POP STOP

Andy Lau's advice on how to improve the film industry has backfired, and understandably. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

The 10th Pusan International Film Festival started last week with Hou Hsiao-hsien's (侯孝賢) latest movie Three Times (最好的時光) as its opening film. The 3,200 tickets for the film sold out in less than 14 minutes, proving Hou's attraction to the South Koreans. The leading lady Shu Qi (舒淇), startled the festival organizers by asking for sick leave from the opening ceremony at the last minute. Insiders said the star wasn't sick at all, but deliberately failed to attend in protest at the less-than-five-star treatment accorded her at the festival.

Female Robin Lee's (李芸蟬) The Shoe Fairy (人魚朵朵) has also been selected for the festival's competition section this year. But at a promotion event in Pusan, the media's attention turned to Hong Kong actor Duncan Chou and his arrest for drug use one month ago. The star turned the press conference into a show of public repentance, pleading tearfully with the public to give him another chance. The film's leading lady, Vivian Hsu (徐若瑄), didn't get to say anything about the movie, and could only play the considerate colleague who passed tissue paper to Duncan every five minutes.

Huang Hsiao-lei says she's in love, but insists she has no boyfriend. Confused? She is. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

Jackie Chan's (成龍) comment on Hong Kong's lackluster film industry backfired last week. Local media interpreted Chan's attack on Hong Kong's cinematic influence as advocacy of a boycott. Chan later explained he was commenting on the growing production gap between Hong Kong and South Korea and urged the public to support local movies.

Suzanne Hsiao's surgeon is going for Jennifer Lopez's butt. You heard it here first. PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES

Hong Kong entertainer Andy Lau (劉德華) joined the fray by floating the idea of a new movie featuring five megastars (Jackie Chan, Tony Leung (梁朝偉), Stephen Chow (周星馳), Chow Yun-fat (周潤發) and of course himself to boost the local film industry. Director Johnnie To (杜琪峰) ridiculed the idea as stupid and childish.

Actor/singer Leon Lai (黎明) is another guy who wasn't too keen on Lau's idea. "I'm not one of the five megastars, so I'm not in a position to make any comment," Lai was quoted as saying in a local Chinese-language daily.

Supermodel Hsiao-lei (洪曉蕾) was spotted making out with her wealthy boyfriend (王世均) on busy Da'an Street in Taipei last week. The beauty is still denying the romance despite the publication of photos clearly showing the pair necking. But the model-turned-TV show hostess did reveal her wish to marry, sooner rather than later, and retire from showbiz to live happily ever after. Looks like the modelling world will lose one of its pretty girls.

But fear not, Lin Chih-ling (林志玲) is going to be back soon. Three months after falling from a horse in China, the supermodel was spotted looking in tip-top condition after a trip to Thailand. Lin said she felt a lot better after her holiday and would be ready to resume work soon.

Controversial Suzanne Hsiao (蕭淑慎) recently made a public announcement on her penchant for plastic surgery. She has had her eyes and ears done, and expressed satisfaction with her doctor's handywork. The plastic surgeon enthusiast has been encouraging her friends and relatives to go under the knife. The star said her next move is to have her buttocks remodelled to look like Jennifer Lopez's fine assets. Hsiao's doctor has already promised her that he would travel abroad to seek the right material for her perfect-butt-to-be.