Chapter 1,703 Action movies must be fun all the way to the end
Be it "Alive" or "127 Hours", they are all just low-budget one-man films.
At the same time, although it is related to Li Yi, it is not Li Yi's movie after all.
Island Mandarin Hotel, Hong Kong.
The Cross-Strait and Hong Kong Film Directors Seminar was held here.
Li Yi couldn't shirk it, so he had no choice but to bring Mu Qing to this seminar.
As China's leading director, he is naturally the center of attention.
He is currently participating in the "Genre Film Creation Seminar" section!
The attendees were all well-known directors from across the Taiwan Strait and three places. Of course, no matter whether they were famous or not, none of them were as famous as Li Yi.
Li Yi actually didn't speak much during the whole process, and mostly listened to what others were saying.
Gradually, everyone started to mention the decline of action movies in recent years.
"Action movie? It should be a modern action movie, right? Indeed, whether it is domestic or Hollywood, there seems to be no action movie that is particularly eye-catching." Tang Lu said.
"Director Cheng should have the most say in this regard. What do you think is the reason for the decline of modern action films?" Another director Xu Bin looked at Cheng Hu and said.
Hearing this, Cheng Hu smiled bitterly and said: "Actually, the main reason is that the routines are too old and there is too little creativity. Compared with other drama films and action films, the main focus is "fighting scenes." But the problem now is that fighting scenes
How to innovate? Take me as an example. On the one hand, it is because I am really old and can no longer do some thrilling moves. On the other hand, I am still aesthetically tired."
In the past, it can be said that action blockbusters and gunfight blockbusters were definitely the mainstream segments of commercial films, but to be honest, nowadays, it is not this type of film that can really get high box office.
Especially in China, it can be said that it is almost difficult to see this type of film on the annual box office rankings.
Most of them are dramas, crime films, comedies, etc. that are adapted from various real events.
"Yes, the older generation of star players are getting old. Now, it's not that there are no star players who can endure hardships, but the key point is that this type of game really seems to be unable to find a new way out!"
"More than that, because there haven't been any particularly strong films of this type in the past few years, which has also led to investors becoming less and less favored by this type of film. There are still no good results in China, let alone
It has gone international. The key point is that in the past, most of the action blockbusters, it can be said, are not only about fighting, but also various gimmicks, but these all require funds, and it is difficult, difficult, difficult!"
Everyone was discussing it, but without exception, they were all full of pessimism.
In fact, this is also true.
Li Yi was also thinking about this problem. Not to mention, in recent years, it seems that whether it is domestic or foreign, there are really fewer and fewer movies with the title of action blockbusters. Even if there are, there are few that can truly
Said it was a great success.
Director Chen Mu from Hong Kong also smiled bitterly and said: "In the past two years, I have tried two movies, which are gun battle action movies. Although the box office was okay, they could barely break even and made no money at all.
"
Chen Mu is a veteran film director in Hong Kong. He has produced many popular gunfight films and action films.
"Director Li, you have always been a bit of a golden sage in this regard. Do you have any ideas?" Suddenly Cheng Hu looked at Li Yi and asked.
Everyone else also looked at Li Yi.
Li Yi touched his nose and said: "How should I put it? It has something to do with the changes in the current audience's pursuit of watching movies? Of course, this is just my personal opinion."
"Audiences are looking for changes when watching movies?" Everyone was a little silent.
"Yes, to put it simply, what was our previous model? The most common one is the Hollywood three-stage structure. But in terms of the ups and downs of the plot, apart from the current design of the fighting scenes, I think it is
It’s not our current action movie, isn’t it exciting enough?”
"Not cool enough?" Cheng Hu was a little confused.
Others were also a little confused.
"What's the meaning?"
"Director Li, can you be more straightforward?"
"this......"
Li Yi thought for a while and said: "To put it simply, when it comes to feature films, what the audience usually pursues is not the simple "fun" point, such as "Buried Alive", such as "127 Hours", what is the highlight?
