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Text|Xiaojiu views the world
Editor|Xiaojiu Guanxia
preface
As a powerful art form, film can evoke emotional resonance in audiences through images, storylines and character performances, and provoke deep thinking about human nature, morality and social issues.
In this field, Quentin Tarantino has created a series of critically acclaimed productions with his unique directing style and love of cinema.
The Hateful Eight, Tarantino's eighth directorial work, is known for its compelling story, great characters, and unique Western-style narrative.
Today I will take you to explore the movie "The Hateful Eight" to deeply analyze the themes of crime and revenge shown in it.
Background and characteristics of Western movies
The movie "The Hateful Eight" is a crime western suspense film directed by Quentin Tarantino, full of classic elements and unique styles of westerns.
First, the development history of western films
Western films originated in the American film industry in the early 20th century. Its original form was in the era of silent films, showing the pioneering and pioneering period of the American West through movies and TV series.
Featuring adventure, adventure, heroism, and endless expanse of landscapes, these films attract the attention of a wide audience.
In the 40s and 50s of the 20th century, Western cinema experienced a golden age. Classic films such as "Stagecoach" and "High Noon" became representative works of Western cinema, laying the cornerstone of Western films.
In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, the popularity of Westerns began to decline, replaced by a more modern and radical cinematic style.
Since the 90s of the 20th century, with the efforts of director Quentin Tarantino and others, Western films have regained attention and ushered in a renaissance.
Second, the characteristics of Western movies
1. Desolate environment and vast landscape
Western movies are usually set in the desolate regions of the American West, such as deserts, mountains, vast plains, etc. These vast landscapes give a sense of grandeur and grandeur, while also reflecting the hardship and loneliness of the pioneering period of the West.
In The Hateful Eight, the film presents the desolate landscape of the Wyoming valley through beautiful photography and sets.
These landscapes are not just the background, but also become part of the plot and characters, enhancing the atmosphere and emotions of the film.
2. Heroism and the concept of honor
Western movies often portray fearless heroes who pursue justice and bravely face dangers and challenges. They represent the values of courage, honor and justice. These heroes build the audience's reverence and respect for them by fighting evil forces and protecting the weak.
In The Hateful Eight, each character has a certain level of heroism and honor. They have shown courage and fearlessness in the face of danger and hardship and have tried to uphold justice and law and order.
3. Moral dilemmas and the exploration of human nature
Western films often explore moral dilemmas and the complexities of human nature. Faced with moral choices and difficult decisions, the characters are not only bound by laws and social norms, but also driven by personal motivations and emotions.
In The Hateful Eight, each character faces a moral dilemma and a test of humanity. Their actions transcend the traditional binary opposition of good and evil, struggling to hover on the edge of sin. Through the display of this moral dilemma, the film triggers the audience to think deeply about good and evil and human nature.
4. Demonstration of violence and conflict
Western movies often show scenes of violence and conflict. These scenes are not only meant to add drama and tension, but also to show the cruelty and hardship of the Western era. Violence and conflict also reflect the dark side and primitive instincts of human nature.
In The Hateful Eight, the film shows the essence of evil and revenge through violent and bloody scenes. These scenes both reveal the dark side of human nature and help the audience better understand the motivations and behaviors of the characters.
As a unique film genre, Western movies have their own unique backgrounds and characteristics. As a Western, the movie "The Hateful Eight" successfully shows the classic elements and styles of Western movies.
Through desolate environments, the shaping of heroism, the exploration of moral dilemmas, and the display of violence and conflict, the film delves into the complexity of human nature and the existence of evil.
The storyline and character analysis of "The Hateful Eight"
1. Storyline
The story of the film takes place in the town of Redstone in the cold Wyoming valley. At the beginning of the story, we see bounty hunter John Roos (played by Kurt Russell) driving a horse-drawn cart carrying his prey, Daisy Domog (played by Jennifer Jason Lee), to Redstone Town.
On the way, black bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren (played by Samuel L. Jackson) boards the carriage, followed by rookie Sheriff Chris Manix (played by Tim Ross) to join them.
Due to the snowstorm, the carriage was forced to stop at Minnie Minnie's men's clothing store. However, when they entered the store, they found that the owner was not there, only four other strangers were already waiting in the store.
The four strangers are veteran general Sanford Smith (played by Bruce Dunn), Mexican Ruby Nalyon (played by Dominic Sisi), English gentleman Oswald Mowbray (played by Timothy Olyphant) and prison maniac Jo Gallo (played by Michael Maddoson).
Inside the store, the tension gradually escalated. Everyone has doubts about the true identity and motives of others.
John Roos has been protecting his prey, Daisy, fearing that someone will try to snatch her. Major Marquis Warren is always on his watch, trying to find clues to reveal the truth.
Chris Manix is talking a lot because of nervousness, which exacerbates the tension. And Daisy Domog seems to be hiding more secrets, and she is waiting for a bigger storm to come.
In the shop, a series of events unfold, sparking violent clashes and shocking revelations of the truth. Each character is forced to confront his past and hidden motives. Eventually, the mystery is revealed, and each character reveals their true identity and purpose.
Second, role analysis
1. John Roose (The Hangman) - Portrayed by Kurt Russell
John Roose was a bounty hunter known as the "hanger" because he loved to hand prisoners to justice.
He is one of the central characters in the story, protecting Daisy Domog all the time. John Roose is a calm and witty man who cunningly tackles various challenges, but also hides his secrets.
2. Major Marquis Warren - played by Samuel L. Jackson
Major Marquis Warren is a black bounty hunter who shares a common goal with John Roose.
He was an intelligent man with a military background, always on his guard. Marquis is a complex character who reveals his dark past and thirst for revenge in the story.
