Our Picks for the Weekend Star-Bulletin staff

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FILM

'Oooh, fight, fight!'

That's the operative phrase in this month's Showdown in Chinatown film challenge. All short films of four to seven minutes must include a fight scene. Ever since the theme was announced last Friday, eager independent filmmakers have had a week to write, shoot and edit their pugilistic, cinematic power shots.

You can see the results Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at downtown's NextDoor on Hotel Street.

Admission to the 18-and-over event is $10 general and $5 students with valid ID. For more info, go to showdowninchinatown.com.

Ka-pow!!

MUSIC

Everybody loves Marley

The celebration of the birth of a reggae icon Wednesday continues this weekend with the Fourth Annual 3 Sexy Guys Ultimate Tribute to Bob Marley Friday at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, located on Farrington Highway.

This year's all-star lineup is headlined by Alpha Blondy, Morgan Heritage, Tanya Stephens and Marlon Asher, and includes other out-of-town guests Public Property, Jennifer Johns, and Young Fyah with Key Choice, plus local mainstays like O-shen, Rebel Souljahs, Irie Love, Ooklah the Moc, Most High and Red Degree.

Presale tickets are $30 for the 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday blowout, available at the park, the University of Hawaii-Manoa Campus Center, the Blaisdell Center box office, all Hawaiian Island Creations locations, all military ticket outlets, and online at both going.com/

3sexyguysoahu and presaleticketsonline.com.

For info, call 674-9283, ext. 111.

FILM

Join the Academy's club

The Honolulu Academy of Arts kicks off a special program for true film aficionados called Friends of Film Friday.

Every month, film and video curator Gina Caruso picks new releases of foreign, independent and restored classic films to be screened at the Doris Duke Theatre. Guest speakers, to include critics, filmmakers and topic experts will introduce each film and lead post-screening discussions.

This Friday, Edgy Lee, filmmaker and founder of Pacific Network TV, will present the 2005 Chinese film "Sunflower," directed by Zhang Yang. Starring fan favorite Joan Chen, it's a powerful and touching look at the inner dynamics of one post-Cultural Revolution family in Beijing and their struggle over 30 years to adjust to each other as the fabric, politics and social mores of Chinese society rapidly change.

Limited-number membership to this special film group is still available. Go online at friendsoffilmfriday.com for more information.

FILM

Football at Sunset

With one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history still fresh in our memories, here comes the Pro Bowl all-star game at Aloha Stadium on Sunday, with all its related events, including this weekend's Sunset on the Beach in Waikiki.

Screening this weekend are "The Game Plan," the Disney family comedy starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, on Friday, and NFL highlights of the past season Saturday.

Live entertainment includes, on Friday, Son Caribe, with special performances from "Hawaii Stars" contestants, and Saturday's Pro Bowl Block Party features the Air Force Band of the Pacific-Hawaii, Beach 5, Mana'o Company, Lifehouse and Natural Vibrations.

Food booths open at 4 p.m., with screenings starting just after sundown.

For more information, call 923-1094, or for Pro Bowl events, 233-4635.

FOOD

Good Luck Chinese Restaurant

Chinatown Cultural Plaza, 100 N. Beretania St. / 524-9988

Being Chinese American comes in handy at the time of the Lunar New Year. I get to celebrate the Western New Year, but if it starts out badly, I feel I have a second chance.

Of course, the gods may be monitoring what you put on your table, so choose wisely. In case they're overworked, I thought I'd make my needs perfectly clear by heading to Good Luck Chinese Restaurant at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza.

The restaurant is not new, and that shows in carpeting that has definitely seen brighter days. But as any frequenter of local restaurants knows, godly appearances are not a requisite for good food.

I prefer the regular menu to the dim sum menu here. There are a number of "Good Luck" dishes including crab ($26) with ginger and onion, casserole ($10.95), chow mein (with seafood, $6.95) and chicken ($9.50) that was boiled like ginger chicken ($9.50) accompanied instead by a mixture of five spice-seasoned salt and oil.

Of course, you must order the symbolic jai, or monk's food. Wishes for a long life are conveyed through its long strands of mung bean threads. Should you write this off as mere superstition, consider that the Chinese are among the longest-lived people in the world. Census statistics have revealed they also outlive every other ethnic group in Hawaii.

Gingko nuts in jai represent precious metals and good fortune; fried tofu brings blessings to your house; snow peas foster unity; and black mushrooms welcome spring and the opportunities it brings. Somehow, I believe we're all gonna need it.

Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Prices about $10 to $15 per person for dinner.