Fooling Huayu for Thirty Years

Chapter 530 We must not forget the essence of "Thunderstorm"! This is truly a war!
clap clap clap...

The applause was thunderous and prolonged. The creators of "Curse of the Golden Flower" went on stage to interact with media personnel and online film critics.

Needless to say, many people are praising him; just look at Zhang Yimou's face, which is covered in countless wrinkles from smiling.

Ma Xun sat motionless in his chair, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

It really was changed like that!
To be honest, Ma Xun was a little worried before seeing the finished product.

He was worried that Zhang Yimou would be outwardly compliant but inwardly disobedient, saying he would agree to revise the script but actually not doing so.

In fact, this movie, "Curse of the Golden Flower," was indeed criticized by many film and television content creators as being utterly worthless.

Many later film critics gave this movie very harsh criticism.

However, from Ma Xun's perspective over the past twenty years, almost no one has been accurate in their criticism.

Simply put, many people's criticisms of this movie focus too much on the large monster and other obvious points that are worthy of criticism.

Basically, none of them grasped the 'key' point that truly deserves criticism!
Conversely, in the original version of "Curse of the Golden Flower" in the original timeline, the film was named one of the ten best films of the year by Time magazine after its release.

This is Time magazine, and it was even nominated for an Academy Award, albeit only for costume design.

But you must understand that the Oscars are a reflection of American values, and Chinese films rarely get nominated.

So, why is this happening?

Let's get straight to the point: why do many Chinese film critics think this film is bad, while Americans think it's good?

Ma Xun personally believes that the key 'point' lies with Lu Dahai!
Many people underestimate the character Lu Dahai, including many academic scholars.

We need to first look at what the original work, "Thunderstorm," is all about.

In fact, Mr. Cao Yu himself admitted that he drew inspiration from the American play "The Thunderstorm".

There are many similarities in the plot, but the biggest difference, which is also the most essential part, is the difference.

It's this Lu Dahai!
Lu Dahai in "Thunderstorm" is the biological father of Zhou Puyuan, the worst capitalist in the book, and his biological mother is Lu Shiping.

Lu Shiping was seduced and then abandoned by Zhou Puyuan. They had a relationship when they were young, but Zhou Puyuan abandoned her for his own interests, and not just any ordinary abandonment.

Even after their second son was born, Zhou Puyuan cruelly abandoned him.

And this child was the later Lu Dahai.

"Curse of the Golden Flower" is adapted from "Thunderstorm", so the corresponding character is the second prince, Yuan Jie.

However, Lu Dahai and Yuan Jie are different. Lu Dahai went with his birth mother, while Yuan Jie was born to the Queen, played by Gong Li.

This change is so drastic that it has almost destroyed the most essential part of "Thunderstorm".

Indeed, in Ma Xun's interpretation, the most essential and progressive aspect of "Thunderstorm" is embodied in the character of Lu Dahai.

Why did he make this conclusion?
The principle is somewhat simple, but it is straightforward enough.

The play "Thunderstorm" was then presented!

For example, "Shura Yukihime".

The male protagonist in this movie has a father who is the biggest villain, and the protagonist's job is to start a newspaper to denounce his father's crimes and help the female protagonist kill his biological father.

He eventually died along with his father.

In fact, the male lead in the movie "Shura Snow Princess" was really rough and stiff, but the movie still caused a great sensation back then.

Because many people understand this after seeing it.

This movie isn't actually about a son killing his father; it's about class issues.

Even under such extreme circumstances in the movie, the protagonist was able to make the right choice; he chose justice.

So, what about you guys in real life?

That's right, this is what makes a meaningful film.

To be honest, back then, many people could understand "Thunderstorm".

But as time went by, it was long forgotten.

Because over such a long period of time, many later artists have offered their own interpretations of the classics.

Ma Xun scoffed at the original version of "Curse of the Golden Flower"!
Ma Xun could even put it more bluntly: he thinks Zhang Yimou is a bastard!
This director, Zhang, changed the most essential part of "Thunderstorm".

