Jian gui (2002)

Country of Origin: Hong Kong/Thailand/Singapore
Year of Production: 2002
Running Times: 110m
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: colour
Aspect Ratio:
Sound:

DIRECTION

Directors: Oxide Pang (real name: Pang Shun), Danny Pang (real name: Pang Sat)

CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Raintree / Applause Pictures / Moon Beam Co Ltd / Premier PR
Executive Producers: Eric Tsang, Allan Fung, Daniel Yun
Producers: Lawreence Cheng, Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Co-Producer: Udom Piboonlapudom
Thai Unit Producer: Ekarat Hiransharoen
Associate Producer: Jojo Hui
Production Manager: Wing Wai Chin
Assistant Production Manager: Eric Huen
Thai Unit Managers: Jittima Leelahawan, Panomkrit Udomsangpetch

SCRIPT
Script: Jojo Hui, Oxide Pang, Danny Pang

DIRECTION
2nd Unit Director: Sermpong Nimcharoenbong
3rd Unit Director: Boonlert Tohpratip
Thai Unit Director: Jaruwan Jitchaivisut
Assistant Director: Cub Chin

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Decha Srimantra
Steadicam Operator: Jimmy Wong
Thai Unit Steadicam Operator: Napat Sangqiang
2nd Unit Cameraman: Thongchai Epuminsat
3rd Unit Cameramen: Somsak Srisawat
Focus Puller: Chut Kumcharoen
2nd Unit Focus: Kultida Punfuk
Thai 2nd Unit Puller: Chantana Pung Pod
3rd Unit Focus: Vithaya Navathong
Thai 3rd Unit Puller: Sontaya Chuminjong
Camera Assistant: Kin Kwong Ho
Key Gaffer: Tha Wan Inpuwa
Gaffer: Michael Chui
Stills: Hung Fei Wong
Thai Unit Stills: Manaporn Thiparksate
Behind-the-Scenes: Panomkrit Udomsangpetch
Laboratory Consultants: Passakorn Yaisiri, Manop Petchyu, Sakchai Nuengsawad
Colour Grading: Patiporn Anuvanitravel
Camera Equipment: Toplight Engineering Ltd
Grip and Lighting Equipment: Sun Lighting and Grip Equipment
Telecine: Oriental Post Co Ltd
Processing and Prints: Kantana Animation Co Ltd
Film Stock: Eastman Kodak

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editors: Oxide Pang, Danny Pang
Assistant Editor: Panutat Wisetwomg
Negative Cutter: Sannucha Dhisayabutr, Suchart Hongsmut

MUSIC
Music: Orange Music
Violinists: Bangkok Symphony-Blind Musical

SOUND
Sound Designers: Oxide Pang, Sansab Team
Sound Recordist: Suwit Suparangsimakul
Boom Operator: Somsak Supakpong
Sound Engineers: Sitichai Srichaiyan, Payon Permsit
Mixing Engineer: Wachira Wongsaroj
Sound Effects: Sooksun Klinkhajohn, Somsak Pimpalai
Foley Recordists: Narong Krajoglium, Petpong Keawkoon
Foley Artists: Surawan Sricharoen, Nipa Wichusupaksirikul, Thanasak Julakate, Chart Mahapichayakul
Mixing Studio: Kantana Animation Co Ltd
Dialogue Dubbing Studio: Media Business Services Ltd

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Make Up: Yin Fung Cheng
Thai Unit Key Make Up: Komkrit Chugnum
Hair: Rachael Kwong
Costume Designers: Jittima Kongsri, Stephanie Wong
Costumes: Yu Ho Tang
Thai Unit Wardrobe: Tan Srieam, Santipab Danviboon, Thongyog Boonpalitpol, Teesawai Duangauam

VISUAL EFFECTS
Digital Visual Effects: Centro Digital Pictures Ltd
Digital Visual Effects Supervisor: Ronald To
Digital Visual Effects Producers: Pisit Likibunnakorn, Pison Santawanpas
Digital Visual Effects: Frankie Chung, Dr Pairoj Prempri
3D Computer Animation: Jack Ho, Angie Chan, Dennis Fong, Josephine Leung, Jaco Wong, Tommy Cheung
Digital Compositors: Atta Wong, Alex Yip, Vivian Cheuk
Model Builder: Wrawut Chunchom
Opening and Main Titles: King Ho Tse
Sequence: Mokana Wong, Manda Wai, Rubens Chiu, Wai Kit Leung
Optical Effects / Subtitles: Uthit Netwong, Sornrop Chankeewong

