Category: Entertainment

Leisure & Pleasure: The top events in Hong Kong this July

The top events in Hong Kong this July

From the International Arts Carnival to Beauty and THE Beast ON ICE, here is a roundup of July events in Hong Kong. 

6 Jul –12 Aug: International Arts Carnival The International Arts Carnival is back and ready to thrill kids with another fun-filled line-up of children’s events. The month-long carnival celebrates every imaginable form of performance art, from films and musicals to physical comedy and magic, while educating your little ones on the different cultures of the world. Check out a shadow puppetry interpretation of the Chinese epic, Mulan, enjoy the windswept journey of two siblings in Air Play, or catch some Hawaiian tropical tunes and hula performances at Ukulele Ohana Jam.

Locations vary

 

7 July: Shek O Challenge

The top events in Hong Kong this July

For those who wish to challenge their endurance and cardio, the Shek O Challenge is back! With a choice between a 2.2km swim, 8.5km run or a 9km paddle (surfski and paddle), participants will start at Big Wave Beach and race across to Shek O Back Beach.

Make it a group challenge by splitting the run and paddling races between friends or family to make up a relay team. Kids can also participate in a 600m swim race. And if racing is not for you, come along to cheer on friends and family and enjoy a beach barbecue with live music.

Shek O, Hong Kong, HK$400-$450

 

18 – 24 July: Hong Kong Book Fair

Long-awaited tomes and much-anticipated page turners will take centre stage at this year’s Hong Kong Book Fair. The impetus for this annual event, which is organised by the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council, was to foster a love of literature amongst the local population. And if the attendance figures are anything to go by (the event regularly draws hundreds of thousands of visitors), it’s become a resounding success. This year, in addition to the publishers’ booths, 360 different cultural events have been organised to further promote reading in the city.

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai

 

21 – 22 July: Beauty & THE Beast ON ICE

If you’re looking to get away from the stifling summer heat, why not head indoors and check out the cool, enchanting musical theatrics of Beauty & the Beast on Ice? Based on Disney’s beloved classic, this interpretation blends fancy ice-skating choreography and dazzling aerial acrobatics, courtesy of renowned dance troupe The Russian Ice Stars. While away an entertaining afternoon by singing along to your favourite childhood tunes and cheering Bella onwards to her happy ending.

KITEC, Star Hall, 1 Trademart Dr, Kowloon Bay. HK$280-680

 

27 – 29 July: Hong Kong International Darts Festival

The top events in Hong Kong this July
Once the purview of local pubs, the game of darts has finally stepped onto the international stage. The inaugural Hong Kong International Darts Festival will draw top players from eight different countries to compete for the winning spot. An exclusive concert on the opening night will feature such acts as local singer Jason Chan and Cantopop groups Supper Moment and Super Girls. Attendees can watch the matches for free, and also get top tips on improving their dart game on-site.

KITEC, Star Hall, 1 Trademart Dr, Kowloon Bay.
Concert (27 Aug): HK$380-580, free entry to the tournament

 

Text: Tenzing Thondup

Images courtesy of: International Arts Carnival, Shek O Challenge, HKTDC, Beauty and THE Beast on Ice and HK International Darts Festival 

Reel Deal: Five upcoming movies in July

With the football fever gripping the entire world, July is projected to be a bit of a slow month for movies. But if you are a movie buff, you have nothing to worry. We have a roundup of five upcoming movies in July that you shouldn’t miss.

movies in July

Incredibles 2

With an approving nod and a cheeky wink to feminist movements, this Incredibles sequel sees Elastigirl spring into action to save the world, while Mr. Incredible is left to face his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the children, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, with the latter’s startling superpowers just starting to develop! Perfect summer holiday movie with the kids!

Releasing on 19 July 2018

 

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Director Christopher McQuarrie takes up the reins again in the sixth installment of the Mission Impossible series. With Mission Impossible: Fallout, Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) have to race against time after a well-laid-out IMF plan goes awry.

Releasing on 26 July 2018

 

Ant-Man and the Wasp

2018’s been an amazing year so far for Marvel fans. The trend is about to continue with yet another superhero movie coming out of the Marvel stables – Ant Man and The Wasp. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang struggles to balance his responsibilities as a father and a superhero, when an urgent mission again requires him to suit up and learn to fight alongside The Wasp.

