Well, being the top-rating site in Technorati that is related to 'Asian Cinema', I guess it is necessary for me to voice out my thoughts and predictions about the upcoming Hong Kong Film Awards 2005, which will be announced on the 8th of April (more than a month after the Oscars).
Perhaps Love
The Myth
Election
Initial D
Comments:
I can't help but feel disgusted with this category. Isn't this supposed to be the top prize of the awards show? Then why the hell is some crap like The Myth nominated for 'Best Film? I would rather have something like Crazy N The City (a surprisingly fabulous film) or 2 Young (a film that is affecting despite Jackie Chan's son being in it) in its place. Initial D is a fun film, but not the kind of film to win awards. Seven Swords (which I never got to see) had lukewarm reviews, thus it's more or less between the musical romance Perhaps Love and the triad drama Election. Despite being a lifelong Johnnie To fan, I do not think that Election is one of his better films (it pales in comparison to the likes of PTU and The Mission, and I take Infernal Affairs 2 over this anytime), in fact, I was rather underwhelmed by it. As for Perhaps Love, it WAS Hong Kong's entry for the Oscars (it never got nominated though), therefore I assume they probably like this more. So I'm going for Perhaps Love.
Hauru no ugoku shiro / Howl’s Moving Castle, Japan
Three Times, Taiwan
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Korea
Be with You, Japan
Comments:
This is unbelievable, but I have yet to see a single nominated film (even Howl's Moving Castle). So I'll take a wild guess and go for Ke Ke Xi Li.
Peter Chan Ho Sun (Perhaps Love)
Derek Yee Tung Sing (2 Young)
Johnnie To Kei Fung (Election)
Andrew Lau Wai Keung & Alan Mak Shiu Fai (Initial D)
Comments:
Tsui Hark is unlikely to win, neither will Derek Yee Tung Sing (when he had won last year for the much superior One Nite In Mongkok). Initial D is amazingly stylish, but it wasn't that long ago when the two directors have just won their awards for Infernal Affairs (okay, it was kinda long ago), they won't reward the award to a film that doesn't have much of a chance to win Best Picture. Johnnie To had just won two years ago for Running On Karma, so I'll go with Peter Chan Ho Sun, who hasn't done a feature film since the much-lauded classic Comrades: Almost A Love Story nearly a decade ago.
Aaron Kwok (Divergence)
Tony Leung Ka Fai (Everlasting Regret)
Andy Lau Tak Wah (Wait 'Til You’re Older)
Simon Yam (Election)
Tony Leung Ka Fai (Election)
Comments:
Aaron Kwok won the Golden Horse award last year for Divergence, but winning the Golden Horse doesn't mean that he's a lock for this. But he should be a favourite. Andy Lau was good in the schmaltzy Wait Til' You're Older, but it wasn't his best work. Tony Leung Ka Fai, who won back in 1991 for Viva La Rose (I think), got nominations for two films, Everlasting Regret and Election. Simon Yam won't really win since his role in Election didn't challenge him much. Thus far, the most lauded performances were Aaron Kwok's and Tony Leung's (in Everlasting Regret). I'll go for Aaron Kwok since he was in a much flashy and showier role. People would love to let this Hevenly King complete his comeback and help more in the Hong Kong box-office in the future. (winning an acting award will make him more legit, and thus marketing his future films will be much easier than Tony Leung's) Too bad neither Takeshi Kaneshiro nor Jackie Cheung were nominated for their performances in Perhaps Love.
Karena Lam (Home Sweet Home)
Sammi Cheng (Everlasting Regret)
Sylvia Chang (Rice Rhapsody)
Karen Mok (Wait 'Til You're Older)
Comments:
As much as I like Karena Lam. And as much as I've once rooted for Sammi Cheng, the former won't win while the latter's era is over. Sylvia Chang has won before in a pretentious sappy melodrama whilst Karen Mok will always remain underrated. Zhou Xun's performance in Perhaps Love was a tour de force. She'll win it.
