Looking back at the film market in 2023, two unprecedented phenomena have emerged.
The first phenomenon is that it has become normal for Chinese films to overwhelm Hollywood.
In the past, domestic films would delineate the "Chuhe-Hanjie" with Hollywood, and try to avoid being released on the same schedule.
However, various domestic film protection months were canceled this year, and domestic films and Hollywood faced off head-on for the first time.
"Mission: Impossible 7", "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" are coming in the summer season, and "Wonka" and "Aquaman 2" are following in the New Year season.
Each of the films came with a bang, and failed miserably at the box office after they were released.
In the end, domestic films occupied the top ten annual box office, and there was not a single Hollywood film that exceeded 1 billion.
On the one hand, the quality of domestic films has improved;
On the other hand, there are too many "failures" in Hollywood, and fewer and fewer viewers are willing to spend money to watch the excitement.
The second phenomenon is that the strange phenomenon of bad money driving out good money is becoming increasingly rare.
In the past, there would always be "a few places" for bad movies in the annual box office list.
Among the high-grossing movies of 2023, bad movies will still exist, but they will no longer be prevalent.
Audiences are becoming more and more rational, and good movies are easily seen by more people. This is a healthy phenomenon for the entire film market.
Qingshi counted and found that there were as many as 34 domestic films with scores exceeding 7 points throughout the year, and there were two or three films with good reputations every month.
Qingshi selected 10 videos based on professional reputation, public popularity, social influence and other factors.
has both large-scale production and heavy industry, as well as realistic themes about life and niche weirdos with unique tastes.
Let's start with the 10th one:
no.10 "Crossing the Angry Sea" (score 7.5)
In 2023, a large number of films that had been "hidden" for many years were finally lifted.
"Wading the Angry Sea" is one of them.
was blocked for 4 years and was repeatedly deleted and modified. After it was released, it still had to be marked with "under 18 years old to watch with caution".
Regardless of "appearance" or "inside", this movie is worthy of the 18-ban ban.
has a large scale in a literal sense.
Imprisonment, self-abuse, patricide, gang rape... all kinds of jaw-dropping plots are staged in turn in the film.
also has "subversion of three views" in its internal expression.
The entire film is like a "dark version" of a family ethics drama.
In a rich family, the husband and wife are at odds, and the father and son are separated. The elder brother makes his sister paralyzed, and I hope that his son will die soon; Love leads to self-abuse and suicide.
No matter what the configuration of the family is, it becomes the origin of evil in this movie.
shattered all the family traditions of brotherly friends, respectful brothers, fatherly father and son filial piety. This ruthless and crazy energy is the biggest "killing weapon" of director Cao Baoping.
Although the film also caused a lot of controversy because of the extreme display of two-dimensional issues and ethical issues.
However, the director's sharpness in expression and the story's overwhelming sense of destruction also give this film a necessary meaning.
"Wading the Angry Sea" is the third installment in the "Heartburning" series. The second part of the
series, "She Kills", has been banned for 6 years.
I wonder if this film, which is based on the "Zhu Ling Case", has a chance to come back to the world?
no.9 "In the Octagonal Cage" (rating 7.3)
For a long time, the "baby" who pretends to be stupid and stunned has always been a label that Wang Baoqiang can't get rid of.
Wang Bao in "囧" and Tang Ren in "Detective Chinatown" are all repeating this label.
If you follow the comedian's route, it will be a safe and reliable choice.
But Wang Baoqiang chose a theme and role like "The Octagonal Cage" to fight against the wind.
In the film, the "former fighter" Xiang Tenghui played by Wang Baoqiang no longer pretends to be crazy or foolish, nor does he show off his glib words.
faded away the noisy and exaggerated impetuousness, and Wang Baoqiang ushered in a return to simplicity with this complex character wandering between black and white.
Not only the characters, but the entire film has a solid feeling of "slow cooking".
spent four years polishing the script and two years of raising investment and filming. Many people have advised Wang Baoqiang that there is no need to be so "axisy".