In fact, we should also look at "Curse of the Golden Flower" fairly.

Don't let the villainous characters in this movie distract you; the film's aesthetics are worth watching.

In terms of costumes, from Ma Xun's perspective over the past twenty years, the fact that it was nominated for an Oscar at least shows that it was of a very high standard.

Indeed, it is visibly magnificent.

The royal attire was a striking gold, and even Gong Li, the international film star, was covered in gold dust.

This arrangement is indeed symbolic.

That is, the royal life was extremely luxurious.

However, if our great director could provide more elements, such as some contrasts.

It would be great!
For example, the contrast between the extravagance of royal life and the suffering of the common people... in fact, only a few shots are needed.

However, our great director did not do that.

The reason he filmed these scenes and highlighted the extravagance of the royal family was actually for one purpose.

It serves as a backdrop for this power struggle.

Look, only by winning in the struggle for power and profit can one continue to enjoy this unimaginably luxurious life!

Okay, Ma Xun admits that this is his own interpretation.

But the problem is that these extravagant shots, this royal scene with its gold background and bright red and purple accents, can only be interpreted in this way.

So, how else can we interpret this?
That's the only way. And it corresponds to the Zhou family's extravagant spending in "Thunderstorm".

It's a kind of magnification.

But the same problem remains: despite careful planning, beautiful images were captured.

It's like a beautiful pavilion, but unfortunately it's suspended in the air.

That's out of touch with reality!

Because there are no ordinary people at the bottom of society to support them.

Since we can't see the lives of ordinary people in this movie, this is the only way we can understand it.

Is it really that difficult to make a comparison?

Do not!
Ma Xun remembers a movie that came out twenty years later, but it wasn't directed by a classically trained director.

But the film made a very clever arrangement, a very simple yet very strong contrast.

That is, after going through many hardships, the male protagonist finally delivered the fresh lychees.

But these lychees are just a small portion of many rare and exotic fruits!
Such a technique is absolutely brilliant!
So, is our great director really inferior to a director who switched careers without formal training?

Whether you put your heart into it or not is the key.

Now let's talk about what happened back then.

For example, "War and Peace" from back then.

When Hollywood finished filming, the Soviets took a look... and... the Soviets were in the Soviet Union!
So the Soviet Union made its own version of "War and Peace," using the country's best director and actors, and employing 300,000 troops...

Why make such a huge investment?

Make money?
No, this is a war on a different level! They have to correct many things.

Unfortunately, this approach couldn't last, as Hollywood was releasing one film after another.

The final result is already quite obvious.

This really is a war!
A very dangerous war, and one that the West harbored malicious intentions from the very beginning!
Zhang Yimou's original version of "Curse of the Golden Flower" completely changed the progressive young man Lu Dahai into the brainless second prince Yuan Jie.

He simply listened to his mother and launched a palace coup that was completely meaningless.

The original movie is essentially a story of palace intrigue and power struggles from beginning to end.

There's no other support.

For example, how many civilians would it take to support so many soldiers in their bright armor?

How is the economy of the country under this king's rule? Is there a good harvest in agriculture? What is the situation of the people?
None!

It's a complete conspiracy drama built on nothing but castles in the air.

What can the audience see?
human nature?
Human nature without economic and cultural backgrounds is extremely empty.

These are the key reasons why "Curse of the Golden Flower" deserves the most criticism!

Back to the present, Ma Xun has gained an opportunity to preserve Lu Dahai as much as possible.

However, this is all Ma Xun can do.

The film itself has limitations in length, and if Yuan Jie hadn't stayed in the imperial family, he wouldn't have been able to acquire military power relatively easily.

Therefore, Ma Xun could only make some minor modifications.

In the process of Yuan Jie's growth, his biological mother was present. In fact, Zhang Yimou simply set him up as the queen's son.

His birth mother taught him the true principles of being a person and dealing with people.

As he grew up, Yuanjie led troops in the field and learned about the hardships of the local people, which allowed him to connect with them.

