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 发表:2003/2/12 16:36:10 人气:50       
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楼主 |
《英雄》在哪里？Where Lies Hero
In cinematic classification, most films fall into the two broadest categories, either they are art films or genre films. In Mainland China, art films are regarded as the orthodox and filmmakers, in their attempt to open up the international market for Chinese films, scale heights in the sphere of art films and attract attention in international film festivals. In genre films, however, the influence of Chinese films in international market is minimal, only Hong Kong productions can be said to have a foothold on the periphery. On the other hand, Ang Lee, the literary film director from Taiwan, was able to wow the world with the martial arts film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon not long before. He is a rare example of breaking into the international market through art films and then recruited by Hollywood to direct genre films. It is admirable the way he maintains his balance on the high-wire between art films and genre films.
The only time Zhang Yimou attempted to cross over to genre film, I think, was Codename Cougar (Puma Action) in his early days. He himself admitted it was a failure. The later Shanghai Triad, though superficially a genre film, is still essentially an art film. Hero, then, is his first proper genre film. It IS a genre film in every consideration, from story selection to casting. The assassination of Emperor Qin, a story of chivalry, is here told in a martial arts film format, with quite a lot of time given to martial fighting. Jet Li, the action star who has made a name in Hollywood, was cast from the very start. With the casting of Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, the China market, Hong Kong market and Western market were all covered. With an crew of international fame that includes Chris Doyle, Ching Siu-tung, Tan Dan and Emi Wada, it is an international blockbuster in every sense. This may have something to do with Bill Kong of EDKO., the investor and producer of the film, he also happens to be the investor and producer of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Though Zhang kept reminding us that the idea of Hero emerged before Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and he hesitated whether to shoot Hero right after the success of Crouching Tiger, it is only inevitable that audience and critics would compare Hero with Crouching Tiger, and Zhang with Lee. In my first viewing, I could immediately tell that they are two entirely different films. Though they may be produced and distributed in the same way, the end products are far from similar. Lee tries to tell a martial arts story in a Western narrative, and by so doing, shortens the distance between the Western audience and a very Chinese story and the Wuxia world. Zhang, on the other hand, has no patience in such cultivation. Hero, as has been his attitude all along, was shot "for the Chinese audience". His attempt to please the Western audience lies in the shots and the action sequence. The series of choreography, under his and Ching Siu-tung's collaboration, are indeed stunning. This is also Ching's best action direction in recent years. In fact, Western audience would not be unfamiliar with the Rashomun-style storytelling, though not the same can be said about the chivalry spirit, the theme of the film. Still, Zhang does not attempt to simplify it for the market. His integrity as a director is laudable, but such insistence in genre films is risky, because, in genre films, the only yardstick for success is the box office.
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爱我就给我，毫无保留！！！
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