Hu Jun (Everlasting Regret)
Liu Kai Chi (SPL)
Wong Tin Lam (Election)
Anthony Wong (Initial D)
Comments:
I'll be somewhat pissed off if Anthony Wong wins again. If he does, it'll be the 45305305830583053439624727272 Best Supporting Actor award he wins from the Hong Kong Film Awards. Alex Fong was weird as a flamboyant triad leader (I've gotten used to see him in cool manly roles). Wong Jing's dad, Wong Tim Lam's nomination was probably just to honour the veteran. Liu Kai Chi's not really a big-name actor, but I would like to go for him. If I really have to predict someone, I, unfortunately, will predict Anthony Wong, but I'm rooting for long-time TV actor Liu Kai Chi.
Teresa Mo Shun Kwan (2 Young)
Su Yan (Everlasting Regret)
Karena Lam (Ah Sou)
Maggie Shiu (Election)
Comments:
Go Karena Lam. I've only seen 2 Young, and Election, both Teresa and Maggie's performances were solid but unspectacular, so I'll stick with Karena Lam. Hah.
Derek Yee Tung Sing & Chun Tin Nam (2 Young)
James Yuen Sai Sang, Jessica Fong & Lo Yiu Fai (Crazy N' The City)
Cheung Chi Kwong & Susan Chan Suk Yin (Wait ‘Til You’re Older)
Yau Nai Hoi & Yip Tin Shing (Election)
Comments:
Among these five, Crazy N The City and Perhaps Love are standouts. But I think Perhaps Love will get it.
Kenneth Bi (Rice Rhapsody)
Stephen Fung (House of Fury)
Comments:
Didn't see Rice Rhapsody and Before Twenty. Stephen Fung was competent with House of Fury, but lacked the flair he showed in his debut work. I'll still go for him.
Isabella Leong (Bug Me Not!)
Annie Liu (Ah Sou)
Michelle Ye (Moonlight In Tokyo)
Jay Chou (Initial D)
Comments:
Hong Kong is desperate for a new box-office king, and how else to encourage one than to award Jay Chou with this award? Face it, even if he does nothing but farting throughout Initial D, he'll still be awarded. All right, seriously, he was better than expected (sure, he was wooden, but the role in the film never expected more from him)
Peter Pau (Perhaps Love)
Peter Pau (Wu ji / The Promise)
Cheng Siu Keung (Election)
Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Lai Yiu Fai & Ng Man Ching (Initial D)
Comments:
Perhaps Love is a beautiful film. Ah, the scene of Zhou Xun and Takeshi Kaneshiro embracing under the falling snow owns them all.
Yau Chi Wai (Divergence)
Wenders Li & Kong Chi Leung (Perhaps Love)
Patrick Tam Ka Ming (Election)
Wong Hoi (Initial D)
Comments:
The editing in Initial D was mindblowingly good. It's unlikely to win, but I'll still root for this.
Peter Kam & Leon Ko (Perhaps Love)
Joe Hisaishi (A Chinese Tall Story)
Lo Tayu (Election)
Chan Kwong Wing (Initial D)
Comments:
Long-time Studio Ghibli collaborator, Joe Hisashi had always been great, thus his compositions were one of the reasons why I wanted to see A Chinese Tall Story. I'm not sure, I haven't seen Seven Swords, while the score in Election and Initial D didn't leave much of an impression. Eerrrr, I'll go with Peter Kam and Leon Ko for Perhaps Love. Again. (I'm foreseeing a Perhaps Love sweep in the awards show)
Yee Chung Man & Peter Wong (Perhaps Love)
William Chang Suk Ping (Everlasting Regret)
Bill Lui Cho Hung (A Chinese Tall Story)
Tim Yip (Wu ji / The Promise)
Comments:
The Promise is shitty, but I'm sure everyone would try to do something to award it.
Yee Chung Man & Dora Ng Li Lo (Perhaps Love)
William Chang Suk Ping (Everlasting Regret)
William Chang Suk Ping, Bruce Yu & Lee Pik Kwan (A Chinese Tall Story)
Tim Yip & Kimiya Masago (Wu ji / The Promise)
Comments:
Yeah, The Promise again. Films that suck can always get away as long as they are big-budget.
Lee Chung Chi (Divergence)
Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong Kwai Lai & Richard Hung (The Myth)
Donnie Yen (SPL)
Yuen Wo Ping, Yuen Shun Yi & Ku Huen Chiu (House Of Fury)
Comments:
Donnie Yen for SPL. Despite what my friends said, I was amazed by the fighting scenes.
