After many years of working as a film critic, I have always prided myself on having a keen intuition and judgment about films. But before the release of "Not So Hot", I seriously misjudged the movie.
The main cast of the film made me prejudiced. The screenwriter and starring are all from the happy twist comedy group, which is more like a light-hearted and funny commercial film. In addition, it is a remake of an old foreign script, and I think of various remakes of movies of varying standards in recent years, and I naturally have no expectations for it.
So I had a preconceived idea before watching the movie, thinking that this was just a bad film to "cut leeks", and it was a commercial film shot perfunctorily by the producer to earn box office. I even posted on social media predicting its failure, with confidence.
But after watching the movie, I had to learn how superficial and hasty my judgment was. This film is actually a rare masterpiece, it shows the good intentions of the creators, and it is also permeated with thinking about the universal values of human nature.
Rather than being frivolous and perfunctory as I expected, it tells a heart-warming fable through a deceptively light-hearted story shell.
I apologize for my assumptions.
This film proves that good work can come from all sides and should not be ignored because of people's prejudices. It also reminded me of my responsibility as a film critic to listen to what each work wants to say, rather than jumping to conclusions.
I owe Wei Xiang and the main creative team an apology. They put in the work of genuine emotion, and I guessed their motives for no reason. I apologize to my peers in the industry and guard against stereotypes in my future work and look at each film with a more open and detailed mind.
This is what I owe to the industry.
The film sets up two contrasting typical characters in life: Wei Guozheng and Le Guang, whose attitude and pursuit of life have become one of the highlights of the film.
Wei Guozheng, a small man, has had difficult conditions since he was a child, but he did not get discouraged and give up, but worked hard to realize his basketball dream, first becoming a player and then a coach.
He represents a group of people who are constantly fighting for their lives.
In contrast, Leguang has taken a different path. Because she had to take care of her sick brother, she resolutely gave up other pursuits and took on the heavy responsibility of running a welfare home for the disabled.
She represents another life choice to dedicate oneself to serving others and contributing to society.
Which of the two different attitudes towards life is better or worse? The film does not give a standard answer. It's just open-ended questioning and understanding each option with a human touch.
I think Leguang's choice is also extremely great. In this era of increasing attention to individualism and selfish desires, Leguang's selfless dedication is particularly valuable. She is like a lamp that does not ask for anything in return, silently illuminating the life path of others.
But I can't deny Wei Guozheng's spirit of sticking to his dreams. Without dreams, our lives would be boring. So every choice deserves to be understood and respected.
The film depicts the diversity of life through two typical examples, and also awakens the audience's inner thinking: what kind of life is meaningful, what should we really pursue? It opens the door to life exploration, which makes people think deeply.
This kind of wisdom of tolerance and understanding of various life situations has become the most touching part of the film. It reveals that the nature of life is far more complex than we think, so we should be more tolerant of every choice.
This is a high-level attitude towards life, which is worth learning from Xi.
The film made a very brave attempt in casting, and it chose real disabled actors to play the roles. This not only enhances the sense of realism and substitution of the film, but also shows the audience the courage and dignity of people with disabilities.
We often think of people with disabilities as "weak" and that they need outside compassion. And the performances of these disabled actors tell us that they also have the courage to pursue their dreams and are eager to be recognized by society through their own efforts.
Despite the difficulties they faced by birth, they did not give up their pursuit of acting careers. They overcame all kinds of obstacles to get in front of the camera and did their best to play the role. Although not as skilled as professional actors, it infects the audience with the most real emotions.
They also have dreams and desire to be treated as equals. Disability doesn't stop them from being passionate about acting, and I am in awe of that spirit.
While watching their performances, I deeply felt the strength and courage of people with disabilities. They are not afraid of hardship, just for a chance to show themselves. It is their addition that gives this film a unique sincerity and warmth.
I sincerely wish every actor with a disability and hope that more people will notice your efforts. The courage and tenacity you have shown have overcome the injustice of life and have infected every viewer.
You have enriched the film and the world.
This is director Gao Hu's first film work, and what made him a blockbuster was his extraordinary insight and sincere creative attitude.
Gao Hu was originally just an obscure cinematographer, standing behind the camera for many years, modestly documenting the work of others. He does not have a proud big-name directorial posture, but patiently accumulates experience and waits for opportunities.
When the opportunity came, Gao Hu did not rush to prove himself, but calmly prepared and thought carefully about the topic selection and remake method. In the end, he amazed the film industry with a masterpiece full of humanistic care.
Gao Hu's success proves that good filmmakers don't need to postur. True professionalism comes from inner peace and intentions, not external fame.
Similarly, Wei Xiang is also eye-catching in this film. He gave up the exaggerated way of acting and perfectly interpreted the restrained and real characters. This shows his growth and progress as an actor.
