Shadow: Adapting Chinese Art | Video Essay

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Accented Cinema

Accented Cinema

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 339
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
Hey! Thanks for watching this video! If you'd like to talk to us, we have a subreddit at /r/AccentedCinema, where I posted an ongoing AMA. You can also reach me via our Facebook, Twitter, and our Patreon exclusive Discord server!
@ericsoto4064
@ericsoto4064 4 жыл бұрын
Yes even though I’m not a fan of how this movie dragged and bored me this film was visually beautiful and I definitely give huge props to them for that.
@Achyuthkumar7
@Achyuthkumar7 4 жыл бұрын
Let me tell U have an eye for movies .Your observations quite good and expect more from you
@andrewphillips8341
@andrewphillips8341 4 жыл бұрын
Did you just say all of Western art is one method? You racist.
@c4prantik
@c4prantik 4 жыл бұрын
Can you watch and review Tumbadd (a horror film) I really liked it... I think you might like it too :)
@Achyuthkumar7
@Achyuthkumar7 4 жыл бұрын
Yep there isn't a proper video on tumbadd yet.
@duchi882
@duchi882 4 жыл бұрын
_"If you aren't mesmerized by the stunning visuals yet, you have no soul"_ *Blind People:* ಥ_ಥ
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
Ah dang it. Now I feel like an asshole.
@duchi882
@duchi882 4 жыл бұрын
@@AccentedCinema, there are times wherein we just don't _see_ things coming
@seniorpedro9654
@seniorpedro9654 4 жыл бұрын
Man, I'm going to hell for laughing.
@saya1720_
@saya1720_ 4 жыл бұрын
@@seniorpedro9654 me too...
@jacoblevenson7934
@jacoblevenson7934 4 жыл бұрын
@@duchi882 Jerk.... funny joke though.
@ryanJoss
@ryanJoss 4 жыл бұрын
When you weren't inspired by the hall of the mirror in Versailles.
@bapu8459
@bapu8459 4 жыл бұрын
Lol
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
It took me a great deal of mental fortitude to not make a reference when showing footage from Cursed of the Golden Flower.
@ryanJoss
@ryanJoss 4 жыл бұрын
@@AccentedCinema I feel that every time Golden Flower show up, feel like you holding something, I know that when you throw it into an excuse of "Japanese knock-off".
@falconette8911
@falconette8911 4 жыл бұрын
@@AccentedCinema Aww...but you should've... :P
@liberpolo5540
@liberpolo5540 4 жыл бұрын
LMAO, yes!
@obsidianstatue
@obsidianstatue 4 жыл бұрын
the mood and atmosphere of this movie is insane, you can really feel the damp and wetness through the screen.
@remembertotakeshowerspleas355
@remembertotakeshowerspleas355 4 жыл бұрын
It was very atmospheric until the scene where the army of convicts started sledding into battle on their metal umbrella beyblades while firing arrows at people on rooftops.
@bkhai1041
@bkhai1041 4 жыл бұрын
That shit was pretty interesting, but this movie is not losing any points for it on my account. I don't think that I was even surprised the first time I saw the scene.
@ceciley9629
@ceciley9629 4 жыл бұрын
Woah
@haroldellis9721
@haroldellis9721 4 жыл бұрын
In Zhang Yimou's case, I think style is substance.
@daoyang223
@daoyang223 4 жыл бұрын
Basically Snyder
@jacoblevenson7934
@jacoblevenson7934 4 жыл бұрын
@@daoyang223 Accept with much more talent and intelligence with the style being used.
@daoyang223
@daoyang223 4 жыл бұрын
@@jacoblevenson7934 Well I mean Snyder is style over substance. He can do well with some writing especially if his films are based off already well written sources. Notice the word some. Snyder likes to stylize killing and fighting and adrenaline with a dark tone and almost quite literally. Knowing that, we now know why 300 worked but his DC films didn't. Imagine Batman killing people who are just doing their jobs? But Zhang Yimou is a much more competent director because his style isn't 1/2 glorifying killing and another 1/2 setting a dark tone. Zhang Yimou has a complicated approach meanwhile Snyder wont compromise his simple approach. But I do mostly agree with you.
