How classic is the classic
How important is the movie "Happy Man" and its protagonist, Mary Poppins ? Mary Poppins is just like Bai Suzhen is to us, a perfect woman who knows magic, everyone knows (in the UK and the US) . Unlike Bai Suzhen, Mary Poppins is not here to repay her love, she is a nanny who takes care of the children. This image originally came from a novel written by PL Traverse and was adapted into a movie of the same name by the Disney Company in 1964 (Chinese translation: Happy in the world), which was put on the big screen. Since then, this magical nanny with an interesting and friendly personality, flying around with an umbrella, has become a well-known classic figure among the British and American people. By the way, she also has a four-dimensional handbag like Doraemon's pocket.
"Happy in the World" is a music film that combines live action and animation. Julie Andrews , who was still a newcomer in the film industry , plays the protagonist Mary Poppins. The story is set in 1910. It tells the story of the magical nanny Mary, with the children of the Banks family, playing in chalk paintings, in the rooftop group of London, and learning and growing up in entertainment. At the same time, the film not only focuses on the growth of the children, their father, Mr. Banks, has also changed in the process, from a bank employee who only knows how to make money to a kind father who cherishes family life.
"Happy in the World" has achieved great success at the box office once it was launched. Walt Disney, the founder of the Disney Company, also used the money earned from the movie to build the first Disneyland in Florida. At the 1965 Oscars, the film won 13 nominations , and finally won the best actress , best editing , best original music , best visual effects and best original song 5 awards. Julie Andrews also suddenly became an upstart in the film industry. So far, this film is ranked sixth in the "Top 100 Musical Films in 100 Years" by the American Film Institute. Among the most popular sound films of the 20th century according to the British Film Institute, its score is second only to "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", ranking 25th.
In 2018, after 54 years, Disney finally released the sequel to the movie "Mary Poppins Return" (Mary Poppins Return). In the sequel, Mary Poppins is played by Emily Blunt . This is also the longest sequel ever.
Because the original author PL Traverse particularly disliked the 1964 version of Disney's adaptation. Not only changed the important plot, changed the character of Mary Poppins, but also allowed Americans to play the role! It can only be said that Traverse was born at an untimely time. You see, JK Rowling also asked all British actors to play "Harry Potter". No one dared to "do not follow". Therefore, Traverse will never sell the adaptation rights to Disney anymore. This wait is 54 years. (Regarding the tug-of-war between Traverse and Walt Disney adaptations, those who are interested can watch the movie "The Big Dreamer" starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. All the gossip of the year is in it. )
A sequel worth waiting for
The story of the sequel "Happy Man 2" is set in 1935, 25 years after the first time. The two brothers and sisters of the Banks family have grown up. Sister, Jane, single, is a social reformer like her mother. The younger brother, Michael, is a widower with three children, and a bank clerk like his father. At the beginning of the movie, Michael’s life was in crisis. Because of the loan owed to the bank, their house was confiscated by the bank on Friday. Time is tight and tasks are heavy, and life suddenly falls into a mess. At this time, Mary Poppins, who is as always young and beautiful and "perfect in every aspect", came again uninvited and assumed the responsibility of being a nanny.
Under the shadow of the looming crisis, she took three children from the Banks family, wandering between the magic and the real world, guiding them to develop their wisdom through everything to deal with the difficulties in real life.
So we can see the gorgeous underwater diving in the movie; the dazzling picture circus; and the wonderful street lamp dance. It can be said that Hollywood's skilled musical and dance film skills are perfectly integrated with modern special effects technology.
In 130 minutes, the film not only tells interestingly how to deal with life issues such as difficult situations, but also brings a visual feast to the audience through retro and self-styled costumes, gorgeous pictures and colors, and exquisite singing and dancing performances.
Emily Blunt also brought new traits to Mary Poppins. Many small expressions added character and interest to the characters. They were also nicknamed "the favorite fairy who rolls eyes in history" by netizens.
Finally, after solving the crisis that appeared at the beginning, Michael, who was overwhelmed by life, also obtained physical and mental pleasure. The movie took advantage of the trend and set the theme of "Keeping the Childlike Innocence." On the one hand, it conforms to the overall life meaning of the movie, and makes the audience feel refreshed. On the other hand, Disney, as a "Family Fun" brand, really requires both adults and children.
The sequel is even better
Although the first film in 1964 is so classic, due to the limitations of the times and people's "tolerance" to the family carnival movie, from the current perspective, the film has many problems, and these problems have all been matured in the sequel. The solution.
For example, in the 1964 version, in order to highlight Mary Poppins’ character traits of “no explanation for everything”, the image of Mary Poppins became too thin. She was doing one action after another as if she was doing a task, and the movie used another character. Bert went to "explain" her behavior, which shows that Mary, the protagonist, is "leading" the character's behavior and the development of the story. In the sequel, although Mary still "does not explain", the film will show her intentions with pictures.
For example, in the 1964 version, although the first act of the movie portrayed Mr. Banks as an indifferent father, the main plot of the first two acts is that the two children play again and again and are "educated" again and again. In the third act, the plot is forcibly reversed to Mr. Banks, and then forced to "sublimate" the theme with the face of a family carnival at the end.
Although Mary Poppins has conveyed one theme after another through songs-"Add a spoonful of sugar when drinking medicine, and find fun in depression", "Feed the bird, pay attention to the life in front of you"-but the whole The plot is fragmented. Even if the audience can be beaten up with deep-meaning songs, it is difficult to conceal the fact that the plot is far-fetched and broken.
But in the 2018 sequel, the new generation of film practitioners will naturally not make this mistake again. So there was a big crisis at the beginning of the movie, and there was a time limit. And every time Mary Poppins and the children "played" and sang each song, the children tried to help their father solve the problem illegally, and then Mary was brought to the right way of thinking. The plot of the movie is gradual and complete. And there are contrasts before and after, such as the big bad wolf in the magical world and the wolf-ambitious Mr. William (played by Colin Firth).
The sequel also uses some of the stalks from the first part. For example, the general who uses a cannon to tell the time is used to increase the comic effect in the first part. In the sequel, in addition to the sense of joy, he also has a different value through the integration with the new storyline-reflecting the old and the new. In alternate times, there are two different attitudes towards life, accepting new things and sticking to traditions.
Of course, the movie has also changed from the fake studio shots to the vast real-life color images.
As a classic sequel produced 54 years later, "Happy Man World 2" not only inherits the essence of the classics, but also makes up for the shortcomings of the classics. It has become a family entertainment film full of positive energy and no sensational blood.
To make an interesting digression, last year, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, two gentle male gods, both played the evil old man in the family carnival movie.
over.
Text丨Tianjiaji Map丨Official Online Picture/Network
This article was originally published in the official account of "Sugar Cinema" (WeChat ID: BrilliantFilms), and you are eagerly welcome your attention.
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