tearjerker director

Chapter 440: Men should strengthen themselves

"One Knife, Allure" succeeded.

Naturally, many people shouted that martial arts are back.

After seeing the success of "One Knife" and those who analyzed the reasons for the film's success, they began to discuss the possibility of martial arts movies being successful in this era.

As a result, the attitude was hesitant!

After all, everyone knows that Li Yi's movies are very representative, but at the same time they are not universal.

For example, the original "[-] Angry Men" had many imitators and followers. Was it really successful?

"Twelve Angry Men" can be tried and imitated relatively easily, but for a movie like "One Knife", the threshold is actually relatively high.

First of all, "One Knife Allure" is not only about the plot, but also about the action scenes. The lineup is absolutely "luxurious"!
Secondly, don't forget that with the addition of Li Yi's movies, Li Yi's name itself already has appeal that no star in the country has.

Finally, threshold, threshold, threshold!

A single scene in "[-] Angry Men", with several people talking around one thing, can be said to be the film type with the lowest threshold.

But "One Knife, Allure" is different.

Martial arts movies have never been said to have no threshold.

The most critical part is the action design. Wuxia, martial arts, and plot are responsible for martial arts, but who is responsible for martial arts?
For this type of movie, the threshold is undoubtedly very high.

So "One Knife, Allure" did make martial arts seem to have a comeback for a moment, and then nothing happened again.

It is not like "[-] Angry Men" which attracted countless imitators after its release.

What's interesting is that once upon a time, the threshold for imitating and following trends seemed to be very low, but today, the threshold for imitating and following trends is no longer low.

After all, in the golden age of Hong Kong Island, most of the imitators and followers were actually relatively powerful film companies in the industry.

Nowadays, as the domestic market begins to become more rational, relatively speaking, the threshold for movie promotion and distribution has also been raised a lot. In Hong Kong back then, why was it that after a popular movie came out, there were so many follow-up movies? ?
Moreover, the time from filming to release is very short. Firstly, this is because Hong Kong Island itself is not big. It can be said that it is just a city. And look at those people who are imitating and following the trend?

They are all those related to theater chains, or at least those who can easily get movies to theaters to imitate and follow suit.

If you try it now, even if it is to make a movie that is almost the same as "One Knife", but without Li Yi's connections, influence and appeal, I'm afraid it won't even make it to theaters.

Yuan Baye and others, who originally had high hopes for "One Sword, Allure the City", did not expect that although "One Sword Allure" was successful, the market would remain the same as before.

It seems that everyone is still stuck in the impression that martial arts are dead and "One Sword Allure" is just a throwback.

In fact, Li Yi didn't think there was anything strange about this result.

Likewise, Zhao Guangming didn't think there was anything strange.

So when Yuan Baye asked about it at the crew's celebration banquet, Zhao Guangming said with a smile: "If this movie was not made by Li Yi, do you think your Yuan family class and Yu Lao could be invited to "One Knife to Fall the City"?"

"If it hadn't been made by director Li Yi, the theaters of "One Knife, Allure" might have arranged the film, but it would never be like what it is now!"

"So, in the eyes of many people, the success of this movie is not the success of martial arts, but the success of Li Yi's works."

"For this reason, it can be said that Director Li is the one who succeeds, and Director Li is the one who fails, unless..." Zhao Guangming said, looking at Li Yi with a half-smile.

"Why are you looking at me? If you have anything to say, just say it!" Li Yi touched his nose and said helplessly.

"Unless there's another one! It'd better be of the same type!" Zhao Guangming said with a smile.

Everyone couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Actually, have you noticed that when martial arts movies or kung fu movies become really popular, they all have one characteristic?" Zhao Guangming said again at this time.

"What do you mean?" Yuan Baye hesitated.

"It's an actor!" Zhao Guangming said.

From the earliest kung fu movies to the last era of kung fu movies, it can be said that they all have very obvious characteristics, that is, kung fu stars.

Everyone was suddenly enlightened.

A martial arts movie, no, it should be said to be a kung fu movie, in fact, it really is.

Because the past martial arts movies and kung fu movies actually had very obvious characteristics, that is, the actors in them could at least fight and had martial arts skills.

But what about now?
It can be said that how many people in the entertainment industry have martial arts skills?

