it's starting to get really disgustingly humid in HK.

i'm feeling the heat.

here is NASA's explanation on humidity 

The 2nd Annual Asian Film Awards was on a couple of nights ago.  I watched it on TV.  I was surprised to hear it's only the second year they have had an award ceremony for all of Asian films, competing with the Pusan International Film Festival.  It makes sense though, start the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) with an awards ceremony and end with another for the local films.

It's good to celebrate Asian cinema as much as possible and have many stars come to HK, but I think the audience/fans might have "awards overload" with Oscars, AFA, and HKFA within a span of three months to start the year.  Also, I think it affects the attendence of the actors since I noticed many big names who weren't nominate did not show up.  I guess as this award continues to grow, it will become more of a prestigious annual tradition.

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) obviously wanted to differ from the Oscars with the awards and ceremony structure.  They don't separate the types of screenplays and they don't follow the HKFA by awarding new artists.  I think they can add a new category like "Best Cultural Film" for films that depict/celebrate a culture in Asia, could work with some many different ones eligible for these awards.

For the categories which I saw most of the films, I think the judges made some good decisions for the award.  Tough to match up against Tony Leung's performance as usual, but he had some tough competition with Song Kang-ho (who in some ways is similar to a Korean Leung) and a career-changing role for Jet Li in "The Warlords".  Though it surprised me to see "Lust, Caution" win only one award given the international acclaim (and controversary) that it has received and the brand name of Ang Lee.  I can't argue though since I have not see "Secret Sunshine" of Korea, which won three top awards, but I will certainly watch it now.  Song Kang-ho is awesome.

I am also very happy the writers for "Mad Detective" won despite tough competition.  It was one of the most original and creative Asian film I have seen in recent years and certainly was loyal to Johnnie To's style but refreshing.

Presentation wise, a few awkward moments for translating all those languages to English (I think the translator standing right next to them holding papers in hand was a bit weird), lots of Engrish (pretty funny to watch some stars attempt to speak English and some not try at all), a great (GREAT) trilingual singing performance by Stefanie Sun, and Tony Leung throwing some British into his English.

So I think they should figure out a way to smooth out the translation method, beef up some categories, throw some more glitz and glamour into it, maybe make it more of an entertainment show rather than JUST a ceremony and it could be on its way to be the Oscars of the East.  Asian cinema certainly has the unique diversity and transnational cooperation to do so, and hopefully they do.

just signed up to alivenotdead.  first entry.

will blog in future about mainly HK related things.

but maybe later.

P.S.  why everyone bump into with HK celebrities in public and take pics with them and i can't?  im jealous.