Mr. Jin Yong's "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" is like a bright pearl, shining in the literary and film and television circles.
However, this classic has undergone many adaptations, and each time it has sparked heated discussions and comparisons among the audience. For post-90s audiences, their earliest contact may be the 2001 version of Wu Qihua.
This version left a deep impression on many people, and the young Zhang Wuji, Zhao Min and Zhou Zhiruo, who have distinct personalities, made the audience fascinated. followed by the mainland version starring Su Youpeng in 2003, which also won the love of many audiences.
In 2009, Deng Chao's version injected new life into the story. However, with the increase in the number of remakes, the model of "new wine in old bottles" gradually made the audience feel aesthetic fatigue.
Every time a new drama is launched, it is inevitable to compare it with its predecessor. From the faces of the actors, to the shaping of the characters, to the costumes, they have all become the focus of controversy.
What's even more worrying is that with the launch of new versions, old versions of classics are often forced to switch to pay-to-watch mode. Just like the former "Looking for Qin", after the remake, the original version has become a content that only VIPs can watch.
This phenomenon has made many old viewers feel helpless and lost. In this context, director Wang Jing shot again and brought a new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer". This can't help but remind people of his 1993 "Heaven and Dragon Slayer: The Demon Sect Master".
Back then, he gathered Jet Li, Sammo Hung, Zhang Min, Qiu Shuzhen and other popular stars to create a classic in just 20 days. Although it did not cause a great response at the time, "Zhao Min's retrospective smile" was deeply imprinted in the hearts of the audience and became a classic scene.
After many years, can Wang Jing create brilliance again? This question haunts the minds of every viewer. The arrival of the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" is not only a tribute to the classics, but also a challenge to contemporary film and television production.
The audience is both looking forward to it and nervous, wondering if this "fast food film" can become a classic again. At the beginning of 2024, director Wang Jing once again stood in the public spotlight with the stills of the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer".
This time, he chose a group of familiar old faces: Louis Koo, Lin Feng and others all appeared. However, when the 42-year-old Lin Feng was announced to play Zhang Wuji, the audience couldn't help but gasp.
This casting decision immediately became the biggest highlight of the new show, and it also raised many questions. People began to wonder if the 42-year-old Lin Feng could really play the young Zhang Wuji convincingly with the blessing of beauty filters and dermabrasion technology? What's even more surprising is that the average age of the entire crew is over 30 years old, and many viewers jokingly call it "old cucumber green paint".
In the face of these doubts, Wang Jing seemed indifferent. He firmly believes that age is not an issue as long as the character is properly shaped. In an interview, Wang Jing said with a firm look in his eyes: "Lin Feng never felt that he was 42 years old, he felt that he was only in his early 30s.
Besides, the description in the original book also suits him well. There was a hint of non-disbelief in his tone, as if he was declaring war on all doubters. Wang Jing's self-confidence may come from the success of his 1993 version.
In just 20 days, he produced a far-reaching work. Although it did not cause a great response at the time, "Zhao Min's retrospective smile" was deeply imprinted in the hearts of the audience and became a classic scene.
This time, however, the challenge seems even more daunting. When the stills leaked out, someone joked: "Isn't this filming 'The Prince's Concubine'?" Whether it is Zhang Wuji or Zhao Min, they all give people an obvious sense of "pretending to be tender".
In the face of such comments, Wang Jing just smiled slightly, a trace of helplessness flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her confidence. Wang Jing insists that the outside world's skepticism is just a prejudice.
He believes that by the time the movie is released, everyone will be blown away. Lin Feng also showed great enthusiasm and determination, and it is reported that he personally went into battle to complete 90% of the fight scenes.
Still, the audience's doubts weren't completely dispelled. Will the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" be able to make a breakthrough in visual effects and action design? Can it make up for the sense of disobedience brought about by the actor's age? These questions have become a hot topic among fans.
In any case, Wang Jing's attempt is undoubtedly a bold gamble. Not only does he have to face the high expectations of the audience, but he also has to deal with a lot of pressure from the classic version.
Whether this new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" can succeed will probably not be revealed until the moment it is officially unveiled. In the martial arts world of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer", the father-son relationship has always been an important emotional clue.
However, this casting has confused many: 51-year-old Louis Koo plays Zhang Cuishan, and 42-year-old Lin Feng plays Zhang Wuji. Louis Koo, an actor who has been in the Hong Kong film industry for many years, seems to be closer to the role of Zhang Cuishan in terms of age.
However, when he stood with Lin Feng, the audience couldn't help but have a strange sense of disobedience. A 51-year-old father and a 42-year-old son, such a combination is not uncommon in real life, but in the martial arts world, it seems a little out of place.
In the face of doubts from the outside world, Lin Feng seemed full of confidence. In an interview, he confessed: "I know people have questions about my age. However, I can assure everyone that I will impress everyone with my acting skills.
There was a determined glint in his eyes, and there was confidence in his tone. In fact, Lin Feng is indeed a powerful actor. He has starred in works such as "Looking for Qin", "Wei Zifu", "Alone in the World", and even collaborated with Liu Tao in "The Sea of Stars".
