Beyond Our Ken - Love And Revenge...The Womanly Way
March 2006 – Press Release BEYOND OUR KEN Love And Revenge…The Womanly Way Manila, 7 Mar 06 – Nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards 2005, Beyond Our Ken is a quirky chick-flick take on the classic revenge story. Mainland actress Tao Hong and Hong Kong pop singer Gillian Chung topline as the current and former girlfriends, respectively, of serial cad Daniel Wu. Premiering Sat, Mar 18 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
Hong Kong novelist-turned-director Edmond Pang Ho-Cheung displays his unique sense of humour in this offbeat story of a handsome but sleazy fireman named Ken (Wu), who dumps his girlfriend 24 hours before Valentine’s Day and proceeds to post nude pictures of her on the internet. When she finds out, he learns the hard way that hell hath no fury like his scorned ex (Chung), a middle school teacher who recruits his current flame (Hong) to bring him down…way down.
Much of the fun in watching this movie is following the twists and turns of the elaborate revenge scheme laid out by the two women. By incorporating plenty of slapstick and improvisation, director Pang manages to keep this anti-cad revenge comedy fast-paced and lighthearted, while slipping in a few parables about the modern 21st-century relationship.
And just when you think the two girls have Wu begging for mercy, there’s a surprise in store that’ll catch all but the most suspicious off-guard! Premiering Sat, Mar 18 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Dream Satellite TV (channel 29), Sky Cable and Home Cable (channel 66, on premium) in the Philippines.
William Hung goes from “She Bangs” to “Siu Bang” with his Hong Kong movie debut
March 2006 – Press Release Where Is Mama’s Boy William Hung goes from “She Bangs” to “Siu Bang” with his Hong Kong movie debut Manila, 27 Feb 06 – William Hung, American Idol reject-turned-pop star and TV celebrity, added ‘movie star’ to his fast-expanding entertainment résumé with Where’s Mama’s Boy, his first feature film. The HKD10 million action-musical-comedy features a hilarious parody of Hung’s notorious Idol audition, where the innocent boy gives his signature off-key rendition of Ricky Martin's “She Bangs”, complete with nerdy-jerky dance moves. If nothing else – that alone makes this film worth watching! Premiering Sat, Mar 4 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES. Hung plays a good-natured village kid in ancient China, who sells Chinese pancakes to pay his mother's medical bills. He gets discovered as a singer while helping a music hall proprietress to protect her business from a jealous and scheming older sister. Playing opposite veteran Hong Kong actress Nancy Sit, Hung parodies his own American Idol performance with the song “Siu Bang” (Chinese Pancake), an obvious allusion to the title of his American Idol audition song, “She Bangs”.
When asked whether there were any sparks between him and his gorgeous female co-stars - Hong Kong actresses Yoyo Mung, Belinda Hamnett and Lily Lee, Hung deflected speculation and said, "I'm friendly to everyone. They're all very beautiful and I definitely would consider them".
The 20-something-year-old won legions of fans with his response to America Idol judge Simon Cowell's criticism, which was in stark contrast to earlier contestants' often angry, confrontational rejoinders. He told the judges that he did his best and had no regrets about being panned for his nerdy, out-of-tune rendition of “She Bangs.” Critics have described his singing as less than heroic, but the American Idol reject is already planning to release his fourth album!
Come catch the controversial ‘talent’ in Where Is Mama’s Boy, who has said he will only play good guys even this early in his acting career. We guarantee you’ll definitely be entertained, and whether you laugh at him or with him, don’t forget he’s released more specials and albums than many of the more vocally-talented Idol alumni, and has also finished filming a cameo appearance in the acclaimed sitcom Arrested Development (Thu, Apr 27 at 9:30pm on STAR WORLD), playing himself in a band called William Hung And His Hung Jury. As Sit says, “William is already a miracle. We should not mock him, but accept him for who he is.” Premiering Sat, Mar 4 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Dream Satellite TV (channel 29), Sky Cable and Home Cable (channel 66, on premium) in the Philippines.
