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HK Box Office for the week ending February 18th
Plagiarised directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 18th!
| Title | Gross ($US) | Scrns | Wks | Cumulative ($US) [$1 = HK$7.73] |
| 1 Ninth Happiness | 1,066,642 | 23 | 1 | 1,066,642 |
| 2 Titanic | 863,076 | 25 | 9 | 10,553,103 |
| 3 A Black Sheep Affair | 417,283 | 26 | 1 | 417,283 |
| 4 Who Am I? | 348,473 | 22 | 5 | 4,842,893 |
| 5 Hold You Tight | 240,598 | 7 | 1 | 240,598 |
| 6 Desperate Measures | 220,184 | 25 | 1 | 220,184 |
| 7 Tomorrow Never Dies | 150,471 | 5 | 4 | 3,667,891 |
| 8 Fallen | 132,948 | 9 | 1 | 132,948 |
| 9 Most Wanted | 101,380 | 9 | 1 | 101,380 |
| 10 The Replacement Killers | 52,470 | 2 | 4 | 2,732,734 |
San Francisco Chronicle insists on the accuracy of the Chow Yun Fat article
As pilfered directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 18th! Article translated and transcribed by Wolverine. The San Francisco Chronicle published article siting Chow Yun Fat having a tight relationship with the Hong Kong underworld led to strong reactions from the Hong Kong film industry and Chow Yun Fat calling the it "ridiculous". On the 21st San Francisco Chronicle stressed that the article was "responsible, fair and accurate".
The Chronicle expressed they have yet seen Chow Yun Fat's announcement, but the report was mainly based on information from the Senate hearing and the content is fair and accurate.
The Chronicle said its report is absolutely responsible, but the paper welcomes and gladly accepts opinions and corrections. The paper also expressed that it only reported the relationship between Chow Yun Fat and Charles Heung Wa Keung and did not make any insinuation about Chow Yun Fat.
When the reporters cited Hong Kong reports that Chow Yun Fat because wanting to shake the entanglement of the underworld came to America. The Chronicle said the paper didn't know of this background and commends Chow Yun Fat's action.
The Chronicle expressed they have yet received any official document to correct their report.
Excerpt from "John Woo is upset for Chow Yun Fat over the libelous report"
As pilfered directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 18th! Article written by Ngai Lin. Translated and transcribed by Wolverine. Director John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) was upset after learning that his collaborator Chow Yun Fat was maliciously attacked. John Woo felt this incident is only a rare occasion of irresponsible journalism in the U.S and
absolutely will not affect Chow Yun Fat's future in Hollywood.
On the 20th John Woo expressed anger on behalf of friends who are concerned about Chow Yun Fat over the insulting report. Ng Yu Sum said Chow Yun Fat is a honest gentleman who is enthusiastic, righteous, and likes to help others. He absolutely has no relationship with the underworld.
Chow Yun Fat days ago have announced that he is considering legal means to prove his innocence. John Woo totally supports Chow Yun Fat. He felt this incident will not affect Chow Yun Fat's future since many Americans like Chow Yun Fat and his films. An excellent and hard working actor like
Chow Yun Fat will be not buried. John Woo sighed that it is difficult for a public figure and it is difficult to be a public figure. For example, besides promoting a movie, he tries to maintain low key.
Nevertheless, Hollywood's big stars absolutely will not let John Woo go. Days ago foreign press has revealed that Tom Cruise is trying to convince John Woo to direct Mission: Impossible 2. Even John Woo's manager Terence Chang (Cheung Ka Chun) confirmed Tom Cruise has met with John Woo in Europe. However the humble Ng Yu Sum still expressed Tom Cruise was willing to let John Woo use his own style to make the film and not to be worried about it
being a sequel. He still stressed that it would be more appropriate to wait until the script is finished and the contract is signed before announcing the details....
New York Chinatown refuses to let Chow Yun Fat's new film shoot on location
As pilfered directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 18th! Article translated and transcribed by Wolverine. According to sources in Taiwan, Chow Yun Fat's new Hollywood film The Corruptor is about to begin production. However, local merchants of New York's Chinatown strongly opposes the production shooting on the streets of Chinatown, as they worried that the image of the Chinese people will be damaged again.
In the film Chow Yun Fat plays a police captain, a "hero with blood, heart, emotions, and honor" who ultimately sacrifices himself to save his partner.
