some mumbling about LOVE CONNECTED.

Man, times are tough:

Need Money No Need Stock
Action figures for only US$2

Actually, I have no idea if that’s really the deal at the above store because I have yet to walk in and shop. I should, though, because nothing makes a person feel better in times of economic crisis than adding more useless crap to your apartment. Either way, the sign and its superb Engrish kicks ass.

If you’re paying attention, you’ll notice that we’ve just added a new blog, Ronin on Empty from longtime site reviewer Sanjuro. Now that his blog is here, I’ll let him handle all the personal stories and tangential topics, while I use my blog to cover official site business, e.g. dish on the LoveHKFilm Awards, plus installments of Kozo’s Mailbag and even some minor film-reviewing - some of it from writers who are not me.

This week, I’m featuring two reviews from some guy named Koh So who writes for YesAsia.com. You can find his work on YumCha!, YesAsia.com’s content platform. It’s a place where reviews, news, and other assorted Asian Entertainment goodies can be collected for use by people who use the fancy Internets. Koh So is impossibly more upbeat than I am, so whenever he reviews something, he spins it positive.

Read the rest of this entry »

One of the films listed here is the Worst Film of the Year

Zhang Ziyi wants to wish you an even happier Lunar New Year!

Ziyi LNY
“This stuffed cow has seen me naked, too!”

In other news, the annual LoveHKFilm Awards will be announced Sunday, March 15th, 2009. I would tell you to mark your calendars, but because these awards are less important than the day-old donut sale at Dunkin’ Donuts, I won’t presume to do so. Instead, I ask that you drop by to see the results if you would be so kind as to deign us with your presence. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t deign.

Read the rest of this entry »

What’s Up, Ox?

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone!

Rather, Happy Late Lunar New Year. I’m forever getting behind. I’m so behind, in fact, that I’ll post up this celebrity Lunar New Year photo from last year:

Gillian
“I think this is going to be a good year!”

Yes, this photo was taken before…uh, that thing that happened.

Read the rest of this entry »

2008 Wrap-up delayed indefinitely

Completely minor announcement: there will be no “End of 2008″ post on this blog anytime soon, and barring another self-serving edition of Kozo’s Mailbag, I’ll probably be stepping away from this blog for a few more weeks.

Someone is already unhappy about the news:

I’m so unhappy
“Whaddya mean no ‘End of 2008′ post?
What am I supposed to do now?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Five abandoned blog entries

NOTE: For this edition of Damn You Kozo, I’m combining a number of topics I was planning on writing separate blog entries about. Due to various reasons it’s been difficult getting anything off the ground, so I figured it was everything or nothing. Sadly, I have too many ideas to list everything, so why don’t we go with just five? Sounds like a plan.

Anyway, let’s get this over with.

Abandoned Blog Entry #1
OBAMA WINS, I CONSIDER MOVING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES

This is kind of cool:

Obama

Read the rest of this entry »

Bye-bye, HKAFF

Aaaaaaaad, we’re back. These toys in my living room say “Hi”:

Chopper and Friends
Clearly, my toy collection kicks ass

Anyway, the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival is now over. During that 17-day period I consumed 18 movies, 5 short films, 2 regular theatrical releases and plenty of bad food. Amazingly, I did not get sick, though I do recall nodding off during my screening of 881.

 Sleeping kitty
Hokkien musicals put this cat to sleep, too

Read the rest of this entry »

Yotsuba meets Batman, plus more Random Crap

Damn You, Kozo briefly returns from the dead. In celebration, Yotsuba says “Hi.”

Yotusba waves
“You’re still reading this blog? Poor saps.”

It’s a new month, but I doubt I’ll be able to spend much time on Damn You, Kozo. That’s because the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival is occurring in just one week’s time, and before then I still have to write a review for PAINTED SKIN and maybe BUTTERFLY LOVERS. We’ll see how it goes. If I can I’ll squeeze in one or two entries between screenings.

Read the rest of this entry »

 
 
LoveHKFilm.com Copyright © 2002-2009 Ross Chen