It's definitely not the kind of simple "cool" thing! It's more in-depth, exploring human nature, society, etc.
But because this type of movie itself carries this type of label, the audience's expectations are also there.
I have always believed that when audiences like to watch movies, they will first have certain expectations, and then in the process of watching the movie, they will realize this expectation and gain the emotional value of this expectation.
As for action movies, first of all, this type of movie must be labeled as a commercial movie.
Or popcorn labels!
Secondly, the sense of expectation is different, or in other words, compared to drama films, we can suppress it first and then increase it later, but the same routine of action movies is a bit out of date now!
Finally, storytelling and a sense of immersion!
One thing we have to admit is that for ordinary viewers, the sense of immersion in action movies is bound to be much worse. Why? Because action movies and gunfight movies are more about professions that are difficult for ordinary viewers to come into contact with.
In the past, because everyone was unfamiliar with it, those professions, such as special police, agents, etc., still had a sense of mystery, but what about now?
After watching so many movies, I can say that there is almost no advantage in this aspect anymore.
Why are reality-themed films becoming more and more popular? Because of the sense of immersion!
So in this case, we must bring joy to the audience from other aspects.
That is to increase the sense of substitution through stories!
Stop playing so many fancy things, what are the most common things in action movies?
Confrontation between cops and robbers!
But there are too many movies of this type, and it can be said that the audience has long been tired of watching them! It is also difficult to have a good sense of immersion.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! In today's society, people's life pressure is becoming more and more intense, so they begin to become more "self". For this reason, the sense of substitution becomes extra special
of importance.
Since this sense of substitution can no longer be achieved through occupation, I wonder if it can be achieved through other aspects, such as identity?
A father, or a son, or a husband, if the story revolves around family members, can it increase the sense of substitution?"
"Furthermore, the issue I mentioned before about suppressing first and then advancing, for example, our past action blockbusters would all like to have the protagonist lose to his opponent in the final battle, and then turn defeat into victory in the end!" Li Yi added.
"Is there any problem with this?" Cheng Hu was a little confused.
"There was no problem in the past, but now there is a big problem." Li Yi said with a smile.
"Because this will actually reduce the "pleasure" of watching movies to a large extent! So, I was thinking, why not make a movie where the protagonist can crush the enemy from beginning to end? No need to feel aggrieved anymore, after all,
Everyone is already frustrated enough in life, so can movies help relieve stress?
Since it is difficult to achieve the same level of fighting scenes as in the past, with the innovative aesthetics of violence, why not just make it simpler and more refreshing?" Li Yi continued.
Everyone was thoughtful when they heard the words.
"Director Li, do you have any ideas in this regard?" Tang Lu suddenly asked.
Others were a little stunned.
All eyes immediately focused on Li Yi.
"I have some ideas!" Li Yi nodded and said with a smile.
He did remember a very special action movie.
It can be said that, unlike many traditional action blockbusters, the entire movie is completed in one go and is almost enjoyable all the way to the end!
"Can you tell me something convenient?" Xu Bin asked curiously.
"Of course, first of all, what I think about is that in our past action blockbusters, the protagonists were all young people, or in their prime of fighting, because we all know that only young and prime-age protagonists can fight, so why do we
Why not do the opposite?
We often say that we get stronger with age, so can we get an uncle-level protagonist?" Li Yi said with a smile.
"Wait a minute, Director Li, you also said that you are too old to play the role! Then let's make an uncle-level protagonist..."
"This is just a relative term. Let me tell you my specific thoughts!"
"In my setting, for example, the male protagonist is a father! He was once a very powerful agent or a special police officer. In short, he had a very exciting past.
But as he grew older, he neglected his family because of his career!
Now that he has retired, he only wants to be a competent father and make up for the fatherly love he lost for his daughter in the past.
But in the eyes of his daughter, he is just an unfit father, and there is nothing special about his current status and career that makes her proud.