The film's s estimated cost is about US$ 20 million and the production will start in Toronto around March 2nd. In the middle of May the shooting will move to the center of New York's Chinatown and the surrounding areas. However, the opposition voices have already begun in New York, as the locals have written the city hall to prevent the film's production in Chinatown.
Previously certain films that have shot in Chinatown have negatively described the Chinese community and extremely damaged the Chinese people who reside in Chinatown. Reportedly, the climax of Fat Jai's new film will reveal the dark side the New York Chinatown once had.
Chow Yun Fat is linked to the underworld by the U. S. government
As pilfered directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 18th! Translated and transcribed by Wolverine. After Stephen Chiau Sing Chi's immigration application was rejected by the Canadian authorities, Chow Yun Fat was also reportedly facing the same problem with the American Justice Department -- he is suspected to be involved with the underworld simply because he worked for Wins Entertainment.
Fat Gor who is currently in America and China Star Group chair Mrs. Heung Wa Keung on the evening of the 19th made official announcements individually, expressing that they will not eliminate the possibility of legal actions against the San Francisco Chronicle which published the report.
Just when Chow Yun Fat's first Hollywood film The Replacement Killers is showing in American theaters, the San Francisco Chronicle made unreasonable accusations toward Chow Yun Fat with the headline "Film Star's relationship with the Triad".
The report stated:
1. The American Justice Department feels that Chow Yun Fat has a close relationship with Hong Kong Triad members. According to a Senate committee, among those in constant company of Fat Gor some are underworld members, including the head of the Sun Yi On society.
2. American law enforcement agencies are very concerned about Chow Yun Fat because they fear the effects of certain organizations will expand to Hollywood.
3. Chow Yun Fat and Charles Heung Wa Keung (Wins Group chief) have a close relationship. In a Senate investigative report in 92, Sun Yi On not only is linked to 9 American and Canadian cities' criminal organizations, but also has control of Hong Kong show business. Heung Wa Keung has hired Chow Yun Fat on numerous occasions like God of Gamblers (Doe Sun).
4. Besides Chow Yun Fat, famous Hong Kong actor Jet Li (Lee Nin Kit)'s manager Choi Chi Ming was gunned down in 92 and the home of Andy Lau Tak Wa's female assistant was set on fire. Both have worked for the same film company.
Toward the "conspiracy" report, Chow Yun Fat has made an official announcement immediately.
"Toward the report in the San Francisco Chronicle which hinted that I have connections to a certain Hong Kong criminal organization, I feel the accusation is ridiculous! The accusation is an insult to my character, and an libel of my name. What shocked and frustrated me more is a publication like the San Francisco Chronicle did not confirm the accusations to be facts and irresponsibly and maliciously published this article. Had they investigate further, they will find out that I have no connection to any illegal organizations.
As for Mr. Charles Heung Wa Keung who was mentioned in the article, I was only an actor in two films produced by him. Other than that, I have no knowledge of Mr. Heung's other businesses.
In regards of this, I currently am in discussion with my legal consults on possibly legal actions against the San Francisco Chronicle for the untrue and libelous report."
Mrs. Heung Wa Keung Tiffany Chan Lam also felt that someone wants to negatively affect Fat Gor's progress in America and asked the people of Hong Kong to continue their support of Chow Yun Fat.
"Mr. Heung and I actually don't mind explaining. Mr. Heung has been in film and business for many years, everyone has witnessed that. He has also earned the recognition of society. The China Star Group in 1996 became a publicly traded company in Hong Kong, which is the best proof, since when a company goes public it must pass strict examinations. At the time both the Hong Kong and the British government have recognized his qualifications. Mr. Heung's position as an executive board member and mine as the chair of the company is enough proof that we both have decent records."
"As for the report, I am very surprised why they would write like that. My guess is there is a minority of people who is discriminating against Hong Kong artists, and deliberately began this attack on Fat Jai. It really isn't fair to Fat Jai or artists from all over Asia."
"I ask all of the people of Hong Kong to continue their support for Fat Jai and hope to support the continuing Chinese development in Hollywood."
"The fact is those who have worked for Wins, like Tsui Hark and (Ringo) Lam Lan Tung, have already worked in America. Wins even wrote a letter of recommendation on behalf of Lee Nin Kit (Jet Li) for Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon 4 and introduced Corey Yuen Kwai as the film's action director. Thus this report was extremely ridiculous."