@LifeisGood-ye8rl
@LifeisGood-ye8rl 4 жыл бұрын
So you may say this movie is all substance and no Substance.
@LifeisGood-ye8rl
@LifeisGood-ye8rl 4 жыл бұрын
Dao Yang Or Chinyder how about Schina?
@lodbroksson
@lodbroksson 4 жыл бұрын
Zhang Yimou's use of colour has made him one of my favourite directors. I find his movies so visually mesmerising, that I don't really care about the plot. The lake fight scene in Hero is one of my ever favourite scenes in general. With Shadow, he captured the Chinese ink painting feeling amazingly well, especially given that it is a very hard style to translate into a movie.
@zee446
@zee446 3 жыл бұрын
Can you recommend me some of his Movies?
@TheMikenanners
@TheMikenanners 2 жыл бұрын
@@zee446 Raise the Red Lantern, Ju-dou, Red Sorghum, To Live, Not One Less, The Road Home.
@joshuacollins6430
@joshuacollins6430 4 жыл бұрын
Ever since Okami I've been amazed that someone could capture the feel of an ink wash painting in a 3d game, but to see it done in live action is something truly incredible. Out of all the movie related KZbin channels I watch, You are definitely the most consistent in adding movies to my "need to watch list".
@ck1416
@ck1416 4 жыл бұрын
I agree. This channel expanded my film horizons beyond hollywood, which is great
@catsfrommars
@catsfrommars 4 жыл бұрын
It shames me that I can never seem to remember this director's name, though I am very familiar with his works. Hero and Raise the Red Lantern are just so visually amazing that I get pulled into his films and often forget just how long they are.
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
Yimou in Chinese actually means "To make a living with art". Talk about name affecting life.
@jacoblevenson7934
@jacoblevenson7934 4 жыл бұрын
@@AccentedCinema Is that his birth name or one he took up as a director?
@huytungnguyen119
@huytungnguyen119 4 жыл бұрын
@@jacoblevenson7934 That's his birth name en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhang_Yimou
@jinghanli3120
@jinghanli3120 4 жыл бұрын
Yimou is also the director of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony!
@OscarShu
@OscarShu 4 жыл бұрын
try Emo :)
@camrendavis6650
@camrendavis6650 4 жыл бұрын
I've seen this movie so many times. The splash of red blood against the black and white environment is so eye-catching
@StudioArtFX
@StudioArtFX 4 жыл бұрын
I learned about Zhang Yimou when I first visited the Beijing Film Academy nearly twenty years ago. Coming from America, I was surprised to discover that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was not very well received there, (I believe the word "rubbish" was being thrown around) and everyone was touting this amazing director named Zhang Yimou. Hero was in post production at the time, very near release, and everyone was very excited. There were 5, or so, graduates from that academy, years earlier, including Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, who had gone on to do amazing things in cinema, and the school was very proud. Under the Hawthorn Tree was the first Zhang Yimou film I saw while actually living in China. I watched the film so many times. He was known mainly for his more flashy, action stuff in America. This film really expanded my impressions.
@Runningtail
@Runningtail 4 жыл бұрын
To quote Howlin' Wolf: "You gotta feel what you're doin', man."
@sayakchoudhury9711
@sayakchoudhury9711 4 жыл бұрын
I have such great memories of watching Hero as a kid, that was the first wuxia movie I had watched. I was awestruck completely, thinking about the first fight between Donnie Yen and Jet Li still gives me goosebumps. Also, it introduced me to a new genere of movies, for which I am forever grateful.
@taodzikan575
@taodzikan575 4 жыл бұрын
Finally another great essay! As a big fan of Chinese films, I'm grateful for your work. Explained context adds more layers and helps for understanding
@Alchemist1330
@Alchemist1330 4 жыл бұрын
"Zhang Yimuo is right up there with the likes of West Anderson" LOL. West Anderson wishes he was anywhere near Zhang Yimuo.
