The Marché du Film is bustling with activity, with audiences flocking to cinemas in anticipation of the cultural extravaganza of the New Year.
Among the many films, "Hot and Hot" directed by Jia Ling and "Flying Life 2" directed by Han Han stood out and occupied the top two at the box office respectively. Although the two films have very different themes – one about boxing and the other on racing, they all touch on a common theme: the dream chase of frustrated middle-aged people.
In "Hot and Hot", Jia Ling's character went from a fat girl who stayed at home to gnaw on her old ten, and rediscovered her direction in life through weight loss and boxing. and "Flying Life 2" tells the story of Zhang Chi, played by Shen Teng, who regained his honor through racing.
Both stories revolve around the core of "dreams", but they present very different styles. The audience seemed to see their own shadow in the theater. Maybe it's a middle-aged person who has been made redundant, or maybe a young man who has lost his enthusiasm for life, and they find resonance in these two films.
Jia Ling's character's self-transformation and indomitable fighting spirit are silently inspiring everyone with dreams. However, the receptions of the two films are very different.
"Flying Life 2" is considered to be a high-quality inspirational movie, with a complete plot and exciting racing scenes. In contrast, although "Hot and Hot" is full of emotions, some viewers believe that the movie itself still has room for improvement.
Still, the success of these two films has led to deep reflection on the theme of "dreams". In this fast-paced society, has the word "dream" become a luxury? Do we still have the courage to chase what our hearts really desire?
The appearance of "Hot and Hot" and "Flying Life 2" seems to give the audience an answer: no matter how old or young you are, no matter what your situation is, your dreams are always worth fighting for.
In "Hot and Hot", Du Leying played by Jia Ling is a typical "gnawing old man". Ten years of living in a snail's house made her bloated, inferior and cowardly.
We can imagine her curled up at home every day, staring blankly at the TV screen, surrounded by packages of snacks. However, by chance, boxing broke into her life.
To's transformation was gradual. At first, she was panting even when she stood up, sweat soaked the hem of her clothes, and her eyes were full of doubts about herself. But as time went on, we saw her start to train consistently, and a determined light gradually flashed in her eyes.
When she finally stood in the ring, that look of confidence and perseverance was similar to that at the beginning of the film. Jia Ling used her own personal experience to inject her soul into Du Leying.
She has lost weight, but what the audience sees is not only the change in her figure, but also the transformation of a person from self-abandonment to regaining confidence. When Du Leying stood in front of the mirror and said, "I have won", the confidence and firmness made people can't help but be moved.
In contrast, Zhang Chi in "Flying Life 2" is another type of "dream chaser". He used to be a star on the racing track, but now he's relegated to taking on odd jobs to make ends meet.
We can see his tired figure shuttling through the streets of the city, taking on various part-time jobs, but his eyes still shine with his love for racing. When the opportunity came again, Zhang Chi threw himself into it without hesitation.
On the track, his eyes sharpened, and every movement of his body was full of focus and passion. Even in the face of unfair rules and strong opponents, he gritted his teeth and persevered, showing an indomitable spirit.
Han Han used his love and understanding of racing to create a flesh-and-blood Zhang Chi. We can see the love for racing in his eyes, and the determination to pursue his dreams in his actions.
When he says, "I've tried countless times, and the opportunity will only come once or twice in those of them," that indomitable spirit is admirable. Although these two paths to chasing dreams are in different directions, they both show the courage and strength of ordinary people to rise up in the face of adversity.
The story of Du Leying teaches us that it is never too late to change, as long as we are brave enough to take the first step. Zhang Chi's experience reminds us that even if we have failed, we should not give up on our dreams.
The protagonists in both movies are working their own life paths. Their story seems to tell the audience: whether you are at a low point in your life or struggling for your dreams, you must believe in yourself and persevere.
Because only through hard work and perseverance can we truly experience the joy when our dreams come true. The success of "Hot and Hot" and "Flying Life 2" is largely due to the unique perspective and dedication of the two directors.
In "Hot and Hot", Jia Ling integrated her weight loss experience into the character, making the whole story more real and believable. Under her lens, what we see is not only the appearance of a fat girl, but also the transformation of a person's inner world.
Jia Ling's directing technique may not be mature enough, and there are indeed some problems in the movie with a slow rhythm and an old-fashioned plot. Some viewers reported that during Du Leying's weight loss in the first half, she was weak in her speech, and her expression was like a wooden fish, which made people want to fast forward.
But it is undeniable that Jia Ling's sincerity touched the audience. She used her own personal experience to interpret the self-realization and breakthrough of an ordinary person like "I am very kind, I work hard to change, I just need to surpass my yesterday self".