Releasing on 5 July 2018

 

Skyscraper

Dwayne Johnson plays former FBI agent and US war veteran Will Sawyer, who is in charge of assessing security for skyscrapers. As one of the safest buildings on earth catches fire, Sawyer finds himself struggling to rescue those caught in the fire while trying to clear his name.

Releasing on 12 July 2018

 

Beirut

Set in 1980s Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, former US diplomat Mason Skiles (played by Jon Hamm) has to go back into service to rescue a colleague who is being held by a group that was responsible for his own family’s death. Critics have already described the film as “absorbing despite its flaw”, it remains to see what the audience’s verdict will be.

Releasing on 5 July 2018

 

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Movies in June: Five films for the summer holidays

Summer holidays are round the corner, but the sun is not being exactly kind on Hong Kongers right at this moment. While we hope the weather gets better, let’s admit it, right now is not the time to stay out in the heat for too long. So if you have bored kids at home or are bored of watching Netflix yourselves, it’s a good time to head to the theatres and check out the upcoming movies in June.

Anon

Anonymity is the enemy in this near-future dystopia, where our most private thoughts are recorded as a means of wiping out crime. Only there’s a problem – a young woman seems to have subverted the system and disappeared, leaving behind no trace or history or identity. Simply known as The Girl, she may hold the clue a series of unsolved murders.

Releasing on 31 May 2018

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Silver screen’s most popular prehistoric predators are back this summer. Three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park, the remaining dinosaurs need to be saved from an erupting volcano on Isla Nublar. But the scientists are in for a nasty shock when they discover a new breed of deadlier dinos. Will the rescuers need rescuing instead?

Releasing on 7 June 2018

Incredibles 2

 With an approving nod and a cheeky wink to feminist movements, this Incredibles sequel sees Elastigirl spring into action to save the world, while Mr. Incredible is left to face his greatest challenge yet – taking care of the children, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, with the latter’s startling superpowers just starting to develop! Perfect summer holiday movie with the kids!

Releasing on 14 June 2018

Ocean’s 8

Another tongue-in-cheek movie revolving around woman leads, this one has a group of women planning the boldest of heists – stealing a $150 million dollar worth of diamonds in the middle of the high-profile Met Gala. Starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, this is one plan that needs to go without a hitch. Will it?

Releasing on 14 June 2018

Death Wish

This re-imagining of the classic 1972 revenge thriller Death Wish sees Dr. Paul Kersey (played by Bruce Willis) seeking revenge after a vicious attack on his wife and daughter forever shatters their humdrum lives. Fury and fate collide in this action thriller as a deadly vigilante starts wiping out the city’s criminals.

Releasing on 14 June 2018

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Meghan-Harry’s Big Day: Top five trivia on the royal wedding

19 May is not just going to be a big day for Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (read more about her here), but it may just prove to be the day when England’s rather antiquated royal family gets the shot of life it needs to stay relevant in today’s context.

So with the entire world giving in to the ‘royal wedding fever’, can we stay far behind? We have for you our top five trivia on the royal wedding ahead of the big day.

royal wedding

To commemorate one of their first dates together – a camping trip to Botswana – Prince Harry Prince designed Meghan’s engagement ring himself from a diamond sourced from Botswana’s famous diamond mines. The ring also features two gems from Harry’s late mother Princess Diana’s collection, and is crafted by royal jewellers Cleave and Company.

The bride’s wedding ring is, however, specially sourced from a royal reserve of Welsh gold. This unique gold comes from the Clogau St. David’s mine in Wales, and has been used to make royal rings since Queen Mother’s wedding to Prince Albert, Duke of York, in 1923. Since then, wedding rings for various royal princesses, including Diana and Kate Middleton, have been made from this gold.

royal wedding

Adhering wholeheartedly to the royal custom, Prince Harry sought the Queen’s permission before proposing to Meghan. Given that the British sovereign – in this case Elizabeth II – has to approve all royal weddings, it seemed Harry wasn’t taking any chances. After all, the last time a British royal family member married an American, he had to abdicate his rights to the throne!

In keeping with traditions then, Meghan Markle has already been baptised into the Church of England – one of the prerequisites for entering the royal fold – and is all set to become an UK citizen. The secret ceremony – in which only a handful of royal guests were invited – included holy water from the River Jordan being poured on her head.

But even if Meghan Markle may have conformed to this one tradition, she seems to be by far the most rebellious, progressive, liberal royal that we may have seen in a long time! When she was just 11, she campaigned against an ad for a washing-up liquid that seemed to imply that a woman’s place was in the kitchen. After she enlisted the support of a number of high-profile women, including Hilary Clinton, the then first-lady, the manufacturer surrendered and the ad was pulled.

Here’s hoping this firebrand feminist can inject one of the world’s most conservative families with a right dose of modernity!

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Ryan Reynolds: Brainless beefcake or the evolution of Hollywood?

His online confessionals have made him the most accessible of stars, but do we know the real Ryan Reynolds?

Ryan Reynolds is a social media savant

Cast as one of the most iconic figures in the superhero universe – quick-witted, handsome and mega-powered, while still battling his inner demons – success seemed all but guaranteed for Ryan Reynolds. Then just 35, the Vancouver-born actor was on the verge of becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest draws, a 21st century Tom Cruise, but with none of the Scientology baggage.

And then his movie tanked. Despite a $200 million budget, Green Lantern went on to become one of the undisputed big screen flops of 2011. The critics were not kind. The Guardian described his performance as “a slice of inert beefcake”, while the influential Rotten Tomatoes website simply begged: “Please, please, please do not make a sequel…”

Ryan Reynolds in his Deadpool persona

Fast forward five years and everything has changed. His portrayal of Deadpool, the foul-mouthed, scarred mutant mercenary from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saw him winning awards across the board. The film also proved one of the surprise hits of the year (it was, after all, a relatively low-budget R-rated production), with the inevitable Deadpool 2 sequel hitting theatres next month.

It was an on-set encounter with one Fox Studio executive that first brought Deadpool into his life. Recalling that initial exposure to Marvel’s most maverick metahuman, Reynolds says: “I pored through the comics and realized that this character occupies a space in the comic-book universe that nobody else does. I thought you could really go places and do things with this character that you couldn’t do with any other superhero property.”

Ryan Reynolds on the set of Deadpool

With Reynolds now evangelical about the character’s cinematic potential, he soon set about badgering 20th Century Fox, one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, into investing in his vision. Many years and some tactically leaked test footage later, the studio finally capitulated. Still wary, however, it allocated a shoestring budget of just US$58 million to the project.

It proved a shrewd investment, with Deadpool going on to gross US$783 million at the box office, making it the highest-earning R-rated film ever, while also financially outperforming far bigger budgeted superhero adventures. For his efforts, Reynolds bagged the Best Actor in a Comedy prize at the 2016 Critics’ Choice Awards.

Despite all this, there are many who dismiss Reynolds as an “accidental star”, citing his wry Twitter contributions as far outweighing his acting prowess. To be fair, he actually is one of the few Hollywood A-listers who seems to have mastered the arcane arts of social media.

Ryan Reynolds bagged Best Actor in a Comedy at the Critics' Choice Awards

His tweets – which range from the subtly sarcastic to the outrageously subversive – have, indeed, won him a massive online fanbase. Just as Deadpool, his on-screen alter ego, is forever breaking the fourth wall and addressing cinema audiences directly, Reynold’s online utterances see him shattering the traditional barricades between movie stars and their fans, becoming, arguably, the most accessible of Hollywood A-listers.

Even with his mounting acclaim, the actor remains hyper-aware of the frailty of his star status. Perhaps bearing in mind the collateral damage Green Lantern caused his career, he says: “As an actor, you’re always aware that you may never work again. You always have this lizard-brain fear that’s always just under the surface.”

Ryan Reynolds as mouthy Hannibal King

Despite his concerns, Ryan’s position in the megastar firmament now seems all but unassailable. Just two years ago he was granted that badge of true longevity, a star on the Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

As to his own future, well, Deadpool 2 is tipped to be but the first of many sequels planned for the maverick mercenary, with Reynolds saying he is committed to playing the character for as long as he is allowed.

His next project, however, is a bit different – Clue, a cinematic rendering of Cluedo, the classic crime-solving boardgame. Given his aptitude for creating memorable characters, however, few are likely to wander away from screenings of that particular project wondering: “Whodunnit?” The unmistakable Ryan Reynolds. Of course.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Images: AFP

Hong Kong Arts Centre’s Late-Night Programme

The Easter holiday is approaching fast and those choosing to stay in the 852 are in for a treat! The Hong Kong Arts Centre’s annual Open House is back for its 7th year on 30 March. Visitors will be taken on a one-day art journey of exploration, amusement and wonder through a range of events including exhibitions, talks, movies, music, workshops, guided tours and more.

HKAC

Celebrating its first Open House since the Centre’s refurbishment, the Centre are for the first time, offering a late-night programme. During this one-off celebration, the Centre will be open from 2pm to 2am, where art enthusiasts can enjoy offerings from different cultural organisations.

This year’s theme is Taste Art which explores the similarities between our appetite and lust for both food and art.  Through the taste of food and expression in art, we allow ourselves to see the silver linings in our daily lives. Stimulating our senses, satisfying our body and minds and igniting our passions, both food and art make life a little bit sweeter.

Check out the full details below: 

Just Moment Salon

Situated along the Victoria Harbour, the salon offers you a space to slow down and appreciate every moment of your life. Surrounded by sparkling skyscrapers at nightfall and with the help of some light music, guests can enjoy Story Console, where playwrights Chester Wong and Santanya Li will be sharing their unique life stories, or Soundscape Diffusion where you can listen to other’s stories. Music performers KaMing & NgaYi, Hakgwai and Bou Kwan Ying will sing out their Just Moment through a series of live performances.

For tickets, please click here 

Movie Night

During this year’s special movie night session, guests will have the chance to watch Naoko Ogigami’s “Kamome Diner” (2005) and Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” (1985). Despite their distinct styles and a 30-year time gap, both films use Japanese cuisine as a cultural backdrop to explore the dynamic relationships between chefs and diners with food and life, alluding to greater discussions on life’s simplicity, human nature for desires and devotion to one’s craft. In the age of rapid acceleration, we often need to slow down to contemplate what it means to truly live, and to delineate the difference between having an expensive meal, and savouring a simple, well-brewed tea.

For tickets, please click here 

HKAC late-night programme

Food, Life, Tasting Corner

11pm @HKAC G/F Lobby

Guests with a Just Moment Salon or Movie Night ticket can enjoy delicacies (English Style Pale Ale, American Style Pale Ale, English Style Stout, coffee, rice ball & cinnamon roll) at the Food, Life, Tasting Corner and will receive a set of souvenirs. 

So if you are wondering what to do this Easter, stop right there. Take the time to slow down and appreciate the simple yet beautiful things with this late-night programme, rounding off a month of all things Art. 

Oscars 2018: Beautiful dresses & dazzling designs on the red carpet

Right in time for Women’s Day, we’re delving into the dazzling dresses on the Oscars 2018 red carpet, and the powerful women. Without further adieu, let’s dive in to Part Two of our red carpet coverage!

Hollywood's power ladies hit the Oscars 2018 red carpet last Sunday
Hollywood’s power ladies on the Oscars 2018 red carpet

Hollywood’s power ladies showed up dressed to impress last Sunday. Leading the charge was Jane Fonda, who channeled her inner Boss with a strong-shouldered white Balmain gown. Robbie Margo, a Best Actress Nominee was also clad in white, opting for an elegant off-shoulder dress by Chanel. Fellow nominee Saoirse Ronan looked pretty in pink in a sleeveless Ralph Lauren creation.

Bold colours also dominated the Oscars 2018 red carpet. Allison Janney, winner of Best Supporting Actress, was the epitome of class in a flowing red number by Reem Acra. Not to be outdone, Nicole Kidman put her best foot forward in a high-slitted royal blue Armani Prive design.

Shimmering threads were also in abundance, with Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot shining bright in a silver Givenchy dress. Meanwhile, Nupita Nyong’o of Black Panther fame glowed in a golden Atelier Versace number.

Best Actress winner Frances McDormand wore a shimmering gold-on-black gown
Best Actress winner Frances McDormand paid tribute to her fellow nominees in a moving acceptance speech

Frances McDormand, who won Best Actress for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, raised some eyebrows in a rather drab gold-on-black outfit. But she won everyone over with a moving acceptance speech, which saw her acknowledge and pay homage to all her fellow nominees. The inspirational move reminded attendees and viewers alike of the need to treasure bonds of sisterhood among all women. Happy Women’s Day!

To see our top picks for best-dressed men, check out Part One of our Oscars 2018 coverage.

Oscars 2018: The best-dressed men on the Academy Awards red carpet

Traditional tuxedos. Velour suits. Monochrome ensembles. In Part One of our Oscars 2018 red carpet coverage, we highlight the fashion trends and best-dressed men at the 90th Academy Awards.

Oscars 2018 - Best Dressed Men

Traditional tuxedos never go out of style, as Gary Oldman proves. The actor, who won Best Actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, looked extremely sharp in a black tuxedo with a matching bowtie. Sam Rockwell, nominee for Best Supporting Actor, looked equally chic in a black Prada tux.

Meanwhile, Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman and Winston Duke’s outfits were a touch more modern. Boseman wore a long coat all-black ensemble by Givenchy Haute Couture, while Duke’s black Etro suit was jazzed up with some silver tassels.

Jordan Peele, winner of Best Original Screenplay, switched things up by opting for a white Calvin Klein dinner jacket. Not to be outdone, young star Timothée Chalamet shined bright in all-white Berluti outfit.

Velour was also a popular choice for the evening, with Armie Hammer turning up in a burgundy velvet two-piece by Giorgio Armani. Get Out actor Daniel Kaluuya, on the other hand, looked suave in an unusual black-and-brown outfit by Brunello Cucinelli.

From traditional black tuxedos and monochrome outfits to unusual velour pieces, the Oscars 2018 red carpet proved to be a visual delight for male fashionistas looking on.

Check out Part Two to get a glimpse of the delightful dresses worn by the ladies of Hollywood.

Leisure & Pleasure: Events in Hong Kong this March

Chinese New Year may be behind us, but there’s still plenty to see and do in our fair city this March. Check out our list of must-see events in Hong Kong this month:

HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

Buyers from around the world will find only the finest of gems at the 35th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, known for its showcase of fine and fashionable pieces. For the ultimate joaillerie devotee, the concurrent Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show is sure to get you spending. To see what’s coming, click this link.

Hong Kong International Jewellery Show
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai
1-5 March. HK$100
http://hktdc.com/

Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show
AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau
Until 3 March. HK$100
http://hktdc.com/

Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival

Lantern Carnival

Held in various districts and featuring a spectacular display of colours and lights amongst folk songs and dances, the Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival is a much-awaited event this time of year. Try your hand at traditional crafts such as lantern-making or Chinese painting, witness auspicious dragon parades and play some lantern riddle games at this fun-filled cultural event, free of charge.

2-4 March, 7:30pm-10pm
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tung Chung North Park, 20 Tat Tung Road,Tung Chung
Hong Kong Velodrome Park, 105-107 Po Hong Road, Tseung Kwan O
lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/

IRIS: Your Escape

IRIS

Hong Kong’s largest outdoor health and wellness festival is making its final call for enrolment to over 70 yoga and fitness classes this weekend at the scenic West Kowloon waterfront. The 2-day event will feature DIY beauty workshops and interactive game booths, plus a Marketplace hauling 60 health and wellness exhibitors to cater to 6,000 health-conscious attendees. Activities range from Zumba and Hypno-Meditation to DJ Performances (MISSKT!) and family yoga. So what will it be, energy crew? HIIT, Mat Core Pilates or Bollywood Dance? The choice is yours!

3-4 March
12pm-8:30pm on Saturday and 9am-6pm on Sunday
Nursery Park, West Kowloon Cultural District. HK$200-$250
www.irisyourescape.com

Tai Kok Tsui Temple Fair

Tai Kok Tsui Temple

For the 14th year, the Tai Kok Tsui Temple Fair returns with its colourful celebrations dedicated to Hung Shing, the God of the Sea. Immerse yourself in a day of traditional Chinese arts and culture, starting in the morning with a grand parade packed with glittery costumes, skillful acrobats and plenty of drumming. Later, attendees will be treated to the well-anticipated “18 dancing lions” performance, and those who stick around until evening will have the chance to watch a 500- foot-long luminous dragon dancing through the streets.

4 March, 10am
Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon
tkttemplefair.org.hk/index_en.htm

John Legend

John Legend

Multi-platinum-selling singer/songwriter John Legend returns to Hong Kong this month as part of his Darkness and Light world tour. The 10-time Grammy Award winner will perform chart-topping singles from his latest album – which was streamed over 12 million times in the first week of its release – such as Love Me Now and Penthouse Floor. Loyal fans can also expect to hear Legend perform his popular classics, All of Me and Ordinary People. Accompanied by his full live band, this superstar is sure to put on a show-stopping performance. Grab your tickets while they last!

10 March, 8pm
Hall 10, AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau
HK$480-$1,280
hkticketing.com

Hong Kong Flower Show

Hong Kong Flower Show

Promoting cultivation and gardening, the annual Hong Kong Flower Show is a unique opportunity for locals and horticulture enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of nature while sharing tips and tricks for growing flowers. The dahlia – a striking blossom that comes in a range of bold colours and forms – was the flower chosen to represent this year’s theme of Joy in Bloom. Adults can browse through beautiful flower arrangements and plants, while children enjoy the music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations and much more.

16-25 March, 9am-9pm
Victoria Park
lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/

SÓNAR

Sonar Hong Kong

Considered to be one of the world’s most respected electronic music and arts festivals, Sónar returns to Hong Kong for a second edition. With its unique blend of electronic beats, creativity and technology, this legendary transplant from Barcelona is not your average music festival. It features established artists alongside emerging talents, as well as technology-centred activities such as workshops, talks, virtual reality and new media, made available through the Sónar D+ programme. If you are looking for something a little off the beaten track or an opportunity to meet new people in a fun and inspiring environment, Sónar is the place to be.

17-18 March, 11am-3am
Hong Kong Science Park, 2 Science Park West Avenue, Sha Tin, New Territories
sonarhongkong.com

Taste of Hong Kong

Taste of Hong Kong

Let your inner gourmand run wild at Taste of Hong Kong’s four-day culinary playground, offering a peek into Asia’s finest food and beverage suppliers. Choose from over 60 delicious dishes from a line-up of 20 restaurants including popular eateries such as Caprice, Little Bao and Pici, plus a number of newcomers such as Black Salt and New Punjab Club. Watch world-class chefs cook up a storm during live demonstrations, or join a number of interactive master classes and tastings. Still sticking to your 2018 diet resolution? Fret not – live music performances set against the stunning harbourfront backdrop are sure to suit everyone’s tastes.

22-25 March
Central Harbourfront Event Space. 9 Lung Wo Road, Central
HK$96-$678
tasteofhongkong.com

Asia Contemporary Art Show

Asia Contemporary Art Show

March is the ultimate month for art lovers. For one, the 12th edition of the Asia Contemporary Art Show will be returning to Hong Kong. The Spring 2018 iteration will take place at the Conrad Hong Kong, where displays of more than 2,500 exclusive pieces of art – including original paintings, limited editions, sculptures and photography – will span four floors. Don’t forget to check out the fun HK Liquor Store Art Night on 24 March.

23-26 March
Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. HK$250.
asiacontemporaryart.com

Art Basel

Art Basel

Asia’s premier art fair is back and will showcase an array of cutting-edge works by both established and up-and- coming artists. Gallery owners, collectors, artists and curators from all over the world flock to this prestigious three-day event. Fancy yourself as an art enthusiast? Whether you are drawn to paintings or film, digital art or sculptures, this is definitely one for the diary.

29-31 March
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai
artbasel.com/hong-kong

Box Office Bummers: A roundup of the biggest Harrison Ford flops

No one can deny that Harrison Ford has true star power. The actor’s iconic roles like Han Solo and Indiana Jones haven’t just established themselves in our collective zeitgeist; they’ve proven to be true box office hits year after year, movie after movie. (Read our homage to Harrison Ford here.) But actor’s path to silver screen success has been littered with some devastating box office bombs. Here’s a roundup of the worst Harrison Ford flops ever made.

4. Blade Runner (1982)

Surprised to see this cult classic on our list? Don’t be. Although it’s now considered a cinematic gem, the original 1982 release of Blade Runner actually bombed at the box office thanks to stiff competition from competing films like E.T. The movie cost US$28 million, and it only just broke even during its original run.

3. The Mosquito Coast (1986)

On the surface, this utopia-turned-dystopian family drama seemed intriguing and full of potential. But the finished product left so much to be desired that it actually lost US$10 million. Ford was overheard saying at the time, “It’s the only film I have done that hasn’t made its money back. I’m still glad I did it.” Be that as it may, this dud is still one of the biggest Harrison Ford flops to date.

2. Paranoia (2013)

The bubbling Harrison Ford-Gary Oldman chemistry so rampant in Air Force One was nowhere to be seen in this business thriller. Despite a rather hefty US$40 million production budget, the film only drew a paltry US$3.5 million in its opening week, and disappeared into obscurity soon after.

1. Crossing Over (2009)

Numbers don’t lie, and in the case of this crime drama, they paint a devastating picture. The movie cost an estimated US$19 million to make, and ended up pulling in just US$3.5 million. In fact, its domestic opening weekend only managed to scrape up US$80,000, putting Crossing Over squarely at the top of our Harrison Ford flops list.

Text: Tenzing Thondup