"Crocodile Dundee" is one of the few best films in Australian film history that can cause a worldwide sensation. Its shooting cost was only 6 million U.S. dollars, but it earned 70 million in the United States alone, becoming the second-selling film that year. In other countries, the film is also very popular and has won unanimous praise from audiences and film critics.
The success of the film lies not only in its witty comedy plot, but also in its philosophical theme. After entering the 1980s, people have more thoughts about modern industrial civilization, and they have given "civilization" and "barbarism" new connotations that are quite different from the past. As a symbol of modern civilization, a highly developed industrial society is no longer a bright spot in people's eyes. People have seen more of its flaws and endured more of the consequences it caused. Industrial civilization means the destruction and pollution of the environment. Interpersonal relationships in a civilized society are also poisoned by greed. Chivalrous tenderness has long since disappeared. There are only cold interests among people, only fraud and exploitation. While critically examining the industrial civilization, people miss the simplicity and nature of the pre-industrial civilization that has long since passed away. People emotionally and subconsciously yearn for a return to nature, not only to the natural environment, but also to the human nature of nature. "Crocodile Dundee" came into being under the background of this era. Because it just satisfies people's potential psychological cravings, the film arouses strong resonance as soon as it is released, so it is not unreasonable that it has become popular in countries all over the world, especially in industrialized developed countries.
It is not accidental that Australian film creators chose such a theme to make films, and it can show its advantages in national conditions. Australia is not only an industrially developed country, but also a world-famous country that pays attention to environmental protection. Not only a large number of vigorous virgin forests, wild animals and other natural ecology are maintained, but the lifestyles of the indigenous people are also respected; in the vast farming and pastoral areas, the simple folk customs of the pre-industrial civilization of the European white ancestors also survive. In this regard, there are significant differences between Australia and developed countries such as the United States, which are mainly European immigrants. In the United States, the highly industrialized civilization not only destroyed the Indian culture, but also swallowed the early pioneer culture such as the western cowboy that made Americans proud. In this sense, the film has strong characteristics of Australia's national conditions. And this feature also provides the most suitable background for the director to explain the theme of the film-the dislocation and repositioning of civilization and barbarism.
From the perspective of the plot, the film is a modern myth. It uses exaggerated contrast to describe the various dangers encountered by a civilized man entering the tropical jungle and the various troubles encountered by a "barbarian" in the jungle when entering a civilized metropolis. . Here, the director uses contrast and exaggeration to reveal and deepen the theme. In the film, the "barbarians" are targeted as Australians, while the "civilization" is given to the United States. The choreographer did this because, on the one hand, the United States is the most representative of industrial civilization, and on the other hand, it was also because the choreographer decided to play the "international card" at the beginning of the filming to prepare for the global release of the film.
There are three representatives of the film, among which Dundee is the most important person who can best reflect the creative intentions of the director. Dundee was born in the remote northern subtropical region of Australia. He was raised by the local aboriginals and became a hunter and fishing expert. He lives in the jungle, with kangaroos and next to crocodiles. He has a brotherly close relationship with the indigenous people. He is the master of the jungle, and the jungle nurtured him into a strong, clever, cheerful, and faithful fighter. Dundee is the son of nature and the bearer of the white immigrant culture. The simple folk customs of early immigrants are clearly reflected in him: hardworking, brave and fortitude, optimistic, bold and chivalrous. He is a symbol of nature and tradition (hence the "barbaric" color), but at the same time as a white man in the 20th century, he has the same side as modern civilization (although he is still in the "hillie" habit). It can be said that he is a Typical Australian. He is like a fish in the jungle, and he is extremely harmonious with nature and the natives. However, when he enters the modern metropolis, he feels restrained and restrained in everything, and he keeps making a fool of himself. Dressed as a countryman, he was watched and made fun of as a barbarian. But he didn't mind, he was full of interest and satisfies the curiosity of others, and at the same time he is also hunting around. He was uncomfortable and uninterested in the social situations of the upper class; however, when he arrived at the small hotel, he felt very happy and laughed loudly with the people there. As a "barbarian", the contrast between him and civilized society is quite big, and the choreographer created a lot of gimmicks from this, which caused the audience to laugh. But the editors and directors also expose the barbaric aspects of civilized society from time to time. In the face of this barbaric phenomenon, Dundee, the "barbarian", has become the defender of civilization. For example, he chats with prostitutes and asks about their lives with concern. When the pimp intervened, Dundee uncompromisingly knocked him to the ground. When he and Xio were walking on the road, and a group of gangsters brandished switch knives in an attempt to steal his wallet, Dundee kept quiet and drew out his own knife for slaughtering wild dogs, approaching the gangster, scaring the gangster to death, and ran away in embarrassment. .
