The release and popularity of "A Chinese Ghost Story" caused a wave of liao zhai fever, or ghost fever, in the entire Chinese film industry.
Not only film and television companies are targeting the treasure trove of Liaozhai, but netizens are also analyzing on the Internet which chapter of Liaozhai is suitable for adapting into a movie.
The influence of "A Chinese Ghost Story" goes beyond that.
For a time, in the short video, Nie Xiaoqian's makeup, her bun, Ning Caichen's outfit, etc., all became the objects of imitation.
Of course, some things in "A Chinese Ghost Story" have also caused some discussion and controversy.
"Why is Yan Chixia, a Taoist priest, holding the Diamond Sutra in the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story"?"
Some netizens raised this question.
"I also want to ask. When I was watching the movie, I was a little confused. Yan Chixia was obviously a Taoist priest, but she gave Ning Caichen a Diamond Sutra. It used Taoist Bagua, but she recited... The Prajnaparamita of Buddhism is very strange.”
"That's right, it feels like a bit of a mess. Ning Caichen is a scholar, and Yan Chixia is a Taoist priest who uses Buddhist scriptures. But the magical place is here. Although it is a bit strange, it does not prevent some inexplicable harmony."
Then some insiders began to analyze it.
"First of all, there is no explanation in the movie that Yan Chixia is a Taoist priest, but she only dresses like a Taoist priest. Does a person wearing a Taoist priest's attire have to be a Taoist priest? Not necessarily. So, let's take a look at the era when "A Chinese Ghost Story" takes place. It’s not explained very clearly in movies and TV shows!
However, it can be seen from some of the official positions and official attires that appear in it that it should be the Ming Dynasty period. Judging from the background of the story where the people are in dire straits, it is almost the late Ming Dynasty. Of course, the story is probably fictional history.
During the Ming Dynasty, both Taoism and Buddhism developed, and we can look at Yan Chixia's identity from a few words in the original version of "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio": Scholars said that their surname was Yan, with the courtesy name Chixia. I would rather suspect that he is a person taking the exam, but when I hear his voice, it is not like Zhejiang. When interrogating him, he said that he was from Qin and his words were very simple and sincere. In other words, Yan Chixia came from the Qin Dynasty, and she knew how to fly with swords and the Ten Thousand Sword Techniques. Judging from the general situation, she should have learned the secret ancient alchemy. In other words, Yan Chixia herself is a warlock, not a Taoist priest.
As an alchemist (or sorcerer), he is the earliest metaphysics sect in my country. It was popular in the Qin and Han dynasties. Buddhism slowly emerged in China during the Han Dynasty. As a metaphysics sect native to China, it is natural that he will also study Buddhism and learn from it. This is relatively common in itself. It is said that Sakyamuni and Laozi discussed each other's teachings. It is not surprising.
In other words, the sect that Yan Chixia studied under was a distant alchemist or a warlock, so in the entire process of subduing demons, the spells she used were the essence of what she had learned, so there was another Prajna. Hatomi is also the infinite world, and the universe is borrowed from the law. As for Yan Chixia's return to Lanruo Temple, it can also be seen that from its own perspective, whether it is Taoism or Buddhism, it is all practice. Therefore, Yan Chixia will sing: All roads are connected, haha! I seek my own way, I seek my own way..."
"I feel like it's just a joke. I feel like Director Li Yi is trying to recreate the over-the-top style of Hong Kong films back then.
In fact, in the original work, Yan Chixia and Nie Xiaoqian are bad guys who rob families and homes. Nie Xiaoqian seduces the scholar, Yan Chixia kills them and robs them of their wealth. Nie Xiaoqian is not a female ghost, and Yan Chixia is not a Taoist priest, but a scholar.
So it was originally an adaptation, and of course, it was not a casual adaptation. In the movie, Yan Chixia is a Taoist priest with high magical power, and Taoist priests have many branches, but the mainstream one is the Quanzhen Sect, and the Quanzhen Sect is A religion that combines the strengths of hundreds of schools of thought has many scriptures that need to be studied. Among them, the Confucian "Filial Piety", the Buddhist "Diamond Sutra", and the Taoist "Tao Te Ching" are all must be studied by its disciples.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Yan Chixia used the Diamond Sutra in the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story".
In other words, the "Diamond Sutra" was introduced to our country during the Tang Dynasty. As a very important book in Buddhism, it has high reading value. In fact, the book teaches some great principles. Chinese Confucians, Legalists, etc. have all I have studied and found that there were very few books in those days. If you read them if you have them, there is no harm. Moreover, after the rise of Buddhism, the "Diamond Sutra" was spread to thousands of households, and many old ladies copied it when they had nothing to do. This is seen in movies and TV series Also very common. "
In response to this problem, many netizens suddenly turned into bosses and were able to analyze everything from different angles.
