Asian Beauty Appreciation

Today I’d like to offer tribute to one of the biggest and most beautiful Asian stars. After all, this is the Asian Beauty Appreciation Blog. I’m talking about Kelly Chen. She’s starred in movies, released a couple of dozen music cds, has appeared in live concerts all over Asia to sold out stadiums, and auditoriums.

She’s done TV commercials and has appeared in print ads in many major publications in both Hong Kong and Japan. Her most recent appearances in the media are about her latest role – becoming a mother.  Kelly and hubby Alex Lau had their first child, a boy, in July.

For this article, I’m going to present a look at Kelly Chen in the movies. While no one is going to call her the next Meryl Streep, her career in the movies have provided many, many hours of enjoyment.

We’ll present them alphabetic order, and this is not intended to be an all inclusive list. Kelly has appeared in more than these that I’ve chosen to offer you a look at. But either I’ve not seen them, or I don’t have the DVD, and I don’t feel that I can offer up a proper opinion or perspective. I’ve also decided that ordering them alphabetically offers a more varied view of Kelly than if I ordered them by release date.

And I Hate You So (2000)

One day, newspaper columnist Luna Ng (Kelly) wandered into a neighborhood antique store. To her chagrin, there she found an old record album that she had given to her first lover many years ago. She was shocked and dismayed to find that her affectionate gift had been discarded. When she asked to buy it, she was told that someone else had already put a down-payment on it. So Luna asked to speak to that person on the phone, but he turned her down, as he was a radio DJ with his own show, The Vinyl Courier, and he needed that album.

That night she heard him on his radio show making fun of her. So she struck back with a vituperative column of her own – and the war of words began. Of course, this being a romantic comedy, you just knew that when any two people detest each other at this level – before they’ve even met face to face – that for certain, they’ll end up together. The fun is seeing how this is going to play out.

This is one of my favorite movies. Kelly has been asked to portray Luna as less than stylish, self-centered, klutzy, and with a messy and cluttered apartment, and that’s being kind. But yet, you feel compelled to root for her against her antagonist, DJ Cheung played smartly and deftly by Aaron Kwok. This movie has parts that are concerned with some secondary characters that won’t interest you, but on the whole you’ll enjoy this one.

Anna Magdalena (1998) –

A delightful rom-com spiced with a touch of drama and fantasy from the great UFO studio. Kelly plays a new tenant in an apartment building and the two men who live on the floor below both fall in love with her.

This is not to say that it happens easily, or overnight, or even without lots of anger, but it does.

The title refers to the wife of classical composer Johan S. Bach, and the movie is structured into four parts like the 4 movements of the beautiful piece of music that Bach wrote for his wife, Anna Magdalena.

This is a most enjoyable film experience that began as a love story and developed into much more. Kelly’s co-stars are Aaron Kwok and Takeshi Kanishiro both of who will co-star with Kelly in more than one movie.

Breaking News (2004) -

A very creative 7 minute opening sequence with no cuts at all begins this cops vs. the bad guys thriller by the elite Hong Kong director Johnny To. When some daring and ruthless gunmen make good an escape even though they were under police surveillance as part of a huge stakeout, the media happened to capture it on video and it became every TV stations lead story that night. The HK police were humiliated.

Enter Detective Rebecca Fong (Kelly Chen) with her own plan to not only capture the bad guys, but to have it all broadcast live on TV to redeem the honor of the police force. But the bad guys led by Richie Ren have a few tricks up their sleeves as well. The cat and mouse game continues as the police have cornered the thieves in a large apartment block.

This film is well made, though not entirely believable. But Johnny To has cast a few of his characters against type. For example,  comic actor Nick Cheung played against character as a rough and tumble cop on point chasing the bad guys. Johnny To regular Lam Suet, usually seen as a gangster or crook, played a nice guy with two kids who somehow finds himself and his family caught right in the middle of the action. This isn’t really Kelly’s film as she too plays against type. But this film is worthwhile for a good look at Johnny To’s artistry at helming a film.

Calmi Cuori, Appassionati (2001) -
aka Between Calmness and Passion

They became lovers when both were students at a Tokyo college. They swore     that no matter what, they would meet atop the Duomo in Florence, Italy, on her 30th birthday.