February 2006 – Press Release Itchy Heart To Scratch Or Not To Scratch Manila, 13 Feb 06 – With its Chinese title literally translating into “the seven-year itch,” Itchy Heart is a hilarious romantic comedy about a married man struggling with the “itch” to cheat, when he finds himself tempted by a beautiful young woman and lured by his ex-girlfriend simultaneously. Presenting two of Hong Kong’s most famous cinematic icons - Sean Lau Ching-Wan and Carina Lau Ka-Ling as the main course, and displaying Cherrie Ying Choi-Yi (Forget Me Not) and hunky Andy On Chi-Kit (Black Mask II) as the side dishes, the movie is sure to satiate viewers’ appetites for laughter and love! Premiering Sat, Feb 25 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
Sean Lau discovers too much of a good thing can be absolutely wonderful in this romantic comedy that finds him caught between three beauties. His marriage to the stunningly gorgeous Hong Kong model Coco Chiang has gone cold, and “the itch” to rekindle his single-life adventures speedily arises. When his wife goes on a vacation, he seizes the golden opportunity to party, in the process catching the eye of young temptress Cherrie Ying. Things soon get complicated when he also re-ignites his passion for ex-love Carina Lau, now a successful businesswoman who isn't too satisfied with her own boy toy Andy On. With a gorgeous wife and two women interested in him, will he emerge from the seven-year itch unscathed?
Itchy Heart chronicles a thirty-something-year-old’s experiences with love and marriage, and hits close to home with its bittersweet musings on infidelity and fickleness. When asked what the title means, Carina Lau commented, “I think every relationship goes through this phase…within this phase, a lot of couples might deviate from their marital role. But once they get through this phase, they’ll appreciate and respect their relationship with their partner more.”
Do you agree with Carina Lau? How will Sean Lau cure his itch? Come find out in Itchy Heart, the romantic comedy that truly reflects Hong Kong people's attitudes on love and marriage. Premiering Sat, Feb 25 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Dream Satellite TV (channel 29), Sky Cable and Home Cable (channel 66, on premium) in the Philippines.
Dragon Loaded - When "Dragon" Transforms Into a Dragon
February 2006 – Press Release Dragon Loaded When “Dragon” Transforms Into a Dragon Manila, 26 Jan 06 – Hong Kong writer-director-producer Vincent Kok, who guided Asia’s comedy king Stephen Chow to eminent success, provides a smart comic platform for Hong Kong’s rising star comedian Ronald Cheng in Dragon Loaded. A zany action-comedy that grossed an impressive 8.5 million HKD (58 million PHP) in its opening week, Dragon Loaded tells the story of a rich, spoiled brat who enters the police force in order to get his name in his father’s will. With movie send-ups from Chinese cop-action picture P.T.U. and Hollywood action-thriller The Matrix, the film creates brilliant moments that both Chinese and Western audiences will enjoy. Tune in on Sat, Feb 18 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
Rich kid Dragon (Cheng), who’s rather wrongly named, is an absolutely spoiled brat who spends his days idly loafing around. Worried about his son's future, Dragon’s father decides to enlist him and his two equally rich and obnoxious friends (played by Hong Kong comedians Cheng Tat Ming and Sam Lee) in the Police Cadet School to learn discipline…or face the risk of excluding themselves from their fathers’ wills. When Dragon suffers terribly from the harsh training, he makes getting kicked out of the school his primary goal…until he comes across his dream girl, the beautiful cadet Stephy Tang (from Hong Kong pop group Cookies). When Stephy gets kidnapped, Dragon transforms from a timid coward into a soaring dragon who successfully saves his princess’ life. At the award ceremony, Dragon salutes his father, and for the first time ever, proudly announces, “I’m powerful as a dragon!”
