Generation Z Artists

Chapter 275 Heroes' "Heroes"

The next morning, the sight of experts across the country collectively changing their tune completely stunned the nation.

Yesterday's morning paper was full of criticism, but today's morning paper is all praise.

Even though there are occasional complaints, they are only directed at Zhang Yimou. We must single out Fang Ge and give him a few words of praise.

"Hero has finally acquired a heroic spirit."

People who previously criticized the movie "Hero" as a coward have collectively made a 180-degree turn, and the new article is clinging to Fang Ge and trying to piggyback on his fame.

However, their words were actually quite reasonable and received widespread recognition from the audience.

Even the concept of destiny, which many people dislike, has been completely eradicated.

Among them, the article by the director of the Chinese Culture Research Institute was the most incisive and insightful, truly explaining the differences between the two versions.

"The nameless man who dares not draw his sword is a coward. He is a puppet on a string, a product of Director Zhang's personal philosophy. He has no logic, no motivation, and no arc. He just stands there like a prop."

The nameless man who cut off a corner of the Imperial Seal is sublimated in the fiction we know to be fictional; he becomes flesh and blood, full of life and heroic spirit.

The more I hated him before for betraying Crown Prince Yu's trust, the more I regret it for him now.

His assassination skills, honed over many years, were unmatched by anyone. When that sword was unleashed, we saw the fire and sharpness in his eyes. When he was nailed to a palace pillar, he laughed loudly and said, "Your Majesty, please hang my head and let us see it." At that moment, I burst into tears.

In stark contrast to Director Zhang's empty concept of the world, Fang Xinghe's philosophical view of history is clearly more realistic, profound, and warm.

Zhang's version of the ending is completely abstract, exaggerated, and hypocritical, like tying us to chairs and forcibly forcing medicine into our mouths.

Big Brother, time to take your medicine!
What medicine?

The medicine for treating kidney deficiency will make you hard after you take it!
In fact?

The medicine was extremely nauseating, bitter, fishy, ​​and hard to swallow. Moreover, it didn't cause any reaction after taking it; instead, it left one feeling nauseous just thinking about it.

Fang's version of the ending didn't force anything on us.

But we're not stupid; we can see the difference.

The assassin severing the Imperial Seal is entirely fictional, but it doesn't offend people because everyone can grasp the metaphor that Director Fang wanted to convey.

The Mandate of Heaven is gathered because of the people, and it is also destroyed for the people.

This is one of the most important concepts in traditional Chinese philosophy: water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.

Later, when the nameless man bravely faced his death, he uttered the words, "I beg Your Majesty to hang my head and that of Prince Han in a high place," once again demonstrating a brilliant metaphor.

The concepts of "Heaven and Man witnessing together," "the people's expectations," and "the will of the people" were all used in ancient China to monitor whether a monarch had lost his or her virtue.

Its core logic is that the monarch's power originates from the Mandate of Heaven, and the allocation of the Mandate of Heaven depends on the monarch's virtue.

The supervisory bodies in this system are very complex, ranging from the emperor to civil officials and ordinary people, all of whom have the responsibility, obligation, and power to supervise and admonish the monarch.

And the weakest element within this system, the people, is precisely the real reflection of the Mandate of Heaven.

Heaven sees as the people see, and Heaven hears as the people hear.

Losing divine favor is almost equivalent to losing the hearts of the people, and losing the hearts of the people means that a change of dynasty is inevitable.

The nameless man asked the King of Qin to hang his head high, and said, "Perhaps when we see this scene, we can finally die in peace." In essence, he transformed himself from an assassin into a potential citizen of Qin, acknowledging that the King of Qin was qualified to achieve unification and looking forward to the day when the world was united.

At the same time, this move also carries the implication of oversight.

The nameless one represents the ghost, and Prince Yu represents the god; they are also the dead people.

The scene of the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, where humans, ghosts, and gods witness the mandate of heaven returning to Qin, carries profound symbolic meaning and is filled with Chinese philosophical thought.

Finally, in the post-credits scene, Prince Yu breaks the fourth wall, making eye contact with the audience, thus elevating the ending to a whole new level.

This is the last metaphor Fang Xinghe left us—

Across time and space, I gaze upon you, my descendants of China, how are you doing?

Why did he smile with relief instead of being worried?

Because he knows we're doing well.

The emotions expressed here can be felt by people all over the world, but only we Chinese can fully understand them.

At this point, I could no longer hold back my tears and burst into sobs, tears streaming down my face.

Fang Xinghe's handling of the ending was brilliant. Many people criticized Wuming for losing to fate, believing that this was a forced invincibility of the King of Qin, completely ignoring Fang Xinghe's efforts in elevating the theme of the entire film.

It's understandable that ordinary viewers would want Nameless to have one last, exhilarating fight at the end.

However, please note that this is a historical epic. Given that Qin Shi Huang could not possibly die, having Meng Yi or the King of Qin defeat Nameless through an intense action scene would not produce a better effect.