Forces drove them apart, and without either of them knowing about the other, each of them ended up in Italy.  She in an elegent boutique jewelry shop in Milan, and he as an art restorer in Florence.

Somehow they find each other. But each is in a new relationship. He’s heart-broken as he never lost his love for her. He flees back to Tokyo, but is unable to forget her. Will they or won’t they end up together again?

Kelly and co-star Yutaka Takenouchi as the the star-crossed lovers look great as do the multiple on location settings in Tokyo, Milan, and Florence. The story is touching, and beautiful to look at. Well worth your time.

The Empress and the Warrior (2008)

Kelly plays Yen Feier, the daughter of the Emperor. When he dies from a battle wound, she must not only take over the kingdom, but also lead the king’s troops into battle.  And off they go.

However, the new Empress is in a treacherous position, as others with high ambitions in the deceased Emperor’s retinue plot her downfall. That always seems to be the case whenever there are swords and soldiers in play.

While seeing beautiful Kelly Chen clad in full armor, swinging a sword, and fighting with her own troops may not be the ideal role for her – this is still a fun movie.  Once Kelly sheds her armor, the movie changes gears completely.

Especially when she meets the mysterious doctor/warrior played by Leon Lai. This is where the director decides to give us a break from clanging swords and thrusting spears. The doctor lives in a tree house to die for, and while you can’t even begin to imagine how this single man might have constructed such a place, you’ll soon forget that and you’ll begin to concentrate on the lush and beautiful cinematography as the ‘love story’ part of the movie begins.

Infernal Affairs (2002) & Infernal Affairs III (2003)

Infernal Affairs is a trilogy. Kelly Chen appeared in both 1 and 3 as psychotherapist Dr. Sum-Yee Lee. In Infernal Affairs the basic story is about a mole from the Triads, Ming, played by Andy Lau who was planted in the police department long ago. A cop, Yan, played by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, had been planted by the police as spy inside the Triad, also a long time ago.

Andy Lau and Tony Leung

Circumstances stemming from each mole tipping off each side, Police and Triad, have alerted each side that there is a spy in their midst. So Ming and Yan have been instructed to ferret out the identy of the spy.

The cat and mouse and thrilling race toward the identity discoveries  is so good that as a whole, these movies are considered to be among the best movies ever to come out of Hong Kong. In fact the Infernal Affairs (1) was re-made in the USA under the direction of Martin Scorcese, and was released as The Departed.

While Kelly’s role is expanded in 3, they’ve clearly made this into an dramatic role. Kelly’s good looks are kind of subdued in both films, but she handles her role as the therapist flawlessly.

Lavender (2000)

Kelly stars in this romance/comedy/fantasy as Athena, an aromatherapist in Hong Kong whose lover Andrew has died. She’s morose and depressed drifting through her days.

One night during a rainstorm, an angel, yes an angel, crashes from the sky to her balcony. He’s been weakened by a loss of love in his own angelic life. The angel is played by Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Will the heartbroken Kelly be able to nurse him back to good health so he can again be bound for heaven, or will there be complications. Watch this engrossing film to find out.  You’ll also enjoy the section when Kelly and Angel go off to the south of France to acquire some lavender plants.

Lost And Found (1996)

This was Kelly Chen’s 1st lead role. She plays a New York educated girl. She’s the daughter of a well-to-do shipping magnate. One day in Hong Kong, she watches a man whose name is That Worm, dig out three lost wallets from a trash receptacle. Elated with his find, he runs off to a tea-shop across the street, and in doing so he leaves behind his cell phone.

She picks it up and follows him to the tea shop. After he is able to offer concrete proof that it is his phone, we find out that he is in charge of a lost-and-found agency – sort of a poor man’s Private detective only without the glamour usually associated with such an occupation.

Turns out that Kelly’s character, Lam, needs to make use of his services. So they team up. This is yet another pairing of Kelly with Mr. Kaneshiro. She’s looking for a lost love, a Scottish sailor named Ted, played by actor Michael Wong, who also appeared as the other lover in Calmi, Couri, Appassionati.

But Kelly is also looking for one other thing.  She has also lost hope. This is a very warm and touching film and Kelly made quite an impact in this role.

Summary: She been attracting fans for years. Me? I’ve been hooked ever since watching And I Hate You So on DVD years ago. I hope you too will appreciate this lovely Asian Beauty,  Kelly Chen.