"I'm just not convinced that digital is going to imitate film."
Li An said.
And after watching "Gemini Man" in 4K, 3D, 120 frames, the moment I walked out of the theater, I seemed to be instantly ignited by a certain emotion - yes, I agree with his words.
"Film feeling", "film feeling", such terms have been mentioned by countless "we". Indeed, it is understandable, even justifiable, to regard film as an art while pursuing its characteristic high quality. In contrast, the word "digital" almost always wears the prefix "cheap". The dreamy texture brought by film should be experienced by every movie fan, but does this mean that this texture should be regarded as a kind of supreme bible?
(The following contains a small amount of spoilers, please be careful)
(one)
Ang Lee is still doing himself.
As an adaptation of the script of "Gemini Man", Ang Lee did not give up the father-son issue that he has never been able to get rid of. So much so that in the story, Junior has three fathers: his biological father Henry, his adoptive father Clay, and his Technical father (scientist). He kills each other with himself, he kills each other with his father, he makes fathers kill each other. Finally, he successfully killed his father and reached a reconciliation, just like a new life. I even felt the grief and anger that he was desperate for understanding - like Henry's closest friends, either betrayed or killed. Of course, all the propositions are still old ones, including patriarchy, cloning, self, all of them; he doesn't give a more humane, more nuanced insight, I'm just glad to see that he's still him.
The rationality of the plot does not need to be repeated. I even think that the perception of this story reminds me of the perception of the story of Kubrick's works in a trance. Maybe it is the kind that does not need to go into the rationality... Atmosphere? Of course, it's just a magical, personal association of mine.
So far, it can be said that this story does not satisfy my deepest expectations for Ang Lee. However, Uncle An himself also said that what attracted him was not the story itself, but a certain picture that made him want to shoot it. And his own appeal to this film is not essentially for the story, so there is no need to be too harsh.
(two)
What Ang Lee has done is really not good enough.
After going through two 120fps experiences (Billy Lynn & Gemini), I think this path is worth exploring ; and why it's called exploration, because this technology is enough to subvert the entire "production process of the film" ".
First, a very obvious viewing experience is that one of the most basic techniques in film and television creation - front and back play, is incompatible with the 120-frame viewing experience. In fact, in general, every time the shot is switched, if the rhythm is not precise enough, it will appear very abrupt; and the front and back hits have reached a point that is unbearable. Although the 120-frame viewing experience is essentially clearer and more delicate than the daily visual field of vision, it does still give people the illusion of being in it. Under this illusion, the audience can easily preset their own position, which makes the audience truly become the "ghost" in the story; and the front and back switching of the camera between the two is easily exposed. This illusion, this strong sense of dislocation, made me unable to watch the movie quietly. In contrast, camera movements such as panning that mimic the movement of human vision are obviously more immersive.
Second, the actor's performance needs another all-round evolution. For example, compared to the stage performance, the actor needs a completely different way of performance; and under the 120-frame lens, the requirements for the actor's performance have indeed reached another level. Even a brow raise that expresses doubt will make the audience feel that it is too exaggerated and difficult to enter the play. In daily communication, we may not disassemble a person's facial expressions when expressing; but in such a delicate image, we can easily disassemble an actor's face into many parts, so as to compare it with money. . How should an actor perform? I think Will Smith should have really done a lot of homework with the director to be able to achieve the level he is now, although for me, there may still be some shortcomings.
Third, the fast-paced racing and action scenes are more realistic because of the clearer picture, which also makes people feel a deep sense of tension. The motorcycle chase scene in the film, the gunfight scene with bullets shot in the face, and the action scene with punches to the flesh really made my adrenaline rush. The chemical reaction of +1>2; but on the contrary, if the rhythm and the rhythm in the play are misaligned at any time in the editing, I will have a serious sense of procrastination; at the same time, all the upgraded shots also appear Even more contrived. I am afraid that this also puts forward higher requirements for the director's skills and abilities, not to mention that the actors may have to suffer more when they are performing.
There are still many experiences and impressions, but I don’t want to continue to list them one by one, because to put it bluntly, I can’t think of an answer. For example, the discomfort caused by the switching of lenses, if you try not to switch as much as possible, but take a long shot, will it work? You can try, but the effect must be good? Not necessarily, what's more, too many long shots, I'm afraid it will drive the entire crew crazy. But from another way of thinking, can the 120-frame technology be applied to certain parts of the entire movie to highlight certain characteristics? Might as well try, but maybe drive all projectionists and theaters crazy...
All in all, Ang Lee is really not good enough, but I don't know how to do better. I also think that the person who can really make breakthroughs in the application of this technology is difficult to be him, or even every "expert" director. But as long as he is willing to explore, I am willing to continue to support. I still respect him, as always.
(three)
When watching the movie, I always felt that this was imitating the experience of the naked eye, so as to provide as much realism as possible; but the moment I walked out of the theater, I realized that I was wrong - the 120-frame experience is actually far clearer and more delicate than reality. , as if "opening the third eye" (Ang Lee).
My friends and I said:
"Look, doesn't it look more like a movie now than it was in there?"
This is probably the kind of thinking I can't get past.
But maybe, we can really use this technology to reconstruct the relationship between the audience and the movie, I'm not sure, right?
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