"What do you think of Wu Jun?" Master Yuanba suddenly asked.

"Do you think he has the potential to become a new kung fu star?" Zhao Guangming asked.

Master Yuan Ba ​​nodded and said: "Yes, I think he has the qualities of a kung fu star. Of course, Zhao Qian is also good."

"But it has potential, but it's useless! Without good works, they can't act." Zhao Guangming shook his head.

Then both of them looked at Li Yi in unison.

"Don't look at me! Even if I have that intention, I can't make it without a good script!" Li Yi actually felt that it would be interesting to recreate martial arts or kung fu movies.

Martial arts movies are a unique cultural characteristic of China, and the same is true for kung fu movies.

The word Kung Fu was spread from Hong Kong Island to overseas through movies.

Therefore, Kung Fu movies are also a relatively unique culture in China.But as Li Yi said, without a suitable script, he couldn't film it.

"Actually, I have some ideas. For example, Wang Wu is a character with a prototype in history. So, can we think about filming other stories about Wang Wu, or in other words, filming people who are somewhat similar to Wang Wu? Stories about famous people?" Zhao Guangming said.

"Huo Yuanjia? Huang Feihong? Ip Man?" Master Yuanba immediately called out three names.

Not to mention, these three are all real martial artists in history, and they are all real people.

However, the people he mentioned have actually made quite a few Hong Kong films.

Li Yi, on the other hand, was startled for a moment, mainly because when Master Yuan Ba ​​mentioned these names, Li Yi suddenly remembered a few movies.

Not to mention, there are actually movies somewhat similar to "One Knife".

What's interesting is that the screenwriter of the movie about Once Upon a Time is actually the same as that of "One Knife".

Of course, there are still differences between the two. Compared with "One Knife, Allure", the Once Upon a Time series seems to highlight the role of "Once Upon a Time" more prominently.

Moreover, the "Once Upon a Time" series also explores the changing points of the old and new eras. The role of Aunt Thirteen can be said to be the highlight of the "Once Upon a Time" series.

Li Yi became a little obsessed as he thought about it, because it can be said that "Once Upon a Time" is really the world in Li Yi's memory. It is one of the few martial arts series, and it is the most successful martial arts series. Of course, this refers to The ones are the first three.

In fact, the movie that is almost the same as "One Knife" is "October Siege".

However, Lin Xi prefers the "Once Upon a Time" series!
Because the "Once Upon a Time" series truly achieves both chivalry and serving the country and the people.

It’s also more commercial!

It can be said that this series of movies is not only an innovation of new martial arts, but also a reflection on the collision between China and the West.Foreigners are unreliable, the court is unreliable, gangs are rampant, internal strife is rife, reputation is in vain, what can the people rely on?There is only "self-improvement".

"What do you think of filming Huang Feihong?" Li Yi asked with a smile.

"Huang Feihong?" Everyone looked at Li Yi with some surprise.

"Yes, I think Huang Feihong's era is more interesting. Compared with Huo Yuanjia, Ip Man and others, Huang Feihong's era can be said to be the transition of the old and new eras, and it is also a period of Chinese and Western culture. Era of Collision would be more interesting to film.”

"Do you have any ideas for the script?" Zhao Guangming asked.

Li Yi nodded, but he was thinking about which one to shoot.

The first "Top Gun", the second "Men Should Be Strong", and the third "The Lion King" can be said that each one has its own theme.

Moreover, in Li Yi's opinion, the really interesting part of Huang Feihong lies in the setting of the characters.

First of all, the era in which Huang Feihong lived was on the edge of the confrontation between Eastern and Western cultures.He should be a frustrated character rather than an invincible character, because on the one hand he cannot escape from traditional ideas and on the other hand he is shaken by Western ideas.

And regarding Huang Feihong, he is very different from many martial arts characters.

For example, Wang Wu, in fact, his character development is not that deep. In other words, in "One Sword Allure", neither Wang Wu nor Tan Sitong put much emphasis on the character development of their characters.

But the portrayal of Huang Feihong in "Once Upon a Time" is very interesting.

