The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies
The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies |
| Posted: 04 Nov 2012 02:25 AM PST YOU will get the chance to watch Cold War for free, come Nov 6. Rainfilm is giving 65 pairs of tickets to The Star readers to enjoy the movie two days before it opens in cinemas. Details and conditions: Date: Nov 6 (Tuesday) Redemption: 8pm Screening: 9pm Venue: GSC Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya, Selangor > Just cut out this coupon and redeem your tickets at the cinema stated above. > Only original coupons will be accepted (no photocopies, please). > Each coupon is redeemable for two tickets, on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. > Each person is entitled to redeem one coupon only. > Please note that the method of distributing the tickets is at the sole discretion of the distributor and no correspondence will be entertained. |
| Posted: 04 Nov 2012 02:24 AM PST Up-and-coming actors Aarif Rahman and Eddie Peng continue their trail towards cinematic domination with Hong Kong's latest cop thriller., THERE is excitement in the air as we are led into a room in Hong Kong's Wan Chai Convention Centre. Inside, actors Aarif Rahman and Eddie Peng, the young stars of the latest Hong Kong cop thriller Cold War, look like a million bucks in dapper jet-black suits. They are clearly used to the attention. In Cold War, Aarif, the more talkative of the two, plays an ambitious, if slightly arrogant, investigator with Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The actor was born and bred in Hong Kong and is of Malay, Arab and Chinese ancestry. He read Physics at the Imperial College in London for three years. Upon completing his education, he began his career as a singer with the release of his debut album Starting Today in 2009. His boyish good looks and jovial personality have made him an emerging presence in the entertainment scene. In 2010, he played the legendary Bruce Lee in Bruce Lee, My Brother. If playing the late cultural icon was his way of upholding the martial arts, then Cold War is a brazen attempt to unravel the intricacies of Hong Kong's law enforcers. Aarif confesses in Mandarin: "I grew up in Hong Kong but I never saw that side of Hong Kong. Making this film has been educational in many ways. It made me realise how Hong Kong is distinct and different from other cities in the world. "I have always been a fan of police flicks but I never saw it from the perspective of someone in the police force. I think the spirit of justice is something that we uphold in our culture." To prepare for the role, Aarif sought guidance from a former ICAC chief. "I thought: Wow, what an opportunity! This is so special. I kept bombarding him with questions." It is not just a rough and tough persona he had to take on for the role. "I had to be someone who has lived in the United States," he elaborates. "In that, I was told that I had to be bold and outspoken. I also had to do some research on American culture." The actor admits that starring opposite Hong Kong megastars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung added to the pressure. "I was pretty intimidated, to be honest, but I gained more confidence as we went along." His handsome co-star, Eddie Peng, plays a rookie policeman. Peng, who grew up in Canada, shot to fame with his Taiwanese/Korean crossover role in the 2004 hit television series, Scent Of Love. He expanded his appeal in the Chinese market with Chinese Paladin in 2006 before making it to the big screen with Exit No.6 the following year. Peng has never lived in Hong Kong but says the film has provided insight into the inner workings of the city's police force. "In Cold War, I shared a really intense scene with Tony Leung, and that was a huge experience for me. "Being in a film with someone like Tony feels like an achievement in itself," he says. There is little doubt that Cold War, touted as the biggest Hong Kong film in a decade, will continue to propel both rising stars toward cinematic domination. Cold War also stars Charlie Yeung who plays the chief superintendent of public relations in the police force. Related Stories: |
| Posted: 03 Nov 2012 08:43 PM PDT Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai delve into their portrayal of rival chiefs in the police force in Cold War. NOTHING says America like Hollywood. Films that reinforce the notion of American patriotism have existed for almost as long as the medium itself. From the Nazi-fighting Captain America to his super-human comrades in The Avengers, America – the land of milk and honey – has been the fixation of every hero, monster, alien and apocalyptic event. Cold War, the much-publicised cop thriller starring mega-stars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka Fai, is Hong Kong's very own hero flick. As it iterates throughout, Hong Kong is the safest city in Asia, thanks to its "untouchable" police force. Enter the bad guys, who hijack a police van carrying five highly trained officers and some of the force's most expensive equipment – and out go those grandiose claims through the window. Now, with the officers' lives and the force's reputation in jeopardy, rival police commissioners Sean Lau (Kwok) and Waise Lee (Tony Leung) grapple to take charge of the rescue operation (codenamed Cold War) and ultimately, to land Hong Kong's top police job. With its intricate details and refined