Before watching the whole chapter this time, what impressed me the most were the cold trenches under the cloudy sky, the tattered tops, the cold and muddy swords, and the patience and despair deep desires on the faces of the soldiers .
Throughout the whole film, I feel that this film has followed the consistent delicacy of Chen Kexin's films, including the characterization of characters and the strict requirements for the art of each shot. It can be said that it truly restores the style of the Celestial Empire, which has just turned to decline after the Qing Dynasty flourished.
In terms of plot, different from the storytelling "Thorn Horse" that I heard when I was a child, the protagonist of this film is actually Pang Qingyun. A Qing court officer who is full of revenge (ambition), perseverance, and walks on thin ice all his life, but always hopes to achieve his goals through any opportunity. To a certain extent, it can even be said that Pang Qingyun is also very affectionate. He is vicious but not insidious, clever but not calculating. In the encounter, he got to know the bandits Zhao Erhu and Jiang Wuyang, and got the fortune of these two.
My understanding of Zhao Erhu and Jiang Wuyang is very similar to a piece of numerology: Qing Touleng and Leng Touqing are the first and second among the eight disciples of Linglong Pagoda mentioned in "Linglong Pagoda". In their hearts, there are not many hesitations and fetters of Pang Qingyun, but only the rules, commitments, and brotherhood that they adhere to. The two people's views on brotherhood are simpler than Pang Qingyun. In the film, the director used the "voting name certificate" as the oath to reflect the drama of the brotherhood caused by the three people. Qingtou Leng Zhao Erhu desperately tried to be full, not only to eat himself, but also to let his brothers and relatives have snacks. He sticks to his promise and believes that only trust can stand in the world. Lengtou Qingjiang Wuyang's side is more like the guardian angel of the oath of "voting a name", using everything he can to defend this oath. He didn't understand the world, and even thought that killing the elder brother's beloved second sister-in-law would save the brothers from the killing and the oath punishment that followed. When the eldest brother finally killed Zhao Erhu out of his own ambition, the pressure of the imperial court and the emotional entanglement of forbearance, Jiang Wuyang rushed forward without hesitation to fight for his life, even if he used only one intact arm to slap without lethality. Complete Vendetta against the Oathbreaker.
On the other hand, Pang Qingyun is the only person among the three who can be called complete emotional and rational. He knows how to survive, how to get what he wants, and he will risk his life when he needs to fight. He is a talent, a general, and even a handsome man. But because he can perceive more emotions and influences from various aspects, it also makes his heart more entangled and his actions more difficult. It can be said that Pang Qingyun is entangled and tormented in love, friendship, and family (brotherhood can be considered as the combination of friendship and family). He tried to find a balance between the three, but he didn't have that talent, or it was an unsolvable problem for anyone. In the state of wandering between the two extremes, he lost everything he was after, even if these things seemed to be in his hands.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is the best work of Andy Lau that I have seen. Jet Li's performance is also remarkable.
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