While the discussion of Spring Festival movies was in full swing, the TV series "Crazy" that was launched at the same time attracted my special attention.
The actors and plot are still secondary, mainly because its action scenes are really enjoyable. So much so that the title "Rage" can also contain "Adrenaline Frenzy".
Even if the fight scenes are not directly shown, the tense and exciting atmosphere is well created.
For example, the cold killer Lao Mo wiped the neck of the ruffian Zhong Ah Si with a knife, this scene can be called a werewolf destroying a ruthless person:
With extremely strong self-esteem, he could not stand the gloomy psychological outburst of Qu Qisheng, and used a frozen fish to beat Li Hongwei alive until he was bloodied:
It is not an exaggeration to say that the action scenes of this drama make people find the exciting feeling of "fist to flesh" that has been lost for a long time.
These two big guys can even be said to be "headshots"
In particular, domestic martial arts dramas that should have done better action scenes should come to learn from "Crazy".
In the past many years, martial arts dramas have been bombarded on the screen and hot searches, but there are almost no people who can watch it - because the premise of "Xia" "Wu" is really watery.
"Knife in the Snow", which won the 2022 excellent TV of the year, is almost a negative teaching material.
Half a century into the air spinning, the commercials of another film are finished, and people are still floating in the air - what kind of martial arts is there without martial arts?
But this is not an isolated case, but the basis of contemporary martial arts dramas.
The same flying sparring, there is no need to take Donnie Yen and others as an example, and there is no need to compare this year's "Crazy". Even the children's drama "Bala La Little Devil Fairy" 14 years ago can even easily kill the current martial arts.
The mention and release of this casting action, even a spell attack without physical contact, can make people feel the momentum of the saber rattling.
The tragic comparison can't help but lead to a question: How did the "martial arts", which was once prosperous and even popular overseas, degenerate here?
Splash and water prize
"Water fighting" is not something that can be practiced in a year.
To understand the pathology, it is necessary to explore the symptoms first. To this end, the class representative sorted out this collection of paddling dramas from the costume dramas that have been on the hot search and exaggeration list in the past few years.
We invite everyone to take the pulse together.
· Multiplayer: Not enough moves, edit to make up
In this kind of water paddling school, the characters at the center of the incident have almost no martial arts action throughout the process, relying on the explanation of outsiders or the pull of the camera.
A duel between jaw-dropping masters,
That's how it works.
Suspended in mid-air, without method, the move all relies on the same "distorted picture quality" editing of Indian TV.
When it comes to the attainment of flickering, if the "line" is Fan Wei, the "lens" is Zhao Benshan.
The bright light streaked through, and everyone on the field was dragged to the sky by a rapid divine force, followed by the enlarged face of the protagonist.
Only those who have played the ancient fairy game can understand that this may be a metaphysical skill called "gravity reversal".
If you have the intention to fight, there will be a shirtless "you non my non" faction to fight.
Look at the strength and aura of this grabbing arm, and vividly interpret the essence of Quan Yong martial arts of "the battlefield is like a love field" (Note: Quan Yong is a common writer of stall literature, also known as cottage Jin Yong).
When enemies meet each other, they are no longer red-eyed, but you shoot one by one and I play a family drama. The camera takes half a second longer.
· Soaring into the sky: It's all about technology
Flying, is the most imaginative action in martial arts dramas, and it also brings martial arts to a new level: there is not enough space on the ground, the vast sky is for you to swim, and the moves are at your disposal.
But the current flying drama has flown out a new route, and it just perfectly avoids any aesthetic characteristics.
Some are like plucking onions on dry land, and wax figures soar.
Some are like double elevators, taking off and landing in a straight line.
The principle is about equivalent to "a downward jet booster installed on the back", a proper aerospace technology leader.
But with this thick posture, at a glance, you can see that they are not flying, but "hanging".
Even Super Mario in the Little Bully Red and White Game Console is more convincing than this jump.
· Dancing knives and guns: all by weapon
Every warrior, male or female, can hold a sword flower, throw a folding fan, or throw a silver needle or satin.
Not only can it increase the value of force, but it can also highlight their own characteristics.
When martial arts dramas, like movies, stepped into Schrödinger's "best era" as Zhou Dongyu said, weapons also ushered in an evolution that it had not seen in thousands of years in martial arts culture: substitute animals became refined.
Playing Tai Chi with one hand, or simulating the "wipe the air without a rag", with the special effect of Wumao, is the characteristic sword flower.
In Xiao Longnu's hands, the silk that took the first level of human qi fluttered and seemed to be equipped with an automatic sensing artifact.
The master only needs to stretch out his hand and turn sideways, and the sleeve can break through the law of conservation of matter and extend indefinitely, and defeat the enemy for thousands of miles.
A good "refined weapon" direct sales site.
The core of the play lies in "logic"
In the spit on martial arts dramas, people have successively remembered the Hong Kong martial arts films of the last century that "aimed at visual impact and used martial arts actors as consumables".
