by HUEY WONG

CHOW YUN FAT IS ABOUT TO BURST ONTO WESTERN CINEMA SCREENS IN HIS MUCH-AWAITED ENGLISH SCREEN DEBUT AS AN ASSASSIN WITH A CONSCIENCE IN THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS. SINCE HIS FIRST COLLABORATION WITH FAMED DIRECTOR JOHN WOO IN A BETTER TOMORROW, PART ONE, AUDIENCES HAVE COINED CHOW "ASIA'S MOST SUAVE ACTION HERO." NETVOICE DISCOVERS THAT THE MAN LIVES UP TO HIS REPUTATION: CHARISMATIC, COOL, PERSONABLE, AND RATHER FUNNY.

If Chow is proud of his success, he hides it well. even though he stands at six feet and over, he never allows himself to be intimidating. Despite his huge popularity, he's a "man of the people". Among the many other Asian actors in Hollywood, he see himself as just a new kid on the block. But his fame in Asia precedes him, and it is the contrast between super-star status and his down-to-earth nature which struck the crew of The Replacement Killers (TRK). They often comment that they have never come across a big star who digs into his own pocket to treat the entire cast and crew to dinner, or volunteer to shift props and light fixtures around. Chow's humility and hard work, sprinkled with a delightful sense of humour, has already given him a solid reputation as a "delight to work with" in Hollywood. While American critics at the test screening of TRK applauded Chow's performance, the real litmus test for the actor will be his acceptance by the American audience.

Commenting on his role as to whether yet another Asian-killer role merely reinforces the negative stereotype of Asians portrayed in Western films, Chow said, "It's hard to look for an identity for the Asian actors. As a newcomer, without any experience, you still have to play your typical types in Hollywood. As an actor, you don't really have a choice - an actor is merchandise." But Chow has been selective about the role which would launch himself in the US market. It's understood that he turned down a number of roles, most casting him as a Chinatown gangster, before accepting his role in TRK as an angst assassin trying to turn his life around. "First you must allow others to see your film, to see if it is any good. If they respond positively to the image of a killer, I would continue to do it - at least show the audience my image and my confidence. Then they will give you a chance to do something else." In Hong Kong, Chow is well remembered for his comedy roles and dramas, and sees himself as somewhat of a romantic hero-type actor. The Replacement Killers is Chow's first opportunity to work for a big-budget movie. But he insists the US$26M budget was not what attracted him to the movie: "The performance and the experience [of working in Hollywood are more important than the money," he explained.

Chow admits that the biggest obstacle to breaking into Hollywood was the language. Chow, who could barely speak English 18 months ago, has been working daily with dialogue coach Judi Dickerson and now appears comfortable in his new tongue. However, Chow's best mode of communication is still his body language - Woo describes him as having "very elegant physical language" and TRK'S director, Antoine Fuqua, is quick to laud him as a "man with a million expressions. "

Chow's humble days working as a hotel clerk and camera salesman back in the seventies are now far behind him. He's one of Hong Kong's richest and most successful actors, but who does he attribute his success to? Chow clearly believes he has created what he is: "Even though the audience will always give me the support, for an actor, the script contains only dialogue. But through my explanation and my acting, I can make dialogue become a true story. How can I attract them? How can I make them believe I am the hero, that I am sad or happy? Even though everything is in the script, when it comes to the screen, it is nothing. What matters is your heart."

Although Chow is concerned about the connection between violence in film and violence in reality, he feels the action and drama of Hong Kong movies attract Western audiences who cannot understand the Cantonese dialogue. Still, he would like to see more non-violent movies by filmmakers and the continuation of film education, particularly in Hong Kong.

Although a number of Hong Kong's leading filmmakers and actors have emigrated to the us, Chow has no intention of leaving his home country. He's even pitched in, at no charge, to film a spot for the Hong Kong Tourist Association. Chow is seated at the famous Peninsula Hotel, and apparently tells viewers they can find anything and everything they want in Hong Kong.

Chow sees his foray into Hollywood as an ambition come true: "I still have a lot to learn. I am like a kid in a new town. Everything is interesting and exciting and new, I will have a drive to learn and inquire. I am an actor. I want a good role. I want to give a good performance. I have a good attitude, good discipline. I can handle it just do my job and stick to what they want me to do."

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