When you think about Hong Kong movie stars, what is the first name that comes to mind? Yes, we know Jackie Chan, but there is Tony Leung, Jay Chou, Eric Tsang and so on and so forth. There is just something about watching Hong Kong movies together with family and relatives while munching on homemade cookies and drinking cans of carbonated water that cannot be replaced. In fact, only a few movies can be categorised under the label of 'Chinese New Year movies', if ever such a label exist. This demonstrates the ambiguity of these movies, but there is one characteristic that they all share: they are all built around and on the bonds of family. Like the Chinese New Year holidays, these movies have the magic to bring you and your family together laughing or screaming, even if you hate movies, like the ragtag team in Stephen Chow's "Shaolin Soccer", because like them or not, you have limited choices of non-Chinese movies anyway. So without further ado, here is the list of movies that you have voted for to watch this coming Chinese New Year, in order, starting from the highly anticipated!
"The Viral Factor" is easily top of the list, but there are no prizes for guessing why. With Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse, two of Asia's heartthrobs leading the cast, one can be forgiven for thinking that this is a superficial action-thriller that rides on pretty faces. However, when Dante Lam of "The Beast Stalker" fame is in the director's seat, Chou and Tse are pushed to the limits in this story about two estranged brothers, IDC Agent Jon Wan (Jay Chou) and Man Yang (Nicholas Tse) who inadvertently met under grave circumstances. Having sustained grave injuries and losing his fiancée on a mission, Jon decides to spend his final days with his mother, only to be told a secret: that he has an older brother. Eager to fulfil her wishes, Jon goes to Kuala Lumpur to find him, only to be embroiled in an organization's scheme to spread the smallpox virus, with Yang tasked to kidnap medical specialist, Rachel, in order to manufacture the virus. Filmed mainly in Malaysia, "The Viral Factor" is a demonstration of what one talented director can do.
Derek Yee is a man best known for his dark action films, having directed "One Nite In Mongkok", "Protege" and "Shinjuku Incident" previously. So it is no surprise that his latest, "The Great Magician" would be one of the highly-anticipated movies this Chinese New Year as his venture out of his comfort zone. This action-fantasy movie stars two of Hong Kong's leading actors, Tony Leung and Lau Ching Wan as rivals for one woman's affection. It is a typical Hong Kong story with a twist: Zhang Xian (Tony Leung) is a magician. So expect lots of great cinematography and special effects as Zhang Xian pretends to help the local warlord, General Lei Daniu (Lau Ching Wan), who hopes to use him to win the affections of Liu Yin (Zhou Xun), a woman he forced into being his seventh concubine. However, nothing is as it seems, and soon Zhang is forced to pull out his ultimate magic trick in order to save his lady love and the people.
If you have read this far and still have no idea what Chinese New Year movies are, movies like "I Love Hong Kong 2012" best defines them. With the release year tacked on at the back, it is clear that this movie is an annual series, with different storylines but the same themes and almost the same cast. Popular Hong Kong TVB actor-comedian Eric Tsang returns to produce and star in this 2012 version of "I Love Hong Kong", which is directed by Chung Shu Kai and Chin Kwok Wai. Along for the ride are TVB stars Teresa Mo, Bosco Wong, Denise Ho, Stanley Fung, Siu Yam-yam, William So, Mak Cheung-ching, whom you may or may not be familiar with, their name that is, but you certainly will know them by face. At a loss with how to entertain your folks this Chinese New Year? No problem, "I Love Hong Kong 2012" has plenty of slapstick comedy to keep everyone in stitches.
If you think Donnie Yen cannot do comedy, then you do not know him very well at all. In fact, shame on you for being so stereotypical! But do not fret, for this Chinese New Year is a good time to start, as everyone is feeling a little more relaxed and good willed towards all. As another iteration of a Chinese New Year movie, as seen in its title, aptly modified to suit this New Year, "All's Well End's Well" tells a series of interweaving stories unlike last year, but in a different setting. Network tycoon Maximilian established an all-weather female support site, but when men come to help, the only remuneration for them is one grateful embrace. Meanwhile, lawyer Richard (Raymond Wong) is a failure, both as a father and a husband, is assigned as a disguise as well-off Cecilia (Yang Mi)'s demised father to select the most suitable for her future husband in a month's time. On the other hand, there is frustrated pop singer Carl (Donnie Yen) who is sent to be the candle-holder for Chelsia (Sandra Ng), member of a once-popular girls group. However, it is Chinese New Year after all, so here is hoping that this unlikely group of misfits will soon find happiness.
