At the movie press conference in Kuala Lumpur on 24th January, the quick-witted Malaysian Host dropped an open hint to all who were present, that the last “Golden Chicken” was wrapped up ten years ago.
But SANDRA NG the lead actress was swift to correct him gently, “No, that was almost 12 years ago, in 2002 …” letting out her trademark guffaw that immediately put everyone at ease. She then sighed, “Time catches on” hinting that everyone in the Press room was getting on in years.
That was SANDRA NG, consummate actress-cum-producer whom we all adore. She is every party’s live wire, a comedienne who had made enough comedies to charm us on any rainy day.
But hold it, she was a contender for the Best Actress for a Dramatic Role as well, the last being “Echoes of the Rainbow” in 2010 . She didn’t win this one.
“GOLDEN CHICKEN SSS” is the third in a franchise but it is directed by MATT CHOW this time around.
The previous director was SAMSON CHIU who helmed “GOLDEN CHICKEN 1 +2″, but he had taken a hiatus and declined to get involved with this production.
Well, “GOLDEN CHICKEN 3″ or better known as “GOLDEN CHICKEN SSS” is cackling all the way joyfully, having accomplished a better project, bigger and in a grand style.
Prostitution is definitely the world’s oldest profession as narrated by an effervescent, yet warm-hearted prostitute called AH KAM in Part 1 and 2.
The first film was a roaring success, the second had lost its gloss somewhat when it was screened a year later.
Twelve years later, SANDRA NG reunites to reprise her role as the middle-aged but still gorgeous AH KAM.
The new film director is MATT CHOW (he wrote the script for the first one). The ancient belief is still being debated upon: once a prostitute, always a prostitute, unless you hook a wealthy husband and be provided for life.
AH KAM (SANDRA NG) works as a mamasan now. She supervises a flock of glamour chicks for their nightly engagements such as hosting lavish parties for the rich businessmen. You can guess the rest.
As for this film “GOLDEN CHICKEN SSS” our leading lady is again able to assemble a string of glitterati in Hong Kong for cameos, namely DONNIE YEN, ANTHONY WONG, NICK CHEUNG and LOUIS KOO. Even bad boy EDISON CHEN makes a welcome presence.
The current story examines in truth, that the old Hong Kong is fast disappearing over the years. Things are enormously different now.
AH KAN embraces the prosperity of the “NEW HONG KONG”, but like scores of disgruntled baby boomers, she still wistfully hankers after the old Hong Kong for the memories. For old time’s sake.
Over-the-hill mob boss, GORDON (NICK CHEUNG) who is AH KAM’s paramor was put behind bars before the Hong Kong Handover in 1997.
GORDON’s attire and mindset are reminiscent of the colonial past. Recently released from prison, he is unable to cope with the reality of the New Hong Kong and seeks solace in his old flame AH KAM.
But KAM is way out of her dream and is no longer the naive sweet maiden who once idolized GORDON.
She is heartbroken as she watches her love losing his grip on reality in trying to adapt to life in the New Hong Kong.
That said, KAM decides to help GORDON rebuild his life.
And along the way, we are shown how she handles bitchy competitions and she tackles obstacles in her own inimitable way.
Now, I would say that “GOLDEN CHICKEN SSS” the movie is a breath of fresh comic air to greet the Spring.
It ignites like a fire-cracker with “feel good” emotions, and is a little gem of an incredible pedigree.
To believe, to judge, do go and watch it, chum.
Actress IVANA WONG, Actress SANDRA NG (centre) and director MATT CHOW are at the Press Conference to brighten up the film’s promotional exercise.
IVANA is pensive whilst SANDRA is chatty. MATT listens attentively.
ALL SMILES of CONFIDENCE
THE MANAGEMENT of GSC and the CAST joyfully wish one and all a truly PROSPEROUS CHINESE NEW YEAR.
Dear Folks, please check the funny Movie Trailer by clicking here!
I'd definitely liken THIS movie to a fun gadget you called the party popper.
You tug at the attached string …. and the entire contents zoom upwards.
Next, you witness an assortment of colorful confetti flakes as they “explode” in mid air, sprinkling into a wonderment of rainbow colors.
Glorious sight to behold, yah.
It’s this metaphor, where an arresting cast ensemble of a myriad of Hong Kong TVB stars come together to rejoice in the Lunar New Year blitz, announcing the advent of a new spring, inviting you to patronize the film.
The TVB artistes are the colorful ”confetti” flakes, lending credence to an otherwise slow-moving plot.