@jinruizhang
@jinruizhang 4 жыл бұрын
Exactly this
@littlefatbuddha
@littlefatbuddha 4 жыл бұрын
It's Wes Anderson, - not West. Also, both directors are fantastic.
@AdityaDeo-cg6eu
@AdityaDeo-cg6eu 4 жыл бұрын
How do you know that
@은이지-m6c
@은이지-m6c 4 жыл бұрын
THIS. i am sick & tired of westerner immediately equating some asian artist to that of westerner as in some form of "compliment". You can appreciate one without putting next to some other. Zhang is in his OWN LEAGUE
@DevyaniMulik
@DevyaniMulik 4 жыл бұрын
@@은이지-m6c yes. Exactly. We have a very popular and talented music composer in india named AR rahman who's called the "Mozart of Madras". Like, I geddit, mozart was amazing, but it still frustrates me kinda.
@luisreynamboarcos2958
@luisreynamboarcos2958 4 жыл бұрын
Zhang Yimou's movies were some of my first aproches to chinese cinema and my favorites to this day. Hero, The curse of the golden flower, The house of the flying dagers, they were realy impresive in the visual department so I ended facinated by them. It's true there are a lot of parts that look like more like an anime, specialy for the action scenes, but for the most part I haven't seen anything like his movies else were. And Shadow, I think is his best movie yet, alongside Hero. Mesmerising, exiting and visualy unmatched. (Sorry for the english)
@GensoLight
@GensoLight 4 жыл бұрын
As usual, high-quality content that makes you enjoy. 哥们儿,我真的非常佩服你的文案。能看出来是下了很多功夫的。而且我很喜欢你与众不同的切入点与视角。 顺带……恭喜,有赞助广告了 XD
@RedgraveGilver
@RedgraveGilver 4 жыл бұрын
Hey AccentedCInema. Have you ever considered making a video about HERO from a Chinese Perspective? I feel people who claim that it's a propaganda are clearly ignoring the historical context that it was set in.
@Drownedinblood
@Drownedinblood 4 жыл бұрын
I wanna say, the fear of modern Chinese culture being a knock off of Japanese culture is legitimate but also kinda funny seeing as if you want you can say Japanese culture knocked off old Chinese culture and ended up promoting it as if it were it's own, so now China taking elements of Japanese culture to use in it's own works is kinda just a response intentional or not. I think him "dumbing down" Chinese culture isn't necessarily bad, just making it a bit more accessible, for people to delve further in, as long as it's not insulting and completely opposite of the substance.
@江俊杰-g9c
@江俊杰-g9c 4 жыл бұрын
All East Asian countries took inspiration from Chinese culture into making their own. They include Japan and Korea.
@jackrunner4677
@jackrunner4677 4 жыл бұрын
If someone wanna talk about the culture, how could he split it from the long history, but talking a few decades ago?
@unboppable1595
@unboppable1595 4 жыл бұрын
Chinese culture is actually much older than Japanese culture, which is honestly partial ancient Chinese culture that has slowly evolved over time. Granted, many east Asian cultures are influenced by each other, but much of what has made Japanese culture would not even exist without Chinese culture to catalyze it
@freakmoister
@freakmoister 4 жыл бұрын
Lol what I don’t have such a fear because you know enough of your own culture you can identify it.
@nbip2845
@nbip2845 4 жыл бұрын
@@unboppable1595 no
@marktub5502
@marktub5502 4 жыл бұрын
我最喜欢的youtuber更新了
@paualamar
@paualamar 4 жыл бұрын
I have to finish Golden Flower, I saw it on TV a few years back but tiredness got me when the plot started to get interesting. (Or i began to understand it, might as well be) Also, amazing prop and weapon design; I wish i could have one of those Guan Dao (I hope that’s the correct spelling) they look simply beautiful.