Finally, Mrs. Heung Wa Keung seriously stressed that the company will reserve all legal rights to pursue the matter further.
Stephen Chiau Sing Chi was very upset when he heard the news.
"Ridiculous. This is just gossip created by those who don't understand the real situation. It's just as ridiculous as my troubles with Canada. I don't understand, is there any wrong being an actor? In Hong Kong as an actor, a director, when I decide to make a movie, what I will consider the other party's sincerity, script and the cast. As for the film company's background, that is something I don't care about and something I can't control. What actually did I do wrong? Why keep finding stuff like this to talk about?"
"I really suspect that someone is jealous of Fat Gor's success over there, so he was attacked. I feel that is something that has to be clarified, which is the reason why I kept appealing the verdict. It's no big deal if I don't go to Canada, but when someone misunderstands, you have to make things clear. Sometimes I feel this isn't something that concerns just me, but the image of the entire Hong Kong film industry. If it's like they say, most of Hong Kong's actors have worked for that film company, then 90% of those actors are gang members? I feel it's really sad that these senseless accusations occurred on Hong Kong actor."
HK Box Office for the week ending February 11th
Plagiarised directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 11th!
| Title | Gross ($US) | Scrns | Wks | Cumulative ($US) [$1 = HK$7.73] |
| 1 Who Am I? | 650,797 | 27 | 4 | 4,404,420 |
| 2 Titanic | 601,607 | 16 | 8 | 9,690,027 |
| 3 Tomorrow Never Dies | 574,309 | 27 | 3 | 3,517,420 |
| 4 The Lucky Guy | 391,610 | 25 | 4 | 3,543,064 |
| 5 The Replacement Killers (!!!) | 246,243 | 21 | 3 | 2,680,464 |
| 6 Young & Dangerous V | 225,446 | 25 | 3 | 1,629,271 |
| 7 Flubber | 172,926 | 9 | 3 | 858,918 |
| 8 Super Lecherous | 38,511 | 10 | 1 | 38,511 |
| 9 A Thousand Acres | 33,239 | 4 | 1 | 33,239 |
| 10 A Teacher's Story | 17,607 | 5 | 1 | 17,607 |
Chow Yun-fat to sue over triad claim
By Ng Kang-Chung, for the South China Morning Post, February 21 1998, page 3. Movie star Chow Yun-fat is to take legal action against an American
newspaper over allegations that he has triad connections.
Chow rejected a report in the San Francisco Chronicle and said he was
seeking legal advice to launch a libel case.
Wednesday's report was absurd and irresponsible, he said.
Chow, 42, is the second Hong Kong star accused of having links with triad gangs, while heading for Hollywood stardom.
Comedian Stephen Chiau Sing-chi was refused Canadian residency in 1996. Authorities there cited "secret evidence" of triad connections in Hong Kong. Repeated appeals by Chiau were rejected.
Some Hong Kong actors attribute such accusations to racism, although they admit triad extortion does exist in the entertainment industry. Provisional legislator Ma Fung-kwok, who represents the interests of the industry, urged the Government to act through diplomatic channels.
"The industry might have some problems but it is unreasonable and irresponsible for foreign media to label all Hong Kong stars as being linked with triads," said Mr Ma.
"The industry has to do something to give itself a shine first, but I think the Government should also help. We have a number of overseas representatives and they should help clarify and explain whenever such reports emerge."
Mr Ma, who said he knew Chow well, promised to write to the Broadcasting, Culture, and Sport Bureau and press it for action.
Chow is famous for his roles in films depicting triad fights.
The former TVB actor sprang to stardom playing a triad killer in John Woo's A Better Tomorrow in the mid-1980s.
His Hollywood debut, The Replacement Killers, has just been released. Chow plays a contract killer working for a Chinatown underworld leader.
The actor is in Canada filming his second English action thriller. His Los Angeles-based agent, the William Morris Agency, could not be reached
for comment.