The sparring on the screen is all real guns and live ammunition, and the moves are wonderful, which makes people feel addicted to watching.
Some people put forward a different point of view: martial arts are actually all about serving the plot, and you can't generalize the real fight in Sammo Hung's era to demand the current fight, which is too high. After all, martial arts dramas often have many settings that are beyond reality.
I agree with this point: from heaven to earth, a single "flight" is difficult to achieve with the power of actors.
However, this does not excuse today's "paddling and playing".
Lin Qingxia's oriental undefeated, when flying by a branch stopped by the mask, her shocking glimpse is an indelible picture in film and television history.
And to this day, there are also people who are obsessed with the undefeated silver needle divine skill in the East, and have practiced hard for many years.
It can be seen that even if it is difficult to "really fight", the former martial arts drama can make "martial arts" a classic, and today's martial arts cannot be used as an excuse to touch porcelain.
Why was it once a martial arts drama classic? Because its "playing scene" is very logical: action logic and plot logic.
This depends on the complete formula of actors' skills, action direction, editing and soundtrack.
There is a bridge in "Kung Fu", "Fire Cloud Evil God" vs. "Condor Heroes".
Don't look at his scruffy beard on weekdays, and he is a stray old man when thrown into the pile of people. But at the moment of starting, he was absolutely agile and imposing, and even his posture was straight.
Even if he is still slovenly, people will believe that this is a master who only exists in legends.
In fact, the overall requirements of martial arts dramas for "martial arts" are far more than "real fights". The demeanor, momentum, physique, and movement of the actors in the martial arts section are crucial.
Lin Zhengying entered the film industry as early as the 60s of the last century as a dragon and tiger martial artist, and won the Academy Award for Best Action Direction many times.
But in the zombie film he starred in, Ninth Uncle has to deal with not people, but zombies that "breathe more" than people, and ordinary martial arts actions are not of much use.
Therefore, Lin Zhengying integrated the casting action of Maoshan Shu in martial arts. With sensory stimulation, the logic of action makes sense.
According to the standard of "real fighting", this is indeed like embroidered legs with fists, and people cannot be beaten in actual combat, but combined with the background of the movie, this martial arts design is very ingenious.
The "copper money sword" and "Taoist uniform" are magic weapons circulated by the ancestors of the masters for generations, and the "chicken blood talisman paper and ink thread" is also a skill passed down from generation to generation.
The image of a Taoist priest who takes "driving away evil grudges and protecting peace" as his own mission and passes on this responsibility from generation to generation is deeply imprinted in the hearts of the audience.
Therefore, his martial arts is also very logical in line with the plot.
But it's not enough for the actors themselves to fight.
In "Ambush on Ten Sides", Zhang Ziyi was just diving sleeve dance, but with the rhythm of the drums, the atmosphere of saber rattling in the words and laughter suddenly ignited.
At such a distance, it may be difficult for the sleeve to hit the drum, but Zhang Ziyi's solemn demeanor, expression, and neat sleeve throwing, combined with the editing of the lens, it is difficult not to believe that she is such a superb dancer.
But if the camera is not properly connected, or the actors' expressions are not in place, they can only rely on sleeves in the later stage and fly automatically.
These so-called tricks of martial arts dramas are to break through the possibility of "martial arts". To achieve those actions that cannot be achieved by human beings alone, so as to carry out the plot that could only exist in the imagination before.
For the sake of film and television effects, in the past, actors would practice more even if they did not have martial arts skills, and tried their best to create the character of a supreme master with the cooperation of the camera and music.
In contrast, in the current martial arts drama, actors even rely on fake abs to shoot scenes with their upper body naked.
The soundtrack that occasionally comes out of the circle with the gimmick of "bad movies out of the divine comedy", is mostly plagiarized, not to mention the elements that support the martial arts drama scenes such as lens editing and costumes.
The "fight" of martial arts dramas is for "chivalry"
The "fight play" of martial arts dramas is actually a topic that has been discussed for decades. For example, Zhang Jizhong filmed Xiaolongnu was criticized: beauty is beauty, but it is all flower shelves, and it can't kill people at all.
I don't agree with this accusation. In fact, martial arts film and television works and "real fighting" can never be equated.
In the 50s of the last century, the movie "Huang Feihong" was born. Different from the 20s martial arts silent films that mainly promoted divine skills, it focused on actual combat.
Carrying the good wishes of the Chinese people to pursue self-improvement, "Huang Feihong" with rich national characteristics laid the foundation pillar of martial arts films as soon as it was released. However, in the following two decades, similar film and television works launched by the industry have always been irregular in style and uneven in level.
Until 65, the Shaw Company decided to revive martial arts films, and Zhang Che and Hu Jinquan, who were in danger, made "One-armed Knife" and "The Drunken Man" respectively.
Nominally, both are martial arts films, but the styles are very different.