Composer Peter Kam
Lyric Yiu Him
Sung by Jacky Cheung
"Endless Love" (The Myth)
Composer Choi Jun Young
Lyric Choi Jun Young & Wang Zhong Yan
Sung by Jackie Chan & Kim Hee Seon
? (Wait ‘Til You’re Older)
Composer Peter Kam
Lyric Andy Lau Tak Wah
Sung by Andy Lau Tak Wah
"Drifting" (Initial D)
Composer Jay Chou
Lyric Fang Wen Shan
Sung by Jay Chou
? (2 Dragon Reloaded)
Composer Joe Lei
Lyric Joe Lei
Sung by Ronald Cheng
Comments:
Perhaps Love by Jackie Cheung. Although Jay Chou is unlikely to lose.
Kinson Tsang (Perhaps Love)
Kinson Tsang (A Chinese Tall Story)
Roger Savage Wang Danrong & Roger Savage (Wu ji / The Promise)
Kinson Tsang (Initial D)
Comments:
Kinson Tsang for Initial D. The roaring of engines. Vroom vroom.
Wendy Choi & David Tso (The Myth)
Eddy Wong & Victor Wong (A Chinese Tall Story)
Frankie Chung Chi Hang, Don Ma Wing On, Cecil Cheng Man Ching & Tam Kai Kwan (Wu ji / The Promise)
Eddy Wong, Victor Wong & Bryan Cheung (Initial D)
Comments:
I'll go for Initial D. The Promise sucks. Even though I'm sure the committee will view its crap special effects as a historical achievement despite it cartoonish bulls that look even more cartoony than the ones in Lion King.
Tags:
Best Film
Seven SwordsPerhaps Love
The Myth
Election
Initial D
Comments:I can't help but feel disgusted with this category. Isn't this supposed to be the top prize of the awards show? Then why the hell is some crap like The Myth nominated for 'Best Film? I would rather have something like Crazy N The City (a surprisingly fabulous film) or 2 Young (a film that is affecting despite Jackie Chan's son being in it) in its place. Initial D is a fun film, but not the kind of film to win awards. Seven Swords (which I never got to see) had lukewarm reviews, thus it's more or less between the musical romance Perhaps Love and the triad drama Election. Despite being a lifelong Johnnie To fan, I do not think that Election is one of his better films (it pales in comparison to the likes of PTU and The Mission, and I take Infernal Affairs 2 over this anytime), in fact, I was rather underwhelmed by it. As for Perhaps Love, it WAS Hong Kong's entry for the Oscars (it never got nominated though), therefore I assume they probably like this more. So I'm going for Perhaps Love.
Best Asian Film
Ke Ke Xi Li, ChinaHauru no ugoku shiro / Howl’s Moving Castle, Japan
Three Times, Taiwan
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Korea
Be with You, Japan
Comments:
This is unbelievable, but I have yet to see a single nominated film (even Howl's Moving Castle). So I'll take a wild guess and go for Ke Ke Xi Li.
Best Director
Tsui Hark (Seven Swords)Peter Chan Ho Sun (Perhaps Love)
Derek Yee Tung Sing (2 Young)
Johnnie To Kei Fung (Election)
Andrew Lau Wai Keung & Alan Mak Shiu Fai (Initial D)
Comments:
Tsui Hark is unlikely to win, neither will Derek Yee Tung Sing (when he had won last year for the much superior One Nite In Mongkok). Initial D is amazingly stylish, but it wasn't that long ago when the two directors have just won their awards for Infernal Affairs (okay, it was kinda long ago), they won't reward the award to a film that doesn't have much of a chance to win Best Picture. Johnnie To had just won two years ago for Running On Karma, so I'll go with Peter Chan Ho Sun, who hasn't done a feature film since the much-lauded classic Comrades: Almost A Love Story nearly a decade ago.
