The author of this article is a contributor @Yoshinaga Midori
Hungry and lazy, not loving labor, only movies
In Jin Yong's martial arts world, there are countless heroes and heroes, but when it comes to the most charismatic heroes, many readers will vote for Qiao Feng.
Qiao Feng is the soul of "Dragon Babu", and his sense of existence far exceeds that of Wuzhu and Duan Yu.
In the film and television versions over the years, there are several male stars who challenge the role of Qiao Feng: classic such as Huang Rihua (TVB97 version of "Dragon Babu"), domineering as Hu Jun (CCTV 03 version of "Dragon Babu").
In the new film "Dragon Babu: The Legend of Qiao Feng" launched during the Spring Festival, action superstar Donnie Yen also starred in Qiao Feng, and he is also the chief director of the film.
How did "Zhen Version Qiao Feng" perform? Let's take a look with Xiaowan.
The behind-the-scenes promoter of "The Legend of Qiao Feng" is Wang Jing, who has previously filmed Jin Yong martial arts movies such as "Luding Ji" and "The Demon Sect Leader of the Sky and Dragon Slayer".
This adaptation is based on the original book of "Dragon Babu", bringing out Qiao Feng's personal story line of pursuing the mystery of his life, telling his tragic experience of becoming a "traitor of the Central Plains" overnight from a gang leader supported by thousands of people.
Therefore, Zhen Qiao Feng, who was burdened with hatred, was lonely most of the time. As his adoptive parents and master were killed by adulterers, he became more and more humiliated and burdened, like a wounded lone wolf who lost all remaining chivalrous.
Always believe in him and support him only because of Hong Yan's confidant A Zhu (played by Chen Yuqi), but she is the handmaid of the villain Murong Fu (played by Wu Yue).
Under the suppression of Qiao Feng, a dissident, by the Central Plains martial arts, and in the vicious trap designed by Murong Fu and Mrs. Ma, the love story between the two finally came to an end.
The drama of "The Legend of Qiao Feng" focuses on Qiao Feng's revenge line, and the good brothers Duan Yu and Wuzhu in the original work only played soy sauce for a few minutes. And other important characters A Zi (played by Liu Yase), Duan Zhengchun (played by Zhang Zhaohui), and Ruan Xingzhu (played by Hui Yinghong) have only appeared briefly.
To put it bluntly, this time is still a martial arts show that belongs to Donnie Yen's personal.
From the perspective of literary drama, the adaptation of "Dragon Babu" by "The Legend of Qiao Feng" is very sloppy.
Audiences who have seen the original work will "count the stars" in "The Legend of Qiao Feng" with great tolerance, but audiences who do not know the original work will be confused by the endless and rapidly departing characters.
But the film's martial arts can indeed be seen that some effort has been put into it, and Donnie Yen still invited back his apprentice, Kenji Tanigaki of the "Wanderer Sword Heart" series, to work together, showing a strong Zhen family class style.
Behind-the-scenes team (from left to right): Yan Hua, Kenji Tanigaki, Donnie Yen
In the original work "Dragon Babu", Qiao Feng's martial arts are the masters of the two major sects, not only can use the dragon claw hand of Shaolin peerless learning and the clutch of the devil, but also master the dog-beating stick method and the eighteen palms of the dragon descending dragon.
In previous film and television works, the great move of the eighteen palms of the dragon is often highlighted.
1997 TVB "Dragon Babu"
In addition to traditional moves, "The Legend of Qiao Feng" also unlocks new weapons, such as the first decisive battle between Qiao Feng and Murong Fu with a long sword.
In this innovation, Donnie Yen explained, "Qiao Feng mainly uses dog clubs, a hero with great martial arts, should be proficient in eighteen weapons, so after Qiao Feng leaves the gang in the play, he will use other weapons, including Duan Zhengchun's sword stolen by A Zi." ”
Following "Ip Man 4", Donnie Yen fought Wu Yue again
Donnie Yen prefers to look for "actors with many years of experience in action martial arts movies", in addition to the decisive battle scene against Wu Yue, he also found the senior Xu Xiaoming (martial arts instructor; Action movie director) as Hatomo Chi. He specially referred to the historical shape of Tubo and designed a new weapon with an extended crescent shovel for it.
