Chapter 678 Kung Fu Movie

In 1999, there was a joke circulating in the Hong Kong film circle: There was a madman, holding a script in his hand, running around the streets, looking for the bosses of major companies, hoping that they could invest 68 million to make a movie called "October" Victoria City" film.

What was the concept of 68 million at the time?

In 1999, the box office of the highest-grossing Chinese film "The King of Comedy" was only 29.8 million. 68 million is more than two "King of Comedy" films.

What do you need so much money for?

This lunatic wants to build the most prosperous area in Hong Kong in 1906, Hong Kong Central, in a 1:1 ratio, and then film a movie in it.

This move was undoubtedly considered abnormal by many people at the time.

Just do some math and you’ll know: If you invest 68 million in a movie, you need at least 200 million in box office to get your money back!

This stuff is so difficult!

The madman was unmoved and insisted on building a city.

Oh, this madman is Chen Desen.

At that time, the title of the movie was still "October Victoria", which was the "Victory" of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong.

Later, after watching it, Shen Xudong said that since it is an action movie, it is better to use the word "siege" to surround it, and it sounds more bloody, so the movie was officially renamed "October Siege".

In fact, in 2003, "October City" was almost completed.

Tsang Hsien-kee, the vice president of Hong Kong Bank, liked the script very much and stood up to support him. He spent money to build the Central City in Foshan. Then SARS struck, and then Tsang Hsien-kee went bankrupt and committed suicide...

Moreover, Chen Desen was implicated in Zeng Xianji's incident, and he was taken to court by the bank.

What's even worse... After his mother learned of her son's predicament, she was so angry that she suffered a stroke and turned into a vegetative state. His sister was diagnosed with cancer.

A series of changes caused Chen Desen to encounter a car accident while driving out. Lying on the hospital bed, looking at the cold ceiling, he felt that the world had nothing to do with him.

But life has to go on, and I returned to filmmaking in 2004, with two works, "Children's Dream" and "Ghost Story"...

But the response was mediocre.

Last year, Shen Xudong contacted him through Zhong Lifang and told him that he wanted to invest in "October Siege".

Chen Desen was not very convinced at first - he had been rejected too many times.

Zhong Lifang found him and directly made a condition: We will help build the city and spend another 80 million to build it...

Chen Desen asked Chen Kexin for confirmation, and then learned about Jiahe's strength and readily agreed...

"The filming will start in July, and eight months will be reserved for post-production. It will be released during the Lunar New Year next year. Are there any questions?"

"...There is one, the actor who plays Sun Wen..."

"Can't Ma Shaohua do it?"

"Of course he is fine. We would like to invite the Hollywood makeup team to help with makeup..."

"casual…"

Shen Xudong thought of something and asked Chen Desen: "Jing Tian, ​​have you auditioned?"

"I tried it...it's very suitable. She is also willing to do some martial arts training three months in advance..."

"That's no problem..."

With Da Tiantian joining the cast, "October Siege" will not be short of money!

Turning around and asking Donnie Yen: "Donnie, what's the matter?"

"...In "One Man's Martial Arts", I was wondering if the villain could find Wrinkle Zhaolong?"

Shen Xudong smiled: "Of course you can play Wrinkle Zhaolong, but... he is not very willing to cooperate with you!"

Ugh, it was so painful to be beaten...

Action actors are human beings too!

"But can Wang Baoqiang do it?"

"You can try... He has been a martial arts stand-in before..."

…

Oh, Shen Xudong actually doesn't have much idea about "October Siege".

Of course, he knew it was a good movie!

But to be honest, for a long time, Shen Xudong didn't like reading modern history. It was frustrating and annoying. Ancient history is so good, we are so awesome, we are number one in the world.

As for modern history...it's full of humiliation!

Later, I gradually became interested, because only by reading modern history can I realize how amazing the people who have been striving for China’s tomorrow since the late Qing Dynasty are.

Although everyone has their own imagination of justice and future, and although not everyone is favored by the times, they represent the possibility of progress.

But in the field of film and television dramas, we lack space to explore, media issues are missing, and social platforms are narrow. It sinks into the depths of the ocean of drama, model dramas, and entertainment.