With a hit like "Phua Chu Kang" it is no wonder that everyone is in anticipation of "The Wedding Diary", a Singaporean production about a couple, Daniel and Tina (played by Aniu & Elanne Kwong respectively) who decide to get hitched. Daniel is an engineer working in Singapore, who comes from a humble Hokkien Malaysian family, while his wife-to-be Tina, comes from a well-to-do Cantonese Singaporean family. In a show of sincerity and commitment to his demanding parents-in-law to be, Daniel agrees to hold an extravagant and lavish wedding banquet in Singapore. What follows the supposedly happy decision is a series of problems involving both families revolving around the disparities in culture and societal standing between Singaporean and Malaysian, Hokkien and Cantonese, and we all know that this type of humour is always the funniest since they are ones that we can relate to.
"Fist of Dragon" may not boast many well-known celebrities, but that does not mean that those casted are without talent, for director Michael Chuah is no amateur, his first film "Seed of Darkness", starring Malaysian supermodel Amber Chia, was picked up for distribution by Columbia TriStar. "Fist of Dragon" is an action comedy starring Michael Chuah himself, alongside Henry Thia, Fiona Xie and Wang Xiao Chen. It tells the story of Uncle Chen, a coffee shop owner who faces many hardships caused by the local triad. When his nephew, Jie, tries to help by fighting off the triad he only ends up causing more problems. To make matters worse, Uncle Chen's daughter, Lily is on the triad side and the father-daughter relationship becomes badly affected when the confrontation between the triad and the townspeople reaches its peak. Look forward to this even if you are not feeling up to Chinese, it is the Year of the Dragon after all!
No stars add more cheer to your Chinese New Year other than the veteran ensemble consisting of Chapman To, Ronald Cheng, Gigi Leung, Eric Tsang and Sandra Ng. In this Wong Jing directorial, Gigi Leung plays Winnie, a woman in her late twenties, who is already certified as an old maid among the singles market by the time she is dumped by her boyfriend. Not only that, she is often bullied by her colleagues. Enter Koo, a wealthy tycoon and womanizer, who is known for his ruthlessness in his business dealings. However, in his latest company takeover, Koo's actions offend a former employee, leading him to receive numerous death threats. For security, Koo and his assistant, Ryan, decides to switch identities. And as fate would have it, under the guise of a commoner, Koo meets Winnie and falls for her as she is the first person he meets that does not likes him solely for his riches. But what happens when Winnie finally discovers Koo's real identity? Find out this Chinese New Year by catching "Marrying Mr. Perfect" with your Mr. Perfect!
Hong Kong actor Chapman To is on a roll, with his many movie appearances this Chinese New Year. Herman Yau's "Love Lifting" differentiates itself from the bunch by telling a sports drama about courage and love. Li, a weightlifter decides to call it quits as she is suffering from diabetes. She goes to Hong Kong to start a new life, only to meet Yun. They soon fall in love and get married, hoping to enjoy a simple but happy family life. However, as the Olympic Games approach, Li cannot help but recall her dream of wanting to be an Olympic champion. Sensing her distress and dilemma, Yun convinces Li to take up weightlifting again. Coincidentally, as Li starts intensively training again, Yun is seriously injured in a traffic accident. Yi rushes to his side, only to hear to last wish before passing away. Now, nothing can stop Yi from devoting her time and life to make Yun's wish come true. Make sure your makeup is waterproof before you watch this tearjerker of a story.
"Romancing In Thin Air" is a return to the nostalgic days of Hong Kong movies, where the dashing but flawed lead man meets and falls for a beautiful but flawed woman or genders vice versa. It also marks critically-acclaimed director Johnnie To's return to the directorial seat, after having made "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and "Life Without Principle" in 2011. True Hong Kong charmer Louis Koo plays a Hong Kong movie megastar jilted at the altar by his actress bride, who later finds true love in a neurotic fan while he heals his heart in high-altitude Yunnan in China. As one of the more positive Hong Kong movies with a beautiful poster to boot, hold your breath for "Romancing In Thin Air", it will lift your spirits up from feeling forever alone this Chinese New Year.
"Ah Beng The Movie: 3 Wishes" may not have been a heavy contender in the list, plus the title is a mouthful, but it does not mean that the movie is not any good. As they say, do not judge a book by its cover, a person by his looks, or, in this case, a movie by its budget. And the same theme applies in "Ah Beng The Movie: 3 Wishes". It's the eve of the Lunar New Year in a village and every household is busy preparing to receive the auspicious God Of Fortune (GOF). However, Ah Beng's father is one of the poorest men around, and can only offer a meagre amount of coins to the God Of Fortune. Despite that, the God of Fortune is very touched by Ah Beng's father's sincere comments that he should be better dressed and New Year wishes, and grants him 3 wishes. Meanwhile, not-so-bright security guard Ah Beng who works at an open car-park is being bullied by a group of rich brats with luxury cars over their parking fee. In comes a mysterious guy to help him and grateful Ah Beng ends up inviting him into his home and his life and things starts to change around him. But who is this mysterious guy and what is his motive? Support Malaysia-made movies and catch "Ah Beng The Movie: 3 Wishes" to find out!
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