Of course, this premise is that the movie is indeed popular enough, exciting enough, and topical enough, so it will make people care about it.
If it is a movie with a lot of flaws, then there must be countless such strange things, and naturally there is no need to discuss them.
In fact, the topics that people are talking about about "A Chinese Ghost Story" are far more than this.
Because among the mainstream film and television works of this era, "A Chinese Ghost Story" is not only strange in these ways, but also Fu Huadao is equally strange.
"Doesn't anyone think that the costume design and styling in "A Chinese Ghost Story" are also weird?"
"Yes, what I remember most is the hair style of the tree demon grandma. It was simply weird. Do you have any explanation? Can anyone who knows the industry tell me?"
"Also, Xiaoqian's style and clothing, the color changes are also very strange, some big shot can analyze it!"
There must be some big guys, the so-called masters are among the people.
There are many masters hidden among netizens.
Soon experts came out to analyze it.
"Thank you. Many people think that the costumes and styles in "A Chinese Ghost Story" are strange. But in fact, this so-called strangeness is only because it is obviously different from the mainstream costumes and styles on the big and small screens, so it makes people feel strange. .
In fact, nowadays, many styles and costumes are going in the same direction, that is, how beautiful they are, how pretty they are, forget about modern dramas, but if ancient dramas are also based on this, then they themselves are actually It has lost a lot of charm. After all, aesthetics are different in different eras.
Back to topic.
In fact, Nie Xiaoqian's outfit in "A Chinese Ghost Story" has both classical references and design features.
First of all, we know that she is a ghost, and she always has the feeling of "A Piao". The so-called fluttering clothes are like reality and illusion.
Have you noticed that most of Xiaoqian's clothes are made of tulle, and the layered tulle will fly away when she moves around, and are supplemented by white to highlight her ghostly temperament. In addition to white, there are also elegant light colors (lavender, light yellow, light pink), which bring out the softness and freshness of women, and also match Xiaoqian's kindness.
Secondly, in addition to the whole, "A Chinese Ghost Story" has also been transformed. For example, the silk shawl on the original traditional dress was exaggerated into a veil to show elegance; Xiaoqian's aerial shot also incorporated water sleeves. Although Xiaoqian is a ghost, her appearance is that of a fairy.
Finally, let’s look at Xiaoqian’s hairstyle. There are at least 5-6 changes in the film. Her bun mainly refers to the classic styles of the Han, Tang and Song Dynasties, including reverse bun, half-turn, frightened falcon, fallen horse, and concentric styles, as well as matching sideburn styles, which makes Xiaoqian's overall look more complete and tall. The hair style instantly lifts the spirit of the whole person, carving out the elegance and slenderness of the neck, making people, oh, no, make the ghost more three-dimensional.
These things are where the real details lie. Normally, many of our film and television works rarely have such details.
It is not difficult to find that every time Xiaoqian appears, she will switch to different hairstyles and different clothing colors according to different plots and different environments. In fact, these are all particular. "
Of course, it is inevitable that someone will still talk about what is the theme of "A Chinese Ghost Story"?
There are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people.
By the same token, different people have different understandings of this movie.
A Bing, a well-known film critic in Hong Kong, believes that the theme of "A Chinese Ghost Story" is not just love.
"Although "A Chinese Ghost Story" talks about ghosts, it talks about the love between humans and ghosts, but in essence it uses Tao as the carrier, and through the struggle between humans and ghosts, it completes the ultimate thinking about life. Is it so magical?
Let's take a look. If we insist on setting a theme for "A Chinese Ghost Story", I think "The Way of Demons" is more appropriate.
Based on the original work, Director Li Yi made a lot of adaptations to "A Chinese Ghost Story", which expanded the narrative space of Yan Chixia, a lonely Taoist priest, making the whole work not only legendary about ghosts, but also contains "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" The missing feelings of the rivers and lakes and the vicissitudes of the world.
It is not difficult to see that Ning Caichen experienced panic and confusion at the beginning. As a poor scholar who could not control his destiny, he went to a place that was more like a ghost than a ghost to collect debts. Worldly and dirty.
The film shows this "demon"-like world through a few shots. There are wanted posters posted everywhere, and the streets are filled with gang members who are greedy for money and are only interested in profit. There is even no order at all here.
For money, you can encourage Ning Caichen to go to Lanruo Temple and measure his size in advance, just to sell one more coffin!
Waiting, waiting, everything highlights that this is a disorderly and chaotic world.
Where is Nie Xiaoqian? A female ghost who has her own view of good and evil, but suffers from being controlled by her grandmother.
