"An Education"

I would like to share a film here which is “An Education”, it was shown in Hong Kong’s cinemas from the end of January to the early March this year and the director of this film is Lone Scherfig. Lynn Barber is one of the writers of the film, most of the parts in the story were her real experiences and another one is Nick Hornby who is responsible for the screenplay, one of his famous previous works is “About a Boy”.


The story falls on the Sixties in Britain, a 16 year-old girl name’s Jenny studies in a famous school and her parents want her to study in Oxford University in the future. Thus, she studies very hard and also has some extracurricular activities in her spare time. It makes her has very good performances in school.



Until, there is a man, David appears in her life and then everything changes towards Jenny. David brings her to the upper class society, buys her expensive goods and also brings her to have a travel in Paris. All the above changes make Jenny feels that it’s useless to study hard if study just for the live for the future as David can provide her a stable live already.




Thus, Jenny quits the school and plans to get married with David later on until she found that David has already got married and even have a child. Jenny is very regret what she has done so far; she leaves the responsibilities to her parents and also blames them that why they have not stopped her to do those silly things. Jenny hates herself as she left everything behind but just for getting married with a married- man who has lied to her from the beginning. At last, she back to school and have a new start for her life.


According to the “Auteur Theory”, it has said that the director is most centrally responsible for a film’s form, style and meaning and also the person able to stamp his or her own ideas and thoughts in the film. During shooting the “An Education”, Lone Scherfig was practicing this theory. Due to this film’s background was set on the Sixties; she needs to pay attention to many details. She said that “I previously made a film which took place in Denmark in 1957 so I know something about the fear of excess, the shadow of the war and the very simple fantasy lives that people led then.” Apart from the story from Barber, Scherfig would like to show the social circumstances in England at that period to the audiences as well. Moreover, she also mentioned that “my job is to see that but also to see it from the audience’s point of view.” Apart from the shooting process, Scherfig would also laid stress on how the audiences feel when they are watching the film.

After watching this film, I think that it bring up a several questions to the young audiences. Actually, we study for satisfy our parents or study for ourselves? What should we really focus on in our lives? And is there a contradiction between education and life? To me, I think that you can also see those social phenomenons which mentioned in the film in Hong Kong now, for examples, the youngsters nowadays are addicted to buy the brand name products; they think that they are following their parents’ wishes to study hard and to have the tutorial class after school. Moreover, the media nowadays always exaggerate the issue of woman should get married with a rich man. The luxury products make people lose themselves so easily. Although the director would like to reflect the social phenomenon and problems in British at that period; it is not difficult to see those problems are rounding us in our daily lives too.


Student: NG YUEN YAN GOOFY (10321492)

一絲不掛, Eason Chan

Everybody has a favourite singer. I love Eason Chan the most! That’s mainly because of his magnetic voice.

If an artist or a singer has won many awards and topped in the Entertainment Industry, you would presume that his or her music is worth getting excited about. Throw in the additional element of an energetic, middle-aged and talented male, and the record company has a winner on its hands.

Eason Chan’s CDs is one of the few singers that I would actually go and buy. No doubt for watching his concert.

一絲不掛, this song, has carried Eason’s powerful, thick voice as well as hearing the beats of the song. I have also ‘digested’ the lyrics. The songwriter is林夕 which is often being forgotten but a fairly important role as a whole of the music. Song carries meaning, I think that can easily win the audience’s heart, isn’t it?

I have picked a few lines of the song.

這些年望你緊抱他出現
還憑何擔心再互相糾纏
給我找個伴侶找到留下你的足印也可發展
全為你背影逼我步步向前

As much as I agree what it said, sometimes I feel, there is a situation, which can probably make you feel vulnerable.

Love is supposed to be happy for a couple, but sometimes who knows? What can be a 100% guarantee? Waiting for someone you love without knowing when to come back is torture. In fact, these few lines explain a little bit. When it so happens, what can be done? I am afraid there is only two things which can do, hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Falling apart is no doubt painful but it’s always better than keeping to a relationship that is already half dead. Love is mutual, admit it or not.

Sad songs would usually absorb all your tears. You may imagine yourself in the same situation and virtually become one of the characters. The emotion rises and it eventually allows you to have a deeper thought of the song story.

One day we all have to say goodbye to each other, no matter how close you are with that person, we are all individuals and this is universally true. Partly this song expresses to me the fact that sometimes we have to make a cruel decision, for better or worse, who can tell?

Overall the song is fairly outstanding, I think. Hopefully, a few more years he can work even harder to his music in order to gain more listeners.

Written by Sophie Tam Wing Yan

From Ruby to Post-Wuby Generation in Hong Kong, Empower Ourselves Through Internet

Few weeks ago, there was a new video posting on Youtube, which was about a complain toward HKCEE Use o f English examination, recorded by a 16-year girl, Ruby (Wuby), In the clip, we could find what ruby complain of the examination officer, candidates or even about the English level of Hong Kong people are. However, the content of the video in this case actually is not really essential for my review, yet through this clip, and the reaction in the forum, Facebook, or other virtual communities, we could realize that how influential the Web2.0 generation toward Hong Kong traditional society, and also Ruby initiate a new self-expression in Hong Kong.

