Shadows Of Love - Repeat I Love You - 影子愛人

Shadows Of Love (Repeat I Love You/影子愛人) is an 2011 film out of Zhong Guo. The movie was made jointly with Korean and Hong Kong investors, thus the movie is multinational. The movie stars Cecilia Cheung, Kwon Sang-woo, Angela Zhang, Jing Tian, and Sphinx Ting.

Cecilia is Paris, the CEO of a large company. In the middle of a large business deal, Paris goes missing. Her closest friends finds a look alike in florist Qin Xin. But they must teach a country bumpkin the high society. Can they do it in time to close the deal?

This movie was pretty entertaining. I think because it was such a outrageous premise, I went along with it, knowing that anything the story throws at you will be more than acceptable as the main premise is already out there. So, events line up one after the other to challenge if this bumpkin can really be "trained" for high society. Everyone in the film is good looking. You want to cheer them on.

Lost in Time - 忘不了

Lost in Time (忘不了) is an 2003 film out of Hong Kong. The film stars Cecilia Cheung, Sean Lau, and Louis Koo.

Cheung waits at a light bus station for her fiance to return. On the way, Koo is hit by a construction truck and dies at the hospital. Cheung decides to raise Koo's son and drive his bus. After many months, she barely makes enough for rent and living expenses. Lau takes sympathy and helps her out with the business and becomes very attached to the child. The two fall in love. However, we're left with a simi-cliffhanger story. Will their love continue on?

I remember watching this back in 2003. It was totally awesome than and it was totally awesome recently as I got it via Netflix. Cheung was young and in her prime. You could call some of it a little overacting, but it seemed natural too. Lau does his smooth operator thing and emotes when needed and moves the story along. Fine acting for both Lau and Cheung. Koo's addition was just to have a pretty face around.

This was also a nice slice of life for regular Hong Kongers. With the feel of modern movie making, but with a look back at why Hong Kong films were once so great. A reminder of a film in the transition period of HK cinema. A must watch in my opinion.

Telephone 601 - 第601個電話

Telephone 601 (第601個電話) is a 2006 film out of China. It stars Cecilia Cheung, Bibi Chou and Hu Ge.

Cecilia Cheung plays a pop star name Tian. Bibi Chou as Yi Shu plays a worker in a ad agency with extremely bad luck. Hu Ge as Xiou Wen plays a sick song writer with seemingly only a little time left to live.

Yi Shu's number is mistaken for that of pop star Tian. Tian's fan call the number in abundance. In a strange twist of events, Xiou Wen calls and texts Yi Shu and they strike up a friendship.

The movie is based in Shanghai and covers the life of a pop star. A office worker. A terminally ill person.

It's a sort of coming of age story for all 3. All their deficiencies are explored.

The movie is from 2006 and its 2009 now. Modern themed movies out of China still seem to be a few steps behind. But I have lots of faith in the industry there. Only if the people of China can support it via legit ticket and DVD sales.

On a sidenote, seems the Sony Ericsson sponsored the cell phones in the movie. I had one of the models listed and researched the other ones back in 2006. The following year the iPhone came out. The cell phone landscape has never been the same. Even though all those Sony Ericsson phones are super dope.

The Promise - 無極

The Promise (無極) is a 2005 film out of China. It is directed by Chen Kaige and stars Jan Dong-gun, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cecilia Cheung, and Nicholas Tse.

This is a very complicated movie to summarize. Please head over to wikipedia for the condensed version (it's like 1,300 words as of today). No way I am writing something that crazy. I am lucky to get to 300 words with each post.

The movie was crazy. Insane actually. It was super hard to follow and the CG was distracting. Having Jan and Sanada speak mandarin was even more distracting.

It was a much hyped movie of 2005 and made it to the awards in some place in 2006. I am going to guess because of the hype and Chen's rep. Other than that, this movie is a mess.

I guess I am not a Chen fan anymore. I didn't like Forever Enthralled (梅蘭芳) at all.