3. Sheriff Chris Mannix - Portrayed by Tim Ross
Chris Manix is a rookie sheriff who intends to take up the position of sheriff in Redrock.
He is a kind and upright person, but sometimes shows a childish and impressionable side. Chris offers a comedic tonic of the conflicts and tensions of others.
4. Daisy Domergue - Portrayed by Jennifer Jason Lee
Daisy Domorg is a wanted criminal and prey for John Roose. She is a sinister and intelligent woman who hides many secrets. Daisy is a complex character, and her presence makes the story even more gripping.
5. Ruby Narien (Bob) - Portrayed by Dominic Sisi
Ruby Nalyon is a Mexican who is the only non-English character in this story. His presence adds some cross-cultural and ethnic elements to the story.
Through a complex storyline and fleshed out characters, the film presents a world full of violence, intrigue and revenge. Each character has their own secrets and motivations, which makes the whole story even more engaging.
An exploration of the theme of sin
The movie "The Hateful Eight" is a crime western suspense film full of intrigue, violence and complex relationships, which delves into the theme of sin.
In the film, director Quentin Tarantino shows the dark side of human nature, the ambiguity of moral boundaries, and the various manifestations of evil through the characters' actions, dialogue and plot development.
First, the ambiguity of the boundary between sin and morality
The characters in the film are often caught in moral dilemmas, and their actions often transcend the traditional dichotomy of good and evil.
For example, John Roose, as a bounty hunter, was supposed to bring criminals to justice on behalf of justice, however, he also used his own power and violated the provisions of the law.
Major Marquis Warren, a black bounty hunter, committed murder and revenge during the Civil War, but he also played a role in protecting the weak and exposing injustice.
The situations faced by the characters in the film create a conflict between the pursuit of justice and the satisfaction of their personal desires.
They teeter on the edge of sin, struggling to choose their actions. This ambiguity of moral boundaries forces viewers to re-examine notions of good and evil and think about the choices people make in extreme situations.
Second, the dark side of human nature and the manifestation of sin
The Hateful Eight profoundly reveals the dark side and the existence of evil in human nature. Each character has their own hidden secrets and crimes, which gradually surface in the plot.
For example, Daisy Domog, as a wanted criminal, hides shocking criminal acts, while other characters are gradually drawn into the crimes she commits.
Through violent and bloody scenes, the film vividly shows the nature of evil and its erosion of human nature.
Violence is not just an act, but a symbol that represents the dark impulses and brutal instincts of human nature. Through the violent scenes in the film, the audience has a deeper understanding of the nature of sin.
Third, the connection and conflict between evil and revenge
In the movie, the two themes of crime and revenge are closely related and intertwined, triggering the climax and conflict of the plot.
Each character has their own motives for revenge, trying to seek justice against others. Revenge, as an expression of emotion and behavior, puts the characters in a situation from which they cannot turn back, trapped in the vortex of sin.
The impulse for revenge also often clashes with morality and justice. The characters in the film often struggle between revenge and forgiveness, and their choices and actions are often bound by moral codes.
This conflict between revenge and morality highlights the importance of the theme of sin in the film, and also triggers the audience to think about ethics and morality.
Through the discussion of the theme of sin in the movie "The Hateful Eight", we can see that Tarantino successfully shows the dark side of human nature, the ambiguity of moral boundaries, and the complexity of sin through the construction of plot, characters and dialogue.
Analysis of the theme of revenge
First, the motivation and psychological description of revenge
Each character in the film has their own motives for revenge, trying to achieve justice by confronting others. Acts of revenge are often a response to a past injury or grievance, punishment and revenge for those who have committed the harm.
For example, Major Marquis Warren's motivation for revenge stemmed from the humiliation and injustice he had suffered in the Civil War, and he hoped to restore his dignity and justice through revenge.
The film shows the psychological complexity of revenge through the psychological description of the characters. Revenge is not only an impulse, but also an emotional catharsis and psychological satisfaction.
Major Marquis Warren and the other characters experience emotions of anger, pain, and confusion in the process of revenge, which become the driving force for their actions.
Second, the relationship between revenge action and plot development
The revenge action in the movie is one of the key factors driving the plot. Each character's revenge actions and plans will have a significant impact on the storyline.
For example, Major Marquis Warren gradually reveals his plans and purpose for revenge through confrontations and fights with other characters. Revenge sparks tension and intense conflict that moves the plot forward.
Revenge in movies is also often accompanied by unexpected twists and reversals. The characters' plans and goals may change, and they may face setbacks and betrayals.
The development of these revenge actions adds suspense and tension to the plot, making the audience pay more attention to the direction of the story.
Third, the impact of revenge on the relationship between the characters and the direction of the story
The motivation and actions of revenge have a profound impact on the character relationships and the direction of the story. Revenge often leads to conflict and confrontation between characters, making an already complex relationship even more tense and complex.
For example, in the film, the motivation for revenge creates suspicion, fighting, and betrayal between the characters, and the trust and cooperation between them is severely damaged.
The actions and consequences of revenge also have a profound impact on the development of the story. The process of revenge is often accompanied by violence and bloodshed, actions that lead to tragic consequences and irreparable losses.
The results of revenge are often brutal, and the characters often pay a heavy price for their actions.
The author's opinion
"The Hateful Eight" is a Western-style film that shows the darkness of human nature and the boundaries of morality through a storyline of sin and revenge.
The author believes that the film skillfully blends classic elements of Westerns and Quentin Tarantino's unique style to create a gripping story.
The characters' journey of revenge takes viewers to think deeply about the conflict between revenge and justice, and explore the complexities of human nature.
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