"The Legend of Qiao Feng" shows Qiao Feng's martial arts specialties one by one through three heavy fighting scenes, which are completed by Donnie Yen himself, and do not rely on special effects, playing a sense of realism from fists to flesh.
The battle of Juxian Zhuang in the middle of the film is quite tragic and tragic.
Many people from the rivers and lakes saluted first and then soldiers, and after taking turns to toast, they showed their housekeeping skills. Different sects showed their own talents, and their moves were fierce, and Qiao Feng fought a battle with one back, and one was worth a hundred.
Donnie Yen reiterated that he doesn't need "posing martial arts action movies." In the past 40 years since entering the industry, he has always adhered to the principle of "Zhen (Zhen) Kung Fu" to interpret actual combat kung fu films.
Therefore, although the overall reputation of "The Legend of Qiao Feng" is not good, if you talk about action scenes alone, it is still a high level of Chinese films.
Donnie Yen's mother, Mak Pochan, is a well-known martial artist and the founder of the Chinese Wushu Institute in Boston.
With her encouragement, Donnie Yen learned to practice boxing from an early age, and as a teenager won the boxing and weapons championship in the mixed martial arts competition in the United States.
Later, after the appreciation and cultivation of Hong Kong action film director Yuen Heping, Donnie Yen stepped into the film and television industry and started his star-playing career as a martial arts stand-in. His early masterpieces were "Hong Xiguan" and "Jingwumen" directed by Chen Musheng.
In the early days of his career, Donnie Yen was most proficient in Taijiquan and Shaolin Boxing. In order to fit the background of the character, he continued to learn other martial arts routines, and his motor skills gradually increased.
In order to play Hong Xiguan, he learned Hong Fist and beat the tiger and crane double form into clouds and water. In order to play Chen Zhen, he figured out Bruce Lee's fighting style and learned Mazong boxing and nunchucks.
"Jingwumen" with director Chen Musheng
"Kill the Wolf" and "The Fuse" are classic Hong Kong fashion action movies after the millennium, in which Donnie Yen plays the role of Inspector Ma Jun.
The improvised street fight with Wu Jing in "Kill the Wolf" and the MMA fight with Zou Zhaolong in "The Fuse" are still talked about by action movie fans.
Donnie Yen incorporated mixed martial arts techniques into these two films, using Chinese martial arts, Japanese judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Thai boxing techniques and other moves.
It was only after watching the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United States that he began to explore the door of martial arts, communicating and perfecting his martial arts with Salveti, who specializes in martial arts in the Zhen family's class, and Kenji Tanigaki, who studied jiu-jitsu.
Like a sponge that constantly absorbs water, Donnie Yen lit up a new skill - Wing Chun in the "Ip Man" series at the peak of his career.
In the preparatory stage, he studied with Ip Man's apprentice Sin Guolin for 9 months, carrying wooden piles with him to practice, and finally restored the appearance in the film.
In "Wuxia", Donnie Yen plays an incognito worldly master who resolutely breaks his arm in order to break away from the organization.
The actor of the leader of the organization, Wang Yu, is the first generation of "one-armed sword kings". Donnie Yen used the newly learned leopard-shaped fist in the film, which is named for imitating leopard predation, jumping and other movements.
In recent years, in the films "Chasing the Dragon", "Star Wars Story: Rogue One", and "Rage Heavy Case", we see the more complex and mature Donnie Yen, who has integrated different martial arts techniques and tempered them in every way to use them for his own use.
"Whether it is martial arts or boxing, only continuous basic training is the secret to achieving excellence. Striving for diversity, adapting to different rules, and taking years to develop a neutral style that stands out from other martial arts styles that are different from yours. ”
In an interview with an American magazine, he said his experience and summarized the secret of his personal play with hundreds of families.
However, it must also be admitted that the rotation action scene, Donnie Yen and Zhen Family Class will bring full sincerity every time;
But in the literary and drama part, it is best to have a director who is better at narrative and emotional creation to support, for example, his partner with Wilson Yip complements each other, so as to bring action movies with word-of-mouth effect
Donnie Yen, known as "Hong Kong's last generation of stars", is 60 years old this year and is bound to face the question of "honest and old, can still eat".
But just like the bold saying in "The Legend of Qiao Feng", "I will fight as long as I want to fight, and keep fighting."
Donnie Yen's starring career is not finished, and fans can still look forward to the next work.