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
They really are. You are extra correct, as the story of Shadow was originally based on the invasion of Jing Province. In other words, the dude who's using that weapon was literally supposed to be Guan Yu, whom the weapon is named after. Zhang seems to have a thing for Guan Dao. Can't blame him, it's the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Chinese weapons.
@andersdenkend
@andersdenkend 4 жыл бұрын
While being a bit disappointed by the movie's story, I also enjoyed the visuals greatly. It looks gorgeous.
@hollywooddarling
@hollywooddarling 4 жыл бұрын
Loved hearing the thoughts of someone with more knowledge than myself on Chinese ink paintings! I'm Chinese, and I love Chinese ink paintings, but just as a layman with only basic knowledge, especially with the cultural elements and technical terms. And also loved hearing balanced criticism about Zhang Yimou and your own changing/fluid appreciation/views on his work!
@Glassandcandy
@Glassandcandy 3 жыл бұрын
I love this channel so much. Chinese cinema doesn’t get enough love on filmtube. People seem to think all Chinese cinema is “wolf warrior 2” and other propaganda pieces for some reason. So much cultural history and development that has gone into Chinese cinema that goes unnoticed by westerners
@liberpolo5540
@liberpolo5540 4 жыл бұрын
My lil' teen jaw just completely dropped at the first ten seconds of the footage. WOW. JUST ... Wow ... It's difficult to have words for it!
@stalincen7179
@stalincen7179 4 жыл бұрын
would you like to make a video that talks about the movie Hero? i really liked it and i would love to see what a critic or just a youtuber like you think about it
@12235117657598502586
@12235117657598502586 3 жыл бұрын
IMO ‘Shadow’ is a masterpiece.
@focal_point
@focal_point 4 жыл бұрын
What a beautiful visual style, I'll be sure to give Shadow a watch soon!
@VideoMask93
@VideoMask93 4 жыл бұрын
It's on Netflix!
@SamuraiMujuru
@SamuraiMujuru 4 жыл бұрын
The second 4k movie I ever bought. The training sequence in that high of resolution is mind blowing.
@fritterspack
@fritterspack 4 жыл бұрын
I watched this essay first, then forgot the main plot point, then went to watch the movie. when the scene came with the shadow being introduced the first time, I was like *shocked pikachu face*. Great movie! Thanks for introducing it. I just realised that your header is from Shadow. You must have been planning this essay for a really long time! Glad to be able to watch it ^^
@cht350
@cht350 4 жыл бұрын
I thought the colors in Hero were very intentional and most definitely had meaning--like the red retelling was the one filled with passion, while the green one was about youth.
@shishiwakamaru4
@shishiwakamaru4 4 жыл бұрын
I need a Yimou directed mortal kombat movie in my life.
@kenzopoe7050
@kenzopoe7050 3 жыл бұрын
Hero is not only the greatest martial arts film I have ever seen... But one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen Period. Zhang Yimou is much more than a director, he's a true artist.
@luis.m.yrisson
@luis.m.yrisson 4 жыл бұрын
I just watched this movie yesterday! It feels so strange to already see a criticism of it. It had memorable crazy visuals. I falled in love of the all-grey aesthetics of the movie but I also felt like something was lost in translation as a westerner. Overall I give the movie an 8.5/10. I wish one day you talk about things that usually are lost in translation for westerner audiences in chinese/or asian/ movies.
@ulerkadut8582
@ulerkadut8582 4 жыл бұрын
idiom, poetry, usually this is what missing when translating to english. 1 word in chinese can be translated into dozen meaning.
@rickr9435
@rickr9435 4 жыл бұрын
if they translated everything from the chinese sentences into english or other western languages, then the sub would be too long and people might need to pause lots of time while watching. chinese is quite a compact language, adding those idioms & history references making the language even more compact.
@satnamo
@satnamo 3 жыл бұрын
Every thing in das universe has 2 sides Like day and night Life and death Yin and Yang. Yin Yang You are in me because I am in you since we are 1. He who knows de 1 becomes de 1. Oneness within oneself Brings oneness with das whole universe.