As much a morality tale about the state of youth today, as it is a modern fairytale, the film hits close to home while never losing the comedy. With the wacky charisma of Ronald Cheng in full abundance as he bungles his way through boot camp, Dragon Loaded is one breezy TV ride. Stay tuned on Sat, Feb 18 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Sky Cable (channel 45), Dream Satellite TV (channel 29) and Home Cable (channel 77) in the Philippines.
For Your Valentine: Think Outside the Box of Chocolates With Sexy Comedy Naked Ambition
February 2006 – Press Release For Your Valentine: Think Outside the Box of Chocolates And Think Inside of Google Box With Sexy Comedy Naked Ambition Manila, 25 Jan 06 – With Valentine’s Day around the corner and low-fat and low-carb diets sweeping Asia, giving your lover the traditional box of chocolates is out! Save yourself and your significant other some calories and satisfy your sweet tooth on Hong Kong sweetmeats like heartthrob Louis Koo, popstar Cherrie Ying and model/actress Niki Chow in Naked Ambition. Romance, fun and sex are mixed up in a delicious batter in this story of two everyday guys, who rise from lowly editors at a magazine to become kings of the local porn industry. Premiering Sat, Feb 11 at 10pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
John (mega canto-singer Eason Chan) and Andy (Koo) are two editors for the comics section of a local publication. When they are made redundant one day, they join forces with three former colleagues to publish the ultimate guide to Hong Kong's prostitution scene. The attempt turns out to be a success, and soon they become tycoons in the porn circle who can make or break the fortunes of prostitutes, massage parlours, and gentleman's clubs across the territory. Before too long, they're the toast of the porn industry. Yet, with a change in their moral values and the dangerously seductive environment around them, challenges await their friendship… The man with the tan, popular Hong Kong actor Louis Koo, takes on producing duties with Naked Ambition. The first half is heavy on laughs, gradually evolving into a drama that examines the value of love, morals, trust, and friendship in a highly competitive field. Through the prostitutes and characters it portrays, the movie also touches convincingly on the realities of life, albeit still in a light-hearted manner. Cherrie Ying and Niki Chow are animated and delightful to watch, while rising Hong Kong actress Josie Ho is brilliant as an eccentric tart, a performance that earned her the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
February is all about love, so how better to celebrate love – romantic, platonic, physical and love for self, than watching a good comedy and having a great laugh with your lover. Premiering Sat, Feb 11 at 10pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Sky Cable (channel 45), Dream Satellite TV (channel 29) and Home Cable (channel 77) in the Philippines.
February 2006 – Press Release Hands in the Hair Past Pleasures And Faded Glory Manila, 19 Jan 06 – Produced by Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan (Centre Stage) and adapted from Shanghai’s best-selling novel "Rosy Face," Hands in the Hair puts the life of a faded Shanghai beauty under a microscope, combing out her emotional rise and fall in the hands of a handsome hairdresser. It’s a film of passion that delves into complex relationships and delivers a rich philosophy of life. Premiering Sat, Feb 4 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
Once a long-haired Shanghai beauty with hordes of men chasing after her, Aini (Rosamund Kwan) is now just an ordinary woman married to a boring husband (Francis Ng). Her wealth, like her beauty, has faded, while others around her have become richer. The hairdressing salon she frequently visits becomes a venue to retrieve her past glory, as the young and handsome hairdresser (Wallace Huo) is the only person who can spark her dull existence back to life. When Aini’s long lost passion explodes, she leaves her husband for the hairdresser/lover, only to find that he has set his sights on fame, fortune and glory in the world of Haute Couture instead.
Hands in the Hair is a result of cross-straits collaboration - mainland director Jiang Cheng, who garnered the Best Director title at the San Jose Film Festival in 2003, draws together award-winning Hong Kong actor Francis Ng, sexy Hong Kong actress Rosamund Kwan, and Taiwan’s rising idol Wallace Huo to star in this movie. The project is backed by equally formidable behind-the-screen talents. Famous artistic director William Chang Suk-Ping, who’s collaborated with Wong Kar-Wai in most of his films, designed the movie’s images, and Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan serves as the producer.