Even in the Shitu Group, everyone discusses history, mostly about the Han Dynasty, Ming Dynasty or Yuan Dynasty, and few people discuss modern history...

Once you start making trouble, you will be banned by the responsible administrator!

From this perspective, it is difficult for the movie "October Siege" to achieve high box office.

Moreover, there has been a work of similar type before - "Shanghai Thirteen Taibo".

Directed by Zhang Che, starring Wang Yu, Jiang David, Ti Lung, Chen Guantai, Cheng Tianci, Jiang Sheng and others.

Released in 1984, it tells the story of Mr. Gao, a patriotic man who was dissatisfied with the traitorous behavior of the Wang Puppet Government during the Anti-Japanese War and prepared to take the news from Shanghai to Hong Kong to make it known to the world in order to expose the truth about the Wang Puppet Government's traitorous pursuit of glory. On the road to the dock, there are many traps and murderous stories.

Well, it’s the same type as “October Siege”!

A group of positive characters fought to the death against the bad guys one by one in order to protect a core character, and they inevitably killed their opponents and then sacrificed their lives.

"Shanghai Thirteen Taibo" brought together a large number of stars under Zhang Che at that time, including Andy Lau, who was not yet famous, and came to make soy sauce...

"The Thirteen Taibao, one man is in power. The prodigal rich man, the instructor Kuai Dao, the student master, the bear, tiger, eagle and leopard, can't escape with glasses, cigarette holders, and spears." These so-called instructors, Kuai Dao, prodigal sons, etc. are all the identities of the Thirteen Taibao - or in other words It’s a name”

Later, there were also thirteen Taibos in "Great Expectations": Nan Xiaodu, Bei Laojiu, the Thirteen Taibos were invincible, the beggar coach Na Sanshao, the coachman master Xiao Aqiao, the blind man, the drunkard, the black and white impermanent dragon, tiger and leopard...

The ratings and online broadcast volume of "Great Expectations" speak volumes!

Back to the topic, the reason why Shen Xudong is willing to invest in "October Siege" is not only because the drama itself is good, but also mainly because he wants to define "One Man's Martial Arts"...

"One Man's Martial Arts" is really unique!

The core is actually that chivalry uses force to break the law.

In the movie, this is reflected in two places, one is Donnie Yen's identity as a police coach and the other is Feng Yuxiu's Tang Qianyan.

No matter how you say martial arts, it is just a personal practice. You can never fight against the system. You must either join the system and accept recruitment, or become a tang yan.

Joining the system is actually a very traditional way: after learning martial arts and joining an imperial family, Xia Houwu became a police coach;

Yan in front of the hall is Feng Yuxiu’s ideal.

The so-called Tang Qian Yan has a long history. During the Qing Dynasty, masters from all walks of life participated in the martial arts competition, and the loser would get a Tang Qian Yan.

"One Man's Martial Arts" can be said to be a martial arts film that is both typical and atypical.

The typical example lies in the good-looking fighting, from the action scenes to the martial spirit, the obsession with fighting, and the exploration of life and death, there are traces to follow.

Fight from start to finish: punch first, then grab, then grab, five weapons and one internal skill...

What is atypical is that all the martial arts characters in the movie are in a retreating posture, either devoting themselves to art or hiding in the market. Even Xia Houwu, the most talented person, was imprisoned for three years for accidentally killing someone...

Moreover, Xia Houwu was a "model prisoner" for three years in prison, until the war came unexpectedly and put his junior sister in danger.

In previous kung fu movies, or action movies, the formula was established: in the final stage, the protagonist will definitely wake up, beat up the extremely vicious opponent, retaliate with tooth, and use violence to fight violence!

But... in "One Man's Martial Arts", the protagonist is destined to not be able to solve the problem by "tit for tat".

What to do?

The original version of "One Man's Martial Arts" did not give an answer, and arranged for Lu Xuanxin, who had been playing soy sauce before, to kill Feng Yuxiu...

Feng Yuxiu, a martial arts master who killed people with his bare hands and even the armed police were helpless, was shot dead by the police!

This doesn't end well...