@dekdenfor9770
@dekdenfor9770 4 жыл бұрын
I looooved this movie, it captured my attention and just held if the entire way through. edit: I need to see him make an MK film omg please.
@yevheniikurtov5990
@yevheniikurtov5990 Жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for such a great exploration of concepts behind the visual style of the movie. It connected a lot of the dots for me.
@KasaiFilms8
@KasaiFilms8 4 жыл бұрын
for the 9 people who disliked this video, you have no soul. I fully respect and love all your commentary on filmmaking especially educating me on the beauty of asian cinema. 🙇🏾‍♂️
@f.m.m.3249
@f.m.m.3249 3 жыл бұрын
This movie is a master piece. Also, great work on the video. I loved it.
@brunofranco4416
@brunofranco4416 4 жыл бұрын
I admit that i didnt quite understood what you meant at the end of the film. I lack proper context to know what is chinese culture and what isnt, and watching your videos i got a feel for what these might be but i dont think i quite have the full picture yet. Was hoping you could clarify it a bit more.
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
That's kinda a question without an answer. At the end of the video, my statement is pretty much "Drawing lines and deciding what is and is not Chinese culture is unhelpful". If it feels appropriate, it probably can be incorporated into Chinese culture. It's like American Chinese food. It's not born in China, but it's made by Chinese, and it feels Chinese, then there's no reason to exclude it.
@brunofranco4416
@brunofranco4416 4 жыл бұрын
@@AccentedCinema Still, even if you cant explain a feeling, it helps to give context to someone who doesnt know that feeling. Having said that i dont know how you whould go about doing that in this case. I whould need to study chinese aesthetics terms, wich seems harder to do as opposed to studying japanese aesthetics, about witch many works have been published in english. Chinese art philosophy just isnt easy to research for some reason.
@RandomUserX99
@RandomUserX99 4 жыл бұрын
just stop seeing Asian art/culture as something alien which require learning because you're white. You'll get it if you see everyone as human.
@brunofranco4416
@brunofranco4416 4 жыл бұрын
@@RandomUserX99 White? Im a brown latino. And i wasnt talking about asian art, i was talking about art specifically from China. Furthermore, i was not treating it as "alien", i was treating it as foreign and thus requires context to fully understand, because while we are all humans, diferent cultures speak diferent languages. Thats the basis for aesthetic philosphy.
@louyue2439
@louyue2439 4 жыл бұрын
I saw shadow on an airplane and I was just mesmerized by the stunning visuals of the movie. wish i could've seen it in the theater.. also how cool (and useless) is the umbrella weapon!!?
@elena16350
@elena16350 4 жыл бұрын
Loved your take onChinese cinema, I don’t know how to get Chinese films, but what little I’ve seen of hem hey are beautiful o watch, Hank you.
@crazy808ish
@crazy808ish 4 жыл бұрын
I love your ending here. It's just as important to improve art into the future, not just stay the same as the past.
@SmilyT1
@SmilyT1 4 жыл бұрын
I've always loved Zhang Yimou's works, especially his older ones.
@joshwi4193
@joshwi4193 4 жыл бұрын
The blade umbrellas rolling down the street made me laugh the first time I saw it, but it's still a really entertaining and beautiful movie.
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
Wouldnt be so bad if it wasn't spinning like freaking beyblades. Zhang Yimou needs to do more previs with his action scene.
@XiaojunMa
@XiaojunMa 4 жыл бұрын
The visual is really nice, but the dialog and performance is pretty cringe worthy. I hope I could have turned the Mandarin dialog off and pretend I can only read the English captioning.
@TheDKninja
@TheDKninja 3 жыл бұрын
i like the wobbly blades but yeah man art everywhere
@Dragons_Armory
@Dragons_Armory 4 жыл бұрын
Movie's okay, but as an Chinese armor buff the movie hurts my soul
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
It's basically the opera version of the Viking helmet.
