Hi there,

As part of my 2007 go to the other side of the world trip, I'll be in Hong Kong for the nights of the 22nd and the 23rd. I've downloaded a couple pages (including Yvonne's helpful tour of HK, thanks for that!), but wondering if anybody knows of anything time-specific happening I absolutely shouldn't miss ... and truthfully, after walking around half of Europe, spending some time with my feet up in the movie theatre sounds great, as long as I can understand what's going on! (Read: do HK films all have English subtitles?)

If you happen to be in HK and want to say hi, PM or email me at dougdillaman, then the at sign, then gmail. (I hate spambots. I really do.)

Hello Doug (and everyone else),

I don't know if this is up your alley but there are several things you ought to do whilst in Hong Kong. The first, which goes without saying, is to sample some hawker food at various night stalls. Despite travelling around various Sinophone areas in Greater Cultural China, nothing tastes as nice as stinky tofu from the former colony.

Actually, you go to the HSKAR at a tremendous time. If you visit the HK Tourism Board's website, you will find that your dates in town coincide with a major Cantonese opera recital and a dragon boat race. See:

http://www.hkta.org/eng/showtime/calendar/...?event_id=37327

http://www.hkta.org/eng/showtime/calendar/...?event_id=37200

These two things aren't movie-related per se but would leave you with spectacular memories of your travels. Regardless, just browse HKTB's page for what suits your interests and I'm sure you'll find some brilliant experiences therein.

If you do decide to see a movie or shop at a mall, though, be sure to bring a pullover. They really like to crank up the aircon in the city, which might lead to a cold if you flutter in and out too much.

Hi Doug,

You might also consider visiting the Hong Kong Film Archive. There is an exhibition of movie posters opens on the 23rd (http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/...n_may2007a.html) and there are some movies screening at their theatre:

Journey to Beijing by Evans Chan
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/...ars_film06.html

Homecoming by Yim Ho
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/...ars_film01.html

The Seven Swords and the Thirteen Heroes with Tso Tat Wah
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/...man_film04.html

Have fun!

Hi Doug, here's sending advance hopes that you'll enjoy your visit to Hong Kong. BTW, in case you (or others) didn't know, I've now moved here... B)

Unfortunately, tickets for two of the screenings that David Wells has mentioned -- i.e., HOMECOMING (which I actually am due to catch) and JOURNEY OF BEIJING -- are long gone. They're part of a 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR series of films whose screenings are free to the public and tickets were snapped up in a single day. You might have better luck with the Tso Tat Wah movie screening though.

Also, you'd do well to check out some of the contemporary local movies playing in cinemas when you're around including:
KIDNAP (laughable climactic CGI scene but great acting from Rene Liu),
MR. CAMERA (Anthony Wong Chau San, Ronald Cheng, Karen Mok and Teresa Mo),
EYE IN THE SKY (Milkyway Image's latest -- but directed by Yau Nai Hoi rather than Johnnie To)
SIMPLY ACTORS (Starring Jim Chim and Charlene Choi and featuring a humungous amount of cameos)

I'd say that's the case close to 99% of the time and definitely the case with the four contemporary movies I named above.

One last thing: Keep your eyes open when in Hong Kong. Since I came here just over one and a half months ago, here's some of the people I've seen sans appointments, etc.:-

Lily Ho - at a fruit stand in Happy Valley
Jo Kuk -- at a restaurant in Langham Place Mall, Mongkok
Sandra Ng -- walking along a street in Wan Chai
Bobby Yip -- shopping bags and all, in the Fortress Hill MTR station
Natalis Chan -- attending a George Lam and Teresa Carpio concert
George Lam and Teresa Carpio -- in concert
Sandra Ng (again!), Eric Tsang and Crystal Tin -- in the lobby of the UA Times Square, then going down the elevator leading out of it and into Russell Street

And today: after saying goodbye to Miriam Yeung post interview...a VERY handsome Leon Lai, standing casually on the stairs of the same office!!!!!!!!!!! :o

I can't really point to anything special on those days aside from those Film Archive shows, and the main upcoming date on the calendar here is the July 1 handover anniversary. But for more on the movies front, you can check the following sites for info on what's on:

www.cinema.com.hk (Broadway circuit)
www.cityline.com.hk (various other venues)

You can also find cinemas at major malls. In addition to all Hong Kong movies, most other films not in English have subtitles. (You can check that online or at cinemas.) The South China Morning Post can be a useful source for info on what's happening (check the arts page) as well, so it'd be good to check if your hotel has a copy.

