火锅英雄 - Chongqing Hot Pot

火锅英雄 (Chongqing Hot Pot) is an 2016 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Chen Kun and Bai Baihe. The supporting cast include Qin Hao and Yu Entai. The film is directed by Yang Qing, who's debut film One Night In Supermarket was very entertaining. This time around, we have a heist movie based in Chong Qing.




The movie starts with a quartet of bank robbers that are about to get away, but their get away driver is noticed by the police and scrams. Leaving the quartet stranded, the robbers start to search for another way out. When the guy in the "monkey" face mask finds a whole in the safe, we're led onto another story. It is the story of Liu Bo and his two friends that open up a Hot Pot restaurant in order to unload it on a buyer, but it is a fake restaurant. Liu is a ma jong gambling addict that is in debt to loan sharks and has to take care of his 80 plus year old grandfather. When the trio finds the hole to the safe a few days earlier, they decide not to take it for fear of it being traced back to them, but the temptation is too much. The story unfolds as the money is too much temptation for all those involved.




This was an awesome movie. Yang Qing's style is pretty awesome and hearing the Chongqing accent was pretty fun too. I could make out half of what they were saying, but had to resort to subtitles for the other half. The story was a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be finished. You got hooked in by the bank robbers at the beginning of the film and you were reeled in waiting for things to connect.



Bai Baihe is in a fair amount of movies. Seems that I see her in 2-3 films a year lately. In this film , she is radiant and her presence really made you feel an emotional connection to the story. We see her role in the heist unfold to our delight. Bai is not front and center in this film, but when she is, she lights up the screen.



I don't know if this is the film to introduce Zhong Guo cinema to your friends, but its definitely got style, a great story, lots good looking leads, and plots twist galore. Go watch it and enjoy the ride.

Personal Tailor - 私人訂制

Personal Tailor (私人訂制) is an 2013 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Ge You, Bai Baihe, Jacqueline Li, and Zheng Kai. Cameo appearances from Jackie Chan, Wang Baoqiang, and Miao Pu. The movie opened to big numbers a few weeks back and hit US shores the same weekend it opened on its home turf. Thanks to recent partnerships, it becoming a common occurrence that I welcome. The movie is a semi-sequel to the directors 1997 movie, The Dream Factory. However, its a new cast and current world problems are tackled.



The four main stars are part of a company that fulfills fantasies. Three separate stories intertwined with some other sub-elements. The first story is of a government officials "driver". The driver's last three officers are all in jail now and he says others thinks he's cursed. The driver believes that he would be a non-corrupt official if he were in their place. Thus his fantasy is that of a non-corrupt official. The second story is of a very commercially successful movie director. The director is so successful, he's gained every notable film award in the world. He want to create high art now. His fantasy is to be a artsy fartsy director. The third one is a return a favor fantasy. The woman is to live her life as the most wealthy woman on earth. The ending of the story is a PSA with a twist.

I saw this movie in a local AMC theatre. It's actually the most successful China Lion release from 2013. It's box office take is more than the other 6 movies combined, including My Lucky Star, Tiny Times, Tiny Times 2, Finding Mr. Right, and So Young. With that said, I am surprised by it's done so well in the US.

Ok, to the movie. I liked the movie a lot. It was a high quality film. Well made. I can't say that with a lot of the other crap coming out of Zhong Guo in 2013. The four stars seemed very cohesive and they seemed to enjoy each other on screen. I saw the chemistry. Jacqueline Li and Bai Baihe stole the show for me. Li is memorizing when she's on screen, stealing it. Bai was a surprise since I've seen her in so many things. Maybe it was being projected on a big screen that I finally saw the beauty that a TV can't. The two beauties kept my attention.

The other thing that kept my attention was the subject matter. The fantasies themselves turn current problems in Zhong Guo and take it head on. The first story is government corruption. The corruption is so everyday that its just the way things are. You get ahead with brides, favors, and "guanxi". The second story takes on "art" head on. Art is relative, but copy cat culture of the mainland is so prevalent that intellectual property is a joke. But its also that people in general don't even know what "art" is. The third story is that of "rich" dream so many people have that it turns people into monsters and thus you lose yourself. The movie ends with a PSA type montage of how the earth is being wasted away be selfish humans.