First of all, Huang Feihong does not look like a traditional martial arts master. The Huang Feihong portrayed in the movie looks more like a 'naughty boy' at first glance. So how to make such a 'naughty boy' make people intuitively feel that he is a master of a generation? ?
This is a great test for martial arts instructors!
The original martial arts action design is very eye-catching. His moves do not necessarily have to conform to the martial arts methods, but each move must be beautiful and enjoyable, making people feel that he is a master at first sight.

Li Yi himself was thinking about it. The more he watched it, the more he liked it. It can be said that Huang Feihong in this series of movies is really special.

His "naughty boy" setting is not very vain or exaggerated. On the contrary, this setting is based on his persistence in traditional concepts and being influenced by Western ideas. He often has this "twisting" Only then did he show his non-serious side.

Of course, what I have to mention here is the heroine in the movie, the role of Thirteenth Aunt.

It can be said that the role of Aunt Thirteen is very different from the heroines in many martial arts films.

Because of martial arts and martial arts, most of our usual martial arts films belong to the feudal era. After all, martial arts are often presented in ancient costumes.

Therefore, the heroine in a martial arts film is the one who dares to love and hate in traditional concepts.

But without exception, even the heroes and heroines in martial arts films are actually very reserved when it comes to relationships.

The role of Thirteenth Aunt is a white, rich and beautiful woman who has returned from studying abroad. She has the generosity and enlightenment of modern Western women, but also the conservative elegance of traditional Chinese women. She is the perfect lover and the dream lover.

But her role is not just that. She is the most colorful character in the whole movie except Huang Feihong, and she is an indispensable character.Holding a Western camera, wearing light-colored European clothes, tall figure, fair skin, and almost flawless face, from the very beginning not only the identity and background of the character were clearly and concisely displayed, but also left a deep impression on people, almost It makes people feel that if there really was a Thirteenth Aunt in history, she would be her.Aunt Thirteen received a relatively good Western education in the UK and has a strong ability to accept Western modernization and the new things it has produced. From the moment she returned to China and entered Huang Feihong's life, she was destined to have a lasting impact on him. influence.

Eastern Guangdong was one of the first areas to be opened to colonists. After decades of development, Western people, things, and tools have begun to have a certain effect. However, no one around Huang Feihong has really been exposed to the West or has been to the West. , and someone very close to me, at this moment Aunt Thirteen came back.

Immediately afterwards, Western clothing, Western food, Western etiquette, Western language and Western machines came one after another, coming into Huang Feihong's daily life, subtly affecting this traditional Chinese man.It can be said that Aunt Thirteen is the most direct pair of eyes that opened Huang Feihong's eyes to the world. She brought the products of Western modernization into Huang Feihong's life and habits. She was Huang Feihong's eyes to understand the new world, and also the eyes that opened Huang Feihong's heart. The bridge between deep tradition and modern civilization is whether it is advancing or retreating. Although it cannot be changed in a short time, it has quietly changed unconsciously.

As for Thirteenth Aunt, Huang Feihong refused at first, then hesitated, struggled, and then faced it calmly. This was not only the process of traditional ethics and love struggling in Huang Feihong's heart, but also what Huang Feihong represented to Thirteenth Aunt. The process of Western civilization from disgust to suspicion to exploration to inclusive learning is a process of transition from tradition to modernity. In her, Huang Feihong saw the result of the interweaving of Chinese and Western civilizations, and starting from the breakthrough of traditional Confucian ethics, Huang Feihong has taken a big step forward.

This pair of male and female protagonists is also the most special pairing in the movies that Li Yi has ever seen.

Huang Feihong is undoubtedly a grandmaster, but for our past concepts of a grandmaster, most of the time, it is older people. It seems that only older people can become a grandmaster. Naturally, we have a concept of love and love for a grandmaster. Drama, these are rarely covered.

After all, we came to see a great master fight, to see his martial arts, not to see him fall in love.

It seems that a master and love are completely insulators.

But Huang Feihong and Thirteenth Aunt were different. Huang Feihong was a great master, but he fell in love with Thirteenth Aunt. Well, the taste suddenly came out.

Of course, Aunt Thirteen in the movie is not just a "person". Her effect on Huang Feihong, the people around Huang Feihong, and even the entire movie have gone far beyond the category of "person".

　Revisiting the Once Upon a Time series is really delicious!
　　It's a pity that it's really hard to see movies like this nowadays.

　　(End of this chapter)