TWO made-in-Singapore movies and a foreign blockbuster are set to battle one another for box-office gold this Chinese New Year.

All are opening on the same day - Jan 22, the Thursday just before Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan 26 and 27. There is Love Matters, a movie by Jack Neo and Gilbert Chan about how three men relate to the women in their lives. The Wedding Of The Year, starring real life showbiz couple Fann Wong and Christopher Lee, is co-written and directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham, who founded local theatre company Action Theatre.

The big foreign import is Red Cliff 2, the historical epic directed by Hong Kong director John Woo. The first part was screened here in July. In recent years, Neo has released movies during the Chinese New Year season. These include Liang Po Po (1999), I Not Stupid (2002), I Not Stupid Too (2006), Just follow Law (2007) and Ah Long Pte Ltd (2008). All turned a profit.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times' Life!