After "Havoc in Tianzhu", Wang Baoqiang, known as the "new director in the bad film industry", held his breath.
The phrase "I owe the audience a good movie" at the Golden Broom Awards is both a promise and a bet.
Facts have proved that 6 years of hard work is not a gimmick.
2.2 billion box office, a rating of 7.3, and the humorous label of "baby" was also removed.
The mutual success of "The Octagon" and Wang Baoqiang is destined to be a good story in the film industry.
no.8 "Chang'an Thirty Thousand Miles" (rating 8.3)
Domestic animations in recent years seem to have fallen into the "carrot pit" of myths.
The Legend of the Gods, Journey to the West, The Legend of White Snake, these are the same skins that I keep changing over and over again.
Especially for Chasing Light Animation Company, from 2019's "White Snake: Origin" to 2022's "New God List: Yang Jian", it has become a routine to have a mythological theme every year.
was a hit, but its reputation was mediocre and its box office was stagnant. "Making it bigger and stronger" seemed to be empty talk.
Just when people thought that this was the end of chasing light, the "Wonderful" movie "Chang'an Thirty Thousand Miles" was released.
At first glance, the genre of "Chang'an Thirty Thousand Miles" is quite unconventional.
does not talk about familiar myths, but spends three hours talking about real history, about the friendship, ideals and reality between poets in the Tang Dynasty.
Generally speaking, such stories rarely appear in the animation industry, and they do not have the qualities to become popular.
Many people judge that Zhuiguang Company will most likely lose this move.
But after it was officially released, people were slapped in the face by the strong influence of the film.
Many viewers took their children to watch the movie, and many of the children read along with the Tang poems in the film. The cinema instantly transformed into a "poetry conference".
In the end, "Thirty Thousand Miles from Chang'an" won a box office of 1.8 billion, creating the best result for domestic animation in 2023.
light-chasing animation has stepped out of the mythical comfort zone and turned an impossible dead end into a new track for domestic animation.
As the first work in the "New Culture" series, "Thirty Thousand Miles from Chang'an" uses Tang poetry as the essence of the story.
It is said that the series will also cover cultural classics such as Song Dynasty poetry and the Four Great Classics, which is very exciting.
no.7 "Man Jiang Hong" (score 7.0)
Lao Mouzi of the past two years always likes to do a little "flower work".
"Above the Cliff" is a spy game, and "Sturdy as a Rock" is a cyberpunk style.
"Man Jiang Hong" is also Zhang Yimou's experimental creation:
Deep in the compound, murders are committed in secret rooms, and the murderer is hidden inside without knowing his identity.
Such a detective story of Blizzard Villa + scripted murder, Zhang Yimou wrapped it in a comedy "shell".
But after the audience has finished laughing, they will be moved by the feelings of this group of little people about their family and country who sacrificed their lives to become a benevolent person.
"Man Jiang Hong", which combines many elements, can be expected to win the first box office of the year.
First of all, Shen Teng, who is the comedy director of this film, is undoubtedly the first choice of many viewers during the Spring Festival.
Furthermore, such a layer-by-layer reversal of the cool movie model is also a rigid need of the film market.
What's more, in the end, the story completes the sublimation of the individual to the family and the country, and the value guidance can also be affirmed by the mainstream audience.
While "Manjianghong" became popular, it also attracted a lot of negative news.
Everything from the shooting techniques to the production cost and even the historical view of the film have been questioned.
Objectively speaking, although "Man Jiang Hong" fictionalizes the specific plot, it does not distort right and wrong in terms of the larger historical perspective.
Qin Hui, who lives in the shadow of death, and the little people who sacrificed for the righteousness, all come from history rather than fiction.
Like "Hero", the true value of "Man Jiang Hong" may need a longer period of testing.
no.6 "Keep You Safe" (score 7.7)
The original intention of "Keeping You Safe" came from a photo of a girl taking out takeaway food.
