When we talk about movies about food, what do we think about?
The popular ones are Stephen Chow's "God of Food", and the less popular one is Ang Lee's "Eating Men and Women".
It can be seen that films focusing on food themes are rare in Chinese films, but fortunately, several food movies in the last century have played well.
In addition to the two films listed above, there is also the one that Brother Dong wants to introduce to you this time - "Golden Jade Mantang".
"Golden Jade Man Tang" is a Chinese New Year comedy film, also known as "Full Seat of Man Han", which was released in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, China on January 28, 1995.
The director of this movie is Xu Ke, who is familiar to everyone, and his classic works are too many, such as "Ghost of Qiannu", "Green Snake", "New Dragon Gate Inn", etc., and Brother Dong will not list them more.
Since director Xu Ke is mentioned, here is a bit of a background for the creation of this movie.
In 1994, director Xu Ke originally wanted to shoot a Hong Kong-flavored song and dance film for the 1995 Lunar New Year, the protagonist had already locked Zhang Guorong, and the title of the film was "Dragon Xiang Phoenix Dance".
However, since it was already October, it was too late to prepare the cumbersome props and actors for the song and dance film, so he had to abandon this shooting plan.
However, in the same year, when Xu Ke was filming "Huang Feihong's Dragon City Fighter", because the bowl of rice photographed by the director of photography did not produce a delicious taste, he decided to make a separate film to try to shoot food.
Then, Xu Ke took out the script of "Full Seat of Man han" written in 1988 and revised it, and shot this 1995 Lunar New Year comedy movie in two or three months.
Eventually, after the film was completed, it was renamed "Golden Jade Man Tang" when it was released in Hong Kong.
Let's introduce the starring cast of this film.
The male protagonist is Zhang Guorong, the female protagonist is Yuan Yongyi, a handsome man, a beautiful woman, these two are very familiar to everyone, and there are many classic works, and Brother Dong will not list them.
However, it is worth noting that this film is another collaboration between Zhang Guorong and Yuan Yongyi after "Golden Branches and Jade Leaves".
At the time of filming this film, Yuan Yongyi was only 24 years old, and Zhang Guorong was already 39 years old, but the two played a pair of joyful enemies, which did not violate the harmony.
The other actors are also lever actors from the classic Hong Kong film era:
Luo Jiaying ("God Eater", "Journey to the West" series), Zhao Wenzhuo ("Green Snake", "Huang Feihong" series), Zhong Zhentao ("East into the West", "Chivalrous Benevolent Heart"), Xiong Xinxin ("New Dragon Gate Inn", "Huang Feihong" series).
Back to the movie itself, this film is still wrapped in Xu Ke's unique jianghu flavor.
Simply put, it tells the story of several unrelated people who have bonded over food.
The film opens with two celebrity chefs in a cooking competition– Long Kunbao (Zhao Wenzhuo) and Liao Jie (Zhong Zhentao).
Unfortunately, at this time, Liao Jie's wife was in the hospital waiting for delivery.
He hesitated and chose to give up the race in the final round, only to have his wife finally miscarry, leaving a letter and leaving him.
Liao Jie was mentally exhausted for a while and retired from the culinary world.
Years later, the camera focuses on an underworld boss, Zhao Gangsheng (Zhang Guorong).
Tired of underworld life, he wants to wash his hands in the golden basin and go to Canada to pursue his idol Momoe Yamaguchi by taking the chef exam at a Canadian hotel.
In the end, he did not know anything about cooking, and he was disqualified because of cheating exposure.
At this time, he met Long Kunbao by chance, and was called to learn cooking from Boss Ou (Luo Jiaying) of manhan lou, who was the master of Zhao Pai, who was the famous Chinese feast of Man han.
During this time, Zhao Gangsheng and Boss Ou's daughter Jia Hui (Yuan Yongyi) have a relationship.
However, before Zhao Gangsheng learned to cook, Huang Rong (Xiong Xinxin), the heir of another faction of the Manchu Han Dynasty, the Niu Sect, intends to rule the Chinese catering industry and come to the Man Han Building to challenge Boss Ou.
After Boss Ou confronted the war, Huang Rong made a trick to poach all his masters, and Boss Ou had a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital.
Zhao Gangsheng and JiaHui had to try to cook their own dishes, the taste was not satisfactory, under the guidance of Master Long Kunbao, they began to look for the master who had been reclusive for many years and could compete with Huang Rong, Liao Jie.
The story is introduced here first, and there are many attractions in this movie that are worth seeing.