HOPE IS IN THE AIR?
I wonder.
The YEAR of the RABBIT is already scampering around, “knocking” at your door, hoping to be let in.
This Hong Kong feel-good comedic spoof is dedicated to family, neighbor and buddy love, telling us that where there’s love – then there’s always hope.
Hopefully after viewing “I LOVE HONG KONG” we'll earn more cash in the coming new year.
This is the theme of “I LOVE HONG KONG”, viva l’amore.
Let’s get back to the film.
Kind of a let-down, I think.
More fluff than buff, I contend.
Why is the director CHUNG SHU KAI not ensuring a flow of consistency in this movie?
Editing is choppy and the goofy acting clearly lacks conviction.
Plus, there’s hardly any room for character development of the leads.
This feature reeks of a rushed project. Every artiste is elbowing in and dashing out, as soon as you see them, they are gone the very next second.
When you have a big station like TVB as the financier, and they naturally use their own legion of television stars.
And most of them get only a teeny fraction of screen time for the Chinese New Year’s offering, appearing as “rabbits” and then scampering away.
Independent actors TONY LEUNG KA-FAI, SANDRA NG and ANITA YUEN are roped in to “beef up” the TVB cast.
The story?
TONY and SANDRA play a married couple with a few teenage kids, notably AARIF LEE.
Used to be rich, they now are back to being poor when the family man’s business hits a bad patch.
They move in with his father in a crowded housing estate, and reminisce about the past, where ERIC TSANG the scoundrel absconded with some charity funds years back.
After more than a decade, ERIC TSANG returns and the confusion-go-round starts.
“I LOVE HONG KONG” is not everybody’s cup of tea.
You either love it or you don’t.
Just as SINGAPORE has her own brand of comedies, so has MALAYSIA.
This is a HONG KONG offering of a CHINESE NEW YEAR slapstick.
The Hongkongers must love this kind of stuff, otherwise it wouldn’t be made in the first place.
Reality is big-time in HONG KONG.
No money, no talk, eh.
I love HONG KONG, but I love CASH better.
Now, this is happening in EVERY metropolitan city.
More so when these are “topped” with this layer of icing called “action”.
It’s like sugar and spice and everything nice.
Fresh from the immensely successful dramatic ” BODY GUARDS & ASSASSINS”, award-winning filmmaker Peter Chan is diverging from the norm.
He’s taking a frolic gamble by switching genres.
First, he has taken a lighter approach, and moved from serious cinema to comedy.
Second, his latest offering is an action comic caper “Mr. and Mrs. Incredible” (trading ideas from the West).
No, he is not credited as film director for this one.
He helms the production whilst Vincent Kok directs.
It’s a concoction mix of Hollywood’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and “The Incredibles”, but this one takes place in ancient China.
Check the movie posters if you can “smell a rat”.
There are loads of screamish, albeit squirmish laughter that are bound to tickle you pink.
Festive celebration, what.
Time to merry-make and laugh.
The film stars Louis Koo and Sandra Ng who play a superhero couple who wishes to be left alone.
No, superheroes are not meant to live an uneventful life of bliss. No way.
Debonair Huan (Louis Koo) falls in love with goofy-two-shoes Red (Sandra Ng).
Unlike poles match, point taken.
They hastily decide to retire quietly, and move to an unknown village to enjoy conjugal bliss, to start a family.
Almost a decade passes by and they are trying very hard to get a baby, despite the regular conjugals exploring different ‘kama sutra’ positions.
Then a martial arts competition is scheduled in the village which they live.
Hundreds of kung-fu masters from all over the country are eyeing for the ultimate championship.
Huan and Red plan to flee the village for fear that their identities would be discovered, but end up being entangled in a conspiracy to murder every potential champion.
To uncover the mastermind, they must don the superhero costumes one more time in the name of justice.
Their baby-making plans are temporarily cast aside.
And the superheroes come charging in again.
Hurrah!
Here is a crowd-pleasing spoof with a soul, not just another glaring, superficial piece.
“Mr. and Mrs. Incredible” is a non-stop martial arts action flick with excellent choreography, camera work and special effects.
Plus, it’s gregariously hilarious!
Erase the smirk from your face and go watch this flick.
“Mr and Mrs. Incredible ” will tear the layers off the deficiencies, foibles, and frustrations of life, providing merriment and a momentary escape from a hard day’s grind.
A brilliant performance by Sandra Ng, the zany queen of slapsticks.