@azuzawa5076
@azuzawa5076 4 жыл бұрын
I loved Raise the Red Lantern but admittedly wrote this film off without much thought because of a relatively low average rating on Letterboxd. You've convinced me to give it a shot though. This is a really excellent analysis video. I'm an American learning Mandarin and this channel has been such an amazing resource for gaining more insight into Asian cinema and art. Keep up the good work!
@atsugadri
@atsugadri Жыл бұрын
Please watch a film yourself, don't judge by what some critic says
@DreamedLint
@DreamedLint 4 жыл бұрын
I thought the colors in Hero were meant to represent the emotion or feeling behind each particular telling of the story. Red: Passionate. White: Truth. Etc.
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
Only a select few is. The rest are there because he ran out of color. Forgot where I heard that, but it came from the director himself.
@tennyoceres
@tennyoceres 4 жыл бұрын
If you’re in the US you can watch this on Netflix. Time to test the black/grey saturation of my TV!
@neonwallacewells7818
@neonwallacewells7818 4 жыл бұрын
I watched this last year it was phenomenal! As a huge fan of East Asian Cinema and wuxia films in particular, I must say I really love your work, dude.
@TimeDilation
@TimeDilation 3 жыл бұрын
Wish I could've seen this movie at the cinema when it was out.
@raggedyhaggity250
@raggedyhaggity250 4 жыл бұрын
Have i ever mentioned how very glad i am that a person like you still exists? Another chinese person who still very much love the classical beauty, values and aesthetics that i grew up with. Coming to your channel always feels like home
@weixinlin446
@weixinlin446 4 жыл бұрын
thank you for the videos.
@bigmoviefreak
@bigmoviefreak 4 жыл бұрын
Oh man, the hairs on my back tingled (in a good way) when you said Mortal Kombat! I want to see that!
@phurbasherpa7441
@phurbasherpa7441 4 жыл бұрын
Shadow is an amazing movie. I was first drawn back by its dark and desaturated looks but the story progression and action just fits so perfect in that color
@nobodyinparticularescobar5817
@nobodyinparticularescobar5817 4 жыл бұрын
I've always wondered if you've watched shadow.
@matthewct8167
@matthewct8167 3 жыл бұрын
Given the director’s admiration for Kurosawa, is it reasonable to assume that shadow took inspiration from Kagemusha and the curse of the golden flower from Ran?
@cliffwoodbury5319
@cliffwoodbury5319 4 жыл бұрын
visually this is one of the best martial arts movies ever, and some of the genius in battle was also amazing - when i saw the soldiers sliding down the street inbetween metal umbrellas i knew i had to watch this movie. I was not disappointed.
@lilyl.6715
@lilyl.6715 4 жыл бұрын
Last week, I came to work and my uncle had this movie on the TV. It really intrigued me so it's cool to see you made a video on it because I don't have anyone else to talk to about it
@RaulMarengo
@RaulMarengo 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another great video. I was not aware of this film. Adding to the must watch list.
@kleenexghost16
@kleenexghost16 4 жыл бұрын
these videos are so informative. these are literally the highlight of my week everytime they come up.
@emeraldcloud9912
@emeraldcloud9912 4 жыл бұрын
Good essay! Zhang Yimou's films are pretty diverse. There are the style over substance but also his earlier films that are full of substance like Not one less
@jagger2313
@jagger2313 4 жыл бұрын
Zhang Yimou is one of my favorite directors! So happy to see you discuss Shadow!
@kokofan50
@kokofan50 4 жыл бұрын
Something that has always annoyed me has been the dismissal of style as part of visual storytelling.
@sangeunlee8368
@sangeunlee8368 4 жыл бұрын
Elaborating what that FEELING is would be the next step. Thanks for introducing such a beautiful movie
@xxWidex
@xxWidex 4 жыл бұрын
Sometimes I just don't understand why some of Zhang's masterpieces get banned by his own government. Such a waste of artistic talent.
