Hong Kong movies, as well as those made in Taiwan, have been and to large part still are projects done in a short time frame with strict (very strict) budget controls. The director on the set is a dictator--no tech unions--but little control over the script (unless he wrote it) or the cast. So a star and director might wind up working with people they don't particularly like.
Another interesting aspect of Shu Qi's career is that is less type cast than many Hong Kong/Taiwan actresses--she moves between light comedy, slapstick, action, melodrama and other stuff quite easily. Her chameleon-like talent sometimes works against her, making her seem shallow and superficial.