Zhang Che's film action is extremely realistic, and the tomato juice used as blood in each play can fill two large barrels. Hu Jinquan does not shoot bloody scenes, he pays attention to artistic conception and atmosphere.
The road of cutting the mat between martial arts films and martial arts films has laid the foreshadowing from here -
In the 72-year-old martial arts film "Jing Wumen", Bruce Lee kicked and smashed the sign "Chinese and dogs are not allowed", single-handedly competed with Japanese masters, bladed the enemy, and finally won honor for the country with his superb martial arts.
Many martial arts films of the same period also followed the same route: fighting for individual heroism and collective glorious image.
But "Xia Girl" directed by Hu Jinquan in 71 does not just focus on martial arts.
Under the cloak of martial arts, the film explores the meaning of life through the plot of "literati involved in partisan disputes in the imperial court, righteous men and eunuchs fighting viciously", and through the different views of the three schools of "Confucianism, Xia, and Shi".
At the same time, the Jin Yong martial arts drama filmed by TVB also does not focus on the real fight of open guns and dark arrows. Instead, through martial arts disputes, it alludes to the contradictions of reality, showing the choice between ordinary people between national enemies and family difficulties, and the trade-off between feudal rites and self-worth.
For example, Zhou Zhiruo and Zhao Min, who shouldered the mission of exterminating the Ming Sect but were in a dilemma because they fell in love with the Ming Sect leader; Yang Guo, who suspected that Guo Jing had killed his father, but admired his chivalrous heart and refused to take revenge; and the little dragon girl who wanders in the heart of feudal scrutiny and admiration.
It even includes Wei Xiaobao, who is sandwiched between the "Heaven and Earth Society" and the "Little Xuanzi".
No matter what choice is made, it is the small characters in the context of the big time who do not want to be controlled by the mainstream discourse, and sincerely examine and think from the heart. This determines the essential difference between martial arts and martial arts.
Wuda is to extend "martial arts" and deepen the sensory stimulation of "fighting"; Wuxia starts from "martial arts" and bursts out the spiritual artistic conception of "xia".
Even if Wei Xiaobao does not know martial arts, he can do things for a long time for the sake of his master and friends, regardless of their safety. He also made a little trick to resolve the contradiction between the emperor and the Heaven and Earth Society for a long time, who can say that he is not a knight?
The fall of martial arts dramas,
Starting from the lack of martial arts spirit in the play to outside the play
In 2000, there were many new variations of martial arts dramas, such as the fairy tale represented by "Xian Xia Qixia Turn", and the fantasy represented by "Seven Fairies of Joy and Joy".
But no matter how the plot is set, the core of martial arts, the "chivalrous spirit" shown by the characters in the context of the times, has not changed.
In "The Legend of Sword and Fairy", Qing'er sacrificed her life to fulfill the mission of Nuwa's descendants for the sake of the people of Li and the pursuit of the "Dao" in her heart; In "The Seven Fairies of Joy and Joy", the seven fairies not only pursue love, but also bravely fight for the heavenly court, join forces against the Eclipse King, and finally let the queen mother modify the feudal dogma.
Once a fairy, fighting with fairies,
There is no shortage of truth beyond beauty
Even in "Wulin Gaiden", which has never been regarded as an orthodox martial arts drama, Li Dazui, who is righteous and thin, will risk his life to catch a scorpion to rescue Guo Furong, who has just known him for two months and is still having fun in the first half of the episode.
And now wearing the clothes of fairies, the fairies and gods who are often age-inflated seem to have great skills and superior martial arts, but their central idea is only "willing to destroy the three realms for love".
This has long been contrary to the core of martial arts.
But it doesn't seem to be all to blame on the director and screenwriter. In 2020, the new version of "Luding Ji" will be broadcast, and the hot search is all discussed about Zhang Yishan's exaggerated acting skills.
But I think that the failure of the new version of "Luding Ji" is much more plot than actors. In particular, the deletion and modification of information such as the "Ming History Case" and "Lichunyuan".
The Ming History case is the largest literary prison case in the Qing Dynasty triggered by the compilation of the "History of Ming", which explains the background of the whole drama's "anti-Qing and Ming restoration"; Lichunyuan, on the other hand, pointed out the identity of Wei Xiaobao's small character, and without the sleek character cultivated in Lichunyuan's rolling and climbing, it was difficult for Wei Xiaobao to navigate between the emperor, the Heaven and Earth Society, the Shenlong Sect and other forces.
These are all key messages to build the core story and highlight the theme of the story.
It is the lack of key information that leads to the same story getting different annotations. The reason for the deletion is unknown to us, or perhaps everyone knows it.
At a time when the "chivalrous spirit" is seriously lacking and even senior actors in the industry have to adapt to the mainstream caliber, the "service" of the character's character and identity cannot be expressed, the soundtrack and editing that are sufficient but the audience cannot feel the refined soundtrack, the actors who claim to switch to filming without the opportunity to perform on stage but do not work hard in front of the camera, and the bad scenes they have created together.
None of this seems surprising.