Although he received some criticism when he played a young man in the latter, his acting skills were always recognized. Director Wang Jing also has his own interpretation of this casting. He believes that the skepticism of the outside world is just a prejudice.
In his opinion, Lin Feng's image and temperament are very consistent with the description of Zhang Wuji in the original book. He quoted a passage from the original book: "It's more like a mother, not too fat, it's a melon seed face."
Wang Jing firmly believes that Lin Feng is the most suitable candidate. However, the audience's reaction was mixed. Some people expressed understanding and support, believing that the strength of the actor is the key; There are also people who are skeptical, worried that this age setting will affect the viewing experience.
Some viewers even joked that they didn't know which "prince was taking a concubine". In addition to Zhang Wuji, the ages of the actors of the other main characters have also sparked discussions. 33-year-old Wen Yongshan plays Zhao Min, and 31-year-old Qiu Yinong plays Zhou Zhiruo.
In any case, the performance of this father and son on the screen will undoubtedly become one of the most watched highlights of the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer". The audience expects them to break through the age barrier and present a convincing father-son relationship, but they are also worried that the age gap will affect the overall viewing experience.
Whether they can successfully play this special father and son will probably not be revealed until the official release of the movie. During the preparation process of the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer", director Wang Jing faced great pressure and expectations.
On the one hand, he needs to surpass the success of his 1993 version; On the other hand, he has to deal with the increasingly critical eyes of the audience. In terms of production, the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" has invested a lot of money in special effects production, aiming to bring a new visual experience to the audience.
The action design is also a highlight, and Lin Feng personally went into battle and completed 90% of the fight scenes. This kind of dedication will undoubtedly add a lot to the movie. However, the challenges go far beyond that.
The prevalence of the phenomenon of "Internet celebrity faces" has made character recognition a major problem. In the previous version, viewers could easily distinguish between Zhao Min and Zhou Zhiruo, but now, this distinction is becoming more and more difficult.
The big eyes and melon seed faces, and even the hairstyles are the same, which makes it difficult to highlight the character's personality. Some viewers once said that they thought they were watching "Zhou Zhiruo", but they didn't expect it to be "Zhao Min".
This situation is not only present in female characters, but also in male characters. In the face of these challenges, Wang Jing is full of confidence. He believes that through superb acting skills and unique character building, each character can leave a deep impression in the hearts of the audience.
However, the audience's reaction was mixed. Some people are looking forward to the new version, thinking that the new cast and production techniques will bring surprises; There are also reservations, worried that the new version will not be able to surpass the classics in memory.
Another concern is that the launch of the new version may affect the accessibility of the classic version. Just like after the remake of "Xun Qin", the original version became content that only VIPs can watch.
This made many old viewers feel helpless and lost. A senior fan of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" lamented on the forum: "What we miss is not only the plot, but also the youth time when we watched the drama.
For younger audiences, these remakes are a window into the classics. They are full of curiosity and anticipation for the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer". However, for those old fans who have grown up with the actors, seeing the former idols "forcibly pretending to be tender" makes the mood complicated.
In this context, "transcending the classics" has become a proposition that is both challenging and full of expectations. Director Wang Jing and the entire crew are facing not only creative pressure, but also high expectations from the audience.
Whether the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" can innovate in inheritance and make breakthroughs in visual effects and emotional expression has become the most concerned issue for the audience. In any case, this new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" will become one of the high-profile works in 2024.
It is not only a tribute to the classics, but also a challenge to contemporary film and television production. 5. Film and television ecology under the trend of remakes: opportunities and challenges (430 words) In this remake boom, the emergence of the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" has triggered people's in-depth thinking about the entire film and television ecology.
This phenomenon not only reflects the current situation of the film and television industry, but also reflects the expectations of the audience and the ambitions of the creators. For younger audiences, these remakes are a window into the classics.
Fresh faces and modern production techniques allow them to experience these masterpieces in a more intimate way. However, for those old fans who have accompanied the actors all the way to grow up, seeing the former idols "forcibly pretending to be tender" makes the mood complicated.
As one veteran viewer put it, "The characters on screen seem to have remained the same for years, but we've all grown up." More worryingly, the launch of remakes often affects the accessibility of classic versions.
Just like after the remake of "Xun Qin", the original version has become a paid content that only VIPs can watch. This phenomenon has made many old viewers feel helpless and lost. A senior fan of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" lamented on the forum: "What we miss is not only the plot, but also the youth time when we watched the drama.
In this context, "beyond the classics" has become a challenging proposition. Director Wang Jing and the entire crew are facing not only creative pressure, but also high expectations from the audience.
They need to innovate in their heritage and make breakthroughs in visual and emotional expression. However, the current situation of "bad movies" in the film and television industry cannot be ignored. Some viewers questioned: "Won't Wang Jing feel embarrassed?" Forcibly put together, can such a work really surpass the classics? This skepticism reflects the audience's concerns about the quality of the remake.
In general, the emergence of the new version of "Heaven and Dragon Slayer" reflects the opportunities and challenges of the current film and television industry. It is not only a work, but also a mirror, reflecting the expectations of the audience, the ambitions of the creators, and the changes of the entire industry.
Regardless of the final result, this attempt will undoubtedly become an important topic in the film and television industry, and it is worth our continued attention and consideration.