Hugh's boyfriend, Mason, is the opposite of Dundee. He is a "city man" and a "civilized man" trying to get involved in the upper class. He coveted wealth, so he did his best to flatter him, trying to deceive Xiu's love and his father's trust, and seize the newspaper industry. This is actually a barbaric act wrapped in a civilized appearance. The director deliberately arranged several rival scenes to compare the differences between the two. For example, on the evening when Hugh and Dundee arrived in New York, Mason invited Hugh to an Italian restaurant for dinner in order to please Hugh. The kind Hugh must take Dundee with him. Mason deliberately let Dundee, who had never been in an Italian restaurant, order his own food, and from time to time laughed at his ignorance of civilized society, suggesting that he "just ask for a grilled kangaroo meat." Dundee kept his face and stunned Mason with a punch while Hugh was not paying attention, but lied that Mason was drunk. Dundee just laughed at Hugh's complaint. He used his own simple way to deal with the treacherous "city people". Here again, civilization and barbarism are out of place.
The female reporter of the newspaper, Hugh, is another main character that the editor and director strives to portray. She is a new civilized person in the 1980s. It is through her perspective that the director reflects on civilization and barbarism. Hugh grew up in a big city and got used to the noisy and busy life in the city. When she first came to remote Australia, she saw the unpretentious rural town and met the cheerful and enthusiastic locals, and she immediately felt a refreshing feeling. When she came to the tropical jungle with Dundee, she was fascinated by the beautiful natural scenery and the vibrant animal world there. There is no pollution, no threat of nuclear weapons, no deceitful market battles, no drug abuse and crime, no civilization diseases caused by modern civilization. The interpersonal relationship there is also so simple and gentle, even the indigenous people are not barbaric images of eating life. They maintain the traditional customs of their own people, they are friendly and straightforward, but can't understand the "hypocrisy of the people in the city." All of these left a deep impression on Xio and gave her a new feeling of civilization and barbarism. Both are urbanites, but Hugh and Mason have different views on civilization and barbarism and finally choose different life paths. The choreographer used another layer of contrast here. If Hugh and Mason had a basis in their relationship at first (both civilized, a suave, and a well-off family), then when Hugh had a new understanding of civilization and barbarism, the two men she faced were in her mind The position in is completely reversed-Dundee, who looks rough, is more civilized in his heart, while Mason, who is civilized on the outside, is very dirty in his heart.
Hugh's feelings for Dundee also changed as her views on civilization and barbarism changed. At first, her interest in Dundee was mainly in curiosity. As the relationship deepened, she had a better understanding of all aspects of Dundee's character. He treats people sincerely and boldly without being greedy for money; he is sick and evil, and dared to help each other when he sees injustice; he is humorous and cheerful, and when encountering embarrassing things, he can always deal with the past without embarrassment. All this gave him a special charm, which deeply attracted Xiu. Hugh gradually identified with Dundee emotionally without knowing it, until he was not seen at the banquet. When he learned that he was about to return to Australia, Hugh really understood that she couldn't live without him, so she finally performed a comedy about chasing people on the subway and spreading love. Hugh's perspective in the entire film is actually the perspective that the director expects from the audience. Hugh's identification with Dundee reflects the audience's identification with Dundee. Through this identification, the director skillfully transmits to the audience the theme of the film—the dislocation and repositioning of civilization and barbarism.
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