Peninsula All Media reporter, Huang Jingfei
"I have always believed that kung fu movies or action movies are the greatest essence of Chinese movies. In fact, there is no such action drama in the world." Nicholas Tse admits that Hong Kong-style action movies have influenced the global film industry. In the movie "Customs Front", Tse was the action director for the first time.
Even though the previous work was clearly called "Anti-Corruption Storm 5: The Final Chapter", this year’s "Anti-Corruption Storm 6" has also been approved. Just like "Ip Man 4: The Final Chapter", "Ip Man 5" is also coming out recently. Whether it is selling feelings or not, there have been occasional stunning moments in "Unparalleled", "Anti-Drug 2 World Showdown", "Bomb Locker 2", "Fury Case" and "Detective War", etc., Hong Kong films still continue to use action movies as a selling point to unify the rivers and lakes.
The underworld, revenge, crime, police and bandits, drag racing, gunfights, all the classic elements of Hong Kong films can be found in these films. In a set of assembly lines formed by undercover, brothers against each other, family entanglements, and scenes of violent wonders, Hong Kong action films in the past 10 years have basically been monopolized by veteran Hong Kong stars such as Liu Qingyun, Koo Tianle, Guo Fucheng, and Wu Zhenyu. Similar stories, similar faces, and similar feelings only allow the audience to see "the rigidity of the character and the pallor of the story." Hong Kong action films have always lived in a "comfort zone".
Stephen Woo’s police and gangster films interpret the aesthetics of violence, Stephen Chow creates nonsense jokes, and Johnnie To portrays the godfather of gangsters… Tse, who caught up with the glorious era of Hong Kong movies, is now "not confused". The most special title that once held his name was "Hope for Hong Kong movies". The hit of "Anger · Serious Crime" starring him evoked the audience’s obsession with Hong Kong action movies. For many years, in "Fengwei" holding kitchen utensils and digging out the local customs behind the food with friends, he dropped the kitchen knife for this movie, specializing in the butterfly knife that he studied hard for a long time. You know, before "Rage · Serious Case", Nicholas Tse had not acted in any criminal investigation action movie for five years.
For a long time, Gu Tianle almost alone has propped up the last facade of Hong Kong films, shouldering the responsibility of supporting the entire Hong Kong film and television industry, and has continued to "start construction" to continue the existence of "Hong Kong films", so that the actors on stage have performances, and the workers behind the scenes have food.
But now Guzai is also aging visibly with the naked eye.
"Angry Crime" has the purest Hong Kong-style police film texture, and the violent aesthetics it contains are beyond the reach of most Hollywood blockbusters.
In the movie "Customs Front", Nicholas Tse broke through again and served as an action director for the first time. At a time when movie special effects and stuntmen are commonly used, Nicholas Tse still insists on practicing, punching to the flesh, jumping for life and fighting at high altitudes, "one dozen more" 64 long-shot fighting… "All too much, all crazy", more direct, more violent, and more violent than old Hong Kong movies.
He is also directing for the first time in the theatrical film "New Police Story 2", where Jackie Chan is the executive producer, hoping to rekindle the glory of Hong Kong films. After his comeback, Nicholas Tse hopes that Hong Kong action movies can be truly passed down. "I really hope that the label of Hong Kong Action – Hong Kong action movies can continue for a long time."
Jackie Chan said at the premiere, "Today’s Ting Feng can be said to be the me of the year, and I finally have a successor…" It should not be polite.
Instead of fixating on exploring why Hong Kong films are declining like a cliff, it is better to explore how to welcome the next glory. The story that brings forth new and sees better is that the audience shares a winning equation with them, and it is also a group of people who can continue to maintain the tenacious vitality of "Hong Kong films that do not die".