@saladcaesar7716
@saladcaesar7716 4 жыл бұрын
You are so lovely :)
@AccentedCinema
@AccentedCinema 4 жыл бұрын
No you.
@AllieSakwa
@AllieSakwa 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for another video :)
@Pharis492
@Pharis492 3 жыл бұрын
Did everyone know that the 2008 opening ceremony is directed by Zhang Yimou?
@powchin3474
@powchin3474 3 жыл бұрын
I was quite skeptical about this film at first due to my disappointment with House of Flying Daggers, but now I'd like to watch it. Thanks! Would like to know what you think of House of Flying Daggers.
@KSchawacker
@KSchawacker 4 жыл бұрын
Found your channel about a yar ago and have nothing but positive things to say about it. We do something similar on my channel where we talk about semi-forgotten film gems. My team and I would love it if you stopped by to check it out.
@julian-eu3xh
@julian-eu3xh 11 ай бұрын
I'm so fed up with the style over substance narrative about Yi-Mou's movies ! Except for few of his movies like "hero" where the picture seems to dictate the rest and be all powerful, his cinema is incredible because it's organic and full of goodhood. Beauty without those qualities is toxic or belongs in a museum to be admired behind polished and cold glasses. 13:44 I mean, the plot of "the house of flying daggers" is as perfect as it can be in an adventure movie, especially on terms of character's developpement. I believe he must be a true " feminist" but not some type of lunatic third wave lame masquerade of feminism cause litteraly no other director shows in a most tender yet realistic the suffering of women in highly patriarchal/ mysoginestic / power crazed environnements like in "the curse of the golden flower" or in " red lantern". His perfect script for " to live" could have provided material for 4 movies for a lot of realisators. And even in more " simple/ classical" movies like " coming home" or " red sorghum", his treatment of important subjects is always deeply intelligent but never overly intellectual and that's why he's so far ahead. Not even me mentionning the stand out ideas and plot twists in those aswell.
@taelongx
@taelongx 4 жыл бұрын
I watched half of the movie and got bored. Felt a little slow paced imo. Is it worth finishing? I'm generally not nitpicky of movies but this one felt sloooooww
@Ricangelo
@Ricangelo 2 жыл бұрын
Let's just say if a Modernist architect is to dabble in film making, the result will most probably look like the movies by Zhang Yi Mou.
@Xentradi97
@Xentradi97 4 жыл бұрын
This movie was so disappointing as it had so much potential. Visual was fantastic as a hallmark of ZangYimou movie. Story and character were quite good too. But the ridiculous umbrella blade, ancient diving gears, and more umbrella as mini-armored device etc... made this movie so farcical I cringed and laughed out loud during the movie. This movie could've been one of Zhang's best if it was more grounded in reality.
@El-Dorado930
@El-Dorado930 3 жыл бұрын
Chinese art style is influenced by Daoism, hence the emphasis on contrast, stillness, and vastness. According to the Lao Tzu, we understand the world through contrasts. If ugliness didn't exist, we would not know beauty. Light and darkness. Black and white. Stillness is a very important concept because stillness is the precursor to clarity. The Dao De jing asks - Do you have the patience to wait until the mud settles and the water becomes clear again? Vastness is also an important concept because the Dao is seen as vast and unchanging. It's vastness cannot be comprehended The emptiness, especially the oft depicted mists, are key Daoist motifs. They symbolize the endless path which is the dao. The destination is unimportant, only being on the path matters. Happy is he who has found the path even though the path has no destination. Those who find the path (dao) find bliss and ease. Those who stray from it find sorrow and frustration.
@Lypno
@Lypno 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing, I'm currently watching it
@anudarib
@anudarib 3 жыл бұрын
Imagine how it felt like to watch this film in theatre
@zmani4379
@zmani4379 2 жыл бұрын
Excellent video - but please don't ask this director to make Mortal Kombat movies - we have enough video game filmmakers - you speak of the art form moving forward - I think that includes the maturity of the subject matter - part of the richness of his achievement is the application of such style to content that's worthy of it
@from.the.furnace
@from.the.furnace Жыл бұрын
super amazing video. Definitely gonna watch this film first then complete the rest of the video
@carlosluismendez7392
@carlosluismendez7392 27 күн бұрын
Do you mean like what Mizoguchi did back in his day?
