April 30th, 2009
News Links: HKFA Housekeeping
Yeah, I know. The HKFAs were presented 10 days ago but the Jackie Chan posts got in the way of posting HKFA links. So, I present to you now — for the sake of posterity — news and photo links from the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards. But first …
From the comments on Quick Thoughts: 28th Hong Hong Film Awards:
Darren writes: I’m ecstatic IP MAN won. I never understand why critics hate on popcorn movies so much. I’m not a film maker but I’d think popcorn movies aren’t as easy to make as most people probably believe. Why else does America put out so much crap during the summers (really only IRON MAN was superb in my opinion)? IP MAN was such a fun, kick butt time at the movies that I don’t think it’ll be replicated anytime soon. And yeah, THE WAY WE ARE was good but the majority (who aren’t movie critics) will find it boring and they wouldn’t be wrong either …
I hear ya. I hear ya. I hope I didn’t give the impression that I was hating on IP MAN. I enjoyed it immensely. The majority of the time, I go with fartsy over artsy. After all, I’m the one who would have voted Barbie Hsu over Bau Hei-Jing for Best Actress. One time, I walked into the video store fully intending to rent Wong Kar-Wai’s MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS but ended up walking out with the DVD for THE HOUSE BUNNY.
Nope, I wasn’t trying to push the Haterade on IP MAN. Instead, I was trying to get people to drink the Kool-Aid on THE WAY WE ARE because it perfectly captures the essence of Hong Kong. The characters in the film are characters that I recognize from real life whenever I’m in the Fragrant Harbour. The situations in the film are situations that I recognize from real life: the lonely senior, the family gatherings, the dull rhythm of the everyday, the dopey teenager, estrangement, extending a helping hand to a neighbour and so forth. For the most part, people in Hong Kong quietly move forward the best that they can. They don’t get involved with triads, they don’t commit suicide by coal and they don’t murder their loved ones.
Yes, the film is boring to most but that’s part of the point of the movie. When was the last time a goo wak jai attacked you with a machete? When was the last time you saw a kung fu expert take out ten guys?
The win for IP MAN wasn’t a travesty. I can get behind it winning Best Film more easily than I can the bloated mess that won the year before. It’s just disappointing that the Hong Kong Film Awards didn’t reward a film that is quintessentially Hong Kong. THE WAY WE ARE is like Hong Kong and Hong Kong culture — small, plucky and punches well above its weight.
One last thing: Not to be a smart aleck but I have a feeling the fun, kick butt time at the movies that IP MAN was will be replicated sometime in 2010 when IP MAN 2 is released. 
ARTICLES:
Variety: ‘Ip Man’ nabs Hong Kong award
Movie on working-class dominates Hong Kong Awards
Screen Daily: The Way We Are, Ip Man top Hong Kong Film Awards
Veterans rule at HK awardsLegendary Josephine Siao Fong-Fong
AWARDS WINNERS PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:
- IP MAN wins Best Film
- Ann Hui wins Best Director
- Nick Cheung wins Best Actor
- Bau Hei-Jing wins Best Actress
- Liu Kai-Chi wins Best Supporting Actor
- Chan Lai-Wun wins Best Supporting Actress
- Xu Jiao wins Best New Artist
- Lui Yau-Wah wins Best Screenplay
- Lifetime Achievement award presented to Jospehine Siao Fong-Fong
China Daily photos of the winners
MORE PHOTOS:
Sina.com Female Celebrities Photo Gallery
Male Celebrities: Louis Koo Tin-Lok, Louis Fan Siu-Wong, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Wong Jing, Donnie Yen, Zhang Fengyi, Julian Cheung Chi-Lam
Couples:
- Nick Cheung Ka-Fai and Esther Kwan Wing-Ho
- My cousin Tony and Carina Lau Ka-Ling
- Julian Cheung Chi-Lam and Anita Yuen Wing-Yi
- Donnie Yen and wife
- Bau Hei-Jing and Henry Fong Ping
- Sammo Hung and Joyce Godenzi
- John Woo and wife
- Chiu Nga-Chi and Melvin Wong Kam-Sum
- Tang Wei wore Valentino
- Barbie Hsu wore Oscar de la Renta
- Anita Yuen wore Christian Dior
- Betty Sun Li wore Christian Dior
- Lin Chi-Ling wore Marchesa
Jacky Cheung Hok-Yau and Sandy Lam Yik-Lin performing at the ceremony
Back in a bit with the latest news links.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
sweeet! u wrote a response to my comment…a nice surprise and a nice answer too. I wouldn’t have minded if way we are won best pic as well but ive always preferred action over drama so i was rooting for ip man…im actually kinda worried ip ma n2 wont be as good because the first one got us to root for him against the Japanese (which was quite rousing emotionally to me and it seemed to most everyone else in the theatre) and the atmosphere in the 2nd would probably be very different…but I hope Im wrong.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:04 am
For the record, IP MAN was my 3rd favorite Hong Kong movie last year (and I recall attracting criticism for admitting my love for it on the now defunct Kaiju Shakedown).
Having said that, my favorite Hong Kong film of 2008 happens to be… THE WAY WE ARE — a film which is far from boring and actually has quite a few funny as well as involving scenes.
Also, re IP MAN winning Best Film. It just seemed so weird after it didn’t win any of the other major awards (like Best Director, Actor, Actress and even Scriptwriter — three of which went to THE WAY WE ARE).