US Box Office for the week ending February 15th
As given at the MovieTimes site!
| Title | Gross ($US) | Scrns | Wks | Cumulative ($US) |
| 1 Titanic | 32.9m | 3002 | 9 | 376.3m |
| 2 The Wedding Singer | 21.9m | 2821 | 1 | 21.9m |
| 3 Sphere | 16.6m | 2814 | 1 | 16.6m |
| 4 Good Will Hunting | 9.3m | 2172 | 11 | 79.7m |
| 5 As Good As It Gets | 7.4 | 1801 | 8 | 101.6 |
| 6 The Borrowers | 6.1m | 1536 | 1 | 6.1m |
| 7 The Replacement Killers (!!!) | 4.7m | 1936 | 2 | 14.7m |
| 8 Great Expectations | 3.7m | 1745 | 3 | 22.1m |
| 9 Blues Brothers 2000 | 3.6m | 2515 | 2 | 10.8m |
| 10 L.A. Confidential | 3.3m | 814 | 21 | 45.5 |
HK Box Office for the week ending February 4th
Plagiarised directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 4th!
| Title | Gross ($US) | Scrns | Wks | Cumulative ($US) [$1 = HK$7.73] |
| 1 Who Am I? | 1,607,558 | 28 | 3 | 3,843,623 |
| 2 Tomorrow Never Dies | 1,553,663 | 28 | 2 | 2,943,111 |
| 3 The Replacement Killers (!!!) | 1,149,598 | 24 | 2 | 2,434,221 |
| 4 The Lucky Guy | 1,096,113 | 26 | 3 | 3,151,454 |
| 5 Young & Dangerous V | 709,512 | 24 | 2 | 1,403,825 |
| 6 Titanic | 707,477 | 10 | 7 | 9,088,420 |
| 7 Flubber | 590,301 | 16 | 2 | 685,992 |
| 8 The 1st Toei Animation Festival | 21,610 | 1 | 1 | 21,610 |
| 9 The Winter Guest | 19,129 | 1 | 1 | 19,129 |
| 10 Lost Paradise | 13,283 | 1 | 7 | 162,600 |
Chow Yun Fat's version of The Bund theme is "secretly" released
Excerpted directly from Wolverine's HK TOP 10 for February 4th, item 8! Chow Yun Fat's first Hollywood film The Replacement Killers is still in Hong Kong theaters, but the Chow Yun Fat sung Seung Hoi Tan (the theme to The Bund) silently and secretly appeared on The Hottest Cantonese Selections released by Polygram days ago, taking the chance to resurrect Fat Jai's song.
Fat Jai earlier was fooling around with a music career. Among songs people are familiar with are Fei Sa Fung Jung Juen (Lit: Flying Sand Spinning in the Wind), Gau Ching Yun (Lit: Old Lovers) and Dream Lover (Mong Jung Yun) with Brigitte Lin (Lam Ching Ha). Seung Hoi Tan however is a song that only
few knew he recorded.
The song was actually recorded in the Chow Yun Fat Yu On On wedding memorial collection published by Polygram in 83. At the time Fat Jai and On On just wed and released a vinyl album for the occasion. Due to the nature of the event, only a few were released and without promotion, no one really knew about it.
This album recorded the Fat Jai version of 6 classic songs, like Mo Noi (Helpless), Sin Ying (Lit: Shadow), Gau Mong But Shui Gei (Lit: Needn't Remember Old Dreams) and Seung Hoi Tan (Shanghai Beach); the other side had Yu On On singing 6 songs like Ji Yau Joi Ngor Sau (Lit: Freedom in my Hand) and Sing Yu (Star Words).
Polygram dug up Fat Jai's Seung Hoi Tan from the bottom of the
warehouse and released it in a special way in the new album -- as a hidden song. From looking at the album's package, there is no trace of Fat Jai's Seung Hoi Tan.
The song is actually hidden after the 16th song Jin Sing Mui Tin (Lit: Winning Everyday). Fans after this song will hear Fat Jai singing Seung Hoi Tan.
Actually the hidden song method came from overseas. Many singers or groups like to use this idea in order to give the fans a little surprise. Earlier Hong Kong group Dry's used the same trick in their first film.
Polygram chief Chu Ho Tong stressed that the release of Fat Jai's song isn't for a quick buck. "Because Fat Jai has successfully entered Hollywood, and his new film is released during the Lunar New Year, we took the less known Seung Hoi Tan to salute him."
As for the other songs on Fat Jai's wedding album, Chu Ho Tong said, "We wouldn't eliminate the possibility that these songs will be released through other methods."
Listening to Fat Jai singing Seung Hoi Tan in 83, the quality wasn't as grand as the later Fei Sa Fung Chung Juen. His vocal and volume were younger, and it's pretty interesting to listen to.