The source and content of this photo triggered various discussions among netizens and caused great trouble to the girl's life.
Dapeng paid attention to this incident and was inspired to start creating the topic of "zero cost of spreading rumors".
"Keep You Safe" has its own down-to-earth livelihood attributes.
In the Internet age, everyone may be the victim of rumors or the initiator.
Dapeng uses the humorous tone of comedy to reveal the "terrible nature of human words" in the virtual era.
Just like what Li Xueqin said in the film:
"When others say you are a lady, even if you are not, you are already one."
A casual statement, but it goes straight to the core of the rumor, revealing the bone-chilling power of the rumor.
has watched this movie and can’t help but sigh at Dapeng’s rapid progress.
A few years ago, Dapeng was still regarded as a vulgar director who made works like "Pancake Man". "Sewing Machine Band" after
, and "Auspicious Ruyi" which records family life, are impressive.
Although it is still "vulgar", this kind of vulgarity is the vividness of secular fireworks, and it is also refined in the type of laughter and realism.
"Keep You Safe" is Dapeng's new starting point.
Since then, "Warmth" and "The Annual Meeting Can't Stop" at the end of the year, whether as director or actor, Dapeng has reached a high level of "laughing, yelling and cursing".
Qingshi is sure that in the next ten years, Dapeng will definitely be one of the most important characters in Chinese movies.
no.5 "The Three Brigades" (score 7.8)
The story of "The Three Brigades" comes from an online documentary literature.
The protagonist Cheng Bing is a policeman who was dismissed from his post because the prisoner in charge died suddenly and was subsequently imprisoned.
After being released from prison, Cheng Bing spent another four years catching another prisoner who slipped through the net.
This true story was well received by many readers on the Internet, and the copyright was later taken over by Chen Sicheng.
He also invited a group of old brothers such as Zhang Yi and Li Chen to use the story of "The Three Brigades" to create a "sentimental killing" of the reunion of the Bo brothers.
To the surprise of many people, "The Third Brigade" was not shot in the style of previous films such as "Manslaughter" and "The Vanishing She".
It retains the pathos and toughness of the original work, making the story look more documentary and less commercial.
In the current market, it is difficult for a movie like this that is purely about men's friendship and does not play tricks to make a difference at the box office.
But this time Chen Sicheng put aside his small business calculations and returned to the mood of "Soldier Assault" to tell the story of Cheng Bing's idealism of "never abandon, never give up".
"The Three Brigades" failed to become a hit, but audiences who walked into the cinema will be impressed by Cheng Bing.
As some viewers said,
Maybe I will never become Cheng Bing, but I know that this society needs Cheng Bing.
no.4 "Fengshen Part 1" (score 7.9)
Among Chinese classical novels, there are two classics that are recognized as the most difficult to remake.
One is "A Dream of Red Mansions" and the other is "The Romance of the Gods".
With a volume of one hundred chapters, a time span of nearly 30 years, and more than 500 characters, it is destined that "The Romance of the Gods" cannot be separated into certain parts like "Journey to the West" and adapted at will.
So for so many years, almost no one has touched this subject easily. Once it is touched, it may be the ending of the following movie.
This long-standing problem was solved by Wuershan.
But in order to film "Feng Shen", Wu Ershan paid an unimaginable price. The script of
took four years to write, and the crew took another two years to film; the release time of
was also delayed again and again, and it will not be released until the summer of 2023.
At this time, 9 years have passed since the initial preparation of the film.
html In 2009, the market had been turned upside down, and the trend of magical blockbusters had long been outdated.What's more, this is a trilogy. Once the first part fails at the box office, the next two parts will be stillborn.
But "Fengshen" created the most incredible myth in the summer season amid this gloomy cloud.
has a box office of over 2.6 billion, with the highest score of 8.0. It has also exported high-quality actors such as Yu Shi and Hou Wenyuan to the entertainment industry.
