New take on legend
By Xu Wei |
May 1, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FILMMAKERS Alan Mak and Felix Chong are well-known for their typical Hong Kong-style crime thrillers such as "Infernal Affairs" and "Overheard." But this time they have taken a bold new stab at the costume drama genre.
"The Lost Bladesman," which opened in cinemas on last Tuesday, stars Donnie Yen as the Chinese general and hero Guan Yu and Jiang Wen as renowned warlord Cao Cao. The film are in Chinese with English subtitles.
The historical action movie is set during the turmoil of the time of the Three Kingdoms (AD 220-280). The legendary life of Guan has been put on stage and screen many times, reinforcing the respect for Guan as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness.
However, unlike the chronological biopic storytelling methods used in those productions, "The Lost Bladesman" looks at Guan's life, nobility and bravery from the perspective of Cao, who has mixed emotions about Guan. On one hand, he is fearful of Guan's bravery and fame. But he also admires him and is the one who truly understands him.
The film mainly centers on the chapter in Guan's life when he is held captive by Cao and has to make a perilous journey to escort his master Liu's family home, known popularly as crossing five passes and slaying six generals.
"We've been wanting to make a movie like this since 2003," says director Mak. "We are enthusiastic about the 'The Romance of Three Kingdoms.' The characters depicted in the novel are divided into two groups: good and evil. But we believe that a person has a very complex personality."
Therefore, although Guan was deified by ancient Chinese people for his loyalty and battle victories, Mak and Chong try to present him as a very different and far more human character in the movie.
Guan has a hidden love and unspeakable romance for Qi Lan, the wife of Guan's master and sworn brother Liu Bei. The hero is also an ordinary man with true emotions, weaknesses and romantic links with women in the film.
Additionally, Jiang portrays Cao vividly as an ambitious hero although he is characterized as a cunning villain in many historical works.
At the end of the film, when Guan is killed by warlord Sun Quan's troops, Cao expresses the directors' own summary of Guan and his legendary but tragic life.
"Apparently Guan is a wolf, but he has the sympathetic heart of a goat; in the wild world of wolves, he is finally used and killed by a group of real wolves in sheepskin."
"The Lost Bladesman," which opened in cinemas on last Tuesday, stars Donnie Yen as the Chinese general and hero Guan Yu and Jiang Wen as renowned warlord Cao Cao. The film are in Chinese with English subtitles.
The historical action movie is set during the turmoil of the time of the Three Kingdoms (AD 220-280). The legendary life of Guan has been put on stage and screen many times, reinforcing the respect for Guan as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness.
However, unlike the chronological biopic storytelling methods used in those productions, "The Lost Bladesman" looks at Guan's life, nobility and bravery from the perspective of Cao, who has mixed emotions about Guan. On one hand, he is fearful of Guan's bravery and fame. But he also admires him and is the one who truly understands him.
The film mainly centers on the chapter in Guan's life when he is held captive by Cao and has to make a perilous journey to escort his master Liu's family home, known popularly as crossing five passes and slaying six generals.
"We've been wanting to make a movie like this since 2003," says director Mak. "We are enthusiastic about the 'The Romance of Three Kingdoms.' The characters depicted in the novel are divided into two groups: good and evil. But we believe that a person has a very complex personality."
Therefore, although Guan was deified by ancient Chinese people for his loyalty and battle victories, Mak and Chong try to present him as a very different and far more human character in the movie.
Guan has a hidden love and unspeakable romance for Qi Lan, the wife of Guan's master and sworn brother Liu Bei. The hero is also an ordinary man with true emotions, weaknesses and romantic links with women in the film.
Additionally, Jiang portrays Cao vividly as an ambitious hero although he is characterized as a cunning villain in many historical works.
At the end of the film, when Guan is killed by warlord Sun Quan's troops, Cao expresses the directors' own summary of Guan and his legendary but tragic life.
"Apparently Guan is a wolf, but he has the sympathetic heart of a goat; in the wild world of wolves, he is finally used and killed by a group of real wolves in sheepskin."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
