If this is a super bad movie, then it is also a refreshing super bad movie. —— "Voice of the Village"
Even if you watch this movie from the beginning, you will feel that you inserted the story halfway-in this kind of movie, this is the biggest compliment to it. ——Film.com
This may be the best bad film.
——The overall effect of the "Los Angeles Times" film is good, and fans should be very satisfied. However, in the second half of the film, there is some unpretentious return to ancestors. ——The
behind-the-scenes production of "Hollywood Reporter"
rap star RZA self-directed and self-acted
About 10 years ago, RZA, the lead singer of the Wudang school, was preparing to shoot this film about Chinese stories. As a rap star who is deeply influenced by Asian culture and the Kung Fu movie in 1970, it is not surprising that RZA was born to shoot such a film, but where did this idea come from? The thing also needs to be from Quentin Tarantino. Speaking of that "Kill Bill".
In 2003, Quentin's "Kill Bill" was filming in Beijing, and RZA was the original music author of this film. He paid 50,000 US dollars in his own pocket, went from the United States to China to learn Quentin's directing method, and made detailed notes. Later, he decided to shoot himself a film that tells the story of revenge, which is "Iron Fist". In 2005, he met Quentin's lover Eli Ross in Iceland, and the two returned to Los Angeles together. On the way to Los Angeles, RZA and Eli Roth described in detail the "Chinese Kung Fu Movie" in their hearts and successfully attracted Eli Roth's interest. At that time, the story of the film was not perfect, and there was no script. Eli Roth persuaded RZA to write the script first, and then he could invest in it. After Eli Roth's "Human Skin Inn 2" was released in 2007, he and RZA settled down and started writing the script for two years. For this version of the script, these two people took great pains, starting from the biographical design, until the plot, historical details, clothing, weapons, and Kung Fu characteristics were not pulled down. Regarding the detailed settings in the script, Eli Ross said: "I believe that such a film based on such a script, even without the plot of Kung Fu drama, will still be attractive. RZA has endless imagination. He designed every plot, clothing, weapons, and fighting methods. "
There are strong Chinese elements in the film , as well as surreal Western fantasy. Eli Roth thinks this is RZA's pioneering work, he said. : "We hope that this movie will have a cult and heavy taste, so it is impossible to be completely realistic and copy Chinese elements. Therefore, we have added a lot of American film elements to it. Fortunately, RZA is a Chinese film expert. When these Western content is added to the film, it still seems to have a sense of oriental mystery. "
Go to China to shoot.
Although there is a Western perspective and one or two Western creators, this film is basically a Chinese team from the crew to the cast. RZA took the script and found an investment of about 20 million U.S. dollars, and then came to China to shoot this film. Because of the tight production cost, RZA constantly urges his staff to rush to work, but his assistant director told RZA that if he blindly rushes to the schedule, it will cause the stuntman to be injured. In desperation, RZA had to give up a lot of shots that he originally wanted to shoot, and instead used CG to make some shots. Moreover, because Russell Crowe's cycle is very tight, there is no way to rehearse for the fighting scenes. RZA also changed the script, allowing Crowe to perform most of the literary play. Regarding this shooting method, RZA said: "You know what, I often say on the scene that this lens does not need to be shot, it can be made in a later stage. In my impression, about 85% of the shots in this film are It was made like this. In fact, at the shooting site, you don’t need to do everything. Some things are dangerous and cannot be done. So in these shots, CGI is the best production tool. "
Although the film is full of Western fantasy, but RZA still described it as a "movie that pays tribute to Shaw Brothers' martial arts film". RZA said: "I grew up watching Shaw Brothers action movies, and I always imagined that I was the hero in the movie, fighting the violence and Anliang. This movie has met my little expectations. This is My tribute to the Shaw Brothers Kung Fu film is also a reflection of my homesickness. "Because the first cut version of the film lasts for a full four hours, and the release version is only 96 minutes, RZA is also preparing to make a film for the release of the DVD." Director Edited version". RZA said: "The released version is very short, many stories are not clarified, many clues, and Kung Fu scenes are not hidden, so I am planning to release a director's cut version of the DVD, so that my movie can be considered complete. After watching the director’s cut version, it will definitely be more enjoyable.”
Highlights
·In order to write the script, RZA and Eli Rose worked together for nearly two years, carefully discussing every plot, every detail, and all weapons. Design and lethality. Moreover, this film is also the directorial debut of RZA.
·The film was filmed in China in December 2010, and it was basically finished in March 2011. Some of these shots were shot in Hengdian World Studios and Shanghai. Yuan Kui is the martial arts director of this movie.
·In addition to the director, screenwriter and lead role, RZA also composed the theme song of the film. Before the film's release, RZA also held a special concert to perform the songs and music in the film to create momentum for the film. Among them, Ye Qianwen also sang a song in the film.
· It is said that the first cut version of the film has a full 4 hours. RZA wants to split it into upper and lower movies for release. But this idea was strongly opposed by the film's screenwriter and producer Eli Ross. In the end, RZA had to compromise, and he finally edited the film into 90 minutes.
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