Best Actor
Aaron Kwok (Divergence)Tony Leung Ka Fai (Everlasting Regret)
Andy Lau Tak Wah (Wait 'Til You’re Older)
Simon Yam (Election)
Tony Leung Ka Fai (Election)
Comments:
Aaron Kwok won the Golden Horse award last year for Divergence, but winning the Golden Horse doesn't mean that he's a lock for this. But he should be a favourite. Andy Lau was good in the schmaltzy Wait Til' You're Older, but it wasn't his best work. Tony Leung Ka Fai, who won back in 1991 for Viva La Rose (I think), got nominations for two films, Everlasting Regret and Election. Simon Yam won't really win since his role in Election didn't challenge him much. Thus far, the most lauded performances were Aaron Kwok's and Tony Leung's (in Everlasting Regret). I'll go for Aaron Kwok since he was in a much flashy and showier role. People would love to let this Hevenly King complete his comeback and help more in the Hong Kong box-office in the future. (winning an acting award will make him more legit, and thus marketing his future films will be much easier than Tony Leung's) Too bad neither Takeshi Kaneshiro nor Jackie Cheung were nominated for their performances in Perhaps Love.
Best Actress
Zhou Xun (Perhaps Love)Karena Lam (Home Sweet Home)
Sammi Cheng (Everlasting Regret)
Sylvia Chang (Rice Rhapsody)
Karen Mok (Wait 'Til You're Older)
Comments:
As much as I like Karena Lam. And as much as I've once rooted for Sammi Cheng, the former won't win while the latter's era is over. Sylvia Chang has won before in a pretentious sappy melodrama whilst Karen Mok will always remain underrated. Zhou Xun's performance in Perhaps Love was a tour de force. She'll win it.
Best Supporting Actor
Alex Fong (Drink·Drank·Drunk)Hu Jun (Everlasting Regret)
Liu Kai Chi (SPL)
Wong Tin Lam (Election)
Anthony Wong (Initial D)
Comments:
I'll be somewhat pissed off if Anthony Wong wins again. If he does, it'll be the 45305305830583053439624727272 Best Supporting Actor award he wins from the Hong Kong Film Awards. Alex Fong was weird as a flamboyant triad leader (I've gotten used to see him in cool manly roles). Wong Jing's dad, Wong Tim Lam's nomination was probably just to honour the veteran. Liu Kai Chi's not really a big-name actor, but I would like to go for him. If I really have to predict someone, I, unfortunately, will predict Anthony Wong, but I'm rooting for long-time TV actor Liu Kai Chi.
Best Supporting Actress
Zhang Jing Chu (Seven Swords)Teresa Mo Shun Kwan (2 Young)
Su Yan (Everlasting Regret)
Karena Lam (Ah Sou)
Maggie Shiu (Election)
Comments:
Go Karena Lam. I've only seen 2 Young, and Election, both Teresa and Maggie's performances were solid but unspectacular, so I'll stick with Karena Lam. Hah.
Best Screenplay
Aubrey Lam & Raymond To (Perhaps Love)Derek Yee Tung Sing & Chun Tin Nam (2 Young)
James Yuen Sai Sang, Jessica Fong & Lo Yiu Fai (Crazy N' The City)
Cheung Chi Kwong & Susan Chan Suk Yin (Wait ‘Til You’re Older)
Yau Nai Hoi & Yip Tin Shing (Election)
Comments:
Among these five, Crazy N The City and Perhaps Love are standouts. But I think Perhaps Love will get it.
Best New Director
Mathew Tang Hon Keung (Before Twenty…. Before Too Old….)Kenneth Bi (Rice Rhapsody)
Stephen Fung (House of Fury)
Comments:
Didn't see Rice Rhapsody and Before Twenty. Stephen Fung was competent with House of Fury, but lacked the flair he showed in his debut work. I'll still go for him.
Best New Performer
Fiona Sit (2 Young)Isabella Leong (Bug Me Not!)
Annie Liu (Ah Sou)
Michelle Ye (Moonlight In Tokyo)
Jay Chou (Initial D)
Comments:
Hong Kong is desperate for a new box-office king, and how else to encourage one than to award Jay Chou with this award? Face it, even if he does nothing but farting throughout Initial D, he'll still be awarded. All right, seriously, he was better than expected (sure, he was wooden, but the role in the film never expected more from him)
Best Cinematography
Venus Keung Kwok Man (Seven Swords)Peter Pau (Perhaps Love)
Peter Pau (Wu ji / The Promise)
Cheng Siu Keung (Election)
Andrew Lau Wai Keung, Lai Yiu Fai & Ng Man Ching (Initial D)
Comments:
Perhaps Love is a beautiful film. Ah, the scene of Zhou Xun and Takeshi Kaneshiro embracing under the falling snow owns them all.