plot, the film has been marketed as the next Infernal Affairs and is touted as the biggest Hong Kong film offering in a decade. The action-packed thriller pairs the first-time writer-director team Longman Leung and Sunny Luk. What comes across as a surprise is the duo's ability to attract some of Hong Kong's biggest names despite having no previous film credits to their names. In their pursuit for realism, the pair of directors enlisted the help of the real police force to develop the storyline and script, which took them about four years to complete. Amid the heart-thumping car chases, explosions and shoot-outs, Cold War examines the power struggles, corruption and inner workings of Hong Kong's police force, as well as its changing identity following Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997. The script captivated Kwok, who plays a dapper hotshot commissioner in the film. The entertainer, one of Cantopop's Four Heavenly Kings, says he was so moved by it, he pushed his concert dates back by a month to make time for filming. "The moment I got the script, I thought: I have to do this. It's such a solid story," he tells the Malaysian media in an interview in Hong Kong's Wan Chai Convention Centre. One is immediately struck by Kwok's youthful, prominent features up close. It is almost hard to believe that he is 47 years old. But even his stature and enduring star power did not exempt him from having to meet the stringent demands of the directors. In Cold War, the actor had to shed his signature boyish image to play the macho, grey-haired commissioner. Kwok shares his experience in Cantonese: "Lau is a much older figure, and the director thought I ought to sport a more mature look for the role. Realistically, you also have to be of a certain age to be in the position of a police commissioner." The directors have been demanding, he adds with a smile. "They expected 100% in every scene; anything less, and they would demand a re-shoot." For Kwok, retakes are just part and parcel of the profession. "The most important part about being an actor is how we bring a character to life." Kwok, who began his career as a Cantopop singer in the early 1990s before venturing into movies, acknowledges that the role is a challenging one. "In all the years I've been acting, and especially in the last 10 years, this is by far the most complicated character I've had to play. And the hardest." Part of the challenge lies in the film's realism. "When I looked at the script, I got the feeling that it could be real. "However, stepping into the shoes of a leader in the police force or solving a tough case like this is something I can never imagine myself doing in this lifetime. That was the real challenge. "But I had faith in my directors, and I believed in the storyline. That helped me to get into character." Kwok believes that Cold War will have a huge impact on the Hong Kong film industry. "We haven't had many films like that in the past decade. I put in a lot of effort, and I hope that the audience will trust that Lau can be a real person in our lives." His charming co-star Leung elaborates on the film's universal appeal. "What makes it immediately identifiable to the masses is the presence of a staunch police force. Every city has and needs a police force, and I think this is the kind of story that can be accepted by people over the world." The actor notes, almost as an afterthought: "Hong Kong is the only place in Asia that has the freedom and guts to make a movie like this. I don't think filmmakers in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or even China have that kind of freedom to tell a story so close to the truth." At a glance, Leung comes across almost as Kwok's roguish and rebellious, no-tie, no-socks counterpart. He appears to be in his comfort zone despite being surrounded by a group of enthusiastic people. The best part about making the film? "Being able to meet members of the Malaysian media," he says, with a laugh. Leung began his career with the Burning Of The Imperial Palace (1983) and has been an unstoppable force in the Hong Kong film industry since. His more recent works include Bruce Lee, My Brother (2010) and Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame (2010), in which he was nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. In Cold War, Leung looks almost unrecognisable with a shaven head and moustache. "Well, unlike Aaron, I am about the same age as my character so they didn't have to make me look older," the 54-year-old reveals. "Since Lee is so different from myself, there was nothing I could derive from my personal experience or everyday life to bring to my character." Leung's dazzling onscreen presence is undeniable. "The hard part in playing a police commissioner is having to convince the audience that you are someone with that sort of power and stature." He credits Kwok for his performance. "Besides landing good roles, I think it is very important to be working with competent co-stars. It was fun working with Aaron and I hope to work with him again someday," he says. With its compelling plot and star power, Cold War looks set for a box-office explosion. The more important question remains: Is this a film that Hong Kongers will be proud of? "At least I'm proud of it. I'm really proud of it," Leung concludes. Cold War opens in Malaysian cinemas on Nov 8. Related Stories: |
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