- Chow Yun Fat Yu On On's lightning marriage shocked show business Chow Yun Fat has been in show business for many years, naturally he has plenty of rumors. Since entering the business, he was rumored to be involved with Cora Miao (Liu Hin Yun) and Chan Yuk Lin, but neither lasted long and both ended in a break up.
In 83 Fat Jai and Yu On On suddenly announced their wedding, but in the end of 84 the couple had a lightning divorce.
In 87 Fat Jai and Singapore girlfriend Chan Wui Lin wed.
After marriage they have been very loving. Fat Jai even appeared
constantly as a homebody. His wife Fat Soe also constantly visited him on the set and they have become the model couple in the business.
When Fat Jai headed to Hollywood, wife Chan Wui Lin even followed him to America to take care of everything for him.
Chow Power / Hong Kong killer hits Hollywood
What's fascinating about this article is the contrast between the edited version and the original draft (both online here). The tone changes significantly, and CYF's alien origins are played way up, in the edited version.
Chow Time
A two-page CYF article, one new Chow pic (Jeff Riedel was the photographer), 2 stock pix (from Hardboiled and TRK) and another pic from Reservoir Dogs. Very little new info for Chow fans, but perhpas it introduced him to a new audience.
Chowtime
By Paul Malcolm, for the February 1998 issue of Detour magazine (alarming pic of Drew Barrymore w. dyed black hair on the cover).
Malcolm's two-page CYF feature, with another two pages of pix from photographer Dan Chavkin (pp. 54-57), is worth a glance. (These pix are hilariously unflattering -- but on flipping through the rest of the magazine I have become convinced that this is the style to which Detour aspires. It is an alarmingly artsy 'zine, let me tell ya.) Highlights of the article include: another mention of the Tarantino script being developed for CYF; the hilarious story of CYF's favorite English idioms; more fan-pleasing anecdotes about how awesome CYF is; and more great lines from CYF on movie-making. ("Even though I play an illegal emigrant (sic) China, they still wanted to put me in a good jacket," he remarks, slyly.) Great reading ....(And thanks to Michael Stradford and Lisa Stokes for the tip re this article!)
|
Do Sweaters for Spring Sound Out of Season?
By Esquire Staff for the February '98 issue of Esquire (O. J. Simpson on the cover). Well worth a look; it features an extremely stylish four pages of CYF pix. CYF is depicted modelling a line of spring sweaters of outrageous cost ... but whew!, are these outfits classy. It's nice to see CYF at home in the mainstream ... At left: CYF modelling an elegant gray outfit by Donna Karan ... You too can be this stylish, for a mere us$520 ($225 for the sweater; $295 for the trousers). Pic by Hugh Hales-Tooke, who photographed CYF for the Feb '98 issue of Esquire magazine; scan courteously sent me by Kathy Allard. (And thanks to Michael Stradford and Frank Lin for keeping me posted on the Esquire article, and to Kathy Allard for sending the scan at left!) |
| Premiere Magazine, February '98 issue: The February '98 issue of Premiere (Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover) is worth looking out for -- it has a short review of TRK, with an awesome pic of CYF with two guns blazing (p. 21), and an interesting article by Maximilian Potter on TRK director Antoine Fuqua and his peers from Propaganda films (pp. 68-73). The article reveals that action scenes from TRK impressed the studio execs to the point where Fuqua was given Sean Connery's next big budget flick, which will be called Entrapment. Well, that's great news, and has great implications. Meanwhile, the review of TRK ends "As many stateside get their first glimpse of Hong Kong action icon Chow, they're sure to be transfixed by the sexy combination of vulnerability and higher purpose with which he imbues his characters." Muahahahahahaha!, as I am forced to repeat. ;P (And thanks to Michael Stradford for passing on the news of the Premiere articles, and to Kathy Allard for courteously sending the scan at right!) |
CYF with Fuqua; pic courtesy of Kathy Allard. Nigel Parry was the photographer who took this pic for the February '98 issue of Premiere magazine(p. 73). |
Rat-a-tat Fat
A half-page pan of TRK: they give it a "C" (p. 40). Has some qualified praise for CYF though ("Between cycles of gunfights and glowering, Yun-Fat displays some of the dignity and suave good looks that account for his star status (without much chance to show his wit).").
The Rocky Road From Hong Kong to Hollywood Movies
A one-and-a-bit-page (pp. 63-4) TRK review. Interesting reading at the time: Travers points out all the compromises that Fuqua et al made with the Hong Kong style, while remaining very pro-Chow.
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