Two years ago (Yes it's taken me 2 whole years to get this website going) I was lucky enough to meet with one of the most intriguing actors of HK cinema, Anthony Wong. I use the term intriguing because he has appeared in some of the most famous and infamous titles of modern Hong Kong Cinema. Having appeared in comedies (Master Wong v Master Wong), Action films (Hard Boiled) and of course horror movies (The Untold Story and the Ebola Syndrome) there is no doubt that Anthony Wong is the most versatile actor in HK cinema today.

Hong Kong Superstars had scheduled their first movie day at the NFT in April and as an additional bonus had Anthony Wong lined up for a special guest appearance.

After watching the first two films in their four movie day (The Adventurers and Chinese Ghost Story). There was a raffle held with some HK prizes up for grabs. I didn't win anything but then again that's probably because I didn't buy any tickets.

Anyway after that the only film starring Anthony Wong was shown, and what a film it is - Full Contact. Once the film had finished, Rick Baker and Chris Ducker brought Anthony on stage for a short Q&A session. Dressed like a modern day cowboy complete with hat, Wong came up on stage looking a little puffier than before too. (he had just overcome a disease which caused his face to swell). A lift of his hat later would also show that he had shaved his whole head with a No2 blade too.

I can't remember a lot of what was said but this is what I do recall:

* Firstly Rick asked Wong what he thought of Full Contact, having made the film 6 or so years ago.

His reply was -

"That was terrible"

Genuinely surprised Rick said something along the lines of 'really?, because Full contact is one of my favourite HK movies' (mine to).

* When asked who his idols were, I don't remember who else was said, but I do remember that he said - get this - Freddie Kreuger! Still that would explain the hat.

* Wong said that he was making a new film, which 'will be good' and is titled 'Beastcops'. My impression was that he was making a Cat III film about monster who wear police badges, not a triad movie with some guy whose balls haven't dropped (Michael Wong - hence his pipsqueak voice).

Anyway he was clearly right considering Beastcops cleaned up at that year's HK film awards - but a better film than Full Contact? No way!

After the Q&A session, a long queue of fans formed outside the theatre for an autograph/photo. Unfortunately I was pretty much at the end of the queue so I missed the first five minutes of the last film of the day - my favourite Woo film, the Killer and this is something that I will never forgive Anthony Wong for. Hehe

It's been quite well documented that Wong dislikes the films he made with John Woo. So how ironic is it that while queuing up for his autograph, a fan (who clearly didn't know about Wong's special guest appearance), stood looking at Wong then went up to him while he was writing and asked 'Are you in Hard Boiled'? To which a slightly miffed Wong nodded. The fan then joined the queue for his autograph....

I found that funny in an ironic kind of way.

Anyway it soon came to me, he signed my Full Contact NFT infosheet, spelt my name wrong but hey at least he didn't get his name wrong. I shook his hand and said 'keep up the good work' (I can think of a dozen better things to say now but for some reason I was quite nervous then) and then Rick took a couple of photos of me with the Category III movie king.

After that, I managed to get back in to the theatre to watch the rest of the Killer despite being told that I wasn't allowed to (my charm must have won him over: ). Then my companions and I went home having watched four superb pieces of HK entertainment and having met the versatile, superb and not to mention strange, Freddie Kreuger wannabie: Anthony Wong. It was a great day

A big Kudos to Rick Baker and Chris Ducker for organising the day.

Anthony Wong had another, more publicised appearance at a HKSuperstars event in Bradford, and also brought Simon Yam for an appearance last year. Unfortunately I couldn't make either event but hey...i'm holding out for an appearance by Shu Kei...