The most important thing is that "Fengshen Part 1" activates the "myth gene" that the audience has been numb for a long time.
It makes people see that "Fengshen" is not the Chinese "Lord of the Rings", but a real burst of Chinese imagination.
I don’t know if it will be released in the summer this year. Can I wait until the second part is released?
no.3 "Space Exploration Editorial Department" (rating 8.0)
Whether it is external form or internal expression, this movie is like a strange-flavored bean with mixed flavors.
Looking at the introduction, this is a science fiction film, but it has a completely different look and feel from "The Wandering Earth".
's handheld camera is shaky, the picture is rough and messy, and the content is at best a "sci-fi scam."
does not have any dazzling science fiction scenes, only a few characters with unusual imaginations running around to find out whether aliens exist.
But as this absurd farce comes to an end, you will find that this is really a science fiction film, the kind without water.
Moreover, in the process of searching for aliens, the story also completes the ultimate torture of people's beliefs, value of existence, and meaning of life.
Such a ridiculous, fun, yet profound story fully demonstrates the talent of director Kong Dashan.
But for the film to be successful, the director of "The Wandering Earth", Fan Guo, had to contribute money and effort.
The final film received good box office and reputation, and also won the Golden Rooster Award for Best Screenplay.
This is not only a win-win for Guo Fan and Kong Dashan, but also a win-win for Chinese movies and science fiction themes.
In addition to heavy science fiction such as "The Wandering Earth", it has opened up a soft science fiction supporting route. It can be seen that domestic science fiction is playing a big game.
no.2 "The annual meeting cannot be stopped!" "(Rating 8.2)
In the past two years, the pessimistic view of "comedy is dead" and has begun to spread in the film industry.
Regardless of quantity or quality, domestic comedies in the past two years have not performed well, and comedies have begun to slip towards bad movies.
In the midst of mourning, "The annual meeting cannot be stopped!" ” became the purple star that saved comedy from the end.
Although its performance on the first day was average, it has made a counterattack as word of mouth has fermented, and now it has topped the single-day box office. The rating of
8.2 also created a peak for comedy films in recent years.
can grasp the pain points of contemporary workers and point out the workplace phenomenon with laughter and anger. This is the advantage of this film.
The most important thing is that "the annual meeting cannot be stopped!" 》Take this opportunity to give the workers a sigh of relief and express their usual dissatisfaction.
In terms of output of emotional value, the film has won.
While watching, Qingshi also thought of "The Black Cannon Incident" directed by Huang Jianxin many times.
is also a sharp ridicule of the internal phenomena of large factories, which is also caused by an accident.
Especially the huge electronic watch on the background wall during the meeting is a sincere tribute to "The Black Cannon Incident".
《The annual meeting cannot be stopped! 》The emergence of 2023 brings a successful conclusion.
It makes people see that Dapeng is currently the person who can best control the heat of comedy in a situation where Happy Twist is weak and the new generation is difficult to take the lead.
no.1 "The Wandering Earth 2" (rating 8.3)
Generally speaking, sequels can easily give people the feeling of "continuing from the beginning to the end".
However, "Ball 2" has completely caught up with the first film and has become the ceiling of domestic science fiction films. In terms of
hardware, the space elevator, the moon explosion, and the space station crash are all top-level visual productions.
software, the collision of human civilization and technological civilization, and the existential discussion triggered by digital life give the story the real capital to compete with Hollywood.
It is a little regrettable that "The Wandering Earth 2" only won two minor awards at the Golden Rooster Awards, becoming the biggest missing piece.
Regardless of awards, "The Wandering Earth 2"'s influence among audiences and its excellent performance in overseas markets have proven its value.
I wonder if "The Wandering Earth 3" three years later will be better than its predecessors and have a perfect ending?
It is not difficult to see that these films with excellent reputation have achieved considerable box office and even become the leaders of the annual box office list.
We also look forward to the emergence of more high-quality domestic films in the next year!
Qingshi Movie | Shang Zhou
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