She has a higher status than many people. She is the daughter of an official and a lady among all the people. However, in this world, even death is not stable, and she has to fall under the control of monsters.
One is a poor, pure-hearted poor scholar, and the other is an enchanting, submissive and beautiful female ghost. The two naturally performed a poignant and sad love song.
Yan Chixia secludes herself from the world, keeps to herself, and is sincere and affectionate. However, through his singing, we can also see the helplessness and bitterness of this outsider who is the incarnation of a knight and a Taoist priest. "The Tao can be Tao, but the Tao is east, south, west, and north. Everyone seeks his own way."
But he can hide from the secular world, but he still can't hide from the complexity of the human heart. As he said: "In fact, being a human being at the wrong time is worse than being a ghost." These words are straightforward enough. After losing conscience and good thoughts, , People with low moral standards spend all day doing evil things. What is the difference between this and ghosts harming people? Besides, ghosts harming people is harming people, and when people harm people, they often wear the cloak of hypocrisy and hold up high-sounding reasons. They are simply worse than ghosts. Not as good as anything.
It's a pity that this important meaning is simply not enough in front of the two beautiful faces and love laments. "
At the same time, some people took stock of the most exciting moments in "A Chinese Ghost Story".
In the first moment, Nie Xiaoqian’s hair covers her face.JPG
The resentment in the white clothes, the fierceness in the red robe, and even the hairstyle that looks very "Mickey" now, every frown and smile are perfect. The vividness of this character comes from the eye-catching beauty and various charms. No matter which criterion is used, this Nie Xiaoqian has performed an unearthly beauty, so beautiful that it is a little sinful and unreal, which makes people like her beyond measure.
In fact, one of people's favorite things to do is compare. But there are moments when the comparison really makes sense. I can say without hesitation: I like this version of Xiaoqian, because it is not beautiful, it is beautiful.
In the second moment, Yan Chixia was drunk while playing the sword and singing
"Tao, Tao, Tao" I believe many people will find this scene strange.
Obviously Yan Chixia is not handsome at all, but here, he is drunk, dancing with a sword, and singing "Tao, Tao, Tao" crazily, but he has a different kind of free and easy and helpless.
In fact, Yan Chixia is also a true knight. He does things in his own way and does not stick to trivial matters.
He is obviously doing chivalry and justice, but he is afraid of being favored by others, so he wants to cover it up.
For the sake of a poor scholar whom he met by chance, he did not hesitate to fight against the powerful thousand-year-old tree demon, almost costing his own life.
Just after fighting the tree demon, before he could take a breath, he plunged into the netherworld again and challenged the old Black Mountain demon who had almost no chance of winning. This is the hero in Li Yijing's eyes. He does good deeds and does great deeds of justice, even if he loses his life for this matter, he won't even frown.
As long as it's just and right, you don't have to ask for money or be grateful, I will do it and help you. Even if I help you, I may lose my life, but I will never look back. This kind of heroic chivalrous man is vividly interpreted by Yan Chixia.
The third moment, a bucket of water - a kiss in the water.
The bucket of water Ning Caichen hid was so fragrant that it was outrageous. In this scene, from the appearance of the grandma, to the bond between the sisters, to the emergence of Ning Caichen's ups and downs, the string in the audience's heart collapsed to its maximum deformation. But when the red dress faded away and the jade body lay aside, we found that the string almost broke with a "snap" in your mind. After that, there was that unforgettable kiss in the water.
The fourth moment, the panchang battle
Dryad Grandma Tongue.JPG.
Black Mountain Old Demon.jpg
Although it doesn't seem to be outstanding in terms of special effects, it creates a truly thrilling feeling, which is difficult to achieve even if there are many CG effects flying across the screen today. It's very simple, with restraint! The characters in the drama all have an arrangement where everyone must be saved and no one must die. The excellent editing, close-ups and shaking shots from above add to the tense atmosphere and exaggerate the ghostly feel of the villain.
This can also provide inspiration to today's directors. There is a simple truth: technology is a double-edged sword. No matter how hot the fight is on the screen, no matter how fierce the killing, without the restraint of drama, it is just a show that has nothing to do with me while we eat popcorn and watch indifferently. If you want to be remembered by the audience, the actor must be careful.
In the fifth moment, I block the light of this world for you.
I believe that the most sensational part of this movie is the scene in "Don't Come at Dawn" where Ning Caichen turns his back to Nie Xiaoqian and blocks her from the sun.
This pair of crazy men and resentful women can't even see each other for the last time. It's so sad!
No matter how infatuated love is, it can't stop the arrival of dawn!
(End of chapter)