That's MR CINEMA (a pleasant family drama largely set within the local left-wing community over the past three decades, though requiring a degree of local knowledge among viewers to work best).

Enjoy the trip!

Tim.

Yup, I stand corrected! BTW, Tim, good to learn that you did go and see it and liked it. Eagerly await to hear more about what you think about that movie and, also, SIMPLY ACTORS. :)

"Unfortunately?" I think "lucky escape" if he considered going to see JOURNEY TO BEIJING, (admittedly, HOMECOMING is another matter) and IMO stinky tofu is about as appealing as Chan's film and a Cantonese Opera about as taxing. Frankly, I wouldn't know what to recommend other than wander around, hop on a tram and a ferry, and just get a feel for the place. Unless there's a film you're desperate to see I'd keep out of the cinemas, or go when it's "quiet" such as in the morning.

Lucky you! I love how Leon looks (unfortunately can't say the same thing for his acting except for a few films). But knowing you, I'm almost sure that you didn't even say "hi" to him.

Well, that's actually not a bad recommendation in that Hong Kong can feel like a giant movie set and wandering around and viewing it -- be it from the top of a tram or bus or whatever, etc. -- can make for a whole lot of fun. And speaking of public transportation: Don't forget the travelator. You can pretend you're Faye Wong or imagine meeting her when on it and also try to spot Chris Doyle's flat which served as Tony Leung Chiu Wai's character's abode in CHUNGKING EXPRESS, etc., etc.

In the grand plus contemporary scheme of things, I really don't think that Hong Kong cinema goers are that badly behaved. At the very least, they're much better than a large percentage of their Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Philadelphia and New York equivalents!

You're right, I didn't say "hi". Frankly, I was rendered speechless at the unexpected sight. Either that or I may have let out a gasp of shock -- which I hope I didn't! -- before I skedaddled out as fast as I could in case I proceeded to faint away while in Leon's presence! :ph43r:

From the reports we get on here, it sadly does seem that American auds are fast catching up on Hongkies in the How Not to Behave in a Cinema charts, although in the past I rarely had any problems over there...I put seeing FORTRESS in Times Square down to experience! In the UK behaviour was always very much determined by locale; a Central London audience would be far more respectful than one in some Midland town. In Japan a fairly large majority still sit through the closing credits; when I was a little slow in making my exit in HK recently (where the house lights come up as soon as the credits start to roll) the usher seemed to think I must not have realised the film had finished!

i had more of a hard time spotting out hong kong celebrities in person while i was in hong kong than the times i would bump into some in Toronto.

i've bumped into Sandra Ng's father a few times at Fairchild Radio. didn't say hi to him and only realized i goofed up when i found out that he was an old friend of my grandfather. sometime in late may, marks the third time i've met Aaron Kwok in person. i saw him at an autograph session and he was nice enough to sign my copy of "Throwdown" on DVD. then of course, there is Jackie Chan whom i met in person over at Roy Thomson Hall for the premiere of "The Myth", prior before i eventually got involved with post production of the hong kong released DVD itself.

however, all my celebrity encounters are in toronto. i think the only celebs that i've encountered in hong kong is one of the Miss Hong Kong pageant's girls and an NBA player (i forgot the name all of a sudden).

HK audiences I think are very responsive and loud, you know the person who simply has to repeat everything what has been said on screen? There are many of them in HK. But it is all in good nature and it sure is an experience :)
Also HKers really suprised me as a festival audience. They applauded all the films!! At the first two I thought it was because everyone liked the film but they did it to 95% of the films I have been to!.

Fave HK cinema moment : A Chinese Ghost Story screening when everyone applauded the first moment Leslie was on screen and this time it was not only I but the majority who left the theatre teary eyed.

All the cinemas I have been in UK were in central London and I never had any complaints even when the theatre is completely full.


Worst audience, gotta be the Dutch - I don't know whether it is the beer they serve in the films but if you decide to see a suaré prepare yourself to experience watching a film with lots of people as if you are in a giant living room with your friends and everyone commenting on what's happening on screen.