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| The roast pork rice in TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN once was among the top searches in Japan. Soi Cheang loves it too. "The barbecue rice I have had the most has to be roast pork rice, for the double combo I have to get roast pork no matter what." As for which shop he likes, he humbly says that he is no foodie. He only feels that barbecue is safe. He also says that with his office in Kwun Tong, he would recommend shops there. Soi Cheang says that he has been under Japanese culture influence since childhood, he likes the manga WOUNDED MAN, the band Anzen-Chitai, the Japanese drama LONG VACATION, and a series of Akira Kurosawa movies. The cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan is just this simple. |
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| The Japanese audience praises the Louis Koo played Tornado as cool. |
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| Chinese restaurant in Japan recommends the roast pork rice and even promotes Raymond Lam's concert in Japan |
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A record store in Japan sets up a "WALLED CITY TABLE", even "Dik Chau" Richie Jen's record is available. courtesy of mingpao.com |
The Soi Cheang Pou Soi directed TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS:
WALLED IN (GAU LUNG SING JAI JI WAI SING) starred Louis Koo Tin Lok,
Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Raymond Lam Fung, Terrance Lau Chun Him, Philip Ng
Wan Lung and others, made over HK$ 110 million in Hong Kong, swept up 9
Hong Kong Film Awards including Best Film and Best Director, and brought
the fever to Japan. Since its release early this year to now, its box
office has exceeded 500 million yen (around HK$ 25 million) -- the most
brilliant performance for a Hong Kong film there in recent years.
Originally slated to participate in the Tokyo Comic Con early this
year, Koo Tin Lok, Tony Wu Tsz Tung and German Cheung Man Kit cancelled
the trip due to the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire; Cheang Pou Soi at the
end of October said at the Tokyo International Film Festival that it was
rare for a Hong Kong film to have the support of the Japanese audience.
"I feel an extra sense of duty, and want to do more cultural exchange."
He would add elements that the Japanese audience would like in the
upcoming sequel THE FINAL CHAPTER (JUNG JEUNG) and the prequel THE
DRAGON THRONE (LUNG TAU).
Cheang Pou Soi said that he was very happy to be able to host a
master class at the Tokyo Film Festival, but calling it "achievement
unlocked" would be exaggerating. He said that he was not dead yet, so
he would keep making movies. "I came here because the Japanese audience
likes TWILILGHT, I want to communicate with them more." He knew that
many Japanese people after watching TWILIGHT made the trip to visit Hong
Kong, which surprised and pleased him very much.
Cheang Pou Soi pointed out that the Japanese audience was
particularly into the brotherhood in he film, and had an indescribable
relationship with the Walled City. "While I was planning to make
TWILIGHT, a lot of the information during research came from Japan. I
never would have guessed that the new generation of Japanese people
still had affection for the Walled City, which I thought was very
interesting; Hong Kong people like the Japanese culture, Hong Kong films
used to be very popular in Japan; but nowadays, Japanese people like the
movie I made. I feel an extra sense of duty and want to do more
cultural exchange."
Cheang Pou Soi said that when he made TWILIGHT he never thought
that people would watch it, not to mention the popularity in Japan. "At
the time I only did my best to make it. I always feel that when talking
with young people around the Walled City, they would only know the
Walled City park. When the investors said make the movie, I did. I did
my best to bring back the original Walled City. (Its popularity) in
Hong Kong was unexpected, but I never even imagined in Japan. TWILIGHT
blew up in popularity in Japan, which he said would more or less affect
his directing of the sequel. The sequel THE FINAL CHAPTER (JUNG JEUNG)
and the prequel THE DRAGON THRONE (LUNG TAU) would depict the 1980s and
the 1950s Walled City. He would add certain elements suitably so
overseas audience would be more into it. "I would add elements the
Japanese audience likes within reason, actually Hong Kong is a place
where the Eastern and the Western cultures meet. I believe people from
any region would be able to find their own culture (in the film)."
THE FINAL CHAPTER has planned to start production in March 2026.
With all the anticipation, Cheang Pou Soi admitted the pressure has been
enormous. "I have to remind myself not to have any baggage, focus on
the movie and not to think too much. Now the production hasn't started
yet, I am still in the stage of handling the script. Actually this
period is the biggest struggle, having to decide the roles of the
actors, the production direction. After the production start I wouldn't
think too much." Would he throw tantrums on the set? Cheang Sou Poi
said that sometimes he would, but he would try to control it. "On the
set I need to be very cool, throwing tantrums would affect the
emotions and could easily lead to making not so sensible decisions.
