2023 is a year of collective downturn for Hong Kong films.
Whether it is a classic IP with a certain degree of popularity or a large-scale production with a large number of big names, they have all been down and offline.
Looking around, the only one who can maintain the reputation of Hong Kong films is Andy Lau.
's "Sneak", which was just released, ranked first at the box office on its first day of release, and its reputation is also far ahead, showing its temperament as a hit.
In the film, Andy Lau plays Lin Zhenan, who can be called "possessed by the god of death" . He looks at his watch and counts the seconds to kill people. He is so ruthless and perverted.
The sentence "I want everyone to die" is said so calmly that it can send chills down people's backs.
Not only young viewers, but many senior Hong Kong film lovers are also saying:
"The ruthless Liu Tianwang is so exciting. Shoot more, love to watch!"
Although "Stealth" has just been released, "Stealth" has already received a lot of attention. Popular reputation.
The martial arts drama is explosive and the literary drama is wonderful. Many viewers said that "Stealth" contributed "the best literary drama of this year's police film".
What are the highlights of "Stealth"? How is it different from the police movies you’ve seen before? Let me tell you in detail today.
Highlight 1: Revealing the new form of drug trafficking, Internet high-IQ showdown, refreshing the audience’s imagination
In recent years, “live streaming” has become ubiquitous and is nothing new.
But can you imagine that drugs can also be sold through live broadcasts?
The biggest boss of "Stealth", Lin Zhenan, played by Andy Lau, planned an unprecedented "drug live broadcast".
The channel they use is the dark web for various illegal transactions, targeting audiences all over the world.
Along with the countdown of "3, 2, 1, link up!", several tons of drugs were swept away in an instant.
The buyers include drug addicts who have been using drugs for many years, but there are also teenagers who have not been involved in the world.
These children were cheering excitedly one second because they got drugs, and the next second they jumped to their death due to the hallucinations of drugs, leading to tragedy. The
network can not only sell goods, but also conduct transactions.
In previous drug trafficking movies, drug transactions usually took place at a certain location and the two parties met face to face to negotiate the matter.
But with the technology of video calling, Lin Zhenan can finalize big orders with drug lords thousands of miles away anytime and anywhere, so that the police can't even touch him.
As Lin Zhenan said, this is the "era of globalization" and they also need to keep pace with the times.
As a police film, the showdown between police and gangsters is naturally indispensable.
In "Stealth", you can see the classic "cat and mouse game" undercover drama, and of course there are also sad scenes of brothers killing each other.
Especially the undercovers have Lin Zhenan, a scheming old fox lying next to them. If they are not careful, they will become the target of the gun.
But "Stealth" not only has the brute force confrontation between the two sides in traditional police movies.
also uses the latest technological means to use the Internet as a new battlefield for the high-intelligence showdown between police and drug dealers.
For example, designing a fake server will lure the police into taking the bait, leaving them surrounded by viruses.
Another example is sneaking into the police system, investigating all police files, and finding out the whereabouts of undercover agents.
This confrontation in the virtual space is more hidden than the actual battle with hail of bullets, and can even kill people invisible.
It is not uncommon to see police and gangster films with the selling point of "drug trafficking". Three films were released this year alone.
But "Stealth" allowed the audience to see fresh tricks such as live broadcast drug trafficking and hackers "trapping" the police for the first time.
Classic genre mode + new criminal elements may become a new way out for police and criminal films in the future.
2. The action scenes are exciting, the writing is interesting, and a tragic "History of the Destruction of a Gangster Boss"
action drama has always been a signature of police movies.
"Stealth" invited Qian Jiale, the "top stuntman" and action director of Hong Kong films, to oversee the film's action scenes.
Qian Jiale will be present in every action scene. When the actor punches and when to fight back, every detail must be controlled in place.
Watching the whole movie, you can feel the excitement of gunfights and speeding cars, but also the dull pain of violence from punches to the flesh.
There are two action scenes, which can be said to be typical representatives of the violent aesthetics of the entire film.
The first is the shootout at Lin Zhenan’s wedding.
At the open-air wedding scene, with bright fireworks and flying petals, everyone was immersed in the beautiful atmosphere.
Then gunfire broke out, and the romantic wedding scene instantly turned into a hell on earth where corpses were piled up.
On one side is a wedding photo with scattered ribbons and broken by bullets; on the other side is a life-and-death confrontation with blood splattered and ruthless bullets.
The whole scene gives people a tragic beauty of "bloody romance".
The second is a hand-to-hand fight scene between policeman Fang Xing, played by Peng Yuyan, and a drug dealer.
In this close battle, both sides tried their best to fight.
From the attack and defense with fists and feet, to the dodge and maneuver under the knife assassination, every move is real, giving people a real feeling of pain.
The camera rarely switches throughout the scene. It uses medium and close shots supplemented by close-ups. Every move is clearly captured by the camera.
Although the styles of the two action scenes are very different, they both make people's adrenaline soar, and the effect is better when viewed on the big screen.
The literary drama that has always been criticized in police and gangster films has become the film's highly praised "word-of-mouth responsibility" this time.
What touches the audience the most are two emotional points that make people happy.
The first point is the brotherhood between Lin Zhenan and Xiu Hao.
Lin Zhenan, the boss behind the drug cartel; Xiu Hao, Lin Zhenan's most effective assistant, a good brother for more than ten years, and also an undercover police officer.