These years, Internet, the virtual community reshapes our life rapidly, opposing a new threat to the traditional community, such as traditional media. Once we step into the Web2.0 generation, Stepping to the stage of Web 2.0, the sense of the virtual community has been strengthening, which also empower ourselves. “Web 2.0, the term is current and can be purposefully used to denote a number of characteristics concerning the storage, creation and dissemination of information, opinion and comment, and to identify process, which is interactive and to an increasing degree egalitarian.” (Watson, 2008) For example, Web 2.0 includes web-based communities, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, blog, etc. In ruby case, we could find that how rapidly the user of the internet response to the video, such as they can directly reply to the post in forum, in Youtube, or they also share it in Facebook, or other virtual community, which keep on creating new thoughts or replying to this case, and also forming a force toward to this event. This force not only can draw the public attention, but also can inviting more people to join to discuss it. From the local newspapers, such as ApplyDaily, OrientalDaily, there were also some news reporting this clip. This news not only can reflect that web 2.0 posing a new power relation toward the traditional media, but also proving the public value of virtual community.

Moreover, user-friendliness is one of the main reasons that Web 2.0 empower ourselves. Nowadays, people can inter-link post, pictures, video among Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, or other Web 2.0 website, whenever they can log into the Internet. “Upon a technology that is unlike print and unlike the electronic media of the first age: it’s cheap, flexible, readily available, quick” and, because narratives can, with ease, incorporate sound and vision, there is the potential- in such “phenomena as “desktop broadcasting”, widespread citizen camcorder “reporting”, and digital film-making” for narratives to transgress” “ the constraints of broadcast monopolies”.(Blood, 2005) In ruby case, nowadays, we do not have to stay at home, connecting to the internet, but we can get online everywhere by our mobile device. This convenience benefits us to update and response to the event on the Internet. It’s also one of the reasons of the popularities of Ruby Case.


Last but not least, after ruby posing a clip to Youtube, we could find that there are more people, who also upload their self-record clip to Youtube to express themselves. Even it’s not a new issue to upload self-record clip to express ourselves in some foreign countries, such as US. In fact, this is a new phenomenon in Hong Kong. This way of expression somehow shows the empowerment of us when using Internet.

A breakthrough of HK drama – 飛女正傳

Fly with me (飛女正傳) is a sci-fi and comedy drama which has drawn my attention recently. The main actress, Ada Choy, has two identities in this drama. She not only is a vice manager called 梁巧芝 in the department of investment in a bank but also is a superwoman called Janet Bin with supernatural power after she kisses masculine men.

Although superwoman has been used as the theme in foreign film such as My Super Ex-Girlfriend, it has not been adopted in Hong Kong drama. Apart from the new story in Hong Kong drama, Fly with me has been a breakthrough in Hong Kong TV drama especially its shooting style and abandonment of using theme song at the beginning of each episode. For example, there was a scene that Yvonne and policeman “Yeung Sir” was traced by three gangsters in a narrow and long corridor in the hospital. The use of slow motion to escape the bullets imitates the shooting style used in action film. Furthermore, this drama does not use theme song as the introduction of each episode but uses voice-over at the beginning of each episode. The words of voice-over (1) are meaningful because it summarizes the theme of the drama.

Since Fly with me is a comedy drama, the dialogues are particularly designed to be terse, cynical and funny in each episode and bring out some implications as well. For instance, Yvonne Leung (Ada Choy) was asked to give $500 to her colleague to sing karaoke and celebrate the birthday of her boss. She was reluctant to give the money and attend the activity so she said “我淨係知道我夾左五百蚊就要唱到夠本為止，我理得你做生日定做生忌”. This scene satirizes the social phenomenon that people are forced to spend money on gathering with their colleagues so as to keep a harmonious relationship. Besides, Dr Kan (Moses Chan) rejected to do breast enlargement surgery for a middle-aged woman who has done plastic surgery for many times. Dr Kan said “你沒有任何空間進行僭建工程, 譬如危樓一樣, 與其翻新維修, 倒不如好好保育”. Dr Kan insists his own belief to decide whether to help his patients to do plastic surgery. He believes in golden ratio which implies a perfect body figure. He won’t help women to do plastic surgery for pursuing their ideal body figure. He will consider the necessity of doing the surgery from their mind to their body.

Fly with me also satirizes some social phenomenons in Hong Kong. For example, when Yvonne Leung wanted to be a witness in court, she suffered from the bureaucracy of the government. She was referred to different departments to analyze her case such as Fighting Authority, Law Department, Immigration and Emigration Department and Education Department. Each of them shifts the responsibility to the others. It reveals the actual bureaucracy of government in Hong Kong. Another example is the son of Mr Yung questioned the explanation of the doctor about the situation of his father. He was unsatisfied with the explanation of the Chinese junior doctor but was satisfied with the explanation of the western senior doctor although the explanation was the same. This scene satirizes people believe in authority despite the same explanation.