Whether she plays a dramatic or comedic role, she sizzles with aplomb and sets the film afire with her raucous albeit infectious guffaws.
She shares an affable chemistry with Louis Koo and her clowning with her onscreen partner literally brings the house down.
“Mr. and Mrs. Incredible” is one movie where the elements of artistry and quiet power intertwine with ease.
It is a gem that shimmers through, slowly like fine wine,
For the baby boomer, watching ECHOES OF THE RAINBOWcan be an enriching experience in poetic indulgence.
For one, it stretches your imagination.
ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW is indeed, a mushy film.
It reeks of this powerful element called emotion.
It reaches your heartstrings and tugs.
Hear the echoes?
You eyes will swell with tears
You may reach for the tissue when you hear the familar echoes of LOVE amid rainbow hues chiming resonantly in your ears:
They beckon you to take note:
“Come take my hand …..
Together let’s stroll down memory lane.”
Shall we?
ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW shows us that love is universal.
LOVE transcends time, boundaries and creeds.
That there’s no greater journey than the one that leads you to love.
SOMETIMES, if you can catch the breeze at the right time, you’ll have this surging feeling that love is all around us.
Have you ever been assailed by such intense happiness inside, that you feel that you’re like a lark going to burst into song?
For crying out loud, everybody does.
Good things are transient, are momentary, they never last.
Treasure love when it’s around.
Maybe for now, it is staring at you in the face.
But it’s like a car, parked at your door, and when the time comes, it revs up and roars off.
Weep not when love dies.
People do fall out of love.
TIME WILL HEAL MOST EVERYTHING, but memories cannot be erased.
Directed by ALEX LAU who also wrote the wonderful screenplay, ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW competed in the Berlin International Film Festival and bagged the CRYSTALBEAR AWARD for the Best Film in the Children’s Jury “Generation Kplus”.
It also garnered 6 nominations in the 29th Hong Kong FilmAwards to be held on April 18, 2010: SIMON YAM (Best Actor), SANDRA NG (Best Actress), Best New Performers (AARIF LEE and CHUNG SHIU TO), Best Screenplay (ALEX LAU) and Best Original Film Song.
ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW transports us to vintage Hong Kong in the 1960s, a long lost era that was once peppered with beauty, charm and character.
The story is narrated through the eyes of one gawky pre-teenager, our protagonist.
He comes from this simple family.
His father (SIMON YAM) is simple. He’s hard nosed, works as a cobbler and is a disciplinarian.
His mother (SANDRA NG) is simple. She believes in the sunny side, that everything is attainable, if you dare dream.
His elder brother (AARIF LEE) is simple. He has those dreamy eyes for his tropical fishes and sports, until he discovers his one true puppy love.
Our protagonist is simple. He sees life through rose-tinted innocence.
The plot is simple. Life is about love.
Love and loyalty for your parents, siblings, neighbors, friends and your sweetheart.
SIMON YAM is absolutely good. He shows us that he retains versatility in choices of characters. He plays a good father this time round, after a string of baddie roles.
SANDRA NG is no longer a madcap this time. She is the doting mother with an eye for positivism and this is pivotal during hard times, in keeping the family together.
Enjoy the beautiful score in this fantastic movie and behold a new rising sexy Hong Kong star called AARIF LEE, a cross between FEI XIANG and LEE HOM. He’s one actor to watch in the coming years.
As this reviewer has said earlier, love can be simple and that there’s no greater journey than the one that leads you to love.
Listen to an old hit by PAUL ANKA, Times Of Your Life :
“Good morning, yesterday You wake up and time has slipped away And suddenly it’s hard to find The memories you left behind Remember, do you remember?
The laughter and the tears The shadows of misty yesteryears The good times and the bad you’ve seen And all the others in between Remember, do you remember The times of your life?
Reach out for the joy and the sorrow Put them away in your mind The memories are time that you borrow To spend when you get to tomorrow
Here comes the setting sun The seasons are passing one by one So gather moments while you may Collect the dreams you dream today Remember, will you remember The times of your life?”
ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW is an award winning film that demonstrates that life and family are only complete if we treasure love.
Enjoy today as the clock goes ticking, as we can never know what tomorrow will bring.
Because time and tide wait for no man.
And that life is a series of comings and goings.
Not forgetting DEATH, as all human beings have to depart this earth one day.
ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW is such a lilting splendid film that you cannot afford to miss!
At the end of it all, when the credits roll, you find that you are still so comfy in your seat and unwilling to leave the theater.
