Related News
War movie plays with history
By Xu Wei |
April 24, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S box office has undergone a slight downturn in the few past months but historic war epic "The Warring State" looks set to heat things back up this month.
The film costs more than 150 million yuan (US$22.95 million) with a cast including Sun Honglei, Kim Hee-sun and Francis Ng.
Set during China's Warring States Period (475 -221 BC), an era of turbulence and wars, the movie revolves around the rivalry and confrontation between two famous military strategists, Sun Bin (Sun Honglei) and Pang Juan (Francis Ng).
They studied military strategy together before Pang became a top military general for the Wei State. However, Pang was jealous of Sun's talent and framed him for treason. He imprisoned him but Sun later escaped and served as a military strategist and commander in the Qi State and defeated Pang's army at the Battle of Guiling and Battle of Maling.
After six years preparing the script, director Jin Chen brings the household story to the big screen for the first time. Jin's directorial debut "Love in the Internet Age" won him the New Director award at the eighth Golden Rooster Awards.
"We're trying to show ancient Chinese military strategy and intelligent tactics," Jin says. "However, in addition to portraying the cruelty of war, there are also elements of romance and friendship in the movie."
Actor Sun Honglei has vividly depicted a variety of characters on screen, from wisecracking playboy to reserved agent. But as he claimed, Sun Bin has been his toughest role so far.
His far-flying long hair in the film has shocked and amused fans, but Sun says he wants to break down the stereotype of the strategist as a handsome gentleman, instead, he could be childish, sensational and eccentric.
"The character is very different from my own personality," Sun adds. "I am a quiet and introverted person in real life, but Sun Bin is outspoken and vivacious."
After its release last Tuesday, the film was criticized by some audiences for its lack of respect for historical facts.
Some of its scenes are not based on history. In the movie, Sun Bin commits suicide after seeing the bloody cruelty of war, while Tian Ji, the general of Qi, was portrayed as a spy serving the interests of the Wei State. There is also too much romance and too many fictitious characters in the film.
Director Jin shrugs off such criticism, adding that the film is a commercial production rather than a historical documentary.
"What we're trying to present is an exciting, touching and easy-to-understand story," Jin explains. "The story is loosely based on history. But considering the taste of the modern audience, it is necessary to make some changes to the historical details."
The film costs more than 150 million yuan (US$22.95 million) with a cast including Sun Honglei, Kim Hee-sun and Francis Ng.
Set during China's Warring States Period (475 -221 BC), an era of turbulence and wars, the movie revolves around the rivalry and confrontation between two famous military strategists, Sun Bin (Sun Honglei) and Pang Juan (Francis Ng).
They studied military strategy together before Pang became a top military general for the Wei State. However, Pang was jealous of Sun's talent and framed him for treason. He imprisoned him but Sun later escaped and served as a military strategist and commander in the Qi State and defeated Pang's army at the Battle of Guiling and Battle of Maling.
After six years preparing the script, director Jin Chen brings the household story to the big screen for the first time. Jin's directorial debut "Love in the Internet Age" won him the New Director award at the eighth Golden Rooster Awards.
"We're trying to show ancient Chinese military strategy and intelligent tactics," Jin says. "However, in addition to portraying the cruelty of war, there are also elements of romance and friendship in the movie."
Actor Sun Honglei has vividly depicted a variety of characters on screen, from wisecracking playboy to reserved agent. But as he claimed, Sun Bin has been his toughest role so far.
His far-flying long hair in the film has shocked and amused fans, but Sun says he wants to break down the stereotype of the strategist as a handsome gentleman, instead, he could be childish, sensational and eccentric.
"The character is very different from my own personality," Sun adds. "I am a quiet and introverted person in real life, but Sun Bin is outspoken and vivacious."
After its release last Tuesday, the film was criticized by some audiences for its lack of respect for historical facts.
Some of its scenes are not based on history. In the movie, Sun Bin commits suicide after seeing the bloody cruelty of war, while Tian Ji, the general of Qi, was portrayed as a spy serving the interests of the Wei State. There is also too much romance and too many fictitious characters in the film.
Director Jin shrugs off such criticism, adding that the film is a commercial production rather than a historical documentary.
"What we're trying to present is an exciting, touching and easy-to-understand story," Jin explains. "The story is loosely based on history. But considering the taste of the modern audience, it is necessary to make some changes to the historical details."
- 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.