It was precisely because of fate's defeat, coupled with Fang Xinghe's subsequent handling, that this pale story became profound, meaningful, and distinctly Chinese.

What exactly is China?

A unified central state.

What exactly is destiny?

Gods and spirits share the same wish, and all people are of one mind.

What exactly is a hero?

To sacrifice one's life for righteousness, to do what one knows to be impossible, to drink with one's lord in victory, and to face death with grace in defeat.

In the end, the character of Wuming was fully established, and so were the grandeur and romance of this era, as well as the Qin state's ultimate victory.

Qin Shi Huang was not an arrogant and conceited hypocrite, nor was Wuming a cowardly and treacherous person. Crown Prince Yu died a worthy death, and Empress Zhao Feixue did not make a mistake in trusting a coward. You are a hero, I am a hero, and we are all heroes.

This is truly the best masterpiece in the history of Chinese cinema.

Fang's version of "Hero" changed more than just the ending; it changed the overall tone of the film, the mountains in the hearts of the Chinese people, and the perception of China among moviegoers worldwide.

The international version's success worldwide is well-deserved and beyond question.

It is no longer a visual spectacle built to please foreigners; it is a great work that interprets Chinese consciousness, Chinese history, and Chinese spirit.

The action scenes you all rave about don't even begin to capture the emotion I felt for the end credits and post-credits scenes.

I would say that Chinese cinema has finally reached a milestone.

Yes, it is this very film, "Heroes," a story of heroes!

"Heroes," written by heroes, is a masterpiece.

After this article was published, all the few remaining doubts disappeared.

The author truly understood the film and the way Fang Xinghe's ending was handled.

Since this article, public opinion in China has become largely unified.

Even that shameless little cannon jumped on the bandwagon and wrote a eulogy.

He's really something else. Wang Shuo had just finished criticizing the hero, and then he immediately started praising Fang Ban.

You know what, the article was actually quite good at flattering people.

"The doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven is a universal value that has been prevalent in both the West and the East. Even today, the elders in our family still like to ramble on: Chairman Mao was a great man sent down from heaven, and the Red Army were heavenly soldiers and generals sent down by God to save us!"
This statement is both right and wrong. Materialism doesn't advocate this, but it is simple and represents the true will of the people.

However, the Western concept of destiny is actually quite different from the Chinese concept of destiny, and Director Fang handled this point very clearly and in great detail.

I heard from my friends abroad that the United States doesn't particularly agree with this Chinese concept of destiny. How can a divine artifact be severed?
This sparked another debate about unification, which I followed in the news for several days. However, Director Fang ultimately used a very ingenious theory to promote our idea of ​​unification, which was particularly brilliant and inspiring.

I can't comment on the article, but I've seen both movie versions, and Director Fang's version is impeccable.

It is perfectly logical, perfectly coherent in terms of characters, and even more impressive in terms of emotion—it's not just smooth, it's explosive.

That bold attempt to smile at the audience in the final scene would have been jarring in any other context, but it was precisely at that moment that it transcended history and time, truly connecting us together.

As an ordinary viewer, and as Prince Yu, a hero of the Warring States period, we suddenly share the same identity and the same feelings.

We are all sons and daughters of China, descendants of the unified central empire. We have experienced the same national annihilation and the same destruction of our land, and we are also entering a new era.

I almost jumped up at that moment.

Awesome! That's fucking amazing! How did you come up with that?
Before, those people all said that Director Fang was the reincarnation of the God of Literature and the descendant of the God of Wealth. I just thought, is it really that exaggerated?
After watching this version of "Hero," I'm truly impressed; it's absolutely amazing.

This isn't about box office numbers; it's about dancing in shackles, yet managing to turn a kung fu film into a work of art.

From now on, among domestic commercial film directors, Fang Xinghe is number one, I'm number two, Zhang Yimou is number three, and the rest you can fight for..."

The little cannon's sudden licking left everyone bewildered.

Wang Chali scratched the back of his head: "Wait, what is this guy trying to do?"

Wei Ping slammed her hand on the table, her eyes flashing with malice: "What the hell are you thinking! What else could you be after? You're just eyeing President Fang's international market!"

"Oh!"

Everyone suddenly realized what was going on.

That makes sense. Although the box office of "Hero" is not enough to make Fang Xinghe the number one in the world, he is not just an actor. Brother Fang is also a legitimate writer and cultural leader.

The global box office of "Hero" will certainly not reach half of that of "The Big Ship," but Fang Xinghe's personal commercial value is not necessarily lower than Leonardo DiCaprio's at his peak—and may even be stronger.

At the very least, any movie that uses Fang Xinghe as the lead actor will be eligible for global release, and the copyright will sell very well.

Little Cannon's body was already flexible, so how could he possibly go against Brother Fang in this situation?
"He definitely wants you to star in some movie. Listen to me, ignore him!"