Seeing that his ex-wife and daughter have now rebuilt a happy family with others, he fell deeply into self-blame."
"A father's love for his daughter, coupled with his career, makes him well aware of how dark and unsafe the outside world is!
But the rebellious daughter, or in other words, the daughter who has never walked out, doesn't know this.
She wanted to go abroad with her friend to watch a concert of a certain group. Knowing that her father would not agree, she assumed that she would stay at her friend's aunt's house.
Initially, as a father, he would definitely not let his daughter go out, but as a result, the relationship between father and daughter, which was not particularly harmonious, became even worse.
In desperation, he could only agree, but made a three-part agreement with his daughter."
"Soon, my daughter and her companions saw the dark side of the world. As soon as they arrived at their destination, they were kidnapped!
Next, it is the story of this super father, in order to save his daughter, he went deep into the tiger's den, returned to his old business, fought his way through, and finally rescued his daughter!"
Li Yi briefly explained the plot.
Yes, he is talking about "Taken", the opening masterpiece of the "Rescue" series of movies!
There is actually no big difference between "Taken" and many action blockbusters. The biggest difference is that this is a movie in which an "uncle" is the protagonist.
And it can be said that there is almost no depressing point in the whole film!
What Li Yi likes most is the conversation between him and the kidnapper when his daughter was kidnapped: "I don't care who you are, and I don't care what you did to arrest my daughter. I can tell you clearly that I have no money, but
My work experience in the first half of my life tells me that what you have to do now is to let her go immediately, and let this matter be over. If not, I swear that I will find you all and kill you."
Generally speaking, it is not advisable to respond to violence with violence.
And "Taken" can be said to be a very typical movie that uses violence to fight violence!
But in Li Yi's opinion, there is only one exception. That is when the other party takes away your most beloved thing and there is no other choice to get it back, then violence must be used. It is necessary!
The most beloved thing may be a wife, children, parents, a residence, a chance of survival, freedom, dignity... If there is no other option to get it back, then violence must be used. At this time,
Violence is a kind of resistance, but also an attitude. Without such an attitude, it will only encourage the arrogance of the villains. From then on, the villains will become more unscrupulous and sooner or later they will strip your soul and body from the inside out.
, tear it to pieces!
There are some similar action movies. There are many accidents in the movie because the heroic hero failed to completely kill the enemy, so the enemy reluctantly fired another shot, or created some other crisis. Many friends were very unhappy at this time:
After defeating him, why not shoot him again in the head? Isn't there no danger?
How do you say something?
The villain dies because he talks too much!
But usually, many action movies actually have this drawback, that is, the protagonist talks a lot.
They have already put a gun to the villain's head, but they still have to listen to the other party's nonsense, and then reverse it again, and then reverse it again.
The most special thing about "Hurricane Rescue" is that he really does what he says!
Li Yi remembers another plot worth noting. When the protagonist reaches the end of the final BOSS level, the old gangster of the BOSS has already put a knife on his daughter's neck. Generally speaking, there will be some drama at the end of the level.
Therefore, when the BOSS put on an innocent face and planned to negotiate very tactfully, he said to him: I think we can... (talk about it, give you money, give you a lot of compensation, or you can smoke
I, I apologized in the newspaper, just spare my life anyway...), it was not unexpected at all. The result was at this moment, the accident came, "bang", the gunshot rang out, the BOSS farted in response, and the protagonist succeeded
Explosive machine.
It can be said that this is cool!
And Li Yi thinks that this setting is really good. In this world, there is such a kind of people. At a certain moment, they will transform. Sometimes, they transform into gentle Santa Claus, and sometimes, they will
Become omnipotent supermen. Sometimes, they look like cruel devils. Sometimes, they lick the blood from the corners of their mouths, turn around and smile.
What’s interesting is that with such a setting and such a story, if released, it will definitely become a movie that many dads recommend their daughters to watch!
