The idols of childhood, I can't tell whether it is Jet Li or Huang Feihong, and they are often confused as the same person. Rewatching this movie today, I can see a completely different feeling from when I was a child. When I was a child, I watched kung fu movies, and I liked punching and kicking, punishing evil and promoting good, and chivalrous work. Looking at it now, I find that although Huang Feihong is highly skilled in martial arts, he never punishes others based on personal likes and dislikes. The bad guys in the film are not killed by Huang Feihong. "Confucianism breaks the law with literature, and chivalry breaks the ban with martial arts." Traditional chivalrous warriors are all warriors who hoe the strong and help the weak, rob the rich and help the poor, and are in a hurry. They uphold justice in an era when social rules are collapsing, but they also often rely on personal notions of right and wrong to decide the life and death of others, and sometimes even breakers of social rules. And Huang Feihong is not a knight in the traditional sense. As a Confucian and a martial artist, he opened a library to teach apprentices, healed diseases and practiced medicine. At the same time, he served as a naval instructor, was responsible for training the militia group, and worked hard to maintain social order. He respected the government and hoped to maintain a good relationship with it, and had a deep relationship with the gentry among the common people. He is a social elite between temples, rivers and lakes and the market, and a microcosm of people with lofty ideals in modern China. The English name of the film is Once Upon a Time in China, "China's Past", and everyone knows which period this is. In the context of the collision of Chinese and Western civilizations, foreigners are coveting, the imperial court is rotten and cowardly, the underworld is rampant, the people are struggling to survive, and everyone is just seeking to protect themselves. Faced with such a situation, what should the Chinese do? Just like the poster of the movie, under the torrent of the times, a lonely silhouette emerges on the paper, revealing the feeling of "the road ahead is vast, I don't know where to go", but the tall and straight posture also shows a kind of self-confidence and perseverance, A kind of heroic "arrogance and arrogance". This is the person with lofty ideals represented by Huang Feihong. Although he is confused, he is persistent in his heart; he is persistent, but he is flexible. In the changing times, thinking and exploring the future destiny of China.
Thirteenth Aunt is the only female character in this film, which adds a bit of chivalrousness to this film with a male as the protagonist, and is also Huang Feihong's confidante. Only when facing her, Huang Feihong will show a smile, Confessing the confusion in his heart, showing frustration and anxiety and other emotions, these make Huang Feihong a plump, three-dimensional, flesh-and-blood person, not just a symbol of a national hero.
Huang Feihong once asked Aunt Thirteen in confusion: "Why do we have to learn from foreign countries everywhere?" Aunt Thirteen explained that foreign science has developed and invented steam engines and cannons. As a science and engineering graduate student, I was particularly touched by this. Since modern times, the West has relied on advanced science and technology to launch wars of aggression everywhere, and then used unequal treaties to restrict it. It seems to be very civilized and has a spirit of contract, but it is actually bullying. Huang Feihong is a strong man, both physically and mentally, but he never bullies the weak, he is just, brave and kind. He shines with the brilliance of Chinese Confucian culture. Of course, there is also the weakness of Confucian culture. When encountering things, you always consider the government. Even if you are in prison, you will not escape because of the state's laws. But this is also a manifestation of his adherence to principles and respect for the law. In contrast, Western countries with advanced technology do not know whether they are more civilized or more backward. However, the film does not deliberately favor either side. There are also bullies in China. Whether it is the Shahe Gang or Yan Zhendong, they are all selfish and disregarding morality. There are also Westerners who insist on justice and kindness, such as the priest who sacrificed himself for others. And we, China, have also invaded neighboring countries by force in history. So, whether it is West or East, ancient or modern, there is essentially no difference. We are all of the same race and belong to the same Homo sapiens. It has only been 4.5 million years since our ancestors crawled to stand up. Our evolution is far from perfect. The complexity of human nature is the same everywhere. Because of this, Huang Feihong's heroic image is more universal. In the film, Huang Feihong did not have a head-to-head confrontation with foreigners, which is very different from the general action film. However, he was a true national hero. At the end of the film, Huang Feihong and the Admiral stood together on the bow of the boat. The Admiral said: "Jinshan, is there any Jinshan in the world?" Huang Feihong said: "If there are really Jinshan in this world, why do these foreign ships come to our port? What? Maybe we are already standing on the golden mountain." That golden mountain is the inner justice and kindness, as well as the spirit of self-improvement.
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