@cnl1213
@cnl1213 4 жыл бұрын
I just came from watching a review of the game Ghost of Tsushima and how there is a "Kurosawa mode" that turns the game black and white supposedly mimicking sumi paintings. From your analysis here, clearly Zhang Yimou's interpretation here is much more nuanced and true to its artform of the Chinese inkwash paintings. It fun to see how different medium attempts to execute similar treatments and how one's knowledge of the source material affects the appreciation of the final product.
@mdd4296
@mdd4296 4 жыл бұрын
The game was designed and made with colors in mind. While shadow is made from the beginning to resemble these painting. The mode is just a fun fan tribute like the pixelated filter in some shooter (which worsen your accuracy). Also it's a video games where the audience hold most of the control vs a movie where directors control everything. Better comparison would be games like Okami (various japanese art traditions), team fortress 2 (vintage satirical cartoons), banner saga (classic disney animation)...
@inlustrismedia
@inlustrismedia 4 жыл бұрын
Great content! I want to collaborate with you one of these days!
@yux.tn.3641
@yux.tn.3641 3 жыл бұрын
12:40 I like that sentence = culture change and morph its just a shame in China, there's always the hand of the CCP to change for their way🙃
@Fremder14
@Fremder14 4 жыл бұрын
havent watch shadow yet, should i wait to watch to watch the movie first, and revisit it later? Love your work
@kentcampbell122
@kentcampbell122 4 жыл бұрын
Can I ask what the background music you use at the beginning is called?
@guy_bello
@guy_bello 3 жыл бұрын
What is the name of the song playing in the background friend?
@kimcarrier9834
@kimcarrier9834 4 жыл бұрын
Accutate ← How machines see ← How eyes see → How brains see → Indistinct
@Amalvipls
@Amalvipls 3 жыл бұрын
beautiful movie but shame the plot itself was arguably boring
@OfficialFiz
@OfficialFiz 4 жыл бұрын
i watched this movie a few weeks ago and i think its a masterpiece. i felt chinese art vibes while watching it and am glad you made this video essay to explain it!
@Garbaz
@Garbaz 4 жыл бұрын
I know this isn't very insightful, but damn, that blade umbrella looks cool ^^
4 жыл бұрын
dude this director is better than Wes Anderson imo. Just look at how he makes the colors pop on cam. Unreal.
@puppetore9732
@puppetore9732 3 жыл бұрын
The thin story and gratuitous gore put me off this film, though.
@pedangcahayakemilau3770
@pedangcahayakemilau3770 4 жыл бұрын
I hope Vagabone (manga) adapte animation black & white
@tykszeto
@tykszeto 4 жыл бұрын
Wonderful video essay as usual. Hit the nail on the head with the culture of Chinese art slowly diluting. It's like the idea of say Ming dynasty vases, where it once was revered, now you just end up wondering if it's just another knock-off product. The appreciation towards the art form is almost cheapened due to low cost of manufactured goods coming from China. Take those China travel tours that take you to multiple cities (and shops like silk and tea pots along the way). The shopping aspect makes you feel like those products should be cheaper because you're in China, yet we often forget that it still does take skill to produce those items... Where in western society a premium cost is added to 'hand-crafted' or 'artisan'.
@thethirdjegs
@thethirdjegs 4 жыл бұрын
I love it, that giving a like would not be enough.
@ledzeppelinfan1001
@ledzeppelinfan1001 4 жыл бұрын
I absolutely love this movie, I'm so glad I decided to watch it
@CharlsonCKim
@CharlsonCKim Жыл бұрын
this is an amazing movie. i wish i could see it on a big imax screen.
@pIacehoIders
@pIacehoIders 4 жыл бұрын
Nice beyblades spinning down a hill
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