I've no idea what you're talking about but it's not HKL!

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 10:27

hye,

Chapman To is a pop star? Didn't know that

Don't think he went that route. Believe he is/was a radio DJ, doing a show with Sandra Ng among other things. Now has formed his own production company with Edmond Pang called Not Brothers. Isabella is their first movie.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 10:29

Hmmmm.... Sandra Ng....

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 10:37

D'oh! I was thinking about Sophie Ngan.

Hey, if "Isabella" turns out to be a good film (and I really believe it does), I'll be looking forward to their next films. Cool name for a company in HK. Not Brothers... reminds me of one of the main themes of "Bullet in the Head".

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 10:57

hey,

D'oh! I was thinking about Sophie Ngan.

Again? Calm down, boy.

Isabella has indeed received quite a big hunk of acclaim so far, both for To, co-star Isabella Leong (who will probably erase Bug Me Not! from many viewer's memories with this film) and Pang Ho-cheung of course. As you may have read, Peter Kam's score won at the Berllin Film Festival.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 11:17

Yeah. I have read about the film before I purchased it. I was really tempted to add it to my shopping basket. Then I read that Peter Kam did the score and that finally made me decide to get it. I just love Kam's soundtracks. It's such a shame that many of them were never released on CD, such as "Purple Storm", "Fly me to Polaris" or "Lost in Time".

His soundtrack for "Silver Hawk" made the film actually watchable. Since the film flopped (didn't it?) I was afraid that no OST would be released for this. Needless to say that I bought it when I saw it actually got released. What a shame. They release a brilliant OST for a shitty film, but won't do the same for a great film. I was really happy that Milky Way released a few tunes of their films. I don't regret the purchase. That "Running out of Time" bus scene tune is so great. It's not composed by Peter Kam, I know, but I wanted to shed some light on the poor OST situation of HK films.

I have the OST of "Isabella" on my shelf here, but one of my habbits is to not listen to an OST before having watched the film.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 11:33

hey,

Since the film flopped (didn't it?)

3 million HK or so I believe. No numbers a big production would like to have in return. Have never bothered with the film. It's Jingle Ma DIRECTING so naturally one should stay away.

Ok, a little narrow minded but there is no great track record of excellent cinematographers turning into fine directors, at least not in HK. Love Ma's work with Clara Law back in the 90s and frequently return to it.

Anyhow, Peter Kam has indeed provided memorable scores over a number of years, especially as you mentioned in Purple Storm and Lost In Time. It shouldn't be difficult or manipulative, he seems to know that. It should be...just right. The Isabella score I believe is very latin flavoured which suits the setting and the choice has been used to fine effect in HK films such as Metade Fumaca before. Beyond Our Ken had a tune of that flavour as well, a song Pang discovered.

Going back to Edison, did you ever see Princess-D?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 11:39

Kam's music for "Tokyo Raiders" is also very Latin flavoured. And this was directed by Jingle Ma, too. So was "Fly me to Polaris". While I enjoyed "Tokyo Raiders" on a superficial or entertainment level, I really liked "Fly me to Polaris". Probably Ma's best film.

Man, Peter Kam has worked with Jingle Ma on quite a few projects.

Yes, I have seen "Princess-D". Doesn't he play Daniel Wu's brother in this? Or the woman's brother whose bones get broken so easily. Or her boyfriend? I remember that it was a fine film, but can't remember who Edison played in this.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 11:54

hey,

Yes, I have seen "Princess-D". Doesn't he play Daniel Wu's brother in this?

He did indeed and the direction from Sylvia Chang isn't complicated. Be a kid, be natural and for that role, perhaps the only time in Chen's career, he rose to the challenge of integrating well into the film.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 12:11

Hmmm... maybe I'll have to give it another go. I would never have thought that I'd be rewatching this for the sake of Edison Chen.

Didn't know that Sylvia directed it.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 12:28

hey,

co-directed actually but yea, she's now collected a fair number of films as director. Latest I watched was Tempting Heart. More recently did 20 30 40.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:02

Yeah, I watched 20 30 40. I liked it a lot. They should have focussed a bit more on that lesbian story, though!

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:06

hey,

I think a problem with Sylvia's work in general, especially these from latter years and this is something coming from my perspective, they seem less affecting than they should be. Tempting Heart had that, same with 20 30 40...distant if you will. Out of those, Princess-D suceeded more distinctly in my mind. Everyone's allowed to work on their skill though.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:17

Knetan wrote:Everyone's allowed to work on their skill though.

Unfortunately, that's not true. I'd rather say "everybody SHOULD be allowed to work on their skill."

Newcomer directors have a hard time finding producers and financers for their projects.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:41

thelostdragon wrote:I really liked "Fly me to Polaris". Probably Ma's best film.

I would agree with that.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:43

hey,

Polaris is indeed a lot more watchable than most of his other films. Looks good, Cecilia is fine but they sure lay it on thick with the emotions. By the end, it's hysteria!

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:56

I had a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 06 Jun 2006, 13:59

hey,

during certain moments, yes me too but I personally appreciate at least a few notches less hysterical melodrama in my films, even super-subtle stuff that is equally touching in a subdued atmosphere. Take An Autumn's Tale for instance.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 06 Jun 2006, 16:39

Knetan wrote:hey, during certain moments, yes me too but I personally appreciate at least a few notches less hysterical melodrama in my films, even super-subtle stuff that is equally touching in a subdued atmosphere. Take An Autumn's Tale for instance.

I didn't care much for that one. Never cared about the characters.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Jun 2006, 21:59

17 post talk about going off topic

. Anyway feel free to continue discussion Knetan can change the title if he wishes.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 07 Jun 2006, 07:00

Knetan wrote: Lost In Time. It shouldn't be difficult or manipulative, he seems to know that.

Nah, Lost in Time's score was REALLY manipulative.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 07 Jun 2006, 07:39

It was? Well, it's a great soundtrack still.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 07 Jun 2006, 15:10

thelostdragon wrote:It was?

From memory - Sad piano solos, dude. Combined with the trite scenes in the film, that's emotion being jammed down the viewers' throat.

Well, it's a great soundtrack still.

True dat.

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 07 Jun 2006, 15:16

hey,

there was one moment in the images that was really forced but the film along with the score as far as I remember really neatly boils up emotions, deserving the outbursts in the process. IMO.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 24 Jun 2006, 23:52

Thought I'd put it here as well, as me and Ken have talked a bit about Chapman To and "Isabella" here. My Review:
http://www.asia-on-dvd.com/index.php?na ... cle&sid=65

Knetan · Post by **Knetan** » 25 Jun 2006, 04:04

hey,

looks very much like To is immersed well into the dramatic world of Isabella. Props to Pang for that.