In all, as a film of 2013, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Subject matter was entertaining since it's satirical take seems spot on for the time we live in. Li and Bai carry the beauty in the film to a new level. I might have to catch all the films on the big screen from now on.

A Wedding Invitation - 分手合约 - 分手合約

A Wedding Invitation (分手合约/分手合約) is an 2013 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie stars Eddie Peng and Bai Baihe. The supporting cast include Pace Wu and Jiang Jingfu. The movie is directed by Korean maestro, Oh Ki-hwan. And distributed by Korean based, CJ Entertainment. The movie spent several weeks atop Zhong Guo's box Office this past spring. I got it as a rental from my local library.



The movie starts in college where Peng woos Bai. Bai is sad and Peng cooks his way into her heart. However, as they graduated from college in Beijing, Bai breaks up with Peng citing that he doesn't have a good job, doesn't have a house, no ring, and doesn't have enough money to buy her her dream wedding gown. Peng doesn't give up and ask how long they should they split for for. Bai suggest 5 years and they thumb print an agreement. The agreement states that if they are both single in 5 years, they would marry. Fast forward about 5 years later. Bai is now a successful artist who is really into food residing in the Shanghai area. A foodie to some degree. Peng has stayed in Beijing and has become a successful chef competing on a televised cooking competition. Peng invites Bai back to Beijing to celebrate his wedding.

Wow, the synopsis is only a third of the movie above. If I go more, I'll reveal too much! I don't want to give too many plot points away. As such, you can imagine that the movie goes into more hijinx. It is a rom-com.

Peng is looking good in this movie. Peng looked the part of starving student when he tried to woo her in school. Bai has an both serious and goofiness to her that does translate to the screen. By the middle of the film, you have grown to like both. Which is where twists and turns start to take place until the ending. In Korean drama-ish fashion, the movie romanticizes food, lost love, and the drive to obtain success. But if I give the kicker away, I can't really write about it.

My wife and I watched this and both liked it. It was a good watch and entertained us for one evening. I don't think I'll get a chance to watch this again, but who knows. Watch it as it is a nice rom-com, sorta, out of Zhong Guo. Eddie Peng fans will like him in this movie. Peng is starting to show signs of a long and lasting career as a leading man.

被偷走的那五年 - The Stolen Years - Upcoming

被偷走的那五年 (The Stolen Years) is an 2013 film out of Zhong Guo. It was released a couple of weeks ago in Zhong Guo, a week ago in Hong Kong, and this weekend in Taipei. Directed by Barbara Wong, it stars a mostly Taiwanese cast. The movie stars Bai Baihe and Joseph Chang. Amber An, Christine Fan, and 阿Ken round out the supporting cast. The movie trailer looked like a Taiwanese movie with the majority of the people. However, whenever Bai opens her mouth, you know she straight outta Zhong Guo. Which just seems weird given the context. However, its about the story, not the origins of its stars.

The movie is about a couple that was previously married. The wife in the story has an accident and loses memory of the last 5 years of her life. Believing herself to still be married to the husband in the story. Without the current life to fall to, she must now reconnect with her life from 5 years ago. Including the man she divorced not long ago.

Interesting story as it a simi retake or re-telling of the story from the The Vow. But it also looks to seek out why our lives change so much in a mere 5 years. Thus, the Stolen 5 years.

I can't wait to watch this one.

分手合約 - A Wedding Invitation - Upcoming

分手合約 (A Wedding Invitation) has been slowly getting limited released in major US cities with many Asians. New York in May, working its way to Los Angeles this weekend in Monterey Park. Eddie Peng stars in this movie about moving on up to get married. The title of the film in Zhong Wen translates to "break up contract" or "break up agreement". Don't get this mixed up with the VV and JA movie, Break Up. A Wedding Invitation is purely a Zhong Guo story.

The movie is directed by South Korean Oh Ki-hwan and being distributed buy the South Korean company CJ.

Over acting seems to be in abundance from the trailer as the only way to make a point is to shout louder than the other guy and to cry. Nice. K-drama style.