Fly with me is a innovative drama in Hong Kong which uses new shooting style and introduction of each episode. It not only provides relaxation for audiences during their leisure time but leaves some rooms for us to think about the things around us in our daily life.

Footnote: (1) 她們驕傲, 自命不凡
對於來自四方八面
尤其是北方的同類物種競爭
她們試圖包容, 共存
但是種族大清洗的威脅之下
她們忍無可忍, 激發基因突變
為生存, 發出驚天動地的怒吼
她們身處食物鏈的最頂端
學名是"北半球太平洋橫流亞熱帶
英屬後殖民地域
温室培育哺乳類雌牲猿猴科"
俗稱"港女"

Student: Ng Yuk Wah, Eva

10346614

"72 Tenants of Prosperity"—Collective Memories of Hong Kong

As a matter of fact, at first glance of this film’s poster, “72 Tenants of Prosperity”, I am not interested in it, since so far I think Hong Kong films is usually dull when compared to western films. Nevertheless, after watching this film, it really deserves me to watch. It makes me generate a sense of intimacy and belongings towards Hong Kong culture. Apart from mainly comprising of comedy elements in this film, it also reflects Hong Kong’s spirit, popular culture and current socials problems. All these elements will make people feel resonance. These are part of the reasons why it gains popularity and it becomes the second highest in Hong Kong’s box office within ten years, just behind the film of Stephen Chow周星馳.

This film is directed by Tsang Chi Wai曾志偉 and was shown on 11^th February. Actually, this film was the modern version of “The House of 72 Tenants”(七＋二家房客) released in 1973.

With regard to the genre of this film, it is clearly a comedy film. Nonetheless, it also includes the elements of musical, action, romance, horror. It is interesting through the musical way to show the element of comedy, thereby, constructing a vivid effect.

There are several elements that generate resonance among Hongkongers. For instance, the Sai Yeung Choi street in the film, demonstrating Hong Kong culture,it is one of the significant streets in the Mong Kok. There are numerous Hong Kong people crowding in this street every day, especially middle-aged people and teenagers. Moreover, you can buy many things in this street such as shoes, beverage, foods, mobile phones etc. with a cheap price. Actually, this street accompanies many Hong Kong people to grow up.

Furthermore, this film reflects Hong Kong peoples’ spirit— Hard- fought spirit. In this film, the main characters were confronting with the possibilities of increasing the rents of their shops and extreme competitive commercial environment, despite of these constraints, they earn their living through different methods such as using teen model模 as promotion. Apart from demonstrating the gimmick promotion of Hongkongers, it also shows some of the social phenomenon.

Additionally, Hong Kong peoples’ hard-fought spirit is shown in the beginning of the film. Through the way of musical, this film shows the hardship of working class people under the exploitation of employers, the working class people, performed by the main characters, have to be hard-working so as to earn their living revealed by the lyrics in the song of musical.

For characters, this film wisely attracts different age group. For instance, it utilizes Angelababy, Stephy Tang鄧麗欣, Raymond Lam林峯, Bosco Wong黄宗澤 etc., these artists can attract young to middle age group; also, this film uses some leading and significant artists such as Jacky Cheung張學友, Anita Yuen袁詠儀 etc., these characters can attract middle age group.

Also, this film offers intertextual scenes. For example, you can see Prudence Lau劉美君 once again performing the role of prostitute in this film, Michael Tse 謝天華 performing the role of “ LaughingGor”. These characters’ speaking attitude and posture are the same as their previous films’ characters. These familiar characters make you laugh and feel funny as well as generating a sense of intimacy.

Lastly, apart from comprising of Hong Kong’ collective memories, this film also promotes a mutual-aid spirit and raises the awareness and retrospection of people regarding the social issues such as acid-attack.

Tsang Jessibel Mia, Chloe 10347221

"I Can't See Through Walls. But I Can Kick Your Ass." A short film review on Kick-Ass (2010)

Kick-Ass is an action-comedy superhero movie based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Miller. The film was released on April 15, 2010 in Hong Kong, and it was directed by Matthew Vaughn (also the director of Layer Cake and Stardust). Although the film is said to be a superhero movie, it isn’t really like any other conventional superhero movies existed on the market, such as Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, X-Men, etc. The major difference is that the superheroes is the movie do not possess any kind of superpowers, which means they are only ordinary people just like you and me.

Dave Lizewski is an average teenager who lives in New York City. He, unlike Peter Parker in Spider-Man, has no superpowers, except he claims that the only superpower he has is invisible to girls. His life does not go easy, which getting robbed and being bullied are not rare in his daily life. However, every time when he or somebody is in trouble, no one would dare to help. So he wonders why nobody ever tries to be a superhero in real life like the ones in the comic books. As a result, he decided to don a costume and become a real-life superhero himself. He called himself Kick-Ass and his heroic action of helping a perfect stranger one night has been captured on cell phone by a bystander and was uploaded to YouTube, which ultimately turned Kick-Ass into an internet phenomenon and inspired others to also become superhero and join the vigilante.

Superhero film can be considered as a subgenre of action/science fiction film, which these films are usually action-oriented. Meanwhile, these films are usually tended to be in a more serious tone without much comedic elements in them. However, for the film Kick-Ass, even it is marketed as a superhero movie, and it is also a comedy at the same time, which this unusual combination could make the audience feel peculiar. In addition, the protagonist(s) in superhero film will usually possess some kind of superpowers somehow. Contrary, all four of the superheroes in Kick-Ass have no superpowers which also makes it a standout from the crowd of the genre of superhero film.

The film Kick-Ass has addressed the social issue of people being unwilling to care and help each other in an obvious way. Just like the wonders of the main character, Dave, that nobody ever tries, or even thinks, to become a superhero, but a lot of people are trying to become a superstar like Paris Hilton, or a super-rich person like Warren Buffett. This phenomenon has shown us that the majority of the people only concern about fame and money, but not caring of each other and our moral values for being a human. Moreover, in a line from the film, “With no power, comes no responsibility… except… that wasn’t true”, expresses that everyone from the society should get up and help whoever in need.

Kick-Ass generally received a very positive reception in Hong Kong, while around 90% of the locally written reviews (including mainly the audience and film critics) that I have read has rated the film 4-5 out of 5. The film is highly praised by being a standout from the crowd of superhero movies and the uniqueness of its theme. Moreover, I found something quite interesting amongst those positive reviews which many of them thought that Kick-Ass is a crappy movie by judging only on its locally translated title “勁揪俠”. This style of title has reminded them of the previously released Hollywood comedy which also make fun of superheroes and other Hollywood films, such as Superhero Movie and Meet the Spartans, which have both received very negative responses both locally and abroad. In contrast, the responses out of the few negative reviews from the locals mainly thought that the movie should be more hilarious or it should even use an approach similar to some movies like Meet the Spartans which is to fill the film with gags and jokes in the making of Kick-Ass. It indicates that what they just need is the comedy that does not require the audience to think at all.

I personally loved this film and it has become one of my favorite movies of all time. One of the reasons I loved it is because I can easily relate to the main character, Dave, who is a person that more ordinary than ordinary. The distance between me and the character was being shortened for such character settings, and I could immerse myself into the movie more easily, which makes the film more enjoyable to me. In addition, the combination of unconventional superhero elements, comedy, violence and gore, and the soundtrack of the film have created a refreshing look and feel if the film that keep me to ask for more. All in all, Kick-Ass is a “one-of-a-kind” movie which deserve viewing.

By Wong Ka Luen Allan (10299063)

The good, The Bad and the Ugly? A Fistful of Stances

A Fistful of Stances (鐵馬尋橋) has once again proved martial art is a popular TV drama genre in Hong Kong. As it focused on Chinese martial art of early modern era in Canton, martial art star Yuen Qiu (元秋) was one of the main character in the drama. The story follows the flow of general Chinese martial art stories: A good family was broke down by villain, the villain become rich while the good guys lives very harsh, the villain keep hunting down the good guys and ultimately good guys defeated the villain revenge for the family.

As Hong Kong audience has already saw plenty of Chinese martial art dramas, A Fistful of Stances was not popular and wildly discussed in the earlier episodes. In addition, as it repeatedly use flash backs to explain some earlier stories in the earlier episodes, the back and forward between the story time line confused the audience and make them have no choice but shut down the TV. While the story go on to the mid stage, the dynamic performance of characters like Natalie Tong (唐詩詠) and Dominic Lam (林嘉華) start to catch the audience’s attention, and the tension of story arise, A Fistful of Stances start to receive great audience rating.

The success of A Fistful of Stances was based on following reasons. First, although the genre is very old-fashioned, the way how the story presented was twisted a little bit to make it feels like something new. For example, while traditional villains act evil without reason, the villain Wing Tak (By Dominic Lam,林嘉華)here has been given certain time to descript how he was badly treated and insulted then turn in to a bad guy. Such arrangements make the characters more solid, audience can more easily identify with their emotions.

Secondly, the characters themselves can attract certain groups of audiences. There are young actors and actress participate in this drama, like Kevin Cheng(鄭嘉穎), Natalie Tong(唐詩詠) and Kenneth Ma, they can easily attract their Fans audiences. Elder audience may wanted to see how Yuen Qiu (元秋) or Ram Chiang (蔣志光) perform in the TV drama. The interesting combination of former police Dominic Lam (林嘉華) and Jacky Heung (向佐) who comes from Heung’s family may also catch people’s attention.

Finally, the story itself fulfils the audience’s desire of moral, justice and hero figure. While living in a complex society like Hong Kong, people may have to compromise with their own moral values in order to make a living, sometimes we might seek for a strong, justice and morally correct person to rely emotionally. By watching A Fistful of Stances, since the cultural background and stories are familiar, audience can easily identify with the good guys, as they representing a good, morally correct figures.

A Fistful of Stances also showing a pattern that the Internet becomes a critical promotional tool for TV dramas. No matter it is planned by the authority or unintentionally done, many local online forums have widely discussed the drama. It resulted that many young people was stir up to follow the program. At the end of this article, here is a Kuso video made by Netizens, a fusion of the opening of A Fistful of Stances and the animation Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

So Chun Hin Kelvin 10298557

The inseparable...

Hong Kong new generation director-scriptwriter, Heiward Mak (麥曦茵) commented on an interview about her film, High Noon (烈日當空), “Youth-hood is universal.” That is no doubt that, we may got approximate experience in our growth, no matter in any countries, such as complicated complex about mother. This time, I would like to share a review of a film, which is a Canada movie but showed in past Hong Kong International Film Festival, “I killed my mother” (J'ai tué ma mère). As implied in the name, that is a film which reflected about a conflict among two generations, a relationship between single mother and son.

This film was directed by a young director, Xavier Dolan, who is just twenty years old. “I killed my mother” is his first directed semi- autobiographical film which also wrote and acted by him. This is a story which Dolan wrote in sixteen years old, some parts in this film are adapted by Dolan’s personally experience. That is also talking about a sixteen years old teenager, who has homosexual orientation and a single mother, who spoils on her son. However, quarrel as the way of diary communication among them, instead of normal conversation. Even on one day, mother found his son’s sexual orientation, that made their relationship suddenly became tense.

From the Autheur theory approach to analyze this film, that reflected the current politic, social problems and phenomenon, and the personal experience of the author. In this film, it can be found the psychological frame of reference on Dolan. He would like to through this to express the anger and suffering in his bottom of the heart, in the border between youngster and adult. He has an urge to struggle to free and pursue an individual life. Unfortunately it happened that, her mother seems to be an opponent, she always disarrange what he want to do. However, he also understands a fact, her mother has started from her care for himself, that is the method that his mother loves him.

Besides the personal experience that Dolan want to share in the movie, he has also thrown a social common problem, which he want to discuss with the audience, that is reason why there is a distance between parents and child. The lack of communication between human, it may the major factor that increased the a sense of alienation in relationship nowadays. We may like to stick together with our mother all day, when we were just a child. After we grew, we may think our mother is dislikeful since they ceaselessly bother us with any affairs on our living. However, we may bump into feel touching, when you saw your mother meticulously do something for you, like a slight matter that preparing breakfast to you everyday morning, etc. As the director, also the main character said in the film that, it is love-hate relationship among the family members.

Wu Chi Ling Candy (10426505 / 20460746)

FAMA- O’FAMA



The seventh album of FAMA “O’FAMA” has been released in March 2010. It is significant that the inspiration of the name of FAMA’s new album came from the U.S. President, O’BAMA and his election idea- “Yes, We Can Change”.

The one who had heard FAMA’s music before will find that no matter the themes or the lyrics, there is a change in their new album. It is delivering each song with different attitudes: Anger, gratitude, frustration and expectation, Hong Kong's unique culture of self-mockery and nonsense are also included indeed. The first plug song《娛樂圈殺人事件》satires the conditions within the entertainment industry: After the release of【風生水起】, FAMA becomes popular among advertisers. However, they lost their way after the release of【富甲天下】, losing their own ironic characteristics and no acute impact point in their creation. FAMA accompanied the stock market was falling.

The lost of FAMA can still be seen in “O’FAMA”, but they have found out the fundamental reason of the success of their group. Recorded as the FAMA's seventh album, this album does not inject too many new elements, it just told stories of bygone topics. FAMA transferred those songs which were relatively successful to “O’FAMA”. Followed《學海無涯》 is 《Old School Days》; after 《日出而作》is 《眠眠》; 《歡天喜地》is followed by《Dream Girl》. It is no doubt that this method of producing album is a guarantee of safety and they can continue to serve as the role of mouthpiece of the different social sectors. Simultaneously, the formula-driven and repetitive sense will be aroused among the consumers.

In my opinion, many Hong Kong people are in sympathy with 《眠眠》, it brings out the living conditions of Hong Kong people, everyone is lack of sleep. FAMA is always good at laughing at the irony. However, it can be seen that《Old School Days》wants to resonate student group, it is not as exquisite as 《學海無涯》and the pile of the lyrics is scattered. The listener is hard to have sympathy and it is not insightful enough. 《信不信由你》is more stuck to the current affairs, I think its concept came from the prevention of sexual harassment ad of「將件事話比你信任既人聽」, FAMA inspirited by the ad, made a dig at the integrity of teachers and police in the contemporary society, and hoped that the listeners can have a deeper reflection through the expression of the lyrics.

Honestly speaking, “O’FAMA” does not inject too many new elements, I think they can only partly achieve their goal “Yes, We Can Change”, compares with their competitors, LMF’s 【揸緊中指】and 24Herbs’s【罪與罰】, FAMA is out of the anger of traditional Hip Hop groups indeed, however, they satirized current affairs with relaxing style made them popular.

Chan Wun Ga, Melody (10320647)

DUO Eason Chan Concert 2010

I am writing this review on the selected topic, “DUO Eason Chan Concert 2010” which was held from 20^th March to 6^th April. At the beginning of this essay, I would like to first draw your attention to the singer himself in order to get known with him, afterwards, some information about his show will be provided as an evidence to show Eason’s popularity and it is worth to look into the songs he sang in the show and analysis would be made.

It is known that Eason Chan is one of the most famous singers in Hong Kong, who has released lots of albums, holding a significant numbers of concerts, you must know at least a few in his song’s pool. Indeed, his singing skills shall not be questioned since numerous of singer awards have been presented to him by different media institutions such as Commercial Radio II (叱咤樂壇流行榜頒獎典禮) and TVB (十大勁歌金曲頒獎典禮) as recognition on his efforts paid to his career together with the contributions to the music industry, everyone know who Eason Chan is in the community. However, I am not really persuaded that his appearances fulfill the requirements of a “star”, the general and culture values shared by the public of what a male star should equipped with: height of no less than 175cm, a masculine body, a charming face and also a trendy hair style. The fact is, Eason Chan is not that tall and even with a slight fatty body; his look is far from charming, at least in my point of view, while his hair style is always a standing joke by the media. According to Richard Dyer’s approach, Eason Chan has failed in fulfilling the visual part of a star image, yet his advantaged voice of singing still succeed in attracting many people to listen and become his fan.

The mentioned concert was originally scheduled to hold from 24^th March to 1^st April, but more show nights were organized afterwards due to the passion of the public, the origin shows could not entertain so much audience, it has somehow, an index to let us know how popular he is. I was an audience on 1^st April night, in the concert; Eason Chan did not dance and sang many songs with fast rhythm, the venue was mainly dominated by soft and smooth melody, yet it should be a proper arrangement as Eason Chan is definitely good at singing but I do agree that audiences might not enjoy seeing a fatty dancing on the stage for all night. First day of April may also be a special day of Hong Kong people as it is a memorial day of another super star, Leslie Cheung, who died on this day years ago. In order to show his respect and admire, Eason Chan sang a couple of songs which originally sang by Leslie, people in the coliseum were all standing up, clapping hands and singing together. It is a good illustration of the relationship between star and the chaser, even though we see Eason Chan as a star and enjoying his show, he could turn himself into different identity, from a star to a fan on the stage, to worship another star.

In short, attending the captioned concert is a great choice as good singing could be heard on one hand, I can also understand more about the star culture in Hong Kong on the other hand, it is that, being a star is not a must to be all-rounded, yet a marketable, treasurable and outstanding skill must be equipped just like Eason Chan, one of the most successful singers in the region.

Ho Ka Lok, Samson
10320646

72 Tenants of Prosperity

72 Tenants of Prosperity
I have chosen 72 Tenants of Prosperity as a cultural text analysis of my film review. It was released on February 11, 2010 which was during a period of the Chinese Lunar New Year. According to the official website of the film, the box office was over 30 million until February 28 and it is the second high box office of local record in decade. The three directors are Tsang Chi Wai, Patrick Kong and Chung Shue Kai. The casting is quite eye-catching, such as, Jacky Cheung, Tsang Chi Wai, Anita Yuen, Bosco Wong, Linda Chung, Stephy Tang and so on. Over half of the characters are from TVB since it is a TVB and Shaw Brothers Studio production. 72 Tenants of Prosperity refers to a 70s classic comedy film, 七十二家房客 with a new plot of story. However, some of the outstanding characters were kept to remind audience. The main location in the film is on Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok but built in a studio.
I am going to discuss the genre of this film and as well as its iconography, setting, characters, themes, narrative. I would classify the film into comedy, a traditional comedy film of Hong Kong. Besides, it has touching scenes to have a balance within the plot.
For the iconography, it aims at making the audience laugh so the way it tells which has to be humorous. The focus turns to the image of the performers or how they act in an exaggerating way. For instance, Bernice Liu acts as an ugly woman who sells fishball on the street. It is totally different form the image she has built up in the past which is hot and sexy.
It has a quite good setting of the film which locates on a hot spot of Hong Kong. Visiting Sai Yeung Choi Street is a “must” for tourists. It is popular within Hong Kong people, too. Shopping for cheap and worldwide brands, eating for local and international cuisines, experiencing the latest technology devices, it just represents the diversity of cultures of Hong Kong.
The casting of the film is not weak. And it makes good use of creating some leading characters. Jacky Cheung and Tsang Chi Wai both had experience in the comedy acting in the past. They seem like enemy but actually very close in the story. They fight with each others in a fun way and become closer and closer at the end.
There are sorts of cultural and social issues in the film to bring out its themes. It includes representative and recent news to draw the audiences’ attention, such as, the culture of local teen model/pseudo model, acid-attack in Mong Kok and extremely high rent from the landlord. These elements can make the audience feel so real to enjoy the film.
Lastly, the narrative of the film is very common in most of the comedy films. A community have to unite together to solve some kinds of problems. It always ends with a happy ending.
Let’s come with my feedback towards the film. I have found something interesting in the film. There are many brands show in the film. For example, they are Hoi Ting Tong, Langham Place, Sony Ericsson…etc. They just show up in a natural way comparing with the films in the past. Perhaps it is a new way for the advertisers to approach the mass audience. Apart from the very common plot, it is great to watch with friends or family during the Chinese New Year since it just all about laugh and fun.

Lam Sz Ki, Kiki 10321278

The loyalty and Asian Millionstar 2 to me

By inheriting the achievement of fame and social concerns from the pervious season, Asian Millionstar 2, the singing competiton produced by ATV, began to broadcast since the 3rd of January after the season 1 ended. However, comparing the rate and the comments of these 2 seasons, the latest season seems not to be so acceptable for the audience of Asian Millionstar. From now on, I would like to share my point of view why this condition is happening. And, I would like to state my stance – I love Asian Millionstar 1 more than the latest.

Asian Millionstar 1 successfully attracted attentions because it shared the interactions of constants themselves (though the show or blogs) which became as the constants’ memories to audience. Also, the nice judges with fair judgments and the talented host were other strong and impressive elements for the show. After announcing Adason Law from Hong Kong was the champion, the fever of Asian Millionstar 1 kept on. The constants of Asian Millionstar 1 published the group debut (亞洲星光大道) and concert (3 Rock you dream星光家族演唱會) in Star Hall during Chinese New year. Since the productions style enable people to experience the constants’ memories which audience did not themselves join, from the show began to the end with concerts, the warm and united images of the constants in season 1 remained and gradually built up the sense of loyalty.

Every week I watch Asian Millionstar 2 with the excitement and expectations, no matter the production quality and the edition are similar as the pervious, until the latest episode, it could not fulfill my desires. By referring the official website of Asian Millionstar 2, the qualities of the constants, for example, their honors or prizes from other singing competitions, their learning experiences of singing and sense of fashion are relatively higher than season 1 constants. I agree the improvement in qualities with no doubt are able to make the show better. Apart from that, for me, the sense of loyalty to the constants in season 1 constrains my heart which affects my feeling while watching the show. Therefore, it makes me not to be easy to accept the season 2 constants. At the same time, this loyalty may be the key factor which influenced the rate of Asian Millionstar 2 and audience’s choices on being supportive or not, for exmple the cooperation between constants in season 1 and 2, and the competitions between constants from the last season. These kind of combinations reflects audience either to be supportive to season 1 constants or season 2 constants.

To be honest, until now, I am not able to memorize the constants’ names, including their nicknames. They are better but, at the same time, they seem not so real and genuine to me. The growth of the constants’ in Asian Millionstar 1 is still impressive and strong in my mind and I am always longing for their solo debut rather guessing who would the next champion. Loyalty remains. The auditions of Asian Millionstar 3 have begun. What will happen next? God knows.




Ng Si Ching, Jane 10320959

Monga – A youth action movie

As I didn’t watch any locally produced film during this semester, so I will talk a film produced in Taiwan which has screened in HK. “Monga”(艋舺) is a movie which tells the story of five boys from the historical district of Monga in Taipei, who joins a gang because they were tired of being bullied around. Under the guidance of an experienced gangster, the youngsters are taught the heritage created by the founders of Monga. Taipei City's oldest district such as Longshan Temple and the Wanhua district were used as a shooting venue to show the 90s divided by rule of the local gangs.

In the first part of the film, it talk about the new transfer student 蚊子 at school into the “Prince Gang” (太子幫) after he is bullied by狗仔孩 over a chicken leg in his lunchbox. Led by 志龍, the “Prince Gang”, this is what they called themselves, is made up of three other members, including 和尚, 白猴 and 阿伯. In his new companions, 蚊子finds the friendship he has never had before. While in the second half, as the adolescence is replaced by the young adulthood, it shows the time flows, and there is the influx of the main landowner threatening the old order. This circumstance has caused some problem between the “Prince Gang”, as some of them will rise to the challenge, and the others will struggle to find their way.

It is clear to see that the story and theme of Monga is talking about brotherhood and betrayal. The joining or forming an own gang is a way of life for young men no matter which times, which can shows their friendship and power, and this is the most touching part for me in this movie. Similar to 古惑仔 in HK, the theme of this gangster action film also talk about the personal loyalty(義氣). I have a profound impression on several dialogues of this film which are all talking about their brotherhood. Like, “What is meaning? I only heard of brotherhood, never heard of meaning.” and “What I enter is not the gangster, but is the friendship, is the loyalty.” In addition, a message is shown in the movie that there is only one way to survive is being stronger than your enemies, and you have to fight them first, or they’ll fight you. Although I seldom watch this genre of film, I am pleased to watch this film as it tells us the importance and belief of friendships, and also the seeking of dreams. Not like the gangster film I watched before, it talks about the growth of the “Prince Gang”, but not only having the fierce fighting scenes.

Monga at once becomes popular and surprisingly affecting when it screened in Taiwan, the popularity is second only to Cape No.7, I think maybe it is the subject matter of the 90s local gangs and a very strong native flavor because of the use of Taiwan’s mother language which make the audiences have the consonance, and aided no less by the great performances and also the popularity from both Mark Chao(趙又廷)and Ethan Juan(阮經天).

Sze-To Ching Ting Viven (10321312)

“Echoes of the Rainbow”. Life is full of fantasy and surprise

I would like to introduce a local film- Echoes of the Rainbow. The film is directed by Alex Law. It depicted Hong Kong in the striving 60’s, a little British colony. There lived the Law’s family in Sheung Wan Wing Lee Street. Mr. Law (Simon Yam) is a shoemaker who is a steadfast and solemn person. His wife Mrs. Law (Sandra Ng) is always happy and goes lucky. Her family includes an aspiring and erudite elder brother (Aarif), and a curious younger brother (Chung). The younger brother is the narrator. Through the whole plot, it brings out the collective memories of indigenous Hong Kong people. It is getting famous as the film is honored with the Crystal Bear Award in the 60th Berlin International Film Festival. It has also obtained an outstanding record of the box office in Hong Kong.

A successful film should have the power to spur the emotion and make the audiences feel involved. It should have a motivation to stigmatize in audiences’ mind and thus the audience will apply their feeling to their real life. Take a look at “Echoes of the rainbow”, after it had won the prize, it has become more popular and boost it’s familiarity. The film’s familiarity brings up the collective memory and the local identity of us such as the familiar place, the architecture of buildings and the memories of their previous live. With the accompaniment of some old articles, like the moon cake club, the grasping British officials and British flags. Through these memories, we would like to preserve the historical Wing Lee Street. The street can manifest our feeling of being ‘ourselves’ and our identity. The well-preserved street was where the older generations had lived. Their sense of localness grew as they grew up with the accompaniment of these old streets, old sceneries.

Meanwhile, the film brought out some metaphors about the situation of Hong Kong nowadays, which is the fade out of human interaction and simple happiness. In the past, people had a closer relationship and they would not hesitate to help each others. The society was full of harmony. Also, life was simple, simple life made people easily feel the happiness and satisfactory. Those are entirely different with our life today, our society is now full of materialism, everyone just concentrate to pursue better jobs, more money and even higher social status. They got satisfaction while they obtain these materialistic rewards. However, is it the main source of happiness? The Law’s family lived in the lower class, they were not rich, but their life was happy. Mrs. Law was an optimistic person, not because they were rich, but they lived in harmony and hope.

We are living in a mixed cultural society, English is one of the most concerned area that can strengthen our competitiveness. There was not much change with the 60s Hong Kong. The elder brother was studying in an English School- DBS. He was treated as a ‘smart’ boy by the British police officer as he studied in an English school.

Many audiences think that the film is touching. Not only because of their narrating method, the memories of people’s old life and the historic street, but the emphasis of strong family love and brotherly kindness. We are impressed by it as we are getting less of these powerful family loves, it matches with what we desire. The most touching part is after the father hit his younger son, he goes back to embrace his son tightly and console him and ask whether he feels pain. The son refuses it, instead, he hugs his father. Indeed, love and comfort is the most powerful forces of mankind.

Chung, Pik Yu Shermaine (10347175)

飛女正傳......comedy... stereotype... balance?

Fly With Me (飛女正傳) is a Hong Kong local comedy drama. Many light-hearted plots consistently and deliberately designed to amuse and provoke audience’s laughter by exaggeration the situation, action and outlook etc. comedy drama always puts much more focus on individual character. In Fly With Me, 梁巧芝 (蔡少芬) is the main female character. She is a 35-aged working woman. She can not classify as pretty, her appearance is okay but she has an extraordinarily large rump. Besides, she can convert herself from a normal people to be a superwoman, Janet Bin. Having exaggerating outlook and plots truly fit the element of comedy drama. It can entertain and provoke enjoyment of audience easily.

Even though Fly With Me is a comedy drama, it also state out some Hong Kong’s situation nowadays. 梁巧芝 is a vice-manager of a big bank. She is independent, has great self confident, high education level. She thinks herself as a strongman. She does not have boyfriend, plus her criteria for choosing her partner is very high, she hopes her partner in the future can fit or match every aspect of her. However, she is a choosy, acrimonious and aloof, which similar to the港女 very much. It is a common phenomenon in Hong Kong nowadays. Many girls in Hong Kong just like梁巧芝, they get a high social status, but they are hard to find a partner as well. In this drama, it surely establishes the identity and ideology of local female currently; therefore, Fly With Me definitely gets local audience’s favor and taste.

Though this drama fits local audience very much, this also has stereotypes in it. There are many young, pretty and good body shape woman in the same company with 梁巧芝, they get more advantages compared with her. One the juvenile female which is junior than 梁巧芝, but she gets an excellent body figure, she can promote faster than 梁巧芝. 梁巧芝wants to have plastic surgery with enlarging her breast in order to increase her attractiveness. It enforced represent a society that appearance is more important than person’s strength. It get a stereotype that the ugly female will not success in the real world. It maintains a sharp boundary that if you have a good looking appearance then you will have more accomplishment. It surely enforce the culture of ideal body image of women, ‘slim is good!’, ‘you should have an excellent body shape!’ in the society.

Media, especially television, that everybody often reach it. It usually convey the hegemonic ideology to the public, it is a social construction of ‘reality’. I hope the media can get a balance on the element of comedy and the social ideologies, as it influences the society enormously.


Fung Cho Yi DONNA 10350150