series 411: "c.i.b. files"

English Title: C.I.B. Files
Cantonese Title: Ying See Ching Bo Foh
Vietnamese Title: Hinh Su Tinh Bao
Casts: Bowie Lam, Wong He, Maggie Siu, Christine Ng, etc.
Length: 20 episodes (Cantonese) // 15 tapes (Vietnamese)
Release Date: August 2006 (Canto) // October 2006 (Viet)
Genre: Modern Drama/Investigation

Synopsis:
Brothers Chung Shun (Bowie Lam Bo Yee) and Chung Ching (Wong He) are both serving members of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau (C.I.B.) of the Hong Kong Police Force. Shun is responsible for technical espionage like phone-tapping and eavesdropping and the recruitment of informants while Ching is to conduct intelligence analysis and assessment. C.I.B. works closely with various units in tackling organized crime syndicates and has made a quiet yet significant contribution to the Force. Serving as Intelligence Officers is absolutely challenging and has put Shun and Ching under great stress. Their love and family lives have also been affected in some way.

Shun and Ching Mei Lai (Christine Ng Wing Mei) have been married for over ten years, but their relationship is no longer progressing as it should. Ching has rekindled his romance with Hui Sum Yin (Maggie Siu Mei Kei) after a string of break-ups and reconciliations. Yin is employed with the magazine for which Lai works. She puts her heart and soul into her job and never misses a chance to get the facts. Lai sees Yin, who is her subordinate, as a real threat to her own position.

The two of them, though not openly, are in stiff competition with each other...

Credits: TVFE Drama Warehouse

programme highlights '06 - issue iii

The third issue of TVB's Programme Highlights for 2006 has been released and BES has been so kind to have scanned it. To view the scans of the eight series slated for release soon, visit her blog here. Out of the eight, I'm definitely going to rent and have high expectations for four of the series.

Land of Wealth
(Moses Chan, Steven Ma, Sonija Kwok, Tavia Yeung, etc)

I'm disappointed that Wealth isn't going to be an anniversary series because it seems very promising. TVB put a lot of money into the production and I definitely like what I see from pictures and news. The costumes and scenery are lovely and the cast is very strong. I love all four leads. The storyline sounds quite interesting and I am an avid fan of this genre! I think there will be a lot of memorable moments.

The Price of Greed
(Bosco Wong, Sammul Chan, Shirley Yeung, Kate Tsui, etc)

Producer Tsui's second series since Virtues of Harmony II! First of all, I'm shocked at how quickly this series is releasing. Second of all, I want to ask Producer Tsui what is it with him and Shirley?! He casted Shirley in both The Biter Bitten and now this series. I really don't understand why. The female cast is quite weak. Shirley, Kate, and Vivien Yeo? Shirley has experience, but still not the talent. Kate and Vivien are still green. However, I do admit that they look quite nice in their costumes. I hope Kingdom Yuen will have a more serious role in this series. I'm disappointed that she gotten comedic roles after comedic roles. I like Sammul now and Bosco is quite good, so hopefully the guys will make up for what the girls lack in acting.

Greed looks very cool and I'm stoked reading the premises of the series. Sammul is super evil, Kate has a split personality, and Shirley is a mute and musical prodigy. I think this series will focus on the minds of people, so I'm quite intrigued. It should prove to be engaging and I know Producer Tsui won't let me down. To be honest, I'm surprised by his series since Virtues. Bitten was a mystery and now Greed is a suspense. I'm all for diversity and think he's a talented producer, but I hope his next series will be more signature of VOH because I think he's the best at doing those funny, warm, light-hearted family dramas.

Heavenly In-Laws
(Nancy Sit, Linda Chung, Joey Leung, Yuen Wah, etc)

The return of "Ma Chi!" I miss my Virtues of Harmony family dearly and I'm thrilled that each of them is making a comeback one-by-one. (Michael Tse had a big break with La Femme Desperado and Frankie Lam recently with Forensic Heroes.) I can't wait to see Nancy and Linda playing mother & daughter because I know they will have chemistry. I loved their scenes in VOH II. Linda looks quite adorable in this series too. The mythical/mortal idea seems a bit overplayed, but I hope Nancy and Linda will make the series worth-while and enjoyable.

The producer of this series has had big hits for TVB, most renowned are Square Pegs and Life Made Simple, so I hope this series will also be a hit. However, I'm not much of a fan of his series though. Actually, I don't like the genre of Heavenly much either. Period comedies can be/get pretty ridiculous and idiotic with the comedy. I'm a bit turned off by the Linda and Joey pairing too... Honestly, I don't expect much from this series because of the producer and genre, but I will watch it for Nancy and Linda.

War and Destiny
(Myolie Wu, Ron Ng, Sunny Chan, Leila Tong, etc)

I love these type of series. I anticipated it since I saw news of its production. The Chinese title is very lovely (Luen Sai Gai Yan - translated as "Turbulent Times of a Beauty") and the cast is good. Myolie says that her role is like Jang-geum (from the Korean mega-hit Jewel in the Palace). I really liked Jang-geum and I know that Myolie will do a great job with the portrayal. The costumes are nice and I adore tragic series. The only setback is Mandy Cho. However, I still think this series will be very good from production pictures and news. TVB has also invested a lot into this series and they haven't done a war-based drama in this time period for some time.

Series I'm passing on


Face to Fate (Frankie Lam, Raymond Lam, Tavia Yeung, Selena Li) - Another good versus evil costume series. (Yawns.) I hate the over-the-top special effects too. Although the cast is nice, I don't like the genre. TVB isn't good at making these type of series anymore and the storyline seems like nothing new.

Love Guaranteed (Sunny Chan, Melissa Ng, Paul Chun, Kenneth Ma) - Too typical and I don't like any of the cast members.

At Home With Love (Lawrence Ng, Yoyo Mung, Chung King Fai, Raymond Cho) - I will not listen to Sharon Chan's singing for twenty episodes! Besides, the storyline seems like the same old thing again and the cast isn't appealing.

CIB (Bowie Lam, Wong He, Maggie Siu, Christine Ng) - I know a lot of people are anticipating this series because the cast is very strong, but I'm just not interested at all. It's not my cup of tea.