1. Yuan Yongyi's ever-changing aura, Zhang Guorong's style is flourishing.
In fact, all the leading actors have performed very well, Zhao Wenzhuo's kindness, Xiong Xinxin's Jiaojie, Zhong Zhentao's, Luo Jiaying's old way, they are all in a serious funny way.
But the most brilliant thing is the hero and heroine of this movie.
First of all, let's talk about Yuan Yongyi, the first glance is beautiful.
At the age of 24-year-old girl, with a white face, a pair of spirited eyes, and a wild short red hair and strange green lips, this combination really makes it feel both unworldly and fresh.
When she sang "Carmen" in the bar, even if it was ugly, her alternative outfit also exuded the unique charm of a changeable woman everywhere.
Later, colorful eye makeup, bright yellow coats, soaring volcanic heads, dignified straight short hair, and all-Japanese makeup helped the character's laughter play.
The performance with full spirit, the variety of makeup, and the mixed costumes have completely deepened the unique imprint of Yuan Yongyi's role.
Let's talk about Zhang Guorong, four words: Fenghua Zhengmao!
He was 39 years old at the time, but in this film, like a 25-year-old teenager, he played the temperament of the handsome man perfectly, and naturally formed a pair with Yuan Yongyi.
Whenever he drives a motorcycle, under the blessing of black helmet and black trench coat, the full sense of age rises instantly.
There is also a scene where he is holding a lit cigarette in the mouth of the bar, and the moment he looks back, it is full of charm!
However, the funniest thing is to make a funny imaginary Face of Zhang Guorong, which is really a laugh once.
2. A gourmet feast for the whole table of Manchu
Although "Golden Jade Man Tang" is positioned as a comedy, the food theme has become the fulcrum and main line of the story.
Therefore, this film can also be said to be the next meal movie of foodies.
Even if there are not many food fragments, each fragment is the most exquisite place.
Especially in the opening table of dishes and the two cooking competitions in the film, there is a feeling across the screen, which makes Brother Dong hungry to death.
At the beginning of a panning overhead shot, a table of good dishes is presented to the fullest, and the atmosphere is exquisite, and the feeling of a full table of Han suddenly comes out.
The two cooking competitions in the film, the fast-falling knife skills, the steady techniques, and the cooking scenes are suddenly pleasing to the eye.
Although the name of the food is fancy, after seeing the food made, I know what is worthy of the name.
For example, the bear paw dish name "Walking on the Snow to Find the Bear" and "One Palm Qiankun", as well as the tofu carving of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea", are both exquisite and beautiful.
3. Xu Ke-style jianghu comedy, crying and laughing at the same time
It is reported that in view of the fact that the previous food movies have many similar chef fighting scenes, in order to distinguish them from other food films, Xu Ke reduced the cooking scenes of the three chefs played by Zhong Zhentao, Zhao Wenzhuo and Xiong Xinxin.
It just so happened that Zhang Guorong and Yuan Yongyi, a pair of handsome men and beautiful women, Xu Ke strengthened the love line between Zhang Guorong and Yuan Yongyi, and also strengthened the family marriage line between Zhong Zhentao and his wife.
With love, marriage, and family, this movie with food as the fulcrum also injects an emotional soul.
What impressed me the most was the part where Zhong Zhentao (Liao Jie) and his wife were.
Liao Jie, who returned late, pushed the door in and saw a table of hot meals made by his wife and her, such a warm scene had power in an instant.
Under the tense plot, the pressure is relieved for a moment, and then the touching meaning is endless.
With a mix of elements such as challenge books, gangsters, police, gunfights, and bars, the film suddenly has the atmosphere of the previous Tsui Ke-style jianghu comedy.
Although most of them are nonsensical funny elements, after twenty years, we will seem to feel a little exaggerated and uncomfortable.
But attached to the whole film, even if we can't see where the logic of the character's behavior is, it is true.
Zhang Guorong and Yuan Yongyi's funny collision kiss, Yuan Yongyi and other women grabbing wheat, Zhong Zhentao's imaginary baby shape, etc.
These nonsensical laughs and Hong Kong-style humor are particularly funny compared to today's movies.
No wonder it is said that the most common thing in the world is seen in the rivers and lakes, only because laughter and tears are there.
Overall, it's a charlatan comedy wrapped in a gourmet shell.
Each character is very distinct, the plot has a beginning and an end, the rhythm is also colorful, there are sad and happy clutches, there is a sense of warmth, and there is also positive energy.
When I heard the theme song of the movie "Long Road of Life", I couldn't help but sigh that the Hong Kong comedy movies at that time always had a vigorous upward force.
Brother Dong, | of the Bluestone Film Editorial Department
This article is the original content of Bluestone Movie, please do not reprint it in any form without authorization!