The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies
The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies |
| Chapman To comes into his own as leading man Posted: Hong Kong star stays humble despite succcess. This year has been Hong Kong comedic actor Chapman To's busiest year for film promotions. The 41-year-old has already taken on six films this year, including the raunchy action-comedy flick Sex Duties Unit, released in July, and The Midas Touch (playing in cinemas now). If his time has indeed come, To, who had been best known for his supporting roles in the Infernal Affairs film trilogy (2002-2003), is being humble about it, constantly taking the mickey out of himself in a recent telephone interview. "I'm such a fat pig, which is what my wife has been calling me lately, so I feel like it's kind of unfair for audiences to have to see me like this, especially when I keep taking off my clothes in films," he says almost matter-of-factly. In The Midas Touch, he plays a debt collector-turned-novice artiste manager, who is determined to turn a motley group of seven girls into big-name pop stars in the vein of South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. While his character is ultimately a nice guy who holds the girls' best interests at heart, situations abound in the film when he becomes tempted to take advantage of the casting couch situation and accept sexual propositions from the girls. Asked about whether he has experienced the same kind of indecent proposals in real life since he is now a leading man in the movies, he laughs and wryly says that he is "nowhere as lucky as that", jokingly blaming the dearth of offers on his lack of charisma. He also reveals he has been hitting the gym recently, though it is not a move spurred on by vanity or the pressure to match the efforts of Nick Cheung, a fellow supporting player-turned-leading man. The rock-hard, sculpted body Cheung, 45, achieved for the boxing-themed drama Unbeatable was the talk of the town recently. To is working out to play the lead role of an adult video star in Naked Ambition 2, a sequel to the 2003 comedy which takes an inside look at Hong Kong's sex industry. He is currently filming the comedy in addition to two other movies, Love Gamble and Mr And Mrs Player. According to him, his wife, Hong Kong actress Kristal Tin, 35, has no qualms about him acting alongside Japanese adult-video actresses such as Sola Aoi and Maiko Yuki. "She just told me to go ahead and enjoy my work," he quips. Tin probably could be sure her husband would behave himself. In The Midas Touch, the only on-screen kiss that he has in the film is not shared with one of the actresses, but with Hong Kong actor Wong Cho Lam, 33, whom his character smooches by mistake. "His height was just right for me for the kissing scene. And the kiss felt good, actually." – The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network |
| Posted: The Japanese Film Festival returns for its 10th year. This time around, it will be extended to Sabah and Sarawak as well. TALK about Japanese-Malaysian relations! This year's Japanese Film Festival is opening with Ken & Mary, a movie about a Japanese man who travels to Kuala Lumpur and finds himself paired up with a truck driver who is happy to converse in nonsensical Japanese. Shot in Malaysia in 2011, we will be catching this film before our friends in Japan. This is the world premiere for the movie – it is scheduled to be released in Japan in November. Fans of Malaysian comedian Zizan Raja Lawak, take note: he appears in the movie as a colleague of the daughter of the Japanese man who is hell bent on breaking off her engagement. Organised by The Japan Foundation in Kuala Lumpur, the film festival is now in its 10th year. Usually held in Klang Valley and Penang, this year's film festival has been extended to Kuching, Sarawak and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The festival offers nine movies, from comedy to animation and everything in between. (The film festival in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu will showcase eight movies. Dearest is showing only in Klang Valley and Penang.) The 2013 Japanese Film Festival will be held at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in Kuala Lumpur (Mid Valley and Pavilion) and Petaling Jaya, Selangor (One Utama) from Sept 12 to 17; Penang (Gurney Plaza) from Sept 19 to 22; Kuching (CityOne Megamall) from Sept 26 to 29; and Kota Kinabalu (Suria Sabah Mall) from Oct 3 to 6. Movie tickets are priced at RM6 each, with the exception of Detective Conan: Private Eye In The Distant Sea, which can be purchased at the prevailing ticket price. As usual, tickets can be purchased from as early as two days prior to the screening from GSC box office or online. Below is a quick look at the selection of movies that will be screened at the 2013 Japanese Film Festival. Ken & Mary (2011, 87 min) When his plane has to make an emergency landing, Ken Katakura finds himself stranded in a remote part of Malaysia. He has to make his way to Kuala Lumpur to stop his daughter from getting married, so he hooks up with a truck driver who is strangely partial to Japan and speaks nonsensical Japanese. Malaysian actor Zizan Raja Lawak makes an appearance in this movie which also stars Takenaka Naoto, Hu Bing and Kitano Kii. At River's Edge (2011, 104 min) Skilled swordsman Sakunosuke is ordered to kill someone. It should be easy enough, but then he finds out that the target is Sakuma, his childhood friend, and also his brother-in-law. Does work, or friendship and family win? Starring Higashiyama Noriyuki, Rinko Kikuchi, Katsuji Ryo and Kataoka Ainosuke. The Chef Of South Polar (2009, 125 min) This chef has never quite done anything like this before. He has to cook for an eight-man team for one-and-a-half years, the duration of their research expedition in the South Pole. Trivia: there is one man who is addicted to Ramen. More trivia: someone else on the team is training to participate in a triathlon when he returns to Japan. Starring Sakai Masato, Namase Katsuhisa, Kitaro, Kora Kengo and Toyohara Kousuke. The Kirishima Thing (2012, 103 min) The most popular student in school is going to withdraw from after-school activities, but "uncool" film club member Maeda doesn't care and continues to shoot a zombie movie. But then it all escalates into something with unexpected consequences. Starring Kamiki Ryunosuke, Hashimoto Ai and Ohgo Suzuka. Until The Break Of Dawn (2012, 129 min) Ayumi is a "Connector" who links the living with their dearly departed. But soon he has doubts as to whether these people are better off without making the connection, especially after the mysterious deaths of his parents. Starring Matsuzaka Tori, Kiki Kilin and Sato Ryuta. Oblivion Island: Haruka And The Magic Mirror (2009, 100 min) While praying at the shrine for the return of the hand mirror her late mother gave to her, Haruka is distracted by a small fox-like creature who runs off with her house key. She gives chase, is sucked into a warm pool when she dips her hand in it, and lands in the World of the Neglected, home to objects long forgotten. Starring Ayase Haruka, Sawashiro Miyuki and Tanimura Mitsuki. The Great Passage (2013, 133 min) The eccentric Mitsuya Majime is transferred to the Dictionary Editorial Department thanks to his unique perception of the meaning of words. Then along comes a woman who most inconveniently renders him tongue-tied. Starring Matsuda Ryuhei, Miyazaki Aoi and Odagiri Joe. Detective Conan: Private Eye In The Distant Sea (2013, 110 min) (priced at prevailing ticket price) The corpse of a Self-Defense Force member has been found, minus the left arm. A spy has infiltrated the Aegis vessel and Conan is forced to stand up against the dangerous "Spy X". Starring Takayama Minami, Yamazaki Wakana and Koyama Rikiya. Dearest (2012, 111 min) (only showing in Peninsular Malaysia) After the passing of his wife, 53-year-old prison officer Eiji receives a letter from her requesting that her ashes be strewn out at sea. Strangely, she has never mentioned such a thing while she was alive. Looks like a journey to her hometown is long overdue. Starring Takakura Ken, Tanaka Yuko, Sato Koichi and Otaki Hideji. For more information and showtimes, visit www.jfkl.org.my or gsc.com.my. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Movies To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan