We're a little down that Johnnie To's Vengeance wasn't very well received in Cannes and also has not done that well in the French box office either. Some of you may remember that I would have been quick to jump all over the French for this one but I have turned a new leaf and will consent that To's film probably isn't very good, period. End of story.
This of course makes us sad because we all have massive man crushes on To and we've all dreamed those special dreams that involve revolvers and cigars in the streets of Macau. But there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon of To-land everyone. It would seem that while outside of Hong Kong festival and film goers have been drawn to To for his cool and slick gangster flicks they haven't been doing so well on the home front. So, according to the Chinese newspaper Apple Daily Johnnie To is returning to the type of film making that made him immensely popular in Hong Kong- comedy. Filming is supposed to begin in September and release is expected to happen around February 2010, Chinese New Year.
To date I think I have only seen one of To's comedy films because I have only ever gone to him to satisfy my bloodlust and fill my quota of cool. So now I am going to have to do some hunting and see what made Hong Kong fall in love with the man in the first place. Perhaps we all can fall in love with To all over again. It'll add some depth to our relationship! That's a good thing, right?
It's been some time since we've heard from Twitch reader Mary but they give us the skinny of the Apple Daily article after the break!
Johnnie To was one of the top mainstream comedy directors in Hong Kong; he had directed many mainstream comedies that became Hong Kong box office hits (ie. NEEDING YOU , WU YEN, LOVE ON A DIET, FAT CHOI SPIRITS, MY LEFT EYES SEE GHOSTS, LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS, etc....). However, Johnni To don't like to direct mainstream comedies even though he is very good at directing mainstream comedies. Since 2003, Johnnie To tried to stay away from making comedies and put more focus on making other kinds of movies. After 2003, Johnnie To's films regularly appear at top international film festivals and Johnnie To is getting more international reputation; but Johnnie To's Hong Kong box office draw is also declining. In recent years, only three of Johnnie To's productions became box office hits in Hong Kong: ELECTION, TRIAD ELECTION and MAD DETECTIVE. His low-budget film SPARROW also did respectfully at Hong Kong box office. But overall, most of the Johnnie To's productions bombed at Hong Kong box office since 2004.
Now, Johnnie To will do what most of Hong Kong audience want him to do - directing a mainstream comedy. Media Asia's spokeswoman confirms to Apple Daily (a Hong Kong newspaper) that Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai will co-direct a mainstream comedy for Media Asia; the Media Asia's spokeswoman also said that the filming will begin in September 2009 and Media Asia hopes to release this film in Hong Kong during Chinese New Year 2010. Wai Ka-Fai (the co-director of MAD DETECTIVE and the producer/screenwriter of VENGEANCE) also confirms to Apple Daily that he will co-direct a new film with Johnnie To and the film is expected to be released in Hong Kong during Chinese New Year 2010, but Wai Ka-Fai refused to reveal the story of the film.
Apple Daily also states that Andy Lau (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS) , Sammi Cheng (INFERNAL AFFAIRS), Miriam Yeung (THREE... EXTREMES), Leon Lai (INFERNAL AFFAIRS 3) and Richie Ren (EXILED) are in advanced negotiations to star in this Johnnie To-directed mainstream comedy. Apple Daily also states that Johnnie To accepts to direct this film only because of his relationship with Media Asia's boss Peter Lam (he is also one of the producers of VENGEANCE)
Damn.
The trailer looked so great.
I think reviews at Cannes were mixed; and more a case of you either like To's films or you don't.
I do, so still want to see it.
I don't really care for the comedy stuff; this setback may also screw up plans for the Red Circle remake.
Very surprised at the French Box Office for this.
To is well-liked in France, and Hallyday is a huge star, that surely he would have sold tickets based on him being in the film alone!
Very odd.
I hope he casts Tony Leung Ka-Fai, the guy's been in too few comedies.
Wow, that's disappointing news. I will still watch it to judge for myself. Personally, I found Exiled to be one of his weakest films (admittedly I have not watched all of his films), but even a weak Johnnie To film is still leaps and bounds ahead of many other garbage movies. Throwdown, PTU, and Mad Detective are among the finest films in my DVD collection, and I doubt very much that Vengeance does not warrant a purchase from me.
Let me break the bubble here: french people are not the ultimate authority in film quality, and their opinion is just that, their opinion. Yes, they are usually more educated than, say, the american critics/audiences, but that doesn't make them a flawless machine of movie critique. We are talking about the same people who will give their top cinematic award to a dull and insipid movie bashing bush just because.....it bashes bush.
I'm not seeing why people are surprised about the mixed reception of VENGEANCE at Cannes. Honestly, the same thing would have happened to any To film in competition - stamped as "genre stuff" and ridiculed. So I don't think there is any problem there. And hell, even Ebert liked it. So as far as that goes, I'm still hyped.
Besides, To doing mainstream comedy is probably nothing to be incredibly excited about, as that used to be his primary way of earning money for those darker pictures. Might be a decent movie, but don't expect him to pour his heart into that one.
I'm looking forward to Wai Ka-Fai's WRITTEN BY and Cheang's ACCIDENT though. Good year of Milkyway.
No need to worry. Even a Johnnie To with flaws is still worth watching.
I keep thinking of that scene in the trailer where they use rolling garbage cubes as shields. Even if only that scene delivers as promised I'll be a happy guy.
To is a genius in coming up with these weird set-ups and details, like the "flying door shootout" in the beginning of Exiled which was wicked cool (as was the whole moving-in-and-having-dinner that followed it).
If you're interested in Johnnie To comedies I'd suggest the following:
HELP!!! - my favorite of his comedies. He and Wai Ka-fai had 27 days to write, cast, shoot, edit and release this movie about a hospital staff and they really out-did themselves.
JUSTICE MY FOOT! and THE MAD MONK - two of the better Stephen Chow period movies. Most people have forgotten about To's long pre-Milkyway career.
THE ODD ONE DIES - he's credited as a producer, but it's the funniest of the early Milkyway movies.
NEEDING YOU - classic Hong Kong romantic comedy. Not my favorite, but you have to admit that it works.
WU YEN - one of the strangest and most uneven of the To/Wai comedies. But really worth seeing if you've missed it if only for the high points. No one's this nutty in HK film except for Jeff Lau.
MY LEFT EYE SEES GHOSTS - terrible title but a better-than-you-expect send-up of SIXTH SENSE style horror movies, and it ends on a surprisingly moving note.
Are the French always right when it comes to quality movies? NO. (Most of the biggest hits there are aweful comedies 10 times worse than any bad Adam Sandler crap).
Is Johnny Hallyday a huge star in France? Yes. BUT ONLY WHEN IT COMES TO (AWEFUL) ROCK N' ROLL FOR GUYS AND GIRLS OVER 50. He's never been and will never be a big time acting star in France.
And by the way, even though a little more than 60'000 people spectators for the first week in about 250 theatres is a HUGE disappointment, it still managed to be easily the biggest Johnny To movie in France...in just one week.
I'll probably see Vengeance tomorrow in Lausanne, I just hope to have a good time (I hate Hallyday as a singer, but I can tolerate him as an actor, and damn, to see Anthony Wong and Simon Yam on the big screen ain't gonna happen soon!).
I always loved the beat in the music behind the opening credits of JUSTICE, MY FOOT! All it's missing is an 808 kick. I'd also have to say I think it's a tie between TOO MANY WAYS TO BE NO. 1 and THE ODD ONE DIES for "best early Milkyway comedy", but maybe that's just my questionable sense of humor - and besides, TOO MANY WAYS is largely unavailable (no) thanks to WB.
Grady, the Internets need you now more than ever. When are you coming back with an outlet to call your own?
oh well, the man has got to eat. I just hope this doesnt mean that Death of a Hostage and Red Circle are going to be postponed.
Needing You... and My Left Eye Sees Ghosts rank among his best comedies. if this new film doesn't begin production until September, there is still time for him to complete Death of a Hostage in the meantime. he did Vengeance in only a few months. speaking of Vengeance, doesn't anyone have a rough idea of what month it will be released in HK? I'm dying to see it!
To also co-directed the first Heroic Trio movie. Just be sure to be drunk while watching it.
I dunno... it may seem like the French were expecting more substance from what it seems to be to be a straight-up action flick. I don't mind it being a straightforward shoot-em-up movie, as long as the action is well-shot and nice to look at.
[quote]To also co-directed the first Heroic Trio movie.[/quote]
I watched "Executioners" yesterday and I could see To being co-credited as director for that while he's fully credited as director on the original.
By the way, Johnnie To was the actual director of THE ODD ONE DIES (even though Patrick Yau was officially credited as the director) .
heroic trio is awesome