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Directors: Kritipas Suttinet, Simon So
Assistant Art Director: Penny Chan
Thai Unit Assistant Art Director: Anud Sanardhan
Property Masters: Wai Kin Lam
Thai Unit Property Master: Ahigsha Boonyuun
Thai Unit Propmen: Vallop Sudaysh, Thanin Wrong, Wnachai EFX - Banan Rig
Set Builder: Aorowan Maneerat
Storyboard Artist: Somsak Tantipongsa

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Sandy Ng, Nutcha Meansaiyad
Production Accountant: Rachel Lo
Production Assistant: Chung Yiu Yueng
QC Head: Pravit Jaivijit
Thai Translator: Alice Chan
Transportation: Chi Lueng Wun
Craft Service: Yuk Ha Lau
Violin Instructor: Min Bai

LOCATIONS
Location Manager: Ken Lui
Thai Unit Location Managers: Aanuway Sanaraadhan, Samart Tunsadee
Location Shooting: Advertiusing Production Co Ltd

CASTING
Casting Director: Wichean Reungwitchayakul

CAST

Angelica Lee (real name: Sin-Je Lee) (Mun)
Lawrence Chou (real name: Chow Chun Wai) (Wah)
Chutcha Rujinanon (Ling)
Candy Lo (Mun's sister)
Pierre Png (Eke)
Edmund Chen (Dr Lo)
Yut Lai So (Ying Ying)
Yin Ping Ko (Grandma)
Wang Sue Yuen (Ling's mother)
Ben Yuen (Mr Ching)
Florence Wu (nurse)
Miyuki Lau (Wah's secretary)
Ming Poon (boy with a cap)
Cub Chin (boy's father)
Winson Yip (Taoist)
Tian Nan Wu (calligraphy teacher)
Si Won Ho (ghost in the restaurant)
Yuk Ha Lau (waitress)
Pui Ho Jim (boy in car accident)
Sungwien Cummee (ghost in elevator)
Tassanana Nuntasaree (Ling (aged 4))
Damrongwiseeatpanich (Ling (aged 8))

PLOT SUMMARY

Mun has been blind since the age of two but undergoes a corneal transplant that restores her sight, but at a cost - not everyone she can now see are still alive...

Aided enormously by Angelica Lee's excellent central performance, The Pangs have take elements from The Sixth Sense (1999) and The Mothman Prophecies (2001) and create something that seems new and original. Rarely for this sort of thing, the ghosts are genuinely frightening - the old man in the lift is particularly creepy and the terrifying ghost in the classroom, demanding to know why Mun is sitting in her chair, is a real heart-stopper. What sets The Eye apart from the many other supernatural horrors currently pouring out of the east is the attention the Pang brothers pay to their characters. The film simply wouldn't work if Mun hadn't have been such a well drawn and sensitively acted character. We needed to believe fully in her before we could believe fully in what she was experiencing and the brothers, together with Lee, do a commendable job.The apocalyptic climax is as astonishing as it is unexpected, perfectly complementing the equally unpredictable beginning which caused some consternation among the crowd - the shock opening has been specially modified for the DVD release and has the same heart-stopping effect on the small screen! Look out for some of the directorial subtleties - the ghostly figures seen lurking at the edge of the frame, or the distorted face reflected in the windows of a speeding train.

Hong Kong
DVD Distributor: Panorama

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Metro Tartan Distribution

Hong Kong
Rating: IIA

TIMELINE

2002
May
9: Hong Kong - theatrical release

June
27: Hong Kong - DVD release (Panorama)

Eye, The

LINKS

SEQUEL
Jian qui 2 (2004)

REFERENCES

OTHER SOURCES

Metro Tartan press release

KEYWORDS

ghosts, surgery, blindness

Last Updated: 17 January, 2010