Meow (2017 film)

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Meow
Meowfilm.jpg
Film poster
Traditional Chinese 喵星人
Simplified Chinese 喵星人
Hanyu Pinyin Miāo Xīng Rén
Jyutping Maau1 Sing1 Jan4
Directed by Benny Chan
Screenplay byHo Miu-kei
Poon Chun-lam
Produced byBenny Chan
Starring Louis Koo
Ma Li
Jessica Liu
Andy Wong
Narrated by Sammy Leung
CinematographyEdmond Fung
Edited byYau Chi-wai
Music byWong Kin-wai
Production
companies
One Cool CMC
Emperor Film Production Company
Gravity Pictures Film Production
iQiyi Motion Pictures (Beijing)
PJ One Cool Film
Pomelo Film Company
Dalian Erdong Filming and Culture
One Cool Ocean Films
One Cool Film Productions
Distributed byEmperor Motion Pictures
Release dates
  • 14 July 2017 (2017-07-14)(China)
  • 20 July 2017 (2017-07-20)(Hong Kong)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Language Cantonese
BudgetUS$14.5 million [1]
Box officeUS$7.1 million [2] [3]

Meow is a 2017 Hong Kong science fantasy comedy film directed and produced by Benny Chan. It stars Louis Koo as a father who adopts an alien cat who is sent to invade Earth. Co-produced by Koo's One Cool Group Limited, the film is also Chan and Koo's sixth film collaboration as director and star respectively. [4] and it was one of the last films directed by Benny Chan during his lifetime.

Contents

Plot

In the distant corners of the universe, a planet of alien cats known as "Meow" exists whose creatures are more civilized than earthlings. Thousands of years ago, the king of Meow has been sending messengers to inquire the Earth, hoping to prepare for an invasion. However, over the years, every messenger sent to Earth never returned forcing the king to put aside his plans.

Today, the king decides to re-ignite his plan and selects the bravest and mightiest warrior of Meow, Pudding, as a vanguard to Earth. However, during the journey, Pudding loses a divine Meow device that can resist the particles of Earth and loses his divine powers. As a result, the lean-built Pudding becomes a giant fat cat Sai-sai-lei. Sai-sai-lei is then adopted by as a pet by a family consists of Ng Sau-lung (Louis Koo), his wife Chow Lai-chu (Ma Li), their elder son Ng Yau-choi (Andy Wong) and younger daughter Ng Yau-yau (Jessica Liu). Sai-sai-lei has no choice but to hide in the Ng household before finding his device to invade Earth. In order to start the invasion, Sai-sai-lei plans to cause chaos to the Ng family but after living and getting along together, Sai-sai-lei is moved by the family's love and sincerity and loses his desire for warfare. However, one day, Sai-sai-lei suddenly recovers his device.

Cast

Production

Development

According to the first behind-the-scenes featurette released, producer and director Benny Chan stated the story of Meow was initiated by star Louis Koo when the latter told Chan he wanted to make a film about cats which resulted in Chan having the idea about cats from another planet. [5]

Special effects

In order to create the film's titular cat, Sai-sai-lei (犀犀利), three special effect companies were used to create over 1,000 special effect shots. [4] Of the three special effects companies, two of them were local Hong Kong companies while one of them was South Korean and they were responsible for separately creating the CG for Sai-sai-lei's head, lower body and entire body. [6]

Release

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Hong Kong (SPCA) held a charity preview screening of Meow on 16 July 2017 at The Metroplex cinema located in the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre to raise funds for animals that were abandoned, cruelly treated or injured in accidents [7] before being theatrically released in Hong Kong on 20 July 2017. The film was also released in China on 14 July 2017. [8]

Reception

The film has grossed HK$2.2 million in Hong Kong [3] and CN¥44.76 million in China. [8]

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References

  1. Lau, Shirley (14 March 2017). "FilMart: Emperor Slate Headed by Benny Chan's 'Meow' Fantasy". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  2. "Meow - Box Office Mojo".
  3. 1 2 "喵星人-票房收入-香港偶像劇場".
  4. 1 2 "LOUIS KOO AND BENNY CHAN SPEND EVERYTHING THEY HAVE ON FEEDING MEOW". 17 April 2017.
  5. "《喵星人》製作特輯01: 喵星起源!!". YouTube .
  6. "Cinespot 動映地帶:喵星人". Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  7. "《Meow》Charity Preview Screening Ticket Order".[ permanent dead link ]
  8. 1 2 "喵星人(2017)". Cbooo (in Chinese). Retrieved 22 July 2017.