Wei Ping panicked and started badmouthing Xiao Gangpao.

"That guy is a terrible person. He's so ruthless that even Big Brother would betray him. Playing games with him is never a good idea, blah blah blah..."

Fang Xinghe never spoiled the kids, let alone Lao Deng, and confronted him directly: "Which of you two is better than the other?"

"Uh..." Wei Ping chuckled awkwardly, "Our cooperation has been quite pleasant..."

This will be the only time.

Fang Xinghe waved his hand, ignoring him, and continued to entertain the guests.

Accompanying him were Sister Li, Lao Li, and Zhang Ziyi. The group of people came to his company to "get acquainted" with him, but actually they came for a meeting.

"Director Fang, thank you so much!"

In front of everyone, Old Li handed over a watch box—a Patek Philippe.

He was truly grateful to Fang Xinghe. For the previous month, he had been so badly criticized in China that he couldn't even lift his head. Even passing dogs could piss on his shoes.

Now that Fang's version has been released, he's finally able to hold his head high.

Including Li Jie and Zhang Ziyi, everyone in Fang's version is on the table, no longer just tools serving "world consciousness", but becomes flesh and blood.

Next, they're going abroad for a promotional tour. They're all about to make headlines and land new endorsements, and they're all beaming with joy. They couldn't be happier.

"You guys go ahead, I don't have time."

Fang Xinghe didn't give them any more instructions. At this point, there was no need to worry about "Hero" anymore, and he could go about his own business.

"I have to keep an eye on the post-production of 'Less You.' Registration is in February, and there's the Spring Festival in between, so I'm not going anywhere."

Wei Ping was startled: "What about Japan and South Korea? Aren't there autograph sessions?"

"It's not far, I have two days."

Fang Xinghe didn't take it seriously at all, but it was Japan and South Korea that gave him a pleasant surprise.

On January 26, South Korean Crown Prince Bang Seong-ha arrived in Correa—damn, you can't tell the difference without the Romanized name.

The airport being blocked was already a given, but this time the Korean fans came up with a new trick – they booked all the cinemas and all the screenings in Seoul for passersby to watch for free, creating a record of a full house all day.

Although it's just a statistical record of a packed house, the box office revenue is real, and the headlines are real too.

On this very day, South Korea's box office surpassed $5000 million.

When the news reached Japan, on January 28th, the Japanese girls also held a grand ceremony.

They booked all the major landmark billboards in Tokyo, and on that day, the entire city was filled with Prince Yu's advertisements.

From drawing the bow to standing on horseback, from slashing with the spear to probing with the claw, from sitting upright to face death to smiling gently... every highlight scene from the movie was replicated in reality.

But in reality, Fang Xinghe didn't go to the city center at all; he only went to Tokyo Dome and held a perfunctory autograph session.

The signing event was filled with deafening cheers and cries.

For Japanese girls, the characters who die are the eternal white moonlight; the more beautifully they die, the more they drive people crazy.

Therefore, this autograph session attracted far more people than the last one—nearly 200, breaking the record.

However, the dog didn't care at all. After signing his name, he just left without paying any attention to the Japanese girl's attempts to stop him.

Even so, the number of die-hard fans of baby's breath cherry blossoms has exceeded one million, achieving global dominance and far surpassing domestic ones.

However, Fang Ge didn't have much time to pay attention to these data. On February 2nd, "Young You" finally finished post-production and was hurriedly submitted for review.

Knowing that Fang Xinghe was going to take "Young You" to Cannes, the Film Bureau was incredibly efficient this time.

The film was approved in 6 days, without any cuts.

It is said that the newly appointed education commissioner shed tears several times during the film screening, choking back sobs as he said, "This is all because we haven't done our job well enough..."

No, no, no, you don't need to do that. If you have any opinions, just say them.

"Great movie!"

As it turned out, he not only had no objections, but also really liked "Less You".

So, just before the registration deadline on the 15th, Director Fang's first truly independent work was submitted to Cannes through the Beijing Film Academy.

February 15th also marks the 7th anniversary of the release of "Hero".

The number of theaters showing the film in North America did not continue to expand, remaining stable at around 1600, and box office revenue declined slightly, earning another $2808 million.

Japan and South Korea are also scaling back their screenings, but they will also be showing them for a longer period, waiting for this year's Oscars.

If I had to describe it, it would be roughly halfway through the season?

By this point, "Hero" had grossed $4.86 million worldwide, securing the 5th spot in the 2002 global box office, and still had the potential to climb higher.

And on February 15th, good news also came from China—

The Titanic, which had dominated Chinese cinema for four years and was considered irresistible, has finally been officially overturned.

Fang Xinghe's debut film, in which he served as the second male lead, assistant director, assistant screenwriter, and martial arts choreographer, created a miracle in Chinese film history.

On this day, all the people of the country cheered in unison!
(End of this chapter)