By twotails. Tuesday, 9. May 2006, 01:12:47
Havent been back here for months, due to the busy revising and essay-writing. Also, Coober and I started a film related Space,
http://spaces.msn.com/coovy46/we put some behind scenes and production stuff there, we could add a link to those who are likely to exchange ideas on films and filmmaking.
By twotails. Saturday, 4. March 2006, 05:16:17
Hong Kong, cinema, John Woo
I dont know how to put them in a proper order, or they may be quite parallel couldnt be set in an order.
The Hong Kong action cinema definitely studied first for its most prominent achievement in 80s. Again, we particularly focus on John Woo's auteur works just like we did in A-Level. I've done amount of research on him and his masterpieces two years ago for the documentary, yet it is still good to learn further more about the topic. And this time we start to look at how western audience respond to the films rather than the films themselves. Actually, I didnt even think about this question, coz I just take for granted that's the way how men deal with the relationship or friendship with their mates. That's a very emotional side of men, they rely on one another quite much in their friendship and treat it as a brotherhood. As a transnational cinema, HK films were made to satisfy local audience, the Chinese diaspora and aimed to target the international audiences, thus it packed up the other culture references. Even though, most of the films are widely spectated by western audience, they still keep the most stylish masculine representation. That is one of the reason why western audience tend to watch the films, they are keen to challenge the idea of the strangeness and weirdness of the masculinity. Western people would never understand this kind of relationship due to their isolated and self-centred culture trait, at least that's my feeling about them. They hardly take the notions of honour, loyalty and male bonding which are very common in masculine discourses in our oriental cultures. Those ultra violence is not all about blood and deviance, die for friendship and dignity is the most solemn and stirring sequences.
Though majority of western audiences find Woo's films difficult and embarrassing to watch, my british classmates still like it quite much, which is good =). The film at some points is uncomfortable and disconcerting for western viewers. Well, that's why Hong Kong cinema is different. =) haha...so pride, it's a really brilliant film, so is the ShaoLin Soccer, we watched a piece of extract, quite funny.
Didnt write in details due to very busy doing my essays and projects. So i just wanted to make a start here, then you guys who'd like to join in can follow up to post some of your hot stuff =)