Best Film Editing
Angie Lam (Seven Swords)Yau Chi Wai (Divergence)
Wenders Li & Kong Chi Leung (Perhaps Love)
Patrick Tam Ka Ming (Election)
Wong Hoi (Initial D)
Comments:
The editing in Initial D was mindblowingly good. It's unlikely to win, but I'll still root for this.
Best Original Film Score
Kenji Kawai (Seven Swords)Peter Kam & Leon Ko (Perhaps Love)
Joe Hisaishi (A Chinese Tall Story)
Lo Tayu (Election)
Chan Kwong Wing (Initial D)
Comments:
Long-time Studio Ghibli collaborator, Joe Hisashi had always been great, thus his compositions were one of the reasons why I wanted to see A Chinese Tall Story. I'm not sure, I haven't seen Seven Swords, while the score in Election and Initial D didn't leave much of an impression. Eerrrr, I'll go with Peter Kam and Leon Ko for Perhaps Love. Again. (I'm foreseeing a Perhaps Love sweep in the awards show)
Best Art Direction
Eddy Wong (Seven Swords)Yee Chung Man & Peter Wong (Perhaps Love)
William Chang Suk Ping (Everlasting Regret)
Bill Lui Cho Hung (A Chinese Tall Story)
Tim Yip (Wu ji / The Promise)
Comments:
The Promise is shitty, but I'm sure everyone would try to do something to award it.
Best Costume / Make Up Design
Poon Wing Yan & Shirley Chan (Seven Swords)Yee Chung Man & Dora Ng Li Lo (Perhaps Love)
William Chang Suk Ping (Everlasting Regret)
William Chang Suk Ping, Bruce Yu & Lee Pik Kwan (A Chinese Tall Story)
Tim Yip & Kimiya Masago (Wu ji / The Promise)
Comments:
Yeah, The Promise again. Films that suck can always get away as long as they are big-budget.
Best Action Choreography
Lau Kar Leung, Stephen Tung Wai & Xiong Xin Xin (Seven Swords)Lee Chung Chi (Divergence)
Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong Kwai Lai & Richard Hung (The Myth)
Donnie Yen (SPL)
Yuen Wo Ping, Yuen Shun Yi & Ku Huen Chiu (House Of Fury)
Comments:
Donnie Yen for SPL. Despite what my friends said, I was amazed by the fighting scenes.
Best Original Film Song
"Perhaps Love" (Perhaps Love)Composer Peter Kam
Lyric Yiu Him
Sung by Jacky Cheung
"Endless Love" (The Myth)
Composer Choi Jun Young
Lyric Choi Jun Young & Wang Zhong Yan
Sung by Jackie Chan & Kim Hee Seon
? (Wait ‘Til You’re Older)
Composer Peter Kam
Lyric Andy Lau Tak Wah
Sung by Andy Lau Tak Wah
"Drifting" (Initial D)
Composer Jay Chou
Lyric Fang Wen Shan
Sung by Jay Chou
? (2 Dragon Reloaded)Composer Joe Lei
Lyric Joe Lei
Sung by Ronald Cheng
Comments:
Perhaps Love by Jackie Cheung. Although Jay Chou is unlikely to lose.
Best Sound Design
Steve Brugess & He Wei (Seven Swords)Kinson Tsang (Perhaps Love)
Kinson Tsang (A Chinese Tall Story)
Roger Savage Wang Danrong & Roger Savage (Wu ji / The Promise)
Kinson Tsang (Initial D)
Comments:
Kinson Tsang for Initial D. The roaring of engines. Vroom vroom.
Best Visual Effects
Peter Webb (Seven Swords)Wendy Choi & David Tso (The Myth)
Eddy Wong & Victor Wong (A Chinese Tall Story)
Frankie Chung Chi Hang, Don Ma Wing On, Cecil Cheng Man Ching & Tam Kai Kwan (Wu ji / The Promise)
Eddy Wong, Victor Wong & Bryan Cheung (Initial D)
Comments:
I'll go for Initial D. The Promise sucks. Even though I'm sure the committee will view its crap special effects as a historical achievement despite it cartoonish bulls that look even more cartoony than the ones in Lion King.
Tags:
