In Too Deep

China's biggest movie flop to date, and 750 million yuan down the drain

Wow what a waste of money.

The most expensive film made in China at 750 million yuan (US112 million) was yanked from screens after it flopped spectacularly on opening weekend, making only 49.05 million yuan.

Called Asura, the fantasy film was backed by big names like Alibaba Group Holding, Zhenjian Film Studio, and Ningxia Film Group, and starred Hong Kong actors Carina Lau Kar-ling and Tony Leung Ka-fai, as well as 19-year-old teenage heartthrob Wu Lei.

Tony Leung Ka-fai (second left) and Carina Lau (third to left)

But the producers made the shock announcement on the film's Weibo account, saying they gave their "deepest apologies to viewers who did not get a chance to watch the film, as well as to all the Chinese and international participants who were involved in its production over the past six years".

Oh boy.

There were some 2,500 people involved in the making of the film, that was shot in Qinghai, Ningxia and Hebei provinces, while 15 months of post production was done in the United States.

Thank goodness the trade war wasn't happening then...

Asura was based on Buddhist mythology, but it seems the story line wasn't compelling enough to viewers, as it only got 3.1 out of 10 from 10,950 viewers on the Chinese film review website Douban, and 6.4 on ticketing provider Maoyan's website.

The film was in post production in the US for 15 months

Meanwhile, Asura's competition, Hidden Man, directed by actor and director Jiang Wen, that also opened on July 13, raked in 341 million yuan.

Another case of China's bid to throw gobs of money at something with the expectations it will succeed, but in fact the opposite is what happens. Apparently Asura was the first of a trilogy... guess the other two are canned now?

Fashion Statement

Nick Cheung's bold fashion choice for best actor

Director Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmaster swept the Hong Kong Film Awards last night with 12 prizes including best film, best director and best actress.

However, it was Nick Cheung Ka-fai who won best actor for Unbeatable, a movie about a former boxing champion down and out on his luck and trying to conquer hardships.

When pictures of him with a six-pack went viral, people were not only in awe that the 45-year-old actor could achieve this, but this meant that any other man who put his mind to it could get the same Adonis body.

Cheung worked out for nine months to achieve this body!

But preparing for the role of Ching Fai was suffering, Cheung says. He worked out in the gym for three hours everyday for nine months, and ate only egg whites and boiled chicken or steamed fish.

Not an easy act to follow.

And so it's not surprising Cheung won the best actor award for all his sacrifices.

His choice of wearing a white tuxedo -- tailor made from Ermenegildo Zegna no less -- was a bold one, though from the pictures here the trousers look a bit on the short side, or is it the black shoes that throw us off?

Men's magazine GQ says pairing a white tuxedo with a black bow tie and shoes is appropriate, though in this case perhaps wingtips in black and white might have been snazzier?

Is this outfit stylish or too risque?

On the women's side Carina Lau Kar-ling's halter outfit by Ralph & Russo seems to be missing some fabric below her hips... or are we too conservative?