Sometimes I would indeed throw tantrums, but they would be trivial like
yelling at people for being in the wrong position." Cheang Pou Soi
revealed that THE FINAL CHAPTER production has progressed ideally. "I
have spent half a year on locations. The government has been very
helpful. Ultimately there are some procedures that we are dealing with.
I would also save the sets for exhibition later."
Cheang Pou Soi with MAD FATE (MING ONG) and TWILIGHT OF THE
WARRIORS: WALLED IN won the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director two
years in a row. He said that making movies came from an impulse. "Like
TWILIGHT, I had quite the impulse to bring back the original Walled
City. I felt that it had value and certain that the team would be able
to do it; with LIMBO (JI CHI) I had a lot of imagination space after
reading the original work, so I made it." Looking back at when he first
started in the business, he only thought that when he wanted to make
movies and people would give him the opportunity to. He was very naive,
but now his thinking is already different. "Now when people ask me to
make movies, I would think would I be able to answer to them? If I
would agree then I would have to be able to do it. I can't just make
movies that I like but would lose money. I can't just only make
commercial films either. This I learned from (Johnnie) To Kei Fung."
Cheang Pou Soi said that directors come in many varieties, but
he would never define himself. "I don't have any definition, I want to
try everything. For example since everyone like TWILIGHT, should I keep
making it? Although I would make two more installments, but I would
take what else I would make in between. I could make a low budget film
that differs from TWILIGHT, or more commercial one is also a
possibility." Reportedly the Cheang Pou Soi directed mainland war
history film would open next year. He revealed that he had many
reasons to make that film, mainly he agreed because he have worked with
the film company bosses countless times.
Although he was a film director, Cheang Pou Soi said that he
rarely went to the movies. Even the earlier topical film SONS OF THE
NEON NIGHT (FUNG LUM FOR SHAN) he has not seen. "I prefer to watch old
movies, I would choose new films to watch. So I understand very well
why the film market would be depressed. Even people in the business
like us are this way. Now there are too many choices, and it is too
convenient. In the past to watch a movie at home you have to buy a
DVD, now you can just press a button. Since (the situation) cannot be
changed, we have to think about what other advantage we have to make the
audience return to the theaters." Recently 4K restored old films have
become popular in Hong Kong. Has Cheang Pou Soi thought about 4K
restored editions for his old films? He cracked up. "I don't know,
which one of mine can be? No one has suggested it!" He said instead
some have suggested releasing LIMBO in color, but whether released or
not the decision was completely up to the film companies and the
audience. He had no opinion.
Cheang Pou Soi's wife and daughter live in Canada, and he
constantly had to fly back and forth; he said that his time in Canada
would be the most relaxing, as he would be able to spend an entire day
at home or a coffee shop. "I would have pressure from dawdling in
Hong Kong, but not in Canada. I can loiter for a month there, go to the
supermarket with my wife, pick up my daughter after school. I can even
spend a day just sitting in the garage." This type of retirement life
would be decent, but Cheang Pou Soi would at least have to finish two
more TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS to have the free time to fritter away.
TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN blew up in popularity in
Japan. Two months ago the fever still would be sensed on the streets of
Tokyo; outside the doors of a Chinese restaurant in Ginza a feature
recommendation of roast pork rice could be seen and the movie poster
was hung to bring in customers; on the 7th floor of the large Japanese
record store Tower Records' Shibuya store, a feature table was set up to
display video and music products related to the TWILIGHT actors.
At Hibiya's Sanseido book store the TWILIGHT set photobook could be
seen. The Japanese magazine MOVIE STAR's November cover featured Lam
Fung; fashion magazine an.an also released a TWILIGHT special, with
interviews with cast and the original comic book creator as well as
introducing Hong Kong movies, cuisine and landmarks. The special was
originally priced 2200 yen (around HK$ 110). Reportedly at a certain
large Hong Kong bookstore it was priced at HK$ 300.
An anonymous Japanese viewer outside a cinema Hibiya said that
she has seen TWILIGHT 10 times at the cinema already. Her favorite
scene was the ending when the "Four Sons of The Walled City" defeated
Wong Gau, which she found very memorable. She said that in the past she
rarely watched Hong Kong films, but the exciting action scenes of
TWILIGHT wowed her. "My favorite is Tornado. He is very cool and very
amazing. I really want to see the sequel, I am looking forward to it
very much." She said that lately she has not have the time to travel,
but when she would have the opportunity she would really like to go to
Hong Kong.