In particular, the before and after comparison between the mirror in the corridor before the game, as well as the easter eggs after the movie, strongly convey Jia Ling's own mental journey. In contrast, Han Han showed significant progress in "Flying Life 2".
As a director who is both a writer and a racing driver, Han Han successfully combines the romance of literature and art with the excitement of racing. The structure of the movie is clear, the rhythm is properly controlled, and the presentation of the racing scenes is professional and shocking.
Han Han poured his understanding and love for racing into it, making "Flying Life 2" not only a simple racing movie, but also an inspirational masterpiece about dreams and perseverance.
Han Han's progress is reflected in many aspects. He put Han Han's professional specialty into most of the film's main content, removing the long and complicated description of life.
Many of the shots in the film have a strong sense of narrative, and the cars in the first and second parts have evolved, including the hybrid combination of the power kit and the internal combustion engine motor, which is consistent with the real race car, which is really satisfying for people who are interested in these things.
The competition between the two directors is not only a competition at the box office, but also a fusion of personal experience and professionalism. Jia Ling impressed the audience with her real personal experience, while Han Han conquered the audience with her professional racing knowledge and mature directing skills.
In their own ways, they presented two different styles of "dream-chasing" stories to the audience, enriching the diversity of Chinese films. In the face of "Hot and Hot" and "Flying Life 2", two movies with very different styles, the audience's reactions also showed obvious differentiation.
"Hot and Hot" has won the emotional resonance of a large number of audiences with Jia Ling's personal charm and weight loss experience. Many people see Du Leying's transformation, as if they see their own shadow.
The line "But I've already won" in the movie has sparked extensive discussions. The audience was moved by Du Leying's kindness and hard work, and the scene of her boxing in the air was interpreted as a manifestation of love to integrate into life.
However, many viewers also pointed out that the movie relied too much on Jia Ling's personal star effect, and the plot itself was a little thin. Some people think that many of Du Leying's behaviors are difficult to understand and empathize, such as a person can gnaw at home for ten years, and if she wants to gnaw at the old and everyone has a good attitude towards her, this is "both want and want" in the eyes of some audiences.
In contrast, "Flying Life 2" has won praise from the audience for its professional racing presentation and compact plot. Han Han's understanding and love for racing deeply moved the audience through the wonderful racing scenes and delicate emotional descriptions.
The line "I've tried countless times, and the opportunity will only appear once or twice in these days" in the movie has hit many people's hearts. The audience generally believes that the rhythm of "Flying Life 2" is smooth, and there are no urine spots throughout the whole process.
The film cleverly sets two goals: let the newcomer played by Fan Chengcheng compete for the first place, while Zhang Chi (played by Shen Teng) strives for sixth place and surpasses his own record. This setting not only inherits the main force without dominating the crowd, but also reflects the importance of collective honor.
The audience of the two films is different. Audiences who like "Hot and Hot" are more attracted by Jia Ling's personal charm and weight loss story, and they value the story line and the expressiveness of the actors.
Fans of "Flying Life 2" value the professionalism and overall quality of the movie more, and they appreciate the scenes and comedic effects. This difference reflects the fact that audiences value both emotional resonance and professional presentation when choosing films.
A good film should be able to find a balance between these two, both to tug at the heartstrings of the audience and to provide a high-quality audiovisual experience. The success of "Hot and Hot" and "Flying Life 2" has brought new thinking to the Chinese film industry.
On the one hand, the success of "Hot and Hot" proves the importance of topicality and star effect in the current market. Jia Ling's weight loss experience has become the biggest selling point of the movie, and the overwhelming marketing has made this movie the focus of the Spring Festival.
However, this marketing strategy has also sparked controversy. Some people worry that if all future films pursue topicality and ignore the quality of content, then the development of Chinese films will be in trouble.
As the article said: "Jia Ling's new film won, if everyone does this in the future, then Chinese films will cry." On the other hand, the performance of "Flying Life 2" shows the audience's demand for high-quality, professional films.
Han Han's progress has been recognized, and people appreciate his professional understanding of racing and his control of the pace of the film. This gives filmmakers a signal: only by continuously improving the quality of films can they gain a foothold in the fierce market competition.
The comparison between the two films also makes people realize that while pursuing topicality and box office, filmmakers should not forget the essence of movies - telling a good story and delivering value. As mentioned in the article, although there are comedy elements, the real pain and legal background behind it are even more shocking.
In the future, Chinese films need to find a balance between commerciality and artistry in order to truly achieve long-term development. Filmmakers should think about how to both engage audiences and provide in-depth content.
Only in this way can Chinese films continue to improve their artistic level and social value while meeting market demand. This Spring Festival competition is not only a competition between two films, but also points out the future direction for the Chinese film industry.