“I grew up in the city, and have seen many Ainis. These 50- or 60-something year-old women are regular visitors to hair salons. To them, a hair salon was the venue to relive their status, dignity, and glorious yesterdays, as well as the place to yearn for a brighter future. In the past, hairdressers were the sole source of entertainment for women. A hairdresser to women was like a bartender to men, someone who knew all about their dark secrets,'' says director Jiang.
A love story on many levels, Hands In The Hair explores the failing of youth and beauty, the nature of life, and the different dynamics of relationships between people – underscoring the anxiety and despair of a woman facing a rapidly changing world that’s leaving her behind. One part bitter, two parts sweet and thought-provoking in large doses, this is a modern classic worth getting your hands on. Premiering Sat, Feb 4 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Sky Cable (channel 45), Dream Satellite TV (channel 29) and Home Cable (channel 77) in the Philippines.
January 2006 – Feature Article Chinese New Year Do’s & Don’ts Let STAR CHINESE MOVIES’ House Of Fury kick out the old year and kick off the new This year, Jan 29 marks the beginning of the lunar New Year. With an increasing number of Filipinos joining the Chinese New Year celebration, STAR CHINESE MOVIES jots down a list of Chinese traditions for you to follow in order to nail the bouncy Year of the Dog. Follow this list of do’s and don’ts, and see charm, fortune and prosperity come knocking on your door!
Don’t…
Clean the house and wash your hair on Chinese New Year’s day. This sweeps fortune out of your door
Lend money to others on Chinese New Year’s day. Or you’ll be lending money out all year
Use knives or scissors. This cuts away your fortune
Do…
Clean the house, get a haircut and buy new clothes before Chinese New Year’s day
Display oranges around the house. Tangerines symbolise good luck and oranges wealth
Attract good luck by decorating the door with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper that contain texts of good luck
Gather with the family on Chinese New Year’s eve and watch House of Fury
In Chinese tradition, Chinese New Year’s eve is celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. In the Philippines, the gathering is not complete without tikoy, the sweet, sticky rice cake that symbolises unity ("sticking together").
After a feast of traditional foods, families stay up until the wee hours of Chinese New Year's day to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. As movie-watching has become a popular pastime during these hours, STAR CHINESE MOVIES brings you House of Fury, a sprightly comedy-adventure about a seemingly ordinary family with hidden "incredible" talents.
Joining director-writer-star Stephen Fung on screen are two-time Hong Kong Best Actor Award winner Anthony Wong, New Police Story's Daniel Wu, who was a keen participant in US inter-collegiate competitions, and the fast-rising new martial arts princess Gillian Chung, who gave a compelling performance in The Twins Effect. With full support from Hong Kong action icon Jackie Chan, Fung has secured the services of top Hollywood action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping, of The Matrix, Kill Bill and Master of Taichi fame, as his martial arts advisor.
Anthony Wong steals the show as the head of the family, a traditional Chinese chiropractor whose tall tales about his heroic exploits may not be so tall after all. Daughter Gillian Chung and son Stephen Fung are highly sceptical. That is, till a crazed paraplegic involves them in a revenge scheme that reveals Wong is a lot more than just talk.
The film’s witty dialogue, impressive action sequences and its stellar cast make this compelling viewing for the festive season. House of Fury will literally kick off the Chinese New Year with laughs and kick out the fury of the old year! So tune in to STAR CHINESE MOVIES on Chinese New Year’s eve (Jan 28) at 9pm for the premiere of House of Fury.
###
STAR CHINESE MOVIES is available on Sky Cable (channel 45), Dream Satellite TV (channel 29) and Home Cable (channel 77) in the Philippines.
Manila, 7 Mar 06 – Nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards 2005, Beyond Our Ken is a quirky chick-flick take on the classic revenge story. Mainland actress Tao Hong and Hong Kong pop singer Gillian Chung topline as the current and former girlfriends, respectively, of serial cad Daniel Wu. Premiering Sat, Mar 18 at 9pm on STAR CHINESE MOVIES.