That's how the scene of the people loving and respecting him came about.

Last but not least, the most crucial one.

Yuan Jie's uprising was not for his mother!

This is the most critical.

In the original version, Zhang Yimou simply portrayed the character as charging forward for his mother... To be honest, that made the character seem rather silly.

Of the three sons in the original "Curse of the Golden Flower," the second one is definitely the most clueless.

And so, this is how it is now.

In fact, Ma Xun's adaptation also turned the final ending into text.

That was the kingdom of the king in "Curse of the Golden Flower," which fell due to a peasant uprising!
Don't underestimate those subtitles; in fact, they preserve the progressiveness of "Thunderstorm".

As for the rest... Ma Xun felt Hao Lei and Gong Li's gazes.

Clearly, the two of them had a lot to ask each other.

Unfortunately, right now I can only use my eyes, but I can't look at them too much; I have to keep it to myself.

Ma Xun could guess what they would ask; it would definitely be about adapting the script.

But about this, hehe... Ma Xun believes in Zhang Yimou.

as predicted!

When a reporter asked about the script being altered.

Zhang Yimou answered as follows: "For the scenes involving the second prince, I took the advice of Mr. Ma Xun. As everyone knows, Mr. Ma is quite skilled in screenwriting. Back then, he used the pen name Ma Bangde..."

Okay, this guy did tell you about the adaptation!
Ma Xun knew that Zhang Yimou wouldn't take responsibility for this, because with "Curse of the Golden Flower," Zhang Yimou was definitely still thinking about competing for an Oscar and making a splash in the United States.

So, the one who changed this wasn't me, Zhang Yimou, but Ma Xun!

It must be said that this great director is still clear-headed and quite resourceful.

It's okay, I'll take responsibility for this.

Many media people were about to rush to Ma Xun's side, but he simply waved his hand.

"I was just very interested in the play 'Thunderstorm' and offered some suggestions."

Four taels is worth a thousand pounds!
This can be considered a very perfect response.

If you're looking to dig up some news, you'll have to wait.

Well, we'll have to wait until the movie is actually released to see how moviegoers react.

However, since they were professional media personnel, some of them immediately asked some rather 'strange' questions.

"Mr. Ma, someone saw you and Ms. Hao Lei riding in the same car before, regarding this matter..."

Good grief, you want to gossip with me at a time like this?
Ma Xun laughed and said, "We know each other. Miss Hao Lei used to be one of my stars. Her car broke down that day, and I gave her a ride. What's wrong with that?"
Don't make a fuss.

That response was even better!

Gossip, please? I admit it.

However, I only admit to riding in one car; I don't admit to anything else.

In this way, these media professionals become even more interesting.

They went straight to Hao Lei's place.

"Yes, my car broke down that day."

What else do you want to ask? Sorry, I won't answer any of those questions.

Now that this gossip has been released, is this the end of the story?
They generated a lot of buzz, but managed to control it.

These two guys are definitely something.

Fortunately, the media reporters didn't ask too many questions about these things.

After all, the next one is "Fearless".

But before the movie even started playing, Hao Lei received a text message from Ma Xun.

"The movie 'Fearless' was also ruined by Jet Li's remake."

I ask you, why was the TV series "Huo Yuanjia" so popular back then?

Why is it so popular?

Hao Lei's mind went something like this in an instant... Oh my god!

Hao Lei finally understood why Ma Xun said this version of "Huo Yuanjia" was no good.

The TV series "Huo Yuanjia" was a huge hit across the country back then because it embodied national spirit and inspired national integrity.

Hao Lei herself can relate to this. Although she was young at the time, she was really inspired by that show.

And now...

Hao Lei couldn't help but look at Li Lianjie, and she found that this superstar was still full of confidence.

That makes things even worse; he probably wasn't ready to accept defeat.

Although the movie hasn't been officially released yet, it's probably already at a disadvantage.

She couldn't help but look back at Ma Xun, only to find that he was also looking at her and even smiling.

(End of this chapter)