Wei Xiang is not afraid of transformation, he does not rest on his laurels, but has the courage to try to break through. When the script requires restrained acting, he can also be competent. This kind of professionalism is worth learning from Xi showbiz.
Whether it is a director or an actor, what this industry needs is a humble and studious heart. Both Gao Hu and Wei Xiang use their own works to interpret what a true profession is.
They respect us.
I sincerely wish such dedicated filmmakers to be valued, and I look forward to more excellent works from them. For an industry to progress, it needs such a group of creators who have worked hard and accumulated.
They are the soul of the movie.
The film may not be a huge commercial success, but its artistic value is irrefutable. I call on both inside and outside the industry to give such works enough attention and discussion.
The reason why it is difficult to make it at the box office is because the subject matter is niche and not as easy to attract the masses as light-hearted comedies. However, we can't just focus on the box office and ignore the intrinsic value of the film.
If such a humanistic film does not get attention, excellent screenwriters and directors will also be discouraged. Without the persistence of filmmakers, the progress of cinema is difficult to achieve.
Therefore, I hope that the industry can give affirmation and not ignore it because it may be niche; I hope that film critics can understand its value and give it a discussion; I hope that the audience can also take the initiative to pay attention and not be attracted by the light-hearted film.
Only in this way can films with unique perspectives take root and blossom, and the possibilities of films can continue to expand. A single-perspective film will eventually meet, and a variety of perspectives is the soul of the movie.
What we need is not quantity, but quality; What is needed is not imitation, but innovation; What is needed is not more investment, but more understanding.
I believe that as long as we pay attention together, such thoughtful films will continue to emerge. When excellent movies are no longer unpopular, our film industry can truly multiply.
It takes everyone's effort.
The film can be described as an extremely successful adaptation, and it avoids some of the common problems when it comes to Chinese film adaptations.
Many film adaptations stay at imitation of form and framework, and lack the transformation of local culture. And "Not So Hot-blooded" completely absorbed the essence of the original work, and carried out a large number of innovative details to make it closer to the emotional orientation of the Chinese people.
Another thing worth learning Xi is the clever arrangement of the plot. Although the original work has good intentions, the ending is a little blunt, and there is still a lack of respect for people with disabilities.
And this film has made subtle changes to make every player participate in the end and get satisfaction. This clever structural arrangement elevates the meaning of the theme.
In addition, every basketball game scene in the movie is presented through realistic techniques. This is in strong contrast to the exaggeration of martial arts films in the original work, which can move the audience more and improve the sense of substitution.
It can be said that this film has absorbed the essence of the original work, and has been optimized and innovated with a lot of details. It avoids rigidity and transcends the limitations of the original.
A successful adaptation is not a servile imitation of the original, but a new creation based on respect. "Not So Hot-blooded" is such a masterpiece that injects fresh blood into the original work.
It proves that adaptations are not entirely meaningless, and that successful adaptations can break down people's prejudices and give new life to the original. I sincerely wish more such excellent film adaptations to come out.
When we have a mindset of respect and creativity for past works, our films can have infinite possibilities.
To sum up, I think "Not So Bloody" is a masterpiece with a very humanistic spirit. It not only shows the intentions of the filmmaking team, but also conveys warmth and positive power to the audience.
First of all, it chooses the subject matter of people with disabilities who have been neglected by society for a long time. It's hard to get a movie that shows their lives on camera and lets the public know more about this group.
Secondly, it delicately portrays the typicals of different outlooks on life, allowing the audience to think about what kind of life is more meaningful. The film does not give a definitive conclusion, but an open and inclusive understanding of each choice, which shows mature values.
In addition, the professional performances of the disabled actors in the film are also touching. Their hard work and courage in performing in front of the camera silently taught every audience that disability does not define a person's possibility.
In the end, this shows the professionalism of the filmmakers. Director Gao Hu, despite his young qualifications, has proven himself with excellent works. Actor Wei Xiang also put down his star posture and devoted himself to the role.
This professionalism drives the advancement of the art of cinema.
To sum up, the film is thought-provoking, but not dull; It warms people's hearts, but it is not sensational; It's memorable, but it's not exaggerated. It shows the wisdom and charm of a mature artist.
I must apologize for my miscalculations. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has worked this film. It is you who have warmed this society with your lens and made film an art that transmits positive energy.
Your voice for people with disabilities has awakened the human thinking of ordinary audiences. This power is invaluable. I sincerely wish you to make more high-quality works like this and infect the hearts of more people.
When cinema is no longer just a business, when it takes on the responsibility of touching people's hearts, it becomes a force. I will recommend this movie to more friends and let your efforts bear fruit.