On the surface, these two good partners have a deep friendship, share risks, and put their lives in each other's hands.
But under the deep brotherhood, there is also a hidden wariness and calculation, making it difficult to truly talk to each other.
Lin Zixiang's song was heard twice in the film.
The first time was when the two of them chatted in the car, lamenting the simplicity and purity of their previous lives and cherishing each other. When
sounded for the second time, the brothers turned against each other and Xiu Hao's identity was revealed.
The song is still the same, but the people are no longer the same people.
Xiu Hao's words "I am a policeman and have no choice" are even more helpless because benevolence and justice cannot be reconciled.
The second point is to clarify the character’s behavioral motivations using “home” as the starting point.
Putting aside the twists and turns of the plot, we can see that what supports the core of the entire story is the character's yearning and obsession for "home".
For example, many details are explained in the film, showing the deep love between Lin Zhenan and Vivian.
During the examination in the hospital, the two looked at each other and smiled silently.
Lin Zhenan's engagement ring is hidden in the peace charm that Vivian asked for.
When he was attacked at the wedding, Lin Zhenan covered Vivian's eyes for fear that she would see him killing someone.
Lin Zhenan told Xiu Hao that he was now afraid of death because he had a family and a child with Vivian.
For this desperado who fears nothing and no earth, "home" is his greatest weakness.
It was also because of the breakdown of his family that Lin Zhenan lost his rationality and embarked on the path of self-destruction.
All his tenderness, compassion and kindness disappeared with the dissipation of his family.
The character Lin Zhenan is hateful enough, but because of the existence of "family", this character adds a touch of tragedy.
This kind of multi-faceted polishing of the characters' emotions gives the story a depth of thought that can be chewed on slowly.
3. Three smiles and two tears made Andy Lau the "most ruthless villain"
In people's minds, Andy Lau rarely plays such "evil" characters as Lin Zhenan.
On the surface, he is gentle and gentle, but on the inside, he is weird and crazy. The complexity of the character is evident.
In particular, he smiled three times and shed tears twice in the film, which showed Lin Zhenan's multi-faceted image of coexistence of ruthlessness and tenderness.
Lin Zhenan appeared for the first time. Although he did not have a line, the smile at the corner of his mouth made people aware of the unfathomable character of this character.
At the police station, faced with Fang Xing (played by Peng Yuyan)'s provocation, Lin Zhenan only responded with a smile, and took the initiative to greet the policemen when he left.
Behind Lin Zhenan’s smile is Lin Zhenan’s strong mentality and his confidence that he can control everything. After
discovered that someone had touched his computer, he was not anxious or annoyed. He smiled and asked the person if he had "seen something he shouldn't have seen." Although
was smiling, his eyes could not hide the coldness and murderous intent.
cried twice, the first time because of my family and the second time because of my brothers.
When he saw his daughter who was not out of danger in the video, Lin Zhenan's eyes were filled with tenderness and tears welled up in his eyes.
After discovering Xiu Hao's identity, Lin Zhenan angrily questioned him. At this time, he lost his usual rationality, and the tears in his eyes were filled with disappointment and sadness.
By brewing emotional changes in the slightest, Andy Lau created one of the most outstanding performances in recent years.
In contrast, Xiu Hao, played by Lin Jiadong, has a more ambiguous and even awkward character due to his special status.
He is a policeman, but his sense of mission is not that strong. He always wants to immigrate and leave.
He is also a young and Dangerous boy. He is grateful for Lin Zhenan's care for him, but he is also filled with tangles in his heart.
Faced with the dilemma of "killing his colleagues to save his life", he could only act calmly, but he could not hide the uneasiness and panic in his eyes.
In response to his wife's questioning, he was unable to reveal his true identity, and his inner suffering was self-evident.
Xiu Hao's ambiguity in his identity, his struggle and helplessness in doing things, are all accurately grasped by Lin Jiadong.
In addition to Andy Lau and Lam Jiadong, other characters in the film also have very distinctive labels.
Police Fang Xing, played by Peng Yuyan, is full of passion and arrogance, insisting on what he believes to be justice.
At the same time, he is also the "action director" of the whole film. He has his share in gunfight scenes, explosion scenes, and hand-to-hand combat scenes, showing the temptation of uniform + tough guy style.
Vivian, played by Liu Yase, is usually a gentle and gentle woman next to Lin Zhenan.
But the refreshing energy when smoking in private makes people see the gentleness of a queen who is not easily exposed.
In addition, Lam Suet, Simon Yam, Jiang Haowen, and Zheng Zeshi, several "golden supporting actors" in Hong Kong films, form a strong supporting cast in the film, and their performances are equally impressive.
Generally speaking, "Stealth" does not fall into the trap of traditional Hong Kong police and gangster films. The innovation of the plot and the strong blank space of the drama can all be seen from the sincerity of the creative team.
Before the release of "Stealth", someone asked Andy Lau whether young people nowadays don't watch Hong Kong movies that much?
Andy Lau expresses his understanding, but is not pessimistic about the future of Hong Kong movies.
In his opinion, Hong Kong movies may be at dusk, and there will be nights, but there will always be sunrise.
As he said, "I am still passionate about Hong Kong movies."
With Andy Lau and the others, and with movies like "Stealth" around, the vitality of Hong Kong movies will not be lost!
