Fighting - 英雄之战

Fighting/Fighter (英雄之战) is an 2014 film out of Zhong Guo. The film stars Peter Ho and Lu Yi. The movie stayed in Zhong Guo's Top Ten list for a few weeks.

The film starts in modern times where a boy that was found looks for his dad. When a teacher with a magical butterfly pendent plays the piano, he steals it and is transferred back into time to what seems like the 1930s Shanghai pre-Japanese occupation. Peter Ho plays a boxer that spent his time growing up in the United States. Lu Yi plays a marksman solider. A fighting tournament is organized and they both enter. Lots of fighting happens. The annoying boy is apparently looking for his father as the main plot point, but that's completely lost with Ho and Lu going at it.

This movie was bad. Like cheezy bad. It might make for some great bad dub wu tang thing. It's that kind of movie. So bad it could be a cult classic. Peter Ho's acting is way over the top and his mix in of English just seems so out of place. I didn't see it adding any value other than confusing those having to read the subtitles in Zhong Guo that does not understand English.

I watched and survived. You might too.

只要一分鐘 - One Minute More - Upcoming

只要一分鐘 (One Minute More) was released in Taipei this past weekend. The movie features Janine Chang and Peter Ho as doggy parents.

I am not a pet guy. I had pets before and I do not have them now. I can barely take care of myself, let alone pets. But and I am fan both Janine Chang and Peter Ho. So I will watch this if I can.

The Monkey King - 西游記之大鬧天宮

The Monkey King (西游記之大鬧天宮) is an 2014 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Donnie Yen. The other stars include Chow Yun-fat, Aaron Kwok, Joe Chen, Peter Ho. Cameo appearances by Kelly Chen, Gigi Leung, and Faye Wang.



A heavenly fight between the Jade Emperor and the Bull Demon King sends the heavens into ruins. The the Bull Demon King is defeated, Nu Wa Goddess sacrafices herself to save the heavenly kingdom from ruin. All the while, her powers create Sun Wu Kong. When he is released, he's taken in by Pitu and learns to protect his monkey kingdom. When the Bull Demon King comes onto the scene, he tricks the Sun Wu Kong to attack the heavens. The Jade Emperor now has to take action again.



This movie had lots of special effects. Basically, everyone could fly. Everyone had powers. Nice. Let the party begin.



Faye Wang was listed in the credits but I recall seeing her in the film. I doubt I'll rewatch just to get a small glimpse. With that said, the movie was entertaining, but Sun Wu Kong isn't a particularly likable character. Sure he was created out of a sacrificial act and he wants to protect his clan. But he's proud, rude, and gets himself in trouble. I guess the story wouldn't have gotten anywhere without his troublemaker attitude. But you gotta have a likable purpose for doing it. In this case, it was just lame.



Donnie was in make up practically the whole time and I could barely make him out. I know the producers don't want to bring him back due to his large pay day. But the promotion was largely based on him and the story. What's stronger, the story or Donnie. Donnie is of course. He's the strongest in the universe!



The movie was released during Chinese New Years and enjoyed an epic run at the box office. Currently sitting pretty with around ~$175 million USD. The movie is scheduled stateside in the fall from the USA region distributor Global Star Productions. The fall time is pretty far away and the date could move. But from the trailer, it looks like an English dubbed version. That'll be interesting.

My Belle Boss - 我的美女老板

My Belle Boss (我的美女老板) is a 2010 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Peter Ho and Jing Tian. The supporting cast include Annie Wu and Waise Lee. Directed by Li Hong.

Peter Ho plays Yang, a computer game programmer looking for a job. On a strange day, he bumps into a young hipster gal. They hit it off and because good friends. Yang lands a job at a game company, but comes to find out that the boss looks like the hipster gal. When confronted, hipster gal says that it's her twin sister. Yang ends up becoming good friends with both boss and hipster gal.

This is a light romantic comedy featuring a likable lead in Peter Ho and a breath of fresh air in Jing Tian. There seemed to be chemistry between the two from the get go. I really related to Peter's role and character.

Although much of the movie plays to the obvious, the ending and outcome were not. Actually, I was a little more than confused. But the majority of the movie was light and enjoyable.

It's not artsy. It's not trying to be deep. It's trying to present a light rom-com. Just watch it if you're a Peter fan. Or watch it for the stunning Jing Tian.

泡沫之夏 - Summer's Desire - Upcoming

泡沫之夏 (Summer's Desire) is set for broadcast in the next few months, but I noticed the extended trailer for it from GTV today. I've posted it below.

Pretty long teaser, but nothing out of the norm. But no release date mentioned.

It is an Taiwanese drama with a male lead from China. One of few if not the first (minus HK). But its already strange as his Mandarin is distinctly China style and very far from Taiwan Mandarin.

Looking forward to Serena Fang, Coco Chiang, and Maggie Wu's participation in this series.

The Chinese title translates roughly to "bubbles of summer". Summer is in the English, but Desire is not part of the Chinese. But whatever, the Chinese titles are never as provocative as their English translations. But the title is a play on the Barbie's characters name of 夏沫 and 泡 meaning abandon. This series had "Summer's Bubble" attached to it for some time.

Sophie's Revenge - 非常完美:奪愛大作戰

Sophie's Revenge (非常完美:奪愛大作戰) is a 2009 film out of China. The movie stars Zhang Ziyi, Peter Ho, Fan Bing-Bing, and So Ji-Sub. Ruby Lin is on as one of Sophie's two best friends.

The movie is convoluted. Sophie, played by Zhang Ziyi, is engaged to Jeff, played by So Ji-Sub. But when Jeff encounters Joanna, played by Fan Bing-Bing, in the hospital, he's breaks up with Sophie. Sophie now wants revenge. The revenge plan is to make Jeff want Sophie back so that Sophie can dump him like he did her. Enter Gorden, played by Peter Ho, a still photographer from Taiwan. Ruby Lin as Lucy is there with another friend to help Sophie plan her revenge. But when Sophie breaks her leg in one of her schemes, Gorden volunteers to look after her.

Intriguing movie to say the least. The movie walks into Scrub like fantasy moments all too often for my taste. Playing off Sophie's cartoon profession the fantasies come and go. Very stylist movie though. I didn't like the movie, but didn't mind it either. I think it's worth a watch because of the high production value and eye candy the film provides.

基因決定我愛你 - My DNA Says I Love You

I saw 基因決定我愛你 - My DNA Says I Love You a few months ago. I was a fan of Robin Lee's The Shoe Fairy and was anticipating this film.

DNA was quite weird, but was ultimately enjoyable. I think that the casting of Yu Nan was out of place as the other 3 stars were from Taiwan. You can tell the dialect difference right away (at least I could) along with the rest of the bit players.

The setting however was in China somewhere and not in Taiwan (at least from what I can tell).

The story follows 2 ladies and 2 gentlemen that look for love in different ways. The 2 ladies are co-workers and roommates. They work for a company that provides pills that modify behavior. A novel concept. Hijinx ensues and love is lost & found for both our female protagonist. The male counterparts almost seem like eye candy as the story is really centered around the 2 female leads.

It's an "art" film and really makes you work to understand it all. But its worth the mind trip and I have a lot of anticipation for future Robin Lee films.